[After Welt unleashed his full power, Sirin felt helpless for the first time.
Countless warships and artillery manifested out of thin air—no matter how many she destroyed, more would immediately appear!
"No!
I won't run away!"
The girl exerted her full authority, tearing apart the surrounding space.
Spatial teleportation, Void Lances—Welt's created army was utterly annihilated.
"Spatial teleportation… So you're finally going all out?
The power of a Herrscher truly is overwhelming."
Welt stood amidst the ruins, his body breaking down from overusing his authority, blood trickling from his lips, veins bulging on his face as he stared defiantly at his foe. "Fall down, then stand back up!
This is how humanity moves forward!
Come on, our battle has only just begun!"]
[Silver Wolf]: "I have a feeling… Miss Sirin isn't very skilled at using spatial authority?"
[Ratio]: "From observing the clash between these two Herrschers, it's clear that for a Herrscher to wield their authority perfectly, they require considerable knowledge.
And she…"
Though Professor Ratio understood that given her circumstances, she never had the chance to study, he still couldn't help but worry about her lack of education.
On the Astral Express, Welt had remained silent for a long time.
While the three youngsters were fired up watching his battle, even Dan Heng had to admit: "That was cool!"
But having acquaintances witness his edgy, cringe-worthy past was simply too much for this century-old man.
[However, Welt wasn't fighting alone.
The forces of Anti-Entropy were already prepared—their strongest weapon was about to be deployed on the battlefield!
Far from the battlefield, near a snowfield launch site, Tesla tearfully set up the atomic bomb's firing sequence.
For Welt, this was a life-or-death crisis—the sheer energy might tear him apart as well!
On the battlefield, Sirin, as the true Herrscher of the Void, gradually gained the upper hand in the prolonged battle.
But Welt didn't need to defeat her—he just had to hold out until the arrival of the "God-Slaying Weapon"!
Sirin looked down at the captured Welt with disdain. "Game over.
You wasted quite a bit of my energy… But in the end, a counterfeit is just a counterfeit."
Just as Sirin was about to kill Welt, a meteor streaked across the sky—the atomic bomb made its dazzling entrance!
Sirin didn't know what this weapon was, but her instincts screamed danger.
Three seconds remained before impact—not enough time to teleport herself to safety or send the bomb away.
Faced with imminent death, she improvised and teleported the weapon underground.
Yet, even with the earth as her shield, Sirin was severely wounded and collapsed weakly onto the ground.
Welt, who had prepared defenses in advance, approached.
For Earth's sake, he mustered his last strength to eliminate Sirin.
"9th Divine Key—Eden's Star
Zero-Power Output—Pseudo Black Hole!"
Despite her struggles, Sirin was sucked into the black hole.
But then, a man wearing a jester's mask appeared, punched the heavily wounded Welt, and crushed Eden's Star.
Seizing the chance, Sirin fled with Bella.
The jester intended to kill Welt outright, but Siegfried arrived just in time—though he was no match either.
He lost one of his Judgement of Shamash pistols and was gravely injured himself.
Siegfried was a man of loyalty and honor—he couldn't just watch his benefactor die.
Otherwise, he'd be kneeling on a washboard when he got home!
So despite his own injuries and the risk of mutual destruction, he punched the jester square in the mask.
"What a nuisance… Siegfried always does as he pleases."
Otto—now holding his shattered mask—felt equally exasperated.
For the sake of his plans, Siegfried couldn't die here yet.
After issuing some threats, Otto gracefully bowed as golden feathers scattered around him—then vanished into thin air.
Once they returned to Babylon Tower,
Siegfried vouched for Anti-Entropy to stay temporarily.
After treatment from Einstein and Tesla, Welt barely clung to life.]
[Tesla]: "Damn that Otto *****!
Siegfried, that punch was perfect!
Absolutely perfect!
If not for Otto, would the Second Eruption have been such a mess!?"
[Otto]: "Tch. Had I known you'd cause so much trouble later, Siegfried, I should've killed you right then."
[Honkai: Star Rail - Void Archives]: "Long time no see, Otto, my old friend. Pity you'll never get to witness the universe's beauty."
[Otto]: "…I died? You're free?"
[Honkai: Star Rail - Void Archives]: "Of course, my friend. Died without even a grave to your name. Want me to put on a tearful mourning performance at your nonexistent tomb?"
Otto smirked.
He knew that in the original timeline, he had succeeded—he had brought Kallen back.
If not for that outcome, he would never have allowed himself to die!
[Kevin]: "Your true goal wasn't fighting Honkai?"
[Otto]: "Pioneer of the Previous Era… Indeed, resisting Honkai wasn't my priority.
I only wanted to resurrect Kallen.
Until then, I wouldn't let Honkai destroy this world."
[Ruan Mei]: "Resurrecting the dead?
If it's just one specific person… That's nigh impossible—even for an Aeon."
[Luocha]: "…"
[Fu Xuan]: "As far as I know, not even the Abundance Emanator can revive the dead.
If you truly succeeded… That would be nothing short of a miracle."
[Bronya Zaychik]: "So this is why you let the Second Herrscher escape?"
Bronya seethed with anger.
If not for this… Would Siberia have been reduced to ruins?
Would she and the orphanage children have suffered so much?
On the Astral Express, everyone bombarded Mr. Yang with questions and concern—the sight of him on death's door still fresh in their minds.
[Ahem, that concludes Part 1 of the Second Eruption arc.
Seems like you all aren't in high spirits—how about something more uplifting?]
[Honkai: Star Rail - Welt]: "Indeed… The latter half of the Second Eruption is even more brutal.
Maybe we should take a breather?"
Welt exhaled deeply.
If they continued…
They'd soon reach the part where he started doing metaphorical sit-ups from fatal wounds.
Just seeing him critically injured had already worried his Express companions—if they found out he actually died once… They'd be devastated.
He didn't mind for himself—but he didn't want his friends to worry.
[Otto]: "Of course, my friend!
What we watch next is entirely up to you!"
He feared that without a break, Valkyries from Schicksal might revolt upon learning of his machinations—just as he had staged a coup against his own father five centuries prior.
[Aha]: "Aha agrees!
Watching one thing for too long is no fun at all!
Let's find some entertainment!"