On Schicksal's Floating Island—
"Your Eminence, three minutes ago we confirmed that the Third Laboratory has been completely destroyed. The Gem of Serenity, Dr. Magi, and the Valkyrie used as the experiment subject have all gone missing."
Amber relayed the report handed to her by a subordinate.
"According to satellite imagery, it's confirmed that Anti-Entropy was behind it. Judging by how smoothly the infiltration went, it's likely an inside informant provided them with the base's intel. Your Eminence...?"
"Cough, cough, nothing. Please continue, Amber."
Otto's lips twitched awkwardly, his expression a little stiff.
He realized he had, once again, screwed up.
Originally, he had only wanted to indulge in a bit of dark amusement—forcing the old man to experiment on his own granddaughter, just to see his reaction.
But... he pushed too far.
He ended up driving the man into desperation, leading him to flee with the Gem of Serenity and destroy one of Otto's own research bases.
Otto couldn't help but feel a tiny bit... embarrassed.
(Come to think of it, Anti-Entropy has been unusually active lately. Welt suddenly stopped slacking off two months ago, and Cocolia mysteriously disappeared... Looks like they've cleaned house internally.)
Otto thought to himself. It seemed his old rivals were about to become troublesome again—but it wasn't a big problem.
Even with Welt's return to active leadership, Otto believed he still had the grand scheme firmly in his grasp.
Sure, the loss hurt.
He didn't really care about losing the Third Laboratory itself, but losing the Gem of Serenity stung.
Otto mentally noted: maybe he should exercise a little more restraint in the future—don't antagonize people so much that they grab a Herrscher Core and defect.
"Shall we dispatch forces to retrieve it?" Amber asked.
"Forget it. The chances of success are too low. Besides..." Otto shook his head in disappointment. "Over the years, I've more or less confirmed it. The power of the Herrscher of Death cannot fulfill my wish."
Since it couldn't help him resurrect Kallen Kaslana, Otto no longer cared much about it. Losing it was acceptable. Anti-Entropy probably couldn't use it effectively anyway.
He had scoured all of Schicksal for suitable Herrscher hosts—and found none.
Could Anti-Entropy really be that lucky?
Not likely.
Besides, Otto considered Anti-Entropy's technological path.
While Schicksal pursued biological evolution, Anti-Entropy relied on mecha technology.
Even if they obtained the core, at most they'd probably just use it as some energy source for a mech.
Hardly tapping into its true potential.
"Still, we absolutely mustn't lose the remaining two cores. Send several A-rank Valkyrie squads to the New Zealand branch. Secure the Gem of Desire—the Herrscher Core of Wind."
Otto gave the order calmly.
As for the Gem of Haste—the Herrscher Core of Fire—
He had already embedded it into a Previous Era relic: the Key of Blankness, transforming it into the fourth-generation Godsbane Suit—Vermilion Knight: Eclipse. A future ace in his plans.
"Speaking of which, lately Theresa has been pestering me about that fourth-generation battlesuit. Apparently it's for that Raiden Mei's little boyfriend. How amusing... Amber."
"Yes, Your Eminence?"
"Tell the researchers at Lab 1504 to modify the Vermilion Knight Eclipse's design. Make it... male-compatible."
Otto chuckled as he spoke, pulling up Elias' latest data file.
(A Stigma Awakener. Able to perform cell manipulation akin to the Herrscher of Death's authority. Currently learning various combat techniques from Fu Hua. Possesses a physical prowess surpassing even the Kaslana family. Passed the Heliopolis flagship commander exam just a few days ago...)
"He's roughly reached A-rank Valkyrie strength. But it's not enough—far from enough!"
"With just that level of power, how could he possibly stand before K423 after she Herrscherizes, and awaken her human consciousness...? He needs further strengthening."
"Truly a shame, though. If I'd found him earlier, maybe he could've been compatible with the Gem of Serenity and become the next Herrscher of Death."
"I wonder what the relationship between this boy and K423 is like? Let me check the report my old friend—Fu Hua—sent over. Hm... 'Owner and pet?' What the hell does that mean? Did my old friend actually pick up a sense of humor?"
Otto's expression turned oddly complicated as he read Fu Hua's report.
He had simply wanted to know if Elias and Kiana were friends—or if they had already become lovers.
Even if they weren't lovers yet, any physical relationship would be a good sign.
But what he got was "owner and pet." Otto honestly didn't know what to make of it.
(Are today's young people really this... creative?)
"Well, I suppose it's a relationship that's steadily progressing. Never mind—young people's business is best left to young people. As Otto Apocalypse, I wholeheartedly bless you two to tie the knot as soon as possible."
Otto chuckled to himself. Thankfully Elias wasn't there to hear it.
(Imaginary Elias: This damned Otto is actually shipping me and Kiana?! Am I dreaming?!)
"Alright, Amber. If there's nothing else, you may go. It's now time for my private hours."
Having wrapped up the day's affairs, Otto waved his secretary away.
Amber's eye under her mask twitched slightly.
"...Understood. But please, show some moderation."
"Kallen Fantasy: Activate!!"
...
Meanwhile, Elias returned wearily to St. Freya Academy.
Traveling from Chicago back to the Far East, he hadn't bothered with planes or anything mundane like that.
Flying himself in a quantumized, invisible state was much faster—and more importantly, left no evidence he'd ever left St. Freya.
Along the way, he carefully considered his next moves.
"The Herrscher Core of Wind... I'll have to handle that myself. After this incident, Otto will surely tighten security. Anti-Entropy probably can't launch another easy raid."
"But I can phase into quantum ghost form. Sneaking in won't be a problem."
"Besides... Wendy."
A flash of sorrow crossed Elias' face.
Wendy had once been a brilliant prospect—an A-rank Valkyrie with the potential to reach S-rank.
Yet she'd been used as a vessel for the Gem of Desire, crippled, bound to a wheelchair, and ultimately lost her life after Cocolia extracted her Herrscher Core.
It was one of the early knives the developers had thrust into players' hearts.
Elias clenched his fists tightly. He would absolutely prevent that tragedy.
"Thankfully, this time I've already changed things. Cocolia's been sealed away. That half-dead old fox can't stir up trouble anymore."
The image of that unfortunate girl surfaced in his mind, bringing with it a tinge of guilt.
After all, back when he'd amassed the Finality, Origin, and Truth cores in his previous life, he'd returned to the starter zone and farmed the Herrscher of Wind repeatedly.
Each time, the battle lasted less than five seconds.
(Sinful. Absolutely sinful...)
"Once I absorb the Gem of Desire, Wendy's body should return to normal. And even if there's lingering damage, I can fully heal her using the authority of Rebirth."
"That front's secure."
"But... the Gem of Haste—that one's going to be a real headache."
Elias frowned deeply, lost in thought.
According to the storyline, the Gem of Haste was embedded by Otto into the Previous Era relic, Key of Blankness, forging the fourth-generation Godsbane Suit: Vermilion Knight: Eclipse.
That was the one piece Elias found troublesome to get his hands on.
First, even with quantumization, Elias wasn't certain he could sneak onto Schicksal's floating island without detection.
After all, that was Otto's home turf—the defenses would be off the charts, even if Elias had once wrecked the place before…
Second, he had no idea where exactly the Godsbane Suit was stored. The in-game map was useless here.
(And besides, there's no way I'm letting Himeko fight the "Final Lesson". I won't let her wear that life-draining battlesuit. Maybe I should... no, wait, it's made for women. Forget it.)
Elias had an urge to smash something.
In the previous era, the Key of Blankness had only been worn by Doctor MEI—also a woman. It probably didn't even have a gender-adaptation system.
"Forget it. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now, I have more urgent matters... Himeko's Honkai corrosion, the Chiyou Honkai beast, the Gem of Desire, and Kiana's Gem of Freedom."
He felt the mounting pressure.
"Speaking of which, Theresa still owes me a fourth-gen Godsbane Suit. Heh... maybe Otto could just modify the Key of Blankness into a men's version and deliver it to me... shipping fee not required."
Elias laughed bitterly.
He knew he was daydreaming. Reality wasn't a novel—you couldn't just wish for absurd things and expect them to happen.
"Better go find Himeko. Hope she hasn't fallen asleep yet."
...
At the St. Freya Academy infirmary—
"Urgh... haah... haah... damn it... why is it so bad this time! Cough, cough! It hurts like hell!"
Himeko lay trembling on the hospital bed, her entire body drenched in sweat, soaking her hospital gown and the sheets beneath her.
She clutched her pillow tightly, veins bulging on her forehead, occasionally gritting her teeth and groaning in agony.
It was clear she was enduring unimaginable pain.
"Haah... haah... I can't let the kids see me like this... I can't hold it anymore, painkillers... where are the painkillers?"
She forced her weak hand toward the bottle of strong painkillers on the bedside table. She could feel it—her end was getting closer. Even the strongest suppressants were losing effect.
"Damn it, I haven't even... found a good man yet... and now those adorable brats... I can't fall here."
Clatter!
"...Shit."
Her hand missed, knocking the painkillers to the ground.
Muttering a curse, Himeko struggled to sit up, trying to reach down and pick up the bottle.
But she grossly overestimated her strength. As she leaned forward, her arm gave out, and her body tipped dangerously off the bed.
She clenched her eyes shut, bracing herself for the painful fall—
"...Huh?"
But instead of the cold impact of the floor, she fell into something warm and steady.
Eyes wide in disbelief, Himeko looked up—and met the gaze of a handsome boy bathed in the pure white glow of the moon.
"That was close, Himeko. You okay?"
"I-I'm fine... Huh? Elias? W-What are you doing here so late...?"
Himeko's heart skipped a beat, then thudded wildly against her ribs.
Though Elias had long been aware of how outrageously handsome he was—and had been "appreciated" many times—it was the first time Himeko had admired him from so close, under the moonlight.
For a moment, the sheer beauty of the boy before her made the long-single, still-desperately-recruiting-a-boyfriend Himeko forget even the sharp pain wracking her body.
"If I hadn't been here, you would've collapsed just now," Elias said, setting her gently back onto the hospital bed. "Hm? Strong painkillers... So you really were pretending earlier, weren't you."
"I wasn't! It really didn't hurt that much... okay, okay! It hurt like hell, alright?!"
At first, Himeko tried to tough it out, but faced with Elias' concerned gaze, she found she simply couldn't lie.
"Thank you, Himeko, for enduring the pain to keep us from worrying. But it's alright now."
"After all, I'm the adult here. I can't let you kids worry about me... Wait, did you just say 'it's alright now'?"
...
Instead of answering, Elias smiled.
The next moment, the male St. Freya uniform he wore shifted into an elegant, jet-black Herrscher outfit. Six dark wings unfurled behind him, and a massive scythe materialized in his hand.
Bathed in moonlight, Elias stood there like a death god—no, a gentle death god.
"This... this is—?!"
"It'll all be over soon, Himeko. From now on, you won't ever suffer erosion from the artificial stigmata again."
"Uh... Elias, you're not planning to kill me, are you?"
Himeko was completely stunned, instinctively cracking a bad joke.
After all, standing there, Elias looked every bit the part of a beautiful reaper.
But if death gods truly looked like this, Himeko thought, there would surely be no shortage of girls willing to offer up their lives willingly.
In this moment, Elias made one believe that death could be a gentle ending.
"What are you thinking, Himeko?"
Elias flicked her forehead lightly, then activated his Herrscher of Rebirth authority.
Countless white flowers bloomed around Himeko.
Unlike the black mist that symbolized death, this was the power of creation—pure and radiant.
In an instant, Himeko's frail body regained its strength. The late-stage Honkai energy corrosion within her was completely healed by the combined power of creation and the Schariac holy blood.
"My body feels so light... what's happening? My Honkai disease... it's cured?! No way! And this strength—"
The pain was gone.
The Honkai energy was gone.
Even old injuries had vanished without a trace.
Himeko felt better than she had in years, as if she had turned back time to before she had ever become a Valkyrie.
She stared in awe at the blooming white flowers and Elias, and suddenly remembered the Divine Key 'Black Abyss White Flower' once wielded by Schicksal.
But even the Divine Keys could never reverse Honkai erosion.
Watching this miracle unfold before her eyes, Himeko suddenly thought back to how Mei had appeared during her full Herrscher of Thunder awakening.
Though their styles were different, the feeling Elias gave off was strikingly similar.
Her eyes wide, Himeko murmured:
"Elias... you've become a Herrscher, haven't you?"
"Well, technically... I've returned to being one."
After confirming she was perfectly healed, Elias deactivated his authority and sat by Himeko's bedside, smiling warmly at the crimson-haired beauty.
"Congratulations, Himeko. You're fully recovered now."
"With your current condition, living for a few centuries won't be a problem at all."
(Good luck getting me to ever allow anything like 'The Final Lesson' to happen now.)
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