As Otto's familiar voice resonated, Zeke instantly transitioned from the dim ocean depths to a place filled with blue skies and fluffy clouds.
He found himself near a brick-built wall, its sunlit surface radiating warmth. Below lay a lush green courtyard, where two golden-haired brothers stood facing each other.
"That's enough! Stop wasting your energy on such futile tasks! With your frail health, just focusing on staying alive should be enough."
"But... sniffle... but my airplane... sob..." replied the younger brother amidst tears.
In this sibling dispute, the elder brother was sternly scolding the younger one, while the latter wept uncontrollably, gazing at the top of the wall.
The elder brother's face was blank, devoid of discernible features.
On the other hand, the younger brother displayed a delicate and pitiful expression—vaguely resembling Otto's contours.
"Hey! Pay attention—this is a crucial moment. If not for you, I wouldn't share this with anyone else!"
Golden specks coalesced around Zeke, taking the form of Otto Apocalypse. He stood beside Zeke on the wall, smiling warmly at him.
"...Even I find it challenging to decipher the principles behind the fake god mode technology. Consequently, its cost is evident. Otto, by all logic, you should be dead!"
Zeke shifted his gaze from the brothers below and looked at Otto. Gone was his usual unflappable composure, replaced by palpable impatience, like a dangerous volcano brewing beneath a fragile crust.
After all, in the real world, he was sinking into the depths of the ocean while cradling the deceased Kiana in his arms!
In any case, Otto Apocalypse indeed ought to have perished.
Emotionally, he had prepared himself to bid farewell to the world when confronting Finality. Logically, assuming the forbidden state of a fake god guaranteed his complete demise—so, Otto was undeniably dead.
So then, what exactly was this apparition before Zeke now?
As if understanding the unspoken question on Zeke's mind, Otto stroked his chin and replied with keen interest:
"Well, you see... just like when freshwater streams flow into the ocean, there's a moment where the mixing vortex retains some droplets still possessing freshwater properties. To put it simply, Otto Apocalypse isn't entirely dead yet, but close!"
Otto smiled, exuding a carefree and relaxed demeanor.
In truth, it was thanks to Zeke's interference—both meddling with the World Information Body and reversing time—that he left exceptionally strong traces across the entire world. This allowed Otto, using his last vestige of power, to detect Zeke's presence.
This was Otto's final miracle, marking the last trace of his existence in the world.
Zeke began, "You..."
"Shh! No talking, we're at the most crucial moment!" Otto hastily interrupted, preventing Zeke from further questioning.
Zeke instinctively glanced down and saw a silver-haired little girl perched atop the wall, beaming brightly at the two brothers below.
"Hey! Did you make this airplane?"
"Uh...er...yes, I did..."
The first meeting and conversation between Kallen Kaslana and Otto Apocalypse unfolded crystal-clear before Zeke's eyes.
"Wow! That's amazing! You're definitely going to become a great inventor someday! Too bad it's broken now."
"I...uh...if you don't mind, I can make another one for you."
"Great, great! But let's talk about that later! Hey, mister over there, don't underestimate him just because he looks different. Can't you see how smart he is? He'll surely become an exceptional inventor!" Kallen retorted towards Otto's elder brother.
Zeke noticed that amidst young Otto's tear-stained face, his emerald-like eyes sparkled.
In the sunlit corner, the background character known as Big Brother had vanished without a trace. Only the girl on the wall and the boy beneath her remained, gazing intently at each other.
"My name is Kallen, Kallen Kaslana. What about you?"
"I... I'm Otto Apocalypse..."
"I'll remember that—you're Otto! So, Otto, can you promise me something?"
"Huh?"
"When we grow up, become a great inventor and help save the world with me! Until then, make sure to eat regularly, exercise well, and stay healthy!"
Holding Otto's airplane, Kallen flashed him a thumbs-up, smiling innocently with gleaming white teeth. Otto could only stare, dumbfounded, forgetting to respond.
The scene froze.
In this paused moment, Kallen stood against the light—though from young Otto's perspective, she herself was the light.
"That was the first time I received acknowledgment and expectations; it felt almost like... Ha! No need to repeat those praises again. In any case, my life gained color on that day. Isn't that wonderful?" Otto smiled at Zeke.
The emotion behind his smile was different from usual—it lacked the cunning calculation or the dark amusement he often displayed. Instead, it radiated genuine warmth.
Zeke responded, "She was simply trying to coax you into taking care of yourself, just comforting a crying child."
"But it was still recognition! Moreover, this was only the beginning—the start of Kallen and me, yet far from everything... Speaking of beginnings, I've always been quite curious about how yours began. Can I take a look?"
Zeke hesitated, remaining silent.
"Don't be so cold now. I know you're not in the mood for idle chatter. However, this is our last conversation ever. Humor me, won't you, my friend?" Otto crossed his arms, adopting a nonchalant, aloof demeanor.
Yet Zeke's gaze shifted, focusing intently on Otto's face.
Yes, this indeed was their final dialogue, Otto's ultimate farewell.
After a moment of silence, the world around them began to transform.
In the bone-chilling blizzard, amidst the desolate town, there lay a grimy bridge arch offering scant protection from the icy wind.
Next to a dimly glowing campfire pit, two small figures huddled together under a dirty, tattered blanket.
Little Kiana's brows were furrowed as she clung tightly to Little Zeke, whose face was pale like paper, clearly indicating their restless sleep.
Zeke crouched down and gently stroked Little Kiana's forehead, gradually smoothing out her tense frown.
"You've never changed, always furrowing your brow when you can't sleep," Zeke whispered softly, his voice carrying an unintentional tenderness even he didn't notice.
Otto burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching his sides.
"Hahaha! My...my abs...ha ha ha! Who would've thought I'd see this side of you, ha ha ha!"
"Hmm?" Zeke glanced sideways with raised eyebrows.
Otto met icy blue eyes filled with an extreme chill that seemed to carry the very essence of death, sending shivers deep into his soul. Instantly, he composed himself, cleared his throat, and spoke earnestly:
"Ahem! Nothing much."
Zeke finally diverted his death stare and returned his gaze to Little Kiana, his expression softening instantly as his lips unconsciously curved upwards, lost in memories.
Watching Zeke's profile, Otto's playful mood gradually faded, replaced by profound contemplation.
"We truly are quite similar!"
"...How so?"
"In the cold darkness of night, a beam of sunlight pierces through, becoming an unforgettable source of warmth and light—aren't our stories fundamentally the same?"
Otto said with a smile, his voice carrying five centuries' worth of unwavering affection. It was both a tribute to Kallen and a reflection on the shared core of their narratives. The difference lay in the consequences: Otto's devotion led him down a path stained with irredeemable bloodshed and sin, while Zeke's dedication transformed him into a savior of the world. Yet at their core, these were essentially the same tales.
Love is humanity's greatest power.
Otto Apocalypse had witnessed this truth throughout his entire life. From Kallen, from himself, from countless individuals he manipulated, and now from Zeke, it continually reinforced this reality—an unchanging fact since ancient times.
Approaching Zeke, Otto patted him on the shoulder and spoke with profound meaning:
"Love is the strongest force; remember these words, Zeke. In your upcoming journey, you'll need them to overcome unimaginable hardships and dangers!"
"What have you discovered?" Zeke turned back and asked.
Since Fake God Mode couldn't analyze Otto's experiences, Zeke could not fathom what Otto had seen before his death. However, during this unprecedented final conversation, even sharing their most cherished initial memories, Zeke sensed something significant.
Perhaps, Otto had uncovered unimaginable truths!
Otto sighed deeply and said:
"Simply reviving her won't solve the problem, as Finality will still reside within Kiana's body. You must transfer its power elsewhere to bring back the original her. Fake God Mode alone is insufficient; what you need to accomplish is far more challenging!"
"Do you have a solution?"
"The emergence of the Final Herrscher is an inevitable process for any great civilization. To divert this power, we must deceive the God of Honkai, even tricking the Imaginary Tree itself—essentially, create an identical world where the Honkai sequence becomes confused, thereby fooling the Almighty into voluntarily extracting Finality from Kiana and transferring it to a more suitable host."
As Otto finished speaking, a golden energy touched Zeke's forehead, swiftly infusing him with vast amounts of information.
During their second encounter, Zeke obtained the complete technology for Fake God Mode from the God of Honkai.
In his first meeting, Otto had received knowledge on creating such a world.
Having bestowed his final gift, Otto's figure gradually faded before Zeke's eyes, and the entire illusory realm quickly blurred away.
In the chaotic sea, Zeke and Kiana continued their descent while Otto's nearly ethereal phantom ascended.
"I originally thought this path was mine to tread, never expecting it would become your foundation instead. Fate truly enjoys mocking mortals! Speaking of which, embarking on this journey may leave no way back for you, adding unnecessary risk to Kallen's resurrection... Ha! Even I can't fathom why I'm helping you to such an extent..."
As they parted ways, Otto left behind words tinged with both contentment and melancholy.
"Kallen should be my utmost priority... But I suppose we could consider ourselves friends, Zeke?"
Otto watched as the pair sank further away, then soared towards the ocean surface. His illusory body transformed into a faint golden glow, yet his final expression bore a smile devoid of regret.
This fading light, like a dying ember amidst the wind, did not dissipate naturally. Instead, it aimed in a specific direction and pierced through the sky.
And thus began another tale...