In her office at ME Corp headquarters, Cocolia raised a small glass of vodka, tilted her head back, and drained it in one gulp. She exhaled deeply, temporarily banishing the misfortunes and frustrations she had endured. Her gaze fixed on the office monitor, where the Godfather mecha stood—her eyes filled with longing for a bright future and fervent hope.
Yet such moments of serenity were always fleeting. The unpleasant memories from the ship resurfaced, though this time she could analyze them calmly.
"Only four individuals directly attacked our fleet... No, can those creatures even be considered human?" Cocolia shook her head decisively.
"Two remain unidentified. One moved with incredible speed, barely larger than a doll, and showed no intention of communicating, focusing solely on disabling our fleet's armaments without directly threatening our lives."
"The other was malicious, harboring clear hostility toward us..."
"That wasn't mere animosity, Miss Cocolia."
A chilling voice echoed from the office doorway as a masked man materialized before Cocolia.
"Gray Serpent? What are you doing here?!" Cocolia's hand instinctively moved to the pistol at her hip.
"I've reviewed your battle records," Gray Serpent replied. "That Herrscher—whose identity and abilities remain unclear—harbors no genuine hostility toward you."
"She's merely toying with you. While the former, the humanoid lifeform resembling an Armed Puppet, had the clear objective of destroying your fleet's armaments, the latter, the Herrscher, was simply amusing herself at your expense."
"Based on the power she's demonstrated... we can't even confirm if she's a true Herrscher. According to both the historical records of the Previous Civilization and the patterns of Herrscher appearances in this era, Herrschers with different Authorities manifest in a specific sequence."
"Yet the one you faced—let's call her a Herrscher for now—possesses Authorities more akin to a composite of the Herrscher of Sentience and the Herrscher of Corruption from the Previous Civilization's records. Furthermore, the Schicksal Valkyrie named Houraiji Kyuusyou exhibited a cognitive pollution-like ability that has never been recorded before."
"They don't appear in the order recorded in the archives, and their abilities are composite, possibly even overlapping with existing Herrschers."
"Moreover, the 'Venerable God' she mentioned... is clearly a personified entity—"
"That Herrscher's hatred and contempt for you are evidently inherited from the Venerable God she speaks of..."
"Yet research by both the World Serpent and the Previous Civilization has proven one thing: the Honkai Will is merely a selective mechanism. While it may be capable of communication, it cannot possess such a personified emotional consciousness."
Gray Serpent paused, looking at Cocolia, waiting for her to digest the information.
"You mean... I'm fighting a fully personified god operating behind the scenes?" Cocolia concluded, somewhat stunned.
"And we have absolutely no idea what this god's motives are," Gray Serpent added.
"Its goals, its attitude toward civilization—we know nothing. The only thing we can be certain of is this: it seems to dislike you, yet for some unknown reason, its Apostles won't deliver a fatal blow."
"Based on this premise, we can make a bold conjecture... From the initial attack on your fleet to the Fourth Herrscher's relentless pursuit, culminating in her sudden abandonment, all these actions stem from His will."
"This Fourth Herrscher is currently rampaging across the globe, yet she hasn't caused any severe destruction or casualties. It's likely she obeys not the Honkai Will, but this enigmatic God."
"However, this is still good news—at least this being's Apostles haven't shown any outright hostility toward humanity or civilization."
"As for you, Lady Cocolia... as a collaborator, you've proven to be a valuable partner. That's why I'm here to offer a warning—"
"Reflect on your past... Ponder what you did in the past that would compel a God to dispatch multiple Apostles to discipline you... Then, exercise some restraint. At least for now, He doesn't intend to kill you outright."
"We can confront and even eliminate Herrschers, but in this world, mortals can never slay Gods—that's an eternal, insurmountable hierarchy."
Gray Serpent turned and left Cocolia's office, but his parting words sent her already taut nerves snapping again:
"Oh, as a fellow collaborator, consider this intel a complimentary gift, Lady Cocolia—the Fourth Herrscher is currently flying toward New Nagazora City. And the Schicksal Far East Branch's pursuit force is converging on the city as well."
"Damn it! Gray Serpent, why didn't you say so sooner?!"
-
"My Lady, the effect is undeniable. They unconsciously ignore Muninn, who even vaporized an Anti-Entropy Aerial Battleship."
"In their conversations, there was absolutely no mention of Muninn at all."
The silver-haired girl stood above New Nagazora City, reporting the situation to a hidden presence.
"Excellent. Once Muninn awakens, I'll have her refine any potential loopholes."
"I don't understand... Why did you send Muninn to Miss Kiana and Lord Kyuusyou's side? She clearly prefers being by your side..."
"It's part of the plan... She must leave me—"
"A silent assassination requires only knowledge of a person's habits, daily routines, and a simple plan—"
"Overthrowing a nation requires understanding society's vulnerabilities, the people's desires, the flaws of those in power, the ambitions of their supporters, the desires of those who defect, and a complex plan weaving together countless fates."
"But the grand task of World Salvation... whether the world's inhabitants will it or not—from the very beginning, their destinies have been woven into this magnificent tapestry, and even you are no exception..."
"...Your will shall be done, My Lady."
-
"Let the gears of fate begin their true turning..."
Leaning against the Golden Tree, the girl gazed at the humanoid figure lying on the ground, identical to herself. Now devoid of consciousness and power, the shell was dissipating—Muninn's creation, her reflection in the mortal world, a vessel capable of bearing her strength and will.
"He was nailed to the cross; on the third day He rose again, and in time ascended...."
"With this, the final element is complete—"
Return and Resurrection