On the Hyperion, Tesla and the other scientists finally completed their analysis of the Domination Herrscher Core.
The result?
Otto had played them.
Before handing the core to Theresa, he had already extracted the Herrscher authority from it through unknown means.
And when Kiana and Bronya used their Herrscher powers to "charge" the core…
They were effectively charging Otto's weapon.
And by the time they realized this, it was already too late.
Otto had used the stolen authority to create a massive army of puppet soldiers — each modeled after himself.
The moment players saw this?
They ground their teeth in fury.
Otto Apocalypse was still Otto Apocalypse.
All that "passing on his final wishes"?
Fake. All fake.
He used Theresa again.
And with that, Chapter 26 ended.
…
Chapter 27 — Twilight of the Fool
The new chapter opened with blaring alarms.
October 14th, 2017, 16:35 — The Hyperion
The radar operator reported urgently:
"Dozens of suspicious lifeforms detected at one o'clock — estimated over one hundred!"
"All biological infrared signatures match the profile of Otto Apocalypse!"
The story connected seamlessly to the previous cliffhanger.
Then, an unknown communication request appeared.
Theresa hesitated for only a moment before accepting it.
The screen lit up — revealing one of Otto's puppets.
Identical attire. Identical features.
Only a mask covered the face.
The puppet spoke in a mechanical monotone:
"All personnel deployed in Kolosten Town — whether affiliated with Schicksal or not — are ordered to remain where they are until further instruction."
Theresa narrowed her eyes.
"Puppet… stop wasting our time. I want to speak to Otto Apocalypse directly."
The puppet ignored her completely.
"Illegal operation. Protocol not found."
It was nothing but a prerecorded broadcast machine.
Tesla's temper exploded on cue.
"What the—?! He screws us over and now refuses to answer?!"
"He stole the authority from right under our noses… what the hell is that bastard planning?!"
Theresa, however, kept a level head.
"I don't know… but we can't sit here waiting. We have to confront him in person."
"If we waste time here, we'll fall right into his trap."
She barely finished speaking when Otto's familiar voice drifted through the speakers.
"Well done, my clever granddaughter~"
"It seems you've grown a great deal since leaving my side."
Theresa stiffened. "What?!"
Otto chuckled.
"What? Surprised I can tap in like this? Those two Anti-Entropy scientists shouldn't be."
"You witnessed something similar sixty years ago… didn't you?"
At the mention of that disaster, Tesla instantly blew up.
"You— You bastard!!"
"Hahaha, now now, no need to be upset, esteemed Dr. Tesla." Otto's tone remained irritatingly cheerful.
"After all, what I'm about to do… benefits all of humanity."
"'Benefits'?" Tesla folded her arms. "Go ahead. I'd love to hear how you plan to paint your crimes as charity this time."
Otto spread his hands theatrically.
"Please, celebrate the future of mankind~"
"The truth is simple: I am sacrificing myself to buy humanity over five centuries of additional time — bought directly from the Imaginary Tree itself."
…
The audience exploded.
"Borrowing 500 years from heaven?!"
"Did Otto… turn good??"
"Bro… no way you fell for that."
"OH HOLY— so the earlier theory was right!"
"If Otto rewinds the world to 500 years ago, that means Tesla and the others get 500 EXTRA years to prepare for Honkai?!"
"He's taking them WITH him!"
Eden felt the same shock.
"Wait… does Otto really have a way to take specific people back 500 years?"
"Does that mean the story restarts… five centuries earlier?"
Her pulse quickened.
Honkai Impact was already on its eleventh Herrscher.
It couldn't be ending so soon… could it?
If Otto resets the world, then…
Himeko wouldn't have to die.
The tragedies could be undone.
A reset could extend the game's lifespan by years.
Eden found herself… not entirely rejecting the idea.
And many players thought the same.
If the world restarted centuries in the past, there would be endless new stories to tell.
But the game continued.
Otto's speech resumed.
"I recently said, 'I will embark on my final journey — to the far shore of the world, to find the one I seek.'"
"I intend to erase five centuries from the Tree of Time, restoring the world to the state where Kallen Kaslana still lives."
"But do not worry… none of you will lose your existence in the process."
"All who came to Kolosten today — regardless of your allegiance — will be protected from the flow of time by Otto Apocalypse."
That line sent chills through every player.
So that's why Otto had gathered them all.
He planned to bring every S-rank Valkyrie, every exceptional fighter—
Back with him to the past.
But then came the real questions—
What about the rest of the world?
What about World Serpent?
What about Mei? Kevin?
Could Otto truly pull this off? Even Finality couldn't do that.
Confusion. Shock. Fear.
Players found themselves thinking like the characters:
If you were one of those Valkyries…
Would you accept Otto's offer?
Return to the past? Undo every tragedy?
Or reject him and fight to save the present?
While the player base wrestled with the implications, Tesla snapped back into full rage.
"Hey! Has the Bishop finally lost his damn mind?!"
"Time reversal? Even if it were technically possible, the energy required is insane!"
Otto nodded pleasantly.
"Indeed. Which is why…"
"…I've struck a bargain with a certain existence known as the Honkai Will."
The Hyperion fell silent.
And the player base collectively froze.
Otto… had made a deal with the Honkai itself.
"Should I explain further?" Otto mused.
"The price I pay is the flow of time — the present itself."
Tesla gaped. "You—"
"You don't have to believe me," Otto added lightly.
"Simply wait twelve hours aboard the Hyperion. Everything will become clear."
Tesla: "…"
Theresa: "…"
Einstein adjusted her glasses. "So you're offering us twelve hours — a chance to challenge your plan?"
Otto's voice warmed.
"As expected of Dr. Einstein. Exactly."
"If you disagree with my methods, come to the St. 537 Church—"
"And beat me senseless."
…
The chat erupted.
"NO NEED TO ASK — BEAT HIM UP!!"
"I choose violence."
"Theresa and the others WILL fight. Guaranteed."
"No way Otto is telling the whole truth…"
"Explain!!"
Another viewer wrote:
"If Otto truly wanted this, he wouldn't explain everything. He never reveals his plans before acting."
"He ALWAYS eliminates variables — he doesn't create them."
"This is a trap."
The discussion snowballed.
"Yes, yes… as Otto said," he continued smoothly,
"If I succeed, humanity gains 500 years."
"The cost?
Only that every mortal outside Kolosten… will return to the state of 'never having been born.'"
"This broadcast is my gift to you — a chance to choose your own values."
Tesla cursed, but Theresa cut her off.
"I understand…" she murmured.
Otto laughed softly.
"Excellent, my dear granddaughter."
"As you did last year — choose action over hesitation."
"I'll be waiting at the St. 537 Church."
The line went dead.
The Hyperion crew began dissecting everything Otto had said — but to their frustration, none of them knew enough about the Honkai Will to evaluate his claims.
So there was only one choice:
Assume Otto was right.
Act as if the danger was real.
They couldn't afford not to.
Which meant…
Splitting the team.
Viewers sat up in excitement.
Durandal, Rita, and Li Sushang were each stationed at different routes.
Which meant—
Fu Hua versus Li Sushang was coming.
Everyone braced for the clash.
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