This being possessed the power to crush them effortlessly.
This being could observe their world, and had even manifested its main body right before their eyes!
In that case—
What was there to stop it from acting directly, to sink the "Stigma Project" and the civilization that might execute it to the bottom of the sea!?
Even if Su and Kevin were powerful, they would not dare to venture too deep into the Quantum Sea. Not only was the energy consumption immense, but they could easily get lost if they encountered danger.
And judging by the level of power this being had displayed, diving to such depths would be a trivial matter.
Following this line of thought, there were few possible reasons left: either this being was not actually skilled in combat and only specialized in "resurrection," or it possessed extraordinary attainments in the "Authority of Consciousness," and everything they were experiencing was merely an illusion—
"You are truly alive here."
A voice that suddenly resounded in her mind interrupted Danzhu's suspicions.
"I am indeed proficient in the skill of 'resurrection,' and my attainments in the 'Authority of Consciousness' can also be called extraordinary."
"But none of that matters."
The Monarch had accurately read Danzhu's thoughts.
"The 'Stigma Project' should indeed not exist."
"That is reason enough."
"I do not need to, nor is there any necessity for me to, hide anything."
Lu Xing's greatest goal on this trip was the [Authority of Origin] that Elysia had transformed into the [Authority of the People] and shared with all the Herrschers of the Current Civilization.
At the same time, the Stigma Project also had to be completely eradicated. The [Herrscher of Finality] also possessed the [Authority of the People], and executing the Stigma Project would inevitably lead to unforeseen circumstances.
"To define the Honkai…"
The Monarch's tone was filled with derision.
"I, am the Honkai!"
---o---
"!?"
It was a completely subconscious reaction.
Cangxuan and Danzhu instantly adopted combat stances.
Immediately after, however, the two of them gradually relaxed their fists as they came to understand the meaning behind the Monarch's words. Although Ji Lin showed no outward reaction, she must have also faintly sensed it… the faint aura of Chiyou's Jiu You (a rift of Honkai energy) that now clung to her.
This was the result of the being's "modification."
It was just like how Fusion Warriors were a combination of Honkai Beast genes and humans.
The civilization from which the giant dragon before them hailed must have also used some method to completely merge the two, thereby passing the test. In other words, the Fusion Warrior and Stigma Projects were logical in their essence, or at least they were steps on a correct path, just with various problems in the details.
It was for this very reason that he would make the statement "he is the Honkai." Extrapolating from this…
"Hesitation and overthinking…"
"Will only lead to stagnation."
The Monarch once again interrupted their thoughts.
"When you faced Chiyou, didn't you do a fine job?"
"To become like this now…"
"Have I given you too much hope?"
"…"
"You are right to reprimand us."
After a brief pause, Danzhu and Cangxuan finally understood.
They had already died. Regardless of his motives, their lives were given to them by this being. He was, in the truest sense, their parent of rebirth. At a time like this, to complain about their parent's "unfairness" in distributing inheritance was, in itself, a form of arrogance.
"It's good that you've thought it through."
The Monarch's gaze left the three of them.
The outer edge of this domain was the Quantum Sea, its surface riddled with vortexes churned up by the chaotic temporal currents. Breaking through this domain would likely require some effort.
"I'll send you back first."
"Although she couldn't break into the 'vortex,' an old friend of yours has been lingering on the sea's surface for a long time. Any longer, and she might not be able to resist the corrosion of the Quantum Sea."
"The traces here…"
The giant dragon's peripheral vision swept across the entire domain.
"I must clean them up completely. Otherwise, if Quantum Beasts escape from 'Jiu You'… that would be a not-insignificant problem."
"Until we meet again, you three."
Swoosh!!
---o---
With a single flap of its wings, the three of them vanished from the domain.
The "resurrection" earlier had actually consumed very little energy, but this teleportation was a different matter entirely. Although it appeared effortless, in reality, teleporting three beings who possessed the aura of their original world and had negligible mass and energy back to it had consumed a full quarter of his Imaginary energy reserves.
Before "entering the sea," it would have been simple. But once one officially entered the Quantum Sea, the temporal turbulence one had to cross to return was no laughing matter.
However!
This time, there was no issue of an energy shortage. The bit of Imaginary energy the clone had consumed was instantly and fully replenished from the main body!
Finding the world had been troublesome, but it was still within the scope of a parallel world. In other words, it was still a leaf growing on the same branch.
Such a distance posed no problem for the Monarch.
Replenishing the clone's energy after it returned to the Tree might be a bit more troublesome… but the temporal turbulence did not prevent life from the Tree from entering the sea. When it was truly in dire need of replenishment, a simple ten-meter dive would suffice.
Having said all that…
"Ji Lin."
"Here."
The long dragon tail flicked gently in the air. From the distorted ripples, a black figure with an appearance identical to Ji Lin's slowly walked out.
Pale skin, deep golden eyes, and the black hair that was once tied up high was now cut short, barely brushing her ears.
It was Ji Lin, and yet it was also Chiyou.
The target the Monarch had just resurrected was not just Danzhu and Cangxuan, who had been attached to Chiyou's cores. As the guardian of Honkai Beasts, how could the Monarch allow this big fellow to perish just like that?
Chiyou's physical body had been entirely converted into Ji Lin's power.
The "Black Ji Lin" appearing here now was a new lifeform, created from Chiyou's not-yet-dissipated will and a body newly molded by the Monarch based on Chiyou's original form:
[Primordial Species · Chiyou]
Its strength was only at the Primordial Species level, considerably weaker than it had been in its original Chiyou form.
But as a being who had directly shared the Monarch's power (a treatment reserved only for Apostles and a few "fated ones"), Chiyou's current potential far surpassed its previous self.
"Do you understand your mission?"
"…"
"I await my lord's command."
"Very good."
With a casual swipe of a dragon claw through the void, a jet-black [Jingwei] bird flew out, spreading its wings. Upon landing, it quickly transformed into a jet-black steed. The bird's shape was identical to [Jingwei] (the Jingwei that fought alongside Ji Lin was actually Hua), but its color and aura were vastly different.
Immediately after, a jet-black [Xuanyuan Sword] condensed from Imaginary energy and was swiftly gripped in Black Ji Lin's hand.
"You will act on my behalf."
"Gather and restrain all the Honkai Beasts in Jiu You, and even all of Shenzhou. There will be a time when they are needed… but not now."
"…"
Black Ji Lin's head, already bowed, lowered even further.
"I will obey your command."