While thinking about my future plans and patting my massive dragon, Benares, in a deep lunar crater, I came up with several ideas.
These included adding the Core of Corruption into myself. This would put me in a state with two Cores and four Gems. That way, even if I lose the fight, I still win the war by detonating all my Cores and Gems directly on Earth.
Even though that was my last contingency plan, it doesn't mean that I will lose. I know all of Earth's secrets. After all, I was once the Captain of the Hyperion and finished Part One finally. Even the secrets of Kevin and the World Serpent's "Project Stigma" are known to me. With Honkai: Star Rail having recently come out, my knowledge also includes Paths, Pathstriders, Emanators, Aeons, and their factions of believers.
Each of these factions is hiding something different, providing all kinds of reference for me to use. The true name of Honkai energy is Imaginary internal energy from higher-dimensional space. It is not corruptive at all. It's just that a bunch of self-important bastards—who think they are important to the cosmos and believe they are the protagonists of the universe—claim their enemies "poisoned" energy are killing them. They only say that to win a war against their weak and stupid planet.
After thinking about these things, I turned back to my loyal dragon girl. If I went all out against them, it would definitely drag Bella into the flames of war too. In all my memories, from both my past and present life, I only have Bella left. If she dies, I am afraid I will do something that even I fear.
The Greater Halo Arrays—I don't have the full blueprint, but I believe I can build them if I use all my power and the Core of Reason. I just need to kill Welt Yang and take the core from him. If that moment comes, the galaxy will fall silent. All life will be wiped out. Only lonely planets, stars, and universal phenomena will remain. The Greater Halo Arrays were named the "Galaxy Killer" for a reason.
"My Queen," Bella's voice called out. It made me freak out a little because it was so sudden. I turned and saw her in her human form. I wondered when she had transformed back from Benares into Bella. I must have been too absorbed in my thoughts.
Bella asked, "Isn't right now the best opportunity to attack and destroy the humans on Earth? Why are you hesitating, my lady? Are you worried about having insufficient firepower?"
I both nodded and shook my head. "Yes and no. Yes, in terms of firepower, I am lacking compared to Kevin and Su. If they crawled back from the Sea of Quanta, even at their weakest, they are veteran fighters from the Previous Era. They still have some juice left for the new era. But no, if it is only the Current Era, I can still fight—even if they add Fu Hua. Why? Because 500 years ago, her disciples betrayed and killed her. Since then, her power has dropped. Her Fenghuang Down needs physical contact and manipulates minds through electrons, but I have the Gem of Conquest, so it is irrelevant. I only need to watch out for the Edge of Taixuan; an auto-locking 'aimbot' with a guaranteed hit is no joke."
I continued listing my enemies. "The rest are just powerful minions. Cecilia with the 6th Divine Key is only a threat because of her Holy Blood. Siegfried? The 7th Divine Key is a dead thing compared to the Gem of Haste. He isn't a threat unless Kevin controls his body and activates his Ichor factor. Theresa is just a launcher platform for the Oath of Judas. I have to watch out for Judas because it binds Honkai and bio-electric energy. Welt Yang? Besides his Core and the 9th Divine Key, he is a 'K.O. on the spot.' Those 'Silver Bullets' from Anti-Entropy are useless because my electromagnetic jamming is a passive skill. And Otto? Besides his Soulium clones and his insidious mind, he is meaningless in the face of absolute power."
I drifted silently through the lunar vacuum, moving out of the crater using my Desire authority and ideal fluid manipulation. Bella followed closely behind me.
"Moreover, times have changed," I said. "We are not savage beasts who just throw fists and hope to hit our enemies."
Using my Serenity authority over matter, I performed a matter permutation and created a bullet. I showed it to Bella. "This is a Matter Disintegration Bullet. It turns physical flesh into pure energy, like salt dissolving in water. One shot, one kill. Now, imagine an assault rifle loaded with this, and you go 'Rambo Gatling' on your enemies. What a magnificent scene that would be."
We traveled through the lunar ruins. "Or we can use Matter Disruption Fields on cold weapons. That would allow us to cut anything apart using the de-atomic principles of the Conquest and Serenity authorities."
Bella's eyebrows twitched. She knew these things could kill her, too. I knew what she was thinking; after all, I am her master.
"Isn't it funny, Bella?" I asked. "Humanity overestimates its value and hasn't tried to understand the Honkai. Instead, they worship the Previous Era's knowledge and refuse to use their own minds. The Honkai has never been the enemy. Herrschers are just bio-enhanced superhumans transformed by mutation. They are under the gaze of the Cocoon—entities in the depths of Imaginary space. When a blank singularity is bestowed, a Herrscher's ideology paints it with their own colors, which creates the Authority. Herrschers are the 'Highest Priority' of the Embrace. Ordinary humans? They are the lowest."
Bella asked, "What about the Previous Era Herrschers? Didn't they attack humanity?"
I smiled and stopped, staring at Bella until she got nervous. "That is the ironic part. Human minds are fragile. Even diluted authorities are too much for an ordinary person who knows nothing of the supernatural. Their minds shatter, leaving only beastly instincts. Those Herrschers were victims of humanity's own doing. What happened next is history."
"I told you this world is about connections and status," I continued. "Look at the original timeline. Sirin, a fourteen-year-old girl, fights humanity and is sentenced to death. But Cocolia? She ran 'Project X' and killed many children. She caused an eruption that destroyed 99% of Nagazora. Her crime? Just life in prison. Why? Because her adopted daughter, Bronya, is the successor of Anti-Entropy. Yae Sakura gave Theresa her Stigmata just because Theresa reminded her of Kallen. And Otto? All his sins were hidden because his granddaughter became the new Overseer. Even Kevin is called a 'Hero' after he tried to turn humanity into a dream. What a world of connections."
I sneered at the distant Earth. "Welt Yang can declare war on me for killing dogs hiding in human flesh. If they can decide who lives and dies, why can't I? Only the victor writes history. I will be the victor. And if I fail, I will bring them all down so no one can ever write history again."
My voice echoed across the moon. I turned to Bella. "Everything I had is now dust. You are my only kin left. That is why I haven't gone to Earth yet. I know the moment I do, you will join the fight, and you might be gone too. That is why I am holding back."
Bella smiled warmly and stepped closer with unshakable resolve. "My Queen," she said firmly. "I am your loyal servant forever. Life and death are just obstacles. If you decide to wage war, I will not hesitate. My only wish is to stay by your side until my last breath. Whether we stand on a throne of stars or fall into the abyss, as long as I am with you, I am home. Do not hold back for my sake. My greatest honor is to be the shield that protects your dream."