273. The Creation of Herrscher
"Subject 10893's relevant memories have been erased. Subjects 4712 and 4715 are ready. The Honkai energy field is prepared."
Ai said, enunciating each word clearly.
"The experiment begins," Ling ordered.
As the images on the screen began to clear, Subject 10893 gradually awoke.
"Seele, you're awake? Your teacher said you suddenly fainted. How are you feeling now?" her mother asked.
"I…I'm fine…" The girl called Seele shook her head.
She felt a little confused, unable to remember what had happened in the past.
"Today is your birthday, remember? Your father prepared a birthday cake for you. Get up quickly!"
Her mother led Seele to the living room, where a large cake was already prepared, and her father was carefully placing candles on it.
"Seele woke up just in time. Did you smell the cake and wake up hungry?" her father teased.
"No...no!" Seele immediately protested.
But the rumbling in her stomach conveniently pulled her into an awkward silence.
"Hahaha...come and have some cake!"
Although Seele wasn't quite sure what was going on, the feeling of home enveloped her.
The warm light made her feel incredibly relaxed, and as the candles were blown out, the birthday party reached its climax.
"This is a gift, happy birthday, Seele!"
"This is a gift from Daddy, happy birthday!"
Ling witnessed the harmonious family atmosphere.
About ten minutes later, Ai sent a message.
'Emotional value detected at its peak, begin execution of the plan?'
"Execute," Ling replied indifferently.
In an instant, a group of people rushed in and pinned Seele to the ground.
"Who are you?! Dad! Mom! Help me!"
But the two men merely watched indifferently, the love in their eyes vanishing instantly.
"Dad...Mom?" Seele looked at them, bewildered.
Why wouldn't they help her? Why wouldn't they stop them? Why...
"Subject 10893, execute memory awakening command."
"No...no..."
Seele shrank back in fear, tears welling involuntarily in her eyes. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she was terrified.
But those people carried out the commands like machines, the syringe drawing ever closer.
As the liquid in the syringe was injected into Seele's body, memories began to flood her brain like a torrent.
It was all a lie. She was just a clone, a pathetic experimental subject. She had no parents, no family. It was all just a ridiculous experiment.
Seele struggled on the ground in agony, her nails digging deep into her flesh.
But she was oblivious.
The mental blows inflicted upon her were far more suffocating and despairing than the physical pain.
'Honkai energy concentration detected... rapidly increasing... reached danger level...'
"You... all of you, go to hell!!!"
A terrifying black mist suddenly enveloped Seele, and the surrounding clones seemed to be instantly drained of life, their bodies becoming emaciated.
The black mist transformed into a scythe in her hand, making her appear like a soul-binding messenger descended from hell.
With a gentle swing of the scythe, death energy began to spread in all directions.
"Looks like my guess was right after all. Ai, secretly pass the message to the Fire Moth."
'Roger.'
Soon after, Kevin and Elysia led their respective teams to begin eliminating the Herrscher.
This Herrscher wasn't strong; as long as they didn't come into contact with the death energy, their combat ability was arguably the weakest Herrscher in history.
Even the death energy could be dispersed by a strong wind.
(Fu Hua's punch could disperse it)
The Sixth Herrscher was quickly defeated. Helplessly, she knelt on the ground, looking up at the sky.
Tears involuntarily streamed down her face.
Yes, today was her birthday; after all, today was the day she was first created.
But why...why was this world so unfair to her?
Why give her life, only to cruelly take it away?
Tears streamed down her cheeks, her cries carried by the wind to Kevin's ears.
Kevin's finger hesitated on the trigger. This was the first time he had seen a Herrscher cry; the emotion, seemingly piercing to the soul, was unmistakable.
"Humans! You vile creatures! One day, the Honkai will annihilate you all!!!"
The Sixth Herrscher let out a painful cry, terrifying energy surging within her.
In a mere instant, deathly energy surged into the city streets like a tidal wave, permeating every alleyway and every blind spot.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye; Kevin had no time to react.
The Sixth Herrscher collapsed to her knees, motionless.
Kevin seemed to realize something and immediately began contacting his teammates on the communication channel.
However, only a rustling sound came through the channel.
The deathly energy gradually dissipated, and Kevin frantically ran into the streets, only to find everyone had turned into desiccated corpses; none had survived.
But soon, Elysia's voice came through the channel.
Now, the two of them were the only survivors of this battle.
Suddenly, a faint sound caught Kevin's attention. Turning his head, he saw a figure in a black robe disappear into a blind spot.
"Don't run!"
Although he didn't know who the other person was, Kevin felt a strange unease. Thinking this, he immediately gave chase.
The two began to weave through the empty city.
The other person showed no intention of communicating with Kevin, only focusing on escape.
To Kevin's astonishment, the other person's speed was almost on par with his own!
Kevin was one of the most elite warriors in the Fire Moth, possessing unparalleled physical prowess, leaving most others far behind.
Yet, he couldn't catch the black-robed figure.
The black-robed figure easily vaulted over a wall, and Kevin immediately gave chase.
Kevin continuously unloaded the heavy weapons he was carrying, gradually increasing his speed.
"Who are you?" Kevin felt his heart pounding wildly.
It wasn't just from running; it was also because of the other person's identity.
Kevin could sense an inexplicable connection between himself and the other person.
The man in black robes assumed a fighting stance, launching a fierce attack on Kevin. Kevin immediately raised his hand to block, then began to counterattack.
Kevin grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed; his opponent's fighting strength was actually comparable to his own.
However, Kevin's growth potential was astonishing. He quickly found an opening and landed a powerful punch on the man in black robes' abdomen.
The man in black robes retreated, trying to escape, but Kevin immediately closed in, delivering a sweeping kick towards the man's face.
The man in black robes leaned back, narrowly avoiding the blow, but his black robes were torn in several places.
Kevin's eyes widened in disbelief. The man in black robes immediately lowered his stance, ceasing his fight, and before Kevin could react, he vanished into the night in a few flashes.
"Kevin...Kevin? What's wrong?" Elysia called out to Kevin several times from the side before he finally came to his senses.
"Was that...me?"
Kevin murmured, his mind filled with doubt.
Though the night was dark, for a fleeting moment, he thought he truly saw his own face.
...