Zeke retrieved the Gem of Desire.
Everything had gone smoothly without Otto's interference. Wendy successfully negotiated with her Herrscher Aspect, allowing subsequent steps to proceed according to the predetermined plan.
Currently, Wendy was peacefully asleep at the base under Fu Hua's protection.
Carrying the Soulium box containing the gemstone, Zeke ventured out onto the snowy plains.
Kiana, Sin, and Bronya had been waiting anxiously for some time.
"Did it work? Is Wendy okay?" Kiana rushed closer, asking eagerly.
Though she already knew the outcome from their communication earlier, she wanted to hear Zeke confirm it himself.
Zeke nodded affirmatively.
"For now, the Gem of Desire is here with me. As for Wendy, she's sleeping inside; no major issues, just needing a few days' rest before waking up fully recovered."
Kiana patted her visibly heaving chest, letting out a deep sigh of relief. "That's wonderful news," she expressed gratefully.
Among all the children at the orphanage, Wendy was unique due to her disability. The thought of her regaining full health would undoubtedly bring joy to everyone.
Meanwhile, the observant Bronya furrowed her brow slightly.
"What do you mean by 'for now'?"
Zeke looked at her.
"Well observed. Once we return, I'll gift you another doll as a reward."
"Thank you." Bronya calmly acknowledged him, maintaining her questioning gaze.
Zeke proceeded to explain:
"The Herrscher Aspect has already formed; following the established pattern, it's certain that Wendy will become this era's Herrscher of Wind. Whether she wants it or not, fate awaits her. Removing the Gem of Desire merely delays her transformation, but eventually, she'll reach that point. Once she becomes the Herrscher of Wind and forms a new Herrscher Core, this gemstone will vanish."
"Can't we prevent it somehow?" Bronya furrowed her brow.
While the power of a Herrscher was formidable, it also symbolized ominousness and destruction. If possible, Bronya wished to shield gentle souls like Wendy from such forces.
Zeke shook his head. "There is one method, but I'm unwilling to employ it."
"What method?"
"We could kill her now, potentially cutting short the life of this era's Herrscher of Wind. That way, she wouldn't transform into a Herrscher, and I could indefinitely retain the Gem of Desire."
"...Hmph (°?°)!" Initially stunned, Bronya then snorted, turning away with puffed cheeks, clearly displeased.
She felt tricked by Zeke again—how could that be considered a solution? It seemed more like mockery!
Zeke smiled faintly, then proceeded to open the Soulium box right before their eyes, carefully extracting the Gem of Desire with his bare hands.
"Even if it's just temporary and will eventually vanish, let's see what changes this additional gem can bring!"
Zeke clenched his fist, drawing energy from the gemstone. Honkai Energy patterns surged to life on his palm, rapidly spreading across his entire arm and up half his face.
BOOM!!!
In the next instant, with a deafening roar that shattered the air, a pillar of white light shot toward the sky. The resulting shockwave cleared kilometers of accumulated snow.
The fierce gusts forced even the trio clad in black armor to retreat several steps.
"This is...an incredibly potent concentration of Honkai Energy, comparable to a Herrscher," Bronya observed, glancing at the readings displayed in her peripheral vision. She was surprised yet unsurprised—after all, this was Zeke; any extraordinary feat would be expected of him.
Once the storm subsided, they found Zeke still standing firmly in place, seemingly unchanged save for his pale blue eyes, which appeared slightly darker now.
Though outwardly unaltered, merely being near him at this moment induced a sense of mental stiffness and constrained breathing, affecting even Sin and Bronya momentarily.
Only Kiana seemed unaffected as she strolled over with her hands clasped behind her back. She craned her neck to examine Zeke from all angles, even daring to tug at his hair while completely ignoring his darkening expression.
"Huh? Is this the power of the gemstone? Doesn't seem like much of a change."
"You..." Zeke began, but then his pupils contracted sharply, and he abruptly turned his head toward the southeastern sky.
In the bustling city of the Far East under the cover of night...
The streets were teeming with activity, devoid of any semblance of nocturnal tranquility. With electric lighting invented over a century ago, human routines had long since shifted, fully incorporating nighttime into everyday life.
Welt and Himeko strolled along the sidewalk together—one, a tall, refined gentleman with an extraordinary aura; the other, a graceful beauty captivating in her every glance. This striking pair drew attention while appearing perfectly matched.
Welt purchased two ice creams from a vendor and handed one to Himeko.
"I remember you liked these. Unfortunately, your favorite brand went bankrupt due to lingering effects from the Siberian incident years ago. All that's left is this one, but I picked the most expensive option available—hope it meets your standards."
"Thank you...Professor." Accepting the ice cream, Himeko's lips curved into a rare genuine smile, the first in quite some time.
Since her father's mysterious disappearance and the subsequent sacrifices of her teammates, Himeko's smiles often served as a facade, masking her true feelings.
"Professor? It's been ages since anyone called me that. Brings back memories, actually."
"So what do people usually call you then? Alliance Leader?"
"Something like that. Among friends, they mostly just call me Welt or Yang. You can do the same if you'd like."
"Then it's 'Welt'—longer and with a rhythmic ring to it." Himeko winked playfully at Welt, flirting charmingly.
However, this iron-willed man, regrettably, was not made of actual steel; he wasn't conductive to her flirtatiousness.
Thus, Welt remained unfazed, only displaying a kind expression as he gently patted Himeko's head like one would a cherished younger generation member. He said warmly, "After all these years apart, you're still as spirited as ever. That brings me some comfort."
"( ̄ж ̄)..."
Himeko took a large bite of her ice cream, chewing silently, unwilling to respond further.
This iron-willed bachelor, just like before, remained utterly clueless about romance.
But perhaps that's for the best—it meant he was still a pitiful virgin, much like herself.
"How have you been lately?" Welt asked, his tone conveying genuine concern as an elder might.
Himeko rolled her eyes.
"What do you think? My family and friends are mostly gone; I'm just getting by somehow." Her expression and voice sounded indifferent, but precisely because of this nonchalance, they conveyed the deep-seated sorrow hidden beneath.
Perhaps this was a sign that she had shed all her tears.
Welt scratched his face, wanting to avoid stirring up Himeko's painful memories. He quickly changed the subject:
"So, have you met any nice young men lately? You're not getting any younger..."
Himeko stepped on Welt's foot with her sharp high heel and twisted it firmly.
Welt stopped talking.
In truth, it didn't hurt at all; to make a Herrscher feel even the slightest pain, one would need at least a large-caliber Honkai energy shell. However, years of interacting with Einstein and Tesla had taught Welt the appropriate reaction in this situation.
He furrowed his brow, feigning discomfort from the pressure.
Only then did Himeko release her foot, snorting dismissively.
"Hmph! And here I was trying to tease you. Do you have someone special yourself?" she asked, sneaking glances at Welt's expression.
Welt scratched his head, grinning innocently. "Of course!"
"Wait..." Himeko dropped her ice cream cone onto the ground.
"Careful—oh well, we can just buy another. It'll be extra work for the sanitation crew though; they deserve our gratitude." Welt shook his head sympathetically.
Himeko grabbed him by the collar. "Forget about that! Tell me, who do you like?"
"Well, there are quite a few."
"Quite...quite a few?!" Her eyes widened incredulously, filled with confusion and disbelief.
Unfazed by his former student's impolite gesture, Welt responded warmly:
"I appreciate anyone with kind intentions."
Welt pointed at the pedestrians passing by on the street, his smile filled with compassion and tenderness.
Himeko, relieved, let out a deep sigh. She loosened her grip and gently adjusted Welt's slightly disheveled collar, saying:
"Why didn't you just say that earlier?! I knew it, with your personality, who would show any romantic interest?"
"Hey, hey! That's quite the sarcastic remark for your teacher!"
"So what if I tease you? Got some guts now? Find someone you like right here, this instant - someone you'd consider settling down and having kids with!" Himeko confidently declared, emphasizing her ample curves before Welt, clearly hinting at her intentions.
But Welt merely scratched his head, smiling awkwardly.
"Hahaha, how could that be possible? Such matters depend on fate. Besides, I carry many responsibilities. With Honkai still present, how can there be room for personal life?" Welt sighed.
Puffing up her cheeks, Himeko echoed his sigh.
"Rumble!"
Just as they fell silent, the ground suddenly began to tremble.
"Is...is it an earthquake?!"
"Run! Quickly head for open areas!"
"My wallet, my wallet..."
"Forget it—just get to safety first!"
The pedestrians grew frantic, starting to flee in panic.
Welt's gaze sharpened as he looked up towards the southwest.
A Herrscher's eyes could pierce through the night, revealing the ominous swirling vortex of dark clouds brewing in the sky. An unprecedentedly terrifying amount of Honkai Energy threatened to engulf the heavens—a sight witnessed only once before in his lifetime, comparable to that of the six-core Herrscher of the Void from years past.
Welt pulled out his communication device and initiated a multi-party video call.
The first person to connect was Zeke.
"Welt, you felt it too? Of course; being right here in the Far East, there's no way you'd miss such close proximity."
"So even you sensed it all the way in Siberia? It seems this isn't just my imagination then. The intensity of this Honkai Energy is the second strongest I've ever encountered, nearing that of the former Herrscher of the Void."
"In other words, we're in deep trouble, colossal trouble. I hereby declare Anti-Entropy enters a state of war."
"I concur. In the name of the Anti-Entropy Alliance Leader, I grant you highest command authority. From this moment on, you are Anti-Entropy's top Enforcer; make the best arrangements possible. Oh, and Hera is at Saint Freya Academy—I'll bring her over."
In the next instant, a new window squeezed into the row of video call screens, revealing Hera, who casually waved at Zeke and Welt.
"No need, I'm already here."
A brief silence ensued before both Zeke and Welt simultaneously spoke:
"Cooperation?" x 2
"Yes," Hera replied succinctly, taking a leisurely sip of her black tea.
This was not just a crisis but also an opportunity. Let her see how many trump cards the current Anti-Entropy, including Welt and Zeke, truly held!