Chapter 256 — Reviving the Mother-in-law Equals Fighting the Honkai
"What is it that the Second Herrscher wants to discuss with me?"
Welt narrowed his eyes, the crimson light within them flickering faintly.
His intention truly was to settle this through words, yet the knowledge inherited from the Herrscher Core told him one thing: a true Herrscher was nothing like a traitor such as himself.
The difference lay in whether one's personality had been eroded by the Honkai's will.
From the looks of it, the girl before him showed no abnormality. Or perhaps… she was deliberately trying to confuse him with words?
Could it be that this Herrscher was a highly intelligent one?
"Of course, we're here to discuss—" The purple-haired girl suddenly froze mid-sentence, as if realizing something, then raised the corner of her lips.
"—how to destroy human civilization!"
With a crisp snap of her fingers, a spear of subspace materialized and shot forth like an arrow loosed from its string.
Welt's eyes widened—not out of surprise at the sudden attack, but because of the strange voice that rang directly within his mind.
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[Alliance Leader Welt, remain calm. I am the Herrscher of the Void before you.]
[Otto is observing us in secret nearby, so I can only speak to you this way.]
[Just think of what you want to say, and I'll hear it.]
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Hovering in midair, Nagami in Sirin from subtly adjusted her position so that she, Welt, and Otto formed a straight line.
This way, the subspace spear that Welt "dodged" would instead fly straight toward the clown hidden in the shadows.
The development was so unexpected that Welt was momentarily stunned—and even more caught off guard because the voice in his mind was that of a young man, completely at odds with the refined girl before him.
A shriek of tearing air rushed to his ears as the spear split the sky like lightning.
Though Welt instinctively raised an energy barrier before him, he quickly realized the spear that grazed past his side was far more dangerous than the one he had blocked.
The shrill roar of its passage carried destructive power impossible to ignore.
The impact detonated against the cliffside, sending a violent shockwave and a plume of smoke rolling into the air.
Amid the shattered stone and dust stood a figure in an immaculate suit, a white clown mask hiding his face.
He had stayed within the attack's range to avoid revealing himself, missing the perfect moment to dodge.
He hadn't expected the spear's force to be so overwhelming.
"Well, I never thought I'd run into such bad luck," the clown said lazily, still managing a tone of irreverent mockery despite his battered state.
A man doesn't become the leader of Anti-Entropy by being a fool.
Even without "Sirin"'s reminder, Welt instantly caught on.
Realizing the strange "attack" by the Herrscher of the Void, he immediately played along with the act.
Red-black energy coiled around his body, lancing outward in powerful beams—the kind of flashy but shallow battle tactics often seen in Dragon Ball's Prince of all Saiyans.
The air erupted in violent blasts.
Blizzards of snow whipped skyward, scattering in the storm of energy.
After all, those who rose to lead world-class organizations were master actors in their own right—well, aside from pure researchers like Tesla. (And of course, let's just quietly ignore Theresa~)
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[Who exactly are you!?]
[I am the First Herrscher… from the future.]
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Even as the fight raged, looking fierce but causing little real damage, "Sirin" quickly and vaguely explained the matter of his time-travel—recasting his reason as "fighting against the Honkai."
Honestly, it wasn't wrong. Kiana was the vessel for the End.
Even with Nagami by her side, there was no absolute guarantee her mental state wouldn't collapse.
Family bonds were not something that romantic love could simply replace. And Nagami was more than self-aware about his own… less-than-faithful habits.
The thought of the End herself joining in a jealous love triangle was despair itself.
But if her mother could be revived, then for Kiana, it would be the ultimate safeguard.
Thus, framing "reviving the mother-in-law as equivalent to fighting the Honkai" was completely valid!
Having already analyzed and rewritten the Herrscher of Sentience's authority, Nagami could reveal the truth to a few select individuals—and then erase or overwrite their memories before leaving.
In small numbers, there was no need to use the special feather crafted by Kialo, a tool reserved for massive memory alterations.
Nagami intended to learn from the chuunibyou scientist Rintarou Okabe—deceive history itself and reach the perfect Steins Gate.
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[How am I supposed to believe your words…?]
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Though shaken by the overwhelming revelations, Welt's emotions were gradually stabilizing.
He fired another blinding beam of energy—gorgeous in appearance but harmless in substance.
Nagami didn't bother replying aloud.
Instead, with the Herrscher of Sentience's authority.
He transmitted directly into Welt's mind the memories of their future transaction over the Herrscher Core, along with fragments of the First Welt's will he had sensed when wielding the Herrscher of Reason's power.
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[These things should be enough to prove my identity, don't you think, Mr. Welt?]
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Their "battle" was like danmaku duel—Nagami firing off countless dazzling energy blasts, while Welt countered with technological constructs recreated through the Herrscher of Reason's power, missiles filling the sky.
Their collision was like a grand symphony, a storm of fireworks lighting up the sky.
Nagami shifted his angle again, raising his right arm like an emperor issuing an imperial decree.
From the void, another subspace spear emerged, radiating a fierce surge of Honkai energy.
It tore past Welt, grazing his coat, and without restraint hurtled toward the figure behind him.
The terrifying explosion that followed showcased the overwhelming might of a newly born Herrscher.
"Just bad luck? Or perhaps…"
For the second time, the clown found himself caught up in their clash.
Looking a little battered, he stared at the imposing Queen of the Void and whispered his doubts.
After a moment's thought, he turned and fled forward.
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[This will is indeed sufficient proof.]
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If it had just been the memory of a "transaction," Welt could've dismissed it as fabricated.
But the fragments of will Nagami showed him—something only one who carried the Herrscher Core within his own body could possibly know—were undeniable.
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[So then… what do you want me to do?]
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With power like this, if Nagami had truly stood on the Honkai's side, there would have been no need for such elaborate tricks.
He could've simply crushed everything in his path with raw might, sweeping humanity's civilization aside.
The Herrscher of the Void's authority, the Herrscher of Reason's authority, and now even the Herrscher of Sentience's power communicating directly with his mind—all coexisting in one person.
It was enough to prove Nagami's words weren't lies.
And for the sake of humanity's future against the Honkai, Welt would naturally choose to cooperate with his plan.
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[Before we begin our talk… there's a little entertainment I'd like to invite you to join, Mr. Welt.]
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Feeling the familiar yet foreign consciousness rapidly approaching from below, Nagami's lips curved into a pleased smile.
Otto's soulium body, specially crafted for situations like this, could mask its Honkai energy fluctuations perfectly. Its concealment was top-notch.
But the Herrscher of Sentience's authority didn't rely on Honkai detection—it sensed the consciousness of intelligent beings. Even a mechanical body could not hide from it.
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[I imagine even now, you harbor no fondness for the Schicksal Overseer who killed the first Welt, do you?]
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Nagami spread his slender arms wide, unfurling a domain of imaginary space large enough to cover the entire area—like a Fate-style Reality Marble.
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[So… why don't we have some fun and give Otto the beating he deserves?]
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This time Nagami abandoned all pretense.
He turned his gaze on the clown who had stopped in his tracks upon sensing the spatial shift.
"Let's call it collecting a little interest on Sirin's behalf." With a spear of subspace forming in his hand, Nagami shot forward like a violet comet straight toward Otto.
"This time, you're the real clown!"
Welt, sensing the change in space, dropped his act as well.
He didn't know exactly what this "person from the future" intended, but an opportunity to beat Otto senseless was one he would never pass up.
And since Nagami had invited him to act, he must have a plan for cleaning up the aftermath.
With that thought, Welt stopped hesitating and charged in too.
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Elsewhere.
Tears fell to the floor with soft, clear sounds.
Crystalline droplets slid down a face as pure and flawless as snow.
Cecilia struggled to open her mouth, but no words came out.
Her once-gentle blue eyes seemed drained of all light, touched by the faint glimmer of despair.
No desperate screams. No futile resistance against reality.
She simply closed her eyes quietly, letting the tears flow freely down her cheeks.
Why… why has it come to this?
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