Chapter 482

Theresa straightened her back. Although it was a bit embarrassing to say such things, she felt that the only thing she could do in front of Kevin was to avoid dying on the spot. Damn it, Shen Gonglin, you'd better get back the face I lost in front of this guy somewhere else.

"...I understand, good luck."

After saying that, Shen Gonglin disappeared. He stayed here to put pressure on Theresa's mind. It seems that the respected headmistress needs to log off for a while. He has other things to do.

Phew... I finally got rid of that guy. As the headmaster, it's really embarrassing to be like this. However, although I may not be able to leave here for the time being, I should be able to cause him a little trouble or even buy him some time.

As Shen Gonglin's figure disappeared, Theresa picked up the cross beside her to rouse herself. Theresa returned to the battlefield to fight alongside the Stigmata Will, while Kevin seemed unwilling to continue this pointless battle.

Stand with them? Is this the choice of the Stigmata Will? How disappointing. The Stigmata's manager, even when it joins forces with Theresa, cannot put any pressure on him in his Mara state. It's time to end its mission.

"This pointless battle should end."

As the ice field erupted, accompanied by Kevin's calm words, Kaslana's Stigmata Will dissipated, and its last bit of power flowed into Theresa's body. The girl gritted her teeth and stood up, but just standing up had already exhausted all her strength. This battle was indeed nearing its end.

"Kevin... what did you just do?"

"That's not important. You should worry about yourself first. We gave everything we had to save a mere half a day from the Finality. In that short yet long time, the only thing we held onto... was you."

The blade slashed past, Theresa barely managed to snatch it. To be able to dodge her own attack in this state was already a perfect performance for Theresa. If she could go back 50,000 years, Theresa should also have the strength to participate in that Finality battle. However, the current Stigmata Plan does not need any additional variables; it is meaningless to continue the battle where the power difference between her and Theresa is so great. It is time to end all of this.

With a sigh, Kevin swung the Blade of Judgment. For World Serpent, the headmistress of St. Freya's Academy would disappear into the end of time and space, just like her Herrscher students.

The power of the Finality has returned to the world. And this... will also give a belated meaning to a certain moment fifty thousand years ago.

[Captain, Captain, what's wrong with Captain Theresa? Boss, say something!]

In the Hyperion, which is in near-lunar orbit, the voice of artificial intelligence kept chattering. The image of a girl with two cabbages on her head kept chattering on the screen. Shen Gonglin was sitting in the captain's chair and was getting a headache from the noise. Ever since she woke up, the girl had been chattering non-stop. Couldn't she just let herself rest?

"Alright, I've already said it. Theresa should be fine... but she's definitely not in a good mood. She's been captured by the dragon, but she'll come back once we defeat it. So stop arguing. I know you're anxious, but don't rush things now."

Shen Gonglin and spoke irritably to the AI. Didn't it see that she was trying to find a solution? The best course of action right now was to contact headquarters, but for some reason, the Hyperion hadn't been able to contact Earth headquarters since earlier. Her Herrscher Authority hadn't been restored yet, so all she could do now was wait.

[How could I not be worried? First, the Hyperion kept veering off course, then Theresa fell into a deep sleep... and just now, her body mysteriously disappeared in the depths of space. Captain, what's going on?]

Ai-chan's voice sounded very flustered; this was a situation that artificial intelligence couldn't handle.

Chapter 288 The Passing Female Lead

What's going on? I want to know what's going on too. Rin Shen Gonglin closed her eyes with a headache. Ai-chan was still chattering away. I really wanted to sew her mouth shut. How could a mere artificial intelligence talk so much?

"It seems you need a little help."

Just then, a voice he had never heard before suddenly rang out in the command room. Shen Gonglin opened his eyes abruptly, and a green-haired girl appeared behind him. The first thing Shen Gonglin thought of when he saw her was that cabbage had come to life. The girl behind him had beautiful long green hair and looked like Ai-chan had grown up. Not only her face and temperament, but also her figure, when did such a girl appear on the Hyperion?

Hey, who are you?

Ai-chan was equally surprised by the newcomer, while Shen Gonglin had already reacted. The sudden appearance of a girl who looked remarkably like Ai-chan in the empty depths of space gave Shen Gonglin reason to believe that this was a product of the Stigmata Plan. Wasn't it said that Stigmata would gradually replace humans? She hadn't expected that even Ai-chan would be counted as one of them. Without a doubt, the girl in front of her was the so-called Stigmata person.

"I'm sorry, I know that my appearance like this will make you even more nervous, but please rest assured, I... oh dear!"

The green-haired, red-eyed girl who suddenly appeared smiled slightly at Shen Gonglin and Ai-chan. Just as she was about to introduce herself, Shen Gonglin suddenly pounced and pressed her into a chair. What a cunning Stigmata Human! She doesn't even intend to let artificial intelligence go. Is she even human? Oh, right, she wasn't human to begin with.

"Who are you?"

Shen Gonglin threatened menacingly, pulling a kitchen knife from who-knows-where and pointing it at the girl's neck. "Stigmata person, confess quickly, or I'll stab you down."

"No, no, no... I think you can call me the passing heroine. In short, I'm here to help you. As for the evidence... for example, I know that in half an hour Hyperion will be torn apart by the space distorted by the Stigmata Plan and fall into an abyss of no return. Really believe me."

The girl, pinned to the chair, raised her hands in surrender. This made it a little difficult for Shen Gonglin to make her move. Ai-chan's enlarged figure was indeed very good, but now was not the time for her to be distracted. In half an hour, the Hyperion would be torn apart by the space distorted by the Stigmata Plan? That sounded quite credible, but half an hour should be enough time for her Herrscher Authority to recover.

"Trust me... And don't panic, we're not in dire straits. The tactical role of the space carrier, the prototype of the Moonlight Throne... these are not irreplaceable."

Instead of looking at Shen Gonglin, the suspicious passing heroine focused her gaze on Ai-chan. Knowing that the Hyperion would be torn apart in half an hour, the artificial intelligence panicked. The passing heroine gently comforted her, saying that the situation was not yet hopeless.

"Although Theresa is lost in the Stigmata Space, this crisis also contains a way for you to escape. Don't forget, artificial intelligence is a pure consciousness. As long as you can find your own data carrier, you still have a chance to survive and help everyone in your own unique way."

The green-haired woman comforted Ai-chan, and it felt like an older sister comforting a younger sister. Could it be that I was mistaken? This wasn't some kind of Stigmata Person? But what was the meaning of the passing female protagonist? If she was the female protagonist, then who was the male protagonist?

[Is it a unique method... like simultaneously manipulating all the functions of the Hyperion?]

After hearing this, Ai-chan finally calmed down. As she said, she could indeed help everyone in her own unique way, so there was no need to rush.

"Hmm, quite insightful. In terms of the outcome, the Stigmata Plan will construct a complex pseudo-time crystal between Earth and the Moon. It will indeed destroy any aliens that unfortunately intrude into this area... but it is also a unique opportunity that we can take advantage of."

The green-haired girl, who had been pressed onto the captain's chair by Shen Gonglin, adjusted her position to make herself more comfortable. Ai-chan was pondering the feasibility of what she had just said. As always, Shen Gonglin didn't understand. This passing heroine could easily see the stupidity in Shen Gonglin's eyes and knew that he hadn't figured it out.

"Hmm? You want to ask me what a pseudo-time crystal is? Ugh, explaining this is too complicated. How about we talk about it next time? It's okay, we'll have another chance to meet later, so this won't make a difference. Come on, let's get to work."

Pushing Shen Gonglin aside, the passing heroine stood up from her chair. Under Shen Gonglin's suspicious gaze, she began her work with a sense of urgency, inputting all sorts of complex commands into the Hyperion without any hesitation, after all, she really didn't have time to explain properly.

Meanwhile, in Canghai City, the bright moon hangs high, and people who have been busy all day are gradually drifting into sweet dreams. In Sky City, the city lights are just coming on, and the streets and alleys are filled with the happy aroma of hot pot and spicy hot pot. Moscow is about to experience the evening rush hour, and the subway stations, which are still incredibly quiet at this moment, will soon be packed with crowds. On the other side of the world, the Oriental Street in Belgrade is enjoying a warm afternoon, and cats are stretching lazily in the sunlight. In Saint Fontaine in the Southern Hemisphere, a rare downpour is hitting, and people who are not used to dark clouds even mistake it for a solar eclipse. New York welcomes another peaceful morning, and a traveling painter sits on the lawn of Central Park, preparing to open a brand new sketchbook. And Gotham City... well, there was no Gotham City.

The countdown ended, and in that instant, the world went completely empty, becoming utterly devoid of anything. Then, things that had existed in the past reappeared, as if nothing had changed, but that was merely an illusion. Mountains, oceans, rivers, cities, even the Hyperion, 380,000 kilometers away... everything began to transform and reorganize under the new rules.

The tiny humans who once existed within it have long since vanished, transformed into mountains and oceans, and have become one with the planet itself, within the shared dream brought about by the Stigmata Plan.

Except for certain special beings, everyone on Earth has entered a dreamlike state.

At this moment, Stigmata Plan officially began.

Chapter 289 The Great Writer Has Arrived

The Stigmata Plan has begun. At this moment, all of humanity on Earth has probably already merged into the spiritual Adam, right?

Through the mask, Gray Serpent gazes at Earth in the universe—could that be considered his homeland? For him, possessing a poet's personality, there was indeed something he wanted to express at this moment. In this silver-gray desert with a surface area of 38 million square kilometers, a desolate wasteland more than four times the size of the Sahara, in this uninhabited corner of the planet, this ancient mechanical life form was carrying out a cleanup.

Yes, it's a real cleaning job.

At this moment, the Gray Serpent was sweeping the last room, preparing for the children's arrival. In this quiet moment, the great poet spoke softly, "The earth is like a leaf, growing before flowers and fruits, constructing a living planet. Compared to it, the lives of all plants and animals are merely parasitic."

The literary genius Gray Serpent has logged on, methodically carrying out his work. After all, this is the only time he can truly enjoy peace and tranquility. Soon, this desolate lunar desert will likely become bustling again, so if he wants to compose poetry, now is the only time. Gray Serpent remembers someone saying something like this in another chapter...

Manual laborers, when they gaze at the fire at night, purify the chaotic and mundane thoughts that have arisen during the day by throwing them into the fire, just like he is now. Gray Serpent looked at the statistics on the computer. The extremely trivial data was almost useless, but because it was quite complete, it had a certain metaphysical value.

If a person does not engage in any endeavor, he cannot achieve tranquility and non-action. Success can never be attained simply by giving up. Alas, perhaps the most difficult profession in the world is that of a poet? To surpass all past glories through one's own efforts is something only a genius can do in any era.

Someone like me would only dare to crack a few witty rhymes to match the clown when performing comedy for children.

Gray Serpent, who was about to become the kindergarten principal, thought to himself with a touch of self-deprecation. However, among all of Gray Serpent's tasks, he still quite liked his job. It was just a pity that the video and audio recording documents he had spent so much time preparing were now probably useless.

After finishing disturbing the room, Gray Serpent looked at the computer desktop. One of the promotional videos was the culmination of months of hard work, yet it was declared obsolete without ever being used. It felt like you painstakingly completed a document, only to have your boss decide against using it.

Then let yourself listen to this speech that was originally intended to be proclaimed to all mankind.

Gray Serpent put on his headphones, and his own voice played out from them one last time, savoring the rather magnetic recording.

[Good evening, fellow humans around the world. I am Gray Serpent, the temporary spokesperson for the World Serpent. I apologize for taking up your time watching or listening to other programs. In the next few minutes, I will try to keep it as brief as possible to explain how the fate of humanity and the Earth has changed dramatically in the past few hours. In fact, thanks to the secret efforts of the World Serpent, the calamity known as Honkai has completely subsided on Earth. If you experienced any discomfort during the past day... please don't worry, it's just a minor side effect of our efforts to expel Honkai.]

He opened a video game Gray Serpent listened to the declaration he had prepared for the world while playing. Unfortunately, the audience for this recording would probably always be only himself.

Your lives will not be threatened; moreover, they will merge together into an ocean of thought, into the Adam of the spirit. The realistic and ugly world will lose its meaning for you, and the eternal and sweet dream will become your only reality. You will be freed from the shackles of time, and your dreams will connect with each other, constructing a true miracle that transcends all. Bless you. The legendary Pure Land of Bliss is quietly descending at this moment. And everyone who hears this gospel will receive the unmistakable proof of eternal life.

The audio in the video stopped there. Gray Serpent chuckled self-deprecatingly, then tapped the screen to completely destroy the video's source file. Although months of hard work had vanished, he felt incredibly fortunate at that moment, fortunate that he always took on the most unique job among all the Gray Serpent.

Taking care of children is much more fun than fighting and killing. Those kids should be arriving soon, so I should get ready again.

It feels like... a dream.

Seele suddenly had this feeling. She should be resting in her own room, but now... what was going on? Seele tried to blink, but even such a simple action was beyond her ability. She felt like she could only be an observer, watching everything that was happening before her eyes. Where was she?

In Seele's vision, there was a dilapidated building, and inside the building were many strange creatures. Seele could sense malice from these monsters, but this malice was not directed at her, but seemed to be directed at another person who appeared in her vision. Who was this person?

White hair, elfin pointed ears, and a tail behind him... A man with a cold aura slowly walked over. The monsters slowly retreated as if in fear of this man. Who is he? And where is this place?

While Seele was pondering these things, the monsters seemed to finally lose their temper and launched an attack on the man. It was clear that the two sides were not evenly matched. The man simply swung his flaming greatsword and killed the attacking monster. How amazing! Who is he?

[He's that weird uncle who once shut down Bronya's driving school.]

Just as the girl was pondering this matter, a very familiar voice suddenly rang out beside her. The moment the voice rang out, the white-haired man also turned his gaze sharply towards her. As if she had heard the sound of shattering glass, Seele's eyes widened and she immediately woke up.

That look was terrifying; Seele was startled.

Chapter 290 Above the Moon

Was that a dream? But it felt so real, that icy feeling... But it must have been a dream, right? This warm feeling I'm feeling now... Hmm? Warm? This is... Shen Gonglin?

Only then did Seele understand what the warm feeling she felt was all about. The girl's beautiful blue eyes gradually focused, and then she saw the face that was very close to hers. It was Shen Gonglin. She and Rin were now head to head. Realizing what was going on, the girl quickly stepped back. No, she couldn't be like this with Shen Gonglin. She was being unfair to Sister Bronya.

"Hmm... Seele, you're awake."

Losing her support, Shen Gonglin rummaged through her mind and regained consciousness. One moment she was on the Hyperion, and the next she was here with Seele. She didn't know what Ai-chan had done on the Hyperion; she had inexplicably teleported here using her Herrscher of the Void ability. Seeing Seele with her eyes closed as if asleep, and worried that she might also be affected by the Stigmata Plan, Shen Gonglin used her Herrscher of Consciousness ability to enter her dream. There she saw Kevin, the strange uncle who had previously confiscated Bronya's driver's license. This was the sentence he had spoken to Seele.

"Shen Gonglin? You're back! Just now... was it all a dream?"

The moment Seele saw Shen Gonglin, she felt relieved. Only then did the girl have time to delve into the dream she had just had. Was it a dream? But why did it feel so real? And that person... the man who had confiscated Sister Bronya's driver's license? After thinking for a moment, Seele finally realized what Shen Gonglin had said. She had seen him when she left the Sea of Quantum. Was that Kevin? But how could he have become like that?

Recalling everything she had just witnessed, the girl involuntarily placed her hand on her chest. Like a small animal that had been lurked by a ferocious beast, the deep-seated tremor from her dream still lingered in Seele's heart. What on earth was happening? Seele remembered that after her bedtime training last night, she had said goodnight to Rosaliya and Liliya and then returned to her dormitory. But now, what was going on?

"Ah, it's not that I'm back, it's that you've come here. This isn't the Salt Lake Base, you know."

Shen Gonglin subtly reminded Seele, and the girl suddenly realized how unfamiliar the space she was in was. The place she and Shen Gonglin were in was like a mysterious, lifeless cabin. It was empty all around, without windows; the entire space resembled an overturned tin Canned Food, silent and dark in this small area. There was only a lonely door in front of the girl, with no idea where it led.

"Don't look at me. I don't know exactly where this place is. It's probably on the moon... I haven't found anyone else, but I've seen you."

Faced with the girl's puzzled look, Shen Gonglin could only offer this explanation. Seele had initially thought it was a prank by Shen Gonglin, but the stark contrast to the Salt Lake Base made the girl realize the truth. Since she couldn't figure it out herself, she could only ask her other self. Surely that other self knew what was going on.

[My other self, do you know what happened?]

She habitually asked her other self, but the other being that had always been with her didn't respond. She hadn't panicked much until she heard a reply from her other self, and Seele completely lost her composure. What was happening? Why couldn't her other self respond?

[What's wrong? Seele, say something. The other... me?]

No one responded; only an endless silence enveloped Seele. Was she sulking again? Come out quickly! She didn't even know what had happened. Only Shen Gonglin was by her side. Without her... Hmm? Right, Shen Gonglin was still by her side.

Looking at the blonde, purple-eyed face in front of her, Seele felt a little more at ease. She wasn't alone; Shen Gonglin was still there. So, it didn't matter that her other self wasn't there for the time being. In fact, this was a way for her to be alone with Shen Gonglin in a real sense. It wasn't something she wanted; it was just the circumstances that forced her to be alone. Well... there was nothing she could do about it.

The indescribable fear she felt earlier slowly subsided. She had been feeling somewhat lost and helpless, but now that she realized Shen Gonglin was still by her side, the emptiness deep inside her heart was also gradually fading. She felt... well, not so bad... The consciousness that has always shared the same body with her, the irreplaceable self, you should be alright, right?

Just as the girl was thinking this, a heartbeat suddenly rang in her heart. It wasn't her own heartbeat, yet it was her own heartbeat. It was as if she had been caught red-handed while she was lost in her thoughts. Seele panicked immediately. She had never intended to take advantage of the other self's absence to enjoy some time alone with Shen Gonglin. She really had never thought of it that way!

Shen Gonglin looked at Seele with a face full of questions. Was the girl putting on a face-changing act for her? Her face turned red and white in turn. What was Seele thinking?

Is the other me... you?

Knowing that lying would have no effect on her other self, Seele could only awkwardly speak up, hoping that her other self hadn't noticed, otherwise she would be incredibly embarrassed.

No one answered; only the sound of her heartbeat echoed in the empty room. It was as if the strange feeling she had just experienced was merely Seele's illusion. But Seele knew very well that it was "her"—she was still there. The girl felt embarrassed but also relieved. It didn't matter that another version of herself knew, because Seele knew that she thought the same thing. As long as Sister Bronya didn't find out, it was fine. Thank goodness she was alright.

The other self, unable to communicate with herself as usual, didn't hear her reply. But the heartbeat deep within her consciousness calmed, like a wordless comfort. Imagining her potential reaction, Seele smiled slightly. She must be worried about her too. It's alright, she's alright too.

"Shin-gu... Rin-nii, what should we do now?"

Having calmed herself down, Seele looked at Shen Gonglin in front of her. There was no one else around, so it shouldn't be a problem for her to address Shen Gonglin this way, right?

Chapter 291 A Little Acquaintance

"Brother," hmm, this title resonated deeply with Shen Gonglin. Only this obedient girl would call him that. Being addressed like this stirred a sense of responsibility within Shen Gonglin. Since Seele had called him "brother," he naturally had to take responsibility in this situation. In any case, he should get out of here first.

As she spoke, Shen Gonglin pushed open the door. After the two went out, they found themselves in a narrow passageway. The door was unlocked, so it seemed that the person who brought her here did not intend to trap her. Should they go out along this path? Seele pondered this. Her other self was not by her side, and no one could give her advice. She couldn't rely on Shen Gonglin for directions either; Seele had to decide everything herself.

We should take action; waiting here isn't a solution. Whatever has happened, we should at least face it proactively. Besides, Shen Gonglin is here with me; that should solve everything. The girl gently clutched her chest. Don't worry, Seele.

I can protect myself.

"Brother Rin, let's go first... Eh, no, not that way, we should go this way, come on, this way."

Before she knew it, Shen Gonglin had wandered quite a distance. They should have stayed together in this unfamiliar place, and he had completely gone the wrong way. Seele knew all too well that Shen Gonglin was terrible with directions; he would definitely get lost if she didn't keep an eye on him for a moment. The girl quickly ran over and grabbed Shen Gonglin. That's just how he was; even when he got lost, he still looked so confident. Now that Sister Bronya and the others weren't around, she had to take on the responsibility of looking after Shen Gonglin.

"I, I know, I'm sure it's over there... I can hear the sounds over there. I just came here to see if there are any treasure chests. Let's go."

Shen Gonglin would never admit that he had gone astray; it was all his doing. For example, Seele seemed much more relaxed now, so that was Shen Gonglin's purpose. He walked ahead with his head held high, knowing that Seele wouldn't expose his lie because of his arrogant personality. The girl followed closely beside Shen Gonglin. Although she called Shen Gonglin" brother, "Seele now felt like he was his older sister.

Does Sister Bronya usually feel this way? Only Shen Gonglin can give my sister this feeling.

The two walked forward. What Shen Gonglin had said earlier wasn't entirely false; he had indeed heard some sounds. After passing through the passageway, they arrived at an equally unfamiliar place, but there were other people here. Great! Finally, they could ask what was going on.

Seeing this, Seele quickly struck up a conversation with the stranger in front of her, but he didn't respond to her words at all. He was just muttering something fanatically, something about the chosen one of the Stigmata Plan. What was going on? He seemed to be completely unable to hear what others were saying.

After trying to find several people without getting the information she wanted, Seele could only return to Shen Gonglin's side somewhat disappointed. Shen Gonglin felt that it was because Seele was carrying a scythe taller than a person, which made it seem more like she was preparing to torture her rather than asking questions. Sure enough, in this kind of situation, she had to rely on her more approachable personality.

Patting Seele on the shoulder, Shen Gonglin revealed a confident smile. As the bishop of Schicksal, he had excellent interpersonal skills. After scanning the surroundings, Shen Gonglin found his target. A short girl in front of him was a good choice. Shen Gonglin walked up to her and patted her on the shoulder.

"Hey, can I borrow some money...?"

This isn't just talking to someone, it's bullying! Seele was dumbfounded. She quickly ran over and pulled the social butterfly away. The girl who had been spoken to by Shen Gonglin earlier also turned her head away somewhat nervously. However, when she saw Shen Gonglin, a look of surprise and delight appeared in her eyes.