No….no….no…no. This wasn't happening Sirin thought as she stumbled back. She tried to use her Herrscher abilities, but something was wrong. Her body started to feel weak as her legs slowly gave out. As she tried to retreat ended up slipping and falling flat on her rump. The other girl looked on with an expressionless gaze as she tried to crawl back.

"Sirin," The girl inquired as she took a step forward. The young Herrscher quickly scooted back away from the girl.

"Stay away," Sirin repeated. "STAY AWAY FROM ME," She screamed. It wasn't anger that permeated her voice, there was no ounce of hatred, instead, there was just pure unadulterated fear. "I won't go back. I WON'T GO BACK."

"Oh crap," Mei frowned inwardly. "I went overboard." She sighed. She was supposed to scare the girl, not give her a full-blown panic attack. "Now listen Sirin," She spoke as calmly as she reached.

"Don't touch me," Sirin shrieked as she pulled back from the other girl. She wasn't going to be a lab experiment again. She wasn't going to be a guinea pig for any greater good.

"Wow. You really blew it this time," Senti mumbled in Mei's head. "You couldn't have scared her with minor physical abuse, you had to go with the psychological trauma." The disembodied Herrscher noted.

"Do you have a better idea?" Thunder shot back. "Because unless you can actually help, you better keep stay quiet," She growled internally. She did not have time to deal with Senti's delinquency. There was a silence in her head. "I thought as much,"

She looked back at the little girl, a Herrscher, the self-proclaimed destroyer of humanity curling up into a ball and weeping. Thunder tried to rationalize it as being deserved, but her guilt made it very obvious that wasn't going to work. Sirin may have done terrible things, but she was just a traumatized girl. She didn't become a monster by her own violation, she was forced to become one. A stark contrast to the actual monster standing beside her.

"How do I fix this? How can I fix this?" Mei pondered. Well, the first step was always to apologize and ask for forgiveness, though Mei doubted she would be worthy of that now.

"Look Sirin," She called out. "I lied about the experiments." She admitted. "I just wanted to rile you up." She tried to make light with laughter. Her throat felt scratchy from just talking about it. "It was all a joke, a big misunderstanding." She tried to play it off. It was probably the stupidest thing she could say. You don't just go to an abused victim and make light of what happened to them. That's not how it worked. Mei knew that but she was still trying to grasp at straws here on how to make it better.

Luckily there did seem to be a reaction from Sirin. The little girl had stopped crying and seemed to calm down. However, with what came next, Mei would admit she definitely deserved it. Several subspace lances were launched at the Herrscher of Thunder. Mei didn't bother to defend against the attack letting them all impale her as the previous one did. This pain would be nothing to what she had just caused Sirin. For what Thunder had done, this was still minor.

"A joke," Sirin retorted. "You call that…. A JOKE," Sirin spat. Who did this woman think she was, to dismiss all her pain and suffering like that?

"Hehe, she's not sad anymore." Thunder chuckled nervously. The only interactions she had known with her own Void Herrscher were rage and hatred. Thunder and Void had once been at each other's throats before, but then Thunder had 'killed' Benares.

"She's angry, really really angry now. I can work with this," Thunder thought. The amount of sheer rage and agony that had left Void was unmatched. Yet strange as it may be, Void's rage had also destroyed itself. She had literally burnt herself out from her meltdown

"I'll gouge your eyes out with your own horns and stuff them down your throat you worm," Sirin growled as she threw more attacks at the older girl.

"Okay, that one was actually intimidating," Thunder admitted. "I got goosebumps." She tried to irk. She needed Sirin to get angry. If there is one thing Thunder learned the hard way was that anger was stronger than fear. It wasn't as strong as love, but it was strong enough to help most circumstances and it can work wonders for snapping someone out of a minor freakout.

"JUST DIE ALREADY!" Sirin screamed.

"Like Queen, like Princess," Mei mused. She let herself take far more hits than she ought to but at least she was managing to pacify the rage. She hoped she was pacifying the rage. Mei was no therapist and with her own issues, she doubted she'd qualify to be anyone else's yet here they were.

She called forth all the power she had, summoning at least a thousand lances at once, all surrounding Thunder. There was no way the insect could dodge or destroy all of them. Thunder's eyes widened at the attack.

"Sirin don't," She warned but the girl didn't listen. Sirin launched all of them at her opponent. "Idiot," Thunder grumbled under her breath as she evades the attack. She watched as several of the lances that flew past her made their way toward Sirin. An attack with such a large AOE was going to hit its user some way or the other.

"Oh," The girl realized as her lances were about to impale her. Thunder resisted the urge to facepalm. What was Sirin expecting when she manifested lances behind Thunder? Sirin tried to make a portal to defend herself, but it was no use, her power had been spent. She closed her eyes and tried to shield herself from the attack with her hands, futile as it may be.

Yet the attack never came, Sirin glanced back forward to find the lances all impaled in the metal gauntlets of her attacker. "I should probably add 'reckless' to the list of adjectives that describe you because you almost killed yourself with that attack," Thunder mused as she flexed the gauntlet. The mechanical appendage erupted in electricity as it blew apart before reforming as good as new.

"Have you cooled off?" Thunder questioned. She could tell Sirin's power was spent but she needed confirmation that Sirin herself was ready. "because we have a lot to talk about," Mei explained. "And no…I won't be doing any actual experiments," She told her. "That was in poor taste." She admitted.

"Hate me if you will but I do need you to listen to me?" She reiterated. "Understood?" She questioned. Sirin only nodded her head. "Good…let's start with names. I am Raiden Mei, the third Herrscher, the Herrscher of Thunder,"

Void was always grateful for many benefits being a Herrscher granted her. She didn't need same kind of sustenance that others required. She could technically go days without sleeping or eating, so long as she had enough Honkai energy to thrive. That didn't mean she didn't suffer more psychological drawbacks from it. No sleep often left her more irritated than exhausted. Similarly, not eating just made her crave food more despite not needing it.

There was however one benefit that didn't have as many drawbacks as the others and that was no need for oxygen or air in general. It allowed her to hold her breath and swim underwater for indefinite amounts of time. A very useful skill when fleeing near a body of water. Or in this case, it allowed for her to not need to worry about being in space without a spacesuit.

The Herrscher had flown into space using her powers. It took her a little while, would have been faster with stead but she needed to be more subtle. Subtly was important because of her target itself. Floating around she found herself right outside the Earth's orbit. It was a beautiful sight, the planet, and the stars; even the moon was within view. However, now was not the time for sightseeing as her target came into her line of sight.

You must love branding. Any large corporation or company in general just had to have their name or logo inscribed for recognition. Whether it be something as small as a computer chip, or something as big as a satellite, they always had the name plastered right on the side. The Satellites that the bastard Apocalypse used to track them were no exception.

Staying just out of their range of sight was easy. Space was big and it wasn't difficult to sometimes hide amongst the space junk floating around. Eventually, the Herrscher was able to get close enough to a satellite. She drew out her weapon, the Domain of the Void, and took aim. It took one shot to knock each satellite out.

They weren't completely destroyed but they would be inoperable for the time being until someone sent a repair crew. In which case that would take probably take a week to fix. The region their base was located could survive more than a few days without Otto and his cronies watching them. The AE satellites would more than suffice in warning them and Void was confident in her and Thunder's ability to neutralize any threats that may present themselves.

Satisfied with her work, Void was about to return to Earth when an idea popped into her mind. One could call it petty, but this was by far the least violent act of revenge she had ever taken. Manifesting a lance, the Herrscher then heated the tip up with her flame core before jamming it into the side of a satellite. It wasn't enough to damage it further, but it did let her inscribe a message on the satellite for others to read later. "Otto Apocalypse is the biggest virgin simp in the history of the world." She wrote into the satellite's side. She then proceeded to warp to the sides of the other satellites leaving various other messages in them.

"That should do it," She thought. All the satellites were disabled so now they didn't have to worry about Otto watching them. Yet something still felt off to the Herrscher. Turning around Void caught sight of the moon, and then realized what was disturbing her.

As she stared at the moon, she could envision the white figure sitting on its throne, the ever-confident grin on its face. Otto may not be able to see her, but she knew who did. Her…former 'God' always had some level of awareness of the world. To what extent she didn't know but she could tell it was observing her every now and then.

"I won't lose anything else to you." Void thought. "Not again," She promised herself. She had made it bleed once before, and if it can bleed, it can be killed. She was going to defeat it, just like her other counterparts in other timelines did, only unlike them, she would win.

"COME AND TRY,"

Void's eyes widened at the voice in her head. Her heart started racing almost immediately as her breath hitched despite needing no air. "Calm down," She told herself but she could still hear the chilling laughter from the moon taunting her. It was egging her for a fight.

The last time she was in this position she had easily been made a fool off. She was underprepared physically and mentally back then. She was still so right now. A part of her whispered it was her own fear of the Honkai but she did her best to squash the idea. "I'll beat you on my own terms, not yours," She growled back as she stretched her hand behind her.

The power of Domination manifested into a giant puppet hand that easily grabbed the satellite several times her size. The Herrscher then took aim and tossed the mechanical structure with all her might at the moon, putting the extra power of her cores behind it. A giant fireball was hurtled straight into the moon causing a visible dust cloud to form. Yet once the dust cleared the moon looked just as unscathed as before.

It felt infuriating to look at. A place of bad memories where Sirin had let herself be played for a fool by the eldritch creature. She was half tempted to use Shamash and smash the darn thing, but she restrained herself. Apparent from the natural effects the moon had on the planet, it was also the tool used to capture and seal the Honkai in the future. If she lost her cool and blew it to pieces now, she might very well deprive herself of useful resources later.

"99% of the Honkai was sealed on the moon," She recalled hearing from the Principal version of Thunder. It was from a not-so-distant future, in a reality where Kiana won the fight for control instead of it being a tie. They had best the Honkai before. If that timeline could do it, then so could others.

"You stand upon your tomb, though you know it not," She forced a smirk. She may not have had the same voice as Azdaha, but the lines still felt fitting. Speaking of Azdaha, she wondered if Thunder would consider awakening him from his slumber once more. Her rock frog may have been annoying to deal with, but he worked wonders in plowing down Otto and World Serpent's forces. She'd have to ask her when she returned to base.

"So, you're the one that saved Bella and…Cecilia," Sirin repeated as Mei explained how they got here. The Thunder Herrscher had informed her of what had happened to an extent. Sirin had been dying alongside Cecilia when Mei and her ally had arrived to help. "Why?" Sirin questioned. Even if she knew the woman before her and her friend were Herrschers, their actions didn't make sense.

God didn't create them. Sirin would have been aware of such allies in the first place. It had informed her of the First, so why didn't it think to tell her about the Third and the other one. Especially since it was quite clear the Third held more power than she did. It made even less sense when the Third made it clear she did not have an interest in serving God. She was a traitor just like the First.

"If you want that answer, you need to wait a little longer," Mei enlightened her. "My friend is the one who can give them to you. I'm looking forward to how that conversation will go," Mei smiled. Oh, boy was that conversation going to be fun.

"So that means…I almost killed them," Sirin sighed in realization. She had almost attacked and killed Cecilia and Bella under the pretense that this was a delusion. Even now considered the possibility that it was still a trick.

"But is this really real?" She wondered one more. Yet regardless of whether any of this was real or not, Sirin had no power here. Thunder had bested her and had made clear just how bad things could get. Joke or no joke, nothing could stop the other girl from doing as she pleased.

"That's not the question, you're really asking," Thunder answered as she looked at Sirin. Sirin cast her a glance curiously. She didn't trust Thunder, right now; she still felt like running as far from the girl as possible. However, that would get her nowhere. There was also the fact if she tried, Thunder would restrain her in one of the main ways she could.

"You don't want to know whether it's real or not. You want to know whether something good is happening to you." Thunder replied as recounted her own experience. "I know…because I've been there." She chuckled, oh, had she been there. She knew what going through the other girl's mind.

"You're waiting for the twist," Thunder noted. "The cruel surprise that it's a trick. That it's not a dream come true but a nightmare that had lied really well," She added.

"It may be hard to believe Sirin, but fortune can smile on the damned every once in a while," She chuckled. "Even sinners like you and I can be offered minuscule chances of salvation." She added. Mei would never understand why Paimon had allowed her to travel through time. Did she not worry that Mei would betray her for her own desires, or did she feel Void was enough of a leash to stop Mei?

"You've both earned this," The little fae had told them. They had earned a chance to get this outcome but after everything she did, Mei wonder if she truly was worthy.

"I've been offered this before," Sirin replied darkly. "I once made a prison of nightmares to trap those two humans, it was faulty, ended up a prison of dreams instead. I then tried to enter myself to kill them." She explained

"Yet I found myself just as enticed by it." She told Thunder. "Had it not been for the agony of Bella, I would have fallen for it. The empty promises of a family with Cecilia, a normal life without the Honkai, or the experiments. A life where I was happy and loved."

"That was all just a dream I had when I fell asleep. It was just wishful thinking. I should never have had it." She muttered.

"Cecilia came for you in the end." Thunder retorted. "You and I both know she did. She may have lied back then but she has worked to turn it into the truth." Mei explained.

"And besides…even if it was a lie…I know you wanted for it to be true." She whispered. "It's a desire within you, that's very strong. Though you try and deny it, I know that a loving family, especially one with Cecilia is something you want more than anything else."

"That wasn't just a dream. It was a desire, a wish…. a hope, for a better future. You want a happy and peaceful life, Sirin." Thunder noted. "But you don't believe it's possible."

"Can you blame me?" Sirin retorted. "Every good thing that comes my way…is taken not too long after," She muttered as tears welled in her eyes. "My mother…my village…..my friends…even Bella. Everyone…dies…but I don't." She sobbed.

"I told you already that Bella still lives," Thunder sighed. "But you don't believe me." She grimaced. Even if she was docile, the void princess was still an emotional wreck of a person. Mei had seriously underestimated the situation.

"Sirin," Mei whispered as she reached out and gently patted Sirin's head. "Difficult as it may be to accept, you do have a chance now. Someone has tried very hard to ensure you got this chance." She consoled the girl as she kept rubbing her head.

"It won't last," Sirin muttered. "It will all vanish eventually."

"It always can, everything can disappear, happiness... and grief," Mei told her. "You can always take chances and experience these joys but if you don't attempt then you'll miss out entirely," Mei told her.

"I know you're afraid of being alone, but you won't be. Not anymore, there are many people waiting for you because they care for you and want you to be happy. Bella and Cecilia included," Mei informed her. "Huh," She gasped.

Mei glanced down and noticed the head of hair burrowing into her chest and the petite arms wrapping around her body. Sirin was hugging her. Sirin WAS HUGGING her. "So…are you willing to take a chance now?" Mei questioned.

Sirin quickly pulled away. She couldn't believe she had just done that, and to hug her of all people. "Yeah," She answered nervously. She was willing to try. After all how much worse could it actually get if it wasn't real anymore.

"I should warn you, there are people who you had battled before. Including Siegfied, the man who had been your father," Mei informed. She knew the story of how Sirin had sought revenge on the patriarch of the Kaslana family and judging from how Sirin tensed up, she knew it must have held weight even now.

"He…he is," Sirin gasped.

"He is." Another voice answered instead of Mei. Sirin's eyes widened. It had sounded like her own. Her head whipped around to see the other girl from before. The Herrscher who accompanied Mei. "I'm glad to see things went smoothly," She continued in a voice similar to Sirin's.

It was…creepy. Sirin could recognize her own voice, especially when it echoed. Something felt strange with this next Herrscher. While Mei radiated power, this other Herrscher had something even more alien about her. She felt familiar but Sirin couldn't understand why. The core felt almost the same as hers and even the eyes reminded Sirin of her own and her mother's.

"I suppose it is my turn for an introduction," the newcomer said.

"Oh, this is going to be good," Mei grinned.

"I'm K-423, the Herrscher of the Void," The newcomer introduced.