The world had been in turmoil these past few years.
First, a terrifying civilizational crisis related to the Honkai was revealed, followed swiftly by the emergence of all sorts of incomprehensible biotechnology and black-box technologies.
If that were all, it would have been one thing; after all, these things were somewhat understandable.
However, something truly unbelievable happened.
Surrounding the solar system was an Imaginary Domain that sealed it off from all contact with the outside world.
Many within Academy City already knew about Imaginary Energy. Much of the knowledge that had spread from the city included concepts like Imaginary Energy and Honkai Energy.
But the idea that Imaginary Energy was powerful enough to cut off the entire solar system from the outside universe was something they had never heard before.
'Your Schicksal and Anti-Entropy black-box tech is understandable; after all, there's the archaeology of the legendary Previous Era. Even interstellar travel is just a minor matter. But what's this about the solar system being sealed off?'
Hachiman Hikigaya was reading a news release from Academy City today.
The gist was that humanity had defeated the Venusians, beaten them into submission as X-slaves, plundered their spaceships, and then found something called a Stargate at the edge of the solar system.
Simply put, this Stargate was a back door left in the solar system by some unknown party, allowing people to break out.
It was now known that one such being who had already escaped was a digital lifeform from Venus.
Noldrei had even translated the contents of the letter left by Mara for all of humanity to see, viciously exposing Sa's dark history to the entire world.
[Image: A caption reads, "This is the letter."]
This affair caused an uproar among the people of Earth, who lamented that the Venusian civilization was one with a terribly backward social structure. They had already evolved into such a powerful lifeform, yet their treatment of their own staff was still so despicable.
Their ideological level was far inferior to that of our Director from Academy City!
And as the Stigma Battlesuit wielders mining Honkai crystal ore thought about how advanced Earth's civilization had become, they couldn't help but puff out their chests with pride!
"Why would the Director publicize the Stargate? Wouldn't it be better to keep it secret at a time like this? Besides, it's at the edge of the solar system. We haven't even finished developing our own system yet, and even Venus is still slowly recovering. I really can't figure out why the Director announced this. Judging by the results, it seems the passage has already been opened."
Hachiman Hikigaya couldn't make sense of it, so he asked Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, "What should we do at a time like this?"
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka pondered for a moment before replying, "Wait. I suspect the Director of Academy City is likely preparing for a draft."
"You're kidding, right? A draft at a time like this? Would anyone really want to go explore the Stargate? It's so far away!"
Hachiman Hikigaya was amazed. He thought it over and over, concluding that keeping the Stargate under their own control was the best course of action. But the Director had always acted with magnanimity, never being stingy when it came time to share. He even dared to share something like the Stargate openly.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka shook his head again. "A draft would normally be unlikely. Given the Director's capabilities, even without draftees, he could just have his subordinates create entire new populations to serve his needs. Manpower, population—these are things Academy City has no need to worry about."
"Therefore, I believe the Director simply wants to gauge the opinions of the people on Earth—to see whether more support the new era or cling to the old—and then strike a balance and make his decision from there. The Stargate... is probably not as important as we think."
'Not as important as we think?'
Hachiman Hikigaya thought about Academy City's current power and influence on Earth. The battles between Herrschers alone had completely outclassed the strategic weapons of every nation, and its biotechnology had shattered the traditional concept of nuclear deterrence.
Even if Noldrei were lying, what could anyone do about it? People could use the Stigma Space to hold Stigma wielders accountable, but who could use the Stigma Space to hold the Mother of Stigmas accountable?
Anyone in Academy City with a Kaslana Stigma knew this. The Mother of Stigmas possessed the ability to reshape the Stigma Space from the outside in; she had no fear of being scrutinized within it.
The abilities of an ordinary Stigma wielder were simply no match for the Mother of the Kaslana Stigma.
"You have a point," he said. "To this day, we've never been able to meet a true Kaslana Stigma wielder within their Stigma Space. The Stigma Wills we've encountered so far have all just been memory fragments from past Kaslana Stigmas. And on top of that, Academy City can continuously produce more and more personnel compatible with the Kaslana Stigma."
"Plus, with the birth of the Eye of the Stigma, the Kaslana Stigma holds a completely overwhelming advantage over other Stigma wielders."
Hachiman Hikigaya sighed. "It's a unipolar power structure. One superpower and many weak ones. The news about the Stargate must be true; the Director never lies about public matters like this. I just don't know what some people are thinking. There are still quite a few on Earth who oppose Academy City. After all, with so many of their interests being eroded, it's bound to create major political conflict."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was lost in thought for a long time, considering the effect the Stargate would have on human civilization.
He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Is it possible... that the Stargate is a tool meant specifically to counter the Honkai in the solar system?"
"Based on the Director's past actions, he always has numerous backup plans. If the entity behind the Honkai realizes that humanity has the ability to break its blockade, it will definitely intervene to alter the course of human civilization."
"The history of the Previous Era has already demonstrated this possibility. The Honkai always strikes whenever humanity is on the verge of a major breakthrough. And this time, the power that this change has brought to humanity has completely surpassed the upper limits of the Honkai's control."
"To deal with the crisis, humanity would be forced to develop along the path dictated by the Honkai. In that scenario, the Honkai would seize the initiative in directing the course of civilization."
There was some truth to what Ayanokouji Kiyotaka said, and his speculation made Hachiman Hikigaya a bit more convinced.
"If that's the case, then what form will this Honkai crisis take?"
Hachiman Hikigaya looked up at the sky. He figured he wouldn't live to see that day anyway. A crisis of this magnitude was something an individual had absolutely no power to resist.
It was a monumental task that could only be accomplished by uniting the full strength of all humanity.
He then recalled the battles between the Herrschers—the distortions caused by their immense power, warping the surrounding energy, all accompanied by all sorts of flashy light and sound effects.
I suppose the Honkai won't be that far off, right?