[D.S] Ch 36~40

36: The Will of Honkai Steals Sirin

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"Kiana, is it true that Fu Hua's soul is linked to yours now?" Rimuru asked.

"Yeah, that's right. Why?" Kiana tilted her head.

"Nothing major," Rimuru replied casually. "I can separate her soul from your body, rebuild her a new body, and bring her back to life." His gaze shifted toward Kiana with a playful glint.

"You mean it?" Kiana grabbed Rimuru's hand, excitement all over her face.

"Relax, I'm not joking. I can really do it," Rimuru said with a grin. "Come on, let's find somewhere quiet," he turned and walked out first, and Kiana hurried after him.

"Oh, right." Rimuru suddenly stopped and glanced at Bronya. "You should come too. While we're at it, I'll help Welt get his body back."

"Really?" Bronya's hand instinctively went to her chest, where the Herrscher of Reason core quietly rested.

"Bronya understands." She nodded and followed Rimuru.

---

Hyperion – Training Room

"It might hurt a little. Bear with it," Rimuru warned.

"Do it." Kiana closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm ready."

A strange light formed around Rimuru's hand as he reached toward Kiana's chest — his hand phasing right into Kiana's body.

"Ah!" Kiana let out a sharp scream.

"Hold still. I told you it'd hurt." Rimuru sighed and conjured several glowing chains, pinning Kiana in place so she couldn't thrash around.

Closing his eyes, Rimuru focused, diving deep into Kiana's soul in search of Fu Hua's.

That's when he sensed it — a feather, brimming with immense spiritual power.

Key of Sentience. The Eighth Divine Key. The artifact that could manipulate brain signals and control consciousness itself.

It was what tethered Fu Hua's soul to Kiana.

"There you are." Rimuru reached for the Feather, preparing to pull it free.

But suddenly, a different ripple spread through the mental sea — one full of destruction, cruelty, and raw malice.

"Sirin's consciousness?" Rimuru muttered to himself. "Might as well remove her too while I'm at it."

His hand shot toward the hostile presence.

"What is this?!" Sirin's voice echoed in terror, but she couldn't move as Rimuru's grip closed around her.

Rimuru seized the Feather as well and dragged both out of Kiana's mind.

"Finally." He wiped imaginary sweat from his brow, letting out a relieved breath.

In his hands now floated a faintly glowing feather, shimmering between reality and illusion, radiating a calm that soothed the heart.

Next to it was a dark red cluster of light — Sirin's consciousness — completely sealed by Rimuru's energy.

Kiana had collapsed from exhaustion, so Rimuru shook his head and summoned a large bed from his guild's storage, laying Kiana down gently and pulling a blanket over her.

"She'll be okay, right?" Bronya asked quietly.

"She's fine. A bit of rest and she'll wake up good as new," Rimuru reassured her. "And when she does, she's in for a surprise." Without Sirin's interference, all Kiana would need was some training before she could fully master the power of the Herrscher of the Void. When that time came, she would truly become the Void Queen.

"Bronya doesn't understand." Bronya tilted her head in confusion.

"You will later," Rimuru said lightly. "For now, hand me the Core of Reason."

"Alright. Please take care of it." Bronya carefully removed the core and handed it over.

"No problem. This is child's play for me." Rimuru smiled confidently.

Holding both the Core of Reason and the Feather, Rimuru split off part of his own cells to envelop them, beginning the process of recreating their bodies.

He used magic to regenerate matter, building them from the soul outward, channeling the massive energy stored within his cells.

Bone, muscle, blood vessels, nerves — piece by piece their bodies took shape.

Rimuru kept his focus razor-sharp. The process had to be flawless. Any mistake could weaken the fusion of body and soul, leading to decay or damage that would make another resurrection nearly impossible.

That's when, not far away, a tiny space rift quietly opened.

It was so small and subtle that neither Rimuru, focused as he was, nor Bronya, who lacked the means to sense it, noticed.

A faint wave of Honkai energy seeped through. From the rift stretched a slender, pure-white tendril of condensed Honkai energy.

It darted forward with blinding speed, wrapping around Sirin's imprisoned consciousness.

"What the—?!" Rimuru's eyes widened, but the tendril was already retreating toward the rift.

He quickly split off another cell and sent it flying after the tendril.

Just before the rift snapped shut, his cell latched on.

"What was that?" Bronya asked, staring at the spot where Sirin's consciousness had been.

"That was Sirin," Rimuru said, his expression dark.

"What? The Second Herrscher?" Bronya's face went pale. "Then what was that thing that took her?"

"Most likely… the Will of Honkai," Rimuru replied grimly. "I didn't expect it to intervene directly."

"The Will of Honkai?! That shouldn't even be possible…" Bronya muttered, completely thrown off.

"We can worry about that later. For now, let me finish saving these two." Rimuru's voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp.

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37: Welt Loses Hope

— — — — — — 

Time trickled by. Before anyone realized it, three whole days had passed.

"Seriously? Still not done? How long is this gonna take?" Kiana grumbled from the side. "Just how much longer?"

"Oh, come on! This isn't some quick little fix," Rimuru sighed, giving Kiana a helpless look. "You've run back and forth dozens of times already. You'd be better off spending that energy learning to control your Herrscher powers."

"Hah! Don't underestimate me. I'm a genius," Kiana declared proudly, chin tilted up. "That kind of thing? I can master it in minutes."

Rimuru rolled his eyes. 'Yeah right, like I'd ever believe that nonsense.' He was about to shoot back when faint murmurs drifted out from the glowing energy spheres nearby.

"Did you hear that? They're moving!" Kiana gasped, her face lighting up. "I'll go get the others right now!" And with that, she dashed off like a whirlwind.

"…Honestly. Always so impatient," Rimuru muttered with a sigh. As much as he liked Kiana's personality, her lack of brains was… problematic.

He turned back to the two glowing spheres. Figures were starting to take shape inside, faint heartbeats echoing in rhythm.

"Looks like the time's almost up," Rimuru calculated. "Two, maybe three hours at most, and their bodies will be fully rebuilt."

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Kiana returned—this time dragging Mei, Himeko, Bronya, and even Garp with her.

"They're about to wake up?" Himeko asked, her tone thick with concern.

"Yeah. Won't be long now," Rimuru confirmed.

Himeko nodded silently and joined the others in quiet anticipation.

Time seemed to stand still.

Crack—hiss.

The first energy sphere split open, light spilling out as the silhouette inside grew clearer.

Everyone's eyes were glued to the scene, holding their breath in excitement.

At last, the energy fully dispersed, and Fu Hua drifted gently down to the ground. Himeko and the others rushed forward to greet her.

In stark contrast, Welt landed off to the side, completely ignored. Compared to Fu Hua's warm welcome, the sight of him alone and forgotten was… downright pitiful.

And when Garp and the rest noticed him, their eyes filled with amusement. They all turned toward Rimuru with silent accusation: 'Why does Fu Hua have clothes, but not Welt?'

"Heh." Rimuru snickered, utterly unbothered by their glares. He'd seen this coming from a mile away. That's why he'd used energy to create clothes for Fu Hua early on. Welt, on the other hand, only got a pair of boxers. He's a grown man—what's there to be embarrassed about?

"..."

Poor Welt.

Just then, salvation seemed to arrive: Einstein slowly approached his side. For a brief moment, Welt felt hope bloom in his chest. Maybe he wasn't abandoned after all.

Einstein pulled out her phone, flipped to the camera, and unleashed a rapid ten-shot burst. Then she pocketed the phone… and walked away.

Yeah… Walked away.

Welt froze. He wasn't just abandoned. The world had flat-out mugged him.

Rimuru twitched at the corner of his mouth. 'That's your own boss, you know! You really think this is okay?'

Rimuru took a steadying breath, glanced at Welt sprawled miserably on the floor, and couldn't help feeling a bit grateful. At least his own subordinates weren't this insane. Probably.

"Ugh… what happened to me?" Fu Hua stirred at last, her eyes flickering open.

"Hua!" Himeko cried, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Major Himeko… I'm sorry." At first Fu Hua looked confused, but something suddenly resurfaced in her memory. Guilt welled up in her expression.

"Class monitor, you're finally awake! We've been waiting forever," Kiana said, puffing herself up. "This time, you owe me big!"

"Kiana…" Fu Hua gazed at her smiling face, and her eyes shimmered red. Tears began to gather.

"It's fine! I forgive you, class monitor," Kiana said warmly. For a fleeting second, she seemed… mature. She patted Fu Hua's head and gently brushed away her tears. "But promise me—don't lie to me again, okay?"

For reasons he couldn't explain, Rimuru thought Kiana actually looked kind of… charming in that moment.

"Mhm!" Fu Hua nodded hard, clutching Kiana and sobbing quietly.

Mei and Bronya stood nearby, smiling gently at the sight.

Welt, meanwhile, glanced between Fu Hua's heartwarming reunion and his own lonely self. His life felt completely colorless in comparison. But wait—he still had comrades. Einstein and Tesla were his companions. He wasn't alone. There was hope.

With renewed determination, Welt lifted his head—only to spot Einstein among Fu Hua's group.

His last shred of hope crumbled.

"…Is the blow maybe a little too much? He won't do anything stupid, will he?" Rimuru muttered, worried at Welt's lifeless look.

After the initial reunion, Fu Hua was helped over by the Valkyries. Eventually, even Welt was reluctantly hauled up by Einstein using a mech.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me," Fu Hua said earnestly. "I don't know how to repay you."

"Planning to repay me, huh? How about marriage?" Rimuru teased.

"N-no! Of course not!" Fu Hua waved her hands frantically. "I just mean… if you ever need my help, I'll give it without hesitation."

"Same here. If you need me, I'll do whatever I can," Welt added calmly.

"It's really no big deal," Rimuru chuckled. "But hey, now that you know about our guild, how about joining up?"

"I've got no objections," Fu Hua agreed.

"Fine by me," Welt said.

And just like that, the Dimensional Guild welcomed two new members.

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38: Otto the Pathetic

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A few days later - Schicksal HQ

"Kallen is about to wake up, right?" Otto's voice trembled with excitement. Five hundred years—he'd waited five whole centuries for this moment. 'Kallen… we're finally going to meet again.'

"Yeah, it won't be long now," Rimuru answered casually.

Just a few days earlier, he'd revived Fu Hua and Welt. After that, he went to Anti-Entropy and brought back Schrodinger, Cocolia, and the others, then pulled them into the guild.

Without a break, he rushed over to Schicksal HQ. Using a guild item called the Soul Stone (not from Marvel, no), he summoned Kallen's soul back, and while he was at it, also retrieved Yae Sakura's soul from Theresa's Stigmata Space—both ready to be revived together.

Not far away, Whitebeard's crew were all grinning, struggling to contain their laughter.

Having already seen plenty of Honkai drama in the Guild's cinema, they knew exactly what Kallen and Yae Sakura's relationship was. And now that Otto had joined the guild, the rules meant members couldn't hurt each other. So once Sakura joined too…

"Hehehehehe…" A chorus of sinister cackling echoed through the room.

The ghastly laughter made Otto frown. 'What's with these people? Did I make a mistake joining this guild?'

"Do you all… need something?" Otto asked, brows knit. "If there's a problem, say it. If I can help, I will."

"Nope, nothing. All good." They waved their hands innocently, but their faces said otherwise.

Meanwhile, off to the side, Himeko, Fu Hua, and Theresa were huddled together, whispering. Every so often, they'd steal a glance at Otto.

"I'll bet five hundred crystals Otto completely loses it," Kiana said, grinning wickedly. 'Hah, you tried to scheme against me? Just wait—I'm getting every single one of your expressions on camera. I'll turn them into stickers, share them in the chat group, and make sure you see your own humiliation every day! Hahahahaha!'

"You can't say that about Grandpa! He truly loves Kallen. How can you all make fun of him like this? Anyway, I'll bet one thousand crystals he breaks down," Theresa said angrily—before calmly placing her wager.

"Theresa~ where exactly did you get that many crystals?" Himeko asked with a bright but dangerous smile.

"Eh? Just, you know, sold a few worthless things, hahaha…" Theresa chuckled nervously, hoping to bluff it off.

"You stole something, didn't you?" A vein bulged on Himeko's forehead as she marched forward and unleashed a flurry of punches.

"Aaah! Himeko, I'm sorry! I won't do it again, please spare me!"

Otto quietly watched the chaos, sighing to himself. He suddenly remembered how his own arsenal had been looted clean not long ago. ''Day and night I guard against enemies, yet in the end it's thieves from my own house… and even if I catch them, there's nothing I can do. How pathetic.''

Before long, one of the glowing spheres cracked open. A graceful figure stepped out.

Kallen Kaslana opened her eyes and immediately saw the blond man standing before her.

"Otto?" she asked in confusion. "Why are you here? Didn't I… die? Where is this?"

"Kallen, it's been five hundred years," Otto said, voice heavy with longing. "Rimuru revived you—he brought you back to the world." He gestured toward Rimuru.

"You saved me? Thank you so much!" Kallen said sincerely.

"It's nothing, really. I've always been a huge fan of yours," Rimuru replied with a sheepish smile, scratching the back of his head.

"Then I owe you my gratitude, Rimuru," Kallen said warmly.

"And I owe you as well," Otto added, bowing his head. "Thank you for letting me see Kallen again."

"Uh… maybe hold the thanks for now," Rimuru said awkwardly. 'Once Sakura wakes up, you might wish you could kill me. But guild rules forbid that, hahahaha… kind of looking forward to it, honestly.'

Crack—hiss.

The second sphere shattered. All eyes turned as Yae Sakura slowly emerged.

A strange heaviness settled in Otto's chest. Something felt wrong.

"Kallen…" Sakura whispered, stunned to see her again.

"Sakura…" Kallen's eyes lit up with joy.

The two rushed into each other's arms and shared a kiss.

"Ooooh~" Everyone except Otto made dramatic noises, covering their eyes with their hands—while peeking gleefully through their fingers.

"What… what's happening? Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?" Otto froze in shock. In their eyes, he didn't see friendship. He saw love.

"Wait! Kallen—what's going on here?" Otto's voice cracked with disbelief.

"I'm sorry, Otto. I already have someone I love. You're a good man, but…" Kallen trailed off with an apologetic look.

You're a good man.

good, a man, you're…

good… are you… a man.

The words kept crashing in his eyes, a storm he couldn't hold back.

Otto turned to stone. For a brief, insane moment, he thought maybe the entire world deserved to burn.

"He's a REALLY good man!" Rimuru and the others couldn't hold it in anymore. Laughter exploded from every corner.

"Hah! Never thought I'd see Otto like this. Got every shot on camera too!" Kiana howled, clutching her stomach.

"Grandpa… is he gonna be okay?" Theresa muttered, looking at Otto's pale, lifeless face. She quietly saved the photos she'd just taken, then slipped her phone into her pocket.

"Hahaha! 'You're a good man.' That's what every single one of the hundred girls who rejected me said!" one of Whitebeard's sons burst out laughing.

"What's so funny about that? That means you're worse off than him," Marco shot back dryly.

"…You're right. Boohoohoo!" The son burst into tears and ran off.

"K-Kallen!" Otto stayed crumpled for a moment, but centuries of being Schicksal's Overseer had given him iron willpower. He forced himself upright, jaw clenched, and glared fiercely at Kallen and Sakura. "I don't care who you claim to love. I, Otto Apocalypse, will never give up!"

"I waited five hundred years—I can wait five thousand more! I'll make you fall in love with me. You there—do you dare accept my challenge? In Otto Apocalypse's name, I swear Kallen Kaslana will be mine!"

"Otto, there's no need for this…" Kallen said helplessly.

"I accept." Before she could continue, Sakura cut in sharply. "I'll prove I love Kallen more than you do. You dare try to steal her from me? Then let's see who wins!"

Rimuru doubled over laughing, clutching his stomach. "A man and a woman fighting over another woman—what can I even say? Truly fitting for the title Pathetic Man… Otto, the poor soul betrayed by love itself."

"Maybe he should just try for a harem and take both of them. Go on, Otto, you got this!"

Everyone else looked on with shameless glee, their grins as indecent as their laughter was demonic.

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39: The Ultimate Simp

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Otto's face was dark as he stared at Rimuru, his smile polite but not reaching his eyes. "Rimuru, would you care to explain what exactly just happened?"

"Uh, well… honestly, I don't really know either!" Rimuru blinked up at him with the most innocent eyes he could muster, praying it would work.

"You think I'm buying that?" Otto's voice was icy, his gaze locked on Rimuru's desperate puppy-dog act. He wasn't fooled for a second. If Rimuru really didn't know, he might as well go dye his hair green.

"Hehehe…" Rimuru scratched his head awkwardly. "I mean, uh, didn't you get to see Miss Kallen again? Isn't that… a happy ending for everyone?" he tried to explain, stiff as a board.

Otto's eye twitched. 'A woman cheated on me, and you're calling it a happy ending? If my mental fortitude weren't this strong, I'd already be dead from the rage. Happy ending, my ass!'

Rimuru saw the murderous glint in his eyes, paused for half a second, then—simple 720-degree spin—and bolted. His instincts screamed that staying here a second longer would be a threat to his personal safety.

Otto stood there, stunned, then turned to see Yae Sakura not far away, sweetly feeding Kallen snacks. The anger in his chest surged sky-high. He whipped out the lunchbox he'd been preparing and stormed toward them.

"Kallen, come try this mackerel I made just for you! I swear it's delicious!"

And so, the once-dignified, elegant, and handsome overseer of Schicksal had degraded into a hopeless simp. Truly, the world was going downhill fast.

---

Three days slipped by in the blink of an eye.

At the Schicksal training grounds, Bronya, Kiana, and Mei were in the middle of a spar against Rimuru.

"Imaginary Impact!" Kiana summoned a miniature imaginary space, pressing Rimuru down from the sky and pinning him to the ground.

"Perfect chance!" Mei seized the opening, transforming into lightning itself as she dashed forward, blade flashing. Her sword moved so fast it seemed to strike eight times at once, each slash wrapped in crackling lightning. The sheer power was devastating.

Not lingering for follow-up, Mei leaned back into a space gate that opened behind her, slipping out of the battlefield and reappearing at Kiana's side.

Their teamwork was flawless. The only problem? Their opponent was Rimuru.

As the dust cleared, Rimuru emerged completely unscathed—not a scratch on him, not even a tear in his clothes.

"Tch. We can't even make a dent." Kiana groaned, exhausted. The whole morning had been the same—either their attacks missed, or even when they hit, they did nothing. It was like fighting on different levels entirely.

"Well, it's Rimuru we're talking about." Mei didn't sound discouraged at all. After days of training, her control over her own strength had grown immensely. "Still, our coordination keeps improving. You did great, Kiana." She smiled warmly at her.

"Mei! Hehe~" Kiana's face melted into a lovesick grin, drool threatening to spill.

"Hey, hey, we're still in the middle of a fight. Can you not flirt right now?" Rimuru pressed his palm to his forehead, speechless. He'd known Kiana was after Mei, but seeing it firsthand still stung. 'Why is it always the good girls that get snatched up by other girls?'

"Hmph!" Annoyed at being interrupted, Kiana unleashed hundreds of Void Spears, raining them down from the sky.

"Wow, touchy much?" Rimuru muttered. Golden flames burst from his hand, roaring forward and forming nine blazing fire dragons that incinerated the incoming spears to nothing.

Mei darted in again, slicing through the flames with her blade as she struck at Rimuru.

Rimuru drew a weapon he hadn't used in a long time—Drago Blade—and blocked her strike with ease. Despite his small frame, his strength was overwhelming; with a casual twist of his wrist, he sent Mei flying back.

"They've got energy, I'll give them that." On the observation platform, Himeko watched with a faint smile tugging at her lips. Life like this… really wasn't so bad.

"They're certainly spirited," Kallen said, walking over arm-in-arm with Sakura.

"Oh? Haven't seen Bishop Otto around," Himeko remarked curiously.

"Otto? He said my taste buds didn't match his cooking, so he's been locked up in the kitchen, experimenting with new recipes," Kallen replied helplessly.

"…What can you even say to that?" Himeko sighed. Ever since Kallen's return, Otto's entire vibe had shifted. The once cool, composed, confident man had turned into a full-blown simp. Honestly, it was kind of tragic.

"Otto's still admirable in his own way," Sakura said with a sweet smile. "Even if Kallen's heart belongs to me."

'You're a demon, aren't you?' Himeko's pulse spiked as she glanced at Sakura's gentle smile. That woman was terrifying.

While they chatted, the fight below reached its conclusion.

Kiana was bound tightly in chains, Mei collapsed on the ground from exhaustion, and Bronya lay face-down, motionless. The three had worked in perfect sync, but against Rimuru, it just wasn't enough.

"Not bad at all," Rimuru praised, nodding at them. "Kiana, your control over the Herrscher of the Void's powers has gotten pretty solid. Mei, your swordsmanship's sharper than ever. And Bronya, your support was excellent."

"Still couldn't beat you though," Kiana pouted, lips twisting. They hadn't managed to land a single real hit, just got stomped over and over.

"Not my fault I'm too strong." Rimuru shrugged innocently.

"Kiana did great," Mei said softly, reaching out to ruffle Kiana's hair. The girl instantly melted into a blissful smile.

"Bronya wants headpats too," Bronya said flatly, leaning her head over.

"Alright, Bronya, you did amazing too." Mei chuckled as she patted her, radiating kindness.

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40: Prelude to the Final Battle

— — — — — — 

A few hours later...

"Let's start with the latest report." Otto sat at the head of the conference table, his tone calm but serious. "Across the world, Honkai beasts are vanishing on a massive scale. In many regions, Honkai energy has dropped to barely a tenth of what it used to be. No further attacks on cities have been reported either."

"Oh! Then isn't that a good thing?" Kiana blurted out.

"It's not that simple." Einstein's voice was sharp, her expression grave. "The large-scale disappearance of Honkai beasts and Zombies only means one thing—the Will of the Honkai is consolidating every ounce of its remaining strength, preparing for a final confrontation with us."

"What?" Kiana and the others went pale. If that was true… the sheer scale of Honkai energy gathering together would be unimaginable.

"You're right," Otto added, "but that's not the full picture. Our probes in the Imaginary Space picked up something… interesting."

"What kind of something?" Himeko asked.

"Herrschers." Otto smiled faintly, ignoring the shock rippling around the table. "Not only did we detect resonance from the First Herrscher through the Thirteenth, but we also found traces of a presence that dwarfs all of them combined. Based on the readings, it should be the Fourteenth Herrscher—the Herrscher of the End."

"You're not entirely correct."

The conference doors swung open and Kevin walked in, his voice low and cold. "Compared with the records from our previous era, this Herrscher of the End far exceeds the one we faced back then. Its energy output is more than ten times greater."

His face was grim. Kevin had once stood face-to-face with the End, and he knew all too well how terrifying it was. Even defeating it hadn't meant destroying it. Now, with ten times that power… it made him feel powerless.

"You finally decided to join us," Otto said without the slightest surprise. "And yes, every Herrscher has now reached their complete form. A troublesome situation indeed." His words sounded calm, even casual, though his expression betrayed no concern.

"Rimuru." Kevin turned to him, his tone heavy. "Do you have the power to defeat it?" He needed to hear it from Rimuru's own mouth.

"Relax. If that's all it's got, it's not nearly enough to scare me." Rimuru's confidence was unshaken. The stars within his body had already expanded from ten kilometers to one hundred thousand across. Against that level of strength, crushing the Herrscher of the End would be no problem.

"Is that so?" Kevin exhaled in relief, meeting Rimuru's steady gaze. As long as the End could be brought down, the rest of the Herrschers would be manageable. They weren't to be underestimated, but humanity still had strength of its own.

"Looks like Rimuru has plenty of confidence." Otto smiled faintly. "But don't forget—the End isn't coming alone. Countless Honkai beasts and Zombies are gathering there too. We'll need to mobilize our forces. War is about to begin."

"Understood. Anti-Entropy will commit every unit we have," Welt said firmly.

"World Serpent stands ready," Kevin added.

"I'll notify my guild members. Anyone free will join in to boost our numbers," Rimuru offered.

The meeting adjourned, and everyone rushed to their preparations.

...

Deep within Imaginary Space, fourteen Herrschers stood in perfect formation.

Below them, Judgment-class and Emperor-class beasts roared by the hundreds, their cries shaking the void. Around them swarmed countless other Honkai beasts and Zombies, so many they seemed endless.

The sheer number alone could destroy the world dozens of times over. At that scale, their combined power was terrifying beyond words. Yet fate had already sealed their end—for the enemy waiting for them was far more fearsome.

In the depths of the Sea of Quanta, Kevin once again stood beneath the ancient cherry tree. He lingered there in silence for a long time before finally speaking.

"This time, it all ends. Humanity will prevail over the Honkai."

Who he was saying it to, no one knew. Perhaps not even Kevin himself.

---

At Anti-Entropy Headquarters, machines of war gathered in staggering numbers. Titans, suicide spiders, Iskandars, Arahatos—every model was being mobilized. Anti-Entropy was going all in.

"Now this is what I call a big move," Tesla muttered, watching the chaos of preparation below.

"This battle can only end in victory," Welt said, pushing his glasses up with a steady hand. "If we win, this war will be the last. And from what we've seen, the Honkai isn't invincible anymore."

"What do you mean?" Tesla asked, tilting her head blankly.

"It means…" Einstein appeared beside them, answering in his place. "It's afraid."

"Ohh. I get it now!" Tesla's eyes lit up with sudden realization.

"Yes. It's afraid." Welt's gaze turned distant, heavy with meaning. Einstein, Tesla, Schrödinger, Planck—all of them shared the same silent, resolute look.

At Schicksal Headquarters, the Valkyrie troops were gathering at full strength. They numbered only a few thousand, but their collective might was nothing to underestimate.

Rita and Durandal directed the supply lines and organization efforts.

"Well, Kallen," Otto said proudly, unable to hide the satisfaction in his voice. "Schicksal today is far stronger than it ever was before."

"It's truly impressive," Kallen admitted, her tone sincere. "I can't deny your leadership skills."

"Kallen, I made a new batch of rice balls for you to try."

Yae Sakura's voice rang out, and in an instant Kallen abandoned Otto, hurrying straight into Sakura's waiting arms.

Otto froze as he watched her nestle at Sakura's side. In a heartbeat he'd been cast down from heaven into hell.

'You think I'll give up, Kallen? Never. I, Otto, am not a man who quits.'

---

A moment of silence, please, for Otto's broken heart.

And so, the stage for the final battle was set.

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