The Herrscher of Corruption was both wary of and powerless against Otto.
Originally sealed within the Black Box, it was thanks to the immense Honkai energy Otto had provided that she could influence the outside world and even launch a sneak attack on Fu Hua.
However, when it came to dealing with Fu Hua, a disagreement arose between Otto and the Herrscher.
Otto would never allow the Herrscher of Corruption to lay a hand on one of his most important generals.
Since the Herrscher could not affect Otto directly, she accelerated the illusion's speed and applied a perceptual filter to it.
Although she couldn't influence Otto, she could manipulate the illusion and Fu Hua's perception.
In other words, within the illusion, no one could see Otto.
His voice could not reach anyone else.
Even if Otto stood right in front of Fu Hua and groped her flat chest, she would be unable to perceive it.
And so, in the torrential rain, Fu Hua huddled on the ground, shivering. Although Otto was behind her, holding her in a gentle embrace, she could not register his presence.
Otto could feel the young woman's body trembling in his arms.
Fu Hua hugged her knees, her eyes staring blankly at the ground.
"Big Brother Otto..."
"Carol..."
"And everyone..."
Fu Hua recalled all the people she had met in Sapphire; they had all been her friends.
But now, the city was filled with the sounds of explosions and screams.
A true hell on earth.
Her lips were pale. Carol's death before her eyes had dealt an unimaginable blow.
Fu Hua didn't even have the strength to clench her fists. She stared vacantly at her own hands.
She thought of Otto.
Just before the disaster struck, Big Brother Otto had suddenly disappeared.
When he had pulled her and Carol from the car, he had been right beside her, holding her hand tightly.
But the moment he let go, he had vanished.
Fu Hua didn't believe that Big Brother Otto had abandoned the two of them to escape alone. Something must have happened to him.
Because at that moment, Fu Hua had also seen the Herrscher of Corruption who had suddenly appeared.
That terrifying, malevolent aura had almost made her vomit and pass out.
Big Brother Otto's disappearance had to be the work of that monster.
Fu Hua covered her mouth. Just the thought of it made her feel an indescribable darkness coiling around her, making it hard to breathe.
She curled up into a ball.
But, for some reason, amidst the biting cold, she felt a sliver of warmth.
As if someone were holding her.
She looked at her own reflection in a puddle on the ground, then slowly shook her head.
She was all alone again.
Otto held Fu Hua quietly. The time acceleration had stopped now, but Fu Hua still hadn't noticed him.
Otto didn't try to make her sense his presence. He simply held her, his emerald eyes gazing at the young woman in his arms, his cheek gently nuzzling her hair.
He couldn't do anything.
He had failed to protect Fu Hua's father, and he had failed to protect Carol.
This was all just a falsehood within an illusion.
He could not change Fu Hua's past.
All he could do was hold her like this.
Hold this girl who seemed so incredibly fragile.
For some reason, he found he couldn't let go of this girl who seemed to have been abandoned by the entire world.
In the end, his heart was not as hard as that of the true Bishop of Schicksal.
The rain fell harder and harder. Fu Hua's location was very safe; she was one of the few survivors of this Great Honkai Eruption.
Fu Hua didn't move. Otto didn't move either.
The rain gradually subsided, but Fu Hua still didn't move, despite being soaked to the bone.
But she didn't feel cold.
Her body felt strangely warm, as if someone were warming her.
"Otto... Big Brother."
For some reason, she had the illusion that Big Brother Otto was right beside her.
And Otto whispered gently in her ear.
"I'm here."
But Fu Hua could not perceive Otto's existence, much less hear his words.
She remained crouching, not getting up, as if afraid that the moment she moved, this warmth would disappear.
Time passed. Sunlight spilled onto the ground. Fu Hua remained as motionless as an ice sculpture.
Clack, clack, clack.
But then, footsteps rang out.
It was the sound of high heels on the pavement.
Otto didn't move, still holding Fu Hua. Fu Hua, however, lifted her head from her knees. She saw a pair of beautiful legs wrapped in black stockings appear before her.
"A corpse? A Deadwalker? Or... a survivor?"
The voice was mature, with a hint of allure.
Vermilion hair flowed like the brilliant sun. A sexy, enchanting body was wrapped in a military uniform, and bright eyes stared at the listless Fu Hua.
"Looks like you're still human."
Hearing this voice, Otto finally looked up. He saw a familiar face.
Murata Himeko... no, this should be HIMEKO, the captain of the Previous Era's MOTH 5th Squad.
This was a woman who looked remarkably like Murata Himeko.
Her beautiful face was etched with fatigue. HIMEKO was a soldier who fought against the Honkai. Ever since the Great Eruption began, she had been fighting nonstop, but even so, the chaos in Sapphire had not subsided.
The scope of the Third Honkai Eruption was simply too vast.
And while clearing out Honkai Beasts in the city, she had suddenly discovered what looked like a survivor.
HIMEKO looked at Fu Hua and extended a hand to the girl.
"Can you walk? I'll get you out of here."
The Honkai disaster was not over. It was rare to find a survivor; she couldn't just stand by and watch.
Fu Hua stared blankly at HIMEKO, her eyes unfocused. She didn't take the proffered hand.
HIMEKO sighed.
This damn Honkai!
She had seen this expression on so many faces before, the look of someone whose most important thing has been shattered, leaving them completely dead inside.
The Honkai brought too much pain.
It seemed this girl's mental state was severely damaged. She would have to find a psychologist to talk to her; otherwise, taking her away rashly might cause an extreme reaction.
Simply dragging someone away isn't always a rescue.
HIMEKO was just about to call for backup. She was no doctor of psychology.
But just then, Fu Hua, who had been crouching on the ground, stood up.
HIMEKO stopped her call for support. She looked at the standing Fu Hua and a smile graced her lips.
"Not bad. See? You've still got some spirit in you."
Fu Hua didn't speak. She just looked a little dazed.
She stared down at her own legs, because she hadn't intended to stand up on her own.
Just a moment ago, Fu Hua had felt as if a pair of large hands had pressed against her back, giving her a gentle push.
As if helping her to her feet.
But she looked behind her.
There was no one there.
And yet...
That feeling in her heart hadn't faded.
She just felt...
That someone was with her, all along.
And that person...
She could not see.
---o---