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"Swish! Swish!"
The knife sliced through the juicy flesh of an apple, its crimson skin gracefully spiraling down in midair. Paired with delicate, flawless hands, it formed a visually pleasing tableau.
Hera sat propped up on her hospital bed, having finished peeling the fruit. She casually split the apple in two: one half for herself, which she bit into, and the other offered to Zeke across from her.
"So, Kiana still turned against you?"
"...No." Zeke accepted the apple, curtly denying it.
Out of nowhere, Hera produced a mirror and placed it before Zeke.
In the reflection, he saw a reddened slap mark still prominent on his face.
As Zeke's expression darkened, Hera chuckled heartily while chewing on her apple. "That girl learned some stealthy techniques from her old friend. Even with your impressive healing ability, the trace won't fade quickly. Surely you didn't lose all composure after getting slapped, not noticing this at all?"
"...Mind your own business!"
"Oh yes, I shouldn't meddle in the imperial family affairs between Your Majesty the Emperor and Her Highness the Consort. Truly deserving ten thousand deaths, indeed! Ha ha ha!"
Zeke remained silent, momentarily speechless amidst Hera's gleeful laughter. After all, being caught in such an embarrassing situation, coupled with Kiana's furious departure following the slap, had genuinely left him feeling quite vexed. At that moment, he lacked the inclination to dwell on it further.
Hearing Hera's infectious laughter filled with delight, Zeke momentarily found himself speechless. After all, he had been caught red-handed, and Kiana's furious slap followed by her hasty departure indeed left him feeling quite vexed. At that moment, he simply lacked the inclination to dwell on it further.
After her hearty laugh, Hera shook her head gently and sighed,
"Ah! My dear friend, only at times like these do you seem more human, showing emotions of joy and anger. Have you not noticed? Since shouldering the weight of civilization's future, your already reserved nature became even more unexpressive. 'Why so serious?' You need to relax a bit, Zeke!"
"Me, really?" Zeke suddenly felt uncertain, furrowing his brow as he questioned his emotional state.
Chewing on an apple, Hera replied leisurely,
"Yes, and quite noticeably! Don't burden yourself too much. I know that as someone determined to make a difference, you tirelessly think and act every day, striving to ensure this hastily formed Empire thrives without any chaos. However, you're human, not divine; be kinder to yourself."
In this world, Zeke was currently the only person qualified to advise Otto and make him genuinely consider his suggestions. Conversely, only Otto could offer guidance that would prompt deep reflection from Zeke.
After pondering for a moment, Zeke replied, "I...just don't want to mess things up. If I fail to help humanity overcome Honkai, I stand to lose much—perhaps everything."
"I've discovered quite a few intriguing worlds within the Sea of Quanta. Why not consider this: if all else fails, you can always take your young companions on a journey!"
"I have thought about it, but they likely wouldn't accept it, and I...am not willing to give up either."
Indeed, reaching this point had been no easy feat. The time and effort Zeke had invested in shaping this world exceeded even his own imagination. To see all that work fail without reversing the tragedy would be deeply disheartening.
Zeke possessed his own pride, having held positions of power for so long, constantly engaging in strategic battles with individuals like Otto over many years. Having achieved numerous world-altering feats, he couldn't bear the thought of utter defeat.
Most importantly, Kiana and her friends desperately wished to save this world under threat. If they ultimately failed, it would deeply sadden them. Moreover, how many would be willing to abandon this world and wander with Zeke? At the very least, Kiana herself would find it incredibly difficult to accept.
"Ah..." With a headache, Zeke shook his head and sighed, "At the very least, we must give it our all one last time. If truly... I'll make my choice when that moment comes."
If humanity cannot triumph even after Zeke's interventions altered so much in this timeline, then taking them away at that point could alleviate some guilt, and their resistance might lessen significantly.
Hera nodded, smiling warmly, "I understand your perspective now. However, as before, remember—even robots suffer wear and tear from prolonged overuse. It's best for you and the overall situation if you take things easier."
"All right, I'll adjust accordingly. So, how are you doing now?"
Zeke concluded his self-disclosure and looked earnestly at the radiant, smiling blonde girl lying on the hospital bed.
Hera maintained her smile, lazily saying, "Nearly all consciousness backups were destroyed, and the consciousness network meticulously built over many years has been utterly shattered. With great effort, I managed to gather the fragmented remnants of my conscious power into this body—as you can see, this is my final life now. Just obliterate this place, and Otto Apocalypse will bid farewell to the world forever!"
Pointing to her own head, Hera's smile remained entirely unclouded.
"..."
Zeke fell silent once more, gazing at the girl before him. He had envisioned countless scenarios for eliminating Otto, the unpredictable factor, but as the moment truly arrived, his feelings became unexpectedly complex.
Otto, once both mentor and friend turned adversary, was now Zeke's ally. If not for the irreparable tragedies of their past, perhaps they could have indeed become the best of friends?
Lost in thought, Zeke watched as Hera finished eating the apple and suddenly sat upright, asking with keen interest, "Come to think of it, that earlier incident presented a rare opportunity for a fitting goodbye, yet I didn't die. So, Zeke, are you happy or unhappy about this outcome? I'm genuinely curious—can you tell me?"
With mischief and curiosity gleaming in her bright emerald eyes, Hera looked like an innocent, charming young maiden—captivatingly beautiful.
Zeke fell silent at this.
After a moment, he rolled his eyes and stood up, saying, "Take care of yourself and recover fully. If you wish to continue developing your clones, go ahead; I won't stop you. However, I require sufficient contributions from you going forward. Additionally, we still need your assistance in analyzing the captured fragments of the God of Ruin and the data related to that answer. Return to your post as soon as possible."
"Yes~" Hera raised her hand with a beaming smile. Only after Zeke left the room did she slowly let it fade.
Bathed in the bright light, Hera lowered her head and sighed softly, "Zeke, please don't go soft on me. Otto Apocalypse is an irredeemably wicked sinner..."
As she gazed at her pale hands, Hera recalled what Theresa had said to her earlier.
Let's save the world together. With shared bloodlines and similar souls, these two deeply connected girls extended the same invitation. And once again, Hera made the choice she had made five hundred years ago.
"Heh! Whether it's saving the world or anything else, how could I ever refuse when you ask? Right, Kallen, and... Little Theresa!"
"Auntie! Auntie, you're finally awake!"
In another hospital room, Theresa groggily opened her eyes. Before she could gather her thoughts, Kiana threw her arms around her.
Soon, Kiana's tears soaked Theresa's hospital gown.
After a momentary daze, Theresa turned to see familiar faces: Wendy, Seele, Siegfried with his goofy grin, Rita, and even Durandal, whom she barely had a chance to speak with before...
"Ahem... You're all here..." Theresa gently patted Kiana's head, gradually smiling at these people who brought warmth to her heart.
However, noticing the absence of her equally important other close friend, Theresa's smile slowly faded. With a tremor in her voice, she asked a question that instantly silenced the room:
"Where is Himeko?"