To create Honkai Impact 3rd in a world where Kallen exists.

She sat somewhat languidly on the bench, idly tossing a strand of her hair with her fingers.

"You've finally arrived?"

"Well... let me reintroduce myself. I am Alicia, the second of the Heroes of Fire Chaser, the one with the inscription 'True Self'."

"And you've probably already guessed his other identity, haven't you? However, when you actually stand before the Thirteenth Herrscher..."

"Hi? How are you feeling?"

She smiled playfully, the same smile she had in the hall, watching Mei climb the steps, somewhat anticipating the surprised look on Mei's face.

Wouldn't that have been... a more perfect entrance?

This time, Aponia is helping with the preparations, aren't you excited?

[…Tears welled up, I was deeply moved, and it felt like we were meeting for the first time.]

[The Inscription of My True Self? Is this the mark I've always longed for, hidden by the black block?]

[The Thirteenth Herrscher? Why would there be a Thirteenth Herrscher?]

"This entrance... is just as I expected!"

Alicia put her hands on her hips with satisfaction and spoke to Eden and Aponia with great enthusiasm, a grand and meaningful gesture that showcased her captivating beauty.

"However... my dear Aponia, weren't you exaggerating a bit? You're making me blush..."

She touched her cheek; thankfully, it wasn't burning, just slightly flushed. She couldn't help but glance at Aponia.

“I was just speaking the truth… Besides, I think it’s praise that Ellie deserves.”

Aponia said casually, a smile playing at the corners of her eyes.

She came to Paradise to see what she had witnessed firsthand, and she traveled the world to see more of her deeds.

"...Hmph. Tch, the Thirteenth Herrscher, what a liar."

Mebius pouted, dissatisfied.

"Eden's New Clothes, Kevin's birthday, and so many moments with you all... Oh dear, Aponia, I'm starting to regret what I'm saying."

"Hmm... I'm a little embarrassed, and am I really that perfect?"

She poked Mebius's cheek.

"No, it's fake."

Mebius frowned in displeasure.

"...Ha, Mebius always says the opposite of what he means, so it's probably true."

She chuckled.

Chapter 44 Is she really a Herrscher?

"..."

Mebius turned his head away, no longer in the mood to pay attention to the other person.

It has to be said that the game screen before her eyes, along with the information contained in Aponia and Alicia's words, confirmed many of her secret guesses.

She is indeed that Herrscher.

And was her final action at that time also intended to disrupt her predetermined fate?

Mebius's eyes flickered, gradually revealing a sense of certainty.

So... what did Alicia ultimately change?

"Ah……"

Alicia watched the screen as butterflies fluttered around her beautiful figure in a sunlit garden, so lovely and radiant. In this paradise, she always guided Mei towards the end.

It perfectly matches her sense of beauty.

That little garden must have been her final secret location. Everything was about to be revealed, and for some reason, Alicia suddenly felt a little nervous.

She took a deep breath and glanced at all her companions present. Their expressions varied, and they all knew more or less about the news.

—Except for a few.

"Herrscher? Did I hear that right? Sister Airi, are you really a Herrscher?"

Pado's eyes lit up. Because of a certain game, she didn't really avoid the term anymore. She was just very curious that one of her longtime companions had such a shocking identity.

If Ellie is a Herrscher... then what kind of power would she have?

She had no doubt about this, after all, Ellie was so powerful, which in some ways matched her understanding of Herrschers!

Just like... if someone said that Phyllis was a Herrscher, no one would believe it.

"Padma, that's right, I'm a Herrscher. Scared, aren't you?"

Alicia smiled and patted Pado's head as she leaned closer, subtly pinching the ear nestled between her fingers. It felt warm and soothing.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he became engrossed in stroking the cute little animal.

"Were you scared? After all, there are so many Herrschers in this world now, and it's different from our previous civilization, so we won't panic... So, Alice, could you please stop touching me? And also, where was that last scene?"

"I've been in Paradise for so long, how come I have no memory of it at all? Is there... some kind of treasure hidden inside?"

Finally, the true intentions were revealed. Pado looked expectantly at Alicia, while shaking her head vigorously, trying to avoid the clutches of evil.

"As for a treasure... I guess I have one, after all... Pado, you think your sister Aili must be very precious, right?"

“That’s right…”

"As for the other treasures, there's nothing we can do. Paradise has vanished, so naturally, the things inside are gone too."

"Ah—that, that's such a pity!"

Pado lost sight of the treasure's location, even though she thought her sharp eyes would allow her to find the tempting and abundant treasure again... but in the end, she was wrong.

It's gone...

Meanwhile, Mebius approached, seemingly remembering something she wanted to discuss with Alicia.

"On the other hand, you've always touted the side effects of the fusion warriors in Versailles... Now it seems, maybe that was also due to the Herrscher's influence?"

Mebius's eyes flashed, and a sinister smile gradually appeared on his lips.

She seemed to have connected it to something more wonderful. Wasn't Alicia always talking about the side effects of her so-called fusion warriors? Basically, it was the same as hers, after all... her side effects became the most obvious after a long time.

"...?"

Alicia frowned and stared at Mebius for a long time, her eyes even turning somewhat fierce.

Mebius said with amusement, "Can't get fat?"

Alicia glanced subconsciously at her slightly chubby belly, even though she knew no one could see the extra weight through her clothes, she quickly looked away. But this was tantamount to admitting it, and she muttered under her breath, "I don't know what you're talking about..."

"My skin is getting better every day?"

She went a step further, becoming increasingly aggressive.

"As good as ever! Look, my skin is moist and smooth, and I never stay up late."

"Hair...fluffy?"

"It's just a new hairstyle, but my hair is suffering a lot..."

Under Mebius's questioning, Alicia took a few steps back, looking at her with some panic.

Did she exaggerate the side effects of merging with the Great Freedom Heaven? Perhaps she should have said it was something she was born with, or... well, something she benefited from a healthy lifestyle?

"Heh..." Möbius stopped approaching, standing still with a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Oh dear, I don't know who it was that made such a miraculous claim about their side effects. Now it seems that for you, the only side effect is those ears."

"No wonder you defeated two Herrschers in a row without undergoing fusion surgery. Your strength is undeniable; you just needed to conceal it."

"..."

Alicia scratched her cheek, somewhat embarrassed, but still insisted, "It's clearly a side effect of the fusion surgery, Mebius, why would I lie to you?"

"However, you don't need to envy me anymore. Look, I'm neither a Fusion Warrior nor do I have a Herrscher Core..."

"Hmph—you didn't have a Herrscher core to begin with. Otherwise, I wouldn't have only just confirmed it with you now."

Hua, on the other hand, was thinking that she was no longer the only one among Ying Jie to have become a Herrscher. She felt a little embarrassed about her future self becoming a Herrscher—or rather, about the Herrscher becoming her.

Now it seems that the deputy leader, Alicia, is the same. She couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief, and her expression immediately became more relaxed...

But conversely, is this the power of the Herrscher's influence? In every organization, the presence of the Herrscher is indispensable, whether overt or covert.

"It seems that even in another less-than-ideal future, I still fulfilled my wish and passed on the last secret to Mei... It seems I made the right choice back then."

Aponia smiled and said.

"Oh? Maybe~ After all, Mei is the main character, and she'll always be surrounded by countless dangers. Who knows, even Paradise might get blown up..."

"Vilvie said with a hint of amusement, tossing the playing cards in her hand. They tumbled in the air, and under the light, different suits flashed one after another, changing unpredictably."

Finally, she pinched the card between two fingers, looked at it with surprise, and then the card quickly turned to ashes and disappeared.

"...When did you learn divination? Is it a new personality?"

Mebius raised an eyebrow, looking at Vervie, who was putting on a show, and asked, puzzled.

Does the other person believe in fate?

“Of course not, why would I learn that? Who can compare to Aponia?” Velvi said bluntly. “It just makes you seem a little mysterious.”

Mebius: "..."

"Is this why I can never seem to get Alicia's colors right?"

The quiet Gretchen suddenly stopped writing, looked up, blinked, and asked in Alicia's direction.

"No, that's not the reason. It's because... I've shown my true self, so little Greta can't see my inner thoughts."

...

Inside the villa, Theresa's mind went blank after Alicia's true identity was revealed.

"No...she, she, I didn't hear wrong, did I? Alicia...is a Herrscher?"