The blond-haired, blue-eyed man stood on high, announcing to the members of Schicksal below that he would be stepping down as Schicksal Overseer, transferring all power to his first-in-line successor, Theresa Apocalypse.
This footage was sent to Anti-Entropy as quickly as it appeared, and its authenticity had already been confirmed through various channels.
But as everyone knows...
"That bastard Otto must be plotting something again!"
The fiery-tempered, red-haired girl with twintails slammed the table, reaching her conclusion without hesitation.
Last time, Otto deceived Fu Hua, using the Gem of Desire filled with Honkai energy to awaken the Herrscher of the Void.
This time, the man has set up such a grand stage, even giving up his power as the Schicksal Overseer, just to get them to go to Kolosten, the location of the old Schicksal Headquarters.
Even if you thought with your hair, you'd know there was a huge conspiracy hidden within.
Everyone present fell into varying degrees of contemplation due to Otto's unexpectedly bold move. Theresa's face, in particular, was filled with a worry that came from nowhere.
"Grandpa..."
She didn't know what her grandfather wanted to do, but she had a feeling it wasn't a good thing for the world.
Among the crowd, the black-haired youth's expression was calm, showing no surprise.
"For a man like Otto to make such a choice, it can only mean he is about to achieve his long-held goal, and the power of the Schicksal Overseer is no longer useful to him."
"To be more precise, as he is about to achieve his goal, the entire world is no longer important to him."
"Then why..."
Theresa was worried sick.
"Analyzing his actions, there's only one reason for him to make this choice and invite us: the final step to achieving his goal requires our presence."
A few simple words explained Otto's objective.
This was an open conspiracy.
Whether the power of the Schicksal Overseer could be smoothly passed to Theresa was not actually important.
What was important was that this power represented the stability of the world. Only with the strong suppression of this 'Emperor of the World's' power could human civilization reduce internal friction and devote the most resources to fighting the Honkai.
Just think about it.
After experiencing two world wars, the leaders of those countries have already seen a fact clearly—how many benefits one gets after a war does not depend on how much one contributed during the war, but on who has preserved the most strength after the war.
The Honkai is a war, an enemy that all of humanity needs to fight against.
But human nature is destined to be divisive. No country will use all its strength to fight the Honkai, and some will even backstab competing nations during this war.
Short-sighted interest groups will not consider the overall interests, and some people may even dream of becoming a 'doomsday emperor'.
Once Schicksal, the 'Emperor of the World' that hangs over everyone's heads, disappears, such a future is definitely not a dream.
The mutually hostile human nations will surely beat each other's brains out.
Therefore...
"For this world to continue to unite as one against the Honkai, Theresa must become the new Schicksal Overseer!"
This consensus could not be shaken.
But it also represented a risk.
"So you're saying we have to walk into the trap set by that guy Otto?"
"That's right, and we have no choice but to go."
...
Schicksal Headquarters...
"This is truly unexpected. I really didn't think that Lord Overseer would actually make such a decision."
The valiant Valkyrie looked down from a high place at the Schicksal Headquarters, which looked no different than usual, yet she still felt a sense of surrealism.
When Otto publicly announced that he would renounce the position of Schicksal Overseer, Durandal thought the man was joking. It turned out he was serious, actually intending to hand over the power of the 'Emperor of the World' to Theresa.
"Lady Durandal, as Lord Overseer's student, you should know."
Behind Durandal, Rita Rossweisse, in her exquisite maid outfit, served her superior as always, a gentle smile on her face.
"To Lord Overseer, 'Schicksal Overseer' is merely a necessity on the path to success. When this power is no longer needed, using it as a stepping stone to achieve a goal is making the best use of it."
"Rita, do you know what Lord Overseer wants to do?"
"I do not know, but I think it must be Lord Overseer's ultimate pursuit of the past five hundred years."
"Ultimate pursuit, is it..."
Durandal's eyes gradually unfocused as she looked toward a distant direction.
She also didn't know what her teacher, Otto, who had stayed in this world for five hundred years through mechanical ascension, was pursuing.
But there was one thing she could confirm...
"Rita, if what teacher is doing is harmful to this world, can you be with me?"
"Lady Durandal, I am your adjutant."
The maid was loyal and had never intended to betray her superior.
If there was a conflict between Otto's and Durandal's orders, Rita would absolutely prioritize executing Durandal's orders.
After all, Durandal was not only the superior she had raised, but also her hope for creating little silly geese in the future!
Apart from the unprecedented grand propositions of fighting the Honkai and saving the world, only little Durandal was most important to her.
"Thank you, Rita."
Unaware of the mischievous ideas Rita was having, Durandal was very grateful for her adjutant's support, even feeling a little moved.
The topic changed.
"Rita, speaking of which, it's been a long time since you've seen that guy, hasn't it?"
She was, of course, referring to Brian.
The man who had made her suffer an unprecedented defeat, and even once dominated her with joy beans!
The mere thought of that man made Durandal's muscles tense up, wanting to rush over and punch him.
That nonsensical ability was simply too indecent!
Rita: "For Lady Durandal to ask about him, could it be that you miss him too?"
She missed that guy because he had already left a shadow in her heart, and allowed this feeling, which had turned from fiction to reality, to ferment over time, letting distance and time brew it into a mellow, fragrant wine.
And Durandal missing him...
'It can't be that my silly goose misses that feeling of joy beans and has become infatuated with him, right?'
Thinking this, Rita even felt a little excited.
After all, if Durandal thought so, it meant that the time for her to relive having a little silly goose was getting closer, and there might even be an endless supply of little silly geese.
Just thinking about the scene that could excite a lolicon like her, Rita couldn't help but press her knees together.
Subarashii!
But as it turned out, this was just Rita's wishful thinking.
"Of course I miss him very much!"
Flames burned in Durandal's eyes. "Although that guy is your boyfriend, for him to do that to me on the battlefield, I'll beat him up sooner or later!"
Her defeat at the Far East Branch was the greatest humiliation of Durandal's life.
She did not lose on the front lines, but together with her comrade Li Sushang, she experienced the first defeat of her life because of that guy's indecent ability.
What a great humiliation!
Hearing this, Rita smiled sweetly: "Lady Durandal, if you really want to duel him again, I wouldn't mind sacrificing my personal relationship a little to arrange a time for you."
A single sentence made Durandal's expression a little awkward.
"Can you make him not use those indecent abilities?"
That pink Honeysuckle Crest was still on her stomach, flashing out from time to time when she took a bath.
It was truly shameful!
If that guy used a similar anti-female special ability again, Durandal didn't think she could break through the limits of her body and transcend matter with her spirit.
"Probably... that won't be possible, I think."
"Then never mind."
Rita's face once again showed a teasing smile: "It seems Lady Durandal has some prejudice against my boyfriend. He's not actually that indecent of a man. Except for special occasions, he generally doesn't use those embarrassing abilities."
"This special occasion you speak of, it probably includes when we duel, right?"
"Lady Durandal, you've gotten smarter."
"..."
Clenching her fist, the valiant Valkyrie decided not to endure any longer.
"Rita, a world-level change is coming, and there are still many enemies in this world waiting for us to stop them."
A grand, righteous blueprint was described by Durandal in a few sentences. Rita Rossweisse, who had been secretly laughing just a moment ago, instantly wiped the smile from her face.
"Lady Durandal, Rita remembers..."
"Housework is not important. Rita, it's time for you to improve your combat skills as well."
The Valkyrie Durandal grabbed Rita Rossweisse and dragged her adjutant away in an instant.
...
The majestic battleship rode the wind and waves. The Hyperion pierced through layer after layer of clouds, sailing towards the old Schicksal Headquarters.
Theresa Apocalypse, the protagonist of this journey, stood on her bridge, feeling a sense of unease ever since their departure.
"I hope... it's just my imagination..."
"Great Aunt, what are you talking about?"
The snow-haired girl beside her moved her jaw, crunching the potato chips in her mouth and swallowing them.
Kiana's big eyes, as pure as the sky, were filled with concern. She then followed her heart and started to care for Theresa: "Great Aunt, don't worry. No matter what problems lie ahead, no matter what that guy Otto wants to do, we will definitely handle it well and not let him hurt anyone else!"
As she spoke, Kiana rolled up her sleeves, trying hard to show off her biceps, which made Theresa find it rather amusing.
"Kiana, thank you for your concern, but he is still my grandfather after all. If you criticize him like that, aren't you afraid I'll give you a scolding?"
"You'd have to catch me first!"
With her hands on her hips, Kiana's expression was full of pride.
After being away from the Far East Branch for so long, she was no longer a thirsty little bitch whose brain was filled with viscous liquid.
Snatching power from the Herrscher of the Void and making good use of the Gem of Desire in her body was what she had been doing all along.
Right now, while she might not be as terrifying as Sirin, the Herrscher of the Void during the Second Honkai Eruption, she could at least touch the hem of her clothes, her use of Herrscher powers far exceeding what it was before.
And while the Key of Binding in Theresa's hands was powerful, her own mobility after properly using her Herrscher powers was also formidable.
As long as Theresa couldn't catch her, it didn't matter how powerful she was.
After all... it's not like the power of the Key of Binding could cover the entire planet, right?
That was, in theory, an ability only the Herrscher of the End possessed.
"Kiana, you've grown up too."
Theresa felt a little emotional.
The transformation from a girl to a woman seemed to have happened in a flash in her memory.
In the blink of an eye, Kiana had become a mature adult, and who knows when she might become a mother.
Time really flies.
Theresa also never expected that she, who had witnessed the birth of Kiana Kaslana, might live to see the birth of Cecilia's granddaughter.
When that time comes, even Cecilia in heaven would smile and give her blessings, right?
"Great Aunt, why do you sound like you're about to die?"
The perceptive Kiana sensed the profound depth behind Theresa's words.
"Kiana, what are you guys talking about?"
A man suddenly appeared behind Kiana, skillfully wrapping his arms around her slender waist from behind.
Among all the girls who had an intimate relationship with Brian, Kiana's waist was the most slender. Even the so-called A4 waist couldn't compare to this willow-like waist.
In his calculations, to achieve such a degree would require a normal person to remove at least two ribs.
He really didn't know how Kiana grew to be like this, and could only marvel at the Creator's skill.
"You... Great Aunt is still here..."
The skilled technique and familiar warmth made Kiana's delicate body go limp in a few breaths. She had to lean against the man's chest behind her to barely avoid collapsing to the ground.
The girl's slender figure twisted unconsciously like a water snake, but it was not as resistant as her words suggested.
Perhaps...
'Am I being used as part of their foreplay?'
Although she knew that the young people of this generation were very playful, Theresa never expected her own great-niece to dare to use her as part of their foreplay.
Combined with the fact that she occasionally bumped into these two causing trouble among the flowers and grass outside...
"..."
Could it be that this unfilial Kiana had designs on her, her great-aunt?
Behind the seemingly chubby and foolish face was the mind of an adult. Theresa never minded using the most sinister thinking to guess her great-niece's intentions!
This naturally evil Herrscher brat!
After a brief, quiet exchange, the uninvited Brian then turned his gaze to Theresa.
"Principal, your grandfather is not coming with good intentions this time. We don't know what he wants to do for the time being, but whatever it is, it will ultimately require us to push it forward."
"I know, but we have to go, and he knows we will go."
It was a straightforward, open conspiracy, so there was no room for choice.
Unless they could watch this world descend into chaos in the latter half of the fight against the Honkai, they couldn't just sit back and do nothing.
But Brian didn't come looking for Theresa to talk about this.
"Principal, you should know what I really want to talk about."
Theresa: "..."
Of course she knew, she just deliberately ignored it.
Everyone on this ship, to some extent, had a grudge with Otto.
The worst had their families torn apart, the best were exiled from their homes.
If there was a chance to kill Otto Apocalypse, everyone except her would vote yes and make sure his coffin was nailed shut for good.
The long-ignored possibility was now brought to light, and the atmosphere around Theresa instantly became heavy.
"I just remembered I have some things to prepare. You and Kiana, mind your image."
The cute nun left the bridge with heavy thoughts.
Left behind, the snow-haired girl, no longer under her great-aunt's watch, instantly transformed from feigned reluctance to sultry, alluring eyes.
That pair of azure eyes glanced down, and she chuckled, "What, still have ideas about my great-aunt?"
"How could I?"
"A man's mouth is a deceiving ghost!"
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