Starting as a Behind-the-Scenes Boss in the Honkai World Chapter 33

"Is this something humans can do?"

"…I felt like I could go in, so I went in."

Shi Hen thought for a moment, then said.

"…Are you kidding me?"

Jackal blinked, a bit bewildered.

"Why would I lie to you?"

Shi Hen said with a serious expression.

On this point, he truly wasn't tricking Jackal.

"…" After a moment of thoughtful silence, Jackal asked again, "Can you still go in now?"

If Shi Hen truly controlled the ability to freely enter and exit the imaginary space, then… she didn't know what to do.

With the millenniums of data accumulated by World Serpent, coupled with her own genius, Jackal still found it difficult to comprehend.

What kind of anomaly was this guy?

"No," Shi Hen shook his head. "That was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for every Stigmata awakener."

Shi Hen didn't know the situation with other people's Stigmata, but he vaguely felt that if he hadn't been able to defeat the Stigmata Will at that time, he probably would have been trapped in the imaginary space forever.

The gifts of the imaginary were never easy to obtain.

"Is that so?"

Jackal was somewhat skeptical.

But upon reflection, this made more sense.

If every Stigmata awakener could freely travel between the imaginary space and the real world, then the Herrscher of Void would have been eliminated from the meta long ago.

"Also, what did you mean by 'controlling Honkai'?"

Jackal continued to ask.

"Literally," Shi Hen replied calmly. "In my perception, my body is no longer eroded by Honkai. As long as it's within my control, I can use Honkai Energy without limit."

Normal Stigmata awakeners merely elevated their adaptability to Honkai Energy to an extremely high level. They still had to endure the erosion of Honkai, and their bodies would be damaged by using Honkai Energy. It was just that, compared to ordinary people, this damage was so negligible that it could be ignored.

But damage was still damage, no matter how faint.

For example, someone like Welt, despite his high adaptability to the point of becoming the Herrscher of Reason, his body was still terribly eroded by Honkai, and now he had to run and hide to avoid trouble.

Theoretically, Shi Hen, having reached the Heavenly Sovereign Realm, was fully qualified to bear a Herrscher Core and wield its authority at will.

However, with his system cheat, he didn't need any other Herrscher Cores. After leaving an imprint in the imaginary, he could already draw energy through the Stigmata space that existed in the imaginary.

It could be said that, apart from not possessing authority and having a short lifespan, humans at the Heavenly Sovereign Realm and Herrschers were not significantly different in their external manifestations. Of course, this was only in terms of external appearance; the internal differences between the two were worlds apart.

But for a pragmatist like Shi Hen, anything that could make him stronger was the same, whether it was the Heavenly Sovereign Realm or a Herrscher Core. Those internal, essential differences were something that people like that white-haired furball who wanted to save the world needed to worry about, and Shi Hen didn't want to be that savior.

It's just… looking at the Void Herrscher Core that still couldn't be revealed, and then looking at the Heavenly Sovereign Realm, which provided all-around amplification, Shi Hen suddenly felt that this main storyline reward wasn't that appealing anymore.

The main storyline reward was worse than the beginner's bonus; this system was truly useless.

Shi Hen silently scorned in his heart.

"Absolute Honkai Energy adaptability!?"

Hearing Shi Hen's words, Jackal couldn't help but be astonished.

"That's probably what it means," Shi Hen nodded.

Although the improvement in Honkai Energy adaptability was just a bonus compared to creating and stabilizing a Stigmata space, it was still astonishing enough. Because under normal circumstances, this ability only appeared in Herrschers. Besides them, perhaps only those Fusion Warriors who turned themselves into non-human existences possessed it.

"Truly incredible!"

Sizing up the young man before her, Jackal's gaze couldn't help but become fervent. She really wanted to trick Shi Hen into becoming an experimental subject.

Someone who could awaken their Stigmata to this extent was probably the only one in this era, and there might not be many more in the future.

However, glancing at Raven, who was staring at her like a mother hen protecting her chick, Jackal had to temporarily abandon the idea. She was just a researcher; she didn't have the powerful combat strength of Raven and would be beaten badly by her.

Chapter 37: Helping Him Become the Leader of Anti-Entropy

Shi Hen saw Leona and the others in the confinement room of the transport ship.

Nine Valkyries were lined up and confined in a small room less than twenty square meters. Each of them was wearing handcuffs and shackles, with towels stuffed in their mouths.

This was a method of confinement that fit World Serpent's style perfectly.

Shi Hen felt he was walking further and further down the path of villainy.

Sigh, he just wanted to be an ordinary final boss, this was truly disheartening.

After freeing the Valkyries from their restraints, Shi Hen asked with concern, "Are you getting used to staying here?"

"..." Rubbing her slightly sore face and looking at the masked figure in front of her, Leona thought for a moment before saying, "Yes, I'm quite used to it."

"That's right."

"Exactly, we're all quite used to it."

The other Valkyries also chimed in, saying they felt very safe here, just like being back home.

"If that's the case, then please stay a few more days," Shi Hen said agreeably, nodding.

Since they had said so, could he really drive them away?

"..."

The Valkyries' expressions all changed.

"Haha, just kidding," Shi Hen chuckled lightly. "If you don't like it, just say so. Am I the kind of unreasonable person?"

Looking at Shi Hen in front of her, Leona pondered for a few seconds before shaking her head.

"That's right, Mr. Welt is the most reasonable person."

The other Valkyries also spoke, their tones carrying a bit more sincerity.

Although, from a factual standpoint, Shi Hen wasn't very reasonable either.

But compared to others who resorted to violence at the drop of a hat, Shi Hen was considered quite reasonable.

If it were any other secret organization, they wouldn't even have ashes left by now.

Ah, no, they were Valkyries of Schicksal, so they would most likely be sent to a laboratory to be used as test subjects for Schicksal's artificial Stigmata technology.

"Have you thought about what you'll do next? After all, you might have already made it onto some lunatic's list," Shi Hen asked.

This matter had, after all, started because of him. These Valkyries were implicated by him, and Shi Hen couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

Although, from a positional standpoint, he didn't have the right to interfere with the choices these Valkyries made.

Hearing Shi Hen's question, Leona hesitated before slowly shaking her head, "I don't know."

While they had overheard some inside information, she didn't know how the exalted Bishop would view this matter.

Perhaps, that Bishop didn't care about insignificant people like them from the very beginning?

To put it another way, even if the Bishop were to blame them, if it meant betraying Schicksal... their faith as Valkyries wasn't that weak.

"After you leave here, you can request a transfer to the Far East Branch. Say it's my suggestion as Welt, and I believe the Bishop will agree."

Shi Hen attempted to offer a suggestion.

On matters unrelated to Kallen, Otto did possess the demeanor of a Grand Bishop.

Or rather, he only cared about Kallen, and everything else was of no consequence to him.

Looking at Shi Hen's eyes behind the mask, and then at her companions beside her, Leona nodded solemnly, "We'll consider it."

She trusted Shi Hen, believing he wouldn't harm them.

But similarly, as a Valkyrie, she had her own judgment.

"That's good." Shi Hen nodded slightly, then stood up. "Prepare yourselves, you can leave now."

Becoming too familiar too quickly was always a major taboo in interpersonal relationships. Shi Hen had no intention of taking care of these Valkyries; a few simple hints were enough.

As for whether they would follow his advice, what did that have to do with him?

He was merely offering a suggestion, not acting as their mother.

"Oh, right," Shi Hen added as if suddenly remembering. "If you happen to see Durandal, remember to remind her to train more and level up. I'm already three versions ahead of her."

Moonfire Phoenix, Starchasm Nyx, Heavenly Sovereign – he had already reached Heavenly Sovereign, while she hadn't even reached Moonfire Phoenix yet.

It was truly worrying.

With a long sigh, Shi Hen left, leaving behind a group of bewildered Valkyries exchanging stunned glances.

Having crossed the Far East Branch's blockade, Leona and the other Valkyries jumped off the transport ship one by one, finally flying towards the Schicksal camp with the assistance of their thrusters.

Watching the Valkyries disappear into small dots, Raven sighed as she looked at the young man beside her, "You're going to get yourself into trouble by doing this."

The World Serpent is still in its dormant phase, and concealing itself is the top priority.

In that regard, Shi Hen shouldn't have let these Valkyries go, even though they didn't know much.

But no matter what, this would more or less be a hidden danger.

"It's fine, Mr. Gray Serpent definitely won't care about such a small trouble."

Shi Hen wore a nonchalant expression.

Compared to an expert at the Heavenly Sovereign Realm, Leona and the other Valkyries were just insignificant trivial matters.

The only thing Shi Hen felt a bit regretful about was that his alternate account, Welt, would most likely be banned. He didn't want to be chased and attacked by a group of Valkyries as soon as he showed himself.

Sigh, Anti-Entropy has lost its next leader from this point on.

Although Shi Hen had never spent a single day in Anti-Entropy, he felt as if he had lost the entirety of Anti-Entropy.

"You, you're just too soft-hearted."

Raven ruffled the youth's hair, messing up his black locks, and sighed helplessly.

Even though he had caused a bloody massacre when facing the Blood Axe Mafia in Northern Europe, the youth had never killed anyone unarmed, as she had clearly seen from her hidden vantage point.

In the orderly world under the sun, mercy is a virtue.

But in the underground world where only profit matters, mercy towards others is cruelty to oneself.

Especially in a place like the World Serpent, which devours people without spitting out bones, mercy and weakness are unforgivable sins.

"It was just unnecessary."

Shi Hen quietly smoothed his hair and shrugged.

It was like how a passerby wouldn't bother to step on an ant.