MGSFV?! Chapter 434. Herrscher of Humanity; Sugar, More Sugar, Then—What the F—Knife!
At the same time...
After Elysia passed on the "flame" through her power,
the title Herrscher of Humanity was given even richer meaning.
Originally, Herrscher of Humanity was merely Elysia's self-designation—her real Herrscher power was the Herrscher of Origin.
But now, if all Herrschers who possess humanity and long for beauty can be called Herrschers of Humanity...
Then...
The term Herrscher of Humanity has gone beyond being a label—
it's become a symbol of something beautiful.
The significance of that [Final Message] just now was far from low.
Glory to the Church of Love.
...
As Mei was still digesting Dr. MEI's words,
just a short distance ahead of her, the Herrscher of Sentience was urging Kiana's group onward:
"Hurry up and move."
Though she said this, her gaze drifted off toward MEI in the distance.
"I don't want to waste time on drawn-out farewells."
Kiana caught this scene in her line of sight.
The Herrscher of Sentience... she too...
"Come on, let's go."
The Herrscher of Sentience pulled her gaze back and called out again.
"Yeah,"
Mei, having composed herself, gave a soft reply.
No further disagreement.
Soon, the group arrived at the location of the Imaginary-type Divine Construct.
Prometheus began guiding Kiana on how to use her Herrscher powers to reconstruct the Divine Construct, defeat it,
and use the burst of energy that occurs at the moment of its defeat to open the portal out of this world bubble.
Hmm...
To players, this was their first battle against true mysticism.
Though there was a difficulty selection, this boss was still considered easier than typical combat in the main story.
Even on "Hard," it wasn't that difficult.
As long as you mind the mechanics, it's easy to clear.
This time it's actually very easy.jpg
So just like with the earlier fight against Nihilus,
almost no players got the low-HP voice lines...
[Divine Constructs really are just punching bags for plot progression now, huh.]
Many players who had already cleared the fight now idly began typing in the livestream chat:
[Not even tired. We serve the story.]
[Divine Construct: Do you think you're funny?]
[lol.]
Ahem—back to the point.
Let's return to that low-HP voice line topic.
If a player happened to get dangerously low on health...
The Herrscher of Sentience, who had been standing by, would jump in without mercy and snark:
"Hey, you guys are way too weak!"
"Get back up and keep fighting."
Trying to "encourage" them—in her own style.
...
In any case, under the combined efforts of all current-era Herrschers—
Within just a few minutes,
the Construct collapsed to the ground, powerless.
"...It's over."
"Then next..."
Kiana held her breath, trying to sense the spatial traces left behind by the defeated Divine Construct.
A silent doorway opened.
"This door... is it...?"
"As you sensed, it's your passage back to the intrinsic world—
and it's also our final chance to grasp at continued existence..."
Prometheus stood beside the portal, speaking calmly.
That position, combined with the open doorway... and the air of parting...
Unit 17 gently gazes at you, and says no more. (?)
MiHoYo's writers really know how to hit the emotional beats.
Players couldn't help but start mentally roasting them—
But regardless, they didn't forget to move their characters
to let Kiana and the others say their final goodbyes to Prometheus.
Then, everyone approached the portal.
Kiana looked at the others:
"Ready? We're going back."
"Of course!" x2
Mei and Bronya nodded at the same time.
The Herrscher of Sentience added:
"Just catching a ride with you this once."
"Okay, then hold on tight—"
Everyone stepped into the portal, and the screen lit up brightly.
The group passed through the door,
leaving the Sea of Quanta, and returning to the real, physical world atop the Imaginary Tree.
[You think they'll get hit with something on the way back?
A lot of games like to pull that kind of trick.]
[Don't jinx it—they just had a whole sugarfest.]
[Even if something does happen, it wouldn't be here.]
[You say that like you know.]
[Because if they split up here, it'd be too mundane.
It wouldn't hit hard enough (dog head).]
Hokuto: "..."
...Are players getting a bit too confident with this whole "Nobody understands Honkai better than me" vibe?
Who turned you all into this?
Hmm... now that he thinks about it...
Seems like it was him.
In that case, nothing more to say.
Hokuto blinked, lips curling into a subtle grin before straightening again,
turning back to "observe" Elysia's reactions to the story.
After all, quite a few explosive moments were still to come...
...
Back in the story—
The game perspective temporarily shifted away from Kiana's group,
cutting to the other side—50,000 years away.
Durandal, Li Sushang, and Seele were still standing before the broken bridge, waiting for Kiana's reply.
With nothing to do, Li Sushang had taken to meditating—supposedly to calm herself.
Durandal mentioned she sometimes did the same when practicing control over her Sumeru Seed.
So that's why the Enlightened never open their eyes? (not really)
[I do that too. Like, during class (dog head)]
"I see,"
Seele remarked with understanding:
"No wonder you both seem so calm and composed."
Let's just mark that line: "Calm and composed."
Why? You'll see.
There's a show coming up.
"Hmm?"
Li Sushang furrowed her brow:
"...Seele, I think you've misunderstood.
I meditate precisely because I'm a bit flustered right now."
Then she turned to Durandal and asked:
"Seriously, Durandal... how long are we supposed to wait here?"
Durandal calmly replied:
"...We arrived only about two hours ago."
Another line to mark: "Only about two hours ago."
[Durandal's composure is amazing as always.]
"Sigh... you're really the type who can sit still."
Third line to mark: "Can sit still."
"If I'd known we'd be stuck here for two hours—wait, what?"
Before she could finish,
the ground trembled, and the scenery before her eyes shimmered like stirred soap bubbles in silver-tinted air.
The link between worlds had shifted.
On the far side of space,
a beacon called "reality" spread like ink in water—blurring the boundary of the realms.
——In the dazzling white light,
a few familiar silhouettes gradually came into view.
In the next instant—
The first to react wasn't Seele.
Nor the seemingly impatient Li Sushang.
It was—
"Calm and composed," "Only two hours ago," "Can sit still"...
"...Kiana!"
Durandal suddenly burst forward like a vanguard,
grabbing Kiana's hand tightly.
"Kiana, finally... finally I see you again.
Thank goodness you're okay."
[It's a touching moment, but why is it kind of hilarious too? Lololol.]
["Calm and composed" intensifies]
[Durandal: My sister!!]
[Mei: This time I'm not even a background character.]
[They should Photoshop Mei between them (dog head).]
Players were stunned.
Durandal had sister complex tendencies?
Actually, thinking about it, maybe it's not that strange.
Kiana is one of Durandal's few remaining family members.
And Durandal's always been someone who treasures bonds.
...
Players could understand why Durandal acted this way.
But Kiana—looking confused and surprised at Durandal's anxious grip—smiled awkwardly and said:
"Yeah, Durandal... it's really been a while."
She clearly didn't get what just happened.
And that reminded everyone—Durandal still hadn't told Kiana the truth.
[Right, Kiana still doesn't know Durandal is her sister.]
[Only the players can feel the sibling vibes.]
[Durandal, just tell her already.]
[It's time.]
But Durandal didn't seem ready yet.
"Ahem, sorry—I got carried away."
Her voice abruptly calmed. Controlled and restrained.
Yet it still felt a bit odd, given how hyped she'd just been.
"...Anyway, I'm just glad you're all back.
Long time no see, Raiden Mei. Bronya Zaychik."
Mei, recovering from the surprise, responded:
"...Long time no see."
Something felt off.
While she pondered that, Bronya calmly greeted:
"Long time no see, Durandal. Miss Li Sushang."
——Though she said that, her gaze clearly lingered on Seele.
And Seele's gaze did the same.
DuckDuck and Seele shared a wordless exchange.
More sugar.
MiHoYo really knew how to hand out sugar this chapter!
So sweet. So sweet.
Honestly? Might be best to end the chapter here.
For the first time ever, players genuinely hoped the game would cliffhanger here.
Why?
So they could go to bed with all that sugar still in their mouths.
Wouldn't that be nice?
...
Anyway.
After that exchange of glances between Bronya and Seele:
"Phew... thank goodness, everyone's okay..."
Having been on edge for so long, Seele finally relaxed, her face showing fatigue.
Durandal noticed.
"Let's take a short rest nearby.
Once we've recovered, we'll proceed to the next zone..."
"Now that the 50,000-year-old bubble world has merged,
we should be able to continue exploring from here."
So, under Durandal's guidance, the group found a spot for a short break.
During that time...
Seele looked out past the broken bridge,
wondering what might be waiting beyond.
Perhaps only Kevin himself knew the answer.
For everyone else? It was a mystery.
Still, if they could avoid conflict with Kevin, that would obviously be best.
And then—
A voice that hadn't spoken all this time suddenly chimed in.
"—What's wrong?
Weren't you pretty impressive before?
And now Kevin scares you this much?"
Kevin? Just Kevin?
With the sudden shift in BGM to something cheerful...
There's no need to guess who interrupted.
Of course—it was none other than the Herrscher of Sentience herself.
The one and only Miss "I can 50-50 Kevin."
Everyone's favorite: Herrscher of Sentience.
[She's back again with her boombox.]
["Kevin, the chirping cricket."]
[500 > 50,000.]
[Some of these comments are getting weird...]
Li Sushang, upon seeing the Herrscher of Sentience, got excited.
"Fi—"
But she immediately paused.
"—No, wait, you only look similar.
You're not her... so you're the Herrscher of Sentience?"
"Got a problem with that? Wanna throw down right here?"
"..."
[Sushang: This one's aggressive.]
Faced with such provocation, even the usually lively Li Sushang couldn't keep up.
The awkward tension between them...
Made Kiana scratch her head, utterly lost.
Something felt... personal?
Suddenly, she remembered:
"Ah—could it be because of what happened back in Kolosten—"
[Herrscher of Sentience wants justice for the old relic?]
[Another ship! After Kiana-Mei, Kiana-Durandal, Bronya-Seele, now HerschKnow-Fuwa?
Absolute joy. Maximum happiness.]
[I'm so content right now.]
Hmm...
Now that players were basking in joy—
That meant...
The pain's about to begin.
First impact inbound...
...
In the story—
The Herrscher of Sentience didn't press the issue.
She shrugged, showing off her "magnanimity."
Then, they chatted about Kevin.
What would she say about him?
Well, obviously: "I can 50-50 Kevin."
She even joked:
"If I sneak behind him and backstab,
we could end this whole thing, no problem."
Just one step away from saying Kevin was a jobber on sale.
But suddenly—
her movements froze.
As if she'd seen something unbelievable, her eyes widened in shock.
Whatever had happened elsewhere had clearly caught her off guard.
And then—
she swore softly:
"...Damn it. Always causing trouble."
[???]
[Wait—what's happening? Scriptwriter, what are you doing?!]
[No way—is something happening to Fu Hua?!]
[Protect Mom! RETURN IMMEDIATELY!!]
And that's exactly what Herrscher of Sentience did.
Uncharacteristically, she sprang into action.
White light flared around her, her form growing fainter.
She waved once toward the others:
"I've got something urgent—"
Before finishing her sentence, she was gone.
Seele: "..."
Mei: "..."
Players: "..."
[Why does this feel like a death flag CG?
Like... farewell forever??]
[SCRIPTWRITER!! SPARE HER!!]
[Please don't do this to her—she's too precious!]
[Then what, go after Fu Hua instead?!]
[...Can we maybe not suggest sacrifices right now?]
You couldn't blame the players.
That CG—her waving goodbye—felt way too much like the "Dust of Earth" moment.
"This time... it really is farewell."
So, what's next?
Fu Hua or the Herrscher of Sentience?
As players braced themselves...
The game suddenly cut to a loading screen.
???
Wait a second—
MiHoYo scriptwriter, don't you dare cliffhanger us here—
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