"Alright, Dr. Tesla, that's enough about your inventions. I'm sure no one is interested in them anyway."
"Hey! Nest-head, are you trying to start a fight?!"
"Dr. Tesla, I've noticed you're leaning more and more into the role of a comic relief character lately."
"Huh?! What the hell?!"
Watching the Anti-Entropy duo suddenly put on a performance that was somewhere between a stand-up routine and a comedy sketch, Theresa struggled to suppress her laughter. She coughed a few times and quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, Einstein, I haven't introduced you yet. This is Fu Hua, also the former Celestial Chiyuan. And this is her companion, the Book of Cangxuan."
"Hello, Celestial Chiyuan. It's a pleasure to meet you." Einstein extended her hand toward Fu Hua. "I have long heard of your great name. Seeing you in person today, you truly live up to your reputation."
"Dr. Einstein, you flatter me," Fu Hua replied humbly, politely shaking Einstein's hand.
After the brief introductions, the Q&A space promptly presented a new question.
---o---
[Question 16: In the battle against Schicksal, what preparations did Himeko make in order to save Kiana?]
[A: Entered the Schicksal laboratory with Tesla, found the God-Slaying Spear, and then went to the lower level of the lab to don the Crimson Armor.]
[B: Used Otto's experiment logs to create the God-Slaying Spear with Tesla, and then went to the lower level of the lab to don the Crimson Armor.]
[C: Entered the Schicksal laboratory with Tesla, found the Honkai Energy Suppression Serum, and then went to the lower level of the lab to don the Crimson Armor.]
[D: While escaping with Tesla, was saved by Fu Hua and then obtained the Crimson Armor.]
---o---
"Another question about the battle against Schicksal."
Everyone was a bit surprised to hear the question.
"It's clear that this future battle is incredibly important, otherwise the Q&A space wouldn't ask about this campaign multiple times," Einstein commented.
"But of these four options, which one is correct? They all seem so similar," Raiden Mei said with a frown.
"Hmm... My name is in all the options. It seems I'll be working together with Himeko at that time," Tesla noted.
"Bronya believes we can first eliminate the fourth option," Bronya stated. "We have previously seen footage of Teacher Himeko fighting the Herrscher of the Void. Although Teacher Himeko wore the Crimson Armor, she could only barely fight the Herrscher to a standstill. In the end, it was Dr. Einstein's righteous backstab that severely injured her."
"Therefore, if the Crimson Armor was her only trump card, Teacher Himeko shouldn't have been able to save Kiana."
"The first three options are all quite similar. The only difference is the nature of Teacher Himeko's other trump card."
"Bronya's analysis is correct," Einstein nodded, endorsing her reasoning. "The first option is that Himeko and Tesla entered the Schicksal lab and found the God-Slaying Spear. While we don't know what this God-Slaying Spear is, judging by the name, it must be something significant."
"The second option is that Dr. Tesla created the God-Slaying Spear herself after studying Otto's experiment logs. This option is fundamentally the same as the first; the only difference is whether they found it or made it themselves."
"As for the third option, I personally believe its probability of being correct is very low. Even the Moonlight Throne couldn't kill the Herrscher of the Void. I don't think a mere Honkai Energy Suppression Serum would have any effect on a Herrscher."
"...So, does that mean the correct answer has to be A or B?" Theresa felt a little lost.
She hadn't even wrapped her head around the options, yet Einstein and Bronya had already eliminated two of them.
Come on, when you guys figure things out so quickly, it just makes me look slow, doesn't it?
"Apologies, but this is as far as my analysis can go," Einstein said with a shrug. "The current information and intelligence we have is insufficient for me to distinguish between options A and B."
"Dr. Einstein, you've already done great. At least we're choosing between two options now, not four," Himeko said with a smile.
"A fifty-fifty chance... Does it still come down to luck?" Fu Hua mused.
"How about I answer?" Little Xuan volunteered enthusiastically. "By the way, if I get it wrong, will I also have a year of my life deducted?"
"There's no need. Since this question is about me, let me be the one to answer it."
With that, Himeko took a deep breath. Without much hesitation, she spoke directly.
"I choose... B."
[Answer... Correct.]
[Congratulations, you have obtained a top-tier Fire-type Stigma: Thales.]
A ball of fire suddenly materialized from the void, slowly descending in front of Himeko. She subconsciously reached out to catch it. The flame landed in her palm, but there was none of the expected pain; instead, a deeply warm sensation spread through her hand.
In the next moment, the flame merged into her body. An invisible energy coursed through her entire being, finally manifesting as a bright crimson mark on her back.
That was the top-tier Fire-type Stigma—Thales.
The original artificial stigma on Himeko's body was instantly incinerated, yet she felt no loss of power. On the contrary, an even stronger force surged into her body.
"This is incredible! It can even reward people with Stigmata?" Tesla's eyes widened, her gaze fixed with amazement on the crimson mark on Himeko's back.
If the situation weren't so serious, she'd be tempted to rip Himeko's clothes off right there and then to properly study this Stigma.
"Himeko, how do you feel?" Theresa asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
"How I feel? I feel great," Himeko said, equally surprised. "This Stigma doesn't seem to have any side effects. All it seems to have given me is immense power."
"Could this be a natural Stigma?" Bronya wondered aloud, frowning.
Only natural Stigmata came without side effects. The artificial Stigmata created by Schicksal, while providing Valkyries with power, were always accompanied by significant drawbacks.
"Mm. Himeko, you should get a full physical examination when we get back," Theresa said. Although she trusted the Q&A space not to harm them, a necessary check-up was still essential.
With the question answered, a new image appeared on the screen in the Q&A space.
The setting this time appeared to be a massive factory. Inside, Tesla and Himeko were busy operating a computer.
"OK, done! Let's have Dr. Tesla see just what secrets that bastard Otto has hidden in this laboratory."
Tesla excitedly slammed the enter key, her eyes glued to the computer screen.