Stigmata Under Control, Undercurrents Seething

Death is an unknown concept.

Even for Su Qing'an, who had died several times, this was still the case. To this day, he still couldn't know whether the sense of nothingness and emptiness he felt while floating in that pitch-black world was the closest thing to death.

Whether or not these can be confirmed seems to have always been irrelevant; the significance of some answers only becomes necessary at the right time.

The power of the Herrscher of Death theoretically allows for the possibility of ignoring death itself, and even if Seele cannot do this, restoring her body to its prime is not a problem.

However, this is on the premise that the [Stigmata] can be partially removed.

The girl's soft hand rested on the boy's chest, and the pure blue in her eyes was gradually devoured and covered by a dark crimson, like a reef on the sea being swallowed by white waves.

Seele Fulei.

Su Qing'an silently recited her name, trying her best to suppress the strangeness and unease that instinctively arose within her.

A warm halo spread from the joints of their skin, and a magnificent white light, like morning mist, enveloped the boy's body. The extremely intense Honkai Energy was transformed into subtle power fluctuations that spread throughout the room.

Resistance, disgust, doubt.

[Stigmata] In the brief moment of entering deep sleep, the emotions that suddenly swelled silently caused it to return to its initial stage. The passive ability to absorb Honkai Energy phenomena unfolded on its own, completely devouring the white mist.

The girl's pupils returned to their original deep blue as she stared at her palms, murmuring dejectedly:

"Does it... not work?"

For Seele Fulei, the only good news she received after becoming the Sixth Herrscher was that she might be able to help Su Qing'an.

This possibility allowed the girl to barely recover from her mental daze to her current seemingly normal state.

But as the edifice of hope slowly crumbles, what follows is a vortex of self-doubt.

If she couldn't use her Herrscher powers to heal her brother's physical condition, wouldn't becoming Seele Herrscher Fulei be pointless besides causing trouble for others?

These lingering questions forced her to think, causing her pupils to dilate unconsciously and gradually lose focus.

Young girls today seem to be more extreme and morbid than before. Compared to their previous weak sense of self-worth, they are now developing in a direction of excessive self-loathing.

Su Qing'an snapped out of his daze, momentarily unable to comprehend what had just happened; his instincts and emotions seemed to repel him in that instant.

Is it because both combat instinct and natural instincts fear the power wielded by the Herrscher Core within Seele's body?

Assuming the Honkai Consciousness has left a trick up its sleeve on the opponent, then as long as you attack during the opening of the [Stigmata], he will die instantly.

Considering the minuscule but fatal risk involved, this reasoning is indeed valid.

But what's different?

It's probably not just because of that.

Perhaps he can understand the hidden reality after a few more tries, but subconsciously he might not want to know the answer.

Therefore, Su Qing'an did not suggest trying again, but instead looked at Seele's disappointed expression and gently comforted her:

"It's alright. Once I can control this ability after a while, I can ask Seele for help again."

Su Qing'an helplessly pinched the little girl's soft cheek until she protested before stopping, and said:

"Seele doesn't need to do anything. As long as you're alive and well and can still find small moments of happiness, that's enough for me."

"If Seele is in pain, I will feel sad too, whether you become Herrscher or not."

Ignoring her flushed cheeks from being rubbed, the little girl lowered her eyelashes in frustration and whispered:

"I don't want to do that; it's too cunning and too selfish."

"I also want to do what I can for my brother."

"If we don't do it this way, then..."

The Seele interrupted Seele, uttering the words that had originally been spoken by her:

"So you have no value anymore, right?"

Su Qing'an looked into her eyes and seemed to see a morbid mind behind them.

He was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"Don't doubt your own worth, Seele."

"You are not a prop."

Perhaps both of them understood that there were principles and things between them that neither could compromise on.

But after she finished speaking, Seele obediently nodded without responding again.

I know, but...

Inside the training room.

Kevin ended a life-or-death struggle.

The man stepped out of the Virtual Pod, his tall body drenched in water droplets. His well-proportioned muscles convulsed strangely, still affected by the intense exertion he had exerted at the moment of his death.

But almost instantly, the instinctive, integrated force flowed through all the muscles of his body like water, completely calming and eliminating these abnormalities.

This was a technique he had independently developed during his previous battles; according to his teacher, the corresponding martial art was roughly equivalent to "Mind's Eye" or "Still Water."

Given Kevin Kaslana's ordinary experience of playing basketball and engaging in normal sports during peacetime, it's almost certain that he has no martial arts training or experience.

However, this innate talent gave him the terrifying ability to comprehend the best fighting style for himself. Su Qing'an understood his strange situation of being crude and unskilled yet inexplicably in line with the way of martial arts when they first met.

Therefore, given this talent, the boy also taught Kevin the Kaslana Gun Fu that he had learned from Kiana.

However, even with the Gun Kata itself, the opponent had already gradually developed its own rudimentary style. For Kevin at this stage, the Kaslana Gun Fu of later generations only has the value of reference and absorption, which is enough to enrich many aspects of the problem.

In essence, however, the Kaslana Gun Fu that Kiana learned was an incomplete version that she developed herself, and it was full of her personal style.

Su Qing'an's style of learning skills is also to break them down into smaller parts. After learning Kiana's skills along the way, he disassembled them all and, with the help of all the theories taught by his spear-fighting teacher Nishikujo Sara, he reassembled them into a Kaslana Gun Fu that suited him.

The Gun Kata that Kevin is currently learning has been modified by the two of them, and it is now quite different from the original Kaslana Gun Fu.

In terms of practicality, however, he felt he benefited greatly.

Kevin initially thought that his teacher could only teach him about the application of Honkai Energy, but the fact that he could learn basic martial arts and even gun skills from his teacher was beyond his imagination.

Su Qing'an had always demonstrated remarkable versatility. Not to mention his strange skills, Kevin was impressed by the fact that she could understand Mei's experimental reports and engage in discussions with her that Kevin couldn't comprehend.

"At this rate, you'll probably master Honkai Energy shaping faster than you'll master Gun Kata, but both should be within a week. Kevin, you're doing great."

Kevin looked toward the source of the sound and saw a boy holding a book, leaning against the wall.

Su Qing'an's cool eyes were fixed on the words on the paper. Even during the conversation, his gaze never wavered. He seemed to possess a strange aura that made people unconsciously quiet down. Strangely, if the other party hadn't spoken first, one wouldn't even have noticed his presence.

As always, intense training...

Kevin wasn't surprised by the other's ability to conceal his presence; in fact, if the teacher were willing to use that theoretically strange skill, he would likely only be able to react before facing a fatal attack.

What puzzled him, however, was that his entire cultivation progress had been suddenly seen through.

Even if an external teacher wanted to directly observe the training of Honkai Energy and Gun Kata, they would need to create a video recording later.

But the boy not only didn't watch the video, he didn't even glance at Kevin, yet he knew his progress perfectly well. This action was truly incomprehensible to Kevin.

In reality, even if Kevin actually asked, he would probably only get theories that seem reasonable but are completely impractical.

For example, the direction of muscle spasms, the distance between steps, the reaction of surrounding Honkai Energy particles, etc., and it's best to add pure intuition as well.

In short, it cannot be replicated or even understood through mere learning.

So he simply asked:

"Teacher?"

Su Qing'an closed the illustrated book on cell and molecular biology, looked at Kevin, and said:

"The water and towel are right next to you; Mei said you forgot to take them."

Kevin noticed the water and towels already placed on the shelf next to the Virtual Pod and politely thanked them.

He picked up a towel and dried his white hair, then asked:

"Is there something you need here?"

A complex emotion flashed in the boy's eyes, and he whispered:

"Practice with me for a while, I have something I want to test."

"It just so happens that I haven't been able to find Emperor-class opponents for you to practice on recently, so let me help you speed up your training process."

Although he didn't know why he had a subtle sense of foreboding, Kevin still found it hard to refuse the other party's request.

The primary reason was naturally his desire to become stronger, but more so was his concern for Su Qing'an's situation. Kevin couldn't explain his feelings with reason; it was simply an answer he came up with through intuition.

He vaguely sensed that something was wrong with the other person, but it was almost impossible to find any clues from that indifferent expression.

Kevin, who felt he couldn't be Su Qing'an's confidant, could only try to find the answer by agreeing to the training and help her resolve her unspeakable emotions.

"Extremely happy to."

Just like Su Qing'an's sparring with Fu Hua at the St. Freya Academy, Kevin's current sparring with him shows a very similar trend.

But unlike the previous sparring sessions, Kevin used to only understand that he was fighting against an opponent who was not on the same level. It was as if he was drowning in a gentle yet vast deep sea, where the soft currents were everywhere and there was nowhere to hide. Danger was lurking in the shadows, and apart from a sense of powerlessness, there was only an empty void.

But today it feels like we're facing a tsunami, a storm, an avalanche.

The intense pressure on his soul ground against his tired nerves, who had just emerged from the Virtual Pod. His indomitable fighting instincts failed him in an attack that exceeded his limits of reaction and intuition.

The feeling of despair, as if every moment a flaw is found to lead to death and plunge into the abyss, grows ever deeper under the unconscious pressure and guidance of the soul.

Hammering, polishing, shaping.

Ultimately, through trials and tribulations, one becomes steel.

Most people in the world cannot overcome their own limits from birth to death. Their innate talents, acquired laziness, and will softened by comfort all combine to form unbreakable shackles and fetters, leading to a few tragic ends.

But now, not only is Su Qing'an, who exerted pressure, no longer included, but Kevin Kaslana, who is in adversity, is even less so.

No need for further trials or tribulations.

Some people are born with a golden will and a talent that surpasses others. This powerful quality, which can only be described as talent, can unleash limits far beyond the imagination of ordinary people after being properly stimulated and honed.

In a moment of blankness of consciousness, surrendering everything to instinct, Kevin Kaslana found his own unique switch.

How Honkai Energy be controlled purely through bodily instinct?

Answer: If the person asking this question is Kevin Kaslana, then just normal habits will suffice.

On the long battlefield, he had already found his own rhythm and fighting style.

Even without encountering Su Qing'an, Kevin would be able to discover more efficient and powerful methods for fighting in the not-too-distant future.

The special training for teenagers nowadays forcibly slows down this process, in order to reap abundant rewards when the time comes.

All the experience and effort accumulated to date erupted in an unconscious daze, in a silent punch.

Honkai Energy strengthens the entire torso—the sound barrier is broken.

Honkai Energy gathers in the clenched palm—a miniature storm erupts and crushes in a recurring cycle.

Honkai Energy basic shaping - a thunderous roar in the silence.

The entire training room's equipment was swept away by the sudden burst of air. Su Qing'an glanced at the alloy wall that had suddenly opened behind her and withdrew her slightly numb left hand.

The boy parted his lips, a strange emotion flickering in his lowered eyes. He spoke softly to Kevin, who hadn't fully reacted yet:

"Your efforts have paid off. In the battles to come, carefully consider the specific results of your training."

After speaking, Su Qing'an picked up the books placed in the corner and stepped out of the training room.

Kevin stood there, stunned, staring at his hands, which were no different from those of a normal human, and felt a sense of unreality and disbelief.

Surprised by the reality that his hard work had paid off, the man, for some reason, did not become complacent. Instead, he developed empathy for Su Qing'an because of it.

How can a teacher who possesses power far exceeding this level still maintain such a respectful and courteous attitude towards everyone?

Kevin himself wasn't sure if he could do the same thing, but recalling what Su Qing'an had suffered during the Third Honkai Outbreak, he inexplicably gained a deeper understanding of Su Qing'an's unwavering commitment and awareness.

The closer one gets to that level, the more one understands the self-control required to possess such immense power.

In reality, even though he has made some progress, there is still an insurmountable gap between him and his opponent.

Facing his own full-force punch, Su Qing'an didn't use much of his own strength.

Or rather, he didn't use Honkai Energy, nor did he use [Stigmata], which are equivalent to Herrscher Authority.

Otherwise, the tragic scene that just occurred in the training room would not have happened. Instead, it would have been silently annihilated by the ability to absorb Honkai Energy, turning into nothingness.

The teacher once mentioned that this ability could only be used passively, but now it seems that I can begin to control it myself.

This should be considered a good thing, right?

Kevin stood up, standing in the messy training room, and began to consider whether to ask Mei to move to a more sturdy training room.

Of course, it would be even better if it were forged from Soul Steel.

After all, for his current self, high-performance alloys that cannot withstand the erosion of Honkai Energy no longer possess durability.

But...

"I'll get yelled at, won't I?"

He muttered a quiet complaint, a gentle smile appearing on his handsome face, before stepping into the Virtual Pod once again.

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

In the local culture, the country's name is revered as a sacred land, somewhat similar to the once peaceful Yakarta. More than 95% of its residents are Muslims.

The only difference is that the Honkai Cultist here did not multiply smoothly as a result, which seems to more definitively confirm that the strangeness of the Yakarta incident was not simple.

Meanwhile, along the outer border lines of major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar, the Moth to Fire troops are guarding the construction of the project day after day.

Located in Karachi, in southern Pakistan, bordering the Arabian Sea, Islamabad, the capital, is nestled against the towering Himalayas and faces the vast Indus River plain, enjoying a rare period of tranquility and peace.

As always, the missionary, who loved to travel, strolled along the edge of Lake Laval, gazing at the distant sea of clouds with a warm smile.

"I am very grateful to the gods for giving me tickets to see this stage play, but it is a great pity that I cannot perform in it myself."

He's smart, but also stupid.

The nun dipped her feet into the clear lake water, feeling its coolness that absorbed the afternoon's warmth, and whispered:

"This means there's no point in observing it for the time being, right?"

[It's alright, as long as he hasn't completely lost his mind, everything is just a matter of time.]

The missionary, somewhat disappointed, turned her gaze away from the border line and said:

"Then we don't need to kill her."

The Honkai Consciousness said indifferently:

There's no need to do meaningless things. Logically, based on human emotions, this coincidence could actually be a better opportunity for observation; unnecessary disruption will only affect the recording results.

[Besides, your abilities are not suited for direct combat; battles with a risk of defeat should be avoided.]

The missionary responded with a smile:

"Then let's go."

"This country is pretty much ruined."