Honkai: Strijder
Chapter 428: He Cheated
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As Sigurd rose step by step, the Honkai energy around him grew increasingly terrifying, gradually overwhelming everyone present and forming a suffocating, dreadful pressure.
At last, he reached the middle tier of the staircase. Holding the Xuanyuan Sword, he looked calmly at the smiling Otto.
"It's been a long time, in this form… Mr. Otto."
"Haha! It's been ages since you addressed me like that. Hearing it now is rather nostalgic!"
"Didn't you prepare a gift?"
"An Otto Apocalypse bow is the finest gift of all."
"That makes sense."
As Otto bowed in salute—representing Schicksal's submission—amusement flickered in Sigurd's eyes.
Relying on his information advantage and, frankly, a bit of cheating-level leverage, successfully taming this madman was undoubtedly one of Sigurd's greatest achievements since arriving in the Honkai world.
He couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.
"By the way, I've already calculated the formula for informational interference across spacetime scales."
"Oh? Then congratulations. You're about to have your wish fulfilled."
"Stop joking. Don't think I don't know—being the founder of Information-Origin Theory, you must already have a workable formula. The only reason you made me derive it myself was to tie up my attention so I wouldn't have the time to make any small moves."
Otto straightened up, rolled his eyes, and looked at Sigurd with a helpless smile.
Sigurd nodded, acknowledging the deduction, and continued:
"Since you knew I was trying to restrain you, why still foolishly research it to the end?"
"That's the insidious part about you. You know that when it comes to anything about Kallen, I can never afford to be careless. Even if I suspect you already have a complete formula, as long as you keep it in your hand and refuse to reveal it, I must personally research it—just in case. Besides, I still haven't figured out the Life Equation. I suspect you've concealed a crucial part of the theory from me, but unfortunately I have no proof. And even if I did, I couldn't do anything about it… My dear friend, I treat you with sincerity, yet you've been playing with my heart all along."
"The facts prove the method was effective. You behaved yourself for several years because of it, didn't you? And besides, completing your wish using a formula you derived yourself—you'd feel more satisfied, wouldn't you?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Whatever Your Majesty says must be right. Please, do continue up the stairs and complete today's ceremony."
Otto smiled and bowed again, gesturing toward the higher steps.
Sigurd gazed into Otto's emerald-green eyes. After a moment, he rarely revealed a trace of gentleness—and regret.
Patting Otto on the shoulder, Sigurd said:
"Thank you. Up to now, whether willingly or unwillingly, you've helped me a great deal."
"…Suddenly getting sentimental like this leaves me a bit at a loss, my friend."
"I promise you, I will fulfill your wish. In exchange, you must do what you're supposed to do. Otto, on this matter, I am not lying."
"Yes, yes. I, Otto Apocalypse, will always trust the great Emperor Sigurd."
Otto laughed. His tone was playful, but inwardly, he felt a little more at ease.
Sigurd valued his promises. So far, he had never broken one.
Otto might not trust his own moral integrity, but when it came to Sigurd, he believed his judgment was accurate. He trusted Sigurd's mutual recognition between them, and he trusted Sigurd's word.
"Heh. I'm looking forward to the day your wish comes true. I wonder whether your smile will be different then. Until that day, be a good dog for me—ahem—I mean, faithfully serve human civilization."
Sigurd coughed lightly, rephrasing the words that had almost slipped out.
After all, he was about to become the Emperor of Humanity. Casually telling people to be his dog—even if it was technically the truth—required a bit more tact in wording.
Sigurd stepped forward, passing by Otto—whose expression carried a faint trace of grievance—and continued upward.
…
Fu Hua was a survivor of the Previous Era, the oldest and most dutiful guardian of the Current Era, representing the lingering afterglow of ancient civilization.
Otto, over the past five hundred years, had been the foremost representative of humanity's resistance against the Honkai—both the embodiment of Schicksal and the living symbol of the modern era's struggle.
Higher still, on the second-to-last step beneath the throne, Welt stood as the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy and the founder of a new ideology, representing humanity's present and future. He watched Sigurd approach step by step with a gentle smile.
"I'm sorry we've placed you in this position. But you are the best choice, Sigurd."
"Mm. I accept the apology. So your gift is the key to the Fourth Divine Key, the Sky Satellite?"
"Yes. Though you've long been capable of controlling that beautiful spirit of the cosmos, the key symbolizes true supreme authority. I thought nothing would be more fitting as a gift than dominion over the heavens. Sigurd, what I hand to you now is not just this key, but our fate—and the fate of the entire world. Please, Your Majesty."
Welt gazed at Sigurd. Whatever memories or hopes stirred in his heart, tears shimmered in his eyes.
Sigurd accepted the key. It dissolved into golden motes of light in his palm and merged into his body.
Then Sigurd asked:
"Why the sudden tears? Don't you trust me?"
"How could that be? It's just… I never imagined that the little Sigurd from back then would one day stand at this height. And those little girls who used to call me 'Uncle Welt' every day have now become indispensable pillars of strength. Humanity's potential… it's so beautiful it brings tears to the eyes, isn't it?"
"Then I'll take it as tears of joy, Leader. From now on, please continue to shine and give your all."
"It would be my honor, Your Majesty!"
Welt placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply.
Sigurd stepped past the bowing Welt and took one final step onto the highest tier—so high it felt as though he could touch the sky with a single hand.
Upon the platform stood a magnificent throne gleaming with golden light, heavy and grand, as if gazing down upon the planet below—an embodiment of artistic imagination and the pinnacle of technological opulence and dominance.
From the moment Sigurd began ascending, to the representatives offering their salutes, to his arrival before the throne—the entire sequence was broadcast synchronously across the skies of countless cities.
According to the procedure, the next step was for Sigurd to sit upon the throne. After that would come speeches from those who had rendered great service, military inspections, demonstrations of advanced technological creations, and so on.
But Sigurd lifted the Xuanyuan Sword and looked at his own ice-blue eyes reflected in the golden blade. He shook his head.
Clang!
With a single sweep of the golden sword, the magnificent throne shattered into fragments of gold scattered across the platform.
"Hm?"
Welt froze for a moment.
Sigurd exhaled softly.
"It's a beautiful seat. But it has no meaning. I don't need it."
"But—"
"—There is no 'but.' You set the procedure, but whether I follow it depends on my mood. You'll have to get used to that, Welt. That is precisely the meaning of me standing here."
Sigurd turned. The Xuanyuan Sword lightly touched the white jade floor, producing a long, resonant hum.
—Hummm—
"All humans still alive, raise your ears. Straighten your posture. If necessary, you may kneel to listen. Now, I will speak to you—"
"To you—"
"—you—"
Visible ripples spread outward from the heights, carrying the sword's resonance and Sigurd's voice to every corner of the earth.
At the same time, in countless cities, swarms of bees transformed into specks of white light dancing in the sky. They projected a colossal three-dimensional image of Sigurd before each city—like a giant standing between heaven and earth, reducing the cities beneath his feet to mere toy models.
Every person—whether present at the ceremony or elsewhere across the planet, whether familiar with Sigurd or never having seen his face—stared in shock at this cold, dignified, overwhelmingly authoritative man.
Sigurd looked forward, as if gazing upon the entire planet.
"I, Sigurd, from this moment onward, am your Emperor."
"From this moment onward, I will exhaust every ounce of value from each and every one of you. If necessary, even death will not allow you to rest."
"From this moment on, this world answers to me. I permit your dissatisfaction and your resistance, but those who defy me will die."
"From this moment on, you are pieces on the board in my hand, data within my plans. Whether you move forward or backward, whether you live or perish, you will do so according to my command."
"Have I made myself clear enough?"
BOOM!
As the final question fell, Sigurd planted his sword into the ground and rested both hands upon the hilt. The three cores at his waist, together with the Key of Sanction and the Xuanyuan Sword, activated in harmony. Driven by his masterful control of Honkai energy, the heavy reverberation spread across nearly the entire surface of the planet.
His words—and that resounding impact—felt as though they were striking directly against the heart of humanity.
Almost immediately, a chaotic swell of discussion erupted across the globe.
Lowering his gaze, Sigurd received a torrent of information through the worker bees. As expected, there were vast numbers of voices filled with rejection and opposition.
No one could ever make the whole world like them. Sigurd understood that well.
No matter how much groundwork Welt and Otto had laid, no matter how unstoppable the tide they had created, establishing an emperor who stood above the entire world was bound to provoke endless dissatisfaction.
"I will bring favorable weather, abundant harvests, and freedom from hunger and cold. I will grant ordinary people the hope of surviving the Honkai."
"I will establish an absolutely incorruptible and efficient administrative system. I will grant every ordinary person equal opportunity, allowing you to create value in exchange for everything you desire—your ideal way of life, the chance to step beyond the ordinary, limitless extensions of life, even the resurrection of the one you love."
"I am stronger than anyone. I am wiser than anyone."
"The Previous Era was destroyed not only by the Finality, but by its own chaos and internal strife. Our civilization must choose a new path. Humanity's power must be unified. Humanity's will must be governed, and I am the best choice."
BOOM!!!
Another soul-shaking reverberation.
This time, the clamor diminished considerably.
At least among those who had faced the Honkai—especially within the two great organizations that fought against it—most of the discordant voices fell silent.
Sigurd's unwavering voice and will—along with the Honkai pressure that blanketed half the planet—gradually shook the resistance of those who feared and hated the Honkai.
After all, the tide of events was overwhelming. After all, this was a decision jointly made by the most prestigious leaders of civilization. For the majority of the public, trust still outweighed doubt.
Sigurd processed vast streams of real-time data and let out a long breath. He lifted his gaze, his eyes gleaming like molten gold.
"From this moment on, I am civilization!"
"I will lead you—to victory!"
BOOM!!!
The final reverberation resounded, announcing the conclusion to the entire world. Then Sigurd withdrew the Honkai energy that had weighed down half the planet's surface, and the colossal projections in every city vanished as well.
After that, those below continued with the originally scheduled proceedings. Sigurd casually created a tall black seat for himself, leaned the Xuanyuan Sword against his leg, and sat down in a relaxed posture.
[By combining part of the powers of the Herrscher of the Void, the Herrscher of Sentience, and the Herrscher of Thousands… I've planted hints of obedience and reverence into the subconscious of the vast majority of humanity… I've done my part. What about what you promised me?]
[Come see me after the ceremony. I'll let you meet the one you wish to see.]
[And about resurrection? Can you really bring sis— I mean, that person—back?]
[That depends on your future contributions, Higokumaru.]
The voice in his mind faded away. Whether Higokumaru was thinking or hesitating, no one could tell.
A faint smile curved at Sigurd's lips.
Yes. He had cheated.
Given enough time, he could have slowly deepened his authority until all humanity willingly united under his rule, single-minded in resisting the Honkai. He did not lack confidence in that path.
But did this civilization truly have that much time left?
The descent of Finality was inevitable. Perhaps five or ten years away. Perhaps a year or two. Perhaps even less. Sigurd did not have the luxury to waste time. Since he could use subtle psychological suggestion to solidify his authority in one decisive move, then that was what he would do.
Of course, considering the potential consequences if such suggestions were ever undone on a large scale, this was only the shallowest layer of guidance. As long as Sigurd fulfilled the promises he had just made—leading humanity forward—those implanted suggestions would eventually transform into genuine public conviction.
Below, the grand military demonstration proceeded in magnificent spectacle.
High above, Sigurd sat leisurely in the sky, one leg crossed over the other, calmly contemplating the concrete steps of his next plan.
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