[You received news that the First Honkai Eruption had begun ahead of schedule. Surprised, you immediately chose to head to the scene in person.]
[After a six-hour flight, you arrived at the city where the Eruption occurred: San Francisco, a city with a short history but a developed economy.]
[In less than a day, the state of California, with San Francisco at its epicenter, suffered a devastating blow. However, as you have a branch established here, troops have already entered the area to rescue survivors.]
[You did not hesitate. After getting a briefing at the North American branch, you prepared to set out to subjugate the First Herrscher—a new and unfamiliar Herrscher of Reason, completely different from previous cycles.]
[Before the subjugation, you made a decision: to let Vill-V understand the Honkai ahead of time. This would not only give you another reliable helper but also keep her from focusing all her attention on trying to woo you.]
In the early hours of the morning, at a military base approximately 300 kilometers from San Francisco, a colossal steel beast tore through the sky. Its tail fin carved an arc through the air as it raced toward the horizon without a second thought.
Inside this aircraft, apart from Miss Irene piloting it, the vast transport bay was empty save for Fu Li, who sat alone, looking at a tablet in his hands.
Reflected on the screen was Vill-V's delicate face, etched with worry.
"Li, what on earth are you going to do? Why did you suddenly leave without saying goodbye?"
A genius's intuition is always exceptionally sharp. The moment Vill-V saw that message, she had wanted to give chase, but it was a futile effort.
If Fu Li truly wanted to shake her, there was nothing she could do.
"Alright, Vill-V, don't worry. It's just a mere Herrscher." Fu Li looked at the panicked little girl and comforted her patiently, though it was clear such reassurances were having little effect.
Because when he mentioned the word "Herrscher," the worry in Vill-V's beautiful eyes deepened.
Even though she had no concept of what a Herrscher was, she could still feel a sense of threat from that simple word. Her intuition was truly monstrous.
After Fu Li finally managed to calm Vill-V down, he had the chance to explain patiently.
"Do you remember the files I gave you before, about those twelve weapons called Divine Keys that possess power beyond comprehension?"
"I remember." Vill-V nodded, a conjecture already forming in her mind.
And Fu Li didn't keep her in suspense. He revealed the answer: "This disaster that has engulfed the entire state of California is what I call the First Honkai Eruption. And the source of this disaster is the Herrscher of Reason, who wields one of the twelve authorities."
"And the one created from its core is none other than Prometheus."
A super artificial intelligence?
Although Vill-V instinctively felt a sense of oppression, she, who had never truly witnessed such power, still maintained the worldview held by most people—one composed of the four fundamental forces of the universe.
The idea of creating something from nothing based on knowledge alone was something that defied common sense. It was truly difficult to believe without seeing it with one's own eyes.
However, she wasn't given much time to think. A languid and charming voice cut into their conversation.
"Li, we've reached the maximum range."
"Understood. I'm heading out now."
Fu Li acknowledged the message. He then picked up a special weapon forged from Soul Steel, smiled at Vill-V on the screen, and said calmly:
"Seeing is believing, Vill-V. What you are about to witness is power and knowledge that transcends all reason. Are you ready?"
---o---
Author's Note:
PS: Slowly getting back into the rhythm... I can start doing post-chapter notes again soon, time to get fired up. Also, this cycle will be relatively long. Because of Mobius's plan, the upcoming Herrschers and Flame-Chasers will be enhanced, so I can deviate from the original plot a bit. I can also save Elysia, ehe.