"You must be the Fourth Herrscher, yes?
May I ask what business brings you to our Schicksal headquarters?"
Stopping not far from the Fourth Herrscher, Otto spoke as though he were politely greeting a visiting guest.
Even though the surroundings were filled with smoke, toppled Valkyries, and burning robot husks, none of it seemed to hinder Otto's calm conversation.
"Herrscher this, Herrscher that…
Can't you humans call people by their names?
I even asked for your names, you know."
Hearing the golden-haired man's words, Wendy was clearly displeased.
From Theresa to Fu Hua to now this man—every single one of them addressed her as "Herrscher," which was frankly annoying. There was zero individuality in that.
"My apologies, Miss Wendy. That was rude of me."
Otto bowed lightly. "Allow me to introduce myself: Otto Apocalypse, Overseer of Schicksal."
Though he found her choice of words a bit odd, Otto still played along politely.
At the same time, he was already analyzing internally:
Why does the Fourth Herrscher identify so strongly with her original name?
Normally, when a human becomes a Herrscher, their consciousness should be overwritten.
Their identity vanishes, taken over by the will of Honkai.
But there were exceptions.
The Third Herrscher had already proven that human consciousness could win.
So… could the Fourth Herrscher be the same?
The thought made Otto almost excited.
The Fourth Herrscher—might actually be solvable.
If the human consciousness exists, then something must be anchoring her.
Friendship?
Family?
Some emotional tether?
He would need to consult Theresa later.
"Alright then. Hand over the Gem of Serenity and the Gem of Haste. I know you're hiding them here."
Wendy extended her hand impatiently.
She wanted to finish this mission and get to her ice cream and movie.
"As expected, nothing gets past Miss Wendy."
Otto smiled faintly. "But may I know what you need the two gems for?"
He had no illusions about keeping them.
Even with the God-Slayer Spear ready, hitting her wasn't going to be easy.
What he needed was an opportunity—an opening—which lay in those two gems.
He also wanted to test her—to see whether she acted under divine instruction.
"I don't care to tell you. Just hurry up. Wendy's patience is limited."
She extended her hand again, clearly done talking.
Naturally, Otto hadn't expected a straight answer.
He simply smiled.
"Very well. These two cores are extraordinarily toxic, so I placed them inside a container crafted from the First Herrscher's core."
He lifted a golden cube—part of his plan's core component.
Wendy took it, turning it over, inspecting it from every angle—without finding a seam.
"How do you even open this?
Don't tell me you don't know how."
"Valuables need secure containment. Only I can open it.
Try to force it open and the cores may be destroyed."
"So? What are you trying to bargain for?"
"I only want one promise:
Take the cores… and leave immediately. Our lives, our—"
"Stop babbling. I only want the gems. Everything else is irrelevant."
She looked ready to strike.
"Then I'm relieved."
Otto's smile deepened.
It was time.
"Void Archives… return to your true form."
The golden cube melted like liquid metal, losing its shape.
From within, two gems—Serenity and Haste—rose into view.
"Finally…"
Wendy reached into the gold fluid and plucked the two gems out, admiring them as they hovered above her palm.
Now.
Otto's pupils contracted.
She was focused—distracted—this was the moment.
Imitate—Black Abyss, White Flower.
The golden liquid surged, forming into a long spear.
A thin stream of crimson—holy blood—secretly merged into it.
The golden spear's surface quickly bloomed into a second layer—
A spear of pure, violent red.
Black Abyss, White Flower — Sacred Blood Release — White Blossom Bleeds Crimson.
"…Hmm? What's that?"
A red glint entered Wendy's vision.
She lifted her head.
Too late.
The crimson spear pierced through her chest in an instant.
Just like Cecilia back then—
Otto unleashed the same weapon, imbued with holy blood.
Even Herrschers could be killed by this.
D-Did I…?
Wendy staggered back a few steps, clutching her chest.
The two gems slipped from her fingers—
clink— clink—
rolling across the floor.
Otto's heart pounded.
He did it.
"Ha… hahaha…
The God-Slayer Spear truly is extraordinary…"
He exhaled a long, trembling breath, elated.
He had succeeded.
"Just kidding~
Otto-san."
The playful voice drifted to his ears.
Otto froze.
His smile died instantly.
Wendy raised her head casually—
Perfectly unharmed.
Not a scratch.
Her wound had vanished completely.
Even the God-Slayer Spear…
Useless.
Tink— tink— tink—
Before Otto could process his despair, his entire stigmata-steel body shattered into metallic fragments on the floor.
Wendy leisurely collected Void Archives…
And the two Herrscher gems.
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