Somewhere on the bridge, Bronya was holding a weapon, looking at the burning corpses of Honkai Creatures.
Himeko, having received word that Bronya was stepping down as leader, came to ask her why.
"Why the sudden resignation? You should know that everyone needs your leadership right now. Bronya, I need a reason."
"Leadership? A reason? Hearing that from you, Himeko, is truly ironic..."
Bronya turned sideways, looking at Himeko with cold eyes.
"The Engineering Department is down to Yiselian and a few others. The Medical Department only has Emisha left. As for the Combat Squad...
Heh... the Fire Moth is finished. Like moths, we died for nothing, falling into the water without making a single ripple...
I've led so well, haven't I? Those comrades you killed also met their end under my leadership. What right does someone like me have to lead anyone?"
"You know that's not what I meant. I'm not blaming you, nor am I trying to make excuses for myself. At that time, it was the most correct course of action."
"The most correct course of action... sacrificing the few to save the many...? Today we send these people to their deaths, tomorrow those people, and now look, they're all dead!
I'm not questioning your methods, Himeko, but you've stopped caring about their lives! You were like that with the Gray Moth Squad, and you're the same with the Combat Squad!
You treat living, breathing people as disposable tools! Every time, if we had just waited a little longer, just a little bit... everyone could have been saved..."
"But the Honkai doesn't give us a moment's rest. Time is life... Every second of delay in making a decision could mean more deaths..."
"Heh... and so we die until only we are left? Is it my turn to cover your back next time?"
Bronya turned and walked away, leaving Himeko standing there, speechless for a long time.
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Ryn and Penglaiji Ryn headed to the engine room to help Yiselian repair the power core.
"Yiselian, how's it going?" Ryn greeted her with a wave.
Yiselian, with thick dark circles under her eyes, glanced at Ryn and Penglaiji Ryn, then turned back to her work.
"The situation is not optimistic. Many things can't be repaired due to a lack of parts."
"Is there anything that can be used as a substitute?"
"Yes... I stayed up all night writing several plans, but all of them are impossible due to the lack of many parts. Take a look, this is a list of parts I've compiled. If we have these, we can barely make some repairs..."
Yiselian took out a thick stack of draft paper from her pocket, on which were written various parts that Ryn had never seen or heard of.
"Er... we'll do our best to gather these..."
"Good luck. Though we could use some car parts as replacements in a pinch, to be honest... circumstances permitting, I'd really rather not turn a warship into a car..."
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Himeko gathered all the survivors on the bridge to explain the situation.
There were now two options: return to Nagazora City and fight it out with the Herrschers, or continue to live as fugitives.
But regardless of the choice, the first problems were repairing the Hyperion and electing a new leader.
Seele, true to her name, was the soul of the Fire Moth. Her innocent smile symbolized everyone's hope for a better future...
But now, due to the tragic state of the Fire Moth, Seele could no longer smile. The number of their family members was less than a tenth of what it was, and Big Sis Bronya had fallen into confusion and self-blame, giving up on herself...
Seele didn't know what to do now...
With Seele, who brought smiles to everyone, no longer smiling, the remaining people knew that survival was hopeless...
After Himeko finished explaining the situation and seeing Seele's state, the remaining people immediately broke into heated discussions.
Suddenly, one person stood up and shouted:
"Damn it, I can't take it anymore! Let's just go all out against the Herrschers!"
The scene instantly fell silent, but after a brief moment of quiet, the crowd erupted in even more intense shouts.
"That's right! Let's go back and fight them!!" "I'm tired too... Let's go all out!" "We're all going to die anyway... If we're going to die, we'll take them with us!"
This time, everyone's opinion was surprisingly unanimous. Just a short while ago, they were arguing amongst themselves, wanting to survive, but repeated blows had made them completely lose hope for the future.
Fighting the Herrschers, even if it meant mutual destruction, or being swatted like a fly, was better than living a life of running from Honkai Creatures and scrambling for food.
It was Bronya who taught them to cherish their lives and live well. It was Seele's smile that gave them hope for the future. It was Himeko's strength that gave them the confidence to survive.
But even a weapon as hard as iron will chip after countless battles, let alone a human heart made of flesh...
Everyone was tired. Death, to them, was now a form of release.
"Er..."
Himeko wore a troubled expression. Although the situation was indeed difficult and she had given them the right to choose, to actually go all out against the Herrschers like this was just suicide...
"Ahem... everyone seems a bit emotional. Let's discuss this matter later. For now, let's elect a new leader! I vote for Penglaiji Ryn!"
Himeko grabbed Penglaiji Ryn, who was standing next to her, and raised her hand.
"Huh? Wait! I can't handle such a heavy responsibility. I think someone else would be more suitable. For example... my brother!"
Penglaiji Ryn quickly looked at Ryn, blinking her eyes as she pleaded for help.
But Ryn shook his head and refused. The Herrschers they were talking about going all out against didn't just include Mei and Kiana...
It was only because Kukulkan was flying outside right now that no one had rushed up to question Ryn. Even though they knew Ryn was on their side, his identity as a Herrscher was still a thorn in their hearts.
Seeing the silence from Ryn and the other survivors, Himeko knew that Ryn could not become the leader...
"I'm sorry, but someone who could die at any moment cannot be a leader..."
Himeko's face was full of apology as she glanced at the Gray Moth members who had followed her. They too lowered their heads in dejection. Not just the Gray Moth members, but Himeko herself felt the same...
"If I could, I wouldn't want to place such a huge responsibility on your shoulders, but in my judgment, you are the most suitable person..."
But the vote didn't pass... there were only a handful of votes.
Because Penglaiji Ryn was new, and compared to trusting her, everyone was more willing to trust Himeko, Seele, or Bronya.
But Bronya refused, and Seele also felt she was unsuitable. The position of leader still fell to Himeko.
"I understand. I will take on the role of leader... but if I fall in battle later, the leadership position will be transferred to Penglaiji Ryn..."