Collapse, Kiana's Cross-Dressing Strategy, Then

It was a bit late today. Kiana might be confused or even worried. If I told her the specific situation here, she might run off to beg the train crew who haven't boarded the Honkai Beast Core yet.

Though it wouldn't do any good even if she did.

A moment later.

Bai Yan frowned.

Why haven't we entered Hyperdimensional Space yet?

Sense it carefully!

Something's wrong. This feeling is too distant, as if I'm holding the key, but the door is still far away. And I can't move, I can only wait for that distant door to slowly push towards me!

Beside him, the people in white coats had already put on gloves, and some were starting to adjust the equipment.

They were ready for the experiment long ago, they just needed to match the data for the new subject.

"Gem of Desire is ready."

"Subject's Honkai energy adaptability re-checked, everything is normal—no, it's beyond expectations!"

"Subject's physiological indicators are normal."

"All testing equipment is operating normally."

"Wait a minute, why is it a guy?"

"Don't ask questions, start the experiment quickly. If we delay the progress, both of us will be executed.

"As for gender, does it matter? If it succeeds, it will be a Herrscher, and we'll all have to keep it a secret according to his wishes. If it fails, it's a dead person, so what's the point of arguing?"

As soon as the chief in the white coat spoke, everyone fell silent and just lowered their heads to get to work.

The people in white coats came and went, methodically preparing for the experiment.

However, Bai Yan was already sweating profusely.

You're telling me now that we can't enter Hyperdimensional Space immediately?!

According to my senses, even if the experiment starts, I won't be able to get in.

Bai Yan's face turned red, and for the first time, he felt a sense of despair.

He hadn't felt this desperate even when he was sent to see Otto as a child.

"Could it be... because someone else lit the incense?"

It's possible. If the ritual wasn't performed by me personally, that unseen entity might not be so cooperative.

This is bad!

Time ticked by, and the experimental preparations were completed.

Bai Yan tried to break free from his restraints again, but the materials on the experimental table were clearly specially made to prevent accidents in the lab due to insufficient strength.

It made sense. They even captured Wendy, an A-rank Valkyrie, so how could they not have thought of this?

Bai Yan despaired even more.

Originally, he had planned for Bronya to be by his side, and then chase down Raven. Even if Bronya transformed into Dark Bronya to defend, it would still be a three-way battle.

He never expected that chasing Raven would lead him to Cocolia's ambush location!

The place she had ambushed was near a dock, and a few kilometers further inland was this laboratory.

Could the problem be with Raven?

But how would she know Cocolia was ambushing there? Didn't she know this was playing with fire?

There were some hidden details that Bai Yan didn't know. Clearly, Raven wouldn't make such a decision. Someone must have instructed her from behind.

In other words, Cocolia wasn't hidden well at all. World Serpent not only knew roughly where she was but even allowed her to do certain things.

This kind of planning...

World Serpent had this kind of foresight before Kevin's return?

With the advantage of foresight and preparation, a group that couldn't even secure Thousand Worlds One Step, could they have this level of detail?

But no matter how much Bai Yan guessed, it couldn't change the fact that the Gem of Desire was about to be implanted.

The people in white coats prepared everything and began to move the Gem of Desire.

One of them slowly approached, holding a glass cover, as if carrying a basin full of hot soup, afraid of spilling a single drop.

Bai Yan no longer dared to struggle.

It wasn't because he had lost hope, but because he was afraid that those people would inject him with a tranquilizer or force him into a coma to maintain stability. Then he would truly have no chance.

At this moment, the Gem of Desire was in position.

Although the people in white coats were wearing protective suits and masks, they couldn't help but hold their breath at this moment.

The leader cautiously and slowly opened the glass cover.

The next moment, the radiance emitted by the Gem of Desire instantly enveloped the entire room.

The chief nodded to the others, "Let's begin."

Everyone finally resumed breathing, exhaling heavily within their masks as the implantation work proceeded with a sense of urgency.

The Gem of Desire was carefully removed with precision, after which someone pulled off Bai Yan's stockings, revealing his smooth, fair legs.

The gem implantation was a long process, but as soon as it began, Bai Yan felt his mind and body being destroyed.

"Ahhhhhhh!"

Pain, endless pain, washed over him like a tidal wave, and Bai Yan couldn't help but cry out.

He couldn't even control his screams; the extreme agony instantly shattered his sanity.

Stop, please stop!

Someone save me?

Master Jingliu! Teacher Ragna! Sister Rita!

Faces flashed through his mind, but an instinct deep within his sea of consciousness told him that none of them were close enough to help.

No one will come, it won't stop, it won't succeed...

Gradually, the pain seemed to recede.

Perhaps he was about to pass out?

The body's self-preservation mechanism?

But no, he couldn't sleep now, or he'd lose all chance!

This was the only thought Bai Yan had left.

"Vital signs weakening."

"Gem fusion process is hindered."

"All indicators are within the safety range..."

"Are we going to fail again?"

"As expected, although the adaptability of this subject is strong, there are some mechanical incompatibilities as a Herrscher candidate."

"So, he's just going to be a vessel again?"

"No, let's wait and see. The process isn't complete yet, there might still be a variable."

Bai Yan listened to their conversation, trying to maintain consciousness by diverting his attention.

But it was like trying to scoop water with a sieve; he couldn't stop himself from drifting into unconsciousness.

"Must... hold on..."

Volume 1: Chapter 44: Changes in Hyperdimensional Space

As the pain subsided, Bai Yan finally regained a sliver of consciousness from the brink of collapse.

Sweat had completely soaked Bai Yan's entire body; not a single piece of fabric on him was dry.

Despite this, beads of sweat continued to appear, forming a dense layer before dripping down.

He gasped desperately, as if needing a large amount of oxygen to mend his suffocating spirit.

The endless pain still engulfed his body, but now he could finally lift his head and enjoy the fresh air on the surface.

Bai Yan looked down at his legs.

They were numb.

At the same time, terrifying red patterns spread like metal wires within electrical components.

Starting from Bai Yan's knees, they gradually spread to every inch of his skin.

This was not a positive development; it signaled that the Collapse was encroaching upon Bai Yan's body.

For humans with lower adaptability to the Collapse, the laboratory would now have one more zombie.

The people in white coats had finished their work and were anxiously staring at various instrument screens.

Their complexions weren't much better than Bai Yan's; the feedback from the instruments was clearly not optimistic.

During this time, Bai Yan tried to regain his senses.

He tried to enter Hyperdimensional Space again.

As long as he could reach that place...

The encroachment of the Collapse continued, and both Bai Yan and the people in the laboratory remained silent, fully focused on it.

Everyone hoped Bai Yan would survive, and even successfully become a Herrscher.

If the experiment succeeded, everything would get better.

However.

Tap, tap, tap...

Cocolia suddenly returned, her expression slightly tense.

Her voice, loud and clear, reached them before she even entered the room.

"What's the situation?!"

The people in white coats exchanged glances, unsure how to answer.

Cocolia entered and went straight to Bai Yan, ignoring all details and fixating on the patterns on his thighs.

Her expression darkened.

The chief, bracing himself, approached Cocolia.

"We—"

"It's fine, I know everything. You all carry on, I'm going out for a bit."

She didn't listen to anything and left without looking back.

Her footsteps were quick, as if she couldn't bear to stay or look for another moment.

The people in white coats seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, at least Cocolia wasn't taking her anger out on them.

They continued to monitor the instruments.

In fact, everyone had already reached a conclusion.

It was a failure.

Although it wasn't officially over, the current situation confirmed this outcome.

This result was not good.

Bai Yan would end up like Wendy, a useless invalid, existing merely as a vessel for the Gem of Desire.

Inside the adjacent life support pod, Wendy's eyes remained closed, devoid of any life.