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Initially, upon crossing over, Xia Chen would have seen himself as the destined protagonist meant to save the world.
After all, being a transmigrator felt akin to one chosen by fate.
However, the longer he stayed in this world, the more that belief faded. He no longer considered himself the central character, despite possessing the extraordinary simulator.
Moreover, he couldn't bear the weight of what Einstein had implied.
He realized he couldn't bear the weight of humanity's hope alone.
As Einstein began interacting with the Holy Mark Terminal, Xia Chen stood outside Babylon Tower, silently pondering.
There was no reason for Einstein to deceive her, which meant Mobius must have mentioned something similar before.
"So, it still relates to the simulator within me?"
He quickly deduced the key connection.
From Aponia, he learned that he was connected to the Thirteenth Herrscher's companion Honkai Beast from the previous civilization era. Naturally, a mere Honkai Beast could not be the protagonist of this world.
Therefore, the hope to overcome Honkai must lie with the creator of this system.
Xia Chen surmised it could only be a higher-dimensional being, perhaps akin to a Star God.
He attempted to communicate telepathically with Ana's consciousness:
"Ana, do you remember which world you were in before coming to me?"
"No, I don't."
Understanding Xia Chen's confusion, Ana earnestly explained, "What I can confirm is that after my death, I became a consciousness and was subsequently contained within a different dimension."
Without a doubt, the "different dimension" she referred to was the space of the simulator.
"Then do you know who created this different dimension?" Xia Chen's tone suddenly became urgent.
He had asked similar questions before, but never received answers from Ana.
"My apologies, I forgot that you've answered this question previously."
Feeling somewhat frustrated, he said, "Ana, it feels like I'm being dragged into a swamp."
"I will help you," the Holy Mark consciousness whispered softly. "No matter what challenges arise, even against the enemy of Finality, I will always assist you."
"Thank you."
Currently, the only reassurance for Xia Chen lay in his ability to confidently use the rewards from the simulator.
Communicating with Ana, he asked, "What method do you think humans should employ to defeat Finality?"
"Hmm, perhaps by marrying her?" Ana's imaginative response caught him off guard.
Xia Chen was speechless.
"If so, wouldn't there be no peace ever again?"
"Hmph, good that you realize it."
Clearly, Ana showed no concern about the impending Final Herrscher. She seemed firmly convinced that Xia Chen would undoubtedly triumph over Finality.
Contrary to Ana's certainty, Xia Chen lacked such confidence.
His thoughts inexplicably drifted back to the Commandments lingering in his mind:
[Not your lover.]
That evening, Xia Chen escorted Einstein back to Schicksal after her visit to the Holy Mark Terminal.
He had no knowledge of what information Einstein obtained from the terminal. However, judging by her expression, it seemed she gained significant insights.
"Dr. Einstein, how did it go?"
She replied, "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, it would be hard to imagine such a thing exists."
"I feel like hearing those words from you isn't meant as praise."
"And indeed, it's not intended as such," Einstein said candidly, her gaze unwavering.
"The concept behind the Holy Mark Terminal is undoubtedly brilliant, and the idea of an artificial Finality represents another attempt to confront the end itself. It even makes me suspect that the strategies I've mentioned for overcoming Honkai might have already been tried during the previous civilization era."
"However, the emergence of the Holy Mark Terminal blurs a fundamental question: What exactly constitutes humanity?"
"Are we defined by our genes as biological beings, or by our consciousness as conceptual entities?"
"The previous civilization era aimed to protect humanity by confining it to the concept of 'biological beings.' This led to the rejection between MANTIS and regular soldiers because, genetically speaking, MANTIS were no longer human... Never mind, these matters are too distant now."
Einstein rarely criticized people from a past era.
She paused before continuing, "Forget it; discussing this makes me seem somewhat immature and impulsive. Just know that my beliefs may conflict with those of the previous era."
"Setting that aside, the design of the Holy Mark Terminal is truly exceptional. At least our journey here wasn't entirely futile."
Xia Chen stopped asking further questions.
Following this, Schicksal and Anti-Entropy began increasingly frequent technological exchanges, while Kiana remained busy as well. The two massive organizations started operating at full capacity, seemingly initiating a new project.
Xia Chen was not excluded, but indeed, he knew nothing about it.
His focus had been forcibly diverted elsewhere.
"We meet again."
Within his consciousness, Xia Chen encountered Aponia once more.
Aponia was truly a remarkable individual. After much contemplation, Xia Chen could only describe her with these words: "Upholding Commandments, Reflecting Compassion."
She had the ability to perceive fate but not alter it. According to her, destiny itself brought them together.
In fact, their entanglement began even earlier than he realized.
"I don't believe there's any need for us to meet."
Ever since Aponia implanted the Commandment within him, Xia Chen had no desire to encounter her again. No one willingly accepts being constrained; it makes one feel like a mere puppet on strings.
Xia Chen stated firmly, "Humans are not marionettes controlled by strings. The moment you used your Commandment, you disregarded the principles of respecting life and freedom."
"I do not like you, Aponia," he confessed bluntly. "Especially now, as you continue to disrespect me."
Aponia remained unfazed by Xia Chen's rebuke. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures; I hope you can understand this," she said. "Even without the Commandment, we would have eventually met."
"Is this why you tampered with me?"
Xia Chen's hostility towards Aponia did not arise suddenly. After returning Einstein, he attempted to use the simulator for a simulation run.
However, the simulator's effect failed... or rather, it was temporarily blocked, leading him to be transported into this space.
In the deepest recesses...
Xia Chen wasn't sure how Aponia managed this feat, but it marked the third instance where someone influenced him through the simulator—the first being Finality, and the second, the God of Honkai.
"This is not manipulation," Aponia explained gently. "Perhaps you haven't noticed, but your connection to this world has been gradually diminishing."
"Without the pheromones left by Finality in your brain, you would have long been lost within quantum fluctuations."
Xia Chen's pupils slightly trembled.
"You mean... Finality was saving me?"
Aponia remained silent.
"Then what exactly was its purpose?"
"Not for love." She repeated her earlier words, adding three more: "It was self-preservation."
The so-called simulator was a means for Finality's own survival.
To Finality, Honkai itself was akin to a quagmire.
Xia Chen's thoughts suddenly clarified.
Finality was distinct from Honkai.
In this era, all Herrschers possess their own will, while the Will of Honkai largely ignores these developments. When Otto could bargain with gods, even usurping divine authority... everything occurring in this current era appears as bugs compared to the previous one.
And Finality itself represents the biggest bug.
Suddenly disregarding Aponia, Xia Chen opened the simulator's records as if seeking confirmation.