However, even though Leo Ash now possessed the Authority to analyze and materialize all things, it didn't mean he had completely become the Herrscher of Reason.
A Pseudo-Herrscher Core was, after all, vastly different from a true Herrscher Core in every aspect.
Even if Leo Ash had improved his proficiency with the materialization and analysis abilities using the illusion's Herrscher of Reason Core, he couldn't perform miracles with this substitute, as its upper limits were fixed.
His reason for implanting this core at this stage was mainly for two things.
First, although there was no particularly solid evidence, he had a premonition—in the future, he might become a Herrscher.
Once he was chosen by the Honkai and transformed into a Herrscher, he couldn't guarantee that he could activate the Mind Like Still Water skill in time to forcibly stabilize his mind.
Therefore, he had to conduct a rehearsal before the disaster struck, using the Pseudo-Herrscher Core to simulate the sudden situation of 'Leo Ash becomes a Herrscher.'
As for why he chose to swallow the core directly instead of using a gentler method—if it's for a rehearsal, what's the point of being gentle?
Once he was chosen as a Herrscher, the corruption he would face would be far more intense than this.
If he couldn't even withstand the corruption of a Pseudo-Herrscher Core, he would only be more pathetic when disaster struck in the future, even endangering his own life and the lives of others.
The second reason was actually related to the first.
After previously using Precision Control to divide the Full Rejuvenation Potion into single-drop portions and giving some to Su, Leo Ash had thought of something.
His own abilities couldn't be given to his allies to use.
But some of his powerful items could be 'mass-produced' through certain means.
As long as these items were given to allies, they could become a deciding factor in battle at critical moments.
And right now, Leo Ash had something he could 'mass-produce' with the weakened Authority of the Herrscher of Reason.
As everyone knows, HSN serum + Schariac Holy Blood = God-Slaying Spear.
And right now, Leo Ash had both of these things.
Although the HSN serum he had wasn't the final, improved version adjusted by Otto, and he didn't possess Dr. Tesla's terrifying scientific research capabilities, these were not unsolvable problems.
A lack of scientific research ability didn't matter; he had Pharmaceutical Mastery and a lite version of the Herrscher of Reason's Authority.
Through the bonus provided by the Herrscher of Reason's analysis Authority, Leo Ash activated the characteristic of Pharmaceutical Mastery—[Completely analyze the ingredient ratio of the potion before you, and know how to concoct it]—and saw a progress bar pop up, rapidly analyzing the HSN serum.
Ah, with this core, the progress is countless times faster than when I used Pharmaceutical Mastery alone.
It's just—the Honkai is also making trouble for me.
After realizing that I'm an 'unwinnable' target, has it started to target me like it did Welt Yang?
Thinking about it, that's only to be expected.
Although Prometheus No. 17 successfully infiltrated the enemy's ranks and fixed the Herrschers' Authorities, she was also forced to stand on the side of the Honkai.
Prometheus No. 17's nature as a mole was really only reflected in setting the predetermined path.
At other times, this [God of Honkai] was not only serious about wiping out humanity but would even engage in micromanagement.
Not to mention that Welt, by siding with humanity, received no support from the Honkai; when Sirin was in danger, No. 17 would even directly step in to block a fatal blow for her.
So, upon realizing that not only could I not be won over, but I was even using 'Honkai power' to fight against the Honkai, it was only natural for It to want to screw with me through the core.
After successfully analyzing the HSN serum, Leo Ash looked at his arm, picked up the small blade, and lightly cut himself, simultaneously activating the [Holy Blood Burst] ability, successfully converting the blood in his body into Schariac Holy Blood.
Thanks to Pharmaceutical Mastery's characteristic—[After actively using this skill, potions can be fused with certain creations]—Leo Ash could more easily fuse the HSN serum and the Schariac Holy Blood.
However, because the Holy Blood converted by the fragment's power would revert to normal blood after leaving his body for a while, he couldn't store it in advance and had to use it fresh.
As the blood flowed into the test tube Leo Ash had prepared, his face gradually grew a bit pale.
But right now, looking at the Holy Blood and HSN serum before him, he only felt his heart grow calmer, as if this blood wasn't his at all.
After collecting the blood, Leo Ash cast a Powerful Healing Spell on himself, restoring his body to its optimal condition.
While concocting the God-Slaying Spear, Leo Ash simultaneously began to ponder another key issue.
Hmm, let me think. After these things are made, they must be given to someone trustworthy who won't blow their cover.
I trust Fu Hua and Theresa's character, but judging by their performance against Otto...
Sigh, one is an honest person who gets tricked all the time, and the other isn't so honest but still can only get tricked when facing Otto.
I can trust their character, but their ability in this area is really not worthy of my trust.
As for the others...
Kiana would most likely be the first unlucky one to get stabbed by the God-Slaying Spear.
Bronya, Mei, and Yuna haven't seen through Otto's true colors yet. Who knows if they would just answer Otto's questions directly if he asked them about these things.
Senior Himeko is smart and trustworthy, but the problem is... her strength isn't quite up to par.
An A-rank is already insufficient for future battles, and her strength has further declined after injecting the improved HSN serum.
With her current strength, she'd probably be the first to fall in a battle against a Herrscher. Even if I gave her the God-Slaying Spear, she might not get the chance to use it.
Sigh, I feel like I still have to give this thing to Su.
He's smart and knows when and on whom to use this thing.
Plus, he's a psychic MANTIS, unafraid of Otto's Mimic Fenghuang Down. His own strength is also outstanding, and with the Key of the Void, while he might not be guaranteed to win against Otto, he can leave whenever he wants.
...
Come to think of it, he's a perfect counter to Otto. Otto will definitely find a time to backstab Su.
Su must have thought of this too, but he has too many moral lines he won't cross and might not anticipate the kind of dirty tricks Otto would pull, making it impossible to guard against.
I feel like I need to find a chance to meet him again and discuss a strategy.
Thinking about it now, he has the power to create World Bubbles and even demonstrated the power to 'create a Bianka double' in the Legacy arc.
In that case, it's fine if Otto doesn't make a move, but if he does...
If Su can't hold Otto back then either, letting Su temporarily 'die' and then intervening at a critical moment might actually produce some unexpected effects.
As his mind raced with these thoughts, Leo Ash also completed the concoction of the first God-Slaying Spear.
However, although the two liquids had fused, the final 'God-Slaying Spear,' as identified by Leo Ash's Authority, was clearly a defective product incapable of unleashing its full power.
It's not that simple after all.
Things are not looking good. Since I'm already starting to suspect I might become a Herrscher in the future, then no matter what, I must leave behind a trump card 'to counter Leo Ash' with these people.
Thinking about it now, in the original timeline, Chen Tianwu stuffed his core into Anna at the end, hoping she would live on...
Was that act really without the secret guidance of the God of Honkai?
Chen Tianwu's actions enhanced Anna's power, but they also pushed Anna completely to the side of the Honkai, turning her into a powerful Herrscher with two cores.
Judging from how the Herrscher of Sentience was later 'guided' into actions that seemed correct but were actually beneficial to the Honkai, It must have been secretly watching all Herrschers and Herrscher Hosts.
If I put myself in Its shoes and think, if It were to choose a sufficiently powerful person to become a Herrscher without aiding the enemy...
Heh, I think I get it now.
It must first exhaust the opponent with continuous battles, then bestow the Herrscher Core upon them at their weakest moment, thereby luring them into becoming an apostle of the Honkai.
In that case, in future battles, I not only have to win, but I have to win easily and flawlessly.
...This is really pushing it, okay? This is already a soulslike game, and now you want me to do a no-hit run. And not only a no-hit run, but I can't even use too much stamina.
I hope I'm either overestimating myself or It, otherwise...
—The days ahead will only get tougher and tougher.
Let's not think about this for now. I'll focus on preparing all the God-Slaying Spears.
All panic stems from a lack of power and not enough trump cards.
I can't rush improving my power, so for now, I can only hunker down and craft my god-tier equipment.
Damn it, if you really push me to the edge, I'll just stop caring about hiding information.
From now on, before every fight, I'll give everyone around me a God-Slaying Spear. Let's see what you do then!
.....
That afternoon. Bronya's room.
Inside Bronya's room, Bronya, who had just returned to her dorm after class, looked at Kiana walking into her room with a grin and had already guessed her intentions.
"Sister Kiana, Bronya has already heard about you needing to get high scores."
"Bronya will help arrange tutoring sessions for you, but—Sister Kiana, you must also start working hard from today."
"As expected of Bronya!"
Listening to Bronya's very reliable statement, Kiana hugged Bronya with immense joy.
"That's great, thank you!"
"...Sigh."
After letting out a sigh, Bronya struggled out of Kiana's embrace and stared wordlessly at her.
Sister Kiana is such an idiot. If she were just a little more serious usually, she wouldn't be caught by Teacher Himeko and Headmaster Theresa's weak points.
Her theoretical intelligence isn't low, so why does she seem like such an idiot in daily life?
"Um, Bronya."
After being stared at by Bronya's speechless gaze for a few seconds, Kiana scratched her head, a little embarrassed.
"Actually, this lady has one more favor to ask of you."
Ah, Sister Kiana, this thick-skinned idiot, is actually showing such an expression.
"Does Bronya have the right to refuse?"
The moment Bronya said this, the expression on Kiana's face immediately fell.
"Th-this... Of course, you do!"
"But please help me, Bronya! Only you can help me with this!"
...
It's just so helpless.
Bronya really didn't know what could be so important.
Seeing that Bronya wasn't speaking, Kiana could only continue in a very low voice.
"Um, before we start tutoring, this lady wants you to help me pick out a nice swimsuit..."
"...Bronya isn't mishearing, is she?"
Hearing Kiana's request, Bronya asked with a hint of suspicion.
"Shouldn't you be asking Sister Mei about this? She should know more about these things than Bronya."
That's true, but...
Thinking of Mei in Leo's room last night, a subtle sense of resistance welled up inside Kiana.
She didn't understand why she didn't want to go buy a swimsuit with Mei, but—if she didn't want to, she didn't want to. Now wasn't the time to overthink it; just follow her instincts!
"Well, mainly... ah, that's right!"
Recalling the 'turmoil' from about a month ago, Kiana immediately said to Bronya.
"Didn't you say before that you've also systematically studied seduction techniques and that sort of thing?"
Ha?
"So this time, actually, in short—I want you to guide me in these skills, Teacher Bronya!"
Ha??
Looking at Kiana, who was actually bowing, Bronya felt that something was wrong with this script.
Wait, you came to find Bronya for something like this???
Wh-what on earth is going on???
.