152. Seele's Return, and Conversation with Anti-Entropy
"Your basic physical examination is essentially complete." Mobius casually placed the report on her lap, sinking into her chair, her voice flat and emotionless.
"The World Serpent has completed the preparations for the surgery; the surgery can begin at any time."
Kevin nodded slightly.
"Thank you, Dr. Mobius."
Mobius looked up from the report.
"You're celebrating too soon. The success rate of MANTIS warrior surgery is incredibly slim. Even if there are successful cases involving individuals named [Kevin], it doesn't mean you can also succeed. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I'll be blunt with you—the possibility of you dying during the surgery is extremely high, far beyond your imagination. So,"
"Even so, are you still insisting on having the surgery?"
As Mobius asked this, her laboratory was filled with others—the heroes of the Flame-Chasers.
Under their witness, Kevin clearly smiled, revealing a smile devoid of any gloom.
"Yes," his voice was steady and firm, echoing in the silent space, "I insist."
This was the plan he had originally proposed.
How could he possibly back down?
Besides… he had a plan that guaranteed he wouldn't die.
[Fire Moth Warrior]: Hero, give me a buff!
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: What's going on?
[Fire Moth Warrior]: I want to be a MANTIS Warrior.
[Fire Moth Warrior]: Please pray for me not to die!
[Great Magician Tarnished]: You're going to have that ridiculously risky surgery?
[Fire Moth Warrior]: Yes.
[Wheelchair Sniper]: Have you thought it through? I remember that surgery was extremely risky.
[Fire Moth Warrior]: But it's also the fastest way to gain power, so Hero, give me a buff!
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: You only remembered me now? When?
[Fire Moth Warrior]: It'll still be a while.
[I Am the Savior]: Warrior, the Savior will protect you.
[I'm Not a Foodie]: Kevin will definitely be safe and sound.
[I'm a Witch]: Xiling, how's the mission going?
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: I've almost finished what I needed to do.
[I'm not Him]: ...Xiling, there's something I want to ask you when you get back.
[I'm not Him]: The train crew received some notifications from the Stellaron Hunters. A Stellaron has exploded in the Xianzhou Luofu... which is my hometown.
[I'm not Him]: After some discussion, we plan to go to Luofu, but I have some ominous premonitions about it.
[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: I roughly understand the situation. Okay, I'll finish the mission as soon as possible. Wait for me.
[I Am the Savior]: I, I, I can help too!
After replying to Kyuushou with "Next time for sure," Xiling and Kevin had already arrived at their destination—
The Sea of Quanta.
More precisely, it was the sea area they had entered through the "Eye of the Deep" passage. Because Xiling had been here before, he could teleport precisely here.
Looking around, Xiling nodded in satisfaction and said to Kevin, "Let's choose this place. The location is perfect; they can directly use the existing Eye of the Deep passage, saving us the trouble of creating a new path."
Kevin nodded.
They were here to investigate; they planned to build their first World Bubble Trial and used it as a trial run.
Just as Kevin reached out, as if to do something, he and Xiling seemed to sense something and looked in the same direction.
Their gaze passed over one broken World Bubble after another, finally landing on a petite figure.
"There...there's someone here?" Kevin said softly.
Xiling suddenly slapped his face. He had completely forgotten about Seele Vollerei; he had forgotten to pull her out when he was going to get Kevin out of the Sea of Quanta.
"It's not too late now, right? In the original story, she hadn't even come out by this time." Although he thought this, Xiling smiled at Kevin with a strange sense of guilt.
"Let's go rescue someone first."
"Let's go." Kevin left these words and led the way forward.
In the pitch-black space, a small, thin figure groped forward, trying to find a way to escape.
However, no matter how hard she tried, the door to the outside world remained elusive.
She had been searching for a long, long time.
But she never thought of giving up. Outside, someone was waiting for her.
"Sister Bronya, I will definitely go back," Seele murmured softly, her voice fading faintly into the boundless darkness.
She walked on for an unknown amount of time, yet all she saw was endless darkness.
Even with her strong will, she couldn't help but bury her head, a sob quickly rising in the deathly silence. She had exhausted all her strength, yet saw no hope.
"It's alright, don't cry. I'm here with you, aren't I?" A familiar voice echoed in her mind, tinged with helplessness.
"But...but I just can't control myself..." Seele choked out.
"We'll find a way. Wipe your tears first."
"...Yes, you're right." Seele sniffed, trying to stop her tears, preparing to take another step.
Just then, a beam of light pierced the eternal darkness without warning! The girl looked up in astonishment, only to see the darkness above her recede like a curtain, revealing two figures clearly before her eyes.
"Um...if you don't mind, could you wipe your tears first?" Seeing the girl's red eyes and lingering tear stains, Xiling descended from above and handed her a pack of tissues.
This sudden concern acted like a key, instantly unlocking the barely suppressed grievances and despair in Seele's heart. The tears she had just stopped starting to flow again.
Xiling froze awkwardly, instinctively looking behind him for help—Kevin had already turned his back completely.
"Traitor!" Xiling thought fiercely, but his face remained as gentle as he tried to maintain a calm expression.
"Um… don't worry, it's alright. I know about what happened to you, and I'll send you away from the Sea of Quanta soon. Don't cry… okay?"
He frantically comforted her. After a while, Seele's sobs gradually subsided. She took the tissues Xiling had been holding out to her, somewhat embarrassed.
"Hey, why did you suddenly start crying again?" The voice in her mind sounded again, clearly confused.
"...Don't say anything!" Seele covered her face with a tissue, her voice muffled, trying to hide her embarrassment.
She couldn't explain why. But the moment she saw Xiling appear, her long-strained emotions suddenly relaxed, and the accumulated fatigue and grievances could no longer be contained, turning into a flood of tears.
Once her emotions had completely calmed down, Seele asked softly, "My name is Seele…and who are you two…?"
"Let's just say we know Bronya." Seeing that the girl had finally calmed down, Xiling breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sister Bronya?! You know Sister Bronya! Is she…is she alright?" Seele's eyes lit up instantly, her voice filled with urgency.
"She was fine when we last met. Anyway, let me get you out of here first." Xiling said, starting to anchor her in reality. The next second, a spatial rift suddenly opened in the darkness, and the scene of Deep City was clearly presented on the other side of the rift.
"Let's go." Xiling stepped into the crevice first. Seele followed almost without hesitation, while Kevin silently brought up the rear.
The moment they set foot on the ground of Deep City, a piercing alarm blared, but only for a moment before falling silent. Then, Lieserl Albert Einstein, Welt Yang, and Bronya Zaychik appeared before them.
Bronya's gaze instantly fixed on Seele:
"...Seele?" The call was as soft as a dream, filled with disbelief.
"Sister Bronya—!" Seele's tears welled up again, like pearls from a broken string. She could no longer hold back, and under everyone's gaze, she rushed forward like a gust of wind, tightly embracing Bronya.
"It's me! Sister Bronya, it's me! I'm back!" Seele buried her face deeply in Bronya's shoulder, her voice choked yet incredibly clear.
Watching the two girls embracing tightly, tears streaming down their faces, a relieved smile appeared on Xiling's lips.
Indeed, the tears of happiness from others are the most satisfying.
Just then, Lieserl and Welt approached him and Kevin. Lieserl spoke first, her gaze sweeping over the two:
"Long time no see, Mr. Xiling. And..." Her gaze finally settled on Kevin, her tone tinged with complexity, "...the Lord of the World Serpent."
Xiling coughed lightly, smiling as he smoothed things over:
"Just call him Kevin."
Welt's gaze was fixed intently on Xiling. It was this man who had severed a certain destiny with a single sword strike, ending their long struggle.
"You saved this world," Welt's voice was deep and solemn, "On behalf of... this world that was able to survive, I offer you my deepest gratitude."
Xiling casually waved his hand:
"No need for such formality. I came here mainly to bring Seele back. However, since you're here, there's something I need to tell you."
"Please speak." Welt stepped forward, his expression focused.
"The root of the Honkai has been resolved, but your trials are not over." Xiling's tone turned serious.
"The Fifth Honkai Impact is about to descend. Prepare yourselves for the trials that belong to your civilization."
Lieserl frowned upon hearing this.
"Excuse my bluntness, Mr. Xiling. According to our...understanding, after you ended the Honkai, events like the birth of Herrschers should no longer exist."
"The Honkai events are over, but that doesn't mean everything is settled," Xiling said, gently placing a hand on Kevin's shoulder beside him.
"And he..." Kevin remained silent, but his gaze met the scrutiny of the leaders of the rebellious faction calmly.
"He will become the examiner of your civilization."
"Examiner?" Welt's heart sank, his brow furrowing deeply. What did this savior mean by that?
Seemingly sensing Welt's doubts, Xiling smiled.
"No need to be so wary, Welt. People change. Besides, he's the only one qualified and capable of being the examiner for this trial. After all, even now, you still know very little about the nature of this world, about the Honkai…"
He paused, his tone softening.
"Rest assured, this trial is unlike any you've experienced before."
Xiling then roughly explained their plan to Welt and Lieserl.
As for the final part of the plan, Xiling didn't reveal it.
After listening to everything, Welt let out a long breath and exchanged a glance with Lieserl. Finally, representing the Anti-Entropy organization, he gave a deep reply:
"I believe what you say. We understand. Anti-Entropy… agrees to accept this 'trial.'"