Chapter 478

Blushing, the doctor girl took a half step back and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Then, disregarding her shyness, she pulled Shen Gonglin out of the lounge. Einstein told Shen Gonglin about Theresa's current situation, and now she was to inform others, Shen Gonglin was to go to Theresa's side. That was what needed to be done now.

"Ah, I think I understand. So, we need to go see Theresa and see what's going on with her, right? Okay."

Shen Gonglin mind was still a bit dazed after being forcibly turned on, didn't quite understand what was going on, but she figured she just needed to get to Theresa's side now. She had been drinking blood from Theresa before to deal with this kind of situation and to switch out the Queen. Shen Gonglin's purple eyes turned gold, and a dazzling star ring slowly rotated in them. Using her previous blood-drinking as a coordinate, and with the Herrscher of the Void's precise teleportation, she had to get there.

Just now? Was that Himeko? What... what's going on?

At the St. Freya Academy, Theresa stared in shock at her surroundings. She had just been talking to Himeko, but when she looked up, there was no one there. No... Himeko was gone. She should have been giving orders on the Hyperion, so how could she have ended up at St. Freya in the blink of an eye? Could it be a dream? And everything that had just happened... was it a dream?

What exactly happened just now?

"You have just broken through a layer of your own subconscious."

Theresa stood there deep in thought when suddenly a voice rang out, shocking her. Turning around, she was startled to see a figure appear before her. Theresa stood before her, wearing a white Otto's robe and with golden hair.

"Grandpa?! How could this be..."

Theresa cried out in astonishment. Shouldn't her grandfather have been gone long ago? Why was he here? Could it be that everything she had experienced so far was a dream? Or was it all part of his plan? Upon seeing Otto, Theresa couldn't help but think of this possibility, after all, this man had had such a profound impact on her.

"Don't be nervous. I'm just one part of your subconscious, another reference point you use to understand yourself. Understand? Congratulations... In the random fluctuations of your subconscious, you've accidentally discovered that you're dreaming... Now, do you understand what's happening?"

Otto's subconscious mind was explaining what was happening to Theresa. Theresa remained silent, the girl resting her chin on her hand as she pondered deeply. After sorting everything out, she roughly understood her current situation. Simply put...

"You just said that I'm trapped by my own dreams, and that the real me is still sleeping on the Hyperion?"

Although it was somewhat unbelievable, based on everything around her and her own analysis, Theresa came to this answer, and the subconscious Otto in front of her nodded in agreement with Theresa's deduction.

"That's true."

"What if... I do this?"

If it's a dream, then a strong stimulus should be enough to wake her up. Theresa raised her hand and gestured across her neck, which was the fastest way she could think of to wake up. If this was a dream, then even if it was suicide, it shouldn't be a problem.

"If this were an ordinary dream, you might wake up, or you might continue with the next dream. But since your consciousness is very clear at this moment... then there is a risk that it might completely dissipate."

The subconscious Otto illustrates the risks of Theresa's actions. With such a clear mind, if Theresa were to commit suicide here, she could very well convince her brain that she is already "dead."

"... Just what I thought, which means I can't give up thinking and I have to find the flaw in this dream. Even though I don't even know why I'm trapped here."

Knowing that this idea was not applicable to the current situation, Theresa was completely unaware of her current situation and had not done anything special. Why was she inexplicably trapped in this dream? Could it be because... it was related to the Hyperion?

"That's right, but you also need to be careful, Theresa ... Since this is your own dream, its flaws must also be your own weaknesses. Be careful, they're coming."

This gave Theresa such a hint, and Theresa suddenly understood why one of her subconscious thoughts was the image of her grandfather, who would help her answer her questions. This was indeed something her grandfather would do, but he said they had come.

Who are they? Could my weakness be my grandfather?

A sudden thought flashed through her mind, but the golden chains that pierced the air negated it. Sure enough, looking at the white-haired dwarf before her... ugh! Looking at herself in her nun's habit, Theresa also drew her Judah, not only for herself, but also for the Honkai Beast ...

"I see, the A-series clones and Parvati... I think I roughly know what kind of enemies will appear here next."

The formidable foe was easily defeated by Theresa. After that, Theresa realized something. She was right. These things were indeed her weaknesses before, but now they were a thing of the past.

Chapter 273 You in the Mirror

"Like me?"

The subconscious Otto spoke, only to be met with Theresa's unfriendly gaze. This guy really knows how to talk, whether it's the real him or the image formed by the subconscious. Theresa fell silent for a moment, while the subconscious Otto, who had made a fool of himself, chuckled and apologized.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made that joke. I understand that you may still have some doubts about me, but I am indeed your companion. Deep in your consciousness, Otto Apocalypse has a benevolent half; and this half of him could perhaps also be called the other you in the mirror."

While saying such ambiguous things, it's true that in Theresa's heart, Otto wasn't a purely evil person; he did do many things very well. However, being teased like this by his subconscious side wouldn't make Theresa very happy. He really was her grandfather; she hadn't experienced this kind of annoying feeling in a long time.

"You have this annoying quality about you that's exactly the same as his."

Theresa spoke without any politeness. What other self? Could it be that in her subconscious, she was the same as her grandfather? This couldn't be known by Shen Gonglin, otherwise that guy might feel very uncomfortable. She was an absolute beautiful girl, how could she be associated with someone like her grandfather who did nothing but cause trouble?

"Mirrors are certainly unpleasant to look at. They don't always reflect the sides we like. Of course, I'm not making excuses for anyone. For some, manipulating mirrors is a trick they're adept at. Let's get back to the point you're concerned about. To dismantle this dream based on the St. Freya Academy... following the way it dismantles in reality is undoubtedly the most successful option."

Otto subconsciously changed the subject, because Theresa didn't seem very willing to listen. What needed to be done now was to help her solve her current predicament. As a grandfather, wasn't it only right to help his most beloved granddaughter? Even in Theresa's subconscious, she sometimes thought this way.

"... Dogmatic Zone"

Theresa uttered a term, a name that hadn't been mentioned in a long time. This place, nominally known as the underground central chapel, was the channel through which St. Freya obtained cutting-edge technology from Schicksal Headquarters... It was also the place where Kiana's core reawakened, and in a sense, it was where the dream began.

Although this dream wasn't so wonderful.

"That's right. That's the place where Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, Herrscher of the Void have all played their games. Let's go, Theresa, let's see what's hidden there this time."

Otto, in his subconscious, disappeared as soon as he finished speaking, but his voice still lingered in Theresa's ears. The girl took a deep breath, her beautiful blue eyes filled with determination. She turned and stepped onto the path leading to the church. The familiar surroundings made Theresa feel nostalgic. How long had it been since she had seen these scenes?

Sigh, although Theresa doesn't want to admit it, she has to say that when Otto is on her side, he always makes people feel at ease, after all, he always seems to be able to find a way to break the deadlock.

"To be honest... when I first took over this campus, I didn't really like it."

As they walked along the wide avenue, the familiar surroundings filled Theresa with a sense of nostalgia. Suddenly, she spoke these words, and although Otto did not appear, his voice responded.

"Oh? You hate that it's tainted with your grandfather's scent?"

The tone was exactly the same; the Otto in my subconscious was exactly the same as the real Otto. Perhaps this was the image of him in my mind.

"No, it's just that I dislike some elders who overspend on themselves materially. When I first saw the campus still under construction, this is what I thought... Good heavens, is this some kind of aristocratic school from five hundred years ago? How can it be built like the Vienna Imperial Palace?"

Everything around was excessively luxurious, giving the impression that one couldn't afford to study here. This was completely different from what Theresa had imagined; it was simply too expensive.

It's like you just want to take the subway, but your family buys you a dedicated subway line.

"Is that so? But now, you probably don't think so anymore."

"Yes, after all, you get used to it. Just like Fu Hua said, since we're here, we might as well make the best of it. Whether it's a palace or a thatched hut, as long as it's practical, that's fine."

Theresa hadn't spent time with her grandfather like this in a long time, talking to the voice in her head. But even the longest road has an end. Soon, the two stopped in front of a door. They had arrived at the central chapel of St. Freya. After opening the door, they went down the stairs and should be able to reach the most secret place on campus.

Theresa paused, gazing at the gate before her. The young woman fell silent for a long time before Otto's voice echoed in her mind once more.

"What's wrong? You look thoughtful."

"It's nothing... Kiana was affected by the Herrscher's power here more than a year ago."

Looking at the door in front of her, Theresa's thoughts drifted back to that time. If she had tried a little harder back then, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way.

Are you still blaming yourself for this?

Otto's tone remained emotionless and flippant, which was the typical Otto reaction. Theresa wouldn't expect such a thing to move him emotionally either. In her grandfather's world, perhaps only Miss Kallen was worthy of his affection.

"You don't understand. Because of this incident... St. Freya Academy has lost one of its best teachers. I mean... it's more heartbreaking than the fact that I personally have lost a friend forever..."

Theresa lowered her head. The white, jade-like steps could not illuminate the gloom in her heart. If she were still here, what would the world be like? Kiana Shen Gonglin wouldn't have to force themselves like this. With her here, they would still be children protected, and she would have her best friends by her side to fight.

"Is that so? But what's done is done, and all you can do is pull yourself together and look forward for her. Didn't you talk about this in Kolosten? The real difficulties may be far from over. In any case, let's see what secrets are hidden behind this door, in this dream world."

Chapter 274 The Beast That Devours Everything

So it really was the kind side of Otto in her subconscious. It was hard to imagine that such comforting words would come from her grandfather's mouth. Theresa took a deep breath. He was right. Now was not the time to dwell on the past. Although Himeko was gone, she was still here. Who knew how worried they were about her? She had to get out of this strange dream as soon as possible.

Pushing open the door, the crimson hue that greeted Theresa's eyes rushed into view. The end of the dream was not the place of atonement that hid secrets, but only the final resting place that once belonged to a certain man. Looking at the shattered world before her, Theresa suddenly remembered the scene that Shen Gonglin had once described to her, the scene of him accompanying Otto on his final journey. And the bizarre scene ahead... was that the Imaginary Tree?

Theresa's subconscious Otto emerged and ventured into this desert, inevitably reminding one of the self who made the world both better and worse.

"Hmm, Theresa. If I had a bottle of Armagnac brandy, I'd love to sit here and have a few drinks. Look? What a beautiful tree, isn't it?"

Otto sighed, and this frivolous behavior greatly displeased Theresa, who was on high alert. The young girl looked speechlessly at the subconscious persona masquerading as her grandfather before her; this was simply too much...

"Didn't you claim to be my subconscious mind in my dreams? How come you speak with an even more frivolous tone than I do?"

Theresa said with great dissatisfaction, "This situation is very serious. This is not the time for jokes. I was inexplicably dragged into this dream. I don't know who did it or what their purpose is. There's no time for idle talk."

"Hey Theresa, humor is good for your mental and physical health. You really should learn from him in this regard. If it were Shen Gonglin, you definitely wouldn't be as nervous as you are right now."

Otto smiled and said that he knew about her subconscious, of course he also knew about those things in her subconscious, such as Theresa's special feelings for a certain person.

"...Alright, alright. I should have realized long ago that your way of comforting people is quite unique. So, could you first tell me whether this place we're in is a dream within my mind or Imaginary Space in reality? At least I don't believe that I could construct such a realistic place in a dream simply based on Shen Gonglin and Durandal's retelling."

Theresa said seriously, everything around her seemed incredibly real. This was not a place she could imagine just by listening to their retelling. Theresa knew she couldn't do this level of realism based solely on other people's descriptions.

"Indeed, we've traversed almost the entire St. Freya Academy. Up until that moment, everything was undoubtedly your memory. But now we've arrived here. A place that doesn't belong to memories at all. This either means that your physical body has been corrupted by imaginary numbers, or that your dreams and those of others are intertwining and merging."

Otto finally began to analyze the problem seriously, but even as he spoke these serious words, the former bishop still wore a frivolous smile on his face.

"But in my opinion, the more likely scenario is... that both are happening simultaneously. So, I've started to wonder... the Hyperion is in lunar orbit. Where exactly are they, and how, could they possibly interfere with you? And why would they do this?"

He posed this series of questions, seemingly waiting for Theresa to answer them, while our headmaster's expression grew increasingly speechless. He always managed to find the crux of the problem and then trick himself into answering. Honestly, even at a time like this, he's still thinking about teaching?

"You're probably asking a question you already know the answer to. Otto must have already had an idea when he said that."

Theresa spoke with great certainty. She knew her grandfather very well. Since he was the grandfather who appeared in her subconscious, he was undoubtedly the same as the grandfather in her memory in terms of this kind of perverse sense of humor.

"Hahahaha... Alright, then let's not keep you in suspense any longer. Since we suspect that the Hyperion may be being eroded by the Imaginary Space... then theoretically, we can also do the opposite and use this to contact the intruder. So, although the current situation is confusing, this is also an excellent opportunity for us to contact the mastermind behind it all. However... this is an endless desert. If I were the builder of the labyrinth, I wouldn't be foolish enough to leave the enemy a back door that they could use."

Having stated his decision, it was actually Theresa's idea as well. After all, Otto in front of her was a manifestation of Theresa's subconscious. What he could think of, Theresa could certainly think of as well. And in Theresa's mind, her grandfather was undoubtedly an extremely intelligent person, so the strategy he came up with should be fine.

"Then... don't tell me that the only conclusion we can draw is to sit and wait for our deaths."

Theresa tentatively said, "Who would believe that the subconscious mind is smarter than the real self?"

"How could that be? You've just unfortunately let common sense bind your imagination. In your mind, your grandfather is someone who isn't bound by common sense, so no matter what the situation, he can always find a way... Think about what kind of beast resides within you, think about what it can devour. Is it just Honkai Beast? Is it just Honkai energy? Or is it that anything created from Imaginary Numbers could become its food?"

Otto revealed the answer to the current problem, and upon hearing this, Theresa's eyes widened in astonishment. The beast within her body—he was undoubtedly referring to Vishnu within her. Yes, wasn't that the thing that could devour everything?

"Yes, that's the reaction, Theresa. Don't forget, your current power is also part of the Honkai. In the realm where illusions intertwine... the Vishnu genes within you are truly omnipotent."

Otto was very satisfied with Theresa's reaction. It seemed that she had finally realized that in this situation, she herself was the key to unlocking everything.

"Oh, Theresa, you have a wild beast hidden in your heart too? Perfect, I have one too. Shall we let them communicate?"

Just as Theresa was considering the feasibility of this method, an unexpected voice suddenly rang out in this dream. Theresa looked up in astonishment. There was no mistake, it was the voice of Shen Gonglin. How could he be here?

Chapter 275

"I understand. So you want me to go see what's going on with Theresa right now? I knew you couldn't do without me. I'll take care of it."

After listening to Einstein's explanation, the dazed Shen Gonglin finally came to her senses. She wiped her mouth with a smug look on her face. "You can always trust Shen Gonglin. There's something wrong with Theresa, isn't it? No problem, I'll handle it. The stamp I gave her earlier was to deal with this situation."

"Hmm, let's go see what situation Ms. Theresa is dealing with. I have a feeling that what's coming our way won't be simple."

Shen Gonglin straightened Einstein's collar and said calmly, "Staying calm is the most important thing in this situation." The girl instructed her, and Shen Gonglin snapped her fingers to open a spatial tunnel based on Theresa's location. After Shen Gonglin's figure disappeared, Einstein also walked out of the command room. It was time to gather everyone together.

The scene before her eyes flickered and changed, and after it stabilized again, Shen Gonglin appeared in the Hyperion's command room. Because of the marked teleportation, Shen Gonglin was able to teleport accurately even from such a distance. However, with such a long-distance teleportation, it was estimated that the Herrscher of the Void's ability would not be able to be used again for a while. Ignoring such matters, Shen Gonglin immediately saw Theresa lying on the command chair. Was this girl unconscious?

[Captain! You're finally here! Theresa was just talking when she suddenly fainted. It really Ai-chan! Quick, check on Theresa, I have a bad feeling!]

Ai-chan's voice sounded loud and boisterous. As the Hyperion's artificial intelligence, Shen Gonglin hadn't actually interacted with Ai-chan for very long. Although she was nominally the captain of the Hyperion, she spent most of her time running around the Salt Lake Base. However, this artificial intelligence was really sweet-talking. Being addressed as captain in such a way made Shen Gonglin very pleased. With her here, everything would be fine.

"Let me see... The heartbeat and pulse are normal, and it doesn't look like there's any external injury. Right now... it feels like he's asleep."

He walked directly to Theresa's side. To the AI's astonishment and gasp, Shen Gonglin placed a hand on Theresa's chest to carefully examine her. After confirming she was unharmed, he checked Theresa eyelids. She didn't seem injured; she appeared to be asleep. However, based on what Ai-chan and Einstein had just said, Theresa had suddenly fallen into this state, due to a special circumstance that had occurred before...

"Ai-chan, I just heard Ai-in say that the Hyperion is veering off course. Is that true?"

Releasing Theresa, Shen Gonglin asked the artificial intelligence. He instinctively felt that Theresa's current condition was likely related to the previous deviation. He believed in Einstein and Tesla's craftsmanship; the Hyperion could not possibly have hardware problems. So the reason for the deviation was something worth considering.

[Here's the thing, Boss Theresa was about to order the Hyperion to navigate, but then things suddenly turned out this way. However, I just scanned Boss Theresa's physical condition, and according to her brainwave feedback... Boss Theresa seems to be deeply trapped in a dream state right now. Ai-chan doesn't understand this situation.]

The artificial intelligence faithfully reported the situation to Shen Gonglin, and upon hearing this, Shen Gonglin's pupils contracted slightly as she fell into a dream. This immediately reminded Shen Gonglin of the Stigmata Plan that she had been learning about recently. Could it be that the Stigmata Plan had already begun to take action, and that Theresa was now being affected by the Stigmata Plan?

"Okay, I understand the details. You can leave it to me now."

Upon realizing this possibility, Shen Gonglin also became serious. At this point, she could only react to each move as it came. For the realm of consciousness, such as dreams, the ability of the Shibao was most suitable. Although the Shibao was currently wandering around the world with the help of the Feather Dust, Shen Gonglin also possessed the abilities of the Herrscher of Consciousness. Speaking of which, the Feather Dust was really useful.

It feels like no matter what happens, you can just blame it on Feather Dust.

In the blink of an eye, Shen Gonglin's deep purple eyes turned red, and star rings shone in them. Shen Gonglin reached out and placed his hand on Theresa's head, connecting with her consciousness. In this contact, the things that Shen Gonglin had experienced in his mind also invaded Theresa's mind. The illusion of the Imaginary Tree also appeared in her consciousness. In a sense, Theresa was now being corrupted by Shen Gonglin.

Shen Gonglin's consciousness entered Theresa's mind. Through Theresa's conscious image, Shen Gonglin saw the dream she was in. A red illusion made Shen Gonglin suddenly realize where she was. Wasn't this the Imaginary Space where Otto wanted to change the Imaginary Tree to extend another lineage? This was the place where Otto had fought before, and what Theresa was seeing... wasn't that Otto?

"...What kind of beast resides within you..."

Listening to Otto and Theresa's conversation, Shen Gonglin couldn't help but chime in, "Theresa also has a wild beast hidden in her heart. Perfect, I have one hidden in mine too. Maybe we can let the two beasts have a good chat sometime."

"Shen Gonglin!"

Upon hearing the voice, Theresa looked around in surprise. It was wonderful to hear Shen Gonglin's voice in such a place. The girl's mood relaxed instantly. However, after looking around, she could not find Shen Gonglin's figure. What was going on? Was it a hallucination, or was he a manifestation of her subconscious?

I never imagined that I had Shen Gonglin hidden in my subconscious. It's really embarrassing.

"Don't bother looking for me. I'm still in the Hyperion. I'm communicating with you through the power of the Herrscher of Consciousness. Honestly, I was just out on a mission, and I've run into this mess. You really can't do without me."

Such a voice echoed in Theresa's dream. The headmistress, whose face was being questioned, immediately puffed up like a bun. Damn it, this guy is so arrogant! But she couldn't refute him. Did he think she wanted to run into trouble? At times like this, she shouldn't blame her, but the world. This idiot, he really doesn't know how to coax people at all.