Chapter Summaries

Bianca awoke after completing Su’s trials and questioned why the Previous Era had abandoned the Stigmata Project. Su explained that humanity in this era should decide its own fate, then gave Bianca the Sumeru Mustard Seed to merge with the unstable World Bubble inside her.

• Bianca woke beneath the Tree’s roots, and Su congratulated her for passing his trials.
• Bianca asked why the Previous Era had not used the Stigmata Project to fight Honkai.
• Su explained that he had stopped Kevin because the current era’s humans deserved to choose their own fate, and the project might have sacrificed them unnecessarily.
• Su revealed that he had sensed an unstable World Bubble inside Bianca and offered her the Sumeru Mustard Seed.
• After Ren Yu nodded to reassure her, Bianca guided the Sumeru Mustard Seed into her body.

Bianca returned from the World Bubble with a golden leaf containing information about the Imaginary Tree, while Otto learned that Ren Yu had left with Wadeline and that Earth’s coordinates were exposed. Aboard the flight back to the Far East, Wadeline announced she intended to surrender her Herrscher Core and resign as Anti-Entropy Alliance Leader.

• Bianca explained her World Bubble experience to Otto and the clergy and gave Otto the golden leaf’s information about parallel worlds and the Imaginary Tree.
• Otto tried to detain Wadeline to draw Ren Yu back, but learned she had already left because Otto herself had allowed her to go.
• Ren Yu realized he had forgotten to tell Otto that Earth’s coordinates were exposed, and Wadeline reproached him for the oversight.
• Otto learned about the extraterrestrial threat and ordered a department established to monitor it, while setting aside her conflict with Anti-Entropy.
• Wadeline told Ren Yu and the others that she planned to give up her Herrscher Core and resign as Alliance Leader.

Wadeline offered Ren Yu the Anti-Entropy Alliance Leader position and her Herrscher Core, but he refused, leaving the senior members to compete for succession. Ren Yu reassured Sie that she mattered more to him than the office.

• Wadeline offered Ren Yu the Alliance Leader position, promising he could be a figurehead while inheriting her Herrscher Core.
• The Anti-Entropy elders watched eagerly as Wadeline pressed Ren Yu for an answer, hoping he would accept the position.
• Ren Yu politely refused, saying the Alliance Leader should be someone capable of handling the work.
• The elders regretted his refusal but began eyeing one another as potential successors.
• Sie apologized for tugging Ren Yu's clothes, and Ren Yu comforted her by saying she mattered more to him than becoming Alliance Leader.

After Ren Yu refused the Alliance Leader position, Wadeline rejected Mary’s request for the Herrscher Core because her compatibility was only 21%. The group returned to St. Freya Academy, where Tesla complained about Anti-Entropy’s finances and Ren Yu pointed out Su as a useful new recruit.

• Mary asked Wadeline to give her the Herrscher Core and become Alliance Leader, but Wadeline refused because Mary’s compatibility was too low.
• Ren Yu wondered about Bronya’s compatibility, then decided not to suggest that she inherit a Herrscher Core.
• The transport plane returned Ren Yu and the others to St. Freya Academy.
• Tesla complained that St. Freya Academy was financially mismanaged and contrasted Anti-Entropy’s struggles with Schicksal’s wealth.
• Ren Yu called Su a useful lackey, and Su recalled the humiliating agreement Ren Yu had forced him to sign.

Su survived after Ren Yu used his vitality to save him, while Ren Yu returned to the Teacher Dormitory with Sie and Bronya. There, Rita hid her Ren Yu pillow, as Bianca discovered Rita’s hidden collection of Bianca merchandise.

• Su had thought Ren Yu was joking when he offered him a hundred-year contract, but Ren Yu restored his vitality and left him stunned.
• Ren Yu handed Su over to Tesla and said goodbye to the Anti-Entropy group before returning to the Teacher Dormitory with Sie and Bronya.
• Rita was clutching a pillow printed with Ren Yu’s image when he arrived, so she hurried back to her room to hide it.
• Bianca searched Rita’s room while Colorless Huihuo ate ice cream, then found a hidden room full of collectibles depicting Bianca.
• Bianca became mortified and collapsed after seeing Rita’s figurines, drawings, projections, and body pillows of her.

Bianca discovered Rita’s collection of items depicting herself and fled in embarrassment. Rita apologized to Ren Yu for her hobby, and he allowed her to make one collectible of his likeness every two months, unaware she was already planning a life-sized figure.

• Bianca saw Rita’s collection of items depicting herself, then ran to the training room to calm down.
• Rita hid an embarrassing pillow and entered Ren Yu’s dorm to apologize.
• Ren Yu decided to let Rita’s hobby go but forbade her from making items bearing his likeness without permission.
• Rita pleaded that making such items was how she coped with missing Ren Yu.
• Ren Yu allowed Rita to make one collectible of his likeness every two months, and Rita began planning a life-sized figure.

After Sie went to bed, Inner Sie appeared and sensed unfamiliar energy on Ren Yu, demanding to know where it came from. Ren Yu recognized that her anger came from fearing she had lost her special place with him.

• Sie finished showering and encouraged herself to grow more mature than Rita.
• Ren Yu came out of the bathroom and found Sie asleep, but Inner Sie soon appeared.
• Inner Sie examined Ren Yu and asked whose energy she sensed on him.
• Ren Yu produced a wisp of white vapor, and Inner Sie recognized it as energy sharing the Sea of Quantum’s origin.
• Inner Sie grew resentful, and Ren Yu realized she feared being replaced and abandoned.

Inner Sie panicked when Ren Yu revealed he knew the coordinates of the special saplings in the Sea of Quantum, fearing she had lost her purpose. As Ren Yu held her and moved in to kiss her, she realized she wanted his affection too, but the kiss never came.

• Inner Sie grabbed Ren Yu and anxiously asked whether he had found the strange trees.
• Ren Yu told Inner Sie he knew the coordinates of the special saplings in the Sea of Quantum and planned to collect and absorb their energy.
• Inner Sie feared she had become useless, but Ren Yu pulled her into his arms.
• Inner Sie realized she liked Ren Yu and chose not to resist when he leaned toward her.
• Inner Sie shut her eyes and waited for a kiss, but it still had not come after ten seconds.

Ren Yu teased Inner Sie into kissing him, and she happily returned his feelings before retreating into sleep from embarrassment. The next morning, Sie woke beside Ren Yu and secretly tried out a romantic greeting, relieved that he had not heard her.

• Ren Yu surprised Inner Sie with a kiss, and she realized he had been teasing her before eagerly kissing him back.
• After their passionate kiss, Inner Sie collapsed into Ren Yu's arms and withdrew, leaving Sie asleep beside him.
• Ren Yu placed Sie on the bed and fell asleep, planning to tease both Sies when they were awake together.
• The next morning, Sie greeted the sleeping Ren Yu as “darling” and panicked when he turned over.
• Sie confirmed Ren Yu was still asleep and felt relieved that he had not heard her practiced line.

Sie relived Inner Sie’s intimate memories with Ren Yu and was overwhelmed with embarrassment when she learned he had heard her call him “darling.” She withdrew into her mindscape, leaving Inner Sie in control as Ren Yu prepared to tease her instead.

• Sie remembered Inner Sie’s kiss with Ren Yu and blushed as the sensations and emotions returned to her.
• Ren Yu told Sie he had been awake since she greeted him as “darling,” leaving her mortified.
• Sie hid against Ren Yu, but fled into her mindscape when he asked her to say “darling” again.
• Inner Sie returned to the front and realized Sie had shut herself off from her.

Ren Yu reunited with Inner Sie and teased her until she managed to call him “darling,” then returned to St. Freya Academy. Mei and Kiana learned he was back, while Sirin pressured Kiana to meet him within half an hour, leaving Kiana afraid of angering her and failing her theory exam.

• Inner Sie greeted Ren Yu awkwardly, then blushed and returned his “darling” greeting after he teased her.
• Inner Sie clung to Ren Yu and choked him with her strange power until he praised her and escaped.
• Ren Yu took Inner Sie to St. Freya Academy and resumed his role as a psychological teacher.
• Mei told Kiana that Ren Yu had returned, and Mei planned to invite him to dinner to ask about sword techniques.
• Sirin ordered Kiana to meet Ren Yu within half an hour, and Kiana worried that refusing would cost her help with her theory exam.

Kiana brought Mei to visit Ren Yu at St. Freya Academy, where Mei asked him to help her improve her swordsmanship. Ren Yu also learned that Wadeline planned to hold Herrscher Core compatibility screenings that night, leaving him considering a trip to the Far East.

• Kiana persuaded Mei to visit Ren Yu during the day and pushed her into his counseling room.
• Ren Yu received Wadeline's message about the Herrscher Core compatibility screenings and worried that another faction might claim the Core.
• Kiana and Mei told Ren Yu that Mei wanted to practice swordsmanship with him.
• Ren Yu asked after Raiden Ryoma, and Mei said her father was doing well and often praised Ren Yu's swordsmanship.
• Mei explained that Ren Yu's earlier guidance had left her with questions she could not resolve, then asked him to spar.

Mei asked Ren Yu to help her understand a sword technique, and he agreed to guide her. During their practice, Ren Yu noticed flaws in Mei’s North Star One Sword Style and began correcting her form by holding her wrist, leaving Mei bashful and uncertain.

• Mei bowed and asked Ren Yu to stay and help her study the move, and he agreed.
• Mei thanked Ren Yu for his guidance while Kiana wondered why Mei treated his help as such a great kindness.
• Ren Yu and Mei practiced with wooden swords in the training room as Ren Yu pointed out that her strikes were too slow and her force was misapplied.
• Ren Yu knocked Mei’s sword aside, took hold of her wrist, and offered to teach her hand in hand.
• Mei blushed and asked Ren Yu whether he was sure he wanted to teach her that way.

Ren Yu gave Mei hands-on swordsmanship instruction, while Mei grew flustered and imagined a future with him. Kiana struggled to contain Sirin’s jealous outbursts as Mei began practicing under Ren Yu’s guidance.

• Ren Yu caught Mei’s wooden sword and explained that hands-on instruction would be the fastest way to teach her.
• Ren Yu stood behind Mei and guided her wrists, leaving Mei blushing and Kiana wondering if something was going on between them.
• Mei fantasized about marrying Ren Yu and having a family, while Sirin angrily demanded that Kiana let her take over.
• Ren Yu prompted the distracted Mei to focus, and she apologized before preparing to practice.
• Mei began demonstrating the North Star One Sword Style, and Ren Yu released her wrists while reassuring her that he was still nearby.

Ren Yu corrected Mei’s North Star One Sword Style, teaching her how to adapt its techniques to her smaller build. Mei became convinced by his guidance, and the lesson ended when she was nearly out of stamina.

• Mei practiced her sword forms while Ren Yu observed her technique.
• Ren Yu caught Mei as she attempted a slash and guided her through a corrected posture.
• Ren Yu explained how Mei could adjust her force and movements to compensate for her smaller build.
• Over the next ten minutes, Ren Yu taught Mei to relax her wrists, lower her stance, and control her balance.
• Mei praised Ren Yu’s instruction, and he ended the lesson because she was nearly exhausted.

Sirin took control of Kiana’s body and joyfully reunited with Ren Yu, whom she revered as the Lord of Spirits. She explained that she had helped Kiana with a test, then nervously waited to learn whether Ren Yu would forgive her.

• Mei practiced her sword techniques while Ren Yu watched.
• Kiana stumbled into Ren Yu after arguing with Sirin, who then seized control of her body.
• Sirin delightedly greeted Ren Yu and clung to him, while he praised her efforts.
• Mei noticed Kiana in Ren Yu’s arms but decided to return to practicing.
• Sirin explained that she had helped Kiana complete a test and anxiously asked Ren Yu to forgive her.

Ren Yu tried to comfort Sirin when she came to see him, but she feared he would never forgive her or let her stay by his side. Her confession made him reconsider his plans and decide he wanted to keep all the girls close.

• Ren Yu told Sirin he felt relieved about her relationship with Kiana and asked why she had come to see him.
• Sirin admitted she had come only to spend time with Ren Yu, and he warned her not to emerge again until she had a body of her own.
• Sirin tearfully asked whether Ren Yu hated her and said she only wanted to return to his side.
• Ren Yu reconsidered treating Sirin as a tool and decided he would not let any of the girls leave him.

Ren Yu reassured Sirin that he did not blame her and agreed to let her see him once a week. Sirin returned to Kiana’s body with plans to grow closer to Ren Yu, while Kiana complained about her before he revealed that he knew she had once asked Sirin to help her cheat on an exam.

• Ren Yu told Sirin he had kept her inside because he feared for her safety, not because he blamed her for failing to destroy humanity.
• Sirin pleaded to see Ren Yu, and he agreed she could visit once a week.
• Sirin privately resolved to help Ren Yu and hoped she could remain at his side forever.
• Sirin returned to Kiana’s body, and her intense gaze left Ren Yu unsettled.
• Kiana complained that Sirin kept chanting Ren Yu’s name, but froze when he mentioned her exam cheating.

Ren Yu traveled with Wadeline to Anti-Entropy’s Far East branch for a meeting to select an heir for the Herrscher Core. He refused to inherit it himself, and Wadeline began the selection while he stayed behind to oversee security.

• Mei questioned Kiana about cheating, and Kiana denied it before tearfully clinging to Ren Yu.
• Ren Yu left St. Freya with Wadeline and reflected on how the Honkai lockdown let ordinary people enjoy peaceful moments.
• At the Far East branch, Wadeline told Ren Yu his Herrscher Core compatibility was 100%, but he refused to inherit it.
• Wadeline carried the Herrscher Core onto the platform as the gathered Anti-Entropy employees watched, while Ren Yu agreed to guard the meeting.

Wadeline launched a competition for Anti-Entropy’s next Alliance Leader by dividing the Herrscher Core among 7,534 participants and testing their compatibility. The first round eliminated most of the crowd, leaving only several hundred people as compatibility scores continued to be revealed.

• Wadeline silenced the crowd and explained that the winner would inherit the Herrscher Core and the Alliance Leader position.
• Wadeline split the Herrscher Core into 7,534 pieces and gave one to each participant.
• The Core eliminated a veteran agent whose compatibility was only 4%.
• An elderly professor unexpectedly passed the first stage with 67% compatibility.
• The participants tested their compatibility, and most were eliminated as only several hundred remained.