Honkai: Strijder
Chapter 454: The Answer
Boom!
Under continuous external interference, the Honkai energy within Theresa surged violently, erupting in a powerful outburst. The brilliant golden light filled the blue experimental chamber, making it look like a vessel of liquid gold—beautiful, yet blinding. Even Otto couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
"Little Theresa…"
Otto murmured her name. As soon as the light faded, he opened his eyes and looked forward again.
Theresa floated within the chamber, her body instinctively curled up—yet completely motionless, as if lifeless.
"…"
Otto remained silent. He pulled several nearby data panels closer and checked them carefully. After confirming that Theresa still retained her consciousness, he quietly let out a breath of relief.
"Glub… glub…"
A burst of bubbles suddenly rose within the chamber. Theresa's curled body trembled slightly. Crimson patterns spread from her back, extending along her exposed arms and neck—like vines drawing nourishment from their host as they grew.
"Vital signs fluctuating within predicted parameters. The stigmata has been successfully activated… Sigurd, we were right. Dr. Mei's stigmata plan is essentially a method of artificially catalyzing Herrschers. After all, what else could withstand the Honkai energy tide that annihilates civilizations, if not something akin to a Herrscher?"
Otto sighed softly. This was a conclusion they had long discussed and studied, so it did not surprise him.
Theresa's stigmata had been pushed back to its original state. All artificially stabilizing structures had collapsed. From this point forward, even if nothing more were done, her stigmata would begin shaping her toward becoming a Herrscher.
Either Theresa would transform into a lifeform close to a Herrscher or… the stigmata would completely devour her, converting everything she was into vast amounts of Honkai energy, which would then explode outward into the ocean and atmosphere.
And this, too, was the fate awaiting humanity once the stigmata plan began—
No… not all humanity. Only a small fraction would face this path, because the vast majority lacked the aptitude and would simply drown in the Honkai energy environment immediately.
"Next, initiating Phase Two."
Otto forced himself to ignore his inner thoughts and calmly input the next set of commands.
A circular opening appeared in the laboratory ceiling. A massive cross etched with glowing golden patterns, along with two semi-transparent crystals, descended slowly, suspended in place.
Divine Key: Oath of Judah—Theresa's weapon, and also Kallen's.
Otto valued Kallen's relics deeply, but he also clearly understood the difference between people and objects. When necessary, even Judah could be used and modified without hesitation.
As for the two crystals, they were cores extracted from pseudo-Herrschers. While they could not compare to true Herrscher cores in terms of energy level or uniqueness, they were sufficient as sources of Honkai energy and as catalysts for creating an artificial Herrscher core.
"Sigh… The real challenge isn't guiding a qualified Valkyrie onto the path of becoming a Herrscher, but turning her into a suitable vessel for the Twelfth Herrscher—the Herrscher of Binding—and thus drawing the attention of the Honkai God."
Otto muttered to himself while adjusting parameters—both to steady his emotions and to further refine his thoughts.
Under his control, each pseudo-Herrscher core extended a strand of white light. The strands met before Judah, intertwining and weaving together.
At the same time, carefully engineered propulsion devices emitted a gentle blue glow, guiding the power of the pseudo-Herrscher cores into the golden patterns of Judah.
Rumble…
The massive cross began to tremble, radiating brilliant light.
"Kallen… Judah… deliver this power to Theresa. She needs you. This world needs you."
Otto whispered as if in prayer, his gaze fixed on a strand of light extending from behind Judah, slowly and sinuously making its way toward the experimental chamber.
He stepped back to the edge of the laboratory, leaving ample space for the delicate construction of the artificial Herrscher core.
The strand of light entered the chamber. Under Otto's control, it gradually flowed into Theresa's forehead. At the same time, the crimson stigmata patterns rapidly spread across her face, resonating with the Honkai energy infused with Judah's essence.
Theresa's eyes snapped open.
Her golden pupils trembled uncontrollably, rotating erratically, as waves of Honkai energy surged outward—one after another, each stronger than the last, pulsing in rhythmic bursts.
Rumble—!!!
It was as if thunder echoed all around—the entire oceanic warship trembling under the force.
Thousands of miles away, Mobius and Einstein each stood by their own monitoring equipment, silently observing the fluctuations of Honkai energy in the middle of the ocean.
Just ten steps away, Otto knew—the Herrscher core had begun to inscribe itself into Theresa's genes and stigmata, and was also slowly taking shape within her soul and mental realm.
"The next stretch of the road… you'll have to walk on your own. But I'll always be watching from behind, little Theresa."
With his hands behind his back, Otto gazed through the transparent virtual screen, watching Theresa's body twist and convulse within the dense Honkai energy—her limbs struggling like a drowning prisoner.
Boom!!!
…
Boom!!!
Under an indescribable impact, Theresa suddenly opened her eyes. Her hazy consciousness snapped into clarity.
But what she saw was no longer the laboratory or Otto, instead, it was a pure white space filled with countless golden gears and golden chains.
"Where is thi— ahhh!!!"
Just as Theresa tried to process her situation, an overwhelming pain surged through her entire body, instantly shattering her thoughts.
It was pain that felt as though it could tear her into countless fragments—everywhere, penetrating even her soul. She clutched her head and rolled wildly across the ground.
"Ahhh!!!"
Wave after wave of agony crashed over her. After the final—and most intense—impact, Theresa arched her body upward, screaming until her voice nearly broke, before collapsing heavily onto the ground.
She lay there, face down, unable to muster even the strength to move a single finger.
"Haa… haa… haa…"
She gasped for breath. After a long pause, her thoughts slowly began to gather again from the shattered pain.
Then, lying prone on the ground, she saw a pair of small, pure white feet. And the hem of a white garment fluttering gently.
Where is this place? Who… is this?
Theresa formed the questions sluggishly in her mind, lacking even the strength to speak.
She could only slowly shift her gaze upward, following those pale feet.
A petite figure. A slender frame. A delicate, youthful face devoid of expression. And a perfectly fitted nun's habit—one she knew all too well.
Theresa's pupils contracted.
Though this being was entirely pure white—from skin to pupils to clothing—how could Theresa fail to recognize her own appearance?
"God takes countless forms. If you see a pure white version of yourself, it means you've reached the final and most crucial step."
Otto's words echoed in her mind, causing her heart to tremble.
This is… the God of Honkai!?
Instinctively, Theresa blinked.
And then the "God," who had been several steps away, appeared directly before her.
Its movements were not continuous like those of ordinary beings, but rather like frames in an animation— One moment it stood upright, the next it was already bent down, and in the next instant, it extended a flawless white finger toward Theresa.
Then—it stopped.
One breath passed. Two breaths passed.
It made no further movement.
It simply held out its finger within Theresa's reach, leaning slightly forward, watching her with a faint smile.
Theresa's eyes flickered, filled with a storm of emotions—wariness, fear, hatred… and an uncontrollable sense of reverence.
If the enemy doesn't move, neither will I. I'll use the time to recover my strength…
That had been her plan.
But time seemed frozen within her body—her strength showed no sign of returning.
Gradually, Theresa understood.
She only had enough strength to reach out and touch the "God."
Beyond that single action, she had no other choice.
If I touch it… will I become the Herrscher of Binding? Will the experiment succeed? What should I do?
Unable to discern the situation, the choices of action and inaction clashed violently in her mind.
Just as she thought the stalemate would continue indefinitely, she noticed that her body, and the world before her, were beginning to fade.
"!?"
Her thoughts were still clouded, unable to distinguish reality from illusion.
But one conviction surged rapidly within her—
I cannot fail!
And before her mind could fully decide, her body moved first.
Her trembling hand slowly lifted, her finger reaching out—
And gently touched the finger of the "God."
…
Splash! Splash! Splash!
The battleship Hyperion hovered above the sea, while the roaring sound of crashing waves surged below.
A Valkyrie clad in fiery red armor stood at the edge of the deck, tilting her head back as she gulped down a bottle of red wine.
"Ha! As expected of something taken from Sigurd's private collection—this tastes different! What do you think, former Overseer Otto?"
A translucent blond man appeared beside her, standing shoulder to shoulder as they gazed toward the distant sky, where golden gears continued spreading outward.
"Sigurd doesn't particularly care for wine. If you're interested, I have some truly exceptional vintages."
He replied casually.
The surge of power from Theresa's forming Herrscher core had erupted alongside the Binding field. Caught off guard, Otto's physical body had been torn apart—what remained now was merely this projected consciousness.
Himeko casually tossed the empty bottle behind her. It shattered against the polished deck with a sharp crash.
"Forget the wine for now. Just tell me—Theresa succeeded, right?"
"She succeeded… but not completely. Only if she regains her humanity and breaks free from the will of Honkai can it be considered true success."
"So if she fails to break free… you'll just bombard her to death with full firepower?"
"That phrasing is a bit harsh—but yes, you're correct, Major Himeko."
Otto's projection turned, finally directing his gaze toward her.
The fiery armor she wore displayed the pinnacle of Honkai-tech engineering. The familiar structure and energy signatures told Otto immediately—this armor had once belonged to him.
"Divine Key: Blank Key. Embedded with a pseudo-Herrscher core of flame… did you trade your merits for it? That's not cheap."
"Kiana, that idiot, always feels guilty toward me. There was probably some backdoor help involved… I didn't buy it—I just borrowed it for today."
"It's useless. No matter what kind of Divine Key you wield, within the Binding field, there is only death. Withdraw, Major Himeko. This is no longer a battlefield you can intervene in."
"I'll just ask you one question, if I die… is there a chance she'll regain her sanity?"
Flames ignited across Himeko's body, blazing like blood-red fire, merging with her crimson hair until they were indistinguishable.
Otto paused, momentarily stunned.
From this woman—whom he had never once truly regarded—he saw something familiar:
The fearless soul of a hero.
After a brief silence, Otto nodded.
"It seems you've learned about the experiments I once conducted on Kiana."
"After Theresa got smarter, she dug up a lot of things. I've had… quite the connection with the Herrscher of the Void, and Theresa is my friend. I know a bit, at least."
She looked straight at him.
"Tell me—will my life help her?"
"You promised her you wouldn't throw your life away."
"Hah! It's not like this is the first time I've lied to that little fool."
Himeko rolled her eyes, smiling without a trace of concern.
Then she transformed into a blazing streak of fire, skimming across the ocean's surface as she shot toward the sky where the golden gears had appeared.
Otto did not answer her directly.
But he had already given his answer.
And so, Himeko had hers as well.