Chapter 012 : The Debt Collector

Raiden Mei.

To be honest, she was the root cause of everything that had happened.

Today, Ling Ke had learned the truth of what happened years ago from Cocolia.

He hadn't expected that all the suffering he had endured over the past few years, the endless darkness that could drive anyone mad, had all stemmed from a single phone call of distrust.

Looking back now, it was truly ironic.

"Should I say, this is the arrogance of a transmigrator?"

"Thinking that just because I knew things in advance, I could accomplish anything."

"Looking at everyone through a biased lens, only to end up suffering the consequences."

Now, Ling Ke couldn't help but wonder...

If back then, he hadn't been so arrogant, if he had chosen to live an ordinary life and left the chaotic Nagazora City early.

And then, let Raiden Mei, ignorant of everything, be used as a pawn by Cocolia to artificially trigger the third Honkai eruption...

Would his circumstances have been different?

"Enough, dwelling on this is just adding to my troubles."

"What's the point?"

In the Theater of Domination, Ling Ke's true body sat alone in a grand hall designed to resemble an audience chamber, murmuring to himself.

At this moment, he was seated on a high-backed, medieval-style ornate throne.

He crossed his legs, one hand propping up his cheek, the other toying with a crimson crystal.

Its name: the Gem of Haste!

(TL/N: Final Lesson.mp3)

Yes, just last night, after he successfully annihilated the entire West Asia branch and cleared out all the filth in that auditorium, this thing had naturally appeared before him.

Just like in the original Honkai Impact 3rd storyline... the key core to mastering the power of the Herrscher of Flame had fallen into the hands of the Herrscher of Dominance.

However, the current situation was quite different from the original storyline.

Because...

"I'm not stupid enough to play the role of a delivery boy."

Ling Ke's goal was clear. "The inherited flames don't need to be reignited."

Next, he would take revenge on everyone who had caused his suffering over the past few years.

Otto, Rita, Cocolia, Bronya, Raiden Mei...

Whether unintentional or deliberate.

Whether directly or indirectly.

These people were all his targets for revenge.

Ling Ke was well aware that if he acted against these individuals, he would undoubtedly attract more helpers.

Durandal, who cared for Rita.

Seele, who cared for Bronya.

And... those who cared for Raiden Mei... there were far too many.

But he would not back down, no matter who stood in his way.

From now on, anyone who stood in his way would die.

Of course, just like his actions at the West Asia branch, those not directly involved could simply be killed, granted a quick death.

But for the main targets...

Sorry, but unless he drove them to the brink of madness, Ling Ke wouldn't let them off easily.

Because he had already been driven mad.

He wanted them to experience what he had felt.

Even if they died in the process, he would revive them and continue the torment.

As someone who had chosen to become the "World-Ending Player," he had the power to do so.

So, today...

Anti-Entropy, Yellowstone Base.

"Don't be so tense, I'm not going to kill her."

"At least, not now."

In the underground prison area, the gray-haired girl standing in Cocolia's cell smiled eerily.

Despite sharing the exact same face and appearance as Bronya, the gray-haired girl exuded an entirely different aura at this moment.

It was as if she were a humanoid entity entirely composed of accumulated negative emotions, radiating icy malice without restraint.

"You've all seen the information about me, right?"

"If not, make sure to catch up soon."

The gray-haired girl—this "Domination Puppet : Silver Wolf's Dawn"—glanced at Cocolia and sneered, "Don't worry, I absolutely... absolutely won't let her die until I'm convinced she's repaid all her 'debts.'"

As soon as she finished speaking...

"Hum!"

A spatial gate opened.

Several hands reached out from within.

In an instant, before Bronya and the others could react, Cocolia was yanked inside.

At the same time, the Domination Puppet, who had taken on the appearance of the gray-haired girl using the "Silver Wolf's Dawn" game character template, performed a light backflip and entered the spatial gate.

"Wait, don't go!"

In that moment, Bronya, who was closest, lunged toward the spatial gate.

After obtaining the Herrscher of Reason's core, her once-paralyzed legs had fully recovered.

Her reaction and movements were undeniably swift.

However...

Thud!

She was instantly bounced back.

Even though the spatial gate was right in front of her, even though the Theater of Dominance was just on the other side...

Even though the gray-haired girl stood there, mocking her with a sneer.

This spatial gate was an insurmountable chasm.

At this moment, Ling Ke, hidden behind the scenes, confirmed that his Theater of Dominance, now imbued with the "Rebirth Chamber" trait, could indeed block all external threats.

Because of this, he didn't immediately close the spatial gate.

It was under these circumstances...

"What are you going to do to Mother Cocolia?"

After being bounced back, Bronya was naturally shielded by Kiana and Fu Hua.

But she was too frantic to care about herself. She quickly stood up and looked through the spatial gate, staring directly at the gray-haired girl who shared her face, her voice filled with urgency.

To this...

"Back then, you dismembered my limbs and brought me before her. For over half a year, until the third Honkai eruption, I was tortured by her subordinates, subjected to endless torment and cruel experiments."

"And for the next six months, I will inflict every bit of suffering I endured back onto her."

The gray-haired girl, synchronized with Ling Ke's consciousness, grinned widely. "Back then, I gritted my teeth and endured it... it was really, really hard."

"That pain, I haven't forgotten a single second of it."

"It's deeply etched into my body, impossible to shake from my mind."

As she spoke, the gray-haired girl's body trembled slightly.

It was a conditioned reflex.

But the expression on her face remained deranged.

Her words were even more...

"So, if Cocolia can endure it, then after six months, I'll let her go, and we'll be even."

"But if she can't..."

The gray-haired girl smiled dangerously. "The remaining debt will be repaid by those closest to her."

"Like... her self-proclaimed beloved daughters. How about that?"

Hearing these words...

"Then let Bronya repay the debt."

Bronya rushed to the spatial gate, pounding on it. "It was Bronya who acted back then. Let Bronya endure all of this..."

"No, no, no."

The gray-haired girl sneered. "I can't give you such 'special treatment.'"

"After all, you know full well that you're also my enemy."

"Why would I do anything to please you?"

"In fact, the more you don't want to see something happen, the more I'll make sure it does."

"Oh, and make sure to protect your sisters well!"

"Because I have a feeling your 'mother' might not last very long."

At this moment, hearing these words, Bronya's heart was filled with panic.

She desperately tried to cross the spatial gate.

Even...

Clang!

She activated the Herrscher of Reason's core, her body flashing with blue light as she donned the elegant battle dress.

Bronya was a highly intelligent individual. (PS: IQ 180.)

She instantly recalled that in Anti-Entropy's database, there were records of the previous Herrscher of Reason—Mr. Welt—and his battles.

Back then, in Siberia, facing the Herrscher of the Void's bizarre powers, he had directly analyzed the spatial barrier set up by Sirin and broken through her defenses.

But now...

"!!!"

It was useless.

Bronya immediately realized this fact.

It wasn't that her abilities were insufficient, nor was she unskilled in using the Herrscher of Reason's powers.

It was that the Herrscher of Reason's powers simply couldn't analyze the invisible barrier before her.

Bronya didn't know that this was the power of the "System."

A symbol of "absolute."

For a moment...

"It's useless, don't waste your energy."

On the other side of the spatial gate, the gray-haired girl continued to mock. "Also, Kiana, how's that sneaky spatial link coming along?"

"..."

Behind Bronya, Kiana, who had also been using her Herrscher powers, frowned.

As the Herrscher of the Void, even though she couldn't fully utilize her powers due to the other consciousness within her...

Like Bronya, Kiana quickly realized one thing:

"Even if I could use the full power of the Herrscher of the Void, I wouldn't be able to break through this barrier."

She, too, didn't know what the "System's" power was.

So, Kiana speculated...

"Does this mean that the later a Herrscher is born, the stronger they are?"

She remained very calm, desperately trying to think of a way to break through.

Then...

"You say you're an avenger."

Kiana asked seriously, "But after settling this grudge, what will you gain?"

Hearing this...

"Ha, such an old-fashioned question."

The gray-haired girl's face showed a look of disdain. "It's simple."

"I'll feel refreshed, my mind at ease!"

"An unparalleled... sense of relief!"