Honkai, Traversing Otto, Path to Godhood

Cecilia didn't leave, instead leaning against the glass door of the kitchen, gazing absently at the busy figure inside.

When had she gained such unrestrained authority?

The woman remembered that for most of the past, Otto had maintained a playful demeanor, treating her as a tool in his words and constantly reminding her of her place. Only during their annual outings did he appear kind and approachable, captivating her.

Was his coldness a disguise?

Was she a tool or family?

The young Cecilia had always pondered this question, but it remained unanswered for a long time.

It wasn't until Otto appeared with a sigh in the Siberian snowfields that Cecilia suddenly understood, realizing his hidden concern.

He must have cared about her; how could years of upbringing have yielded no affection?

He simply kept it hidden in his heart, as Schicksal's Bishop.

After all, she was a Valkyrie, a Saintess who had dedicated her life to the world. Getting too close would only affect his judgment as Bishop, and after her sacrifice, his future state of mind.

Extreme power invites humiliation; deep affection leads to an early demise. It was as simple as that.

But at the critical moment, this "Brother" who visited once a year had softened his heart and secretly prepared a substitute body for her.

Alas, this was the last time she would understand his intentions... No matter how much humanity's power surpassed its limits, how could it reverse such a terminal crisis from the gods...

Cecilia thought this, unaware that the man, along with her, would raise the Black Abyss White Flower, pulling her from her predetermined fate and forcefully carving a path to survival in a seemingly certain death game.

As long as he was willing, he could do it.

This was the evaluation of "Elder Brother" among the Valkyries.

Cecilia firmly believed this but never dared to hope for such favor from him.

Yet, in reality, not only did he bestow upon her this priceless "willingness," but he also proved their evaluation with his actions.

But Cecilia didn't believe it would be easy.

She didn't know how he managed it, but she was certain that no matter how capable Otto was, to be reborn after a Honkai Energy fission bomb, to have her body, which had lost so much blood from activating the Black Abyss White Flower's Zero Power, recover completely—for Cecilia Schariac to achieve these unheard-of miracles, the man must have paid a heavy price.

And that wasn't all Elder Brother had done.

Putting aside everything else, the fact that he had taken care of his own daughter for many years after that unreliable person brought an eight-year-old child to Schicksal was enough to make her, who revered Otto from the depths of her bloodline, feel eternally grateful to Elder Brother.

After her revival, Otto seemed eager to pour out all the emotions he had accumulated over more than a decade, treating Cecilia with extreme gentleness and indulgence.

Abandoning everything to go on outings with her, celebrating her and her daughter's birthdays, taking meticulous care of her when she lost her memory...

These happy and warm moments made her obey Otto more wholeheartedly than ever before.

And his imposing presence during the Honkai Energy fission bomb and the Fehu Rune added an indescribable affection to her reverence.

The youthful illusion blossomed irredeemably once more.

Cecilia knew clearly that the two life-saving favors had etched an eternal mark on her heart, ensuring that no matter what she encountered in the future, the first thing she would think of would be the benefit of Elder Brother Otto.

Even if it meant betraying her own principles, even if it went against everything in her heart, she would do everything in her power to stand before Otto Apocalypse and become the Black Abyss White Flower that paved the way for Him.

At most, she would quietly die afterward out of despair, but she would not violate His will in the slightest.

Because this life was a gift from him.

Although the man repeatedly told her to learn to live "selfishly," Cecilia's heart had been dyed the color of Otto, and there would be no one else in this life and this world.

Durandal might rival him slightly in terms of emotion, but that was the love for her daughter. For him, it was complete submission.

She belonged to him.

Cecilia Schariac belonged to Otto Apocalypse.

From this moment on, forever unchanged.

"Fu Hua told me that in Shenzhou, chicken soup always symbolizes warmth,"

The man's voice sounded in her ear. Unknowingly, Otto had prepared everything and took her wrist, "Drinking a bowl of chicken soup in winter makes one feel refreshed."

He led Cecilia's frost-kissed, snow-white wrist to the table and sat her down, carefully placing the steaming soup before the woman. She obediently lowered her head and cooperated by drinking.

"Wait a moment—it's just been cooked!"

"Mmm—"

Clearly, it was too late. Before Otto's voice had even fallen, Cecilia had swallowed a mouthful of soup. Instantly, the woman was scalded, lifting her head with mist welling in her eyes. Her cherry lips parted and closed, and she looked at him with a face full of grievance.

"Why the rush?"

The blonde man chided her softly and walked to Cecilia's side.

"Open your mouth."

The woman cooperatively parted her lips, revealing a row of snow-white, neat teeth. Heat mist rose from her tongue, mixed with the aroma of chicken soup.

Otto touched Cecilia's lips, and a small piece of ice condensed in her mouth.

"Hold it. I'll help you cool the soup."

The woman nodded shyly, pursed her cherry lips, and her tongue instinctively extended slightly—by the time she realized what she was doing, a tempting blush had quietly spread across her fair cheeks.

By the time the ice in Cecilia's teeth melted, Otto's cooling work was also finished.

"Don't drink too fast, there's chicken next." The man brushed aside the strands of hair Cecilia had fallen on her forehead and pushed the chicken soup towards her.

"Mhm."

Cecilia took small sips. The chicken was tender and boneless, the chestnuts and yam melted in her mouth, and a faint warmth spread across her tongue, causing the woman to squint comfortably.

"How is it?"

When she looked up, the blond man beside her had just finished drinking and asked casually.

"It's delicious," Cecilia replied. "It has excellent color, aroma, and taste."

Otto paused for a moment: "Wait... excellent color, aroma, and taste???"

"Yes, I like it very much, thank you, Elder Brother."

"...Really?"

Cecilia saw a flash of wild joy in his gentle eyes, and then he stared at her intently.

"Uh..." The silver-haired woman felt a little shy under his gaze. "I think so..."

"That's wonderful—you've recovered your sense of taste," Otto said cheerfully as he cleared the table. "I'm so amazing."

As he spoke, he lowered his gaze so Cecilia couldn't see his eyes.

Yes, he was amazing.

Otto remembered that a side effect of God-Slaying Blood was the loss of taste.

It seemed he had already solved this problem.

But then came the question: Who solved it? The original Otto? Then why didn't he help Cecilia recover her taste sooner?

Moreover, if he had solved it, why were there no relevant records from Schicksal?

Heh.

It seemed that his cheat system had caused more than just the return of the dead; it had also created ripples like a butterfly's wings...

The blond man walked back to the kitchen, his eyes dark, his fingers tapping lightly on a ceramic pot.

He had spent quite some time with Cecilia, yet only now did he realize her taste had fully recovered.

If there weren't some hidden twists and turns in this, he'd eat the pot in his hand.

"Ah? — Ah!"

It was only when Otto reminded her that Cecilia remembered her past chronic illness.

But it seemed that since she had awakened, her entire body had returned to its optimal state—oh, no, not optimal, but the most ideal state. Even her sense of taste had returned to normal.

Such thorough consideration... As expected of my Elder Brother!

Cecilia's eyes curved into a smile, a tempting curve at the corner of her lips.

"I wish I had made a few more dishes,"

Otto's voice came from the kitchen, accompanied by the sound of running water as he washed dishes.

"I wasn't very confident about what I was doing, and it's getting late again, so I only made soup this time."

"Even without taste, warm, rich soup can always convey the maker's feelings to the diner—ha, you can also take this as an excuse for my poor cooking skills. After all, this is my first time trying Shenzhou cuisine."

"It's really delicious—thank you, Brother."

"There's no need to thank me,"

The man cleaned everything, wiped his hands, and lightly tapped Cecilia's forehead.

"I'm telling you this not because I expect any reward, but to say that Cecilia, no matter how much you gain or lose, no matter how much you rise or fall, you deserve to be protected."

"There will always be someone willing to protect you."

"Not necessarily..."

Cecilia thought of Siegfried and Theresa's angry expressions, her eyes dimming slightly.

Just an hour ago, she had almost been consumed by Skyfire, not from the Honkai she had fought her whole life, but from the person she should have reprimanded.

He had charged at her with boundless Skyfire and rage, as if they were sworn enemies.

"Theresa—don't worry, my dear granddaughter can't refuse you. The way you are now is like a special attack for her," Otto said. "She'll reconcile with you sooner or later—of course, there was no point of contention to begin with. As for Siegfried—tsk tsk,"

The blond man paused, his tone unable to hide the coldness towards him.

"I've already notified the Kaslana family; your relationship with her will be terminated soon."

"But Brother," Cecilia felt a warmth surge through her, but she still analyzed, "If Mr. Kaslana realizes I'm a real person and not a clone, he will definitely return to Schicksal. Then, you'll have another powerful force..."

"You want to go back to him?"

Otto interrupted her, his tone very calm, but his eyes held a different kind of coldness.

Don't disappoint me, Cecilia...

He said silently in his heart, then turned one hand behind his back.

Golden feathers floated in his palm, tranquilizer guns formed behind the white-haired woman, the Staff of the Underworld glowed faintly beside the table, and purple lightning flickered on the Seven Thunders of Repose...

Chapter 64: Gentle as a Fairy Tale (4k Reward Extra Update)

The world was never a fairy tale.

Unless it was a man-made scheme.

Several weapons aimed at Cecilia in the shadows, awaiting her answer.

Otto had meticulously crafted this story of a beautiful reunion with her first love, a rekindling of old flames, not just for her body.

Well, not just for her body.

The benefits Cecilia could bring him, and the loyalty of people like the "bug goose" and others she could secure, were the fundamental reasons for Otto's support.

But for her to be of maximum use, there was one prerequisite: severing every last thread connecting her to Siegfried, making him her sole focus.

Otto didn't know how much that connection mattered; he only knew that during the Second Honkai Outbreak, she had protected him when he intended to kill that man.

Since there was a precedent, then...

Then she couldn't be given a second chance to "err."

Even if she couldn't think, it was far better than thinking and making a mistake.

—He still held out hope for her, after all, his creed was that traitors were not to be trusted.

Even the slightest thought of returning to that idiot was, was, NOT allowed.

Otto stood there, his soul seemingly floating to the sky, looking down with neither joy nor sorrow, awaiting the white-haired woman's answer.

As long as her reply exceeded his acceptable limit, the tranquilizer guns would fire, felling Cecilia, Mimicry: Feather of Dust would alter her memories, and then implant his commands.

Then, what had just happened would be replayed over and over until an answer that satisfied him was branded into the woman's mind like an imprint.