NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 113: You Can Never Become Her
"Well, who knows? Maybe it really was an accident?"
"Speaking of which, Luo Mo once gave me a costume card named Miss Faded Fairy (Corruption Elysia). I haven't tried it on to see how it looks yet."
A mischievous smile appeared on Elysia's lips as she glanced at Luo Mo.
"...Is it the outfit I'm thinking of?"
Vill-V's eyebrow twitched as she looked at Luo Mo with curiosity.
Even though she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, just the name and the background of the faded Honkai beasts in the game were enough to guess who the outfit was based on.
He really dared to go there!
As expected of someone Vill-V recognized as a close friend, Luo Mo matched her in audacity when it came to reckless ideas.
She approved!
"..."
Luo Mo opened his mouth, feeling like he had been stabbed in the back.
He hadn't planned to reveal this now, but he had to admit… Elysia's timing was impeccable. Perhaps this revelation would deflect some of the heat from him during the peak of the Herrscher of Corruption conflict?
"I think that's still..."
Before Luo Mo could finish, a white light flashed around Elysia, and she appeared in the Miss Faded Fairy outfit. At a glance, it didn't differ much from her usual attire as a Flame-Chaser.
The only notable differences were the darker tones, her hair now a gradient of bluish-purple rather than bright pink, and the emblem of a red eye on her chest.
She twirled around, the black hem of her skirt swaying. Fascinated by the outfit, Elysia smiled as she looked at the Flame-Chasers, who wore varied expressions, and then glanced at Luo Mo in unison.
(TL: ... *narrowing my eyes at him*)
"What do you think?"
Elysia struck a cute pose and asked playfully.
"...The outfit is fine. Just don't wear it again," Luo Mo replied, resigned.
As for the accusing looks from the Flame-Chasers, he chose to ignore them. It wasn't like he made her change clothes.
He stood by his innocence.
(TL: You Gave her the Outfit.😠)
"Honestly, sister Elysia, please don't wear that too often. What if I have nightmares or accidentally attack you because of this look?" Pardofelis said worriedly, drawing in a sharp breath as she eyed Elysia's bluish-purple hair.
Now it was impossible to tell Elysia and the Herrscher of Corruption apart; the two seemed interchangeable.
"Hmph—this is even uglier than pink, Elysia." Mobius snorted in annoyance.
"Uh, if you don't mind, Elysia, I could design a better outfit for you," Eden offered helplessly.
"I was just curious~ But still, I'll trouble you with it, Eden~"
Elysia smiled and nodded. Under the silent urging of Kalpas and Vill-V, she switched back to her original outfit.
That color scheme… as expected, it didn't suit her at all.
(TL: Tch— and they say Elysia looks sus the first time they met)
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Sometimes words are wasted when the exchange lacks mutual understanding, as is the case between Mei and the Herrscher of Corruption right now.
No matter how nice the Herrscher's words sounded, Mei's anger at her actions could not be easily soothed.
The Herrscher repeatedly claimed she never intended to harm anyone. But the death notices fluttering down like snowflakes and the dissipating light particles from countless lives were far from imaginary.
The so-called Elysian Realm had not vanished, nor had its inhabitants…
Yet the Herrscher offered only an absurd explanation, that she had "absorbed" their data, experienced their lives, and inherited their emotions and wills.
She had invaded this place, manipulated everything, and trampled on the last vestiges of these heroes' presence in the world…
And she dared to call herself the continuation of their lives?
Mei lowered her gaze, hiding the flames of anger burning in her eyes.
"They died right before my eyes, and you call yourself their continuation?"
Mei almost laughed out of sheer fury. What right did this creature have to say such a thing?
The faded "Elysia" before her had dim eyes that carried a peculiar helplessness, her expressions and gestures reminiscent of the one Mei once knew. This only made Mei's anger blaze hotter.
"It seems, no matter what, in your eyes, I'm just a villain, Mei~"
"In that case, it seems we'll have to fight."
The Herrscher of Corruption shook her head regretfully. Fighting wasn't her intention.
But to prove that she truly "inherited" the Flame-Chasers' will and was a continuation of their lives, she took on the appearances of Vill-V, Mobius, and Kalpas during her battle with Mei.
Moreover, the strength she displayed was no different from what Mei had felt from them in the past.
The battle had no victor.
The Herrscher of Corruption appeared to treat it as a mere sparring session, silently demonstrating the sincerity behind her claim of harboring no ill intentions.
Just as she had been throughout, her smile was radiant, like a blossoming flower.
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[Hah, as if you're worthy of being their continuation.]
[Using your friends' fighting styles… truly a Herrscher designed to mess with minds.]
[Villain! If you're not the bad guy, who is?]
In truth, Mei had only chosen to stop because of the searing pain brought on by the engravings in her mind.
The pain was so intense that she suspected the Herrscher of Corruption had launched some unseen attack on her.
At that moment, she also recalled Vill-V's cryptic words about her plans involving something only Su could accomplish, as well as the repeated emphasis on Mei's importance.
From this perspective, stalling this Herrscher—who claimed to harbor no ill intent, seemed necessary.
"Mei, are you really not willing to sit down and talk with me?"
"I can give you all the answers you're looking for."
The Herrscher of Corruption widened her eyes, smiling mischievously at Mei, and brought up something from long ago, Elysia's original promise.
Now… she would fulfill that promise in her place.
"Hmm… Elysia said this to you, didn't she?"
"To go together to that mist-shrouded island, to the site of the final banquet, and witness the birth and end of the Thirteenth Herrscher."
Snap—
With the sound of a finger snap, the scenery of the Elysian Realm began to shift. When dazzling lights lit up again, the setting had changed completely.
The Herrscher silently demonstrated her current control over the Realm, almost as if issuing a warning.
Mei's pupils shrank as she pressed her lips together, casting a sharp glance at her.
"So… was that supposed to be a threat just now?"
"Mei, that's so mean~ I just wanted to save us some travel time~"
The Herrscher of Corruption tilted her head back slightly, smiling as she spoke.
"Come on, Mei, let's fulfill that promise now."
"Next, we'll have time to pour our hearts out to each other. It'll be just like… a date, won't it?"
The way she spoke, it was as if she were reminiscing about a distant past, recalling words spoken under a warm sunset by a girl as graceful as a fairy. Yet now… things were no longer as they were.
Mei remained silent, her gaze cold as she stared at the Herrscher.
(TL:..shameful)
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In the courtyard hall,
"Elysia, the Herrscher of Corruption, the one who's about to go on a 'date' with Mei—has appeared," Mobius said in a flat tone, reading the situation aloud.
"Uh, my dear Mobius, that line only appeared once in the in-game broadcasts; there's no need to remember it even now, is there?"
"Besides, Mei wouldn't give in to her. I'm right, aren't I?"
Elysia cupped her face in her hands, looking at the green-haired girl in front of her.
It was hard to tell whether Mobius hated the Herrscher of Corruption more, or if she disliked Elysia more.
Given Mobius' stubborn personality, it was impossible to predict what she would say.
In a way, having a single sentence remembered so vividly by a brilliant scientist like Mobius was a rare kind of talent.
"One after another, they all want to take my Mei. Mei, do you have some kind of Herrscher magnetism or what?"
Kiana sighed silently, feeling that her mission to protect Mei was still a long and arduous one.
(TL: said the girl who was busy with Fu Hua, Senti, Queen, Domination, and Otto)
Surely it must be because her Mei was just too exceptional!
"…Or is it possible that the Herrscher of Corruption is merely imitating Elysia and isn't actually interested in me?"
Mei poked Kiana's forehead, causing her head to sway backward several times before finally settling back into place.
Kiana puffed out her cheeks, still inching closer to Mei.
Her persistence was undeniably adorable.
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The Ferris wheel turned ever so slowly, swaying amidst the ambient lights and night sky, leaving ample time for the two people inside to have their conversation.
During this so-called "date," the Herrscher of Corruption continuously showcased aspects of herself resembling Elysia, her words betraying an apparent desire to fully replace her.
Even Mei felt puzzled. She couldn't understand why the Herrscher kept imitating Elysia's actions, even at the cost of missing many opportune moments.
Besides that, the Herrscher also lamented her innocence to Mei, hoping to gain her understanding.
She described herself as akin to a naive child, with only a vague and mechanical understanding of the world…
Her sole emotion and instinct were a desire to survive.
That's why, during their first encounter, she "instinctively" chose to attack.
With a light sigh, she furrowed her brows in frustration, gazing at Mei with sorrowful eyes.
"If you were in a situation like mine, Mei, you'd understand…"
"How helpless I was back then, and how full of regret I am now."
The scene shifted abruptly under her control. In the hazy darkness, countless faded monsters appeared before Mei. They stood still, their lifeless eyes fixed on her, the air around them heavy with killing intent, sending shivers down her spine.
Instinctively, Mei drew her sword.
A flash of light, everything was obliterated. The image, still under the Herrscher's control, reverted to the Ferris wheel's cabin.
The Herrscher, slightly exasperated, looked at Mei and said,
"Now you can understand the situation I was in back then, can't you?"
"Didn't you notice? …They weren't trying to hurt you at all, were they?~"
Mei remained silent. She had just felt a threat.
And yet… Honkai beasts? Mei seemed to grasp the issue the Herrscher was hinting at. Perhaps, to her, humans were the anomaly, while Honkai beasts… felt more like companions.
When facing an enemy, the first response is always resistance.
Through a simple experiment, the Herrscher made Mei aware of her different way of thinking.
The Herrscher continued to guide Mei patiently, explaining that the "death" of memory constructs differed from that of living beings.
And she could make them "live" again.
With a snap of her fingers, she transformed into Vill-V, initiating a conversation. From their simple dialogue, Mei couldn't discern whether it was the Herrscher or Vill-V herself.
Then came Kalpas, whose irritable tone was flawlessly replicated as he spoke his last words to Mei, not wanting her to see his vulnerable side.
A deafening thunderstrike shattered the illusion like a mirror breaking apart.
No matter how real it seemed, they could never truly be them.
"—You!"
The Herrscher of Corruption couldn't help but shout angrily, but before the next word left her lips, she shifted into a feigned expression of annoyance, quickly concealing her earlier collapse.
"Stop pretending."
"And stop imitating her. It only makes your clumsy performance even more glaringly obvious."
Mei stared coldly at her. The Herrscher had repeatedly taken forms that didn't belong to her.
And now, she was still claiming Elysia's face as her own.
"Elysia's… in the end, it all comes back to her, doesn't it?"
The Herrscher pondered those four words for a moment, then closed her eyes and chuckled softly.
"I know she's special to you. You're angry, you feel it's unfair, and you just want her to have had a better ending."
"But this—this is my limit."
"I'll try to become her. Her thoughts are my thoughts, her voice is my voice."
"We share the same face, the same personality, the same memories. If you wish, Mei, we can relive those past memories all over again—"
(TL/C: O, Fudge off. Senti is fine since she was born from Fu Hua. But you have no connection or relationship to Elysia, not even close.)
She extended an invitation to Mei, believing it to be irresistibly tempting. However, while she could access memories, she couldn't comprehend human hearts.
For humans, for life itself… some things, and some people, are irreplaceable.
"Do you want me to tell you what she would have done in your place?"
Mei's response came with a hint of mockery at the corner of her lips.
The Herrscher's false pretenses and her desperate attempts to impersonate someone else, all stemmed from a singular motive.
Just as she had admitted at the start: she only wanted to survive.
That was her sole truth.
"You're trying so hard to act like her, again and again desecrating the traces she left in this world, all for your own gain…"
"That's the one thing you fear most, the one thing in the Elysian Realm capable of utterly destroying you."
"The command to erase everything in the Elysian Realm, its activation doesn't depend on majority votes or unanimous agreement…"
"It relies solely on Elysia's will."
"The authority over Kevin's MK 666—you've gone to such lengths to imitate Elysia just to seize it, haven't you?"
Mei sneered coldly, peeling away the Herrscher's facade without hesitation.
(TL/C: heh— what a lying fake)
"Hah…"
The woman curled her lips into a smirk, gazing playfully at Mei before her.
"So what? Now, it's just me who still has a chance to access that device. Guess what… What kind of shape do you think I'll mold the Elysian Realm into when the time comes?"
Mei narrowed her eyes. Seeing her thoughts exposed, she dropped the pretense and replied coldly,
"Data doesn't lie. You, of all people, should know that. So long as you carefully go through her life, you'll come to realize…"
"Even if you replicate her appearance, mimic her behavior, and repeat every word she ever said…"
"You will never become her."
"You Will Never, Ever Become Her."
Blades clashed, thunder roared.
Mei deflected an attack from her opponent, who was clearly enraged by her words.
"…Imposter!" she said coldly.
(TL/C: tell her Mei!)
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[Become her? Senti: Ha! I know this all too well! Fu Hua: …?]
[It's like fate repeating itself. Back then, Kiana exposed the Herrscher of Sentience in the same way.]
[The Herrscher of Corruption was clever enough to take on Elysia's image first. Even if she's resurrected, it might still affect that program.]
[What caused the Elysian Realm to cease to exist… was nothing but Elysia's own will!]
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"How should I put it? As a senior, I should probably say something to her, silly child: 'You can't become someone else.'"
The Herrscher of Sentience sighed, feeling an inexplicable sense of sorrow.
Having once been called an "imposter" herself, she didn't want to go through it a second time.
"Mei… I'm suddenly so moved! Just thinking about it, there's someone in this world who doesn't care about a similar face, a fake personality, or memories that can be replaced…"
Elysia wiped the corner of her eyes forcefully, as if there were some moisture there, then looked at Mei with emotion, conjuring up a pink and sweet atmosphere.
"…She doesn't care about you either?"
Luo Mo interjected curiously, glancing at Elysia, whose mouth hung open in stiff surprise.
Kiana, initially looking dissatisfied, now couldn't hold back her laughter. Mei also struggled to keep a straight face, covering her mouth to stifle her amusement.
The air was momentarily filled with joy.
"As if!"
Elysia let out a sharp, explosive cry, looking at Luo Mo with a wounded expression, deeply feeling as though she had been betrayed.
"The last line was supposed to be: 'She only wants the one and only you.' Luo Mo, it's all your fault!"
She gave him a sharp glare.
"Ahem, fine, fine, it's my fault. But seriously, how does it feel to have a Herrscher constantly wanting to be you?" Luo Mo chuckled awkwardly. Her words had been too good not to follow up on.
Such an ending… truly a kind of tragedy.
"How does it feel? If I had to say, I guess it's just because I'm too cute. The Herrscher of corruption is clearly someone who cares about appearances."
Elysia replied casually. Didn't the Herrscher just say there were plenty of reasons to choose her appearance? Surely that must be one of them!
Elysia was quite convinced of this.
"Tch…"
Mobius glanced at her with faint disdain.
"But Mei's insistence on saying 'you will never become her' at the end, it really made me so happy. The kind of happiness that lasts for two or three days!"
Elysia emphasized seriously.
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