The Divine Realm shook.
A golden light spread across the sky, covering the clouds and stars. The air itself seemed to tremble.
Tang San stood in the middle of the battlefield. His clothes were torn, and his breathing was heavy. In his hand, the Asura Sword gave off a faint hum.
'Ha... I'm getting too old for this.'
He thought to himself as he tightened his grip around the hilt and looked ahead.
They had done it.
Together with the God Kings of Kindness, Life, Evil, Destruction, and the God of Goodness, he had struck the final blow.
The monster before them was finally defeated.
For the first time in countless years, the five God Kings had fought side by side.
And now...
Everything was quiet.
Far above the battlefield, the Golden Dragon King's massive body trembled.
Cracks spread across its golden scales. Bits of golden light drifted away and disappeared into the void.
Its ruby eyes slowly turned toward Tang San.
"Asura... even gods will one day fall."
Its voice echoed through the Divine Realm.
Then the Golden Dragon King smiled. A moment later, its body broke apart into countless specks of light and vanished.
For a moment, Tang San thought it was over.
The Divine Realm had finally gone quiet.
But something felt wrong.
A strange tremor spread through the laws of the realm. Tang San lowered his head and looked at his hands. Small cracks of light had appeared across his armor. Even the Asura Sword in his hand was trembling.
"Is it over?" the Goddess of Goodness asked softly.
Tang San was silent for a moment before nodding.
"Yes," he said. "But something isn't right."
The God of Evil frowned and looked toward the sky.
"We pushed the Core of the Divine Realm to their limit to stop him. The balance-"
Before he could finish, a sudden burst of golden light erupted in the distance.
Everyone turned.
The scattered golden light left behind by the Dragon King began gathering together. It condensed into a single golden sphere no larger than a fist.
The sphere pulsed faintly like a heartbeat.
The Goddess of Life's eyes widened.
"Impossible..." she whispered.
"He's still alive?"
'Damn it!'
Tang San rushed forward, but he was too late.
The golden sphere suddenly shot into the distance like a comet, disappearing across the Divine Realm.
"YUHAO!" Tang San shouted.
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao closed his eyes.
A vertical slit of light appeared on his forehead as the Eternal Eye opened.
His spiritual power spread across the entire Divine Realm.
For a brief moment, he found it.
The Golden Dragon King's core had entered a newborn soul.
Huo Yuhao's eyes snapped open.
At the same time, Xiao Wu appeared before the child, trying to stop the core.
She failed.
The golden light disappeared into the infant's body.
Huo Yuhao's face changed.
"It's Wuli—!"
Before Huo Yuhao could even finish speaking, Tang San had already moved.
He tore through the fragile space of the Divine Realm and rushed toward the newborn child.
The Golden Dragon King's core was right in front of him.
Just a little faster...
Just a little closer...
But he was still too late.
The golden core sank into the infant's body and disappeared.
Tang San arrived a moment later. Without hesitation, he reached out, ready to pull it back out.
"Stop!"
A hand grabbed his wrist.
Tang San turned.
Destruction had followed him.
The God King's robes were torn, and dark energy leaked from the wounds covering his body. Even standing seemed difficult.
Still, he forced himself to speak.
"If the core has already found an anchor, then it's too late."
Tang San's expression darkened.
"What do you mean?"
Hui Mie looked at the child.
"Their souls are already bound together."
His voice was heavy.
"If you force it out now, both souls will shatter."
The words hit like a bolt of lightning.
Xiao Wu stumbled back and fell to her knees.
Tang San's grip tightened around the Asura Sword until his knuckles turned white. His divine aura flickered around him, unstable for the first time in years. Barely holding his killing intent in for the sake of those around him.
Even more now that he is closer, he could feel it.
The Golden Dragon King's presence.
It resonated within the newborn child like a second heartbeat.
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Tang San slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Countless calculations in his head.
When he opened them again, the anger and panic were gone.
Only determination remained.
"Then I will seal it."
His voice was calm.
"I will not allow that oversized Lizard's hatred decide my son's future."
"That's right."
A gentle green light appeared beside them.
The Goddess of Life stepped forward.
Even after the battle, her presence brought a sense of calm. Her brown hair swayed softly as green light gathered around her.
She looked down at the sleeping infant in Xiao Wu's arms.
"If hatred is sleeping inside him," she said softly, "then we must give him something stronger."
Tang San looked at her.
The Goddess of Life smiled.
"Love."
She raised her hands.
Warm green light flowed from her palms and wrapped around Tang Wulin's tiny body.
The infant stirred slightly but did not wake.
The green light slowly sank into him, surrounding the Golden Dragon King's power like a gentle embrace.
"May you grow up in peace," she whispered.
She leaned down and gently kissed the newborn's forehead.
A soft green light spread across his body.
The Blessing of the Goddess of Life.
Looking at the child in her arms, a warm smile appeared on her face.
For a moment, the exhaustion from the battle seemed to fade away.
Then she carefully handed him back to Xiao Wu.
For a moment, everything was quiet.
Then the Divine Realm shook again.
This time, the tremor was even stronger.
Cracks spread across the sky, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Destruction slowly raised his head.
"We pushed it too far... I pushed it too far"
His voice was tired.
The Goddess of Life looked at the cracks above them and nodded.
"If we don't do something, the Divine Realm won't survive."
The two exchanged a glance.
Tang San immediately understood.
His expression changed.
"No..."
But they were already stepping forward.
The Goddess of Life turned to him and smiled.
"Take care of your son, Tang San."
Then Destruction looked at the others.
For the first time in a long while, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Take our God Cores."
"Find people worthy of inheriting them."
Nobody spoke.
Hui Mie looked at the Goddess of Life beside him.
The smile on his face became gentler.
"I'm sorry."
Sheng Ming's eyes trembled slightly.
Hui Mie let out a quiet laugh.
"I'm sorry... for everything."
Then he turned toward her completely.
And she smiled back.
Sheng Ming looking at him. Her gaze like that of a disappointed mother.
"Come on, Hui Mie," she said softly smiling at him.
"Let's go rest."
Destruction stared at her for a few seconds before smiling as well.
"Alright."
The two reached for each other.
White and violet light rose around them.
Then, before everyone's eyes, their bodies turned into a pillar of light and descended toward the heart of the Divine Realm.
For a moment, the shaking stopped.
The cracks in the sky began to mend.
The Divine Realm seemed to come back to life.
Fragments of light drifted through the broken sky as the once-eternal Divine Realm came apart, layer by layer. The laws that had held it together, the fabric of divinity itself had begun to unravel.
Tang San slowly stood up from the shattered ground.
Divine dust filled the air. Every breath felt heavy.
In the distance, one divine structure after another collapsed into the void. Each explosion sent another tremor through the dying Divine Realm.
Tang San watched in silence.
Then he laughed.
A tired laugh.
"So... it was all for nothing."
He lowered his head and looked at the child in Xiao Wu's arms.
At least Wulin was safe.
For now.
Without another word, he and Xiao Wu made their way toward the Sea God Palace at the center of the Divine Realm.
The entire realm continued to shake around them.
For millions of years, the Divine Realm had stood above the countless mortal worlds.
Now it was falling apart.
Cracks spread across the sky.
Bolts of pale light flashed through the darkness.
Pieces of divine law broke away and drifted into the void.
Beyond those cracks, there was only endless darkness.
A black hole that grew larger with every passing moment.
Tang San stood at the highest point of the Sea God Palace.
Below him, the Divine Realm was falling apart.
Pieces of floating land broke away one after another, disappearing into the darkness beyond. The sky was covered in cracks. Every few seconds another tremor shook the realm.
It was hard to believe.
Just a few hours ago, they had won.
The Golden Dragon King was dead.
The crisis that had threatened the Divine Realm for so long was finally over.
Yet here they were.
Watching everything collapse.
Tang San tightened his grip on the Sea God's Trident.
For the first time since becoming a God King, he felt powerless.
Around him stood the remaining gods.
Rong Nianbing.
Yuhao.
The Seven Elemental Gods.
The other surviving Gods.
Every one of them wore a grim expression.
No one had a solution.
No one knew what to do.
A bitter smile appeared on Tang San's face.
After everything they had sacrificed...
After Sheng Ming and Hui Mie...
Was this really how it would end?
"We can't stop it."
Someone finally spoke.
The words were quiet.
Yet in the silence of the palace, everyone heard them clearly.
The God of Evil stepped forward. "We can't stop the fall. But maybe… maybe we can send something of us away. Before all of this is gone." He Said looking a the sleeping Tang Wulin.
Goodness nodded weakly beside him.
"The Divine Realm is finished."
Her voice was quiet.
"But the Douluo Plane is still there."
She looked toward the shattered sky.
'Right.. The Mortal Plane!'
Hope reignites in Tang San's eyes.
"Yuhao."
The God of Emotions immediately looked up.
"Open a passage to the Douluo Plane."
Just then, another figure stepped through the palace doors.
Tang Wutong.
Her face was pale, and her aura was far weaker than before. The battle had taken its toll on her. After fusing with Huo Yuhao and stepping into the Half-Step God King realm, she had pushed herself far beyond her limits.
Yet her gaze never left the child in Xiao Wu's arms.
Slowly, she walked forward.
A golden-red spear appeared in her hand.
The Golden Dragon Spear.
The weapon gave off a faint hum as if it, too, could sense the sleeping child before it.
Tang Wutong stopped beside Wulin.
For a moment, she simply looked at him.
So small.
So unaware.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Happy birthday, Wulin."
Her voice was soft.
There was joy in it.
And sadness.
She lowered the Golden Dragon Spear and gently pressed it against his chest.
Golden light spread across the infant's body.
The spear slowly dissolved into countless specks of light before sinking into one of Tang San's seals.
The Sixth Seal.
When the light faded, the spear was gone.
Only the sleeping child remained.
Tang Wutong reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from Wulin's forehead.
Then she stepped back in silence.
Xiao Wu held Wulin close.
Tears quietly rolled down her cheeks.
The child slept peacefully in her arms, completely unaware of what was happening.
Xiao Wu lowered her head and gently pressed her forehead against his.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Wulin..."
Her voice trembled.
"Mom doesn't ask for much."
She held him a little tighter.
"Just grow up healthy."
"As long as you're alive..."
"That's enough."
More tears fell.
She quickly wiped them away, not wanting the last thing her son saw to be her crying.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry I can't watch you grow up."
For a moment, she couldn't continue.
Then she kissed his forehead.
"I love you."
"I always will."
Slowly, Xiao Wu loosened her arms.
For a brief moment, it felt as though time had stopped.
Then Wulin slipped from her embrace.
The portal's light swallowed him.
And he fell toward the Douluo Plane below.
Tang San slowly closed his eyes.
For a moment, he could still feel it.
The Douluo Plane.
Far below the collapsing Divine Realm, it continued to exist.
Small.
Fragile.
Yet full of life.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Live on.
No matter what happens...
Live on.
He tightened his grip on the Sea God's Trident.
The remaining gods raised their power alongside him.
Brilliant light filled the Divine Realm as they tried to hold everything together for just a little longer.
The realm shook violently.
Cracks spread across the sky.
The gods could hear it.
The sound of their world breaking apart.
Their divine power poured away with every passing second.
Then, for just a moment, Tang San saw something.
Far beyond the edge of the Divine Realm.
Far beyond the endless darkness.
Something was there.
Watching.
A strange feeling ran through him.
Cold...
Unfamiliar...
Wrong...
Just Wrong...
Tang San narrowed his eyes.
What was that?
Before he could look closer, the collapsing void swallowed the sight completely.
The feeling disappeared.
Tang San remained silent for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
Whatever it was...
It was no longer his concern.
His gaze returned to the Douluo Plane below.
The future belonged to the next generation now.
The last of the divine pillar cracked. Xiao Wu's hand found his. Her now smile was gentle, fearless.
"Together," she said.
"Always," he answered.
Then the Divine Realm shattered.
The gods were scattered like sparks into endless darkness, their light falling toward the mortal world they had sworn to protect. In the silence that followed,
...the void inhaled.
And somewhere, beyond even Tang San's awareness, that faint shimmer unfurled. a whisper of will older than the stars, slipping through the wound the gods had left behind.
Its arrival had no name yet.
But the mortals would one day call it....
Honkai.