Looking at the broken bridge before her, Li Sushang couldn't help but sigh: "Honestly, it's all thanks to Durandal discovering this during exploration."
"If I'd relied on my sword-riding skills and charged straight through, the consequences would probably have been unthinkable."
Durandal, however, said: "This is all thanks to Genius."
"Without an instrument capable of detecting spatial distortions, even I would have had a hard time noticing anything unusual with the naked eye."
As she spoke, Durandal pulled out an instrument that looked very much like a bowl from her bosom.
She subconsciously glanced at Genius, then said in surprise: "Wait, this reading… huh?"
Seeing that Durandal seemed to have discovered something, Li Sushang quickly asked:
"What is it, what is it—could it be a new discovery?"
Durandal said uncertainly: "It seems so. Hold on a moment…"
With that, Durandal took a few steps toward the broken bridge and double-checked Genius's readings.
"…It really is."
Murmuring to herself, Durandal turned her gaze to Seele and said: "Seele, could you please come closer to me?"
Seele did as asked and uncertainly inquired: "Like this?"
"Yes, but it'd be better if you came a bit closer."
"Perfect, that's just right now."
Though puzzled, Seele obediently stayed in place.
At this moment, quite a few viewers in the group chat were spamming various question marks, because Durandal and Seele's positioning was a bit too close for comfort.
"Nice, nice, nice—Honkai Impact 3rd's yuri power is strong; I've actually gotten used to it."
"Seele is so obedient and gentle; I want to take her home and raise her as my daughter!"
"Anyone with designs on Seele, watch out—Dark Seele might punch you!"
"Hehe, Seele, Dumb Goose, Li Sushang is so cute too…"
"Eww, pervert, stay away—don't splash blood on me!"
"…"
And it wasn't just the viewers across the country.
Inside the television, Li Sushang suddenly widened her eyes and hurriedly asked: "Wait, wait… in broad daylight, what are you two planning to do?"
Durandal didn't answer but said to Seele: "It's fine; it'll be quick."
Ignoring how many question marks were popping up in the group chat, Durandal's voice rang out again.
"Seed of Sumeru, activate."
In an instant, space reorganized before the girls' eyes—the entire process dizzying to behold.
By the time everyone came back to their senses, the scene before them had completely changed.
Especially striking was a towering Bodhi tree coming into view, instantly hitting them with an overwhelming sense of awe.
Seele asked in full confusion: "Huh? What exactly is…"
Li Sushang, on the other hand, seemed to realize something and said in admiration: "Wow, Durandal, is this your Mentalscape? To think it has reached such a realm!"
Durandal corrected her: "Strictly speaking, it's not something I own."
"And that's why I needed to be close to both the broken bridge and Seele at the same time to bring everyone here."
Seele asked puzzledly: "…Me?"
Durandal nodded: "Yes. This special world bubble is called Seed of Sumeru."
"In the past, it was an observation hub built by the Previous Era for the Second Divine Key."
"While on Earth, I can freely bring anyone in and out of this place…"
"But the spatial structure near the Moon doesn't allow me to do so."
"Simply put, the lunar space has been artificially stabilized to an excessive degree."
"And the reason we succeeded now is that the spatial anomaly at the broken bridge overlapped with Seele's own inherent fluctuations."
"Temporarily increasing the instability of space in this small area."
"Thus locally satisfying the conditions to open Seed of Sumeru."
"But after all, I'm not a researcher…"
"I can only speculate that the reason for these inherent fluctuations might be related to Seele's long-term exposure to the Sea of Quanta."
Li Sushang chuckled lightly: "After all that explanation, so you're basically using our Miss Seele here as an antenna to boost the signal?"
A voice spoke up at that moment, responding to Li Sushang.
"That's a nice analogy—it reminds me of making crystal radios as a kid."
Li Sushang originally thought it was Durandal speaking, then suddenly realized:
"That wasn't you just now, was it, Durandal?"
The voice from earlier rang out again.
"Of course not. Sorry for eavesdropping on your conversation."
"I am Erwin Schrödinger, a plane traveler from the Sea of Quanta."
"In the past, I was an adventuring companion of Bianka and Rita, and even earlier, a troublemaking friend of Einstein and the others."
Seele murmured upon hearing this: "Sea of Quanta…"
Tree and Sea, much like the concept of yin and yang, form the foundational theoretical pillars of Honkai Impact 3rd's world view.
Schrödinger, hearing Seele's voice, affirmed: "Yes, just like you, Seele, I once lost the unitarity to exist directly as real-number matter…"
"Only for me, that aspect has never fully recovered."
In fact, at this moment, Schrödinger hadn't appeared in person and was communicating through Genius as a medium.
However, thanks to the livestream and other means, many viewers were already familiar with Schrödinger.
Seele suddenly realized something and quickly asked: "Ah, in that case, do you know what exactly happened on Earth?"
"World Serpent's people said they carried out the Stigmata Project, and Earth's space is undergoing alignment and reorganization…"
"If you can observe from inside the Sea of Quanta, perhaps…"
Schrödinger, upon hearing this, asked Durandal: "Stigmata Project? Bianka, is it… the Stigmata Project that Rita once told me about?"
Durandal replied: "It doesn't seem to be exactly the same."
"On one hand, due to some unknown mechanism, Stigmata Awakened are continuously being teleported—actively or passively—to the lunar base New Atla where we currently are."
"On the other hand, according to the testimony of World Serpent executive Jackal, ordinary people on Earth seem to be entering the depths of Imaginary Space through dreams as a medium."
"—Turning from humans into Stigmata."
"If Jackal wasn't deliberately misleading us… then this shows that the implementation method of the Stigmata Project has at least undergone major changes."
Schrödinger said in realization: "…I see. That would explain the current anomalies on Earth."
"On Earth?"
Realizing Schrödinger knew about the situation on Earth, Durandal quickly asked:
"Rita… no, I mean, is everyone alright?"
Feeling the surprised gazes from Seele and Li Sushang, a faint blush flashed across Durandal's face.
It had to be said—this gave her an adorably contrasting charm.
Schrödinger first reassured Durandal, then provided important information.
Schicksal's floating islands and Anti-Entropy's Salt Lake base had not suffered major impact so far.
"If this isn't some coincidence… then it must be the result my friends worked hard to achieve."
Schrödinger concluded decisively.
Durandal placed her index finger on her chin and said: "Based on the observation data from your side, we can infer for now."
"Earth has indeed undergone some astonishing mutation, but at least Schicksal and Anti-Entropy's headquarters can still operate?"
Schrödinger affirmed: "Indeed."
Li Sushang also said: "That's at least good news, but… observing from the Sea of Quanta?"
"What exactly is going on with that?"
Schrödinger continued: "Before answering that question… you really are Schicksal's other S-rank Valkyrie, Miss Li Sushang, correct?"
Li Sushang said in surprise: "Eh? So you know me?"
Schrödinger replied: "I should say I obtained some intelligence about you from Rita."
"But regarding that earlier question… should I start from the very concept of the Sea of Quanta itself?"
Li Sushang didn't refuse: "If… I can understand it?"
Then Schrödinger launched into a lengthy explanation, giving Li Sushang the urge to doze off.
"…Ugh, it really is a bit hard to follow."
Durandal spoke up at this point: "We've all played shadow puppets as kids, right?"
"If we use a bit of imagination and assume those shadows cast on the wall have a certain degree of independent agency…"
"That would be fairly close to the general way world bubbles exist."
"The smaller the scale of a world bubble, the stronger the 'hand's' control over the 'shadow' can be considered."
"Conversely, the more independent the shadow becomes, until it's completely unaffected by external influence."
"However, producing a shadow ultimately requires a light source. It's unlikely for Earth's world bubbles and the Moon's world bubbles to have direct connections."
"This is actually the fundamental reason we couldn't reach Seed of Sumeru earlier, and why Dr. Schrödinger couldn't contact us."
"…Moreover, with the entire Earth-Moon space now disrupted by the Stigmata Project."
"The connection between us and the Sea of Quanta has become even more unstable."
Although Durandal's explanation was far more accessible, Li Sushang still looked dazed.
Many viewers, seeing Li Sushang's cute reaction, were instantly won over on the spot.
"…As expected, without actually experiencing it, no matter how you explain it, I still seem stuck in that half-understanding state."
"But for us right now, the most fundamental issue is probably how to get back to Earth, right?"
"Since you mentioned these so-called shadows—or alternate worlds."
"I think they should be able to provide us with some unique help in some way?"
Schrödinger acknowledged Li Sushang's point, but said a sufficiently strong channel would still be needed.
After another lengthy explanation, Schrödinger began assigning tasks.
"First, Bianka—you'll handle the role of signal recorder."
"I'll send these tiny coordinate data to Seed of Sumeru shortly."
Durandal couldn't help asking: "Can't I participate in the exploration directly?"
Schrödinger said: "You're the only one among the three who can operate Seed of Sumeru."
"Compared to exploring in person, holding the rear is more advantageous."
"If you really encounter an extremely powerful enemy later, then you can step in."
Hearing this, Seele volunteered: "In that case, leave the exploration task to me."
"Besides Durandal-jie, I'm probably the one most familiar with the Sea of Quanta."
Schrödinger agreed: "That's exactly what I had in mind."
"However, for safety's sake, you should carry one of Bianka's Genius devices."
"That way, if the situation becomes urgent or there's no way forward, you can withdraw to Seed of Sumeru at any time."
Seele nodded: "Mm, got it."
Durandal spoke up at this point: "In that case, I'll lend the other Genius to Miss Sushang as well."
"That way, everyone will have double the exploration efficiency."
Li Sushang asked: "…Is that really okay? I remember this second Genius seems to be…"757
Before Li Sushang could finish, Durandal affirmed: "It's fine. I trust your strength as an S-rank Valkyrie."
"Of course… it really is an item with a lot of sentimental value to me."
"So please take good care of it for me and Rita."
Hearing Durandal's praise and trust, Li Sushang laughed heartily: "Of course, that's a given."
"Though I may not be worthy, I shall return it intact."
"—Storytellers used to say that all the time. I never thought I'd get to use it today."
Durandal smiled faintly: "Then it's a promise."
After the exchange, the two headed in opposite directions and submerged into the Sea of Quanta.
Genius would guide them toward various micro world bubbles, while the interface between Genius and the outside would temporarily close again.
Watching Li Sushang and Seele leave, Durandal stood beneath the Bodhi tree and said:
"…Well then, next comes the waiting."
"But before that, Dr. Schrödinger, is there something you found inconvenient to say in front of those two earlier?"
Schrödinger said in surprise: "Oh? You really are a lot sharper than you were at age twelve."
Durandal wasn't in the mood for chit-chat and said directly: "According to what you said earlier, you had me stay in Seed of Sumeru for two reasons."
"One is my ability to operate it, and the other is to guard against powerful enemies."
"But on one hand, I think with their strength, it's actually not easy for them to encounter the kind of troublesome enemy that would require my mobile support."
"…On the other hand, even if I weren't staying inside Seed of Sumeru."
"You should still have ways to keep the situation under control and prevent the three of us from truly getting separated, right?"
Seeing Durandal's sound reasoning, Schrödinger had to admit: "Indeed, to be honest…"
"After all, I don't know them well enough yet. If there are facts that would seriously damage their morale, perhaps it's better for me to keep quiet for now."
Durandal shook her head: "I don't think there's any need to be so reserved…"
"But go ahead and say it—it's all bad news, isn't it?"
Schrödinger fell somewhat silent.
Meanwhile.
At the periphery of Seed of Sumeru.
Returning to this strange yet familiar place, Seele couldn't help but murmur:
"The Sea of Quanta near the Moon… it doesn't seem any different from the area near Earth."
After a brief moment of reflection, Seele began exploring the state of the Sea of Quanta.
This time, just like when she first started exploring the New Atla ruins, she was once again alone.
"Bronya onee-chan… the other me…"