Anti-Entropy Desert Base.
"So this is the place? They really hid it well."
Raven couldn't help muttering while staring at the endless dunes and jagged cliffs.
Not long ago, World Serpent and Schicksal had reached a temporary cooperation. Their Lord would soon return from beyond the sea of suffering.
They didn't know the details of the deal, nor how the operation would proceed. But since their Lord had agreed, they simply had to follow.
Before their master's return, they needed to prepare a gift.
A legendary weapon — one only he could wield.
That was why they now stood before one of Anti-Entropy's hidden bases deep in the desert.
Inside, the weapon waited.
"Begin the operation."
Jackal didn't want to waste time. She wanted to retrieve the weapon that once belonged to their Lord.
"Yes, Jackal-sama!" xN
They planned to infiltrate under the guise of a supply delivery and launch a surprise attack from within.
—Aaaah!!
But before anything began, screams erupted.
"Jackal-sama, there's— aaah!!"
Hm?
Jackal frowned. She had expected her subordinates to quietly clear out the outer defenses, yet horrifying screams kept coming.
"Both of you should turn back. This is not a place you ought to be."
That cold voice drifted toward them as a familiar, impossible figure stepped into view — holding a pure white knight's lance.
Why is she alive?!
Inside Anti-Entropy Base.
"How long can my body still hold out?"
After the doctor completed his examination, Siegfried sat up heavily.
He knew his condition was worsening.
He couldn't do anything.
Not even chase after the Fourth Herrscher who had taken his daughter.
All he could do was wait for news from Theresa and the others.
The helplessness was suffocating.
"The Honkai beast genes are still being suppressed, for now… the situation is stable."
The doctor reviewed the data carefully before answering.
"The medication used to suppress—"
BOOM—!
Siegfried didn't finish before the entire base shook.
"What happened?!"
The doctor immediately contacted the perimeter guards.
"A woman— argh—!!"
More screams.
Both men's expressions turned grim.
The base was under attack.
A… woman?
Rita? Fu Hua?
If Schicksal was attacking… that was bad.
No—
Otto wouldn't bother hiding it if it were him. He would just blow the entire base up.
The moment he heard "a woman attacker," Siegfried's thoughts instinctively turned toward Schicksal.
But knowing Otto, this didn't match his style.
"AAAHHH—!!"
"Gh…!"
A sudden stab of pain shot through his skull.
Siegfried collapsed to one knee, roaring.
He was losing control.
His right arm was already covered in Honkai armor.
His eyes had begun to mutate.
A Honkai beast's tail was growing behind him.
But as long as he could still think—
he would protect this place.
He grabbed Judgment of Shamash, gritted his teeth, and prepared for the intruder.
Clack… clack… clack…
Light footsteps approached down the corridor.
Siegfried tightened his grip, half-kneeling, ready to strike—
"Truly pitiful… It seems these years have not been kind to you."
That voice.
A voice he had dreamed of for over a decade.
Cecilia?
She…
CLANG—
The weapon slipped from his hand, falling heavily onto the floor.
His mind went blank.
Standing in the doorway, bathed in soft light, holding Black Abyss White Flower…
She looked exactly as she had back in Siberia.
Young.
Beautiful.
Untouched by time.
Impossible.
Even if she had survived, she wouldn't look exactly the same.
But a hallucination… could never feel this real.
No—
I can't fall for this.
Cecilia would never want me trapped by illusions.
He forced his eyes shut, trying to steady his breath.
He picked up his weapon again.
This was Honkai-induced hallucination.
It had to be.
He had to wake up.
Cecilia… give me strength…
"Why did you close your eyes?"
…What?
He opened them—
Cecilia was no longer at the door.
She was standing directly in front of him.
This wasn't an illusion.
He could feel her presence.
"Alright, give that to me," she said softly. "I'll use Black Abyss White Flower to heal you. You—"
"You're not Cecilia."
Siegfried jerked away violently, dragging Shamash back with him.
He glared at her with pain twisting his features.
"She's dead."
Black Abyss White Flower…
But wasn't it stolen by the Fourth Herrscher?
The realization struck him like lightning.
This wasn't a hallucination.
But she definitely wasn't Cecilia.
Otto.
That damn bastard used Cecilia's DNA to make a clone.
Just like he did to Kiana.
But—
Why did she have Cecilia's weapon?
"…"
Wendy—using Cecilia's character card—looked at him without expression.
She knew what came next.
If he wouldn't cooperate—
Then she'd just beat him up for Kiana's sake first.
And then heal him.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/pikachu614