On the television.
After some discussion, the three women all decided to investigate the traces at the scene.
First up were the strange stones that Li Sushang had discovered.
"Unfortunately, they're damaged far too severely. It might be very difficult to restore their original appearance."
As soon as Durandal finished speaking, a group of monsters gathered over.
It seemed these bizarre stones themselves possessed some kind of attraction.
But facing Durandal, Li Sushang, and Seele all at once could no longer be described as seeking death.
Their deaths could only be described as too horrific to behold.
Afterward, Seele and the others carefully examined them and indeed found intense Honkai Energy lingering on the surfaces.
Another round of searching, and Li Sushang pointed not far away: "Look, more of the same kind of thing."
Seele couldn't help but murmur: "What exactly are they here for, and how did they end up broken like this…"
Just then, an unfamiliar voice rang out.
"If you could crack the hidden information on these Holy Remains, perhaps you would discover the true essence of the Stigmata Project."
"Good luck—I'm actually quite optimistic about you all."
The three women followed the sound and saw a rather punchable female figure.
Though her figure was quite good and her features weren't bad, she somehow gave off the unmistakable vibe of a villain.
Li Sushang tilted her head: "Eh?"
After reacting, Li Sushang quickly said: "I didn't expect there would be other explorers like us here…"
"Nice to meet you. Were you also inexplicably sent to the Moon?"
Before she could finish, Durandal had already gripped her weapon warily.
"Don't go over."
Stopping Li Sushang's movement, Durandal explained: "I'm afraid the reason we were teleported here has everything to do with her."
"…Jackal, Dr. Cleo Hypatia."
Jackal let out a laugh: "I didn't expect that even after taking off the mask, I'd be recognized so quickly."
"And even called by my real name. Looks like my name really carries some weight, Valkyrie Bianka Ataegina."
Durandal didn't back down: "Likewise. Let's speak plainly, senior executive of World Serpent."
"What exactly is your purpose in showing up here and acting all mysterious?"
Hearing Durandal's words, Li Sushang showed a sudden look of realization:
"So you're one of those core members of World Serpent?"
Jackal waved her hand: "Core is definitely overstating it—after all, I've already retired."
"…Schicksal's Valkyries, I have no intention of being enemies with you, so please put away your weapons."
Durandal retorted: "Given World Serpent's previous actions, your way of expressing friendliness doesn't seem particularly trustworthy."
Jackal nodded: "Fair enough."
"Then, how about surrender?"
Just as Durandal, Li Sushang, and Seele all showed puzzled expressions at the same time.
Jackal stepped out from the shadow of the giant rock, raising both hands in a perfectly standard surrender pose.
"To be honest, I don't have the ability to engage in close combat with Schicksal Valkyries."
"Especially now—all my research results have been left behind on Earth…"
"Facing the three of you alone with my own strength really isn't realistic."
"But in my view… our relationship doesn't need to deteriorate to that extent, does it?"
At this point, Jackal suddenly smiled: "After all, the hunting season has already ended."
"Whether hunter or prey, both will return to nature."
Li Sushang showed an expression of not understanding.
Seele, however, said thoughtfully: "What you're saying… does it also have to do with the Stigmata Project?"
Jackal didn't hide anything: "Of course. Has no one told you?"
"Look at that Earth in the sky—the Stigmata Project has been completely accomplished."
"The anomaly on this Earth is proof that the real-number and imaginary-number spaces have been aligned and reorganized together."
"The gears of fifty thousand years have finally meshed, thoroughly crushing the old order that cursed humanity."
"From now on, everyone just needs to wait for the new order to descend upon the world."
"Don't worry—as the chosen ones, we can clearly witness it all."
"It's an enormous fortune, isn't it?"
As she spoke, Jackal couldn't help laughing again, looking even more deserving of a punch.
Durandal said sharply: "…The chosen ones—you mean Stigmata Awakened, right?"
Jackal replied: "Obviously."
"New Atla—this name inherited from Mu—how does it sound to you?"
"We will spend a brief period of chaos in this artificially created home."
"And then… we can return to the newborn Earth where Honkai no longer exists."
"A future full of hope, isn't it?"
Seele couldn't help but say: "But those who weren't chosen…"
Jackal said matter-of-factly: "They will of course remain where they belong. Hare really did some unnecessary things."
As she spoke, Jackal glanced at the Earth restrained by purple light, a strange look flashing in her eyes.
Durandal asked puzzledly: "…Hare?"
Jackal nodded: "Ah, strictly speaking, Durandal, she actually has a bit of a connection with you."
"But let's talk about what you really care about."
"No need to worry—for ordinary people unable to activate Stigmata, the Stigmata Project won't bring them pain."
"For them, it's as if they're simply having a dream—a beautiful dream where all wishes can be fulfilled."
"And in the process, they will turn into Stigmata and sink into the Imaginary Space."
"Becoming the foundation for building the new world—truly the complete opposite of my style, right?"
The Stigmata Project—an old, oft-discussed topic—but coming from Jackal's mouth only made her seem even more detestable.
After all, Jackal's so-called "style" basically amounted to treating human lives like grass.
Afterward, Seele was a bit puzzled about exactly how humans could turn into Stigmata.
Yet this senior World Serpent executive said she herself didn't know.
Li Sushang said: "Ah?"
Jackal shrugged: "Since I've already explained so much to you all, there's naturally no need for me to hide the rest."
"You might think I'm one of the most enthusiastic promoters of the Stigmata Project…"
"But from the outcome perspective, the facts are far from it."
"The realization of the Stigmata Project today relies entirely on the technological achievements that the Sovereign preserved from the previous civilization era."
"It was that result that created Hare, created that dual existence who became the snake's dream-catcher."
Durandal immediately said: "Dual existence? Are you saying that Hare, from the very beginning…"
Jackal sighed: "Yes, from the very beginning she was both a Stigmata and a human."
"That sounds absolutely fast, right?"
"Sigh, although I call myself World Serpent's chief scientist…"
"I have to admit, compared to fifty thousand years ago, the progress I've made is only like a child who just learned to stand."
"Neither practical nor original."
"For the organization, the greater role of my research might actually have been to attract your attention and make you underestimate World Serpent…"
At this point, Jackal suddenly burst into self-mocking laughter, but no viewers felt the slightest pity for her.
A thing like this deserved to die no matter how good-looking she was.
On the screen, Jackal's voice continued.
"After the transfer ended, I wasn't able to follow the Sovereign to carry out the further plan."
"Instead, I appeared directly in the camp at New Atla."
"Heh, perhaps for the Sovereign, my last bit of usefulness has already been exhausted—time for official retirement."
Durandal had no interest in Jackal's self-mockery and asked directly: "Further plan… where exactly is Kevin right now?"
Jackal answered: "Naturally in a space that cannot be reached or disturbed."
"As for exactly where… how could the Sovereign's thoughts be something we can casually speculate about?"
Li Sushang pointed at Jackal: "You…"
From the very beginning, she had found the person in front of her utterly unreasonable, and now even more so.
Durandal shook her head: "…Forget it. Otto was right in the past—this person is just like this."
Jackal didn't mind at all: "Ah, I like hearing that."
"For the sake of once having been allies with Schicksal, I've already told you everything I know truthfully."
"As for whether you believe it or what you plan to do…"
"For an organization that's already existing in name only, it isn't that important."
Durandal's eyes narrowed: "…Existing in name only?"
"Are you saying Kevin no longer needs you at all?"
Li Sushang followed up: "Yeah… I somehow feel like you're all still brewing some kind of scheme."
Jackal, however, said: "The Sovereign's thoughts aren't something we can casually guess."
"Let me put it this way… in the long river of history…"
"It has never been that the Sovereign needs us, but that we need the Sovereign."
"It's always been this way."
"Therefore, this conversation with you is merely the last little gift I give to World Serpent before it fades away."
"As the strongest humans of this era, can you shake the already-completed Stigmata Project?"
"I really want to know the answer to that question—it will deliver the final verdict on our cause."
Seele spoke up at this point: "So in other words, you're treating us as…"
"Tools to verify the stability of your plan?"
Jackal looked a bit speechless: "Little girl, don't think of people so badly."
"Even without my hints, you would still charge around blindly like animals that lost their vestibular sense, searching for the Sovereign's whereabouts."
"Even if you can't change the current situation in any way."
Durandal countered: "We may truly be unable to defeat Kevin going all out."
"…But that's only because right now, we only have three people."
"Eradicating Honkai is absolutely not an excuse to destroy humanity."
"Until we understand the full truth… we will of course be enemies of your Sovereign."
Jackal seemed to have discovered something and said: "Ah… so that's the kind of personality you have, Durandal."
"No wonder even that Otto regarded you so highly."
"In short… right now we aren't in a state where we have to fight to the death just because of differences in ideals."
With that, Jackal smiled nonchalantly, shrugged, and prepared to leave.
But before leaving, this World Serpent senior executive's voice came again.
"After all, in the face of the Sovereign's absolute power, opinions can only ever remain opinions."
"However… let me tell you one more piece of gossip while I'm at it."
"Many years ago, before the Sovereign was even born, a certain Gray Serpent once said something strange to me."
"We are not snakes; we are merely a few moths born in the wrong era, destined to perish by throwing ourselves into the flame."
"—Chewing on those words today, I suddenly find they seem to carry a deeper meaning."
"What do you think?"
With a smile, Jackal turned to leave without looking back, but after only two steps.
She raised her hand again with apparent intent, drawing a circle toward their backs.
Many viewers watched in complete confusion, feeling that Jackal had the vibe to go make a name for herself in Gotham.
But she'd probably get kicked out, because Gotham doesn't welcome riddle-speakers.
The next moment, monsters appeared beside the three girls.
"What's going on? Is she messing with us?"
Easily dodging the monster's attack, Li Sushang followed up with a flying sword and asked.
Durandal denied: "No, it looks more like an inherent phenomenon of this place."
"She was probably just timing it perfectly to use the opportunity to slip away."
The three girls worked together and didn't expend much effort to completely eliminate the monsters.
Li Sushang let out a sigh: "…What bad luck."
"I never thought that Kevin would directly disband World Serpent's executives."
"Is he really that confident in the Stigmata Project?"
Durandal thought for a moment: "Ever since we left the shelter, our exploration has been completely unimpeded."
"Looking at it this way, his attitude has indeed been consistent throughout."
Seele couldn't help but speak up: "But if that's the case… if Jackal wasn't lying to us."
"World Serpent or Kevin has been waiting all along for someone who can shake the Stigmata Project…"
"Then what exactly is their goal?"
Durandal first praised: "Good question, Seele."
"But thinking about what the answer might be right now is indeed too early."
"Everyone should prioritize continuing to investigate the land beneath our feet for now."
Li Sushang nodded: "True enough. As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Afterward, they began continuing their search through the ruins of New Atla, hoping to find some clues.
Peeling back the layers, tracing back to the source.
Soon they arrived at the broken bridge. Li Sushang let out a breath of relief: "Ah, finally here."
"Look, see? The nonsensical broken bridge I mentioned earlier—this is it."
"It looks like it has the outline of a bridge, but the structure is completely hollow."
"And even if you throw a pebble over like this…"
As she spoke, Li Sushang casually picked up a stone and tossed it.
The stone followed a perfect parabola, yet it vanished into thin air at the highest point.
Not only did Durandal's eyes sharpen, but Seele's small mouth also opened slightly in incomprehension of what had just happened.