After entering the door, a surge of white surrounded Otto's sight. The brightness blinded him for a moment before he regained his senses, and he found himself in a different environment than before.
It was a military base with high-tech-looking walls, various scientists saying random nonsense, and soldiers wearing questionable outfits. As expected of Fu Hua...It was the simplest and flattest representation of the Fire Moth Base.
Though Otto didn't have an identity in the Previous Era, the memory seemed to make him one. He looked down to see a name tag with a picture of himself and his name. He was a visitor as an investor for Fire Moth.
As an investor, it was natural for Otto to explore the place and examine its assets. It was logical to first meet up with Fu Hua, but his made-up Trailblazing spirit denied that claim...Rules were made to be broken.
Walking through the hallway of the Fire Moth Base, Otto couldn't help but think that for an organization fighting against the Honkai...They got pretty good background art.
Fu Hua's memories, although simple, had bits and pieces of what the real Fire Moth would look like. Metal walls sleeked in neon lights, various electronics buzzing around the place, and most importantly, high-tech trash cans.
His hand slid across the smooth surface of a nearby wall, and his face was filled with contentment. Though the surface of it was pleasing, it was unnatural if it were forced into a makeshift combination of textures and appearances.
Likely due to Fu Hua's memories, the incomplete details had to be filled in...Taste, smell, sound, sight, and touch.
Judging from the fact that Fu Hua wasn't particularly versed in those two subjects, Otto guessed that Birdy only had experience of being thrown through walls.
Making another few steps around the corner, Otto spotted an empty bucket and mop leaning against the wall.
"Oh wow! The janitor must be sleeping on the job, or Fu Hua didn't realize that janitors existed."
A normal person would leave alone, but since this was in the fathoms of Fu Hua's mind, Otto decided to take it for souvenir purposes.
'Shame that I can't bring it into reality; otherwise, bringing a mop from the Previous Era is indeed a historical relic.'
With his cosplay of a janitor complete, Otto started moving around the place, and as he passed through another hall, his Spiritual Intuition flared up.
Fwwwhhhp!
His head tilted to the side, avoiding a pinkish crystal aimed at his head. It embedded itself straight into the metal wall with enough force that a small, noticeable crater was formed.
'Elysia?'
The only one who could create such beautiful icy arrows would be her. The Flame Chaser of Ego and the Herrscher of Origin.
His eyes moved swiftly, changing from the atmosphere of the base toward the Pink Elf coming out from a shooting range.
Though her movements were quick and numble, it was filled with endless urgency in cold blood.
"~Sorry, Sorry, Sorry! I didn't mean to aim at such a cute-looking devil~" A sweet-sounding voice presented itself to his ears, but it had a slight venomous tone to it.
The culprit who presented herself was a beautiful pink-haired woman with a white top and black shorts with long black stockings, along with a little black shawl with an off-the-shoulder style.
The sleeve she uses has purple layered frills and a shoulder plate, while her other arm has a black glove instead. She wears a white, black, and lilac cape at her waist, which has a fur trimming at the end.
Although stunned from the sudden stunning appearance of Elysia, his Spiritual Intuition was ringing all the bells...Elysia was a red flag.
A pink wolf covered in sheep's clothing.
Such a fact erased the inner fan of the Gacha Addict, causing him to put his guard up. As a fan of Honkai Impact 3rd, he'd always wanted to meet Elysia, the beautiful and ravishing Pink Elf who's captured the hearts of many Captains...Was now staring at him with a killing gaze. Troublesome and dangerous.
Otto didn't say much about peering into one's emotions, but he was still a Sequence 9 Spectator. Judging from Elysia's body language, though hidden quite well, several emotions were prying themself open.
Hate, Loathe, Detest, Loathing, Resentment, and Obsessive Hatred?... Generally speaking, it seemed Elysia had a distaste for the man named Otto Apocalypse.
Otto had no idea why Elysia was acting this way...He was just a law-abiding Schicksal Overseer trying to do his job of fighting against the Honkai.
Elysia was...How would he say it...Basically, Honkai Impact Jesus Christ sacrificed herself so that the Current Era Herrschers would have the chance to regain their Humanity.
He came up with one theory: if Elysia is the symbol of Jesus Christ and his Sacrifice for Humanity's Sin.
Then, in Elysia's eyes, he was the Fallen that rebelled against God, the Morning Star that Fell, named Lucifer because God Almighty (Great Old One) represented the Degenration of All Things and its connection to the Father of Devils.
Another fact was that her emotions were too realistic. Most of the people in this memory were simulations and only had superficial emotions driven by Fu Hua's unconsciousness.
That would mean the Elysia standing right in front of him was a projection of the Herrscher of Origin in reality. The only way Elysia could do this was from the Authority of Origin, although relatively unknown, one of its abilities was to transform wishes into power.
'So she wished to be in this memory, but why? Nostalgia?' Otto thought to himself.
"~Quiet are we? Can't help but stare at this Pretty Pink Elf with those dirty 'eyes'~?" Elysia snapped him out of his thoughts with that ever-sweet, venomous tone.
"No, just wondering why a Herrscher decided to use their Authority in such a voyeuristic way. Are you sure you're not the Herrscher of Depravity instead of Origin?"
Upon hearing Otto's words, Elysia's gaze darkened to an unnatural and out-of-character point. He knew of her existence...Only a devil would know.
"~Such an uncloth title. As expected of a devilish snake to come up with it~." Elysia backhandedly said to the man with a sense of acute pleasure on her face.
As Otto gazed at Elysia, he was starting to figure out...This Elysia was a weirdo.
"Do I look like a scientist to you...Miss Elysia? Instead of wasting you're time on me, why not go back to Lalaland and go Pink Elf all over the place with that typewriter of yours?" Otto jested to test the grounds if she was serious in all of this, after all, she wasn't the type to badmouth anyone.
There was an immediate reaction as Elysia's ears turned bright red and her soft, tender hands started to grasp Otto's neck in a tight squeeze with a twisted, guilty expression.
'Oh dear...Is this what the kids call f*cking around and finding out?'
...
It was supposed to be a reunion, a longing to see a fellow Flame Chaser. With her Authority of Origin, she sensed Fu Hua diving back to her memories to witness and reclaim those feathers of remembrance that once burned to protect the world.
A fellow cutie who burned as bright as a phoenix to set ablaze for a new dawn with her fists. It would have taken forever to describe how cute Fu Hua was before Elysia got to the point.
Although she missed one part of Fu Hua's reclaiming of her memory, it wasn't too late to join in the second part.
Since it was in a time when Fire Moth was still at its brightest and united as one in overcoming the Honkai, however, those higher-ups of Fire Moth were cutely annoying to the cause.
Elysia wanted it to be a surprise when visiting an old friend with her usual self, a Cute Pink Elf that could do anything...Descending into a vessel made from Fu Hua's memory was a bit dubious, but trust in the process, it was all to see that cute girl smile again.
When she spawned into the familiar memory, a nostalgic scene was within her grasp. A room scarred with bits of cracked edges and plenty of holes, a messed-up shooting range, but still shone in its beauty. As her hand nocked an arrow into its string, it fired at the...The most vile existence in her life.
A suited blonde man with a jolly smile walked with his filthy limbs. Despite his normal appearance, her body, mind, and soul had one word in mind upon his existence...Hatred
Something clicked within her mind that the man in front of her was an existence that shouldn't exist, a being that was incompatible with Origin and Humanity itself. A Paradox that brought a sickening urge to Elysia.
Her thoughts of joy, kindness, hope, and virtue for humanity were engulfed by an Abyss that started to devour and twist these emotions into a burning wraith bubbling up from within.
She wanted to see that man fall into the depths of hell together because of her own hands; she wanted to drive a knife to feel the warmth of his blood covering her and his heart in her hands. She wanted to choke him until his last breath was stolen by a kiss from her blood-stained lips.
Despite these vile thoughts and her hands gripping his neck, she didn't grasp further, but stopped herself. A sense of guilt started to prod and muddle itself from the depths of her heart.
She didn't want to burn this man with her hatred, but her soul yearned to smother this man in her wraith till the point of no return.
"Why!" Elysia screamed as tears started to drop from her cheeks onto her twisted face.
These emotions, these sins of her, wraith, lust, sloth, envy, glutton, gloom, pride, angst, and madness, all burst the moment she saw the man in a symphony of Destruction.
Her body, mind, and spirit were rejecting the notion of Otto Apocalypse. Her Ego couldn't stand for his existence.
Origin represented the beauty that Elysia found in Humanity, and the inherent kindness that Humans have. Those aspirations and wishes that Humanity strived for lit up the possibility for the Daughter of the Honkai, named Elysia. The Herrscher who gazed at the Beauty of Humanity with a smile as she birthed a romantic story like none that has come before...
But the opposite of what Elysia represented was a Hanged Man, a Path that was on a different side of the same coin of Origin. It represented Degeneration, but also sacrifice and responsibility in a positive sense. The Flesh and Blood that birthed Humanity came from Corruption itself.
It brought a maddening aching to Elysia that even the vilest, disgusting, twisted, and degenerate stain brought about the salvation of humanity, with Darkness, Corruption, Mutation, Sin, and Degeneration...The Antithesis of Origin
Feeling the aching pressure of Elysia's hand on his neck, Otto gently grasped both her hands and asked in a soothing tone.
"Well, I don't quite understand your sentiment about choking me, Miss Elysia. Why not lay rest to the impulses in your heart for a moment and converse with me?"
Even with her soul burning in wraith, her hands started to tremble with guilt as she stared at emerald eyes filled with worry instead of indifference.
She was surprised that the man named Otto wanted to talk despite her current attempts at ending his life.
Even with these deranged thoughts, she was still the being named Elysia...The Herrscher who loved Humanity to its core, and she wouldn't change a single thing about it, especially in front of this man (Devil! Devil! Devil!)
In a split second, Elysia fought off her instincts and let go of her grip with a begrudging expression.
With relief coming from his neck, Otto took a moment to caress his neck and soon slid down onto the ground.
Being honest with himself, Otto wanted to Flame Jump away from Elysia and possibly Air Bullet since she was metaphysically trying to commit man slaughter, but as a good Samaritan, he patted the spot next to him, intending for her to take a seat.
Instead of resorting to conflict...Words would be a better choice after all if ELysia wanted to kill him, she would have Wished him dead, but she had faith in him, and so Otto would respond kindly back.
Otto clasped his hands like a priest and smiled with grace. "Rejoice, young Elysia...I'll listen to all you're troubles." He regained his usual demeanor.
Elysia glared at him but relented with a whimper and plopped herself down onto his level.
Leaning on the wall of this memory, Elysia's hands shook in rejection for a moment...It was quite strange that the (wicked) man, right before her, would offer a session of counseling, but maybe a moment of respite would aid her into why she was feeling this way.
Elysia's previously shaking hands rested onto her lap, and her lips parted for a single sentence.
"...I abhor you're existence." She confessed with tear-dried eyes, and driven by her hatred, she started leaning against him to prevent him from escaping.
'Yet you're the one leaning on me, but I won't judge.'
"That is an obvious point, but why?" Otto asked
Elysia fell silent to gather her words...
"Whenever I stare at you...I feel several thoughts lingering in my mind, and all of them are for me to detest you. It keeps on telling me to end you so you don't do any more damage, but...Knowing you took the time to want to talk when I was choking you. I didn't want to kill you, so praise me for not wanting to take you're life~."
Otto had little idea why Elysia was acting as if they were friends despite her attempt at killing him, but he went with it.
"Hmm, Good job...To start, why do I ask you something? Elysia, do you, as a Herrscher, see yourself as a Human?"
Elysia giggled at the unexpected question, "Acting as a philosopher, are we? Of course, I see myself as human! The title of Herrscher of Human isn't for show. Why do you ask?"
"Because. Just as there is inherent kindness in humans...There will always be a Degenerate Nature lurking in their hearts, but to be Human is to fight against that nature and our baser instincts of selfishness and avarice. It shows you, yourself, are still human...Miss Elysia."
"Is this you're way of trying to make me feel better?... It's kinda working. Still, I feel kinda guilty unless...You're the type of person to be into that type of stuff," Elysia whistled at that notion.
"I am not...If I were, I wouldn't want you to be the one choking me." Otto replied intently, and Elysia chuckled, ignoring the imaginary arrow piercing through her heart.
"~Haha~ Say I appreciate the sudden prep talk, but isn't it unfair that you know everything about me but I don't know a thing about you...Can't you tell this Lady about a bit yourself?" She asked.
"...I am not obligated to give such privy, but if you offer me your comradery and friendship, I'll be glad too."
"Eh! That's it? I thought you were going to ask for something ridiculous and bully this poor maiden's wallet, but alright, I'll be you're friend."
"Great. Then I'll give you one tidbit of information." Otto stood up from the floor and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Have you heard of our great Lord and Savior, Mr. Fool? The one who will bring Finality to its knees?" His darkened emerald eyes stared at Elysia with a fervent display. His pose suggested that he was going to read her the glorious gospel of a Fool.
As Elysia stared deeper to peer into his words, all she was met with was a gray fog filled with mysteries. The hair on her skin shot up and stood up from the abstract aura of horror stemming from it. She quickly backed away with a paleish face and glared at him intensely.
"~What type of ploy is this? Lowering my guard into taking advantage of me~?"
"Nonsense, it's only a warning...Elysia, we walk different Paths but still end up at the same destination. So take this from a friend. When the Era Nova arrives with its Miracle to Transcend Finality, don't get in the way of a new tomorrow."
With the last of his words, Otto bowed as a fog of smoke started to emerge and covered his tracks as he disappeared like a Magician.
"Before I go...This is payback for the arrow." His voice echoed through the hall.
Elysia started backhanding the air to sweep all the smoke away, but in mere seconds, it disappeared as it was just an illusion.
She stepped back a bit from the sudden threat of his words, but as she did, her foot landed on a wooden mop that flung itself upwards, hitting her on the back of the head.
"Ow...What type of payback was that? Now my hair is wet. Damn, Devil!" She cursed for the first time. Ever since she met him, Elysia has always had the urge to scream out profanity at the man and #^#&%#, but she held herself back because it was wrong and not very human.
Her hands trembled at the lapse of her hands not gripping his neck, but she gathered herself and rid herself of those depraved thoughts. Elysia let out a soft whimper and slammed her fist onto the nearby wall as which soon crumbled under her strength.
"Devil! Devil! Devil!" She muttered to herself as her hand started going through her lush pink hair, and at that moment, she realized.
"Why is my hairpin missing?" Elysia took a glance down at her chest...Everything from her ribbons and accessories was stolen from her body. The moment Elysia conversed with him, the snake revealed itself and swindled her.
She turned quiet, reveling in the fact that she was tricked before letting a maniacal laugh. Elysia sweetly smiled and walked with a Purpose...Find Otto and #%#%#^#$ him.
"~ La La La La La La...Pink Elf is going to murder someone named Otto Apocalypse, the Devilish and Deviant Fiend ♬. No detours, detours.~"
Nearby, around the corner, a green-haired glasses-wearing woman took a sip of coffee and softly muttered to herself, "Interesting..." And so Mobius smiled brightly as she made her way to her Lab without a care.