Herrscher of Dominance in Honkai, starting with the abduction of Kiana

"Principal?!"

Theresa had been missing since they separated in Nagazora. Even though World Serpent's attention had been focused on the Herrscher, she had still fallen into enemy hands.

"What did you do to her?" Forcing herself to remain calm, Bronya asked coldly.

Kevin didn't answer. Instead, Raven, already in a foul mood, glared at her.

"You'd best watch your tone. If it wasn't for World Serpent, all you would have found in Nagazora was a corpse. We brought her back due to an agreement, not out of obligation."

Though it was hard to believe World Serpent would be so kind as to return Theresa unharmed, Bronya wasn't stupid. Knowing her impulsiveness, she chose to remain silent.

Seele stepped in to defuse the situation, taking Theresa from Raven. As she approached Kevin, she stealthily glanced at his impassive face. He was still as cold as ice, but the fear he inspired wasn't as intense.

Seele, in her quantum state, wasn't weak. Her quantum body allowed her to avoid most attacks. It was the presence of the Shadow of Chaos(Kukulkan) around Kevin that had triggered her instinctive fear. Now that it had dissipated, she finally had the courage to truly observe him.

Her small action didn't go unnoticed. A single glance from Kevin was enough to make her freeze, obediently returning to the Anti-Entropy group with Theresa.

"We've delivered what we promised. I have no intention of being your enemy. However, you were already so weak even with the First Herrscher. Now, without the Core, how far you can go depends on your own abilities." Uncharacteristically, Kevin offered a warning.

"The fight against the Honkai isn't mine alone. Anti-Entropy wasn't built solely around a Herrscher. We don't need your concern," Welt responded gravely. He knew his loss of the Core hadn't escaped Kevin's notice.

But as he'd said, Anti-Entropy's achievements were the result of the combined efforts of many dedicated individuals, not just the Herrscher of Reason.

"I hope so." Seemingly accepting Welt's words, Kevin nodded slightly and left with Raven.

After they departed, a heavy silence fell over the Hyperion.

After this direct encounter, they truly understood the pressure Kevin exerted. The problems Anti-Entropy faced were far more complex than Welt had let on.

"Bronya, we're counting on you."

"Yes."

…

While Anti-Entropy grappled with the loss of the Core of Reason, the real Core was quietly suspended in the Theater of Dominance. Dense threads tightly wrapped around it, attempting to tame this Core that had been passed down through generations of Herrschers.

It wasn't difficult for the Herrscher of Dominance's power to usurp the power of creation. However, the Core of Reason contained consciousness. Unlike the Gem of Haste, it wouldn't be easily controlled.

As the threads tightened, the Core trembled, its energy fluctuating outwards.

But in the ruined theater, there was only silence.

The endless corridors surrounding the theater were cleanly severed, scars left by Kiana's Taixuan Sword God. The main theater itself had also suffered various degrees of damage.

A piece of rubble from a pillar, seemingly disturbed by the Core's vibrations, tumbled onto the stage, stopping at Himeko's feet.

Staring blankly at the rubble, Himeko felt a surge of frustration.

Since being controlled by Ren and killed by Kiana, Himeko had been in a state of emotional shutdown. But in this quiet state, she had time to reflect.

Even though she had been given a second chance at life, she hadn't forgotten that she had been saved by a Herrscher. Although Ren hadn't shown any overt malice, the pain of almost having her soul split filled her with fear towards him.

That's why she obediently followed Ren's instructions, fearing being abandoned if she became useless. Himeko wasn't afraid of death. She was afraid that no one would care for her students after she was gone.

During her self-imposed isolation, Ren hadn't given her any tasks, allowing her ample time to learn about his hidden past.

Walking alone through the empty theater, Himeko looked around.

In the past, whenever she returned to the Theater of Dominance, she would hear the clicking sounds of the puppets powering down. Now, all the puppets were frozen in place, silent and still, seemingly mourning their master.

Yes, Ren was dead, and as a puppet, she was free. But Himeko felt no joy. She realized she had likely missed something important.

The photo she had seen in Ren's room was still vivid in her mind. Back then, she had resolved to guide Ren back onto the right path, just as she did with her students at St. Freya.

But she had broken her promise. Out of fear, she instinctively separated Ren from her students. Kiana and the others were her students, while Ren was merely a Herrscher.

With this mindset, even though she recognized his efforts, she never expressed it. By the time she realized, during her isolation, that she should have treated him like she treated Kiana and the others, it was too late.

She had witnessed Kiana's growth, but also Ren's self-destruction. His past had only been revealed in his final moments. Though what he had said differed greatly from the truth, Himeko believed he had only done so to spare Kiana's feelings.

He was just a child tormented by suffering. She should have noticed his self-destructive tendencies earlier.

Perhaps, from the very beginning, he had planned to sacrifice himself for Kiana's growth, to ensure the flame of hope continued to burn in her hands.

Failing to save him was her fault.

This was Himeko's regret.

But now that the dust had settled, everything was over. Himeko didn't know where to go, simply following the path towards the exit to the real world.

She didn't notice the golden eyes watching her departure from above the Theater.

As Himeko left through the spatial portal, silence returned to the Theater of Dominance.

After a long time, the Core of Reason, bound by the threads, emitted a strong light. Within this light, a human figure slowly materialized.

As the light coalesced, a hand reached out, grasping the Core of Reason, and absorbing it.

The Core tried to resist, but was completely suppressed.

"Recreating a body took 48 hours, while Welt Yang only needed less than a second. Seems like there's something to that after all."

The gray-haired boy muttered to himself. Ren looked around the empty theater, testing his new body.

The Herrscher of Flames, Ren, was dead. So, the appearance of the Herrscher of Reason, Ren, was perfectly reasonable, wasn't it?