It had been a few days since Shamash had been converted, and most of those days he spent almost the entire day watching TV or playing games.
I had run some combat trials, and had done some minor research about this world, including looking over the data from the Abundance Energy experiments, as well as Honkai energy data, notes from the 3 eruptions. They also downloaded all the textbooks and material that was in the Schicksal D class files.
That had taken only a few hours. After getting Shamash up to speed, they spent the overwhelming majority of their time sitting on the couch in my apartment watching kids shows.
At one point, it saw an advertisement for the Homu Box 4, which was apparently the latest model, the one Kiana had was apparently last gen.
I requisition one from Schicksal as part of my housing budget, being an S-Rank Valkyrie was great, and it switched from watching kids cartoons to playing Kallen Fantasy.
I actually played with it a few times, first with split screen co-op in local play, before eventually moving to my office down the hall, which I basically used exclusively for gaming, since the few times I had to fill out a report I had done it on my laptop.
I wondered how it was able to play so well with a controller, since whenever I used one I felt like I couldn't aim for shit, until I remembered it was a robot and theoretically had perfect reflexes and control.
It still was somewhat of a brick wall in terms of conversation, unless we were playing video games together, during which it talked relatively normally about the content of the game.
During the few times we had practiced together, it followed instructions well, and it seemed pretty accepting of its new situation, especially after I told it that I was going to talk with Su.
There was only one problem, it was a huge Homu fan.
I don't exactly know what went wrong, however it was seemingly obsessed with it, just like Theresa.
It had used the tablet to download any media even remotely related to Homu, and sat on its pillow on the couch slowly making its way through them all.
I thought Homu was… okay… as a comic story. But I just couldn't get over the character design, and the amount of crossovers and different genres it contained and the fact that it had spread to physical brands. Like HT&T and even Mc-Homu even existed was a bit… completely insane?
It turned out to be because those brands were owned in full or in part by Anti Entropy shell companies.
It was like a memetic virus, continuously infecting parts of society and replacing it with a Homu branded version.
I felt like if I ever went to go talk to Welt over at Anti Entropy, I would complain about it to him.
As the creator of Homu, it was all his fault.
It turns out that Otto was actually well aware that Welt Yang was working as a teacher at St. Freya, and had just decided that it was better for his whereabouts to be known than unknown.
This just proved that St. Freya wasn't exactly an expert when it came to screening candidates.
Otto had finally called me, Durandal, and Rita into the lab, he was about to begin the first actual activation of the Divine Key.
The Second Divine Key was currently floating suspended in the middle of the lab, with several banks of extremely large machines and several scientists manning terminals and scientific equipment. The Immortal Blades Valkyrie squad was also present.
Otto was standing some distance away and behind a window, while all the Valkyries were suited up.
I hadn't actually told anyone about what would happen when the divine key was activated, especially Durandal.
I didn't want to influence any choices that they might make, or diminish their natural reactions to events.
In addition, I knew Su was watching.
Otto definitely knew something interesting would happen, but he had no way of knowing exactly what since I never told him.
I didn't know exactly what would happen to me, either, but Shamash was here as well.
A voice sounded over the PA, "Energy level is now 80%"
Durandal spoke up, "Lord Otto, the Immortal Blades are in position."
I also spoke up, "I am ready as well, Archbishop."
"Stay Vigilant Valkyrie Durandal," Otto said, before briefly looking at me, "Anything might emerge from the special rift. No matter what happens, you must protect the core of the Second Divine Key."
"Energy level is now 90%"
"I am confident that our mission will be a success." I spoke up.
This caused Otto to turn to me again, since our mission was simply to keep an eye on the Divine Key, just in case anything interesting came out of the rift.
"You sure do like being mysterious, Valkyrie Lee." He finally said.
"I learned from the best." I said.
"Energy level is 100%, reaction has occurred."
A giant purple energy beam shot out from the front of the train, which was now facing towards the sky as it was suspended vertically. This time however, the train remained stationary.
Through the large open portal in the sky above Schicksal HQ, a single bright purple point of light was visible.
"Are we looking at the skies of another world? But why is there only a single star in this sky?" Durandal spoke up.
Otto replied over the PA, "This should probably be a bubble universe, according to the information we know about the Divine Key."
"There is something odd about this star." Duradal said.
Which was a horror movie quote right before something big happened.
Which, it soon did.
The other scientist on the PA, who I recognised as Dr. Nagamitsu suddenly shouted, "The Second Divine Key is actively siphoning power from the array! Energy level is now 150%!"
The thin purple beam that had been keeping the portal above us had suddenly grown to be almost larger than the Divine Key itself, completely enveloping it in purple energy.
"Squad! Fall back and take positions behind the second safety line!" Durandal shouted at the members of the Immortal blades.
I however, remained well within the first safety line, as did Shamash and Durandal.
Durandal suddenly looked around confusedly, before a blast of energy emerged from the key, catching the three of us.
It was rather similar to the first time I had been teleported by the system, but this time I didn't pass out.
Suddenly emerging out into the Seed of Sumeru, we were met by Su, sitting on the ground in front of a large tree.
Both me and Shamash were several meters behind Durandal, who stood alone in the front, clutching her head.
"What… What is this." Durandal spoke up, still clutching her head.
Su finally spoke up, "A most brilliant life, don't you agree? I've analyzed an ineffably ineffable number of universes, but your existence left quite an impression on me."
Durandal finally recovered, looking around, seemingly looking straight past me and Shamash.
"Did I just enter a bubble universe? Where are the others?" Durandal asked.
"Yes, Bianka, you're in the bubble universe that I've created in the Second Divine Key, you may call it, the Seed of Sumeru."
"Lee spoke about you, you must be the pioneer called Su."
Su glanced past Durandal to look at me, before replying, "Another most interesting existence, however, they are not the subject here. I bear no malicious intent, Bianaka, my task is simply to help you defeat the enemy known as the Honkai."
"I know you also locked up another pioneer in the Sea of Quanta, so who knows what your motivations are." Durandal responded.
"That was regrettable, however, to soothe your fears, I shall demonstrate the powers of the Second Divine Key for you."
Suddenly, several screens showed up, showing various alternate versions of Durandal, including a version of Durandal that was a Racecar Driver and another wearing a crow.
I noted that all of them were of "Bianka Ataegina", and not of Kiana Kaslana. They all had golden hair, even in the worlds where Durandal was "Normal".
"Are these all… me?"
"Yes, and no. The Second Divine key can identify the infinity of possibilities, compromising your totality, Bianka, these are just a small fraction of what has been." Su explained, "My mission is to use the Second Divine Key and analyze a myriad of possible universes within the Seed of Sumeru, tasked with finding the perfect solution to defeat the Honkai."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "The solution has now presented itself. You, Bianka, are the very key to this solution. If you want to save this world, I'll need you to obey my every word."
Durandal exhaled before saying "Well, you aren't giving me plenty of options, mister Pioneer. Before you press me into your service, would you mind sharing with me your perfect solution for beating the Honkai."
"To converge to the universe where we defeat the Honkai, we will need to pass through 32874 unique singularities. I do have the intent of sharing it, however it is not quite possible. The strings of causality are indeed so complex and fragile that they cannot be described in words. It is better for you to trust me, Bianka, complete the tasks that I'm about to give you and you shall save this world."
"You've not been very diplomatic, mister Su. You said a load of mumbo jumbo but failed to deliver even one piece of convincing evidence. Do you really expect me to trust you just like that?"
Suddenly, a spear made of light condensed in Durandal's hands, "Apologies, mister Su, but your bubble isn't going to trap me here. I'll be leaving, FYI, this isn't my first time traveling through a bubble like this."
While she was talking, Su slowly walked behind her, however Bianka didn't seem to notice, her eyes still transfixed on the spot where Su was originally standing.
"Sorry, Bianka. I've already seen this coming. I've also seen your distrust and attempts to leave."
Durandal jumped, spinning a full 180 and slashing at Su, who grabbed onto her light spear with one hand, before squeezing and shattering it instantly.
"Prepare yourself, Binaka. Your sacrifice is needed to save this world."
Suddenly Su disappeared from behind Bianka, reappearing some distance away. This time it wasn't through mental manipulation, but through raw sheer speed.
"What exactly do you want?"
"You refused to work with me, Bianka. I am forced to make you stay. I do not enjoy this. But earning your trust is just too difficult. It only happened in very, very few worlds. Thus I prepared something else in case you refuse my offer."
Su made a waving gesture towards the air to his right, before saying "This is a double of you, Bianka. She has your entire memories, making her a near-exact copy. She only lacks the power you acquired from the sea of quanta. I shall extract that power from you. Sorry, but this must be done to save this world."
Durandal lunged forward, throwing a punch at Su, who caught it, creating shockwaves that rippled through the air, tearing up plants and pushing Durandal some distance back.
"An amazing attack, Bianka, you're strong. I have no doubt about that."
Durandal suddenly flinched back, stumbling to the ground.
"You're a gifted Valkyrie Bianka. I'm sorry, but this must be done. Have no fear. I assure you that your sacrifice will save this world."
Durandal suddenly lifted her head, "Hmph… Do you really think the fight is over, mister Pioneer? That was just me getting some much needed warm up. Time for round 2. Are you game?"
Suddenly, a large armored figure holding a massive broadsword appeared out of thin air behind Durandal, swinging its sword down directly at Su.
"This is your time, King!"
Su casually took a step to the right, the broadsword swinging past where he would have been.
"You only struggle in vain. I'll return the favor. You are in the circle of Karma, whatever you inflict upon me will only return to you, and it seems that attack of yours is powerful indeed."
Durandal called out, "Queen!" and a similarly massive figure appeared, this time with a shield instead of a sword. Catching… something.
"Thank you for the info, Su. I think I can guess how your tricks work."
"Very impressive. You actually managed to create two phantoms at a time. But you'll need plenty of power to control them. You also used your attacks to test my true powers. It seems you're a lot braver and wiser than what I imagined you to be. It would seem that I'm unable to defeat you with my own powers, Bianka."
Su finally opened one of his eyes, both of which had remained closed for the entirety of the "Fight".
"Time for me to call upon the Second Key."
Durandal suddenly collapsed, caught by Su and placed down on the ground.