Anti-Entropy Headquarters was shrouded in an atmosphere of heavy solemnity.
Yesterday, the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, Welt, had finally returned. However, his return did absolutely nothing to lift the faintly tragic gloom hanging over the base.
Because yesterday, Anti-Entropy's grand plan to invade St. Freya Academy had ended in absolute, utter failure.
The vanguard forces were completely annihilated. Not a single Titan mech had managed to escape that Far East devil's den.
But what brought true despair was the news delivered by Cocolia, who had barely managed to escape with her life.
Einstein, who was responsible for infiltrating the underground chapel of St. Freya Academy, was dead.
Anti-Entropy's seemingly clever invasion had run face-first into a devastating counterattack from the Overseer of Schicksal, Otto. And in the process, they had lost one of their most vital Executors.
Welt Yang sat alone in his room, his hair an absolute mess. He kept his head lowered, staring at the floor. After the invasion ended, he hadn't returned to St. Freya Academy to resume his disguise as a teacher.
Because he simply didn't have the heart for it anymore.
Einstein is actually dead.
Old Yang stared blankly at the ground. Einstein, who had always supported and guided him like a reliable older sister... was actually dead?
At first, he had refused to believe it. But Cocolia, who was "clinging to her last breath," had brought back the news. He had no choice but to believe it, because Cocolia had been operating directly alongside Einstein.
According to Cocolia's report, they had actually run into Overseer Otto down in the underground chapel.
If it had been a trap laid by Otto all along, then anything was possible.
Upon hearing this devastating news, Tesla had instantly fainted. Einstein was her most precious, irreplaceable friend. The bond between the two even transcended ordinary friendship; most married couples hadn't spent as much time together as they had.
Even now, Tesla still hadn't woken up.
Although Welt, Tesla, and Einstein had all long since embraced the possibility of sacrificing themselves for their cause, it was only when it truly happened right in front of their eyes that they realized just how agonizing it was. They would have gladly laid down their own lives to spare the other.
He could only pray that Tesla wouldn't do anything impulsive once she woke up.
Anti-Entropy had already lost Ryoma Raiden and Einstein; they absolutely could not afford to lose Tesla too.
Welt let out a long, haunted sigh, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists. He hoped Tesla wouldn't do anything reckless, but at the same time, he was desperately praying that he wouldn't do anything reckless either.
Hearing of Einstein's death, an overwhelming urge had surged within him to take the fight directly to Schicksal and fight Otto to the bitter end.
But if an Executor acted impulsively, the fallout could be managed. If the Sovereign acted impulsively, it would bring total destruction upon all of Anti-Entropy.
For the sake of Anti-Entropy, he had to forcefully swallow all his rage and grief down into his gut.
Having stayed in the Far East for so long, Welt finally understood what it truly meant to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle—a master of swallowing one's pride and enduring immense grievances in silence.
After all, this wasn't the only crisis he had to deal with. Welt pressed a hand against his burning forehead, recalling the bizarre events of last night.
Joyce...
Recalling that incredibly familiar face and that distinct tone of voice, Welt stared at the floor. Although he could use the authority of the Herrscher of Reason again now, during that moment last night, his authority had been effortlessly stripped away by Joyce.
What in the world had happened? Was that man really Joyce? And if it was Joyce, why did he knock them out?
Could it be... another one of Otto's tricks?
When in doubt, just assume Otto did it. It was a flawless rule of thumb.
Welt pondered deeply. However, the two people most capable of identifying the real Joyce were currently unavailable. Tesla was unconscious, and Einstein was...
[Welt Yang, have you eaten?]
The twisted, eldritch whisper from the abyss echoed directly in his mind. His brain trembled as if slimy tentacles were physically dragging themselves across the grooves of his cerebral cortex.
Fuck, not again!
Even a man with a character as historically excellent as Old Yang couldn't hold back his curses. The main reason he had been so utterly exhausted and demoralized lately was because he was constantly being harassed by this voice that had absolutely zero concept of time zones.
Is that dumbass Will of the Honkai living in a different time zone from me?!
"Will. Of. The. Honkai."
Old Yang ground the words out through his teeth. He wasn't the type to vent his anger on others, but if the target was the Will of the Honkai, that was a completely different story.
Unlike the usual hit-and-run tactics, Old Yang could feel that the connection between him and the Will of the Honkai was currently stable and ongoing.
[Welt Yang, are you finally ready to join our side?]
Otto, perfectly disguised as the Will of the Honkai, spoke.
"Impossible." Old Yang naturally refused without a single second of hesitation. He was Welt. He was Welt, the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy.
[What a pity. Last night, my assassin failed his mission. To us, your power, Welt Yang, is absolutely indispensable.]
Otto continued to probe.
"Assassin?"
Old Yang frowned. Judging by the Will of the Honkai's words, it seemed 'It' had walking apostles operating in the human world.
For some reason, Joyce's face immediately surfaced in his mind.
[Indeed. The assassin sent to kill Otto. Speaking of which, he happens to be someone you know quite well.]
[However, it truly is a pity that he failed to assassinate Otto.]
Otto was testing the waters to see if Old Yang knew about Joyce's resurrection. On the other end, Old Yang fell into a brief silence.
"Joyce... That was your doing?!"
Old Yang clenched his fists tightly.
[BINGO. You guessed correctly.]
Just as he thought, Old Yang had seen Joyce too. After all, Old Yang had been at St. Freya Academy last night.
"Is he the real Joyce?"
Old Yang pressed, trying to extract useful intel from the Will of the Honkai.
[He is Walter Joyce, yet he is not Walter Joyce.]
Otto fully embraced the role of the Riddler.
Mainly because he genuinely had no idea what the hell Joyce actually was either.
Old Yang furrowed his brows. As expected, the Will of the Honkai wouldn't give him straightforward answers. However, he was deeply concerned by what 'It' had just revealed.
Joyce went to assassinate Otto last night?
But why didn't Joyce say anything to us back then? And why is he taking orders from the Honkai?
This was completely different from the Joyce he knew.
Has he changed?
Or... is he a fake?
"Will of the Honkai, do you have some sort of personal grudge against Otto?"
[Who asked him to be the Savior of Humanity?]
Otto shamelessly plastered gold all over his own face.
"The Savior of Humanity?"
Old Yang couldn't help but scoff in absolute derision. How could a bastard like Otto possibly be a savior?
Especially now, with Einstein's tragedy fresh in his mind, it was impossible for him to view Otto with his usual calm rationality.
[Because he is the ultimate contingency plan left behind by the Previous Era.]
[There was once a scientist named Dr. MEI. She failed in the Final Crusade, but she left behind seeds of resistance for the future.]
[The stigmata and the Moonlight Throne that you are so familiar with were all her creations.]
Old Yang's eyes narrowed sharply. Anti-Entropy had made significant strides in archaeology and excavating ancient ruins. He knew exactly who Dr. MEI was. But what did Dr. MEI have to do with Otto?
[Dr. MEI also embedded a specific program into the bloodlines of future humanity.]
[When an existence capable of becoming the Savior of Humanity appears, this program will guide the Savior to stand in absolute opposition to the Honkai. And this Savior... will lead humanity across the threshold of history, and across our Great Trial.]
The Will of the Honkai's words came to a sudden halt.
Old Yang narrowed his eyes. According to what the Will of the Honkai was implying... Otto was this destined Savior?!
[However, I am confident you will never cooperate with him. After all... someone very important to you died by his hands, did they not?]
Old Yang violently shot to his feet.
"It was you?! This was all your doing?!"
Old Yang immediately interpreted "someone important" as Einstein, since Einstein had just died.
His sharp mind instantly drew a terrifying conclusion: Was Einstein's death orchestrated by the Will of the Honkai's manipulation?!
Because the Will of the Honkai had been constantly, relentlessly trying to persuade him to kill Otto!
Damn it all!
Old Yang clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms. Meanwhile, the Will of the Honkai spoke in a slow, unhurried tone.
[There is still plenty of time. If you are willing to join our side, I will permit you to select one thousand people. When the Honkai eventually drowns this world, they alone will be allowed to board Noah's Ark.]
"Keep dreaming!"
Old Yang refused decisively.
He, Welt Yang, the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, would never collude with the Honkai!
The Will of the Honkai's voice did not sound again. Otto had already severed the connection.
Leaning against the railing of the battleship's deck, Otto gazed up at the drifting clouds. Old Yang was incredibly useful to him. Whether it was dealing with Kevin or Joyce in the future, Otto could use him as a highly effective pawn.
However, a small chuckle escaped his lips.
The Savior of Humanity, huh?
I spouted so much bullshit, I almost believed it myself.
---o---