Kevin's Escape

"The Gem of Desire!" The moment the gem appeared, Bronya lunged for it, but Kevin snatched it first.

Having dealt with Ren, Kevin turned his attention to Bronya.

"We meet again, Herrscher of Reason...and your successor."

Welt was surprised. He was within the core, yet Kevin had identified him. While it was possible he'd been exposed during their previous exchanges, it spoke to Kevin's exceptional perception.

"I took you for an apostle of the Honkai, but in that maze, I saw your past. Your will is genuine. As a Herrscher, you truly fight for humanity."

"We share a common goal: to combat the Honkai. I have no wish to be your enemy."

"Fine words, but you just killed someone. I won't let you leave here." Though Ren had used her as a hostage, Bronya had witnessed Kevin kill him in cold blood. He was too dangerous.

Having dealt with Ren's defiance, Kevin was in no mood for arguments. "Then let's see if you have the ability."

"He was right. I've slumbered here for 1,500 years, while the Honkai ravaged the world. I could only watch, trapped in my memories, powerless."

"Now, the Serpent returns. Whether you accept it or not, I will fulfill my duty."

The name Kosma had stirred something within Kevin. The thirteen Flame-Chasers. Such distant memories. And among them, one stood out: Elysia.

Mei had given humanity hope. Elysia had broken their chains. Both had sacrificed themselves to kindle a new flame for civilization. He couldn't waver.

That's why he'd killed Ren without hesitation. If he allowed himself to be distracted by the name, to waste time investigating, it would hinder Project Stigma, playing right into his enemy's hands.

The disguise was a deliberate attempt to shake his resolve. Kevin didn't know where his enemy had learned about the Flame-Chasers, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was eliminating the threat.

On his path to destroy the Honkai, both human organizations and Herrschers were enemies.

"Bronya, I won't let you!"

Azure blasts shattered the surrounding ice. Project Bunny, transformed into a motorcycle, roared across the fractured platforms, charging towards Kevin.

But Kevin simply clenched his fist, like he'd done with Ren. A surge of Honkai energy slammed into Bronya.

Whum!

Energy pulsed. Bronya's Herrscher of Reason core ejected itself. Unlike Ren, the core acted to protect Bronya, whose body couldn't handle the strain. Kevin's attack had revoked her Herrscher license.

Project Bunny reverted to its humanoid form, powerless. Bronya, also returned to normal, collapsed.

"Sister!" Seele rushed to her side.

"Bronya Zaychik. You carried a heavy burden, traversing countless worlds to reach this place. Your body can no longer keep up with your will." Kevin held two gems in his hand. Being a Herrscher wasn't easy. The one who tried to steal the Gem of Desire was dead, and Bronya couldn't control her own power.

As Kevin prepared to kill Bronya and retrieve both cores, Welt, finally free from the core's restrictions now that Bronya's link was severed, materialized, reclaiming the Herrscher of Reason core.

"Don't touch her!" Welt shielded Bronya, his eyes fixed on the Gem of Desire. He lunged for it, but an invisible force repelled him.

Kevin hadn't even used the black tide.

"Reconstructing your body so quickly… Both you and those girls have potential. World Serpent needs people like you." Remembering the Flame-Chasers, Kevin felt a flicker of recruitment instinct. Project Stigma needed manpower.

"Don't be ridiculous. We'll never agree with your methods."

Kevin didn't press the matter. This generation hadn't truly experienced the Honkai's despair. Persuasion was pointless.

"You'll understand someday. You know nothing of the true Honkai. I will lead humanity, fulfilling the pioneers' mission. We shall meet again, in the real world."

The Gem of Desire pulsed with energy. This wasn't the ripple caused by Ren's touch; this was a true eruption, powerful enough to create a stable connection between the Sea of Quanta and the real world.

(Kevin could open the Sea of Quanta manually. He just needed a focal point.)

The frozen space shattered. Platforms and debris crumbled under the Gem's influence, separating Welt and Bronya.

Quantum Shadows swarmed the area. Bronya, stripped of her Herrscher powers, struggled to rise, blood trickling down her chin. The Herrscher of Reason core's corruption was taking its toll, inflicting fatal damage.

Seele, take your sister and run! Veliona urged. Seele lifted Bronya onto her back.

Thankfully, he gave us this crystal. Seele, absorb its power. We need to open a path to escape.

In Eye of the Deep, Einstein detected the changes in the Sea of Quanta and activated the portal to rescue Bronya.

The pseudo-gem's power surged. Seele found the exit, rushing towards it with Bronya.

Unnoticed, in the depths of the Sea of Quanta, invisible threads wrapped around Ren's supposedly dead body. And after a long while, the older Kiana, who should have perished with the bubble universe, reached out and took his hand.