"Sometimes I wonder, how do humans confirm their own existence?"
"When they accidentally see their reflection on the water, do they feel curious about this unfamiliar person?"
"When they touch their face with their hand, do they feel surprised by this unseen reality?"
"Later, I learned that the way humans confirm their own existence doesn't come from themselves, but from others."
"Only the affirmation of others allows them to live vividly."
…
"Don't be so stubborn. Think about it. With just one word from you, this city is saved, you don't have to die, and a junior who loves you returns. Isn't that more than worth it?"
"And my memories are the same as hers. Although we are the same person, there are some subtle differences in personality. This kind of experience is very rare. Aren't you tempted? I am tempted myself."
The Sixth Herrscher continued to tempt him. She didn't seem intent on pressuring Lin, merely stating her terms.
Her eyes never left Lin's face. No black mist appeared around her, and even the Emperor-class Honkai Beast lay obediently to one side, its beast eyes staring at her and Lin.
After snapping her fingers, an Assault-class Honkai Beast appeared from her side. The structure of this Honkai Beast was different from a conventional Assault-class. It lacked sharp elytra, and its entire shape was much smoother. Its abdomen had a luminous structure similar to a firefly. It flew to hover above them, acting as a street lamp.
In this slightly warmer light, the Sixth Herrscher's previously inhuman aura was considerably mitigated.
"…"
"Oh, I understand. If I say these words to you, my credibility isn't enough. Hehe, then let me bring her out to talk to you." The Sixth Herrscher still showed no sign of hurry. She seemed determined to make Lin acknowledge this, finally presenting her last term: "Don't worry, I won't let her see any false images. This is what you call fairness, isn't it?"
"…"
Lin still didn't speak, but his gaze satisfied the Sixth Herrscher, who nodded. Then, she smiled and closed her crimson eyes.
The smile vanished from that face. As she opened her eyes again under Lin's scrutiny, the color in her pupils had reverted to the original blue, and her expression changed to the confusion of someone who knew nothing.
After the pupils in her eye sockets gradually gained clarity, her expression completely turned to astonishment.
"Squad Member Lin… She said it was true?"
Lin couldn't detect any abnormality in her expression. From the initial confusion upon waking up to the surprise at seeing him, every muscle and every inch of her skin naturally conformed to the emotions she should be feeling. It was impossible to achieve this effect through mere pretense.
In other words, this was truly… Seele's consciousness.
"Squad Member Lin, you…"
"Seele, tell me, is that truly what you think?"
"…Wha… t?"
"Have you truly come to hate humanity to this extent? And is the reason for all of this because of me?"
Seele's initial slight look of surprise immediately froze. She lowered her head, like a child who had done something wrong, mumbling in a low voice: "I'm sorry… Squad Member Lin… I seem to have done many wrong things… I killed many people…"
"But I truly did it for you…"
"Squad Member Lin, I know I've done countless bad things, but I want to use my current power to help more people. Look, I can completely help cure your body, and you won't be plagued by the Honkai Virus."
"She hasn't hurt me. She did all this to protect me. Those people were actually all killed by me. Even if there is sin, it is my sin."
Tears welled up in Seele's eyes. She timidly looked up at Lin: "Squad Member Lin, it's okay if you don't forgive me, but please… I just want to save you…"
Lin closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"I… understand."
Lin immediately raised his gun, pulling the trigger without a second of hesitation. The bullets poured out instantly, faster than the Emperor-class Honkai Beast could react.
"Clack! Clack! Clack!"
The cold bullets mercilessly tore through Seele's body. Her guilty expression froze on her face. She stared at her chest, shattered by the horrific kinetic force of the bullets, and looked up incredulously at the expressionless Lin holding the gun, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.
"Wh… why?"
She didn't understand. Why would Lin fire the gun at this moment?
Was it simply because she was a traitor? Or had he calculated that the chance of a successful ambush was greater in this moment of relaxation by the Herrscher persona?
"Because I have a promise with her." Lin continued pressing the trigger. He emptied the remaining bullets into Seele's body in one go. Only after the last bullet was fired did he say coldly, "She is not an ignorant little girl. She will fight for her own convictions. She grieves for the dead, but she won't be unable to distinguish between reality and illusion."
"The 'she' you speak of is merely another version of yourself that you fabricated."
From beginning to end, there was only the Sixth Herrscher.
If Seele were standing in front of him, she would face him with a resolute expression.
Because they had already endured countless partings. Even if they embarked on different paths from their former selves, they would not regret it.
He believed in Seele, just as Seele believed in him.
"…That's why I said you are very boring. Even if it was fabricated, what was wrong with it?"
After listening to Lin's words, the trembling of "Seele," who was kneeling on the ground clutching her wound, suddenly stopped. She sighed with deep revulsion, then stood up, straightened her back, and finally… her feet lifted off the ground. She flew up.
The wounds on her body healed rapidly. The brutal gunshot wounds vanished in the blink of an eye. She looked down at Lin on the ground with a condescending air. The Emperor-class Honkai Beast behind her also shook its body and straightened its mountain-like frame.
"If you had agreed to me, you would have gained everything you desire. Even if it contained lies, wasn't it still your heart's desire?"
"…"
"Forget it. It seems I don't need to say too much to a human like you. Anyway…" Her expression of regret instantly changed. She smiled ferociously, "I never intended to do that from the start."
The Sixth Herrscher gazed in the direction of the Fifth Branch. She grinned: "Look, the support you were waiting for has arrived. Your time-delaying tactic was a huge success."
Lin heard this sentence. He almost instinctively reached for the Phase Transfer device on his hand, but at that moment, the physical strength he had regained was instantly drained away, which caused his movement to stall.
Immediately following, a massive scythe descended from the sky, accurately piercing his abdomen, and the incredible force pinned him instantly to the ground.
"Did you think you were the only one delaying time?"
"It's a bit of a pity I didn't get to see the expression I wanted, but I think I'll get to see it very soon."
The Sixth Herrscher raised both arms. This time, no black mist surged out of her body.
Lin felt the ground beneath his body tremble, as if something… was about to burst forth.
"Boom!"
A massive, verdant tree, tearing through the ground and reaching into the clouds, burst forth. Its lateral roots and branches swept away everything around it.
Under the disbelieving gaze of everyone at the Fifth Branch, a giant tree, rocketing skyward, sprouted from a corner of the city, engulfing half of it.
The roots, seemingly full of life and vitality, writhed, stretching like arms toward the shelter outside the city, filled with bloodthirsty malice.