Zeke felt like he had just woken from a long slumber.
Upon reflection, ever since shouldering the immense burden of supreme authority, even if not constantly on edge and treading carefully, he had indeed dedicated himself wholeheartedly with scarce moments of rest. Over the past year and a half, every aspect of the human world flourished rapidly. Yet for Zeke, there was hardly any time left to simply pause and spend leisurely moments with Kiana.
So when Zeke opened his eyes on the white bed within the all-metal room, he experienced a brief moment of disorientation, his mind momentarily blank—though it could also be attributed to the aftereffects of the Herrscher experiment.
Remaining lying down, Zeke placed both hands over his abdomen, feeling the smoothness of the silk nightshirt, and stared unblinkingly at the ceiling.
Appearing lost in thought, he was actually assessing his current situation.
First, all other Herrscher Cores within his body, along with several Divine Keys, have been removed.
Second, the entire room is made of anti-Entropy materials, likely supplemented by a Divine Grace Barrier outside, preventing him from extracting even the slightest trace of Honkai Energy now.
Third, most nearby quantum worker bees have been driven away; thus, he cannot harness the hive's power or utilize other technological means.
Fourthly, Zeke knew he must have been injected with some drugs, as his once invincible body now felt unexpectedly weak.
"Should I say it was expected?"
Zeke's expression remained composed as he effortlessly sat up, only to encounter something unexpected.
In any room, there would typically be a door. And on this room's doorknob hung a small white cloth pouch.
Zeke recognized it immediately. When their relationship officially blossomed in Mondstadt, Kiana had placed a few pieces of charcoal they buried years ago inside this pouch and earnestly told him—it served as a token of their love.
Speechless, Zeke could only marvel at Kiana's resourcefulness; whenever she needed her wits, she truly proved herself quite clever.
Seeing this pouch on the door, even if Zeke hadn't already calmed down, it would surely make even his determined self hesitate.
"Sigh..."
Zeke covered his face, envisioning Kiana's smug yet goofy grin.
Thus, Zeke decided to lie back down on the bed, closed his eyes, and thought, why not seize this opportunity for a little more sleep?
Unfortunately, Welt's true holographic projection promptly materialized in the room, disrupting Zeke's sleep plans.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"About three days."
"Hmm. Did anything go awry outside?"
"Not much globally. Bronya preemptively sealed all information about your situation, and the Hub continues to function normally. Essentially, everything remains as usual. However..." Welt glanced at Zeke lying on the bed, his expression pained and exasperated. "Internally, we nearly descended into chaos."
During Zeke's slumber, factions emerged: the radical royalists led by Bronya and Sin, and the conservative royalists headed by Welt. They engaged in multiple heated debates over how to treat Zeke.
Additionally, there were the neutral royalists, represented by Hera, whose intentions remained unclear. Though they constituted the majority, these individuals either observed passively or fanned the flames of discord.
In short, it was quite eventful.
Zeke lifted his eyelids from the bed and asked, "I don't care about that. How is Fu Hua doing now?"
Kiana didn't concern him; her exceptional constitution, nurtured directly by Zeke, ensured she was resilient. Plus, he had performed a quick examination before leaving Mondstadt. He could confidently confirm that neither accommodating six power abilities nor the subsequent battles had fundamentally harmed her. By now, she must be back to her lively self.
However, regarding Fu Hua—an immortal following mystical paths—Zeke genuinely couldn't gauge how much strain her surpassing the Sword Goddess technique might have taken on her.
Welt rolled his eyes and grumbled, "While I anticipated this response, hearing it from you is still irritating! After causing such chaos, aren't you even slightly embarrassed?"
"I apologize; I indeed underestimated the God of Honkai's influence. So, what about Fu Hua's condition?"
"..."
Zeke's calm demeanor caught Welt off guard, leaving him momentarily speechless. With a sigh, he eventually replied, "She remains asleep. However, we've used various methods to confirm that at least there's no immediate life-threatening danger. Additionally, Senti woke up briefly midway, mainly to inform Taixuan Mountain representatives that she's diligently working on repairs and assures us Fu Hua will be fine."
"Good to hear."
Zeke sat upright, feeling somewhat relieved, with any lingering drowsiness vanishing instantly.
Fu Hua wouldn't truly go for mutual destruction; it would be too cruel for both of them. Zeke trusted her judgment on this matter.
As for the mischievous kid Senti, although often immature, when it came to Fu Hua, she would undoubtedly give her utmost attention and effort.
So, it seemed likely that things were under control.
With his primary concern addressed, Zeke felt more relaxed. He crossed his legs, resting his chin on one hand, and said, "Alright, what did you want to discuss? Go ahead."
"...I must ask, can we still trust you?"
Welt and Zeke's acquaintance, within the vast timeline of the Honkai World, was relatively brief—roughly ten years when carefully calculated. During this time, Welt had placed his trust in Zeke, considering him a confidant who understood his very soul, and Zeke reciprocated with equal trust and support.
Under such a bond, they worked harmoniously together, guiding Anti-Entropy's transformation. This led to significant corrections of the era's distortions, ultimately shaping a new feudal age centralized under the emperor, flourishing with hope for victory against Honkai.
Now, as Welt posed this question, his voice carried both warmth and solemnity, reflecting his deeply conflicted emotions.
Even someone as resolute as Zeke showed a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.
After a prolonged silence, Zeke sighed and asked, "What, do you fear I'll persist stubbornly, dragging the entire world towards a direction you don't wish to see?"
"Primarily, I'm unsure if those actions were side effects of your Herrscher transformation or thoughts you've always harbored."
"I admit, the idea of refining Project Stigma, along with implementing more comprehensive measures, to ensure victory over Finality at any cost has been on my mind for quite some time."
"Don't be surprised; intelligent individuals often ponder deeply on various topics. For instance, Einstein... sometimes she would privately mutter some chilling things." Welt paused momentarily, his expression somewhat indescribable, as if reminiscing about something.
Honestly, Zeke was mildly intrigued by Ein's private musings, but considering the current setting, he decided not to delve further.
After a brief hesitation, Welt continued, "So, were those plans merely wild thoughts during moments of boredom, or have you been secretly executing them all along?"
"No, I abandoned them long ago. If I had pursued that path, the world wouldn't look like it does today."
"In other words, your previous state was indeed due to contamination from the God of Honkai, correct?"
"Mostly, yes. I am more aware than anyone of the power at my disposal. Consequently, I fully understood that harboring a Herrscher persona deep within my consciousness would be akin to having a terrifying time bomb ticking away. I rejected the formation of a Herrscher personality and instead chose to wholly absorb the emotions and thought patterns infused by Honkai... Hmm, that radical behavior was the direct consequence of this choice. You can grasp it in these terms."
Zeke rested his head on one hand, looking nonchalantly unconcerned.
However, Welt nodded approvingly.
Don't assume that just because there are many Herrschers on the human side, you can underestimate the negative energy infused by the Will of Honkai. Even someone as harmless-seeming as Seele—just let loose the other Seele and see if she doesn't start hacking people down!
When becoming a Herrscher, especially during the initial transformation, it's understandable for a person's character and thoughts to distort in any conceivable way.
Welt assessed that at least seven or eight parts out of ten of Zeke's explanation were credible. The remaining portion pertained to Zeke's genuine stance on the poorly conceived plan, details of which remained unclear.
In Welt's eyes, Zeke wasn't the type to lose all reason. Although his demeanor and approach might be somewhat peculiar, he possessed ordinary moral compass and goodwill. Moreover, with Kiana and Fu Hua standing firmly against him, even if Zeke had ulterior motives, he likely wouldn't act recklessly.
Welt nodded once more, the solemnity gradually fading from his gaze, replaced by a reassuring smile:
"To be honest, I still have some reservations, but seeing you like this reassures me greatly. Come to think of it, if your earlier behavior was indeed normal for you, it wouldn't have been so impulsive. Reasonably speaking, with your authority and capabilities, given proper planning, there's hardly anything beyond your reach. You wouldn't settle for such a humiliating outcome."
"...Can't you at least harbor more suspicion? Shouldn't you bear some responsibility for humanity, Welt?"
"I suspect you're using this opportunity to resign, shed your burdens, go on vacation, and watch from afar as we struggle under stress."
"Nah, I'm not interested in seeing you all fret," Zeke replied candidly.
If he were on vacation, why bother watching outsiders? Wouldn't it be far more enjoyable to wholeheartedly tease his girls without distractions?
Zeke shot a deadpan gaze at Welt, who responded with a serious look.
After a moment, Welt shook his head, and the holographic projection gradually faded away.
"Take care of yourself; many people are waiting for you outside."
As Zeke watched Welt's figure disappear, the door slowly creaked open, and the intense suppression of Honkai Energy dissipated.
Before the door fully opened, Zeke swiftly retrieved the bag of charcoal from the doorknob.
Several Cecilia clones entered, carrying clothes, warm towels, and the Xuanyuan Sword—a symbol of authority. Their presence indicated that this incident was now behind them, with no impact on Zeke's status.
As for individuals like Welt, he'd need to be more cautious around them in the future... but it wasn't particularly significant. Zeke's power and expertise were irreplaceable; unless absolutely necessary, no one would forsake his intellect or strength—an understanding shared by all.
"Sigh..."
After grooming himself and changing, Zeke fastened the Xuanyuan Sword at his waist, clutching the charcoal meant for Kiana in hand, and stepped out of the room.
Ji Lin, has there been any major trouble at Taixuan Mountain these past few days?
When the immortal first returned, Lady Nuwa and Little Lixue were quite anxious. However, with Fuxi and Little Fuxi present, along with Senti waking up to provide updates, everything is under control now.
Ji Lin's account aligned closely with what Welt had said, causing Zeke to nod in reassurance yet feeling even more eager to check the situation firsthand.
However, as Zeke exited the corridor and stepped into the open courtyard, he was suddenly embraced by a familiar, warm, fiery, and delicate body.
"Zeke! You're finally back to normal! You nearly scared me to death! Jerk! Bad guy! Big Dummy! Waaaaah!"
Stiffening momentarily, Zeke watched Kiana sobbing, yelling, punching, and scratching within his arms, resembling a frightened little girl.
Feeling her warmth and breath, sensing her anguish and indignation, Zeke allowed Kiana to vent fully. After some time, when she had calmed down slightly, he gently wrapped his arms around her.
Zeke stroked Kiana's hair, pressing her face against his chest, and whispered softly:
"Yes, I'm back."
"Zeke..."
"What is it?"
"Don't let your mind wander recklessly anymore. I hate seeing you like that; I really don't like it at all." Kiana sniffled against Zeke's chest, speaking with a subdued voice.
To Zeke, every word spoken through Kiana's tears carried immense weight, and this one resonated deeply.
"All right, I understand," Zeke replied slowly.
Zeke understood that Kiana was trying to restrain him, preventing him from veering towards extreme actions.
Despite seeing through her intentions, he couldn't help but yield to her plea.