Destiny Headquarters
"Bishop."
Rita's calm voice echoed softly through the chamber.
Otto removed his gaze from the large display—still looping the Fourth Herrscher's battle footage—and turned to face her.
"Well? What did the World Serpent say?"
He had learned moments ago, through Destiny's observation systems, that the Lord of World Serpent had returned to reality.
Naturally, Otto wished to discuss two matters:
the Fourth Herrscher
the second God Key beacon
Both were critical pillars in the next phase of his plan.
Even if he lacked a solution for the Fourth Herrscher for now, the second Key could not be delayed.
Rita bowed her head slightly.
"My apologies, Bishop. This may not be the answer you hoped for.
The World Serpent confirmed that their Lord has indeed returned to reality…
but they are unable to meet him at the moment."
"…Oh?"
Otto lifted an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.
He had helped them—quite substantially.
There was no reason for them to suddenly shut the door after receiving his goodwill.
Unless something had happened.
"Did they give a reason?"
Rita shook her head gently.
"None. Their personnel claim they do not know what their Lord is currently doing.
But should an opportunity arise, they will inform him that Destiny wishes to speak."
"I see." Otto tapped his temple lightly. "That will be all. Return to your duties."
"Yes, Bishop."
Rita bowed and exited quietly.
Otto sat back, fingertips steepled under his chin.
Was World Serpent's master recovering strength?
Handling some incidents?
Or was Otto overthinking it?
He exhaled softly and turned back to the screens.
Two recordings played simultaneously:
Theresa activating the Sankt Sakura Barrier against the Fourth Herrscher
Otto himself ambushing her with Mimicry: Black Abyss White Flower combined with Stigma Blood
Both anti-Herrscher techniques—created specifically to restrain Herrschers—struck her directly.
Both failed completely.
This troubled Otto deeply.
Was it because the weapons were ineffective—their mechanisms rendered obsolete by her nature?
Or was her raw Honkai output so overwhelmingly high that the attacks simply couldn't register?
The distinction was crucial.
If she was immune, then Herrschers were evolving—adapting like pathogens resisting antibiotics.
If it was power alone…
Even more terrifying.
During the Second Eruption, Sirin—holding six Herrscher cores—had a Honkai output exceeding 6000 HW.
Yet even she had been helpless before the Sankt Sakura Barrier.
If the Fourth Herrscher casually broke through both anti-Herrscher weapons…
Otto's expression tightened.
One might estimate her Honkai levels at—
Ten thousand HW?
Twenty thousand?
More?
Absurd.
Unimaginable.
And yet, not impossible.
He frowned.
But her Honkai reading… why has it always—
BEEP—
BEEP—
A piercing alarm split through the room.
The massive screen flooded red, bathing Otto in crimson light.
He looked up sharply.
"Another alert? Fourth Her—
…wait.
Second Herrscher?!"
He froze.
The screen displayed a figure he had not seen in more than a decade—
Sirin.
The Second Herrscher.
The calamity of Siberia.
Otto's heartbeat skyrocketed.
Impossible?
Resurrection?
Unless…
The Fourth Herrscher had used the authority of Death to revive her.
His breath shuddered.
This was the miracle he had chased for five hundred years.
"No… I must confirm it myself."
Otto straightened, eyes gleaming with a dangerous mixture of hope and obsession.
"Deploy Durandal. Have her engage immediately."
Sea Abyss Eye
"Second Herrscher? Impossible—she died long ago!"
Theresa stared at Tesla, disbelief written all over her face.
The Second Herrscher had perished in Siberia over ten years ago.
Her reappearance made no sense.
Unless—
Kiana…?
Her breath hitched.
A terrifying thought struck her.
Tesla continued:
"I know it sounds insane, but our satellite readings match the Siberian incident perfectly.
The Honkai signature is nearly identical."
Even Tesla struggled to accept it.
But knowing Otto—and knowing that Sirin's remains were stored inside Destiny Headquarters—this was the only explanation that made sense to her:
Otto resurrected the Second Herrscher.
Theresa's jaw tightened.
"I'll contact him myself."
She pulled out her communicator—
No response.
Static interference swallowed the signal.
She frowned deeply.
"No good. I can't reach Headquarters at all… something must have happened."
Tesla's voice cut in sharply:
"The current Honkai level is already above 4000 HW—and still rising.
Regardless of whether it's truly Sirin, a powerful Herrscher has definitely emerged inside Destiny Headquarters."
Walter exhaled slowly, thinking.
"Theresa, return at once.
We'll stand by and prepare the mecha units.
If anything happens, contact us."
Theresa nodded.
"Bronya—let's go."
But Einstein stopped her at the door.
"Theresa, what about the Moonlight Throne?
How is the retrofit progressing?"
With another Herrscher appearing, the Moonlight Throne might be needed.
And if they could secure a new Herrscher core, they'd be one step closer to the four cores needed to run it at full power.
"I'll update you via comms. I'll ask Himeko on the way."
"Understood. Be careful—we'll be ready to support you anytime."
Theresa nodded and rushed out with Bronya.
Preparations
As their footsteps vanished around the corner, Walter sighed.
"All right. We prepare.
Whether this is truly the Second Herrscher or a new one entirely, as long as her power isn't on the level of the Fourth Herrscher…
we have a chance to obtain another core."
Because against the Fourth Herrscher's overwhelming might, their only hope was:
Acquire four Herrscher cores
Activate the Moonlight Throne at maximum output
Have Theresa deploy the Sankt Sakura Barrier to restrain the Fourth Herrscher long enough
And strike her down in that single opening
Only one attack.
Only one chance.
And if it failed—
They would never get another.
Einstein folded her arms.
"But what if this is a trap set by the Fourth Herrscher?
If she created a fake Second Herrscher to force us into using the Moonlight Throne early…
we'd be left completely defenseless."
Walter closed his eyes briefly.
"I know.
But right now, we have no better options.
We'll wait for Theresa's report before making any move."
If they could defeat this suspected Second Herrscher without the Moonlight Throne, the plan would remain intact.
If not…
Walter clenched his fists.
If only I could construct the Moonlight Throne myself…
A pointless wish.
He knew he lacked Otto's technical capability.
Tesla sighed softly.
"Walter, get some rest first. You've been in the Quantum Sea far too long. You need strength for whatever comes next."
"…All right."
He sat down heavily, fatigue finally catching up to him.
His gaze drifted toward the distant windows.
"Second Herrscher…
what are you… this time…"
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/pikachu614