"Senior Brother..."

The elderly Zhang Huaiyi looked at the Old Master, who was replaying a video recording. His fists tightened again. The lightning and golden light of Dragon Tiger Mountain crackled on his knuckles.

He's been dead for so long... and his Senior Brother still kept this 'dark history'. What is he doing?!

As a dead man, can't he just let me rest in peace?!

"Huaiyi, you know me. On Dragon Tiger Mountain, my lips are the tightest. I won't tell anyone else... I'll just show it to Kang-kang (Junior Brother Jinzhong)." The Old Master slipped the phone into his robe.

Zhang Huaiyi's old face darkened. "Senior Brother," he said in a low voice, "Do you even believe that when you say it?"

I've been your Junior Brother for decades! You think I don't know what kind of 'scoundrel' you are?

You'll probably show it to every single disciple on Dragon Tiger Mountain!

The Old Master didn't answer. He just patted Zhang Huaiyi's shoulder, his tone complicated. "Back then... why didn't you come back? To see me and Junior Brother Jinzhong?"

Zhang Huaiyi fell silent, his eyes filled with deep guilt and self-blame.

"I didn't want to bring trouble to Dragon Tiger Mountain."

The Old Master glared at him. "Trouble?"

"Are you looking down on our Master, or are you looking down on me?"

"You... name one person that I or our Master couldn't beat!"

As he spoke, the Old Master rolled up his sleeves, revealing his palm.

"Er..."

Zhang Huaiyi sweated. His Senior Brother's "Palm God" technique... had truly never missed. Anyone who could survive one slap... was this [Thumbs Up].

It was true. If he had returned to Dragon Tiger Mountain, few of his pursuers would have dared to cause trouble there.

But... no matter what, he couldn't go back. That was his own decision.

"Alright. I know you. Let's find a place to talk." The Old Master pulled Zhang Huaiyi away.

...

"A Heroic Spirit? Can... someone like me... really become a Heroic Spirit?"

Kenji's Servant was a handsome, blonde man in a bishop's uniform. After receiving the information in his head, he couldn't help but ask himself this.

He had died in the end... but he had succeeded. He had turned an imperfect world into the one he wanted.

This was... Otto Apocalypse, after he had 'punched' the Imaginary Tree.

He knew very well... he was a villain. He would never deny the things he had done.

"Otto. A pleasure to meet you. I am your Master," Kenji said, looking at him with great interest. Welt is on the Express... I'll have Hoshi (Stelle) call him over later.

"Judging by your eyes, Master, you've seen me before? A parallel world, perhaps?"

Otto stroked his chin. He himself had observed many parallel worlds during his lifetime.

"I have. It was an Otto who hadn't 'punched' the Tree yet. I made a deal with him. If he could lead humanity past the Honkai, I would help him resurrect Kallen," Kenji nodded.

"Ah... I'm so envious," Otto sighed.

If he had met Kenji... he would have fought the Honkai to the death without hesitation. Only one of them would have been left standing.

It was a pity... but he had no regrets. He had done what he set out to do.

"Master, you summoned me... but you don't need the Holy Grail, do you?" Otto said, certain.

Someone with the power to resurrect others... would have no need for a wish-granting cup.

Then... there is only one answer. His 'chaos-seeker' attribute is acting up. I understand.

"Indeed. I mainly... wanted you to meet an old friend."

Hearing this, Otto's expression became intriguing. Old friend? There were only a few who qualified.

Void Archives, Welt, the "Azure Empyrea"...

"Is that you... 'Great Inventor'?"

Elysia's summoned Servant was... Kallen. The modified Grail system wasn't limited to Heroic Spirits; living people were also possible.

"?!"

The familiar voice made Otto's body jolt. He slowly, involuntarily, turned around.

It was the Kallen from his memories... but her blue eyes were deeper, marked by time. A clear weariness was visible.

She was no longer that naive, lively Kaslana girl. She now carried the dignity of a leader.

"Kallen..." Otto said softly, his hands clenching and unclenching, betraying his inner turmoil.

"It really is you, 'Great Inventor.' It's been... 500 years. I've finally found you," Kallen said, a nostalgic look on her face.

"?"

Otto was stunned. That number... why is it so 'subtle'? It gave him a very strange feeling.

"No way... 'Thus Spoke Kaslana'?" Kenji blurted out.

The "500 years" timeframe was just too specific.

As for Kallen being alive... he wasn't surprised. There were many ways to extend one's life on Earth.

MANTIS, Abyss Flower, Soulium...

This Kallen... was the one Otto had saved.

Otto's mouth twitched. It can't be... Kallen wouldn't 'punch' the Tree...

"Thus Spoke Apocalypse" was enough. "Thus Spoke Kaslana"... was unnecessary.

"Great Inventor... you did something, didn't you? The world... has forgotten you," Kallen asked.

She, who was supposed to be killed by Honkai Beasts, had survived. She had vaguely sensed Otto... but when she asked those who knew him... they all said they'd never heard of him.

It was as if... she was the only one in the entire world who still remembered Otto. All traces of him... gone.

The world... had forgotten Otto.

And, after that... she was "blessed" by the world. Everything she did... succeeded. There were no obstacles.

Kenji stroked his chin. This... must be the 'price'.

What strong deja vu... Isn't this exactly Buer's (Nahida's) experience?

The "Lord Bishop"... had turned an imperfect world into the one he wanted. That timeline... was Kallen's timeline.

"I'm already a dead man. Such things... are no longer important," Otto shook his head, smiling lightly.

To see that Kallen was safe... he was truly happy.

He... who had died so long ago... to be given this chance.

He put a hand to his chest. Praise Kenji.

"..."

Kallen was silent. Her personality hadn't changed, but she had grown. She no longer did things so rashly.

"I... am the 'Overseer' of Schicksal now."

"That's good. You are well-suited to be the Overseer."

"But I don't want to do it! It's so... much... work!"

Kallen said, exhausted. Being the Overseer was too much. The only reason she hadn't gone bald... was because her Kaslana genes were good.

She had fantasized more than once... about Otto returning. That would be so good. She could finally... retire.

Only when talking to Otto... could she say what she really felt. It was... relaxing.

Seeing Kallen like this... Kenji was reminded of Theresa after she became the Overseer. That "suffering" feeling... it was identical.