Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

Welt Yang's heartbroken sobs didn't reach Tesla's ears.

The items she'd obtained from the parallel worlds had completely confirmed her theories about Herrscher Cores.

The cores of Herrschers took different forms in each parallel world. According to the combat data Kiana had gathered, the cores were essentially no different from Honkai particles.

Due to the diverse nature of Honkai, it could exist within the human body in various forms.

However, they primarily fell into two categories.

One was a pure, point-like Honkai Core that only absorbed, never releasing.

The other was a dynamic Herrscher Core that functioned like the center of a funnel.

Much like that madman with the constantly draining and filling pool in math problems, this type of core, once formed, would stop absorbing Honkai Energy and instead become a special organ that borrowed external Honkai Energy.

This prevented an excess of Honkai Energy from entering the human body and causing an uncontrollable transformation into a Herrscher.

"I see... so some entity altered the formation of Herrscher Cores at their very source? What kind of power is this? Could it be that there's a Herrscher of the Origin?"

Tesla's reasoning was sound. If there was a Herrscher of Finality, there must logically be a Herrscher of the Beginning. She had now grasped the Honkai's modus operandi.

Under these circumstances, the Will of the Honkai wouldn't just descend upon a Herrscher at random.

Not to mention, Noldrei had returned directly from the Sea of Quanta.

'Should I use these cores to create Herrschers? No, that won't work. Many of these cores are unusable. Even if one or two Herrschers could be created without issue, it wouldn't change much.'

Tesla felt these Herrscher cores were practically useless except as backup power sources. It was clear the Previous Era had tampered with the Cocoon of Finality's existence.

Just as Tesla was pondering what to do with these cores, Einstein arrived with the latest news from Academy City.

"Tesla, Cocolia has sold the Honkai Fission Bombs. Don't you have any intention of going back to handle it?" Einstein's expression was grim. She had never imagined Cocolia would be so audacious.

However, Tesla, who should have been shocked by this news, showed no reaction at all, as if she had long foreseen this day.

"Chekhov's gun. If you see a gun in the first act of a story that follows a traditional three-act structure, it must be fired by the third act. Conversely, the act of firing the gun in the third act should be foreshadowed earlier."

"It seems like a highly dramatic scene, but in reality, it's the most direct reflection of our world. Without real-life performance, drama wouldn't be able to express this law to you."

"Einstein, when I learned that the cost of Honkai Fission Bombs had dropped to an absurdly low level, they became cheap and insignificant. Even if they weren't bought by someone, they would be used at some point, because the effect of using them is better than not using them. Therefore, they were bound to be used at some point."

Einstein stared at Tesla in shock. At this moment, Tesla's face was calm, just like how Noldrei viewed them. It seemed Tesla was also gradually getting used to seeing the development of history from this perspective.

"Tesla, have you gone mad?"

"I'm not mad. I just know that in the grand scheme of history, if it wasn't Cocolia who pushed the button, it would have been some other human. So who that person is, and who gets blown up, is inconsequential to my view of history."

Tesla tried to lighten the mood, but her words came out shockingly cold.

Einstein took a cautious step back, frowning. "Tesla, you were never like this before. When did you become like this?"

Finally, some emotion flickered across Tesla's face. Her tone was complex as she said, "Einstein, I haven't changed. It's just that my position is different now. I have to consider the future direction of humanity, so I have no choice but to make these decisions."

"Einstein, you know this, don't you? The New Humans in Academy City are completely different from the humans outside. They are two entirely different species. I'm not joking. The sooner we can spread the power of Academy City, the sooner we can eliminate this divide."

Tesla looked down, toying with a defunct Herrscher Core from a parallel world. "I don't want to see a world where the people of Academy City become 'gods' and abuse the rest of the world. I used to think that sealing off Academy City and preventing any contact between the inside and outside was the best solution. But I gradually gave up on that idea..."

She sighed. "Because there are no brakes. Not me, not you—neither of us can hit the brakes and reverse course. When you see those people on the outside, lingering on the edge of suffering, you should understand my thoughts. What they crave is nothing more than the grains of sand slipping through our fingers. But the ruling class of the outside world will never allow the sand in our hands to trickle out. Those people outside would rather worship us as new 'gods'."

"But he won't allow it. Noldrei won't allow the emergence of these 'god-kings' who sit on high, wanting the authority to rule without getting their own hands dirty. He despises that kind of divine rule system more than anything."

"Rulers are inherently dirty, inherently foul, inherently stained with blood. The ruled should have the right to struggle, the right to know the filthy nature of their rulers, the right to face the force that their rulers press down upon their heads."

"Without this, humanity will not enter the next stage of society."

Einstein's face was ashen as she asked, "Tesla! Does this world really need a Lich King?!"

Tesla looked disappointed. She looked at her old friend and said, "Einstein, don't you understand yet? There is no Lich King ruler, nor will there ever be a brave new world without one. Everything is man-made, and everything is abandoned by man. The shifts in class, resulting in either centralization or decentralization of power, are carved into the monuments of history."

"Cocolia never sold any so-called Honkai Fission Bombs. She simply gave them away for free."

"Suggested retail price: one dollar."

Einstein's eyes widened in disbelief. She finally understood what Cocolia was trying to do.

It wasn't just about nuclear deterrence. It was about the possibility for every single person to have nuclear deterrence.

This would create a true balance of terror.

But humans can't be rational forever. And at that point, a deterrence slide and the rampant misuse of weapons would naturally occur.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine was merely an appetizer.