Please support me on Patreon, where you can read a bunch of extra chapters, not just for this novel, but for all the novels I'm working on. I upload at least 2 times daily for most novels - There are at least twice as many available chapters on Patreon, compared to here on Webnovel. Additionally, there are also free extra chapters available for Free Members, so head on over:
Patreon.com/ThatGreatStuff
******
Within Xia Chen's simulator, there existed records of each simulation run.
He scrolled to the first entry:
[Honkai World Simulator activated.]
[Current Scenario: Destruction scene of the previous civilization era in the intrinsic world.]
[Weapons Equipped: None.]
[Stigmata Assigned: None.]
[System generating record...]
[Day 1: Eight Fusion Warriors arrive at the moon for the final battle against the Final Herrscher. You infiltrate the flying device, encounter the Final Herrscher, and subsequently confess your feelings to it.]
[You died, resulting in an extremely gruesome scene.]
[Ding! This Honkai World experience has ended. You can permanently retain the following items and extract them to the real world. Congratulations! You have obtained 'Courage to Face All', Extract now?]
This was his very first use of the simulator.
His luck had been exceptionally poor, directly encountering Finality right away. At that time, he didn't think much and, on a spontaneous impulse, managed to erase the fear instilled by Finality's presence from his mind. In subsequent simulations, as he continuously traversed through different futures and pasts across various times and spaces, it naturally led him to forget about his initial encounter.
Reflecting back now, meeting Finality during his first simulation wasn't due to terrible luck.
Rather, it was a 'beginner's bonus'.
During his second encounter with Finality in simulation, it occurred after gaining access to the Authority of the Herrscher of Wind.
Herrschers were messengers of divine beings. Even though the Herrschers of this era possessed their own will, they still shared the Herrscher consciousness.
However, when Xia Chen became a Herrscher, no such Herrscher consciousness emerged. Initially, he believed it was due to a reward from the simulator, protecting him from being influenced by the Herrscher consciousness.
But upon further reflection, if the simulator is indeed the stigma space, why would it grant him Herrscher authority? How could it collect future Holy Mark consciousnesses? And how does it connect to other parallel worlds?
The simulator must be a creation from a higher dimension, and currently, its involvement seems tied to Finality.
This appears to be Finality's attempt at self-preservation.
Aponia's vague explanation did not clarify whether Finality descending on the planet was for its own survival or if Finality itself created the simulator as a means of rescue. However, her words undoubtedly pointed towards one conclusion: Finality and Honkai are not synonymous entities.
This realization also validated another point: using Finality to eliminate Honkai is indeed feasible.
The Authority He wields is precisely for extinguishing Honkai.
As Xia Chen pondered, Aponia vanished.
In her place, the simulator's simulation commenced:
[Honkai World Simulator activated.]
[Current Scenario: Destruction site of the previous civilization era in the intrinsic world.]
[Equipped Weapon: Kukulkan's Breath.]
[Assigned Stigmata: Ana Schariac; Sirin Ascension.]
[System generating records...]
[Day 1: ...]
Xia Chen felt slightly dazed, experiencing a strong premonition that this could be the simulator's final run. After this simulation, the entire simulator might disappear altogether.
This intense feeling left Xia Chen somewhat uncertain.
However, he quickly composed himself, "There aren't many issues left now."
"The puzzle pieces for humanity to overcome Honkai have all been collected. Even without the simulator, the outcome is inevitable."
He recalled what Einstein had previously explained.
By decoupling civilization from Honkai, strictly speaking, there would no longer be any so-called trials.
And with Dr. Mei already controlling the will of Honkai from a higher dimension, they merely needed an opportunity to communicate with the 'God of Honkai'.
Since Otto could achieve it, future generations surely would as well.
Moreover, the simulator's randomness was too unpredictable; finding a definitive strategy against Finality had become increasingly difficult.
In fact, after Mobius utilized his body to complete the Stigmata, the simulator's purpose was essentially fulfilled. Subsequent simulations, even those involving him personally, held little impact.
The exception was during the simulation where he encountered Aponia, revealing what he perceived as the 'truth.'
Xia Chen didn't fully trust Aponia, maintaining skepticism about the 'truth' he had witnessed.
Suppressing these thoughts, Xia Chen began examining the unfamiliar surroundings.
He found himself not on the lunar battlefield.
Although given his current abilities, reaching the moon posed no significant challenge.
Xia Chen stood still, like a spectator watching a silent film unfold. He observed people hastily seeking refuge from impending disaster and then witnessed the return of Fusion Warriors from the moon.
Following that, the Finality descended upon this land.
"This must be our fourth encounter," Xia Chen murmured to himself, gazing at the Herrscher of Finality as if separated by entire galaxies. "We truly seem destined to meet."
"Considering this connection, it's time you reveal the truth to me," he paused before continuing, "Who exactly am I, and what is it that you seek to understand through me?"
"Isn't this simulator your creation?" he asked. "What purpose do you have for collecting all this data?"
The Herrscher of Finality remained silent.
Despite the vast cosmic distance, the Herrscher seemed to exhibit emotions akin to humans.
Through its marked pheromones, it could access all of Xia Chen's memories and perceive his every emotion—doubt, fear, surprise...and a hint of joy.
All these emotions transformed into information.
Finally, the Herrscher spoke with its own voice.
"It's not self-rescue."
"It's for love."
On the night the simulator completed its simulation, Xia Chen suffered from a high fever throughout the entire evening.
Meanwhile, Einstein was reviewing information obtained from the Holy Mark Terminal.
To be precise, it was a diary written from Dr. Mei's perspective.
"...After the Thirteenth Herrscher emerged, Prometheus received a special encrypted message, coded with three-layer security. Upon deciphering it, we were informed that humanity's Finality was imminent."
"The Spark Project has selected its candidate, preparations for initiating the Ark Project are underway, and the Moonlight Throne construction is complete. With victory in the final battle, there remains hope to overcome Honkai."
"Finality arrived as foretold, and our fight ended in defeat."
"..."
"Honkai Energy on Earth rapidly declined, erasing even traces of civilization along with it."
"Prometheus received another message: 'Finality seeks help?'"
"He found Himself trapped in the mire of Honkai, yet offered humanity a faint glimmer of hope—an absolute means to conquer Honkai once and for all—the Holy Mark Terminal."
"When the key to unlock the terminal appears, Honkai will undoubtedly be banished."
"..."
"The Key..." Einstein murmured to herself. "If I'm not mistaken, the true Key should be Kiana herself—the perfect creation born from Project Stigma, capable of accommodating the complete consciousness of the Finality Herrscher."
"Should we take this gamble?" A hint of determination flashed in her eyes.