Honkai Star Rail: The Archiver

After hearing his words, Yuuto was a bit dumbfounded and subconsciously looked at Stelle to see if she heard the same thing as he did.

And to no surprise, Stelle had an expression that matched his own.

'Did all the pain this guy got finally fried his brain?'

'I don't think so?'

'Then why does it look like he's trying to recruit you to a cult?'

'How the hell would I know…'

The two conveyed these thoughts with their eyes and were somehow able to pass the message to each other. Stefan on the other hand continued to smile as if he overlooked their actions.

Seeing as he spoke no further, Yuuto tried to learn more.

"Are you suggesting some sort of offer to me?"

{It's nice that you're quick on the uptake.} Stefan tapped the arm of his chair while his right hand hid behind his back.

{Why don't you join me?}

The area turned quiet as they heard his ridiculous offer that made Yuuto take a double take to see if he was hearing correctly.

"Huh!? Why would he join someone like you? You stalker, child kidnapper, pervert, sicko, balding middle-aged man—"

Stelle began to run her mouth after registering what Stefan said and displeasedly pointed at him. 

Stefan didn't pay that much attention to her and placed his focus on what Yuuto had to say. However, a few words that came out of her mouth seemed to slightly irk him

After staying silent for a bit, Yuuto gave his answer. "I will decline—"

{Wait a moment, don't be so hasty now.}

Anticipating his answer, Stefan snapped his fingers and turned his head towards the space to his right. The air ripped apart and some images began to form, bringing their attention towards it.

A mirage began to form before the sight of a tall wall appeared with soldiers wearing white armor fighting against countless monsters. 

Despite no sounds coming out of the mirage, they were able to imagine the chaos that was ensuing and the types of struggles these soldiers were facing.

"Isn't that…"

"Yeah.." Yuuto frowned when he saw the battlefield displayed on the mirage. "That's Belobog's Northern Border."

{Correct! Not only is it the Northern Border but it's a real-time image of what's currently happening.}

Stefan was satisfied when he noticed the change in their expression and continued speaking as if he was showing his proudest work.

{Let me show you something interesting~}

A heavy aura began to escape his body and his left hand flowed through the air as if he was playing the piano. The two were wondering what exactly he was attempting to do but they would soon find out after noticing a change in the mirage.

The clear battlefield devoid of any obstruction began to change as multiple tears appeared and a flood of monsters spewed out of the space.

The Silvermane Guards, noticing the additional wave on top of what they were already fighting, felt despair as they knew the walls were not going to last very long.

With the accumulating damage it had sustained during the last few hours, it would be impossible to fend off.

Especially with this new wave, Belobog would eventually be ridden of any life and the last bastion they had against the Eternal Freeze would finally fall.

{What a beautiful sight.}

Stefan placed his chin in his palm and looked at the mirage with undisguised happiness as he was satisfied with the actions he made.

Basking in his work for a few more seconds he looked at Yuuto.

{I'm sure you know where I'm heading with this.}

"...You will stop your attack if I join you.."

{Close but not exactly. I will temporarily stop while you join me in granting the wish this world has desired for hundreds of years.} 

Yuuto looked confused and Stefan began explaining what he meant.

{You who have just arrived on this planet, created countless changes that seem almost unimaginable in my eyes.}

Stefan glanced at Cyrilla who finally reached her sister a few meters away from him and hid behind Yuuto and Stelle.

The sight of the Supreme Guardian Heir who was supposed to be dead brought many surprises. With the addition of losing the two Supreme Guardians under his control and the attack potential, he showed back in the other space. 

Stefan was convinced of the skills Yuuto had.

{With your skills, the wish ingrained in this world will finally be fulfilled and overshadow any attempts Cocolia has ever made.}

{And if you want some more persuasion, look at the state of your body.}

Looking at the black crystals reaching up to his entire neck, Stefan was convinced of Yuuto's inability to do any more harm to him.

{The corrosion is progressing pretty nicely. So unless you want to hand yourself to that very corrosion, I'm sure you won't be using any more of those 'tricks' you have.}

{But I'm sure you won't, right? I wonder how much longer you'll last against a Stellaron before you eventually destroy yourself~}

{And who knows, I might have a way to take that corrosion off your body if you so wish.}

Sweet words of temptation continued to flow out of Stefan's mouth while Yuuto looked at him in silence. 

{Just imagine, being the one who will stand upon the new world. Having all the power in the world where no one can stop your rise to the top—}

Stefan smiled calmly at the silent treatment he was getting as it showed that a small part of Yuuto was actually listening to his words.

When the body breaks down the mind will eventually follow. 

After hours of tireless fighting and the changes occurring in his body, Stefan wanted to take this chance to sway him in one of his weakest moments.

Whether it was Cocolia or even Cyrille from all those years back. Giving a small piece of hope on the difficult path they're walking, the feeling of temptation will slowly grab a hold of them.

In Yuuto's case, Stefan felt like it would be a waste to see a competent person eventually fall due to goals he wishes to accomplish.

Even more, a person who carries the capabilities to finally fulfill the wish this world wants. 

His glance shifted to the woman by Yuuto's side and sighed in regret as he was sure he couldn't offer the same thing to her. 

Not because she couldn't be swayed, but because she had an energy that seemed to irk him quite a bit. Specifically, the amber flames floating around her.

{Well I can just have the human deal with her once he accepts.]

He had no doubts that Yuuto would accept his offer and it was only a matter of time before he willingly turned himself in.

Just like Cocolia all those years ago, he just needed a small instance to root himself into their minds and he will have yet another person under his control.

Stefan didn't pay any more attention to Stelle who was still glaring at him and waited for Yuuto to break the silence.

"....What should I do?"

"Yuuto?"

Stelle looked at his back in shock hearing him accept the offer despite anticipating his refusal from the bottom of her heart.

Cyrilla also looked shocked as she didn't think the offer would tempt him but was wrong after hearing his answer.

{I presume you accept~? There's nothing fancy you need to do but to just take my hand.} 

Stefan looked elated and stood up from the chair he sat on. With one hand behind his back, he offered his open hand to Yuuto and waited for him to come forward.

Yuuto continued to stare at Stefan with his flickering white eyes while Stelle, who was behind him, anxiously questioned him.

"You're not really going to accept it right?" Her eyes wandered as she hoped to see his expression. "If it's about your body then I'm sure the people on the Express have a way to fix it."

Yuuto continued to be silent and this made Stelle even more anxious. "Just decline his offer and stand behind me. I will prevent him from—-"

"Stelle."

A hoarse voice finally came from Yuuto and she immediately stopped what she wanted to say. Stefan was intrigued by their interaction and was curious about what would happen next.

Yuuto turned his weary body around and uttered something silently that made her eyes turn round.

—SLAP

"How.. could you..?"

"....."

A crisp echo of a slap permeated the surrounding area and Stefan looked at it with interest.

The faint outline of a hand stayed on Yuuto's left cheek showing the amount of force Stelle placed into her slap.

She didn't even bother to look at him even more than usual as she just pulled Cyrilla and her sister towards her and glared at Stefan.

Yuuto slowly turned around and walked towards Stefan holding his arm while using the other one to support his back. His steps were unsteady but he managed to walk without falling.

As he got closer he felt the heat permeating from the Stellaron Stefan was connected to and the desires it wished to force upon him. 

Like a raging wave wanting to consume him.

Stefan's smile deepened as Yuuto got closer and the feeling of exhilaration surged through his body. 

He didn't mind that the two Supreme Guardians he had before were now gone 

{Yes, just take my hand and all your desires will be answered—}

Transparent branches began to grow out of Stefan and wrap themselves around his outstretched arm. Tempting words continued to flow out of his mouth until Yuuto was finally in front of him.

His eyes looked at the hand that looked harmless but he knew that it was far from it. He glanced at Stefan's face with unknown thoughts brewing in his mind.

After a couple of seconds of contemplating, Yuuto finally took the hand into his own.

{Got you.}

The air around the two turned heavy and the branches quickly grew before assaulting Yuuto's mind. Using any gaps to take a firm hold on him.

{Let's just take this frail human mind and finally complete the—-Hmm?}

Stefan continued to probe into Yuuto's head trying to take control of him but he faced something unexpected. 

As he got deeper he felt like a barrier was preventing him from going further and no matter what he tried, he couldn't do anything.

{What is happening…?}

Stefan's expression darkened after facing this obstacle and before he could exert more force, he noticed some movement in the space he was in.

---FLOOOF 

{What is a book doing here?}

A book with a dark blue background and intricate white borders suddenly materialized in front of him. 

It flapped its pages which annoyed Stefan as he was already busy trying to figure out how to get past this barrier. He attempted to swat the book away but naturally missed since the book was used to its owner doing the same thing.

–FLOOOOF!!

{What..?---ARRGHHH}

Stefan was about to wave his hand one more time but a wave of pain suddenly assaulted him as a bright iridescent light exploded from the book floating near him.

The pain was sharp with no sign of stopping and he was forced to exit Yuuto's mind as the pain began to be unbearable.

Feeling the intruder finally leave, the book floated in silence. The space was empty and instead of returning to the library, it stayed outside.

Waiting for what was about to come next.

Back into reality, Stefan's body shook and cold sweat began to pour all over his body. His eyes shook as he looked at Yuuto whose clear white eyes stared at him with a smile.

{What are…}

"I honestly wondered when you would return but you came back so quick." Yuuto chuckled to himself and watched as Stefan stood stiffly in place.

"Frankly, if you want to hide something from me, you need to do a better job," Yuuto said without bothering for a response.

His eyes turned to Stefan's right hand which he tried to subtly hide from him the whole time. However, it was useless and Yuuto was able to figure out why.

'Severing the connection twice seemed to cause permanent damage to the body he has...'

Fingers were missing and countless cracks appeared on his right hand which even the Stellaron was unable to heal. 

"Also! You need to make better lines when you're trying to recruit someone." 

Yuuto took the hand he held to support his back and a bright red aura surged around his fist.

"I felt like falling asleep hearing lines that even a B-grade villain could make up."

{You—!!!}

—BOOOOOM

Stefan's anger soured but before he could do anything, a fist quickly connected with his face. His body shoot backward leaving Yuuto all alone at the center.

"That felt refreshing." Savoring the lingering sensation left on his fist, Yuuto's eyes darted to the Stellaron emitting a dense green aura.

A thick layer of mist exploded from his body and he created a crystal barrier leaving him and the Stellaron inside.

Stelle watched from behind as white crystals grew from where Yuuto was and raised her lance in front of her. A shield-like barrier appeared around her body and stopped the body from flying towards her.

Stefan crashed into the barrier Stelle made and without any hesitation, a gush of amber flames erupted right under Stefan who was still in a state of shock.

"Hopefully, he doesn't take revenge even when he said not to hold back."

Stelle looked a bit worried as he recalled the amount of force she placed in her slap. Remembering the eyes he showed her after receiving it, a hint of cold sweat drenched her body, and prayed that he would somehow forget it.

She quickly shook her head to erase these thoughts and pulled Cyrilla and Cyrille closer together while she stared at the encased crystal barrier.

Yuuto who was still inside, scanned the core of the Stellaron and his heart began to beat fast. 

It was not due to the engine supplying energy to his body but the thoughts of what he was going to attempt to do. Something that most people would call him insane for doing.

"I'm going to need a nice nap after this…"

He wore a wry smile but his eyes showed no signs of hesitation as he plunged his arm into the center of the Stellaron.

The crystals that grew on his arm shattered into dust and thick golden lines spread throughout his body. 

Yuuto felt excruciating pain and his vision began to waver but he clenched his jaw and endured the searing energy crawling up his arm.

A burst of blue and golden aura surged from his body as he activated [Mother's Embrace] to its full capacity. Using the excess energy flowing into him. 

The pain subsided slightly but it wasn't enough to fully combat it as the blood in his veins felt like magma. Burning his insides as it circulated in his body.

But why do this in the first place? Why put his already weary body into more pain than needed?

It was all so his body could get used to the Stellaron's energy.

As he removed the limit of the amount of energy he circulated he gradually understood his body was unfit to use above a certain amount.

Especially when he needed vast amounts of energy to power some of his skills. 

He was not like Stelle who had a perfect body that could combat the corrosion the Stellaron's emitted.

Nor was he in a situation where he had time and could slowly have his body adjust to the energy.

Which left him in the present situation where black crystals grew on his skin and attacked his body from the inside. Slowly ruining him.

So he had a thought. 'Why don't I just force my body to adjust?'

Using a complete Stellaron to break his body down and use its energy into [Mother's Embrace] to heal the damages he took.

He could forcefully adapt his body to get used to the potent energy that was like a double-edged sword.

Would it hurt? Absolutely. But this was something he felt like he needed to do to thoroughly defeat Stefan. Or at least one of the steps.

As he needed a vast amount of energy to follow through with his plan.

"Shit… this hurts like hell…" He managed to utter but stopped when his body tensed up.

Yuuto felt his skin burning off and the muscles underneath slowly came off. But a wave of warmth that was different from the searing pain he felt, slowly healed the wound.

He cheered on the inside as his body recovered and he dug deeper into the Stellaron. His nerves felt electrified at the sensation of his body burning and recovering at a quick pace.

Everything seemed to go smoothly but obstacles were bound to arrive.

{YOUUU!??}

–BANG BANG BANG

Stefan who had burn marks all over his body, slammed his fist into the barrier Yuuto had surrounding him. His face distorted in anger and his eyes carried no sign of calmness.

Only deep resentment towards the person inside.

Yuuto felt the barrier around him gradually break apart and he continued to supply the barrier with his mist alongside reinforcing it with barriers from [Mother's Embrace].

{I WILL KILL YOU!!}

Stefan roared and continued to break down the barrier while Yuuto calmly stared at the center of the Stellaron. 

His eyes flashed a deep white and countless threads became visible to him. Some in particular were tied to Stefan and Yuuto's eyes locked onto them.

"He's data that the Stellaron is using so if I just…"

Yuuto's exposed hand glowed in a bright silver light and a familiar sword materialized in his palm. Stefan's eyes turned wide and he accelerated his attacks as he had to stop Yuuto from using that sword.

–SWISH

{ARGHHHH}

Yuuto didn't waste any time and swung downwards at the thick threads. Causing excruciating pain to envelop Stefan.

That one swing shattered his sword immediately and he felt a vast amount of energy leave his body. Greater than any memory he had ever used so far.

{AHHH DIE DIE DIE!! I WILL KILL YOU!}

As one strike wasn't enough, Yuuto continued to swing with all his might at the threads before him. Even if his sword shattered, he would create a new one.

Stefan turned mad as the pain assaulted his very soul. Torturing him as if his nerves were torn apart each time Yuuto's blade touched these threads.

{ARE YOU NOT SCARED OF THE DAMAGE I CAN DO!? I WILL RAZE THE PLANET AND SHOW YOU THE CORPSES OF YOUR ALLIES!!}

Stefan's bloodshot eyes turned crazy as he couldn't think of anything other than to return the pain he was feeling back to Yuuto.

His hand sunk into the air and like a piece of glass shattering, the space on the surface began to form various portals that had monsters marching out of them.

An expression of ecstasy and anticipation rose within him as he couldn't wait until Yuuto saw the carnage he would unfold due to his actions.

"..o…it.."

{Want me to stop? Too late for that.} Stefan smiled hearing Yuuto's mumbles.

"Do.. it..if you can…"

{What?}

His expression changed, wondering if he heard wrong but seeing the mocking smirk Yuuto had, Stefan felt something was off.

Yuuto didn't stop his attacks once he said those words and Stefan felt like he was going crazy.

{Show me that false confidence once you see….}

He wasn't convinced and waited until the mirage showed the destruction he wanted highly anticipated. But oddly enough it didn't come despite the amount of monsters he sent.

What he saw instead was not the destruction he hoped for but a group of people ripping apart his hoard as if it were a child's game.

One with a spear and another wielding a large scythe. Near the back was a row of soldiers holding guns in place while a woman with gray hair led the formation.

A person with a shield, a person with a bow, and a person shooting electricity from her guitar.

All these people were gradually destroying the wave of monsters Stefan sent.

{No.. they will eventually…}

Stefan didn't buy it and convinced himself that it was a matter of time until they would get overwhelmed. But for a second time, his expectations were shattered.

The gates of the Northern Wall suddenly opened and out came countless robots ranging from different sizes. Limbs that were armed with saws or tiny robots with built-in rockets.

All these robots were slowly led by a man with flaming red hair and a metal arm that shattered a monster running his way.

{What is this….}

Stefan kneeled in disbelief watching the robots attack his hoard and slowly retake the amount of land they initially lost.

The pain that assaulted him felt numb and no longer affected him. Leaving him to stare blankly at the mirage that betrayed his expectations.

His gaze didn't leave the image and just watched as the monsters he threatened to release were slowly razed.

Hammering the final nail as a massive red laser fell from the sky. Decimating a large chuck of the monsters escaping from the tear he made.

"Go.. repent in hell…" Yuuto whispered and swung his sword one last time.

A thick sword carrying the energy from the Stellaron he was from, exploded and brought upon a surge of indescribable pain to Stefan who looked lifeless. 

The thick thread that connected Stefan's data to the Stellaron shattered and Stefan's body gradually cracked as he was no longer supported by the Stellaron.

Yuuto felt relieved seeing Stefan dissolve into nothingness and removed his arm from the center of the Stellaron.

But it seemed like his intentions were rejected by the very object he was connected to.

{^&SHB@^))!!!!?}

"What the hell!?"

{ DIE@&DIE@@(DIE+} 

"SHIT!!"

The Stellaron erupted and a dense green aura trapped Yuuto's arm into its form. Yuuto was unable to control his body as an immense amount of power gathered within his core.

Indescribable voices echoed within his mind and he felt his body gradually break apart from the endless energy this Stellaron was providing him.

His engine churned as it tried to process this amount of energy and even forced himself to use all the healing skills he knew to help with the feedback.

This continued to go on as Yuuto felt breathless and his heart pumped excessively.

Pumping with all its might until it finally stopped.

***

Will post another one later. Think of it as a final one that will mark the end of the Belobog arc.