Her inner turmoil aside, this "fifty-fifty" scene was indeed a powerful contrast—especially compared to the full-confidence display in the earlier clip found by that scheming man. It only made the moment more ridiculous and strangely endearing.
The recording studio filled with laughter, at the expense of just one person's feelings.
But the sacrifice was worth it.
Fu Hua could only try her best to comfort her, though at this point, the only thing the Herrscher of Sentience wanted was to bury her head like an ostrich.
----
[ Famous Scene — Me vs. Kevin, Fifty-Fifty ]
[ Hahaha—Truly, the Herrscher of Boasting ]
[ Kevin: I still prefer your proud, untamed look ]
-----
Even in the story, not even Kevin—who could remain calm before the collapse of a mountain—could stay unmoved. He was stunned by the speed of her surrender.
No one could beat her… at surrendering. No one!
-----
In World Serpent Base.
"Hua…"
Kevin spoke softly, his eyes showing, for once, a trace of emotion beneath their usual cold indifference.
Although he had long anticipated that the Ember Project and the Stigma Project would be fundamentally opposed in nature, when Hua finally stood resolutely on the opposite side of him, a faint ripple still stirred in his heart.
Kevin had never cared about standing against the entire civilization itself.
If no one in this civilization dared to resist—if no one would stand against this so-called "most difficult" plan—then that alone would be the final proof that the Ember Project had failed completely.
It was just that…
"Grey Serpent… I thought you would be the one who persisted until the very end."
He stared at the figure standing before him and spoke in an even tone.
"…No. I still believe, my Lord, that you are that person."
A mechanical voice answered. The crimson light in the Grey Serpent's eyes flickered slightly as he gave a small bow—like an employee carrying out his last formal duty before leaving a company—his manner full of respect and diligence.
Yet without Dr. Mobius, even if someone had proposed this plan, he would never have accepted it.
But there was no "what if."
"A pity… They're still far too small. Even when I see them on the screen, they are the same. Without enough strength, conviction is nothing more than empty words anyone can say."
Kevin spoke slowly. His tone carried no trust, though what he truly thought inside was unknowable.
As he himself said—if there had been another viable plan, he certainly would not have chosen to carry out the Stigma Project.
The Grey Serpent remained silent. He had nothing more to say.
In truth, there was nothing he could say. When the very initiator of the Stigma Project rejected it and chose to halt it, then he had no choice but to weigh that person's words very carefully.
Not only because that person was his own creator, but also because—if that person were to stand on the opposite side—things would become far more complicated.
----
Inside the game.
After failing to defeat three Herrschers in battle, Hare was led to a strange place. It was still the moon, but not exactly the same as the moon they had explored in reality.
Here, fragments of dreamlike memories would occasionally appear, and sometimes the figure of the first Herrscher of Reason, Walter Joyce, would show up.
Bronya's outfit had changed back to what she wore in the snowy plains long ago—sleeves trimmed with fine white fur, a dark blue coat buttoned up against her slender frame, her twin spiral ponytails tied with black-and-white butterfly bows.
It felt as though she had truly returned to the past, but her Herrscher of Reason powers were almost entirely gone.
Kiana and Mei, on the other hand, seemed almost unaffected—their powers remained intact. After reuniting with the two of them, Bronya couldn't help but wonder if this was because she had not fully awakened her Herrscher of Reason form.
That was the most direct difference in power between her and the other two.
The three continued to explore this strange moon world. Within it, colorful memory fragments constantly surfaced—most leading into the memories of Walter Joyce, but also showing glimpses of Bronya's days at the snowy orphanage and moments from Walter's past.
Halfway through, Prometheus suddenly appeared out of nowhere. While she confirmed the intelligence they had been gathering, she also pointed them toward a definitive truth:
—This world was the inner core of the Herrscher of Reason. That's why only things related to the three Herrschers of Reason could appear here.
She declared that if they wanted to oppose the Stigma Project, then the power of the Herrscher of Reason could be considered the foundation stone.
Under the influence of the Stigma Project, the thoughts of 300,000 people—once the most stable core—had now become the most unstable.
Three hundred thousand minds might seem like a lot, but when compared to the 7 billion people encompassed by the Stigma Project, it was nothing more than an additional 300,000 fragments of dreams.
According to Prometheus, both the Herrscher of Reason and the Stigma Project were essentially stories—a form of narrative.
"From the primitive who first burned fields and planted seeds, year after year, people have constantly reshaped their own stories into reality—
and the result of all that is what we call civilization."
"Humanity is a storytelling species, and storytelling is the shortcut by which humans transform the world."
"In Dr. MEI's words, civilization is born of fiction… yet it surpasses reality."
(T/C: Fiction are also Ideas. heh, Hoyo u sly writers)
As the mechanical girl explained this in her calm, even tone, the three of them found themselves lowering their heads, lost in thought.
She was strange, yes, but she had a point.
Using stories to describe civilization… felt a little odd.
"And the Stigma Project… is it simply the story of something that has detached from humanity, beginning to tell its own tale?" Bronya asked. Was this the so-called "story of stories"?
Prometheus nodded lightly, confirming her suspicion.
But what she truly wanted to make clear was this—
In the original world, the vast net of civilization was made up of countless stories, each rooted in a single basic unit: human beings.
In the Stigma Project, that foundation had been dismantled and rebuilt. The cornerstone no longer had to be human. The vessel of civilization no longer required humanity.
This was the way the Stigma Project rewrote the world—it stripped away the human element from civilization itself.
But Prometheus's goal here went beyond mere explanation—she also wanted to offer them a solution.
"Herrschers and the Stigma Project stand on opposite ends of the same contradiction. On one side is an independent narrative—a superhuman who exists without the need for civilization. On the other is independent existence—an omnipotent story told without the need for humans at all…"
"Of course, this contradiction isn't impossible to reconcile."
With that, Prometheus looked straight at the three of them.
She wasn't one for hesitation or awkwardness. Efficiency was always her top priority—unless someone had explained to her that pursuing efficiency alone did not always lead to the best outcome, she wouldn't bother to talk this much.
"You mean… the Herrscher of Humanity?" Mei asked, puzzled—then realization dawned.
A Herrscher with human nature. One who possessed an independent narrative, but also needed civilization—and allowed humans to tell stories.
"Exactly. Thinking as humans think, walking the path of humanity—still part of civilization, still among the storytellers who endlessly create fiction. If they can surpass the Finality… then that would surely be the best answer to the Honkai."
Prometheus spoke with quiet conviction.
"The best answer… and what about the Stigma Project?" Mei asked, still doubtful.
"In Dr. MEI's own words… the Stigma Project is the 'standard answer.'"
Seeing Mei still puzzled, Prometheus spoke again:
"Standards are the worst. Haven't humans long since grown used to that?"
The three of them were momentarily at a loss for words.
In human civilization, when something becomes the "standard," it is often just the lowest acceptable boundary—the bare minimum.
That, ironically, was a truth only an AI learning from humanity might point out.
(T/N: translation, she means "Mid Story")
-----
In the Golden courtyard.
"That's right, the standard is basically the lowest acceptable level... If there were any other choice, who would willingly pick the Stigma project?"
Elysia spread her small hands, a look of concern appearing on her face.
To be honest, calling the Stigma Project the "standard" sounds rather underwhelming, but if you compare it to how human society works, it actually fits surprisingly well.
Within the framework of a social system, a standard usually means the bare minimum, the deadline, or the lowest threshold.
"But... judging from the way the Stigma project is described, Prometheus really is quite capable, in many different senses. Maybe we could consider asking her for a small favor."
Mobius's eyes lit up with interest — a look that immediately made the Cat girl bristle and subtly distance itself from her.
In Meow-Meow's words, it was like a can of tuna suddenly noticing a packet of instant noodles — once spotted, there's no letting go until it's in hand.
The cat girl was almost certain: if they asked Prometheus for "a little help," she might just dismantle the whole thing.
"Ah-heh-heh... I hope you'll be okay."
She muttered under her breath.
Mobius shot her a sideways glance but chose not to respond.
"The Herrscher of Reason... No wonder the Stigma Project failed when it was tested on her. That's not surprising. If the Stigma Project could represent human civilization to some degree, then the Herrscher of Reason could likewise represent the limits a civilization can reach. And those limits might also be the Herrscher of Reason's limits."
Vill-V muttered under her breath, eyes glowing with fascination at the script.
Elysia looked at her with a slightly odd expression.
Truth be told, Elysia had recently felt that something was off about Vill-V — she was too well-behaved.
For someone like her, the longer she stayed quiet, the bigger the chaos she was brewing. Even without any evidence, Elysia was absolutely certain Vill-V was preparing something big.
It was precisely because she understood her so well that she didn't trust her at all.
"Vill-V, what about your magic tricks? Why haven't you been performing lately?" the pink-haired fairy asked curiously.
"Eh? You want to see them?" Vill-V was stunned. This was the first time anyone had actually asked about such things. "But I'm still preparing... I've learned from my past lessons, so please wait!"
Her smile was unusually bright, as if genuinely happy that someone cared about her great magical endeavors.
That eased Elysia's worries a little.
.....
At the company – Recording Room.
"As expected — just as I thought — the Herrscher of Reason's core took another loss."
The Herrscher of Sentience lounged confidently on the sofa, nodding in satisfaction.
She, the great Herrscher of Sentience, had completely stepped out of that so-called five-year shadow in the darkness!
And who dares to rush her again?
Luo Mo's eyebrow twitched. He subtly hid the wrinkles in his sleeve, the result of a little private "gentleman's agreement" earlier — mostly to ensure he wouldn't underestimate just how much his opponent was holding back.
In the game, it was one thing — if you got embarrassed, at least you weren't the only one. She didn't seem to care too much about that. The problem was, she had said similar things in real life too!
For someone as sharp as the Herrscher of Sentience, the best way to skip over a sore subject was to start a new one entirely — and unsurprisingly, that tactic made Bronya deeply dissatisfied.
"This time it's obvious — Bronya's the protagonist. The Stigma Plan depends on her to win, while the Herrscher of Sentience is off having tea with Kevin."
Bronya grumbled, glaring at the little troublemaker.
Taking a loss herself was bad enough — but being yelled at during her shining moment? Was the Herrscher of Truth just there for decoration?
"Heh. During your fight with Kevin, you couldn't even throw away your black holes. I was the one who helped you, along with the Old Timer. And now, here in the so-called Herrscher of Reason's core space, there's only a Herrscher of Reason without powers. Tsk, tsk..."
Senti shook her head in pity, once again reaffirming her belief that the Herrscher of Reason was not the one to choose for the job.
"…That's because there was a reason. Besides, thanks to the Stigma project's influence, losing my power also gave me an opening to fight back. Without the Herrscher of Reason, then—"
Bronya began to explain, still clearly unhappy.
"Alright, alright. Credit where it's due — I won't deny your importance. We just… lost a bit of that Herrscher swagger, that's all!"
The Herrscher of Sentience had now mastered the art of saying "we," suddenly turning herself into part of the Herrscher collective.
If Headmistress Theresa saw this, she'd probably be relieved — at least the small Herrscher group at the academy wouldn't have to worry about being bullied on campus anymore.
"Mm… By the way, Kevin — I surrender?"
Bronya tilted her head slightly, trying to mimic her tone, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.
"You—!"
The Herrscher of Sentience's foot was stepped on again. Clearly, before she truly learned her lesson, she still had a lot more training to go.
Everyone takes a loss sometimes — don't treat a single moment like it's forever.
"So it seems, our answer to fighting against the Honkai … is probably the best possible one."
Kiana said with uncharacteristic calm. "But it's still just a standard answer. Who wants that?"
"I hope you can say that before the exam too — that just meeting the standard isn't your goal, you want full marks," Luo Mo teased.
"Ah-ah! How is that the same thing?"
Kiana shook her head in protest, making it clear she thought delivering a perfect score on an exam was even harder than defeating the Stigma Project.
"Hey, hey — don't say that like you're confessing your deepest feelings."
Kiana gave him a resentful look. If you put "standard" and "full marks" on the same level, then maybe aiming for the standard wasn't so bad after all.
----
In the game, Prometheus proposed a solution beyond the Stigma Project.
Using the 300,000 thoughts stored in the Herrscher of Reason's core as the central hub, she would "wake up" every dreamer trapped in the Stigma Project. Those thoughts would be inserted back into the Project's system, and in turn, they could influence and disrupt the project itself.
Of course, it wasn't without risk — in the process, those very thoughts might be harmed.
Bronya didn't hesitate. The Herrscher of Reason's core legacy existed to fight for humanity, not merely to survive.
It had never been about enduring — it had always been about sacrifice.
If the day came when the Herrscher of Reason had to give herself for the cause, she would not hesitate.
Next, Prometheus revealed her understanding of the Stigma Project's deepest structure, helping Bronya simulate its signals and break through them one by one.
In an instant, a flood of information poured into Bronya's mind, letting her experience for the very first time what it felt like to communicate with the mechanical existence of the heavily armed Bunny outside.
For the first time, she could directly feel the excellence of the heavy-armed Bunny.
In this asymmetrical battle between the Herrscher of Reason and the Stigma Project, Kiana and Mei were unable to offer any help. Prometheus had taken them away from the scene, leaving the next phase of the fight entirely to Bronya to open fire.
As expected, after a round of core scans, she found that contract… or perhaps, anomaly — the opponent had embedded it into her own memories.
...
At that moment, in a snowfield at the foot of the Ural Mountains, lay her earliest secret.
The world was vast, yet also so small — going in circles, approaching the end of the world — Bronya had never imagined that she would return to this familiar place in such a way.
In the deepest recesses of her memory, only those tied closely to the Stigma Project — and Herrscher of Reason Bronya — could set foot in this region.
The snow on the snowfield was as pure as in her memories. Beneath the endless white ground lay the blood of countless people. The cold wind was sharp and biting, and far in the distance, an ancient bridge stood in its decaying grandeur. It was hard to believe it could survive this winter.
"...Bronya, what will you see ahead?"
For the first time, the girl felt a strange unfamiliarity toward this once-familiar place — the Ural Silver Wolf, the orphanage, the beet soup… Countless vivid scenes flashed through her mind, yet there was an abnormal sharpness to her senses.
The greatest question was — why had the opponent appeared here? Or rather, why this snowfield?
If this space was built from the memories of the two of them combined, it should not simply be everything she was familiar with. Then… Hare… who exactly was she?
"She… is someone completely opposite to Walter Joyce," Prometheus replied, with an answer she had clearly prepared long beforehand. It was obvious she knew a lot about Hare.
"She avoided the Herrscher of Reason because of the Stigma Project. She once hated the Herrscher of Reason as a person."
Seeing Bronya grow increasingly puzzled, Prometheus let out a faint sigh. She didn't like speaking in riddles, but since the other insisted on figuring it out herself, she could only go along with this inefficient approach.
"Please don't misunderstand. She is not deliberately your enemy.
No matter what, the two of you are both daughters of Siberia… both children of the Ural Mountains."
At that moment, Bronya's eyes widened in shock.
She had never denied that she was a daughter of Siberia.
But if the Hare was the same… then why?