Barely four hours had passed since the Coral Island incident began, and only thirty minutes since the Honkai Will's descent.
To perceive the clash between Ren and the Honkai Will in such a short time, and then manipulate the situation into a three-way standoff using the Herrscher cores, Otto, the pinnacle of human intellect in this era, had demonstrated his cunning and strategic brilliance.
Yet, even the near-omniscient Otto wasn't truly all-knowing.
His understanding of Ren was based on Schicksal's global intelligence network, meticulously analyzing Ren's post-Herrscherization behavior to construct a personality model.
Such analysis could accurately predict a target's personality and formulate countermeasures. But its effectiveness relied on accurate data.
Ren's life before becoming a Herrscher had been remarkably ordinary. Aside from a difficult upbringing, nothing suggested his future trajectory. Analyzing his first seventeen years yielded only generic data like "resilient" and "optimistic," practically useless.
Therefore, a meaningful model could only be constructed from the time Kiana appeared in ARC City, when Ren entered Schicksal's view.
His decisive actions wielding the flaming greatsword against Schicksal's forces, his intense affection for Kiana displayed in the South African lab, and his self-sacrifice in the Pacific—these were the key elements shaping Otto's perception of a deeply emotional Herrscher.
Otto's choice of the Herrscher of Frozen Meteor as a bargaining chip stemmed from Ren's repeated acts of protecting civilians. A Herrscher protecting humanity wasn't unheard of; Kiana, the Herrscher of the Void, was a prime example. Ren, closely associated with her, seemed to follow a similar pattern.
The more value Ren placed on human life, the more leverage Otto gained with the Herrscher of Frozen Meteor.
"Why so angry? As a Herrscher, shouldn't ordinary humans be mere numbers to you?" Otto narrowed his eyes, deliberately provoking Ren, analyzing his reactions. "Besides, your current demeanor doesn't quite fit the image of a Herrscher of Flamescion."
Even Otto, misled by false information, could make incorrect assumptions. Internally amused, Ren displayed a carefully crafted mask of frustration and resentment, playing along.
"Otto, you're a madman. You shouldn't have dragged these people into this."
Ren wasn't a newly awakened Herrscher. From the moment he became Dominance, he'd meticulously concealed his true nature.
In truth, he didn't prioritize civilian casualties. He wouldn't actively cause Honkai eruptions, nor would he prioritize saving everyone. His interventions were solely for Kiana.
He simply couldn't bear to see her cry.
But since Otto had misunderstood, Ren wouldn't correct him.
Games of strategy were simple: whoever held more information, whoever concealed their true self better, held the advantage.
"You care about these ordinary people? And you yourself… aren't the Herrscher of Flamescion, are you?" Otto's smile deepened, revealing his "insights," attempting to dismantle Ren's psychological defenses.
As if his true nature had been exposed, Ren's expression hardened. He conjured a golden sword, pointing it at Otto's throat.
"Shut up."
The blade pierced Otto's skin, liquid Soul Steel mimicking blood, reflecting in Otto's eyes.
"My, my, seems I hit a nerve." Otto's smile widened, Ren's reaction confirming his suspicions.
No matter how clever, Ren was still only seventeen. Becoming a Herrscher granted him power, but not the maturity to mask his youthful impulsiveness.
In his five hundred years, Otto had encountered countless prodigies, many self-proclaimed masters of manipulation. Few impressed him. The only exception was Welt Joyce decades ago.
He saw a similar spark in Ren. Given time, he could become another Joyce.
"Hmph, it's none of your business." With a scoff, Ren retracted his sword, the golden blade dissolving into countless threads that vanished into his wrist.
A shapeshifting ability similar to Void Archives?
Otto noted the detail, using it to deduce Ren's true Herrscher authority. He recalled the Herrscher of Reason's power of Creation.
Could Ren be the new Herrscher of Reason?
He withheld judgment, but his interactions with Joyce suggested a similar focus on humanity. Ren's unconscious display of empathy seemed to align…
As they spoke, the Herrscher of Frozen Meteor's destruction escalated. With one of the smaller platforms annihilated, the main island trembled.
The Star River Stairway, already broken, further destabilized the island's structure. The Herrscher hovered above, her deep blue finger pointed at the elevator's base.
A low hum preceded the base's implosion, a gaping hole tearing through the island.
Its structural integrity compromised, the already battered Coral Island fractured further, fissures spreading like a spiderweb.
"This is bad."
The evacuation wasn't complete. The bridge connecting the platforms had collapsed, trapping thousands. Coupled with the extreme cold, Coral Island had become a death trap.
The Herrscher extended her arms, the blue core in her chest glowing brightly. A pale icefall descended from the sky, a single attack capable of wiping out the remaining civilians.
As a dual-authority Herrscher, Frozen Meteor could not only manipulate ice but also permanently alter terrain. This was the equator, the planet's hottest region. If she succeeded, Coral Island would become another Antarctica.
"Are we going to die?" Trapped civilians looked skyward at the descending icefall, despair filling their hearts.
They were university graduates, seasoned researchers, ambitious leaders, ordinary construction workers.
Regardless of their status, facing the absolute power of the Honkai, human strength was insignificant.
The Star River Stairway wasn't a Schicksal project, but a UN initiative, a bridge to space, humanity's next step. It represented the pinnacle of human achievement without Honkai energy.
Yet, this symbol of hope, along with its creators, was about to be buried under a pale icefall.
As darkness descended, they prayed for a savior.
"Kiana…" Himeko Murata gripped her greatsword, whispering the girl's name.
In the darkened sky, a flicker of fire ignited, then spread, like a crimson phoenix, soaring towards the icefall.