Preparation to the Moon
Kouro and the others followed Welt into a large, dark building.
Inside the room, when the lights were turned on by Welt, Siegfried's squinting eyes widened as he saw something in front of him.
"No way!"
"This is the thing that will take the five of us to the moon, Mr. Siegfried. " said Welt.
Kouro who was thinking heard Siegfried's shout so he raised his head and looked forward.
A twenty-meter tall humanoid robot armoured like a samurai in red with brownish black stood before them.
Looking at that robot, it somehow reminded Kouro of a Gundam...
Higokumaru and Ashborn's expressions didn't really change seeing the robot in front of them except for Siegfried whose eyes lit up like a child.
"Hmm? Is this a Gundam?" Kouro muttered.
Right after he muttered that,Siegfried who heard him immediately denied it.
"You're wrong! This is the Arahato the Ninja Mech!"
After that, Siegfried then muttered in a tone of amazement, "I didn't realize that Mech Ninja really existed! I thought it was just a show for kids who wanted to be Ninjas!"
'Well... If you want to become a Ninja let alone a Hokage, just watch Naruto...' Kouro thought with a calm expression.
Unfortunately, there was no Naruto in this world... The author doesn't even exist, it seems Kishimoto might have died from the Honkai Eruption or HB disease before he created Naruto...
Kouro shook his head dismissing this thought.
Welt who heard Siegfried's words then explained, "Arhat or Arahato is the codename of Dr. Tesla's project. She intended to develop a general-purpose all-terrain bipedal heavy weapons platform."
He then continued while looking at Arahato, "We made those anime, manga and games to earn some additional funding. We have also completed some modifications to our lunar mission equipment."
*Snap!*
Kouro took a picture of the robot using his cell phone, he remembered that Bronya seemed to like Arahato too...
"Woah! Did you say that you made Arahato? Can I have your autograph? I'm Ninja's number 1 fanboy!" Siegfried seemed to be really looking at Welt with sparkling eyes.
Ashborn and Higokumaru looked at him with flat eyes.
To think a man with a family had such childish zeal...
Siegfried ignored both of their stares, "Mr. Welt, Arahato is the coolest Ninja in the world, I still remember that 1987 classic... The one with the best lines!"
He then stuck out his hand before posing and said in a high tone, "Tyrant of the false heavens! Witness the shattering of stars!"
"...Siegfried-san, please remember your age..." Kouro said after seeing him speak like a Chunni without feeling embarrassed.
Seeing Siegfried's childish behaviour, Welt smiled slightly for a moment before his expression returned to normal, "We've wasted time."
He first looked at Kouro and Ashborn before saying, "At first I had improvised your plan Kouro, but... Since you've returned, not to mention bringing powerful reinforcements... I think we should make a new plan."
Kouro glanced at Ashborn before looking at Welt and saying, "How about we exchange information about Sirin first before making a new plan?"
Ashborn nodded his head, "I have no objection. Let me contact someone who is an expert in this matter."
After that, he then opened the communication interface before contacting someone.
'Is he calling Mobius?' Kouro thought.
Moments later, the interface showed a green-haired woman with reptile-like vertical pupils and green eyes.
Looking at the girl on the screen, Higokumaru seemed to raise her eyebrows slightly.
["What's wrong, Ashborn?"]
Ashborn then explained the reason why he was calling her.
["I see..., after all, I also have something to tell you all about the Second Herrscher."]
After that Ashborn raised the interface so that they could see Mobius.
["There is good news and bad news about the Second Herrscher, which one do you want to hear first?"]
The three of them looked at each other before Welt said, "Bad news."
"The bad news is that the Second Herrscher has been given new abilities, from what I can detect, she has been given 3 Herrscher gems and 1 Herrscher of the End core shard. With all these new abilities, you can imagine the Second Herrscher as the Herrscher of the End."
Their expressions became serious when they heard this, especially Higokumaru, she knew very well how terrifying the abilities of Herrscher of the End were.
Fortunately, the Second Herrscher only had 1 core fragment of Herrscher of the End.
It's just that... Why did the Will of Honkai give her that core fragment? Isn't the Will of Honkai's job to...
"What about the good news? Siegfried asked carefully.
He didn't really understand the core fragment of the 'Herrscher of the End', but judging from the expressions of all of them, it seemed like the Herrscher was very powerful.
Higokumaru's mind was distracted by Siegfried's question, but after thinking for a moment she was able to roughly guess the 'good news'.
["The good news is that the Second Herrscher only has 1 core fragment of Herrscher of The End."]
"... That's it?" said Siegfried in a disbelieving tone.
["Listen carefully, descendant of Kaslana, there are four fragments of the Herrscher of The End Core scattered throughout the world and sealed under certain circumstances. The World Serpent has one Core shard while Higokumaru knows the location of one of them. With the Second Herrscher also having that shard, there are already a total of 3 Herrscher of the End core shards and only one Herrscher core shard left."] Mobius said in a cold voice.
"If all of the Herrscher of the End core fragments are found, then..." Ashborn said in a serious tone.
"Herrscher of the End will rise again." Kouro added.
At the same time, he was also thinking, 'Is the Herrscher of the End core fragment I have also included?'
If the Herrscher core shard he had could be used wouldn't that mean that collecting the core shard could also complete the [Secret Quest] as well?
Seeing their completely serious expressions, Siegfried couldn't help asking, "...Is Herrscher of the End that powerful?"
"Yes. Very powerful, powerful enough to destroy the earth as easily as turning a hand." Higokumaru said with gritted teeth.
She seemed to still remember the Herrscher of the End's strength even after 50,000+ years.
"Then what should we do?! If we don't go to the moon soon, then the Second Herrscher will throw another meteor!" Siegfried shouted with an annoyed expression.
Welt, Kouro, Ashborn and Higokumaru were not concerned about Sirin's ultimatum, after all, they had the power to destroy the meteors, what they were concerned about was the consequences of disobeying Sirin's ultimatum.
If they don't comply, will Sirin descend from the moon to earth and destroy cities just like in the original plot?
Kouro wasn't sure because Sirin's power was now hundreds of times more than Sirin's from the original plot, especially after she had gotten the Herrscher of the End's core shard.
Perhaps, it wasn't just cities that she would easily destroy, maybe even continents or even the earth itself.
Welt was seen rubbing his chin with a thoughtful expression before raising his head and looking at Mobius, "That means we have to collect the Herrscher of the End core fragments first before the Second Herrscher. Even if we can't..."
He looked at Higokumaru and continued, "We can send Higokumaru to a safe place, a place that the Second Herrscher cannot reach."
Hearing this, Kouro then asked, "But... What if Sirin has the ability to detect the presence of other Herrscher of the End core fragments?"
["That's impossible."] argued Mobius.
"How can you be that sure?" asked Kouro.
She then answered while glancing at Higokumaru, ["At least, the Herrscher core fragment whose location is only known by Higokumaru cannot be detected. Because the Herrscher of Shadows had paid special attention when sealing that Herrscher core fragment."]
"It's good that it's like that." said Kouro.
Higokumaru who had been silent then said in a weak tone, "Even so, there is still a possibility that the Second Herrscher knows the location of the Herrscher core fragment. Moreover, the seal that seals the Herrscher core can only be opened by someone who can use shadow abilities."
That means if Ashborn gets caught by Sirin...
"You just calm down, I'm strong, even if I can't defeat her I have confidence in my escape ability." Ashborn said calmly.
With his ability to be able to create portals using shadows, he can go anywhere to a place he knows.
"Let's hope so." said Higokumaru.
Welt glanced at the two of them, "So you guys still want to come to the moon?"
"Of course!" said Ashborn and Higokumaru simultaneously.
"Then it's clear," said Welt before looking at Siegfried.
"Sorry Mr. Siegfried, knowing how dangerous a trip to the moon can be, I can't take you there."
"O-Oi! I'm not afraid of that little girl even if she has a fragment of that Herrscher's core whatever that is!" said Siegfried.
Welt shook his head and said, "Compared to Kouro, Higokumaru and Ashborn, you are the weakest."
"For Kouro and Ashborn, I understand that I'm not as strong as them, but with Higokumaru? You mean I'm weaker than a little girl?" said Siegfried angrily while pointing at Higokumaru.
Welt and Kouro's mouths twitched when they heard his words, they both then remembered Higokumaru who turned into a giant fox and destroyed one of the meteors with an energy ball.
'Siegfried he is...' Welt thought.
'Seeking death'. Kouro thought.
Ashborn blinked innocently at Siegfried.
Right after saying that, Siegfried felt a high pressure from Higokumaru that made him remember his beloved wife Cecilia Schariac when she was angry at him for staring at a woman in a bikini with a lascivious gaze.
Higokumaru looked at him with a cute smiling face despite the blue tick on her forehead.
"What did you say?..."
She then turned to look at Welt and Kouro before saying calmly, "Mr. Welt, Kouro-kun, let me take Mr. Siegfried for a moment."
"No! Wait! Save me! Mr. Welt! Kouro!"
The three of them stared at Siegfried who was being dragged by Higokumaru to another room.
After that, they heard Siegfried's high-pitched scream like a 'bi*ch'.
Kouro cupped his hands together and prayed for Siegfried.
To think Higokumaru who had a small body could drag Siegfried so easily...
As expected, a Herrscher is a Herrscher.
...
A few minutes later.
Kouro, Welt, Ashborn and Mobius looked at Siegfried who was sitting in Seiza with his face unrecognizable even to his own mother.
Higokumaru who was beside him was patting her hand before saying with satisfaction.
"Do you understand? Even I, the weakest of them, can defeat you easily, let alone Kouro and the others."
"Undyerstyud (Understood)..." Siegfried said in a sulking tone.
It seemed that even after being beaten by Higokumaru, his enthusiasm for going to the moon had not diminished at all.
But he also understood that he was just a burden to them.
Seeing this, Welt then sighed before saying, "Mr. Siegfried, don't be discouraged, you can wait in the Lab tower with your Squad and Dr. Tesla and Ein."
"Okay... I understand. I'm not a child." Siegfried said before standing up and looking at them.
Kouro, Welt, Higokumaru and Ashborn, the four of them could be said to be one of Earth's strongest forces.
Kouro with his current status is not inferior to Kevin's physical strength, moreover, with the ability and authority of [Death and Life], he will not lose against just anyone, let alone with his ace card...
Welt Yang, as the successor of Welt Joyce the First Herrscher has the ability to reconstruct anything he understands, he also has the Star of Eden which can create a Quasi-Black Hole.
Higokumaru who is the only surviving Herrscher from the Previous Era has more experience, plus as the Herrscher of Corruption, she has the ability to be able to infect anything.
And Ashborn, is a KOURO clone with genetic modifications that increase his physical abilities so that it is equivalent to a MANTIS, he has also lived a long time with Otto, with his fighting skills that have been honed for more than 500 years and his shadow ability, he can be said to be the strongest of them all.
Kouro is the Herrscher of Death, Welt is the Herrscher of Reason, Higokumaru is the Herrscher of Corruption, and Ashborn is the Pseudo Herrscher of Shadow.
The four of them will fight Sirin.
Kouro thought this is not unfair, considering that technically in the original plot Sirin created Herrscher of Wind (Avrora) Herrscher of Flame (Agata), Herrscher of Thunder (Bella) and Herrscher of Death (Galina).
In addition to the Herrscher of the End core shard...
4 VS 5.
...
"So our plan is to use Arahato to go to the moon before defeating the Second Herrscher, right?" asked Kouro.
"Yes. Since the blueprints for 'Selene' have been obtained, we can focus on defeating her first, even if we can't defeat her we can buy time until Selene can be recreated." said Welt.
["I have sent the blueprint data of 'Selene', have you received it?"] Mobius asked.
Welt seemed to glance at his communication interface before nodding his head.
"Then it's decided. We have 6 hours before departure, you can use that time to prepare yourselves."
After saying that, Welt said goodbye and then left.
"Prepare yourself... Huh?" muttered Kouro.
[68 Hours 50 Minutes before Sirin's ultimatum]