"According to the documents you provided, after the Eye of the Deep Sea activates, it will trigger a large-scale Honkai energy reaction, attracting a massive number of Honkai beasts."
Einstein stood beside Xia Qi, speaking calmly.
"Over the past few days, we cleared out the Honkai beasts in the vicinity as much as possible. The ones we couldn't handle, due to their overwhelming numbers, were lured off course using special methods. It's estimated that Qiong Yu City won't be troubled by Honkai beasts for three days."
"Okay. Thank you for your hard work. I'll handle the rest."
Xia Qi stared ahead, watching as Tesla pressed the activation switch for the Eye of the Deep Sea. Immediately, the entire structure began to tremble violently.
A deep blue halo emanated from the Eye of the Deep Sea at the very center of Qiong Yu City, washing over the entire city.
Seen from above, Qiong Yu City looked like a brilliant sapphire embedded in the seabed.
"Wow... so beautiful..."
Kiana gazed at the deep blue halo in wonder.
"Let's go. We're entering. The Eye of the Deep Sea is open."
Xia Qi took a few steps forward. Beside her, the St. Freya group was joined by Welt and Einstein, who also fell into step.
No Titan units followed — with Xia Qi and Welt present, they were already the equivalent of an entire army.
"I want to go in too..."
Tesla's aggrieved voice sounded from behind, but everyone ignored it. They arrived at the edge of the Eye of the Deep Sea and looked down into the blue halo swirling like a vortex, hesitating slightly.
"Just jump straight in. Bronya will protect you."
Xia Qi said seriously, then leaped directly into the Eye of the Deep Sea.
The moment she entered, Xia Qi felt the familiar energy compression and the sensation of space twisting around her, like being trapped in a swamp. Then, just as quickly, that feeling vanished.
What replaced it was an entirely changed world before her eyes.
"Wait..."
Xia Qi looked at the space ahead — deep and azure, filled with floating, irregular dark red fragments — and a look of confusion crossed her face.
She could sense it...
Within this Sea, there truly existed something that felt incredibly familiar to her.
But it wasn't Seele.
And whatever it was, it was somewhere out in the Sea, waiting for her.
"Waaaah!"
Snapping out of her confusion, she heard Kiana's panicked shout. Xia Qi immediately reacted, quickly extending her right hand toward the boundless void below.
Instantly, piece after piece of irregular dark red matter was drawn by the gravity Xia Qi generated, converging and assembling into a platform before them.
The others, tumbling into the Quantum Sea one after another, landed on the ground she had constructed. Giant Homu dolls materialized across its surface, catching Kiana and the others as they fell.
Welt, however, simply hovered in midair, choosing not to land on the Homus at all.
"That! That was close!"
Kiana jumped down from a Homu doll, wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, and let out a long breath. Then she turned to take in her surroundings.
"This is the Quantum Sea?"
"Yes, that's right."
Xia Qi nodded. There was no child named Joachim here, after all — Welt was still in good health for now.
Nearby, Einstein had already produced instruments and begun recording and analyzing everything around them.
"Bronya."
Xia Qi turned to Bronya. "Summon Project Bunny 19C. Whether we can find Seele next depends on her."
If it didn't work...
Xia Qi would have to go looking for Kevin.
And she had a strange premonition —
Perhaps Kevin was together with the other thing she had sensed in the Quantum Sea.
"Okay."
Bronya didn't hesitate and summoned Project Bunny immediately. Xia Qi flew over to it at once, expressionlessly reaching out to analyze it in full.
Although she had a Project Bunny of her own, it had not been created by this world's Seele — so Xia Qi doubted it could form a connection with this world's Seele at all.
At the same time, some of her conjectures were beginning to be confirmed.
Bronya's Project Bunny began to disassemble piece by piece in Xia Qi's hands, and Bronya's eyes widened slightly.
"Huh? Why are you taking it apart?" Kiana looked at Xia Qi with confusion. She knew how important Project Bunny was to Bronya.
"It's not taking it apart. Bronya is sensing the power of the Stigma that Seele left inside it."
Xia Qi said calmly. The separated parts began to shimmer faintly with light.
As they shimmered, both Xia Qi and Bronya felt a resonance pull their attention in the same direction — deep within the Quantum Sea. Something in that direction was resonating with the very power that constituted Project Bunny.
And Xia Qi noticed that the familiar presence she had sensed...
was in that same direction.
"Is... is that Seele?!"
Bronya's eyes went wide, an uncontrollably excited expression breaking across her face.
"That's right — we found Seele, Bronya."
The corners of Xia Qi's mouth lifted, and a genuine smile appeared on her face as well.
Meanwhile, the parts of Project Bunny that had been floating disassembled in midair began to reassemble, but Xia Qi took the opportunity to make adjustments as they came back together.
"Bronya, Project Bunny 19C has been enhanced. Its overall performance is now twice what it was."
"Thank you, Bronya."
Bronya nodded gently.
"Good. The general direction is confirmed. Now then."
Xia Qi looked toward where she had sensed Seele, her brow furrowing slightly.
"In that direction — Kevin. The Previous Era's strongest MANTIS soldier. If he's there too, things will be complicated."
"The strongest MANTIS soldier, huh." Kiana wiped her nose, a combative light appearing in her eyes. "Bronya, compared to the future me — who's stronger?!"
"Kevin, without a doubt."
Xia Qi answered calmly.
"Huh?!"
Kiana's eyes went wide with surprise.
"So, Bronya suggests that she take Bronya and go ahead to scout first. The rest of you can accompany Mr. Welt and collect whatever data you need along the way."
Xia Qi turned to face everyone, gauging their reactions.
"I... disagree."
Himeko shook her head without hesitation, frowning. "Bronya, I'm not the type to hide behind others when danger comes."
"But Teacher Himeko, Kevin is extraordinarily powerful. Even Bronya is no match for him." Xia Qi looked at Himeko, a note of urgency in her voice.
"Even so, Bronya — you are a Herrscher now." Himeko looked at Xia Qi, her expression heavy with concern. "And you said yourself that he is the Previous Era's strongest MANTIS soldier. I doubt a survivor from that era would be particularly friendly toward Herrschers. If you bring me along, we might at least have some chance of opening a dialogue with him."
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