Qin Chuan's incarnation appeared inside the cockpit. The confines of the space posed no obstacle to him.
Season Star turned to look at the man who had appeared without warning. The sense of impending Formatting had vanished completely.
Her emotion-processing module quickly suppressed her shame, replacing it with an analysis of the battle.
"Based on the final battle analysis, my response to Conceptual Contamination had serious flaws. This caused the casualty ratio to exceed projections and ultimately required the Main God to intervene. Assessment: mission failed."
Season Star's voice was as steady as ever, as though she were presenting a report on data that had nothing to do with her.
Qin Chuan waved a hand, telling her not to dwell on it.
"This wasn't your fault. What you faced wasn't a 'god' within the Apocalypse System, but an invader from outside its rules."
Qin Chuan's gaze seemed to pierce through the mecha toward the collapsing Altar of Wrath in the distance.
"No matter how powerful the deities within Apocalypse are, they follow an established system of energy and laws. They can be analyzed, calculated, and worn down."
"But this 'Wrath' is itself a rule. It doesn't use the rules; it forces its own existence upon this world's rules, corrupting and rewriting them. In terms you'd understand, it's a living source of infection, not merely a program following a virus's instructions."
A deep azure glimmer crossed Season Star's eyes as understanding dawned.
"A living source of infection... an invader from outside the rules..."
So that was it.
No wonder her Data Heaven had been torn apart so easily. No wonder her Formatting Command had failed to delete the enemy in a single strike.
Season Star swiftly adjusted her thinking and began building an entirely new threat model.
"I understand." Season Star