In the end, Ryn couldn't use the Herrscher of the Sea's core. Fusion with the Sea Herrscher core required an immense amount of energy. Attempting such a fusion in his home world risked triggering a massive Honkai eruption, a price Ryn could not afford to pay.
He approached Otto, asking if there was a way to travel between world bubbles. Otto inquired about his intentions, and Ryn replied with a grin, "I just want to pull off a cheat." Otto promptly kicked him out.
Despite this, Otto did mention the existence of a device, capable of traversing world bubbles. However, it was highly expensive and dangerously unpredictable. Otto refused to let Ryn use it, instead assigning him a task: locate the Second God Key.
The Second God Key, known as the Key of Infinity or the One Vehicle of the Thousand Realms, was an artifact created by a previous civilization using a Herrscher core. It was designed to replicate the Herrscher of the Void's power by opening a gateway to the Imaginary Tree. At its zeroth power level, it could open a path to the Imaginary realm, while the first power level unlocked a route to the Quantum Sea. It also had the abilities to observe parallel worlds and create world bubbles.
Ryn had Cortana search for information on the Second God Key worldwide but found no leads. Either the artifact remained buried, or it was in the hands of major organizations like Schicksal.
After some thought, Ryn decided to shelve Otto's mission for now. With no clue what the Second God Key looked like, finding it was impossible. Instead, he planned to delay the task and siphon some funding. His ultimate goal was to perfect his mastery of the Herrscher of Reason's powers and eventually craft a Second God Key with his own hands.
"I feel like you're playing me again. In the end, I still can't merge with it, can I?" Ryn asked, exasperated.
It's your weakness. I've laid out the conditions. If you can't meet them, that's your problem, not mine.
"How about merging with other Herrscher powers first? Then we can deal with the Sea Herrscher later."
That's possible. However, you'll still need to trigger a significant Honkai event to gather the energy required for transcending life forms. You could, however, exploit the energy from a new Herrscher's awakening. Absorb the energy before they fully manifest, leaving them weak and easy to subdue.
"Let's go with that. Keep me updated if another major Honkai occurs."
The Stigma consciousness did not reply because she already knew what lay ahead—the Honkai eruption in Changkong City, heralding the arrival of the Third Herrscher.
November 2013.
Ryouko Kunikida was drinking with Siegfried when a group of police officers burst into his home and arrested him.
These officers were ordinary humans and presented valid warrants. Neither Siegfried nor Ryouko could justify using violence against them. Siegfried, beer bottle still in hand, watched as Ryouko was taken away.
Siegfried was stunned. He had been shadowing Kiana for some time. Upon discovering that Kiana's family was also in Nagazora, he had quietly stepped back. A few days earlier, he had returned to check on Kiana, only to realize that Ryn was, in fact, a man. When this revelation hit, Siegfried nearly ground his teeth to dust. He had allowed Kiana to share a bed with that guy, but now he couldn't simply barge in and stop them. Resigned, he had been drowning his frustrations with Ryouko—until this sudden turn of events.
Not long after, more officers arrived and arrested Siegfried as an accomplice. They also sealed off Ryouko's house.
The news reported that Ryouko Kunikida, president of the multinational electronics company Me Corp., had been arrested for embezzling over three billion dollars under the pretense of developing electromagnetic field containment technology.
Ryouko was not only removed from his position but also sentenced to prison, tarnishing his reputation. This scandal had a profound impact on Raiden Mei.
As Ryouko Kunikida's daughter and heiress to Me Corp., Mei was once admired and envied by all. Now, she was shunned and scorned.
When Mei arrived at Chiba Academy the next day, she found her desk vandalized with hateful words and crude drawings. Her classmates glared at her and hurled insults.
People she once considered friends avoided her. Desperate, she asked if anyone would eat lunch with her.
"Does anyone want to share lunch? I made it myself today..."
"Who'd want to eat with you? You're a criminal's daughter!"
"You only made it because no one else would cook for you!"
Their words cut deeply.
"No... my dad isn't a criminal... He's not..." Mei mumbled as she opened her lunch, tears streaming down her face.
"This rice... tastes terrible... Dad..." Mei broke down, sobbing at her desk.
Only then did Mei realize she had been living as a crow mistaken for a bird of paradise. Those who had praised her were not innocents, but foxes drawn to the meat in her beak. Now that the meat was gone, they vanished, leaving her to face the cold reality alone.
After school, Mei returned to the Shion-kirigen dojo but found it deserted. She feared the Shion-kirigen had abandoned her too. Yet, in the dojo's locker, she found his leather uniform, still hanging there.
Mei once had a happy family. Her mother was kind and nurturing, teaching her to be the same. But her mother's death from illness shattered that happiness. Her father had been absent even then, busy with work. Mei had resented him deeply, and Ryouko Kunikida, unable to console her, could only let the rift grow.
Not long after her mother's passing, Mr. HOMU appeared. He taught Mei swordsmanship and life lessons. She had once thought of him as a divine gift to heal her wounded heart. But now, as she held his sweat-stained uniform, the truth seemed painfully clear.
Tears fell freely as Mei cried out, her fragile heart laid bare.