15. Ability Tests and a Deep Dive into the Sea of Quanta / 16. Himeko: "Oh God, Is a Herrscher About to Be Born Here?"

"A Lateran with long black hair and light black eyes..."

Xia Ling slapped her forehead. "Oh no, isn't this just like cosplaying the legendary top of the Vanilla rankings?!"

[Host, don't worry. At least you're much bigger than Arturo.]

Chapter Fifteen: Ability Test and Deep into the Abyss

"Don't you dare to persecute Sister Tutu, or I might actually get her in the system space and have her play the violin for me every day."

[The Lateran's small breasts and the Liberi's unawareness are classic Arknights features that you absolutely must try.]

Having acquired her new abilities, Xia Ling began training enthusiastically in the system space.

Since Crescent Rose already possesses considerable sniping skills, she doesn't need to change her weapon and can start training immediately.

After a series of tests, she also gained a preliminary understanding of Ambriel's abilities.

First, there's Ambriel's first skill Disrupting Bullet, and her talent, Precision Strike. This is actually a special energy manipulation technique. When combined with special bullets, it can directly cause a certain energy disturbance and shock effect on the person hit.

However, this ability is rather useless for some strong individuals, since you can't expect to break the energy balance in someone's body with just one bullet.

However, due to its extremely strong interference with energy, this skill can actually be quite useful in interrupting the opponent's skills.

The second skill, which was more of a highlight, was somewhat unexpected for Xia Ling.

No wonder the system told her during the enhancement process that an aura and wings would automatically appear whenever she used her abilities. She had previously thought that Ambriel's second skill, Radar Positioning, relied on a proper radar for long-range sniping.

However, after being enhanced by the system, she discovered that no matter what positioning method Ambriel used, in her own case, the positioning function came from her own halo and wings.

During the use of its second skill, this device will automatically scan the situation within a certain range in real time, then summarize the data in Xia Ling's brain, and perform a series of ballistic calculations to carry out long-range sniping.

In actual experience, due to the extremely complex calculation formula, within a certain line of sight, the attack speed and effect are even worse than Xia Ling aiming directly.

However, long-range attacks are indeed very satisfying because Ambriel's detection range is extremely large, almost encompassing half of Changkong City.

In other words, if she wanted to, she only needed to find a high enough spot to fire a shot at Kamisato Pharmaceuticals from a distance.

Although limited by the weapon and her own condition, at such a distance, there might be some errors and a reduction in power.

However, she wouldn't be sniping at the skill's maximum range all the time for no reason. In most cases, this ability is an absolute boost to Xia Ling's sniping skills.

Having acquired new skills, and taking advantage of the fact that the story hasn't yet begun, Xia Ling has been practicing in the training ground.

After all, improving one's skills in complex ballistic calculations requires genuine practice.

"I just don't know... if things are going smoothly with Bronya."

"Kal'tsit hasn't arrived in Abyssal City yet, and even if she does, she doesn't know the specific situation Abyssal City. Sigh, I hope Cocolia won't cause any more trouble."

However, Xia Ling was unaware that because of the changes she had brought about, Cocolia had obediently relinquished her military power. Even the hidden dangers that would only surface after the Abyssal Eye was opened in the original work had been completely eliminated by Ain and Theresa in advance.

In the current Abyssal City, everything is in perfect harmony, with all departments working diligently to prepare for the opening of the Abyssal Eye.

"Based on the intelligence provided by Cocolia and our own detection results, the Honkai Energy surge within the Abyssal Eye seems to be about to begin to weaken."

"After five hours, there will be a brief window of opportunity during which the number of Honkai Beast in the sea will not increase significantly, and the energy interference in the Abyssal Eye will be reduced by several times."

"Once the energy density decreases, our detection and communication facilities will be able to barely access the Sea of Quantum, at which point we will have the opportunity to successfully enter the Abyssal Eye."

"This is the only window of opportunity in the next two months. If we miss it, there won't be another chance. So we must seize this opportunity."

After explaining the compiled intelligence, Ain leaned back in her chair and looked at Theresa and Bronya.

"Do you two have any further questions?"

"Why am I not on the list of those who entered the Sea of Quantum?"

Theresa asked in confusion, "I know about Bronya's situation, but why didn't Ain let me go in with Bronya, instead of going in by myself?"

"This is because, Theresa, your physique is not suitable for entering the Sea of Quantum."

Ain quickly replied, "You told me before that you felt a slight dizziness when you approached the Abyssal Eye. This is a sign that you are being repelled by the Sea of Quantum."

"If you force your way in, your combat strength might not be much stronger than mine."

"Therefore, your stage is outside the Abyssal Eye. Although no new Honkai Beast will appear in the Abyssal Eye during this period, the ones that have been accumulated before are not a small number."

"To prevent us from being blocked by Honkai Beast when we come out, you have to clear out all of these Honkai Beast before we come out."

"Okay, I'm fine now."

Theresa sighed and sat back down.

"Is Bronya alright too?"

Seeing the girl with no personality nod silently, Ain stood up. "In that case, let's all start preparing."

"Bronya, this is the result of the location calculation for the Wind Rhythm Core. Remember this."

Ain handed Bronya a sheet of paper covered with various formulas and gave her instructions.

"Although it's unlikely, we can't rule out the possibility that we'll be separated as soon as we enter the Sea of Quantum. Remember these coordinates, as you might need to carry out a mission alone."

With everything settled, preparations for entering the Abyssal Eye entered their final countdown.

However, less than an hour before the silent window for the Abyssal Eye opened, bad news suddenly came from the Hyperion outside the city.

A large number of Schicksal's troops were detected near Abyssal City.

"What? Why would Schicksal choose to attack at this time?"

Theresa's face was filled with shock and confusion.

"Damn it, if this continues..."

Beside her, Ain's expression was equally unpleasant.

"There's no other way. The only one here with the ability to command is... that guy."

Ain took out the key to the cell where Cocolia was imprisoned.

"But if we do that, you and Bronya will enter the Abyssal Eye, while I'll be near Abyssal Eye. Doesn't that mean we're essentially entrusting our lives entirely to..."

At that moment, Bronya suddenly spoke up.

"Doctor, you should stay and command the troops."

"The mission to the Sea of Quantum can be left to Bronya to complete on her own."

"Bronya, this is no joke."

Ain's expression turned serious.

"You've never been to the Sea of Quantum, you have no idea how dangerous it is inside!"

"Suspect II⊙IIIai? Zero (seven) feeding order Meng but Xier knows."

Bronya took out a seashell.

"Seele told Bronya that as long as she entered the Sea of Quantum, she would find a way to find Bronya."

"With Seele's help, Bronya is confident that she will be able to complete the mission."

Chapter Sixteen Himeko: Oh my god, is Herrscher going to be born here?

Although Bronya made such confident promises to Ain, she was actually not sure what to expect.

Xia Ling once told her that if she personally entered the Sea of Quantum, she would probably be able to find Seele much faster than others.

But when asked why, Xia Ling always hesitated and couldn't give a clear answer.

However, as time went by, Xia Ling's various preparations gradually came true, which made Bronya have some expectations for what was once a joke.

Of course, the main reason is that she reserved five minutes of her call time for today, so she can call Seele again at any time to discuss countermeasures depending on the situation.

However, Bronya hadn't thought of that yet.

Upon entering the Sea of Quantum, the first person she encountered was not Seele, but Welt Young, who was outside the labyrinth.

Meanwhile, on a shuttle ship in the Sea of Quantum.

"Huh? Dr. Kal'tsit, did Tracy take the wrong turn?"

Himeko looked at the scenery rushing past around the shuttle, somewhat puzzled.

As the captain of the Hyperion, Himeko's ship piloting skills were undoubtedly maxed out long ago. Although she couldn't see the map in the Sea of Quantum, her perception of spatial changes made her subconsciously wonder if she was on a completely opposite path to what she had just been on.

"Could it be that the message in a bottle has moved again?"

"No."

Kal'tsit replied calmly.

"We can put the message in a bottle thing aside for now. We've already found one, and pinpointing the location of the other was a pleasant surprise."

"However, we have indeed changed direction now, because Theresia has just discovered something very interesting."

"Is it something to worry about?"

"Yes, it is a huge energy source. Based on our common knowledge about this world, this level of energy source is generally referred to as the Herrscher Core by you."

"!!!"

Himeko perked up immediately. As someone who had almost come into close contact with the Herrscher Core, she had absolute authority to speak on this matter.

"Is it the Plague Gem? But why did this thing fall from the Imaginary Space into the Sea of Quantum?"

"Hmm... I'm not quite sure what kind of gem it is, but I haven't finished yet."

"The situation in that area is a bit complicated; there are two energy sources of this magnitude."

"According to you, there should be two cores in the same area."

"Two cores..."

Himeko pondered for a moment. Before heading to Schicksal, Theresa had confessed to her about her deal with Anti-Entropy. At that time, she had a question: why didn't Welt, the Alliance Leader of Anti-Entropy, participate in this operation?

She remembered that Theresa had told her the reason that Welt was trapped in the Sea of Quantum for some reason. Therefore, there were only a few Herrscher Core in the world, and one of these two cores was most likely Welt himself.

But what reason could there be for Welt to be associated with a Herrscher Core...?

"Could it be...?"

Himeko's eyes widened suddenly.

"Is a Herrscher about to be born in the Sea of Quantum?"

Using the act of picking up the documents, Kal'tsit suddenly turned around.

Yes, you guessed right, a Herrscher is indeed about to be born, and it's your student...

Quickly managing her composure, Kal'tsit maintained her calm and collected demeanor as she replied.

"What you said is not impossible, but seeing is believing, rather than making blind guesses."

"Besides, didn't you say before that Anti-Entropy is also your ally? We can also try to lend them a hand."

"An ally... I just don't know if this mysterious Anti-Entropy Leader even recognizes me as an ally."

Himeko gave a bitter smile. Before her "death," she had never seen what this so-called Alliance Leader of the alliance looked like, let alone knew whether Anti-Entropy was ever able to contact their Alliance Leader.

Whether you know them or not, you can't show up.

Kal'tsit's voice was full of unyielding authority. "Putting aside the fact that you are a patient, even if you are perfectly healthy, it is not advisable to reveal that you are still alive at this time."

"Before we came in, didn't you know very well that, according to outside information, neither Schicksal nor Anti-Entropy had found Kiana yet, and they were still in a stalemate?"

"Okay... I'll stay put."

Himeko nodded helplessly. If it were before, she could have confidently said, "Dr. Kal'tsit, you might not be able to beat me now."

However, after seeing Kal'tsit's actions these past few days, she was filled with apprehension towards that monster named mon3tr.

That guy is someone even I, in my prime, would find difficult to defeat, let alone Kal'tsit, despite wielding a one-handed sword, has not participated in any battles in the past two days.

Who knows what hidden cards she has up her sleeve?

For a moment, the atmosphere fell into a brief silence. Kal'tsit quietly fiddled with the message in a bottle she had recently acquired, preparing to throw it near Bronya at some later.

After all, she couldn't possibly just throw her information into the Sea of Quantum randomly; if So found it, she might start targeting her again.