Durandal said: "It's very important, Bishop… In the past few years, you have indeed treated me well; and precisely because of this, I need to know your true purpose at this moment."
"Haha, is that so?" Otto laughed once and said: "But I think that the current you only needs to know that if you don't stop me… I will definitely murder almost everyone in the world."
"Talk is useless. Come on, Durandal."
Before Durandal could speak again.
He waved his hand, and a golden box appeared between the two: "Void Archives!"
The next moment.
Mimic Abyss Flower appeared.
The terrifying gravity made even Durandal somewhat unable to support her body, let alone continue to inquire about the Bishop's purpose.
The only way…
Was to defeat him as he wished, and then force out his purpose!
Durandal began to continuously launch attacks toward Otto.
While Otto stood behind the Void Archives, relying only on the Void Archives to block, leisurely watching everything.
Time quietly passed.
Durandal knew that this Void Archives was powerful, but she had never imagined that merely its own power could block for such a long time.
She no longer held back, activating the Abyss Flower in her hand.
Power instantly surged.
The Mimic Abyss Flower was also shattered.
But the next moment, countless chains burst out from the Void Archives—this was the Mimic Oath of Judah. If hit by the chains, even Durandal would briefly lose the ability to move.
Durandal continuously struck away the incoming chains, her gaze fixed on Otto.
Seizing a momentary opportunity.
She shattered all the chains, and with a single thrust, struck the Void Archives, breaking through its defense.
The spear also came to rest in front of Otto's neck: "It ends here, Bishop."
"Spill all your thoughts… While there's still time, sit down and have a good talk with Theresa."
Otto said: "I told you, you should have the intent to kill me, rather than stopping at this point."
Durandal said: "That's a right belonging to Kiana or someone else. I'd rather you explain everything clearly."
"…Ah, is that so." Otto wore his usual smile: "Alright, I do indeed have some things I'm hiding from everyone—but unfortunately, I can't tell you at this point in time."
"And… Bianka, thanks to the intense battle just now—"
"—I was able to divert your attention and secretly advance my own ascension."
Black Honkai energy leaked out from Otto's body…
Durandal's expression changed drastically: "This power… Bishop, you—"
Otto laughed loudly: "Whatever you do now is too late, Bianka Ataegina."
"Gnosis + Forced Coordinate Transformation!"
"The gates of Imaginary Space have opened. I command in the name of a god——He shall make the chess piece before his eyes temporarily exit the board."
Under the effect of Gnosis, Durandal fell into Imaginary Space according to the coordinates Otto had long preset.
He looked at the Abyss Flower on the ground.
Picked it up.
Walked outside the church.
"Now, the new chess piece… should also descend."
"Even in situations where human power cannot interfere, there is still room for planning. This is no empty talk."
"If the one who comes is that old friend of mine, things would be more troublesome instead."
"She who survived that tragedy… after all, has more experience."
In this misty, sorrowful little town, the hands that were manipulating everything according to some elaborate plan… their master finally stood once more before the challengers.
"Oh my, the second guest has arrived just in time as well."
The newcomer was precisely Kiana, who had broken through Li Sushang's blockade. She had just finished contacting Theresa and the others to confirm the information, when she saw Otto holding the Abyss Flower standing outside the church.
She stared at Otto: "…Otto! And that—that's—Abyss Flower?"
Otto said: "Yes, that's something the first guest who came here left behind. She's now resting in Imaginary Space. I hope this doesn't disappoint you."
Kiana was shocked: "…What?!"
Otto continued: "Next, this church will become the base point for the world's transformation. For the sake of your personal safety, it would be better for us to take this Abyss Flower as the boundary between us."
He inserted the Abyss Flower into the ground.
Kiana drew her greatsword: "You think I'll just sit back and watch?"
Otto sighed: "Sigh, what a hassle. I originally didn't want to fight anymore, because… the gift given to me by the Imaginary Tree has already begun to manifest."
Kiana's brows furrowed tightly.
She felt a non-human oppressive presence…
She could sense that the current Otto was more dangerous than any enemy she had ever encountered!
No holding back!
Kiana directly activated the power of the Herrscher of Flamescion, flames covering the greatsword: "Flamescion Draw!"
Otto merely blocked in front with one hand, the Void Archives rotated, and this strike was blocked by some strange power.
"I said, I don't want to fight anymore."
A strange power rose from the ground, forming a peculiar light curtain that completely separated him from Kiana.
"The battle… isn't over yet!"
Kiana still wanted to attack again.
Otto said: "Be quiet for a while… Herrscher of Flamescion, I will take over the gods' authorities one by one, until 12 hours later—"
"—I present to you a brand new world filled with miracles."
"…Don't think of escaping!" The Herrscher's intuition told Kiana that this might be the last chance to subdue Otto Apocalypse.
The hot flow of spark surged blazingly from within her body—
Three steps. The enemy's silhouette flickered unclearly in the light, but she knew the target was still there.
Two steps. The enemy's laughter had yet to fade in the echoes, and her full-power strike was already ready.
One step—
No!!
This strange feeling is…
That light curtain is dangerous!!
Her greatsword even disappeared instantly upon touching the light curtain.
"This, this feeling of energy rapidly draining…"
"That light curtain, exactly what is…"
She breathed continuously, calming herself down a bit.
Focus her mind, first restore the armed state of the Flamescion greatsword—Flamescion Draw!
Kiana Kaslana felt her mind go blank for one second.
Within her body, the Herrscher's authority showed no abnormality, and the feel of the power was as usual—
But her weapon had indeed vanished into the void for no reason, and no matter how she gathered energy, she could not recreate its splendor.
"…?"
"Clearly not affected by the Herrscher of Domination's authority, but why can't the power recover?"
"What exactly… has Otto done?"
Kiana Kaslana's confusion was natural, because at this moment, she had only just begun to experience the power of another Herrscher authority—Constraint.
Inside the light curtain.
Otto laughed: "…That's right, that's good. Come stop me by all means, Durandal, Kiana, and… Theresa."
"Consider it your farewell performance… offered to me."
Otto gazed toward the lights enveloping the outside of the church.
They were so divine, just like the stairs to heaven in myths.
And outside the church.
Kiana, having lost her greatsword, could only watch helplessly as Otto leisurely departed, merging into that eerie light curtain.
But when she tried to cross the light curtain to continue the pursuit, she felt her hairs stand on end, as if every cell in her body was stopping her.
"Kiana!"
Bronya's voice came.
Kiana also turned her head: "Bronya?"
Bronya hurried over from not far away: "Kiana, are you alright?"
Kiana said: "I'm fine… But I couldn't stop Otto. During the fight with him, this light curtain suddenly appeared, isolating me from him. He's now on the other side of the light curtain…"
"Mm…"
Liliya, who had followed closely behind, suddenly felt sleepy and nearly collapsed to the ground.
Rozaliya hurriedly supported her: "Eh? Liliya, what's wrong with you? This isn't the time to sleep! We still need to… Huh?"
Before her words finished, she too suddenly felt sleepy: "Why am I suddenly so sleepy too…"
Seele hurriedly supported both of them.
Bronya also said: "The closer we get here, the heavier our bodies become. This feeling… is like when our power was stolen by the puppets, similar, but different…"
In their communications, Theresa's voice suddenly came through: "Hello? Is the comms normal? Can anyone hear me?"
Kiana immediately said: "Principal? This is Kiana. Comms are normal. I just rendezvoused with Bronya and the others in front of the church."
Theresa said with relief: "That's great, you're alright. Comms have been unstable since earlier. I was worried you'd become uncontactable like Mr. Welt."
"The Doctors and I saw a massive light curtain appear in the direction of the church from the Hyperion. The instruments show its energy parameters are extremely abnormal—have you discovered anything on site?"
Kiana said: "The light curtain is probably some measure Otto took to isolate us outside. After it rose, he entered the church alone."
"Otto!"
Hearing this name, even Theresa's tone changed: "You really ran into him, huh…"
Kiana said: "Yeah, when the light curtain appeared, he was muttering something about a gift from the Imaginary Tree, gods' authorities…"
"Oh right, when I arrived, he was holding the Abyss Flower, saying it was left behind by the first guest."
Theresa mulled over these words: "Abyss Flower… first guest, could it be… Durandal?"
Tesla exclaimed in shock: "Huh? Isn't she Otto's subordinate? They had an internal falling out?"
Kiana shook her head: "I don't know… Anyway, everyone's isolated outside the church by the light curtain, and the Abyss Flower is stuck right in front of us."
"And, strangely… this light curtain seems to have a draining and suppressive effect on Herrscher abilities."
"…"
There was a moment of silence on the comms side.
Einstein then asked Theresa: "Lady Theresa, what do you think?"
Theresa said: "There's no doubt anymore. All the evidence points to—the light curtain very likely being the manifestation of the Herrscher of Constraint's authority, just like the Divine Grace Barrier."
Bronya: "What?"
She was very shocked about this Herrscher.
Kiana was also surprised: "Herrscher of Constraint?! You're saying, in this town, a Herrscher of Constraint has appeared?"
Einstein said: "Everyone, calm down first. What we're talking about is the Herrscher of Constraint's authority. At least, we haven't detected signs of a new Herrscher core appearing."
Theresa said: "The Mimic Oath of Judah also can't release such a large-scale barrier…"
Einstein said: "Combining with what Otto said, this is more like some power originating from the Imaginary Tree."
Tesla said: "But no matter what, the current situation is extremely tricky. We need to figure out a way to resolve the light curtain quickly and go in to beat that Otto down—that's the key."
Theresa immediately issued orders: "Kiana, Bronya, you two first lead everyone to retreat to a safe area and stand by. The light curtain issue, I'll discuss solutions with the Doctors."
"Remember, absolutely do not approach the light curtain! If this really is Constraint power, it will cause irreversible effects on your bodies!"
Kiana agreed: "Got it, no problem."
At the same time.
In the Hyperion command room.
Tesla was furious: "Aaaahhh, I'm so pissed off! That bastard, if he's got the guts, come out himself and fight fair and square! Hiding in the church without showing his face—what kind of skill is that, huh?!"
Einstein said: "Calm down, Dr. Tesla. Complaining won't change the status quo, moreover… we still have some countermeasures worth trying."
"…Hm?" Tesla immediately looked at her: "Bird nest head, if you've thought of some method, spit it out quick!"
Einstein said: "Perhaps, we can try using the Moonlight Throne on the Hyperion to break that light curtain."
Theresa asked puzzledly: "Moonlight Throne? But isn't that a weapon for dealing with Herrschers?"
Einstein said: "The reason the Moonlight Throne can oppose Herrschers is because it converts the Honkai energy within Herrschers into conventional energy. In other words, the Moonlight Throne's attacks do not belong to the Honkai category."
"As long as we provide it with extra Honkai energy, it can completely be used as a beam weapon with astonishing power."
"Originally, for Constraint authority, if we use Herrscher power or ordinary Honkai energy weapons to attack it, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock—"
Tesla also understood: "But if it's a conventional energy weapon, we don't need to worry too much about those things and can bombard freely, right!"
"Damn it! I knew we should've brought all the Silver Bullets!"
Einstein said helplessly: "Then you'd really have to consider the innocent masses around. In any case, one thing is certain—"
"No matter what principle the light curtain uses to realize Constraint authority, it needs some operational mechanism to dissipate energy."
"As long as there's an operational mechanism, there exists a tolerance threshold. Constraint authority will naturally also dissipate conventional energy, but precisely because this isn't its main offensive direction…"
"So our output will more easily exceed that threshold."
Tesla said: "In short, it's like a steel egg hitting a rock—seeing whose skull is harder."
Theresa asked: "Then… what if the Moonlight Throne's power can't reach the light curtain's threshold?"
Einstein said: "Then we can only seek other methods."
"…"
For a moment, the group fell silent again.
Until Tesla said: "In other words, to be safe, we should go all out with the energy stored on the Hyperion from the start and just bet it all!"
Einstein pointed out: "But conversely, if we directly have the Moonlight Throne output at maximum power… once it fails, we'll lose the Hyperion's entire combat capability."
Theresa also agreed: "Indeed… Given that leisurely attitude, Otto likely still has backup plans."
"In any case, the plan itself has no issues. I'll first inform Kiana and the others—"
"The power settings for the Moonlight Throne, as well as the related preparations, I'll leave to you two Doctors to weigh."
…Several minutes later.
Theresa contacted the group again: "Kiana, Bronya, can you hear me?"
Kiana replied: "I hear you, Principal."
Bronya: "What instructions now?"
Theresa said: "The Doctors and I will try using the Moonlight Throne to resolve the light curtain in front of the church. You all lead everyone to quickly withdraw to a place that won't be affected."
"At that time, if the plan succeeds, confirm safety before entering the light curtain to decisive battle with Otto—I'll hurry over as soon as possible."
Kiana asked puzzledly: "…Moonlight Throne?"
Bronya directly interrupted: "Kiana, the principle can be explained by the Doctors later. For now, follow the Principal's plan."
"You're right." Kiana immediately led the group away from the light curtain.
And on the Hyperion.
Tesla also set the power to 20% according to Einstein's plan, preparing for a test shot.
After confirming Kiana and the others had evacuated, Theresa said: "—Dr. Tesla, we can begin."
"Understood!"
Tesla immediately issued the command: "Hyperion shipborne anti-Herrscher armament, main cannon Moonlight Throne—activate!"