Looking back now, it always shows how swiftly time slips away.
Before they knew it, Dr. Mobius's MANTIS technology was already preparing for official trials. Vill-V's Divine Key project had also matured significantly. Progress was slowest for Miss Mei, yet her steady, methodical approach was yielding solid results.
They were discussing this over tea when Kiana finally grasped just how far they'd pushed ahead. Even with the future tugging at causality, twisting it back and forth, their progress was nothing short of breathtaking.
It was truly staggering.
Even as the Honkai intensified, its rhythm growing erratic—the intervals between disasters now long, now short, yet never too distant—it hardly seemed to matter.
Dr. Mobius estimated that by around the Sixth Eruption, they could genuinely begin creating MANTIS warriors.
Setting raw power aside for a moment, she'd taken Kiana's advice to heart, adopting the approach to let suitable candidates awaken naturally from within. At least some measure of safety had been secured.
To be frank, of the three major projects, the simplest was likely the Divine Key plan. After all, the real challenge with Divine Keys lay in the materials.
Putting Soulium aside, the main hurdle remained the Herrscher Cores.
Once those were in hand, Vill-V only needed to devise how to draw out the core's power to its fullest—a task that hardly posed any difficulty for her.
Yet no matter the path—whether Divine Keys, MANTIS Surgery, or the Stigmata project—each aimed to enhance human combat strength, merely from different angles and layers. It wasn't a question of which was superior.
If one imagined the ideal scenario, it was quite simple: an individual undergoes MANTIS surgery, gaining a powerful body, acquires a Stigmata for more Herrscher-like authority, and then wields a Divine Key.
Sound familiar?
Exactly!
That's Kevin!
It seems even in this world, Kevin couldn't escape being a test subject.
The only consolation was that with Kiana around, she could always rewind time if things went south—so there was no real danger. What's more, none of us believed that Kevin, the future savior and Aeon of Salvation, would meet his end so easily here.
Think of it as a free pass—no need to worry. It wasn't his time to bow out yet, so he could afford to be as reckless as he liked!
A few days later, Elysia was still taking Jyahnar into the Imaginary Space for extra lessons. Eden kept running her shop. And Kiana, for the first time in a while, decided to take a walk outside.
"Young Mistress! Over here!"
Carole spotted her almost at once. She hadn't been waiting long, and she waved eagerly, signaling her location.
Today was the day Carole and Hua—after what felt like ages—had asked Kiana to come out and relax. They'd agreed to meet right here.
Thankfully, Kiana maintained her cognitive veil as usual. Aside from Carole and Hua, no one could recognize her. Even Carole's excited shouts drew no reaction from the crowd, which made Carole click her tongue in wonder.
"Young Mistress, you've really got it good," Carole said, striding along with her hands laced behind her head, as carefree as ever. She didn't treat Kiana any differently despite the shift in her status. Hua, meanwhile, was as shy and reserved as always.
Dressed in youthful attire today, she looked particularly charming.
"How do you mean?" Kiana smiled. Out in public, she had an image to uphold.
Though the Sky Screen had revealed her true nature to all, and netizens often shared leaks—perhaps even from those close to her—it wasn't exactly a secret anymore.
But she enjoyed playing the part, and what was the harm? One had to maintain appearances, after all. Her gentle laugh was graceful and carried a noble air.
"Well, school's started again. Hua and I have to go, but you—you don't have to attend at all, and no one's forcing you… How wonderful! I wish I were in your shoes!"
Carole set her hands on her hips, then shrugged helplessly.
Hua responded seriously, "Carole, if we don't study, it will be very difficult to find work later."
"But it's just a piece of paper!" Carole groaned.
"Even so, it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Don't you agree?" Hua patiently insisted.
In truth, Hua didn't need to worry about her future at all. As one of the future Flame-Chasers, she, like other key figures, was already recognized worldwide.
If anyone had job security, it was her.
Carole often joked that the unnamed, fallen friend in Hua's past was probably her—'Couldn't you at least give me a name?' All she wanted was to lounge about without a care!
"Would you like me to help?" Kiana offered with a smile. If she put in a word, everything could be settled.
Carole knew that well. Still, she shook her head. "If it really comes to that, I'll ask you then, Young Mistress." She wanted to struggle on her own a little longer.
Typically, when girls went out, they visited shopping centers, drank bubble tea, or enjoyed sweets. Carole and Kiana were no different. Hua usually followed in silence, staying quiet.
"Let me see… Our number is A122. We'll have to wait a bit… Huh? There are still thirty-three parties ahead of us?"
Carole sighed, glancing at the slip in her hand before turning to Kiana.
"Young Mistress, use your incredible power and do something!"
"I don't think so!" Kiana replied playfully, shaking her head with a coy smile.
Carole clutched her head and let out a theatrical wail.
"Hua? What are you looking at?" Kiana noticed Hua staring fixedly at one spot and grew curious. She moved closer, following Hua's gaze down the mall corridor, where a delicate-looking girl stood hesitantly.
She appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen, with a well-developed figure, yet she gave off a fragile, timid aura—like a tender white blossom. Had she been younger, one might have thought she'd lost her family. But at her age… that seemed unlikely. Even so, she looked utterly out of place, as if she'd been abruptly left in an unfamiliar setting, surrounded by strangers, and too frightened to move.
She was trembling slightly, frozen in place.
People nearby noticed her, some glancing over with admiration, yet no one approached or bothered her.
Public courtesy here was fairly good.
But that might have made it worse—without anyone offering assistance, she probably had no idea how to resolve her predicament. If someone had spoken to her, perhaps they could have helped, right?
"Hmm… She looks familiar," Kiana murmured, resting her chin in her hand.
"Do you know her?" Hua asked curiously.
"No, only that she seems familiar…"
Kiana shook her head gently.
The girl had sleek black hair with deep blue undertones—a combination few could carry off. Yet she wore it beautifully.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
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