It was unlike Raven to miss her mark.
Clearly, it would appear that the odds weren't in her favour. She'd attempted to assassinate the Overseer of Schicksal, not giving him the chance to transfer his consciousness to another one of his soulium puppets. But, she had failed as an A-Rank Valkyrie chose to sacrifice herself for her Lord Overseer. What a pity.
Now, said Overseer was chasing after her and he was quickly closing the distance between them. His movements, so fast that it seemed his eyes, full of hatred and bloodlust, left a green trail.
She was currently dashing through the alleyways between buildings in the city. Jumping from railing to railing, trying to reach higher ground. The Overseer followed suit.
Something swooshed past her, scratching her cheek in the process.
Out of the two buildings which were directly in front of her, the knife embedded into the building towards her right. Her eyes widened as she realised what that knife was.
You can't be fucking serio-
She immediately broke through one of the windows in the building towards her left, as she heard a boom in the adjacent building.
That…was close…. he's really out for blood.
Raven ran through the office building, luckily, no one was present. She positioned her shoulder for another charge as she broke through the next window pane, which would lead her back to the city.
Oh shit.
She was falling down towards an expressway. A single mistimed step would result in her getting run over. She barrel rolled mid-air as she landed on the roof of one of the trucks in the expressway.
Raven sighed. She thought she'd finally gotten away.
She had been terribly wrong to think so.
A figure clad in white darted downwards on the other end of the expressway, causing the ground to crack. He then flipped forward onto the roof of a car and then began jumping from car to car, headed straight for Raven. Two knives were sent flying in her direction. She deflected them both with the lower limb of her bow.
Not seeing another way out, she jumped off the expressway and prepared the Third Divine Key. She shot one of the pillars supporting the structure, causing all of the vehicles to fall downwards. The Overseer lost his balance and fell into the chaos she had just caused.
Raven, clinging to a wall, thought to herself.
Some sacrifice is inevitable to rid the world of this monster. Besides..he's killed far more than I have.
She was trying to justify her actions, but she too knew it was a lie. She was just saving her own skin. The expression on his face had conveyed his intentions clearly. He wasn't going to spare her. She was aware of that.
Otto emerged from the cloud of dust resulting from the bridge collapsing. Civilian bystanders on the ground were staring at him with hushed whispers.
Tch.
He resumed his sprint.
Did you ping her biometrics?
"Yes. Target location: 1.3 kilometres. East."
Otto dashed through the crowd, pushing people.
"Hey! What are you doing!"
"Oh my god he's got blood on his face!"
"Isn't that…. Shicksal's Ov-"
"Someone call the police!"
He paid them no heed.
The crowd was slowing him down.
Impractical.
Otto had to change his strategies. He summoned a chain of Judah and flung himself towards a building, using the chain as a grappling hook. Once he was close enough, he used a knife to secure his position, as he retrieved another knife. Using the first knife as support, he flung himself higher. He was using two knives to scale a building.
Once he reached the top, he surveyed the entire region.
"Target location: 1.4 kilometres. Target is not moving."
Good.
Otto noticed a train track in the distance, which stretched in the East-West direction. He turned towards his right and saw a train headed towards him. At once, Otto set off in a sprint. Jumping from roof to roof.
"Hey you! You're not supposed to be here!"
Three guards raised their rifles. They weren't mechs.
Otto, not slowing down, threw a knife on the shin of one of the guards, who fell over, clutching his feet. As for the other two Otto ran towards them and with both of his hands, he drove them to the ground, knocking them unconscious.
Drones appeared. The civilians had called the cops on him.
MIMICRY OF WATER'S EDGE
With a single slash, the drones fell instantly as they split into parts, separated by red hot lines. They'd been cut at an extremely fast speed.
A taller building was in front of Otto, since all other paths would delay him, he braced for impact as he threw himself towards the glass window.
He rolled over for recovery.
He was in an apartment building. A D-Rank Valkyrie had just hung her uniform in the corner. She glanced towards Otto as her eyes widened. She knew full well that this man was in fact, the Overseer of her organisation.
"Y-You're.."
Before she could finish her sentence however, Otto had resumed his sprint. He vaulted over the couch and tables as he dashed for the other end of the apartment. Luckily, the window on the other side was open. He dived through the window, crashing into the adjacent apartment building. Otto was close to the train track, but it seemed there was no window in this apartment. He'd have to bust his way through.
He immediately retrieved a knife and threw it towards the wall.
BEEP
Otto didn't bother about being caught in the explosion as he barrel rolled through the flames, now free falling towards the track.
He inhaled sharply, as he shot out two chains of Judah towards the train and flung himself onto its roof.
He rolled midair and landed with a blunt thud, creating a deep dent.
"Target Location: 1.1km North East."
"0.9km North East"
Otto sighed.
"0.6km North East"
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"0.3km North. Jump Now."
Otto jumped from the train and landed on a building's rooftop.
Heat signatures.
"Gotcha."
The vision of Otto's soulium avatar was now showing him the heat signatures of everyone in his line of sight.
One silhouette got his attention. It was someone slouched over on one of the rooftops, as if they were tending their wounds.
Otto huffed and began sprinting silently towards this target.
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.
Raven had been bandaging her wounds. The Overseer had given her a chase of a lifetime. For now it'd be best for her to return to Jackal.
She sighed.
Just then, however, she felt something dart by overhead.
"Found you."
The Overseer spoke as he threw 3 knives towards her. He was still mid-air.
She jolted sharply towards his direction. Her eyes widened with shock and fear.
BEEP
She didn't have enough time to react, as the explosion sent her spiralling downwards.
How…How did he find me…so quickly?
Raven's entire body hurt. She coughed up blood as she tried to pick herself up from the ground. As the dust and debris settled, she could make out the pair of green eyes slowly headed her way.
Jackal had warned me not to overdo it..But..I've got no choice!
She retrieved an injector and administered a serum in her neck. Her wounds began to heal rapidly and she felt a surge of power. She was now on her feet again.
"You're..terribly insistent on meeting the same fate as that Herrscher, aren't you?"
He didn't speak a word. He simply materialised a pair of golden blades.
"Fine then. Have it your way."
She readied her bow, but the Overseer was now directly in front of her, poised to end her life in a single strike. She lifted the bow as a way to defend herself, as the blade cleaved it in half, slashing her chest in the process.
Impossible! Not even the Herrscher could…
Blood dripped onto the floor. She'd barely evaded that her wound healed, she switched to a pair of knives, to be able to better match his speed.
He spared no moment, as he charged onwards with a flurry of attacks, each slash having more speed and force than the one before it. After a few seconds, however, he let go of the blades. Was he at his limit?
She smirked and charged forward with two knives, aiming for a pincer attack.
The air was knocked out of her, as she coughed up blood. The Overseer had punched her in the gut with a golden gauntlet. With his free hand, he drove her head into the ground, cracking it.
The battle was over. She had severely underestimated the Schicksal Overseer.
Otto grabbed Raven by her neck and lifted her up. She was struggling to breathe.
"What was that you told Rita? You should always pay for something you want? Well, Natasha Cioara. What are YOU going to offer?"
"Just…kill…me."
Otto began laughing maniacally. He had clearly been overtaken by villainous instincts.
"You kill my subordinates. You abduct my pupil. You treat people like if they're animals for slaughter and the price you offer is your pathetic life? I'm sorry, Raven. Your life… is of no value."
"I have no use for a lowlife mercenary whose loyalty can be simply brought with money. You're just a tool. You can be used by anyone to kill anyone. You have no ethics, you have no morals. You have no purpose in life. You're going to have to offer something better. But..I know something you can do…"
"Boy. Don't do this. You're going to go too far."
Void Archives tried to stop Otto. He knew what the Overseer was going to say next.
It terrified him.
"Wh-What?"
Natasha tried to ask as blood streaked down from her mouth.
"Nagazora, was it? You've got..an orphanage with..Stigmata Awakened children. Haven't you?"
Otto asked as his eyes began to glow a malicious tone of green.
He was beginning to resemble the Archbishop.
"You..You wouldn't!"
Natasha's eyes were wide with fear. She tried to struggle but it was futile.
"They'll make fine Valkyries. You'd be proud. As for the weaker ones… Hah. I think I'll let you in on it. I was planning to rebuild Babylon labs. They'd become noble martyrs for the development of Science."
Otto chuckled. He had gone insane.
"They're..Children! You mon..ster!"
"Kiana is a child too. Countless Valkyries who have died tonight haven't even graduated High School. This is precisely why I hate mercenaries. How can you be so selfish, Natasha?"
"P-Please.."
"Hmph. Alright. I'll spare the kids. But, if and only if you tell me where Kiana is."
Otto smirked.
Raven knew this man was lying as his eyes were speaking the truth.
"..."
"Fair enough. I'll find her myself."
Otto materialised the Black Abyss.
"Don't think I'm going to let you die a peaceful death. You've…gotten in the way of my plans."
He aimed the lance and brought it close to her eye.
He stretched his arm back and-
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What?
Otto was in a field of white lilies. He looked around and saw a figure, dressed in a nun outfit.
"...Kallen?"
She smiled softly.
"Don't douse the kindness in your heart, Otto. This is not who you are."
She spoke, her voice as angelic as he remembered it to be.
Otto took a shaky breath. He was returning to his senses.
Her hair swayed in the wind.
Memories began to appear.
"You promised that girl you'd not give into evil anymore, right?"
Kiana and Otto were walking in the distance, holding shopping bags.
It was a week ago. He'd decided to let her shop as she'd been improving greatly.
"You promised that teacher that you'd keep her students safe, didn't you?"
Otto was supporting Himeko by the shoulder as she walked back into the Hyperion after their first encounter with the Herrscher of the Void.
"You promised them all that you'd make up for everything, didn't you?"
Bianka, Fu Hua, Theresa, Kiana, Raiden Mei, Welt Yang, Tesla, Einstein, Schrodinger, Himeko, Siegfried, Cecilia, Ragna.
Everyone whose lives Otto had once ruined, were standing behind Kallen.
"And above all, you promised you'd hold these ideals close to your heart."
Sir Francis Kaslana himself was now beside Kallen.
His figure was as valiant as the day he'd shown Otto and Kallen what it meant to carry the Cleaver of Shamash.
….How could Otto forget?
Before he had given into madness.
Before Kallen had left this world.
The ideals of Kallen and her Father which had ingrained into Otto's very being.
Even though he'd resorted to great evil, those ideals were something he didn't let go of.
He had raised Bianka, the greatest valkyrie to have ever lived, with those very ideals.
"You looked down on the Archbishop and called him a monster. But can't you see what you're saying and doing are the very same things he does?"
A man, dressed in white and gold stood on the other side of Otto's vision. His hair was unkempt and his eyes shone gold.
It was Void Archives.
"Take a good look at yourself."
A mirror appeared in front of Otto, showing the blood splattered over his face and his eyes, full of resentment and bloodlust. He really did look like the Archbishop.
"It's not a look befitting you, boy. You're no villain. Not anymore."
"So, snap out of it. We've got to save Kiana."
Otto took a deep breath.
He had now returned to reality.
He let go of Raven, who fell to the ground, gasping for air.
Otto kneeled and looked directly into her eyes.
"I'm not going to do anything to the kids, they're the future of mankind. It was a hollow threat. I just …need to see Kiana again. She's family to me. Please..I beg of you."
She didn't reply.
She was simply shocked at the man's sudden change in demeanour.
It was a miracle for her.
Otto sighed.
"Fine. I'll find her myself."
He got up, turned around and began to walk away.
Archives..
What I just saw..
It was all you, wasn't it?
"...You've got that right. You simply weren't listening. Sorry for tricking you, though."
No, thank you. I don't know what I would've done otherwise.
"Thank me once we've saved the girl."
Fair enough.
As Otto was walking away, Raven threw something towards him.
It was a map, indicating the coordinates of a lab.
"Thank you…Natasha Cioara."
Otto ran.
Even though his body was on the verge of disintegration, he ran.
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But it seemed fate was trying to play a cruel joke on Otto. Yet again.
The lab was empty.
Honkai beast carcasses were strewn all over the place.
Every single display terminal had been blown by gunfire.
Kiana had definitely gone to town with this place.
Otto pulled out a familiar knife and slammed it into one of the few terminals which remained intact.
His eyes widened at the data he'd just retrieved.
Jackal had been experimenting on Kiana. She had been pumped with dangerous levels of Honkai radiation. It was a miracle that she not only broke free but also slaughtered every single beast.
She was truly impressive. She'd probably surpass Bianka if given enough time.
Otto bit his lip. This wasn't the time to think of the future. He needed to find Kiana, fast.
She must be in great pain…
"Boy, this has happened before. She'll survive."
I know she will! But I don't want her to…suffer..
Before Otto could decide where to go, his device flashed.
….Kiana was home?
Otto once again pushed his weary body into a sprint.
He'd entered his hideout with great speed.
"Kiana!?"
No response.
Anxiety began to grip Otto. He'd been tricked by this girl.
A single smartphone caught his vision. It was hers. Which could only mean she really had been here.
He switched it on, only to find a recording left for him.
"Mister Overseer. I'm…sure you're probably very angry right now."
Her voice sounded weak. She'd clearly been exhausted.
"I'm…sorry. There is something I must do. It is something only I can do. We cannot let the people of this city meet such a fate."
"These past months..were surprisingly…enjoyable for me. Even though everything had gone wrong. Everything had changed. I was still able to see so many beautiful things and learn so much. I thank you for it all, Mister Otto. I know..we made a promise. I'm sorry..I'm not..sure if I can keep my word. But you…you'll certainly succeed. I've known. You haven't slept a single night…have you? I could always hear you typing away or working on something in your workshop. You're…very determined. Just like Class Monitor."
"Tell Miss Principal.. Tell Aunt Himeko…and…Mei..that..I'm..sorry."
She was crying.
"I was wrong about you…Otto…after hearing everything about you..I knew..you're..not a bad person..and..now..you're no longer alone. Fu Hua told me…she trusts you greatly.."
"One more thing..Mister Overseer. When I said your cooking was mediocre…I lied. Aside from Mei-senpai…your cooking's the best I've…ever had."
"I don't really..have an uncle..but I'm sure that having one would've been..just like this.. So. Goodbye, Uncle Otto."
She smiled, as tears streamed down her cheek.
The recording ended.
Otto was slouched over. A single lone tear glistened in the dark.
He knew full well what this girl was going to do.
Could he really not change fate?
Was this destined to happen, no matter what he did?
No…I cannot let her…
Otto's eyes resolved.
He didn't come back all the way here just to stand by and watch people suffer.
This was his mission, not hers.
The price was something he had to pay. Not an innocent girl who loves this world.
Otto stood up and looked out of the window as his fists clenched.
He was going to push his body beyond its limits. Even if it would kill him.
"...There's no stopping you…is there?"
Void Archives sighed.
AUTHORITY OF IMAGINARY- NIHILUS SEED
Golden lines spread across Otto's avatar.
WARNING: EROSION IMMINENT
TOTAL CELL DEATH IN 0:59
A bright pillar of golden light shone in the centre of Arc City.
A man, clad in black and gold armour dashed with immense speed, leaving a trail of gold. The very roads cracked with every step he took.
Pain overwhelmed Otto's body. Blood streaked down from his lips.
Black veins began to spread across him. His body was necrosing further and further.
But, he wouldn't give up.
Arc City Mechs had shown up to stop this hostile threat.
MIMICRY OF CLEAVER OF SHAMASH
ZEROTH IMITATION - MIGHT OF AN UTU
The cleaver morphed into the greatsword of destruction and as Otto dashed past them, lines left on the mechs set off in huge explosions.
The city was on high alert. Barricades had begun setting themselves up.
ORBITAL DROP- ABYSS FLOWER
TOTAL CELL DEATH IN 0:27
Every obstacle in Otto's path was decimated by the enormous lance.
From afar it looked like patterns of gold enveloped the city, wiping out every single mech and honkai beast which stood in it.
Kiana, who had been trying to intercept the Honkai Bomb stopped to glance towards the successive explosions which were engulfing in the city.
Before she could comprehend what had happened, a single chain shot out and grabbed her wrist.
"What do you think you're doing, Kiana?"
His voice sounded broken. As if he was being corrupted.
He coughed up more blood.
Black Veins covered half of his face.
He struggled to walk towards Kiana, as she got pulled in by more chains.
"Otto…NO! This…This is my mission!"
"You made a promise to your old man, Kiana. Do promises mean that little to you? Don't go around breaking your word like that."
He walked towards the bomb.
"Leave…the self sacrificial antics to me. I've got bodies to spare, unlike you."
"YOU'RE LYING! If you could…you'd have changed your body WEEKS AGO!"
She'd seen right through him.
He smiled.
"Trust me. I'll be back."
Kiana was crying for him to stop. She couldn't move. The chains of Judah, which now felt much stronger than the ones he usually had, had held her in place.
The man who had fought alone his entire life was now going to die alone and she couldn't do anything about it.
Otto looked onwards.
He remembered the words of Sir Francis Kaslana.
"Watch closely, Progeny. This is the path we believe in."
Yes, Sir. I too will now follow what my heart once believed in.
A gauntlet of black and gold pulled onto the reactor, as a giant orb of bright pink sprouted.
TOTAL CELL DEATH IN 0:11
Otto condensed the orb with both of his hands and darted skywards, leaving a crater.
He flew as high and as fast as he could.
He was now in outer orbit.
He let go of the orb, which detonated directly in front of him.
Veins covered his entire body. He felt his entire self go numb from the pain.
His consciousness was fading, as he slowly began accelerating downwards.
"You've…not changed. Not one bit."
Void Archives spoke.
What was he saying? Otto wasn't able to understand anything.
"You're still that same 13 year old boy who tried to stab himself with a lance because he couldn't stand the sight of someone crying."
TOTAL CELL DEATH IN 0:04
"...Must I always do everything?"
TOTAL CELL DEATH IMMINENT
Otto braced for his death.
CONSCIOUS TRANSFER COMPLETE
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Bianka Ataegina had just arrived on the scene. She saw a figure descending like a shooting star. She gasped.
"Overseer!"
The Valkyrie threw her lance into the ground, as an enormous tree began to grow, catching the falling man in its foliage.
She ran up to the top and was frozen in place at the sight in front of her.
Half the man's body had disintegrated into black dust, resembling ashes.
The other half was almost covered with veins and his eyes were lifeless.
Bianka was in shock. She knew the Overseer could transfer his bodies but this was the first time she'd seen what death looked like for him. This man was the most familiar person in her ten year's worth of memories and he lay dead before her.
Kiana Kaslana ran to the scene too. She stood at the base of the tree, looking up at the now deceased body of Otto Apocalypse.
Tears welled in her eyes. Words were stuck in her throat at the horrifying sight.
The captain of the Immortal Blades took a shaky breath as she tried to lift the remains of the Overseer but reeled back immediately because as soon as she touched the body, it disintegrated completely. She stared at the ashes seeping through her palm. She felt utter sadness and confusion.
This was the cost of Self Sacrifice.
Kiana Kaslana couldn't take it anymore.
Her knees gave in, as she fell to the ground.
Tears flowed uncontrollably.
In the middle of the bustling megapolis, she shrieked.
CHAPTER 8 - END
