Chapter 319

From this vantage point, Ai Yue could hear a sound that only he could perceive.

"Hello, hello, hello, this is the 365th call to Ai Yue, the 365th call to Ai Yue, please respond, please respond!" Elysia's voice echoed with a sense of utter boredom. "The..."

"Alright, I'm in position." Ai Yue interrupted the other person's repetition, responding with a somewhat helpless tone, "Besides, how could you possibly call so many times in such a short time?"

Yes, in this core region with extremely high Honkai Energy concentration, the boundary between real and imaginary numbers has even become thin, to the point that Ai Yue can communicate directly with Elysia.

Of course, not everyone can handle this kind of communication. Even if it were Kallen now, she would probably faint upon hearing the word "five".

"Actually, every time is the 365th time, because it represents the 365 days I've missed you!" Hearing Ai Yue's response, Elysia's voice finally became lively, completely disregarding what kind of nonsense she was spouting. "So, can we begin?"

"Okay, keep an eye on things here," Ai Yue nodded with a subtle expression, while also touching his arm. "Also, toned down your cheesy pickup lines, they're giving me goosebumps, really."

"Well, I'm pretty good, aren't I!" Elysia said with a hint of pride. "Hehe, just kidding. Let's get started, I'm ready."

Ai Yue shook his head slightly, said nothing more, and closed his eyes.

The next second, a majestic, Radiant Giant appeared before Otto and his companion.

Meanwhile, the knights stationed around the city on guard duty, the people hiding in their shelters, the people living around Berlin speculating and worrying about the situation in the city, and even the people on the other side of the world who knew nothing about anything here...

Ai Yue's figure appeared before everyone's eyes.

He looked down upon the world, but there was no arrogance in his eyes. He simply asked everyone a question on an equal footing.

"For yourself, for those you love, for what you cherish—how will you face the threat of Honkai?"

In just a moment, the light gradually faded, and the once towering, Radiant Giant disappeared. Kallen and Otto looked at each other, seemingly also somewhat confused about what had happened.

But then, Kallen sensed something was wrong.

"The concentration of Honkai Energy is decreasing rapidly... it has fallen below the critical value and entered a safe level!" Kallen said with some surprise, then her tone revealed a hint of confusion, "It's over just like that?"

"It seems so." Otto also somewhat confused, but quickly understood. "After all, it's Professor Ai Yue. But what exactly happened?"

He glanced down at the time and a subtle sense of unease washed over him.

However, this feeling was quickly dispelled by Kallen's voice. "Mr. Ai Yue is out, and it looks like he's carrying someone on his back!"

Otto looked up and, sure enough, saw Ai Yue carrying a man as he walked out of the previously empty disaster epicenter. This phenomenon of "creating a person out of thin air" meant that their plan had succeeded.

Otto, letting out a long sigh of relief, ignored the subtle feeling from before and went to meet Ai Yue. However, if he had carefully examined himself and looked for the root of this incongruity, he might have discovered that there was a five-second "error" between his perception and the normal flow of time.

In fact, not only him, but people all over the world experienced a five-second blank in their hearts.

That was the time Ai Yue spent questioning the entire civilization.

The maximum power of the Herrscher of Reason Core depends on the "capacity" of the human will that constitutes it. While the will of 300,000 people is already powerful enough, what kind of Herrscher would be created if the will of all humanity were incorporated into it?

While an individual's will may be far less significant than the will within the original timeline when compared on a case-by-case basis, it can still undergo an unimaginable qualitative change when accumulated in sufficient numbers.

Moreover, it also contains a trace of Ai Yue's power. Although it is extremely weak and will not overshadow the main power, its mere existence is enough to transform the entire being.

As he pondered, Ai Yue's expression became somewhat complicated—because he could sense that he had seemingly created something extraordinary.

"This is... the First Herrscher?"

Kallen curiously examined the man who didn't seem particularly special, her brows furrowing slightly. "Why do I have this... feeling like I've seen him before?"

"I feel the same way." Otto nodded, resonating with Kallen's thoughts. "However, it's probably just an illusion caused by some characteristic of hers, right?"

After all, Otto knew very well that the man in front of him had not existed in this world just a few seconds ago.

"Actually, everyone will probably feel quite friendly towards him," Ai Yue shrugged, then handed the bag to Otto. "But it's no big deal—you're in charge now, Otto."

"You should already have a plan, right?"

"Hmm." Otto propped up the man's arm, supporting his body, his expression somewhat complicated. "I hope my acting won't give me away."

"Don't worry, just tone it down." Ai Yue, clearly aware of his plan, patted Otto on the shoulder. "I believe you have the potential."

"Although I want to refute it, what you said seems to be right." Otto a helpless wry smile. "Sigh, it's really a complicated feeling."

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Kallen scratched her head anxiously, watching the two of them talking in riddles. "Otto! We agreed that no matter what happens, we'll face it together, right?"

"It's not that I don't want to tell you, Kallen." Otto scrutinized Kallen, but finally shook his head. "It's just that this plan is really not suitable for you."

"Alright then." Kallen pouted a little, but ultimately chose to understand. "But if you ever need my help, you have to let me know, okay?"

"Hmm..."

As the two were talking, the man leaning against Otto slowly woke up. He opened his eyes and looked at the two people in front of him with a somewhat bewildered expression. "Who are you? Where am I...?"

At the same time, Ai Yue's figure had quietly disappeared from the spot.

"You're awake?" After confirming that the other person had the strength to support himself, Otto released him, then extended his hand with a friendly expression. "Hello, let me introduce myself. I'm a kind person who happened to be passing by. You can call me Otto."

The man instinctively grasped his hand, then frowned slightly. "Hello, Otto, I am... who am I?"

"You," Otto said with a slight smile, "You should be..."

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Can Reconciliation Be Reached?

"Welt Joyce."

Three years later, in New York, the largest city in North America.

Otto looked at the man before him, his expression complex, and said, "I must admit, I underestimated you—if I had known what would happen today three years ago, I would never have let you live until now."

Compared to Otto, the man standing opposite him had much purer emotions.

His gaze toward Otto was filled with nothing but pure rage.

"Otto Apocalypse!" the man called Welt growled. "If I had known beforehand that you were such an ambitious man who treated human life like dirt, I would never have tolerated you until now!"

Upon hearing this, Otto burst into laughter, as if Welt had told a joke, "You won't tolerate this any longer? Then what are you going to use to resist? Or are you going to continue relying on others, just like you relied on Leanna before?"

Welt clenched his teeth and instinctively turned his head to look to the side—in the ruins not far away, the valiant blonde female warrior lay on the ground, her life hanging in the balance.

That is Leanna Brigantia, the strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal, the guardian who protected them as they fled from Europe to North America.

Even though this Valkyrie wielded the legendary Divine Keys "Abyss White Flower," she was still no match for the man before her. He seemed to know Leanna's weaknesses perfectly, easily dismantling her fighting power with a single blow.

And the weapon, shaped like a knight's lance, fell to the ground beside her.

As for himself, Otto sealed the Honkai Energy within his body, turning him into a truly ordinary person. Not to mention the powers of Herrscher, he was already finding it extremely difficult to even stand up.

"So, in the end, this is all you're capable of? It seems I overestimated you a bit." Seeing the change in Welt's expression, Otto couldn't help but shake his head. "But that's fine too. If you could really elevate your Herrscher powers to another level, I'm not necessarily confident I could defeat you."

As he spoke, he raised his right hand, and the gray crystal embedded in his glove lit up, quickly condensing into a pistol-shaped weapon radiating golden light. "Want some time to think about your last words?"

Facing the gradually brightening gun barrel, Welt involuntarily closed his eyes.

Perhaps sensing his impending death, he began to recall his mere three years of memories.

However, although his memories are pitifully few, in Welt's eyes, the first three years are far less significant than the few dozen days he has now.

Since being discovered by Otto, he has lived as a "guinea pig"—the scientists of Schicksal have conducted various tests and experiments on him in order to find the traces of Herrscher in him.

Only after it was confirmed that there was absolutely nothing unusual about him was he thrown out like trash and sent to the 42nd Research Institute in London.

It was from that day that Welt felt his life had truly begun—and it was from that day that he received the name "Welt".

But this life was still destroyed by Otto, simply because the other party would not allow anything to be out of his control. This old monster, who had been hiding behind the scenes of Schicksal for five hundred years, actually wanted to control the entire world, and for this he did not hesitate to use any means to destroy those who dared to disobey him.

The North America branch of Schicksal, which sought to break free from Schicksal's control and become independent, was targeted. Its highest-ranking administrator, Nancy Edison, suffered an accident during an experiment and remains in a coma. Even Leanna, who tried to protect them, was ruthlessly abandoned. If she too falls, then disaster will follow...

Two figures flashed through Welt's mind— Ritsel Einstein and Nikola Tesla.

They are members of Research Institute 42, family members who rescued them from their previously bleak and hopeless lives as lab rats.

Behind them are countless ordinary people living in New York City and even throughout North America.

I want to protect them, I want to protect more people, I want to overthrow this tyrant's cruel rule over the world.

A powerful will resonated in Welt's mind. He opened his eyes, his pupils seemingly gleaming with a brilliant light. "Last words? Keep that for yourself!"

With Welt's roar, a blue light emerged from his body. Otto instinctively pulled the trigger, and a torrent of fire shot out from the muzzle, but it mysteriously vanished the instant it came into contact with the blue light.

"Breaked free from the shackles of the simulated Judah through sheer willpower?" Otto's eyes widened slightly, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips, which he quickly concealed. "No, you broke through the second power limit of the Herrscher Core? It seems the secrets you hold are not so simple."

"I still have to thank you for that, Otto," Welt said coldly, then blue light gathered in his hand, transforming into a knight's lance. "The Oath of Judah... I had access to the original back then, have you forgotten?"

Even though he had many things he disliked about the man in front of him, Welt had to admit that Otto was an absolute genius, one in a millennium. Even though he hadn't found anything unusual about Otto himself, Otto had still managed to determine the First Herrscher's powers through subtle clues and tried to stimulate them by having him learn and understand knowledge.

During this process, almost all the Divine Keys held by Schicksal were placed in front of Welt. Otto personally taught him how to use each weapon and tried to make him understand the principles behind them, so that Welt could try to imitate them with his own power.

The experiment at the time ultimately ended in failure, but no one expected that it would one day "bear fruit" in this way.

Although the time Welt had with the "Oath of Judah" was extremely brief, preventing him from mimicking the legendary weapon, it was enough to reverse the blockage left by the simulated Judah within his body.

"Not bad, that's more like it." Otto waved away the Divine Fire Penance, then mimicked the Abyss White Flower like Welt. "However, if you think that you can compare with my hundreds of years of dedicated research based on your superficial understanding, you are sorely mistaken."

Otto is not a true Herrscher after all. His ability to mimic other Divine Keys is merely an effect of the Herrscher Core he possesses. Compared to the genuine Herrscher of Reason, the difference in power between the two is enormous. However, Otto's depth of understanding of Divine Keys is enough to make up for it.

After all, these things were all his creations; there's no reason for me to lose in terms of understanding.

"Whether it's right or wrong, it's not something you can determine with just a few words!" Welt slammed his spear into the ground, and a black abyss rapidly unfolded towards Otto. "Come, tyrant! Today is the day your ambition is extinguished!"

Otto also plunged his spear into the ground, and the pure white life force formed a barrier, blocking the erosion from the abyss. The two forces continuously neutralized each other, and for a time neither could defeat the other.

Just when Welt thought that the outcome would be decided by perseverance, Otto revealed a slight smile.

"If this continues, I might lose." He casually acknowledged his disadvantage in power, but raised his other hand. "However, I guess you don't have a clear enough understanding of your own strength, do you?"

"Since that's the case, then I'll teach you a lesson today—"

Welt stared in astonishment at Otto's actions, for in Otto's other free hand, a mimicry weapon radiating golden light, "Divine Fire Penance," appeared once more.

Double mimicry?

Welt had just realized this when his expression suddenly changed.

Since I can't retract the power of the Mimicked Abyss White Flower for defense, then...

The next second, accompanied by a gunshot, Welt was sent flying backward, and the Abyss White Flower in his hand was shattered by the external force, turning into specks of light and dissipating.

Without the restraint of the Abyss White Flower, Otto was able to wield the power of his spear and charge forward recklessly. The white vitality catalyzed countless vines and roots, which spread all the way to Welt and quickly bound him.

Welt gritted his teeth, trying to revert to his mimicry form, but he was still reeling from the backlash of the external force and couldn't concentrate for the time being.

Even worse, the plants that Otto had catalyzed emitted a strange fragrance, which clearly had a numbing effect, further worsening his mental state.

"How does it feel to be defeated by your own power, the First Herrscher?" Otto dispelled the mimicry of the Abyss White Flower, leaving only the Divine Fire Penance, and aimed it at Welt. "Oh, sorry, I forgot you can't speak right now."

He gave a forced smile, then tried to pull the trigger.

However, at that very moment, Otto's expression suddenly darkened, and he abruptly stepped back. The ground where he had been standing immediately collapsed, as if it had been smashed down by an invisible hammer.

What could cause such marks is...

"Welt!"

From behind Welt came a girl's urgent cry. In a daze, Welt felt the restraints on his body gradually loosen, and finally he was held in someone's arms. "Welt, Welt, wake up!"

The next second, a slightly gruff voice interrupted her shouts, "Hey, what's the use of just shouting? Get out of the way, I'll handle this!"

With that sound, Welt felt something cold press against his chest, followed by a violent electric shock!

"Cough, cough cough cough!"

The powerful electric shock jolted Welt fully awake. He sprang to his feet, coughing uncontrollably, "Wh-what was that?!"

"Of course it's my stun gloves!" Beside him, a woman with red pigtails proudly showed off her pair of iron fists. "How about that? Wake up right away?"

"Tesla, and... Ritsel?" Welt was only now able to see the newcomers clearly and was immediately taken aback. "How did you get here? Weren't you supposed to stay and take care of everyone?"

"This isn't the time to talk about this." Seeing that Welt had regained his senses, Ritsel Einstein also calmed down. She handed Welt a sphere. "I think you should need this, right?"

Divine Keys: Star of Eden.

Welt paused for a moment, then decisively accepted it. "Thank you."

Then he looked at Otto, who was standing to the side.

The blond man, who had retreated to a distance, spoke again at this moment, "What a touching family reunion, isn't it? But if you think that having an extra Divine Keys can turn this situation around, then I can only say that you are still too naive."

As he spoke, a slightly sinister smile appeared on his face, "But it's good this way, after all, a family should be together, right?"

"I'll take care of you all in one go, so you can keep each other company on the road!"

"Stop dreaming, Otto." Welt raised the Divine Keys in his hand, revealing its true form. "The time has come. This is the day to devour the tyrant of the heavens."

"Otto Apocalypse, witness the shattering of stars!"

Faced with the terrifying gravitational field that suddenly unfolded before him, Otto did not react immediately, but instead showed a somewhat subtle expression.

I never imagined I'd still have to face this in the end... Is this the self-adaptive nature of the timeline?