"What are you spacing out for? Are you unhappy about marrying me? Even I would get upset if that's the case~?"
Seeing Chang Yuan's troubled expression, Elysia pouted slightly.
It was their wedding day, and the Honkai had been defeated. Why was he still so gloomy? Was it because of her?
"No, it's just... everything feels too surreal, too smooth."
Chang Yuan had imagined the previous civilization's victory, but he never expected it to be this smooth—so smooth that it felt unnatural.
"Isn't it good that it went smoothly? At least everyone's still alive. Aponia, Eden, everyone... They're all alive and have earned the title of the Fourteen Flame-Chasers."
"Fourteen Flame-Chasers? I'm included? That's great."
He had thought it would be the original thirteen Flame-Chasers, but he was included too. That was nice.
But the more he thought about it, the more something felt off. The Thirteen Flame-Chasers were supposed to be the strongest or have unique abilities.
But Kevin and the others hadn't fused with Honkai beasts or become MANTIS warriors. In that case, those who had fused with Emperor-class Honkai beasts and survived would undoubtedly be stronger.
Wait, if they hadn't become MANTIS warriors, then where did those voices in his head come from?
"Aponia's commandments, Su's Causality Reversal... Su!"
In that instant, Chang Yuan caught the flaw.
If they hadn't become MANTIS warriors, then where did Su's Causality Reversal come from? There was only one answer.
Chang Yuan's gaze turned fierce as he suddenly grabbed Elysia by the neck.
"You've lost again. As convincing as this illusion within an illusion is, the facts remain. Your logic has a flaw."
"Heh, you figured it out again. How lucky."
As she spoke, Elysia's form began to crack like a shattered mirror, revealing the 8th Herrscher beneath.
"The more you sink into these illusions, the longer you'll last. Three layers, four layers, or even ten layers eventually, you'll find a flaw you can't escape.
As the Herrscher of Sentience, no one can defeat me in my illusions. Not even you. So prepare to die in your dreams."
"No, this time it's not your turn to attack. It's mine."
Grabbing the 8th Herrscher by the neck, Chang Yuan slammed her into the ground.
But this did no damage to her. Instead, she quickly got up and kicked Chang Yuan thousands of meters away.
"Foolish. Thinking you can defeat me in the realm of consciousness I created? You're delusional."
Mocking Chang Yuan, the 8th Herrscher charged forward.
Though she didn't understand why Chang Yuan had suddenly decided to fight her, she was happy to oblige.
After what felt like an eternity of fighting, the 8th Herrscher grew bored of the one-sided beating.
She was about to create another layer of illusion when suddenly...
"Please do not escape. Please surrender."
Unlike the second layer of the illusion, this time only Aponia was present.
But she wasn't alone. Other mental-type MANTIS warriors were there too. Though not as strong, they combined their powers with Aponia's.
The others provided interference while Aponia led the attack.
"Chang Yuan, all we can do is restrict her absolute authority in the realm of consciousness. The one who must defeat her is you, and only you."
"Heh, fighting? That's my specialty. Leave it to me. Without her absolute invincibility in the realm of consciousness, she's no match for me."
Springing to his feet, Chang Yuan rubbed his face.
The 8th Herrscher had no sense of honor, always aiming for his face. Now it was his turn to retaliate.
The two of them clashed, and without the blessing of the realm of consciousness, the 8th Herrscher quickly fell behind.
After half an hour of brutal fighting, Chang Yuan grabbed the 8th Herrscher by the neck.
"Thank you for giving me a beautiful life with Elysia in the illusion. But I prefer the beauty of reality, even if it's not perfect. I have my own pursuits."
"Heh, the Cocoon has noticed you. From now on, every Herrscher will have their own consciousness. And you... you can only wait for death. I'll be waiting for you. After all, I admire your willpower."
Crack!
The sound of a neck snapping echoed as the 8th Herrscher's life was extinguished.
Letting go of her body, Chang Yuan's eyes were icy cold.
As expected, the Cocoon of Finality had noticed him. From now on, every Herrscher would be even more terrifying.
The other Herrschers didn't matter, but the most critical one was the 11th Herrscher, the Herrscher of Binding.
In the original timeline, even when she remained stationary, humanity paid a tremendous price to defeat her.
Now, with enhanced intelligence and consciousness, how would humanity defeat her?
"Tch, what a hassle. If it comes to it, we'll just throw more lives at the problem. It'll still be better than the original timeline."
With a click of his tongue, Chang Yuan felt the realm of consciousness collapsing. When it completely vanished, he returned to reality.
Opening his eyes, he found his body still sitting motionless in his private office.
"Yuan, it's good to have you back. If you ever face something like this again, please take me with you, okay? I might not be able to stop you from making this choice, but I want to face it together with you."
Elysia entered the room, taking Chang Yuan's hands in hers and gazing at him with watery eyes.
If it hadn't been for Vill-V and the others stopping her, she would have joined Chang Yuan in facing the 8th Herrscher.
"Alright, but I can't promise I'll always take you. Some things are just too dangerous. I won't let you take that risk."
"Silly Yuan, don't you know how to tell a little white lie to comfort me? Silly, silly."
Hearing Chang Yuan's response, Elysia puffed out her cheeks and lightly punched his chest with her fists.
Chang Yuan could only endure it.
What could he do? He couldn't hit his own wife, and this feeling of reality was just too wonderful.
"So, if you can catch my little tail, I'll take you with me next time. Otherwise, if it's too dangerous and you can't find a way to join me, I won't bring you along."
"Hmph, then I'll move in with you and keep an eye on you all the time."
"That won't work. I don't live alone in my dorm. There are others."
"Then I'll come watch you every morning. I won't give you a chance to escape."