Honkai, Traversing Otto, Path to Godhood

Cecilia muttered the name like a sleep talker, her delicate body trembling.

"Siegfried Kaslana, you really are... really are..."

A hand gently embraced her. Leaning against Otto, the woman poured out her heart with a tearful voice, tears welling up in her eyes:

"My last words to him... were to tell him to raise Kiana well... Ha, raise her well..."

Cecilia's eyes were red, and she slightly tilted her head, trying to stop the tears from falling.

"Is this... his companionship... Haha..."

She spoke intermittently, resting her head on Otto's shoulder.

"I don't blame that child... How could I bear to scold her... But... but..."

"Kiana Kaslana... Ha, is that the only name she can have? I would understand if you added even one word in the middle... even one word..."

"Siegfried... what did you take her for... what did you take that child for..."

"She's also a child, a child who should have had her own life... You snatched her away desperately, and then you selfishly treated her as a replacement... How do you expect her to live when she knows this... How do you expect me to accept this..."

Otto remained silent, merely patting her shoulder.

"I even told you at the last moment that he would not betray Schicksal..."

She looked at Otto, her exquisite face filled with grief.

"I... I really am..."

The woman couldn't continue. She swayed, a tragic, beautiful smile appearing on her face.

I'm truly a joke.

"If you want to cry," Otto finally spoke, his voice very soft, "then cry on my shoulder."

He stood up, extended his hands, and embraced Cecilia.

"Don't be afraid, little sister," the man said gently, "I'm here. I saved Kiana, and she's living well. You'll be able to see her soon."

"You have a school that claims to inherit your will. We can go take a look later."

"You still have so much. You don't need to fear losing just a little bit."

"With me here, everything will be better. As long as I'm here."

"Yes, Kiana is still alive... Bianca Durandal Attigena... That's a good name..."

Cecilia murmured, a smile tugging at her lips, but the tears she had been holding back surged uncontrollably, wetting Otto's shoulder.

"Thank goodness for you... Thank goodness for you..."

She kept repeating "Thank goodness for you," her arms tightening around Otto's, as if embracing the only world she could rely on.

It's strange. Tears. I could hold them back when I lost a lot of blood in Siberia, and when I had headaches from amnesia.

But why is it that when I'm wronged in front of him, I can't hold them back at all?

PS1: The Fifth Divine Key, Dormancy, is in Schicksal's possession according to my research, which is why Su-ling could sleep for five hundred years.

Also, World Serpent was established by Gray Serpent himself. The Previous Civilization can be said to have already had an underground organization. Schicksal was founded by Kevin's son, Adam, and others. In a sense, Schicksal is the true successor of the Previous Civilization.

World Serpent, established by Gray Serpent, is dedicated to rescuing Kevin from the sea and making him their leader. This is somewhat like the situation if the Herrscher of the Void was Sirin, and Buggy was not Sirin.

Buggy is Sirin's successor, while Thousand Herrscher wants to make Sirin their leader. Schicksal, World Serpent, and the Previous Civilization are similar in this regard.

So, despite World Serpent's high status in the story, its main strength actually lies in Feather Rabbit, Kevin, and Elysian Realm.

The current timeline is the end of 2013 (I planned this from the start). At this point, Kevin is "eating noodles" in the sea, Feather Rabbit is working on the Stigmata Project, and Elysian Realm provides all services except resources. Therefore, World Serpent itself is actually quite fragile right now.

Chapter 50: Changguang

"How is the research on the latest generation of Valkyrie armor coming along, Changguang?"

The blonde man strode into Schicksal's Holy Research Institute 1504 and asked.

"I say, Bishop Otto," a rose-red haired woman looked up, her eyes full of helplessness, "you suddenly demanded accelerated research a few days ago, and then proposed the idea of integrating the Key of Domination into the armor—you really know how to order people around, don't you?!"

The woman's pure white lab coat clung to her figure, subtly revealing her curves. Her pupils were a rose-red, matching her hair color—perhaps even deeper. A single-lens glasses with a gold frame rested on her delicate nose, adding an intellectual yet mysterious charm to her.

"If you want, you don't have to rush," Otto shrugged. "If we ignore the fact that the Third Honkai Outbreak could erupt in the next few months."

"After following you for so many years, this is the first time I've heard you mention something like this," Changguang glanced at him with considerable surprise. "The first time you've urged research for the Honkai."

Although she still didn't seem to want to stop him, Changguang silently added.

"I admit, I've never seen the Honkai as my enemy—it's a tool for me to realize my ideals," the blonde man walked calmly to the woman's side. "It's the same now."

"However, this Honkai can further my plan—and when there are sufficient benefits, a self-serving person like me doesn't mind putting on a sheepskin and pretending to be merciful."

"You have a remarkably clear understanding of yourself."

The woman retorted, then tapped on the terminal device in front of her. A holographic image projected onto the white screen:

"In a sense, Schicksal's fourth-generation Valkyrie armor can indeed be unveiled a year ahead of schedule. Research on Herrscher Cores since the Second Honkai Outbreak has brought our technology to a mature stage."

"Based on my simulation of the data preserved in 'Babel,' if Miss Theresa Apocalypse were to wear the armor we are currently envisioning, she would be fully capable of defeating the Herrscher of the Void."

"The Valkyrie Judgement almost killed Sirin back then, inside Babel," Otto said. "Comparing combat power like this... is indeed a bit strange."

"...6."

Changguang tidied up his thoughts and said again:

"Then let me put it another way—when using Divine Keys with this armor, unless it's for output that requires a large amount of Schariac Blood like Black Abyss White Flower, the wearer can use the zero-rated power of any other Divine Key at least twice consecutively—without waiting for cooldowns—and without harming their potential or life."

"That's more like it..."

Otto nodded. It seemed rather useless, as in the established lore, the zero-rated power of a Divine Key was merely a Herrscher's single strike.

However, referencing the Second Honkai Outbreak, Theresa with Judgement almost defeated Sirin, Siegfried with Skyfire toyed with Sirin, and Cecilia with Black Abyss White Flower directly resolved Sirin's multi-core berserk state before her death (this level of power can be compared to the Previous Civilization's Death Herrscher's city-destroying rampage before death, or the Rock Herrscher's continent-sinking rampage before death). The old setting that Divine Keys are but a Herrscher's strike is best taken with a grain of salt; taking it seriously means you've already lost.

Verv was humble and low-key, did she really think the pinnacle of human intellect from the Previous Civilization only created weapons capable of a Herrscher's strike? Furthermore, they had enhanced forms.

Ultimately, it all came down to individual potential.

"Wait, Lord Bishop," Changguang suddenly interjected, "the situation might not be as rosy as you think."

"Oh?"

"Our technology is indeed mature—but it's only theoretically feasible. There are still certain obstacles in practical application."

"Schicksal can fully support this research."

Otto licked his lips.

Valkyrie armor, this was the only technology in the current civilization, besides Schariac Blood, that could rival the achievements of the Previous Civilization. It had to be grasped as soon as possible.

Among the concepts he could currently access to improve Schicksal's high-end combat power, Stigmata Warriors and Herrscher Warriors were long-term projects. Fusion Warriors were still a technology built on human lives. Only through armor equipment and mastery of Divine Keys could Schicksal's defense line be rapidly constructed.

"I'm very pleased that Schicksal is offering its full support this time," Changguang's voice interrupted Otto's thoughts. "It almost makes me want to record this and play it for Schicksal's entire research department—or even, in the traditional custom of Shenzhou, burn a recording for our ancestors."

"But the problem we're facing isn't a lack of funding."

"Then what is it?"

"It's very simple, in one sentence: 'The height of the spring will not exceed its source.' Your requirement for the fourth-generation Valkyrie armor is 'to be able to defeat a Herrscher.' However, no matter how much the armor improves, it can only assist its host in reaching her maximum potential. Exceeding that would endanger the Valkyrie's potential and lifespan."

"At the same time, this also has a minor impact—the fourth-generation Valkyrie armor must be specialized for a specific user. Of course, this isn't a major issue. Since the second generation, Schicksal has been manufacturing specialized armor for certain special Valkyries."

Yeah, I know that. Like Theresa, like Theresa, like Theresa.

Otto responded internally, a relaxed smile on his face: "So, if I understand correctly, the current fourth-generation Valkyrie armor can only be equipped by an S-rank Valkyrie, allowing the wearer to unleash the zero-rated power up to three times with virtually no damage, and improving the Valkyrie's combat capabilities in all aspects, enabling her to fight a Herrscher?"

"Not just fight," Changguang clarified only the latter part, "but defeat—if the opponent is on the level of the Second Herrscher, I can guarantee that."

Tsk, getting ahead of herself.

Otto didn't remind her that Honkai grows stronger with civilization's progress, and Herrschers become more monstrous in later stages.

He was currently worried about how to bypass the constraints without dying himself.

"This is already a good result. Although for now, only Cecilia and Durandal can use this generation of armor," Otto said, "I don't mind lowering the standards a bit next time and producing armor that allows the wearer to maximize their potential—specialized use is fine too."

"Did you really revive Senior Cecilia?" Changguang asked, adjusting her monocle.

"Not revived," Otto corrected, "returned—you know, I wouldn't easily bestow a name upon a clone."

"That's true," the woman nodded. "With your pride, if it were a clone, you wouldn't have given her the same name. Otherwise, Theresa would be called Kallen."

"That's brilliant, my old friend. You want me to treat 'Kallen' as my granddaughter," Otto replied humorously. "If I did that, I'd surely be trying to shock Kallen back to life from her coffin."

"Sounds like a method?" Changguang also chuckled. "Why not try it?"

"I think that would be even more incredible than trying to revive someone using the Death Herrscher," a hoarse voice suddenly came from the doorway of the research institute, interrupting their conversation.

"..."

After a moment of silence, Otto narrowed his eyes and looked at the old man at the door: "I suppose you were due to visit me as well, Dr. Maki."

Chapter 51: Gem of Serenity

The blond man and the white-haired elder met eyes. Otto remained silent, his mind recalling the relevant events concerning the person before him.

From a research perspective, this old fellow was extremely successful: it was he who extracted Schariac Blood (i.e., God-Slaying Blood), enabling it to be stimulated into activity outside the human body.

The God-Slaying Spear developed in response threatened even the Herrscher of the Void Queen, allowing Otto to directly repel her during the "Queen's Descent" period when the Queen had the double buffs of beginner protection and PV protection.

However, at the same time, this person was also a cold-blooded yet utterly ordinary scholar. He colluded with the original Otto, cooperating in using Valkyries for the Death Gem fusion experiments, disregarding the sacrifices of others, only starting to "find his conscience" after his granddaughter died in an experiment.

—Then he took the Death Herrscher core and defected to Cocolia, jumping from one frying pan into another.

It was truly a case of judging people poorly.

If it weren't for Buggy's foolish cuteness moving him, causing him to hand over the core to this number one heroine of the Third Honkai Outbreak; if it weren't for the original Fu Shen's invincible close-range punch shattering the Void Herrscher, who possessed both Void and Death Herrscher cores, Singapore would likely have also faced destruction, achieving the status of a second Changkong City.

Of course, all of this was future plot, which hadn't happened yet.

And wouldn't have the chance to happen.

"People with double standards are the easiest to control."

"Yes, Lord Otto," Maki nodded. "I should have come sooner—the day you said you wanted the Gem of Serenity back a few days ago."

"So, did you bring it?"

"This requires a reason," the old man's eyes were grim. "I think it hasn't been too long since I achieved the feat of extracting the God-Slaying Spear from my body."

"I have no intention of crossing the bridge and then tearing it down, my respected old friend,"

Otto said slowly.

"I am very happy to have an outstanding scientist like you dedicating himself to Schicksal. However..." he drew out his tone.

Maki felt a bad premonition rise in his heart: "However, what?"

"Your granddaughter Marlene—she also signed up for the relevant volunteer experiments," the blond man smiled slyly. "If I don't stop this experiment, sooner or later, she will become an experimental subject on your table."

The white-haired old man trembled all over and hastily raised his hand, handing the Honkai Energy Isolation Box containing the Gem of Serenity to Otto.

Better to believe it than not, Dr. Maki also knew his granddaughter's personality and knew that if there was a way to better save the world, she would definitely join without hesitation.

What's more, these were Otto's words.

He knew the Bishop's character very well. Even if this was false, even if he exposed him, this Bishop, who had no moral bottom line, would definitely find ways to guide his granddaughter into this experiment with a slim chance of success.

He didn't need to gamble on Otto Apocalypse's conscience.

Because that thing simply didn't exist.

"Don't worry, Dr. Maki," Otto tossed the Honkai Energy Isolation Box in his hand, showing a meaningful smile. "I'm not lying."

The old man took a deep breath, as if thinking about something. After a while, he slightly bowed, his tone a little humble: