Volume 4, Chapter 55: Schicksal's A-Rank Valkyrie, Li Sushang

Please support me on Patreon, where you can read a bunch of extra chapters, not just for this novel, but for all the novels I'm working on. I upload at least 2 times daily for most novels - There are at least twice as many available chapters on Patreon, compared to here on Webnovel. Additionally, there are also free extra chapters available for Free Members, so head on over:

Patreon.com/ThatGreatStuff

******

As Schicksal and Anti-Entropy prepared to confront the sudden appearance of Otto, at Ziyuan Square in Klostern, a young girl dressed in traditional Shenzhou attire gazed around with bright curiosity.

"So this is the world after five hundred years, Raksha?"

The girl spoke with a lively and charming tone, hinting at some indescribable emotions mixed within. "Ah, Raksha, you don't seem very happy."

"Do I?" Otto looked at the girl, his mood softening slightly. "Have you been adjusting well during your time here?"

"It's quite alright; this place is much more convenient than my time in Shenzhou," Li Sushang candidly replied. "Aside from the architectural style not quite matching my expectations, everything else is pleasant." She unconsciously scratched her head, adding, "My education isn't extensive, so I struggle to find the right words to describe it."

Otto smiled warmly. "No worries, there's no need for such concerns here. As long as you're happy, that's what matters. If I recall correctly, you were the one who taught me this."

"I certainly am happy, but how about you, Raksha?" The girl blinked. "Our plan is on the verge of success—shouldn't we be joyful?"

Otto shook his head.

If he had been confident in the success of his plan, he wouldn't have passed on the mantle of Schicksal Bishop to Durandal.

In times of crisis, there was no doubt that Durandal would make for a capable leader who could unite her people. Even without him around, Schicksal under her guidance could fully execute its established mechanisms against Honkai.

However, Durandal wasn't a leader with deep insight into human nature. Under her leadership, Schicksal would undoubtedly maintain its glory but also breed arrogance and corruption, potentially reverting it back to what it was five centuries ago.

He had indeed considered passing Schicksal's reins to Theresa.

Otto knew well that Theresa couldn't safeguard their legacy. Only a divided Schicksal after his departure would be beneficial.

Unfortunately, Theresa couldn't become a rallying symbol. In the face of Honkai, such symbols held undeniable power.

With uncertainty looming over confronting the unknown, Durandal became his reluctant choice out of necessity.

Despite this, she remained his proud student; at least her integrity and resolve never wavered before Honkai.

Otto couldn't help but gaze at the young woman before him.

"Li Sushang, you really don't need to stay here," he said. "What I'm about to do—using Shenzhou's terms—is embracing demonic influence. There's no reason for you to accompany someone on that path."

"But Raksha isn't a demon, is he?" Li Sushang replied. "I have no acquaintances left in this world; even Master Red Kite is separated from me by generations of hatred.

"Don't worry, after what you've done for me, I might not agree to remain even if you asked."

Otto smiled without responding. After a pause, he suddenly spoke up again:

"In that case, would you mind listening as I ramble about some matters?"

"Just consider it my monologue; perhaps this will be my last chance to confide my thoughts."

Enduring five hundred years was truly arduous. Despite Otto's unwavering resolve, he was ultimately not divine.

Not being divine meant experiencing fatigue, dejection, and disappointment.

The most significant difference between him and others was his refusal to give up.

Due to this steadfastness, despite centuries of trials with little progress, he methodically shaped Schicksal into its current form—an organization solely focused on combating Honkai, without interfering with ordinary nations or their people.

He had diligently minimized Schicksal's influence on the world, ensuring that once Honkai was resolved, secular power could be returned to its rightful place, allowing humanity to decide their own future.

This was his most ideal vision.

However, the world's trajectory had deviated into paths he no longer understood. Even with his meticulously planned strategy, Otto lacked confidence in its success.

God granted him one chance.

It was both an act of mercy and a trial.

"Consider this as my final performance before exiting the stage. You're about to witness something comical, absurd, naive, yet foolishly determined—Otto Apocalypse."

As his words echoed, Li Sushang saw shadows of Honkai Beasts materialize across the square.

"What is this?"

"A temporal projection," Otto explained. "A trivial ability that mirrors the past from five hundred years ago onto this location, not just the streets but also the people... However, despite its intricacy, it can only manifest remnants of consciousness that have not entirely dissipated. Most memories cannot withstand the test of time, so all we can see here are the Honkai Beasts from that era."

Li Sushang gazed at the man before her, her expression involuntarily reflecting a mix of emotions.

She knew Raksha was no saint, much like her acquaintances Old Eagle and Ma Feima.

Yet, Raksha was unequivocally pure and unwaveringly devout.

Li Sushang had never encountered anyone with such steadfast conviction. For this man, the nun named Kallen had become his sole guiding light in life.

At this thought, a pang of bitterness welled up within the girl's heart.

"Then, in this world, is there nothing else Raksha desires?"

"Yes, indeed there is quite a lot."

Otto chuckled softly, "I am human too, Li Sushang. Every person has their likes and dislikes. However, most things can only satisfy my fleeting desires as a human, yet fail to stir the greed deep within me."

"What I seek truly embodies greed itself," he mused sarcastically. "A clichéd story already unfolding its premise and progression; now, it will reach its climax over the course of my lifetime. And you, along with them, shall all bear witness to its conclusion."

With these words, Otto strode away.

Watching his departing figure, Li Sushang felt a complex mix of emotions.

"How genuinely enviable that must be."

"To find a path and dedicate one's entire life to it—ah, how laughable that I once pitied him!"

"The one deserving pity should have been aimless me."

Meanwhile, Schicksal convened an emergency meeting internally.

Otto Apocalypse's sudden appearance in Klostern stunned everyone, evoking mixed emotions among the organization's higher-ups. Admittedly, under Otto's leadership, Schicksal functioned far more effectively than with Durandal at the helm. However, it was precisely during Durandal's tenure that they saw opportunities to exploit chaos for their own interests.

Of course, these sentiments were not Durandal's concern.

At present, she had another headache on her hands.

Durandal wasn't suited to be a leader. Even though she had been acting as such recently, in essence, it was Rita and Amber issuing commands while Schicksal operated within the guidelines established by Otto.

Her dilemma lay in figuring out how to relinquish this role gracefully.

However, before she could fully process her thoughts, Rita approached her with a grim expression.

"Schicksal's satellite has detected massive Honkai Energy fluctuations in Klostern, along with signs of space-time mapping."

"In Klostern, we can now observe scenes from five hundred years ago."