Eleven months and fifteen days passed since Kevin announced his deadline. The honkai energy concentration of Earth reached the peak of the Previous Era.
A lot of things have happened since then.
First was Schicksal. The silent defeat of the Herrscher of Domination allowed for Otto Apocalypse's continued ruling over Schicksal. They did not make any drastic moves over their supposed 'enemy', Anti-Entropy. This decision caused several high-ranking board members to berate the current Overseer, though it fell into deaf ears.
Otto showed how he managed to remain at that position for five hundred years. These voices went away like drifting wind.
In the end, their focus went towards the research of the Second Divine Key. Anti-Entropy faced no troubles from them.
Next was the World Serpent. They focused more on intercepting research data from Anti-Entropy. Their study with spiritual qi never leaked out, however. Anti-Entropy started to utilize "supercomputers" again. Gray Serpent thought it would be their chance, only to fail.
That "supercomputer" was no ordinary supercomputer. It is built upon mountains of second and third grade spiritual metals, finely crafted with high-precision machines made of the same spiritual materials. If it wasn't for [Two Phase Art]'s [Small Accomplishment], they wouldn't have been able to pull it off.
The supercomputer they made could not be penetrated by any external mental powers beneath the fourth level. With it, their research sped up at an extremely fast rate.
World Serpent was left to "see" it all progress without any way of meddling. Their conflicts with Anti-Entropy never escalated into a major one.
Finally, there was Anti-Entropy.
They halted their prior advancement plans. They focused on studying [Blade Mantra]'s effects as well as the possible integration of Honkai Pri-ARMS, Battlesuits, and Spiritual Materials. Later on, they received [Blade Mantra 2.0] through Bronya's arduous interpretation.
These gave rise to [Martial Arts]. Varying equipment is created for each level of [Blade Mantra 2.0]. Their latest results allowed them to create equipment corresponding to the fourth level, [Taixuan]. These martial artifacts can harness both spiritual qi and honkai energy. The former has an insane property when it comes to stabilizing honkai energy's effects on the weapon's body and its wielder, in turn allowing for more usage of it.
Out of them, all of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators learned [Taixuan]. It merely requires a second level Tao Heart, something that can be easily achieved nowadays.
Several kids within the orphanage also reached the Foundation Establishment Realm via honkai tempering. Both soul protecting barriers and [Blade Mantra 2.0] are used to accomplish the said feat. Those with second level Tao Heart also reached [Taixuan], bolstering Anti-Entropy's combat power as the number one in the world.
Of course, they did not reveal it all. The three active Purple Mansion Realm as well as the peak Foundation Establishment Welt Yang are enough to serve as nuclear deterrents.
As for the three Golden Core Realm masters, their powers can be left unsaid. They are literal nukes that can threaten the entirety of Earth had they wanted it—a power far surpassing even the six-core Sirin.
Anti-Entropy hid their cards very well during this period. They knew all too well that Kevin's power is enough to take all of them. The Cocoon of Finality, even as a fragment, warrants that. Knowing this does not help them avoid this matter.
It became even more evident once the two human-aligned Herrschers, Bronya and Fu Hua, discovered the peculiarity of their Herrscher Cores. Shi Tian's words solidified that belief.
Although the possessors of honkai (i.e., Herrschers) are lacking in destructive power over the three-dimensional space, the "level" of its existence is extremely high. It is why their Herrscher Authorities can affect the eleven dimensions, yet they could not destroy Earth with ease.
They remained their prior vigilance until a day before the decisive event came.
"What is he plotting this time? This is definitely a trap!"
Tesla could not help but grumble out loud. Welt Yang remained silent inside his office.
"He specifically named Principal Theresa as his successor. He wants her to go."
"The Second Divine Key. Shi Tian gave it to Otto. He must have found something from it… something that he wants."
He affirmed Einstein's comment.
"I will ask her first. We couldn't make any mistakes at this time."
Having regained his youthful side did not reduce Welt Yang's temperament. The aura of Anti-Entropy's Sovereign seemed more fitting to a "young man" like him.
Soon, a phone call was made. It was an inter-dimensional call spanning to the Sea of Quanta. It is made possible by the fusion of spiritual qi and the Sea of Quanta's energy.
"Mister Yang?"
A soft and delicate voice came from the other side.
"Have you seen it on the news?" He asked.
"Yes. The Principal was named as Schicksal's new Overseer." Bronya affirmed it. "It is a trap, but not a deadly one. Tian left some instructions about this."
She mentioned the ins and outs of this matter. They knew that Otto wanted to do something with the Imaginary Tree, though the Anti-Entropy trio never knew that it was to revive one of Schicksal's Saints, Kallen Kaslana.
"He could not be contacted now. Mister Su knows more about this matter."
"I understand. Thank you."
Once the call was hung up, Welt Yang tried to contact Su next.
Unexpectedly…
"...Something happened to him."
Welt Yang tried to contact Su multiple times, but to no avail. He no longer delayed things as he convened everyone for a meeting. It was then decided that Fu Hua will come with Theresa. The rest of the personnel are stationed in other places, especially the two remaining Golden Core Realm cultivators.
They are to watch any changes at the Sea of Quanta and the Imaginary Space. The rest of the combatants are responsible for monitoring Earth.
The next day, two explosive events came.
First, the meeting with Otto Apocalypse turned out to be a trap. Everyone inside Klostern was trapped inside an inexhaustible imaginary barrier. It temporarily contained Fu Hua.
Second, Project STIGMA came. Every single person on Earth, save for the Herrschers and Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, are all sent into the imaginary space. The ones who specifically got left out were thrown into a special Bubble World where Herrscher Cores could not function well.
As the one left behind on the Sea of Quanta, Bronya knew something big happened in the outside world. All of her contacts with others got cut off.
A day has passed since the huge event. She debated herself on whether to exit the Sea of Quanta or wait for everyone else's arrival.
"Nascent Soul breakthrough… It is about the recorded time."
Her entire body changed drastically as she reached the Golden Core Realm. The clothes she wore back then no longer fitted her. Her pale silver eyes conveyed her internal emotions more expressively.
She crossed her arms underneath her towering chest.
"I am still not used to it…"
Somehow, Bronya missed the old days when she did not have to worry about its weight. She can imagine how much of a hassle it would be had she not been an immortal cultivator. The stiff shoulders are a downside for her, though it is hard to say for others; it would have been a "perk" for others, not a downside.
Her entire body made her look like a mature woman. Her long silver hair flowed down to her waist. The Silverwing Battlesuit came to this world prematurely as Bronya wore it with elegance.
Just then, she spotted a "ray" of light heading towards her direction. It turned into seven people. Each of them emitted the distinct aura of a Golden Core Realm cultivator.
The moment she met Shi Tian's eyes, she saw something else: an extremely huge dragon.
It took a second to recover.
Seeing everyone else's silence, and then the two girls' hugging both of his arms, Bronya gave a nod of approval.
"As I thought, this is the best outcome."
"..."
"..."
"'"..."""
The situation turned awkward once more.