At the bottom of the southern sea of Canghai City, Bronya and Cortana were analyzing data from an underwater ruin.
Although it was called an underwater ruin, it was actually the corpse of a giant Honkai Beast. This giant Honkai Beast was, not surprisingly, the legendary Chiyou. Its body had petrified and was completely buried under the seabed, with only its head exposed. But even just the head had a radius of several tens of meters.
"According to Bronya's calculations, Chiyou's body contains a large amount of Honkai energy reactions and a huge space. And Chiyou's open mouth should be the entrance to Jiuyou..." Bronya said to everyone, looking at the data on the virtual screen in front of her.
"Alright, once Theresa and the others arrive, we'll prepare to enter and explore. For now, let's all take a look around."
"Yay, Ryn, let's go. The underwater world is so beautiful~" As soon as Himeko said to look around, Kiana happily pulled Ryn to wander around the seabed.
Beautiful things should, of course, be shared with the person you love most~
"What are you looking at me for? If you want to go, go by yourself."
Kika rolled her eyes at Mei, who was staring at her. She was too lazy to swim; she was exhausted.
"Oh, come on, just come with me. Kiana and Ryn have already left, and Bronya and Judah are busy analyzing data and can't leave. You're the only one who can accompany me~"
Mei directly linked arms with Kika and dragged her along to see the various strange and wonderful things on the seabed.
Seeing that everyone had gone off to play, Bronya also wanted to go, especially with her big sis Mei. But looking at the anxious Himeko beside her, Bronya sighed and could only quietly continue her work.
However, listening to the constant sounds of Kiana and Ryn, and Mei and Kika, laughing and playing through the communicator, Bronya's motivation to work dwindled.
"Hmph, everyone is having so much fun, leaving Bronya and Judah here to work. Bronya is not happy. If I'm not happy, then no one gets to be happy!"
With that, Bronya sent an urgent message to the laughing group, forwarding some information she had retrieved from the database.
A virtual screen popped up in front of Ryn and the others, displaying Himeko's annual medical report.
"Why are you showing me Himeko's medical report? Ah! What does this mean?" Ryn was a little puzzled at first, but as he read on, he felt a sense of dread...
Himeko's physical condition was extremely serious in every aspect. It could be said that it was a miracle she was still alive in such a state.
"Bronya, what's going on?"
Hearing Ryn's question, Bronya explained to everyone.
"Everyone has seen Himeko's medical report... Himeko's body has very poor adaptability to Honkai energy, but she still chose to have an artificial Stigmata implanted. The consequence of forcibly implanting an artificial Stigmata like this is that it has been continuously eroding Himeko's body. Coupled with the cost of using the Nexus System, Himeko doesn't have much time left..."
Listening to Bronya's explanation, Kiana's smile gradually faded. She lost all her playful mood in an instant.
"No wonder... Theresa always said that artificial Stigmata are both a sharp sword and a poison. Is there any way we can help Himeko?"
"Jiuyou, the objective of our current mission, might hold the Stigmata of the legendary Ji Lin. The only thing we can do is find a natural Stigmata as soon as possible to accelerate Schicksal's research on artificial Stigmata..."
"I have a Stigmata too. Can that help with the research?" Mei asked curiously.
"No, it can't. Your Stigmata, Mei, and Ryn's are not universal. Schicksal has no clue how to research your Stigmata. As for Kika's..." Bronya didn't say anything, but Kika could clearly feel Bronya's disdain.
"Damn you, Bronya! You're looking down on my 'Crimson Radiance,' aren't you!" Kika angrily started to swim over to punch Bronya a couple of times, but Mei held her back tightly.
"That's not it... It's just that your Stigmata, according to the research results I found in the Schicksal database... they managed to make artificial Stigmata more powerful, but at the cost of consuming even more life force. Based on this, it can be inferred that the effect of your Stigmata is to burn life to gain power. So, Mushoku Kika, how much time do you have left?"
Bronya's counter-question shifted everyone's attention to Kika.
"I..."
Kika was suddenly at a loss for words, but seeing Ryn's and Kiana's gazes also turn to her, she still said stubbornly, "Hmph, what nonsense are you talking, Bronya! This lady has a long life ahead of her. By the time I die in battle, you'll probably have already died of old age!"
"Really, Kika?" Ryn asked worriedly.
"Of course... Oh, stop worrying about me, I've got a long life ahead of me!" Kika pretended to be angry and turned Ryn's body around, pushing him towards Kiana. "Don't worry! I won't die so easily before I meet my Prince Charming."
Ryn wanted to say more, but Kiana tugged at him, signaling him not to ask any more questions. Then Kiana herself swam over to Kika, leading Kika and Mei to another side.
A helpless Ryn could only swim over to Bronya's side to help her and Judah.
Ryn had initially thought this was just a simple search mission, but it turned out to be related to Himeko's life. He also learned from Bronya that Kika was also fighting by sacrificing her lifespan.
The Nexus System, the doses Kika could use were lethal to ordinary people upon a single use. Kika had told everyone that she had good adaptability to the Nexus. But comparing her to another Nexus user, Murata Himeko, it became clear that Kika was actually using her own Stigmata to offset some of the side effects...
Natural Stigmata increase a person's lifespan and improve their physical condition, but there are also some special Stigmata, like Mei's 'Lightning Soul,' which almost killed Mei when it awakened.
And if Kika's 'Crimson Radiance' consumes life force in exchange for power, then that could also explain why Kika's physical constitution is so fragile...
*Beep beep beep—*
As Ryn was thinking, an urgent message interrupted his thoughts.
"This is the Hyperion, Theresa calling Ryn, calling Ryn!" Theresa's urgent voice came from the communicator.
"This is Ryn. What happened, Theresa?"
"Ryn, come support us quickly!! We need your help! We've found the Herrscher of Corruption on the Hyperion, and we engaged in battle. Although we've managed to subdue her now, most of the Hyperion has been destroyed. Come and save the ship quickly, it's about to crash!!!"