The illusion continued.
After the Herrscher of Binding was run down by Leo Ash, he once again fell into a state of severe injury.
Only this time, the heavily wounded Leo Ash didn't cause everyone to feel much unease.
To the ordinary members of Fire Moth, Leo Ash, the master fisherman, had once used the 'fact that he was injured' as bait to lure out the Herrscher of Domination.
After that, Leo Ash used his abilities as a psychic MANTIS to hypnotize the enemy and successfully formulated a plan to annihilate the Herrscher of Domination, reducing the potential casualties to an almost negligible number.
As for the core members who knew of Yae Sakura's origins, it would be a lie to say they weren't worried about Leo Ash, but the problem was...
—In their eyes, this wasn't the first time Leo Ash had gone fishing.
The first time Leo Ash went fishing, he deliberately showed weakness and lured out the high-level vermin who wanted to attack him.
Then, by following the trail and controlling those vermin, Leo Ash completely transformed Fire Moth into an organization fully dedicated to fighting the Honkai.
Combined with his track record during the Herrscher of Domination incident, in a sense, everyone had developed an almost blind trust in Leo Ash.
But this time, Leo Ash truly felt a bit unwell.
Even though he knew this was an illusion, the near-suffocating state he experienced within the Herrscher of Binding's barrier still left some shadows on his mind and body.
Outsiders only saw the warrior Leo Ash driving a Moonlight Throne like a runaway truck to crush the Herrscher of Binding, but only Leo Ash knew that even with preparations, many things only increased his chances by a small margin; it didn't mean the difficulties of the event ceased to exist.
The more he fought, the more Leo Ash admired the warriors of the Previous Era.
He was having such a hard time even with a full set of cheats. Those unlucky seniors from the Previous Era had to guard against betrayal from their superiors while fumbling their way forward in the dark, without any understanding of the Herrschers' powers.
It was precisely because these predecessors paved the way that the current civilization could live in relative comfort.
But now, it had come to this.
The Twelfth Herrscher was about to awaken, and this time...
Ha, even if it's an illusion, I will not let this tragedy happen again.
The Rin of the past was a terrifying enemy to humanity.
But according to the original story, the resentment in her heart could be resolved.
This is a rare opportunity. Since she has now been pulled into this illusion, then...
—I might as well try and see if I can pull her over to my side.
.......
Meanwhile, somewhere in the Fire Moth base within the illusion, Elysia stopped Yae Sakura, who was on her way to visit Leo Ash, and pulled her into a room with a cheerful smile.
Then, after composing herself, Elysia said to Sakura.
"Sakura... the situation is urgent. I will only say what comes next once."
"You must control yourself and not show too surprised of an expression."
In Elysia's eyes, Sakura was indeed doing what she, as a former assassin, should do—she was remarkably calm.
But to Yae Sakura, who had regained her consciousness, she had likely already guessed what Elysia wanted to say.
Yae Sakura, having recovered her memories, still remembered how much 'Sakura' doted on her younger sister.
But during this time, she had discovered that 'Hako Rin', who was 'Sakura's' sister, had also regained her memories, just like her.
Perhaps to outsiders, Rin had only grown distant from her sister because she was going through puberty.
But only Yae Sakura herself knew that Rin was wary of her.
Or rather, the Herrscher of Corruption was wary of her enemy, Yae Sakura.
So now, the matter that Elysia wanted to tell Yae Sakura about with such a serious expression was, in Yae Sakura's view, simply the fact that Rin had become a Herrscher.
"Currently, only I know the inside story. We still have a chance. The next Herrscher, she..."
"...She is your sister."
It's just as I thought.
Elysia, you didn't tell anyone else about this right away... Sigh, should I be touched?
Seeing Sakura's calm expression, Elysia felt that this plot was a bit off.
Wait a minute.
Although I did want you to be calm, you don't even have a flicker of change in your eyes. Isn't this a bit... too calm?
Does Sakura think I'm joking?
Or is there another reason?
At that moment, Elysia's communicator suddenly buzzed.
After taking it out, Elysia saw the name [Leo Ash] on the screen and her eyes shifted slightly as she answered the call.
"Hey, finally awake, our great hero?"
"I was never asleep, just slacking off because I wasn't feeling well."
"Elysia, have you forgotten something? Whispering near a psychic MANTIS, what's the difference between that and shouting right in front of me with a loudspeaker?"
"...Hmm, I guess with a loudspeaker, other people can hear it too?"
"Cut the crap."
On the other end of the communicator, Leo Ash spoke to Elysia in an annoyed tone.
"You and Sakura, both of you, get over here obediently."
"I've already figured out how to handle Rin."
After saying this, Leo Ash proactively ended the call.
But for Elysia, she still felt that—this person, Leo Ash, was simply too uncanny.
This uncanniness wasn't because Elysia felt Leo Ash was doing anything wrong. On the contrary, the choices he made were as if he had read the script, almost perfectly avoiding the wrong options as if he knew the future developments in advance.
Could it be that, in handling Rin's matter, he had already thought of a plan from the very beginning?
So, does that mean all my worrying, all my thinking, in the end...
—Don't tell me Leo Ash is going to say I worried for so long for nothing?
..
As for Higyokumaru, she had long seen through the fact that this world was not real.
Although Leo Ash had taken her Herrscher Core, Higyokumaru could still, through the faint connection she had with it, cast some pitifully weak Herrscher powers.
After spending several months, Higyokumaru, having regained her self-awareness, immediately chose to distance herself from that woman, Yae Sakura.
She was well aware that the way the other party looked at her was off. The mere thought of this woman acting within the illusion wearing her sister 'Sakura's' skin made her want to vomit.
For the following period, Higyokumaru, as a family member of a Fire Moth warrior, had a relatively comfortable time.
Moreover, she had to objectively admit that Leo Ash's performance in this illusion was far too outstanding.
The Continent of Mu, which should have been sunk, now only had some minor problems.
Human society, which should have been riddled with mutual suspicion by the Herrscher of Domination, was now, for the time being, incredibly peaceful.
The MANTIS squad, which should have been completely slaughtered, now had more members than in the history she knew—after all, with the Continent of Mu still intact, humanity had more resources and could naturally create more MANTISes.
Because of this, Higyokumaru, who was originally prepared to cause a big incident, surprisingly found some inappropriate thoughts sprouting in her heart.
If the me of the past... no, if everyone in the past had met him earlier, perhaps many things would have been different.
Everything in the illusion was, in fact, progressing step by step.
So, when I become a Herrscher... how will he deal with me?
Will he kill me outright, just like the Herrschers of the past?
Or perhaps...
Just as Rin had this thought, a voice suddenly came from outside her door.
"Rin, are you there? I'm your sister's good friend, Elysia."
"...I'm here."
Knowing she had to face this, Rin opened the door and spoke to Elysia with extreme nervousness.
"Hello, Big Sister Elysia—"
"Call me Little Sister Elysia."
Although the other person was saying something illogical, under her unquestionable gaze, Rin actually nodded obediently.
"Yes, Little Sister Elysia."
"Mm, good girl."
Seeing the nervousness and panic in the young girl's eyes, Elysia very naturally took her hand, led her out of the room, and closed the door behind them.
"Everyone already knows about your situation. Don't worry, we've already figured out a solution."
"...I am a Herrscher."
Hearing Elysia's words, Rin suddenly shook off Elysia's hand and shot her a fierce look.
"Stay away from me, human! I won't believe you!"
Right, just like back then.
After that woman locked me up, I still died at the hands of those humans.
Humans are filth that shouldn't exist in this world—how could I have forgotten this just because of a few things that happened in a mere illusion!
"Oh dear, I knew this would happen."
Looking at the girl before her, Elysia smiled helplessly, tossed her into the air amidst the girl's gasp, and then hugged her tightly.
Only then did Rin sorrowfully remember something.
The girl named Elysia was no delicate beauty.
In the past, she was the second strongest warrior in Fire Moth. In this illusion, due to Leo Ash's appearance, she had become the third strongest.
But whether she was second or third, for Rin, who currently possessed the strength of an ordinary girl, if the other party wanted to use force, she had no way to resist at all.
"Let go of me! Let go!"
"I~ re~ fuse~"
Looking at the girl in her arms, Elysia smiled cheekily as she held Rin, quickly boarded the vehicle Fire Moth had prepared for her, and spoke to the male driver in front.
"Mike, the mission objective has been retrieved."
"Now, it's time to take this child to the stage Leo Ash has prepared for her, right?"
....
Half an hour later. Inside Fire Moth. A certain plaza.
In the plaza, the warriors and researchers of Fire Moth were discussing amongst themselves why the higher-ups had suddenly asked them to drop their work and come to this plaza for some strange meeting.
As for the high-ranking members who were already in the know, their gazes towards each other were filled with suspicion.
Although Leo Ash had resolved four major Honkai events in a row in the past, this time...
A Herrscher's awakening was inevitably accompanied by a large-scale Honkai Eruption, and at its center, the manifested Herrscher would begin to slaughter humans.
This was a theorem in the past. Now you're telling us this rule has changed, and the Herrscher is even a harmless ally?
Isn't this a bit... too fantastical?
Of course, no one would say everything on their mind aloud.
Leo Ash had never let them down in the past. Although they couldn't understand his thinking this time, they wouldn't start doubting him because of it.
In this strange atmosphere, Leo Ash arrived at the plaza with Elysia, Rin, and the pilot Mike who had brought them back.
After walking into the center of the plaza, Leo Ash spoke to the crowd.
"Alright, I know everyone has questions, so I'll only take a few minutes of your time."
"Actually, ever since the Herrscher of Domination was suppressed, I have been secretly carrying out a plan."
"As you all know, I am a psychic MANTIS, so I can use mental suggestions to make some people fall into despair."
"And after subduing a Herrscher of Domination with my psychic MANTIS powers, I suddenly had an idea."
"Since a Herrscher is a Honkai apostle that awakens when a 'sufficiently qualified host' is in a 'state of despair'—then, if we make someone fall into a false despair and then wake them up, can we create a Herrscher who stands on humanity's side?"
"I know this method is very inhumane, but unfortunately, to defeat the Honkai now, all of humanity is out of time."
"So after that, I began collecting the medical information of Fire Moth members and their families, and finally found a suitable host to become a Herrscher."
After saying this, Leo Ash immediately took a step back, leaving Rin's trembling body standing in front of him.
"Rin. Right now, sealed within her body, is the core of the Twelfth Herrscher."
"Because of the Twelfth Herrscher's nature, only if we kill it will it evolve into its true, complete form and begin to corrode all things in the world as the 'Herrscher of Corruption'."
"But now, we don't have to worry about this—as long as Rin seals the Herrscher of Corruption's core, it will not pose a threat to humanity."
At that moment, Leo Ash placed his hands on Rin's shoulders, scanned the surrounding Fire Moth members, and spoke to them with extreme sternness.
"I brought everyone here today to make one thing clear—Rin is a hero who has sealed a Herrscher, not an enemy we should defeat."
"If anyone fails to recognize this and tries to harm Rin, they will be making an enemy of me, Leo Ash!"
At that moment, everyone present, even powerhouses on the level of Rita, Elysia, and Sakura, felt a terrifying pressure descend upon them.
Although this pressure vanished in an instant, they could not forget the feeling that had just flashed by.
As for Rin herself, who had thought she was going to die and was even preparing to see if she could activate her powers, she was now dumbfounded.
In the past, Leo Ash's attitude towards Rin had always been very poor.
So in Rin's view, Leo Ash having Elysia bring her to Fire Moth this time was clearly not out of good intentions.
However, now, listening to Leo Ash's speech, she could feel that he was absolutely serious when he said those words.
Damn it, no, things shouldn't turn out like this!
This is just an illusion, he's just using this cost-free trick to win me over!
Although she kept repeating these things to herself in her heart, Rin now found that her heart was inevitably being softened.
But at this moment, Leo Ash's attention was no longer on her.
"Alright, let's end the topic of our little hero, Rin, here for now."
"Actually, what I wanted to talk about today is more than just this matter."
Removing his hands from Rin's shoulders, Leo Ash adjusted his expression and spoke to the crowd in a teasing tone.
"Lately, I've often heard people saying things like 'It's all thanks to Leo Ash that we can defeat the Honkai,' 'Without Leo Ash, many people would have died,' 'We can't do without Leo Ash.'"
Seeing a hint of amusement appear in everyone's eyes, Leo Ash's tone suddenly shifted, and he spoke to the crowd with anger.
"In my opinion, these words—are all fucking bullshit."
"It's true that I, Leo Ash, am a bit better at fighting, a bit more capable than all of you, but my strength as a warrior is just that."
"Everyone, get this straight. Is the reason our Fire Moth can operate because I, Leo Ash, am here?"
"If there's no Leo Ash, Rita will step up. If there's no Rita, Elysia will lead everyone forward."
"The reason we can successfully fight against the Honkai is not due to one person's efforts, but the struggle of everyone together."
"Without the researchers developing medicine, weapons, and equipment in the back, what would our frontline warriors fight with?"
"Without the frontline warriors fighting in various places, we warriors at headquarters wouldn't be able to fight the Herrschers at our full strength."
"Without the grassroots personnel gathering medicinal herbs and mining minerals, our logistics would not be guaranteed."
"Without the people in the personnel department managing and recruiting talent, an organization that loses fresh blood will definitely head towards decline."
"Without those drivers who risk their lives to transport supplies, we might lose more comrades due to a lack of timely reinforcement."
"If this world can be saved, it's true I, Leo Ash, have a part in it, but I hope you all understand..."
"—My friends, you are the real heroes."
To be honest, not everyone agreed with the words Leo Ash had just spoken.
But for the members of Fire Moth who had been fighting all this time, to find that they were recognized to this extent by Leo Ash, whom they had always regarded as the light of humanity...
—Who the hell cares about any of that other stuff!
Being acknowledged by the person you admire the most, for an ordinary person, this feels super awesome!
And just like that, after Leo Ash's speech, the fervent atmosphere on site reached its peak.
Signaling for everyone to calm down with his hands, Leo Ash continued to speak to the crowd with a smile.
"Alright, the orders have been given, the bragging is done, now everyone should get back to whatever you were doing."
"However, according to my predictions, although the final great battle with the Honkai might be delayed for a while because Rin has sealed the Herrscher of Corruption, in the not-too-distant future, we humans will inevitably face the final showdown with the Honkai."
"Everyone, let us carry our beliefs and determination, and shout that phrase."
"Humanity—"
"Will defeat the Honkai!"
Outside the illusion, Su, listening to Leo Ash's heartfelt cry, truly felt...
Although I am well aware this is an illusion, what is this exhilarating feeling?
Fifty thousand years have passed. Even though my body is still like it was in my youth, right now...
—Has my heart truly become so old and withered that I would feel such envy just by watching this illusion?
Mr. Ash, you had self-awareness from the very beginning, didn't you.
Yet, while possessing self-awareness, not only did you show no dissatisfaction towards me, you even played along with me in this boring drama.
Thank you, Mr. Ash. Now, I finally understand why my heart feels so complex.
We ghosts of the past have all, more or less, had the thought, 'If only things were different back then, maybe we wouldn't have lost.'
And now, those high-level vermin have all been controlled, the Continent of Mu has been saved, the Herrscher of Domination failed to make people suspect each other, the Herrscher of Binding failed to cause a tragedy, and Rin was not killed by Aponia's discipline.
Although everyone in the organization is still working very hard, they have obtained something we had always wanted—enough hope to ignite everyone's fighting spirit.
All the tragedies have been completely changed under Mr. Ash's manipulations.
Unlike the past where we struggled bitterly, only to watch humanity step into despair bit by bit.
This is my...
—No, this is perhaps a dream that was beyond the reach of everyone in the past.
.....