There was no noise, no light, no scent.
Only an endless, suffocating darkness.
Bronya stood silently within the protective barrier created by Kamen Rider Zero-Two. The translucent blue shield isolated them from the chaotic torrents of data raging around the void.
Inside the barrier, Bronya focused herself, searching through the surrounding sea of information for any trace of an exit.
Then a faint ripple appeared within the darkness, a tiny sliver of light.
At the same time, a distant voice echoed through the void.
Zero-Two immediately reacted. The Rider dismissed the barrier with a wave of his hand as both he and Bronya reached toward the light.
The moment their hands touched it, the world changed.
The next thing they knew, they were standing inside some sort of facility.
Cold metallic walls stretched around them, lined with unfamiliar equipment and massive observation monitors.
Bronya looked around in confusion.
Bronya : "...What is this place?"
A familiar voice suddenly spoke nearby.
Bronya and Zero-Two turned toward it—
and saw Einstein.
Standing beside her was someone Bronya never expected to see here.
Mr. Nokianvirtanen?
St. Freya Academy's history teacher.
Why was he here?
Einstein spoke first, her tone serious.
Einstein : "Apologies. I'm still opposed to direct testing on the Eye of the Deep. I have several concerns."
Joachim Nokianvirtanen crossed his arms calmly.
Joachim Nokianvirtanen : "We discussed this already. We also made the necessary preparations.And you balk every time we're ready to go, Ein."
Bronya instinctively stepped forward while Zero-Two silently followed behind her.
Bronya : "Einstein? Professor, can you hear Bronya?"
No response.
Neither Einstein nor Joachim reacted in the slightest.
It was as if Bronya didn't exist.
Einstein continued the discussion.
Einstein : "I'm not questioning the chance of success, I simply fear the unknown dimensions that Otto called the Sea of Quanta.We know nothing about its peculiarities, except that it can be accessed through the Eye of the Deep."
Joachim Nokianvirtanen answered firmly.
Joachim Nokianvirtanen : "That's why these tests are necessary. Scientists must have the courage to challenge such boundaries."
Einstein frowned slightly.
Einstein : "But only when they're prepared. We need more test runs. This direct engagement seems desperate, Sovereign."
Bronya froze.
Slowly, she turned toward Zero-Two.
The Rider looked back at her in silence.
The Sovereign of Anti-Entropy...?
Mr. Nokianvirtanen...?
Joachim Nokianvirtanen spoke again.
Joachim Nokianvirtanen : "We're always desperate. We've been looking for a way to end the Honkai since the disaster of 2000. Anyone who went through that should fear the future. We're fortunate to have found this City. The Eye of the Deep opened up a new possibility for our plan."
He looked directly at Einstein.
Joachim Nokianvirtanen : "A possibility to end the Honkai for good. That's your dream, right? All of us want to see it happen."
Einstein remained silent for a moment before finally nodding.
Einstein : "Understood. Let's begin, Welt."
Bronya's eyes widened.
Welt...?
Why had Einstein called Joachim Nokianvirtanen by that name?
Einstein turned toward the nearby consoles.
Einstein : "Log ABS-63320. Spatial feedback test initiated. Selene ẞ has fired energy into the Eye of the Deep. Deploying Honkai Beast subject. Switching on conversion engine."
Bronya watched as massive restraints released a captured Honkai Beast into a chamber below.
Above it, the Selene system activated, beginning to absorb the creature's Honkai energy.
Then realization struck her.
Bronya : "This is not in the Hyperion database. They're Dr. Einstein's test logs."
Einstein continued calmly.
Einstein: "Subjects suppressed. Conversion countdown: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..."
As the countdown reached zero—
a beam of concentrated energy fired directly into the massive spatial fissure known as the Eye of the Deep.
Comms : "Energy injected into the Eye of the Deep's spatial fissures. All readings normal. Request permission to raise injection rate."
But Einstein's expression suddenly changed.
Einstein : "Wait! Spacetime curvature readings are deviating."
A whisper echoed throughout the chamber. Everyone present sensed it, a shadow loomed within the Eye of the Deep.
Welt immediately reacted.
Welt : "Something is emerging from the Eye of the Deep. Shut down the energy beam."
Einstein quickly issued commands.
Einstein : "Engines off. The spatial warp is as clear as day. Do not approach the Eye of the Deep."
Her voice became sharper.
Einstein : "I repeat. Do not approach that portal."
The beam shut down—
but the distortion only worsened.
The fissure expanded violently, twisting space itself.
Welt stared at the phenomenon grimly.
Welt : "No... it's not working. The spatial disturbance is getting worse. Sorry, Ein. I must..."
Before anyone could stop him, he rushed toward the Eye of the Deep.
Einstein's composure finally broke.
Einstein: "Welt! Curses! Why didn't he listen?"
Then, A crushing, incomprehensible darkness suddenly swallowed everything.
Bronya staggered as her vision blurred.
Or rather—
it was Einstein's vision she was experiencing.
The sensation overtook both Bronya and Zero-Two simultaneously.
After what felt like an eternity, the darkness finally receded.
Bronya and Kamen Rider Zero-Two could see clearly again.
The facility was gone.
Now they stood within a bizarre world where space and time themselves felt unstable. Gravity fluctuated unpredictably as massive rocks floated through the air like drifting islands.
The very atmosphere felt unreal.
Einstein's voice continued recording calmly despite the situation.
Einstein : "Has the spatial collapse ended? Firing energy into the Eye of the Deep unexpectedly led to structural collapse."
She stared toward the distant fissure in space.
Einstein : "Welt neutralized the spatial warp with his gravitational powers. The test failed. I may be trapped in a spacetime rift within the Sea of Quanta."
Einstein carefully observed the surroundings before continuing.
Einstein : "It seems rather different from the Sea of Quanta we explored last time. Gravity is highly disturbed here. I see many giant rocks floating in the air. We can further affirm that the Sea of Quanta is more complicated than we think."
After checking her systems, she let out a small breath of relief.
Einstein : "Internal functional checks complete. Spacetime anchor point system for our return is operational."
She immediately activated her communications.
Einstein : "Welt? Do you copy? Please respond."
Static answered her at first, then fragments of a voice emerged.
Welt : "...Is this your plan... to end the Honkai once and for all?"
Einstein frowned.
Welt? Who was he talking to?
She quickly traced the signal.
Einstein : "Signal coordinates triangulated. Please wait."
Without hesitation, she rushed toward the source. Bronya and Zero-Two silently followed behind as the scene continued unfolding before them like a living memory.
When Einstein finally arrived—
she stopped cold.
Welt stood before a colossal serpent-like silhouette towered in the distorted horizon, its body barely visible within the darkness of the Sea of Quanta.
Even its mere presence felt oppressive.
Welt's voice rose with anger.
Welt : "Eternal liberation for humanity? I can't agree. This is unacceptable. This is no liberation..."
Einstein quickly called out to him.
Einstein : "Joachim!"
Then her attention shifted toward the massive silhouette.
Einstein: "What is that?"
The gigantic serpent spoke.
Its voice echoed across the entire spacetime rift like an ancient judgment.
Giant Silhouette Serpent: "I shall return, whether you accept me or not. I shall judge... and deliver you."
Einstein's expression tensed immediately.
Einstein: "Joachim!"
Welt quickly turned toward her and shouted a warning.
Welt: "Don't get any closer, Ein! It's not something you can deal with!"
Then he faced the serpent once more.
Welt : "I'm sorry, Professor. I should have listened. The mistake is mine. I will fix this myself."
Einstein stepped forward urgently.
Einstein: "We must leave, Sovereign."
But Welt refused immediately.
Welt: "NO! Be rational. You were rational when you advised me."
Suddenly, Einstein's earpiece activated.
SYSTEM: "We've reached our return coordinates. Activate spacetime anchor?"
Einstein looked at Welt silently.
Einstein: "Welt..."
Welt lowered his head slightly.
Welt: "There's no turning back now, Ein."
Then—
power erupted around him.
Welt raised the Star of Eden.
Welt: "Star of Eden! Switch to Zeroth Power! Activate!
An overwhelming gravitational force distorted the surrounding space.
A Quasi Black Hole formed before him, warping everything around it.
The Sea of Quanta trembled violently.
Einstein reached toward him one last time.
Einstein: "Joachim!"
And then—
everything shattered.
Reality glitched violently around Bronya and Zero-Two as the memory collapsed.
The Sea of Quanta dissolved into fragments of light.
Bronya's eyes snapped open.
She gasped softly as consciousness returned to her body aboard the Hyperion.
Bronya: "The Sea of Quanta?"
Suddenly a bright blue glow emerged from her chest.
An orb of light separated from her body and floated into the air before rapidly taking shape.
Bronya's eyes widened.
The light condensed, forming once more into the translucent figure of Kamen Rider Zero-Two standing before her.
After the chaos finally subsided, the bridge of the Hyperion slowly returned to normal operations.
Damaged systems rebooted one by one while crews worked across the ship to restore stability.
At the center of the bridge, Theresa and Einstein monitored the Hyperion's status reports.
Theresa carefully checked the latest diagnostics before speaking.
Theresa: "All facilities are operational."
Einstein studied the data streams flowing across her screen.
Einstein: "The Gray Serpent left. He stopped hacking the Hyperion. I don't know what he did."
That uncertainty only made the situation more unsettling.
After a brief moment of thought, Einstein made her decision.
Einstein : "We must freeze the Hyperion's core systems and Anti-Entropy's databases for now to assess our losses."
At that moment, the bridge doors slid open.
Bronya entered quietly.
Behind her walked the translucent blue figure of Kamen Rider Zero-Two.
Even now, his silent presence radiated an indescribable pressure that made several nearby crew members instinctively tense.
Bronya approached Einstein directly.
Bronya: "Professor Einstein, the Bronya saw past records while fighting the Gray Serpent. What are the Eye of the Deep and the Sea of Quanta? The Gray Serpent was after research data within the Anti-Entropy archives. What did Anti-Entropy discover in the Sea of Quanta last year?"
Einstein's eyes widened slightly.
For a moment—
she said nothing.
Einstein:"..."
The atmosphere on the bridge grew heavy.
Even Theresa turned toward Einstein, waiting for an answer.
Finally, Einstein let out a quiet sigh.
She understood there was no longer any point in hiding it.
Einstein: "I understand. I will provide an extensive account of the experiment we carried out last year. But we must head to the SOS coordinates that Cocolia sent us. The Deep is a city from the Previous Era. Welt, our Sovereign, awaits us there."