The price of bringing someone back to life

Kouro's eyebrows raised at Ashborn's words, he stared at him for a long time before saying hesitantly.

"Reviving... You're not talking about a clone project or anything like that, are you?"

After all the closest way he could think of to 'revive' someone was to create a clone.

But Otto had done this project to revive Kallen before and even Mobius had done the same.

And both of them were not satisfied with their success despite managing to create a clone that had the same memories and appearance as the original. It was because the vibe of the atmosphere that the clone gave off was different from the original even if the clone inherited the memories of the original.

After countless experimental trials, Otto and Mobius realized an important ingredient to 'revive' a person.

Then what is that important ingredient that is lacking?

A physical body? With clone technology, it can be created using the DNA of the person who wants to be cloned or even make genetic modifications to other humans.

Memory and personality? It can also be created by performing neural modification of the brain, memory modification, and other parts.

Then what's missing?

That's right, just as you thought, it's the 'Soul'.

Unlike the two previously mentioned that can indeed be seen, touched, and felt, 'Soul' is something that cannot be seen, touched, and felt.

But 'Soul' does exist, the proof of which is Herrscher's Core which is the container of Herrscher's consciousness and soul.

This can be seen from Kiana who is actually not the real Kiana but Sirin. In the original story, Kiana and Sirin's consciousness inside her body are one and the same except for their personalities which are as different as coins back to back.

Kiana is Sirin's personality who longs for family affection and may be mixed a little with the original Kiana's personality, while 'Sirin' is Sirin's personality when she transforms into Second Herrscher and has a great hatred for humanity.

Alright, let's get back on topic.

There is really little research on 'Souls' and even the Earlier Era didn't focus much on this as their focus was on Honkai.

But Mobius, Otto, and certain Scientists and people, such as Dr. MEI and KOURO had realized that Honkai had a certain control over the 'Soul'.

In short, reviving a person is tantamount to going against the laws of nature and even against the laws of Honkai.

Then in front of him now Ashborn said that he could revive Higokumaru?

"I'm not playing with my words, Kouro, I really can revive Higokumaru." Ashborn replied with a calm expression seeing his doubtful expression.

Kouro looked at Ashborn's face and actually realized that he meant what he said so Kouro asked.

 "How?"

He knew very well that the world of Honkai Impact depended on technology and scientific knowledge because it was the only way for humanity from the Previous Era to the Current Era.

This world's technology could develop rapidly because it was under the threat of the 'Honkai' which was something that came from a higher dimension.

MANTIS, Stigmata, Divine Key and so on are variations of 'Technology' and 'knowledge' from fighting and studying 'Honkai'.

Kouro somehow suddenly remembered what someone said, "Remember, if you want to escape from 'destiny' and want to see the 'truth'... Honkai... Is the key. "

Those words came from a fragment of KOURO's memory.

He didn't know who KOURO was talking to because the memory was just a fragment and felt so vague, if he didn't happen to remember it, it would have been forgotten.

But what was certain was that KOURO had broken away from 'Destiny' and became a [Higher Being] equivalent to the [Will of Honkai].

'KOURO's possibility-No, the Herrscher of Shadows is able to revive a person with a wave of his hand.' Kouro thought. 

'But... Why did the Herrscher of Shadows want to find me back then? ' Kouro thought with a pensive expression, he would never forget the arrival of the Herrscher of Shadows who took over the body of the Herrscher of the end.

In the end he couldn't think of anything so he gave up thinking about it.

"...Let me explain together with the person closest to Higokumaru. " Ashborn said before glancing at the door.

Right after that, a knocking sound was heard from behind the door, Kouro walked over to the door and opened it to reveal Sakura.

"Sorry, interrupting. " Sakura said, her eyes slightly glancing at Ashborn with an unknown look.

"No, it's okay, come in. " Kouro said and invited her to enter, Kouro's room had a large room and there was a sofa and a table as well to receive guests.

He then took out a steaming pot of black tea and a round glass filled with sugar on the table before also taking out three empty cups from his 'Inventory' and filling them with tea.

Kouro then sat down on the sofa while motioning for the two of them to sit down as well while holding the steaming cups of tea.

Ashborn and Sakura looked at each other before finally sitting down and talking.

"So, this started a few hours ago when Ashborn approached me. " Sakura said.

__

A few hours ago.

"I can bring Higokumaru back to life. " Ashborn said to Sakura making her expression change.

She didn't understand why Ashborn came to her and suddenly said this. Their relationship could not be said to be good or even hostile because this man killed her sister.

'Is he joking now? ' Sakura thought with a furrowed brow.

Ashborn then continued, "I wonder how you managed not to age even after over 500 years. You didn't receive Soulium or anything to extend your life."

Sakura's face changed slightly for a moment before returning to normal, but it was noticed by Ashborn.

"At first I thought that you were Higokumaru's 'Vessel' that made you the original Herrscher of Corruption, but... I saw that Higokumaru had her own Herrscher core and had been destroyed by the Herrscher of the End resulting in her death. " Ashborn continued.

"...What do you want to say. " said Sakura with her hand already holding the handle of her katana.

The atmosphere around the two of them became tense.

"There can't be two Herrscher of Corruption that have the same source and from the same Era-"

*Swosh! *

Ashborn's words stopped as his neck felt the coldness of Sakura's words, he glanced at Sakura who was looking at him with an angry expression mixed with annoyance.

"I won't repeat it again. What exactly did you want to say?" Sakura said coldly, her eyes radiating great killing intent.

Ashborn's neck looked a little bloody, but his expression did not change and was still staring at Sakura.

"As I said from the beginning, I can revive, Higokumaru. "

After saying that, Ashborn was silent, the two of them stared at each other for a long time before Sakura finally retracted her Katana.

Ashborn lightly rubbed his wounded neck and it quickly healed.

"Why?" asked Sakura looking at him with no understanding.

"Pardon?" Ashborn looked at her.

"I don't know how you can bring her back to life, but... Why would you want to bring her back to life? Aren't me and her your enemies?"

Sakura really didn't understand the actions of Ashborn who wanted to revive his enemy.

"Sakura. You, a Pseudo-Herrscher, right?" said Ashborn in a confident tone.

Sakura's eyebrows twitched slightly and said nothing.

"Not only that, you are a Pseudo-Herrscher of Corruption Current Era. Higokumaru, she must have made you become like this, right?" he continued.

Sakura's head bowed slightly and said nothing.

"It really makes me wonder, Sakura, how Higokumaru was able to make you into a Pseudo-Herrscher without anyone knowing, even before I didn't feel any Herrscher energy from you. "

"...If you knew, what would you do?" asked Sakura with her head still bowed.

"I didn't do anything, I'm asking because I want to know, if you don't want to say it I won't force you. My purpose for coming here is solely to tell you that I can revive Higokumaru. " Ashborn said while shrugging his shoulders.

Sakura looked speechless for a moment before lifting her head and saying, "...You are right, I was originally Higokumaru's 'Vessel' so our lives are bound to each other, if she dies I will die, if I die she will die. I... became the Herrscher of Corruption because of you, Ashborn. "

Sakura looked at Ashborn, her eyes reflecting the memories of her past where her village burned down, all the residents died including her father.

She who carried the 'Black Box' along with the injured Kallen back then, Ashborn not only killed everyone and her father but even her own sister.

Her heart that was frightened by Ashborn's cruelty was instantly filled with hatred and anger and woke up Higokumaru who was sleeping inside the 'Black Box' and made her into Herrscher of Corruption's 'Vessel'. 

She fought while raging against Ashborn, but she lost, even accidentally injuring Kallen.

Ashborn did not kill the three of them and only took Kallen away as if his task was done.

After that, a few weeks later, Sakura heard Kallen died on Kolosten due to the Honkai Beast riot.

"I don't regret becoming Higokumaru's 'Vessel', I saw the development of world history with her while looking for you. It's really an oddity that her appearance is really similar to my little Sister, Higokumaru also said that I really have a similar appearance to her Big Sister. "

"She rarely says anything about her past except for someone named KOURO and her Big Sister. Her blank eyes always shine when talking about the two of them."

"But... When the Second Eruption happened and when she met Kouro, her eyes had completely changed from empty to full of light. Then... When you were about to go to the moon, Higokumaru removed the 'Vessel' mark from me and took her Herrscher Core back. "

While saying this, Sakura's eyes dimmed slightly. 

'Higokumaru... She seems to know that she won't survive and doesn't want to involve me.'

"I rejected her actions vehemently because... I had a premonition that it was my last meeting with her. I was afraid of that premonition, because if Higokumaru died... I wouldn't have anyone left. " Sakura said softly.

"In the end she compromised and made me a Pseudo-Herrscher of Corruption using half of her Herrscher core. "

"I don't know how much pain she felt when she broke her Herrscher core in half. " she said with a hint of sadness.

Ashborn's expression became serious when he heard her words, that was because breaking the Herrscher Core was a very high risk and would potentially destroy the Herrscher core.

It was unique to think Higokumaru would choose such a difficult way rather than another way.

"So in the end... I became her successor, the successor to the Herrscher of Corruption and her task if not completed... " Sakura murmured finishing her story.

After a moment of silence, she then raised her head to look at Ashborn.

"Reviving someone, such an ability has demanding and difficult requirements right?"

Asbhorn raised his index finger before saying.

"Yes, there are many requirements but the most demanding one is that when the person to be revived is a Herrscher whose Herrscher core has been destroyed or taken away, the person will revive as an ordinary person. We also cannot revive the same person more than once."  

This requirement was hardly a problem for Higokumaru since her duty as the guardian of the 13th Divine Key and a Herrscher had been completed, she could spend her life as an ordinary person.

"The next requirement is that the user of this ability is a shadow user (Herrscher of Shadows), having high control over their abilities. "

For this requirement, Sakura had already expected it.

"The last requirement... Use the user's life as a sacrifice to revive someone. " Ashborn said calmly.

Sakura's expression completely changed when she heard this.

__

"I didn't hear wrong, did I?" asked Kouro with a surprised expression.

Although he knew that the ability to revive someone had a cost, but he didn't expect it to be that heavy.

"Yes. " Ashborn nodded his head.

There was silence for a moment, Kouro who was sipping his tea could not help but complain.

"...Damn it, which madman created this nature-defying ability?"

Ashborn sipped her tea before saying calmly, "Your father created this ability. "

*Fwossh!*

Kouro spit out his tea at his words, he even coughed a few times from choking.

"*Cough* Cough* What the hell?! My father created this ability?! "

He felt he really couldn't believe it but since it was Ashborn who said it, then it wasn't a lie.

Wait a minute, that means... His father really was a Herrscher? Especially the Herrscher of Shadows?!

Thinking of this, Kouro then asked Ashborn wanting to confirm his guess.

"My father... Is he really a Herrscher?"

Ashborn instead nodded his head at Kouro's question.

"More precisely he is just a Pseudo-Herrscher of Shadows. He cannot manipulate shadows, he became a Herrscher only to cure his chronic illness. "

"Sagaki... He made this ability to bring you back to life, Kouro, in case you die from your chronic illness, but he is also trying his hardest to find another way to cure you by the same means he used. " Ashborn continued.

"...Become a Herrscher. " Kouro added quietly.

"Exactly."

Kouro's head was bowed at the thought of his father apparently trying his hardest to cure him, especially since unlike this world, his mother in the original world had died due to the Second Eruption.

Father must be feeling tremendous grief and it is likely that his determination to cure him is even stronger because he is his only child.

Wait a minute, what about grandfather? Don't tell-

Kouro raised his head to stare at the Ashborn before him.

"... "

Ashborn and Kouro looked at each other before Ashborn could not resist asking.

"What's wrong?"

Kouro shook his head before changing the topic, "There's something I don't understand, why not make a large number of Herrscher of Shadows clones and tell them to learn this technique?"

Although it sounds cruel, but this matter really makes Kouro curious, after all there are already KOURO clones such as Ashborn and Shadow, why not add more?

"That's easy, because the Herrscher Core of Shadows only has 3 personalities and consciousnesses in the core. " Ashborn replied.

"Huh?"

"Me, Sid, and you, the three of us are shards of the Herrscher of Shadows' will. " Ashborn said while pointing at Kouro with bright shining eyes.

Kouro's expression changed hearing this.