Alicia is the Real Golden Finger in Honkai!

The first time I entered that state was when I was facing Cocolia's missile attack and my life was in danger.

As you know, Bishop, if my Hyper-Evolution Factor hadn't awakened partially beforehand, combined with Schicksal's medical treatment, I probably would have lost my life back then.

Even so, I experienced similar situations several times before completing the awakening of my Stigmata after entering that state again in Changkong City.

In the data Gwen saw through his own authority, the Stigmata in this world maintained some early settings. Apart from exceptional Honkai energy adaptability, innate Stigmata awakeners would generally awaken some other powers, either like superpowers or the skills and memories of predecessors.

Considering that if he mentioned the Gene Lock, which didn't originally exist, it was hard to guarantee Otto wouldn't conduct a bunch of experiments because of it. Gwen chose to attribute the changes the Gene Lock brought him to his Stigmata—

After all, everyone acknowledged that the things Dr. Mei left behind were very powerful.

And it was normal for some strange things to happen with the things Dr. Mei left behind combined with fifty thousand years of time, right?

"So, Gwen, your Hyper-Evolution Factor and Stigmata awakening can be considered complementary..."

Otto summarized, gently stroking his chin.

"You could say that, but it's probably more due to luck—"

Gwen stroked his chin, lost in thought:

"After all, at that time, the Stigmata genes weren't innate and passed down through human reproduction. Instead, like the Hyper-Evolution Factor, they were acquired through external injection.

Whether it was one or the other, awakening them was incredibly difficult, a one-in-a-million chance.

That I was able to successfully awaken both, and that they didn't conflict with each other... or rather, the conflict wasn't so severe that it killed me, allowing me to persist until full awakening...

I have to admit that luck played a very significant role."

"Often, luck is also a part of strength."

Otto didn't delve deeper into this, smiling and saying, "Now that you've successfully awakened your Stigmata and Hyper-Evolution Factor and are out of that dangerous state, it's ultimately a good thing."

"It's just a bit of emotion."

Gwen shook his head slightly, feeling emotional.

Beside Gwen, although she found some of the terms in Gwen and Otto's conversation very unfamiliar.

Raiden Mei could still understand that the power Gwen displayed tonight was obtained at great risk. Now that the hidden danger was gone, Raiden Mei was happy for Gwen.

As for Gwen's identity as a person from a previous civilization, Raiden Mei, who had already been prepared for it, was not surprised.

After patching up some of the unreasonable aspects of himself, Gwen chatted with Otto about the experience of using the new armor and Raiden Mei joining Schicksal.

Otto, whose regard for Gwen had rapidly increased, lightly let it go and entrusted the matters concerning Raiden Mei to Gwen to handle himself, stating that he would not interfere too much.

However, considering Raiden Mei's Herrscher identity, some special handling and tests would still require Raiden Mei's cooperation.

Of course, these would all be conducted while ensuring Raiden Mei's personal safety, and Gwen could be present to ensure it.

After discussing these matters, Otto was about to see them out, but Gwen spoke up:

"Bishop Otto, there are some things I'd like to discuss with you privately. Do you have time..."

"Of course."

Otto smiled and nodded, stood up, and opened the attached lounge in the office:

"The soundproofing here is very good. Shall we talk inside?

Or would you like Miss Mei to rest for a while?"

"Mei, could I trouble you to stay here alone for a moment?

There are some things I need to ask the Bishop privately."

As Gwen spoke, he held Raiden Mei's hand and left the same mark on her palm that he had given to Rita earlier.

"Of course, you go ahead. I'll wait for you here."

After receiving the information from the mark, Raiden Mei, knowing that Gwen always prioritized her safety, smiled and nodded.

Chapter 55: New Achievement: Otto's Friend

After entering the lounge with Otto and closing the door, Gwen and Otto sat facing each other. Gwen's dark eyes, carrying a hint of coldness, met Otto's seemingly peaceful blue eyes:

"Bishop Otto, if I remember correctly, the Second Herrscher was eliminated more than ten years ago.

But why is Kiana, whose identity in the data is the daughter of Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, Cecilia, and Siegfried, the Second Herrscher tonight?"

"...Hoo..."

After a moment of silence, Otto sighed softly and lowered his head:

"Regarding this, I apologize for not telling you in advance."

"..."

Gwen remained silent, continuing to gaze calmly at Otto, awaiting his explanation.

"During the battle with the Second Herrscher, Schicksal clearly recognized how terrifying the power of a Herrscher truly was.

After the Second Honkai War ended, while looking at the damage reports from various regions, I was awestruck by the Herrscher's power, but I also couldn't help but think, 'What if the Herrscher's power could be used for humanity?'

At the same time, I discovered some methods from the data left behind by Fire Moth that attempted to harness the Herrscher's power for humanity—"

I'm not talking about something like the Divine Keys, which theoretically can only unleash a Herrscher's attack once, but rather a more thorough method..."

"Like implanting a Herrscher core into a human body?"

Gwen's face was devoid of any warmth, and his voice carried no inflection, as if he were merely inquiring about something unrelated to himself. However, anyone could tell that his current attitude was extremely poor.

"Precisely."

Otto abruptly raised his lowered head, his cerulean eyes flashing with a light called "ambition."

"Fifty years ago, I had a rather in-depth exchange with the first Herrscher of the current civilization, and I even once considered having her become the new Bishop of Schicksal.

In her, I discovered that it was not impossible for humanity to wield the power of a Herrscher.

And during the Second Honkai War, I also came into direct contact with the Second Herrscher.

Although she, like the Herrschers recorded in the previous civilization, was filled with hatred and the will to destroy, she was not without her own thoughts and intellect.

Through Feather of Dust's probing, I further confirmed that this Second Herrscher still held love for her family and friends in her heart—

After obtaining power, she did not choose to destroy the world but instead tried to revive her family and friends.

My friend, what does this mean?

It means that the 'redeeming the enemy with love' that once only existed in fairy tales is no longer just a fairy tale."

"Madman!"

Gwen scoffed coldly, but he had no intention of acting.

"I have no other choice."

Otto showed no shame, shaking his head calmly.

"From the data left behind by Fire Moth, I have deeply understood just how powerful the Honkai is.

Even if the current civilization has the legacy of Fire Moth, and we prepare for the Honkai with all our might starting now, there will be no possibility of defeating the Honkai.

Only by taking a risky gamble, by turning the impossible into the possible, can humanity have even a minuscule sliver of hope."

As the de facto "King of Humanity," Otto's rhetoric was masterful. Even though Gwen knew Otto's true intentions from the start, he couldn't help but be drawn in by Otto's fluctuating words and develop a sense of agreement.

"..."

As a survivor of the previous civilization, Gwen had no words to refute Otto's claims. As a transmigrator, Gwen wholeheartedly supported them.

Therefore, Gwen did not ask questions like "Do you know what disaster would occur if you failed?" Instead, he continued to look at Otto in silence, the coldness on his face gradually dissipating.

Noticing the change in Gwen's expression, Otto, who had not used the mimicry of Feather of Dust and had always been expressing his true feelings, took a moment to steady his breathing before switching to a deep, chant-like tone and slowly said:

"Everyone has a devil inside them, and happiness is its cage.

When all happiness turns to dust, the devil will emerge, singing a bloody hymn.

At that time, the despairing will be invincible...

If despairing demons can be invincible, why can't happy people be?

Let's give our little Kiana a little more happiness, use happiness to completely slay the devil hidden deep in her heart and turn it into her strength..."

Otto's voice was like a devil's whisper, elaborating to Gwen what a beautiful future that would be.

"Those who toy with people's hearts will not have a good end."

Gwen neither nodded nor shook his head, merely uttering these words calmly.

"But I have no other choice."

Otto's statement was resounding, without a trace of falsehood.

"Since you have already made your choice, I have nothing more to say."

Gwen shook his head slightly with a sigh, then asked, "However, if the power of the Herrscher's awakening that I can help with is indeed real, you should be preparing to revise the plan, right?"

Although it was a question, Gwen's tone was more like a statement—

At this point, the identity of "survivor of the previous civilization" had greatly diminished in its usefulness to Gwen. He no longer needed it to establish a barely acceptable background.

Therefore, Gwen didn't need to cling to this matter to "maintain his persona," which might provoke Otto to have malicious thoughts.

Instead, gaining some initiative through this to better change the not-so-beautiful 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 did not exceed his expectations, Otto breathed a slight sigh of relief. While satisfied with his previous rigorous analysis of Gwen, he displayed a genuine and unfeigned joy on his face.

"In Schicksal now, you are the most important person.

Without Otto Apocalypse, humanity can still defeat the Honkai.

But without you, humanity will be utterly defeated."

"You know I don't like all this empty talk."

Waving his hand, Gwen, having discerned some of Otto's intentions, also put away the coldness on his face and showed a cooperative expression.

"Compared to those flattering words, it would make me happier if you could come up with fewer troublesome new tricks."

"Haha, of course."

Otto smiled and nodded, saying solemnly:

"You've already delivered hope into my hands, so I naturally have no reason to create unnecessary complications."

While speaking in a double entendre, Otto's mind was already contemplating how to make Gwen willing to cooperate with his true plan after this...

Chapter 56: Unexpected Visitor

It's been fifteen minutes...

Looking up at the wall clock, which was completely out of place among the high-tech equipment in the office, Raiden Mei quietly withdrew her gaze, trying hard to control her thoughts.

Gwen and Otto had been gone for a full quarter of an hour. Raiden Mei sat alone in the office, where the only sounds were the faint hum of computers and the ticking of the clock. As time passed, her heart couldn't help but clench.

"Click."

The sound of a lock retracting echoed. Raiden Mei, who had been intermittently glancing at the lounge, immediately focused her attention there, staring intently at the small door.

Under Raiden Mei's gaze, the small door was pulled open the next moment, and Otto and Gwen walked out one after the other.

"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll head back with Mei."

Giving Raiden Mei, who was looking at him nervously, a reassuring glance, Gwen said to Otto beside him.

"Alright, you go ahead."

Otto nodded, his face still wearing the same pleasant smile as before.

"It's going to be another big battle tonight, and you're flying people directly back to headquarters. You should get some good rest."

As he spoke, Otto looked at Raiden Mei, who had already stood up, a hint of hesitation appearing on his face.

"However, Miss Raiden..."

"..."