Chapter 131: Difficult Choices
Adelheid was waiting on the overseer at HQ and she will give her an ultimatum. Addy knows that she is an integral part of Tilie's plans in which they will swoop in to take care of the herrscher to get her cores and use it to try and revive Kallen.
"Slimy bastard, using me and Cecilia. You'll be in for a big surprise." Adelheid was lead to the room of the overseer and she opened the door without delay.
"Ahhh, Adelheid. What can I do for you?" Tilie smiled and Addy narrowed her eyes at her. "Ottilie Apocalypse, I'm here to tell you one thing. I will sortie to Siberia, you have no idea what you're dealing with. For having such a brilliant mind, you still are human in the end. Foolish." Addy shook her head and acted like Tilie was an idiot.
The blonde raised her brow and thought things will be mighty troublesome with the obedient Adelheid acting like this. "Whatever do you mean?" She straightened up and narrowed her eyes.
"You cannot bring back Kallen Kaslana woman. And you certainly cannot beat Sirin without others doing it for you. Coward, that's why Kallen turned her back on you and Schicksal. You view humans as the rot of the world, but what you don't understand is you're one of them. Worse even, it's no surprise Kallen left you." She shrugged and spat on the floor.
The overseer never felt this disrespected before and her rage got the better of her. "What do you know!? Do you know the feeling of losing the light in your life!? Have you endured numerous seasons thinking it's all because of you!? Adelheid Schariac, you're testing my patience... You better get out of my face before I turn Schicksal on you." Ottilie growled and Addy started to laugh.
"Oh man, that's funny. Hah... I didn't know you can joke like that. You need me don't you? You want those little pretty herrscher gems right? And you can't get it without me... Guess what? You're just a stepping stone, feels bad right? Seeing your plans crumble before your very eyes... What a clown, you think every piece in your little game falls into place however you want it." Adelheid put salt on her wound and Tilie used Fenghuang down to try and control her.
But of course. Nothing happened and Addy just dusted her battlesuit. "Was that supposed to do something? That might've worked on Siegfried and Welt, but your little tricks will never work on me. Oh, and by the way. Cecilia and Kiana are at Spiral workshop right now." Adelheid gave a face splitting grin and Tilie was shocked. She didn't forget about Aesir, but she thought that they won't do anything like always.
"Tataaa~ Reviving Kallen with your plan is a disgrace to her memory. Enjoy having fun here in Schicksal. I guess Anti-Entropy would love to have me there?" Adelheid laughed and jumped upwards, destroying the ceiling as she flew to Siberia.
Tilie crushed the goblet in her hands and was burning with rage. "How dare you Adelheid Schariac..." She then thought that everything was in shambles and had to do something about this.
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"Wooh, she gave her a piece of her mind. That was pretty awesome isn't it? She has grown well." Ein whistled and thought Tilie just got burned.
"Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. She just got outplayed at her own game. And this was a nice show hehe~" Vill-v licked her lips and felt wonderful. Seeing Tilie be brutalized emotionally by Adelheid.
She was the one who organized the whole thing. As she thought Ein was giving the blonde too much leeway, slowly setting up her ultimate failure and enjoying the look on her face when she inevitably fails. Vill wanted instant gratification and her sadistic persona was satisfied, for now.
"I guess we'll see what she's made of. I'm curious how much she's grown. I mean, Joachim probably has a plan to not die. But he didn't even think about Tesla or the others. Honestly, he's acting just like a Kaslana." Ein looked at Kallen and squinted his eyes at her.
"Hey, don't look at me. And Vill-v, you're enjoying this too much." Kallen chided her and Vill snorted.
"Kukuku~ That's what she gets for just shrugging off Ein's generosity. Isn't this what you wanted too Kallen? Making her suffer the consequences of her actions? I smell a hypocrite." Vill-v retorted, making Kallen go silent.
"Well, every human has hypocrisy Vill. But your sadistic side is starting to rise no? You're ruining it for the rest of us. Reign it in or I'll be spanking you at the top of the Eiffel tower. You patiently waited for me back then, what's a few more decades?" He sighed and shook his head.
Vill started fidgeting and thought that wasn't too bad. As her evil sadistic side turned into a masochist too over the years. Admitting defeat that she will never conquer Ein.
"Adelheid is going to Siberia, while Siegfried goes to the moon. Hah, he's going to lose his body there for sure. Better call some back up huh?" Ein called for some help.
After a few seconds, Nuwa entered the room and was excited. "Ein... Will I really have a super duper battle that's anime as hell!?" Nuwa got stars in her eyes and was giddy.
"Yeah, use whatever you wish and just make sure Joachim still has his body left. He can recreate it with just his core of his consciousness still lives on in the gem. But Tesla would be too sad if that happens see?" Ein smiled wryly and he wanted to help the redhead get Joachim.
"Woohoo! Hell yeah! I'll beat her ass! Just wait and see!" Nuwa went out of the room and started her preparations. Super stoked to try out one of the newest mechs that is the strongest Ein and Vill have created.
"You're really going to use that? It's overkill..." Vill and Kallen said at the same time. As that mech cannot really be used in normal battles and is much more suitable for universal fights like with the 14th herrscher.
"Eh, let her have some fun." He shrugged and laughed. "Nuwa and Fuxi hasn't done anything for a long time. Nuwa would help Welt on the moon and Fuxi would be the back up here on earth for Adelheid." Ein then continued to watch what will happen with the others.
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Back at US, Welt was telling Siegfried his plan b. And that is to abandon him after he has mined the Soulium on the moon.
Siegfried hit the wall and was outraged. "That's your plan b!? That's ridiculous! What the hell!?"
Welt stood up and went outside. "I've told you the choices. We have 6 hours till launch, think about it Siegfried, this has the most chance of success."
Siegfried clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. Thinking that he would need to sacrifice Welt for victory again. A hard choice for a complicated situation.
And there were 57 hours and 50 minutes left before Sirin's ultimatum.
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"Come on you slowpokes! Arahato's knee joints won't change themselves! I want those knee joints replaced and calibrated pronto!" Tesla barked orders. She then heard someone call for her.
"Dr. Tesla." Welt appeared behind her and Tesla looked at him with complicated feelings.
"Shouldn't you be making better plans to save us all from judgement day? Or you just want to see me do changes to the mighty Arahato... How's talking to that caveman by the way?" Tesla didn't look at him because she might cry.
"I gave him the 2 choices. To fight beside me, after mining the Soulium, or run away with it and get the data safely back to earth." Welt also turned his back on her. Not wanting to see her painful expression.
"I see, so the lonely hero gives choices now eh? Hey, Joachim... Remember back then when you were still a little kid? You asked me for a dance when you grow up right?" She turned around and looked at him.
Welt remembered the fun times everyone had. When Welt Joyce gave him the core, his body was torn apart by herrscher powers and energy. Not giving him a wink of sleep growing up. But when the pain became too much to bear. They were there to give him respite.
'Frederica Nikola Tesla, Lieserl Albert Einstein, Welt Joyce, Erwin Schrodinger, Emma Planck, dad... I am Welt of humanity, and I will protect our beautiful but flawed world no matter the cost.'
He then went up to Tesla and had one last Waltz before they boarded their ride to the moon.
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"Hey Kiana. I'll finish this mission quickly, and I'll return home after okay?" Siegfried was calling Cecilia and his daughter.
"Come back soon dada!" Kiana waved goodbye to her father, but Cecilia had a solemn expression on her face.
"No problem baby doll, I'll be as fast as I can! Dad will be riding a super ninja mech and I will be going to the moon! I'm gonna bring you some nice moon rocks, so be nice and listen to mommy okay?" He feigned excitement.
"Okay Kiana, go play with your toys. Mom has to talk with dad." Cecilia carried Kiana and let her go to the next room.
"Siegfried dear... Your mission on the moon." Cecilia was anxious and asked about the mission.
"Don't worry babe, Mr. Welt of AE got it all figured out and the plan looks super legit. I'll be back safe and sound." Siegfried scratches his head in nervousness.
"Hey, uh. I just wanna ask. What if, you know?" He stuttered and couldn't ask. "What? What if what?" Cecilia got worried. "It's alright Cecilia, take care."
Siegfried ended the call and could not ask. What if he isn't able to return.
He then received a message from Cecilia and he opened it. *Siegfried dear, I know you're being forced in making difficult decisions. We lived together for years, we should know this. Not every question has a definite answer, we may have to sacrifice something to protect those who we hold dear. And it pains you because you want to protect everyone. But I know you will make the right choice, because you're a good man, a just man. That is something that has never changed. If the pain is too much to bear, then take my hand and we will endure it together.* Your loving wife, Cecilia.
Siegfried frowned heavily and made his choice.
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"Final checks complete, launch is ready to go." Einstein announced, only 10 minutes left before launch.
Arahato was packaged inside a modified atlas rocket and would be jettisoned when they escape the earth's gravity.
Siegfried and Welt entered the rocket and not one word was uttered between them.
"Launch in T-minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Lift off." Einstein and Tesla launched the rocket and they were off.
"Prepare for mode one charlie mark. Jettison the payload! Payload is fairing away, thrusters engaged, Arahato is now in orbit. Godspeed gentlemen." Lieserl now leaves it on their hands.
Meanwhile, Tesla was facilitating the fine tunings with tears on her eyes. "Did you at least say goodbye to him Tesla?" Erwin was accompanying her with Emma and Nancy.
Tesla sniffled and nodded. "Joachim didn't disappoint with his Waltz..." They then went silent and hugged Tesla.
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Siegfried was told by Welt to look over the window and he went wide eyed when he saw the blue sphere.
'I never gave earth much thought when I stood on it's surface. But at this distance, I saw her beauty, serenity, mystery.' His heart started to pound and this was his time to become a fighting Kaslana.
'Humanity lives to build a better future...'
Welt gave him a bottle of Hennessy and they decided to drink. When Welt opened the bottle, the 0 gravity affected the drink and it spilled onto Siegfried's face.
They then laughed and talked about their lives. Welt was into old school music and entertainment. While Siegfried enjoyed anime and modern entertainment.
They also found out that they both ran away from home when they were kids.
'Our flight is about to end. And our enemies await on the moon. Thank you for the drink Mr. Welt, I hope you enjoyed it.'
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Nuwa went back to the observation room with Ein and the others and she saluted.
"Sir Ein Sir! Ready for battle sir!" She greeted, but she had an excited look on her face that didn't show formality at any way.
"You're excited aren't cha Nuwa, well. I would be too if you're piloting that thing." Vill-v looked at the mech and nodded in satisfaction at the creation.
"Of course! We have created a weapon to surpass metal gear!" Ein cheered and put his hands on their shoulders, admiring the mech.
"Ein... Metal gear would be so insignificant against that thing. It's not even funny." Xuanyuan commented, with a bag of doritos on hand.
"Ohhhhh! You're finally using that Ein? But isn't it overkill? I'll just use super ninja moves when Sirin comes here at earth after Nuwa beats her ass." Fuxi clenched her fist and lightning arced on her body.
"Blasphemy! Mechs are true romance Fuxi! You dare betray god's gift that are mechs!?" Nuwa whined and Fuxi snorted.
"You clearly do not understand the greatness of using your own body to enact anime in the real life Nuwa. You pleb, it isn't even your own creation." Fuxi shot back and Nuwa flinched.
They then argued back and forth on what the most anime was. Supernatural powers or overpowered mechs.
"Fools! You clearly do not know the truth! It is both! Armies fighting with mechs and people firing beams all over the place! You lack imagination!" Ein shouted and the twins went quiet.
"Sasuga Ein-sama! He is clearly the messiah!" Nuwa and Fuxi was in sync and imagined a battle with super powered people firing lasers everywhere and mechs firing their weapons in a titanic battle.
"Ahhh, they're in their own world right now..." Sakura commented and Kallen smiled wryly.
"Heh, of course you won't understand. You grew up in the middle ages of course. You guys are all swords and magic and shit. Appreciating technology's wonders are beyond you. Laser swords and guns are the real shit." Vill-v puffed her chest and they started arguing as well.
"Ahhh, this would be perfect if Honkai isn't trying to destroy everything. Assholes, no matter. It is almost time." Ein sat on the couch and put Xuanyuan on his lap while they ate doritos and drank some mtn. Dew.
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Thanks for reading everyone, Nuwa would let Sirin taste the drill that would pierce the heavens. And can you guess Fuxi's technique? Anyways, ciao.