Chapter 3: Investigation, Conflict VIII
[E%!#&']s [R%&$!#_M&*&$%] / Shirou's *Mindscape...?*
The instant the Oath of Judah had expanded to its true size, Shirou had finally had his gaze on it, but the instant his golden eyes even viewed the golden casing Shirou had developed a massive headache. When the casing opened and multiple chains with bladed tips shot out, Shirou immediately felt his headache develop into a migraine. The redhead felt his own soul analyse each sharp edge one by one, recording their structure, composition, process of creation, history… As 50,000 years' worth of experiences flowed into his consciousness, the 12-year-old could only feel blinding agony.
As the two girls were preparing to fight each other, Shirou was fighting to even stay upright; collapsing to his knees in the watery floor of the Chrysalis, finally letting out a scream when his 'sight' moved on to seeing the experiences of all Judah's previous wielders across the whole of the Current Era… some names barely stood out to his currently-disorganised mind—Kallen Kaslana & Theresa Apocalypse—but they were immediately put aside as the combined information over several millennia threatened to overwhelm Shirou, possibly erasing his sense of self entirely if it was all crammed into his current self's 12-year-old brain.
However, in response to this unconventional threat to his life (not physically as with the other times during combat, but under severe mental strain), 'E%!# ' Shirou's soul pushed back against the tide, and the boy's worldview changed, flipping internally. His mind perceived a vision of a barren plain, yet the surrounding land obscured by clouds of dust. In this place, the redhead felt the pressure of the ancient weapon's knowledge ease entirely… as if this internal space was able to store all the data his soul had automatically recorded.
Yet, coming to this place in his mind… had a consequence. In these clouds of dust around him, forgotten memories, the ones 'Subject HM-03-1204' saw in his dreams, manifested and faded randomly. This time, more voices of a past that had been; yet also never existed In this world; resounded from within the dust, their speakers obscured.
"You're alive! Thank god… I was able to save one person from this hell…!"
"Sorry, there hasn't been any relatives that have come to claim you… do you want to come with me instead?"
"Then I'll adopt you as my son, alright? Your name will be Shirou, E—"
"When I was a boy, I wanted to be a champion of Justice."
"No, Shirou… become a protector instead…"
"Hahaha! Yes, that is a good ideal to pursue… it's not wrong to help others… you can't protect everyone all at once, so protect those close to you instead, alright?"
"Don't worry, old man, I'll become a Protector of Humanity for you."
For some reason, Shirou thought that last voice sounded like himself… and the words 'himself' had spoken resonated with the deepest parts of the 12-year-old's soul as well… Then new memories surfaced.
"I ask of you… are you my master?"
"Rejoice, young man… your wish will finally be granted…"
"Hello, little brother… it's nice to finally meet you in person… Berserker, kill him."
"[S &%#$]... Wh… happened to you? …have to keep her away from her grandfather, otherwise he'll just use her and cause more damage…"
Many more memories appeared and faded, so quickly Shirou could barely see or hear them… then finally:
"Oh, I was almost too late… Shirou… ask you, do you have a wish… I see, a wish to live… I will grant it…"
"Illya… Illya… Illya… Illya! Sister!"
"Haha, I'm glad I was able to save you at the end… little brother…"
With those last memories, Shirou woke up.
Siberian Tundra, Outside the Honkai Chrysalis
"These twin Honkai beasts are too strong for me!" Siegfried exclaimed, using both hands to hold back the left and right fists of the blue and pink monsters. "Are these the so-called Emperor-class?!" Glancing back quickly as a pink energy beam zipped over his head, the Knight called out for backup. "Hey! I really need some help here!"
Silence echoed for a few moments as there was no response. One blue and one pink eye both glared at him from above. 'No one's helping?!' Siegfried thought.
Still standing a distance away, Welt adjusted his glasses. "I thought you told me to sit out of this… and that you'll be doing it all alone. I better not get in your way then, right… hero?"
Siegfried sweatdropped, still holding up the giant fists from crushing him. "Yeah, well… I was a little carried away. I'm sorry about that. Will you—please—help me out here?" 'This is the reason why people hate Anti-Entropy.' He thought to himself.
"Well, since you asked nicely…" Welt's hand came to grip Siegfried's shoulder as the AE Sovereign moved to the Knight's right side. "But do remember this well, hero. You owe me one."
With a touch and a flex of the First Herrscher's will, the Emperor-class Honkai beasts were deconstructed to nothing, leaving only dispersed pink energy. "It's done. Let's go look for Theresa… Oh, and that boy Shirou as well."
The two men walked to where the remains of the Honkai chrysalis lay broken, only to see that the space inside was empty. "Huh? There's nothing in this chrysalis… where on earth did Theresa go?" Welt, however, remained silent as his Herrscher senses detected something. Finally, he came to a conclusion.
"She's here with the enemy, Siegfried. You just can't see them. The Second Herrscher controls the Void itself. She used her powers to create an Imaginary Space superimposed on the real world." Using the power of Reason, Welt deconstructed the edge of the Imaginary Space enough to gain the grip he needed. Purple energy bolts resisted the intrusion, but they were paid no mind.
"And they're all right inside!" With those words, Welt Yang tore the entire dimension apart.
Honkai Chrysalis space:
After Shirou had collapsed onto his knees on the floor, eyes vacant, both Sirin and Theresa immediately moved to help him… only to realise that the other was also acting and then settling into a stalemate.
"Let me go! Shirou's in pain! You stay out of this! All people from Schicksal will hurt us! He's mine… I won't lose him too!"
"I can't just leave him there! And you're a Herrscher! You'll probably hurt him more than I will!"
"Why do you even care for my retainer anyway?! You'll just send him back to that evil Overseer! I won't allow it!"
"Because someone has to care for orphan kids like the other children in the labs, and I choose to do so! Besides… Shirou's like me, a clone… created with Honkai beast genes… I know him better than you after you ascended to become the Second Herrscher! You don't care for him as a friend anymore, just a tool to fight against Grampa—I mean, Schicksal!"
"How dare you—" Before Sirin could retaliate, there was a horrific cracking sound… and a hole was torn open in the dimension's wall, revealing Welt Yang.
"Your game of hide and seek is over." The two Herrschers of the Current Era locked eyes, one glowing orange with cross-shaped pupils, the other glowing red.
As the Imaginary Space collapsed, Theresa took the opportunity to grab the still dazed Shirou and ran over to her allies. "Siegfried! Welt! Thank goodness you're here! Shirou passed out for some reason, I don't know what happened! Please help!" Sirin's eye twitched at seeing the Valkyrie run off to her enemy with HER retainer, but didn't move yet out of wariness of the bespectacled man who had destroyed her fake dimension.
"The boy is still alive… bring him back to Dr Einstein and get him treated. I'll handle this one." Welt spoke, still not breaking eye contact with Sirin. "Wait, you can't do this alone!" both Schicksal warriors exclaimed. "Damnit Siegfried, I can't go all out with you both here! Stop being stupid and vacate the area! You also have that kid in Theresa's arms to worry about, and she can't exactly run quickly and carry him at the same time!"
Theresa tugged at Siegfried's coat in worry for the boy she could relate to. "Siegfried, I'm really concerned about Shirou, I don't like not knowing why he collapsed out of the blue, so I'm hoping Dr Einstein will be able to help. Let's believe in Welt, and let a Herrscher combat a Herrscher, alright?" Finally convinced in the end, the Knight scooped up the insensate redhead.
"Alright, Welt… since you'll be covering us as we retreat, I guess I owe you another—no, wait, I owe you three times now!" 'Not just right now and previously with the twin Emperor-class, but with that 500-strong Honkai army… I really need to pay him back sometime soon!' He turned around to run back to Babylon Labs with Shirou… but a certain purple-haired girl disagreed with their plan.
"I didn't give you two permission to leave, especially with MY Knight and retainer, insects! Put him down!" With a gesture of her hand, the subspace lance she still had primed at her side since Theresa had reappeared launched at Siegfried's legs at blurring speeds. Theresa moved to block with the Oath of Judah, but in a flash of red light, Welt Yang blitzed in front of his companions and blocked the attack with a crimson hexagonal energy shield.
"Thanks, Welt! We'll get Shirou to safety first!" exhaled Theresa in relief. "Yeah… and then we'll be back to help you out, so be a good hero in my place, Welt!" Siegfried added cheekily. As their figures shrank in the distance, both the Void Queen and the AE Sovereign began to ascend into the sky above.
"You… blocked my lance! It should have passed through your puny barrier easily and impaled you at least! But that shield stopped it… And you can fly as well?! Who are you?!" Sirin furiously questioned, angry that her effort to stop them leaving had been foiled.
"Your Subspace weapon is made in Imaginary Space. There is no Physical counter to your attack… the Oath of Judah would not have been effective to shield them." The man replied. "But to me, the lance.. is just like any other weapon. For I am 'Welt', the First Herrscher, and I hope to have a few words with you."
Just then, the Honkai Cherub emerged from Sirin's hair again. "Wait, you're a Herrscher like me?" The 'tiny fairy' began to communicate with the girl yet again. "What are you trying to tell me, little one?"
'She's talking to a Honkai Cherub! Does that mean true Herrschers can speak directly to the Honkai?' Welt's eyes widened as he finally noticed the miniature Honkai beast hovering at Sirin's ear again, before she began cackling madly.
"KYAHAHAHA! My God just told me about a TRAITOR who turned against ITS Will. And then… they told me that you're just a poorly made copy of that TRAITOR. You are no true Herrscher! You're just a piece of trash, compared with their true CHOSEN." More Subspace Lances formed out of thin air at Sirin's back. "I shall crush you, for your worthless lies and for betraying THEM, vermin."
In front of her, Welt Yang let his scarf be blown away by blizzard winds, as in his left hand he prepared a copy of the Star of Eden's core. "That 'God' of yours… is only using you. Perhaps a little display of force will convince you that she's the true liar." The 9th Divine Key crackled with crimson energy, and dark red bolts of power shot at his enemy relentlessly. "Time to force some Reason into your untrained mind."
However, all of the AE Sovereign's attacks were blocked by Sirin's barriers. "HAH! Your pathetic attacks aren't even scratching me! Don't teil me that you're running out of tricks already!" In retaliation, Subspace Lances were launched forward, but Welt Yang dodged them easily.
'She has created an Imaginary Void barrier around herself… the Star of Eden won't be able to breach that.' Quickly, the First Herrscher brainstormed, constructed a plan… then proceeded to execute it. "How about this, then?" Crimson lightning flickered around the Divine Key again, and a storm of red energy roared towards Sirin, obscuring her view for moments.
"Hah! I guess you really are running out of tricks, my Void Shields can deal with this easily—Wait! Where did he go!" Behind her, Welt Yang reappeared, fist pulled back. 'That's it! I can use my Core powers and breach her shields at this range!' Welt thought. His fist immediately penetrated the barrier… however…
'Oops. It's a trap.' Three new blue arms appeared out of sudden portals and grabbed the bespectacled man, 'I really didn't expect for you to fall for that.' Sticking her tongue out, the blue arms threw Welt Yang downwards, his glasses flying off his face, as a massive spatial rift swirled open beneath him. "Time for you to go, Pseudo-Herrscher… my new pet is a little hungry!"
From the massive portal, a white dragon Honkai beast emerged, and with a loud roar, Sirin's enemy was swallowed whole. As Welt's glasses continued to fall down to the earth below, the Void Queen turned her attention to other, more important things. "Now where did that man and Theresa go with Shirou? I guess I have to look for them now. I really want that Valkyrie to watch the world burn. Heheheh… it will be quite a sight."
Far away, on a snow-covered cliff, a mysterious figure watched the battle unfold. "Good, I made it in time." The man, dressed in a white suit and white hat on his head, muttered to himself underneath the white clown mask on his face, hiding his identity. "Time to review the results of our little… mishap—no, our experiment. Let's see how far she went since her little… awakening…"
Current Era, Year 1955, Location: New York, North America
"I can't stop it… the bleeding won't stop…"
"Don't worry about it, Joachim… my life is about to end… it's over for me."
"No! I won't let you die! You're Welt! You're the hero who saved everyone… it's not fair for you for your life to end here!"
"Heh, Welt… a German word for the entire world… I love that name. What about you?'
"I… I love it too…"
"That's good, Joachim… From now on… you will bear this name and become the new Welt. This Core is yours… along with the duty of protecting our world… Welt."
The dying man let out his final request to his friend's son that was trying so hard to save him. "Your hero… begs you to accept this."
In his last moments, Welt Joyce, the Current Era's First Herrscher of Reason, reflected on his life.
'She gave me my name.' A blue-haired scientist came to his mind. '[W] for Omega. [Welt] for the world itself. I lived a life; made friends I could cherish… protected them at any cost.'
The boy named Joachim clasped his bloody hands around the first and final gift he would ever receive from the man he revered.
'And now my life is done. I'm happy… to have played my part in all this. Good bye, world…'
"Good bye, Welt."
Current Era, Year 1999, somewhere in a dark place…
"I am Welt, the boy who inherited his heroic will and power."
"I've defended the meaning behind this name for decades."
The man opened his eyes, irises glowing crimson, determination flaring, a desire to carry on a legacy.
"And today… Welt of Anti-Entropy shall fight to defend the world and Humanity."