Hold over Myriad of Worlds

I was sitting in my office, fighting with the greatest opponent of Progress, the paperwork. Because of the coronation and the long preparations for it, the backlog of documents that are needed to be taken care of is substantial.

-"Master Yue, your tea."

-"Thank you, Rin."

-"On the way here, I received information that Lady da Vinci wants to meet you."

-"I see. I'll go to her in a minute."

Finishing the most important papers, I turned into a fox and went out. Quickly arriving in Chaldea part of Divination Commission, which not long ago was renamed to World Compass, I approached da Vinci, who was discussing some things with other people.

-"Yue? Good, you are here. I was talking about worlds we found."

~"Those three? Did you learn anything more about them?"

-"We were able to identify some details about them. The first world we code-named 'Soul' because we found that the energy it radiated was, in fact, soul energy."

~"Soul energy? This world must be a priority then."

-"I also think so. The second world we named 'Revelation' after confirming the close resemblance of two extreme forces to biblical angels and demons. World itself is in constant war."

~"Then it is not as important to us for now. Arriving there will definitely result in war. Fanatics are not known for their ability to negotiate."

-"The last world is troublesome. We named it 'Source'. We confirmed that the energy leak was caused by a special mineral with enormous energy potential. As we lack such a potent source of energy, I suggest we also focus on this world."

~"Its instability is worrisome"

-"Yes, that's why I worked with Herta to create puppets similar to hers and send them there."

~"Colour me interested. Did you succeed?"

-"Yes and no. We created a puppet, but no one could use it between worlds. Chaos blocks our technology, making it unusable."

~"From you mentioning it, I believe you have a workaround."

-"Yes, you. Your spirit is strong enough for Chaos to not impede it."

~"You are aware that I can't leave my post?"

-"Don't worry about that. From my calculation, you can control up to twenty puppets at the same time. Using one won't have any impact on your daily life."

~"Those puppets, how much strength can I use through them?"

-"As we created one using the core of the Herrscher of Void, you can exhibit power to the limit of it."

~"That's not bad. When do we start?"

-"Let's go to Herta first and teach you how to use the puppet."

We moved to Herta's laboratory. Inside, I was shown a black featureless puppet with my height. Establishing a connection with it, I started moving it around. After an hour, I was able to get used to maintaining a split perspective and using two bodies at the same time.

My main body returned to the Palace, while the puppet remained in the laboratory for stress testing and other experiments before the deployment. In my office, Astraea was waiting for me.

-"You are back."

-"Sorry for the wait. Da Vinci informed me about something interesting."

-"Are you talking about that puppet?"

-"You knew?"

-"Da Vinci asked us four first if she could involve you."

-"I see, then you agreed."

-"Yes, we know that you don't want to sit here most of the time, but as your responsibilities require your presence, this is a good alternative. Just don't use that puppet to act as emperor."

-"I know. Thank you. You must have been planning this for some time already."

-"So why are you waiting for me here?"

-"I confirmed that evacuation led by Otto has been completed, and only some special beings are left on earth there."

-"Can you elaborate?"

-"Well, he was able to identify some beings that can't be called human, and as such, asks you to personally decide what to do with them."

Astraea passed me documents detailing what she was talking about.

-"Interesting, let's go and see them."

I left the Palace with Astraea. As this time it was an official visit, Jeanne and Sakura accompanied me as guards. We teleported to Schicksal, where Otto was waiting together with a few other people.

The moment we appeared, Knights around saluted us with reverence. Some people I had yet to meet were surprised by our appearance. Otto was the first to speak.

-"Leader."

-"Otto, we haven't seen each other since my wedding a week ago."

-"I didn't want to interrupt your fun time. After all, you left the Inner Palace only today."

-"Ehem... Can you two return to the main subject."-Spoke Astraea with a reddened face.

-"You heard the lady, so what is going on?"

-"We are going on, I believe."-Spoke a person in a raincoat and mask.

-"You are?"

-"I'm known as Gray Serpent."

-"Hmm... So what do you want to say?"

-"I wanted to make sure that Sir Kevin is truly in your Hold."

-"Kevin? Why do you want to know that?"

-"He is a leader I'm waiting for."

-"How can you know him? He has never been here."

-"You must be Lady Sakura. While I don't understand why, your civilization here is known as the past era, destroyed by the last Herrscher."

-"This... How can this be..."

-"Calm down, Sakura. Tell me more details."

Gray Serpent explained the history of what happened.

-"This is what would have happened if Hold didn't appear."

-"Time paradox? Or maybe something else? No, calculating the time, Kevin would appear in this world half a year later at the shortest. It is too much for coincidence. There is something more going on."

-"Lord, what are you thinking about?"

-"You see, from what I know, there is only one being capable of doing things like that. Never mind, this will come to light when the final Herrscher appears."

I looked at Grey Serpent once again.

-"There are all Flame Chasers in Hold. Do you want to join? I believe Mobius is still looking for additional assistants."

-"Yes."

-"Good. What about your companions?"

-"They can decide for themselves."

I turned to four people next to Grey Serpent.

-"I'm interested in doing more research. Count me in."-Spoke a woman in a jackal mask.

-"If you pay well..."-Siad woman in a cloak.

-"Sigh. Bothersome... Not interested."-The only man in the party refused.

The last person was looking at me curiously as if studying me.

-"You seem similar to me, yet different."

-"You also feel strangely familiar to me. May I know your name?"

-"Hare. Just call me Hare."

-"I'm Yue, as you probably already know. You are not a human, are you?"

-"No, I'm Stigmata."

-"Stigmata... You are a manifestation of Stigma. I heard from Durandal about her fight with a being calling itself Stigmata, but how can you manifest in the real world? Aren't you part of the imaginary side?"

-"You know more about me than I thought you would. Sadly, I don't know why I appeared in the real world."

-"Then do you want to join the Hold?"

-"I'd like to follow you if that's not a problem."

-"Well, Jingliu is in control of my Guard, so it's for her to decide, but If you help me with one thing, I will promise to accept you as my Guard."

-"What can I do for you?"

-"There is a person lost in Imaginary space. Her name is Seele. Can you find and bring her back?"

-"I'll seek her then."

-"Thank you, have this it will allow you to call someone to pick you up when you find her."-I passed the communicator to her.-"Otto, is there any other issue?"

-"Yes. One Honkai beast has been behaving weirdly. I didn't order to exterminate it, as I thought you would be interested in it."

-"Behaving weirdly? You think it gained sentience?"

-"I believe so. I marked its nest for you."

-"I'll take a look then. You take care of final preparations."

-"Leave it to me."

Jeanne remained there to help Otto while Sakura and I teleported to the nest of marked Honkai beast. Inside it, there was a dragon lying down. It instantly noticed us and turned its head, ready to attack.

-"Stop it. I'm not here to fight."

Hearing my words, it stopped.

-"This world is going to be destroyed. You are a sentient creature. If you wish, I can take you out of here."

It didn't respond. Sakura was getting ready to battle, but before she could attack, the dragon moved. It didn't attack but lowered its head to be at the same level as me.

-"You are not a fish. You smell like master... even a little better. I can't leave, non-fish."

-"Call me Yue. Why can't you leave?"

-"Yue... I'm waiting for my master."

-"Can you tell me about her?"

-"She told me to leave when fishes attacked."

-"Lord, I believe that the master she is referring to is the previous Herrsher of Void."

-"I see. Can you tell me your name? I can't call you a dragon."

-"Benares."

-"I can bring your master back, but she won't be able to use her powers as easily as before."

-"I don't care. I just want my master back."

-"Then come with me, and please don't attack any fish there."

Benares rose from the ground and walked with us. We returned to Otto and Jeanne, who were the only people remaining there.

-"Everything ready?"

-"Yes, no one but us remains in this world."

-"Good. Jeanne, you will maintain your Luminosité Eternelle to isolate this formation from the outside. Sakura, keep her safe. Otto, you do the talking and bringing the people inside. Benares, take your master inside and just keep her here. Do you understand?"

All four nodded.

-"After this is done, I will be backlashed by Chaos for breaking Taboo. Do not try to help me! I'll be fine, but you have to leave this world as fast as possible. Do you understand that, Jeanne, Sakura?"

-"Yes."x2

-"The Taboo will be more powerful than last time, but it won't be deadly to current me. I will return to Hold as soon as it ends."

Leaving the range of Jeanne Noble Phantasm, I calmed down and fully focused on the task at hand. To succeed, I will have to depend on the [Crown] for the first time.

As [Crown] became the artifact of Hold during the crowning ceremony, it also gained the ability to match its status. It can use the true power of the Principle.

We often call ourselves Principles, but we just represent them. Progress is just an image of the true Principle of [Progress]. In the same way that there is a difference between gods and the God.

The Principles represent the reason why people move forward. Each of them can possess the power to change the world. Being able to use the power of just one of them is enough to contend with Chaos on an even field.

This time, I will be using [Hope]. The same Hope that Otto held throughout his whole life to see his saint again. Hope is not just wishing for a better tomorrow. It is the last torch in despair when everything else is lost. While Hope is the mother of the fools, I don't plan to do anything wise right now.

Drawing upon the path of Finality, I entered my false Aeon state. The [Crown] was still on my head even in this form. Rising over the protection zone of Jeanne, I started to turn back the time.

Slowly whole world started going back, day by day, week by week. It wasn't until a few years earlier that I stopped going back. Before me, a battlefield stretched for miles. On it, many valkyries were about to comfort a figure standing in the air.

Not having time to waste, I threw all those present here into the barrier, leaving the explanation to Otto. Continuing to turn back the time, I was able to feel Chaos slowly breaking from the outside. Finally arriving at the point of time when Kallen was alive, I also threw her inside.

Having saved all those I promised, I decided to try seve ine more party, old comrades of Hua. Turning time back to the ancient era, I gathered all those that Hua told me stories about.

Teleporting down where Jeanne was defending everyone, I appeared when Otto was ending his explanation.

-"Lord."-Sakura's call alerted everyone to my presence.

~"No time for that. Leave now."

I opened the portal back to Hold to all present here. While some wanted to ask questions, they were told to hurry up. When everyone but Jeanne left, I teleported her back directly. The moment her protection disappeared, Chaos descended.

I returned to Hold five days later. Many were worried about me, especially my dear wifes, but seeing me back, they welcomed me happily. The next day, I met those who were saved by me. Seeing reverence in the eyes of those valkyries on almost the same level as Jeanne gave me goosebumps, but seeing Kiana and Durandal being reunited with Cecilia proved that my decision was not wrong.

-"I'm thankful for saving me, your Majesty."

-"You said it six times already, Cecilia."

-"It's still not enough to thank you."

-"Sigh. Just let it be. Your family is waiting for you."

-"Cecilia, come here!"

-"See, even your squad is waiting for you. Go."

Leaving enthusiastic Valkyrie, I moved back to my family but was stopped by a party of five on the way.

-"You are Sirin, right? I know that many people here committed great atrocities to you, but I hope you can let them go."

-"I don't care about them. Those directly responsible are dead. You have given us another chance, so we will listen to you."

-"Thank you."

I turned my head to the silver-haired beauty.

-"So you also have human form, Benares?"

-"Yes. Thank you for saving mast..."

-"Don't call me master anymore, Bella."

-"Yes... Sirin."

-"Bella?"

-"I thought that Beanres was too ugly a name for my sister, so it's Bella. Dragon is Benares, and human is Bella."

-"I see. I'm happy for you, Bella."

-"Yes, thank you, Yue."

-"So what do you want to do from now?"

-"We four decided to follow sister Elysia. Bella wanted to remain next to you."

-"Are you sure, Bella? Haven't you wanted to follow Sirin?"

She shook her head and spoke.

-"I'm happy master is safe, but I don't want to be so close to fishes."

-"But there are also many 'fishes' near me."

-"But you are non-fish that saved mast... Sirin."

-"Have you met Jingliu?"

-"She told me to help that ice-fish named Shenhe."

-"Then please get along with her."

Bella nodded.

In the end, most of the saved Valkyries decided to work as the Palace Guards. They will be commanded by Jeanne and be responsible for safety inside the Palace.

Cecilia joined Hope, like four pseudo-Herrschers: Sirin, Galina, Agata, and Avarora. Ji Xuanyuan and Shennong reunited with Hua and joined Duty, while Fuxi and Nuwa decided to join Progress and become my secretaries to assist with paperwork.

I left the party after some time. While walking back to my office, Otto and Kallen stopped me.

-"Hmm? Otto, Kallen, do you need something?"

-"I wanted to thank you for keeping your word."

-"No need, I'm your leader after all."

-"Yes."

-"Take care of him. Don't let him go off the rails again."

-"I will, your Majesty."

-"Tell me when you are ready to hold your wedding. I'll be sure to attend."

Leaving them with those words, I returned to my battlefield with stacks of documents.