Chapter 193: has reached its ending: Giving the world "liberation"

The subjugation of the "Ninth Herrscher" was completed, and Nozomi captured him at an incredible speed... The others didn't even have time to react. The other fusion warriors hadn't arrived at the battlefield yet, and the combat troops had just assembled and were preparing to board the aircraft, but the battle was over just like that.

However, even though the Herrscher disappeared, no one relaxed.

Because Nozomi at this moment... is very wrong.

The aura emanating from him was very strange, and it could even be said that it was far beyond what he should have... This was not what a fusion warrior should have at all.

Not only that, the rain that suddenly started didn't stop at this moment... even the area covered by the rain was getting bigger and bigger!

More importantly, the rain not only contains "Originium" dust but also contains a faint amount of Honkai energy!

In other words, as long as someone is caught in the rain, the Honkai energy will penetrate into the body, then attract the "Originium" dust, and eventually form crystals. It only takes half a minute for a person to be completely engulfed by the "Originium Disease", covered by crystals, and then... shattered!

But the bad news doesn't end there. After completing the subjugation of the "Ninth Herrscher", Nozomi also broke into the base of the "Fire Moth" and took away all the "Herrscher Cores".

Now, no matter what Nozomi intends to do, he is the biggest threat.

At this time, Nozomi came to the center of Mu Continent, waiting silently, as if he was making some preparations.

At the same time, the "supporters" who received some information also began to take action in the "Fire Moth" bases around the world.

Tick-tock

As for the rain, it continued to fall silently, quietly expanding its coverage area.

It always gently and silently supports the decisions of its beloved children.

Just as it once said, the [Ocean] will be Nozomi's [home] and will also be his greatest help.

......

"Hey, I heard that some people are planning to protest... Why? Obviously, neither the 'Doctor' nor we did anything wrong."

"Why? Why do you say that? Because the process of 'liberation' is very similar to death, right? It's hard for anyone to believe in this situation, right?"

"But didn't Dr. Mobius and Miss Vill-V prove to them before that we do exist?"

"What can we do if they don't believe it?"

"Well... it's mainly because of the different perspectives, and this process seems a bit scary to ordinary people, so in the end it's like this~"

The noise of "them" is still ringing in my ears.

"Who do you think will be the first to stop us? Kevin? Or Elysia?"

"Don't make us sound like some big devil in a game, okay?"

"Actually, it seems like we do look like the devil who destroys the world."

"What do you mean by destroying the world? At most, it just destroyed civilization. The world has not been damaged much at all."

"Good fellow, do you think we are the big devil?"

"What do you mean we... In the eyes of others, the Big Devil is just the 'Doctor', okay?"

"So what about us? What?"

"Uh... the devil's minions?"

"Then Dr. Mobius, Miss Vill-V, and Big Sister Skadi are the three kings under the 'Doctor', right?"

"Okay, okay, let's play here, right?"

"Come to think of it, the Doctor had promised us that he would sing with Miss Eden... but now we didn't get to hear it, what a pity."

"There's nothing I can do. Who made so many things happen later? It's so messy."

"Hey... 'Doctor', you broke the contract? Why don't you compensate us?"

"...Okay, what do you want?"

Nozomi withdrew his gaze from Vill-V and Mobius who were adjusting the "box", turned to "them" and asked.

"Hmm... I haven't thought about it yet..."

"I want to hear the Doctor sing."

At this time, Rosemary, who was following Nozomi, shook her tail and said something playfully.

"The song that 'Doctor' sang before was nice. I want to listen to it again."

Rosemary gently tugged at the corner of Nozomi's clothes and looked up at him.

"Can I, Doc?"

"Oh, this is great! Little Narcissa's suggestion is very good!"

"Narcissa? Whose name... is this?"

"…Huh?"

Seeing Rosemary's puzzled look, "they" were stunned.

"That's your name."

Nozomi rubbed her head and spoke softly.

"Really, 'Doctor'?"

Rosemary tilted her head in confusion, and the pair of cat ears on her head also tilted.

"But, those people only called me Rosemary before, so I thought this was my name... I'm sorry, 'Doctor', I don't remember a lot of things..."

Rosemary's ears drooped in disappointment, and the tail behind her stopped wagging.

"It's okay. Rosemary is also your name... It's okay if you don't remember a lot of things. Just don't forget what you're going to do from now on."

"...Yes, Doctor, I will."

Rosemary's tail began to wag again.

"I will remember this, Doc, Aunt Mobius, Miss Vill-V, Miss Skadi, and... everyone."

"Wow... little Narcissa is so cute, 'Doctor', can I hug her?"

"Hmm…"

Rosemary shrank back behind Nozomi, and this action shocked the man who had just spoken.

"Brother, she seems to like you very much..."

"Attachment", who had been riding on Nozomi's shoulders, put her magic hat on Nozomi's head and then pushed it forward so that the brim of the hat covered Nozomi's vision. At the same time, she lowered her body and rested the softness of her chest on his head without any hesitation.

She reached out and caught the magic hat that fell because she leaned forward with one hand, and hugged Nozomi's head with the other hand.

"Cute little guys are always popular, aren't they?"

"Chef" explained lightly at the side, and gently took Rosemary over, taking her away from Nozomi without leaving a trace.

"Yeah… that's right."

"Attachment," thought for a while, then nodded and reminded.

"The 'box' has been adjusted, Brother. With the 'First Herrscher Core', we can now continuously copy 'Originium' and 'Soulium'. Don't worry about not covering enough... Next, we just need to contact the others and activate them together to cover the entire world."

"Oh! So the next scene is about the [Great Devil Destroys the World]?"

Someone among "them" suddenly said this excitedly.

"Now it's time for the heroes to come and fight and defeat the big devil!"

"You seem to be really into the role... But how can a demon king be alone?"

"Do you think we don't exist? Now... we can temporarily outline our bodies, right? As long as there is enough 'Soulium'."

"It's a pity that it's still not very stable. We still need to work harder..."

"In other words, once someone comes to defeat the Great Devil, we will be the first line of defense! Ha↘ha↗!"

"Oh, yes, yes, they are the miscellaneous soldiers that the Demon King gives to the heroes to level up, right?"

"...No? Is this how you guys play it?"

"What else? After all, this scene is so coincidental and so appropriate. It would be a shame not to use it for fun."

"Besides, we are saving the world in a sense! Think about it, the devil who was supposed to destroy the world turned out to be the hero who saved us all. It's just that his method is a little too difficult to understand... Isn't that a pleasant scene?"

"Okay, okay, let's play like this... take me with you!"

"Me too!"

"+1"

...

"I always feel that you are in high spirits."

Nozomi looked at their excitement and felt helpless.

"After all, they are the first ones to experience [Evolution] and have followed you all the way here... It would be strange if they were not excited at this moment when they can finally see other people becoming like themselves."

Mobius said with a smile.

"It makes me feel relieved to see them so excited."

"Extreme Evil" came over from the side, squeezed Mobius aside without leaving a trace, and said with a smile.

"Since you are so excited, I'll leave the rest of the battle to you."

"Ohhh?! Is it coming?!"

"Well, Kevin and Elysia are approaching quickly... There seemed to be a third person, but it was rained a lot on the way, so it was directly covered by crystals and shattered."

The "expert" added slowly.

"I think his name is Kalpas... or something? Anyway, he is the person you brought back, brother."

"Extremely evil," she concluded.

"Alright! Let's get ready for battle... Oh no... I have an idea!"

Someone suddenly turned and looked at Nozomi.

"Why don't you sing a song for us now, Doctor? Just as a morale booster... or maybe as background music for the game?"

"…You really got into it, didn't you?"

"What does it matter? We just need to delay the battle later... By then, their bodies will be covered with crystals due to the rain or inhalation of too much Originium dust, and then they will join us!"

"And even if our bodies are broken, we won't die. We can quickly put together a new body by relying on the surrounding 'Originium' and 'Soulium'~"

"My goodness, the Demon King's undead army, right?"

"Still thinking about your crappy setting...hiss...eh, but it seems that this description is correct."

"In short, can you please give me some straight answers, Doctor?"

"Well... it's not impossible."

Nozomi tilted his head and thought for a moment... As soon as he tilted his head, he touched "Attachment's" thigh. This vague, almost imperceptible soft touch was actually quite wonderful... Then he sat on the modified "box".

"But you have to protect the 'box'... It's very troublesome to make a new one."

Nozomi said so.

"Okay, okay, let's start the battle to protect the 'doctor'!"

"Protect the Doctor? I can help with that, too."

Rosemary quickly came forward, her ears trembled slightly, and her tail also wagged happily... It was obvious that she cared a lot about [Protecting Nozomi].

"There's no need for little Narcissa. Why would a child go to the battlefield..."

"In fact, little Narcissa is stronger than all of us..."

"...It seems so, but little Narcissa can't hurt them directly with [telekinesis], okay?"

"um."

Rosemary nodded... She could also control the Originium through resonance, and after being "liberated", she would not feel pain when using such power, so it was not a difficult task for her.

"Okay! So... Doctor, why don't you say something encouraging?"

"The Great Devil's pre-battle speech, huh?"

"Haha... that's not impossible."

Nozomi smiled gently.

"Then... may you return victorious, everyone."

"…That's it?"

"What a lame doctor~"

"But never mind~ Sing, sing! It's time for the background music of the final battle to sound!"

"Oh..."

Nozomi smiled and didn't care.

"Brother, do you need help?"

"Attachment" who was still riding on him asked.

"The 'Box' has an accompaniment function, right?"

"Need not."

Nozomi shook his head and casually called out a conch-like short staff placed aside... This thing was originally placed in the "box" together with the dark-colored sword, but it was taken out because the "box" needed to be modified.

"Just let the 'box' do the most important thing now. As for the accompaniment...ha, after all, music is nothing more than the vibration of sound. As long as you master the trick, many things can be used as musical instruments."

The energy flowed, bringing some rain and breeze, while he gently waved the short staff.

"For example...rainwater."

"It just so happens that someone just now said that this is a scene from [The Devil Destroys the World], so... let's use a slightly more dangerous song."

Nozomi said this with a smile.

And, above the world, on the surface of the planet, a faint "song" began to appear.

"Then... please listen to this song of [Destroying the World/Saving the World]."

"Then..."

Nozomi blinked, and his pupils, which had not changed for a long time...now showed a dazzling golden color.

————————

[Final Herrscher (Gold), special conditions... met, triggered]

[The probability of becoming a Herrscher... ]

[Becoming the final Herrscher ! ]

[Century Song (Color), Triggered]

[Perform a "miracle" related to "healing"! ]

————————

"Let me...give you 'liberation'."

Hmm~

With the accompaniment of rain and the harmony of Skadi, his song... quietly sounded, and then, riding on the breeze, along with the rain, and along the surface of the planet, it drifted away into the distance.

At the same time, under the signal sent by Vill-V, "supporters" around the world also activated the Originium weapons that were still left in each base.

The rain in the sky was getting heavier and heavier, and before anyone knew it, it had enveloped the entire world...

The amount of "Originium" dust in the air seems to be increasing... Even if you hide in the house to avoid the rain, you cannot avoid being infected by the "Originium". In the end, you can only be covered by crystals, and finally... shattered, and passively "liberated".

At the same time, the confrontation between "them" and Kevin and Elysia... also began.

However, there is nothing much to write about the battle process. In front of the nearly "immortal" "them", under the attack of the weapons modified by Vill-V and powered by various "Herrscher Cores"... Kevin and Elysia quickly fell into a disadvantage.

The raindrops from the sky, the "Originium" dust in the air... everything made it difficult for them to resist.

In the end, she could only be delayed where she was, and under his [Song], she watched her body being covered by crystals bit by bit.

Even if Elysia showed her power and her identity as a Herrscher in the end... it was of no avail.

It's too late...it's all too late.

...

"Ahem… ahem… really…"

Mei, who was in a certain base, looked at the crystals rapidly spreading on her body with a somewhat bitter smile.

"Humanity today... is not yet ready to accept this kind of [evolution]... ahem..."

She actually didn't object to this [evolution], but...

"It's too early…"

Mei sighed helplessly.

But in the end, it could only watch itself being covered by crystals, and eventually... shattered.

...

"elder sister?"

"It's okay, Rin... Don't be afraid, I'm with you, don't be afraid."

Sakura and Rin embraced each other but were eventually covered by crystals, shattered, and dissipated like fallen cherry blossoms.

...

"Hmm~"

Under the rain, Eden hummed a tune and danced alone in the rain.

The song was melodious, but... no one was listening at the moment, or maybe... there were countless people watching and listening where she couldn't see?

"Oh... Really, this is what you chose in the end..."

Feeling her feet covered with crystals and unable to move, Eden sighed helplessly... She could hear the song flowing in the air, and could also sense Nozomi's emotions from it.

But it is precisely because of this that she is helpless and she sighs.

The incident with Rosemary completely stimulated him and made him make up his mind quickly.

"But... this is not bad."

Eden smiled...her parents had already been covered and shattered by the crystals.

Now, it's her turn.

...

"Doctor..."

Elini listened to the song flowing in the wind, not quite understanding why Nozomi did this... but unfortunately, she couldn't ask anymore.

Her body was covered in crystals and eventually... shattered.

......

"Closer... Closer to the [End]."

Aponia murmured softly.

Faced with the crystals spreading across her body, she did not resist, nor would she resist.

"Very good..."

Before her body shattered, she left behind these joyful words.

......

When the song ended, the rain stopped, the breeze died down, and the whole world fell silent. There was no one left in the world, only him and... the weak her.

Gently flapping the butterfly wings that had opened at some point in time, leaving behind a strange, elusive "ring", Nozomi landed silently on her, in front of Elysia.

"Why..."

Elysia didn't quite understand... Nozomi had said before that he respected the beauty and splendor of life, and he also restrained himself from using "liberation", but now...

"Because I'm disappointed, Elysia."

Nozomi said softly.

"Even though they knew the Honkai was imminent... they still focused on the internal strife, and even... reached out to the child for this."

"Using the excuse of [fighting the Honkai] and [for the sake of humanity], they set their target on a child... just because her situation is suitable, they force her to experiment? Has the 'Fire Moth' reached this point?"

"And...if that's really the case, although I won't forgive it, I can understand it."

"But unfortunately, they are not... They just want to get a weapon that can fight against me and that they can control."

"It's really... annoying."

Nozomi's tone was calm.

"Although my vision has changed since then, and I can see the spirits and souls of the people tortured by misfortune and pain, I can also see the brilliance and beauty that they bloom in their struggle to survive under the disaster of the Honkai."

"That kind of scenery is fascinating, Elysia, and that's why I restrain the idea of giving others 'liberation'."

"It's a pity that this kind of man-made misfortune and suffering, like that created by the Fire Moth, is really... very unpleasant."

"I think I should have taken action earlier, and had more faith earlier. Then... maybe no one would have suffered the misfortune and pain created by the 'Fire Moth' for this reason."

"By then, people will be able to get rid of the intrusion of Honkai, not only can they return to their previous peaceful lives, but they can even... master Honkai energy in the future."

"Just like Mobius said, getting a new [Evolution]... This seems to be a good idea."

"So... don't worry, Elysia."

Nozomi gently stretched out his hand and held her face lightly, allowing her to look into his eyes and see his bright golden eyes... He also rubbed her only remaining elf-like pointed ear.

"I will give you... liberation."

Clack——

It is the sound of crystals spreading.

Snap——

It was the sound of crystals breaking.

The world fell into complete silence.

Now... he is the only one left in the world.

The sun sets and the moonlight shines. In a trance, he can see her figure in the cold moonlight.

She was a petite girl, with long grey hair that shone with a silver glow like moonlight, and pupils that were a mixture of the colors of night and moon, with an inexplicable charm.

There was a hole in her chest as if something had pierced through it, and there were some marks on her wrists and ankles as if she had been tied up by something.

The gorgeous butterfly wings behind her fluttered gently, bringing her to Nozomi's front.

He reached out and gently touched Nozomi's head.

[■■■...]

She seemed to say something, but in a trance, her figure quietly disappeared.

The world... is still quiet.

In this world... there is still only Nozomi.

————————

[Ending achieved: Giving the world "liberation"]