Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

"Let's go. I'll take you to your team."

"My team? You know where they are?" Anna was taken aback, grabbing his arm in her haste to learn more.

She hadn't asked about her teammates before. It wasn't due to lack of concern or selfishness.

It was complicated.

Lin Wei's revelations had overloaded her mind, leaving little room for other thoughts. More importantly, she never imagined he'd have any connection to her squad. After all, he'd deliberately avoided them on Coral Island, even asking her to keep his presence a secret.

She was already deeply touched by his risking his life to come to Manila and rescue her. How could she be so greedy as to ask for more, to inquire about her teammates when he had no apparent link to them? Especially given his complicated relationship with Schicksal.

In her eyes, Lin Wei had every reason to be indifferent towards her squad. He could have done nothing, yet here he was, venturing deep into this dangerous place.

She couldn't ask for more.

That's why she'd kept her worries hidden, even trying to forget them in his presence. Their shared experience on Coral Island had taught her how perceptive he was. She feared he'd read her concern and ask, forcing her to confess. But wouldn't that put him in a difficult position?

She didn't want him to think she was manipulative.

But now, he had brought it up.

His casual words were like a pinprick, releasing the pent-up anxiety she'd been suppressing. The questions tumbled out.

"Where are they? Are they alright? What are the casualties?"

After her rapid-fire questions, the tension drained away, replaced by a sudden awareness of her own impropriety. "I'm sorry, Lin Wei… I lost my composure. I just… I…" She wanted to explain, but words failed her, and tears welled up.

"It's alright, Anna. I understand." He smiled gently, placing a comforting hand on her head. "This eruption… it's bad. No Herrscher yet, but the affected area is even larger than Nagazora during the 3rd Eruption…"

He privately scoffed at the memory of the Nagazora incident. Small scale, a weak Herrscher… even Himeko, equipped with NEXUS system, had held her own against the newly awakened Herrscher of Thunder. The Herrscher was ultimately defeated by an injured Kiana, who'd tackled her and ripped off her wings (in escape from Nagazora city manga, i know this some remnant of GGZ lore that never get up again).

Pathetic. Almost as bad as Wendy…

He recalled how Himeko, even in the prototype Godsbane Battlesuit, had been utterly dominated by the 2nd awakened Herrscher of the Void. If the Herrscher hadn't been so arrogant, pausing after her attacks instead of finishing the job, Himeko wouldn't have even had a chance to retaliate.

And to add insult to injury, the entire 3rd Eruption had been handled by the Japanese Branch alone, who'd even had time for a skirmish with Cocolia's mechs.

The Japanese Branch! Theresa's squad!

Seriously? That's embarrassing on a whole new level!

(ノへ￣,)

Was Cocolia's strategy to create artificially weakened Herrschers to replace natural ones, thereby minimizing the damage of Honkai eruptions? he wondered. That's… something else.

It's so ridiculous in retrospect…

"How could this be?" Unaware of his inner monologue, Anna was frantic. Cut off from outside information, Lin Wei's news was devastating. "I have to get to my teammates!"

The little girl huddled behind Anna, clinging to her clothes, too scared to even cry loudly. Lin Wei was a stranger, and fear gripped her heart once more.

Anna squeezed the child's trembling hand, her heart aching. She looked at Lin Wei. "Please, take me to my teammates. This child… she lost her family in the disaster…" She felt the small hand tighten in hers. She hesitated, then continued, her voice pleading. "It's too dangerous for her here. Please… take her with you when you leave."

This will make me even more indebted to him, won't it? she thought sadly.

"What about you?" Lin Wei didn't immediately agree.

"I understand, Lin Wei. Thank you." Anna looked up, a brave yet tearful smile on her face. "But I'm a Valkyrie, a member of Snow Lotus, their vice-captain…"

She shook her head gently, her voice firm despite the sadness. "Protecting the people here from the Honkai is my duty. I can't leave. I can't be a deserter… You told me not to make decisions I'd regret. This is my decision."

In that moment, a newfound maturity seemed to settle upon her. She reached up, gently caressing his face, her gaze fixed on his eyes as if trying to memorize every detail. "So… you'll support me, right?"

Lin Wei chuckled wryly. Talk about poetic justice. I was just criticizing Otto, and now I'm in the same position.

"Don't worry, Anna. It's not as bad as you think." Her stubbornness was both admirable and heartbreaking.

He stroked her hair, which would have been beautiful if not for the dust and grime. "Rita has arrived in Manila. She's holding a defensive line with all the Valkyries currently in the Philippines. Once reinforcements arrive, they'll be able to contain the disaster."

"Really? That's good…" Anna breathed a sigh of relief, then insisted, "In that case, Lin Wei, forget about me. Take this child and leave!"

She gently pulled the little girl from behind her, bending down to reassure her. "It's okay, Wenwen, don't be afraid. Go with this big brother."

Before Lin Wei could react to the name "Wenwen," Anna straightened up, interrupting his train of thought. "I'll stay here. I can fight now. I can hold off the Honkai beasts until the main force arrives." She looked at the child, then out the window, her expression somber. "Maybe… there are other survivors out there, waiting to be rescued…" The thought filled her with a sense of urgency.

"That's not your concern! While I was looking for you, I cleared out the Honkai beasts in the surrounding area. They'll be fine for a while." He rolled his eyes, taking her hand and leading her towards the window. "If I left you here, knowing how reckless you are, I wouldn't be able to rest easy. Besides, I promised your captain I'd bring you back safely. I can't break my promise."

"But you…" she protested, but didn't let go of the child's hand.

"But me what?" he interrupted, his tone confident. "If I wanted to leave, do you think Rita could stop me?"

If the Honkai eruption hadn't forced a temporary truce, he would have already captured Rita, who'd been blissfully unaware of her precarious position.

"You… you're so rude! So arrogant!" Anna fumed. "Don't you know I'm worried about you?!"

"Of course I do." He turned to her, a gentle smile softening his features. "But don't make me worry about you either~"

Anna was speechless. She blushed, lowering her head as he led her away.

Too bad, I only got halfway through my persuasion, he thought, sighing internally. All that effort, all those elaborate lies, and he'd only managed to make her understand his position and accept his inevitable conflict with Otto.

The "rightful heir" story was complete fabrication. He didn't even believe it himself. Only someone as naive as Anna would fall for it. And even she, despite accepting the premise to some extent, knew he had no real chance of challenging Otto's authority.

But he never intended to claim the position. He didn't want it.

However, by presenting that absurd scenario first, and having Anna immediately reject it, he could then reveal the truth about the Key of Corruption and explain that Otto would never tolerate its existence, forcing him to fight back.

See? That way, Anna accepted the explanation much more calmly.

You have to raise the roof before you can open the window, he mused.

I'm so manipulative, using these tactics on someone as innocent as Anna… he chided himself.

But…

He glanced at her.

It wasn't enough to make her willingly leave with him.

This is troublesome…

He couldn't just kidnap her. She would hate him! That would likely accelerate her transformation into a Herrscher.

And that wasn't even the worst-case scenario. Even if she did become a Herrscher, he was fairly confident he could help her retain control.

No, there was another, potentially worse outcome.

A resentful Anna, forcibly kept by his side, would only cling more tightly to Schicksal. That would give Otto even more leverage. She would become a ticking time bomb.

And that would create a ripple effect. The other Valkyries would turn against him. Otto would exploit the situation, putting him at a severe disadvantage.

But if he let her return to Schicksal…

He realized, with a groan, that he was trapped in a lose-lose situation.

He could only take either Anna's body or her heart.

He could kidnap her, earning her hatred and destroying any chance of a positive relationship.

Or he could let her go, allowing her to return to Schicksal burdened with concern and guilt, becoming Otto's hostage and limiting his own options.

This is such a mess!

(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

No matter what he chose, Otto would benefit. He would lose, the only question being how much.

To turn the tables, there was only one other option: make Anna willingly choose to leave with him. Take both her body and her heart.

He'd tried to capitalize on the "rescue effect," but he'd failed. Time had been too short.

She couldn't abandon her duty as a Valkyrie…

I'll have to try again after meeting up with Jell, he thought, not very hopeful.

As for using the Fenghuang Down to alter her mind, like Otto had done to Theresa?

He wouldn't stoop to such a despicable act. He cared about her feelings.

Besides, even if he did do it, didn't Otto also have a Fenghuang Down? Wouldn't the Honkai Will just implant its own "movies" into her mind?

That was the worst possible option, leading to disastrous consequences for both of them.

Why did I even go to Coral Island? He mentally facepalmed. If he'd never met Anna, he wouldn't be in this predicament.

He was creating problems for himself!

Maybe… I'll have to use the "Overseer" card against Otto… A drastic plan formed in his mind.

Anna was a Schariac, loyal to Schicksal.

What if he became Schicksal?

It sounded absurd, but her reaction earlier suggested it might not be entirely impossible. She hadn't dismissed the idea of "legitimacy" outright. She'd simply thought he was delusional.

Why?

He thought it over, and the answer came to him.

When someone rules for five hundred years, their position becomes unquestionable. The concept of "legitimacy" becomes irrelevant.

Whether Otto had risen to power by using Kallen as a rallying cry, or through the influence of the Apocalypse name, or both, the situation five hundred years later was entirely different.

The current generation of Schicksal members, their grandparents, and even their great-grandparents had grown up under Otto's rule, fighting for Schicksal under his command.

He was the Overseer because he was the Overseer. No further explanation needed.

No one questioned his legitimacy. They didn't even consider it.

Otto had been Overseer for five hundred years. Another five hundred years seemed only natural.

Even if he chose to step down, it would be because he'd appointed a successor with unquestionable authority, and everyone would accept it, however shocked they might be.

That's why he could manipulate the three founding families of Schicksal as he pleased. He could casually bestow the Apocalypse name upon a test-tube baby and appoint her as the next Overseer without opposition.

Even though Theresa had been considered a monster at birth and was practically unknown at HQ before her appointment, it hadn't mattered.

No one seriously believed Theresa was a true Apocalypse. She even had Kaslana genes!

That's why he could treat the Kaslana and Schariac families with such disdain, breeding and manipulating them like livestock, and everyone accepted it as normal.

It was all because he was Otto, not because of the Apocalypse name.

If, under these circumstances, someone presented irrefutable proof of being an equally qualified candidate for Overseer… it might actually work? he mused.

Not some random nobody, but someone with a legitimate claim, bearing a relic from five hundred years ago, challenging Otto's authority.

It would be shocking, unbelievable, but not necessarily unacceptable to Schicksal.

The only obstacles would be:

Otto himself.

And…

How do I prove to everyone that I'm qualified to be the Overseer?

He needed, at the very least, for the Valkyries, especially those loyal to Durandal, to not actively oppose his ascension.

As for supporting him? Don't even dream of it.

Perhaps seizing control of Anti-Entropy and World Serpent first, then using that as leverage against Otto, was a more realistic approach.

He could always spar with Kevin again. He was already in deep; what was a little more chaos?

(ノへ￣,)

I'm getting ahead of myself. I need to deal with the current situation first… He glanced at Anna and sighed.

She looked up at him, puzzled by his sigh.

If I do this, Anna will be caught between me and Otto for a long time, suffering for it… He looked at her with compassion. He had no illusions about Otto's ruthlessness. I need to present a sufficient threat from the start, so Otto won't dare to harm her. That's the only way she'll be safe in Schicksal.

Then, he would simply wait for the outcome of his conflict with Otto.

Otto knew all too well how the Old World Schicksal had used Kallen against him.

Lin Wei had to be prepared.

I won't let him use Anna against me! he thought coldly.

If you threaten me with Anna, I'll threaten you with Kallen. Let's see who blinks first!

A game of chicken? Bring it on!

He always assumed the worst of Otto, using that as a baseline for his actions and doubling his preparations.

If a mere transmigrator like him could be this ruthless, then Otto Apocalypse, the Overseer of Schicksal, would undoubtedly be even worse.

With his plan roughly formed, he summoned the aircraft.

"Come on, Anna. Let's go find your captain."