The first time I entered that state was when I faced Cocolia's missile attack and found myself in a life-or-death crisis.
You know the result too, Bishop. If my Hyper-Evolution Factor hadn't partially awakened first, and if not for Schicksal's medical treatment, I probably would have lost my life back then.
Even so, I went through similar situations several times before finally awakening my stigmata after entering that state once more in Changkong City."
According to the files Gwen had accessed through his authority, the stigmata in this world retained some of their early settings. Aside from possessing exceptional Honkai Energy adaptability, those born with awakened stigmata would generally awaken other powers as well—either abilities akin to superpowers, or the skills and memories of their predecessors.
Considering that if he mentioned something as originally nonexistent as a Gene Lock, it would be difficult to guarantee Otto would not conduct a whole host of experiments because of it, Gwen chose to attribute the changes brought by the Gene Lock to his stigmata—
After all, everyone acknowledged that Dr. Mei's creations were incredibly formidable.
And with Dr. Mei's creations having endured fifty thousand years, it was perfectly normal for some strange circumstances to arise, wasn't it?
"So, Gwen, you mean your Hyper-Evolution Factor and stigmata awakening complemented each other..."
Gently stroking his chin, Otto summarized.
"That's one way to put it, though it was more a matter of luck—"
Gwen rubbed his chin as he considered his words.
"After all, at that time, stigmata genes did not yet exist innately through human reproduction. Like the Hyper-Evolution Factor, they had to be injected externally after birth.
For either one to awaken was exceedingly difficult, a one-in-ten-thousand chance.
For me to successfully awaken both, and for the two not to conflict with each other... or rather, for the conflict not to be severe enough to kill me and allow me to hold on until they fully awakened...
I had to admit that luck played a major role."
"Quite often, luck is part of one's strength."
Otto did not press the matter. He merely smiled.
"Now that you have successfully awakened both your stigmata and Hyper-Evolution Factor and escaped that dangerous state, it is a good thing in the end."
"I just can't help feeling a little sentimental."
Gwen gently shook his head with a sigh.
At Gwen's side, although Raiden Mei was unfamiliar with certain terms in the conversation between Gwen and Otto,
she could still understand that the power Gwen had displayed tonight had been obtained at tremendous risk. Now that the hidden danger had vanished, Raiden Mei felt happy for him as well.
As for Gwen revealing his identity as a person from the Previous Civilization, Raiden Mei had already been prepared for it and was not particularly surprised.
After patching up the inconsistencies surrounding himself, Gwen spoke with Otto some more about the new armor's performance and Raiden Mei joining Schicksal.
Otto, whose regard for Gwen had rapidly risen, was lenient in this matter as well. He left all matters concerning Raiden Mei to Gwen, stating that he would not interfere too much.
However, given Raiden Mei's identity as a Herrscher, she would still need to cooperate with certain necessary special procedures and tests.
Naturally, all of this would be carried out while ensuring Raiden Mei's safety, and Gwen could remain at her side to make sure of it.
After discussing these matters, Otto had intended to see them out, but Gwen unexpectedly spoke up.
"Bishop, there are some things I would like to discuss with you alone. Do you have the time...?"
"Of course."
Otto smiled and nodded. Rising to his feet, he opened the adjoining lounge in his office.
"The soundproofing in here is excellent. Shall we talk inside?
Or should Miss Mei go in and rest for a while?"
"Mei, could I trouble you to stay here alone for a little while?
There are some things I need to ask the Bishop in private."
As he spoke, Gwen took Raiden Mei's hand and left the same kind of mark in her palm that he had previously given Rita.
"Of course. Go ahead. I'll wait for you here."
After receiving the mark's information and learning that Gwen had always kept her safety in mind, Raiden Mei smiled and nodded.
New Achievement: Otto's Friend
After entering the lounge with Otto and closing the door, Gwen sat opposite him. His dark eyes, carrying a trace of chill, met those seemingly tranquil emerald eyes.
"Bishop Otto, if I remember correctly, the Second Herrscher was eliminated more than a decade ago.
Then why did Kiana, whose file identified her as the daughter of Cecilia, Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, and Siegfried, become the Second Herrscher tonight?"
"...Sigh..."
After a moment of silence, Otto sighed softly and lowered his head.
"I am sorry about that. I should have told you beforehand."
"..."
Gwen said nothing. He merely continued to watch Otto calmly, waiting for his explanation.
"During the battle against the Second Herrscher, Schicksal came to fully understand just how terrifying the power of a Herrscher truly was.
After the Second Honkai Eruption ended, while looking over reports of the losses across the world, I marveled at the Herrscher's power. At the same time, I could not help wondering what it would be like if that power could be used by humanity.
At the same time, I discovered in the records left behind by Fire Moth certain methods that attempted to make Herrscher power serve humanity—
I do not mean something like Divine Keys, which could theoretically unleash at most a single Herrscher strike, but something far more thorough..."
"Such as placing a Herrscher Core inside a human body?"
There was not the slightest warmth on Gwen's face, nor any fluctuation in his voice. He sounded as though he were merely asking about something unrelated to himself, yet anyone could see that his attitude was extremely poor.
"That is correct."
Otto abruptly raised his bowed head. In his emerald eyes gleamed a light called ambition.
"Fifty years ago, I had a rather in-depth exchange with the First Herrscher of this civilization. I even once considered making him the new Bishop of Schicksal.
In him, I discovered that making Herrscher power serve humanity was not impossible.
And during the Second Honkai Eruption, I also met the Second Herrscher face-to-face.
Although she was, like the Herrschers recorded in the Previous Civilization, filled with hatred and the will to destroy, she was not devoid of thought or intelligence.
Through testing with Feather of Dust, I further confirmed that this Second Herrscher still held love for her family and friends in her heart—
After gaining power, she did not choose to destroy the world. Instead, she tried to resurrect her family and friends.
My friend, do you understand what this means?
It means that the idea of redeeming an enemy through love, which once existed only in fairy tales, no longer has to remain a fairy tale."
"Madman!"
Gwen rebuked him coldly, though he showed no intention of doing anything.
"I have no other choice."
Otto did not consider this shameful. He merely shook his head calmly.
"From the records left behind by Fire Moth, I came to deeply understand just how powerful Honkai truly was.
Even if this civilization possessed the legacy of Fire Moth and began preparing for Honkai with all its strength from this moment onward, it would still have no chance whatsoever of defeating Honkai.
Only by taking a dangerous gamble and making the impossible possible could humanity have even the slightest, most insignificant hope."
As the practical "king of humanity," Otto's rhetoric was truly masterful. Even though Gwen had known Otto's true purpose from the start, he could not help being drawn in by Otto's impassioned words and feeling some degree of agreement.
"..."
Regarding Otto's words, Gwen, as a survivor of the Previous Civilization, naturally had no grounds to refute them. Gwen, as a transmigrator, supported them even more strongly.
Thus, Gwen did not ask questions such as, "Do you know what kind of disaster failure would cause?" He simply continued watching Otto in silence, while the chill on his face quietly faded somewhat.
Noticing the shift in Gwen's expression, Otto, who had not used an imitation Feather of Dust and had been speaking sincerely all along, steadied his breathing slightly before speaking slowly in a deep tone, like a chant.
"Everyone has a devil in their heart, and happiness—is its cage.
When all happiness turns to foam, the devil will emerge, singing a bloody hymn.
Then, the despairing shall become invincible...
Since the demon of despair can become invincible, why can't a happy person do the same?
Give our little Kiana a little more happiness. Use happiness to completely kill the demon hidden deep in her heart and turn it into her strength..."
Otto's voice was like a demon's whisper, laying out for Gwen how wonderful that future would be.
"Those who toy with human hearts never come to a good end."
Gwen neither nodded nor shook his head. He simply spoke those words calmly.
"But I have no other choice."
Otto's words rang with absolute conviction, without the slightest falsehood.
"Since you have made your choice, then I have nothing to say."
Gwen lightly shook his head with a sigh, then asked.
"However, if it is true that I can help a Herrscher successfully awaken her power, then you should be planning to alter your plan now, shouldn't you?"
Though phrased as a question, Gwen's tone sounded more like a statement—
At this point, the identity of a "Previous Civilization survivor" had become far less useful to Gwen. He no longer needed it to provide himself with a barely plausible background.
Therefore, Gwen did not need to cling to this matter merely to maintain his persona, potentially giving Otto reason to act maliciously.
Compared to that, using this to gain some initiative and better change the unpleasant future he knew was what Gwen needed to do now.
"If possible, I would like to know your new plan."
"Of course, my friend!"
Seeing that Gwen's reaction had not exceeded his expectations, Otto felt slightly relieved. While inwardly satisfied with the thorough analysis he had previously conducted on Gwen, his face displayed utterly genuine delight.
"Within Schicksal now, you are already the most important person.
Without Otto Apocalypse, humanity can still defeat Honkai.
But without you, humanity will suffer utter defeat."
"You know I don't like empty words like that."
Gwen waved a hand. Having already probed part of Otto's attitude, he put away the coldness on his face and adopted a cooperative expression.
"Rather than flattering me, perhaps I would be happier if you came up with fewer troublesome new tricks."
"Haha, of course."
Otto laughed and nodded, speaking solemnly.
"You have already placed hope in my hands. Naturally, I have no reason to create unnecessary complications."
As he spoke words carrying a double meaning, Otto had already begun considering how to make Gwen willing to cooperate with his true plan later on...
An Unexpected Visitor
It had already been fifteen minutes...
Raiden Mei glanced up at the wall clock, which seemed completely out of place amid the office's advanced equipment, then quietly withdrew her gaze and tried her best not to let her imagination run wild.
A full quarter of an hour had passed since Gwen and Otto left. Raiden Mei sat alone in the office, where the only sounds were the faint hum of the computers and the ticking of the clock. Yet as time passed, her heart gradually tightened of its own accord.
Click.
At the sound of the latch retracting, Raiden Mei, who had only been occasionally glancing toward the lounge, immediately focused her gaze there and stared intently at the small door.
Under Raiden Mei's gaze, the small door was pulled open the next moment, and Otto and Gwen emerged one after the other.
"Then, if there is nothing else, Mei and I will head back first."
Giving the nervous Raiden Mei a reassuring look, Gwen spoke to Otto beside him.
"All right, go on back."
Otto nodded, still wearing the same warm smile as before.
"You fought another battle tonight, then brought someone directly back to headquarters by flying. You should get some proper rest."
As he spoke, Otto looked toward Raiden Mei, who had already risen to her feet, a trace of hesitation appearing on his face.
"However, as for Miss Raiden..."
Before you continue