As someone who had played the game and read a few of its related mangas, Ray can tell after reading the memories of the two scientists that Second Eruption is close.
Perhaps in another week or two.
While I definitely wanted to save Sirin as she is one of my favourite characters in the Honkai Impact 3rd game. I also have a selfish desire to covet her power especially as the Herrscher of Void and the quad-core state Sirin.
With my present state of power, the best I can muster offensively without destroying the entire universe is just an abnormally strong physical body with nothing else noteworthy.
Despite being able to wield supernatural power to some extent. Against professionals or masters like the Schicksal's elite Valkyries and basically most other named people. I stand little chance of winning.
Such is the price of overwhelming power.
It's like trying to delicately pick up a porcelain cup while being as strong and big as the Colossal Titan.
But to intervene in the subsequent future and to save Sirin and many other waifus properly, I need power and a bargaining chip I can use on Otto.
Pushing aside all these thoughts, I return to Sirin's side.
The moment I arrived, I was greeted with a heartbreaking scene.
Sirin sat listlessly at the corner of the room, huddled and hugging her knee as her soulless vacant eyes stared into the empty room.
But the moment I appeared, her dull golden eyes regained its luster and immediately locked on my figure.
At first, she is still a little stiff as if disbelieving the sight captured by her eyes. But in the next second, she stood up and rushed towards me in silent relief and joy.
Looking at her, burying her face on my fluffy body. I couldn't help but tease her.
"Really? Is your trust in me really that little?"
"Ah! No… I…" She flustered and stumbled at her reply which eventually turned into silence.
Looking at her blaming herself, I sighed and pulled out the food I looted from my shadow and asked her to quickly eat.
Sirin looked shocked and then reached for one with disbelieving eyes as she tried to tear off the wrapper of a granola bar but struggled.
Looking at her severe malnutrition to this extent, I help tear off the wrapper on another one before offering it to her.
Watching Sirin slowly nibbling down the granola bar with increasing speed, I took out a bottle of water and patiently waited.
Her face radiated such pure and innocent joy from eating delicious food made me feel an inexplicable sensation forming within me.
This sensation visibly strengthened my power and also made me feel a strange kind of pleasure.
I turned inward and asked Ego and his answer was intriguing.
As said before, emotions are my sustenance and faith strengthens my divine power as a god.
The emotions and faith I caused are absorbed by me. This is what I am feeling right now.
Of course, the output from a named character and non named character is vastly different due to their power of fate influencing the universe.
For someone with plot significance like Sirin compared to a random civilian is like comparing a light bulb to the sun. But that doesn't mean I should dismiss the common people as they have strength in sheer numbers to match or even surpass named characters.
When I snapped out of my thoughts, Sirin had already finished half a dozen granola bars and a few pieces of cookies. Looking drowsy from being full for the first time in several months.
Her body felt heavy like they were replaced with lead, a warm sensation spreading from her stomach to all over her body and her eyelids turned incredibly heavy as if she might fall asleep at the drop of a hat.
"Don't resist it. Your body is trying to recover from your prolonged malnutrition. Go and sleep." I said, creating a few limbs made of shadow to tuck her to sleep as I slowly whisper a message.
"Sleep tight and wait. I will definitely return as soon as possible to save you. But for now, you still have to wait for a bit longer."
Just as I was about to leave, Sirin moved. She resisted her drowsiness by unconsciously manipulating Honkai Energy using her incomplete Herrscher Core.
She reached for me desperately, unwilling to face this suffocating loneliness anymore after tasting the sweetness of joy and happiness.
"Don't… le…av…"
Her words stopped halfway as she succumbed to her drowsiness.
I also didn't want to leave but unfortunately, to deal with Otto. I have to obtain something as a bargaining chip to secure his cooperation.
But, I am not that heartless as to truly leave her alone. Instead, this avatar will stay here while my main consciousness will focus elsewhere to obtain the power to revive Kallen.
But without my main consciousness here and with my sloppy multi-tasking ability means the avatar here is effectively on auto-pilot doing whatever it thinks is best. But not necessarily correct.
———
Outside of the Honkai universe.
"Bring me to this world." I said while mentally sending the information of Nasuverse, specifically the Fifth Holy Grail War timeline.
Relying on Ego's Omnipresence, finding that specific timeline is easy and it was done in an instant.
But when I constructed an Avatar body to be sent down to that timeline. Something intercepted its descent and they are none other than the Counter Force's goons.
"As expected. This world is difficult to deal with." I mutter to myself and ponder for a solution.
Well, those fanfics about systems that easily smuggle a soul into Nasuverse look easy because most of the time, what is smuggled in is the soul of a human with a small threat to humanity and the world.
Which is true at the moment of entering where the system is dormant to evade the senses of the Counter Force.
But for the current me, an Outer God. It's like smuggling an undisguised bomb into an airport. No need to go through the custom's inspection. I would be stopped by the security the moment I appeared.
As I continue to ponder, a name suddenly popped into my mind.
Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, The Troll Lord of Nasuverse. Famous for screwing over people for his amusement.
While I know little about the troll himself. Ego can dig out information effortlessly.
Thankfully, to reach Zelretch is easy because he often operates outside the domains of the Counter Force.
———
Somewhere in a void, an old man with white beard and hair sat upon the throne like the emperor of its realm beholding a magical tome that floats on his hand.
While casually flipping through the pages, he sensed a forceful entry into his Observation Room and furrowed his brows.
While nothing visible had intruded upon his realm, his senses can feel the greater presence that had appeared.
Yet, despite being acutely aware this entity has enough power to kill him with a casual snort. He remained relaxed and even smirked at it.
"Hooh… Now, this is something I had rarely glimpse before." He said with a chuckle as he leaned upon his throne in a relaxed manner and rested his head on his left arm against the armchair.
"Most Outer Beings are either without self awareness or extremely strong to even care about the ants underneath."
"But here I see one with self awareness and purpose."
"Please speak your mind, esteemed one. What can this humble magician do for you?" He speaks humbly despite his actions so far being the opposite of humble.
For Zelretch, death is inconsequential as he has infinite alternate self in each of the countless timelines.
So, he didn't fear this Outer Being that had intruded upon his personal domain.
Instead, he is much more curious of the purpose of such an odd Outer Being to appear before him with a clear purpose like a scientist would observe an experimental subject of his lifelong research.
After his words had finished, a body clearly that of a human with an unremarkable appearance dressed in a similar outfit of his own, appeared before him.
Naturally, Zelretch understands the purpose of this human appearance as Outer Beings are beings without physical body and exist in a higher dimension compared to himself and to communicate, this is necessary.
Zelretch plays the role of an attentive host by conjuring another seat for it and also a table filled with delicious pastry and piping hot tea as if freshly brewed.
Upon taking his seat, Ray takes a sip out of politeness to the host before addressing the matter.
"I have come to bargain with you, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, Wizard Marshall of the Clocktower, Magician of the Kaleidoscope."
"Hmn, you know quite a bit about me. Did my name become famous enough to be known even by an esteemed one like you, Outer Ones?" Zelretch replied while raising a brow in confusion and subtly probing.
"Call me Ray. That is the name I wished to be addressed with. As for your question, surely you already know it yourself?"
"Hahaha. True, what could possibly evade the prying eyes of beings like you." Zelretch laughed it off in a well mannered way before his expression turned serious and grave.
"So, with the prowess of an esteemed one like you. What could this weak old man provide that you can't do?" He asked, his eyes and aura sharp like a blade with a razor edge.
Ray also didn't beat around the bush as he explained.
"I wish to participate in the Fifth Holy Grail War under your supervision and jurisdiction to obtain some things and take care of some matters." Ray spoke plainly.
Zelretch didn't rush to answer and instead asked.
"Since you said you came to bargain. Surely you have your offer too?"
Ray nodded and said, "I know you seek entertainment and explore the unknown."
"My offer is the location of this universe and a special individual that is like minded as you."
Zelretch pondered again in silence. He isn't worried about Ray trying to destroy the timelines and worlds as if he wanted, nothing. Not the Counter Force, the Ultimate Ones or anything can stop him.
That is simply how unreasonable the existence of Outer Ones are.
Rather, Zelretch is much more concerned that that sham little ritual called Holy Grail War could interest an existence like Ray.
The True Magic?
True magic is like a toy before the Outer Ones.
The Holy Grail?
That faulty cup that can only spill out Black Mud is even more unlikely.
The Servants?
He might as well open up the Throne of Heroes for Ray to get the real deal instead of those weak imitations.
This leaves Zelretch stumped as there's nothing that should be able to interest entities of Ray's status and yet here he was.
After pondering it over and over, running several scenarios in his mind. Zelretch still finds nothing of note. He decided to give up.
Even if Ray intended to secretly destroy the timeline or anything. That's beyond his scope of work and falls to the jurisdiction of the Counter Force to handle.
"You have a deal." Zelretch finally answered.
The moment Zelretch agreed. He opens a portal next to Ray and in return, a sudden influx of information enters his mind.
"Hmn… Aeon of Elation, Aha?"
"Quite an interesting one." His lips twitched upon realising he had secured a good deal.
Ray offers a 5 second prayer to the Honkai Star Rail universe and Nasuverse and their future victims as the two prank lords about to make a collaboration and both universes are going to get a little bit more chaotic.
Then, he entered the portal.
—————
AN: Well... Been a month since last update. My writing schedule is basically whenever I am not busy. So... I can't promise but I will definitely continue writing.
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