CHAPTER 349: CHAPTER 348: CONDITIONED REFLEX

Chapter 348: Conditioned Reflex

The "Spinning Blue Lancer" (Cú Chulainn) watched Mordred get beaten up and fell into deep thought. What is going on?

It’s a Holy Grail War... why are there so many Artoria-faces? He felt like he’d been set up.

"Yo, hisashiburi! Isn’t that ’Big Dog’?"

As he was thinking, Kenji quietly appeared beside him, patting Cú Chulainn’s shoulder.

"Want to become ’ammunition’?"

Kenji took out the "Pincer Attack Formation" (a weapon) and offered him a spot.

"Forget it. I recommend you launch that ’red arrow guy’ (Archer) instead," Cú Chulainn shook his head.

"Doggy, how’s your Master this time?" Kenji asked.

"Don’t call me that. This Master... is actually pretty good." Cú Chulainn was quite satisfied with Boothill.

After the experience of being forced to commit suicide by a Command Spell, this "Bobo Shark" (Boothill) was much more his style.

"He didn’t make you ’self-love’?" Kenji asked with a grin.

(Boothill’s synaptic beacon had been changed; even "suicide" commands were turned into "self-love" commands.)

"What’s that? But this Master’s verbal tics... ’baby,’ ’cutie’... they’re a bit weird."

Cú Chulainn shrugged. Among all the Masters he’d had, Boothill was top-notch.

"I’m out. It doesn’t look like a real fight is breaking out here anyway." Cú Chulainn glanced over. What kind of fight is this?

He had no desire to become the "Spinning Blue Lancer" again, so he chose to dematerialize and disappear.

I’ll just go find a place to fish. Penacony should have a spot for that.

...

Realizing he couldn’t stay in this world permanently, Otto cherished this time with Kallen.

"Great Inventor... if I

were to ’punch the tree,’ what are the chances I’d succeed?"

After Kallen learned what Otto had done, she couldn’t help but have this thought.

Five hundred years! She didn’t want to be the Overseer of Schicksal anymore.

Imaginary Tree: ?

Otto sweated, forcing a laugh. "Kallen, stop. Don’t even think about it."

He had prepared for over 500 years and had barely succeeded. You want to ’punch’ it too? Do you think the Imaginary Tree has no temper?

There’s no chance. None at all.

"Otto?!"

"Who’s calling me?"

"Oh... it’s you, my old friend."

Hearing his name, Otto turned and saw Welt, who was panting heavily. Otto’s signature smile appeared, and he opened his arms.

"Hisashiburi! Did you miss me?"

"?!"

Welt’s pupils quaked. His face twisted in rage. It is Otto! Even if he was turned to ash, I’d recognize him!

"OTTO...!"

"Pseudo-Black Hole!"

It was an almost instantaneous, conditioned reflex. Without thinking, his body reacted instinctively. A black hole appeared in his hand, and he lunged at Otto.

Otto of old! Just die!

Couldn’t you just stay in your coffin?! Why did you come out?!

Otto shook his head. In an instant, countless feathers fell.

CRACK!

"Otto" was torn to shreds by the black hole, but Welt immediately felt a heavy blow to his chest.

A sudden, sharp pain made his body collapse to his knees, temporarily taking him out of the fight.

"Old friend... so rash. Just like a hot-headed kid." Otto stood in front of Welt, unharmed, a golden cube floating in his hand.

This wasn’t the Void Archives he’d left in the Imaginary Space; it was one of his Noble Phantasms as a Servant.

Mimicry: Fenghuang Down—

"..."

Welt was stunned. This scene... why was it so familiar...?

Hiss... I remember! The Second Honkai War! He was this close to finishing Sirin, and this bastard Otto had to interfere!

It’s been so many years! I’ve gotten so much stronger! Why... why can’t I beat him?!

I can’t do anything...

(The Old Master, watching this, got a strong sense of déjà vu, like watching Lu... He couldn’t help but smile and give a ’thumbs up’.)

Kallen didn’t stop Otto. Welt had attacked first, and besides, Welt wasn’t really hurt.

"Still so driven by emotion. It seems you still hate me that much," Otto sighed.

"This is not good... not good at all..."

"Welt... I only killed your father for certain... ’unavoidable’ reasons..."

"You may have lost your father... but you still have me, don’t you? I can be your ’leader’ in life, can’t I?"

"Sigh... If you still can’t get over it... I can find a monument and kneel, and perform ’uncontrollable sobbing’ for you."

Otto said this with a sincere expression, but inwardly he was exasperated. I didn’t want to say this... there’s no need to provoke them.

But... his Master (Kenji) had such a "wicked sense of humor." He had used a Command Spell to make him say this.

Oh well. Sorry, Welt.

"Otto, you...!" Welt’s fists clenched. Otto’s words... were a direct ’ultimate attack’ to the face.

"Otto! I’ll ****ing... BEEP BEEP... BEEP!"

Tesla immediately began ’transmitting’ (cussing). Her temper was fiery, and she couldn’t hold back.

"Titan Mechs! Get him!"

The Titan mechs, strong enough to punch a Herrscher (Herrscher of Wind), swarmed toward Otto.

If the "Silver Bullet" (A-bomb) didn’t have such a large blast radius, she would have given Otto a taste.

Kallen’s mouth twitched. She covered her face, exasperated.

Great Inventor... what are you saying? How did you become like this? Are those even words a human should say?

"Mimicry: Key of Erosion—"

Otto used Void Archives to mimic the Key of Erosion, instantly disintegrating the Titan mechs.

"You two from Anti-Entropy... I am already a dead man. Are you sure you want to fight me?" Otto said casually.

(His Servant sheet was irrelevant. He retained his "False God" abilities. If his Master was strong enough... he could do what the False God could.)

"Who knows if you’re plotting something again!?"

Welt sneered. He never judged a book by its cover... except for anyone with Otto’s face. Especially Otto himself.

"I can vouch for him."

Kallen stepped forward, stopping the fight from continuing.

"You... are..."

"...Saint... Kallen Kaslana?!"

Plenty of people knew of Kallen. With Otto’s "faith" in her, he’d wanted the whole world to know of her greatness.

"I see... Tesla, let’s stop."

Welt clutched his chest, frustrated. He hadn’t gotten to beat up Otto; instead, Otto had taught him a lesson.

But... since Kallen was here, Otto wouldn’t do anything.

The only "shackle" that could bind Otto... was Kallen.

Tesla nodded. The phantom "Silver Bullet" behind her vanished, but she still shot Otto a vicious glare.

Tch!

No matter how many times she saw that face, it was just as repulsive.

"Otto... did you, by any chance, use the alias ’Luocha’?" Welt suddenly asked.

Otto was stunned, a nostalgic look on his face. "That was... many years ago. Some people did call me ’Raksha’."

Welt’s expression changed several times. He was deep in thought.

Luocha... Raksha...