Honkai, Traversing Otto, Path to Godhood

Even the Immortal Blade would face a difficult fight at this stage.

They stood before Otto like this, exuding immense pressure.

"Honkai Energy release, kill that bastard for me!"

Jackal's roar echoed through the sky, and the massive, imposing horde of beasts responded with a simultaneous low growl, enveloping Otto and Cecilia in an impenetrable barrier. The fighting space was subtly shrinking by the moment.

Dark clouds pressed down on the city, threatening to crush it!

"A sea of beasts tactic... that doesn't seem like World Serpent's style."

Yet, before this grand display of beastly might, Otto remained unfazed. Standing with his hands behind his back, he even let out a natural laugh, as if the scene before him wasn't a battlefield surrounded by enemies, but his Schicksal base, his European headquarters, or any of his past banquets.

"How interesting."

"But before that brat Kevin returns, World Serpent... is nothing more than snake soup on my table."

"Anyone can boast, Otto," Jackal said, now much calmer, "but you're already my meal." The last sentence was stated as a certainty.

"It seems you've calmed down considerably, but you've only suppressed it. You're only showing this composure because of some inevitable outcome," Otto calmly analyzed Jackal's psychology, his eyes still betraying little emotion.

Indeed, this overwhelming horde of beasts would be a major problem for any Valkyrie squad. But standing here were the current second and first strongest forces of Schicksal: S-rank Valkyrie Cecilia Schariac, and Schicksal Bishop Otto Apocalypse!

Otto watched the approaching Honkai beast tide, then turned to Cecilia with a smile:

"We've never fought side-by-side before, Cecilia."

"I will be your shield, Brother," Cecilia said solemnly, twirling the tip of her spear.

"No, Cecilia," Otto shook his head. "You were born a warrior, your entire being yearns to charge forward. Therefore, I want you to be my lance, to break through all obstacles."

"I will follow Brother's teachings."

Cecilia nodded and replied earnestly.

"Then, my Black Abyss White Flower," Otto raised his hand, and the weapon he had constructed earlier rose into the air. "Follow me... into battle!"

With that, heavy cannons roared, and the lance struck the ground!

...A few minutes earlier.

"The crowd has been mostly dispersed, and all issues have been resolved..."

The woman with brown hair reported to the exceptionally beautiful young boy before her, her rose-red eyes revealing an unreadable emotion.

"Well done," the golden-haired young boy nodded. "But please stop looking at me like that."

Kallen was above him, yet he felt a sense of danger from her gaze...

"Rita has no other intentions. I've always held myself to the standards of a maid, which makes me feel a sense of affection towards a child like you with such an appearance."

The woman's smile was a little strange.

"Your body... Rita feels it would be perfect for wearing a fluffy skirt."

You call that affection...

"Ahem," the golden-haired young boy glanced at his own body and coughed a few times. "Don't mind it, it's just that this body is easier to carry."

He met the woman's eyes, which were filled with "So cute, I want to pet them," and deliberately struck a pose: "Let's set aside the fluffy skirt for now. Look at my face – don't I still have a masculine handsomeness?"

"Mmm... Sir," the woman's hand finally couldn't resist lifting, "Rita is willing to use two months' salary for one moment of indulgence."

"Give it up, Miss Valkyrie," the golden-haired young boy rolled his eyes. "There's no way I'd allow you to do something like that."

How could a man be on the bottom? he added silently in his heart.

"Alright," he thought for a moment, then changed the subject. "Have your other tasks... been completed?"

"Rita has not failed your expectations." The woman bent her knees slightly, performing a maid's curtsy.

"That's good— Oh, right. Did you find her?"

"I'm very sorry, we haven't found Miss Natasha."

"After all, the little snakes have been hiding for fifteen hundred years," the golden-haired young boy sighed. "Their stealth technology must be very advanced. It's not your fault you couldn't find her. I didn't expect her to escape this calamity either..."

"However, this calamity can still be played with. I like this kind of excitement."

The last sentence was spoken softly, inaudible to the woman. Immediately after, the young boy chuckled again, his adorable appearance unable to conceal the greed in his eyes:

"I'm definitely eating this snake soup, as an appetizer for eating that real snake."

He licked his lips and finally issued an order:

"I'm going to rest for a bit. Continue having Amber monitor all of London, and then... you stay by my side for now until I'm done with that business."

With that, the golden-haired young boy leaned against the wall, his eyes losing their luster.

Rita Rossweisse looked at the golden-haired young boy's body, a captivating curve forming on her lips.

"As you command, Lord Bishop."

Fierce flames burned along the banks of the Thames, Honkai beasts let out terrifying roars, and corpses turned into specks of dust as they fell.

"Hyaa!"

With Cecilia's sharp cry, the last Honkai Beast was pierced through the head and vanished.

"Done."

Otto retracted the Eleventh Divine Key he had stuck into the ground. He made a few gestures in the air, and immediately, the dust and grime on him and Cecilia disappeared.

He had indeed contributed, though he lacked Cecilia's perfect combat intuition. With his divine gear, he didn't need to play the role of a warrior.

Wielding the Oath of Judah and Void Archives, it would be a disservice to the functions of both Divine Keys if he didn't act as a long-range mage.

And coincidentally, Cecilia covered his weakness in close combat. With their combined efforts, the Honkai Beast horde was swiftly dealt with, and Jackal's presence vanished as if they had given up entirely.

"Well done, Cecilia..."

Otto opened his arms, intending to embrace Cecilia. But the moment he was about to hug her, he quickly sidestepped, pushing the woman away. Then, his palm was struck by a purple sphere!

Chapter 30: Otto's Temporary Retreat

"?!?!?"

Cecilia only had time to let out a startled cry!

Otto grunted and looked at his arm. The part that was hit had snapped off and fallen to the ground, and purple light points were flickering at the wound, continuing to corrode and decompose upwards!

"A truly surprising gift..."

Otto calmly glanced at his disintegrating arm, then looked at the masked woman slowly emerging from the shadows.

He wasn't particularly surprised.

"I hope this meets your satisfaction, Bishop,"

Jackal's gaze suddenly became calm. She bowed deeply, her overly respectful demeanor as if she were playing the role of a loyal Schicksal guard.

"Lord Otto, this is your end."

"My end? My end?" Otto raised his eyebrows, his voice inexplicably carrying a leisurely tone. "You've brought me... my demise?"

"Of course, Lord Otto," Jackal was not moved in the slightest. "Though I am but a speck of dust among millions, I have the World Serpent behind me, and thus, I possess such capability."

She still appeared humble and polite, as if it were all effortless.

"The thing you used to kill me proves your standing within the World Serpent," Otto sighed deeply and deduced. "The Third Divine Key, Seven Thunders of Repose—Ha, speaking of which, isn't that the only Divine Key the current World Serpent possesses?"

"As expected of a Schicksal Bishop," Jackal nodded, not bothered by seemingly being tricked into revealing information. "To know such deep secrets."

She paused for a moment, then chuckled softly. "But it's true, I never expected to truly outwit you in information gathering. This apparent victory now is merely me exploiting your blind spot."

"This is a great lesson for Schicksal," Otto agreed, looking at the stunned Cecilia. "See, Cecilia? Never make assumptions on your own. Your enemy only understands the world as you see it."

"You are right, so now,"

Jackal bowed again. When she looked up, the feigned calm could no longer hide the madness in her eyes.

"Jackal of the World Serpent, I bid farewell to the Grand Bishop of Schicksal."

"You want to send me away? How interesting..."

Otto chuckled lowly, his tone devoid of any emotion.

He watched his body gradually dissipate, then, as if recalling something, asked Jackal, "So, why is your World Serpent faction based in London? I have a general idea, but I'm still curious."

"Out of respect for your five hundred years of rule, I am willing to answer this question," the woman replied. "My answer is—but out of personal will, I refuse to answer."

She smiled mockingly, as if trying to find something on Otto's face, but saw nothing.

"Refuse to answer, ha," Otto smiled with satisfaction. "Wonderful, I'm beginning to understand everything—there's something important, isn't there?"

"It's not surprising you could guess, Bishop Otto," Jackal said nonchalantly, but her hand unconsciously clenched. "To have managed to scheme against Bishop Otto once is truly a matter of fate and a blessing of three lifetimes."

"But the original plan... it's not important anymore."

She looked at Otto's appearance, seemingly about to offer a truly sincere smile. "I am truly sorry, Bishop Otto, to see you in such a state."

"Yes, truly a sorry state," Otto chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Since the Second Honkai Outbreak, this is the first time I've suffered such a significant loss."

"Your plan to protect the Divine Keys wasn't grand, but it was quite thorough. Congratulations, you've achieved the most brilliant feat by any human organization against Schicksal in this century."

"...Protect the Divine Keys???"

For the first time, a look of shock and confusion appeared on Jackal's usually impassive face.

This wasn't right. This was very wrong.

It shouldn't be like this. Unexpected situations shouldn't arise.

She bit her lower lip, a flicker of panic in her eyes.

Of course, she wasn't as calm as she appeared. From the moment she devised the assassination plan, her heart had been pounding, and alarms had been blaring in her mind.

Jackal was arrogant, but in 2013, she wasn't yet so arrogant as to disregard Otto, who was a leader-level figure.

She planned step by step, simulated the layout countless times, rehearsing the process in her mind. But when it came time to execute, her hands trembled uncontrollably.

Even when the bullet hit Otto's arm and she saw it begin to decompose, she felt a sense of unreality.

Did I... really kill Otto with my own scheme?

A moment of stunned silence, then overwhelming joy, ecstatic delight, and tears welling up.

Jackal almost lost control of her emotions, wanting to sing loudly on the River Thames and dance a wild, incomprehensible jig.

She wished she could grab a megaphone and tell Schicksal, tell the World Serpent, tell everyone across the seven continents and four oceans – she had killed Otto! That's right, she, Jackal, had killed Otto!

Hahahaha! Wuhahahaha!!!

No, this is too undignified.

Hmph, she was someone who had killed Otto, after all. How could she be so lacking in grace?

Elegant, elegant, be elegant, Jackal!

I'm overjoyed, but... how can I let them see it?

Why would a madman killing someone be more charming than a rational person doing it?

So... what should I do now?

Hmm... Hehe, that previous expression was quite good, I'll maintain this calm confidence!

Besides, announcing his death while mimicking Otto's newly acquired divine demeanor – wouldn't that be the most fitting irony for that bastard?

Hahaha!

And so, Jackal adopted a polite demeanor, maintaining what she considered to be elegance.

She suppressed the urge to mock Otto, treating him with a calm and composed attitude. Her voice was unhurried, generous, and natural, as if she didn't care at all that she had just killed a supreme being.

But... what was that expression?

Jackal couldn't understand. As she bowed and curtsied with practiced flair, she looked up and saw not the tension or any other negative emotion from the Bishop of Schicksal, but his usual smile, as if everything was still within his control.

How could this be???