Honkai Impact 3rd: Catching the Herrscher of Sentience at the Start

But the next second, before Otto could act, the vision shifted on its own.

Looking at the eerily familiar scene below, Otto narrowed his eyes at the now unstable Fenghuang Down in his hand.

"It seems I can't freely explore his memories. What kind of secret lies hidden in the depths of his consciousness...?"

Just as Otto prepared to cut off Fenghuang Down and sever the connection to 'Nameless's' consciousness, a powerful force of suction struck him—his vision went black...

---------------------------

"Hmph~ What's going on... Pfft!!!"

When Otto opened his eyes again and slowly stood up while supporting himself against the wall, before he could even assess his surroundings, he was suddenly kicked from behind without any warning. His body instantly lost balance and he fell heavily to the ground once more.

Fu Lin, "Oh? Looks like you still have some strength left. Let's continue."

Fu Shi, "No problem! Beating up Otto is my specialty!"

Lying on the ground, Otto let out a muffled groan. As he listened to the whispers coming from nearby, a trace of fierceness flashed through his eyes. However, his current self was being firmly pinned under the opponent's foot, completely unable to move.

So, he turned his Soulium head 180° in an attempt to see the face of the one attacking him from behind. But what met him head-on was the sole of a shoe pressing down and an unapologetic voice.

"Otto, don't blame me! This pains me too, you know." Seeing the shoe about to stomp down on him, Otto's pupils trembled slightly, and he instinctively dodged to the side. After avoiding the kick, his mouth involuntarily blurted out,

"Stop! You two, from the way you speak, you're from Shenzhou, right? Shouldn't we talk things out reasonably and with virtue? I don't even know who you are, yet you're ganging up on me like this."

After speaking, Otto slowly stood up, thinking that the situation would end here. However, when he saw one of them holding a brick and then handing a newly materialized spiked club to the other, his eyes were filled with astonishment.

Fu Lin waved the spiked club in his hand, his expression friendly,

"Talk things out? Sure! We people from Shenzhou love reasoning. You have two choices—be convinced with reason or be disciplined with virtue. Or, if you prefer, both. Don't worry, we're well-versed in all of them, and our skills are top-notch."

As the spiked club and brick mercilessly landed on him, each strike burned like fire, causing Otto to clutch his head and let out agonized cries.

As time passed, Otto slowly lowered his hands from his head. His face revealed deep exhaustion, as if he had grown numb to everything around him.

"Otto, don't blame me! This pains me too, you know."

Hearing the familiar words again, Otto dazedly stared at the ceiling above him. His heart was already indifferent. "How many times have I heard this sentence… Was it the ninety-eighth time… or the ninety-ninth?"

One hour later…

With the one-hundredth beating completed, the chaotic sounds of blows suddenly vanished. Only Otto's weak breathing remained, creating an eerie silence.

After a long while, Otto slowly propped himself up and looked around. In the pitch-black space, he couldn't see his own hand in front of him, and the two people who had beaten him up were nowhere to be found. A trace of... loneliness? flashed through his eyes.

"Otto, you dare to lay a hand on my people?"

"You really don't know your place!!!"

Hearing the voice from behind, Otto withdrew the loneliness from his eyes and slowly turned around. Looking at the towering figure holding a brick in hand, a hint of confusion flashed in his gaze.

The next second, the towering figure threw the brick at Otto. As the sound of the brick shattering echoed, Otto's vision went black, and he was forcibly expelled from the memory space of 'Nameless' (Fu Lin).

After kicking Otto out, the towering figure slowly shrank, returning to a normal size. Fu Lin, who had been hiding in the shadows, stepped forward and gave Fu Shi a thumbs-up.

But Fu Shi wasn't having any of it. She pinched Fu Lin's ear and said, "If my main body hadn't left a safeguard in your consciousness, your memories would've been exposed!"

Fu Lin hugged Fu Shi and said softly, "Thanks, Fu Shi. If not for you, I almost…"

Feeling Fu Lin's embrace, Fu Shi's face gradually turned red, her heartbeat quickened, and then she broke free, crossing her arms and turning her head away in a tsundere manner,

"Ah~ Why are you being so cheesy? Save those words for my main body. I'm just a projection created from the safeguard she placed in your consciousness. She's the one you should be thanking."

"Alright then, I'll lend you a portion of the authority and power I can access. Just make sure to return it after beating up Otto. Otherwise, if you get trapped in an illusion again, I won't be able to help you next time."

"Alright, hurry up and get out now!"

Fu Lin clenched his fists, feeling deeply touched, "Fu Shi, you're the best… Actually, even if you didn't lend me power, I could still beat that damn Otto…."

Meanwhile, in another world, Fu Shi scratched her head in confusion as she looked up at the clear blue sky. Clenching her small fists, she muttered with a puzzled expression,

"Hmm? Why do I feel like I just beat up Otto…? Could it be that I haven't done it in too long, and my hands are getting itchy?"

…

"Ugh! Hmph~" Otto clutched his head and knelt on one knee, his forehead covered in cold sweat, letting out a deep groan.

Void Archives watched Otto's pained expression and chuckled mischievously, "Looks like someone has stumbled in their area of expertise. I won't say who, hehe~"

"Huff…"