Chapter 398

Ignoring Shen Gonglin's answer, Otto continued to walk forward step by step, toward his own destination.

Chapter 204 She Never Liked Me

At this moment, Shen Gonglin was very quiet. He could sense that Otto's life was coming to an end. Although he disliked him, Shen Gonglin could tolerate the incessant chatter of a dying man. Through Otto's narration, Shen Gonglin could also understand the magnificent life of this former bishop of Schicksal.

"Indeed... love, and even broader emotions, can trigger miracles... but the creators of miracles can only be those who are alive at that moment. As an ordinary person who was once deceived by them... I also fantasized that the human soul exists in a better dimension, and that one day my beloved could return to the human world with a new body and live in a better future. Unfortunately, the rules of the world are not like that..."

Otto continued forward, his heavily injured body making his steps falter, yet he still struggled to move forward. Shen Gonglin made no attempt to help him, presumably because even if she wanted to, he wouldn't agree. He wanted to walk this path alone. As a listener, Shen Gonglin finally couldn't help but speak up after hearing this.

"The one I love... that Kallen Kaslana, she must like you a lot, right?"

This man died five hundred years ago. In the remaining five hundred years, he seems to be constantly trying to bring back the person who died five hundred years ago. How deep must his love be to do that? Shen Gonglin doesn't quite understand. Maybe it's because he has never had such an experience. But Shen Gonglin thinks that for Otto to do so much, that saintess's love must be unprecedentedly strong.

"... Heh, to be honest... I'm not afraid to laugh at you, but I think she never liked me. Although she was my fiancée, we didn't share the same beliefs at the time. I saw disappointment in her eyes more than once... but I couldn't do anything about it because I didn't have the power to change things back then. So... she fell in love with someone else who shared the same beliefs as her."

As he said this, Otto's lips curled up slightly. Although she didn't like him, what did it matter? This was what he wanted to do, and he wouldn't waver because of any conditions. His goal had always been the same.

"... You're really unfortunate."

Shen Gonglin was speechless. Just thinking about it made her heart ache, while Shen Gonglin had experienced it firsthand. Perhaps because she didn't truly understand Otto 'Otto feelings, Shen Gonglin held back for a long time before finally uttering this dry sentence. In a way, Otto could also be called a god of pure love, just like herself.

"Perhaps... Death is indeed the dissipation of consciousness, the end of everything... We cannot continue the starlight that has already vanished, unless we reverse time, awaken the silent island of graves; and re-infuse the ever-flowing waters of life into the past that buried everything. The path of division will unfold again there. The choice between life and death will henceforth create two worlds. And the price... is nothing more than the death of one person, the destruction of one person... and the Honkai that originally intended to kill us."

Shen Gonglin's sarcasm did not affect Otto. The former bishop's gaze was firm, and even though his body was hunched over, he was moving forward step by step. He had long been prepared for this price.

Unfortunately, by the time she grasped this truth, she was already a notorious villain. She was utterly hated by the very power she needed, but that didn't matter. She... had indeed proven that anger born of love can possess power equal to love itself.

"Shen Gonglin... please pass on a message to Theresa, my dear granddaughter. She is growing into a great leader... In time, you will make people forget your grandfather, and his merits and demerits will be buried in history and disappear as mere gossip. But... please eat some fruits and vegetables other than bitter melon occasionally. She always stays up late, and her body needs more diverse nutrition. She will soon become an archbishop, and I'm afraid she will stay up even more late."

He knew he would eventually leave this world, but there were still people he cared about. Otto glanced at Shen Gonglin and asked him to convey these words to Theresa. He knew he would never have the chance to talk to her again, but someone could accompany her on her journey, nagging and chattering... Had he become such a nagging old man now? But this feeling wasn't so bad.

"Oh... but I feel like I might have to stay up even more nights than her, after all, I'm the official Archbishop of Schicksal, and she's just a deputy."

As expected of Shen Gonglin, she's a mood killer. With just a casual remark, she made Otto's mood complicated again. People say that when they're about to die, their words are kind. But looking at Shen Gonglin beside him, who was resting her chin on her hand and seemed to be seriously thinking about this matter, Otto hesitated for a moment, but then he said, "Sigh, letting this girl be the Archbishop, this must be the thing I'm most worried about after I leave."

"Do you stay up all night? As far as I know, the only time you stay up all night is when you're playing games all night with Bronya Zaychek. You'll probably leave all the work to Theresa from now on, right?"

Although he appointed this guy as the Archbishop, Otto never really thought that Shen Gonglin would work seriously. The reason he made him Otto Archbishop was entirely due to Shen Gonglin's unique ability to unite people. With him taking over Schicksal, no matter which organization it was, they would help Theresa stabilize the situation. Apart from this role, Otto really couldn't think of any better place.

"You're right. It's because Theresa is so capable. With such a capable archdeacon, if I stay up all night, wouldn't that be disrespectful to her? I'm doing this for her own good, do you understand?"

Shen Gonglin's self-righteous attitude made Otto feel a tightness in his chest. He hoped that Schicksal could proceed smoothly... These things were no longer his concern. Before Shen Gonglin drove him crazy, he should explain some more important things. There were some things, some words, that he had never properly explained to Theresa.

"Then I really hope you treat Theresa well... Tomorrow should be your coronation ceremony."

Otto sighed. It was a real pity that his granddaughter had reached that position, but he couldn't witness it with his own eyes.

Chapter 205 Changing the Past

"When you get back, tell Theresa ... that for tomorrow's coronation ceremony, Grandpa personally sewed her the archbishop's robe... If she doesn't mind, then let her use it to begin her own era and wash away the stains Grandpa left on it..."

Otto whispered that this villain was like an old man on his deathbed. He had done so much for Theresa, and if he could, he really wanted to see her sit in the position of archbishop wearing the tunic he had sewn. Also, he really wanted to see Theresa walk into the sacred hall in a pure white wedding dress one day... Of course, if the male protagonist wasn't this guy next to him, Otto felt he would be even happier.

"Shoulder vest? I didn't know you could make something like that. What about mine? Do you have one?"

So Otto did this kind of thing in private. If Theresa knew, she would be very happy. At this moment, Shen Gonglin also looked up at Otto. If Theresa has it, then she, the rightful Archbishop of Schicksal, should have it too.

"... Yours is a souvenir I bought at the five-dollar store. Don't wear it too tightly, or it will tear."

Otto said expressionlessly. Seeing the sudden darkening of Shen Gonglin's face, the former bishop felt a surge of joy. Seeing Shen Gonglin unhappy made him happy. She had already provoked so many girls, yet she still dared to lay a hand on his Theresa. This was retribution... The thought of entrusting that world to Shen Gonglin made Otto even more unhappy. Damn it, how envious he was.

"Tell Theresa ... my old friends, the Crimson Immortal, the Herrscher of Reason ... they are truly good people, and they will definitely help you forge your own path. And Bianca, my last student... I manipulated your life, planned your destiny, nurtured you with genuine affection while using you as a pawn to take advantage of you. Do you know... everything I showed you in these last ten years was only so that after my demise, someone could erect a wordless monument for me."

Otto shook his head and smiled bitterly. She didn't like him... After all, these five hundred years, both long and short, were nothing more than all that a man could give, in his own wishful thinking. He had now reached the end of his journey. What he wanted to accomplish, what he wanted to witness, what he wanted to redeem... had already taken root and sprouted in the Imaginary Tree, waiting only for the lost messenger to deliver the final message before everything ended. That moment would not be too early, nor too late; it would become a requiem that transcends death, a hymn to the arrival of miracles.

The world will revolve for one person at that moment... Let the imposed sins vanish, let the ended will continue forward, baseness will be buried with itself, and light will extend into the future because of you.

"Shen Gonglin, I... I fooled my friends, I fooled my loved ones, I fooled the world and the rules above it... all to give that one true soul a second life... I'm back, Kallen."

Listening to Otto's incessant rambling, Shen Gonglin finally approached the Imaginary Tree. The two looked up at the towering tree's veins without speaking. Otto knew that his end was just ahead. He could change that world, but he would also face his demise. And the only one who could protect this world was this piece of trash beside him... ugh, this Shen Gonglin.

"Shen Gonglin, do you know that when you truly want to change the world, you realize how insignificant one person's power is?"

As soon as Otto finished speaking, Shen Gonglin felt everything around her change. The power of the spirits inexplicably began to operate, and Shen Gonglin's left eye transformed into that golden clock eye. One eye still showed the scene from the Imaginary World, while the other eye... Through this eye, Shen Gonglin saw a different scene: a woman dressed in white was being escorted forward by a group of men in black. The people around her held torches, filled with righteous indignation, as if this woman in white was some heinous criminal. Now... what was going on?

Shen Gonglin wanted to act, but his hand passed right through the people around him. It seemed he had no way to interfere with these matters.

Shen Gonglin looked at Otto, only to see that the archbishop's eyes were filled with sorrow and resentment. Was this all he wanted to change?

"The saintess gave everything for the people, but all she received in return was merciless shackles and chains. The world is so chaotic; it is neither fair nor reasonable. It persecutes heroes, nurtures evil, and ugliness is everywhere, with no beauty left... Let the evil god cut off the malice in the world!"

Otto murmured softly, just like the malice of the people at the execution ground. In this Imaginary Space, countless figures like black mud appeared. These beings were all Otto's image. Perhaps in his eyes, he was also a member of this malice.

"Shen Gonglin, please lend a hand. Cut off these evil thoughts and save the saintess from her fate of sacrifice. That's why I need your help cooking."

Otto straightened up, the former bishop invigorating himself as if he had never been injured. Golden light flowed in his hands, Void Archive mimicked the form of the Greatsword of Heavenly Fire. Otto leaped high with the sword in his hands. Every time the Heavenly Fire was drawn, it was for his beloved, and even in its mimicry, it was the same.

"I knew you wouldn't be looking for me with anything good, but a little bit of activity shouldn't be a problem."

Otto cleared a large area with a single leaping strike, and Shen Gonglin joined the battle. In her other eye, the saintess was slowly walking toward the execution platform. What Otto wanted to change was this past, not for anything else, but for the saintess who had always been praised. Shen Gonglin also felt that she should do something.

Using the power of the Herrscher of Reason, Rin, Herrscher of Reason's Authority had only recently recovered, was not strong enough to construct a powerful weapon. However, this ordinary chain sword was still sufficient. With the power of Little Herrscher of Consciousness and the teachings of Fu Hua, Shen Gonglin had mastered all kinds of martial arts; he was a true master of all eighteen martial arts. Especially since these humanoid figures made of black mud were all in the shape of Otto, Shen Gonglin felt even more excited!

And so, Shen Gonglin and Otto joined the battlefield at the same time, wielding their weapons and starting a chaotic rampage, changing the past now.

Chapter 206 Another Possibility

The chain blades weaved through the field, and the seemingly soft chains suddenly tightened, binding a large group of humanoid figures made of black mud together. Then, Shen Gonglin pierced through the group of black mud figures that resembled Otto with a long spear. It's truly a blessing that the enemies in his Mental Landscape are all his own images, otherwise it wouldn't be so exhilarating.

As she reaped the seemingly endless lives on the battlefield, Shen Gonglin Shingu glanced at Otto. His performance was quite unexpected. Although she knew he wasn't some weak archbishop, he was still a master of many skills. Using various weapons constructed from the Void Archive, Otto fought hard, Tengu no Haikyuu, Black Abyss White Flower... When Shen Gonglin looked over, she saw him pushing his lance with both hands, impaling several enemies together. He was truly impressive.

"Cough... I've trained so many Valkyrie, this level is no problem."

After coughing for a while, Otto saw Shen Gonglin's gaze. Without her saying anything, Otto knew what she was thinking. However, he was indeed at his limit. In this Mental Landscape, there was no Soul Steel body for him to replace. Every injury was real. Although Otto was proficient in all kinds of martial arts, he was still far inferior to someone like Shen Gonglin who specialized in combat. This could be seen from the injuries he had sustained.

"Oh, but it seems we need to hurry. That saintess seems to have already walked to the execution rack."

Shen Gonglin closed his other eye. Through that Time Eye, he could already see Kallen walking towards the execution rack. The saintess's eyes were filled with the will to die. In that era of Schicksal, if she wanted to resist, no one should be her match. But judging from her appearance, she seemed to be determined to die.

Shen Gonglin didn't quite understand this kind of thing. If it were him, he would definitely live well no matter what.

"No, it's okay... It's not time yet, there's still... some time!"

The lance pierced through several figures before getting stuck. These figures felt no pain or sensation, and after using their bodies to restrain their weapons, other figures rushed forward one after another. Otto released the lance, and two longswords appeared in his hands. He was a master of all martial arts. He had been preparing for this day for over five hundred years. How could he possibly fail here!

"Oh, good luck then, good luck to me too... Wow, what's this?"

Shen Gonglin was relaxed and carefree, but his ease ended there. Perhaps seeing that this form couldn't eliminate the two interfering entities, the black mud regrouped and finally formed a creature he had never seen before in front of Shen Gonglin. The creature's shape reminded Shen Gonglin of EVA. At this moment, the scenery in Shen Gonglin's other eye also changed. On the execution ground, a rampaging Honkai Beast suddenly appeared, with a rope already around its neck. The saintess, who had been prepared to accept death, stared in astonishment at the Honkai Beast that had fallen from the sky. How could such a thing appear here?

"Heh, it's just some random thing... just kill it."

Otto chuckled. He could remember the events of that day down to the second. The Void Archive in his hand changed once again: Mimicry. The Oath of Judah!

Golden chains emerged from the cross, mimicking any other Divine Key but none as powerful as Divine Key original. Only with this Oath of Judah could Otto unleash its full power. The chains bound the strange creature that had appeared. Otto's actions at this moment were strikingly similar to what was happening behind him in Shen Gonglin's eyes.

In Shen Gonglin's eyes, the Honkai Beast clenched her teeth when she saw the Honkai Beast suddenly burst into the execution ground. Cries and screams erupted from the crowd watching the execution. The Honkai Beast leaped into the crowd like an eagle among chicks. Saintess Kallen smashed the shackles on her hands and then ripped off the noose around her neck. Just as Shen Gonglin thought, if Kallen hadn't been determined to die, how could she possibly be a match for the strongest Valkyrie with the power of Schicksal? But if that were the case, wouldn't she have already been saved?

"Things aren't that simple!"

At this moment, Kallen should have just escaped the execution rack and remembered everything that happened. Otto gritted his teeth and leaped high into the air. The black monster was already bound by Judah's chains. If Theresa could see this scene, that would be great. Remember, Judah is used like this!

The former bishop of Schicksal slammed Judah down on the monster's head. At the same time, Judah unleashed countless golden spears, raining down on the monster like a close-range shotgun blast. After a mournful cry, the monster collapsed to the ground. Who would have thought that Otto, who did such a thing, was once considered the child with the least fighting talent? And now, he skillfully uses five hundred years of wisdom. Otto used the momentum of his fall to approach the Imaginary Tree. Presumably, at this moment, his figure and Kallen's figure should overlap.

You shall end all the sins you have committed in the past.

"Hey! That thing's not dead yet!"

Otto reached out to touch the Imaginary Tree, but then he heard Shen Gonglin's voice. Before Otto could react, a thorn-like blade pierced his chest. Shen Gonglin Jingu, who arrived too late, frowned. So the blood of a sinner is red too.

"No...it's alright... Once a person's soul is scattered, they cannot be brought back to life. The world allows consciousness to be matched with a new vessel, but it does not allow the vessel to collect the dissipated consciousness... To save her, the only one, I can only...create new possibilities in the past!"

Ignoring the physical pain, the mental torment he suffered was far more agonizing than the pain he was experiencing now. Otto swung his sword and severed the thorns behind him. The fallen monster still tried to attack, but Shen Gonglin had already cut off its last thread of life. He looked at Otto, the staggering man reaching out to touch the Imaginary Tree. In Shen Gonglin's eyes, the golden trunk was extending a new vein. This must be what Otto was pursuing.

He sacrificed everything for another possibility, even if that person didn't love him, or even now, could never remember him again.

The Imaginary Tree grew before Shen Gonglin's eyes, its brilliant light curtain like a blooming flower. This former Archbishop of Schicksal had succeeded.

Chapter 207 A New Future

"Ahem... This other future will be... her time and space."

For five hundred years, only one person has been chosen: Otto Apocalypse will, at this moment, reverse the fate!

The barrier of the world was shattered, and Shen Gonglin and Otto appeared under a sky where the bright sunlight was breaking through the clouds. This... was the place that the saintess was experiencing? The scenes seen by their two eyes finally merged together. Shen Gonglin and Otto were falling rapidly through the air, while Otto's body had begun to dissipate. Another possibility had begun to continue, and the price was his own disappearance.

"Epitaphs are too short, and life is too long... Shen Gonglin, I entrust this world to you, just like Bianca. You are all people worthy of being entrusted with the whole world. This world with only Kallen and no Otto, you must help me protect it... Consider this the last entrustment from the Schicksal former archbishop to the new archbishop... And goodbye, Kallen."

Turning into a golden shooting star, Otto's last words faded into Shen Gonglin's ears: There are many dreams, but only one reality. One can control countless dreams, but reality can only be changed by oneself. This is the most selfish thing one can do as a human being.

There were many purposes, but only one final outcome. Leaving behind these last words, the meteor carried Shen Gonglin down from the sky. Shen Gonglin did not speak, but when she opened her eyes again, she could see the situation on the ground. The Saintess was protecting the civilians behind her with the claws of the Honkai Beast, while the other claw of the Honkai Beast was about to pierce through her body. What Otto wanted to change was probably this destined ending.

Knowing the last wish of the previous bishop, who was an absolute villain, I will help him fulfill his wish!

As the meteor fell, to the Saintess's astonishment, Shen Gonglin descended from the sky and swiftly annihilated the Honkai Beast before her. Then, Shen Gonglin stood up, turned around, and flashed a wide smile at Kallen. "That sculpture really is abstract art," she thought. "The real Saintess is much more beautiful than the statue. She really does look a lot like Kiana... Will Kiana look exactly like the current Saintess when she grows up?"

"Although we've never met before, it's been a long time, Your Holiness."

Kallen was taken aback. She couldn't quite understand what the boy in front of her was saying, but looking at his smiling face, Kallen couldn't help but smile as well. At this moment, the established history finally took a new turn.

"Isn't everything resolved already, Shen Gonglin? When do you think we should get married...? Even though the headmaster said we're not old enough, we can totally get engaged first. How about next month?"

With everything settled, Shen Gonglin returned safely to the Hyperion. Within him, a brand new world was slowly unfolding. However, Shen Gonglin had no time to deal with this matter. Right now, what lay before him was this incessantly chattering Kiana. "I don't know what's wrong with this girl. Is she at this age? Why is she thinking about marriage all the time?"

"No, Kiana, this isn't something that can be done in a day or two. Even if we get engaged, the headmaster won't agree."

Shen Gonglin dealt with Kiana, then left the Hyperion. After several days of continuous rain, the sun finally pierced through the thick clouds, casting a few rays of light on the town of Kolosten. The traces of the battle had been washed away by the rain, and the ancient town returned to peace. It seemed that nothing had changed, yet it was indeed different from before. So many days had passed since that day.

"It's alright, we can just keep it from her... Um! Headmaster, what are you doing here... Or should I call you Headmaster, Vice-Bishop?"

Kiana was still giving bad advice, but as soon as they turned the corner, they bumped into Theresa. Kiana's eyes flickered with guilt. She probably didn't hear anything.

"Ah, it's you guys... Just keep calling me Headmaster, no need to call me Vice-Bishop."

Theresa looked somewhat dazed. It seemed that the intense work of the past few days had left the young woman with no energy to dwell on what Kiana had just said. The events of the past few days felt like a series of hazy illusions, and Theresa felt no sense of reality. However, when she saw the signatures on the old documents, the old headquarters study, and the paintings on the wall... Seeing these things, Theresa felt an indescribable emotion. It wasn't sadness, nor regret, but rather as if a mysterious thread in her heart was occasionally tugged at her heartstrings.

Overwhelmed by these inexplicable emotions, Theresa was really suffering from a nervous breakdown, so she temporarily put aside her work and went for a walk, which is how she ran into Shen Gonglin and Kiana.

Theresa was furious. He was the archbishop, so how could he so easily push all the work onto her?

And Grandpa... Is he really gone? For some reason, Theresa always has a dazed feeling. Maybe after a while, that person will appear in another place, release another video, and casually make a big news story, just like that day when he announced his resignation to the world.

"What's wrong, Theresa? You look like you've been working yourself silly. If you're having any troubles, you can tell me. After all, I'm a bishop too."

Seeing Theresa's inexplicably absent-minded look, Shen Gonglin curiously waved her hand in front of her eyes. Could this girl have gone mad? This won't do. Theresa is a very useful talent. What will I do if she falls? Thinking of this, Shen Gonglin immediately put on a concerned expression for her subordinate. She can't fall.

"Aside from having a bishop who doesn't want to do anything and just sits around doing nothing, I really don't have any other problems. Shen Gonglin, how can you say something like that? We agreed to stay up all night together, where have you been?"

It would have been better if this hadn't been mentioned, because it immediately infuriated Theresa. The girl put her hands on her hips and questioned Shen Gonglin, "How dare this guy say such things? Does he even know he's a bishop? He pushes all the work onto me while he's just hanging around with Kiana. Doesn't he know how tired I am?"

Chapter 208 No More Rolling Up!

"I went to stay up all night with Bronya. That girl finally recovered, so of course I had to show her my concern. So the two of us played Silent Hill all night... Hey, you know what, after Bronya hacked into the game, I wasn't afraid at all. Nobody can last more than three seconds on the Key of Reason."

Shen Gonglin said confidently, "It's supposed to be a horror game, but with Bronya 'Shen Gonglin help, it's turned into a hack-and-slash game. My fear is definitely not strong enough. If all horror games are like this, then Shen Gonglin feels that she will never be afraid again."

"I knew it! You were playing games while I was working late into the night, Shen Gonglin! I've never met such a heartless person!"

Theresa cried out in dissatisfaction, but Shen Gonglin pressed her head down. He looked at Theresa with a deep gaze, and seeing Shen Gonglin's serious expression, Theresa, who had been shouting, quieted down. Looking at the face in front of her, Theresa couldn't help but look away.

After regaining her senses, Theresa remembered what she had done to him when she fell from the sky. At the time, she thought she was about to die, so her mind didn't keep up with her actions. But now that she had calmed down... especially with Kiana by her side, Theresa felt a little embarrassed. She felt like she had become the kind of bad adult who would steal things from her niece.

If Shen Gonglin were to stay up all night with him, the situation would probably become even more awkward.

Just as Theresa was feeling a little embarrassed, a white-haired girl suddenly walked by, which finally gave Theresa a chance to ease her embarrassment. The girl stood on tiptoe and waved vigorously at the girl.

"Amber!"

The girl whose name was called was slightly taken aback. Then she turned her head and saw the three people in the group. The secretary of the Bishop of Schicksal slowly walked over and bowed to Shen Gonglin and Theresa.

"Greetings, Your Excellency, and Lady Theresa, Miss Kiana. How did today's meeting go?"

She greeted everyone very politely. The girl wearing goggles couldn't see her expression, but her attitude was indeed comforting. She used to be Otto's secretary, and now she was following the orders of Shen Gonglin and Theresa.

"Except for the absence of a certain bishop, all the scheduled issues have been resolved, so there's no need to worry. It's just some routine procedures, nothing particularly smooth or difficult. However, all of this is thanks to your help. You truly live up to your reputation as Amber, working so efficiently. Without your help, I'm afraid I would have had a hard time getting familiar with the documents left by my grandfather in such a short time."

Glancing at Shen Gonglin, Theresa gave a soft hum and sincerely thanked Amber for her help. This secretary, left behind by her grandfather, was impeccable in his work. But with such an incompetent bishop, she, as the deputy bishop, had to handle all the work herself. It was all thanks to Amber; otherwise, Theresa would probably still be stuck in the office right now.