Honkai: Oh No, I’ve Become the Herrscher of Corruption?! - Chapter 23

Bella blocked the Valkyries trying to retreat and, without a word, hurled a crackling lightning orb at them.

Cheng Lixue gripped Water Edge tightly and slashed through the orb in one swift motion. But instead of dissipating, it split into two smaller orbs, arcing toward her from both sides. She struck again—two became four, each one weaker but still dangerous.

“What the—?” Before she could react, all four orbs struck her body. She collapsed into the snow, electricity still flickering across her limbs.

A Herrscher? No… something between a Herrscher and a Honkai Beast. Seeing Bella take down Cheng Lixue in one move, Cecilia realized the severity of the situation. She leveled Black Abyss White Flower at Bella, ready to eliminate her first.

“Where did Bella run off to? Sirin’s overconfidence is baffling. Sending Bella—a strong pseudo-Herrscher—against Siegfried wielding Judgement of Shamash, Cecilia with Black Abyss White Flower, and the others? What was she thinking? This is suicide!”

Enoxia felt the agony of being torn between two sides. If the Valkyries killed Bella here, even if Sirin wasn’t under the Honkai’s influence, reconciliation with Schicksal would become impossible. But if she helped Bella, the already weakened Valkyries would be slaughtered.

Watching them all cripple or annihilate each other again? No… I can’t bear that!

Just as Enoxia was caught in her dilemma, Sirin teleported beside Bella.

Her eyes locked onto Cecilia, gripping Black Abyss White Flower. Though Sirin had never set foot in a school and didn’t know what a Divine Key was, her instincts screamed that the lance was deadly.

She hadn’t seen the First Herrscher earlier, but facing Cecilia now, she realized her mistake in judging the strongest Valkyrie. As Bella and Cecilia tensed for battle, Sirin stepped forward.

“You’re no match for her. Fall back.”

“Yes, my Queen.” Bella immediately retreated behind Sirin.

In the distance, the Herrscher of IceFall lay sprawled in the snow, her body pinned to the ground by dozens of Void Lances.

“Aside from the powers of the Void, she’s also displayed abilities of Thunder, Wind, and Death. Four Herrscher Cores… No wonder she ended the fight so quickly.”

Cecilia’s words weren’t just for Sirin—they were meant for Shigure Kira and Shub as well. Moments ago, Salome, an A-rank Valkyrie on their level, had been instantly overwhelmed by the Glacial Herrscher. Yet Sirin, a girl who looked even younger than them, had subdued the Herrscher effortlessly. The sheer disparity would shake anyone’s resolve. Cecilia’s underlying message was clear: Without those extra Cores, she wouldn’t be this strong.

“Tch. You know a lot, don’t you? Schicksal’s Valkyries are all trash—relying on artificial Stigmata forged from countless children’s lives, yet even together, they can’t take down a single Herrscher.”

“Ahem.” Enoxia stepped beside her, cutting in:

“Sirin, you’re mistaken. The ones below are likely natural Stigma-bearers. Valkyries with artificial Stigmata are far weaker—even ten of them might not defeat a Judgment-class Honkai Beast, let alone a Herrscher.”

Her words sounded like mockery, but she deliberately emphasized that these Valkyries “weren’t augmented by artificial Stigmata.” By separating them from Schicksal’s atrocities, she hoped to dull Sirin’s hatred toward them.

“Huh? Valkyries are that weak?” Cecilia’s presence had initially raised her estimation, but now she was readjusting.

“Sigh. It’s not that Valkyries are weak—it’s that the Honkai is too strong. That’s why we, as Herrschers, are so powerful.” She awkwardly changed the subject. “Is that one dealt with?”

“That Herrscher was strange—mediocre in skill but absurdly durable. Wounds healed almost instantly, so I decided to deal with Schicksal first. You promised you wouldn’t stop my revenge.” Sirin’s gaze was like a child who’d aced an exam, waiting for a promised reward.

“Of course. ‘Those who haven’t suffered your pain shouldn’t preach forgiveness.’ Schicksal owes you this. If I were the one injected with lethal doses of Honkai energy, subjected to inhumane experiments day after day… I’d seek revenge too. If they chose to conduct human experimentation on children to create artificial Stigmata, they should’ve expected retribution.” Enoxia’s stance on the Babylon Labs had always been unwavering.

Cecilia glanced at Theresa, a silent question in her eyes. Theresa gave a slight nod—Yes, the experiments happened.

Cecilia lowered Black Abyss White Flower. Even if they fought together, they stood no chance against two Herrschers and a being between Herrscher and Honkai Beast. And Enoxia wasn’t wrong—Sirin’s hatred was born from Schicksal’s sins.

As Sirin gathered another lightning orb, Enoxia cut in loudly, hurling seemingly critical (but ultimately pointless) questions at Cecilia, sprinkled with curses at Schicksal to keep Sirin entertained. (In truth, she could’ve accessed Schicksal’s database anytime with her Herrscher powers.)

Cecilia, recognizing the stalling tactic, played along. With Schicksal undeniably in the wrong over Babylon, Enoxia dominated the verbal sparring. Sirin, amused by Schicksal’s humiliation, momentarily held back her attack.

Their delay paid off. A sharp crack echoed—the Glacial Herrscher had broken free of the Void Lances, re-entering combat.

“Persistent pest.” Sirin deemed it a greater threat than Schicksal and teleported over. With a flick of her wrist, jagged lightning struck from the sky, slamming the Herrscher back down.

“Might as well toss it into… whatever that Imaginary Space is.” She raised a hand to banish it—

“Huh? Why won’t it—?” The teleportation failed. A wave of exhaustion crashed over her.

“My Queen!” Bella was the first to notice, darting toward her.

THOOM.

A pair of serpentine eyes snapped open. A sinister black mist erupted, swallowing the battlefield in seconds.

“Why… so… tired…?” Sirin’s eyelids grew heavy—then darkness took her.