While talking with Tesla, Welt was simultaneously studying the peculiar gemstone in his hand. To explore its secrets, he injected a small amount of Honkai energy into it, which seemingly activated some sort of mechanism. Suddenly, everything around him blurred, and he experienced a sense of spatial displacement.
When Welt regained clarity of his surroundings, he found himself standing atop a tall tower.
"Tesla... of course, the communication device didn't come through. The connection must have dropped," Welt muttered, shaking his head while remaining vigilant.
The sky was a grayish hue, and beneath his feet lay bluish-gray stone slabs. Surrounding him were intricate structures made of countless tightly interlocking gears, appearing both precise and mysterious.
"Where is this place? Is the gemstone a teleportation device? Or could this be some kind of interference within a mental domain?" Welt frowned, glancing at the red gemstone fragment in his fingers. Before he could think further, it shattered into fine dust, slipping through his fingers.
"Joachim... help me... save me, I don't want to die..."
A familiar voice, one that often haunted his dreams, echoed in Welt's ears.
Welt turned abruptly, his pupils contracting as he saw a familiar figure with deep blue hair, lying against a shattered stone wall. Blood poured from a fatal wound in their abdomen, pooling around them in a ghastly crimson.
The scene shifted again, and now Tesla and Einstein appeared, their faces filled with hatred.
"Why? Why was it Joyce who died and not you, you useless failure?"
"Joyce... he was the one who truly mattered. Yang, use your life to bring him back. Compared to him, you're utterly insignificant."
"That's right! Just die already, you worthless piece of trash!"
The two women, familiar yet unrecognizably cruel, lashed out at Welt with venomous words.
Welt's expression remained calm.
An illusion? Even one that can affect me... Could this be the work of a new Herrscher?
He analyzed the situation internally, his resolve unshaken.
If Joyce were alive, Welt knew he would simply pat him on the shoulder and say, "Well done."
As for Tesla and Einstein, they would never say such things—Welt was certain of that.
The scene changed once more, transforming into a hellish landscape of burning earth, dead children, and unspeakable suffering.
Yet Welt stood firm, unmoving and unwavering.
The images continued to shift, each one targeting his vulnerabilities and soft spots. Still, Welt's only reaction was to fall into contemplation.
These illusions all aim to exploit my weaknesses. Is the goal to expose a crack in my psyche? Or is this simply a feeble attempt to destabilize me due to a lack of strength?
Scenes of bullying, war, slaughter, and corruption unfolded one after another—horrors that would shake even the strongest of wills. Welt, though, merely furrowed his brow.
"Suffering is universal. That is why we need greater wisdom and determination to change things. The path is correct, but I have not done enough."
He sighed deeply, his calm and profound brown eyes now tinged with a dangerous crimson hue.
Without even invoking his Herrscher powers, the overwhelming energy of a fully realized Herrscher flowed from Welt. A mere hint of Honkai energy released from him caused the illusions to shatter like brittle glass.
Stepping forward, he found himself in a vast, majestic circular plaza.
At the center of the plaza stood a tall platform, upon which a petite girl stood.
She had golden hair, a black eyepatch, and a slender, alluring figure clad in black form-fitting attire. Despite her youthful appearance, she exuded an undeniable allure.
Welt frowned. He couldn't sense any life emanating from her. Upon closer inspection, he realized—she wasn't human but a finely crafted doll.
Looking around, he noticed that the seats of the surrounding circular spectator stands were filled with identical figures to the one on the platform.
"Look, that's Welt, the leader of Anti-Entropy! He's like, our big brother in a way!"
"Seriously? I knew Edward was unreliable, but inviting the big boss himself?!"
"Edward, where are you? Was this your idea?"
"Idiot, Edward's over there!"
"No, you're the idiot! Edward's been dead for days—got stomped into pulp by Titan units, and his core got replaced by the rookie!"
"Oh, really? That's so... heartbreaking! Sob, sob~ Just kidding! Serves him right! I've always hated that blowhard!"
Blabber, blabber—
The seating area erupted into chaotic chatter.
Welt listened carefully to the bizarre dialogue, trying to extract any useful information.
Then, the golden-haired doll on the platform raised a gavel and struck it loudly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Silence! Don't you see we have an esteemed guest? It's time to show some hospitality!"
The chatter quieted momentarily, only to erupt into even greater noise.
"Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty? I'm calling for a vote to kick this idiot out of the host's seat!"
"Exactly! I've always disliked this guy. Let's get him!"
"Cut it out. As annoying as they are, the host has a point. Who's good at handling guests? Step up already—this is Welt, after all!"
"Why don't you go, then? Otherwise, shut up!"
"Ow! Who hit me? My head just fell off!"
"Huh? Are we fighting now?"
"Fight! Fight! Anything's fine—just start fighting already! I love this stuff!"
"Where? Where's the fight? I want to watch too!"
"I don't know what's going on, but count me in!"
Chatter, chatter—
Welt surveyed the increasingly noisy and chaotic surroundings. Lifting his gaze, he looked indifferently at the host standing atop the platform.
The host remained motionless, her expression unchanged, but in her silence, Welt could sense a hint of awkwardness.
"Ahem! Anyway, welcome, Mr. Welt," the host said, abandoning any attempt to communicate with the babbling crowd and addressing Welt directly.
Welt was more than willing to engage, hoping to extract as much information as possible.
"Where is this place? Who are you people?"
"This is the Theater of Domination. We are the Herrscher of Thousands, but you can also call us—'The Motley Horde'!"
Welt raised an eyebrow.
Herrscher—this identity aligned with their ability to pull him into this bizarre space and use illusions against him. It wasn't surprising.
He glanced around at the disorderly dolls, each preoccupied with their own actions, and shook his head. "Motley Horde, huh? A fitting name for you lot. So, what do you intend to do with elder Perros? Was bringing me here part of your plan?"
"Well... who knows? Maybe we've got more plans in store~~"
"Looks like I wasn't part of your plans. My unexpected arrival must've disrupted your rhythm. At the very least, I've uncovered your existence. You were hiding well before this, so I doubt you planned on being exposed so soon."
"…Welt Yang, occupying the core of the one you respected most, severing any chance of his revival—doesn't that make you proud? Time after time, sacrificing yourself to save the world, only to helplessly witness tragedies unfold again and again. Isn't that feeling especially delightful?"
"You're clearly flustered. This is the Imaginary Space, isn't it? Herrschers can all influence the Imaginary World to some extent. It's not a big deal. I've noticed this space is rather underwhelming—I can leave anytime I want. And you… from a Herrscher's perspective, you're astonishingly weak."
"…"
The host fell silent. She had plenty of words prepared to attack Welt, but faced with the steel-like resolve of the Herrscher of Reason, saying more would only reveal her lack of confidence.
Welt, meanwhile, felt the pull of the space's rejection.
He raised his hand to eye level, observing as his body began to fade and become translucent.
The Herrscher of Thousands was rejecting him, attempting to expel him from the Imaginary Space.
Welt lifted his hand again, and a deep blue sphere materialized in his palm.
"Simulated Black Hole," he murmured.
The singularity formed in midair, and the objects within the Theater of Domination—including the dolls—were pulled in by an overwhelming gravitational force, twisting and shattering in its wake.
"Ah!! The theater! Our theater!"
"No! No! I don't want to disappear yet!"
"Damn it! Edward should've been torn apart by us personally!"
"Quick, grab me! I'm being pulled in!"
The world crumbled and collapsed. Welt took a long, deliberate look at the ruinous scene of the theater before finally vanishing from the space.
"Wel——t——"
As he left, Welt heard furious cries from some of the dolls. Their voices, youthful and clear, were laced with bitterness and resentment, leaving a lingering sense of unease.
<+>
Tn: If you want to see more chapter of this story, please go to my Patreon[1], just for $5 each month, you can read till the latest chapter.
Latest Chapter in Patreon: Chapter 314: Still Just a Child[2]
Link to the latest chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/honkai-strijder-131283359[3]
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/95348?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/honkai-strijder-131283359
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/honkai-strijder-131283359
[4] https://www.patreon.com/collection/95348?view=condensed