Honkai: Fire Moth Herrschers

As the 3rd Herrscher finished speaking, the other half of her luminous wings unfolded. Her waist-length hair grew rapidly, trailing on the ground. Her bangs parted, revealing two large purple horns, and her crimson eyes gained a purple tint, framed by purple eyeshadow.

This is the work of Honkai energy! What kind of Herrscher doesn't even get a proper transformation?!

"Run!"

Mikael only had time to shout a single word to Mei and Sakura before the 3rd Herrscher grabbed his shoulder and dragged him across the ground at an incredible speed.

From Sakura's perspective, she only saw a flash of purple streak across her vision, as if splitting space itself. When she could focus again, both Herrschers were gone.

The next moment, the world was engulfed in purple lightning, as if no other color existed.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion erupted in the distance, fiery tendrils snaking through the streets, melting the rubble near the two Herrschers. Only scorched earth remained within a radius of several kilometers.

Nagazora was painted crimson once again.

Suddenly, a massive explosion, accompanied by a blinding flash and a cloud of dust and debris, rocked the city, the shockwave painful even from hundreds of kilometers away.

The explosion was so powerful that Mei, having just pulled a seemingly unharmed Kevin from the rubble, was knocked off her feet. The invisible shockwave swept across Nagazora, leveling any remaining structures.

As a building collapsed towards them, Mei instinctively shielded Kevin with her body. But with a metallic shing, the falling debris was sliced into thousands of harmless pieces, raining down on them.

The two girls, each holding one of Kevin's arms, dragged him aimlessly through the ruined streets.

Fire and lightning raged in the distance. Under the dark clouds, Nagazora, already shrouded in darkness, was now bathed in a bloody red light.

Where should they go?

Sakura gripped her katana so tightly that the scabbard cracked.

"Mei…"

"What is it?"

Sakura hesitated. She knew her mission—to protect Dr. Mei, and nothing else.

The orders from headquarters had been explicit:

"Protect Dr. Mei at all costs. Even if no one else in Nagazora survives, Dr. Mei must live."

Sakura believed her greatest strength, compared to Mikael and Elysia, was her unwavering obedience, instilled by her Poison Cocoon training.

But now, she couldn't follow those orders.

Her heart pounded in her chest, her limbs tingling, her breath catching in her throat.

Sakura knew this was just adrenaline.

The last time she'd felt like this was… when she'd learned about the Honkai and worried about Rin, unable to sleep.

She wasn't worried about Rin now. The 3rd Eruption hadn't reached Rin's city. But…

"Phew…"

She exhaled, closing her eyes. Rin's image flashed through her mind, followed by Mikael's…

"Sakura."

"Hmm?"

"If you really want to help Mikael, then go."

Mei adjusted her glasses. "The Honkai beasts in Nagazora have mostly been cleared out. And after that explosion, the rest are probably buried. Just… go."

Mei knew she wasn't being entirely truthful. Nowhere was truly safe during a Honkai eruption.

She simply couldn't bear to see Sakura's internal struggle. Besides, wasting Sakura's combat abilities on protecting someone as insignificant as herself seemed… illogical.

She looked for Sakura…

But she was gone.

The fires began to die down. Both Herrschers, having exhausted their energy, were now locked in close-quarters combat.

The crimson blade, still flickering with flames, clashed with the lightning-wreathed katana, creating a series of explosions.

"Traitor, don't you have any powers of your own?"

The 3rd Herrscher's tone was nonchalant, but a flicker of apprehension crossed her eyes as she glanced at Surtr.

"Less talk… Today… only one Herrscher… will walk away…"

Mikael dodged the Herrscher's attack and swung his greatsword, his movements sluggish. He paused between words, his body screaming in protest.

As soon as he finished speaking, both figures blurred, golden and purple streaks intertwining.

The 3rd Herrscher's reaction speed had improved significantly. Mikael no longer held a clear advantage. His Flying Thunder God technique was useless now that the Herrscher was on guard.

The two figures collided. They were pushed back by the force of the impact. Mikael suddenly pointed at the 3rd Herrscher.

"Hmm?"

Before she could react, a strange sensation tickled her feet.

Boom!

The landmine detonated, sending the Herrscher flying. She landed in a minefield.

A series of explosions followed.

"Tch!"

She emerged from the smoke, but Mikael leaped from a spatial rift, attacking.

"Enough!"

She blocked, but the force of the blow slammed her into the scorched earth.

"Enough!"

She shouted again.

Ignoring her, Mikael drew Elysia's Whisper of the Past, a Honkai steel arrow nocked on the string.

"Go!"

The arrow struck the Herrscher's left palm, pinning her to the ground. Dark green lightning erupted from the arrow, paralyzing her.

She, the 3rd Herrscher, the Herrscher of Thunder, was paralyzed by lightning!

Rage consumed her, preventing her from questioning the source of the lightning.

But there was no time to think. Mikael charged—

"Enough!"

Rumble…

Purple lightning engulfed both Herrschers.

After what seemed like an eternity, the sounds of ragged breathing returned.

"Gasp… gasp… gasp…"

Mikael leaned heavily on Surtr, barely able to stand.

He wiped blood from his eyes.

"Is it over?"

The 3rd Herrscher stood a hundred meters away, her left arm severed.

Unlike Mikael, who was covered in wounds.

"Ptoo!"

Mikael spat out blood.

"It's not that Reason isn't trying, but science just can't beat magic…"

Mikael had truly given it his all. The two-thousand-kilometer teleport and the fight had taken their toll.

The pain was real—every cell in his body screamed in agony.

"Strange… you were so close to becoming a complete Herrscher… but… you're still human…"

The 3rd Herrscher cauterized her wound.

Mikael looked around at the devastation. He gasped for air, his mind conjuring hallucinations. He felt utterly drained.

Even standing was an effort.

"If you can't hold on, just fall… why bother?"

A voice echoed in his mind.

"Why?"

"What's keeping you fighting?"

"I don't know… heh…"

He saw fleeting images: ordinary people from the previous era, his comrades, the people he cared about. They were his reason for fighting. To ensure their sacrifices weren't in vain.

Finally, he saw Elysia.

"Hey! Miss me?"

"…"

"Don't tell me you've fallen for me?"

"Elysia… you told me to keep moving forward… No! I'm right here. I'll either be buried with you, or walk with you towards the future!"

"I won't stop here! I still have our promise…"

"Besides… I have to at least die in your arms… hehehe…"

Elysia—that was his reason for fighting.

But there was more.

"Because I'm human… I can't fall…"

For his dignity, his humanity.

"3rd Herrscher! Come!"

He raised his greatsword, but collapsed, struggling to rise.

The 3rd Herrscher approached cautiously.

Mikael's murmurs reached her ears.

"8.1, 7.8, 7.5, 7.2…"

"6.3, 6.0, 5.7… Now!"

Mikael's eyes flashed gold.

The space between them collapsed.

Too close!

But what could Mikael do?

He was out of energy.

Mikael, pulled in by the spatial distortion, collided with the Herrscher, wrapping his arms around her.

An azure light erupted from his chest, Honkai energy converging on his core, purple veins spreading across their bodies. The core began to undergo fusion, transforming into pure Honkai energy.

"Are you trying to die?!"

The Herrscher hadn't anticipated this suicidal tactic.

"3…"

The Herrscher's hand reached for Mikael's back.

"2…"

Her hand entered his chest.

"1…"

It was over.

The thunder and the dark clouds above Nagazora dissipated.