She Must Be Dead

By the time the others arrived, the battle was over.

Amidst the ruins, a peacock-like creature with iridescent green tail feathers savagely attacked the already dead Herrscher, tearing its flesh with sharp claws.

Compared to the humanoid Herrscher, this monstrous creature seemed more like humanity's true enemy.

"A Honkai beast?" Elysia eyed the peacock cautiously. "But its form resembles… Mahāmāyūrī?"

Mahāmāyūrī, the Emperor-class Honkai beast that accompanied the Eighth Herrscher, was a large, peacock-like bird capable of using neurotoxins to directly attack the human brain.

But if Elysia remembered correctly, this beast had already been defeated. Its genes had even been used in a MANTIS surgery. That person was…

"Su?"

Hearing Elysia's gasp, the peacock—or rather, Su—stopped its attack, slowly turning its head.

Many stood watching: Elysia, Kevin, Aponia, and other warriors, even Mobius and Vill-V, the two scientists who had undergone the Meta-Morph surgery.

Aponia had intended to come alone, but shortly after Su left HQ, everyone trapped in the dream world awoke—the Eighth Herrscher was dead.

Naturally, they came searching for Su and the kidnapped Lee. Strength in numbers was essential in such situations.

But they never expected Su to be the one who killed the Herrscher and took Lee.

"Su?!" Even Kevin's usually impassive face showed surprise.

The dream the Eighth Herrscher had crafted for him, humanity's strongest warrior, was incredibly complex, layers upon layers of illusions. Each dream felt more real than the last, even making Kevin question whether he was just an ordinary student having a chuunibyou dream.

He relied on sheer willpower, forcing himself to destroy the dream world to escape… Now, seeing his friend transformed into a Honkai beast, he wondered if he was still dreaming.

But didn't Aponia shield him from mental interference…?

"It's definitely Mahāmāyūrī… Honkai beast gene activation…" Mobius narrowed her eyes. This was a significant discovery, but her focus was elsewhere. "Is he still conscious? If so, put Lee down. Don't hurt her."

"Don't hurt her…" Su's voice echoed from the peacock, but unlike his usual gentle tone, it was now raspy, sharp, almost grating. "…You dare say those words…?"

The green feathers carefully placed Lee on the ground. Su's cold gaze swept across everyone present.

"Five humans—and you're all going to die!"

A powerful psychic wave erupted. If Elysia and Aponia hadn't reacted quickly, everyone except Kevin would have been affected. But even with their protection, the raw hatred and resentment within that psychic wave were palpable.

Kevin's heart sank. He could only think of one reason for Su's transformation.

But… no, it couldn't be. Su's mind must have been affected by the Herrscher during the battle!

Gripping Judgment of Shamash, Kevin stepped forward. "We have no choice. We have to subdue Su…"

Transformed into a Honkai beast, Su was incredibly powerful, capable of psychic attacks, mental interference, even reflecting attacks, far exceeding the original Emperor-class beast.

But it wasn't enough. Those gathered here were humanity's strongest. Outnumbered, Su was quickly defeated, reverting to his human form.

The transformation seemed to have taken a toll on his mind. The crazed killing intent was gone—but only the madness. The resentment and hostility in his eyes remained, now colder, more rational, more… despairing.

He couldn't do it—he could do nothing.

Even abandoning his sanity and becoming a monster, he could only kill the Herrscher, avenge her, but he couldn't touch those who pushed Lee into the abyss.

He didn't even have the power to avenge her!

The victors weren't celebrating. Their expressions were grim—Lee hadn't moved or spoken during the entire fight.

If conscious, Lee wouldn't have stood by idly while her friends fought. Her inaction meant only one thing: she was unconscious. They'd assumed she was simply in a coma, but…

The moment Su fell, Kevin rushed to Lee's side.

He prayed he was wrong, but the sight that greeted him was Lee's pale face.

Blood stained her white dress, matting her hair… the crimson against white was a stark contrast.

"Lee…?" Kevin's voice was dry, but he forced a smile. "You're tricking me again, aren't you? I won't fall for it this time, so… get up?"

"Stop pretending. You can't bear to see me so worried…"

He urged her to open her eyes, his trembling hand reaching for her neck.

No pulse.

No breath.

She must be dead.

"…"

Su, lying on the ground, watched coldly as Mobius rushed forward, pushing Kevin aside, her face turning pale.

He watched the panic and chaos, and he laughed.

They didn't cherish her while she was alive, yet now they acted so distraught… Hypocrites.

Lee was dead. Su knew this. As a doctor, he knew the signs. He'd known the moment he carried her from the Observation Hub.

A single stab wound through the heart. No ordinary human could survive that…

He would be imprisoned, or perhaps used as a research subject. It didn't matter. As long as he was alive, he could make those who hurt her suffer—

…

Excellent, one million, two million… still rising!

Lee, playing dead, watched her energy balance skyrocket, ecstatic.

Battle Continuation works even when playing dead!

Battle Continuation allowed one to remain active even after sustaining fatal injuries. Lee had a fatal wound, a destroyed heart, no breathing… she was clinically dead. Even Hua Tuo (historical figure) himself would pronounce her deceased.

But Lee was still conscious!

And in the world of Honkai, consciousness meant a chance at revival!