Getting off the private plane from its stairs, Otto made sure to watch his steps not to trip himself like Sleepy Joe.
He arrived at the Schicksal Base in the morning as the sun started to rise and rays shone onto him. Though the man didn't feel quite purified facing the light...He had murdered with his own hands, quite literally.
Although the Church of Monsters was prevalent during the Second Eruption, it had been scattered due to Anti-Entropy and Schicksal in the light, while the World Serpent remained in the shadows...Who knew creating an organization based on cannibalism and blood would make you a target for the whole world?
Taking his last steps onto the ground, Otto soon spotted the familiar Maid of Schicksal, Rita.
He spotted a light smile on his face and greeted her, "Morning, Rita, did anything happen in my absence?"
The Maid bowed and greeted his gesture back, "Welcome back, Master Otto. Nothing substantial happened when you were gone. Though I am confused, why did you give Bianka, me, and Amber letters on your departure?"
"It's just a reminder not to seek me out because I'll be highly busy, but I didn't mention that in your letter because you're a competent maid and I may need your help for the coming days...It's quite rude for you and Bianka to share your letters when I wrote them by hand; it's highly embarrassing." Otto put on a hurt expression.
"I apologize, I'll make sure not to mention the sharing of letters right in your face and instead gossip behind your back with Bianka...And speaking of her, she's quite how would I say it...Angry that you didn't even say goodbye to her directly."
Otto tilted his head with a look of surprise, "I thought she wouldn't be the type of person to miss this old man. What about my 250-word letter that I sent her about the trials and tribulations on my quest to slay a Church of Bloodfiends, which includes a farewell picture and the chibi sticker of me saying goodbye?"
Rita stood quietly, "Ah...Master Otto, maybe it's best if you visit her for today since you'd be going on your quest...How long would that be?"
"6 Months to a Year...For the extermination and Siberia. Maybe you should start thinking about when you're gonna go on vacation." Otto brought up.
"I'll think about it. Do you still require my service, Master Otto?"
Otto nodded, "Get me a gun that screams I am not affiliated with Schicksal."
...
Schicksal HQ Basic Physical Training Facility, Private Training Room.
Dodging a punch with the mere tilt of his head, Otto counterattacked with a kick towards Bianka's abdomen.
The blonde girl winced as numbness spread in her arms. She was knocked back, and her feet slid on the rubber mat from its shockwave.
"So is this some sort of payback for not saying goodbye?" Otto asked as he readied himself in case she made a move.
"Sort of, and I was itching for a fight...Most of the Valkryies at HQ aren't on my level." She rushed forward with a flurry of punches at the man.
Moving his body like a contortionist clown, he waved his way through her blows, "Have you ever tried going onto a random street and picking up a random child to train...9 times out of 10 times it works." Otto jested.
"I can't tell if you're joking or if this is from personal experience," Bianka muttered as she let out a straight hook towards the man's face, but in a moment of finesse, he diverted the attack away and made the blonde Valkryie stumble her posture.
Readjusting herself, Bianka asked, "So, about that thing with Magic Potions...Is that why you're so ridiculously strong? You're reflexes are better than last time."
"Yeah, I took Magic Drugs that gave me magic powers. Look." Otto snapped his fingers as three air bullets magically shot towards the ground in front of Bianka and causing several small holes in the mats.
The girl backed away from the sudden shots and gave Otto a look of bewilderment, "I still can't tell if that's bulls*it or the truth...Can I even be considered his Teacher now if he outclasses me?" She whispered to herself.
Every time the two would duel...The gap between them kept on growing as if he had been cheating with the use of those so-called"Magic" Drugs, or was it some sort of Previous Era tech that was letting the man overcome her Training.
Though she did feel smug about it...Even with the man's cheating, Bianka was keeping up with him, and she couldn't be mad, after all, wouldn't Otto being stronger mean having a stronger foothold against the Honkai?
"No swearing in this household, only the adults can do that!" Otto's nagging got Bianka out of her thoughts.
Bianka clicked her tongue in annoyance and asked, "So what's with the sudden visit?"
"Didn't you read my letter, or did the reading comprehension devil get to you? I had some time, so I wanted to spend some time with you."
Hearing those words from the man warmed Bianka's heart a little bit.
"So all that nonsense of you going out to slay a Church of Vampires is that Church of Monsters that we faced in India...Why didn't you ask me to come along with you? I can help you in the vanquishing of those Bloodsuckers."
"Yeah, and some extra errands in Siberia. The thought crossed my mind, but the reason I didn't want to bring you is one...You still are my golden goose and need more training. Two, brute force isn't going to help in my endeavor."
"Bruce force?... Don't tell me those they have convoluted powers." Bianka asked. Even as a Valkryie, she still had times to indulge in various media...Homu Bizarre Adventures were known to have the most confusing powers...How does a Golden Raito equal having Infinite Spinning Energy? How does Homu Crimson work again?
"Yup...One of them can reenact the damage they suffered throughout their lifetime onto their enemies, but the downside it scales based on what amount of suffering they survived. So if that Shepherd somehow survives being hit with a nuke or a bubonic plague and reenacts their suffering...It's game over. Bianka, I want you to grow, not die and suffer because of my actions."
"Maybe you're underestimating me...How would you know that I am strong enough to go with you?" Bianka stated with fierce, determined eyes.
Otto pulled up one of his index fingers, "Land one hit on me and I'll let you go with me. I'll even throw a bonus, I'll dress up as a butler and call you Mistress Bianka, serve you biscuits while I stand there if yo-..." His words were cut short as a golden-covered fist aimed straight at his chest.
He quickly side-stepped to the right and backed flipped away, "Going all out already? Is it because of my challenge or the butler thing?"
Dressed in an illusory golden-covered battle suit, Bianka, as she donned her Incomplete Battlesuit Falsus Dea Anchora, replied without hesitation, "Both!"
"It's strange...Whenever I try to converse with you, it always ends up in a fight." The man remarked.
"What'd you expect, fighting is my career and job." The Valkryie's hand slammed down as several golden spears appeared in the air and shot down towards the man.
Otto let three warm rings of light cover his hands, and he snapped his fingers as many empowered Air Bullets clashed with the spears.
Shockwaves boomed throughout the room as the two opposing attacks clashed, but it didn't deter Bianka from rushing forward with a straight right hook covered in a golden aura.
Bianka heard the sounds of his fingers snapping as a wisp of dense flames was shot towards her, intending to cover her sight. The Valkryie stomped the ground, a gust of wind to put out the fire. Knowing the personality of her opponent, she shot a spear from all directions.
But to her dismay, she heard a voice coming from the front of her. The spot where she least expected it.
"Though it was despair of the Holy Maiden's Death that I sought, the bullet's trajectory... is predetermined!"
Holding a golden projected Martini-Henry rifle with three rings of Mang (望) on its barrel. Otto lined up his sight, aimed the gun at the Valkryie, and pressed the trigger; a rubber bullet shot towards Bianka faster than she could perceive.
A golden beam of light knocked the girl into the wall of the room and deeply embedded her body in there. Seeing the damage done, Otto couldn't help but suddenly run up and check on her.
"Bianka, are you okay!? Did anything pierce through you? Do you need some ice?" He asked worryingly. Otto made sure not to use a real bullet, but seeing the sudden act of Bianka being flung into a wall in the blink of an eye did build the feeling of guilt in him.
Hearing his words, Bianka gave him the side eye and muttered to the man, "You're a dirty cheater!"
With Bianka fine and being her usual self, Otto couldn't help but smile at the compliment, "Why, thank you...You're quite wonderful as well."
Bianka, faced with his expression, wanted to feel some sort of rage, but she couldn't get mad at this bastard.
...
Having spent some time with Bianka and mostly sparring, Otto felt devious, while Bianka had trained all her life to get where she is...He had used his Sequence to cheat himself up to her level, but that didn't mean he would stop himself from getting more.
A goal post was good for motivation, and so was pushing Bianka to get stronger, to save more lives, and, more importantly, protecting the World from the false Gods known as the Honkai.
Though speaking of Sequences...Otto still felt like a complete novice at using his Beyonders' powers; something was nagging at him to be even more creative and freely think. Like setting his opponent on fire and starting to smack them as he darted around like a cockroach, or intently shooting himself to substitute his position right on top of the enemy.
He moved away from his thoughts as he went inside St. 1504 Labs and ignored the locked door. Otto stepped into the receptionist area where Amamitsu stood with her eye-catching long, wavy, and pastel green hair, along with her starfish hairpin.
Seeing her again...Otto was convinced, she definitely had some connections to a Mermaid, one hundred percent.
Spotting the blonde man, the assistant of St. 1504 froze for a moment like a deer caught in headlights before greeting him.
"Overseer, what a surprise, I wasn't expecting you again...Would you like me to bring a box of metals again? Nagi...I mean, Miss Nagamitsu prepared some for you." She sporadically said.
Otto shook his head and smiled lightly, "I will pick them up later, but I am here specifically for you." He pointed a finger at her.
Amamitsu paled at his words and gulped, "What? Could you tell me the reason why? I promised I didn't embezzle any money."
He chuckled and asked, "Nothing to worry about. I just need a favor from you because...How good are you at singing?"
The girl's face suddenly brightened up and reached over her desk to face him, "Are you asking me to write a song for you...What type, rock, pop, or go extra with K-pop? Is this for Kallen Fantasy or an idol commercial to use as propaganda? Do you have a dance that goes along with it? You got any special effects?"
Otto felt it deep in his heart...This would take a long while.
...
Eating her plate of eggs, beans, toast, sausage, bacon, and hashbrown, Nagamitsu couldn't help but twirl her hair. Her research had stagnated as if she were hitting a roadblock; she was going to have to cool down for a bit, walk around HQ, and get some enlightenment or inspiration.
Her thoughts were torn apart as the door to her office was open; it was her Overseer and the one giving funding to the whole.
She adjusted her monocle and greeted him with a confident smile.
"Need something from me...Overseer, or are you here to steal from me again?"
"No, I am just here to inform you, I am gonna borrow (kidnap) your assistant for a while, expect her back in a few hours, and also." Before Nagamitsu could react, the man walked up behind her and started fixing her hair in a few gestures of his hands.
The Schicksal Scientist slumped into her chair as the addictive and familiar sensation of his hands roaming through her hair sent shivers of pleasure through her spine.
As Otto finished, he said to her..."Do be sure to keep your hair clean, Miss Nagamitsu. I'd rather see you stunning, not flashbanged by your uncleanliness." Those were his last words as he walked out the door.
Nagamitsu's heart started to beat rapidly till the point her eyes darkened in a cruel light...She really, really, really hated (adore) that man
A/N: Chapters might be delayed because of College Classes starting again.