World Serpent Main Base
Inside the main base of World Serpent, Kevin fell into deep thought as he looked at the intelligence analysis summary Gray Serpent had submitted to him on the data screen.
About half a month had passed since his defeat at the hands of Leo Ash.
And in that half-month, the 'Schicksal pressing their advantage' scenario that Kevin had imagined did not materialize.
During this time, most of Schicksal's combat units seemed to be carrying out their usual patrol and combat duties against Honkai events.
However, Gray Serpent, who had planted several spies in Schicksal HQ long ago, only managed to gather some information after losing several of them.
After Gray Serpent organized the intel, he presented this summary, which included his personal speculations, to Kevin, who had been recuperating all this time.
In the past half-month, Schicksal and Anti-Entropy had set aside their past grievances and chosen a temporary alliance.
Meanwhile, Shenzhou, which was originally an ally of Schicksal, saw its relationship with its 'old friend' visibly deteriorate.
Well, to say it deteriorated might be a bit inaccurate.
According to Gray Serpent's notes, after Leo Ash promised to hand over a portion of the [Soulium Body] to Shenzhou, Shenzhou, having received tangible benefits, had actually grown closer to Schicksal overall.
But after Hua, known as the Immortal Red Kite, returned to Shenzhou, she herself seemed to exhibit a certain degree of resistance towards Schicksal.
Additionally, Schicksal's weapon research labs had begun developing Godsbane Armor to assist the Herrschers Raiden Mei and Yuna.
Finally, with the Thousand Worlds that was originally docked at Schicksal HQ suddenly disappearing, and Leo Ash, after defeating Kevin, not returning to Schicksal HQ but being announced as 'on a secret mission against World Serpent'...
Combining this information, Gray Serpent made some deductions.
After the battle with Kevin, the three Herrschers—Raiden Mei, Yuna, and Leo Ash—must have encountered problems of varying degrees.
Considering Abyss Flower was on the battlefield, and with Durandal, Su, and Welt—three powerful individuals who knew how to use the Key of Creation—present, it was unlikely that the three would be 'gravely injured and untreatable'. Based on this, Kevin made some bold assumptions.
"Back then, when Leo Ash used that powerful move to trap me in an illusion, only a few seconds passed between when I was trapped and when I woke up."
"Yet in those few seconds, Leo Ash had already easily recovered from his injuries, which means he doesn't lack the means to heal himself."
"And now, he's deliberately hiding... no, given Leo Ash's previous style, after soundly defeating me, he would have stood up and declared his victory to boost Schicksal's morale."
"Looking at it this way, Leo Ash... something has happened to him."
"Either his mind is in such a bad state that it's inconvenient for him to appear, or he simply can't appear at all."
Listening to Kevin's muttered speculations, the administrator Gray Serpent, who stood beside him, showed no emotion due to being a bioroid, but inwardly, he was, of course, ecstatic.
Ever since he learned that Leo Ash had become the Herrscher of Binding, Leo Ash's threat level in Gray Serpent's eyes had been further magnified.
And it wasn't that Gray Serpent wanted to boost another's prestige while diminishing his own, but the fact was...
Even Lord Kevin couldn't win, so being stubborn at a time like this was pointless.
With World Serpent already crippled, if they wanted to continue the Stigmata Project, Lord Kevin had to possess a power strong enough to intimidate others.
Only with the power to suppress an entire generation would those fools offer up everything they had to assist the Lord in completing this world-saving project.
Otherwise...
—The current World Serpent, whether in terms of influence, economic power, or human resources, was insufficient to complete the Stigmata Project.
Of course, Gray Serpent believed that once Kevin recovered his full strength, the Lord at his peak would surely be able to defeat that detestable Leo Ash.
But now, having absorbed only half of Chiyou's energy and having been crippled by Leo Ash, which had greatly depleted his vitality, Kevin's recovery speed was far too slow.
With the Honkai clearly accelerating, everyone was short on time.
By the time Kevin recovered his peak strength, it would be too late to implement the Stigmata Project.
So, Leo Ash being gone was something for Gray Serpent to be very happy about.
If he didn't know his boss seemed to have other things on his mind, Gray Serpent would have popped open a few bottles of champagne by now.
"Hmm, not just Leo Ash."
Completely unaware that his subordinate was already imagining a beautiful future, Kevin continued to mutter to himself.
"Godsbane Armor... that Valkyrie named Durandal has equipped it before."
"The enhancement is indeed quite good, but for a Herrscher, it's a bit lacking."
"Something's not right, could it be..."
With a certain guess forming in his mind, Kevin suddenly recalled the images he had seen through the Kaslana Stigmata fourteen years ago.
The Herrscher of the Void from fourteen years ago, as a special individual, could minimize the burden of holding multiple Herrscher Cores after absorbing them.
And Kevin, who had contacted his junior Siegfried through the Kaslana Stigmata back then, had seen the consequences the Herrscher of the Void had triggered at the end of her life after being defeated by Siegfried.
Kevin, who witnessed that battle through the Kaslana Stigmata, judged that the Herrscher of the Void, holding the cores of Void, Flame, and Wind, would contaminate a vast surrounding area with the Honkai Energy erupting from her cores upon her death.
According to Kevin's rough estimate at the time, half of Asia would have been unsalvageable.
A normal, single-core Herrscher of the Void could never possess such power.
Now, two Herrschers are starting to rely on Godsbane Armor for battle, and...
Although Otto never explicitly stated his plan, his desire for the Key of the Void and the beacon is enough for me to deduce one thing.
Siegfried saw that the blond man in the mask was the one who let the Herrscher of the Void escape.
And that blond man in the mask was clearly Otto using the Void Archives.
Otto, who craves the Key of the Void and the beacon, and who let the Herrscher of the Void escape...
The disappearance of the Key of the Void is likely related to him as well.
At that moment, Kevin looked at the Gem of Haste floating beside him, and an absurd idea popped into his head.
The Herrscher Cores of this era haven't been processed by us, so they are, in fact, 'living' cores.
And the Herrscher of the Void's core is also in Otto's hands...
If he finds another host and implants this core, could a new Herrscher of the Void be born?
Combining the information I have, the possibility of Otto completing such a plan is not zero.
And two Herrschers suddenly starting to use not-so-necessary armor to augment their power...
"My Lord."
Gray Serpent, who had just received a message, asked Kevin respectfully.
"Mr. Otto has sent a message, saying he wishes to proceed with the 'beacon' trade."
"This is already the fifth time he has requested this trade in the past half-month."
"...Heh, I see."
Otto's message at this moment actually corroborated Kevin's seemingly wild guess.
This wasn't an impossible scenario; once the elements were in place, the probability of it happening actually increased.
Time to probe Schicksal and Otto.
"Gray Serpent, do you have any other spies in Schicksal HQ?"
"Yes, but... the other spies I've sent to Schicksal HQ have basically no combat ability."
Instantly understanding that Gray Serpent had misunderstood him, Kevin shook his head helplessly and said to him.
"Even if it means exposing this spy, you must deliver a message to the higher-ups at Schicksal HQ."
"Huh?"
"Tell them, if a Herrscher loses its core, as long as it can absorb enough Honkai Energy at a 'singularity', it can still re-form the core within itself."
"And Nagazora City is this world's singularity."
"As for Otto, tell him to wait patiently."
"The beacon needs to be traded in conjunction with the Thousand Worlds, otherwise it's meaningless—if he keeps making a fuss, relay this message to him."
"...This subordinate understands."
After hearing Kevin's command, Gray Serpent thought for a moment before immediately contacting the spy.
On the other side, Kevin, having made this decision, gently gripped the Gem of Haste floating in mid-air.
If my estimates are correct, Otto has already begun his plan, which is what has led to the current chaotic situation.
And, based on my calculations, Leo Ash is missing.
With the strongest, Leo Ash, gone, everyone else, no matter how rational, will be in disarray.
At a time like this, Otto, lurking in the shadows, will surely try to advance his plans.
I don't know what this man wants to do, but I know he is no saint.
Fourteen years ago, he turned against humanity to side with a Herrscher. Now, fourteen years later, he would choose to release 'a Kevin who might be hostile to Schicksal' just to plunge the world into chaos.
This man's actions are highly suspect. It's better to be on guard against him.
As for Yuna and Raiden Mei, it remains to be seen if they will heed my advice.
Once they make a move, I will have Gray Serpent's intelligence personnel in Nagazora City report to me immediately.
As for the 'Herrscher of the Void' whose existence is still uncertain...
First, I'll cast the bait and see if the fish will bite.
Leo Ash is missing. This is not what I wanted to see.
But since he's gone, before my next battle with him, I should first take care of some trash that needs to be dealt with.
Otto, you'd better not let me find out you're on the Honkai's side.
Otherwise, if it's for the sake of defeating the Honkai...
—Even if it means breaking my oath, I will kill you, my ally.
...
Sea of Quanta. Inside a certain World Bubble.
At St. Freya High School, Seele, after a busy day, was walking towards a certain room with a light spring in her step.
But at that moment, the other personality within her body felt the emotions erupting from Seele's heart and could only think...
[Hey! You're going to see that hateful bastard, why are you so happy!]
[Don't forget, he's our enemy! And a super villain who bullies little girls!]
Eh, is that so?
Hearing her other self say this, Seele stopped in her tracks and let out a helpless sigh.
Other me, I know you really dislike Big Brother Leo Ash.
But he hasn't done anything to you, has he?
[You, you, you, you're taking his side!]
[What he did to me, didn't you see it in the consciousness space?!]
Huh?
What did he do?
Hearing Seele's genuine confusion, the Dark Seele lurking within her body felt even more furious.
[You, you just want me to say it out loud, don't you!]
...No, I really don't know.
[He spanked my butt! It really hurt!]
[I am you, and you are me, can you tolerate this?!]
But, but...
I've actually told you many times, Big Brother Leo Ash only gave you the 'illusion of being spanked'.
At that time, I could only watch you clutching your butt and crying out for no reason.
[Even so, I'm still the victim!]
But, you were the one who wanted to harm Big Brother Leo Ash first...
[You little—The first stroke of the character hasn't even been written, so why is your elbow already bending outwards so much!]
[I'm going to die of anger!]
I, I'm just telling the truth.
Seele, blushing, quickened her pace and added to her other self in her heart.
Besides, today when Auntie Cecilia, Sister Sakura, and Sister Ji Lin were exploring the area, they already found a place that looks like the World Bubble's exit.
That means Big Brother Leo Ash was right, we—we might be able to leave through this exit.
Actually, I've always found it strange.
He's our benefactor who helped us. Why do you have such an attitude towards him?
[Tch, that's why I say you're too naive.]
[Don't forget, your mother who used you as a test subject is an executive of Anti-Entropy.]
[These past few days while I've been dormant inside you, I saw that when you were with him, he was wearing Schicksal's combat armor.]
[He's from Schicksal, and you're related to the high command of Anti-Entropy. Do you think...]
[—after we leave this World Bubble and return to the real world, he'll still be so polite to us???]
.....