"You think they can win?"
Right now, Kevin and Mei stood together, while nearby were Aponia and Kalpas, among others.
This was the final battle destined to decide the fate of their civilization. Originally, when they learned the ultimate enemy was about to descend upon the moon, everyone had planned to go together to challenge it.
But Acheron had firmly stopped them.
After all, she could sense that the enemy they faced this time was no longer the trivial skirmishes of the previous Herrschers.
Because of her arrival, the Herrscher of Finality emerging this time was, compared to the original, stronger by who knew how many levels.
If the others got involved in the fight, there was absolutely no chance they'd survive.
To be honest, even with Elysia, Acheron hadn't wanted her to come. But the other girl had pulled a 'shoot first, ask questions later' move, so Acheron had no choice but to relent.
"Of course they can. I have great faith in Acheron."
Mei didn't hesitate for a second, replying immediately.
"What's the point of all this talk? Whether they succeed or not, we'll know when they get back."
Kalpas snorted coldly, curled his lip, then turned and walked outside.
"Where are you going, Kalpas?"
Kevin watched Kalpas's retreating back and couldn't help but ask.
"To buy some ingredients. For a proper party when they return."
His tone was laced with impatience, but the meaning behind his words made everyone smile.
If Mobius was all bark, then Kalpas wasn't much different. He looked irritable and fierce on the surface, but deep down, he had his soft spots too.
"Kevin, all we can do is believe, isn't that right?"
Aponia, standing to the side, watched Kalpas leave and said with a gentle smile.
"That's right. Let's believe. Just believe. Sister Mei is so strong, and Sister Elysia is so amazing. The two of them will definitely defeat Finality and return to us."
Pardofelis, seeing the serious expressions on everyone's faces, seemed to murmur to herself, as if seeking comfort.
'When Sister Elysia and Sister Mei come back, I'll take out all the little nest eggs I've saved up lately! We'll use it for the party!'
Pardo vowed silently in her heart.
That little stash was originally saved for a rainy day.
But if she could trade her savings for the safe return of those two, then it was the best deal ever.
The people on the ground had no way of knowing the conversation happening on the moon between Acheron and Elysia, but the two of them knew their comrades on Earth were surely worrying about them.
--+--
Right now, they stood on a desolate plain of the moon.
Not far in front of them was a concentrated zone of Honkai energy—enough to annihilate the moon in an instant, all gathered here. If disturbed recklessly, the erupting force would be enough to shatter the entire moon and severely impact Earth as well.
So, Acheron and Elysia could only wait here, awaiting the descent of Finality.
"Mei, what's on your mind?"
Seeing Acheron seemed a little distracted, Elysia beside her showed a sweet smile.
"Nothing much. Just thinking... it's time for the end already."
"The end of the story must be a good one, right?"
Elysia tilted her head, looking at Mei.
"Of course. If the outcome isn't good, then it just proves it's not the real ending."
As she spoke, Acheron tightened her grip on the long sword in her hand.
After a long period of incubation, the enemy was finally about to arrive!
Before Acheron, the pure white existence woven from high-density energy, resembling a cocoon, began to show fine cracks.
Then, the cracks slowly widened, like a cracking eggshell, and a figure gradually emerged from within.
An indifferent expression, and the way she looked at Acheron—like looking at an insect—confirmed her identity.
The great enemy of civilization, the embodiment of the end, the Herrscher of Finality.
"Only you two to greet my birth? How dull."
She gazed leisurely at Acheron and spoke.
Then, she showed a faint, dismissive smile and shook her head: "I thought I could have a bit more fun. Oh well. It seems you've already given up resistance. In that case, I'll finish you off here, and then bestow the advent of Finality upon this world."
"My, oh my, Mei, she seems to look down on us~ Just like... a pufferfish all puffed up!"
Facing the Herrscher of Finality, Elysia didn't show any fear.
Instead, she looked at the other with a teasing expression.
Although the Herrscher of Finality possessed the power to easily kill her, Elysia felt no panic towards her.
Because she understood that Acheron would protect her.
"Annoying chatter."
Compared to a pufferfish by Elysia, the Herrscher of Finality shot her a glance, then discontentedly extended a finger.
Pinpricks of starlight bloomed at her fingertip, then an attack carrying force enough to shatter space shot towards Elysia!
Just a casual strike, and the surrounding space couldn't withstand it, showing trace after trace of scoring.
This single attack confirmed to Acheron that stopping Kevin and the others from coming was the right decision.
Facing this level of attack, even Kevin, pushing himself to the limit, could only block one hit.
With Acheron's strength, defeating the opponent was possible, but protecting others from her was a very difficult task.
In fact, she was confident about protecting Elysia, but add a few more, and it would be pushing it.
After all, there's a limit to one's focus and energy.
Facing the Herrscher of Finality, who acted immediately without hesitation, Acheron wasn't flustered.
That strike might seem like the speed of light to Elysia, but in Acheron's eyes, it was nothing special.
With just a move to block, her scabbard appeared in the path of the light.
Then, a blinding white light flashed.
When the flash faded and Elysia's vision returned, she saw Acheron's reassuring back shielding her.
"So dependable, Mei..."
Now, centered on Acheron and Elysia, the surrounding lunar surface had been swept clean, leaving a crater dozens of kilometers wide.
This was just the aftermath of that casual strike, equivalent to the direct force of a full-power blow from an ordinary Herrscher.
If Acheron hadn't neutralized most of the power, this crater would likely have been dozens of times larger.
"Be careful. The front lines are no place for you to join."
Acheron cautioned.
"Don't worry, I understand. I'm very fond of my life, you know." Elysia nodded with a smile, then looked towards the Herrscher of Finality, though she felt a bit helpless inside.
Her earlier words weren't just a joke; they were also meant to probe the Herrscher of Finality.
But the decisiveness of the other's attack far exceeded Elysia's expectations.
The other party had no desire to waste words on Elysia or Acheron, just as a person wouldn't bother talking to ants.
She was utterly filled with a sense of superiority.
"You're somewhat interesting... However, I hope you can amuse me!" Looking at Acheron with newfound interest, the Herrscher of Finality, whose expression had been consistently aloof, finally showed a spark of curiosity.
In an instant, she appeared right in front of Acheron, swiping a hand towards her head.
A simple movement, yet brimming with immense pressure.
Nurtured with care by the Honkai, this newly born Herrscher of Finality was infinitely close to an Emanator.
If she were to appear in the world of Honkai: Star Rail, no one except an Emanator could possibly defeat her.
A Pseudo-Emanator—that was the true power of Finality.
And this casual strike of hers, even just its aftermath, was enough to flatten the very earth and sky.
Yet, facing such a ferocious assault, Acheron showed not a hint of panic, instead choosing to raise her arm and block with her sheathed blade.
The next moment, in the direction of the swung fist, the lunar dust around Acheron billowed up, leaving only the hard bedrock beneath.
The other party didn't want to talk with Acheron, and honestly, Acheron couldn't be bothered with words either.
In the next instant, she pushed the opponent back with a press of her hand, then immediately closed the distance, swinging her sheathed long sword.
The enemy was strong, but compared to Acheron, she was still lacking.
This was the moon. Acheron had no reservations here, so naturally, she no longer needed to constantly suppress her true power.
The enemy's attacks were fierce, every move aimed at Acheron's vital points, clearly intending to kill her quickly.
However, no matter how the Herrscher of Finality attacked, Acheron's defense was impenetrable, not giving the other any opening.
"Dull. With just this, it's not enough to defeat me!"
Even though the fight had been largely even, with her even slightly at a disadvantage, the Herrscher of Finality remained perfectly calm.
After all, as a Herrscher, their greatest strength always lay in one thing: Authority.
And as Finality, her Authority was simple.
It was, control over time!
Click!
A sharp, crisp sound rang out, and in that very instant, everything in the surroundings seemed to grind to a halt.
In the eyes of the Herrscher of Finality, even the dust clouds churned up by their battle, and the worry visible in Elysia's gaze from afar, were all captured in perfect, minute detail.
Yet, they were now frozen in this moment forever.
Looking at the girl, Acheron, standing before her, the Herrscher of Finality smiled with satisfaction. She reached out a hand, intending to end the other's life.
But just as she moved to strike, her peripheral vision caught sight of Elysia, whom Acheron was shielding behind her.
"You care for her. In that case, I'll end her life right before your eyes!"
As she spoke, the Herrscher of Finality slowly stepped past Acheron and walked up to Elysia.
Within this suspended world, the Herrscher admired the expression on Elysia's face.
On the girl's exquisitely beautiful features, a trace of gentleness and concern was displayed perfectly.
Set against the chaotic battlefield, it created a strangely poignant contrast.
"What a beautiful face... but... both of you will die here today."
She spoke while reaching out to caress Elysia's cheek, intending to snap her neck.
If this were a different kind of story, perhaps another scenario would unfold here.
However, just as the Herrscher of Finality prepared to make her move—
A crimson arm suddenly shot out, gripping the Herrscher's wrist like an iron vise.
"How can this be?!"
Seeing Acheron moving freely within her temporal suspension, the Herrscher of Finality wore a look of shock for the first time.
This was the authority over time! No matter the world, power over time ranked among the most supreme abilities.
Yet, Acheron could simply ignore it?
"Before a black hole that devours all, even light and time itself are captured. Within my domain, time has long since lost its meaning. So, your ability is useless against me."
Acheron stated this matter-of-factly, even as her grip tightened relentlessly.
The Herrscher of Finality struggled to break free, but no matter how she tried, she couldn't escape Acheron's hold.
As the Herrscher of Finality, she possessed immense power, but she had only been born recently.
Facing an enemy like Acheron, who operated completely outside the established rules, she was truly at a loss for how to respond.
"I weep for the departed..."
Acheron offered no further words to the Herrscher of Finality. Instead, she flung the Herrscher skyward with a single motion and swung the crimson longsword in her hand.
This time, Acheron held nothing back.
Her opponent was the Herrscher of Finality, carefully nurtured by the Cocoon, and her strength was formidable. If Acheron didn't employ her full power, she might not be able to end this with a single strike.
"What is that..."
At that moment, everyone back on Earth looked up in unison, gazing toward the sky.
--+--
Toward the direction of the moon.
There, upon the lunar surface, a streak of crimson blade light erupted, soaring straight into the starry expanse.
In that single moment, the galaxy itself seemed severed, leaving behind only a sweeping, red aftermath.
This breathtaking spectacle captured everyone's attention instantly.
"Did we... succeed?"
When Elysia regained her senses and saw the devastated ground and the red luminous curtain staining the sky, she felt a little dazed.
"Yes. What comes next is the final step. I need to find the Cocoon... and... put an end to the Honkai catastrophe, once and for all."
Acheron nodded as she spoke.
"Leave it to me, Mei."
Elysia looked at her with a smiling gaze. "This is exactly why I came here."
As she spoke, she gently took Acheron's hand.
Then, she slowly closed her eyes.
The Cocoon of Finality wasn't a physical entity. While Acheron could sense its presence, attempting to approach it through brute force was unpredictable at best.
Having Elysia guide the way was the best choice.
In a way, wasn't Elysia a traitor to the Honkai?
A Herrscher, yet one whose heart cherished humanity.
In a blur, Acheron felt as if she had entered a unique state.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a peculiar place. Before her, the massive Cocoon of Finality manifested.
A gigantic pink sphere dominated the entire horizon. At its center, an eye-like presence seemed to be fixed on Acheron.
"What should we do?"
Elysia looked at Acheron, seeking guidance.
"Let's try negotiating first. If that doesn't work... then I'll have to cut it down. Though I'm not sure what would happen then."
Acheron gave a slight shake of her head.
Then, she walked up to the Cocoon of Finality and reached out to touch it.
However, from the Cocoon, she sensed a distinct resistance.
It was resisting, refusing to merge with Acheron.
"So it really won't work? Elysia..."
Acheron looked toward Elysia beside her.
She had one idea—for Elysia, the Herrscher of Origin, to merge with the Cocoon of Finality herself.
"That won't do, Mei. I can't. This is your prize." Before Acheron could even finish, Elysia shook her head, refusing the proposal.
Even without hearing the rest, she knew what Acheron was going to say.
As she spoke, she smilingly walked up to Acheron.
"It's resisting you. You don't carry the aura of this world, or perhaps it's not strong enough. That's why you can't control it. But, it's not hopeless."
While saying this, Elysia gently embraced Acheron from behind, placing her palm over the back of Acheron's hand.
The Honkai energy around her body gradually began to burn, a power enveloping Acheron, and a strange, wondrous sensation settled in Acheron's heart.
"This time... it might work."
Feeling the warm breath of the girl behind her, and the soft pressure against her back, Acheron gave a slight nod.
Then, she touched the Cocoon of Finality.
[Congratulations, Master, on completing the hidden achievement: Mastering Finality]
[You have conquered the Cocoon of Finality through non-violent means and completely subdued it for your own use.]
[Reward: Usage rights to the Cocoon of Finality. The host may obtain usage rights when transforming into a specific existence, allowing the host to become the avatar of Finality.]
[Congratulations on achieving the hidden achievement. Obtained 100,000 Credit Points.]
[Current Credit Points balance: 124,364]
To be honest, although she had gained control over the Cocoon of Finality, Acheron didn't feel any immediate physical changes.
After all, the tyrannical nature of the power of Nihility wouldn't allow anything, not even the Cocoon of Finality, to coexist within her.
But she had indeed obtained authority over the Cocoon.
With this, Acheron's mission in this world was complete.
"Mei... You're going to leave, aren't you?"
In the silence, Elysia spoke up, her gaze fixed on Acheron, a trace of reluctance in her eyes.
"Yes."
Acheron nodded softly.
"...I see. I knew it... I knew that one day Mei would leave me... But, we will meet again, won't we?"
"Yes."
Facing Elysia's smiling inquiry, Acheron nodded once more.
She looked at Elysia, a similar hint of reluctance in her own eyes.
In her mind, she had rehearsed this moment of farewell countless times, but now that it was here, she found herself unable to say a word.
"Let's go back. Everyone is waiting for you."
Elysia looked at Acheron and extended a small hand.
"No. I'm not good with sentimental goodbyes. Besides, it's not like we'll never see each other again."
Acheron gently shook her head.
"Well then... If you go to other worlds and meet cute girls, you absolutely must take pictures! When you come back, share them with me. You know how much I love pretty girls."
"But, the most important thing is, even if you meet other beautiful girls, you mustn't forget that in another world, there's a super cute and beautiful girl named Elysia who will always be waiting for you. Mei... Promise you'll remember!"
"If you forget... I'll... I'll cry, you know."
The smile on her lips growing increasingly strained, Elysia looked at Acheron, using all her strength to keep the welling tears from falling.
Yet, she didn't speak any words to ask her to stay.
--+--
T/N: While i kind of wish the PE HI3 arc was longer, speedrunning is in the title...
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.