Otto could feel the sand in his mouth.
He spat it out, as he pushed himself up.
He stumbled to regain his balance, clearly disoriented from having used too much of his power.
I've been washed ashore. Just… how long was I out for?
The sun was setting. Time had certainly passed.
Kiana… Where's Kiana!?
He looked around frantically. Not too far from him, a girl was lying face flat in the sand.
Of course she'd be knocked out too. Her body must be worn out.
He walked towards her and lifted her away from the shores.
He sat on a rock and materialised a golden pistol to start a fire, to keep both of them warm.
What?! I… got burnt.
"What did you expect, boy? Your body is at its limit. Basic projections will now cost you more energy and might even hurt you."
Makes sense.
"However, your physical speed and strength remain intact. Using conventional weapons, or non-destructive Divine Keys is henceforth recommended until you acquire a new body."
Otto sighed. He put his head in his arms as he began to look back on everything which had happened in such a small span of time.
… I acted quite impulsively, didn't I? Even if a few did believe me, I just pushed everyone else over the edge. Anti-entropy has probably launched search parties looking for me.
"Yes, you have acted solely on impulse. But, it's in human nature to recklessly grab the chance to undo one's past and start over. You finally have the power to play the hero, a power and chance you've dreamt of ever since you met Kallen Kaslana. Yes, you could've opted for a better approach, but all things considered, this was the best possible result given the time constraints."
Void Archives stated bluntly.
You're…right.
".-seer? Can you even hear me?"
Otto was snapped out of his conversation by a hand waving in front of him.
With a jolt, he turned towards the source of this intrusion.
"Oh, Kiana, you're awake!"
"Ofcourse I am! I have been for the past five minutes! What's got you zoning out like that!?"
The girl fumed. Half of her face was covered with disheveled bangs.
"Well, aren't you rather energetic? I guess I'll just call up Theresa and have Hyperi-"
"Wait!"
"...What is it?"
"It's better if you just …see for yourself."
The girl sighed and pulled the bangs of hair to the side, showing her other eye.
It was not the bright, vibrant blue the Kaslanas were known for.
The orange glare made it clear that she was still not free from the Herrscher's grasp. Not entirely, that is.
"...Oh. This is quite the..predicament."
Otto exclaimed as he wiped the sweat off his brow.
"What are you going to do, boy? The girl is now a ticking Honkai eruption, ready to set off should the herrscher inside see fit."
"You did this to me, Mister Overseer! So I'm pretty sure you've got a way out, too!"
She folded her arms.
Otto sighed. He then pointed a finger towards Kiana's eye.
"I could just take you to HQ, then run a few tests and figure out how to get rid of…that. But, if I were to do so, however, Anti-Entropy and by extension, the Hyperion, would probably be out for blood."
"Why.. so?" She asked.
"The very notion of the Otto Apocalypse, experimenting on a student - one he promised to save, no less - would only rub off on Anti-Entropy the wrong way. They tend to blow things out of proportion if the subject involves me in the slightest. Even if I explained my intentions, they wouldn't believe me. It would lead to unnecessary losses and conflict on both sides."
Otto spoke in a disinterested tone as he waved his hand about.
"Anti-Entropy? Blowing things out of proportion? At least they don't literally blow things up, unlike someone whom I've personally witnessed launch Fission Missiles at New York!"
Void Archives snapped, rather rudely.
Ah, your old personality has returned. Just when I thought you had changed.
"...Then what do we do?"
Asked Kiana as she too held her head in her hands and sat on a rock, just like how the Overseer had been when she had woken up.
"I could hand you over to Hyperion. But, you're afraid you might hurt your friends and teachers should things go awry. Am I right?"
She nodded.
"Nor can I let AE take things from here. Their knowledge and reach regarding the Honkai is second-grade, no, an absolute downgrade, compared to mine.….You're the safest in my supervision."
Otto folded his arms as he spoke.
"Ah, your narcissism has returned. To expect change from you was a delusion."
Shut up.
"Well, that sums it up then."
Kiana stood up.
"Until I get the Herrscher in control and learn to use its powers for myself, without risking anyone else, I will simply go into hiding and YOU, Mister Overseer, are going to tag along with me!"
She announced.
"What?! You want me to run with you, rescind my responsibilities and go AWOL?!"
(AWOL- Absent Without Official Leave)
"You promised, didn't you?! You shouldn't make big claims if you have no intention of following them through!"
She was referring to the declaration he had given her, hours ago.
This kid..
I'm sure of it, she takes after her father!
Otto sighed.
"...Alright then. Just..let me inform Amber."
"Fair enough. Hmph."
She turned away.
Otto used the comms system of his soulium avatar to contact his android assistant, Amber.
"Lord Overseer? You're…alright!"
The voice on the other end was one full of relief.
"Yes, I am. I have also secured Kiana Kaslana. Her condition is stable."
"...Kiana? You mean, K-423?"
"...Yes. Also, should Battleship Hyperion ask about my whereabouts, you are to inform them that my location has become untraceable. I…have things to take care of."
"Understood, Lord Overseer."
"One more thing before I leave. Inform Bianka… that I'm alright."
Kiana's eyes perked up at the mention of the name.
"Roger."
Otto disconnected the call.
"Bianka? Bianka Ataegina!?"
"Mhhm."
Kiana's eyes sparked with joy.
"The strongest S-Rank Valkyrie of Schicksal! What is she like? You must know all about her!"
Otto seemed hesitant for a moment. Then, with a faint smile, he cleared his throat-
"Bianka's the greatest student I've ever had the honour of teaching. She has been a very diligent, responsible and sensible child ever since she was little! Her sense of duty is impeccable and very admirable, must I add. She is not only gifted with strength, but an astute mind as well. Her ability to adapt and learn continues to amaze me, even today-"
-He was rambling, like a proud father would.
Kiana's face contorted into a strange expression. It was then Otto realised what he'd been doing.
"Oh, I'm rambling. Sorry about that."
"No..it's just that, the look you had on your face and the way you were speaking reminded me of..someone."
She answered, her eyes downcast.
"Siegfried, I assume?
Kiana looked directly at Otto, eyes wide.
"Last I heard of him, he's still alive and kicking. Don't worry, we'll find him, once things get better, yeah?"
Otto reassured, not wanting to stay on this subject any longer.
This is the least I can do to earn her trust and to.. Get a step closer to reconciling with Siegfried Kaslana. I did… destroy his family, with my very own hands, after all.
"As for Durandal, I'm sure she'd be willing to train you herself, once you get a grip on your herrscher powers."
Any traces of sadness were lost. Kiana was practically jumping, unable to contain her excitement. No one would believe this girl had come into contact with beyond lethal levels of Honkai Radiation, hours prior.
"I get to train with Schicksal's Strongest Valkyrie?! I've.. I've always wanted to-"
"Become a S-Rank Valkyrie?"
Otto finished her sentence for her. He chuckled.
"Well, you will be able to go far beyond S-Rank should you contain your powers."
Kiana looked at her fists, as she clenched and unclenched them.
"I'm..going to take your word on that."
"I appreciate that, very much so. Now then, I suggest we get a move on. It's night time. The perfect cover, wouldn't you agree?"
"Mhhm."
She smiled, remembering the days she'd spent by herself, before becoming a Valkyrie.
"Ah, before we leave. Archives, if you would please-"
.
.
.
.
"Consider it done."
Kiana couldn't believe it.
The man before her, in a matter of seconds, had become an entirely different person.
He now sported platinum white hair and golden eyes.
"A good disguise, no? This should make it harder for our pursuers to find us."
His voice was still the same, though.
"The nearest city to us would be Arc City. We should get there by tomorrow morning, since we're covering the distance by foot."
"Let's get going, then!"
She replied as she overtook him, a skip in her step.
- BATTLESHIP HYPERION-
Theresa lay in bed at the sick bay.
Her injuries had miraculously healed completely, thanks to her grandfather.
But, she was not at ease.
Fu Hua and Himeko had told her that he had succeeded in saving Kiana but she wasn't buying it. Not one bit. Ever since Cecilia met her demise, she could no longer trust him.
Kiana… I hope… you're fine…
Theresa was practically biting on her nails.
"Umm…Principal?"
Theresa snapped out of her trance and looked towards the valkyrie.
"What is it, Mei? Any leads on Kiana yet?"
Mei looked like she was going to cry.
"We've searched… we couldn't find anything…"
Theresa's voice was stuck in her throat. Her fears were starting to grow stronger.
"HQ reported that the Overseer has also… gone missing." Mei added.
This was enough to send Theresa into a fit of panic. This could only mean that Otto was up to something.
No.. Not again.. How many lives is he going to take?!
Theresa, lost in her thoughts, didn't even realise an argument had ensued.
"That's what you get for believing in that Otto!"
Tesla snapped.
"But he used the serum right in front of us!"
Himeko tried to argue.
"You'd understand if you knew even half of the things that man has done! It's not the first time he's playing nice. Last time he did, not only did he try to blow up the entirety of New York and while he was at it, we also ended up losing Edison and…Joyce…"
Eins interceded. She had recollected memories she wished she hadn't.
"He may have used the Anti-Honkai serum, but you should be aware Kiana still has those gems inside her! There's no telling what he has schemed!"
Tesla continued.
Theresa, full of uncertainty, could only arrive to one conclusion-
"Himeko! Launch a search party for Kiana and my grandfather at once. We cannot afford to waste time before any more lives are lost!"
Himeko sighed.
"I'll see to it. Most of our forces are currently scrambled. They're dealing with the Honkai Eruption."
"Anti-Entropy will lend their mechs, so you don't have to worry about that."
Tesla reassured her.
Himeko merely nodded and left the room.
You see, she had to take her Anti-Honkai serum to treat her own condition. She was no longer a field Valkyrie. She could not investigate or fight on her own, even if she wanted to.
I could kill for an ice cold beer right now.
I hope I'm not wrong for choosing to trust you, Overseer.
That was something she'd find out in time.
CHAPTER 3- END
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Aaaand a less serious chapter, I guess? I feel I should just dump the thoughts I had while writing this chapter.
It's actually brought up quite often that, "Otto wouldn't have become a villain if he had a decent family."
I wholeheartedly agree. But, I also feel that he did have a family by the time the game's story began. He was simply too late to realise he had one.
Aside from Theresa, Durandal was the only other person who was even close to understanding Otto. Her interactions and thoughts regarding Otto made it seem quite obvious that she looked up to him as a father figure, which was why she couldn't bring herself to hate him. Or well, that's how I feel about it.
As of Kiana, I always felt she was much more of an understanding person than she let on. Given the right circumstances, she can not only grasp but also help what the person in front of her is going through. So, I not only wish for Otto to help her, but for her to help his own personal struggles along the way.
But yes, since Otto no longer has to play the villain, I sincerely hope for him to cherish his friends and family, in the future chapters, as he now has to overcome trials alongside them.
.
.
I'm actually quite excited, we're headed for the Arc City story arc!
Thank you all so much for reading my story.
I'd love to hear your thoughts!