{3}Interlude-The Otto Files: Gold

A/N: I thought it would be fun to write this type of chapter as it would make sense cannon wise to the story. Who wouldn't be curious of the origins of the catastrophy creation Otto.

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-3rd POV-

"Did anyone follow you?" Asked Himeko as she looked at Welt.

They were currently both sitting together in an inconspicuous corner of a coffee shop.

"No, I don't think so" responded Welt, reaching into his coat, he pulled out a folder full of files and the golden cube known as [Void Archives]

"So you managed to get it," Himeko said in surprise.

With all the defenses and safety protocols Otto placed, Himeko was surprised that Welt managed to take it out of Hyperion without alerting the big man himself.

Picking up the files, she began to read through them.

It wasn't much, just all the information they had both gathered on what exactly "Herrshers" were and a few special keywords they had stumbled upon here and there.

For example, The Previous Era and the 13 Hero's.

Welt was the one who obtained these keywords from [Void Archives] before Otto forbade Welt from going through certain information in the Divine Key.

Yes, Otto and Himeko are trying to figure out Otto's secret. Despite the three of them being friends for the longest time, there are still so many things Otto hasn't told them, and probably won't tell them.

That's why Welt and Himeko went behind his back to figure things out.

From his powers to create "Herrshers", his superior knowledge in stuf he shouldn't know about, and the many secrets he obviously hasn't told them.

That's why they both banded together, to find out the truth behind their childhood friend.

"I'll investigate the Divine Keys" Himeko claimed one of the many cases they had to investigate.

She chose this one since she has always been curious about the weapon's origin. She didn't even know if there were more that Otto was hiding from them.

"Then I'll take the Previous Era and Herrshers" Welt claimed the topic, as he himself was curious about it.

With a nod, they both went their own ways, unaware of the eyes watching them.

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-Himeko POV-

The Divine Keys, a series of weapons and unique items that hold unimaginable power.

Well, that's how Otto described them.

But although he never told us what exactly we're the divine keys, I think i know what they are

They are like us, Herrshers.

Well not exactly like us in a living sense, but what powers them is definitely one of us.

Most wouldn't be able to sense it but to us Herrshers, it's child's play.

Each of the Divine Keys holds a Herrsher core, the only difference was that they weren't complete in a sense.

If I were to compare the Herrsher core within [Judgement of Shamash] to my core, I could only describe it as an empty shell, a shadow of what its true power could be.

But where did he obtain these? How could he make these? How did he even make these to begin with?

If Otto himself made these weapons, why not use a true Herrsher core like mine?

Now that I think of it, I remember Welt telling me that Otto himself was visited by his future self back when we were kids.

But Welt was sure that it was just a cover-up to hide where he really got that book with Hyperion's blueprints.

I'm surprised that we didn't notice or question so much of the weird stuff Otto does until now.

Anyway, the Divine Keys are made of two important components.

A Herrsher core and Soulium.

Soulium in simple word, is a metallic composite of incredibly small nano-robots, designed to conduct and insulate Honkai Energy.

That's why [Judgement of Shamash] is able to shape shift and change between its gun form and cleaver form.

But the Soulium should be technology that is ages beyond what we have now, and I am a hundred percent certain that Otto wasn't THAT smart back then, smart enough to create Soulium by himself.

So if he didn't create it, who did?

So far I have concluded that their origin is from either one of two options.

Either there was some sort of human race or advanced society before what is known as normal human history, and Otto somehow found their remains. Thus the Keyword 'The Previous Era'.

Or second, and the one that I personally believe is right.

Either Otto got the technology from another universe outside our branch in the imaginary tree, or he IS from another world.

If it really is the second, I would understand why he doesn't tell's us much about it.

Perhaps it is a life gone by, something that he is desperately trying to move on from.

Now the only thing I can do now is wait, Welt's research on the previous Era and what Herrsher truly are is important to my conclusion.

Sigh~

Perhaps we shouldn't have poked our noses were it doesn't belong.

Becuase the answers we find might change the way we look at Otto, of course I will never stop loving him, but things will definitely change.

Even if it's for better or for worse.

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-Welt POV-

I have been exposed to the concept of Herrsher's long enough to know that they aren't from this world.

They far from it, no, WE are far from it.

The very source of our power that allows is to not bend, but break the laws of the world is something that shouldn't exist, even in a world full of gods, demons, and angels.

But thankfully, Otto has already explained that part to us.

The Cocoon of Finality. A transcendental being that wanders the lonely universe in search of a partner, an equal.

That's why it will soon rain down on our plane of existence, to test is and see if one of us is worthy of standing next to it.

To become Finality.

And how will it test us? It will send catastrophy after catastrophy until we are wiped out for it's cause

The Herrshers.

The same ones that Otto turned us into.

But how did he do so?

Is he a transcendental being just like the Cocoon of Finality?

I highly doubt that as I dont really think that the same childhood friend that I have know for years would be some sort of multiversal god that can eat galaxies in a bite.

That moron could never be a god, he would probably see it as a title that only holds him back.

Despite their similarities, both Otto and the Cocoon are fundamentally different, or atleast they should be.

But I can't make that conclusion yet as I've never really met the Cocoon itself.

And although we have detected a slow but steady rise in the appearance of Honkai energy in our world, there still aren't any Herrshers to use as a medium for contact.

Well, I think we might have one actually.

That cheerful girl might think she's good at hiding it, but I could feel it that time we shook hands the first time we met.

Elysia, she's one of them.

And I'm pretty sure Otto is aware of that already, seeing how he's in cahoots with her. I'm surprised he hasn't been stabbed or atleast punched to oblivion by Himeko.

And seeing that she didn't bother hiding or acted nervous when we shook hands, I'm sure that she wanted me to know on purpose.

We acknowledged what we truly both were in that moment, all that's left is asking her the question, and so will she asked me questions.