The Short-Lived Seventh Herrscher

"Kevin, your courage is the only thing remotely commendable about you."

Two days later, outside the operating room at Fire Moth HQ, a fully prepared Mobius looked coldly at Kevin.

"Volunteering for this surgery… Hmph, though your death is inconsequential to me, for her sake, I'll give you a warning—you can still turn back now. Once Mei arrives, you won't have a choice."

"I won't leave. I need this power to kill that Herrscher." Kevin's expression was impassive, as if he wasn't about to undergo a surgery with a zero percent survival rate. "I will complete the mission she originally intended to carry."

"Her mission?" Mobius scoffed. "She never had a mission, Kevin. Everything she did, she did of her own volition. And her dream… is no longer attainable."

Savior. Such a grand title, but someone weaker than an ordinary person could never bear that name.

Lee's dream was now beyond her reach.

"…So, I will fulfill it." Kevin looked at his hands, slowly clenching them. "Starting with this surgery she envisioned."

Fools… Both Kevin and Lee, fools who recklessly sacrificed themselves for others.

But Kevin's persistence stemmed from his love for Lee. Reckless as it was, it was still a personal sentiment.

But Lee…

Mobius fell silent, watching Mei approach from the other end of the corridor.

…

While Kevin's life hung in the balance in the operating room, Lee sat in her hospital room, gazing out the window.

She wasn't worried about Kevin failing the surgery. He was one of the era's protagonists, after all, and he lived for fifty thousand years. The Meta-Morph surgery, a gamble for others, was likely just a formality for Kevin, a way to acquire a power-up.

As expected, a few hours later, Mobius contacted her.

The surgery was a success. Kevin was now humanity's first MANTIS , and he'd already departed to confront the Seventh Herrscher.

The Seventh Herrscher, an unstoppable force that had burned half of Australia in just a few days. And Kevin was just a prototype MANTIS , his capabilities unknown.

Their battle would surely be a close call—that's what most people would think. But Lee knew that for Kevin, the Seventh Herrscher was just a minor obstacle in his journey to invincibility.

Why did Lee want to be a MANTIS so badly? Because Kevin, the ultimate product placement, was so OP!

But despite being conceived years in advance, the surgery still had unforeseen consequences? Just like in the original timeline, Kevin's body temperature dropped to -30 degrees Celsius…

Lee fake sadness while reading Mobius' message, inwardly gleeful.

Side effects are good! Side effects are perfect for farming affection and energy from Kevin!

-30 degrees… he's barely human anymore. Even physical contact would be difficult for most people.

And that's where I come in!

But what I should do now is…

Lee put on a worried expression, closed her phone, and rushed out of the room, heading towards the launchpad.

As an actress, she had to be professional.

Of course, in her current state, running was a strenuous task. By the time she arrived, breathless, at the launchpad, Kevin had already departed.

"…Too late."

Sweat dripped down her face as she stared blankly at the sky, murmuring, "I'm sorry, Kevin… if only I were more useful…"

The sun was shining, but Lee, standing alone, looked forlorn.

Amidst the burning ruins, Hua struggled to move a slab of concrete, creating a path for a trapped survivor.

"This way… there's an aid station to the west."

After directing the dazed survivors towards the Fire Moth outpost, Hua leaned against a broken wall, exhausted, trying to stay awake.

"You seem unwell. Shall I help you there?"

A graceful, melodious voice spoke from before her. Hua looked up with heavy eyelids.

"You're the one from the stage… I… I remember your name… You're Eden? This… was supposed to be your concert…"

"Yes, it was supposed to be…" Eden's smile was tinged with sadness and regret. "But it's over now… The flames have consumed everything. I can hear nothing but screams and the crackling fire."

"I'm sorry, if only I…"

Hua trailed off.

Even if she had arrived earlier, she couldn't have done much. She was just an ordinary warrior. Most of her squadmates were dead, killed by the captain they trusted.

But if I hadn't stopped Lee… if I had let her kill the captain…

Hua didn't know if she could make that choice again, but now, it was too late.

Lee had saved her, but now Lee's fate was uncertain… Was she alright?

The captain had incinerated everything, yet hadn't killed them, had even smiled at her—was she truly a heartless Herrscher?

"Your heart is filled with doubt." Eden, as if sensing Hua's thoughts, spoke softly. "I don't know what you've been through, but we must all do what we can in the moment, even now."

"…But I don't know what to do." Hua shook her head.

Should she search for the monster that was once her captain? Or go to HQ and see if Lee would recover?

Hua didn't know what was the right choice, and her choices seemed inconsequential anyway.

So she followed the rescue team, saving survivors. It was the only thing she could do… and it allowed her to wait until there was only one choice left.

Eden was about to say something when she looked up, puzzled, at the sky. "…Is it snowing?"

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