Honkai Diary: Start With Picking Up A White-Haired Treasure

The wind howled fiercely.

The previous battle had transformed everything within sight—from once vibrant green forests to now dust-swept desolate wastelands.

This bleak setting was perfect for an unrelenting, merciless clash.

And that was precisely the plan of Schicksal's army.

Before them stood one traitor of Schicksal and the Anti-Entropy Alliance Leader, also known as the First Herrscher. Eliminating these two would not only assert Schicksal's absolute dominance but also signify another step forward in their grand mission against Honkai.

United in purpose, ready to face death head-on—Welt sensed this unwavering determination within the ranks of the Schicksal forces.

"Sigh..."

Welt sighed, his eyes flickering with reluctance. Both sides were forces against Honkai, yet here they stood, locked in a life-or-death struggle. The ironies of fate could hardly be more evident.

As he assessed the distribution of combat power within the entire legion, searching for a suitable entry point, Welt summoned a simulated Star of Eden.

Just then, an unbearable heat radiated from behind him.

"Siegfried?"

Welt turned to see Siegfried's bestial features re-emerging despite the suppressant medication. With the Cleaver of Shamash resting on his shoulder, it emitted an eye-searing, scorching temperature.

"Don't act recklessly. Your body can't handle this strain anymore. Using such power again will kill you."

"It's fine, I've recovered now. What matters most is...I happen to need an outlet for my anger. Stay here and rest while I carve our path!"

Siegfried firmly grasped Welt's shoulders, squeezing hard.

In their gaze, Welt understood Siegfried's intent.

Driving a Herrscher Core with a human body diminished its power significantly; using the core with a false physique constructed by a Herrscher Authority further reduced its potency. Additionally, Welt had not fully healed from the damage to his consciousness—this was his weakest state as a Herrscher.

In his current state, he was unfit for battle and even less suited to reveal this weakness before Otto.

Thus, Siegfried would take charge. Even if it meant risking his life.

"But I came here to save you. Wouldn't my efforts be wasted if you die?"

"I won't die, at least not today. There's still work left undone—I absolutely will not perish now! In any case, stand back there. If you still consider me your friend."

Siegfried patted Welt on the shoulder, stepped forward, overtaking him, and faced the vast army head-on.

Before them stood countless individuals who believed they were fighting for the sake of protecting the world.

And Siegfried would slay them all.

If someone must bear the burden of sin... Welt, you're better suited to bask in the sunlight. Let me carry this weight.

With fury in his heart and determination to pave the way for his friend, Siegfried relentlessly increased the temperature of Heaven's Fire Judgment, heedless of consequences.

The soaring flames dyed half the sky red, mirroring Siegfried's unwavering resolve. Even if it meant eternal damnation, never again seeing Cecilia, he would fight for his friend without regret or hesitation.

This strike would incinerate mountains and boil oceans, rending heaven asunder and cracking earth apart!

Otto squinted at the screen.

"Is it due to that serum or his innate potential? Siegfried can still muster this much power? As expected, we must retrieve Judgment of Shamash at all costs."

Suddenly, the display turned pitch-black with only a blue circle containing a horizontally written 'S' symbol flickering faintly amidst the darkness.

It was Anti-Entropy's emblem, well-known to Otto.

"Well played, Tesla... So, Amber, have you located them yet?"

"Lord Bishop, we've discovered the Anti-Entropy Headquarters and request authorization for a direct assault," came Amber's reply through her communicator, despite not being physically present near Otto.

The corners of Otto's lips curved upward as he nodded.

"Approved. I've already jammed their signals; make it swift and decisive."

"Yes sir!"

Schicksal's Schicksal System had been dismantled.

Utilizing Zeke's provided backdoor, combined with Tesla's prior knowledge of Schicksal's system architecture, this cyber attack wasn't merely breaching firewalls but completely crippling the entire network infrastructure. For a significant period, most functions would be unable to operate normally.

However, this was precisely the bait Otto intended to cast out.

Over at the Mediterranean Sea, Siegfried's resurgence caught Otto off guard; the man was like an unstoppable beast. After enduring so many rounds of attrition, he still managed to wield Cleaver of Shamash.

But the situation remained unchanged. Whether it be against Welt alone or facing both Welt and Siegfried together, either presented a formidable challenge.

Otto disliked brute-force approaches when confronting such obstacles, which is why he never placed his hopes on that intimidating-looking legion.

In network warfare, besides coding skills and the ability to crack codes, intelligence gathering and prior preparation were equally crucial. The Dark Gates indeed provided Zeke with a means to breach the system, but they also served as paths for Otto to track them down.

Tesla could use these vulnerabilities to cripple Schicksal's systems, while Otto could exploit them to pinpoint their locations.

Luring out Welt was merely the surface objective. Locating Tesla and Einstein, isolating them, and seizing this opportunity to capture those cunning geniuses—these were Otto's deepest hidden intentions.

Once he had them under control, no matter how powerful Welt might be, Otto would hold all the leverage. As for Siegfried's unexpectedly tenacious resistance—well, meh, just Siegfried after all. Killing him would only depend on Otto's mood, wouldn't it?

"Schicksal's systems are down! Ha! I'd love to see Otto's face right now—it must be priceless, wouldn't you agree, mophead?"

"Dr. Tesla, I understand your excitement, but... Our communication signals are being jammed."

"Huh? What the hell?"

"Just saying, it seems like we've fallen for a trap."

"BANG!"

An explosion outside the base shook the entire room, and at the same time, red emergency lights illuminated throughout the facility.

"Damn! We're under attack! Valkyries, probably Otto's forces? Is he after us specifically?!"

Tesla pulled up surveillance from the source of the blast and gasped; this sudden assault left them with no easy defense!

Einstein, however, remained unfazed, calmly pouring herself a cup of tea before sighing,

"The cost to deal with Yang and Siegfried was immense. Capturing us instead offers him the desired outcome with minimal effort—truly Otto's style."

"Fucking hell! Mophead, I'll hold them off here. You find a chance to escape and bring reinforcements!"

Equipping her red mechanical arms, Tesla swiftly mobilized the base's defensive forces, causing a swarm of various weapons and drones to pour out.

However, against Amber and the elite Valkyries, they seemed rather powerless.

Effortlessly tearing apart a drone, Amber's golden glasses glinted as she commanded expressionlessly, "Team One, clear the area; Team Two, advance; Team Three, blockade the perimeter. Anti-Entropy will soon notice something is amiss—let's end this swiftly!"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Boom!"

"Rumble!"

The Valkyries clad in advanced armor virtually shrugged off the relentless barrage, charging straight towards the heavily fortified base gates now devoid of their optical camouflage before launching a fierce assault.

"Boom!"

The intense vibrations reached the interior command room. As Tesla coordinated all available counterattack forces, she bellowed at Einstein, who was still leisurely sipping tea, "Mophead! What are you doing just standing there? Why aren't you moving?! Run! We might still make it if we hurry!"

Einstein glanced at her and calmly began counting, "Ten..."

"What 'ten'? Ten what?"

"...Nine, eight, seven... one."

Just as he reached "one," the pounding against the door ceased abruptly.

Tesla stared, bewildered.

On the surveillance monitor, all the attacking Valkyries had gathered at the entrance. But unlike their unstoppable momentum during the assault, each Valkyrie now found herself restrained by two Titans on average.

The ones holding onto Amber, who led the charge, were two girls clad in black armor. Another gray-haired girl dressed in green military attire pressed her submachine gun to Amber's forehead.

"...Mophead, you knew this was going to happen?"

"Didn't I request command of the nearest Titan force from Dr. Tesla earlier?"

"You fucking never told me it was for this!"

"Please forgive me, Dr. Tesla. It's all part of the plan."

Leaving aside the argument inside the room, outside the base, a Titan knelt on one knee, allowing Zeke, seated on its shoulder, to look Amber straight in the eye.

"Let her go," Zeke instructed the three girls.

Kiana and Sin released Amber's arms, while Bronya moved her submachine gun away.

"Hey, Instructor, how was my performance today? Pretty impressive, right?"

"It's...all right...Sin did well too."

Bronya initially wanted to brush off Kiana casually, but Sin's eager gaze compelled her to offer some praise as well.

Sin beamed with satisfaction, looking like flowers were blooming behind her.

...Her enthusiasm is just overwhelming. Bronya averted her eyes, puzzled at how Zeke could remain so composed under similar circumstances from Sin Mal.

Zeke paid no attention to their exchange and instead scrutinized the stoic silver-haired beauty before him—this must be what Kiana would look like when she grows up? Hmm, ample bust and curvy hips, indeed.

"Greetings, Miss Amber. This is our first meeting in person."

"Greetings, it's an honor to meet you, Lord Zeke."

"Then may I ask you to pass on a message to Otto?"

"...As you wish."