Honkai: It’s broken, I have become the Herrscher of Corrosion?

"Um... I didn't cause you any trouble, did I?"

"It doesn't matter. I remember you should be with Kiana..."

"Well, it was Grandma Cecilia who brought me to Celine's place, and then she sent me here."

"Um...Cecilia...Grandma?"

"Is there any problem? I am your dependent. According to the human generation system, she is of course my grandmother, and...she also agrees with me to call her that."

"Anyway, everyone knows about your relationship with...her, and no one objects."

(Hmm... It feels weird...)

"Also, Enosia told me that after you became the Herrscher of Origin, you are qualitatively different from the Queen of Thunder, so the way I address you is..."

Mei could see that Reina didn't want to use "you" all the time, because being too polite would not help to bring the two of them closer.

But obviously, she is even less likely to use "you" or call her by her name. Just like asking Bella to call Xilin by her name might be more painful than killing her.

"Don't be so formal. You can address me as you like."

"……Mother."

Although she had expected this, she still felt awkward when she heard Reina calling her mom. Although from the perspective of birth, she was indeed born by herself. It can only be said that Honkai energy is too magical.

"…It seems you don't like…"

Reina put on a slightly aggrieved expression.

"… Never mind. Whatever you say. Let's get down to business. Did they ask you to tell me anything?"

"…It's related to the Stigmata Project. They told me not to be surprised if I'm suddenly transferred to some strange place soon."

"Strange place?"

"Well, in the current Stigmata Project, the 'old humans' will gradually connect in the form of dreams and eventually become the stigmata of the 'new humans'."

"Make someone... become a stigma?"

"Perhaps only Kevin and Yutu know the specific details, but at least one thing is certain: it will make people disappear in their own dreams, and make reality and illusion swap with each other. Spirituality turns into matter, and matter turns into spirituality.

"After all ordinary people disappear, the World Snake will transform it into a world suitable for the survival of new humans. The Honkai energy will flow freely in everyone's body, and the Herrscher will never appear again." Enosia told me. Although it sounds abstract, these are the original words she got from the Gray Snake. "

"What else did the Gray Snake say?"

"If you put all the dreams of mankind together, you will get a giant. Its body is like a planet. It is called "Adan Ruani" by the wise men in the desert.

——To use the language that normal humans are accustomed to, it is the "spiritual Adam".

Adan Ruani is one of the gods, but he is extremely far away from the other gods... This long distance is what mortals call "time", it is a belated eternity, and it is a chasm that cannot be crossed by common sense.

Humans regard Adam Ruani as a product of their dreams; but to Adam Ruani, humans are the same. His words are like our dreams. He has no present and past, and everything happens in the future.

He can neither die, nor think like a human, nor reproduce... He exists there forever, serving as a ladder from the human world to the divine world. ...Yes, this is the true meaning of the "Stigmata Project".

Whether bloody or psychedelic, physical or spiritual - they are only means, not ends. The essence of the plan is a chain that binds people who cannot save themselves tightly together; we can simply let them drift, or we can help them to the best of our ability.

Now, this kind of assistance is a grand dream for them - in the dream, they become Adam, they become gods. The real world will lose its meaning to them, and the eternal dream will become their only reality. They no longer think in "time"... Their dreams will connect with each other and jointly build a true miracle that transcends the "end."

"Um... the language habits of [normal humans]? Well, now I know why the Stigmata Project is so highly confidential. Even if I knew the details of the plan in advance, I probably wouldn't be able to understand it..."

"Anyway, to summarize what I understand, it's... connecting people's dreams?"

"Well, Enosia specifically reminded me that this is not the full picture of the Stigmata Project."

"…Is it because compared to the entire population of the earth, the number of people who can be directly connected to the "dream" by the World Serpent is only a very small number? The old man just now…is he one of the "believers" of the World Serpent? "

"I don't know. I'm afraid I can only understand more details on the moon..."

(Theresa's perspective is switching...)

After Hyperion entered the lunar orbit, it deviated from its course. Theresa checked all the systems in the command room but did not find any problems.

Albert Einstein:

"We have called upon Anti-Entropy and Destiny's satellites to investigate Hyperion's current orbit. The conclusion is that there are no detectable anomalies in the space environment around you."

Theresa:

"Could there be some mechanical problem with the spacecraft's power?"

Albert Einstein:

"This... is unlikely, Ms. Theresa. Hyperion's core power system has been completely upgraded to programmable soul steel material. If there really is a problem, it should have been detected long ago...

No, maybe that’s the reason.”

Theresa:

"Is it a problem with soul steel?"

Albert Einstein:

"To be precise, it's a "programming" problem. If... I mean if, there is an interference signal that happens to be received by Soul Steel as a control command by mistake... then the actual response of the mechanical system may deviate from the expected response of the control system. And if the source of this interference signal cannot be controlled... then the error will accumulate more and more. "

"Ms. Theresa. Considering that Hyperion cannot troubleshoot such problems on its own in deep space, I suggest that you terminate this exercise immediately and start returning. The Anti-Entropy Space Station will dock with you in low-Earth orbit and conduct a complete overhaul of Hyperion."

Theresa:

"...Well, there's nothing we can do about it. Although returning home like this is a bit disappointing, safety is obviously more important. Let's follow the emergency evacuation plan in the exercise plan and return home. I will also stay on the bridge and provide the necessary..."

When Theresa stood up from the captain's seat and delivered the order, she suddenly felt a strong dizziness. Extreme fatigue suddenly hit her without her noticing - causing her to quickly lose consciousness.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw someone she had never expected.

“…Grandpa?! How could it be…”

[Otto (?)]:

"Don't be nervous. I am just one of your subconscious minds. I am another reference for you to know yourself. Do you understand? Congratulations - in the random fluctuations of your subconscious mind, you accidentally discovered the fact that you are dreaming..."

Theresa:

"What you meant just now is that I am trapped in my own dream, and the real me is still sleeping on Hyperion?"

[Otto (?)]:

"Indeed."

Theresa:

"What if I do this?"

She raised her hand and gestured horizontally across her neck.

[Otto (?)]:

"If this were an ordinary dream, you would either wake up or continue to dream. But since your consciousness is clear at the moment... then there is a risk that it will completely disappear."

Theresa:

"...That is to say, I can't give up thinking. I must find the flaw in this dream. Although I don't even know why I am trapped here."

[Otto (?)]:

"That's right. But you have to be careful, Theresa. Since this is your own dream... then its flaws must also be your own weaknesses."

Soon, familiar things appeared in Theresa's dream - other A-series clones, as well as the emperor-level Honkai beasts that could kill people together with Kevin, the hardworking pigs, and Pavanti.

When faced with these former "defeaters", in his dreams he can still use Judas's Theresa to easily deal with them all.

Theresa:

"I see. I think I know what kind of enemies will appear here next."

[Otto (?)]:

"Like me?"

The answer was silence.

[Otto (?)]:

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made this joke. Maybe you still doubt it - but I am indeed your companion. Deep in your consciousness, Otto Apokalis has a kind half; and this "him" can perhaps also be called... the other you in the mirror."

Theresa:

"...This annoying feeling in you is exactly the same as his."

[Otto (?)]:

"Mirrors are annoying. They don't always reflect the sides we like. Of course, I'm not trying to make excuses for anyone. For some people, manipulating the mirror is a trick they are used to."

"Let's get back to the topic you're concerned about. To disintegrate this dream based on St. Freya's Academy, following the way it disintegrates in reality is undoubtedly the option with the highest success rate."

Theresa:

"This is actually... the Dogma District. This is a name that no one has mentioned for a long time. This place, nominally known as the "Underground Central Church", is the channel for Saint Freya to obtain cutting-edge technology from the Destiny Headquarters..."

[Otto (?)]:

"It is also a place where both Destiny and Anti-Entropy have played games. Let's go, Theresa. Let's go and see what is hidden there this time."

Theresa walked towards the familiar gate, recalling what happened when she first arrived here:

"Come to think of it...When I first took over this campus, I actually didn't like it very much."

"It's not because it has a touch of my grandfather's aura, I just hate elders who spend too much on "material things" for me.

When I first saw the campus under construction, I thought to myself: Oh my god, is this some kind of aristocratic school from 500 years ago? How could it be built like the royal palace in Vienna?!"

"But now, you don't feel that way anymore."

"Yes, after all, practice makes perfect. Just like Fu Hua said: If you are here, make the best of it. Whether it's a palace or a hut, as long as it's practical."

“You look a little sentimental revisiting the old place.”

"Yes, more than a year ago, Kiana was influenced by the Herrscher here..."

"Until now, you still blame yourself for this?"

"You don't understand. Because of this incident... St. Freya Academy eventually lost one of its best teachers.

I mean... it's even more heartbreaking than the fact that I personally lost a friend forever."

"But the past is gone and the die is cast. All you can do is cheer up and look forward on her behalf."

"Anyway, let's take a look at what secrets are hidden behind this door in the dream."

Behind the gate was not the Saint Freya that Theresa was familiar with, but a red desert. The person who had been following her smiled.

"Well, Theresa. If there was a bottle of Armagnac, I'd really like to sit here and have a few drinks. Look? What a beautiful tree, isn't it?"

"...Aren't you claiming to be the consciousness in my dream? How come you speak even more frivolously than the real me?"

"Hey, Theresa - humor is good for your health. You really need to learn from him in this regard."

“…Alright, alright. I should have realized that your way of comforting people is “special”.

Then can you tell me first, is this place we are in a dream in our brain, or an imaginary space in reality?"

"Although this place looks very much like the place where Yulandel once stayed, I don't think that she could construct such a real place in a dream with just a few words."

"Indeed, since we can come here, it proves to a certain extent that Hyperion in reality is being invaded by imaginary numbers. Or it means that your dreams and those of others are intertwining and merging."

"If you ask me for my personal opinion, I would tend to think that both are happening at the same time."

"And since the perpetrator has locked you in this desert, I'm afraid he won't leave a path for you to escape."

"...Don't tell me that the only conclusion we can draw is to "wait for death."

"How could that be, Theresa? For more than a year, you have been working as a leader or manager most of the time, and you were able to defeat the opponents you encountered in battle easily."

"This caused you to ignore your own uniqueness as a warrior. You actually know very well that you and Fu Hua are essentially no different. You are both fusion warriors."

“And the breakthrough is right here.”

"…You mean, Vishnu?"