From the Elysian Realm Su's perspective, the current situation was much better than what they had projected when their Previous Era was completely destroyed.
Although the scientists of the Previous Era had figured out the 'Honkai consciousness', delayed the arrival of the Herrschers, fixed the Herrschers' Authorities, and Elysia had even used herself to create a new future for humanity, combined with the four major plans the Flame-Chasers were responsible for—[Project EMBER], [Ark Project], [Project Sahasrara], and the [Stigmata Project]—the humanity of the Current Era should indeed have had a smoother path.
But now, in this era, every Herrscher except for the stubbornly resistant Corruption had been 'poached' by the humans of this era onto humanity's side. No matter how you looked at it, this should have been a perfect hand.
However, in the time that followed, after listening to the original Su describe the current situation, it wasn't just the Elysian Realm Su; even some of the other Flame-Chasers in the Elysian Realm frowned.
The good news was, what Leo Ash had said was now confirmed to be true.
But, the bad news was—from Thunder to Corruption, the Third Eruption to the Ninth Eruption, had all occurred within about half a year.
To be reasonable, even if the Honkai's advancement was indeed accelerating, for ten Herrschers—Thunder, Death, Sentience, Wind, Binding, Domination, Star, Flame, Ice, and Corruption—to appear in half a year, wasn't that a bit too exaggerated?
And humanity somehow hadn't been pushed to extinction; instead, they had even counter-attacked the Honkai and successfully, temporarily, stabilized the front lines...
"No, I'm a bit overwhelmed."
Even Su, who held the name of [Celestial Wisdom], felt that after hearing this real news, he probably shouldn't think too much today due to the sheer volume of information.
Good news and bad news all at once, and all of it such shocking, major events...
Compared to these things, the fact that they, the Elysian Realm Flame-Chasers, had quietly left the Elysian Realm to support the Current Era's humanity no longer seemed like anything worth mentioning.
"Heh, so, this era's Herrschers are all on 'our' side, right?"
Sorting through the intelligence she had just heard, Mobius looked with great interest at the other Gray Serpent present.
And the Gray Serpent, being watched by their master, the Serpent, immediately bowed to his true master.
"Master, what are your orders?"
"Nothing."
Looking at the creation she had casually made back then, which had now clearly completed a degree of 'evolution', Mobius didn't exactly feel gratified, but she did develop some interest in the current Gray Serpent.
But compared to the current Gray Serpent, Mobius was more interested in seeing the other Herrschers besides Rin.
She had a deep research interest in the bodies of Herrschers. If possible...
"Mobius, if possible, I suggest you don't do anything rash."
The original Su looked at Mobius, whose expression was clearly off, and said to her calmly.
"Mr. Ash might have been polite to you inside, but he's actually very protective of his own."
"Hm? Did I say I was going to do anything?"
Looking at his colleague, who was smiling at him, Su just felt...
It might be a bit rude to say, but truly, not all Flame-Chaser memories were suitable to be let out directly.
For example, right now, Su was starting to worry if Mobius, who was obsessed with 'evolution' research, would stir up some huge incident at this critical juncture.
"Alright, alright. I'm not some fool who doesn't know what's good for her."
Noticing the worry that clearly appeared on Su's face, Mobius, who knew Su was an old softie, could only suppress the trace of desire in her heart.
"I'll go talk to that man myself—without provoking him, of course."
"After all, that man is the Herrscher of Binding. I think everyone here knows what that title and Authority mean, right?"
The original Kevin felt Mobius's playful gaze and couldn't help but ask her.
"...What do you mean?"
"What I mean? You know better than I do."
Although her body was as petite as a little girl's, Mobius, walking around the room, gave everyone a strange feeling.
"Before, everyone thought someone let Leo Ash enter the Elysian Realm because that person had a good relationship with him."
"But after coming out of the Elysian Realm, I think that judgment might have been slightly mistaken."
"Hua and Leo Ash are close, but she isn't here. So, the only people who could have let Leo Ash enter the Elysian Realm, besides you, would be Su."
"And your conviction is unshakable. Discovering that the Honkai is accelerating in this era, you must have already begun preparations for the Stigmata Project."
"That man named Leo Ash seems decisive enough in his actions, but from the intelligence you just mentioned, while he is ruthless, he also seems to very much care about the lives of the common people. In that case, a person like him..."
"——probably wouldn't agree with the Stigmata Project we created, right?"
Listening to Mobius's analysis, Kevin said nothing, neither confirming nor denying it.
But this action itself was proof enough.
"Looks like I hit the nail on the head."
Mobius, who had inferred this information from Kevin's attitude, suddenly lost the smile on her face.
"To execute the Stigmata Project, Leo Ash will become the enemy of the project's executors in order to protect those people."
"But now, Kevin, even with your Power of Chimera, in front of Leo Ash—how much of that power can you even use?"
Faced with this sharp question, Kevin answered without hesitation.
"It's hard to say, but I would definitely be at a disadvantage."
"Mm, looks like you have some self-awareness—though, that self-awareness still isn't quite enough."
Walking up to Kevin, Mobius suddenly sneered.
"Inside the Elysian Realm, our Kevin, plus Kalpas and Kosma, the three of them launched a strong assault on Leo Ash, only to be easily defeated by him."
"Although Kevin couldn't use his strongest power at the time, Leo Ash easily defeated the three of them in just a few moves. I guess even if Kevin had used his full strength, he still wouldn't have been able to take down Leo Ash."
"As long as Leo Ash is around, the Stigmata Project cannot be implemented."
"But unfortunately, the current Leo Ash... from him, I can't see a single shred of possibility of defeating Finality."
"With things at this point, stuck in the middle, the worst-case Stigmata Project can't be used, and Leo Ash doesn't look like he can come up with a solution either."
"If this problem isn't solved, then this era will be finished, right along with our own."
"Speaking of which..."
At that moment, Mobius turned her head to look at Elysia behind her.
"Can you still smile like you always do, Elysia?"
"Eh? Of course I can."
After listening to Mobius's analysis, Elysia gave a very natural smile.
"Although you've analyzed so much, Mobius, in the end, we can only judge what Leo Ash is thinking from his brief words."
"Instead of standing here being pessimistic, I think it's better to go to Schicksal HQ, find Leo Ash, and have a good chat to confirm what he's really thinking, hm?"
"In any case, I feel like he's a good person. And if he's a good person... if everyone sits down and talks, there's always a way."
"Tch."
Hearing Elysia's heartfelt words, Mobius clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction.
"You're really an optimist."
"Mmm, do you prefer to see me pessimistic?"
Seeing Mobius's annoyed expression, Elysia smiled and leaned in close to her.
"You actually want to see me cry? Mobius, you're so mean."
"...Enough. Stop with the nonsense."
Not wanting to face Elysia directly, Mobius turned her gaze to Su and Rin.
"Su, the Thousand Worlds is with you, right?"
"Send me to see Leo Ash. At least Elysia is right about one thing: if I talk to him in person, I might be able to confirm a few things."
"I want to go too!"
Watching his two companions walk over, the original Su glanced around and then looked at the other Elysian Realm Flame-Chasers.
"Anyone else planning to go to Schicksal HQ? I'll send you all over at once this time."
"I..."
Griseo glanced at Aponia, but still didn't voice her thoughts.
"Then, count me in."
Seeing that Griseo wanted to go to Schicksal HQ, Aponia said to Su.
"Griseo wants to go too, and I'd like to see if the Discipline on Mr. Ash is working."
"Hey, hey, Sister Nia, wait for me!"
Seeing that more than one person was planning to bail, Pardofelis gave Kevin an apologetic look.
"Boss Kevin, and... the other Boss Kevin."
"It's not that I don't want to show you face, it's mainly that I think... I'm pretty useless on the battlefield right now, haha."
"I'll go with Sister Nia and the others to see what's up at Schicksal. If you two have any missions for me later, I definitely won't shy away!"
"I'll pass."
Listening to everyone's plans, the Elysian Realm Kevin stared straight at the original Kevin.
"I think you probably need me here, right?"
"It doesn't matter."
Looking at his other self, Kevin said to him.
"Although you and I share the same origin, we are no longer the same individual."
"How you want to act doesn't need to take my thoughts into account. And in my opinion..."
"——the current you might be more suited to go to Leo Ash's side."
"...Do you really think so?"
Seeing the dead serious look in his other self's eyes, the Elysian Realm Kevin didn't hesitate and directly chose to join Su's group.
"Then this time, I will use my own eyes, and enough time, to ascertain everything about that man."
Sakura, who was present, didn't say much, but from her action of standing next to Rin, everyone naturally understood her intentions.
In the time that followed, Eden chose to leave with Elysia. Kosma, like Kalpas, found a Gray Serpent, got some coordinates and the Quantum Teleportation System, and prepared to head to the battlefield.
After Vill-V's [Evil] personality temporarily receded, Vill-V, now operating with her main personality, chose to head to Schicksal HQ like the others.
After all, she was also quite curious: after obtaining the Void Archives, just how far had this era's humanity developed their technology? Had they created any new, outstanding tech that could impress her?
As for Hua, she suddenly didn't want to go to Schicksal HQ anymore.
After all, after she learned about the relationship between Leo Ash and her original self, even if the way Leo Ash looked at her didn't feel like it crossed any lines, she temporarily didn't want to face this bizarre relationship.
After the original Su left with the group heading to Schicksal, only the original Kevin, the Elysian Realm Su, and the Elysian Realm Hua remained.
Although the Su before him wasn't *his* Su, and the Hua before him was worlds apart from his true friend, facing these two Flame-Chaser memories, Kevin still felt a trace of emotion welling up inside.
However, the Elysian Realm Su, looking at Kevin, didn't see what Kevin was thinking, but he had already realized some things from Mobius's earlier speculations.
"Kevin, your relationship with Mr. Ash... it wouldn't happen to be terrible, would it?"
"...Why would you think that?"
"Ha, so you say."
Hearing Kevin's words after that pause, Su gave a helpless, bitter smile.
"Then it seems that speculation was true."
"Mr. Ash might really be a good person, but seeing as he entered the Elysian Realm and immediately beat up almost all of us just to capture the Herrscher of Corruption, he clearly doesn't intend to hold back when it's time to act."
"His methods are so drastic, and the Stigmata Project is undoubtedly a drastic measure for ordinary people as well. In my opinion, Mobius's speculation might have even been on the mild side."
"Before today... you and Mr. Ash have probably already tried to kill each other, haven't you?"
...
Even as a memory, he was still Su.
Truly my best friend. Just by hearing some information and looking at my expression, he made the most logical deduction.
"Yes, you're right. Those inferences are, of course, all true."
"Also, after Leo Ash came out of the Elysian Realm today, he already agreed to the duel I invited him to. It's just that this time..."
"——he hopes I won't open the backdoor to steal the Power of Finality before fighting him."
"..."
After hearing this news from Kevin, Su was completely speechless.
Honestly, he had a very good impression of this person, Leo Ash.
But no matter how good his impression was, the words Kevin just relayed really made Su feel...
——Letting Binding fight Diabolic Kevin?
Mr. Ash... how shameless.
He's totally aiming to kill Kevin, isn't he.
Although Kevin has the achievement of blasting away 30% of the Herrscher of Finality's energy in one shot with the Moonlight Throne, the Moonlight Throne did the heavy lifting in that fight.
Even if Kevin fights with the full Power of Chimera, against a Herrscher of Binding who can both fight *and* think strategically... that combat power is definitely not enough.
"A duel like this... is it really okay?"
"It's fine."
Kevin replied to Su's question with perfect calm.
"Leo Ash is good material. I believe he understands the meaning of this test."
"If he relies only on the power of Binding to defeat me, that only proves he is strong; it doesn't mean he has a way to [Solve Finality]."
"I think, with his intelligence, he would only make this choice if he was confident, hoping to use this method to prove one thing to me."
"To prove to me... that humanity doesn't need the Stigmata Project at all."
"...Ha. Let's hope so."
Watching the two discuss, Hua couldn't help but speak up.
"Is there really any need to carry out such a meaningless battle?"
"Of course there is."
Looking at the still somewhat naive Elysian Realm Hua before him, Kevin truly felt that the Hua of the past was, after all, too young.
If it were the Hua of today, who has witnessed the birth and death of countless lives with her own eyes and time, she would absolutely never say something so naive.
"This battle... I believe Leo Ash won't disappoint me."
"If he wins, I will entrust the subsequent plans to him."
"And if I win, then that proves the Stigmata Project is the best plan."
Although rationally, the strength of the person executing the plan doesn't represent the plan's reliability, Su said nothing as he listened to Kevin's speech.
Kevin, who didn't want to execute the Stigmata Project but had no choice but to carry out this cruel plan, was, in his heart, truly hoping that Leo Ash could give him a satisfactory answer.
He was a warrior carrying the weight of an entire civilization, yet at this moment, he was actually longing to be the loser.
The Honkai... If not for this thing, Kevin wouldn't have been pushed to such a state of despair and madness.
And what was even more regrettable...
...was that I, just like Kevin, am looking forward to his defeat?
At this moment, Su gently shook his newly-adjusted Soulium brain, feeling as if he'd been infected by Kevin's madness.
Not hoping for our own victory, but instead hoping the opponent can tell us all our past efforts were useless...
Really.
These thoughts... they make one feel so weak.
Kevin, what in the world did you see, to have such thoughts that shouldn't belong to you?
"No, I still think this is too strange."
The Elysian Realm Fu Hua, who originally didn't want to directly face Leo Ash and her original self, suddenly walked toward the room's exit and began searching for a Gray Serpent, trying to get access to the so-called 'Quantum Teleportation System' from one.
No matter how much she didn't want to see those two people who made her feel so complicated, right now she just wanted to get clear answers to a few questions.
Otherwise, with her personality, she would inevitably leave regrets in the days to come by not figuring out the answers to these questions she needed to know.
After quickly walking up to a Gray Serpent, Hua spoke before it could.
"Give me the Quantum Teleportation System, and tell me the coordinates for Schicksal HQ."
"...Yes, I understand, Miss Hua."
After saying this with extreme humility, this Gray Serpent immediately opened the quantum teleportation access for Hua and told her the coordinates for Schicksal HQ.
Hua, now determined to act, used the system to teleport without another word and arrived smoothly inside Schicksal HQ.
But, when she got a clear look at the person in front of her, both she and the other person froze.
Ever since becoming a Herrscher, Fu Hua had spent most of her time guarding the Shenzhou region. Today, after finishing her business in Shenzhou, she took a moment to come to Schicksal HQ.
She hadn't come here to slack off; it was mainly because the younger generation back in Shenzhou was just too capable.
After getting some technology and Soulium from Schicksal, Shenzhou had produced even more powerful Honkai Energy armaments and mechanical patrols during this time.
With these things, as long as the mechanical patrols were dispatched, low-level Honkai Beasts could be easily eliminated.
As for Emperor-class Honkai Beasts, there weren't many, and sometimes Fu Hua didn't even need to act. Someone from the Taixu Sword School could directly invoke the Sword God from the Edge of Taixu and kill an Emperor-class Honkai Beast in one blow.
As the person who taught them the sword techniques, Fu Hua sometimes felt that this world was definitely not lacking in freaks.
For example, the current standout of the younger generation in the Taixu Sword School, Li Pu, could pull off the feat of 'encountering an Emperor-class, immediately invoking Sword God, stabbing it to death in one blow, and still having the strength to retreat'.
Seeing as he had been practicing the Edge of Taixu for less than four months, his talent in it was probably just a notch below a monster like Leo Ash.
And today, the Immortal Red Kite, with no need to worry about Shenzhou, truly never dreamed...
——that on a rare trip to Schicksal, she would actually see her own Cosplay... My ass!!!!
[Hey, old-timer, that's not right!!!]
The Herrscher of Sentience, whose memories were more complete than Fu Hua's, borrowed Fu Hua's vision to see this slightly surprised Hua and said nervously.
[That armor, that's the set we used fifty thousand years ago!!!]
[Who... Who the hell is she!!!]
Calm down, Senti.
After the initial shock, Fu Hua quickly recognized that the young woman in front of her was using an adjustable Soulium Body, the same type as Otto's.
And considering the people who could obtain a Soulium Body, besides Schicksal's allies, the only one left was Leo Ash, this Archbishop. Fu Hua immediately had a rough idea of the girl's origins.
[Judgment my ass! That stinky disciple! It's bad enough he hasn't actively contacted us much lately, but now he wants to play this big!!!]
Huh?
Wait, I think you might have a tiny misunderstanding about Leo Ash's intentions.
[What misunderstanding?!]
[It must be because we're too charming! One of us isn't enough to satisfy that stinky disciple—so he went behind our backs and secretly made a new Hua!!!]
[Damn it! If he has biological needs to take care of, he just had to make a call! Why pull a stunt like this? Is he trying to say I'm not as good to use as Soulium?!!]
"Although I don't know what you're thinking..."
Hua, feeling a bit displeased, couldn't possibly start messing around like the Herrscher of Sentience.
On the contrary, after collecting her thoughts, the Elysian Realm Hua very naturally cupped her fist in a salute to Fu Hua.
"We meet for the first time. An introduction... is probably unnecessary."
"As for my origins, I come from the Elysian Realm. That answer should be sufficient, right?"
[Ah, Elysian Realm?]
[Wait, no, the memories from the Elysian Realm are all out now???]
As Fu Hua was wondering how to respond to 'herself', she saw a pink-haired woman in the distance who, upon seeing her, came bouncing over, a nostalgic look appearing in her heart.
"Hi, Hua! Do you still remember me?"
"And..."
Turning her head to look at the embarrassed Elysian Realm Hua, the Elysian Realm Elysia asked in confusion.
"Hua, what's wrong with you? If you wanted to come, you should have just come with us. Why did you act alone?"
"Could it be... you were shy because coming over meant seeing Leo Ash?"
"Wait—what did you say!!!!"
Hearing Elysia's words, the nostalgia in Hua's heart instantly vanished without a trace.
A look of panic on her face, Fu Hua stared at the smiling Elysia, her body stiff as she opened her mouth.
"Oh my, Hua, what's wrong?"
Looking at Hua, who was frozen stiff, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say, Elysia flashed her an even more dazzling smile.
"Was there anything wrong with what I just said?"
The problem was severe.
[Aiya, old-timer, what's wrong with you now?]
This business between me and Leo Ash...
[Hasn't everyone known about it for ages?]
Unlike Fu Hua, who disliked using her Authority on her former Schicksal colleagues, the Herrscher of Sentience had no such mental burdens.
When she wanted to know what these people were thinking, she usually just used her Authority to look.
So, the Herrscher of Sentience had actually known for a long time that the gossip about [Immortal Red Kite and Archbishop Leo Ash Being in Love] had spread.
She just always thought the old-timer wouldn't care about these things.
But now, the Herrscher of Sentience felt she was probably wrong.
"Um, this..."
Looking at Fu Hua, who was so embarrassed she was blushing and wanted to flee the scene, the Elysian Realm Hua whispered cautiously to her original self.
"Are you... okay?"
"Thank you for your concern. I'm fine, of course..."
After taking several deep breaths, Fu Hua asked the Herrscher of Sentience.
This 'everyone' you mentioned... who exactly is...
[Oh, that? From Rita, Theresa, and Himeko on top, down to Mike, Annie, and Master Luo, basically everyone knows.]
[It's just that traitor's disciple who's a natural airhead. She's still all muddled, thinking her feelings are wrong, so she hasn't confirmed it.]
It's over.
It's all over.
Why did things turn out this way... Why didn't you warn me sooner!!!
[No, I told you before, that stinky disciple stole a kiss from us. This has been public knowledge for a while, right?]
That was then!
[Sigh, you... you're just too old-fashioned. I'm telling you, old-timer, if you keep wearing this Daoist robe when you meet that stinky disciple, he'll get tired of us sooner or later.]
...Leo Ash isn't that shallow!
And you just said we were charming enough, didn't you!
[Yeah, but all men are lechers. You don't think Leo Ash is some kind of saint, do you?]
[He already stole a kiss from us! His needs in *that department* are definitely much stronger than we imagine.]
[And now, we have to face reality—our figure isn't great, our looks aren't alluring, we don't have top scores in anything! If we don't put in more effort, we'll be despised by that stinky disciple sooner or later, and here you are still feeling awkward over such a small thing.]
[Hmph, I can't carry you! This is infuriating! Can you let me out? I'm going to buy clothes! I'm going to put on makeup! I'm going to pad my chest!]
[If all else fails, I'll have Elysia help me with my makeup!]
"Ah, Hua, are you... talking to your Herrscher Personality?"
Looking at Fu Hua, who had suddenly frozen, Elysia smiled at her.
"Can you let me meet her? Honestly, I'm really curious about what your other personality is like."
"...If possible, please don't, not here—"
"Aiya, so annoying."
The Herrscher of Sentience, having forcibly seized control of the body, stood with her hands on her hips, full of confidence, and said to Elysia.
"If you wanted to see an old friend, you should have said so sooner, Elysia! Honestly, I'm super happy to see you."
"Oh, is that so? Then wait a sec."
Hearing the Herrscher of Sentience, Elysia smilingly took out a communicator and spoke to the people on the other end.
"Everyone, I found Hua~ If you want to see her, come to the coordinates I'm sending now."
Fu Hua, unable to regain control of her body, felt her heart go cold.
She had forgotten many memories, but she hadn't forgotten her past comrades completely.
And now, the Herrscher of Sentience had taken control of her body. This...
——Senti is messing around, but it's *my* reputation she's ruining!
And Elysia, what in the world are you asking!
Asking how Leo Ash and I met is one thing, but why did the topic immediately swerve to 'Hey, what positions do you usually use'?!!
My other self, don't just stand there watching! Don't look at me like that! I'm innocent!!!
Fu Hua, who wasn't supposed to have this kind of personality, had completely devolved into a raging tsukkomi role under the combined assault of Senti's wild revelations and Elysia's meaningful smiles.
And when she saw Su appear before her with a group of Flame-Chasers who shouldn't be here, Fu Hua struggled even more frantically inside the Herrscher of Sentience.
"Hey, I'm telling you, old-timer, you're being really bossy."
Feeling the struggle from within, the Herrscher of Sentience said, displeased.
"You're always the one out and about. Today we ran into an old friend; what's wrong with chatting a bit?"
"That's right. Hua, you can take a good rest today. Let's keep chatting, Senti."
At this moment, Fu Hua felt that she absolutely should not have come here today.
Meeting everyone who had come out of the Elysian Realm was a happy occasion.
But having so many things exposed like this... I... I... I...
——Why... why did things turn out this way (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻!!!
...
Schicksal HQ. Leo Ash's Room
After finishing the communication with Rin, Leo Ash sat quietly in his room and began to organize the information he had obtained today.
Back then, after the Jiuyou incident ended, Leo Ash, who had drawn the Sphere [The Wavering Scales], could only see partial information about this Sphere.
The rest of the information was blocked by the System with: [Subsequent equipment and corresponding skill descriptions are pending unlock. Please have the holder reach the second stage first, after which this equipment description will be updated].
At that time, Leo Ash not only failed to enter the second stage of a Sphere Holder, he couldn't even be considered a Sphere Holder. He could only barely use Dimensional Energy, a powerful energy source, to fight using a method of fusing multiple energy types.
And after he thought he had broken through to the second stage, Leo Ash still couldn't see the new equipment description.
It's just that from the Third Eruption in Nagazora City until now, Leo Ash had been simply too busy. So, back then, Leo Ash, who only had a rough idea, didn't dwell on the fact that the Sphere description hadn't updated.
It wasn't until now, after he had completely fused his two personalities, that Leo Ash, with his unified personality, transformed from a trickster who relied on a split personality to avoid the Sphere's negative symptoms into a true Sphere Holder.
Although he still had to be constantly vigilant about the potential negative effects of the Sphere, Leo Ash, who had now touched the threshold of [Sphere Holder - Third Stage], was really only one step away from completely transforming into a third-stage Sphere Holder.
As long as he was given enough time, he was confident he could become a third-stage Sphere Holder within half a year.
But unfortunately, judging from the current situation, the Honkai probably wouldn't give him that much time.
Isla Ash had grown from an ordinary Pseudo-Herrscher to being strong enough to match a powerful single-Core Herrscher in just one week.
Even with the Oath of Judah helping Isla Ash suppress her power's growth, this was ultimately just a temporary fix, not a cure.
If Leo Ash didn't want to see his own daughter become the "Person of Finality," then he truly didn't have much time left.
It was precisely because of this that Leo Ash felt he had to move up his battle with Kevin and then execute his subsequent plans.
He didn't want Kevin to open the backdoor, not because he wanted to bully the weak, using the power of Binding to pick on Diabolic Kevin.
In fact, after scheduling the duel with Kevin, Leo Ash had already decided *not* to use the power of Binding to defeat him, in order to prove himself.
The reason he didn't want Kevin to open the backdoor now was mainly that Leo Ash was worried this action—of Kevin opening the backdoor to steal the Power of Finality—might cause the already rapidly accelerating Honkai to accelerate even further, thereby disrupting his plans.
As for what Leo Ash was truly planning to do now, it was naturally related to the Sphere information he possessed.
Ever since he began approaching the third stage, he had gradually come to understand what the information inside the Sphere—which he couldn't comprehend at all at first—truly represented.
For Sphere Holders, possessing these Spheres, these 'Twelve Keys of the Supreme God', gave them the qualification to fight against the high-tier powerhouses from the original worldview.
But if they wanted to fight those 'Heralds', whose mere sight instilled instinctive fear in living beings, the Sphere Holders and other warriors had to complete an evolutionary step: True Manifestation Fusion.
Before completing the True Manifestation Fusion, the civilization the Sphere Holder belongs to must undergo the five stages of "evolution" for life and intelligent species, corresponding to the five world-endings in Mayan-Aztec mythology.
These five stages are divided into special processes symbolizing five types of evolution.
The first age: [Blood of the Beast], symbolizing the "Evolution of Struggle".
This age emphasizes the primal wildness and bestial nature that transcends reason, which organisms unleash in order to survive. Surviving through struggle, surviving through victory, and ultimately, surviving through evolution. And starting from the eras before the Previous Era, when humanity evolved from apes, they had already successfully passed this first age.
The second age is [Confluence of Water], symbolizing the "Evolution of Fusion".
In the second age, it is necessary for two opposing sides, different races, to cast aside hatred, coexist, and prosper, ultimately fusing to reach a new state.
However, the realization of this age was very strained.
Whether in the Previous Era or the eras even before, humanity could never reconcile with the Honkai. Faced with the Honkai that had slaughtered countless of their kind, this was an unavoidable outcome.
Only Elysia, the Herrscher of Origin who simultaneously held the identities of [Human] and [Apostle of the Honkai], who saw herself as human while also understanding that the Honkai came to 'embrace' humanity, barely allowed this world to pass the second age that required mutual understanding.
The third age is [Journey of the Wind], symbolizing the "Evolution of Pioneering".
This age emphasizes simple factors: "Never stagnating," "Constantly seeking new places," "Endlessly moving forward without pause."
And undoubtedly, whether it was the heroes of the Previous Era who fought tirelessly, or the Herrschers of the Current Era, from Joyce to the present, who have strived to resist, they all successfully allowed this world to pass the third age.
As for the fourth age, it is [Civilization of Fire], symbolizing the "Evolution of Civilization".
This age emphasizes that things created by humans give strength to humans, and humans, in turn, use this new strength to create new things. Humanity's own evolution and the innovation of technology promote each other, overcoming struggle and hardship together with their creations.
And this is the final step toward evolving into higher-dimensional life forms.
Undoubtedly, both the Current Era and the Previous Era, by creating Divine Keys, Pantheon-class weapons, Godsbane Armors, Titan mechs, and other such products, have allowed humanity to pass the fourth age of civilization.
Of course, under normal circumstances, these four ages should have appeared one by one, in chronological order, and been passed by humanity one by one.
But because of the Cocoon of Finality, cycle after cycle occurred. So, the moment the Cocoon of Finality arrived on Earth, the four great "civilizations" (stages) of this planet could no longer be executed chronologically like in other worlds.
But regardless, the four factors represented by these four ages—Struggle, Fusion, Pioneering, Civilization—have finally been gathered.
When all four factors are met, the race/civilization to which the Sphere Holder belongs will step into the final stage—the fifth stage, representing the "Radiance of the Sun".
Only in this stage would Leo Ash be qualified to touch that forbidden, ultimate ability: True Manifestation Fusion.
From the Sphere's perspective, the ability of "True Manifestation" refers to the unification of the powers that govern consciousness.
Taking Leo Ash as an example, as someone who is, for now, still human, he would have to master all the consciousnesses within his body and unify their power to be considered as having completed the initial True Manifestation.
Of course, in this simplest state of True Manifestation, Leo Ash would be able to unleash even more terrifying power through the Dimensional Energy contained within the Sphere.
But this alone was still far from enough to give Leo Ash the capital to challenge Finality.
True Manifestation Fusion, in the end, is a product of a mecha/super robot setting. For those pilots, allowing their own mech to completely fuse with them, achieving "man and machine as one"—*this* is True Manifestation Fusion.
But right now, Leo Ash didn't have a suitable "mech" for himself.
Furthermore, True Manifestation inherently requires enormous energy. So, even if he knew the true meaning and method of it, he was currently unable to find a suitable 'mech' for himself to complete the True Manifestation Fusion.
However, just because he hadn't found a suitable mech now, didn't mean he wouldn't encounter a 'mech' fit for him to pilot in the future.
Leo Ash, who already had a vague target to mess with in mind, took out a Jizō Mitama that Welt had helped him replicate but which he had never used, and directly initiated a True Manifestation Fusion with the blade.
But unfortunately, perhaps because this Jizō Mitama was a replica, or perhaps because the Divine Key itself wasn't strong enough, during the True Manifestation Fusion process, this tachi didn't last long before turning to dust in Leo Ash's hands.
"Sigh, these fragile things really aren't made of good enough stuff."
"Titans, Divine Machines, Sky Fathers... these pieces of junk are definitely even worse than Divine Keys."
"I need a stronger 'mech'. In order to take care of the Cocoon of Finality..."
"——Hm, no, wait. I think I know where to find a stronger mech."
To complete the "man and machine as one" True Manifestation, besides the person's own qualifications, sufficient Dimensional Energy and a sufficiently powerful mech are also key factors.
And now, Leo Ash felt that he vaguely had a reliable idea.
Right now, he was simply not qualified to pilot that 'mech' because he lacked the power.
But if he could obtain the power of Origin, or even the Power of Finality, then...
——After 'True Manifesting' *that thing*, all of this calamity would cease to exist.
....