ALL NOVEL Chapter 223: Earth's Core
The sharpened spines effortlessly tore through space. The mutated Tonatiuh, no longer resembling its original lobster form, now manifested as a higher-dimensional embodiment of destruction.
A pure black sphere formed at its core after absorbing the Shadow of Chaos, relentlessly devouring all light.
After this transformation, the Will of Honkai severed its connection with the main collective. Ren had deliberately allowed himself to fall into a near-death state precisely for this opportunity. Only by severing the link with the Honkai itself could the constant surveillance he was under be lifted.
The moment he saw Tonatiuh, Kevin instantly understood the 17th Prometheus warning. This was a far greater threat than any Herrscher.
Herrschers could be eliminated, reasoned with, or contained. But if this thing uploaded its information back to the collective, the Will of Honkai would learn and evolve. The Previous Era utilized the 17th Prometheus to hack the Imaginary Tree to make the Honkai more controllable.
Now, if a controllable Will of Honkai learned to grow, it would birth an even more terrifying enemy.
The Flame-Chasers' hope would then become the very inferno that consumed the current civilization, rendering all their efforts meaningless. This was something Kevin absolutely could not accept.
Before Tonatiuh could fully materialize from the spatial distortion, Kevin struck preemptively. A full-powered punch slammed into Tonatiuh's core. The sheer force caused the surrounding air to implode, creating an impact comparable to a small nuclear explosion.
Yet, Tonatiuh merely flickered momentarily before stabilizing. Its quantum state allowed it to evade most attacks, and its ability to shift into imaginary space allowed it to absorb Honkai energy for offense. It was both offensively and defensively formidable.
Reacting, Tonatiuh lashed out with its spines, grazing Kevin's shoulder. In less than a second, hundreds of slashes tore open spatial rifts.
However, it faced Kevin, humanity's strongest warrior. Such attacks were inconsequential. In an instant, the sky frosted over. Kevin forcefully reactivated the seemingly extinguished Might of An-Utu, channeling its devastating power into his enemy.
Above the Pacific, only the blinding light of their clash remained. The vast ocean became their battleground, the sky echoing with countless nuclear-like detonations as the cloud cover shattered.
Kevin deliberately steered the fight towards the open ocean to minimize casualties. Even so, the churning waves formed tsunamis of apocalyptic proportions. The collapsing air spawned hurricanes that spiraled towards the surrounding landmasses.
The closest landmass, the Japan, bore the initial brunt. Vaporized seawater, carried by the shockwave, deluged the land in torrential rain. Category 5 typhoons ravaged the island nation without warning, cities plunged into scenes of devastation.
[Category 5 is the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.]
"Divine punishment..." someone whispered, eyes filled with despair. Amidst the widespread panic, the Valkyries' voices rang out clear and strong. Despite the downpour soaking their hair, they remained at the forefront, organizing the evacuation.
"Don't worry, Schicksal will get you to safety," Susanna, also participating in the evacuation, had never witnessed Honkai activity of this magnitude. Her voice trembled, her eyes betraying fear. Yet, she stood firm, holding back debris flung by the hurricane winds, creating escape routes for the people.
Transport ships took off continuously. Under the Valkyries' guidance, the panicked crowds gradually quieted, forming orderly lines to board.
This was what Schicksal could do. This was Schicksal's purpose.
On the periphery of the battlefield, Durandal made repeated attempts to rejoin the fight. However, even with her current strength, she couldn't even approach. It was then she realized the man who had seemingly fought her on equal footing had been holding back.
Forced to withdraw, she shifted her focus to securing Kiana's safety and retrieving the Thousand Worlds' Gate, as planned. But the spatial rift above Changkong City had closed, the Thousand Worlds' Gate vanished. Her attempts to contact Otto were met only with static.
A black corruption spread across the land, expanding outwards. If this continued, the Japan was in danger of becoming a lifeless wasteland.
Soaring through the sky, Bianka looked down at the ground. Kiana was nowhere to be seen. The intense Honkai radiation permeated even the air, and she couldn't help but worry for Kiana's safety.
"Hm?" Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Bianka suddenly detected a faint Honkai energy signature emanating from beneath the earth. Unlike the chaotic, corrupted energy above, this was pure, the kind Valkyries could absorb.
…
Deep underground, the immobilized Ren stared up at the distant sky, bored.
Kevin's attacks were undeniably powerful. Even with the Will of Honkai absorbing most of the energy, he was still rendered helpless.
But this was precisely what he had intended. Upon realizing the Will of Honkai lurking within him, Ren had prepared to endure Kevin's assault. In fact, Kevin was a crucial element of his plan.
He knew the Will of Honkai had its sights set on him. But while exposed, it couldn't pinpoint his true essence. His plan was to feign vulnerability, driven by fabricated emotions, to lure the Will of Honkai into taking direct control. Then, he would exploit Kevin's attack to force the Will of Honkai out, freeing himself from its grasp.
He hadn't anticipated the Will of Honkai being so deeply embedded, hiding within his puppet body.
So, once possessed, he'd played along, guiding the Honkai-controlled body to attack Kevin. Knowing Kevin, he would never allow Ren to live.
Upon his death, the Will of Honkai would naturally release its surveillance. Simultaneously, he would escape Kiana's notice, fading back into the shadows. It was a perfect plan.
Things hadn't gone exactly as planned. He hadn't died outright, and the Will of Honkai hadn't been destroyed. But the outcome was still favorable. With his body destroyed, the Will of Honkai had to seek a new host, becoming Tonatiuh.
This also achieved his goal of breaking free from its control. If Kevin could eliminate it – ideally before it uploaded its information back to the Imaginary Tree – then Ren would be classified as a deceased Herrscher, finally free.
If Kevin couldn't eliminate it, that was fine too. He was a Herrscher, after all. Humanity's fate was not his concern. Let Otto and Kevin deal with the headache.
He would simply wait underground for his demise, for the dust to settle. That would be enough.
The Honkai-corrupted earth constantly spawned Quantum Shadows, even deep underground. Ren finally understood what he'd witnessed in the Quantum Sea with Himeko.
Countless monsters swarmed him, yet he couldn't lift a finger, forced to watch as they devoured him piece by piece.
Now, it was his turn.
Just as Ren closed his eyes, ready to embrace oblivion, a figure descended the pitch-black cliff face, clinging with bare hands. Kiana, her back bearing the Divine Key – the Greatsword of Taixuan, was climbing down.
The Valkyrie's skin, exposed to the corrupted walls, offered no more protection than an ordinary human's. Her fingers were bloodied. She'd plunged thousands of meters into the chasm without any apparent preparation.
"..."
Couldn't you just let me die in peace? Why...?
A torrent of complex emotions surged through Ren's mind, culminating in a silent sigh.
Bloody fingers tightened around the Void Archives' simulated Greatsword of Taixuan. Kiana leaped down, sweeping aside the Quantum Shadows converging on Ren.
"This time," she said, "let me take you home."