"You are all talents that World Serpent needs. In this era where humanity is already on the brink..."
"—join World Serpent and help me save humanity."
The moment Kevin spoke these words, the scene around them instantly changed.
Looking at the somewhat nostalgic scenery, Kevin of course recognized the location.
The Seed of Sumeru. This was the observation hub built for the Second Divine Key, [Thousand Worlds], in the era Kevin and the others were from.
And the access rights to this World Bubble were only held by the person who possessed the Second Divine Key.
Su, you really are the same as you were back then.
In fact, it wasn't just Su; even Siegfried, who had been teleported next to Su, and Welt, who had recovered some of his strength, did not respond verbally.
But seeing the determination on their faces, Kevin already knew the answer.
Although Kevin genuinely had the intention of recruiting them, he also knew that the chances were slim.
The fact that Su and two other high-level human combatants were squatting here in Abyssal City clearly meant they knew about Gray Serpent's plan to rescue him and did not want Kevin, the man preparing to execute the Stigmata Project, to escape from the Sea of Quanta.
From this point, it was clear that Welt and Siegfried, just like Su, did not approve of the Stigmata Project.
How could they possibly bow down and pledge allegiance to Kevin just because of a few words?
"So be it. You don't understand my methods, but I understand your thoughts."
Picking up the Judgment of Shamash and using his power to unseal its second form, [Might of An-Utu], Kevin spoke to the three of them indifferently.
"No one wishes for their world to become a 'barren wasteland.' I am not surprised by your choice."
Facing Kevin, who had already unsealed the second stage of the Judgment of Shamash, it wasn't that Siegfried and Welt didn't want to talk to him.
But now, facing the strongest warrior of the Previous Era for the first time, they truly didn't dare to let their guard down for even a moment.
Even just by standing there, he made Siegfried and Welt feel that if they showed a single opening, he would instantly decapitate them.
"My Lord..."
Seeing Kevin's heroic figure, Gray Serpent, who had intended to inform Kevin of Su's betrayal of World Serpent once again, ultimately chose to step aside.
Even if he didn't say anything, the moment Kevin saw Su, he would have known Su's decision.
Under these circumstances, for Kevin to still be speaking so calmly with Su clearly meant he didn't care about it.
The relationship between World Serpent and Kevin wasn't that Kevin needed World Serpent, but that World Serpent needed Kevin.
Now that the boss couldn't be bothered to pursue the matter, for his subordinates to tactlessly jump out and tattle...
That was something only an idiot would do.
After retreating to a safe area, Gray Serpent spoke to Kevin with the utmost reverence.
"Please, fight to your heart's content."
"Ah, just step aside for a moment. This won't take long."
Looking at the three before him, Kevin, who had already connected the Gem of Haste with Might of An-Utu, spoke to them indifferently.
"Su, Herrscher of Reason, Siegfried..."
"—are you still not ready to make your move?"
Damn it, this guy...!
Facing his ancestor, Siegfried had even unconsciously half-transformed into a Honkai Beast, using that power to resist the oppressive aura coming from him.
Before, through the Stigmata connection, I hadn't sensed how powerful he was.
But now...
—is this the pressure exuded by the man who could stop even the Herrscher of Finality with a single sword strike?
On the other hand, Su, as Kevin's good friend, had a completely different feeling from Siegfried.
The current Su, whose body had been healed by Leo Ash's potion, had actually returned to his peak physical condition.
And it was precisely because his body had returned to its peak that Su could easily sense one thing.
The current Kevin was clearly weaker than he was 1,500 years ago.
I see. So, the experiences of these 1,500 years have left Kevin unable to replenish his energy, and now he can't use 'that power'?
The chances of winning... although still almost zero, but at this point, how will we know the result if we don't try!
As for Welt, although he seemed to be rigidly suppressed by Kevin, it was actually an act.
Welt, who had been compressing his Honkai Energy, noticed that the enemy wasn't taking them seriously. He decisively dropped the pretense and let his Herrscher Core begin to operate frantically.
At this moment, Welt even felt something that utterly horrified him.
Although Welt was a Herrscher, because he stood on the side of humanity, he was suppressed by the Honkai and lacked innate talent, so his control over the core never exceeded fifty percent.
Even though the potion Su brought him had adjusted his body to its optimal state, the Welt of the past still couldn't surpass his limits.
However, today, Welt discovered with horror...
—his core control rate was skyrocketing?!
55%... 65%... 75%... 85%... 95%... 100%!
In just one or two seconds, Welt had actually broken through a limit he thought he would never be able to overcome in his lifetime.
As the Herrscher of Reason, the moment his core's operational rate reached its peak, he finally understood why this was happening.
The Honkai is wary of Kevin?
Because Kevin is an existence the Honkai fears, as his enemy, I am instead receiving the Honkai's support, a rare occurrence?!
What an ironic feeling.
But now...
—we have no time to worry about such things!
At this moment, the Star of Eden in Welt's hand floated into the air.
And on his left and right hands, as patterns of Honkai corrosion appeared, two Divine Keys materialized.
"Siegfried, Mr. Su!"
After tossing the mimic Judgment of Shamash and mimic Abyss Flower to his companions, Welt activated the Zeroth Power of the Star of Eden without a second's hesitation.
"Well done, Welt!"
Grabbing the Judgment of Shamash, Siegfried could even see a second Herrscher Core on it.
As the most destructive Divine Key, the Judgment of Shamash could unleash its true form and attack in [Might of An-Utu] mode when connected to a second Herrscher Core.
And Siegfried could feel that this Judgment of Shamash was far inferior to the original.
The difference wasn't in terms of power, but in terms of stability.
Welt hastily materializing two Divine Keys at once was still too much of a burden for him.
What's more, the Judgment of Shamash he materialized also had the 'fake Herrscher Core' he created.
Under these circumstances, the mimic Judgment of Shamash in Siegfried's hands... no, perhaps even the mimic Abyss Flower in Su's hands, only had enough power for a single strike.
But against such a powerful enemy, if they couldn't repel him in one blow, they wouldn't have to think about the future.
Sensing the fighting spirit erupting from the three of them, Kevin actually closed his eyes gently, a trace of...
relief on his face.
Yes, upon realizing that the three had the courage to fight him to the death, Kevin felt no dissatisfaction or anger.
Although he was the executor of the Stigmata Project, that didn't mean he liked it.
In his heart, Kevin had always hoped that someone could surpass the Stigmata Project and tell him that the humans of this era didn't need to use such a terrible plan to defeat the Honkai.
Although the three before him hadn't yet come up with a solution to convince him, their fighting spirit to resist the Stigmata Project was enough to give Kevin a small measure of comfort.
But, Su, and the two from this era...
—if you cannot surpass me, then even with your resolve, you will not be able to defeat the Herrscher of Finality.
At this moment, Kevin raised the Might of An-Utu in his hand and opened his eyes.
As he did, a Honkai Beast carapace, large enough to cover half his face, appeared.
I've been sealed in the Sea of Quanta for too long. Even though I just obtained the Herrscher of Flame's core, I can't return to my full strength.
But against the assault of these three...
—using [the Primal Power] is more than enough!
At this moment, as the Honkai Energy from the four of them surged to its peak, the space around Abyssal City clearly became even more unstable.
And in the next instant, as the attacks of the four collided in this space, Gray Serpent felt his vision completely consumed by light.
Of course, the light eventually faded.
After the light dissipated, Gray Serpent saw the battlefield after the fight had ended.
On the ground, Siegfried, Su, and Welt all lay defeated.
And Kevin, who had launched the assault against them, let out a cloudy breath and deactivated his half-Honkai Beast state.
"Kevin..."
Watching the mimic Abyss Flower shatter before him, Su spoke weakly to Kevin.
"Wait..."
"I'm sorry, my old friend."
Walking over to Su, Kevin looked down at him on the ground and said calmly.
"Executing the Stigmata Project 1,500 years ago might have indeed been too early for humanity."
"But now, after observing so many other worlds for so long, you should know better than I do..."
"—this era has no time left either."
After saying this, Kevin picked up Siegfried and, without giving him a chance to speak, punched him in the stomach, knocking the heavily injured warrior unconscious.
"Gray Serpent, let's go."
"After we return to base, tell me everything that has happened during this time."
"As you command."
After speaking, Gray Serpent walked to Kevin's side and activated the Quantum Teleportation System, allowing them both to leave Abyssal City.
"Too strong..."
Looking at the three shattered Divine Keys, Welt managed to prop himself up and stand, speaking with lingering fear.
"Even Sirin back then, with five Herrscher Cores, was nothing compared to Kevin."
"Yes..."
Enduring the pain racking his body, Su spoke to Welt with a sense of helplessness.
"He has always been that powerful."
"Now that the worst-case scenario has occurred, what we do next..."
"Mr. Welt, please, as the sovereign of Anti-Entropy, contact Theresa, the acting bishop at Schicksal HQ, and sign a truce with her."
"After all, if we don't work together to stop Kevin now, this world will sooner or later be plunged into misery and destruction."
"I trust Miss Theresa's character, but..."
Thinking of that damned man, Welt asked with some doubt.
"Otto sided with World Serpent this time."
"Ah, once Mr. Otto returns to Schicksal HQ, many things will become difficult to predict, so..."
"I personally suggest that when you transmit the video feed, Mr. Welt, you should have Jizō Mitama already created."
"...I see."
Instantly understanding Su's meaning, Welt nodded slightly.
"I understand."
"As for Mr. Siegfried... Kevin taking him must be for his own reasons."
"He probably won't harm Mr. Siegfried for the time being. For now, we should think about what to do next."
.....
Meanwhile, inside a Schicksal transport plane.
After a certain amount of fighting, Leo Ash, who was preparing to close his eyes and rest inside the transport, suddenly heard a voice.
[Ding! Host has met the conditions to receive a reward. The reward has been sent to the system mailbox.]
Oh, what a nostalgic, yet unwelcome sound.
It's been a while since I heard it... well, maybe not that long.
The last time I heard a reward notification was when I broke Sky Father.
It hasn't even been a month since then!
[Well, how should I put this... anyway, I suggest you draw it now. If you don't, things might get complicated.]
Wow, the way you say that makes it sound like a condemned man's last meal. It's very unsettling.
[Does it matter? When have you ever been at ease?]
...Good point.
Opening his mailbox, Leo Ash saw a lottery ticket.
But this lottery ticket...
[Ding! The reward received by the host this time is (Special Item - Advanced Skill Book Lottery Ticket).]
Ah, an Advanced Skill Book Lottery Ticket. Feels kind of underwhelming.
[Stop feeling underwhelmed. You should think about what to do next.]
"Hmm, what's going on?"
Mike, in the pilot's seat, looked at the message on his instruments and suddenly muttered to himself.
"What the hell? Why is HQ sending an emergency communication at a time like this?"
"It's only been three days since the Fourth Eruption, it shouldn't be..."
"What the FUCK?!"
Hearing Mike's words, Leo Ash's heart sank.
"Mike, what's the situation?"
"...Leo Ash, I think I'm seeing things."
Mike spoke in a trembling voice, forcing an awkward smile at Leo Ash.
"Hahaha, HQ is saying they've detected a large-scale Honkai Eruption with an energy reading of over 1000HW that just broke out."
"It's only been three days since the Fourth Eruption, and now the Fifth is here?"
"HQ's instruments must be malfunctioning, right? That has to be it, right?"
Honestly, I hope it's a malfunction too.
But now...
Damn, the reward has already arrived. How could it possibly be a malfunction!
[Ah, this system will say this much: this reward isn't for a Herrscher attack.]
[You're currently wearing the Blank Key and have the Seven Thunders of Retribution. If an ordinary Herrscher could threaten you, it would only be because you didn't want to fight.]
What the hell?
This reward isn't for a Herrscher attack???
Then this reward...
—what event triggered it???
.....