I Am Honkai

The sky stretched endlessly, unmarred by clouds. The azure heavens shimmered with the radiant glow of the Empire's warships, their diverse hulls illuminated by the thrusters' brilliance, like countless neon lights adorning the firmament.

Despite the oppressive heat, with sweat pouring down his face in large droplets, Kevin felt no warmth. Instead, Selene's overwhelming presence cast him into an abyss of icy despair.

"You uploaded your consciousness into a so-called 'database' called the Elysian Realm, hiding in the deepest recesses of the world. Was it an attempt at self-consolation? Or…" Selene's voice carried a trace of amusement. "Were you planning to pass something on?"

"Unfortunately, I've destroyed it."

Selene traced a dramatic arc across her chest with her hand. Countless glimmers of light, like stars, began to orbit her figure. Behind her loomed an endless expanse of starry sky.

Under Selene's command, the violet-red Honkai energy transformed into azure data streams, which she molded, shaped, and animated with precision. As the forms took shape under her fingers, Kevin's eyes widened, his expression darkening as he murmured.

"Familiar powers… It can't be wrong… The Herrscher of Reason, the Herrscher of Death, the Herrscher of Dominance, the Herrscher of Corruption…"

"Of course… A combination of all Herrscher powers."

Kevin was neither incredulous nor shocked—humanity's prior civilization had long speculated about the abilities of the Herrscher of the End.

Although Selene had not yet exhibited all the powers of the Herrschers, Kevin had no doubt that she possessed them all.

Having already wielded the powers of Reason, Death, Domination, and Corruption, it was inconceivable that the Herrscher of the End would be incomplete. As the most powerful and final Herrscher, she was destined to wield strength far beyond any other.

Even though the Herrscher of the End had not displayed any specific abilities during the last stand of the Previous Era, her sheer overwhelming Honkai energy levels were enough to crush her enemies.

But who could deny that the Herrscher of the End lacked abilities?

Selene's actions now confirmed humanity's worst fears.

"Just as Mei predicted," Kevin thought, his body trembling with suppressed rage. "The Herrscher of the End's abilities encompass all thirteen previous Herrscher powers…"

And with geometric amplification, no less.

Suddenly, Kevin's aura flared violently, his restrained energy exploding outward like a raging inferno. Even the icy power of the Emperor-class Honkai beast Pavanti's DNA couldn't contain the heat surging within him.

Anger boiled his blood, making his muscles as rigid as steel. His face turned crimson, veins bulging across his temples as his fury spiraled out of control.

Selene's mockery or cruelty would never have provoked such a reaction. After millennia of slumber and solitude, Kevin's heart had hardened into unyielding iron.

But what if it concerned the people he cared about?

"Elysia, Eden, Vil-V, Kalpas, Su, Mobius, Pardofelis… Everyone?!" Kevin clenched his teeth so hard it was a wonder they didn't shatter.

"You dare…! The End—!"

Kevin, for all his icy demeanor, was no machine. Deep within him, emotions still flickered—attachments to his comrades.

Opposite him, Selene's hand moved with a puppeteer's grace. Under her command, forms resembling human figures began to coalesce—men and women alike, their bodies shaped like dolls of the Herrscher of Domination.

Each figure was meticulously sculpted, with distinct hair colors, attire, and the unique auras of individuals.

Some exuded allure, others gentleness, intelligence, rebelliousness, calm, or playfulness. Yet without exception, their expressions were cold and lifeless, utterly indifferent to their surroundings, their eyes empty of all emotion.

"A reunion with 'living' old friends—how does that feel?" Selene spread her arms, her smile laced with malevolence. There was an eerie sincerity in her demeanor, a chilling mix of respect for life and reverence for death, as if she honored the lives she was about to extinguish.

"What a shame," Selene lamented, her tone mocking. "I couldn't find Mei among them. It seems she's well and truly dead, leaving not even a fragment of her consciousness behind. Otherwise, I might have arranged for you two tragic lovers to 'reunite.'"

She tilted her head slightly, her smile widening. "How utterly pathetic—you've failed even as a man."

This, of course, wasn't true resurrection—merely an exquisitely crafted puppet imbued with consciousness programs extracted from the Elysian Realm.

Strictly speaking, it was not a soul.

Whether the original body had perished or not, no matter how close the similarity, even if it reached 99.9999%, it was fundamentally not the same person.

The world allows consciousness to inhabit new vessels but forbids vessels from reclaiming dispersed consciousness. Once a soul is scattered, it cannot return to life.

Not even Selene could change this. It was a law of the Imaginary Tree. As long as Selene had not transcended it, she could not override it.

"Aaaaaahhh—!"

Selene's words struck directly at Kevin's most vulnerable point. He knew full well her taunts were designed to provoke him, yet he still fell into the trap, unable to maintain his composure any longer.

At this moment, Kevin was no longer the Sovereign of World Serpent. He was merely a fool blinded by the belief that Dr. Mei's plan was flawless, desperate to implement it in this era.

His emotions, poured entirely into Mei, left little space for anything else—not even his own child.

A fool. A madman, driven by love.

"Stop mocking me!"

"Heavenly Fire—Calamity's Extinction!"

Kevin raised the [Judgment of Shamash] sword, pulling it back. His charred, ancient clothing strained, revealing the grotesque marks of Honkai corruption on his torn, muscular arm.

Another deafening roar followed.

As the greatsword ignited once more, Kevin's complexion grew paler. His entire body bore the scars of violet-red corruption. Beneath their erosion, his ice-bound powers burned away like a candle nearing its end. His lips were colorless, his bloodshot eyes feral—he was a walking corpse.

The flaming sword surged toward Selene, its burning blade and blackened hilt resembling the desperate thrash of a cornered dragon.

"Feeble."

Boom—Hum!

Selene extended one hand, halting the raging inferno in its tracks.

Her gaze was cold and dismissive. An invisible barrier shimmered faintly before her hand, creating a three-meter buffer. The enormous fire pillar didn't just stop—it was absorbed, swallowed by the spinning violet-red currents like a black hole.

The explosive energy of the firestorm was completely dissolved into scattering particles, dissipating into nothingness.

"...The power of the Herrscher of Earth," Kevin murmured, his expression grim. He shifted his stance, pulling his right foot back and gripping the [Judgment of Shamash] with both hands, readying himself to push his life force to its absolute limit.

But before he could act, "Ugh—!" A massive mouthful of blood spilled from his lips, and dizziness overtook him.

"Still in a state of exhaustion."

The gap was insurmountable. Compared to the first time Kevin unleashed Calamity's Extinction, this attempt was a pale shadow—more like a "Little Boy" compared to a "Tsar Bomba."

Kevin was in tatters, his physical endurance at its limit. Without rest, he could not draw upon reserves that simply didn't exist. Worse still, the surrounding Honkai energy was corrupted by Selene, making it impossible for him to absorb and replenish himself.

The mind could deceive, but the body could not. And Kevin's body screamed: No more.

Even if Kevin wished to transcend his limits, his body had nothing left to give.

Unlike the protagonist of a melodramatic tale, Kevin had no allies to rally him, no lover's kiss to inspire a heroic second wind, and no "buffs" to stack. The overwhelming reality was simply against him.

Selene's crimson eyes betrayed no emotion as she gestured for Budo and Robert to remain calm. There was no hint of anger in her gaze, no intention of taking offense at Kevin's defiance.

"Do you know," she began conversationally, "I found something very interesting within the Elysian Realm."

Her tone carried a mocking glee as she crossed her arms and raised her right hand, snapping her fingers with a sharp "snap!"

Buzz—Buzz—!

Once again, reality was torn apart. Chains clinked as they emerged, revealing a golden lattice within an Imaginary void. From it, a strikingly beautiful woman was dragged forth, bound tightly by serpent-like chains.

She wore a hood, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders. Her azure eyes shimmered with a gentle, watery light. Her aura exuded an initial impression of sanctity—perhaps even divinity—tinged with an ethereal serenity.

As Kevin's gaze shifted downward, he momentarily lost his composure.

Her voluptuous curves, perfectly complemented by her tall frame and ultra-thin silk nun's outfit, painted her as an alluring beauty that seemed almost criminal.

What truly drew the eye, however, were her exposed legs—smooth and slender, with impeccable proportions. Every detail, from the length to the shape, balanced sensuality with perfection, showing no flaws.

It was impossible not to marvel at her—a blend of purity and seduction, sanctity and sin.

Particularly as Selene casually pulled her into view, the golden chains emphasized the woman's unmatched softness. Her movements, unintentional as they were, only added to her captivating allure.

She was… overwhelming.

"By any standard, this woman's figure is… too indecent, too sinful," Selene mused to herself, nodding internally with approval. I like this.

"Aponia…"

"Kevin," the familiar voice of an old comrade broke through his shock, calling his name.

Aponia's tone carried compassion, the warmth of an elder sister offering comfort. This was a quality Selene, despite all her power, could never replicate.

"I'm sorry… I've failed. Eden, Vill-V… the Elysian Realm I was entrusted with is gone…"

Panting, her delicate voice revealed unfathomable weakness as she forced her eyes open.

Her limbs were pierced by golden chains, the pale pink flesh visible beneath their grip. Yet no blood spilled—every drop had been drained, consumed by the chains.

The original Elysian Realm had been financed by Eden, the fourth Flame-Chaser, marked with the sigil of [Gold]. She constructed it as a Golden Courtyard.

It was then engineered by the tenth Flame-Chaser, Mobius, with the sigil of [Infinity], and the fifth, Vill-V, marked with the sigil of [Spiral].

As the Head of Engineering for MOTH, Vill-V oversaw all aspects of the project's construction.

After the second Flame-Chaser, Elysia, bearing the sigil of [True Self], passed away, Aponia had asked Vill-V to merge her being with the Elysian Realm.

"Ah… if anyone should apologize, it's me. I ruined everything. I failed Mei. I failed everyone."

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Selene clapped softly, her mocking applause echoing through the silence.

"It took a significant amount of my effort to separate her from the Elysian Realm," Selene said with a smirk. "So, a true reunion with old friends, Kevin Kaslana… have you considered serving me? Or perhaps…" She paused, her tone growing even more sinister, "Mei?"

Selene extended her hand, her gesture unnervingly inviting, her voice devoid of hostility.

"Extract the data, Kevin. I could create a Mei—one perfectly tailored to your heart's desires."

"The End! Are you out of your mind?!"

Perhaps because he was nearing death or because Aponia, a true comrade from the Previous Era, had reappeared, Kevin shed the burden of being humanity's savior. For a moment, he returned to his younger, more impulsive self, reminiscent of his days at Chiyou Academy alongside Mei.

"Ridiculous! On this scorched earth, I made a promise—to her, to everyone—that no matter the cost, humanity will triumph over Honkai!"

"This is my vow as Kevin Kaslana!"

He pointed his sword at Selene, wiping the blood from his lips. Despite his battered state, a smile broke across his face. In his bloodshot eyes burned a golden resolve, radiant with unyielding will.

"You will never conquer humanity!"

This was perhaps the most expressive Kevin had been since Mei's death. For years—no, centuries—he had rarely smiled, his face locked in stoic resolve. But now, his emotions poured out.

"Even if I die, I believe humanity will one day defeat Honkai!"

"Selene, humanity will overcome you!"

Selene's expression remained serene, but her lips curved into a faint, icy smile. For a moment, she regarded Kevin as one might a misguided child, her golden eyes brimming with amusement and contempt. Then, her laughter rang out—cold, regal, and cutting like the crack of a whip.

"Humanity will overcome me?" she repeated, her voice dripping with mockery. "Oh, Kevin Kaslana, how truly absurd you are. Do you even realize the depths of your own foolishness?"

She stepped forward, her presence suffused with golden light, every movement radiating unshakable authority.

"I am not merely the Herrscher you see before you. I am Selene, Divine Empress of the Sacred Selene Empire—the God-Emperor of humanity's greatest dominion—a human empire spanning countless worlds where humanity thrives under my reign. Generals fight for my name, soldiers march to my banner, and citizens kneel in respect and loyalty, secure under my rule. You speak of humanity rising up against me? Kevin, I am the will of humanity."

Her eyes narrowed, her voice laced with derision. "Do you believe that humanity would rise to overthrow its guardian, its Empress, when it is my strength that shields them, my vision that guides them, and my rule that binds them together? Do you not see the irony in your words? You preach rebellion to a ruler whose subjects adore her, whose empire stands as a testament to humanity's unity and power."

Selene's tone darkened, her words striking like hammer blows. "You cling to the past, Kevin Kaslana, to an ideal that no longer exists. You claim to fight for humanity's triumph, yet here you are, opposing its greatest achievement. You are not a savior—you are an echo of a bygone era, a shadow railing against the light of the future."

Her golden radiance flared brighter, casting Kevin in its brilliance, making him seem smaller, more insignificant. "Tell me, what does it feel like to stand here, battered and broken, realizing the very humanity you believe will rise against Honkai has already embraced it?"

Her smile deepened, sharp and cruel. "But enough of this farce. Your defiance ends here. Farewell, Kevin Kaslana. Consider this your grand funeral."

"Divine Wrath!"

With a deafening surge of power, a golden radiance exploded from her being, illuminating the heavens. A vast, ringed halo appeared in the sky, covering the azure expanse.

Buzz—Buzz—Buzz!

"Kevin!"

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