"Vice-Captain of the Immortal Blades, Rita Rossweisse, reporting."
The brown-haired maid stepped lightly, rose-red eyes curved in a half-smile. She bowed gracefully behind Welt.
"Newly promoted S-rank Valkyrie, Bianka 'Durandal' Ataegina, ordered to intercept."
The blue-eyed girl swept her golden waves behind her back, leveling the lance Hler's Serenity to block Welt's right flank.
"Fu Hua. I seek instruction."
On his left stood the divine immortal of Shenzhou, clad in moon-white robes. She cupped her fist solemnly, long sleeves fluttering, posture elegant and resolute.
"And finally—Otto Apocalypse, Overseer of Schicksal."
The golden-haired man raised his hand. The cross at his wrist extended slowly, planting itself before him.
"Here to bid farewell to Anti-Entropy's Sovereign, Welt Yang."
Schicksal's greatest combatants stood at four cardinal points around Welt, forming a perfect encirclement.
"So," the brown-haired man adjusted his glasses, retreating half a step almost imperceptibly, "your visit to St. Freya… was to ambush me?"
Otto sneered inwardly.
Siegfried was never worth taking a Shamash head-on as bait.
"Surprised?"
Otto's tone was relaxed—too relaxed.
"My old friend. Did you believe there was some unspoken agreement between us? That by mutual understanding, we would simply ignore each other's existence?"
He laughed lightly.
"Yes, once upon a time I didn't mind Anti-Entropy's opposition. But, Second Herrscher of Reason… people change."
His smile widened—arrogant as ever.
"I know you're at St. Freya. I also don't know. When I choose not to know, I don't. When I choose to know—I do."
"In the end, the reason Anti-Entropy hasn't been crushed isn't because you're strong."
"It's because I was in a good mood."
His voice lowered, tinged with dominance.
"And now, you annoy me."
The former Otto had never taken Welt too seriously. He even harbored lingering caution toward Divine Keys in a Herrscher's hands. Welt hiding at St. Freya for years? Not worth the trouble.
He hadn't interfered with the grand design.
But this Otto cared more about himself—and more about Schicksal.
Actors on a stage were fine.
Uncontrolled variables that might alter the script?
Unacceptable.
Unruly actors must exit.
By any means necessary.
Otto Apocalypse had never been benevolent.
Anti-Entropy was merely the North American branch—but the Herrscher of Reason was someone who could threaten Otto's life and could not be easily co-opted.
Yes, Otto could coerce him. A simple "You wouldn't want Anti-Entropy destroyed, would you?" might suffice.
But why bother?
Was Welt worth scheming over?
For the Core of Reason?
Foolish.
Kill him—the Core becomes mine.
Even Kevin—the savior from the Sea of Quanta—Otto had contemplated weakening.
And now Welt Yang, leader of Anti-Entropy?
Siegfried's attack had been a fortunate byproduct—cutting Cecilia's lingering attachment and gifting Otto Shamash.
But the true objective here—
Was Welt.
Even without Cecilia present, this was enough.
As long as Otto stood here—
It was enough.
"So," Welt said calmly, though his eyes sharpened, "your performance earlier—pretending to kill Siegfried—was to drain my power?"
If he hadn't teleported Siegfried away, Welt might have risked simulating Void powers to escape.
But his injuries from the Second Honkai still lingered.
He could not easily replicate the Herrscher of the Void again.
The Herrscher of Reason's power approached omnipotence—
But output was finite.
Even Welt Joyce had sacrificed himself against a Honkai fissure bomb.
And Yang was not Joyce.
So yes—saving Siegfried had cost him.
But he would not regret saving a friend.
They were friends.
(Regardless of Anti-Entropy's many failures.)
"Heh. Siegfried?"
Otto tilted his head.
"Was he worth enduring Shamash's flames?"
"Worth executing before Cecilia?"
Welt exhaled slowly.
"I should have known. From the moment you swung Shamash before her."
"You would never destabilize an ally's heart unless it benefited your plan."
"So it was about exhausting me."
Otto narrowed his eyes.
"Lay hands on me, and in a few days he won't even be her husband."
"I'll personally dissolve the bond. Before Kaslanas and Schariacs alike."
"What I grant, I may reclaim."
Durandal swayed faintly at those words.
"Enough of Siegfried," Otto said lazily.
"What matters is whether you can survive being besieged."
Fu Hua struck first.
Purple lightning crackled across her gauntlets as she launched forward.
Durandal roared, lance thrusting like a tidal surge.
Rita vanished into shadow, scythe flashing cold and lethal at Welt's back.
"Outnumbering one," Welt sighed, raising a hand.
Metal constructs materialized.
Fu Hua's fist struck violet alloy.
Lance and scythe deflected with exquisite precision.
One gesture—
And three Valkyries were neutralized.
"It's an honor," Otto replied.
Golden portals flared behind him.
Countless firearm-shaped Shamashes aimed forward.
"Schicksal's full hand—save the Saint—deployed to kill you."
Golden flames roared.
Welt responded in kind.
Titan mechs flooded the field like a mechanical tide.
"I declare war in the name of humanity!"
The battlefield became a warzone of steel and thunder.
But Otto watched.
Observing.
Collecting data.
"Impressive control," he murmured.
"But exceeding expectation is easy."
"Exceeding my plan? Difficult."
"First Divine Key—Void Archives. Plural Simulations—Rain of Heavenly Fire."
Flames swept the forest.
Titans detonated.
Welt shifted tactics.
Gravity surged.
Lightning tore through the air.
"I am no tyrant?" Otto mocked.
"Witness destiny."
The flames erupted again.
Three Valkyries resumed coordinated assault.
Blades, fists, lances—seamless.
Otto provided distant suppression.
Until—
"Bianka!"
A portal opened before Welt's chest.
Durandal hurled her lance like a falling sea.
Armor shattered.
And then—
Otto appeared.
Black Abyss White Flower raised high.
It plunged into Welt's chest.
Welt was hurled skyward, bloodied.
They paused.
Measuring each other.
Students' voices echoed in the distance.
Welt hesitated.
Otto smiled.
"You think this was enough?"
Void power shimmered.
He teleported the Valkyries away.
"You think I would declare your death… and leave you a chance?"
"Eleventh Divine Key—activate."
The Binding Field sealed external Honkai flow.
Welt's breath stalled.
A staff pressed to his back.
"Staff of Hades. Activate."
His connection to the Core severed.
"Ready?"
Otto wrapped an arm around his throat.
Gun angled at his left shoulder.
"Godslayer Gun. Sever."
Black-gold muzzle flashes erupted.
Every shot drilled into the same point.
Bone shattered.
Bullets stacked, burrowing toward the spine.
Honkai regeneration failed.
Welt screamed.
Then—
"Li Sushang. Draw."
"Coming!"
A vast pressure descended.
Welt raised his head.
He saw it.
Heaven split.
A sword-light cold enough to freeze nineteen provinces.
"Taixu Sword—Divine Form."
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