Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

Kolosten, Schicksal's old headquarters.

If the new HQ, the floating island, was a futuristic metropolis, then Kolosten was its polar opposite.

 Every corner of this ancient town whispered of history, its buildings weathered and worn, bearing the indelible marks of time, like an elderly man who'd stepped out of the past, now quietly enjoying his retirement in the tranquil mountains of Central Europe.

After the relocation, most of Schicksal's personnel and operations had moved to the floating island. Only a few research facilities and some long-time residents remained.

Kolosten wasn't just Schicksal's former HQ, but also a historic town, a witness to centuries of Schicksal's rise and fall.

Despite modernization, with electricity, gas, and running water, it retained its old-world charm – the narrow alleyways where children once played, the low walls they'd climbed, the street corners where passionate bards had sung songs of rebellion, the plaza where a weary saint had met her tragic end.

These places still existed, though changed, some weathered by time, others renovated, yet their echoes of the past lingered.

But the people, the events, were gone, lost to time, like the bustling crowds that had once filled these streets, replaced by a quiet stillness, a sense of… forgotten glory.

Only Otto truly remembered those times, but he was too busy to dwell on the past.

Lin Wei, if awake, might have been fascinated by this historic town, but he was unconscious, unaware of his surroundings.

"Report." Otto, having rushed from the floating island, entered a research facility in Kolosten, his mind focused on the task at hand, not the scenery.

Fu Hua's warnings had been effective. Lin Wei hadn't been taken to the floating island. He didn't understand her reasons, but he trusted her judgment. So, he'd decided to place Lin Wei under observation in Kolosten, Schicksal's second most secure location.

Durandal had diverted her course, delivering Lin Wei to the research facility. And now, Otto, unable to contain his curiosity, had followed.

Fu Hua's warning had worked, but only partially.

He couldn't fault her. She hadn't mentioned the Key of Corruption. How could he have anticipated something that had never existed before? It was beyond his comprehension.

He believed he'd been sufficiently cautious, placing Lin Wei in Kolosten instead of the floating island. And with Durandal as his escort, there was no risk. Why shouldn't he visit his… *guest*?

"Overseer." Durandal, waiting at the entrance, greeted him with a nod, then said, her brow furrowed, "Something… isn't right."

*Is this what Fu Hua was warning me about?* Otto wondered.

But Durandal didn't seem alarmed. He relaxed slightly, gesturing for her to follow, then entered the facility.

"Overseer…" Several researchers, their faces etched with worry, greeted him, their initial relief quickly replaced by anxiety. "We've encountered… a problem."

"There's no need to be alarmed. Unexpected complications are… commonplace in scientific endeavors. Even I encounter them frequently," Otto said, his smile reassuring, his tone understanding. "Now, tell me, what seems to be the problem?"

"It's… difficult to explain, Overseer. Come and see for yourself," one of the researchers, presumably the team leader, said, leading him into the observation room.

A thick glass wall separated the observation room from the main laboratory, a large, reinforced chamber designed to contain even a Honkai Emperor.

After the 2nd Eruption, Schicksal had upgraded the security of all its research facilities, including this one in Kolosten.

The chamber contained a single examination table, where Lin Wei lay unconscious, his upper body bare, electrodes attached to his chest, abdomen, and arms, various scanning devices hovering around him.

Otto frowned. Everything seemed normal.

"Overseer, look. No matter what we do, no matter how many times we scan him, the data is… blank." The team leader's voice was strained. The monitors displayed no readings, as if the equipment wasn't even functioning. "We've checked for hacking, for equipment malfunctions…"

He gestured to a researcher, who stood against the glass wall. The mechanical arms shifted, scanning the researcher. Data appeared on the monitors.

They repeated the process with another researcher, the data changing accordingly.

The equipment returned to its original position, and the monitors went blank again.

"Interesting. So, the equipment is functioning normally." Otto watched the demonstration with a curious smile. "Try… electroshock therapy. Perhaps a strong physiological stimulus will… elicit a response."

"Yes, sir!" The team leader had been eager to try this, but he hadn't dared to act without Otto's permission. He immediately initiated the procedure.

The voltage spiked, but nothing happened. Lin Wei remained motionless, the monitors blank.

"Stop," Otto said, frowning. A simple test. He didn't want to risk damaging his… *valuable* subject. He needed him alive, for now.

"Yes, sir." The team leader immediately complied.

Otto left the observation room, entering the lab through a side door, walking over to Lin Wei, studying his face. The resemblance to "He Kun" was undeniable.

"Well, well, Mr. 'He Kun.' It's been a while," he murmured, his voice cold, his anger simmering beneath the surface.

Golden feathers materialized in the air, drifting downwards.

He'd been fooled by this man once. Now, he would try to extract his memories while he was unconscious. Even a simulated Fenghuang Down might be able to penetrate a Herrscher's defenses in this weakened state.

If he succeeded, it would save him a lot of trouble. And Lin Wei's survival would become… less of a priority.

"Hum…" A flicker of black light, and the feathers disintegrated.

Otto recoiled, his eyes narrowing, watching Lin Wei intently. He relaxed when he saw no further reaction.

"Such resilient life force. Even in this state, he can still defend himself instinctively." He chuckled, impressed.

"As expected of a Herrscher of Reason who has lived for half a century, his mastery of his powers is truly remarkable. Even his instincts are formidable." He'd easily found a plausible explanation for the anomaly.

"But… dangerous?" He recalled Fu Hua's warning, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. *If I provoke him, trigger his instinctive defenses…*

He remembered Welt's fondness for manipulating gravity, a strange expression crossing his face. The Herrscher of Rock had shattered Mu. 

If Welt's powers went haywire, the floating island might not survive.

A conscious Welt would exercise restraint. But an unconscious Welt was just… a Herrscher.

He smirked, making a decision. He extracted a blood sample, then left the lab, addressing Durandal, who was waiting outside.

"Keep an eye on our… guest. When he wakes up, bring him to HQ," he said casually. "If I can't get my answers now, I can wait a few days." He wasn't worried. Welt was his prisoner now. He couldn't escape.

"Yes, Overseer," Durandal replied, then hesitated. "But he…" She felt it was disrespectful to keep the man who had saved Manila in a laboratory.

"You have a point, Bianka. We should treat our guest with… respect." Otto understood her concern. "I have an old residence here. It's… rustic, but it should be… adequate."

Durandal relaxed.

"I'll await your report." Otto smiled, holding the vial of blood, planning to analyze it later, hoping for some… *interesting* discoveries.

...

The Stigmata space, Yae Village.

"Creak…" The wooden door opened, a familiar, comforting sound.

A small girl with short, cherry blossom pink hair, a few red streaks woven through it, carefully carried a basin of steaming water into the room, placing it gently on the floor. 

She wiped the sweat from her forehead, then looked up, her large, expressive eyes, one adorned with a tear-shaped mole, filled with worry. "Sister, is he really going to be alright?"

"Don't worry, Lin Wei will be fine," Yae Sakura replied, putting down the object she'd been holding. She took a clean towel, soaked it in the hot water, wrung it out, and gently wiped Lin Wei's face. "He's just tired. He'll wake up eventually…"

"Really?" The little girl nodded, relieved.

Yae Sakura smiled, patting her head, then looked towards another part of the room. "Thank you for your assistance, Fu Hua."

"You're welcome," Fu Hua's feather manifestation replied, her form almost translucent. "You don't understand Otto. Using the Divine Key recklessly would only attract his attention, making things worse."

"You're right," Yae Sakura said, smiling gently. "To be honest, I was ready to… resort to more… *direct* methods if necessary." She'd been clutching her katana, ready to use it, whether the Honkai blade or the ethereal one. Whichever hurt more.

"It's thanks to the original leaving two feathers, one of which you so generously gave away, that I was able to contact you," Fu Hua said, shaking her head at the sleeping Lin Wei. "I've dealt with Otto for now. The rest is up to him when he wakes up." She sighed, rubbing her temples. "I just hope he doesn't… cause too much trouble. This world still needs Otto…"

Yae Sakura smiled, unconcerned about the world, or Otto. In fact, she wouldn't mind seeing him suffer a little.

Fu Hua sensed her thoughts, but didn't comment. That was the original's concern, not hers.

Her form faded, leaving behind two glowing feathers, one drifting towards Lin Wei, the other towards Yae Sakura, then vanishing.