One day later.
[Global Outdoor Average Temperature: -13°C]
Thanks to the active efforts of the super-AI "Prometheus," the Newborn World Serpent finally managed to save its last shred of dignity.
The organization hadn't completely lost track of the two constantly fleeing Herrschers. Instead, they maintained 24/7 surveillance on their precise coordinates, which shifted rapidly from moment to moment.
Speaking of which...
That's right, two Herrschers!
Based on earlier energy level detections and subsequent follow-up analysis, MEI, Vill-V, and the others had already reached a conclusion.
Raiden Mei... had become the Fifth Herrscher of the current era.
When Kevin heard this news, his silence was deafening.
He had been right there on the day Ling Ke personally inflicted the "Herrscherization Curse" on Raiden Mei.
Now, it seemed...
"That 'curse' has been activated!"
"Yes. Based on the combat logs you sent back, Raiden Mei has likely lost her 'humanity' completely."
"Why did this happen? Isn't the Cocoon of Finality still..."
"It must be that person's (Ling Ke's) doing!"
"..."
"You know the relationship between Raiden Mei and that person (Ling Ke)... It's not surprising she ended up like this."
"Alright! You have a point."
Using underwater, high-pressure-resistant long-range communication, Kevin—who hadn't returned to headquarters... no, strictly speaking, who "had too much to deal with and simply had no time to return"—was having a brief exchange with MEI.
At this very moment, he remained deep beneath the frigid Arctic Ocean, closely monitoring the bizarre, purplish-black Egg Cocoon resting silently on the seabed.
He was also personally responsible for operating the various precision instruments teleported by Prometheus, all designed to withstand the immense underwater pressure, as he conducted tentative observations and experiments on the Cocoon.
MEI clearly considered this object extremely important.
Not only did she trust Kevin's intuition, but...
Aponia had already shared the memories she "saw"—memories from Kali—with most of their core members.
Having all indirectly witnessed the Egg Cocoon's birth, no one within the Newborn World Serpent dared to ignore it now.
Without a doubt, just as Kevin had said, it was a massive hidden threat.
Therefore, in addition to their many other crucial experimental projects, MEI and Vill-V now had to remotely receive and analyze all data related to the Egg Cocoon.
As for the matter of the Herrschers...
The Third Herrscher: Herrscher of Blood. The Fourth Herrscher: Herrscher of Death. The Fifth Herrscher: Herrscher of Thunder.
At last, the Newborn World Serpent had assigned proper codenames to every Herrscher born after their "rekindling" in the current era.
Previously, they had simply referred to Kali and Seele as the "Third Herrscher" and "Fourth Herrscher."
Now, they had a clearer definition of the Herrschers themselves and their distinct Authorities.
Of course, assigning formal codenames to the Herrschers wasn't exactly an urgent matter.
It's just that... in the original timeline of the current era, the Tenth Herrscher wasn't named the "Herrscher of Dominance" until a full three months after its appearance.
But enough of that.
Right now...
"MEI, how long has it been since you last rested?"
Kevin was clearly worried about MEI's physical condition.
True, she had become a Pathstrider, her life-form having transcended that of an ordinary human.
But even then, there had to be a limit to how much she could push herself.
Kevin hoped MEI would learn to take care of herself.
Otherwise, he would have to resort to force again, just like last time...
"We might be out of time, Kevin."
Over the remote communication, MEI's voice sounded slightly weary.
She didn't waste energy on what she considered trivial matters and got straight to the point. "The purple-black Egg Cocoon you're monitoring... you can see it, but you can't touch it, and it easily makes you feel disoriented, right?"
"Right."
Kevin gave an affirmative reply. "Especially when I meet the gaze of those 'eyes,' the feeling becomes even stronger."
"Understood."
MEI spoke in a measured tone. "Kevin, immediately construct a temporary experimental field around the Egg Cocoon's location."
"Next, I'll have Prometheus teleport Su's Sim and a set of Observation Hub equipment to you."
"We need to determine if that Egg Cocoon, which appears to be some kind of life-form, possesses self-awareness."
"If it does, we might have a chance to uncover its true nature."
Hearing this...
"This is extremely dangerous."
Kevin didn't act immediately, instead offering this warning.
"I know."
MEI's voice remained calm, and as if reading his mind, she added, "Su knows too."
Her words carried a deeper, unspoken meaning.
Su's Sim was prepared to sacrifice itself.
All for the sake of transmitting a single, clear piece of information.
"..."
Kevin fell silent.
Self-sacrifice...
Back when he was fighting with The Moths Who Chase the Flames, over fifty thousand years ago in subjective time, he and his comrades had achieved "pyrrhic victories" through such means time and time again.
Every time, many lives had to be sacrificed just to increase the odds of successfully defeating a Herrscher.
Sometimes, they even had to dispatch suicide squads with near-zero survival rates, who didn't even know the true nature of their missions.
The sacrificed had to act as bait, charge to fill the lines, or open a crucial passage...
Those distant, unpleasant memories, which had gradually transformed him from a cheerful young man into the man he was today, were slowly resurfacing.
And now...
"Understood."
Kevin replied to MEI, then immediately began channeling his Power of Absolute Frost, selectively freezing parts of the seabed.
His usual combat methods were "Ice" and "Fire."
But Kevin could also wield a small amount of psychokinesis.
This was a benefit gained from participating in Project Chimera.
Now, he used these special abilities, derived from the genes of various High-ranking Honkai Beasts, to effortlessly construct an indestructible temporary "ice house" in the high-pressure deep-sea environment.
Only after completing this did he, with a heavy heart, notify headquarters...
Vwoom~
A golden-orange teleportation gate opened.
A large number of Girl Dolls emerged, transporting a set of Observation Hub equipment to the site.
Accompanying them, of course, was Sim Su, his expression serene.
When Kevin saw him, Su's eyes remained closed.
He simply looked over, the corners of his mouth curving into a noticeable smile.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Not until the Observation Hub, a piece of cutting-edge equipment that, in the original timeline of this era, would be used against the Herrscher of Sentience, was fully assembled...
"Be careful."
"I will."
After the brief exchange, they said no more.
At a time like this, unnecessary words were pointless.
Both knew the other's resolve.
Sim Su began the "dangerous work" he had volunteered for.
Just like back then, in his first battle immediately after becoming a MANTIS...
Now, having already changed into a form-fitting experimental suit, he entered a nutrient pod that could link to his mind.
As the special nutrient solution, jointly formulated by MEI, Vill-V, and his mentor in this Age of Rekindling, Dr. Spasi, filled the pod, Su's eyes snapped open.
His bewitching pink pupils, rarely seen by the world, were now on full display.
In his vision...
(O_o)
The bizarre, purple-black egg cocoon remained unresponsive.
Slowly, cautiously, Su extended his psychic energy toward it.
One second, two seconds...
Half a minute passed.
"Hmm?"
Su was puzzled. So far, he had found nothing. Nor had he encountered any of the anticipated dangers.
Another few minutes passed.
The psychic energy Su emitted had already scanned the bizarre, purple-black egg cocoon back and forth dozens of times.
Inside the Observation Hub's nutrient pod, he frowned slightly.
Could this invisible, intangible thing be undetectable even by psychic energy?
What kind of method would it take to observe more information about it...?
Crack... Crack...
On the surface of the purple-black egg cocoon, the two "eyes," one large and one small, suddenly twitched.
It seemed to "look" at Su.
"!!!"
Kevin, who had been observing Su's condition from the side, his ice-cold expression seemingly unchangeable for millennia, now showed a look of utter horror.
Because, in that single instant, the Su he saw...
His hair, originally a gradient of gray, had turned stark white, as if bleached.
His pupils had shifted to blood-red.
Utterly bewitching.
Kevin recognized this appearance.
It was just like...
Raiden Mei back then.