How many evils must a person commit...
Before, at the very end of hell, he can bring her back to the dawn?
How far must a person travel...
Before, at the end of time itself, he can reclaim the one he used to be?
A bad person? Perhaps... the one I used to be? Heh heh, I have never changed, have I?
"..."
Lying spread-eagled on the ground, Otto slowly closed his eyes, as if lost in recollection.
His "skin" resembled corroded black metal, rusted and eaten away. Large cracks spread across the porcelain-like exposed mechanical body beneath.
His once exceptionally handsome face had also been ravaged.
Purple-crimson Honkai energy particles clung to him like bone-eroding poison, continuously infecting him. Patches of violet-black light wrapped tightly around his body, emitting a corrosive sizzle like sulfuric acid.
"Although I do not consider myself a good person..."
Several seconds later, Otto slowly opened his eyes. A trace of self-mockery surfaced in his emerald gaze. "Being condemned as utterly unforgivable by a Herrscher... how ironic."
Otto offered a few calm rebuttals, but all he received in return was Arisa's scrutinizing stare.
"Hmph!"
It was obvious that Arisa maintained ample vigilance toward this man personally named by Selene—the former Overseer of Schicksal, Otto Apocalypse.
She kicked the rigid soulium body with no intention of listening to his excuses. "I wonder what Her Majesty is doing right now. I really want to return to Her Majesty's side as soon as possible..."
"But I can't. Her Majesty's task must be completed by Arisa." Shaking her head to cast aside stray thoughts, Arisa placed her hands on her hips and spoke firmly.
Though endless sorrow lingered in her heart—unable to keep pace with Her Majesty, forced to remain behind—at the very least, she could complete the mission entrusted to her by Her Majesty. Even beating this villain would suffice.
Alex's command center had already been transferred from Kolosten, on the outskirts of Vienna, to Schicksal's headquarters above the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the senior Astartes Legion commanders, along with the captured Hyperion crew, had relocated as well.
At this moment, aside from a small contingent of Astartes warriors, those remaining at Arisa's side were either Sisters of Battle under her direct command or Sisters of Silence belonging to the Royal Guard sequence.
Especially the Sisters of Silence—even without deploying a Binding Field, their mere presence was enough to make Otto extremely uncomfortable. The self-repair capability of his soulium body had been suppressed to the brink of stagnation.
Even so, Otto had not abandoned hope of turning the situation around. His story had not yet reached its conclusion. He could not end, nor did he dare to end.
That was right. The soulium clones he had brought to Kolosten had long since been destroyed under repeated blows from his "granddaughter" Theresa, Arisa, and the large-scale orbital deployment of the Imperial Army.
But as the ruler of Schicksal who had cultivated his power for five hundred years, Otto possessed so many contingencies that even he would need considerable time to sort through them all.
Simply as protection against assassination, he had stored numerous soulium clones at Schicksal headquarters, in branches around the world, and in his own secret bases.
Under normal circumstances, as long as Otto wished it, there were almost no individuals in the world capable of killing him instantly. Escaping would naturally not be a problem.
Unfortunately, Otto's current predicament was extremely dire.
There was no time left—perhaps not even an opportunity. He understood this clearly.
Around the time he stepped down from the position of Overseer of Schicksal, the global concentration of Honkai energy began to surge wildly, reaching several times its previous levels.
Though he had already retired from office, Otto was not someone who shut himself away in ignorance. He valued intelligence above all else.
What was even more peculiar was that despite the Honkai energy concentration rising to such heights, aside from riots by Honkai Beasts in major Honkai disaster zones, not a single Honkai Eruption had occurred.
At first, Otto had assumed this brewing storm was a consequence of his deal with the Will of the Honkai. But Arisa's appearance awakened him.
The vast legion that descended shortly afterward, the sky-filling aerial warships... all of it confirmed his suspicions.
Why would a Herrscher command so many human lackeys? Why did that accompanying Honkai Beast resemble Benares so closely? And why was it so enormous?
Regrettably, Otto had no time to ponder further. It was not only because he had been beaten down. More importantly, as a certain supernatural roar that shattered reality resounded, an unprecedented Imaginary storm erupted within Imaginary Space.
The upheaval from the hand of Finality completely tore apart the connection between real space and Imaginary Space, destroying—and even devouring—every arrangement Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and even World Serpent had established within Imaginary Space.
Because of the most violent Imaginary storm in recorded history, all of Otto's preparations within Imaginary Space were rendered void. Whether it was World Serpent, with which he maintained contact, or Anti-Entropy observing from the shadows, they all lost everything within Imaginary Space.
And the Imaginary storm was still ongoing, showing no sign of stopping. Otto could no longer enter Imaginary Space.
Unable to enter Imaginary Space, and with this soulium body housing his main consciousness surrounded by the Herrscher of Binding—what the hell was he supposed to do?
If his primary consciousness could not move at all, what use were the countless spare soulium bodies prepared for resurrection?
Since awakening from the unconsciousness brought about by his defeat, this was the question Otto had been contemplating all along.
Why had the Will of the Honkai broken its promise?!
According to his prior experimental deductions, as long as the Will of the Honkai fulfilled its word and granted him the authority of the Herrscher of Binding, then combined with the half of the Herrscher of Dominance authority he had previously stolen, the sublimation of dual Herrscher authorities would allow him to temporarily steal the Will of the Honkai's divine right and enter a pseudo-divine state.
He would then guide Kiana and Durandal into Imaginary Space. Through the explosive energy of their decisive battle, they could briefly break free from the shackles of the world and reach the deepest layer of Imaginary Space.
After that, so long as he withstood the backlash of the Imaginary, he would succeed in realizing the long-standing wish of his life upon the Imaginary Tree.
Yet the Will of the Honkai had not followed Otto's script. At the very first—and most crucial—step, it had directly stood him up.
Just one step away from fulfilling my lifelong wish. Only one step! Success was within arm's reach... but why did the Will of the Honkai go back on its word?! I refuse to accept this!!
Unless the Will of the Honkai had found a better choice.
For that, Otto had only one certain conjecture—
A new Herrscher had been born.
This Herrscher was extraordinary in strength, possessed multiple Herrscher authorities, and likely had no small connection to the Herrscher of the Void, Sirin.
"This beautiful young lady is called Arisa? And your title—Queen?"
Guessing as much, Otto let his single remaining intact eye dart about. Grasping the scant information Arisa had revealed, he attempted to reason things out aloud.
Dignity and the bearing cultivated over five hundred years of rule meant nothing. On the road toward fulfilling his long-cherished wish, he, Otto Apocalypse, was willing to pay any price.
"That Queen you speak of—is she your superior Herrscher? Benares, the Second Herrscher—Herrscher of the Void, Sirin... No, impossible. She should have died long ago."
This little girl, who so closely resembled the companion Honkai Beast Benares of the Second Herrscher Sirin, seemed rather easy to mislead. Otto deliberately spoke the keywords "Benares," "Herrscher of the Void," and "Sirin."
Even if the probability was so small that Otto himself knew it was impossible, he still chose to deceive himself. He was willing to act, to attempt to extract more useful information to escape his predicament.
As long as life endured, action would not cease. For her...
"Benares... how do you know that? Just as I thought—you really are a bad person!"
She might not understand much else, but hearing Otto reveal her surname darkened Arisa's little face.
The full name Selene had given her was Arisa Benares.
The surname Benares hinted at the origin of her prototype. The name Arisa was Selene's personal endearment, signifying that this Benares belonged to Selene—not to Sirin.
Boom!
The sudden kick made Otto feel as though a thermobaric bomb had detonated against his body. The surging shockwave tore through him, leaving him utterly disoriented in the howling gale.
He was sent flying—then smashed brutally into the ground.
At the commotion, nearby Servitor Army and Imperial Auxilia troops set aside their tasks. The Sisters of Battle turned their heads as well. Only the Sisters of Silence remained standing quietly in place, unmoving, as though they had seen nothing.
Riiip—
"Oh my, little Arisa, I have come to fetch you..."
Holding a wineglass leisurely, Selene stepped elegantly out of a spatial gate. The next instant, a torrent of dust rushed at her face.
"Cough, cough... why is there so much dust?"
She waved a hand, dispersing the smoke-like haze with a faint frown.
"Otto..."
The moment I step out, I see Arisa beating Otto.
"Your Majesty!"
Led by the Sisters of Silence, the Imperial troops present immediately offered their salutations.
Nodding, Selene raised her palm slightly, helping her soldiers to their feet.
"Still beating him? You've been at it all day?"
"My Queen!"
Lifting her foot from the crackling soulium construct, Arisa's sky-blue eyes gleamed with excitement. Maintaining a serious expression tinged with liveliness, she declared, "Hehe, Arisa beat Otto flat!"
But as she continued speaking, her energy drained away. In a listless tone she added, "Still... it was so boring. I just sat here all day. My Queen, where are we going now?"
"To Schicksal headquarters. There's a banquet," Selene replied.
Hearing the unspoken plea for praise in her voice, Selene gently rubbed Arisa's little head as she leaned closer, then handed her the fruit wine she had been holding.
"Mmm..."
Accepting it with both hands and taking a small sip, Arisa looked utterly satisfied. "Hehe, I knew My Queen wouldn't forget me."
No, I almost did. If not for Esdeath's reminder, I really would have left you, you little fool, here overnight.
"Mm." Selene maintained a composed expression, smoothly going along with it. "I came specifically to pick you up. The banquet has already begun. There are many new friends being placed under your command as well."
"New friends? And under my command?"
Immediately, Arisa placed one hand on her hip and struck a cool pose. "My Sisters of Battle aren't just anyone's club. If they want to join, they'll have to pass my assessment."
Selene laughed softly. "Putting on airs already? There's no need to question their quality. And it isn't the Sisters of Battle—it's a newly formed Valkyrie unit. You'll simply hold the title of supreme executive commander."
"Just a title? W-What?! I, the great Lady Arisa, at least deserve—mmph!"
Not wishing to explain further, Selene mercilessly pressed her palm against Arisa's face and shoved her aside.
"Go stand over there."
Turning around, she looked toward Otto, who had been smashed deep into the earth.
Truthfully, when Selene focused her attention on Otto, she found herself unexpectedly calm.
Utterly calm.
Her heart was placid, her emotions still as an ancient well.
All the venomous mockery she had prepared faded from her mind. She could not muster the energy for it. Aside from the simple intent to personally end him, there was no hysterical fury.
Otto had created her.
No—not her. He had created her biological vessel, K-404.
But the ones who raised her were her mortal adoptive father, Brauchitsch, and her adoptive mother, Katy.
Twisted posture. Ruined face.
Where was the former Overseer of Schicksal now? He was wretched. Pitiful.
On the scorched earth, he resembled a grasshopper struggling within molten lava, emitting ragged breaths and faint cries that belonged to him alone.
Tap, tap—
"Life... truly is such a fragile thing. Isn't it, Otto Apocalypse?"
White boots trimmed in gold stepped onto the charred ground as Selene spoke softly.
"The Herrscher of Finality..."
Straining his neck upward to the limit, Otto murmured the words.
He did not know the specifics of the Herrscher of Finality. But the half Herrscher of Dominance core he had absorbed trembled in fear.
And who else, aside from the Will of the Honkai, could instill such bloodline-suppressing terror in a Herrscher? The answer was self-evident.
"You resemble her so much... Cecilia... is it you? Is this... my retribution?"
Smooth, fair skin. Long, flowing silver hair. Gentle, crystalline crimson eyes devoid of any impurity. Cherry lips as delicate as petals. Each feature was exquisitely refined—flawless.
And when all of it came together, the result was an exponential sublimation of beauty.
"Regrettably, no. By your command, Cecilia was reduced to ashes along with the Honkai fission bomb."
Hiss—!
With Selene's approach, sensing the fluctuations of the Herrscher of Finality, the Honkai energy particles embedded in nearly every inch of Otto's soulium body activated violently.
"I see..."
Lowering his head slightly, new cracks formed across Otto's soulium face. They tugged at his swollen skin until it split open, revealing ruptured flesh in a grotesque sight.
"To be sent off by the Herrscher of Finality... it does not disgrace five hundred years of Otto the Overseer," Selene said calmly, extending her palm as a radiance of annihilation began to shine.
She had no intention of saying more. She decided to grant Otto a swift end.
Torture? Unnecessary.
Failing to fulfill the wish that "Kallen did not die" was already the greatest torment for him.
"Could you grant me one chance?"
Feeling the disintegration of this soulium body, Otto voiced his final plea.
"Just once!"
From the cracks in the soulium shell, purple-crimson fluid spurted out.
"No matter the cost, I am willing to pay it... I beg you."
Never had he been so humble.
"No."
Bzzzz—!