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"Why waste so much time talking? Since she's a Herrscher, let's just fight her!"
Unsurprisingly, these words came from the impulsive Dr. Tesla. After hearing her outburst, everyone else looked at her with exasperation.
If only fighting were that simple, why would they still be here deliberating?
This wasn't merely a barrier of binding but rather, a genuine Herrscher of Binding. Fortunately, she was a Herrscher of Human; otherwise, their mere presence discussing strategies would have been akin to searching for light in a toilet—utterly futile.
Miss Jeanne could likely dispatch them all with a mere flick of her hand if she wished.
"Ah, well, negotiation isn't working, so what choice do we have but to fight?"
Noticing everyone's gazes, Tesla scratched her head with some frustration. She had indeed spoken hastily and misspoke earlier, but the situation remained unchanged—aside from fighting, did they truly have any other choice?
"..."
Everyone furrowed their brows deeply. Though blunt, her words held truth: there was no possibility for communication with Miss Jeanne. It seemed...they really had no option but to engage.
"Let's give it another try!" After a moment of thought, Theresa suggested. She still preferred avoiding conflict if possible. Moreover, considering Jeanne's status as a clone like herself, Theresa felt a sense of shared fate and sympathy, along with a hint of affection by association.
At this point, Theresa held the highest authority and position among those present. The only other influential voice belonged to Welt Yang, but given that they were at Schicksal Headquarters, opinions would naturally lean more towards Theresa's perspective, especially with the Valkyries of Schicksal also on site.
"In that case, we rely on you, Lady Carnot," said Dr. Einstein through the holographic image.
"If negotiations fail again, our last resort may be activating the Moonlight Throne."
The Moonlight Throne was Anti-Entropy's secret weapon, currently installed on board the Hyperion. Its principles and design were based on the ultimate weapon used by the previous civilization against the Herrscher of Finality, now replicated by Anti-Entropy.
Even as a replica, the Moonlight Throne's power remained limited, far from matching its predecessor from the earlier era.
At best, it could be described as an effective but severely constrained weapon against Herrschers.
Using the main cannon, akin to swatting a mosquito with a sledgehammer, has always been inefficient. Moreover, this "mosquito" moves at supersonic speeds—making it virtually impossible to hit.
Ultimately, the Moonlight Throne was designed for stationary targets, not intended to face a Herrscher of Human.
Against such a Herrscher, perhaps launching hundreds of Honkai Fission Bombs might yield better results.
Indeed, deploying hundreds isn't an exaggeration. If fired sparingly, apologies would be due, as the Herrscher's threshold for damage wouldn't be reached. Consequently, the Herrscher itself remains unharmed, maintaining all its defenses intact.
At its core, this distinction lies between barriers and Herrschers.
Of course, Dr. Tesla also suggested that their primary objective should not be to breach the Herrscher but rather the barrier behind her. However, this idea was swiftly dismissed upon proposal.
No one had the capability to lure away the Herrscher of Binding, Miss Jeanne, far from the light curtain.
Ultimately, the presence of a Herrscher of Binding under the control of the Herrscher of Human is truly terrifying—an entity seemingly invincible. This stark contrast with the original storyline, where merely breaking through the barrier sufficed, poses significant challenges.
"Well, regardless, let me try engaging in negotiations first."
Theresa spoke, effectively concluding the discussion.
Jeanne's eyes remained slightly closed, her expression filled with compassion and serenity—a hallmark demeanor of the Herrscher of Binding. Indeed, at their core, Herrschers, or apostles of Honkai, fundamentally rely on human essence. Hence, the Herrscher of Binding embodies such tranquility.
Naturally, as the Lord of Finality, Ana could bring about change if she desired. As such, she possessed both the power and authority to manifest her subjective will.
Jeanne, being aware of Theresa's conversation with the others, had nothing to say on the matter. Considering their proximity, it was likely either overlooked or intentionally disregarded by them.
Regardless, Jeanne remained unperturbed.
In truth, her presence here was no longer crucial. The energy sustaining the light barrier did not originate from her but from Otto himself.
Thus, compared to the original storyline, there is little difference. Otto has meticulously planned everything, leaving only the script for Jeanne to freely interpret.
And now, it's time for Jeanne to take center stage.
With this thought, Theresa approached Jeanne.
"Hello, Miss Jeanne, I'm Theresa, the granddaughter of Otto Apocalypse and a clone of Kallen Kaslana..."
In the real world, within Brother Cake's live stream.
Following the game update, Brother Cake promptly went live to progress through the new storyline. And now, he had just reached this pivotal moment.
Witnessing Jeanne, or rather Ana, in her saintly form, Brother Cake's eyes widened significantly.
It's hard to describe, but despite several skins available for Ana, inexplicably, there was never a Honeymoon skin. This seemed quite peculiar for such an old character.
Of course, this Saintess Jeanne transformation wasn't exactly a Honeymoon skin, but it was undeniably pure white and stunning. One could predict that marketing accounts would soon jump on the trend, claiming it as Ana's Honeymoon attire, capitalizing on the ensuing wave of attention.
However, the appearance of this form, in a sense, confirmed the possibility of Jeanne joining the playable roster, potentially even in the next update.
As Brother Cake considered this, he momentarily forgot about the impending conflict between the Hyperion crew and Saint Jeanne, who were currently at odds.
It's simply true that in mobile games, a character's attractiveness and strength can greatly influence players' perception and judgment of both the character and the unfolding narrative.
Of course, considering Jeanne's character, this revelation wasn't surprising.
After all, the very name "Jeanne" itself hinted at MiHoYo's intentions—or rather, Ana's own thoughts. How could they truly portray such a virtuous saint as an evil antagonist or villainess?
However, as a guardian of order, anyone seeking to overcome her would inevitably need to pass her trials and fulfill the script she has written!
[Wow, Jeanne looks absolutely stunning—she's breathtakingly beautiful! I hereby declare her my waifu!]
[Get lost, she's clearly mine!]
[Hey, hey, hey, isn't anyone noticing that she's currently a villain right now?]
[With enough courage, even villains can take maternity leave.]
[Tsk, tsk, tsk! You guys should see Brother Cake's eyes; they're practically glued to the screen.]
"Cough, cough, everyone, please don't slander the streamer. Remember, I might send you lawyer letters," Brother Cake cleared his throat after reading the bullet comments, managing to regain his composure. He acknowledged that he had momentarily lost control during the live stream, which was not appropriate—a lapse he needed to reflect upon.
But she really is incredibly gorgeous.
Alright, jokes aside, it's time to get serious.
"I feel like against her, the protagonist group doesn't stand a chance. Even in the previous civilization, confronting a Herrscher of Binding required countless lives and the presence of someone as formidable as Kevin."
"With the current setup of the Main trio, even if Durandal returns stronger later on, I doubt they have any hope of victory—the power gap is simply too vast!" Brother Cake stated earnestly.
This wasn't said lightly; it was a widely accepted conclusion drawn from the game's content so far. Regardless of how one looks at it, this era's Herrscher of Binding cannot be underestimated.
Moreover, haven't we seen what Jeanne wields?
The Void Archives and Abyss Flower—armed with these two Divine Keys, it's hard to imagine how Jeanne could possibly lose. Plus, Otto stands behind her, ready to support.
Otto meticulously planned for five hundred years; there can be no room for mistakes. Despite Captains' general disdain for Otto, none would deny this fact.
Unless...it's all part of Otto's deliberate scheme, then indeed, there's nothing that can be done about it.
When it came to cunning schemes, if Otto claimed second place, no one dared to claim first. His character had been meticulously crafted, and any deviation from his established persona would likely spell doom for the game.
"Brother Cake, do you think there's a possibility Jeanne could be persuaded to join?" As Brother Cake posed this question, the chatroom quickly engaged in thoughtful discussion.
"While I wish it were possible, it's clearly not," Brother Cake shook his head, dismissing the idea. "Consider this: putting aside our attachment to this version of Jeanne, let's think about the historical French saint. Would she truly break her promise based on these words? Remember, even Li Sushang adheres strictly to her commitments; Jeanne wouldn't be any different."
"This adherence is at the core of her name and character. If she were indeed convinced, would that align with her established persona? Does it seem reasonable?"
"True!"
"Absolutely right! Although I really want to see her join the ship, if it happens like this, I'd have no choice but to call the writers idiots."
"Makes sense, Brother Cake is spot-on."
"Laughing so hard! Can you believe we're debating realism in some crappy gacha game? Hahaha—"
In reality, Brother Cake's guess was quite accurate. As an actress, Jeanne—or rather, Ana—preferred to stay true to her character's portrayal, which is fundamental for any performer.
"I am aware of your identity, Lady Theresa," Jeanne said with a smile, listening attentively to Theresa. Her gaze remained calm; if one had to describe it, perhaps there were subtle inner waves, even hinting at amusement.
How should this be put? Despite all she had experienced, Theresa's approach and attitude towards others hadn't changed much. Such tactics might work on younger individuals like Rosalia and Liliya, or even Amber to some extent.
However, against someone like Jeanne or Li Sushang, they were utterly meaningless. People aren't children without their own judgment; these methods seemed too juvenile.
"I know what I'm doing, and I also understand what Otto is doing. His current actions are solely driven by his long-held aspirations, which, as it turns out, benefit both this world and you," Jeanne stated calmly.
"Furthermore, from my knowledge, Mr. Otto has prepared two plans. If you insist on obstructing him at the wrong time, the outcome you'll face will not be the optimal choice."
Jeanne spoke truthfully based on future events.
Otto indeed had contingency measures in place, with the second plan being known to those present but ultimately never executed.
If defeating Honkai was inevitable, following the past trajectory, such strategies and actions, as Kevin himself acknowledged, would have been harmless.
Of course, now that Ana exists, the situation changes significantly.
However, even if someone could perceive Ana's level, such individuals were exceedingly rare, rendering it unnecessary to consider them.
"You're obstructing a man's five-hundred-year-old aspiration. Once he enters the church, he will embody this world itself. In other words, Lady Theresa, by stopping him, you are not merely opposing Otto; you are effectively waging war against the entire world."
"Lady Theresa, surely you don't wish for your misguided judgment to destroy this world and steer it towards calamity?"
"Therefore, I kindly request that all of you take some rest. When everything settles down, I naturally will allow you to confront him within that vortex."
As Jeanne spoke, she bowed gracefully. Her actions flowed seamlessly, leaving no room for hesitation or interruption. This left Theresa momentarily speechless.
"Uh...I..." Staring at Jeanne before her, Theresa struggled to find any further words.
Jeanne demonstrated independent judgment. Based on her assessment, Otto's actions at present posed no harm against combating Honkai. Consequently, to persuade Theresa otherwise, they would need concrete evidence showing detrimental effects in their fight against Honkai.
However...they genuinely lacked such evidence.
Despite Otto's previous statements, it seemed plausible that he had intentionally misled them. In reality, both his words and actions appeared beneficial in countering Honkai, causing no apparent harm.
But still...something felt distinctly off.
Observing Theresa's expression, Jeanne recognized she was in a state of confusion and bewilderment - a perfectly normal reaction. After all, even before this incident, Theresa held the most ambiguous stance towards Otto among them.
As Otto's granddaughter and the future Schicksal Bishop, her experiences and position naturally inclined her towards trusting Otto. Instinctively, she resisted any negative sentiments about him.
Under normal circumstances, Theresa could maintain her clarity through sheer willpower. However, Jeanne's avatar now possesses the Power of Perception.
With Jeanne subtly influencing her, Theresa begins to doubt and struggle internally.
"Since Lady Theresa has understood everything, why not return to the correct path?"