Chapter 95: Immortal Jingwei, I Did Not Lie
"Old Timer, you have way too little confidence in yourself!"
Senti held a completely different view from Fu Hua.
"You're a warrior who survived from the Previous Era! You guarded Shenzhou alone, repelled Schicksal's armies, and even the strongest Valkyrie Kallen Kaslana was no match for you! You might not lack the power to stand against the Herrscher of the Void!"
Senti was a pure "Old Timer fanboy." Although she usually acted irreverent and even expressed disdain in front of Fu Hua, outside, if anyone dared to say a single bad word about her, Senti would charge forward and start a fight immediately.
"Let's hope so..."
Fu Hua didn't say more and continued playing.
Back in Pardo Felis's livestream.
Seeing Fu Hua suddenly appear to save the day, Pardo looked surprised. "Hua... wait, no, Class Monitor! She's here!"
Himeko, watching the in-game Fu Hua, remarked with nostalgia, "Fu Hua... I really miss her. Back in school, she was always such a reliable student. Compared to that idiot Kiana, they're like heaven and earth..."
[Haha, I didn't expect to hear Kiana's dark history from Auntie Himeko!]
[Dark history? That's called staying in character!]
[No, isn't it too accurate? How did God Su replicate these real-life personalities so perfectly? This is incredible!]
[I feel like these game characters are carbon copies of their real-life counterparts!]
Facing the audience's questions, Su Mu only smiled. "Business secret, no comment."
[Since Fu Hua is here, Theresa and the others should be safe, right?]
[Fu Hua is so strong, maybe she really can go toe-to-toe with the Second Herrscher!]
[Immortal Jingwei, charge!!]
After playing The Forgotten, players had learned about the heavy past Fu Hua carried and knew she was the Immortal who once guarded Shenzhou. They were very confident in her strength; after all, she had stood guard for a vast amount of time and defeated Kallen with apparent ease. Even against the Second Herrscher, Fu Hua surely had a fighting chance!
In the game: [As the CG of Fu Hua landing in her Shadow Knight: Moon armor fades, the timeline jumps back 13 minutes. Schicksal HQ, Honkai Energy System Lab: Helheim. Containment Area, Containment Bay 7. A small 15-square-meter room, a cage originally meant for experimental subjects.
Fu Hua and Rita brought Murata Himeko here to treat her body. However, due to chronic damage and fatigue, although Himeko's vital signs returned to normal, she did not wake up. After Rita stepped out, Fu Hua approached Himeko. Using her power, several crystalline feathers drifted onto Himeko.
Fu Hua hoped this would at least ease her pain. Suddenly, a piercing alarm blared. The Second Herrscher had awakened—a part of Otto's plan. Fu Hua and Rita cleared the Honkai beasts summoned by the awakening. After eliminating them, Otto issued a further command: stay put, and Durandal would lead the Immortal Blades to rendezvous.
However, Fu Hua realized something was wrong. Durandal was not monitoring the Herrscher... and besides her, no one was in a position to oppose the Herrscher. "Don't worry, everything is under my control. My lovely Theresa will help us obtain the Herrscher's power." Otto's reply left Fu Hua pale with shock. "What? Theresa is fighting the Herrscher!?"
Before Fu Hua could ask more, powerful electromagnetic waves paralyzed the communications equipment. Fu Hua intended to go ahead and stall the Herrscher while waiting for Durandal's support, but Rita blocked her path. She informed Fu Hua of a cold reality: Otto never issued orders to fight the Herrscher. In fact, he ordered Rita to stop Fu Hua at all costs to prevent her from ruining the plan!]
Seeing Fu Hua blocked by Rita, the chat was filled with a string of question marks.
[???]
[What the hell is Dog Otto trying to do?]
[Herrscher power is so terrifying; if the Second Herrscher is left unchecked, the world will be destroyed, right?]
[At a time like this, Otto isn't making a move? What is he plotting?]
[Even Theresa is in danger, and Otto the "granddaughter-con" isn't lifting a finger?]
Pardo's brow furrowed. "From where I sit, it seems Otto is doing this intentionally. He wants Theresa and the others to fight Kiana..."
Murata Himeko, who had caught up on the plot before the stream, analyzed, "I don't know the specifics, but since that Herrscher was created by Otto, it means her power is vital to him, right?"
Pardo nodded. "Exactly. If Otto created a Herrscher only to immediately order its destruction... I'd think his brain was broken."
[Do you remember? In the Everlasting Memory files, Otto wanted to obtain Herrscher power...]
[But what good is it? This Herrscher of the Void clearly hates humans; there's no way she'd cooperate with Otto.]
[I agree. The Queen has so much malice toward humanity. Even if he doesn't kill her, she won't cooperate.]
The audience discussed Otto's motives animatedly. In the game, Fu Hua and Rita were both preparing to release their full power for a decisive clash when a massive lance slammed down between them, ending the duel. A woman with long blonde hair clad in white and blue armor appeared! She radiated the aura of a powerhouse, looking like a noble paladin.
The appearance of Durandal made Himeko's eyes widen. "...Bianca?" She then looked at Su Mu. "I've seen Bianca Kaslana... her aura is truly unforgettable. Compared to that unlucky kid Kiana, Bianca the 'Big Sister' is far more reliable. Did you see her too?"
Facing Himeko's question, Su Mu began to bluff. "Kiana showed me a photo of her, and it left a deep impression, so I recreated her in the game."
"Oh~ is that so~" Murata Himeko looked at Su Mu playfully. "I can understand. A strong woman like Bianca really gives off a feeling of wanting to be conquered... Imagine, being able to take down an authoritative big-sister type who is strict at home and a decisive, meticulous boss at the office. What a wonderful experience that would be! Don't you feel your heart racing just thinking about it?"
Su Mu looked at Himeko, speechless. "Himeko Big Sister, I must remind you that this is a livestream. Please exercise some restraint."
Himeko waved it off. "Just a joke! Don't mind it!"
Su Mu felt that inviting this woman was a risky move. He had to keep a close eye on her to make sure she didn't drop any "adult" jokes... Fortunately, she hadn't been drinking today, or her terrible drunken behavior might have gotten Pardo's channel banned.
[After Durandal appeared, she told Rita to stop blocking Fu Hua. She told Fu Hua that they couldn't provide assistance because they had their own standing. However, Durandal added that if the positions were reversed, she would have made the same choice as Fu Hua. Thus, after thanking Durandal, Fu Hua rushed toward the Second Herrscher's location.
Rita watched Fu Hua leave and asked Durandal, "Why didn't you stop her? she will die." "That is her choice." "...A pity. I didn't dislike her." Whether it was Rita, Bianca, or Fu Hua, they all seemingly knew how this battle would end.]
After understanding what happened before Fu Hua arrived, the audience's perception of Durandal and Rita changed for the better.
[It seems Durandal has her reasons...]
[So Otto's Valkyries aren't all bad?]
[The Valkyries can't be bad; only Otto is evil, okay? Think about how many Valkyries have died for Schicksal over the years fighting the Honkai!]
[Rita was following Otto's orders, but she clearly didn't want Fu Hua to risk her life either...]
In the game, the story moved to Fu Hua's duel with the Herrscher of the Void. Fu Hua covered Bronya, letting her retreat with Theresa and Mei while she stayed behind. During the fight, the Herrscher recognized Fu Hua, implying they had fought during the Second Honkai Impact.
Fu Hua unleashed the power of the Divine Key, the Grips of Taixu, and engaged in a fierce battle. Her strength far surpassed the trio from before, and she actually managed to wound the Herrscher multiple times. However... those wounds healed at an incredible speed, closing before a single drop of blood could fall. This was the terrifying power of the Gem of Serenity, which had also nullified Theresa's earlier attacks.
In contrast, Fu Hua's stamina was being drained. Her desperate resistance didn't last long. Soon, the Herrscher gripped Fu Hua's head with one hand, lifting her into the air. She looked at the weakened Fu Hua with eyes full of contempt.
["I'll give you a little praise; you are indeed different. But in the end, you are only human."]
Fu Hua lost to the Herrscher of the Void. While the result surprised the audience, it wasn't entirely unexpected. The "Queen's Descent" short had already established her overwhelming power. Furthermore, Fu Hua's line earlier—"Besides Durandal, no one can oppose the Herrscher"—showed she knew she was outmatched. It proved that a standard S-rank power level wasn't enough to fight the Second Herrscher.
However, Senti could not accept this scene. "Rigged! Absolutely rigged! No way the Old Timer loses to that nasty Herrscher!" she grumbled, wanting to run to miHoYo and argue with Su Mu.
[In the subsequent scene, the Herrscher of the Void noticed that Fu Hua hadn't used her full power—she had a second Divine Key she hadn't touched. Though curious why, the Herrscher dismissively thought it wouldn't change the outcome. Just as she was about to kill Fu Hua, an unexpected person appeared.
Otto Apocalypse.
He appeared abruptly, ending the fight. A crimson liquid radiated from his body, a blood-like fluid spiraling up his arm to form sharp spikes. "She is my friend. I do not wish for her to be harmed." Facing Otto's threat, the Herrscher felt a dangerous aura from the man, particularly the blood-like spikes which made her instinctively uncomfortable. "I have no interest in you; those girls are my target... but for someone like you to become a King. Humans are truly pitiful." Discarding Fu Hua with disdain, the Herrscher vanished into the sky.]
Senti's eyes went wide. "Otto actually saved the Old Timer? Does that guy have a conscience?" She was confused. Otto had blocked Fu Hua and forbidden the Immortal Blades from fighting the Herrscher, yet he saved her himself. What is he playing at?
Fu Hua was also puzzled. She hadn't expected Otto to save her after her defeat.
["My, how pathetic. The last time I saw you so wounded was 500 years ago at Mount Taixu, wasn't it?" Otto walked to Fu Hua's side and looked down at her. Fu Hua, severely injured, was unable to speak. "Anyway, let me treat you first. Also, congratulations on the successful completion of the first stage of the experiment." "...W-Why..." To Otto's surprise, Fu Hua found the strength to speak. "Why... let her go... don't you know... her target..."
Otto's voice lost its playful, cynical edge, replaced by a heavy tone. "Theresa? I know. It won't be long before they are caught. This time, there will be no interruptions—their battle will go to the end."
At this moment, Otto finally revealed his goal to Fu Hua. K423 was not dead. Otto needed the Herrscher of the Void's power, but Herrschers are uncontrollable. So, he thought of a solution: controlling a person with Herrscher power is much easier than controlling a Herrscher.
In other words... from the start, Otto's goal in creating K423 was to create a human with Herrscher powers! He wanted K423 to take back her body. To do this, he had to sacrifice K423's companions—the people she had bonds with. This was why he allowed K423 to join St. Freya. He wanted her to form those bonds so that when a sacrifice occurred, K423 would reclaim her body.
A "Great Work." Otto wanted Theresa and the others... to kill the Herrscher using love!]
Otto's words left the audience stunned. This man, in such a calm voice, described such a mad plan! Kill a Herrscher with love? Is he insane? The success rate depended entirely on Kiana's will. What if it failed? What if Kiana didn't wake up after the sacrifice? Or if she did wake up, only to realize she had killed her friends?
[Madman! Absolute madman!]
[To get Herrscher power, he came up with this?]
[Wait, Otto is willing to sacrifice his own granddaughter for this?]
[Is this guy even human!]
"This Otto guy is truly... a terrifying person," Pardo said, her skin crawling. Hearing the line "kill the Herrscher with love" made her scalp tingle! This handsome blonde man looked human, but he was a demon wearing a human skin! Mad, paranoid, arrogant... yet playing everyone like chess pieces! Utterly cruel!!
Even Himeko was frowning deeply, immersed in the plot. Cold, selfish, and heartless—yet he believed in Kiana's bonds. He believed in the power of "love." As a villain, he was far too contradictory.
But they didn't realize that Otto was about to do something that would make the players collectively explode.
[After hearing the plan, Fu Hua laughed. "Hehe... hahahaha..." It wasn't a laugh of joy, but of extreme anger and grief. Facing Otto Apocalypse, she used her last bit of strength to speak. "...Friend? Your words hold not a shred of conscience... only bottomless selfishness and lies. You trample on feelings, toy with fates... you don't even for a second... think you're a villain!" "Otto Apocalypse... you make me feel, from the bottom of my heart... pity... and loathing..."
"—" Thunder flashed in the distance, and darkness shrouded the sky—also shrouding Otto's face. Golden light condensed in his right hand, gradually forming a firearm: Mimicry: Shamash. He slowly pointed the barrel at the person lying on the ground.
A long journey. 500 years of memories, like a phantom dream, dissipated before his eyes into nothingness. A short journey. So short that by the time he snapped back to reality, he had made his choice.
"Immortal Jingwei... I did not lie..."]
A dull gunshot rang out, and the screen went black.
Silence. A deathly silence. Pardo Felis stared at the black screen, her face filled with shock. After a few seconds, the chat exploded.
[Holy crap! HOLY CRAP!!]
[Otto, you piece of trash! You dare kill Fu Hua!]
[He actually did it? He really did it!]
[Otto, you bastard!!]
[Calling her a friend while putting a bullet in her! Is that how you treat friends?!]
[I was naive enough to think he actually came to save her!]
At the Schicksal Arc City branch, Senti stared at her computer. The impact was so great that her brain couldn't process it; she stood frozen, eyes glazed.
After a long pause— "Otto, I will kill you ten thousand times and it still won't be enough!!!" Senti exploded.
END OF CHAPTER
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