"Sigurd, Fu Hua, you... have gone too far!"
Hera repeated the cold words as her crystal-like high heels clicked against the cracked ground, stopping in front of Sigurd and Fu Hua.
Wisps of golden hair began to release a beautiful golden radiance as an incredibly high concentration of Honkai energy flowed through them in a surprisingly gentle manner.
At this moment, Wendy, as a Herrscher, felt the pressure.
Fu Hua, however, was at a loss for words.
Only Sigurd, yawning lazily, wore an expression of indifference as if he hadn't had enough sleep. He casually asked:
"Too far in what way?"
Hera narrowed her eyes and coldly replied:
"I'm not interested in worldly power. So over the years, aside from necessary caution and self-preservation, I've fully cooperated with all your plans, allowing the balance of power between Schicksal and Anti-Entropy to shift as needed. I even subtly hinted that I could abandon the plan involving K423. But you? First the vixen, then Theresa — you've repeatedly pushed my limits... Have you forgotten that you should show me respect?"
Boom!
A tremendous amount of Honkai energy erupted from Hera's small body, and the oppressive aura of a high-level lifeform spread around.
The dazzling golden light illuminated the ground, making the blonde girl appear like a descending deity, majestic and awe-inspiring.
The dark night sky, the brilliant golden glow, and the countless mechanical wrecks scattered by the powerful shock created a surreal scene.
If they weren't right there, facing Hera's overwhelming pressure, the scene would actually be quite beautiful.
Wendy was the first to react.
She flashed to Sigurd's side, her long hair, a mix of black and green, swaying in the wind.
Her eyes were dyed with a deep, dark green as Herrscher-level Honkai energy erupted from her, though she was still slightly suppressed by Hera.
Sigurd patted Wendy's shoulder, signaling her to relax. He then looked at Hera with interest and asked:
"A fusion warrior?"
Though phrased as a question, there was little surprise in his tone.
In the hands of Grey Serpent, consciousness network technology was just a mobile database and multitasking communication tool. But for people like Otto and Sigurd, it was a breakthrough in computational capacity and a new realm for manipulating consciousness.
Otto had always been unfathomable, and with this added advantage—coupled with Sigurd's prior expertise and related experimental data and experience—it was no surprise that Otto had completely replicated it.
To Sigurd, creating a fusion warrior body was a natural step for Otto, not something to be shocked about.
"Yes, it's a fusion warrior. But that's not important," Hera replied indifferently, as if the body was of little consequence.
Sigurd nodded and continued,
"You say it's out of caution and self-preservation. Then, is the obstruction of Welt's ideas, which has prevented me from rallying the Valkyrie forces, also because of this?"
"There are many ways to rally the Valkyries. But if the world only echoes with one voice from the most powerful authority, do you think that's a good thing?" Hera asked, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Sigurd nodded in agreement again.
"Indeed, one flower alone does not make spring, and lack of opposition is the greatest problem. But you've seen the scale of this Honkai outbreak. Perhaps we've developed too quickly, and the Honkai has reacted. The crisis is looming, and time waits for no one. Right now, a unified voice that can gather all forces is very necessary," Sigurd analyzed with his usual logic.
Hera heard him, acknowledged the reasoning, but her face remained cold, showing not the slightest hint of a smile. She said indifferently, with a slight hint of impatience:
"I can lift the restrictions, but that's not the point. The point is, you need to give me an explanation."
"An explanation for what? Yae Sakura is the sword spirit of the God Key, 'Jizo Mitama,' and Theresa's abilities are strategically significant. From the perspective of the future of civilization, I don't need to give you any explanation," Sigurd said as he looked directly into her intense eyes, his expression gradually becoming serious.
A cold aura began to emanate from him.
The atmosphere became tense, as though it were frozen, yet at the same time, like a powder keg about to explode.
"Enough!"
At this moment, Theresa appeared between the two, carrying a cross on her back.
Several golden chains shot out from the cross, anchoring beside Hera, dispersing most of the Honkai energy she was releasing.
"Theresa..."
Hera looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar child in front of her.
The aura of fury she had unleashed slowly faded, replaced by reluctance and a bit of helplessness as she gradually stopped channeling her energy.
Facing Hera, Theresa retracted Judas' force field and spoke calmly but firmly:
"Grandpa, this is my own choice."
Up until now, Hera's identity had never been revealed to Theresa.
But with her mind cleared of all confusion, Theresa could now, from past impressions and the current situation, fully confirm Hera's true identity.
"…I only want what's best for you."
"Grandpa, tell me, where is Kiana?"
They both spoke at almost the same time.
Hera wanted to explain her actions to Theresa, but Theresa was more concerned about Kiana's whereabouts — the young lady whose condition remained unclear.
Then, both fell silent, gazing at each other without speaking.
After a long pause, Hera sighed softly and said,
"She doesn't want to see you."
"Is she doing well?"
"Very well. She hasn't suffered, and aside from her lack of freedom, she's been living a good life. She also has a good friend who grew up with her."
"…Take care of her for me, until I find her."
"Alright."
"Thank you, Grandpa."
Theresa let out a long sigh.
She didn't doubt Otto's words.
There were many things Otto had hidden from her, that was true, just like now, when he refused to reveal Kiana's whereabouts. But whenever Otto chose to tell her something, it was never a lie.
So, after lifting the mental burden that weighed on her, Theresa's first feeling toward Otto wasn't hate; it was the same conflicted feeling he must have had—after all, he was her Grandpa. No matter how many terrible things he had done, he was still the one who created her, gave her life, and had always loved her.
In Theresa's mind, everyone had the right to hate Otto—except her. She didn't even have the right to hate him.
"Grandpa, right is right, and wrong is wrong. I won't compromise."
After a long pause, Theresa left this statement behind. With a heart filled with mixed emotions—half escaping, half exhausted—she left the place.
Hera watched her retreating figure, her expression dazed for a moment.
...
"Kallen, I know this is cruel, but for the sake of Schicksal's mission, for the greater good of humanity... certain sacrifices are inevitable."
"I understand. But how can I turn a blind eye? Otto, right is right, and wrong is wrong! If this is the only way to maintain Schicksal's power, then Schicksal itself must be wrong. I will not compromise, and that is my choice... You should go. This has nothing to do with you."
...
Five hundred years ago, when Kallen tried to steal the sealed "Void Archive" that was to be used for human experimentation, this was how she spoke to Otto.
"How could I leave? If not for you, concepts of right and wrong, of justice, would mean nothing..."
Hera whispered softly, the powerful aura she had upon arriving now completely gone. Her face, now dim and lost, looked particularly sad and fragile.
Once, she had seen Kallen's shadow in Theresa, and had even absurdly fantasized that perhaps a part of Kallen's reincarnated soul lived within Theresa.
Maybe it wasn't absurd at all. They were, indeed, very alike.
It was this unwavering refusal to compromise that left Hera utterly helpless.
<+>
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