Chapter 41: Collapse—The Unattainable Herrscher
Honkai Impact 3rd World
After sending Wendy back to St. Freya Academy and placing her into Kiana’s Herrscher training class, Huang Ke Yin stayed for a month before leaving again.
Standing on a hillside, Huang Ke Yin checked the information recorded in his dark data through his internal gene system, confirming his destination was this place.
He extended his hand, and a magic diamond shovel appeared.
“Brush brush!”
Two swipes, and the ground instantly disappeared. No, it should be said that a cubic meter of land was instantly compressed into a five centimeter by five centimeter by five centimeter cube.
After expanding the area around it to a width of three meters, Huang Ke Yin continued to dig downward.
He stopped after digging over 50 meters down.
He took out an ordinary iron shovel and slowly dug the ground.
Soon, a metal box made of soul steel was excavated.
After collecting the soul steel metal box, Huang Ke Yin went to Siberia and collected some other items before heading to his final destination.
Tianqiong City. Looking at the medical building in front of him, Huang Ke Yin stepped inside.
“Welcome, sir. Are you here to buy medicine or have an appointment?”
Looking at the receptionist, Huang Ke Yin could tell at a glance that her physical fitness was extraordinary and that she was a qualified warrior, a Valkyrie.
“I’m looking for Raven, Jackal, Grey Serpent, and Feather Rabbit! Inform your higher-ups and have them send someone to meet me!”
After saying this, Huang Ke Yin sat down at a booth, observing the receptionist’s changing expression.
The receptionist took a deep breath and picked up a phone, quickly typing out a series of words, not knowing who she was sending it to.
While Huang Ke Yin was waiting, a figure with a steady pace, each step applying the same force, walked over with an umbrella.
“Mr. Huang, hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Looking at the robot in front of him, Huang Ke Yin scoffed.
“Finally willing to see me, huh? I believe you all know the news I posted online.”
“Hehe, Mr. Huang, we’ve naturally received the information you’ve posted. However, our esteemed lord has yet to return. Serpent remains in hiding.”
As he spoke, Grey Serpent turned to look outside.
“Due to Mr. Huang’s actions, this base has been exposed to Schicksal’s eyes.”
“You could have just sent a Grey Serpent to find me earlier. Why did I have to come here?”
“We’re unsure what exactly happened to Mr. Huang, how he suddenly became aware of World Serpent’s existence. So, we figured it was safe to be cautious.”
Grey Serpent shrugged, his mechanical face seeming to display a trace of helplessness.
“Well, I suppose my appearance disrupted everyone’s plans.”
Looking at Grey Serpent, before speaking, Huang Ke Yin released his Haki, causing some of the nearby people to faint instantly. He then directly stated his purpose.
“Can Project 17 make me a Herrscher?”
“…”
“…”
The two silently locked eyes. After a while, Grey Serpent asked in confusion.
“How did you know about Project 17?”
“That’s a long story, so I won’t go into it.”
“Alright, then why do you want to become a Honkai Apostle?”
“To save the world. I know what sacrifices the previous civilization made for the current one. I know what measures they took. So, I know how to save the world.”
“Mr. Huang, you’re truly extraordinary. Did you see the future?”
Though it was a question, Grey Serpent spoke with certainty.
“You could say that. I know the general direction of the future, and I want to change the unfavorable future.”
“Since you want to change the future, doesn’t that mean it’s something that’s supposed to happen in the original future?”
Looking at Grey Serpent suddenly discussing philosophy with him, Huang Ke Yin rolled his eyes.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Let me put it this way. I, come from beyond the world!”
Huang Ke Yin didn’t hide anything. He directly revealed his identity.
“I see. Someone who shouldn’t exist in the future.”
“Yes.”
“Regarding this matter, Project 17 cannot designate others to become Herrschers. She can only ensure the order of Herrscher emergence doesn’t go wrong.”
“Sigh, so it’s not possible after all.”
Huang Ke Yin sighed, feeling a little helpless.
“Why don’t you search Schicksal’s archives for the Plague Gem and implant it in your body?”
Looking at the various data conclusions Jackal had analyzed based on his observations, Grey Serpent continued.
“As long as the gem enters your body, I think with your current quasi-Herrscher state, you should be able to get the gem’s recognition and become a Herrscher.”
“No, no, no. That gem has an owner. It’s not suitable for me.”
“Then what about the first Herrscher? He’s at St. Freya Academy.”
“He has excellent successors.”
“Then I’m powerless.”
“Sigh, then I can only see, um, see the Domination. No, that’s what Otto needs. Um.”
After carefully considering, if he wanted to change the tragedy, the only Herrscher core he could use seemed to be the Herrscher of Corruption.
The Herrscher of Reason belonged to Seele, the Herrschers of Void, Death, and Flame were controlled by the Slippers, the Herrscher of Thunder belonged to the Cook, the Herrscher of Wind was now at St. Freya with him, and would be a good Herrscher in the future. The Herrscher of Knowledge belonged to Fu Hua’s daughter. The tragedies of the Herrschers of Ice and Rock were what Huang Ke Yin wanted to change. Domination and Constraint were needed by Otto. And if Domination and Constraint both appeared, what would he need his strength for?
So, after careful calculation, the only remaining option was Corruption.
“Sigh, I’ll worry about that later.”
No longer thinking about it, Huang Ke Yin revealed his other purpose.
“I want to go to the World Tree. You should be able to let me in.”
“That… non-organization members are prohibited from entering.”
“Then I’ll join World Serpent now, become an undercover agent at St. Freya Academy. That’s alright, right?”
In response, Huang Ke Yin said something incredibly refreshing and unconventional.
“…”
These words left Grey Serpent speechless, and Raven and Jackal, who were listening in from behind, were equally speechless.
After a moment of silence, as if receiving something, Grey Serpent suddenly said.
“…Okay, the esteemed lord has approved your entry into the World Tree.”
Huang Ke Yin raised an eyebrow. Kevin actually knew what was happening here?
Quantum entanglement?
“Hmm, prepare the latest, best healing equipment. If it’s not the latest, go grab the latest from Schicksal. I’ll bring Fu Hua here later for healing.”
“Um, okay.”
Under Grey Serpent’s guidance, Huang Ke Yin arrived at the entrance to the World Tree.
Although Grey Serpent didn’t know why Huang Ke Yin knew so much, the World Tree wasn’t a safe place.
Within, the battles between the Thirteen Honkai Herrschers’ memory data are in no way reduced!
Even the future Kiana was defeated several times in the World Tree, and she almost died in her battle against Yae Sakura.
Therefore, the World Tree’s security protection has never been internal.
Unless it’s the Herrscher of Corruption. However, even the third Herrscher had only been suppressed for a while, and the fourth Herrscher’s host seemed to be under control.
The fifth Herrscher showed no signs of awakening.
So, as the twelfth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Corruption wouldn’t be able to appear now.
After all, there’s still Project 17, Prometheus, to oversee the Honkai.
Before entering, Huang Ke Yin looked at the videos he had stored on his phone, which included content about Walter, Kiana, Bronya, and Wendy, who was gradually familiarizing herself with and controlling the power of the Herrscher of Wind.
In addition, there were also some images of Kiana, Bronya, and others becoming Herrschers, created by the super-powered Huang Ke Yin.
After Grey Serpent opened the entrance, Huang Ke Yin stepped into the World Tree.
Entering the Tree, looking at the familiar Council Hall in his memory, a strong sense of déjà vu came over Huang Ke Yin.
After waiting at the door for a while, Huang Ke Yin noticed his familiar pink fairy girl didn’t come out.
“Is that right? As expected of you, the Nyx leader. Due to a misunderstanding about a hat, you didn’t go see Raven.”
Taking a deep breath, Huang Ke Yin shouted loudly.
“Airi! Your package is here! Come out and sign for it!”
“Oh my! Did my package arrive?”
After shouting, a familiar figure came running down from the second floor, “da da da.”
“This, um, Captain?”
Looking at Huang Ke Yin, a sense of inexplicable familiarity and closeness arose within her.
Moreover, an unfamiliar title came to mind for Airi.
“Captain, where’s my package?”
Airi looked behind Huang Ke Yin, although she didn’t recognize him, but because she loved everyone, she didn’t reject him.
Her eyes, as she sized up Huang Ke Yin, seemed to truly be expecting her package.
“It’s right here, darling, Airi.”
He took out his phone and played the videos he had recorded for Airi.
Looking at the phone, where they were clearly just ordinary people doing ordinary training or teaching, Airi felt it was the best gift she had ever received!
Although it was just videos, a young lady’s intuition told her these were Herrschers.
“Wow! Is this real? Is everything in here real?”
Looking at Airi, with surprise and relief that her efforts hadn’t been in vain.
“Of course it’s real. In this future world, just as you dreamed, everything is changed because of a certain flawless pink fairy girl.”
Looking at Airi, who had “I’m so happy, I’m so happy” written all over her face.
“Later, I can bring Bronya, that purple-haired girl with a sword, to meet you. How about that?”
“Sure, that’s settled then!”
“Okay.”