The Herrscher born from the darkness emerged as a serene maiden. Pristine white hair cascaded down her back, a stark contrast to the deep blue, icy flower encasing her form. Her elegant white dress, reminiscent of Anna's original attire, belied the cold, mechanical structures beneath.
Distorted clock hands, sharp as blades, materialized from the void, ticking down an unknown fate. The ice candles shattered by Kiana had reformed into grotesque lanterns, hovering beside the unique Herrscher.
This new entity, clearly a fusion of Anna and Chen Tianwu, bore their likenesses, yet transcended human form.
Beyond her unique appearance, what truly instilled fear was her immense size, like a fallen celestial, a harbinger of the apocalypse.
The Herrscher of Frozen Meteor, born from the fusion of Ice and Star, towered nearly a hundred meters tall. Her mere presence cast a shadow of despair across the land.
Even the Previous Era, with its advanced understanding of Herrschers, hadn't recorded core fusion, much less the birth of a new Herrscher through the absorption of another's powers.
This newly formed Herrscher displayed no human emotion, no potential for betrayal. She was a pure instrument of the Honkai Will, single-mindedly focused on humanity's destruction.
She extended her arms as if embracing the sky.
But as she moved, one of Coral Island's smaller platforms began to crumble, as if squeezed by an invisible, colossal hand.
The metal groaned, concrete shattered, and the entire island, spanning dozens of kilometers, was crushed into fragments, slowly sinking into the ocean.
The destructive power of a god.
The Immortal Blades, witnessing this, were stunned into silence. Only Rita maintained her composure, her grip tightening on her scythe.
Void Archives contained the Previous Era's knowledge of combating Herrschers. Otto had granted access to these records to high-ranking Valkyries, giving Rita a clear understanding of their power. Though their fleet had just arrived, witnessing the sheer scale of destruction, she had a grim realization.
The Previous Era's records described the Herrscher of Rock shattering a continent. This new Herrscher's power was eerily similar.
"Vice-Captain, what should we do?" Alvitr huddled close to Rita, seeking comfort.
"Land the Hyperion. We're on standby for now."
"But…" Alvitr hesitated, clutching her datapad, its faint golden glow reflecting in her eyes.
Though unspoken, Rita understood her concern. The Valkyries' duty was to protect civilians, yet they were ordered to stand by while the Herrscher wreaked havoc.
Rita sighed. "I understand our duty, but these orders come from HQ. The Overseer knows the situation. He must have a plan."
"Our duty is to obey. Acting on our own will only disrupt the overall strategy. You know this, Alvitr."
"Yes, ma'am." Alvitr straightened, hurrying away, leaving Rita alone on the bridge.
Rita gazed at the towering Herrscher, her brow furrowed.
"First, you recalled Durandal, then delayed our arrival. What is your game, Overseer?" She muttered, suspicion coloring her voice.
Seven years ago, her mentor, Ragna, had died capturing Siegfried. While officially attributed to the enemy's strength, Rita had uncovered the truth: Otto had withheld crucial information, leading to Ragna's squad's demise.
Because of this, she'd learned to question his orders.
Still, she was a Valkyrie of Schicksal. Even if Otto's methods were questionable, she understood the world wasn't black and white. She herself had blood on her hands. Compared to the Overseer's burdens, hers were insignificant.
"It's not time to clean house yet."
…
"Is this your idea of a transaction?" Within Judah's Oath's Divine Blessing Barrier, Ren's voice was laced with anger. He'd sensed the fusion of the Ice and Star cores but had been unable to intervene.
"Of course. Consider it part of the deal," Otto replied, his usual smug smile even more infuriating in light of the Herrscher's birth.
For Otto, trapping Ren wasn't the goal. He'd lured Ren into this carefully constructed trap to exploit the barrier's Honkai energy disruption, preventing Ren from sensing the Herrscher's formation.
Void Archives's interference, even Otto's own involvement in the fight, was merely a distraction, buying time.
He'd underestimated Ren's power, forcing him to resort to such elaborate measures.
Seemingly aware of his predicament, Otto spread his hands, offering no resistance.
The Herrscher of Frozen Meteor, that was the true transaction, Otto's bargaining chip.
"You know what this will attract, don't you? As Schicksal's Overseer, you sacrificed millions without hesitation. Should I call you a madman?"
The Herrscher's birth was irreversible. Even if Ren broke the barrier now, it was too late. He glared at Otto, his fury palpable.
"Only madmen can glimpse the divine. Without sufficient sacrifice, the gods wouldn't descend, and I wouldn't get my answers." Otto remained unfazed.
"Besides, you're more familiar with the Honkai God than I am."
The Honkai Will.
Despite his anger, Ren's mind raced. He understood Otto's true objective.
Because of Ren's interference, the Herrschers of Ice and Star had escaped the Honkai Will's control. Without suitable hosts, it would retreat to the Imaginary Space, awaiting another opportunity.
Otto, sensing this, had created a new Herrscher, the Herrscher of Frozen Meteor, to lure the Honkai Will back.
The "transaction" was twofold, a deal with both Ren and the Honkai Will. The Herrscher was the bargaining chip.
Otto offered it in exchange for a chance to question the Honkai Will, while the Honkai Will gained a foothold in the real world.
And with Kiana still on Coral Island, Ren couldn't abandon her, allowing Otto to complete his transaction.
Ren stared at Otto, then sighed. He'd underestimated the Overseer's madness.