A wave of heat surged through her body.
"Ugh—"
Fu Hua let out a muffled groan and curled up involuntarily. The Honkai mutation factor activated the dormant genes within her, bringing back that once-familiar itching and burning sensation.
"Ah!!!"
Her body suddenly stretched open. Two bulges swelled on her back, and then came the sound of fabric tearing.
A pair of wings—resembling those of a pterosaur, with lightning-like patterns across their membranes—spread out from her back.
"…Captain…"
Fu Hua's mutation factor granted her extremely strong regeneration. It first acted on her brain, keeping her brain cells continuously active. Because of that—
Memories from when the mutation factor was first activated quietly resurfaced.
She remembered her former captain.
Tears flowed from the corner of her eyes. She had actually forgotten something so important…
Luckily… she remembered again.
She slowly descended to the ground, withdrew the primal wings, and opened her eyes once more. Her aura had changed greatly.
"Class monitor, were those wings just now?! That's so cool—show me again!"
Kiana got excited and ran behind Fu Hua, reaching her hand through the tear in Fu Hua's clothes and touching her smooth back.
"Kiana… maybe next time. The video is about to start."
Fu Hua shifted awkwardly. She wasn't good with close physical contact.
On the other side, Mei, Bronya, and Theresa weren't as oblivious as Kiana. From the reward description, it was obvious Fu Hua's past wasn't simple.
At Schicksal HQ, Otto listened to Rita's report. His expression changed several times as he murmured quietly:
"Fought for humanity, yet fell into evil… old friend, could it be you… heh. Entering a treasure mountain yet leaving empty-handed. What a pity."
Otto shook his head. He had once suspected Fu Hua's immortality, but after the events at Mount Taixu, that immortality had weakened to its limit.
Even he couldn't find anything usable from it anymore.
Regardless of the shifting forces, the video continued playing.
The video began on the deck of an airship high in the sky.
On screen were Otto and Fu Hua. There were also footsteps fading away into the distance.
But no one paid attention to that.
They were all staring at Fu Hua.
She lay on the ground, heavily injured. Blood dripped down, pooling beneath her.
Footsteps approached.
Otto slowly walked up to Fu Hua, looking down at her from above.
"…What a sorry sight. The last time I saw you this badly hurt was five hundred years ago at Mount Taixu, wasn't it?"
His gaze drifted briefly, as if recalling the Crimson Immortal who once lay before him centuries ago.
"Well then, I'll treat you first. Consider it a celebration of the successful completion of phase one of the experiment."
"…Ha… ah… why…"
Fu Hua struggled to rise, but her severely injured body couldn't support her.
"Oh? You can still talk?"
Otto seemed slightly impressed. After all, the Crimson Immortal wasn't ordinary—any normal person would have died from such wounds.
"Why… did you let her go…? Don't you know… her target is…"
Fu Hua forced herself to lift her head. Blood flowed into her eyes, turning everything in her vision red.
"Theresa. I know."
Otto answered calmly—coldly even—leaving Fu Hua in disbelief.
Theresa, watching the video, was equally stunned. The grandfather who always doted on her… was saying this?
Otto continued:
"They'll probably be caught up with soon enough."
His tone made it sound like the people involved had nothing to do with him—like he didn't care whether they lived or died.
"This time, no one will interfere. Their battle will continue until the very end."
"…What did you say…?"
"Oh, right. I haven't told you yet. Don't worry—this is good news for you."
Otto smiled.
"K-423 isn't dead. And I need her to stay alive."
"…?"
Fu Hua struggled, forcing herself up on one knee, barely managing to stay upright.
"Inside that body right now, there are two consciousnesses," Otto continued casually.
"The one you call 'Kiana'—the K-423 personality—and the Herrscher of the Void, Sirin."
"After absorbing the Gem of Serenity and high concentrations of Honkai energy…"
"The Sirin consciousness became active, successfully seized control of the vessel, and triggered the reawakening of the Herrscher of the Void."
Fu Hua slowly clenched her fists.
Otto chuckled lightly.
"But this isn't the ending I want. Up to here, we call this phase one. What comes next… is the real experiment."
He began explaining his plan like a villain in a story.
"K-423's consciousness fell asleep because of the Herrscher's awakening, but it hasn't disappeared."
"So what if the opposite happens? What if K-423's consciousness defeats Sirin's?"
Fu Hua's pupils shrank.
Otto's words reminded her of an old story—the Tower of Babel.
"Have you heard the story of the Tower of Babel?"
"A great undertaking that even God intervened to stop… But by inverse reasoning, doesn't that prove something?"
"—The answer is: a human possessing Herrscher power would be born."
Otto gave his conclusion.
"This has already been proven by the Third and Fourth Herrschers. Even if the Herrscher's consciousness is suppressed, their power doesn't disappear. Controlling a human is far easier than controlling a Herrscher."
"Of course, it won't be easy for K-423's consciousness to win. But it's not impossible."
"…Don't tell me—"
Fu Hua recalled life at St. Freya Academy.
As expected—
"You've guessed it. That's right. The key is 'emotion.' Emotions create miracles."
"…You…"
"I've always believed that deep bonds between people can become the purest and strongest power…"
Otto paused briefly, thinking of Kallen—and the five hundred years he'd spent pursuing his goal.
He crossed his arms and continued:
"In the two years K-423 studied at St. Freya…"
"They formed bonds that cannot be severed."
"These warm, happy memories will become K-423's strength, tearing apart the Herrscher's heart that knows nothing of love."
"…They'll be killed…!!"
Fu Hua tried to stand and confront Otto, but collapsed again.
"I understand the difference in combat ability. But I can't help them. No outside interference can be allowed in this sacred battle."
"Only in such despair will humanity shine its brightest. According to my calculations…"
"—When a sacrifice appears, K-423 will reclaim the body."
"I believe in Theresa. I believe in her students. They will use love to kill the Herrscher. That is a miracle only they can achieve."
Otto spoke gently.
But to Fu Hua, he looked like a demon from hell mocking humanity.
Tesla: This is unforgivable.
Einstein: Science shouldn't involve emotions, but this is…
Rita: My, my, Lord Bishop…
Raven: Heh. So this is Schicksal on the front lines against the Honkai. Ridiculous…
The chat exploded.
Kiana clenched her teeth in rage.
She finally understood why she became a Herrscher in the future.
Why she nearly lost her mind.
All of it—Otto's doing.
A lifelong enemy.
"…Grandpa… so I was just a disposable tool too…?"
Theresa trembled, voice low.
The grandfather she admired… thought this way.
Perhaps everything in the world—including her—were just pieces on a chessboard to him.
If that's the case… then don't blame me for being ruthless, Grandpa.
No crown prince lasts fifty years.
It's time for you to step down.
"…He's insane."
"No—he's always been insane."
Fu Hua trembled as if facing something indescribable. Her human instincts felt fear.
"...Heh…"
"Heh…"