"I see."
Lu Xing did not continue to dissuade her.
For any leader, the decisions they make should rightfully be the result of deep deliberation. During the battle with the Herrscher of Binding, the Monarch and his Honkai Beast legions had not taken the opportunity to attack humanity; coupled with his earlier initiative to restrain the Herrscher of Binding's actions, it was enough to prove that his previous words were not false.
All of the above.
Was the "foundation" for Elysia's arrival here.
"And if I win?"
Since it was a wager, it was naturally impossible for only one side to place a bet.
"…"
Elysia's hesitation this time was longer than any before.
Finally.
She let out a long breath and slowly spoke:
"The Fire Moth will be at your disposal."
"…"
"That is logical."
"Considering the current strength of both sides, such a stake is indeed fair and reasonable."
Lu Xing alone represented over ninety percent of the Honkai Beast legions' combat power. Although the two sides of the bet were not equal, considering the "contestants" involved… the wager Elysia proposed was not excessive.
"But."
"Why should I accept this wager?"
"It seems to me… you are of no use to me."
The word "disposal" was well-chosen, but in reality, it was tantamount to becoming traitors to the human race. Although only sixty million people remained, the Fire Moth had indeed taken its place as humanity's ruling body. If they were to bow their heads to the Monarch, it would mean that the entirety of human civilization had chosen to submit to the Honkai Beasts.
However.
Such a "pure" human race.
In Lu Xing's eyes, they were not even qualified to be subordinates. Without a certain degree of "modification," they were completely useless.
"Furthermore…"
"Elysia, are you certain that you can represent all the remaining members? Even setting Dr. Mei aside, Kalpas, Kosma, Griseo… I'm afraid many among you would not be able to accept such an outcome?"
Elysia's actions were indeed for the sake of humanity.
But even when acting for the same cause, the paths different people choose can be vastly different. For a humanity that had just "defeated" the Herrscher of Binding, to surrender the very next moment to the Black Emperor—who in their eyes was one with the Honkai and had for a very long time been their greatest enemy—was an overly rational choice that not everyone could accept.
"…"
"Dr. Mei has agreed to my plan."
"...A little surprising, but not unexpected," the Monarch replied nonchalantly.
"The others."
"I can persuade them, one by one," Elysia said, word by word.
"…"
"I don't doubt you have that ability and charisma. After all, you personally brought most of them into the Fire Moth."
"However…"
"Even if you can accomplish all of that."
The Monarch continued to state the cruel facts.
And these facts were further breaking down Elysia's inner line of defense:
"You, who call yourself the Herrscher of Human."
"Can you, like me, ignore the 'cries' of those sixty million lives—even if all your struggles are for the sake of leaving behind a final ember for humanity?"
"…"
"I implore you."
Elysia could not refute the question Lu Xing had raised.
"If victory truly falls into your hands, please, as much as possible… appear as a 'savior,' in a human form."
"A savior?"
"The risks associated with that position are far too great."
It wasn't that Lu Xing had never been a savior before. The seemingly blood-soaked vengeance of sinking the Mu continent was, in fact, a necessary measure to save the world. The Monarch did not need to explain his actions to anyone; he only needed his actions and knowledge to be one.
"As for a human form…"
The Monarch's words paused slightly.
Of course Lu Xing could appear in a human form.
Even the Four War Temples could do it—no, he didn't even need to go that far. If Cheche and Sheshe wished, they could also transform into human forms; it was just that their combat power would decrease to a certain extent, so there was no need for them to "transform."
This matter was naturally of no difficulty for the Monarch.
But Lu Xing would not do it. For him, a human form was a "mimicry," not a "restoration." For the Monarch who had struggled and crawled his way up from a weak Assault-class beast to his current position, it would be a rejection of that entire experience.
He neither denied nor acknowledged it.
And just as Lu Xing was preparing to refuse Elysia's wager, she took a step forward and proactively interrupted the Monarch's intentions.
By raising the stakes—
"For that condition."
"I am willing… to offer my own Authority as the price."
"…"
Elysia had no Herrscher Core in the physical sense.
Her Authority was entirely bound to the existence of Elysia herself. Unless she sacrificed it voluntarily, there was no way to obtain this Authority from her.
The Herrscher of Finality possessed all twelve Authorities.
But the one thing it did not command was the power of "Origin."
By using the "Authority of Humanity" that Elysia manifested, Lu Xing might very well be able to glimpse the truth of "Origin"—to witness if this "primordial power," which he theorized could transform into any other Authority, was truly as he imagined.
If a battle with Finality was truly inevitable.
This primordial Authority from the "Herrscher of Origin" could very well become the key to defeating it.
Originally, to achieve this step, Lu Xing had prepared a great number of plans and preparations in a short amount of time. Now, it seemed—
"…"
"I agree."
It had become simpler, and at the same time, more difficult.
"Moreover…"
Ding!
A crisp chime rang out from the center of the Monarch's open palm.
"To ensure the experimental results on [Discipline] are not affected, I did not place a [Mind Steel Seal] on her."
"Aponia."
"Even though she is in the Honkai Beast camp, subconsciously, she still sees herself more as a human."
A translucent butterfly wing, shimmering with a faint glow, floated gently through the air.
"Elysia."
"If you win…"
"'The Thirteen Flame-Chasing Heroes.' What do you think? Are you satisfied with that name?"
Equality was paramount.
Since he had chosen to step onto the field as an examiner, this "contract" had to be absolutely fair.
This was also why he had added Aponia as part of the wager, incorporating her into his side of the contract: Aponia was not only Elysia's good friend but also an indispensable part of the "Elysian Realm" currently under construction—Su's psychic power alone was far from enough to complete it.
Considering that Sakura had already verified Mobius's experimental conclusions, it was highly likely that Aponia could also reconstruct a somewhat incomplete memory by "piecing together fragments."
Such a stake…
"The Thirteen Flame-Chasing Heroes."
Elysia raised her head, the corners of her slightly upturned lips returning to their usual smile as her gaze met the Monarch's deep, dark-golden pupils directly.
"That sounds…"
"Quite nice, actually."