"The sound of the elevator… Did Bronya succeed?"
At the end of their conversation, Kiana saw the elevator start up and walked over to Bronya.
"Bronya, how did it go?"
Bronya responded while manipulating the data on the holographic screen in front of her: "…Mm."
"It took some time, but the results are pretty good."
"However… the moment I successfully hacked in, Bronya sensed a power that does not belong to me."
"They are everywhere within the elevator's control program."
"This elevator is undoubtedly a trap."
Faced with Bronya's conclusion, Mei spoke up: "But we have no other choice, do we?"
Bronya replied: "Mm."
Kiana then asked: "Durandal, what do you think?"
Durandal answered with calm confidence: "…Since the other party has intentionally welcomed guests, we might as well see what they have in store."
Li Sushang sighed emotionally: "As expected, rather than making long-term plans, you still prefer to charge in alone like always."
Durandal said: "If we can be stumped by a single elevator, then you wouldn't have the qualifications to face Kevin head-on——that is probably what the other party is implying."
Kiana nodded: "…Understood. Then let's set off as quickly as possible."
Bronya looked at Seele with concern: "Seele, I'm leaving things up here to you."
Seele nodded firmly: "Mm, leave it to me."
And so, the group stepped onto the elevator, while Seele turned and headed toward New Atla.
As the elevator gradually descended, even space itself twisted and changed along with it.
…
The scene shifted.
Accompanied by slightly rapid breathing, Fu Hua suddenly recalled a certain conversation.
…I want to know what I can do.
Sigh… You will have a lifetime to think about this question. Don't rush.
If divided by her own sufficiently long life, it clearly came from a distant beginning.
——That was when happiness had not yet begun, but suffering had already arrived.
In his Karma Demon form, Kevin Kaslana held the Decimation of Finality and said calmly: "Hua, there's no need to continue."
"I have already witnessed your will."
Fu Hua gritted her teeth: "…Not necessarily."
Compared to Karma Demon Kevin, who was still in peak condition and had barely consumed any stamina, Fu Hua could hardly even grip the Xuanyuan Sword in her hand.
The heart-piercing pain from collapse was constantly eroding her already exhausted body along her nerves.
Less than three minutes…
This was perhaps the limit that Garuda could last in front of the Karma Demon.
But at this moment, Fu Hua still gripped her sword tightly, her eyes showing no sign of retreat for even a second.
"The battle… is not over yet!"
Kevin sighed helplessly and said: "I have no intention of fighting you to the death."
"So, why don't you pay attention to your surroundings?"
When she slightly shifted her attention away from the battle, Fu Hua immediately understood the meaning behind Kevin's words.
On the originally empty slope, several real Divine Keys had now appeared out of thin air.
Kevin said: "No need to be confused. They were here all along."
"——As our epitaphs, frozen in time."
"Hua, in the past, Su and I hid part of the truth about Finality from you."
"Before you entered the hibernation chamber, we told you that Finality would destroy everything."
"We told you that we would depart from the sanctuary and build a new civilization. That part was true."
"And when you woke up more than five thousand years ago, we told you that human civilization had new sprouts."
"But that was merely sophistry, a deception equivalent to self-consolation."
"Humanity's sprouts… have only ever been one…"
"The difference between these two generations of worlds lies only in the changes after the starting point."
Listening to Kevin's calm narration, Fu Hua's heart suddenly began to beat violently.
She had long sensed that she did not know the full truth, but even so, she had never imagined this possibility.
This… worst possible possibility.
Fu Hua murmured: "The starting point… meaning our fifty thousand years ago?"
Kevin replied: "Mm."
"In our fifty thousand years ago, and in the fifty thousand years ago of Raiden Mei and the others."
"Humanity's ancestors were exactly the same group of beings."
"Of course… except for ourselves."
Fu Hua listened to Kevin revealing the answer and remained stunned for a long time before fully understanding the meaning of those words.
At this moment, viewers across the country watching outside the TV were somewhat dumbfounded.
"What is Kevin saying? Why do I feel like I don't quite understand?"
"Idiot, the meaning is actually very simple. Fifty thousand years before the Previous Era, there was another Previous Era!"
"Damn, I thought the reincarnation we saw before was a plan actively created by the Previous Era. I didn't expect…"
"My scalp is tingling. Holy shit, dog director, come out and explain what the hell you mean by 'surprise'?!"
"No wonder, no wonder MEI and Mei look so similar under the dog director's arrangement… This was all foreshadowing!"
"…"
In fact, just as some viewers understood, according to Kevin's explanation, the history of Earth's civilization had been nothing more than a fifty-thousand-year cycle from the very beginning.
The forerunners and Stigmata were instead foreign objects forcibly brought into this era by the Key of Restraint – (All Things Rest).
The reason the Previous Era and the Current Era were different was simply due to changes in initial conditions and the evolution of random processes.
Fu Hua said in realization: "So… this is the power of Finality."
Kevin acknowledged: "Mm, this is the power of Finality."
"Reincarnate the planet, erase civilization, and reset everything back to the very beginning."
"——The so-called Finality is time itself."
"So, put away your sword."
"I have no intention of continuing to fight you. It is of no benefit to you, to me, or to anyone else."
Even though the revelation of Finality's power was so unreasonable, Fu Hua still said: "Kevin… you know I won't yield so easily."
"…"
Kevin said quietly: "You are very much like Theresa."
Fu Hua was stunned for a moment and asked: "Theresa?"
Kevin said: "Not long ago, we had a duel."
"Don't worry, she is merely sleeping in a dream right now."
"When the Stigmata Plan is complete, she will be able to live freely in the newborn world just like all of you."
"You ultimately do not have the power. Of course… neither do I."
Faced with Kevin's words, Fu Hua fell silent.
Her thoughts wandered, and as if in memory, a faint smile appeared on her pale face.
…I want to know what I can do.
Looking at Kevin again, Fu Hua said slowly: "…My power is to show you the people of this era."
"What they are willing to give for the things they believe in."
Kevin said: "…Beliefs that are difficult to realize are not worth your persistence."
"Moreover, their future path… is by no means bright."
Fu Hua said firmly: "Kevin, in my view, everyone's future path is actually equally chaotic and equally far from bright."
"Just like us fifty thousand years ago——relying only on superficial power and beliefs that were hard to realize."
"Didn't we still manage to pass the flame of civilization down to today?"
"…Since we could do it, then the people we have protected——not only can they do it."
"Moreover, they will only do it better."
Kevin's expression remained unchanged: "Hua, empty words have no proof."
Fu Hua said: "I know. Precisely because of that… Kevin, my comrade——precisely because of that, Fu Hua has become your enemy."
"…"
In the wordless silence, Kevin saw in Fu Hua's eyes the same expression as Theresa's.
It was an expectation for a beautiful future that no setback or suffering could bury.
And… the resolve to prove her way with her own body.
The Decimation of Finality in his hand loosened and tightened again. Kevin said: "I understand. If this is your choice, then come."
"——Fu Hua."
Kevin had once seen this same spirit in the strangely harmonica-playing youth.
With every step Fu Hua took, her body lagged by a beat.
With every swing, her injuries worsened.
Kevin's power was far too strong, strong to a degree ordinary people could hardly imagine.
Even though Herrschers were the enemies of civilization and envoys of God, the current Karma Demon Kevin was an existence above Herrschers.
Even as a MANTIS, the regenerative ability provided by the Garuda Factor was nothing more than a drop in the bucket for her.
Yet Fu Hua did not stop, like a moth chasing a spark.
"…"
In a silent sigh, Kevin spoke: "I will not let this battle become your end."
With a trace of reluctance, the Decimation of Finality struck down this fearless moth.
"…Fu Hua."
Kevin turned back and called his comrade's name, but no one answered.
The girl who had crossed fifty thousand years now quietly leaned against a broken wall.
The only thing she still held tightly was the hilt of the sword in her hand.
Kevin said solemnly: "I promise you that you will live in a world without Honkai."
"And the people you believe in will also receive the best possible ending."
"At that time… you can personally erect a suitable tombstone for our bygone era."
At that moment, unhurried footsteps came from afar, interrupting Kevin's contemplation.
It was a person who should not have appeared here during the Stigmata Plan.
Kevin's gaze fell: "I thought you were not fond of getting involved in this matter."
As his gaze landed, the newcomer's figure appeared on the TV screen——it was Hare.
"Who knows?"
With a soft laugh, Hare said slowly: "After all, who wouldn't like brave girls?"
…
The heroes of the new generation… or rather, the protagonist group, finally worked together to overcome the elevator's predicament.
However, because of this, the main trio, Durandal, and Li Sushang were temporarily separated.
Stepping out of the elevator, Kiana breathed a sigh of relief: "Ah… we finally made it out."
"Next up is…"
Before she could finish, after looking around, Kiana's expression changed drastically.
"Oh no."
Mei asked: "What's wrong?"
Kiana explained: "The Class President's presence… has disappeared."
"…"
Mei fell silent.
Bronya asked at this time: "What about the Herrscher of Sentience?"
Kiana shook her head: "No trace of her either."
Bronya immediately analyzed: "Then we are most likely too late."
"Although Kevin probably wouldn't kill the Class President, still…"
After a moment of silence, Mei proactively said: "…Let's go. We'll go see Kevin."
But at that moment, a round of applause suddenly rang out.
Kiana reacted immediately: "Who?"
A woman with no detectable presence suddenly appeared in front of them out of nowhere.
Of course, this was from the protagonist group's perspective. The audience had long known her identity.
Hare was calmly sitting amid the ruins, her demeanor relaxed and peaceful.
As if this place was not the depths of an alien celestial body, but a sunlit countryside field.
As if she had long grown accustomed to such solitary moments across countless similar days and nights.
Hare looked at the main trio before her and greeted: "Hello there, brave girls. You are always the best."
Mei asked: "You…"
Before she could finish, Hare tilted her head and placed her index finger on her lips.
Like an innocent girl, she revealed a brilliant smile.
This sense of déjà vu not only made Mei fall silent but also reminded viewers across the country of a certain old acquaintance.
Of course, they were only similar. Whether in appearance or essence, they were undoubtedly different.
Hare continued: "I know you must have many doubts in your hearts."
"And resolving those doubts is exactly why I appeared here."
"I will answer your questions one by one——don't worry, my Lord will not come to disturb us at this moment."
"I am very willing to help everyone… So before that, please rest here for a while with peace of mind."
Faced with Hare's gentle words, Kiana thought to herself: Strange, this person…
Mei then spoke directly: "We finally meet officially. If I'm not mistaken…"
"You should be the mastermind behind the Stigmata Plan, Hare, right?"
Hare smiled upon hearing this: "Oh my, our previous encounter was so rushed. I didn't expect Mei to still remember me. I'm so happy."
"However, since Mei already knows me…"
"Then the self-introduction I prepared can only be kept as brief as possible."
As she spoke, the girl who looked more like a wife than a college student gracefully jumped down from her relaxed seated position.
"That's right. My code name as a World Serpent cadre is Hare, and the project I'm responsible for is the Stigmata Plan."
"As for my name, it is Misteln——Misteln Schariac."
Kiana's eyes narrowed instantly: "Schariac?"
The three major families of Schicksal: Kaslana, Apocalypse, and… Schariac.
Hare nodded: "Mm. However, I am not human… but a crystallization of the Schariac Stigmata."
"Ah, what is a Stigmata crystallization——it seems you aren't very clear about it either."
"But don't worry… You've come from afar, so you probably haven't seen the scenery inside this Finality Crater yet, right?"
"Why don't we walk and talk?"
The Stigmata girl who had gracefully arrived thus extended an invitation to the protagonist trio.