A thousand days, a single dream, as if a world away.
The memory flashback didn't have the sense of disconnection found in mental illusions, and the aftereffects weren't severe. At least, Ryan felt no discomfort, only pushing up his sleeve to look at his watch.
Only one minute and twenty-two seconds? It clearly felt like a complete experience of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. This authority is not simple; it has a bit of the flavor of the Herrscher of Sentience.
As a hardcore man, he always puts his thoughts on how to fight, feeling that this authority is not just the literal meaning of 'linking,' but also implies many other things.
Could it also link the past and the present across space and time?
Ryan didn't know. He looked into the distance, where the pink-haired girl was swaying alone on a swing, humming an unknown melody. Compared to the recent noise and happiness, she seemed a bit lonely.
So, what did I get? What did I see?
Ryan recalled that one minute and twenty-two seconds. From a rational perspective, it seemed to have little meaning, but vaguely, he felt he had gotten a little closer to Elysia as a 'person,' making the 'Amen' of the Honkai-ologists more vivid and real.
To truly see the girl blossom from a bud from the perspective of a non-bystander, her unique personality and fiery passion become a matter of course. If you delve into it from a philosophical perspective, it only represents one truth:
At the beginning of life, human nature is inherently good, and our natures are similar, but our habits make us different. And she merely carried this initial 'True Self' through to the end.
"How do you feel? Is it like watching a movie? Some scenes are exclusive disclosures, you know," Elysia said, holding the iron chains with both hands, a warm smile on her face.
"An unparalleled performance that answered many of my questions." Ryan stepped into the sandpit, bent down, and rubbed the sand where the girl once played.
"What questions? Tell me."
"A person who is too perfect always has an empty image, making them feel rationalized. But after the flashback, I found that you are not perfect. You are influenced by those around you, and your worldview was also built step by step."
Ryan felt a bit emotional. He finally understood why she was called the 'Herrscher of Human Ego' and not the 'Herrscher of Light.' Human nature is inherently complex. Elysia did not come to be a Salvation with pure good intentions. She came to this world, lived with ordinary people, experienced kindness, and also understood helplessness and evil.
Elysia has one great thing about her, and that is that she doesn't vacillate like many people, sometimes being stimulated by evil to want to destroy the world, and sometimes being cleansed by good.
After she found her ideal, she remained consistent and followed her path without any change. Ryan then understood that the so-called 'True Self' is worth a thousand pieces of gold and belongs to the highest level in the psychological realm.
"So I am very grateful to Vostok for raising you. Even though this small village has gone through hardships, it has always been full of kindness. I also have to thank Ms. Celya; she was a very good teacher who unintentionally instilled gentleness and kindness in you."
"Ryan, when you praise me so much, I'll blush." Elysia cupped her cheeks and indeed felt them getting hot. In fact, she didn't know why she linked to the past; she just felt she should.
As for the effects, time paradox, and causal loops, why think about such troublesome things? It's enough that Ryan is happy now.
Chirping bird sounds echoed in the quiet town. Ryan also sat beside Elysia, gently swaying, just like the pink-haired girl's playmate in the memory flashback.
"Ryan, you still play on a swing? That's so childish."
"I'm only twenty-four, not as old as you think."
"That's true. You're younger than me. It's true that experiencing too much can make a person mature. Sometimes I even see you as an old man."
"Although I'm not very energetic, I'm not an old man." Ryan rolled his eyes, thinking to himself that he was very firm every morning, all year round.
"I take back what I said. Ryan, you're indeed a boy who can't keep still, just like during puberty."
"Aha, you really used your authority to listen to my thoughts!"
Ryan didn't quite understand at first, but seeing Elysia's face turn red, he instantly got angry. He reached out to knead her little face, of course without using force. Watching her bright little face change shape, he only felt that the texture was very good, soft and tender.
"I just haven't learned to control it yet. It wasn't on purpose."
Elysia shook gently and finally broke free from his grasp. She immediately said she would definitely control it in the future and would never reveal his perverted thoughts again.
"You're not allowed to listen! My glorious image in front of you has been completely ruined!"
"Oh, it's just the two of us now. I promise I won't tell Mobius."
I'd be a fool to believe that blabbermouth.
Ryan glanced at the girl who had turned into a pufferfish and casually asked, "What happened to Ms. Celya in the end?"
"She passed away from illness. Mei told me that." Elysia blinked and said gently before Ryan could apologize, "Don't worry, Mama Celya will always live in my heart. I've met many people and made many friends on this journey, and many of them have also passed away, but as long as I don't forget them, they will always be alive."
If I die, will you remember me too?
Ryan subconsciously thought this, but in the end, he didn't ask such a foolish question. Of course, Elysia would remember him, and besides, he wouldn't die. All the plans being advanced at the same time were all under his control.
Composure comes from intelligence. Ryan is clearly a person who is very aware of fate and is more used to holding it in his own hands.
"Do you want to go to the orphanage to see it?"
"I really want to, but I think it's better to leave some sense of expectation in the story. That way, there's a desire to strive, right? Do you really want to go, Ryan?"
"I'll follow your lead." Ryan's feet touched the ground, and he slowly straightened his back, opened his mouth, and greedily breathed in the air of this small town. "It is indeed peaceful and beautiful. If I have a chance, it wouldn't be bad to have it as the end of our journey."
The beginning of everything, the end of everything, just like an Ouroboros. At this moment, Ryan already understood why Elysia brought him here.
It was a spiritual connection, a desire to show her past. In a sense, Ryan had surpassed all humans and was closer to Elysia than ever before.
Visually, the girl was close at hand. He could see every pink hair strand and every pattern on her white stockings. On this journey, they had held hands many times.
But the distance of the heart was even closer. Not everyone has the opportunity to witness Elysia's growth, to discover the imperfections of this girl. It is precisely because she shed this perfection that she seems like a vivid and lively 'person.'
"This is truly a unique date. There probably isn't a girl in the world who would invite a man to witness her innocent youth, hoping to have a perfect image in the eyes of others."
If it were Mobius, she would be stubborn at this moment, even coming up with a few excuses. But Elysia was neither shy nor stubborn; she just smiled slightly, following the thoughts in her heart.
"Are you happy?"
"Of course, it's my honor." Ryan bowed like a gentleman with his hand on his chest. After such a long time, he finally understood.
Elysia cannot be viewed with shallow eyes like 'flirting' or 'capturing,' nor is there any physical desire or spiritual love. She naturally loves everyone, and to get a 'more love' is already breaking the balance. Under the 'True Self,' any thought is very natural, like water flowing to its destination.
Without saying more, Ryan spread his hand. Without any hesitation, a small hand wearing a white lace glove was placed in his palm. This was a manifestation of Elysia's true thoughts; they didn't need to overthink it.
"The Herrscher of Binding should have made a move."
"Yes, what a stubborn child. She's desperately resisting me. Now she's getting more and more agitated, which is a little disappointing."
Elysia's disappointment was within Ryan's expectations. This is not the post-civilization era. The Herrscher vessels are also battle-hardened warriors. He even felt that this link was not a good thing.
A Herrscher without emotion is terrifying, but it is essentially just a machine that follows a routine. Only when emotion and authority are combined, and they understand anger and despair, can they create miracles.
If this Herrscher is truly anxious, and decides to take a risk, it will make her unpredictable.
People will do irrational things because of anger, and precisely because of this, they are difficult to control. And that Herrscher of Blood seems very crazy, but in fact, it is the inertia of her personality, which is fundamentally different from the current Herrscher of Binding.
"The will to survive will make her transcend rationality and increase her power at all costs. For humanity, this is a catastrophe."
"But you will overcome it, right?"
Ryan turned his head, looked at the smile on Elysia's face, flicked his white long coat, and turned around abruptly.
"Do you even have to ask!"
...
In the tunnel, the Herrscher of Binding slowly straightened up, gently brushed her light blue hair, and her purple-eyeshadowed eyes were filled with a strange expression.
This was indeed strange. A Herrscher's eyes are always empty, but at this moment, she seemed like a 'living being.'
"I have to thank the Herrscher of Human Ego. This trouble made me understand why humans are always so difficult to defeat. Some things go beyond the concept of success rate. This is the so-called 'gambling.'"
Herrschers naturally don't understand gambling. They automatically choose the sample with the highest success rate and execute it to the end. But humans, or rather, Ryan, are different. Several times, he responded to crises with an all-in move.
Even if this gamble would bring more terrifying losses, if he won, he would win completely.
Previously, the Herrscher couldn't understand, but now she did. This was an inevitable choice in despair, mixed with courage, persistence, and other emotions, as well as the meaning of 'living toward death.'
For example, 'living toward death.' Previously, the Herrscher couldn't understand it. Death and life are opposites; how can they be confused?
Her heavy pupils scanned the surroundings. Thirty figures with tubes plugged all over their bodies stood quietly. These were Dr. Damian's chimeras, which had no practical combat significance due to their short shelf life.
"Why didn't she come?"
"The Herrscher of Finality seems to have a similar situation to you. I don't know how that human named Callis did it, but his form of existence has a certain value." The thirty figures spoke at the same time, their voices echoing in the underground like metal rubbing.
The Herrscher of Binding was stunned for a moment, then understood what 'similar situation' meant. That human vessel actually used some method to avoid the Herrscher personality reset and retained a certain degree of autonomy.
This is impossible, yet it's also possible. Perhaps it was the Herrscher of Human Ego's betrayal, or perhaps he found another path. After all, those humans have been planning something.
Incomprehension and anger surged, and the interference of emotions made her seem painful, so she shook her head hard.
"This is not important, nor is it something we need to care about. We don't even have the spare energy to care."
"It seems she also used humans?"
"As humans would say, this is the so-called 'borrowing power,' but the struggle is futile; he will be consumed by the personality sooner or later." There was a look of fatigue in the Herrscher of Binding's eyes, experiencing an emotion called 'helplessness' for the first time.
When two giant beasts fight to the death, someone will always take advantage of the chaos, but she couldn't care about that anymore.
"Let's begin. Before I am swallowed by these human emotions, let's complete our mission as quickly as possible. The Herrscher of Human Ego must be bound; her danger has already surpassed that of Ryan."
"I have to remind you that the success rate is not high. This should not be used, at least not until he is completely one of us."
"Everything in the world is a gamble. This is something I learned from humans. Perhaps what we lack is this kind of courage."
The Herrscher of Domination was silent. She didn't understand courage, only probability theory. She would only choose the plan with the highest success rate. But after being tormented by Ryan several times, she also couldn't figure out which plan would have a high success rate.
Besides, she was right. It was impossible to accomplish the three goals no matter what. To do so, she could only learn this incomprehensible 'courage.'
"You no longer seem like a Herrscher, and I will not trust your judgment, but I am tired of failure."
Buzz, buzz, buzz...
The tunnel underwent a certain resonance. The terrifying energy tore apart the thirty binding suits, forming purple-red ribbons. This was the result of the Herrscher of Domination gathering the remaining hundreds of threads, all condensed onto these thirty experimental subjects.
In human terms, this was suicide, because these bodies had begun to collapse, and their physical bodies turned into dust and disappeared. But at this moment, an even more massive energy fluctuation completely erupted.
Overweight super-transformation.
Boom!
The roaring energy pierced through the mountain peak, like a giant sword piercing the sky, linking heaven and earth.
The thirty bodies were directly reduced to dust and ashes. This was the price of exceeding the limit. Without a vessel, the Herrscher of Domination would also die, but she controlled this unparalleled energy, rolling towards the motionless Herrscher of Binding like a tentacle.
Energy beyond the control limit, all dominator entities combined. This limit could only be maintained for a moment, but it was enough for her to dominate a fellow Herrscher who was far stronger than her, and who, coincidentally, had no defenses.
Herrscher of Binding, Herrscher of Dominance, both become one!