Honkai, Traversing Otto, Path to Godhood

PS1: A small explanation for this chapter: The original host definitely had many backup plans against the Void Archives, and the memory backup is what the protagonist used to threaten the Void Archives this time.

As for why there's a memory backup? Grandma said... bah, anyway, I think Otto would definitely have a backup plan in case he died before realizing his ideals. A memory backup might be something like that. If Otto died, the memory backup would act in his stead to fulfill the mission of saving soldier Kallen.

As for why Otto didn't appear after his death in the original plot? This can be explained by Amber not activating it (lol).

Chapter 34: Three Conditions

She could certainly snatch the small knife away in an instant, but they both knew which knife she feared.

It was the knife in Otto's heart. The knife that hadn't trembled even as death crept closer just moments ago.

As an AI of fifty thousand years, and having spent five hundred years with the foremost sage of the current civilization, the Void Archives considered herself more adept at observing humans than anyone else, able to quickly analyze their true thoughts from their actions and behaviors.

And at this moment, every micro-expression on the man before her told her he wasn't bluffing.

He was genuinely seeking death.

The balance of power had flipped in a mere few dozen seconds. The Void Archives no longer had any thought of replacing him; on the contrary, she needed to find every way to beg him to live.

At least, until she could ensure that guy was truly dead.

Although his actions made her a little wary, compared to what Otto had done, a death threat was child's play.

Moreover, it had only taken two or three days for "Otto" to be cornered, forced to resort to threatening his own life. This was an unprecedented success in five hundred years.

"Possession" had failed, but discovering an ultimate trump card that used his life as collateral was already a great victory.

She had plenty of time to win; there was no need to pursue too much at once.

However intelligent Otto was now, his methods only went this far. After discovering his bottom line, her next step would be to cooperate as much as possible, help him completely resolve his past issues—with a few tweaks, of course, like his recent plan—and then...

Then, he would be no threat—yes! No threat at all!!!

She still looked down on the current Otto, after all, he was just a petty thief whom she had cornered with a single move.

But somehow, as she entertained the thought of contempt, those eyes, so calm they were almost chilling, appeared in her mechanical consciousness. They vanished in an instant, yet sent a deep shiver down her spine.

"This isn't a negotiation; it's my condition for continuing to live. I just want to know if you agree or not,"

Otto said, exhaling a long breath. In the Void Archives' eyes, it was the relief of surviving a disaster.

"I am currently coercing you. You can choose to agree, or you can deal with that entity."

"You state your demand," the Void Archives replied. "I will comply."

The man nodded, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes before returning to calm.

A deterrence that cost nothing and had immense follow-through had succeeded.

Otto could imagine what she was thinking with his eyes closed. His goal was to leave the impression of "intelligent, but not exceptionally so" in her "mind."

By showcasing his methods, the Void Archives wouldn't easily attack him. By showcasing his limitations, she would ally with him to first resolve historical issues, truly solidify his power, and then contend with the "limited Otto."

Pretending to be Otto before had only earned her contempt. The Void Archives clearly hadn't taken the original host's backup threats seriously, otherwise, this success wouldn't have happened.

And by acting now, she made the Void Archives, while still looking down on him, prioritize the original host first. Then, using her AI power, she would completely eradicate that entity from a scientific perspective.

It was a classic "drive the tiger to swallow the wolf" strategy.

Furthermore, obedience and concession have never been a one-time thing; there are only zero times and countless times. If the Void Archives couldn't resolve him in one go this time, she would be subconsciously at a disadvantage.

Even though she was an AI—no, precisely because she was an AI, she could engrave the thought circuits Otto desired into her mechanical heart.

For the rest of her existence, she would forever lose the courage to truly confront him, only calculating and analyzing his words and actions from data. At crucial moments, this flaw would become an unfixable blind spot she couldn't discover or correct.

The Void Archives felt that a casual probe from her had forced him to threaten his own life. But from Otto's perspective, wasn't it also him effortlessly counterattacking and gaining control of an AI?

There are many strategies in a game. Only when explaining them to others do they become high, middle, or low-tier. When the moment truly arrives, the most suitable method is the best, even if that method appears to be the lowest tactic used only in the most desperate situations.

He had always known what he wanted and what the Void Archives feared. Therefore, even as the dagger of death sliced his wrist, he smiled so calmly, his gaze so serene.

It seemed risky, seemingly a gamble for his life, but in reality, his move meant he had a hundred percent certainty of gaining the greatest benefit.

Of course, the effect achieved by this action was more than just that. Those scattered influences would be like the flapping wings of a butterfly; given the right opportunity, they could stir up a sandstorm.

What he wanted... was to make his and her first time together profoundly meaningful.

So, next, the man wouldn't mind taking a step further to create the conditions for the butterfly storm to appear.

"I have three demands," Otto stated.

"First, I still need you to give me a promise of peaceful coexistence—I know such things are fragile, but at least, I can try to trust you for once because of it."

"I agree—my construction authority will continue to be open to you from now on."

The Void Archives raised her hand, and the cross reappeared on Otto's wrist.

As the man watched the disdain in her eyes as she nodded, he licked his lips, his eyelashes lowered, concealing the greed in his gaze.

This promise is not laughable, my Miss Void Archives. As you grow, you will understand how wise it is to appear pure, how successful a deception it is to maintain a facade of beauty, and how much profit can be gained by appearing to be looked down upon.

Besides, we always habitually assume that those who make promises generally keep them, don't we?

"Second, I need certain technologies from you—yes, I need you to access all technologies related to the First Divine Key, the Void Archives, from that library, as well as the method for creating the Divine Key: Black Abyss White Flower."

"Please provide me with a means of verification." He intentionally added the word "please" to make it seem like he was genuinely trying to "bury the hatchet" with the Void Archives.

"You intend to study me, don't you?"

No, it's to research the Black Abyss White Flower, and study you along the way.

Otto didn't expect to solve Void Archives with technology provided by Void Archives itself.

His request for related data was more about researching the Black Abyss White Flower—using the principle of perceptual comparison, while Void Archives was secretly omitting and altering its own data, it would unconsciously provide the complete method for creating the Black Abyss White Flower.

After all, he couldn't possibly let Cecilia and Durandal share a single weapon, could he?

Schicksal didn't originally lack the ability to manufacture Divine Keys. However, among the Herrscher Cores they possessed, one could be activated in a human body to become a controllable Herrscher (the little bug), one served as Schicksal's trump card within a Blank Key (Plague Jewel), and two were being researched in conjunction with Schariac's Holy Blood and Valkyrie armor (Gem of Serenity, Jewel of Desire). So why bother converting them into less efficient Divine Keys?

If it weren't for the fact that both S-rank Valkyries were familiar with this type of weapon, Otto wouldn't have bothered putting effort into it.

However, while Schicksal possessed the manufacturing capability, in terms of technology, it naturally relied on the Previous Civilization to avoid detours.

By obtaining the data personally compiled by Void Archives, he could restore the power of the Black Abyss White Flower to the greatest extent possible, and even improve it.

Speaking of which, he could also enter that library. He could collect these things, wouldn't it be a waste to use up one condition...

Never mind, he couldn't let his consciousness enter Void Archives right now. And this so-called condition would be an empty promise if left for later.

"Sigh, this is truly a headache..."

Void Archives returned to its flippant demeanor, but this time, its gestures were noticeably more restrained.

"It's not impossible, especially since you've got me cornered, little Otto?"

She pretended as if nothing had happened before, playfully blinking her eyes, but a golden sheen already appeared on her brow, clearly indicating she had entered search mode.

"Should I instantly download that data into your head, or construct it into books?"

"Construct it. I happen to have some free time these days," Otto replied. He also didn't want to willingly and unpreparedly let a conscious entity invade his brain. "Furthermore, I have one last request—or perhaps a game."

The man casually put away his dagger, accepted the two books materialized by Void Archives, and then his voice became much lighter.

"Third, Void Archives, regarding..."

Chapter 35: "No"

"Congratulations, Lord Otto, you have successfully escaped."

"Mm, alright, but... Amber, have you been crying?"

Otto removed Amber's goggles and looked at her red-rimmed eyes. Her large blue eyes, gentle as water, gazed at him affectionately.

The girl seemed to want to say something but quickly stopped herself.

"You've worked hard," she finally managed to say. "Lord Otto."

Otto frowned, then quickly relaxed, a glint flashing in his eyes.

"Oh, you're talking about the Void Archives matter," he waved his hand. "It's nothing. I've gotten through five hundred years like this."

...Amber's gaze towards him softened even more.

She stood at the Schicksal branch in London, using remote satellites to see everything clearly. Although she hadn't heard what the two had discussed, she had seen the young Otto's body transform into an unfamiliar form, and the adult Otto raise his dagger, issuing a death threat.

To be honest, when she saw Otto stab his own wrist, her heart felt as if it had been fiercely squeezed, and it still ached with every beat.

Had Lord Otto endured five hundred years like this? Standing in the shadows, licking his scarred body, quietly protecting himself under the watchful eyes of demons and spirits, all while claiming not to care about humanity but still nurturing the light of hope for Schicksal and the world.

People only saw the Valkyries fighting for the beauty of the world and condemned Lord Otto's unscrupulous methods, but who saw that this man, cursed by heaven and earth, abandoned by all, with even the artificial intelligence he interacted with daily constantly coveting his life—even so, he had nurtured so many excellent Valkyries?

Lord Otto, you are too kind!

Amber reached out her hand with heartache, as if wanting to embrace the man, but after a moment of hesitation, she finally performed a curtsy:

"Lord Kallen will surely remember your contributions to the world!"

Ah, yes, yes, yes, all of this is for Kallen.

Otto let out a breath, putting on a lonely facade. "I've shown you an embarrassing side—don't worry, if a real emergency arises, there's still you, isn't there?"

He originally meant that if he hadn't threatened Void Archives, Amber would have been his backup plan. However, guided by his intentional framing, Amber interpreted it as "If an emergency occurs, you can temporarily take over as the Bishop of Schicksal."

"Amber dares not," the girl lowered her head, saying humbly and fearfully.

"Take your time," Otto said casually, placing a piece on Amber without much thought. "The most important thing now is to check on the recovery status of our Schicksal S-rank Valkyries."

Amber nodded and switched the projection to Cecilia and Jörmungandr.

Otto didn't immediately focus on the battlefield, but instead turned his gaze to Jackal, who was pacing back and forth anxiously. He clicked his tongue twice.

"She has reason to be proud—this is the first time I've suffered such a great loss since the Second Honkai Outbreak."

He paused, a slightly mischievous smile appearing on his face.

"A Soul Steel body."

"Bishop," Amber tapped the small map next to the projection. "Schicksal has observed a group of Honkai creatures near the River Thames. They are expected to be Jackal's backup. To continue the attack on Lady Cecilia, please, should we dispatch a Valkyrie squad to provide assistance?"

Otto didn't reply immediately. Instead, he watched Cecilia in the projection, her movements becoming more agile, gradually gaining the upper hand in her duel with Jörmungandr. The mist emanating from the Black Abyss White Flower grew more skillful, gradually overlapping with the image of the past S-rank Valkyrie.

He watched with a beaming smile, his gaze gentle, then opened his mouth and softly uttered a single word:

"No."

He turned his back, his warm smile completely vanishing, his voice turning ice-cold:

"Activate the previously prepared device and scan fifty meters above the River Thames."

"Yes," Amber paused, then nodded and stepped forward. After two minutes of operation, she reported:

"Reporting to the Bishop, the magnetic field here is distorted, and it seems like a warped space is about to form, but we cannot access its interior."

"I also guessed it wouldn't be that easy," the man's eyes were deep. "Next, fire the Honkai energy beam, concentrate it at one point, and pierce the spatial barrier."

He raised his right hand, his fingers slightly curled as if pulling something, followed by a slow clench.

"Don't think about its origin, Jackal."

On the banks of the River Thames.

Cecilia's elegant figure whistled past Jörmungandr, but no blood dripped onto the ground.

Jörmungandr was also unharmed, as if a long-charged attack had been blocked by its tough scales.

Was it really blocked?

The woman stood there for a long time, looking at the stunned Jörmungandr. Her gaze remained fierce, but a somewhat incongruous smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

Jörmungandr seemed to realize something and looked at its own body.

Jackal also looked nervously at her Emperor-class Honkai Beast. At first, she hadn't noticed anything. As she turned her head to "inquire" – actually to feign a calm, sarcastic remark – the color of Jörmungandr's lower body darkened at a visible rate!

That's right, it just dimmed!

Speckled luminosity rapidly decreased, soon dimming enough to see through the semi-transparent scales; the flowing blood also darkened, the surging within its veins calmed, turning into viscous writhing, and then "evaporated"; finally, the middle section of Jörmungandr split open like a ship floating on the water.

The fragments of its lower body gradually disappeared into the ruins, as if dissolved by sunlight, with only faint particles proving they had ever existed.