Chapter 306

All Otto wanted was for K423 to replace the Herrscher of the Void.

Otto: "As for your question about how to give a soon-to-retire A-rank Valkyrie the power to fight against the Herrscher, unfortunately, I have a prototype of the fourth-generation Valkyrie armor."

Theresa: "But Grandpa, you should know that Himeko's body can no longer handle combat, let alone support the Valkyrie armor!"

Otto: "Of course I know, but even I can't force an S-rank Valkyrie to put on armor and face the Herrscher of the Void to her death, my dear granddaughter."

Himeko Murata donned the Vermilion Knight: Eclipse to fight against the Herrscher of the Void, all out of her own sense of responsibility.

If she doesn't want to, no one can force her.

Unfortunately, it's too late to guess what choice the righteous Valkyrie will make when faced with the opportunity to save her students.

Mobius: "Ha, that sounds nice, but in the end, wasn't it you who awakened the Herrscher of the Void and specially prepared the Valkyrie armor, using everything available to achieve your goal?"

Mobius: "You let the beast out of its cage and then handed the dagger to the zookeeper. How dare you claim innocence?"

Otto: "That's why I've never denied that I'm mostly a Villain."

Kiana: "Damn it! Otto, turn your head away, I'm going to smash your head in!"

Himeko Murata: "Calm down, Kiana. Anger and impulsiveness will only cloud your judgment."

Kiana clenched her fists, seething with hatred. If Himeko Murata hadn't been holding her back, she would have already led her men to storm the Schicksal Headquarters.

[Congratulations Otto on receiving the reward: Soulium Reinforcement Fluid.]

[Description: After use, it can increase the hardness of Soulium by three times.]

Amber: "Soulium can actually be reinforced a second time? If we could analyze the composition of this liquid, we could definitely make a lot of profit. Bishop... Your Excellency, what are you doing?"

Amber turned her head, just about to report to Otto, when she saw Otto dripping Soulium Reinforcement Fluid onto his face.

Otto: "Of course, it's to verify if this liquid really works. The effect is good. Amber, take it to the research department for analysis."

Otto handed the remaining reinforcement fluid to Amber, patted the Soulium on his face, and found it was indeed much stronger than before.

[In the scene, Himeko Murata walks through a dark base, her shoes making a heavy sound as they step on the cold alloy.]

The aftereffects of Honkai Energy corruption are worsening in her body, and if she does not receive timely treatment, this seasoned A-Rank Valkyrie is at risk of losing her life at any time.

Pat, pat.

Himeko Murata dragged herself over the wreckage of the mecha and headed towards the finish line.

At the end of the corridor stood a bright red Valkyrie armor.

"Is this what you asked me to find Fu Hua?"

Fu Hua's voice entered Himeko Murata's mind directly. "This is what you want, Otto's hidden secret, the weapon Schicksal uses to confront the Herrscher head-on."

The prototype of the God-Slaying Armor, Vermilion Knight: Eclipse: Eclipse.

The Herrscher have awakened, and this armor is their only means of fighting against Herrscher.

It is not a product of this era, but a legacy left by Previous Era. After Schicksal obtained it, it used it as a basis to develop the modern Valkyrie armor.

But I can't use it right now.

Fu Hua's body is still in Schicksal; she is now merely a feather transformed using the power of Fenghuang Down.

"Teacher Himeko, you are the only person I can turn to for help right now, but the final decision rests with you."

Donning the Vermilion Knight: Eclipse armor means facing off against the Herrscher of the Void.

This is a mission with no chance of return, and a certain death.

"Don't say things like that, Fu Hua. From the moment I became Valkyrie, I made my choice."

Himeko Murata walked to the mecha and touched its deep red body.

"Then I'll help you put it on."

Fu Hua's consciousness was connected to Vermilion Knight: Eclipse, and her mecha showed signs of loosening.

--Access confirmed, mental wavelength detected, authentication initiated.

--Authentication complete, category: level zero permissions.

--Request approved. Switching to combat mode. Switching complete. Energy furnace begins supply.

"When you put on this armor, the Herrscher's gems will corrupt your mind. I will do my best to stop it, but more importantly, it's up to you."

"Um."

Himeko stepped into the armored cabin, and light shone upon her.

"Major Himeko, thank you for your continued guidance. If fate allows, we shall meet again in the future."

Fu Hua's figure gradually disappeared, transforming into a faintly visible feather.

Himeko Murata slowly emerged from the armored cabin, her crimson armor sharp as daggers, and the pain caused by Honkai Energy instantly vanished.

The Crimson Knight has reclaimed the authority of the Flame Herrscher.

Pardofelis: "This is it! This is it! Sister Vill-V, can you see it? This is it! I love this so much!"

With its bright red armor and domineering Valkyrie, Pardofelis was extremely satisfied with this Vermilion Knight: Eclipse, and even wished she had chosen this one!

Vill-V: "So you like this style, Pardo? No problem, the experts will take care of it. I thought it would be a bit difficult at first, but it's just the Key of Blankness, no problem at all."

After all that, it turns out that the fourth-generation Valkyrie armor of Schicksal is actually a replica of the Key of Blankness.

Vill-V: "But as for the Key of Blankness, Pardo, your body can't handle it, right? Otherwise, I'll just build you a fully automated, three-dimensional tactical armor?"

Chapter 499 Fire, Burning

Pardofelis: "Sure, whatever you decide, Sister Vill-V, we won't be picky! But I seem to remember the Key of Blankness, it's the one Dr. Mei used... cough cough cough!"

Oh no!

The moment the words "Dr. Mei" left her lips, Pardofelis regretted it, constantly glancing at Kevin's reaction.

I almost forgot that Boss Kevin isn't back yet. Dr. Mei in front of him is like rubbing salt into a wound, isn't it?

Elysia: "The Key of Blankness, huh? I remember that thing had very strong side effects. Has Schicksal's technology already fixed it?"

Otto: "To my shame, I am not skilled in mechanics. Even with the full power of Schicksal, I could only replicate the Key of Blankness. The side effects have not been effectively resolved."

Elysia: "So, you mean by weakening it to reduce the side effects?"

That's hopeless.

Even if Vill-V were to mass-produce it, it would require the bodies of Fusion Warrior or those with the Stigmata Adept to withstand its side effects.

Moreover, Elysia was well aware of the power of the Key of Blankness.

If a toy that wasn't particularly good to begin with is weakened like Schicksal, it definitely won't meet the strength requirements for fighting Honkai.

Vill-V: "Bishop Otto, you're quite the research fanatic, aren't you? You actually thought of installing Gem of Haste in the Key of Blankness to recreate the power of the Flame Herrscher."

Otto: "Thank you for the compliment, but the drawbacks are also obvious. The Key of Blankness itself deals enormous damage, and if you add the Gem of Haste, its harm becomes unimaginable."

No matter how strong the armor is, without powerful Stigmata, humanity is too fragile.

The power of the Stigmata and the serum to heal Honkai Energy —only when both conditions are met can the Key of Blankness attempt further development.

Kiana: "Since Otto knew, why did you specifically arrange for Teacher Himeko to wear the armor?!"

Otto: "Please don't misunderstand, although everything is going as I expected, I wasn't the one who put the armor on Himeko Murata."

Otto: "I even prepared the Ultimate Anti-Honkai Energy Serum, enough to offset the side effects of the anti-armor effect. Everything is a perfect arrangement."

Kiana: "Damn it, Otto, you bastard!!"

Fu Hua: "Sigh, I still hate you, Otto."

He awakened the Herrscher of the Void, causing a catastrophe, but the Herrscher of the Void was bound to awaken eventually; it was only a matter of time.

He had meticulously planned everything— the Vermilion Knight: Eclipse, the Honkai Energy Serum —to ensure that everything would develop in a way that was most advantageous to him.

But Otto didn't actually intend to kill anyone.

Even after using the Fehu to pierce Fu Hua's head, they still prepared treatment methods for her after the incident.

Otto claimed to be Villain, yet his actions appeared to be justified and righteous.

Kiana: "Auntie Himeko, I don't want you to die! If something like this happens again, you Honkai Energy Serum yourself."

Himeko Murata: "What are you saying, Kiana? What kind of teacher just watches their student die?"

Lighting the way for their students is the most romantic journey home for a teacher.

Kiana: "Auntie Himeko..."

Raiden Mei: "No matter what, I still can't forgive Otto for what he did to Kiana."

Theresa: "Grandpa, what else do you have to say?!"

Otto: "Don't worry, my dear granddaughter, I'm not particularly interested in the power of the Herrscher of the Void right now, nor will I interfere with Herrscher of the Void awakening."

Theresa: "Really?"

Otto: "Of course, you can ask Bodhi's Flame-Chasers if you don't believe me."

Sue: "I can testify to that."

Su could roughly figure out what Otto was up to.

Reaching the other side of the Imaginary requires too much effort, and the probability of success is far less than 50%.

It's a high-stakes gamble, with only one chance and requiring you to bet everything.

It is far less important than the power of the Life Coin.

Speaking of the Life Coin, Su thought that apart from the deceased Flame-Chasers, no one had ever obtained the Life Coin.

Considering the bishop's behavior, Sue silently kept quiet.

Otto: "Schicksal will no longer interfere with the awakening of the Herrscher of the Void, but if the Herrscher of the Void awakens on her own, then there's nothing I can do to help."

Kiana: "Stop pretending, I won't!"

They already know that the current Herrscher all possess humanity; the one inside her is merely a human being, an individual with humanity.

Kiana isn't even afraid of the Herrscher herself, so why would she be afraid of another personality that shares the same consciousness as herself?!

[In the scene, Himeko Murata, dressed as Vermilion Knight: Eclipse, leaves the base and heads towards Bronya and the others.]

She walked along, leaving behind only the wreckage of mechs.

The mechs that Himeko Murata used to have to put in some effort to fight against now seemed as fragile as toys.

To reclaim the authority of the Flame Herrscher is no joke.

"Call."

Himeko Murata planted her greatsword heavily in the ground and let out a long breath.

My heart was pounding, my body had never felt so light, and even my old ailments were no longer painful.

A fiery power seemed to be bursting forth from his body.

"Everyone, wait for me, I'm back!"

Himeko Murata clenched her fist, feeling an unprecedented sense of well-being.

On the other side.

The Hyperion an emergency landing, the roar of clashing steel filled the air, and the world in Bronya's eyes began to spin.

Her body was propelled by inertia, rolling several times on the ground before coming to a stop.

Hmm.

Bronya supported herself with one hand as her vision began to return, and a faint ray of light pierced through the darkness.

"No, we have to go back right away..."

Bronya's thoughts returned to her mind, and she instinctively wanted to go back and help, but she suddenly found that the world in front of her was getting brighter and brighter.

--Fire is burning.

"You've done well, Bronya. Go back to the Hyperion. Leave this to me."

Himeko Murata stood in front of Bronya, shielding her from the Honkai Beast.