The Hyperion arrived on schedule.
Theresa looked at the familiar scenery: "Kolosten… Schicksal Headquarters before the floating island… I'm back."
Durandal was already waiting below.
"Immortal Blade Captain Durandal, under orders from Bishop Otto Apocalypse, here to welcome Ms. Theresa Apocalypse of the Far East Branch."
Theresa walked over and said: "No need for formalities, Durandal. You should also know the current situation is extremely complicated, so I'll get straight to the point—"
"What arrangements does the Bishop have for what comes next? And where exactly is the clue to the Herrscher core?"
Durandal replied: "The Bishop said he is currently sorting out the aftermath procedures for his resignation and is unable to spare the time. He ordered me to fully assist everyone in exploring the area around here that has been affected by the Herrscher of Domination core."
"Additionally, previously the Bishop used remnants of the Theater of Domination and the Second Divine Key, Cosmic Juggernaut, to make contact with the Imaginary Tree—"
"He speculated that perhaps because of what he did back then, this nearby area became connected to the Herrscher core."
"After all, after the World Serpent destroyed the experimental site in Vimur, some of the supporting equipment for Cosmic Juggernaut was transferred and installed here in the old headquarters."
"—Wait, wait!" Tesla interrupted her: "What did you just say? Otto used remnants of the Theater of Domination? When did that happen?"
Durandal answered: "One month ago."
Einstein said: "That timing is long after the Herrscher of Domination was defeated. At the very least, Anti-Entropy has no method to re-enter the Theater of Domination… let alone make use of it."
Durandal said: "Perhaps the Bishop himself could answer your questions. However, at present I am completely unable to contact him either…"
"It is indeed quite embarrassing, but it can also be said to be his usual style of work."
Theresa said: "That's not your fault. Grandpa really has always been this irresponsible. Especially… when he's secretly plotting something."
"Perhaps." Durandal did not deny it, and had to admit: "In any case, it was thanks to his help that the world bubble I was originally protecting was reconnected to the Imaginary Tree… For that, I can only feel gratitude toward him."
Einstein was shocked.
Reconnecting a world bubble to the Imaginary Tree — that was an impossible challenge.
However… they still could not deduce Otto's true purpose in doing so, even though they could all sense that Otto was using Durandal.
She spoke up: "Ms. Durandal, you mentioned earlier that clues to the Herrscher core appeared near the old headquarters. What exactly do you mean by that?"
Durandal replied: "Literally speaking, I mean anomalies in the spacetime environment. The Bishop believes this anomaly is very likely related to an out-of-control Herrscher core."
"And under that premise — the missing Herrscher of Domination core is naturally our number-one suspect."
Tesla said: "It's not entirely impossible to make sense of… but it depends on what exactly you mean by 'spacetime environment anomalies.'"
Durandal continued: "The specifics still require investigation, but from what we currently know… it seems that information from a certain historical period in the past has been projected into our current spacetime."
"—!"
Einstein was shocked once again.
Tesla reacted a beat slower: "Oh, information from a certain historical period in the past has been projected into our current spacetime… huh?"
"—Wait, is it that spacetime projection thing? The one Chicken Nest Head specialized in researching?"
"Do you realize what you're saying, S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal?!"
Einstein interrupted: "In front of others you should address me as Dr. Einstein, Dr. Tesla. However, Ms. Durandal — Dr. Tesla does indeed have reason to lose composure like that just now."
"In our real environment, bending spacetime already requires considerable mass or energy; spacetime projection is even more so."
"Generally speaking, such phenomena can only occur naturally on the other side of a singularity — deep within the Sea of Quanta or the Imaginary Tree."
"In other words, without some extremely special cause, this kind of phenomenon simply cannot appear openly on the Earth's surface."
"But… if what you describe is indeed true, Ms. Durandal, the worst-case inference is that this place will soon face another Imaginary Space invasion following Nagazora."
Durandal considered the doctor's words: "Imaginary Space invasion? That is, the phenomenon where ordinary space is eroded by a singularity and assimilated by Imaginary Space. But Schicksal did not detect any physical singularity here like in Nagazora. Is that really possible?"
Tesla said: "Simple! If this singularity happens to be the so-called out-of-control Herrscher core, then its main body might still be located inside the Imaginary Space."
"If that's the case, the current state is a delicate dynamic equilibrium… just like the superficial stability in Nagazora for several years before."
"Once this fragile balance is disrupted, the situation will most likely turn catastrophic in an instant, like a volcanic eruption."
"—Tch, why am I starting to help that Otto make his story sound plausible? I don't even have any solid evidence yet!"
Einstein said: "In any case, if the spacetime projection is real… then Bishop Otto really has thrown a huge mess onto our laps."
"…Just like during the Second Honkai."
"…"
Seeing everyone uneasy and anxious,
Durandal suggested: "Everyone, since you have such serious concerns, why not use this time to explore the anomalous area together with me first?"
"After all, whether for Schicksal or Anti-Entropy… preventing Honkai is our unshirkable duty."
"…Indeed." Theresa also agreed: "However, you should understand… because of a certain Bishop's existence, our side's troop deployment actually has many constraints and shortages."
"How about this, Durandal… Let me go with you alone first to verify the situation. What do you think?"
Tesla immediately stopped her: "Hey, Theresa. Isn't that a bit too risky?"
Theresa said: "It's fine. Even from the perspective of being a hostage to Schicksal, I'm currently the most suitable person on the Hyperion for this."
Durandal understood very well.
After everything that had happened before, it was completely normal for Theresa to have these concerns.
She said: "Then please allow me to leave some civilian members of Immortal Blade on board the Hyperion to handle follow-up liaison work. What do you think?"
Her intention was very clear — to let the other side hold a hostage as well.
Einstein understood what she meant and said: "However, Ms. Theresa is not a technical specialist after all, so she may not be very efficient at gathering intelligence—"
"To make up for that, it would be helpful if the two of you could bring Dr. Tesla along during the on-site investigation."
Durandal said: "If she has basic self-defense capability, then there is no problem."
Einstein said: "Mm, her piloting skills for mechs are world-class."
"—Hey!"
Tesla shouted: "You two just agreed in a few words… Does no one care about how I feel?"
Einstein asked: "What, Dr. Tesla would rather stay on the Hyperion as the liaison, so that if necessary you can be the one to contact Bishop Otto?"
"—Huh?!!"
Tesla looked utterly disgusted: "Whoever wants that job can have it! I don't want to hear that bastard's voice even one more time!"
Einstein said: "But look… the only technical personnel of weight on the Hyperion are the two of us…"
"…Tch." Tesla waved her hand: "Fine, fine, I get it! Then I'll just go to the site! Hmph, I'll go, alright?!"
"Theresa, Durandal, let's go! We're not going to stoop to the level of this Chicken Nest Head who only knows how to use reverse psychology."
Einstein waved at them: "Safe travels, Dr. Tesla."
On the way,
The three of them overlooked the small town, roughly observing the situation inside.
Durandal also explained: "According to preliminary investigation results, the spacetime ahead has overlapped with information from the 15th century. In areas where spacetime projection and overlap occur, we will receive information fragments from the ancient past."
To prove this point,
She led the two to a region with relatively heavy information overlap.
Letting them experience it first.
There were all kinds of scenes — people being bound, punished, tortured, and so on…
"Ugh…" Tesla tried it once and immediately gave up: "This really isn't a pleasant experience. Life in ancient times was terrifying."
"But one thing aside, it seems the degree of erosion here is much better than the worst-case scenario I initially imagined."
"…At least there aren't houses floating into the sky or hordes of ancient dead people running around."
After gaining a basic understanding of the situation here,
She began configuring programs based on the on-site erosion levels to detect the source point of the anomaly.
She pulled out a monitor from inside her Titan mech, and her ten fingers flew rapidly across the attached keyboard.
As countless command lines scrolled past in time with the keystrokes, the image on the monitor finally froze on a strange numerical chart.
Durandal recognized the location: "It's the center of Kolosten town — Violet Kite Plaza."
The moment the three arrived at the plaza,
They heard a shouting voice: "Vera! Where are you? Vera — damn it, what are these things?!"
They hurried toward the source of the cry for help and rescued a blond man from the claws of Honkai beasts.
"Ah, thank goodness, I finally ran into living people. Have any of you seen a girl? She has silver-gray curly hair, tied in a single-sided ponytail, wearing a beret, probably a head shorter than me…"
Durandal: "…"
Tesla: "…?!"
Theresa: "…Grandpa?"
The three exchanged glances.
Afterward, Theresa talked with him in detail and learned that this Otto was from the 15th century — that is, Otto from five hundred years ago.
This left them momentarily unsure of what to do.
But the viewers in front of their screens all gave their suggestions.
"Kill him directly! Doesn't matter which Otto it is — as long as it's Otto, he deserves to die!"
"Kill him! We have to kill him. Don't keep him for New Year's."
"This is definitely another damn Otto scheme. Just kill him and be done with it."
"If it were me, I'd just throw this Otto back into the Honkai beast horde and wait for him to get killed."
"We waited this long — don't tell me in the end we just kill a fake Otto. If that's the case, I'm killing the director."
"The damn director wouldn't dare fool us. If he plays tricks, we'll storm the company again tonight."
"Don't go soft! The moment you see Otto, just kill him — otherwise you're the ones who'll suffer!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill! Otto must die!! Make him die!!"
"…"
Across the entire country — whether viewers gathered in bars watching together, couples cuddling at home, or young people watching in the plaza — everyone was now shouting to kill this fake Otto.
However…
The development of the drama did not go as they wished.
Otto rubbed his head and said: "You mean… this is the year 2017… and you are all people from 2017… and you all know me?"
Theresa said: "Otherwise why would I call you Grandpa!"
Otto was still completely confused: "But… even if everything you say is true… how could I possibly live for more than five hundred years?"
Durandal said: "You built yourself a mechanical prosthetic body."
Tesla said angrily: "Hmph! That's right — you even used Trojan horse programs to steal other people's bodies. No matter what, I don't trust you."
"—At the very least, you first have to prove that you really are from the 15th century."
"After all, your existence is far too abnormal. None of the other spacetime information leaking around here is anything like a living person such as you."
Otto said: "Uh… while that does give you reason to be wary of me… it still feels like the future me has done a lot of things you can't accept."
"—Not just unacceptable! You…" Tesla was about to explode, but then she deflated again: "Forget it. If you really are another him from the 15th century, then beating you up now wouldn't do any good anyway. I can't be bothered worrying about the future of a parallel world."
Otto said: "…Parallel world? That actually makes a lot of sense. At least it wouldn't create a time paradox."
Tesla said: "Mm, that's pretty much basic philosophical common sense. —Wait, now isn't the time to chat about this kind of thing. Theresa, Durandal, what do you think we should do with this guy?"
Theresa said: "Help him return to five hundred years ago? But Doctor, you also said earlier that the person in front of us might be Grandpa pretending for some reason—"
Durandal said: "I think he doesn't seem to be pretending to be stupid. However, if you need to take him back to the Hyperion for investigation, I won't object."
"But in my view, our current top priority still seems to be exploring this anomalous space."
Tesla said: "Mm… you have a point… but I still think we should try our best to rule out certain possibilities, in case he really is a ticking time bomb…"
Hearing the three of them,
Otto couldn't help but sigh: "It seems the future me really is someone you fear."
Tesla instantly became irritated: "—Tch, who asked you to butt in? Do you even know what kind of despicable things the person wearing your disgusting face has done? Do you want me to list a few for you?!"
Durandal quickly stopped her: "Dr. Tesla, please restrain your emotions. I know the Bishop has done many things in the past that wronged you all, but compared to past grudges, we currently have more urgent matters to handle."
Otto said: "In other words, this chaotic world itself. To you, I am someone both familiar and strange who appeared out of nowhere—"
"—And to me, in the blink of an eye, the battlefield that had just ended the great war suddenly became extremely strange, and the people around me all disappeared."
"Battlefield?!" Tesla seized the key point.
Otto nodded: "Yes. We had just defeated the main force of Schicksal Headquarters in this town. We completely annihilated their Bishop's personal guard."
"—Wait, wait, wait."
Tesla pointed at him: "You, Otto Apocalypse, led troops here to defeat the main force of Schicksal Headquarters? Which point in time did you come from?"
Hearing this, the person suspected to be Otto muttered to himself in thought for a few seconds.
"It does seem that way… So our histories really are quite similar?"
Durandal explained: "In 1491, such a battle did indeed occur: Otto, who was not yet Bishop of Schicksal at the time, led the rebel army and defeated the main force of Schicksal Headquarters here."
Theresa added: "My Grandpa was originally the legitimate successor to the Bishop of Schicksal, but due to a series of events, all his power was usurped by his sister and nephew."
"Those two maintained a reign of terror for over a decade — until Grandpa, with the support of the people, overthrew them."
Tesla said: "Pardon my bluntness, but I've always found it hard to imagine someone like him gaining the support of the people. He must have used some clever trickery, right?"