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[Late 5th Century AD]
[Beneath the River Thames: Shelter No. 907]
Inside the conference room.
Aside from Fu Hua's image projected as a hologram,
Dr. Su and Kevin were also seated at the table.
"Su, it's been a long time."
"It has indeed been a while, Hua. Another ten years have passed since we last met."
"Hua, Su and I have already reviewed the progress report on the Kindling Project."
"Then you should know—there's nothing unexpected to report. Everything is still proceeding according to plan."
"We are no longer teaching this era's humanity knowledge beyond their current level, so no Emperor-class Honkai Beasts have appeared again."
"You've worked hard, Hua."
"Su, is there still no news from the Ark?"
"None yet. The Ark left the solar system more than a thousand years ago. Each communication attempt takes longer and longer. According to the plan, it should have contacted us five years ago—and fifteen years ago."
"To this day, we still haven't received the contact from fifteen years ago."
"The chances of reestablishing contact with the Ark are already very slim. All the other plans have failed."
"The Stigma Project, the 恒沙 Project, the Kindling Project—if even we fail, then humanity of this era will also be unable to escape extinction at the hands of Honkai."
"I'm going back to carry out my mission. See you again in ten years."
"Kevin, I'll also be returning to the Second Divine Key to continue the 恒沙 Project."
[Ark Project]
Pioneer: Griseo
Griseo replaced Kosma to carry out the Ark Project.
Content:
The Pioneer carries a gene repository, leaves Earth, and ventures into the universe to search for a suitable new homeland.
Method of Execution: Unknown.
Obstacles:
The Pioneer conversation took place in the late 5th century AD.
The Ark lost contact fifteen years ago.
[恒沙 Project]
Pioneer: Su
Content:
Using the Second Divine Key [Cosmic Juggernaut] to observe other World Bubbles on the Imaginary Tree, in search of a way to defeat Honkai.
Method of Execution:
After arriving in the New Era, Su used the Second Divine Key to create the World Bubble Sumeru in a Mustard Seed, observing worlds within it through the Key.
Obstacles:
Quantity.
Quantity is the greatest obstacle.
Time left for both the worlds and the observer is limited.
[Kindling Project]
Pioneers: Hua, Dan Zhu, Cang Xuan
Content:
With Shenzhou of the New Era as the primary destination, the Pioneers pass down the knowledge and culture of the Era of Flames to New Era humanity, promoting the development of civilization.
Method of Execution:
Dan Zhu: Conveyed knowledge of Honkai and how to resist it to the people in the form of myths.Cang Xuan: Managed a spherical computer that stored vast amounts of technological knowledge from the Era of Flames, to be handed over to New Era humanity at the appropriate time.Hua: Under the alias "Red Kite", protected the land of Shenzhou as an immortal, using force to ward off Honkai threats.
Obstacles:
During the early stages of execution, humanity was taught knowledge far beyond its overall technological and cultural level. At the same time, Cang Xuan and Dan Zhu found a suitable wielder for the Xuanyuan Sword—Ji Lin, which led to the emergence of the Judgment-class Honkai Beast Chiyou.
After this incident, Cang Xuan and Dan Zhu died.
From then on, the Kindling Project was carried out solely by Hua.
The detailed information of the three major plans floated above the conference table.
And upon closer inspection—
Almost every plan had encountered massive obstacles.
The Ark Project had gone missing without explanation.
The Kindling Project stagnated due to the risk of triggering stronger Honkai Beasts.
Only the 恒沙 Project continued.
After a brief exchange of information among the three—
Just as everyone thought the meeting was about to adjourn—
"Wait, Su."
Kevin stopped Dr. Su.
"I think it's time to initiate the Stigma Project."
"You mean… start the Stigma Project now? The Stigma Project is our final move. Even if it succeeds, all of humanity will have to pay an enormous price!"
Su's expression turned grave.
Clearly, the Stigma Project Kevin proposed was anything but simple.
"Now, all the other plans have already failed!"
"The Kindling Project carried out in Shenzhou gave birth to a powerful Judgment-class Honkai Beast after we taught this era's humanity."
"Cang Xuan and Dan Zhu both died at the hands of the Honkai Beast Chiyou. The facts prove that accelerating civilization only causes Honkai to arrive faster!"
"As for your 恒沙 Project—you've observed within the Second Divine Key for fifty thousand years, and still gained nothing!"
"The later the Stigma Project is executed, the greater the risk!"
"Su, I believe you'll understand me. I need your help."
With that—
Kevin left the conference room.
Leaving behind a grim-faced Su and a completely stunned crowd in the chat!
Not long after,
Su sought Kevin out again.
"Kevin, I need to talk to you. I saw that in Burton Village next to the shelter, all the villagers have turned into zombies! There are large quantities of crystals emitting Honkai energy!"
"Yes, Su. That village is one of the experimental sites of the Stigma Project."
Facing Su's heavy gaze and questioning, Kevin did not hide anything, calmly admitting what he had done.
"But! According to the calculations, only an extremely small number of people have a chance to awaken Stigmata! Those who can't control the power will all turn into zombies!"
"Yes. Based on my experimental results on the island, fewer than one in a thousand can awaken the first stage."
"Unfortunately, they will all develop rejection reactions with the Stigmata. After that, I'll need you to resolve those reactions and bring them into the second stage."
Kevin's words made Su's expression change dramatically.
"You mean… you deployed CYP-630 across the entire island?"
"To obtain accurate experimental results, this was necessary. And this island is a perfect testing ground—no need to worry about test subjects escaping."
Kevin still admitted it directly.
Faced with Kevin calmly laying out his plan,
Su seemed to make some kind of decision, showing no immediate reaction.
Afterward—
Dr. Su used a ruse to lure Kevin into the World Bubble he had created: Sumeru in a Mustard Seed.
And Kevin seemed to have anticipated it all along.
"I know, Su. This plan is the worst possible plan."
"I also know you oppose it. Those innocent deaths weigh heavily on your conscience."
"You tricked me here to trap me—you want to stop me from carrying out the Stigma Project at all costs."
"So I came."
"Su, I'll give you one chance. Use everything you have to stop me. After you fail, you'll realize that you can't change any of this!"
As he spoke—
Kevin's Might of An-Utu tore through space, descending straight into Sumeru in a Mustard Seed!
"Even if only one in a thousand—or one in ten thousand—can survive, that's still better than doing nothing and merely hoping for a miracle!"
"The sin of causing the deaths of innocents—those who have died, and those who will die—
I will bear it all myself!"
Might of An-Utu pointed directly at Dr. Su.
An overwhelming presence burst forth!
This—
Was the strongest fusion warrior of the Previous Era!
And yet, even facing such an overwhelming Kevin—
Su remained resolute!
The great battle erupted instantly!
Watching the fierce clash on screen,
The superhuman viewers struggled to process the sheer flood of information!
[Hu Tao: The Pioneers… they really devised so many plans!]
[Honkai Himeko: Kindling… 恒沙… Ark… but they all feel like they're failing??]
[Furina: Isn't Schicksal cooperating with Fu Hua's Kindling Project?]
[Ningguang: But the appearance of over-tier Honkai Beasts proves that the Kindling Project has, to a certain extent, already failed.]
[Fu Hua: That's true. But the meaning of the Kindling Project goes beyond that—what it symbolizes is the very core of civilization's continuation.]
[Ruan Mei: The Stigma Project? Does Kevin mean forcibly distributing Honkai energy among everyone?]
[Theresa: Such a plan… how is that any different from destroying humanity?!]
[Kiana: How can this be allowed! This is murder!!]
[Tartaglia: Even if the plan isn't carried out, humanity will still perish under Honkai. In that sense, isn't it less the plan killing humanity, and more the inevitability of Honkai?]
[Himeko (Star Rail): The biggest problem is—what right does Kevin have to decide for the people of this era?]
[Herta: Just killing ordinary people with Honkai energy to filter out Stigma awakeners?]
[Sparkle: I don't think the Stigma Project is that simple. Honkai wouldn't be fooled so easily, would it?]
The superhuman viewers were equally shaken by the Stigma Project debated by Su and Kevin.
Indeed—through artificial intervention, crudely distributing Honkai energy among all humans to筛选 Stigma awakeners and prevent the birth of the Herrscher of the End—
Even as a desperate measure at the end of the world, it could allow that one-in-a-thousand to survive.
But—
Would a civilization that continued in such a way still be a civilization belonging to humanity?
For a time,
Some pondered deeply,
some hesitated yet reluctantly agreed,
and others frowned in opposition.
Yet a few began to vaguely sense—
The Stigma Project
might not be as simple as it currently appeared.
On screen!
The battle between Dr. Su and Kevin—
Lasted only a few minutes!
Dr. Su, not a combat specialist, was ultimately defeated by Kevin.
"The fate of this era should be decided by the humans of this era themselves!"
"Using the method of evenly distributing all Honkai energy across humanity to prevent the Herrscher of the End, while allowing billions without resistance to die—
is that kind of price really worth it?!"
Facing Su's hysterical roar,
Kevin was far calmer.
As though he had long pondered the very question many viewers now wanted to ask.
"There's no need for further consideration."
"The answer to that question—I already found it fifty thousand years ago."
Kevin's expression was as still as water, yet his eyes held unwavering resolve.
Then—
From his lips came a line that none of the superhuman viewers would ever forget.
"No matter the cost, humanity must defeat Honkai."
Instantly!
The chat fell silent.
Kevin's words—
Were that resolute.
Illuminated by the blazing flames of Might of An-Utu,
Kevin's expression—
Was exactly the same as it had been fifty thousand years ago!
The will of the Previous Era to defeat Honkai.
Kevin's will to defeat Honkai.
Never once wavered!
And just as everyone's hearts were shaken—
Su's narration slowly came to an end.
Before him—
Durandal had already passed Dr. Su's trial.
She had obtained—
What he called the qualification to become the key to victory!
"The 恒沙 Project, in the end, finally found the one and only answer."
"People of this era—you possess the wisdom to choose your own path, the courage to walk it, and the strength to complete it."
"Fortunately, I met you at the very end."
"Within this leaf, I recorded some information about parallel worlds. Please pass it on to your bishop."
"In the coming battles against Honkai, I believe this information will help you."
As he spoke,
Dr. Su placed a vibrant, verdant leaf—brimming with life—into Durandal's hand.
"I understand. I'll deliver your message to him."
"Then… farewell."
After the brief farewell,
Dr. Su, together with his World Bubble, sank into the Sea of Quanta—heading toward his own end.
Faced with all this,
Durandal's expression remained calm, though no one could know whether her heart truly was.
Outside the World Bubble, at Schicksal's Sky Harbor.
"So this is the leaf the Pioneer spoke of."
"A leaf?"
Otto accepted the leaf from Durandal.
And whether it was a whisper at his ear, or information transmitted directly from the leaf—
[As God once said, the answer you seek lies on the other side of the Imaginary Tree]
[To reach that place, you must find the complete Second Divine Key]
Instantly!
Otto's pupils trembled violently!
God… the answer?!
The complete Second Divine Key!
In a flash—
Countless thoughts surged through Otto's mind!
The answer he sought? The other side of the Imaginary Tree?
How did he know these things?!
Who exactly was this Pioneer?!
But—
All questions seemed irrelevant before this revelation!
Su's answer confirmed one thing—
Otto's delusion was no longer merely a delusion!
It possessed the possibility of becoming reality!!
At that moment—
The flames in Otto's eyes seemed ready to burn the world itself, an unprecedented fire of hope leaping wildly!
[Hu Tao: Wait! This leaf… was it meant specifically for Otto?!]
[Charlotte: This information must be to help Otto achieve his goal, right?]
[March 7th: Seriously! Why would Dr. Su help Otto?!]
[Honkai Himeko: Dr. Su… doesn't seem like someone who would act without reason.]
[Bailu: Those two—how do they even know each other?]
[Jing Yuan: The real question is—why would Su help a bishop like Otto, who has already caused so many disasters and tragedies?]
[Sparkle: Hee-hee~ unless Otto is also an indispensable piece in defeating Honkai.]
Sparkle's words stunned everyone.
And that possibility—
Suddenly seemed all too plausible!
If so—
Didn't it perfectly explain why Dr. Su would give such a gift to a bishop he had never even met?
Could it be…
That Otto truly was a necessary existence in the battle against Honkai?!
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