In the game.
The Current Era civilization continued resisting their seemingly fixed fate. Everyone was doing their part.
Li Sushang, Rita, and Susannah headed to reclaim Taixu Mountain, only to discover that clearing out the imaginary creatures was useless. Even after revising the Stigma Project for Taixu Mountain, those trapped in the dreamscape remained asleep.
Following this cautious step-by-step approach, reclaiming Earth was still impossible.
Meanwhile, the Resistance noticed that fewer and fewer humans were awakening from their dreamscapes on their own. And even with the Moon's Cocoon specimen in hand, the Cosmic Juggernaut could not lock onto its position.
This led them to suspect that there was some barrier hiding it away — a barrier of such magnitude that the only answer they could think of… was a Collective Dream Entity of humanity.
Both of their critical problems centered on this Collective Dream Entity — a target without a clear strategic solution.
Tesla proposed a plan they had prepared long ago: use overwhelming firepower to shatter the false dreams, forcibly dispersing the Collective Dream Entity.
But such a plan meant unacceptable sacrifices for Theresa and the others — even if the dreamers awoke, the best-case outcome would be severe depression. In many cases, it would mean death on a massive scale.
Naturally, the Resistance was unwilling to accept this plan, which is why it had been shelved.
Their belief was simple — even a god has no right to decide the fate of another's life.
Let alone deciding the fate of the vast majority of humanity.
But now, the situation forced them to make a choice. Their every move was being blocked by this "great price", as if echoing Kevin's silent question:
"Standing in my place, could you find a better answer?"
If something had to be sacrificed for the sake of humanity and civilization…
For Kevin, the Stigma Project was that answer.
Now, it was their turn.
Theresa awoke to see those ice-blue eyes within the dream, watching her plight and her choice — without joy, without sorrow, without mockery. But she felt she had to prove something to him.
As Overseer of Schicksal, she was the one who had to make this decision. It was her heavy responsibility.
To choose the few or the many?
Should they let those blissfully ignorant people bear the price of saving the world?
She found it hard to give that order, for it went against everything they stood for.
In that moment, she remembered her earlier experience entering a dream, and considered another option: cause a shock to the main hub of the Stigma Project, giving people inside the dream a chance to awaken. Then, enter the dream to guide them — to make them realize the beauty they saw was nothing but a hollow illusion, and choose to awaken on their own.
The risk? Those who entered might themselves become trapped in the dream.
Worse still, if this attempt failed to awaken enough people, and those people still lacked the courage to face reality… they might create an even larger dream-prison, with no second chance to break free.
The group discussed and refined this plan.
Finally, Einstein summed it up:
"This isn't so much a risk as it is an experiment — to prove whether humanity is worth saving.
If, even with persuasion and effort, they still choose to live in ignorance, then perhaps it proves the opposite. Without the ability to survive independently, without the will to change the world… such a humanity might not deserve salvation."
"Of course I believe humanity is worth saving—
Otherwise, why would Kiana and the others, time and time again, still believe this world can eventually become a better place?"
Einstein brushed her hair back, speaking from the cold, third-person perspective of a scientist, yet giving a romantic and idealistic reason for humanity's sake—
She believed in the beauty that others saw along their journey, because someone who believes in beauty can also believe the world is not as hopeless as it seems.
"In that case, this campaign that will decide the fate of all humankind… should be fought together by all humanity."
Welt adjusted his glasses, the reflection flashing, and decisively concluded the final topic of the meeting.
This "answer" to the Stigma Project's question should come from all of humanity.
Everyone should be responsible for their own future.
----
[Even though in the game it feels like Dr. Einstein's words make a lot of sense… suddenly I wonder, are we the ones trapped in the dream?]
[Never thought I'd agree with Theresa's proposal before]
[No, wait—look again, we can still be saved!]
[As long as we chant the name of our beloved leader Ellie, we'll be willing to return to reality]
----
In the Anti-Entropy base.
"Looks like your 'conservative' thinking is even more radical than my 'radical' thinking—saying that not waking up means humanity isn't worth saving."
Tesla clicked her tongue, eyeing Einstein's calm expression with a bit of disbelief.
She was convinced that explanation came from a brain full of chickens, and the other woman was simply keeping herself composed—because when she really went crazy, she could be far scarier than Tesla herself.
You know that saying: There's only a thin line between genius and madness. It fit perfectly here…
These scientists were never short on dangerous ideas—only the height of their moral boundaries differed.
And clearly, when it came to facing a real crisis, Tesla, with all her "electronic music" bluster, still couldn't quite match the other woman.
"I merely wanted to ease some of the mental pressure on Theresa and the others. Placing a decision like this solely on one person is inherently problematic. Since she offered a relatively decent proposal, naturally, the failure's consequences shouldn't fall entirely on her shoulders."
Einstein calmly explained while adjusting her hair again.
"Oh, like you're one to talk… Still, compared to that green-skinned freak, the two of us could at least be called 'good people.'"
Tesla shot her a sidelong glance, still convinced this was Einstein's real, chicken-brained opinion.
"That much, I agree with."
For once, Einstein was in complete agreement.
They understood each other deeply on that point.
Welt just stroked his chin, thinking that perhaps his retirement wasn't far off. His role here was basically to act as a prop—
…which was fine by him.
He even considered designing a mecha model to leave behind for an Anti-Entropy game, so he could still show off his skills.
As for saving the world?
That young lady, Raven, wasn't wrong—these things were the responsibility of the younger generation.
----
In the recording room.
"Aunt Theresa actually came up with an idea like that?"
Kiana was surprised. In her eyes, Aunt Theresa was as unreliable as herself in everyone else's eyes.
It was rare to see her reliable even once—
…Actually, counting the past, it had been more than once.
It's just that very few of those moments had a "calming the storm" effect like this one.
"Because the Headmaster once entered a dreamscape before, and successfully escaped—she has experience. Of course, this method is still extremely risky."
Mei seriously analyzed, though she had no ill will toward Theresa.
It's just that this plan clearly originated from the Headmaster's unique experience, so at the time, no one had considered entering the dreamscape to wake everyone up.
"Compared to a trolley-problem-style hard choice, this happy-ending scenario is obviously better."
Kiana chuckled.
"But it could also drag the entire world down with it," Bronya said coldly, pouring a bucket of ice water over her excessive optimism.
"I still prefer to believe in the better side of the world. After all… people might need a place to escape from reality, but they won't stay there forever.
Rather than accepting a fake beauty, we should strive to build a beautiful reality."
That was Kiana's belief, and her way forward.
"This is exactly what Dr. Einstein was talking about—if they don't want to wake up, then just don't wake them up. Why overthink it? Just do what we can do."
The Herrscher of Sentience said, her tone a bit more radical, even throwing a punch in the air to add force to her words.
"At least compared to the Stigma Project, we're putting this choice into the hands of every single person."
Fu Hua also found nothing wrong with this approach.
----
Inside the game.
"Why do Birds fly?"
After leaving the moon, Kevin also entered the dreamscape at the center of the Collective.
It felt like going back over a thousand years, to humanity's naive and ignorant age—
Where he once listened to a sage give a sermon.
—It was a scene he often recalled, and often dreamed of.
Even the clumsiest person, given ten thousand years of time, could walk every corner of the world and reach the peak of their desired domain.
Kevin was far from a fool.
In that sage's youth, Kevin had once heard him speak—about why birds fly.
People said it was simply the pursuit of freedom, but often they would throw away such a choice and right.
Yet no one had ever seen a bird willingly give up flying.
Thus, the sage believed the first bird learned to fly not because it was born with wings, but because it had a heart yearning for the sky.
It was that heart which let the first bird spread its wings and soar.
And, on the brink of his own death, Kevin sought out that sage again—
To ask the same question: "why do Birds fly?"
The sage gave the same answer: because the bird wants to fly—similar to Raven's certain response.
But Kevin wasn't satisfied. He believed it was because birds must fly.
When a meteor falls from the heavens, only the free bird can escape certain doom—
Only those who adapt can survive and triumph.
The dying sage smiled, and said:
"There are some who fly… simply to fall."
And then he told the story of Icarus.
Of course Kevin knew that story—
But back then, he saw it only as a tale of defying fate and failing.
If it ends in failure, why struggle?
Yet to the sage, Icarus's death was not a warning to avoid the sun or fate—
He wanted to soar so that everyone could see he had once flown that high, to prove that before him, no one had reached the sun's doorstep.
From that moment on, more and more people flew higher and higher—
Until one day, someone could truly touch that light.
In this world, there are two kinds of heroes: the first are those who trample on the ideals of others; the second… are those who hope their own ideals will one day be trampled upon by a hero.
The kind that keeps the world going is precisely the second type.
If every world were full of heroes trampling on the ideals of others, that world would be completely ruined.
In the end, when it came to that stand-in, Kevin chose to become Icarus — to become the second kind of hero.
So that the Sun would not fall, he flew up into the sky, seized that ray of light, and used his own figure to block it. Even if it meant dissolving away, falling into the sea.
But if she — if they — wanted to take that ray of light back from him, they would have to fly even higher than he did!
He would never retreat, because behind him was an endless abyss, from which no one in all of history had ever returned alive.
So, before surpassing him, humanity had to learn how to fly!
They would have to do it themselves, or else everything would be meaningless.
That is the true logic of growing up beyond childhood.
----
[Raven, why the island… fly?]
[Because to lure humanity toward its final ending with its earliest dream — flight… is the original dream of mankind.]
[Those who came before will always sum up lessons for those who come after: Icarus, the civilization before, and Kevin.]
----
In the recording studio.
"..."
The room was completely silent.
No one here was truly ignorant, and Kevin's words were clear and direct enough.
When he mentioned Icarus's failure, it wasn't to mock the warriors who defied fate — quite the opposite. He himself was becoming such a person.
This so-called Icarus is the hero who hopes future generations will trample upon his own ideals.
Fu Hua narrowed her eyes slightly. She wasn't surprised — if Kevin really was the one to pull Icarus down from the horizon, she'd be curious to know if it was true.
Only… this completely went against the original intent of the Stigma Project.
It felt more like an aggressive "Fire Seed" plan.
Sure enough, Kevin was never the perfect candidate for the Stigma Project — and luckily, he wasn't.
"This… this means he's been expecting his own failure from the very start. Wouldn't it be easier to just surrender himself instead of waiting for me to surrender first?!"
The Herrscher of Sentience complained in frustration.
She thought his way of thinking was absurd — wouldn't it be better to join forces against the Finality together?
In the past, she'd preferred fighting alone, but now she felt Kevin was better off in the same group as them.
"It's all the boss's fault! I was completely tricked by that 'footprint' video from the start. I really thought… he truly didn't believe in the world anymore."
Kiana opened her mouth wide, then gave a helpless laugh — though she still glanced accusingly at Luo Mo.
In her heart, that original image of the cold, unfeeling Kaslana ancestor had become more three-dimensional, no longer just merciless.
'Hmm… so over all those long years, he had turned into a philosopher. That was… surprisingly interesting.'
Luo Mo blinked innocently. At the time, he'd just wanted to pull a little trick — as long as it served as a script reference, it was good enough. Most of it probably wasn't even accurate.
"But if we fail, or if we don't have the will to fight Kevin, then he'll just use his own method to surpass the Finality."
Mei let out a soft sigh and gave a faint smile.
"Bronya thinks that's not a bad thing. Before we have a better answer, choosing a 'standard answer' is at least a passing grade. Maybe… that's why Dr. Mei asked Mobius to make fifteen versions. Compared to Coyote preparing an experimental city, this Stigma Project still leaves some blanks to be filled."
Bronya's eyes lit up slightly as she spoke.
That was good news — it meant they had more room for tolerance, just like the first time they'd met Kevin in the story. He wouldn't immediately go for total annihilation.
Otherwise, there'd be no hope later on.
He probably wouldn't ease up much — after all, the trial of the Finality was still a path they had to walk — but at least he'd give them time.
"Exactly. So, poor Dr. Mobius. Even if Dr. Mei chose the first version, at least Kevin isn't enforcing it."
Luo Mo's lips curved upward as he tried not to laugh, speaking in a tone that was genuinely meant to reassure Dr. Mobius.
----
In the Golden Courtyard.
"Two kinds of heroes…"
Kosma stayed silent for a long time, pondering the definition of a hero.
The dawn's first light was just a faint glimmer in the salvation of humanity, but from his perspective, it had given him a very good symbolic meaning.
But trampling on the hopes of others… or having one's own ideals trampled…
He didn't even know what Griseo's ideals were. In the end, what he did probably wasn't so good either.
"Kevin… wow, super-smart Kevin. I wonder if MEI will be startled when she sees him again?"
Elysia's eyes sparkled, a sweet smile on her face.
"So, be honest — in the future, you and Kevin didn't just spend all your time discussing philosophy, did you?"
"…I don't think Kevin would be in that kind of mood."
Su closed his eyes and gave a small nod.
It was hard to imagine Kevin seriously reading through the classics. From what he knew of him in the past, Kevin and 'studying' walked along two entirely separate paths.
"That's just the result of years of accumulated thought — questioning the road we've taken."
Kevin spoke quietly.
"Oh? Dr. Mobius, your operatives don't seem to like the Stigma Project. What's your take on it?"
Vill-V smiled as she smoothly shifted the topic to the person who'd proposed the project, her teasing gaze making Mobius frown slightly.
"What do I think? Of course I don't believe in any Fire Moth's Plan, or the so-called miracles of humanity — but that doesn't mean I like the Stigma Project either. It's just a compromise product. If we had as many resources as this era has…"
"Do you think I would have chosen to make something like it?"
Mobius cast a mocking glance at her. She knew perfectly well Vill-V had no good intentions, but the Stigma Project truly had nothing to do with her idea of perfection.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have produced so many different versions.
"But… Kevin, you really don't care about yourself at all. Why must you die? Can't you not?"
Elysia sighed, her eyes holding a trace of pity.
But she also knew that the one she needed to convince wasn't the Kevin standing here now.
That true Kevin — the one with five-ten-thousand years of lived experience — even she probably wouldn't be able to talk him down.
In the game world, he had left himself only two choices: death, or a fate worse than death — a man holding the power of a god, who had personally pushed himself into a desperate corner.
----
In the game.
Naturally, once they confirmed a feasible course of action, the group of heroines would not stop moving forward.
When it came to the step of selecting specific candidates to enter the dreamscape, Theresa thought for a moment before volunteering herself.
As for the reason… she had previously experienced the Stigma dreamspace and thus possessed a certain level of understanding and resistance toward it.
And don't forget — even if she had never officially taken the position before, she was still the principal of St. Freya Academy.
Guiding students' thoughts was the duty of a teacher.
Within the dream, her aim was simply to let the children play and create spaceships, helping those who had grown numb to reality to rediscover their original aspirations.
While interacting with those on the brink of death, she came to understand the beautiful dreams they had given up, and witnessed their resolve to pave the way for the younger generation.
In that dreamscape, she also met the second candidate who had entered to carry out the plan — Seele.
Seele likewise volunteered to join the dream in order to help everyone.
Theresa truly lived up to the title of "teacher."
She drew upon everything she had learned in life, everything she had gained from interacting with others, using her own personal experiences as a spark.
She wove those life lessons and blessings into her conversations, continuously guiding the lost back onto the right path.
Thanks to their unceasing efforts, Rosalia, Lilia… and many others also joined in this process.