Chapter 24: The Essence of Origin
***
Although the Herrscher of Origin’s authority is not detailed in the plot, with only the ability to link other Herrschers together being clearly demonstrated.
But for Jiang Qiao, who is currently the Herrscher of Origin and so close to the secret, he is very clear about what the Herrscher of Origin’s authority truly is.
“Linking is just its superficial manifestation. The true essence of Origin should be 【Connection】.”
Jiang Qiao pinched the bowstring with his index finger, his pink divine eyes reflecting the essence of Origin, while the arrow flowing with authority in his hand was the arrowhead belonging to Origin!
Unlike all other Herrschers, even though they are all projections of Finality, Origin is the one closest to Finality.
It’s not about hierarchy, except for the Herrscher of Finality, the 13th Herrschers as projections have no distinction in status.
Rather, it’s determined by their positioning within Finality.
Just like the Tiger Talisman among the twelve talismans in Jackie Chan Adventures, Origin representing 【Connection】 has the role of a central mediator.
If 【Finality】 were compared to a system, then Origin’s role within it would be similar to an administrator.
The reason why later Herrschers underwent changes was precisely because Elysia, with her administrator identity, used her 【Authority】 to rewrite certain data in the 【Finality】 system.
However, this also meant that Origin was not as distinctive in combat as other Herrschers.
Without the Herrscher of Flame’s supreme destructive power, without the Herrscher of Thunder’s absolute offensive capability, and without the troublesome abilities of the Herrschers that appeared later, Origin’s methods were extremely singular and pure.
— It was simply overwhelming force.
The Herrscher of Origin, playing the role of administrator, far surpassed all Herrschers except Finality in terms of pure Honkai Energy manipulation.
Elysia’s precision in using Honkai Energy, which even Kevin praised, originated from this.
And now, Jiang Qiao had undoubtedly surpassed Elysia in using this body!
As the arrow shot into the sky dispersed and crystallized, covering and rendering the entire space in Elysia’s pink color, Jiang Qiao looked at Sirin, who remained in place, with interest and asked softly:
“Now, what will you do?”
Field techniques weren’t the exclusive domain of the Herrscher of the Void.
Under the barrier of the canopy containing the Herrscher of Origin’s power, Sirin, who had originally attempted to pull the battlefield in a direction favorable to herself, had undoubtedly failed.
Jiang Qiao loved provocation. This wasn’t due to so-called arrogance, but simply because provocation could make enemies angry, and once angry, they would often reveal fatal openings.
Such an easy, effortless thing, why not do it?
— Look, wasn’t the effect quite significant?
…
～Bang!
A waist-high defense robot was sent flying into the corner by a baseball bat, sparking with electrical fire along with black smoke and a pungent smell.
“Really, I haven’t seen any sign of a passage at all. Is that bastard called Cocolia really here?”
Kiana, carrying the baseball bat, looked at the unfamiliar surroundings and complained irritably:
“This place is way too big!”
Behind her in the corridor lay a ground full of defense robots. Along the way, Kiana had destroyed at least dozens of these things, and even the white-haired fluffball was getting somewhat annoyed.
Through the earpiece came Elysia’s voice:
“After all, it’s the leading enterprise in Nagazora City’s electronics field, and it also has to serve as surface cover for the Anti-Entropy base, so it’s not surprising.”
“Mei, have you found anything on your end?”
“Sorry, not yet.”
Mei was also quite helpless. At times like this, even she couldn’t help but develop some resentment toward Raiden Ryoma.
If father had just revealed a few things to her, it wouldn’t be this difficult now.
But with Raiden Ryoma’s rigid personality, it would be strange if he discussed such matters with his precious daughter.
Suddenly, a somewhat arrogant unfamiliar voice rang beside her ear:
“Hey, what are you looking for?”
Soon, Mei saw the owner of the voice.
A shark-toothed little girl with a somewhat delinquent appearance, accompanied by several Titans.
Clearly, the newcomer was hostile!
“An enemy has appeared! The leader is an unknown child who looks very similar to that previous child! At the east garage on the second basement level!”
The tense, flustered voice belonging to Mei from the communicator startled both Elysia and Kiana.
The two, who were still searching for passages in different locations, rushed to the coordinates Mei mentioned at the fastest speed.
They saw Mei struggling to support herself under the harassment of a Titan, only able to dodge continuously.
The other side was… playing?
Both were filled with suspicion.
After noticing their arrival, Sin bared her somewhat frightening shark teeth and smiled with malicious intent:
“You’re finally here! This young master was getting impatient waiting!”
“You were waiting for us? Why?”
“Of course, it’s more convenient for this young master to catch you all in one net!”
“I promised Mama that I would deal with all of you. If you had run away, wouldn’t this young master have to go through more trouble?”
Looking at the girl before them, Elysia raised an eyebrow and asked:
“Do you know what Cocolia is trying to do?”
Out of concern for the girl, she still hoped that those like Bronya who were by Cocolia’s side could turn back from the wrong path.
Therefore, Elysia would try to inform the other party about how terrifying what Cocolia was trying to do really was, to awaken the other party’s conscience as a human being.
But—
“What does that have to do with this young master? Mama Cocolia’s task for this young master is simply to deal with you all!”
Sin naturally knew what Cocolia was trying to do, and she actually had some dissatisfaction with it. Don’t misunderstand, this wasn’t out of good and evil, but simply dissatisfaction with Mama Cocolia’s purpose.
After all, this was to save that coward.
Due to her childhood experiences, she really disliked that monster.
But dislike aside, what she needed to do now was simply help Mama Cocolia deal with these troublesome pieces of trash!
Clearly, communication was impossible.
Understanding this, Elysia gently touched her chest and said somewhat sadly:
“I’m a bit heartbroken. Seeing a cute young girl embark on a path of no return, even I can’t help but feel an emotion called anger toward that person named Cocolia.”
“Hmph, spouting disgusting nonsense that makes this young master sick. If you want to be angry, go slowly be angry down below! Titans, deal with them!”
At Sin’s command, the massive machines behind her began to roar.
And Kiana was not to be outdone:
“Who’s dealing with whom is still uncertain. Watch me beat you up with bumps all over your head like that shorty before!”
Battle was about to break out.