A white expanse.
Otto Apocalypse had finally managed to create another future, for the one he loved. He had also managed to tell her how he felt and was elated to know that this whole time, she loved him too. She would now live life on her own accords. She'd fight the honkai and win. He had no regrets left.
He closed his eyes, hoping to cease, once and for all.
But, the darkness he longed for wouldn't come. He was still alive. This couldn't be.
Clearly startled, he opened his eyes.
The expanse he'd envisioned moments ago was now replaced by space. Endless space.
Where…am I? The Afterlife? But there's no such thing…
He looked around and saw nothing. An empty silence reigned. Until-
"To think I'd talk to someone from this era so soon. Welcome, Otto Apocalypse."
A gentle and calm voice.
"Who are you? Moreover, where am I?"
Otto asked, to no one in particular. He couldn't tell where the voice was coming from.
"Who, or what I am remains irrelevant as we speak. Though, I suppose you could muse me with a game of chess? You win and I tell you all you want to know. Should I win, you're going to have to do me a favor."
Otto chuckled. He was quite confident in his ability at chess. He had been playing this game for the past 500 years, after all.
"Well, it would seem neither of us have anything better to do. I accept your challenge."
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Otto couldn't believe it.
13 moves in Otto knew he couldn't win, this being had accounted for every possible outcome. So he tried to draw the match to a stalemate. But, he could only draw the match for so long.
He was done in by a mere rank checkmate by a rook, at a total 27 moves. Whoever or whatever this entity was, had just given him the most intense chess match he'd ever had the chance to play.
The match was now over.
"Checkmate, Otto."
The being spoke.
"You're… trying to pull one over me, aren't you? Were you reading my mind all this time? Is it the future you've seen beforehand?"
Otto was clearly infuriated by his loss. You see, it was his first time losing an actual chess match.
"I have not. This was merely the gap in our experiences showing itself. Though, I must laud your skill. It is not surprising how you managed to pull strings for so long."
"..."
"You claimed to have fooled your friends, family and the laws of this world, did you not? Child, do you not know there are things which cannot be deceived by humans?"
Otto's eyes widened from surprise.
What does that mean?
"The laws of this world are absolute. You can't fool them. You went against these laws and offered your life as the price. Much to your chagrin, however, your life doesn't have much value."
"What?"
Fear was now gripping the former overseer. Did this mean the future he had made for her was at stake? Was he unsuccessful after all?
"You worry over trivial things, Apocalypse. The girl is very much alive in her own branch. You've seen that yourself."
"Why don't you just get to the point? I'm sure it'd keep things simple for us both."
Otto spoke, anger and relief in his tone.
"Very well. Your life alone wasn't enough. Hence you're going to have to do some work to own up to the 'miracle' you pulled off."
"I… see…"
"The laws of this world are above the Honkai itself. These laws see the honkai as a Cancer, plaguing every world and branch in the tree."
"Then why not weed out the Honkai at its core? The laws are absolute, are they not?"
"I've already told you. They are absolute only to humans. Honkai is a concept whose sole purpose is to defy these laws. Unlike you, the honkai pays no price. The laws are futile against such an existence."
Otto was at a loss of words. He now knew why humanity failed in every parallel world he had seen on the leaf. If the laws of the world couldn't do anything about the Honkai, what could mere pests accomplish?
"But this is where you come in, Otto Apocalypse. Not once has existence itself seen a human attempt to defy the laws and achieve success, even if momentarily. You ascended beyond the Honkai and became a god. Yet, you were human. The laws restrained you as much as they could, hence, a false god, is what you became."
"I assume this is the favor you speak of? You're going to have me eliminate the honkai? The honkai manifests separately in every branch of the tree. It would be impossible."
"Precisely. Which is why you are only expected to protect one world from the Honkai. Fail and you shall start over. Resist the honkai successfully and your price will have been paid. You will obtain the death you seek and you will be answered everything else you wish to know. About me or the world.."
Fair enough. He didn't have the will to run along and save world after world. He was no Kaslana. He'd lived too long for one lifetime. The sooner he got to kick the bucket, the better.
"However, Otto Apocalypse. This is a personal opinion of mine. You never fooled anyone. You merely fooled yourself. You have entrusted a future and the safety of mankind which dwells in it to Kallen Kaslana. You are aware that the current you possesses greater intellect and strength than her. Not only that, you have repeatedly aided mankind in your world, alongside fulfilling your ideals. You are clearly more apt than she is. All you've done is run away from your true mission - out of feelings of guilt, that Kallen Kaslana had died because of your actions."
"..."
"You ran away from your own family and friends too. By villianising yourself, you saved yourself from having to own up to your mistakes. You gave yourself more reason to wallow in self pity. You were the one who broke bonds with those who trusted you and turned your back on them. The very same thing you had scorned the world for when you were little."
"...I don't need to hear how you feel about me. Point me where to go and I shall follow. That's all this should be."
Otto interrupted coldly. He couldn't hear the truth any longer.
"If that is what you wish. You know yourself better than I or anyone else. Now, this is your mission. You will resist the honkai. You will mend the bonds you've broken. You will not resort to your old methods. You must not repeat your mistakes. That is the price you must pay, Otto Apocalypse. You will be allowed to keep your powers as a False God, albeit under certain restrictions. Good luck, Child. Till we meet again, Farewell."
The voice declared.
A burst of blinding light enveloped him.
A second chance, just like the one I gave her, huh?
Isn't this ironic? She lives on in a world without me and now I too get to live on in a world, without her.
Well, it doesn't matter.
It's time to play hero.
Yet another persona on the stage.
PROLOGUE END
Author's Note:
Welcome to my new series! I intended for this to be the sequel to Beyond Will- Ends, Then Begins, though both can serve as standalone stories. I felt he too needed a second chance.
Chapter 1 is already half done. Expect it soon.
