"Or perhaps, from the very moment they appeared, humanity's position on this planet—within this solar system—fell beneath that of the Herrschers."
Those informed of the truth naturally understood that the "they" Otto referred to meant the Will of Ruler. To those unaware, it simply sounded like he was speaking of the Herrschers of this world.
In Otto's eyes, the entirety of human civilization was like a nest of ants in the courtyard of a household within a greater civilization.
The forces of the Will of Ruler had no need to bend down to such a nest of ants and say, "The ground you build upon is mine."
"I deeply admire the courage of human warriors who face the Honkai without fear of sacrifice," Otto continued. "But unfortunately, their sacrifices are meaningless. They hold no value whatsoever."
"If an enemy so powerful as to be utterly unbeatable were to stand before you, would you still choose to resist?"
"We originally intended to accomplish all of this in a relatively gentle manner—allowing the Herrschers to replace us as the new rulers of this planet, completing evolution, so that humanity might naturally integrate into the new world."
After traveling to multiple other worlds, Otto and the others had confirmed that under the rule of the Will of Ruler, those worlds were nearly utopian. Though Herrschers ruled in name, most of them had little interest in governing.
Sitting in the ruler's seat was more like clocking in for work.
Like a civilization that had reached its apex, with nothing left to pursue, inventing tasks simply to pass the time.
"But the stupidity and ignorance of the Human Contract Alliance—their selfish desires—have destroyed all of that."
"Before our Current Era civilization, there was the Previous Era. Before that, another civilization before it… All of them ultimately perished because their evolution failed."
"This world's human civilization exists for the purpose of evolving into a Honkai civilization. If evolution fails, human civilization will be reset."
"Perhaps you do not understand what I mean by reset. That is fine. I can show you."
The video feed shifted to a ruined city—Nagazora in the Far East.
Upon receiving the signal, Prometheus activated the device. The entire city seemed to rewind in time. Buildings restored themselves as if time flowed backward. The dead rose to life. Those who had turned into zombies reverted to human form.
The scene resembled a miracle.
Across the world, viewers erupted in shock. Merlin Cavendish shot to her feet, eyes wide, staring at the screen in disbelief. She immediately ordered Fabella, "Send a team to investigate Nagazora at once."
She had to confirm whether this was real—or merely a special-effects fabrication meant to deceive them.
"Yes."
Fabella hurried to make arrangements.
Satellites in orbit adjusted their high-definition cameras toward Nagazora.
Very soon, the satellite footage left the entire Human Contract Alliance stunned. The upper echelons considered suppressing the information—but upon reflection, realized it was pointless.
The real question was Otto himself.
How had he achieved this?
Such inconceivable technology.
"This is Nagazora—the city where we planned to cultivate Herrschers. The epicenter of temporal turbulence. A place where a passage to other worlds exists. It was here that we came into contact with Honkai civilizations from parallel worlds that had successfully evolved, and learned the truth of the Honkai."
"Each Honkai Eruption inevitably brings mass extinction to the dominant species of the world. Humanity is simply the race chosen by that unfathomable divine will to undergo trial."
"There are fourteen trials in total. Each trial gives rise to a different Herrscher. The First Herrscher—the Herrscher of Reason—Welt Joyce. His authority was analysis and construction."
The video shifted to old footage of Welt Joyce. Otto's voice continued:
"He was an outstanding Herrscher. Had it not been for our ideological conflict, he would have been the best candidate to succeed me as Overseer of Schicksal."
"Unfortunately, out of my own human selfishness and suspicion, I killed him…" Otto laid bare everything that had happened in the past without reservation. "And thus, he died protecting humanity."
"Now let us speak of the Second Herrscher. I bear great responsibility for her emergence. You are likely already familiar with her. The information about the Second Herrscher circulating online was released by me. She was a Herrscher born from humanity's ugliness, harboring immense hostility toward mankind."
"But regardless—I am willing to shoulder full responsibility for that matter."
As for Sirin, Otto did not elaborate further.
"Next, the Third Herrscher—the Herrscher of Thunder. We discovered her before she awakened. With intelligence provided by parallel worlds, we learned the conditions for Herrscherization: intense emotions. Positive or negative—either will suffice."
"She could have remained at Chiba Academy, nurtured by happiness and warmth, awakening like Welt Joyce—becoming a Herrscher capable of guiding humanity toward a brighter future."
"In the end, however, it was the Human Contract Alliance's malice, suspicion, and fear of the unknown that drove her into Herrscherization through anger, despair, and vengeance."
The video shifted to scenes of Raiden Mei living happily at Chiba Academy—followed by the image of her awakening as a Herrscher amidst the burning ruins of the academy, cradling Bronya's corpse.
"As for the remaining Herrschers, I will not go into detail. Most have likely fallen to darkness by now. After the Thirteenth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Finality—who integrates the authorities of the previous thirteen—will be born. An immortal, omniscient, omnipotent god."
"The power I just used to reset Nagazora was but a fragment of divine power obtained from a follower of the Herrscher of Finality—the supreme ruler of a parallel-world Honkai civilization known as the Divine Emperor."
"The Herrscher of Finality is also the ultimate objective of the God Creation Project jointly conducted by Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and World Serpent in Nagazora."
"Ladies and gentlemen—will you continue to follow those vermin of human society, or will you join us in glorious evolution? To create a god belonging to this world, and usher in a brand-new Honkai civilization."
Otto reappeared on the screen.
"There is no denying that the God Creation Project is extraordinarily difficult. Enormous sacrifices will be required."
"We will face many who are foolish—who cannot understand us—and who will attempt to obstruct us."
"Even the Herrschers who have fallen to darkness because of the Human Contract Alliance's stupidity may attack us."
"Our plan may fail, just as the Previous Era and the civilization before it failed."
"But some things must be done by someone."
"If we fail, then all of us shall wait together for the world to reset."
"If we succeed—even if only the Herrscher of Finality remains in the end—our sacrifices will be endowed with greater meaning. They will achieve value far beyond ourselves, leading civilization out of the cruel, endless cycle of failed evolution and into a new epoch."
"Perhaps, under the power of a god, we too may be reborn."
Otto's sermon-like speech left Merlin Cavendish unable to discern whether he was speaking the truth—or spinning yet another grand deception.
However, when people fall into despair, if someone offers them even the slightest glimmer of hope, they will desperately cling to it.
With the world ravaged by the Honkai, everyone carried more or less a sense of despair in their hearts.
Otto was trying to seize control of the world once more—to push forward their plan.
"So this is your trump card?"
Merlin Cavendish had not expected Otto to turn the tables in such a manner.
The problem was which parts of his words were true—and which were lies.
Contact with Honkai civilizations from other parallel worlds—there was a high probability that part was true.
And the cultivation of a Herrscher of Finality—that was likely true as well.
Damn it!
Merlin Cavendish suddenly realized why Otto had remained silent while the Human Contract Alliance swallowed up Schicksal without much resistance.
The Human Contract Alliance had been used—without even realizing it.
Otto had used them to forge an enemy for those Herrschers.
Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and World Serpent knew the inside story. None of them wished to play the villain personally.
So they handed the knife to the Human Contract Alliance—and let them become the villains instead.
"Leader, Honkai energy concentrations across the globe are dropping sharply. The Herrscher of Thunder and Herrscher of Fire are returning to Chiba Academy in Nagazora. Should we launch an attack?"
"Not yet." Merlin Cavendish took a deep breath, her mind carefully analyzing every word Otto had spoken. When he mentioned the Second Herrscher, that tone of repentance—of accepting full responsibility—who had he been speaking to?
Who could compel him to publicly confess like that of his own accord?
A Honkai civilization.
That was it.
If Otto and the others could cross over to the other side, there was no reason that the other side could not come here.
After witnessing a true Honkai civilization, Otto had grown afraid.
Kallen!
From intelligence gathered from Anti-Entropy, Merlin Cavendish knew Otto's obsession: reviving the Saintess Kallen who had died five hundred years ago.
Previously, she had assumed the Kallen who replaced Otto as Overseer of Schicksal was merely a genetic clone.
Now, it was highly likely that she was the real Kallen from five centuries past.
Humanity's current technology could never accomplish something like that—restoring an entire city and resurrecting masses of people.
Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and World Serpent must have obtained other trump cards from that Honkai civilization as well.
But what price had they paid?
Was the God Creation Project truly their own plan—or was it the design of that Honkai civilization?
Merlin Cavendish felt a headache coming on.
A Honkai civilization capable of casually granting such power was, to her, like adding an unknown referee to the chessboard where the Human Contract Alliance, Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, World Serpent, and the Honkai were already locked in struggle.
A referee who could decide victory or defeat at will.
That referee was extraordinarily powerful—and clearly inclined toward the Honkai's side.
The "unbeatable enemy" Otto had mentioned was not referring to the Herrschers.
It was that Honkai civilization.
"Leader, the Shenzhou councilor and several others have sent a message. They invite you to a joint discussion."
"I understand."
Merlin Cavendish waved her hand lightly, as though unconcerned.
Her mood was dreadful.
Otto, Anti-Entropy, and World Serpent—those bastards—had waited until the Human Contract Alliance's military strength and prestige were shattered before stepping forward.
And they even brought in a third party to cheat.
Still, the Human Contract Alliance could not dissolve.
It had to hold steady.
There was too little intelligence. She needed more information.
Nagazora.
The personnel of Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and World Serpent who had died and been resurrected only now learned from their superiors what the plan they were participating in truly entailed.
No wonder they had been told that joining this plan meant experiencing the agony of dying and coming back to life.
It had been literal.
The technology that could restore everything—including human lives—was simply unbelievable.
"The Moonlight Throne conversion system is operating."
"The Herrscher of Thunder and Herrscher of Fire have returned to Chiba Academy."
"Monitor Honkai energy levels closely. They awakened through negative emotions. Their mental states are highly unstable."
"If we die again, will we still be resurrected?"
"Probably. I heard this is technology from a higher civilization in another parallel world. Reviving people is as simple for them as eating and drinking."
"Seriously?"
"Didn't you die once already? What more proof do you need?"
Everyone returned to their posts and resumed their work.
....
Chiba Academy, Nagazora.
The Herrscher of Thunder and Herrscher of Fire Kiana stood together, holding Bronya in their arms. Four soft mounds pressed against her head.
Bronya felt somewhat uncomfortable from the squeezing, but she did not struggle. She only murmured softly, "Kiana… Mei… you're holding me too tight."
Only then did Herrscher of Fire Kiana and the Herrscher of Thunder loosen their embrace slightly.
Herrscher of Fire Kiana's eyes were filled with a complicated mixture of confusion and anger. "What are we, exactly? Are we just pieces on someone else's board?"
The Herrscher of Thunder gently stroked Bronya's hair and spoke slowly, "My fate is mine to decide. I need to become stronger."
A flash of determination crossed Herrscher of Fire Kiana's eyes. "Right. Only by becoming stronger can we control everything… and protect Bronya."
Chiba Academy in Nagazora resembled St. Freya Academy in some ways, but its educational philosophy was entirely different. Rather than cultivating Valkyries to protect humanity, it upheld absolute meritocracy—the law of the jungle. Survival of the fittest.
Not only did it constantly emphasize the importance of strength and intelligence in its teachings, but even in daily life—food, clothing, housing, resources—those who excelled in strength and intellect received special treatment and greater allocation.
After returning, the Herrscher of Thunder and Herrscher of Fire Kiana entered the privileged tier. They could do almost anything they pleased.
The third to return was the Herrscher of Death, who had been persuaded by Gray Serpent to come back to Nagazora for a look—at the cost of three of his bodies.
Three had returned.
Meanwhile, the Herrscher of Ice, Ana, and the Herrscher of Wind, Wendy, were still wandering outside.
Wendy roamed the world freely. Ana had sealed herself within an island of coral, freezing everything around her in isolation. No one could approach.
In this single Honkai Eruption, five Herrschers had appeared at once.
Although Otto's speech had shaken the world, the Human Contract Alliance barely managed to maintain stability.
After all, those at the bottom had limited access to information. Some believed him. Others did not.
Many chose to wait and see.
Internal divisions within the Human Contract Alliance grew severe. The perceptive had already realized that following the Human Contract Alliance in fighting the Honkai was like carrying a lantern into a latrine—seeking death.
First, someone had launched missiles on their own initiative, birthing five Herrschers in one stroke and triggering a global Honkai Eruption.
Then, in battle against the Herrschers, they suffered repeated defeats—resorting to large-scale strategic weapons like Honkai fission bombs to indiscriminately bombard their own cities.
In the end, they had not managed to kill a single Herrscher.
Otto of Schicksal might not be a good man—but at least he had the record of eliminating two Herrschers.
And the Human Contract Alliance?
Nothing.
All they had done was throw away lives.