Chapter 3: Investigation, Conflict XI

Siberian Tundra, now a burnt wasteland

When Sirin finally awoke, she could barely move, feeling pain everywhere. All around where she lay, the land was reduced to burnt earth and black ash. Off in the distance, trees and vegetation that had survived the SILVER BULLET blast smoldered slowly, barely clinging to life.

"I must admit… I'm really impressed that you managed to survive that." As the Second Herrscher struggled to push herself up with one arm, a man's leg stepped into view. The Sovereign of Anti-Entropy stood unscathed in front of the Void Queen, having used his powers to construct a giant mechanical hand to somehow shield himself from the SILVER BULLET/nuclear bomb, said giant mech hand's exterior visibly shattered and exposing its internal components.

Sirin collapsed to the ground again with a grunt, Welt Yang continuing to speak. "But I'm sorry, girl… I can't let you live." Holding up his hand, the Herrscher of Reason once again held up a copy of the Star of Eden. "I have enough energy to deal one final blow. Don't worry… this won't hurt—" Before Welt Yang could continue, another voice rang out.

"STOP!" Someone that had been thought to be taken far away from the battle had returned: a certain redhead Knight of the Void Queen and last friend of Sirin. "Please, stop what you're about to do, whatever it is!" Shirou yelled as he continued running as fast as he could towards the two Herrschers. "Sirin can't move… she's already beaten! There's no need to keep fighting!" With Welt hesitant at this new interruption, Shirou finally reached their location and halted between Sirin and Welt Yang, throwing out his arms in an attempt to block her from the man's sight.

"Shirou… you're here…" the purple haired girl whispered weakly.

"Wait… It's you, the redhead boy with her… Theresa called you Shirou, correct? Please step aside. You do not know of the threat the girl behind you poses to the world, to Humanity and civilization. I have to end it now, before she has the chance to get even stronger." Having recognized him from when Shirou was standing guard in front of the Honkai Chrysalis, also recalling that the boy had not even learnt of the true danger of Honkai before, Welt Yang tried to reason with the redhead. Idly, the AE Sovereign noticed strange blue, circuit-like lines fading to purple at the ends, but he put that observation aside for now.

"Wait… It's you, the redhead boy with her… Theresa called you Shirou, correct? Please step aside. You do not know of the threat the girl behind you poses to the world, to Humanity and civilization. I have to end it now, before she has the chance to get even stronger." Having recognized him from when Shirou was standing guard in front of the Honkai Chrysalis, also recalling that the boy had not even learnt of the true danger of Honkai before, Welt Yang tried to reason with the redhead. Idly, the AE Sovereign noticed strange blue, circuit-like lines fading to purple at the ends on Shirou's body, but he put that observation aside for now.

"No, I won't step aside to let you end her. Regardless of the Honkai or not, I won't let Sirin die, I made a promise. I now understand that… Sirin is this Era's Herrscher of the Void. But…" Shirou cast his gaze around, seeing broken metal parts from trucks and battleships in the distance, along with the mechanical hand still looming behind Welt. "…You are also a Herrscher, commanding the Authority of Reason… In the Previous Era, those turned into Herrschers lost the ability to be human, to feel emotions and were unable to disobey the Honkai itself. Yet, you fight against her now, on the side of Humanity. Something has changed: Herrschers are now able to keep their humanity, like you! I believe that Sirin can do the same!"

Welt Yang frowned in confusion. "What on earth are you talking about…?"

"Do you even know why Sirin even became the Second Herrscher in the first place? I was there when Sirin ascended to become the Void Queen, when she pleaded for power to pursue Justice for her friend, against Schicksal, the Overseer and the scientists that the Overseer approved to conduct fatal experiments on children! Tell me, how is that not justified?!" Shirou passionately yelled, recalling the atrocities the head scientist had personally performed with a simple scalpel that Shirou had used later to execute its owner.

"Only the Will of Honkai granted her power when she wanted it, so naturally she followed its desires. At first, Sirin only wanted to make the Overseer and those scientists who experimented on her friends to pay, and I agreed with her." Behind him, Sirin twitched, her mind recalling the events of that day as well.

"So, that truly was what Otto was doing at Babylon Labs… that despicable man again…" Welt Yang mused to himself. "But that still does not excuse her actions, boy. The Second Herrscher is fully on the side of the Honkai, she told me herself as we fought. Whether or not she wished to pursue Justice against the Schicksal Overseer is irrelevant now, because she has chosen to exterminate Humanity along with him."

The Void Queen's declared retainer clenched his fists at those words. "That's because she's changed! She's been led astray by the Honkai, her desire has been corrupted by it! I made a promise to be at her side, to someone we both cared for, to always be at her side. It was partly my fault that she's changed—I was ignorant of the God she spoke of being the Honkai—I didn't stop her before she went too far. But… I believe it's not too late, that I can still bring her back to her human self, even if others despise me and want to end her life behind me. Because I trust her! I know she can be better! I'll protect Sirin from being led astray again, whatever the cost!"

At this declaration, Sirin's eyes went wide, still unseen by both males facing off against each other. 'Shirou… you would go that far for me…? Even when you know the truth… even when I'm weak like this… Is this all because of Bella's last promise… or is it something more… Why…?' In the farthest reaches of her mind, the girl's thoughts swam with confusion.

"Hmph… Naïve. Sorry, kid. It's uncomfortable to do this… but I can't stop just on the belief of one person. You're in my way." As he grimaced, the AE Sovereign constructed another robot that yanked Shirou out of the way, holding the boy prisoner far behind Welt. "I'll make sure only her life ends here, at least…" Ignoring the sounds of struggling behind him, Welt Yang focused… and activated his final move.

9th Divine Key: Star of Eden

The crimson orb in his hand crackled with dark red energy. "I'm sorry that it had to end like this, you two… Goodbye, Sirin, second of our kind…"

Zeroth Power: Quasi-Black Hole

The prone body of Sirin was lifted up from the ground, the girl panicking as she was dragged upward. 'It's… sucking me in! I… I don't want to die…! Help me… Shirou—'

There was a sound of crumpling metal in the distance behind him, and Welt Yang struggled not to turn his attention to it. "She's almost there… I just need to sustain the Quasi-Black Hole a little longer… Shirou is just an unarmed boy, so he shouldn't pose any threat with how far away I pushed him—"

Fate, however, had other plans.

"I am the bone of my sword/My body is made of blades."

Twenty-seven magic circuits opened at full power.

'Trace/Projection start.'

For only a Divine Key could beat a Divine Key.

'Judging the concept of creation.'

'Hypothesizing the basic structure.'

'Duplicating the composition material.'

'Imitating the skill of its making.'

'Sympathizing with the experience of its growth.'

'Reproducing the accumulated years.'

'Excelling every manufacturing process.'

And finally…

'Projecting the resulting image.'

A certain golden cross was planted into the ground.

"11th Divine Key: Oath of Judah—"

"WAIT, WHAT—"

"—Zeroth Power: Elysian Pedion!"