Walter Joyce.
He was the very first Herrscher of Reason, the founder of Anti-Entropy, the dearest friend of Tesla and Einstein, and the very soul that guided the organization ever forward.
And yet, Tesla frowned and took a step back, while Welt Yang moved to stand in front of her.
Clearly, neither of them believed it.
"Are you another clone made by Cocolia?" Tesla asked, her brow furrowed. Unlike the previous Welt-One, this clone truly had a hint of the Walter Joyce of old.
"Just how far is that woman willing to go to desecrate Joyce's memory?" Tesla spat.
His face was a perfect copy of Joyce's. That vixen was only a step behind Otto when it came to psychological warfare.
However, the azure eyes simply gazed at the two stunned individuals.
The man calling himself "Joyce" was smiling. It wasn't an arrogant smirk, nor was it a smile that hid a dagger.
It was a refreshing smile, one that made you feel as if you were basking in a spring breeze.
For a fleeting moment, Tesla felt as if she had been transported back decades, to a time before Joyce had died.
But then, he frowned slightly.
"Cocolia? Who's that?"
Cocolia had only joined Anti-Entropy after the Second Honkai War. By then, Joyce had already been dead for decades.
"You..."
Looking at the man's puzzled expression, Welt frowned. As the current Herrscher of Reason, he sensed a familiar feeling from the man.
As if... he were the real Walter Joyce.
But Welt Yang couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, a subtle, almost imperceptible dissonance.
Faced with their doubt and distrust, "Joyce" simply let the corners of his mouth lift into a smile and said, "The Herrscher of Reason is a very special existence."
"Even if the physical body is destroyed, its memories and soul are backed up within the Herrscher Core."
This was precisely the reason why Welt Yang could keep coming back from the brink of death.
But Walter Joyce, as the first Herrscher of Reason, had been unable to resurrect using the core after his death. Because his soul was not in the core. Even after Tesla and the others searched it thoroughly, they never found a trace of him.
"Have you ever wondered where my soul went back then?"
"However..."
"It's a pity I don't have time to reminisce with you. I still have things to do."
"After all, I can't keep Him waiting."
Joyce's gaze fell upon Welt Yang. Welt instinctively took a step back, shielding Tesla behind him.
"Joachim, could you return my things to me?"
Joachim was Welt Yang's birth name.
"Things?"
Welt frowned, a bad feeling rising in his heart.
Tesla realized what Joyce was talking about. She instantly became guarded, her hands gripping Welt's clothes as she continued to stare at Joyce with disbelief.
"You still haven't proven you're Joyce."
The idea that Cocolia or Otto was using a clone to trick them out of the Herrscher of Reason's core was far more believable than Joyce actually being resurrected. After all, when you've been dealing with two foxes for so long, even a pig learns to be on guard.
But in the next instant, Joyce's figure vanished from where he stood.
"Tesla."
A calm, masculine voice sounded from behind her.
Tesla and Welt whipped their heads around. Joyce was standing right behind them. He raised his right hand and gently tapped Tesla on the head.
"Heh, you really haven't grown any taller at all."
"Ngh!"
Tesla's mouth fell open, but her consciousness was instantly stripped away. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed bonelessly against Welt's back.
"What did you do to Tesla!?"
Seeing Tesla suddenly faint, Welt caught her limp body. He raised his right hand, preparing to crush the man with ten thousand times the force of gravity.
As for whether this man was truly Joyce... that was a question to consider with Einstein after he was subdued.
But nothing happened.
The man calling himself Joyce stood there, completely unaffected.
Welt stared at his own hands in disbelief.
Where are my Herrscher of Reason authorities?
He could feel the Herrscher Core was still inside his body, yet he was unable to use a single one of its powers, as if they had been completely stripped away from him.
"What did you do?" Welt demanded, his eyes fixed on Joyce. His intuition told him this was undoubtedly the man's doing.
Faced with Welt's question, Joyce simply smiled.
"I have taken control of the connection between you and the Herrscher of Reason's core. In other words, although the core is still inside your body, you cannot use its power. I, however, can exercise the authorities of Reason."
In other words, his account had been hacked.
"But, you don't need to worry, Joachim."
"This is only temporary. After all, the Authority of Reason no longer belongs to our side."
"And the current me is only at one-thousandth of my power. I cannot seize it completely."
Joyce explained considerately. Welt did not panic. As the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, he was long past being a novice. Since resistance seemed futile, his priority now was to gather information.
If he really is Joyce...
Why would he do this?
"Are you really Joyce? But if you were alive, why didn't you come back to us? Einstein... she misses you terribly."
"Could it be... you've joined Schicksal?" Welt deliberately used Einstein and Schicksal to try and provoke him.
"Heh, my apologies," Joyce chuckled softly. "Joachim, you should get some sleep as well. I'm in a bit of a hurry."
Not good!
Welt supported the unconscious Tesla and retreated, but Joyce didn't let him go.
A right fist drove into Welt Yang's abdomen. Welt's eyes rolled back. As the Herrscher of Reason, he was taken down with a single punch.
Without the use of his Herrscher authorities, he was like any ordinary person.
Welt collapsed to the ground, cradling Tesla in his arms. He gasped for air as his consciousness rapidly faded, then plunged into complete darkness.
"Well now, you'll have to forgive me."
"If you were willing to join our side, I would welcome you with open arms."
But the two unconscious figures could offer no reply.
"Sleep well."
Joyce gave them a little wave. Looking at the fallen forms of Welt Yang and Tesla, a smile appeared on his face.
But there was no hint of mirth in his azure eyes.
He gazed into the distance, in the direction of St. Freya Academy, and began to walk slowly towards it. He opened his arms, as if to bathe in the moonlight.
Golden threads coiled around the man's body.
As if he were a marionette.
"O God, gaze upon me."
And He, the Will of Honkai, was indeed watching him.
He was standing on the stage He had prepared.
He was the first piece He had placed on the board.
Upon awakening, Joyce knew his mission.
It was a mission bestowed directly upon him by God.
And that was... to kill Otto.
God had made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
Joyce walked along the tree-lined path, stepping on patches of moonlight.
His purpose for coming here was simple: to increase the combat strength of his side.
"It is time for your return."
"Herrscher of the Void."