I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

If Xi Wang is indeed a Herrscher, how can his clear words and consistently friendly demeanor be explained? Is it true? Or... is he simply a Herrscher in disguise?

Kevin didn't know what to do. He tightened and loosened his grip on the sword several times.

"Ha... Kevin, let's get back to our previous question."

Finally, Xi Wang was somewhat helpless and could only sigh and say this.

"……what?"

"If one day, simply defeating me could save everyone... what would you do?"

Xi Wang placed her hand on her chest and spoke softly.

“This is an unavoidable problem, Kevin.”

"........."

"……I see."

Kevin closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and as if he had made a decision, his gaze toward Xi Wang was filled with a hint of sadness... and determination.

Reality... is unavoidable and must be faced, so he must not run away from it.

Everything about Xi Wang indicates that he has become a Herrscher, or is about to become one, and he is already prepared to face the fate of being defeated.

And he... should also respect, and should... be given relief.

At the very least, Eden and Sakura must not see this.

As for the consequences that follow... let him bear them himself.

“…That’s good, that’s more like you, Kevin.”

Xi Wang was momentarily taken aback, but then responded with a smile... In Xi Wang's eyes, the Kevin at this moment and the Kevin in her "memory"... their figures could be somewhat overlapped.

However, looking at Kevin, there was still some disappointment in his eyes.

Because... Kevin still chose to see him as a [Herrscher] rather than a [human].

Well, that's understandable. All the signs point to him being a Herrscher. Even if he claims to be human, it's hard to imagine anyone believing him.

But... fire... [Heavenly Fire Judgment]... that's really bad.

Huhu——

It was the sound of flames burning... as if worried that he would hesitate again, as if worried that he would change his mind, Kevin... swiftly swung his weapon.

"Eek—!!!"

[Blood relatives! Danger!]

Then, unsurprisingly, this aroused Skadi's hostility.

"...Ha~"

However, Xi Wang was briefly taken aback, then smiled helplessly.

Skadi's attention was mostly on Kevin, so she only noticed that Kevin had launched an attack, but she didn't realize that... although the attack ostensibly enveloped Dawn, it was actually aimed at it and at Skadi.

Kevin... was still thinking of eliminating the most compelling "evidence" first.

That's true... This time, Kevin didn't experience as many things; most of the burdens were taken care of by others.

The Sixth and Seventh Herrschers were defeated by Thousand Calamities, so Kevin did not suffer a severe emotional blow, nor did he fall into deep remorse for killing his former comrades with his own hands... Among the Ninth Herrschers, he did not kill Hen either...

His heart was no longer as cold as it had been "before".

Great, as expected... this time, I did change something.

Xi Wang smiled happily.

Then, Xiwang would manipulate the seawater to block the attack for Skadi... and also to stop Skadi from retaliating.

Sigh... It really is troublesome to be caught in the middle of both, isn't it?

However, Kevin's actions were too swift, so swift that many people struggled to understand his true intentions, or simply didn't expect that Kevin, who has always been a very straightforward guy, would make such a "clever" move.

"What are you doing?! Kevin?!"

A figure quickly descended from the aircraft, which had not yet fully landed, accompanied by a slightly anxious shout.

Immediately, Xi Wang saw a figure blocking her way.

Those are marks.

The people on the aircraft couldn't hear what Xiwang and Kevin were saying, but they could still tell from the images that Xiwang was protecting the Honkai Beast, while Kevin... suddenly launched an attack after exchanging words.

This doesn't make sense, does it? According to the current situation, shouldn't Xiwang be able to communicate with others? Even the data detected from the spacecraft only shows Xiwang as a "suspected Herrscher," not a fully confirmed Herrscher. Why would Kevin launch an attack directly?

Although many people realized, after seeing the close relationship between Xi Wang and Skadi, that Xi Wang might really be a [Herrscher], and that the Honkai Beast was his [Companion Honkai Beast], they still maintained a little bit of fantasy.

Unexpectedly, Kevin would so directly activate [Heavenly Judgment], as if he wanted to [punish] Xiwang.

That Kevin, really! Why is he so blunt?! Try negotiating again!

Many people think this way.

However, the sudden situation caught everyone off guard, and Hen even rushed off the aircraft to block Xi Wang's path.

Then... this scene triggered Xi Wang's PTSD.

The raging flames, and the marks of attempts to resist them... The scene before my eyes overlapped with the images in my "memory".

Then, Xi Wang's body moved before her mind could process it.

Absolutely...absolutely! We must not repeat this mistake!

Xi Wang's gentle gaze turned sharp in an instant. The seawater beneath her feet swirled, forcefully engulfing Skadi's massive body and pulling it away from the area covered by flames, thus interrupting its counterattack... Hmm, [blood ties] are important; Skadi cannot be injured.

Then, with a swift movement, he stepped forward and, without caring about controlling his strength, kicked Hen away. Then, midway through his flight, he manipulated the seawater to catch him.

Next, all that's needed is to control the seawater to keep the fire at bay...

boom!

The flames had already engulfed Xiwang's body.

"Xi Wang?!"

Blood relatives!!!

--------

"Aponia, why aren't you going on this mission? Are you worried about something?"

Mebius, who was located at the "Fire Moth" base, approached Aponia and asked her a pointed question.

"Ah."

"Oh? That's unexpected... I thought you'd try to brush us off with some mystical talk like before~"

"I just... don't want to see that scene again."

Aponia's eyelids drooped slightly, her tone filled with sadness and...pity.

"The silk thread has been moved, and everything has changed, but... it is still slight."

"[Fate]...is trying to correct everything...to return everything to its original state."

Aponia gently raised her hand and grasped the cross pendant hanging on her chest, her tone firm.

"But... this time, everything will be different."

Immediately, her tone became filled with sadness, a sense of powerlessness, a feeling of being able to watch everything happen but being unable to change it, and unable to do anything about it... a sense of dejection.

"But all of this was too cruel for him."

Chapter Sixty-Four: You love humans the most, don't you, Alicia? (6161)

[Your figure was engulfed by flames, and Skadi's mournful cry followed... In an instant, the entire "ocean" boiled over.]

[The beloved child is once again ravaged by flames... This is unacceptable and intolerable to the ocean.]

The once calm sea was now rippled with waves, and the ice floes Kevin had created for footholds were completely destroyed. Honkai beasts, whose whereabouts were unknown, leaped out of the sea and attacked the group, especially Kevin.

The aircraft was destroyed, exploded in mid-air, turned into debris, and was eventually dismembered and swallowed by the ocean... Any firelight was extinguished by the seawater.

[The Honkai Beasts belonging to the ocean leaped out and attacked the people present, destroying the ice surface that Kevin had created for everyone and constantly attacking those standing on it... especially Kevin.]

Kevin, meanwhile, could only helplessly manipulate the ice and snow, wielding his fiery sword, trying his best to cover the surrounding warriors so they could regain their fighting spirit.

Skadi swung her massive tail fin, and a wave rose up, crashing towards the group. It looked like it was about to crush them, but... the wave's momentum quickly diminished, eventually subsiding, leaving Kevin and the others feeling only a slight swaying.

The leaping Honkai Beasts were all pierced through by seawater, engulfed in bubbles, and turned into foam... They were not "blood relatives," they were merely "prey."

"Ouch... Ouch... That hurts!" Your cry of pain reached everyone's ears and attracted Skadi's attention, causing it to temporarily stop its attack on Kevin. All eyes turned to you.

[Seriously... don't forget where you are! This is the "ocean," how could anything possibly happen to you here? Right?]

The seawater gently washes away the flames from your body, soothing your wounds... The seawater seems viscous, caressing your body like a mother's concern for your injuries... As for your burned clothes, it has prepared them for you—a dark hunter's outfit as deep as the ocean.

When you found yourself forced to change into these clothes, you were somewhat amused and exasperated... but you still expressed your gratitude to the seawater and gently comforted Skadi... In any case, they had helped you a lot.

Seeing that you were alright, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and Kevin's eyes were filled with guilt as he looked at you... But soon, everyone realized a problem.

[Your resilience, and this new outfit you're wearing... it all seems to somehow highlight your identity as a "Herrscher".]

However, seeing you pull Hen out of the water, seeing you still chatting and joking happily with Hen... everyone temporarily put aside their doubts.

Forget it, don't think about it too much, at least not now... don't think about it too much.

[And you... right now you're comforting Skadi, who's been flapping her tail fins anxiously, looking like she wants to take you away, while also calming the ripples in the ocean... Kevin's "Judgment of Heavenly Fire" is still too conspicuous, making them very wary.]

[Besides that, you also have to negotiate with Hen and Kevin, on the one hand to show that you're really fine, and on the other hand to ask them to let Skadi leave safely... Sigh, being caught in the middle is really tiring~]

After what just happened, Kevin and Hen didn't want to object to you anymore, and their accompanying team members nodded repeatedly... Let's just let one Honkai Beast go, we can find another opportunity to "exterminate" it later, you are the most important thing right now... They really don't want to hurt you.

Even if... even if you really become a "Herrscher," there should at least be some "concrete evidence," right?

[For example, you might kill someone, or... trigger a "major collapse" or something?]

No, no, no, that's still going too far... Anyway, let's leave it at that until we have "concrete evidence."

So, after much persuasion, even hugging everyone present... oh, Kevin couldn't, tsk, what a pity... anyway, to reassure Skadi, you gave everyone present a warm hug to show that there really was no problem between you and they had no intention of hurting you... in the end, it was almost a kiss before Skadi reluctantly believed your story and thought that no one would really hurt you.

[Well...except for Kevin, because you didn't hug him, and he's still holding the "Judgment of Heavenly Fire," so Skadi is still hostile towards him (Kevin: feeling wronged)]