Ray, behind the scene, watched everything unfold between Cecilia and Sirin, both are his Apostles now to aid his descent upon reality like chains that anchor a ship to a harbor.
For an Outer God like Ray, because of the reality unable to bear the presence of his true form, he must degrade himself to the same dimensions as the reality in order to enter the reality.
But, he has no template for the level of existence common in this reality. Thus, he uses Cecilia and Sirin as his template to create an avatar to host his consciousness.
Which in short mean he must create a physical avatar that imitate the lifeforms of this 3 dimensional world.
It sounded easy considering him being an Outer God. But when he tried to create one. The outcome is not what he had expected.
While his avatar indeed imitated his former human form. It's not his adults form. But a half formed embryo that looks rather grotesque and malformed like a stillborn infant that could walk, talk and all even if the way he walks is crooked and his voice unsettling.
Thankfully he didn't appear immediately before Cecilia or Sirin and instead tested this out somewhere secluded.
"Hey, can you explain what is happening here?"
Without any clue of what is happening to me, I could only turn to the all-knowing voice for help as always.
"Not old enough?" I couldn't help but scratch my smooth bald head with a still incomplete arm with no fingers.
"Do Outer God even have concept of age?" I pointed out skeptically.
Hearing this explanation, I could tell this explanation is reeking of bullshit and the author probably can't figure out a better reason to make me put aside my human form.
In short, he can't just skip all the steps and create a human body at will. He must grow through all the phases from an embryo into a human. Otherwise, the result would be like before.
It's a big hassle just to create one and he didn't have the time to do it. The next best choice would be non-human form.
"So, I should try a form that I am unfamiliar with… like an animal?" I asked.
"Alright… sure." I nod and get back to work.
Immediately as I focused my thoughts and concentration, my form started to melt like a heated wax before transforming into the shape of a cat. A bald cat without any fur. Then a lush and glossy coat of black fur started to sprout from the bald skin and my body fully transformed into an ordinary looking black cat.
As for why black?
The hair on my previous body is black and I unconsciously choose black by default. But every look good in the end.
"Well, it actually work." I marvelled as I conjure a mirror and inspect my new feline body with a satisfied hum.
Having a quad pedal body isn't what I am used to and walking is a little awkward as I tried practicing walking in a cat's body.
But, as I just walked a few steps. I sense the disturbance in the fabric of space a moment before a portal open before me and a tall and towering figure of Sirin appeared right in front of my face.
Sirin was looking around and hadn't noticed me sitting on the snow next to her bare foot.
"Hmn? Strange. I definitely sense that strange creepy guy here a moment ago." Sirin said, scratching her head as she look around before she noticed a raised black tail on the ground.
"Strange? Creepy?"
Ray chuckled darkly. His already dark expression due to his black fur become even darker as he lift his head up to look at Sirin.
However, Sirin hadn't noticed the peculiarities of this cat and more surprised by the fact it could talk and display human-like expressions.
"Uwa! A talking cat!" She exclaimed in excitement before lowering herself down and reach for the cat.
Ray quickly swat away those hands and scold this insolent adopted daughter of his.
"You dare call me strange and creep? Get those hands off me!" He said and subconsciously hissed with his fangs fully bared.
Sirin quickly pull her hands back as she realized the identity of the cat.
"It's that creep!" She exclaimed before she realized what she said and quickly cover her mouth and correct herself. "Uh… I mean, Lord Father."
Seeing how she had properly reflected and correct herself. Ray decides to act like an adult and forgive her. However, he still curious about the reason she acted like this and asked why.
Sirin point her finger on her pink cherry lips as she ponder before answered.
"My mother used to say men that act like what Lord Father did is bad people."
Reflecting on her answer, Ray think she maybe right. After all, the moment he pulled Sirin into his internal world. He immediately act like Whitebeard, asking her to be his daughter while 'admiring' her cuteness and beauty after finally seeing her with his own two eyes in reality.
Taking a forced cough on his curled paw, Ray look up at Sirin but noticed her face suddenly look sad.
"What's wrong?"
Sirin quickly wipe her moist eyes and look at Ray while shaking her head.
"It's nothing. Let's go quickly and find ma— Uh, I mean. Cecilia." She said with a little eager tone until she realized her mistake and quickly coughed.
Ray nodded. Not asking any further as he recalled Sirin's story in the game.
As an orphan caused by Honkai and later become lab rats at the Babylon Lab, it obvious she lack familiar love and yearn for a proper family as seen inside the illusion of Fenghuang Down.
Sirin open a portal and about to leave quickly. But then she noticed how Ray still remain seated on the snow with no intention of moving.
Ray look up at Sirin and lift his paw to scratch his head sheepishly before asking, "Can you carry me along? I still can't walk properly yet."
Sirin froze for a moment. Her eyes looking at Ray turn strange before she finally smile and puffed her still budding chest out proudly.
"Hmph! Since you ask for it, this Queen will reluctantly help." She declared somewhat proudly and he didn't bother to correct her at that moment due to embarrassment.
Sirin bent her knee down and picked Ray up to her chest with a hug like any child would when picking up a cat. Then vanished into the portal.
———
On the other side of the portal, Sirin and Ray appeared just as Cecilia already finished talking to her comrades and reassured Siegfried while also laying down instructions about the future to protect their daughters.
Naturally, Cecilia wouldn't exclude Kiana or K-423 just because she is a clone.
With her instructions, Siegfried had long gone with a few of her close people and comrades like Theresa and Shigure Kira to rescue both Kianas as this was their only chance while Otto was still unaware of the situation.
As for Cecilia… As much as she wanted to go with Siegfried and meet her daughters one last time. Her one hour duration is reaching the end and she had no intention to back down from her words.
Thus, she simply waited with Abyss Flower stabbed to the ground next to her, her hands clasped on the desolated battlefield riddled with scars of battle and corpses of Honkai Beasts and Valkyries alike, praying for those who had departed a smooth journey.
Suddenly, she sensed a reaction of Honkai Energy and turned to that direction only to see Sirin exiting a portal while hugging a black cat.
She felt relieved that her lord kept its promise to help Sirin too. But she soon noticed that Sirin seems to be avoiding her gaze with a guilty expression.
"What's wrong, Sirin?" Cecilia asked, walking closer and giving her a gentle tap on the head before pulling her close.
Sirin becomes tense like a statue, her mind filled with complicated emotions of fear, desire and complexity. She wanted to be embraced by this person who once showed her a motherly love that she craved but she was also aware that what she had done since becoming a Herrscher is unforgivable especially for a Valkyrie like Cecilia.
But a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Just hug her back already, puffer fish. No need to think about that nonsense." The cat in her arms struggles free and then orders her to hug Cecilia back.
"You! Stop calling me puffer fish!" Sirin immediately snapped back like a kitten with her fang and claw bared and her tails stood on end. 100% cuteness and 0% threat.
Cecilia watched the childish banter with soft giggles as she pulled Sirin close to comfort her while she was distracted and glancing at the black cat with a look of recognition.
So far, only her lord would call Sirin a puffer fish. So, the cat's identity is easy to discern.
Still, she didn't expect a god would take the form of a cat. Then again, she understands little about the divine's preferences.
"My lord, my matter here has been resolved and as promised. From today onward, I shall serve you till the end of my life." She kneels on one knee solemnly like a knight performing an oath.
"Umu, no need to be too serious. Let's just keep it casual." Ray waved his paw and said, "I'm not someone that places much importance on etiquette."
Cecilia nodded but still remained on her knee. Although he might say so, she still feels there's a boundary she must keep as a servant serving her new master.
Seeing how Cecilia wouldn't listen, Ray didn't pursue and instead informed them of his next action. With this, his attention turned to Sirin.
Why is Sirin important?
Well, coming to the Honkai Impact world isn't his actual plan.
Sure, it's the classic isekai world of choice. But his true goal is the Star Rail universe. Beside, with the past already changed by his interference via Cecilia. The future is already derailed too much.
At most, he fixes all the future problems and gives this timeline a happy ending before leaving. That much is definitely easy with his newfound power.
"So… you want me to use the Cosmic Juggernaut to travel into other world bubbles?" Sirin sounded very confused but didn't object because she didn't have much attachment with this world and was very receptive to the idea of adventure.
"Yes."
"My arrival in this world is a complete accident because I lack the ability to accurately jump between world bubbles. It's not my true destination."
This is, of course, not the full truth as he would be a disgrace to the Outer Gods if he can't even do this much.
As mentioned before, as an Outer God. The reality itself rejects his existence because his very presence distorts reality akin to an non-native OS with higher bits that could crash the native OS due to the sheer computation system difference.
Since the problem is his Outer God's information level being too high. Then, he just needs to obtain a local 'app'(power) that can allow him to execute the 'programs'(ability)
But, with Sirin's authority as Herrscher of Void and possession of the Herrscher of Void's Core. He could manipulate space type abilities.
Besides, another reason why he wanted to bring Sirin to the HSR world is to help Welt meet an old acquaintance.
Hearing the plan, Sirin agreed. But then she turned to Cecilia because Cecilia had a reason to not leave. Before Sirin could say anything, Cecilia placed a finger on her lips to silence her words.
"It's alright. I am a dead person who cheated death. I have already made up my mind." Cecilia smiled softly at Sirin and pulled her in for a little hug which she complied reluctantly although inwardly happy. "Also, it gladdens me to see your concern."
"Alright. Since everything is decided. Next stop is London, the Thames River." Ray declared before setting off with Sirin's power.
Of course, this is because Ray also wanted to have his own Astral Express when joining that world.
Just imagine the shock value on the Astral Express crews when a second Astral Express suddenly appeared.
—————