Since MEI had already used her Incorporeal Might to restrain the consciousnesses of the six Vill-V personas, she had known for some time that Aponia had secretly assisted Vill-V.
For the sake of the larger situation, however, MEI chose not to expose what Aponia had done. She did not even confront her in private.
There was no point.
Aponia had already made her choice, and bringing the matter into the open now would accomplish nothing except create another fracture within the Newborn World Serpent.
Instead, MEI's thoughts turned toward another problem.
Once the Herrscher of Stars has been dealt with… Mobius will be next.
Her expression gradually turned cold.
In truth, MEI had discovered this second application of Incorporeal Might some time ago. She simply hadn't wanted to use it.
Before all of this, she had still trusted the people working beside her. They were comrades belonging to the same organization, pursuing the same goal. Even when their methods differed, MEI had been unwilling to take the final step of stripping away their autonomy and preserving only the parts of them she considered useful.
It had seemed too ruthless.
Unfortunately…
Recent events had forced her to reconsider.
"I really was too indecisive."
MEI's self-reflection ended there.
"If certain talented individuals insist on becoming ticking time bombs…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Then I'll preserve their 'talents.' Nothing more."
Sim Mobius had already been added to her schedule.
Compared with subduing the Herrscher of Stars, dealing with her should be considerably easier.
After all…
Against Mobius, Pardo can use her full strength.
Unlike a Herrscher, Mobius was not protected by Ling Ke's Three Prohibitions.
That alone changed everything.
Meanwhile, on Earth.
Mu Continent.
"Haaa…"
Sim Elysia let out a long breath.
The strain of maintaining a spatial passage across more than three hundred thousand kilometers had yet to completely fade.
The group had arrived at one of the Newborn World Serpent's hidden safehouses. Its location had been concealed so thoroughly that even Dr. Einstein had never known its coordinates in the past.
Fu Hua and Sim Su had already finished scouting the surrounding area.
"There are no hostile creatures nearby."
The news was at least one small relief.
Kevin nodded.
"Then we'll proceed according to schedule."
He looked across the twelve people gathered with him.
"The operation against the Herrscher of Stars begins tomorrow."
"Once the target has been dealt with, we'll retreat here first and regroup. After the situation stabilizes, we'll return to the Moon."
"Understood."
"Got it."
The others acknowledged the order before gradually dispersing.
Some went to rest.
Others simply wandered through the safehouse and its surroundings, seemingly without any particular destination in mind.
Outside, the sun was already beginning to sink over the Mu Continent.
By the following evening, the original Elysia stood on an observation deck overlooking the distant horizon.
She was the most important person in tomorrow's operation.
Sim Elysia, now mostly recovered from the strain of the long-distance teleportation, stood quietly beside her.
The two pink-haired girls looked almost identical at first glance.
One had ordinary human ears.
The other retained the long elven ears of "Miss Pink Elf♪."
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Elysia smiled faintly.
"Looking at it like this… the scenery really is beautiful."
"It is."
Sim Elysia's answer was unusually soft.
Of course, "beautiful" probably wasn't the most accurate description of the world before them.
Both understood that.
"This scenery might only last another three years."
Elysia's smile weakened slightly.
"Maybe even less."
"Yes…"
"What a pity."
Another brief silence passed between them.
Then Elysia asked:
"We'll be able to preserve humanity's Kindling, won't we?"
"We will."
There was no hesitation in the answer.
Normally, a conversation between two Elysias should never have been this quiet.
Both of them were naturally talkative. Given the opportunity, either could fill an awkward silence almost effortlessly.
But too much had happened recently.
Sim Elysia had simply lived with that weight for longer.
Perhaps that was why, once she had recovered enough to move around normally, she often wandered among their allies, deliberately teasing them or striking up pointless conversations in an attempt to loosen the oppressive atmosphere.
Unfortunately, there were some people even she could no longer reach.
The two Returnees, Kevin and Fu Hua.
And the various Sims.
The darkness accumulated within them over tens of thousands of years was no temporary sadness. It had already taken root too deeply.
There was also something the Sims had never spoken aloud.
In the history they remembered, the Thirteen Flame-Chasers had never once stood together in battle with every member truly united behind the same decision.
Not even once.
And now…
In this era, indirectly reignited by Ling Ke's malice and his revenge…
They were repeating the same mistakes.
Elysia stared toward the dying light on the horizon.
"Perhaps…"
"Perhaps that's simply what it means to be human."
Sim Elysia gave a small nod.
"Perhaps."
Then Elysia smiled again.
"But I still love them."
"Hehe…"
Sim Elysia's expression softened.
"So do I."
Their eyes met.
There was no need to explain what either was thinking.
"What can you do…" they murmured together.
Then, almost at the same moment:
"No sacrificing ourselves this time."
The smiles on their faces widened.
"Let's stay with them…"
"With humanity."
"For as long as we possibly can."
As those words left their mouths, the Keys of Blankness worn by both Elysias underwent an almost imperceptible change.
Certain restraints buried deep within the armor were quietly released.
MEI had never discovered them.
Void Archives contained no record of them.
They were restrictions that only a Herrscher could perceive in the first place, much less manipulate.
And now…
Both Elysias had removed them.
Sorry, Dr. Einstein.
Their thoughts seemed to overlap.
But this time…
We want to see a future farther than the one you chose for us.
The next day.
Inside the hidden safehouse on the Mu Continent, every combatant assigned to the operation had assembled.
Kevin.
Fu Hua.
Elysia.
Sim Elysia.
Sim Su.
And the remaining members of the interception force.
Weapons had been checked.
Equipment had been prepared.
The Herrscher of Stars' position had already been confirmed.
MOTH Headquarters.
Today, they would appear before the world as cultists, traitors, and villains.
They would personally attack MOTH Headquarters.
They would destroy the Sea of Quanta Portal that countless survivors regarded as their last hope.
And then…
They would kill people who had once been their comrades.
Before departure, Kevin turned toward the person on whom the entire operation depended.
"Elysia."
"Are you ready?"
The pink-haired girl answered with her usual confident smile.
"Of course."
Kevin gave a short nod, then looked toward Sim Elysia.
"Open the passages."
"Leave it to me."
Golden-orange light spread through the safehouse.
Several spatial gates opened one after another.
The first led directly above MOTH Headquarters.
The others connected to strategically chosen positions around the facility, allowing the interception force to surround the battlefield before the enemy could react.
The operation had been divided into two groups.
The Assault Team consisted of Kevin and the original Elysia.
The Interception Team consisted of Fu Hua, Sim Elysia, Sim Su, and the remaining combatants.
"Move."
One figure after another vanished through the golden-orange gates.
Within seconds, the safehouse was empty.
The portals snapped shut behind them.
At almost the same moment…
High above MOTH Headquarters, space rippled.
Kevin and Elysia emerged from the portal.
The response was immediate.
Gravity changed.
Not merely increasing or decreasing, but twisting into something fundamentally abnormal.
The surrounding space seemed to freeze for an instant before descending into violent disorder.
Then she appeared.
The Herrscher of Stars.
Dr. Einstein's human consciousness had been completely suppressed.
There was no warmth in her eyes.
No hesitation.
No recognition.
Only killing intent.
She stared silently at Kevin and Elysia for several seconds before finally speaking.
"Humans always insist on repeating the same futile struggles."
Her voice contained not the slightest trace of emotion.
"It seems the lesson I gave you last time wasn't enough."
Kevin's expression did not change.
"Not nearly enough."
The Gravity Field intensified.
Invisible pressure spread across the sky, warping the space surrounding the Herrscher.
But this time, Kevin made no attempt to force his way through.
"Elysia."
"Leave it to me."
The pink-haired girl moved forward.
The Key of Blankness responded around her body as another Herrscher Core awakened within the armor.
Authority of Binding.
Kevin immediately withdrew behind her.
He already knew what would happen next.
Judgement of Shamash rose into his hands, flames roaring along the Divine Key as he prepared the strike he had been holding in reserve.
Elysia extended one hand.
The Grace Field began to unfold.
Not across the entire battlefield.
Not indiscriminately.
She compressed its influence toward a single direction, focusing everything on the Herrscher of Stars and the distorted region surrounding her.
"Grace Field…"
The Authority of Binding descended.
The Gravity Field resisted.
For an instant, the two Authorities seemed to collide without producing any visible result.
Then…
The ever-changing distortion around the Herrscher of Stars slowed.
The field that had previously twisted distance, movement, and even the flow of time began to lose its freedom to reshape itself.
It was being fixed in place.
Bound.
Exactly as MEI had calculated.
Elysia's eyes sharpened.
"Directional deployment!"
That was the signal.
Behind her, Kevin raised Judgement of Shamash overhead.
The Divine Key erupted.
Flames surged across the sky as its restraints were released.
"Shamash…"
The greatsword descended.
"UNSHEATHE!"