Takamiya Mayuri is a formidable fictional character. Five stars (✯✯✯✯✯) adorn her name, a symbol of power that strikes fear into her opponents. However, in the presence of the Herrscher of the Void, all of this becomes mere decoration.
Mayuri's strength depends on her Angel—Kerubiel—along with five other Angels. Nevertheless, these additional Angels are merely shadows of their original power. Mayuri is not a fighter designed for prolonged battles. She is an executor, a bringer of judgment, "one hit one kill"—reflecting her title, Mayuri Judgement. But her abilities have clear limitations.
Meanwhile, the Herrscher of the Void stands at the pinnacle of the power hierarchy with space manipulation that transcends logic. Though both are five-star characters, the power gap between them is unbridgeable.
Space is not merely an abstract concept. It is the foundation of reality itself, a fundamental law undisputed across all universes. And the Herrscher of the Void controls it as effortlessly as a breath.
Before the Herrscher of the Void, each of Mayuri's attacks is but a pathetic joke. Blocked, twisted, or turned back against its creator—such is the fate of every resistance attempt by Mayuri.
Even Lahathelev—the ultimate form of Kerubiel—cannot inflict the slightest wound upon the Herrscher of the Void. On the contrary, that colossal figure becomes an easy target for the ruler of emptiness.
Hundreds of Subspace-lances pierce Lahathelev's large body like giant needles, penetrating and lodging within. Terrifying white creatures—Honkai Beasts—crawl across its surface, tearing with unimaginable ferocity. Lahathelev's regenerative abilities are hindered by the effects of the Subspace-lances that prevent recovery.
The once blue sky now darkens with crimson streaks. The clouds distort, twisting unnaturally, as if reality itself screams in agony as chaotic Honkai energy seeps in all directions...
***
"Ugh..."
Thick blood clogs Mayuri's throat before finally spilling from her pale lips. Her vision blurs, obscured by the red flow bathing her eyelids.
The figure once like a holy angel now lies pitiful. Both hands, both legs, and her stomach are pierced by Subspace-lances, creating gaping wounds that endlessly bleed. Her body is pinned to the ground, helpless.
Despite using Angel Gabriel to ease the pain, it means little. But most shocking are the purple lines slowly creeping from her neck, spreading to her right cheek—signs of Honkai corruption beginning to consume her.
Amid this desperation, a figure approaches her.
The Herrscher of the Void walks gracefully amidst the destruction, accompanied by Subspace-lances floating around her like a crown of death. Her gaze is freezing cold, without a shred of mercy.
"𝐇𝐞𝐡, 𝐢 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠," she says mockingly before her lips curve into a disgusted smile. "𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭."
Mayuri tries to respond, but no sound comes out—only a weak groan and blood flowing again from the corner of her lips.
"𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐢'𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭."
The Herrscher extends her hand arrogantly. One of the Subspace-lances rotates slowly before pointing at Mayuri, ready to destroy her existence once and for all.
"𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥."
The lance shoots forth like lightning-
CLANG!!!
—only to be deflected by a flash of sword that appears from nowhere.
The Herrscher of the Void's eyes widen momentarily before turning grim. Anger overflows from her voice, "𝐖𝐡𝐨-"
BOOOOMMMM...!!
Without warning, a tremendous fire explosion erupts exactly where the Herrscher of the Void stands, cutting off her words. Boom after boom continues to emerge, sweeping across the battlefield in waves of destruction.
The Honkai Beasts roar in pain as their bodies are showered with arrows launched with deadly precision. Not ordinary arrows, but high-concentration [mana] projectiles—the type of attack that even makes all Rank S Hunters fearful!
Benares, the massive blue dragon Honkai Beast of the Judgement class, roars furiously and attempts to counter-attack to protect its queen. But before it can move, tremendous energy pressure slams its body to the ground, creating massive fractures thousands of meters long!
"You all..." Mayuri whispers weakly, her eyes opening slowly. A sensation of warm light gradually fills her body, trying to heal her gaping wounds.
"Please don't speak yet, Miss. You're still severely injured," says a gentle voice.
Mayuri's blurry vision catches the figure of a girl in luxurious healer's robes with two glowing magic wands floating near her. Healing aura flows from her fingertips.
"Rina, how is she doing?"
Another firm voice is heard. A silver-haired knight girl approaches—Laura Silver, the "Queen of Gravity" and First Commander. Though her face is always expressionless, the cold sweat flowing on her temples shows that even a Rank SS Hunter like her feels threatened facing the Herrscher of the Void.
Laura is not alone. Behind her, several Rank SSS Hunters stand ready, their power that usually becomes the terror of enemies now feels like candlelight facing a storm.
Rina, the Rank SS healer, shakes her head with a serious face. "This is strange. Although I've closed her physical wounds, these purple lines... Not normal. Like an infection, but not from our world."
Laura furrows her brow and is about to respond-
BOOOOMMM...!!
A massive explosion cuts their conversation. Both turn to see a giant tengu-like figure with six colossal hands blocking in the distance.
Inside that giant energy, a Rank SSS Hunter named Killin appears in deep concentration, manifesting his full power without holding back. He knows exactly who he's facing—a being that even dared to go one-on-one with True Cthulhu.
"𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞... 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠..." The Herrscher of the Void's voice echoes with deep hatred. "𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐞, 𝐢 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞!"
The sky suddenly darkens as if the sun has vanished. A giant shadow covers their vision, and when they look up, dozens of meteors hurtle down at terrifying speed.
Even the Rank SS Hunters step back seeing this cosmic attack. But the Rank SSS Hunters remain undaunted.
"That's an impressive attack," a calm voice is heard, "but meaningless to me. <
JEDAAAAARR....!!
A blinding blue flash splits the sky. Lightning bolts intertwine to form a colossal energy pillar that penetrates each meteor, destroying them instantly.
BLAAAAARRR....!!!
From amidst the lightning strikes, emerges a handsome young man in a blue robe with a crown of lightning adorning his head. Blue electric sparks writhe around him, creating a frightening aura of power.
He is Lingyun, Rank SSS Hunter, the lightning controller. His gaze narrows as he observes the Herrscher of the Void in the distance.
"She's dangerous..." mutters Lingyun before saying to the empty air, "Well? Can you see her power yet?"
A shadow emerges from the ground, forming the figure of a somber-looking young man. Black hair and brown eyes on the right, while his left eye glows silver, as if investigating invisible dimensions.
Zamian, another Rank SSS Hunter, frowns. "Regrettably, I think we must retreat. That girl... No, calling her a girl isn't quite right. Monster suits her better. She has nearly limitless energy. Fighting her now is equivalent to suicide."
"Is that so?" Lingyun raises an eyebrow. "Then we must withdraw."
"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐞?" The Herrscher of the Void's voice cuts through the air, followed by killing intent that feels almost physical.
Lingyun remains calm, only answering briefly, "Unfortunately, that's not your decision to make."
Thousands of Subspace-lances immediately shoot toward them, ready to shred anything they touch. But just before the spears reach their targets, a space fluctuation occurs and both Hunters disappear.
The Herrscher of the Void laughs mockingly. How dare they try to escape using space manipulation before the ruler of dimensions? She prepares to shift following their coordinates, but suddenly feels a deadly threat from the skies.
Her expression freezes, changing into a cold, calculating stare.
"𝐀𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ... 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬."
The next second, a blinding light explodes from the sky, expanding a circle of destruction that annihilates all matter within its range!
BOOOOOOOMMMM....!!!
***
"Well, that was my Judgement Arrow, consuming about 40% of my power."
In the distance, an elegant woman watches the colossal explosion occurring thousands of kilometers from her position. The luxurious bow in her hand slowly crumbles into fragments of light, unable to withstand the tremendous burden of [mana].
Artelis, a bow specialist Rank SSS Hunter, looks at her comrades returning from the battlefield. "So... What's the result?"
Laura rises gracefully, dust and blood not diminishing her firmness. "Mission complete. We successfully secured the SSS-level target 'Unknown Spirit'."
Their mission from the beginning was never to defeat the Herrscher of the Void. Although as Rank SSS their power is unrivaled, facing an entity capable of killing True Cthulhu—an Unknown Rank creature—would be collective suicide.
Their top priority was to rescue the mysterious Spirit that had caught the World Organization's attention. This decision was made after careful consideration: first, because of its uncontrolled power potential, and second—more crucially—they needed information.
Laura is certain this Spirit knows something about the terrifying entity capable of annihilating True Cthulhu.
"We should leave immediately. My talent senses those white creatures starting to move toward us," says Zamian, his eyes flashing vigilantly.
"Alright, for now, we retreat. We'll think about our next strategy later."
A dimensional portal opens wide before them. Without further delay, the entire force enters the portal, leaving the battlefield with the mysterious Spirit they successfully rescued.
As for the Dungeon Break at Cthulhu Island... there's nothing more to worry about. Not just the island, most of the surrounding area down to the ocean floor has turned into a death zone that cannot be approached—tangible proof that the world has changed forever.
***
Several days have passed since the horrific incident at Cthulhu Island...
The World Organization is not just a name in world politics. Different from the Hunter Association, they are the vital link between the oldest kingdoms, the strongest empires, leading guilds, and legendary Hunters from all corners of the world. This organization stands as the backbone of global stability in a world filled with supernatural threats.
Their headquarters towers magnificently in the heart of Lumina city—the most advanced metropolis in the middle continent dubbed "One of Humanity's Strongest Fortresses." The city walls are coated with ancient runes and protective magic reportedly impenetrable even by attacks from SSS Rank Magical Beasts.
But today, the atmosphere in the round meeting room feels suffocating.
Around the oval table made of rare white oak—material that grows only once a century in the Silver Forest—sit the most influential figures in the world. Their aura of power is so thick it makes the air seem to vibrate around them.
The meeting hall is designed with a blend of aristocratic grandeur and futuristic technology. Its walls are layered with anti-teleportation metal engraved with defensive runes that glow blue. On the high dome ceiling, ancient protective magic symbols glow dimly, guaranteeing that no spies—both physical and astral—can penetrate. Crystal windows as tall as the walls reveal the panorama of glittering Lumina city below, with towers piercing the clouds and busy floating transportation routes.
Several seats remain empty. Above them, holographic projections display the faces of rulers who cannot attend physically—either due to distance or because their power is too dangerous to bring into one room.
In the midst of it all, standing with a straight back and sharp gaze, is Grand Marshal Valerian Brightblade. This sturdy man in his 50s possesses an undeniable commander's aura. His neatly tied silver hair contrasts with the terrible scar running from his left temple to his right jaw—a gift from a battle against a Rank SSS Magical Beast two decades ago. His gleaming silver war armor is filled with medals and symbols of courage, but most striking is the World Organization emblem shining on his chest.
Valerian stares at the holographic projection in the center of the room with eyes that harbor deep concern.
"Latest report regarding the situation at Cthulhu Island," he says in a heavy voice that echoes throughout the room. "The area within a 200-kilometer radius has become an absolute death zone. Unknown radiation has reached unprecedented levels in history—even surpassing the Void Breach disaster 80 years ago. Our best research teams cannot approach the area despite being equipped with powerful shields."
"Truly ridiculous." A mocking voice cuts through the tension.
All eyes turn to the holographic projection of a young man in royal robes layered with gold and sparkling gems. A crown resembling the rising sun perches on his head, identifying him as Emperor Lysander of the Solaris Empire. His lips curve in a cold smile that contrasts with his sharp amber eyes.
"Unknown radiation? Why don't you just directly name its spreader—a mysterious entity that even the World Organization with all its greatness failed to predict the existence of?"
The room instantly falls into an ominous silence.
The World Organization, despite being the strongest entity supported by all major world powers, still cannot casually summon kings and emperors for emergency meetings. Diplomatic protocol requires an extraordinarily strong reason—and the destruction of Cthulhu Island more than meets that requirement.
The loss of a strategic island along with its satellite cities is not merely a local tragedy. Cthulhu Island was not only a trading hub but also a source of rare natural resources and a training ground for talented Hunters. Now, that area has turned into a field of death emanating foreign energy that even elite and powerful Hunters cannot identify.
"If I had that answer, Your Majesty," Valerian responds calmly, though tense lines appear around his eyes. "But the fact is, this entity is not registered in any database. No historical records, ancient legends, or prophecies have ever mentioned its existence. As if it... emerged from absolute emptiness."
Several leaders raise their eyebrows skeptically. One large-bodied king with flaming red beard taps the table with his ringed finger.
"So, you mean—this terrible creature suddenly appeared out of nowhere? Without warning?" he challenged.
"Correct. Initially we suspected it was a Dungeon monster appearing in humanoid form, but... analysis shows a different conclusion."
"Not convincing enough?" one king asks with an inquisitive tone.
"I will clarify." A calm and methodical voice is heard from the other side of the table.
Professor Hawthorne, an old man with a long white beard and dark blue robe filled with arcane symbols, rises from his chair. As the highest leader of the Arcane Association, his authority in the field of magic and supernatural energy research is undisputed.
"Indeed, the simultaneous occurrence of two Dungeon Breaks at Cthulhu Island was shocking," he says while moving his hand, activating a small magic circle that creates complex data projections in the air. "It's not surprising if the emerging Magical Beasts also possess power beyond our prediction, but—"
The Professor sharply gazes at everyone present, his wrinkled fingers moving through the glowing data.
"The possibility of a Rank Unknown entity emerging from within a Dungeon, even during a Dungeon Break, is theoretically zero." His voice is firm and confident. "Unlike Rank SSS creatures still within our spectrum of understanding, Rank Unknown entities have mana supplies far exceeding the capacity that any Dungeon structure could contain. Mana pressure that large would destroy the Dungeon itself from within—like a container that breaks due to excessive pressure."
"Oh? An interesting theory." Emperor Lysander tilts his head, his eyes flashing with calculation. "Then how do you explain the emergence of True Cthulhu?"
Oppressive silence once again envelops the room. Shocked faces are seen among most attendees—especially those without access to highest-level classified information. Even some faction leaders appear surprised by the Emperor's openness in mentioning that legendary entity.
Professor Hawthorne frowns, the corner of his mouth twitching before he heaves a heavy sigh.
"Indeed, the reappearance of True Cthulhu was highly unexpected," he admits heavily. "But we all made a fatal mistake. Though we claim to have defeated it decades ago in the Battle of the Dark Sea, who could really ensure that a creature of such caliber was truly completely annihilated?"
The projection in the center of the room changes, displaying historical footage of a tremendous battle where the largest fleet ever formed by humans faces a colossal octopus-like figure with glowing red eyes.
"Rank Unknown entities possess qualities beyond our understanding. Regeneration, long hibernation, even the ability of destruction are not impossible for them." The Professor stares at the hologram with a gloomy gaze. "Latest analysis shows that the Dungeon Break itself was the result of True Cthulhu's resurrection—a kind of energy vibration generated as it restored its power."
To prove his claim, the Professor displays a very detailed energy comparison simulation. On the advanced holographic screen, the mana structure of True Cthulhu and the Dungeon Break anomaly show undeniable similarities—like identical fingerprints.
"And what's more confusing," he continues while changing the projection, "this foreign entity actually appears without any energetic connection to the Dungeon Break or True Cthulhu. As if she comes from... a completely different dimension."
The screen changes, displaying a figure that makes some attendees gasp.
A young girl with snow-white hair billowing in the wind. Her perfect pale skin contrasts with her cross-shaped golden eyes. The simple white dress she wears looks unremarkable, but the aura radiating from her makes the air seem to vibrate. Behind her, a large blue dragon hovers with wings that appear to shimmer with electricity, and countless white creatures of various sizes move like dancing clouds around her.
The world's most powerful leaders stare at that figure with a mixture of fear and fascination. It's truly ironic that a creature with such beautiful appearance is capable of annihilating an entity of True Cthulhu's caliber.
"Human?" asks one queen with disbelieving eyes.
"Don't be deceived by her appearance," answers Professor Hawthorne with a somber tone. "Our analysis shows that she is not human at all—or anything we've ever known before."
"I understand," says another king. "But what exactly are you trying to explain by showing her form?"
"This girl," the Professor moves his hand and the projection shows highly complex energy readings, "emits energy never before detected in our world. Not [mana], not basic elements. This is a completely foreign type of energy—as if originating from a fundamentally different reality."
Grand Marshal Valerian steps forward, his face tensing as he stares at the projection.
"And this is our main problem," his voice heavy with vigilance. "Although the discovery of new energy is usually good news for magical and technological development, this energy is extremely dangerous. Unlike [mana] which is the backbone of life in our world, this energy is corrosive, chaotic, and destructive. It contaminates and damages natural [mana] patterns around it."
"What exactly do you mean?" asks one guild leader with a furrowed brow.
"Let me show you concretely," Professor Hawthorne takes over again. "This energy, which we temporarily call 'Void Radiation', has terrifying contamination effects."
The screen switches to surveillance footage, showing a small village at the edge of Cthulhu Island before the incident. Residents appear happy doing normal activities—farmers working fields, children playing in the streets, merchants hawking their goods.
But in an instant, everything changes. Glowing purple lines begin to appear on the ground, then crawl up the bodies of residents like a deadly infection. Frightened faces turn into blank expressions, then slowly transform into something no longer human—eyes glowing purple, skin cracking with dark energy radiating from the crevices, and unnatural movements.
Several leaders flinch in shock, while others show suspicious scientific interest.
"Every living being—human, animal, even plants—with a constitution below Rank B will undergo this horrifying transformation within minutes after exposure." Professor Hawthorne explained with an icy tone. "And I emphasize this very clearly—never think about harnessing this energy for any purpose whatsoever."
Several leaders who had previously shown interest now narrowed their eyes, clearly feeling targeted by this warning.
"Then according to the World Organization, what should be our next step?" asked one of the emperors in a diplomatic tone.
"Ridiculous question!" exclaimed a muscular military commander. "Just send one 'Atomic Destruction' to that girl and solve the problem!"
"Rejected," Valerian answered firmly. "The use of Atomic Destruction still carries too high a risk. We don't yet know how this foreign energy would react to magical nuclear attacks—it might actually worsen the contamination."
"Then what? Do you intend to send Hunters to face her? Have you lost your minds?" a king exclaimed mockingly. "Even though the girl isn't equivalent to the True Cthulhu in its prime, even if we deploy all the Rank SSS Hunters we have, the losses we would suffer would be tremendous!"
"We need to form a special force trained specifically to face this entity. This approach is more measured and safe," proposed a general calmly.
"Safe?" scoffed one of the guild leaders. "While the constitution of Rank B Hunters and above is sufficient to withstand radiation effects in the short term, what about long-term exposure? Losing our elite Hunters is a strategic setback we cannot accept!"
The room was once again filled with heated debate. Leaders proposed strategies and argued with each other—some wanting instant solutions like magical nuclear strikes, while others advocated for more careful and planned approaches.
"Calm down," a quiet yet authoritative voice broke through the commotion.
Instantly, the room that had been noisy fell silent again. Even the notoriously arrogant kings stopped talking and shifted their attention.
From the main seat at the end of the table, an old man with a thin golden aura enveloping his body stared sharply at the Grand Marshal. The Emperor of the Holy Spirit Empire—recognized as humanity's strongest power in the world—finally spoke after merely observing until now.
"I heard you managed to bring back that Unknown Spirit with you?" he asked in a tone that couldn't be challenged.
"That's correct, Your Majesty," Professor Hawthorne nodded respectfully. "However, her condition is highly unstable."
"Explain in detail."
"This Spirit suffered severe physical injuries from battling that unknown creature—injuries that we've technically managed to treat with elite Hunter healing." The Professor displayed medical data on the screen. "But the problem is, she has been exposed to that foreign energy radiation for a very long time. Its effect on spiritual bodies seems different from its effect on biological beings. Until now, she still hasn't regained consciousness."
"I understand." The Emperor nodded slowly. "Now, Laura Silver, I want to hear direct testimony about that foreign girl's power from your own mouth."
All eyes turned to the woman who had been sitting calmly near the Grand Marshal. Laura Silver, dubbed the "Queen of Gravity"—one of the Rank SS Hunters in the world—rose gracefully. Her long silver hair gleamed under the light, and her sharp eyes swept across the entire room.
"As reported by Rank SSS Hunter Zamian," her voice was clear and calm, "this entity is different from anything we've ever faced before. Her energy... is almost limitless." Laura opened her palm, creating a miniature battle simulation above it. "Additionally, based on Hunter Lingyun's observations, she possesses high-level space manipulation abilities that far surpass the most advanced space element Talents we know. Even Arrow Judgement belonging to Hunter Artelis—an attack capable of injuring fellow Rank SSS Hunters—was only able to divert her attention for a split second."
An oppressive silence once again enveloped the room. The implications of this report were too terrifying to imagine. The Rank SSS Hunters were the pinnacle of human power—symbols of hope and humanity's strongest force.
"I see," the Holy Spirit Emperor nodded slowly. "Then in your opinion, what should we do, Queen of Gravity?"
Laura blinked, clearly not expecting her opinion to be directly requested by such a high figure. Carefully, she answered, "Although the Rank Unknown entity still far exceeds the individual capacity of Rank SSS or SS Hunters, I believe with the right composition of Talents and strategy... there's still a possibility for us to at least contain or defeat her."
"In that case, we will grant you full authority to form and lead this special force." The Emperor looked around the room. "I trust no one objects to this decision, correct?"
No one dared to argue—even Grand Marshal Valerian who looked surprised could only nod in agreement. No one dared to openly oppose the Holy Spirit Empire's decision.
Laura Silver bowed respectfully, but behind her calm demeanor, her eyes revealed deep solemnity. This responsibility wasn't just a task—it was a burden that could determine her fate. Success meant safety, failure meant total destruction—at least for her career.
"And one more thing," added the Emperor with a cold tone. "Even though this information has leaked, don't let illegal Guilds interfere in this operation."
A different tension swept through the room. None of the representatives from dark Guilds were present at this emergency meeting—meaning they had already been excluded from the highest circle of trust. Everyone knew that the three strongest illegal Guilds had been involved in the incident at Cthulhu Island, though their motives remained a mystery.
More shockingly, the three top Guilds that had long been thorns in the World Organization's side were now almost completely destroyed. Moon Order had vanished without a trace. Sun Order was now in custody and under strict surveillance. While from Shadow Order, only one person survived...
"Fufu, this is my fault for being too careless~"
In another corner of the room, sitting casually despite parts of her body being wrapped in bandages, Queenie—leader of Shadow Order and also one of the Rank SSS Hunters—smiled as if all this were just a small joke. Her exotic beauty contrasted with her cold, calculating gaze.
"Silence, wench," hissed the Emperor from the Light Sun Empire with a gloomy face. "I'm grateful your Guild and especially that Frost Assassin have been wiped from the face of the earth."
"Yes, truly unfortunate~" Queenie sighed with a clearly affected tone. But then her gaze narrowed dangerously, like a venomous snake ready to strike. "But you're completely wrong about one thing... Frost Assassin is not dead."
The leaders merely raised their eyebrows and ignored her statement. Queenie's obsession with the legendary assassin had become a well-known embarrassment among the elite.
"Queenie, leader of Shadow Order Guild," Laura said calmly yet firmly. "As part of your punishment, you will become a member of the special force that will face this foreign entity."
"Oh?" Queenie blinked with feigned surprise, before a seductive smile returned to her face. "Are you sure you want to bring me along? Well, I don't mind at all."
Laura nodded briefly. She was about to continue when panicked voices and gasping breaths broke the atmosphere.
"Let me join you..."
The meeting room door that should have been guarded by several Rank S Hunters suddenly swung wide open. Almost everyone present was startled—security in this room should have been absolutely impenetrable.
But what was stranger, several leaders appeared confused because they didn't see anyone entering the room—just the door opening on its own as if pushed by the wind.
The Hunters and leaders with lower power levels could only stare in confusion, while those with high spiritual sensitivity could see the figure of a young girl with golden blonde hair and soft pink eyes that glowed gently.
The girl wore a clean white uniform with intricate golden accents, and a short skirt that swayed with every movement. A pair of crystal earrings on her ears kept changing colors—red, blue, green, purple—as if responding to her emotions.
Her expression looked very urgent, like someone who had traversed a great distance to deliver an important message. More worryingly, thin purple lines were still faintly visible on her cheeks—a sign of exposure to foreign energy radiation.
Behind her, Rina—a Rank SS Hunter—followed with a panicked face.
"I apologize for releasing-"
"Enough." The Holy Spirit Emperor raised his hand, stopping Rina's explanation.
The emperor's sharp gaze was now fixed on the transparent figure of the blonde girl. But instead of fury, his expression softened in an unexpected way.
"Judging from the reports we've received and the varied reactions in this room," he said in a voice that almost sounded like a grandfather to his granddaughter, "may I assume that you are the Unknown Spirit?"
Hearing the phrase "Unknown Spirit," several leaders who had previously been confused now gasped. They realized that their inability to see the girl was merely proof that their power levels were too low to detect high-level spiritual entities—a subtle insult difficult to swallow.
"...Yes," the girl answered in a voice soft as the tinkling of crystal bells.
"I see." The Holy Spirit Emperor closed his eyes momentarily, then in a surprisingly fatherly tone, he asked, "May I know your name, my child?"
"Takamiya... Mayuri."
"Takamiya Mayuri? A beautiful name." The Emperor nodded. "And you wish to join the mission to face that foreign monster?"
"She... is not a monster." Mayuri's voice sounded faint. "She is just... a girl abandoned by the world."
A different silence now enveloped the room. No one expected such an empathetic statement to come from the lips of a Spirit...
"You... know her?" Laura asked carefully, catching a glimmer of familiarity in Mayuri's tone.
Takamiya Mayuri looked at Laura and nodded slowly. "Yes... That's why allow me to join you. I will tell you everything I know about her—about her past, her powers, and perhaps... how to stop her."
***
"Alright." A Rank SS Hunter tapped the table slowly, his eyes sharply penetrating. "So, who is this terrible monster we're actually facing?"
"She is not a monster," said Mayuri with a soft yet firm voice. Her clear eyes gazed straight ahead, unflinchingly facing the intimidating stares of the elite Hunters in the room. "She is human, just like you."
"Oh? Human?" Professor Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of doubt and scientific interest. "According to the Talents of several Hunters, her race is no longer human. Something... far beyond our definition."
"That's her condition now, but previously she was indeed human," she said with a contemplative and slow tone. "It's just that... a certain experiment transformed her into something different, into a being called a 'Herrscher'."
A suffocating silence enveloped the room. The air felt heavy with tension.
It was no longer strange that in certain places, experiments were conducted by mad researchers and scientists. In fact, many similar cases had occurred but remained unexposed, hidden behind veils of secrecy.
"You call it Herrscher?" asked a general with a furrowed brow. "Is that some kind of classification or title?"
"It's difficult to explain in simple terms," replied Mayuri, her gaze momentarily distant. Her fingers intertwined in her lap. "It's a term for humans who have high resistance and have been exposed to Honkai Energy for a very long time. Eventually, they become something known as a 'Herrscher'."
She paused, as if carefully choosing her words. "To make it easier to understand... Herrschers are born with one pure purpose, to destroy civilizations deemed too advanced. And in this case..." Mayuri's gaze turned somber, "humanity cannot escape that destruction."
"What's with the background that sounds like the Terminator story?" one of the Hunters snorted, half amused and half skeptical. "And Honkai Energy? Is that the term for the destructive radiation that has been detected lately?"
Mayuri tilted her head slightly, a faint wrinkle appearing on her forehead. The term 'Terminator' seemed foreign to her, but she still answered patiently.
"Honkai Energy is something similar to the [mana] you're familiar with," she explained in a gentle tone, "but at the same time it's far more dangerous because this energy..." she looked at each face before her, "has consciousness and aims to eradicate humanity. The stronger a civilization becomes, the more this Honkai Energy develops and reacts. In its manifestation, several types of entities emerge that can infect weak living beings: the Zombies you've seen, Honkai Beasts with terrifying white forms, and the most feared... Herrschers."
Mayuri's explaining voice sounded calm like ripples on a lake, but each of her words sent cold waves crawling up the listeners' spines. Some looked pale, others frowned deeply.
"That's increasingly interesting," interjected a king with a dangerous glint in his eyes. "If so, why don't we create our own Herrschers? As weapons..."
"No, that's impossible," Mayuri shook her head gently. "The artificial creation of Herrschers is not possible, because fundamentally Herrschers are chosen directly by the Honkai itself." Her fingers moved gently. "As messengers of destruction, their numbers are always limited. There are always 14 Herrschers, never more or less than that..."
"Wait a minute," interrupted a Hunter with a pale face. "You mean there are 13 more terrifying creatures like that?"
Shocked expressions immediately filled the room. Even the most powerful rulers and leaders appeared tense. The Holy Spirit Emperor merely narrowed his eyes in silence.
Mayuri nodded slowly, her soft hair following the movement. "Yes, and each represents a certain Authority, reflecting the abilities they possess. Some have the ability to manipulate lightning, fire, wind, ice, and so on." Her voice grew softer. "In the case of that girl... She is the Herrscher of the Void. As you might guess, she has the authority to manipulate the space around her..."
An oppressive silence again enveloped the room.
This information was truly unexpected. Imagining that there were 14 beings equivalent to Rank Unknown, they had to admit that this threat must be addressed with the utmost seriousness.
Although in this world there were beings called Gods and Goddesses, creatures that reached the Transcendent Tier, not all of them were strong enough to face Rank Unknown beings.
And now, they heard there were 14 creatures with such terrifying power? How could they not feel struck?
"Setting that aside," Grand Marshal Valerian Brightblade massaged his throbbing forehead. "Why do you know this information in such detail? With how tremendous the power they possess, it's impossible for it to remain hidden from our intelligence networks. Yet here, you speak about them as if you've known them for a long time."
"That..." Mayuri seemed hesitant for a moment, her gaze softened and a thin smile etched on her lips. "All this information comes from her... Frost Assassin."
"???"
A question mark almost visibly hung in the air. They were all astonished to hear that unexpected name suddenly appear in the conversation.
Moreover, when they saw the Spirit looking radiant, her gentle smile expanding with affection when mentioning the legendary assassin, as if just saying the name brought happiness.
They had to admit that Mayuri was indeed strikingly beautiful, but her current expression...
"Frost Assassin?" The Emperor from the Light Sun Empire hissed irritably. "As I recall, he's already dead buried on Cthulhu Island?"
"He is not dead," Mayuri denied with a tone that remained gentle, but her aura changed dangerously in an instant. Her gaze sharpened, offending the Light Sun Emperor and tensing the room's atmosphere.
Fortunately, Mayuri quickly returned to her calm expression and continued. "As for why you don't know anything about Herrschers... That's because they come from another world. A dimension that shouldn't intersect with our world."
"..."
Grand Marshal Valerian Brightblade again felt his head throb painfully, but this information was at least within their range of understanding.
In this world, there were indeed some monsters and races that came from other dimensions and then settled in this world. For example, the Evil Gods and the Demon race had been confirmed to originate from different dimensions.
So the statement that Herrschers were beings from another world wasn't too surprising...
The question was how Frost Assassin could know this?
Several people wanted to inquire further, but they knew this wasn't the right time. Moreover, there was no guarantee that Mayuri would be willing to answer, considering how this spirit seemed to have developed deep bonds of trust and affection toward Frost Assassin...
"Then these beings known as Herrschers," Laura spoke up, breaking the silence, "do they have weaknesses?"
"They do," Mayuri nodded slowly. "And perhaps... this is the only way to defeat them."
***
Meanwhile, the magnificent city of Meridian stood gracefully among valleys and green mountains. Beautiful architecture with slender towers reached toward the sky, surrounded by beautiful gardens and crystal fountains. Its inhabitants lived in peace and prosperity, far from the increasingly turbulent threats of the outside world.
However, that night, the sky above Meridian slowly changed. Stars vanished one by one, replaced by blood-red streaks spreading like ink on a black canvas. The air felt heavy, filled with alien energy that pressed down.
Then, one by one, hundreds of eye-shaped portals with blackish-purple irises appeared in the sky, surrounded by dazzling yet deadly golden auras. The split sky emitted a rumbling sound like the groan of an injured earth.
Warning alarms blared deafeningly throughout the city. Automatic defense systems emerged from behind walls and buildings, while residents ran in panic seeking shelter. Screams of fear filled streets that had been peaceful.
Amid the chaos, an elegant figure slowly floated down from the largest portal. A girl with silvery white hair that gently rippled despite the absence of wind. Her white dress gleamed under the portal's light, contrasting with the dark purplish aura that enveloped her like a dome of living energy.
She was the Herrscher of the Void.
Below her, thousands of Honkai Beasts with glowing white bodies began to roam, exploring the new territory that had now become hers. These creatures moved like hungry predators, attacking anything that moved.
"𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧..." she whispered, her voice melodious yet containing a terrifying emptiness. Her slender hand extended forward, as if wanting to reach something far on the horizon now stained red. "𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐛 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐞."
A cold smile curled on her pale lips as she watched destruction begin to creep through the city below her.
***
In a nearby town, Hunters who had managed to survive gathered with pale faces. Report after report came in about sightings of strange white creatures they had never encountered before.
These creatures emitted a nauseating destructive aura, an energy that could be felt even by those without sensory abilities. They attacked indiscriminately, destroying anything in their path with power the Hunters had never witnessed before.
More terrifying, anyone bitten or infected by the blood of these creatures slowly transformed into Zombies with the same purple aura, expanding the army of destruction at an alarming rate.
Amid the destruction, in ruins that had once been the city center, a white-haired child sat weakly on the cracked ground. His clothes were tattered and his body covered in wounds, but his clear gray eyes were filled with confusion as he gazed toward the horizon now tainted by purple-red light.
As if sensing his presence, the sky momentarily rumbled louder, and a cold wind swept through the ruins.
That's when a foreign voice rang inside his mind, clear and calm amid the world's chaos:
[Ding! Naruto System successfully activated!]
***
The template that Lux currently has:
1. Raiden Ei / Shogun
2. Takamiya Mayuri
3. Artemisia Bell Ashcroft
4. Inaba Tsukuyo
5. Dabi / Todoroki Toya
6. Tomioka Giyū
7. Kiana Kaslana – Herrscher of the Void
8. Takamiya Mio (Limited)
9. Itsuka Kotori