Honkai: Oh No, I’ve Become the Herrscher of Corruption?! - Chapter 98

“Huh… huh?”

Sirin blinked, making sure she hadn’t misheard.

“N-no, why would you…?”

“Because once she’s dead, we won’t have to be her duplicates anymore—we can be our true selves.”

The bold and cheerful Enoxia spread her hands, her tone casual, as if discussing something mundane.

“Sirin, if someone could decide your life and death at any moment, rewrite your very thoughts… wouldn’t you want to break free from them too?”

“B-but… if she can alter your cognition, then why…?”

“Because she doesn’t care. Or rather, she doesn’t mind us looking for ways to kill her and even putting them into practice. The only thing left in her mind is saving Atlantis.”

Sirin opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, the bold and cheerful Enoxia leaned in, hooking a finger under Sirin’s chin.

“Why take the risk to help us, right? You’re looking for Bella and the Enoxia from your homeworld, aren’t you? As duplicates, we can’t do much for you. But as long as they’re still in this bubble world, the original—with her full Herrscher of Corruption powers—will find them instantly.”

“Besides, we can sense it. Recently, for some unknown reason, she’s been growing stronger. Right now, she can’t corrupt you, another Herrscher, but once she gets stronger? Who knows. I don’t know what the ‘me’ from your world is like, but this Enoxia? She’ll stop at nothing to save Atlantis. An outsider with unclear loyalties like you? She’d definitely try to control you with her corruption first. And even if she still can’t, well… there’s always Bella…”

The thought of being separated from Enoxia and Selicia forever—of her Bella being taken away by someone else—made Sirin’s face twist in horror.

“Enoxia told me that a Herrscher of Corruption can devour another Herrscher. So when you say you want me to ‘kill’ her, you really just mean weaken her enough for you to assimilate her. How do I know the new Herrscher of Corruption won’t turn on me?”

“That’s a fair concern. But the reason she’s growing stronger lately might be because…”

Sirin fell silent for a long moment before finally nodding.

“Take me to her.”

The bold and cheerful Enoxia immediately pressed her forehead against Sirin’s.

“Relax. With only a fraction of the Corruption’s power, even if I wanted to do something to you, I couldn’t.”

Soon, a set of coordinates flashed in Sirin’s mind. Without hesitation, she teleported away.

As Sirin vanished, a gentle breeze swept through the dark night, lifting the hair of the five figures left behind. K423, who had been sitting silently on the grass, glanced at the four Enoxias and scoffed.

“Do you really enjoy bullying the gullible? That shoddy excuse and your clumsy acting—only Sirin would fall for it. I’m the one who’s supposed to be selfish, yet here you are playing the villains.”

The bold and cheerful Enoxia leaned against her again, and this time, K423 didn’t push her away.

“But right now, she’s the only one who can bring this despairing world its last hope, isn’t she? Since you refuse to go back, we’ll stay here with you… until the very end.”

(Shifting to Bella’s perspective…)

Unlike Sirin, when Bella regained consciousness, she found herself in a vast wilderness, barren and devoid of life as far as the eye could see.

“Where are Her Majesty and Enoxia? I need to find them quickly.”

She spread her wings and took flight. Before long, a familiar figure came into view—blue hair and elven ears that filled her with warmth. But as she drew closer, this “Enoxia” dissolved into a swirling black mist, enveloping her completely.

“Well, well, if it isn’t dear Bella~ Since you’ve thrown yourself into my arms, don’t blame me for having my way with you… Hehehe…”

A voice both familiar and unfamiliar rang out as countless shadowy hands emerged from the mist, groping and fondling Bella’s body.

It wasn’t as if Enoxia had never touched her before. In the Elysian Realm or other data spaces, she’d even used her Herrscher powers to remove Bella’s horns just to make hugging more comfortable.

After all, Enoxia treated Sirin well, and Sirin never complained. Plus, Bella had to admit—being used as a body pillow was oddly soothing. Rumor had it Enoxia had even taken lessons from Elysia on the subject.

But now, Bella felt like she was being molested in public. Those shadowy hands roamed over her, kneading and squeezing, making her skin crawl. Instinctively, she unleashed her powers. Violent arcs of lightning erupted outward, forcing the black mist to retreat. It recoiled, then coalesced about a meter away, reforming into the faded form of the Fairy Lady.

“Tsk tsk, Bella, you’re no fun at all. You’re so close with the ‘me’ from your world, yet you reject me like this? Do you have any idea how much that hurts my feelings?”

The same pair of amber-red eyes stared at her. Where Enoxia’s gaze had once brought comfort, now it only made her nauseous.

“Each bubble world is a brand-new reality. In them, we might encounter people who share the same appearance, name, or even fragments of their history with those from the main world. But they are not the same person—they are fundamentally different.”

Enoxia’s words echoed in Bella’s mind, helping her make sense of the situation.

“If you’re not her, then you’re an enemy. But… can I hold out against a Herrscher of Corruption long enough for Her Majesty or Lady Enoxia to arrive?”

Beads of sweat formed on Bella’s forehead. The Herrscher of Corruption’s attacks could rewrite consciousness itself—she had no idea how to defend against that. She wasn’t Sirin; at best, she was a pseudo-Herrscher. Against a true Herrscher with a Core, all she could do was make them work a little harder.

“Bella~ Why so still? Mesmerized by my beauty? If so, why not surrender to love’s embrace~~”

The fake Enoxia reached out slowly, her hand drifting toward Bella’s cheek, her face twisted in a lecherous grin.

Slap.

Bella’s hand shot up, delivering a crisp, ringing strike.

“Huh? She actually… flew back from that?” Bella stared in disbelief as the figure was sent sprawling at least a meter away.

“You… you hit me… Fine. If you’re going to be so disobedient, I’ll just have to tie you up… until you’re willing to stay by my side… forever…”