"Let me see, another lab rat has arrived."
"Another Herrscher, could it be that the Herrschers of this era can be directly bulk-produced?"
In the Elysian Realm of Nagazora City, Wendy and Raiden Mei, who had just arrived in the paradise, received such teasing from Mobius.
Wendy looked at the green-haired doctor in front of her and said lightly, "Dr. Mobius, I have intelligence to exchange with you."
"Hmm? If you're saying you found a way to influence the past, then there's no need to say more."
Wendy's eyes widened in surprise: "You know?"
"Don't forget, you carry my mark." Mobius said, "Although it's a bit embarrassing, I share the same feelings as you."
"That includes the things you did with him."
After Mobius finished speaking, a hint of discomfort appeared in her eyes.
She wasn't particularly averse to mating behavior, but suddenly feeling this way… was still a bit shameful.
That day, she couldn't conduct any experiments.
Wendy: "…"
She turned to introduce Raiden Mei, "This is Mobius, just like Elysia we just met. I might not have introduced the Elysian Realm to you on the way here."
Raiden Mei shook her head: "You just briefly mentioned fifty thousand years ago."
Even now, she still felt a bit confused.
Regarding Chen Ran, she didn't have much impression left; quantumization was equivalent to being isolated from this world, leaving only Wendy remembering that such a person existed.
Wendy felt a bit of a headache: "I don't even know where to start introducing him to you."
She briefly explained what she knew, and even Mobius didn't interrupt but listened earnestly.
This was also Mobius's first time receiving comprehensive information about Chen Ran.
After Wendy finished speaking, she looked at Mobius: "I should have mentioned that the origin of the Herrscher Core in my body is related to the Herrscher of the Void. So why, after the Herrscher of the Void disappeared, am I still a Herrscher?"
"Tch, I'm not an expert in this area. Even if you ask me, I wouldn't be able to clarify it."
Mobius didn't deny her ignorance in the field of time.
She wasn't someone who liked to act like a big shot; not knowing was just not knowing.
"As for this kind of thing, why don't you just ask Chen Ran? Just right, because of your last time travel, Vill-V has come up with new ideas."
Wendy was slightly taken aback: "New ideas?"
Mobius's attitude was a bit better than last time.
Perhaps it was because some previous questions had been answered, leading to new inquiries. In any case, Mobius's attitude towards Wendy and Raiden Mei was much better than that of some previous visitors.
However, Raiden Mei was a child who couldn't help but be curious.
She asked, "I came here because Wendy mentioned that there are thirteen people in the Elysian Realm. Why have we seen so few?"
Wendy said lightly, "Because you didn't enter the Elysian Realm normally to seek the mark. The other heroes, if there's no need, should have little interaction."
She recalled Kalpas, who had fought with her for a day until she was exhausted.
Wendy said, "You can learn about the Thirteen Flame-Chasers from the paradise administrator, but before that, let's go find Vill-V."
This time, Mobius didn't take Wendy there.
She was busy, busy with various experiments.
After realizing that consciousness could be unbound by time, Mobius had all sorts of ideas.
Previously, she pursued connecting data with reality to revive the heroes. But now it was different.
Since Chen Ran could manipulate the strings of time, she could try as well.
After all, Chen Ran had started working at the First Research Institute.
…
…
On the way to find Vill-V, Wendy briefly introduced her complex relationship with Chen Ran and the Thirteen Flame-Chasers.
However, this all started from the photo Chen Ran took.
"Simply put, he came to fifty thousand years later and took a photo of me, which appeared in fifty thousand years ago. After that, he disappeared from this world, and the World Serpent found me thanks to this photo."
"It was precisely because of this that I and the heroes of the World Serpent could exist independently of time. Coupled with your situation, it seems that the trajectory of fate does not have a significant impact on consciousness and Herrschers."
"Perhaps, we are being sheltered by Honkai."
Wendy suddenly thought of the voice she received when she traveled through time.
At that time, she thought it was the Herrscher consciousness protecting her or an extra reward. But now that she thought about it, that voice should have been problematic.
Perhaps, it could only be explained as 'Honkai's protection' to account for the current bizarre situation.
Raiden Mei frowned: "So, does that mean Herrschers are special?"
"If not, what else could be considered special? By the way, Raiden Mei." Wendy suddenly looked at her and said, "Don't you think that apart from the disappeared Second Herrscher, all the Herrschers that have appeared so far have retained a relatively good sense of self-awareness?"
"If the Herrscher of Reason is special, then you and I… are no longer special but rather common."
"Don't you want to explore this question?"
The two arrived at the spiral workshop where Vill-V was located, filled with curiosity.
"Ah, another new audience has arrived. So, are you ready to welcome the magician's surprise?"
A slightly arrogant and carefree voice echoed in the workshop, and as Raiden Mei and Wendy were momentarily stunned, four large hats appeared before them.
"Come and choose the surprise I've prepared for you."
Wendy sighed, "You mean the conductor, right? I actually have something serious to discuss with you… No, I've met Mobius before, you should be able to get the information from her."
She said lightly, "Let's not waste time, or my wind will reveal all your magic."
"Ah, the wind really is the nemesis of magic. I'll have to think of a good plan next time."
The conductor Vill-V pretended to be deep in thought, troubled.
Wendy sighed again, "Conductor, I'd like to ask you how I can contact Chen Ran across time."
"Hmm, if you think we could do something like that, would we still be waiting for you to come?"
The conductor's rhetorical question left Wendy speechless.
After all, she was only 14, and her thoughts weren't fully formed.
"However, thanks to your last visit to the Elysian Realm, the experts have indeed created something good."
The conductor Vill-V changed the subject, giving Wendy and Raiden Mei a glimmer of hope.
After Wendy left the Elysian Realm, Vill-V and Mobius didn't remain idle.
They were both conducting research related to time manipulation.
Mobius was responsible for the physical and consciousness aspects, while Vill-V handled the materials.
The Elysian Realm is a space composed of data; the people here possess consciousness but lack any life. But this also means that as long as there is sufficient data, neither Mobius nor Vill-V lacks raw materials in the Elysian Realm.
As long as materials are lacking, they just need Klein to input the data.
As the administrator, Klein has that authority.
And based on a large amount of comparative data, Vill-V and Mobius indeed found something that has a chance of traversing time and space.
"Put this on; it's my new invention."
The conductor Vill-V took out two wristbands: "Time Armament No. 001, also part of the expert series."
"Derived from the research of the Divine Key Cosmic Juggernaut, its function is quite clear: to perform time jumps within the realm of consciousness while also canceling quantization."
"In simple terms, this is something that allows you to truly traverse time."
"But traversing time requires a massive amount of energy. I haven't tested it yet, but theoretically, this energy needs to be supported by a Herrscher Core. Moreover, after the traversal, an energy maintenance device is also required; otherwise, you could get lost in the torrent of time."
Wendy was slightly taken aback, "Did you really invent it so quickly?"
"To be precise, it wasn't invented just now; it just wasn't brought to the Elysian Realm before."
The conductor Vill-V paused and said, "In that era, after the global connection was established, MEI commissioned me to research this. It wasn't until just before Finality arrived that it was completed."
"Time Armament No. 001 has another name."
She articulated each word carefully: "Time Armament for Chen Ran No. 001."
Wendy was astonished, "Time Armament for Chen Ran? MEI's commission?"
"That era was very complicated; I advise you not to delve into it. In any case, just use it; there shouldn't be any major side effects, provided your Herrscher Core can handle it."
——
Fifty thousand years ago.
Fire Moth's First Research Institute.
No. 666 was conducting material adaptation experiments.
It had been set the highest goal by Chen Ran, needing to find material substances that express consciousness. After Eden funded enough money, No. 666's research never stopped.
Blanca had returned with Fuxi and Nuwa; they were assigned another task.
Mobius had gone missing since the Herrscher gene fusion experiment ended, though Blanca claimed Mobius was on a sabbatical.
A young assistant named Klein had joined the First Research Institute.
On the day she arrived, Fuxi and Nuwa high-fived in celebration, finally not being at the bottom of the First Research Institute.
Klein quickly took on many of Fuxi and Nuwa's daily tasks, appearing diligent and eager to learn.
Due to Blanca's life focus gradually shifting towards family, she found it hard to adapt to her work at the First Research Institute, so she intentionally nurtured Klein to be her successor, becoming Mobius's assistant.
Actually, Blanca had wanted to cultivate Chen Ran.
After all, his relationship with Mobius seemed somewhat ambiguous.
But considering the inconvenience due to gender, and since Chen Ran was mostly engaged in his own research, making it hard to spare time for assistant work, Blanca thought of looking for someone else.
Fuxi and Nuwa were also not suitable; they had come to the First Research Institute with their own agendas.
Thus, Klein, who had just joined Fire Moth and had a clean background, became the best candidate.
This diligent girl displayed impressive talent and quickly became competent in many of Blanca's tasks.
Blanca also had more time to accompany Griseo, even though Griseo often followed Durandal around.
Since MEI developed the artificial intelligence Prometheus, Durandal had tacitly allowed Chen Ran to use it.
Bia's value was undoubtedly very high, but she didn't like it.
However, that was fine; Chen Ran liked it.
Chen Ran got along well with Bia, and the AI that inherited 99% of Chen Ran's management also had a good relationship with Bia.
The design of this experiment by No. 666 referenced Durandal.
Isn't Durandal now the perfect embodiment of pure material expressing consciousness?
Chen Ran's research aimed to project Wendy into the future timeline, allowing her to appear smoothly. Currently, Durandal's situation itself resolved the connection issue between materials and consciousness.
But how to project into a more distant future was still under research by No. 666.
As No. 666 considered what materials could stably express after time, Nuwa walked over.
"Chen Ran, come here, come here."
She waved at No. 666.
No. 666's eyes showed a hint of surprise as it asked, "What's up?"
"Chen Ran, don't you think Klein seems a bit different?" Nuwa rubbed her hands together, saying, "When are we going to experiment on her?"
"Experiment on her? Why?" No. 666 was puzzled.
"Isn't that the tradition of the First Research Institute?"
Nuwa whispered.
Chen Ran experimented on Mobius, and she experimented on Chen Ran.
So, this is a tradition that must be inherited and cannot be lost.
No. 666: "…"
This management AI said lightly, "I'm still very busy. If you have an experimental topic, you can tell me, and I'll help you revise it. As for experimenting on her, there's currently no necessity."
Chen Ran and No. 666 had a 1% gap.
And this 1% gap was actually the difference in emotions.
If it were Chen Ran, he wouldn't mind teasing Nuwa a bit in this regard. But No. 666 was an AI after all, and AIs usually have built-in maximum efficiency principles, not wanting to waste time on such matters.
Seeing 'Chen Ran' continue with its experiments, Nuwa instinctively pouted.
"Really annoying, even more than the previous mentor."
Fuxi, who was nearby, frowned instinctively.
As an older sister who shared a bond with her little sister, she knew very well what was bothering Nuwa.
It was just that the girl's shy feelings were beginning to sprout.
However, Fuxi and Nuwa understood that Chen Ran already had two rumors in Fire Moth.
Getting too close would only hurt both parties.
Fuxi had actually advised Nuwa privately, and Nuwa always listened.
But how can human rationality suppress the budding feelings?
Girls grow up in a conservative environment like Shenzhou, and later become geniuses in training, how proud they are.
Once this pride is opened by someone, it will naturally be captured.
Of course, No. 666 couldn't feel these inner thoughts.
It was just an emotionless AI.
"In the future, to cast off the anchor points of life, we can only rely on consciousness."
"If situated in the dimension of consciousness, it will not be subject to the constraints of time. To be precise, consciousness is more like a special power that connects humans to higher-dimensional spaces, and this power shares the same origin as Honkai."
"Hypothetically, if consciousness is a special Honkai, then civilization is a special solidified Honkai's shackles. It seems that the only way to lock in the life anchor points is one."
"Create a biological computer like Durandal, containing the consciousness of Wendy from the future, made into Stigmata, relying on the computer-designed program to be deployed at fixed time nodes, allowing consciousness to be mapped from a higher dimension."
"And this is the Stigmata terminal."
Using Chen Ran's memories and the knowledge carried by the system, No. 666 began the experiment.
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