WORLD: EARTH
BRANCHED WORLD: HONKAI IMPACT 3RD
LOCATION: ANTI-ENTROPY BASE.
Mei walked across the long corridors of the Anti-Entropy base. She'd returned for a while before re-heading back.
For now, she still had some pending missions to attend to. Honestly, it was because she was way too efficient.
Unlike Schicksal, Anti-Entropy didn't believe in raising Valkyries.
They didn't believe in raising young girls to wield divine weapons and sacrifice their humanity.
They preferred machines, strategy... and humans not fused with Honkai energy.
However, their leader was none other than one of the beings who was supposed to destroy the world:
An Herrscher.
Still, they trusted him. Just as they now trusted her. At first, her deployment was intended as a test.
A way to measure how much she'd changed after she'd gained those otherworldly powers and Energy called Negentropy.
They set her on multiple recovery missions, and it turned out that she excelled in each and every one of them.
TSSSS—!
She stopped outside a reinforced metal door, the hydraulics hissing softly as it slid open.
The room inside resembled an office, albeit a highly stylized one.
The lighting was dim, dyed a deep marine blue by the massive aquarium that spanned the back wall.
Exotic sea creatures floated within, casting soft, dancing shadows across the interior.
Furnishings were sleek but sturdy—an elegant mahogany desk at the center, bookshelves, and filing systems tucked into dark alcoves.
"I'm back, Uncle Yang."
Mei said as she stepped inside.
Welt looked up from behind the desk, eyes steady beneath his glasses, and offered her a simple nod.
"Mei-nee-sama."
The gentle, familiar voice came from beside the desk.
"Bronya, how are you doing?"
Bronya approached, walking up to Mei, who turned to her, patting her head with a smile.
The silver-haired girl basked in the patting before Mei's attention fully fell on Welt.
"Well, I have good news."
Welt began, his fingers interlocked as he placed his elbow on the table, saying gravely.
"The third Herrscher, according to intel, has slowly begun to manifest, ... what's worrisome is the fact that the Bishop of Schicksal has shown interest."
"In a few days' time, the Valkyries exams at St. Freya will be conducted. I am thinking of sending you both over."
"It is as you've suspected."
"I see..."
She crossed her arms, her hand grasping gently at her opposite elbow.
She had once attended an exchange program they did there, but back then, only her and a few went.
Despite the ideological divide between Schicksal and Anti-Entropy, there were moments, rare as they were, when the two sides managed to collaborate, if only temporarily.
Especially now.
Ever since word of Welt's return had reached Otto, things had grown... tense.
It was almost amusing.
The great Bishop had discovered that the representative Anti-Entropy sent to mingle among his Valkyries was, in fact, a Herrscher.
Whether Schicksal had allowed the exchange to flaunt power or test the waters of diplomacy, it didn't matter.
Welt wasn't interested in any of that.
Simply, his current interest lay beyond this world: the concepts of other worlds.
Not to mention, he had a mission that was given to him from Laurel.
Drag-Machines, and metals from another world called Magisteel. As the Herrscher of Reason, he couldn't resist the challenge.
Building, understanding, replicating foreign systems, this was more than research. It was calling. Laurel was calling him.
"So?" Welt asked, pulling Mei back to the present. "What do you both think? Officially, I could say it's for Bronya's sake. She's been training hard here for months."
He looked at the silver-haired girl standing by Mei's side.
"I believe it would be worthwhile for you to measure yourself against people your age."
"Da." Bronya nodded solemnly. "If Mei-nee is going... then yes."
Mei giggled softly and gave her another head pat. Despite Bronya's usual stoicism, Welt could see the satisfaction on her face.
"I see," Welt nodded, leaning back slightly. "Good. Then it's settled."
He adjusted his glasses.
"So. Any word from him?"
The room dimmed slightly as his lenses flashed white—light catching the glass just right.
Mei chuckled under her breath. "Laurel's really got you wrapped around his finger, huh?"
Welt exhaled, neither confirming nor denying.
Then again, it was true: technology from other worlds wasn't something you just found lying around.
In the end, Mei stayed a while longer, discussing deployment, time it would take for completion, and supply chains.
By the time she rose to leave, both Welt and Bronya were bent over the workbench, analyzing the blueprints Laurel had left behind.
As she exited the room, she smiled faintly to herself, the sound of clinking tools and quiet murmurs fading behind her.
The hallway outside was as cold and sterile as ever, steel walls reflecting the fluorescent ceiling lights.
She walked forward, heels clicking softly, until—
"Yo."
The voice came from around the corner, casual and laid-back. "Young Miss. Heard you were going to St. Freya."
Mei turned, unsurprised.
"Siegfried-san."
Leaning against the wall with his arms folded, Siegfried Kaslana looked just as unbothered as ever.
His messy silver hair hung low, shadows under his eyes betraying a constant exhaustion that seemed more spiritual than physical.
Right... Kaslana.
Just like Kiana.
That meant... father, or relative. She hadn't asked, so she could only speculate.
"Please... help me take care of that tuna of a daughter."
Tuna?
Mei blinked. Her head tilted slightly in confusion.
That was... an odd choice of words. But that confirmed it. Kiana really was Sieg's daughter.
Siegfried scratched the back of his head, avoiding her eyes.
"I know you probably have a lot of questions," he said with a tired sigh, "but I believe... she'll be safe in Theresa's hands."
Mei's eyes dropped as she stared at the ground for a brief moment before looking at Seigfred.
"But..." she murmured, "wouldn't it be more dangerous because she's there?"
The Bishop of Schicksal. Otto Apocalypse. The man with a thousand schemes and zero conscience.
Mei had heard stories from Laurel.
Horrible ones that contained experimentation, exploitation, and obsession disguised as loyalty.
Kiana, a Herrscher herself, being left in the heart of that man's empire?
It didn't make sense. Why would a father knowingly abandon his daughter to that?
"That...."
Siegfried's voice faltered.
He stood there, silent, then shook his head slowly—more to himself than to her.
"Forget it," he muttered, stepping past her with quiet footsteps.
"But please..." he added, his tone gentler now. "Just watch over her. While you're there."
He didn't look back as he walked away, vanishing into the hallway's shadows.
Mei stood still, the chill of the corridor settling around her. And just as she fell into thought,
"What's got you thinking so much? Seigfried?"
A light touch landed on her shoulder. She turned, startled, but relaxed a little when she saw who it was.
It was a man, violet hair like hers wearing what seemed to be a dark styled military outfit.
At first, he looked like he might say his name, that abomination's name, but then.
He knew she wouldn't have this look if it was related to him. Then it had to be that dusty ass colleague of his.
"Do you know that, despite that, someone actually watches over his daughter in his own way?"
"Eh?"
"Of course he understands the danger in leaving his daughter in such a place, which is why he silently watches over her."
Was that so?
Mei looked to the corridor Siegfried left from as she fell into deep thought.
"Don't think about it too much," Ryoma said gently. "So—how was your day... with him?"
Almost instantly, Mei's expression lit up.
Her calm composure melted into a warm, radiant smile, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks as her eyes shimmered with something far softer than words could express.
"Haah..."
Ryoma sighed, quietly, inwardly, the sound only a father would understand.
As a parent, he was genuinely thankful to Laurel.
The boy had saved him and his daughter, brought light back into her life,
and pulled her out of the shadows she once walked through alone.
But.... But....
There was one thing, one undeniable crime, he could never forgive.
Stealing his daughter's heart!
He knew it. He wasn't stupid. His daughter was already too far gone.
Mei was in love—and not just a fleeting kind of love.
She was head over heels, irrevocably bound, heart and soul.
There was no turning back.
Ryoma let out another sigh, but this time, it came with a small, defeated smile. He reached out and gently patted Mei's head.
"Well... as long as you're happy," he said.
Mei giggled, her shoulders rising with the motion, a genuine laugh bubbling up from her chest.
Ryoma hoped, deeply, that moments like this could last forever.
But deep down, he knew better.
They never did. That is why he'll milk that son-in-law of his for all that's worth. To protect Mei and yes, Laurel too.
Elsewhere,
WORLD: EARTH
BRANCHED WORLD: HONKAI IMPACT 3RD
LOCATION: SHICKSAL HQ
"Oh? Welt, huh?"
"While I knew that one was back, but... why is he of all people interested."
Inside an extravagant office. The office was more like a sanctum than a workplace.
Extravagant wouldn't begin to describe it. The walls were pristine. Pure white on white, untainted by ornamentation.
The office itself was large. Larger than even most presidential offices.
Shelves were positioned at some sides, then potted plants at a few places.
At the furthest side of the room was a single piece of mahogany wood polished brown.
Extravagant in its own way too, and seated there was the Bishop, the Overseer of Schicksal.
Blonde hair, emerald eyes, wearing clothes that fit his image. Not too priest-like. It was an outfit between priest-like and casual.
He swirled a glass of red wine in his fingers, letting the deep crimson liquid catch the light before he raised it slightly and sipped.
"According to him, he wants a Valkyrie named Bronya Zaychik to participate in the exams."
Standing beside his desk was his loyal assistant, Amber, hands folded neatly in front of her.
Shicksal's system had received the request minutes ago from Anti-Entropy.
"Ruler of the Anti-Entropy."
"Unlike the past, they're not making any disruptive moves," Otto continued. "I suspect it has something to do with their Herrscher."
He took another sip of wine, this time slower.
"...That girl."
As he said that, he paused.
Then his lips slowly curled in realization.
"I see, that must be it. So, they must have also realized. So, his goal is to have them remove K423, huh?"
"Remove?"
Amber tilted her head.
"Though I say remove, I don't mean it in a violent sense. No. It's simpler. They, or at least, the ones coming, will likely attempt to draw K423 over to Anti-Entropy's side."
Still, what is it...
This silence, the fact that Anti-Entropy no longer openly competed with them, and the fact that they no longer openly opposed them. He knew something was going on.
In the end,
"Amber, call Rita."
"Yes, Bishop."
Amber skillfully did as instructed, and in nothing less than a minute or two, she arrived. One of the S-Rank Valkyries of Schicksal.
Rita Rossweisse.
While she wasn't as perverted as Durandal in terms of strength, she was stronger than most Valkyries.
The S-Rank status was a clear means.
Assassin.
Honey blonde hair that goes to about her neck in the back, with the front being slightly longer.
With reddish-pink eyes and a smile that never leaves her face, she is sickeningly sweet in appearance.
Dressed in a modified maid outfit fitted for combat.
"Bishop." She said softly, bowing with grace. "You called for me?"
The moment Rita entered, his face lit up.
"Ah yes, you're here. I originally planned to send you as an observer. But now, your mission is far more complicated."
Rita tilted her head, that pleasant smile never leaving her lips. How complicated could a Valkyrie exam possibly be?
She was an S-Rank, after all.
She wondered.
"You must be thinking, how complicated must it be for me to say that?"
She fell silent.
Otto chuckled darkly.
"For the upcoming Valkyrie exams at St. Freya... Anti-Entropy will be sending one of their personnel to participate."
Rita's serene expression slipped.
For a fraction of a second, her composed smile faltered.
Her eyes widened, not dramatically, but enough to show that even she was caught off guard.
She didn't speak, but her body language said everything:
Since when did Anti-Entropy care about Valkyrie exams? More importantly... who were they sending?
She wanted to ask. However, before she could ask, another bombshell was dropped.
"Oh, dear Rita. That isn't all. Accompanying them will be the Second Herrscher. The Thunder Queen."
"What?"
S-Rank? Sure. But Herrscher's were another thing, If it had been Bianca, Durandal....
Rita could smile and say, confidently, they had it under control. But her?
But it was that girl.
The one who according to their reports said she controlled the Consciousness of the Herrscher and united with it.
What's more,
The one whose Honkai Wattage read zero upon remote scan, registering as the neutral frequency, which was Negentropy...
However, they wouldn't know.
"Bishop..." she asked carefully, folding her hands over her waist. "If I may... the personnel they're sending, who is it?"
Otto gave a sidelong glance at Amber, who had already anticipated the question.
She tapped her tablet with a few quick motions, bringing up the relevant file.
Her voice was calm and direct.
"Bronya Zaychik. Heiress to the Core of Reason. Successor of Welt Yang... or so they've claimed."
"HAHAHAHAHAHA"
Otto broke into sudden laughter. He leaned back, arms spread slightly, absolutely delighted.
"Has that man finally gone senile? So, he sends a child to carry the legacy of Reason... and backs her up with a Herrscher!"
He was amused. Certainly, he was entertained. If this was what Welt intended for then it certainly did make him laugh.
However,
That was not a joke.
If Welt Yang had truly found a way to stabilize Herrschers... to allow them to coexist with their humanity... then the entire power structure of the world had shifted.
No wonder the bad feeling.
But was that really all? Especially openly declaring that he'll be leaving his post like this.
Otto wondered and then looked at Rita, at her who too had her face frozen by the news.
"Think of this as a highly classified S-Rank Mission. I believe you can do it."
"You will monitor the situation closely. However, if there are any signs of the Thunder Queen targeting K423, then stop her."
"Understood."
Rita lowered her head with perfect grace.
"Understood."
She turned, her steps as elegant as ever, and left the room without another word.