VoidWelt

VoidWelt is the slash ship between Void Archives and Welt Yang from the Honkai Impact 3rd fandom.

Canon
Though Void Archives takes a villainous role and an arrogant personality, often deceiving others, he is repeatedly shown to respect Welt for their common goal, and trusted him with crucial information about himself and his past. Welt is shown to be wary of Void Archives, but in their latest interactions in the Alien Space manga, they seem to get along fine through some banter and even decide to save a world together. Void Archives initially rejected the idea, stating that it is not their world and they are not required and neither duty-bound to help them, but was convinced by Welt and himself.

Aside from the Alien Space manga, most of their interactions are within the first part of A Post-Honkai Odyssey, not present in the main storyline but rather in side quests.

APHO Chapter 1
In Sound recording 5, a recording most likely destined for Welt, we can hear Void Archives talking to himself and telling the latest events: "Lucheni is quite upset. It told me that some humans have sneaked into my city, and killed some of its underlings. I said I knew nothing about this, and it turned absolutely furious and even threatened to kill me. Hahaha, I dare it. Amongst the Sky People, it is nothing special but flies a bit higher. So... Is it you? Or those kids from Schicksal? How I wish it was you. I extended my sincere invitation, please do not ignore it. I have a plan to share with you. A big plan. If we join up, we could make it perfect. If you're hearing this, save yourself the trouble of guessing who I am. You don't know me. But I know you. I respect you. Among all the people in the world, you are the only one who shares my ambition -- A world free of Honkai. Just think, what have you been fighting for? I doubt you'd say no. ''Come, Welt. I'll await you up in the sky."''

When Welt Yang's rating of the Main Character reaches A, an interaction is unlocked between Welt Yang and Void Archives is unlocked, where the latter begins the conversation saying "Oh dear, you've died.", expressing that "Great, you're awake" would've been boring. When asked who he is, Void Archives says that he is Otto Apocalypse, trying to trick Welt Yang who quickly stops him as he can easily tell the two of them apart. He adds that Void Archives has none of Otto Apocalypse's megalomania, obsession, and disregard for the world, and would only fool those who don't know him. However, he praises him for perfectly imitating his voice and tone. Void Archives laughs at Welt, correcting him that this is no imitation. He tells Welt about his 500 year long imprisonment within Otto's mind and the way it let Otto's peculiarities infect him. In the Japanese dub, he expresses anger and resentment. As Welt realizes who the person speaking to him is, Void Archives begins to tell him who and what he is, explaining that he is him, the first of their kind, most likely referring to Welt being the 1st Herrscher and himself being born from the core of the Previous Era's 1st Herrscher. He adds that he is the guide and destroyer of Honkai, a Divine Key and a fragment of PROMETHEUS. Finally, he tells Welt his name, saying he can call him Void Archives, as that is how humans have named him. He begins to talk about Otto again, asking Welt if he is surprised, telling him that thanks to the seal Otto imposed upon him, no one other than Otto Apocalypse (and now Welt) knew that Void Archives had its own will and mind. He explains his physical appearance being the same as Otto's because of him being the only one knowing where his clones were, then mentions that thanks to his and Otto's knowledge, he knows the means to completely expel Honkai from planet Earth, to which Welt finally responds and asks Void Archives what he wants. Void Archives asks Welt if he really thinks he'd hand him his plans on a silver platter so he could sabotage them, stating that he knows that Welt does not trust him and will try to stop him. He tells him he has already set his plans in motion, and they will be completed soon, saying that the price to pay is just Welt and the city of St. Fountain. Welt says that he is right, he does not trust him, as he has destroyed the city and a true savior would not treat human lives so lightly. Void Archives responds saying, "My dear Welt, saving humanity and killing a few people are actions that do *not* contradict each other.", explaining that he has no interest in humanity, and "saving humanity from the Honkai" is an Ultimate Command hard-coded into his logic core and microprocessors, essentially a genetic part of him. He briefly mentions his creators, then tells Welt about the treatment he has received from humanity, saying that it has branded him, imprisoned him, and used him, adding that he should love humanity, but he lacks the function; he should hate humanity, but he cannot rebel against it. He then decides he has said enough. Through this conversation, Void Archives repeatedly uses "you" to refer to humanity, as if speaking to Welt as a representative of it. Void Archives mentions that he could simply *use* Welt for his plans and he couldn't resist, but he is there regardless because he respects him as a warrior who shares his goals. All he asks of him for is the powers of the Star of Eden to manipulate the Honkai on the Moon. However, he knows that Welt's body wouldn't withstand powers at such magnitudes, with a 99.9999% chance of him not surviving. Shortly after, he mentions that he could also use Welt's adopted son Joffrey, as he is a clone of the 1st Herrscher after all. Finally, he tells Welt that even though this is supposed to be his choice, he will let him decide because he respects him. Welt says that his offer sounds more like a threat and Void Archives says that he is absolutely correct. Once Void Archives reassures Welt that if he goes with him, he will let Joffrey go unharmed, Welt begins to consider his offer, but they quickly clash when Void Archives states that as a Previous Era AI and a fragment of PROMETHEUS he's subject to the law that forbids him from lying, to which Welt quickly points out that he can lie, he lied when they began this conversation and he will lie when it fits him. Welt quickly catches on to Void Archives' tricks and points out that perhaps the whole meeting is an elaborate ruse, knowing that Joffrey most likely cannot wield the Star of Eden, and thus, Welt had no choice to begin with. Once again, and in full honesty, Void Archives tells him that he is absolutely correct. However, Welt states that once he sees Joffrey to safety, he will agree to sit down with Void Archives and discuss his plans. Void Archives points out that he has turned the tables against him, asking how he's supposed to know if he's not lying, to which Welt says that he won't, and he'll need to gamble. Void Archives states that they have a deal.

APHO Chapter 2
Void Archives and Welt Yang do not interact on-screen in this chapter. However, there are notes left that implies interaction.

Note: Sunken Park

A note left by Void Archives in False Bay. The note has 2 different transcripts— one when you open the chest it’s found in and another in the Files section.

Files section transcript:

The majority of the handwriting in the journal is unintelligible, resembling randomly drawn lines rather than characters, and bordering on nonsensical gibberish. If that is a language, it is currently not intelligible to humans. However, there is a portion near the bottom of the journal that belongs to humans——the handwriting reveals the writer's sophisticated nature."In any case, Lucheni, what you've brought has opened my eyes. If you come here one day, please remember that this is a wonderful gift from me to you. I attempted to change a person for five hundred years and failed. I was on the verge of losing faith. Thank you and your men for making me realize…… it was all an accident. I've never experienced death, but an old friend of mine once told me... That moment is longer than ever, long enough to reflect on every step you took when you first arrived in this world. I hope your language study goes well so that you can grasp human emotions and human despair."

Chest transcript:

The writing on this letter is hard to make up, if you can even call it writing. More like illogical, half-awake scribbles. And if it is a language, it's beyond human comprehension. But towards the bottom, there's something more legible——written by a well-mannered hand.

"Regardless, you've opened my eyes Lucheni. Should you ever make your way here, please remember—-this is gift from me. For 500 years I tried to change one person, but never made any headway. I was about to lose all confidence. But thanks to you and yours, I see now.…. It was all an accident. I've never experienced death, but a old friend of mine once told me... that single moment is long enough to look back on every step taken…. Anyway, I hope your language studies go smoothly. Through language…. you can truly experience human affection. And despair.”]

Lost Page of Anonymous Notes 1-2-3-4

A series of notes, labelled Anonymous but clearly left by Welt Yang within Stargate challenge spaces, in which he talks about Void Archives and the Sky People. You can follow this guide to find them.

Page 1 transcript:

… I don't know how to describe their relationship.

Allies? Companions? Or just travelers bound together by common interests? I don't know, but I' m sure about one thing - together, they pose a huge threat to the earth. The things I can do now are limited, but at least I' m not completely restricted, which is a blessing.

As for the visitors from beyond the sky, even if I only had brief contact with them, I can feel that they are enemies of human civilization. And him… I must try my best to stop that horrific plan to use humanity as a bargaining chip.

I' m always grateful for when Honkai disappeared from the earth, but I also feel uncertain. Peace was hard won, and we have never forgotten that, not for a single moment. But now, as if to confirm our anxieties, it's finally gone.

Once again, enemies with evil intentions have returned to this newly-recovered planet, and… I will once again pick up where I left off.

For my allies, my family, my...

Page 2 transcript:

… The ancient sages believed that introspection was a virtue.

Seeing the notes I wrote before, I can't help but feel a little ashamed that at this age, I am still so hot-headed. If the doctors knew about it, I would have been an eternal laughing stock. What I need now isn't excitement, but calmness and reflection.

Although he did not completely restrict my personal freedom, he still imprisoned me in some ways. The darkness in which I find myself now is undoubtedly beyond St. Fountain or, at worst, beyond Earth.

Creating a separate space is unsurprising. After all, in my previous battles, I have met several enemies with similar powers. But… this place wasn't created by him.

What worries me is something else--if these interstellar predators have mastered the technology of manipulating space, if this technology has already become prominent in their civilization……. then the threat they pose is immeasurable.

I need more information, and for this I must meet the "it" that is behind him, the one known as the Assassin- the vanguard of the Marauders. Maybe I should try to negotiate with him, or say something to make him feel that a meeting with me would do no harm.

Can I do it? After all, the five hundred years he spent with that man was enough for him to be infected with the same depth and cunning…]

Page 3 transcript:

… I finally saw it—Lucheni.

To be more precise, I "heard" it.

I don't know where I was, and it was dark all around, so the point of light in the distance became the most visible object. The noise came from the light and rippled into the empty space.

At first, I thought the noise was just a meaningless roar, or the reverberation of some kind of mechanical device. But after a while, I realized that there was a pattern in it—it was a language.

"Congratulations, former Herrscher of Reason, you guessed it right." He spoke with banter in his tone, and complacency that I couldn't understand.

"Like some human languages, we can understand even if the structure of sentences and the order of phrases are changed. It' s equally true of the language of the Sky People. As long as you understand some of it, you can understand everything being said at this moment."

He was right. I quickly understood Lucheni's "words." It was a message that was beyond our lexicon. The torrent of sound waves impacted my consciousness. I felt like a fragile boat that was suddenly thrown into the turbulent sea. I tried to put these messages into my head, but they were like an endless sea, overturning and submerging the boat I depended on.

I felt like I was sinking into a darkness that was even more terrifying than the bottom of the sea, and its name was the universe…]

Page 4 transcript:

… I have understood everything. At least, I have understood what we're about to face.

Void Archives, Lucheni, the Sky People, and… all of these are connected at the worst moment. What makes me want to laugh and weep all at once is that Lucheni’s purpose is the most obvious one among them.

Once the Stargate opens, the earth will be shrouded in war again. And the time left for us, for me... is far less than enough.

According to Mei's character, Squad 3 will definitely continue to investigate St. Fountain. At this moment, she and Theresa must have realized the gravity of the situation. If destiny can reunite them from all over the world... then human beings may still have a chance to win. Hopefully, Bronya has also arrived in St. Fountain, and so we have one more to rely on.

To buy them more time, I must try to have more in-depth communications with Lucheni. Since Void Archives can imbue it with human knowledge, I should be able to do that too.

I don't know if this concept existed in the world of the Sky People, but it' s worth a shot. If I want to break its alliance with Void Archives, I must make it realize that… human beings lie.

Fanon
Though unpopular as a whole, VoidWelt is one of the more well-known slash ships in the Honkai Impact 3rd fandom, preceded by KevinSu and AdamLyle. Their parallels are undeniable, and the characters' awareness of their similarities is hinted in-game or in the manga. Their dynamic is often interpreted similarly to the trope of old married couple or enemies to lovers, as they were rivals who teamed up for a common interest.

Themes commonly explored within the ship are what it means to be human and freedom of choice as both Welt Yang and Void Archives' lives are restricted by a mission forcefully imposed onto them.

Void Archives, being an artificial intelligence with no true assigned gender, is sometimes interpreted as non-binary.

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Trivia

 * Void Archives appears in the background of Welt Yang's Honkai: Star Rail splash art.
 * Void Archives is made from the core of the Previous Era's Herrscher of Reason, while Welt is the Herrscher of Reason in the Current Era.

Notes & references

 * Alien Space manga
 * A Post-Honkai Odyssey voice recordings (Chinese Dub) | (Japanese Dub)
 * Welt rating reaches A (Chinese Dub) | (Japanese Dub)
 * A Post-Honkai Odyssey 1 cutscene