"Then what do we do?" Kiana raised her hand and looked at Irene. "How do we stop it? Is there still a way?"
"It's not like there isn't a way," Irene nodded. "We just need to have our own world-saving plan, but first, we have to be able to beat Kevin."
"However, we still have to take this matter one step at a ti. The next hurdle isn't sothing we can pass just by relying on intelligence."
Attempting to stop the execution of Project Stigma was largely impossible. Kevin would spare no effort to ensure that Project Stigma proceeded steadily, and no one would be able to stop it.
And obviously, even if everyone here piled up together, it wouldn't be enough to withstand a few strikes from Kevin. Moreover, simply defeating Kevin wouldn't be enough; they still needed to have their own plan.
A plan that could replace Project Stigma to overco Finality. Of course, in the original plot, it was simply: since we cannot overco Finality, then we'll just beco Finality.
Proactively completing the embrace. But the problem lay in the fact that Irene also didn't know exactly where that thing was or how to connect with it, because that matter was actually derived based on Project Stigma.
"In short, we can only take it one step at a ti, right?" Einstein looked at Irene and gave a final summary. "Hmm, the Fourth Herrscher has only just appeared, and we already have to start considering matters regarding Finality."
"I'm just afraid we won't have enough ti moving forward," Irene let out a soft sigh. In reality, after this, the rate at which Herrschers appeared would accelerate several tis over.
The ti they had left was probably only a little over a year.
"Research the Moonlight Throne. Having as many as possible will provide us with so help." Irene looked at Einstein and Tesla. "Although it might not be of great use against Finality, the operational chanism of the Moonlight Throne is fatal to at least so of the other Herrschers."
"Alright, got it." Tesla nodded, then turned to look at Einstein. "Looks like we'll have to go research the energy problem."
Their blueprints for the Moonlight Throne hadn't actually been completely deciphered. They had only figured out the principles, but the energy system remained unresolved.
Currently, they could still only use extrely high-specification energy reactors to drive it. However, a battleship essentially couldn't carry such a massive reactor. It could only be operated while stationary, but a stationary operation was basically non-existent as far as a Herrscher was concerned.
A Herrscher had far too many thods to deal with it in advance. Whether it was destroying it or bypassing it, a stationary Moonlight Throne on the ground—an immobile turret—was practically a non-factor to a Herrscher.
But if they didn't make their energy reactor technology larger, it couldn't drive the Moonlight Throne, yet making it smaller rendered it aningless. Although it hadn't reached the point of being completely deadlocked yet.
It was getting close, though. So now they still had to research how to solve this problem. As long as this problem could be solved, it didn't an the Moonlight Throne could be mass-produced, but putting it into official combat should be fine.
"Yes, I know." Einstein nodded, then turned to look at Bronya. "Bronya, co with for a mont. We have sothing to discuss with you."
Bronya first glanced at Irene, and seeing Irene nod, she walked over to Einstein's side. "Is there sothing you need, Dr. Einstein?"
"Let's discuss how we can further deepen our cooperative relationship." Einstein looked at Bronya and raised her hands to make an air quotes gesture, as if quoting her own words.
"Anyway, just co with us for now." Welt looked at Bronya. "It's just an attempt. There's no need to be too nervous; just follow your heart."
"Bronya understands." Bronya nodded and followed the three of them away.
Theresa watched the four departing figures, then turned to look at Irene. "What are they planning to do?"
"Hmm," Irene dragged out her tone. "It's nothing much. I advised Welt that he needs to find a successor. His body can no longer support him using his Authority for extended periods."
"I suppose his final choice is Bronya. Although it's just an attempt, I think it will succeed."
"But let's leave their matters aside for now." Irene shifted her gaze onto i. "We can first resolve i's problem."
"My problem?" i was initially taken aback, not knowing why Irene suddenly singled her out. But when her gaze swept past Kiana, she seed to understand sothing.
"Because I haven't awakened yet?"
"Not at all. You have already awakened; you just rejected it again." Sirin popped her head out at this mont and looked at i. "Right now, your Core has self-sealed within your body."
"It's sowhat similar to the initial situation of that green girl over there. The difference is that her Core silenced itself, while you actively suppressed your Core into a dormant state."
"Hey, what do you an by 'that green girl'?" Wendy glared at Sirin. "Don't think that just because you're hiding inside Kiana's body right now, I won't dare to beat you up."
She, Wendy, had no relationship whatsoever with Sirin, and her ties with Kiana weren't that significant either. She wasn't going to accept any provocations.
"Heh." Sirin looked at Wendy. "A re half-body of mine. Don't think I'm afraid of you either..."
Before Sirin could finish speaking, she was suppressed back by Kiana, who then showed an apologetic expression to Wendy. "Sorry, sorry."
"It seems the two of you are getting along tolerably well." Irene looked at Kiana. "I'm truly gratified."
"There's no need to be gratified over sothing like this." Theresa shook Irene's arm. "So, do we need i to awaken now to supplent our combat power?"
"She could also choose not to awaken. We could just take the Core out and give it to Sirin." Irene pointed at Kiana. "Sirin was originally a Six-Core Herrscher. Adding the Core of the Herrscher of Thunder won't cause any problems at all."
"And right now, she has two Herrscher Cores in her body, which is enough to stimulate the Core and complete the awakening. The problem lies in this: i, are you willing?"
i looked at Kiana and opened her mouth, finally turning to look at Irene. "I am not willing. Sister Irene, what should I do?"
She didn't want to remain powerless anymore. Before, she could still deceive herself, but now, with a crisis right before her eyes, if she remained in her current state, she definitely wouldn't be able to help Kiana. i couldn't accept that.
So she couldn't go on like this. She needed power, and the best way to obtain power right now was to claim the Herrscher powers that rightfully belonged to her in the first place.
"Good." Irene nodded. "Then i, co with . We'll take a trip to Nagazora City. I think we should be able to complete your awakening there."
"Why? Is there sothing special about that place?" Hiko looked at Irene and asked. "Is it absolutely necessary to go there?"
It wasn't that Hiko was worried about anything else; it was just that they were definitely already wanted fugitives by Schicksal now. Wouldn't wandering around casually cause problems?
"Because that is the place with the highest confird concentration of Honkai energy right now, while also having practically no people."
As the saying goes, sotis it really might just be fate. If you asked Irene to pick a place right now that could satisfy the conditions for a Herrscher's awakening while also ensuring no casualties even if things went out of control, Nagazora City was truly the only option.
The only trace of human life in Nagazora City was the Roost created by Raven, but that location was on the outskirts of the city. Any fallout absolutely wouldn't reach that area.
Finding a more suitable location than Nagazora City would truly be difficult on short notice.
You couldn't just stuff i straight into a Honkai energy reactor, could you? Whether that would awaken i or harm her would be really hard to say.
Nagazora City not only had a massive amount of Honkai energy, but the intensity was also considered controllable. Naturally, it was the best choice.
"Speaking of Nagazora City, Kiana, do you want to co take a look with ?" Irene turned to look at Kiana again. "For you guys, it can be considered the beginning and origin of your entire story."
"Mhm, I'll go with Sister Irene and i." Kiana nodded, a look of nostalgia appearing in her eyes. Thinking back on it now, that ti felt like just yesterday.
"Then it's settled." Irene nodded. "If nothing unexpected happens, we will regroup right here. If sothing does happen, we'll deal with it then."
"After it's over, I'll take you guys to a place. It'll be a pretty good place for you to learn."
The place Irene was talking about naturally wouldn't be anywhere else but the Elysian Realm. Speaking of the Realm... hmm, it's been a while now. Kevin should have already taken Griseo back there, right?
Elysian Realm · Golden Courtyard Ruins
Griseo looked at the Golden Courtyard before her, which was almost unrecognizable from its original state. "Only when seeing this place can I truly feel that a very long ti has passed."
She still rembered the forr glory of the Golden Courtyard, so seeing it reduced to ruins now made her acutely aware of exactly how much ti had passed.
"A long ti has indeed passed, because you have grown up too." Kevin looked at the ruins in front of him, then turned to look at Griseo.
"I imagine they will definitely be very surprised."
"Mhm." Griseo nodded, then prepared to head inside. But after walking only a short distance, she stopped and looked back at Kevin, who was still standing in place.
"Uncle Kevin isn't coming inside with ?"
"No, it's fine for you to go in by yourself." Kevin shook his head. He wouldn't go inside. He had escorted her here, and that was enough; he wouldn't enter.
It absolutely wasn't out of fear that he would be nagged by everyone upon entering. And it absolutely wasn't out of fear that he would have to explain to everyone his intentions of executing Project Stigma. Absolutely not.
"Is that so?" Griseo looked at Kevin, and Kevin rely nodded. Since that was the case, Griseo didn't intend to force the issue and proceeded inside. She still knew her way around the Realm.
She had also left behind a ntal projection back in the day. Even though so much ti had passed, she wouldn't forget.
Kevin remained standing in place, watching Griseo enter before heading outside. Just then, the sound of an engine rang out. Gray Serpent's helicopter ca to a halt. He stepped down from the driver's seat and knelt before Kevin.
"Welco back, Sovereign. Apologies, Sovereign, I failed to detect your return in a tily manner."
"Mhm." Having finally distanced himself from his friends and family, Kevin's face returned to its initial, icy expression. He looked at Gray Serpent. "You are Gray Serpent."
"Yes, Sovereign." Gray Serpent nodded, then stood up, turned around, and retrieved a long box from the helicopter. "To celebrate your return, I have prepared a gift for you."
Kevin looked at Gray Serpent, then lowered his head to look at the offered box. He could already sense what was inside, so he opened it directly.
He lifted the greatsword flashing with red light from within. Feeling that all-too-familiar power, a trace of nostalgia flashed across Kevin's eyes.
It's been a long ti, Judgnt of Shamash.
Elysian Realm
Griseo walked forward along the dim corridor. Looking at the surroundings that were entirely different from the corridors in her mory, her eyes held both nostalgia and a sigh for the passage of ti.
In front of her, a beam of light illuminated the dim corridor. Griseo smiled and stepped forward into that dazzling brilliance.
And after crossing through the light...
Bang, bang, bang!
The sound of three party poppers rang out at this mont. The ribbons in the main hall erupted right before Griseo's eyes. Before the ribbons could scatter, they slamd directly into Griseo, making her look exactly like a ribbon tree.
"..." Elysia's sowhat awkward voice sounded. She looked at the party popper in her hand and Griseo, whose face was covered in its contents. "Um, Griseo, Elder Sister Elysia didn't do it on purpose."
In all fairness, with heaven and earth as her witness, she only wanted to give Griseo a tiny surprise. It was just that in her excitent to arrange it, Elysia might have forgotten one issue.
Griseo had been separated from them for tens of thousands of years. And obviously, this amount of ti was enough for a child to grow up—except for a certain woman surnad Fu.
Therefore, the angle and spraying distance Elysia had ticulously calculated were completely unsuitable for the current Griseo, turning instead into a minor disaster.
"Weren't you my younger sister?" Griseo chuckled, brushing the ribbons off her face to look at Elysia. "When did you beco my elder sister again?"
"I was just joking back then." Elysia tossed the party popper in her hand aside. "You still have to call elder sister."
"I knew the stuff you cooked up in your excitent wouldn't be reliable." Mobius's voice rang out at this mont. "But to think you've gotten this tall now, Griseo."
Mobius's voice carried an extrely rare gentleness, and that saccharine tone she originally mimicked from Elysia had vanished.
"Yes, I've grown taller." Griseo nodded with a smile, but her eyes had already started to blur. "Aunt Mobius is short."
"Heh~" Mobius reached out and rapped Griseo on the head, not at all angry at her words just now. Instead, a smile graced her face. "Mhm, you really are a lot taller."
"After all, I've been away for so long." Tears rolled down Griseo's cheeks. Just as they slipped down, Mobius reached over and wiped them away.
"If I hadn't grown, it would be a disservice to all this ti..."
"I would rather you hadn't been away for so long." Mobius shook her head, wiping the tear stains from Griseo's face. "But regardless... welco back."
"Mhm!" Griseo, whose eyes were already brimming with tears, completely lost control. She threw herself forward and hugged the two of them. "I'm back, I'm back!"
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