At this moment, Theresa Apocalypse surveyed the surrounding darkness.
As the incarnation of Vishnu, she had already devoured seven layers of dreams, yet she remained trapped within this lucid dream.
St. Freya, Schicksal's airport, Kolosten, Sea Abyss City, Arc City, Nagazora, and the Siberian snowfields.
Those were all microcosms of her life and her students' ups and downs.
So… what did this empty darkness correspond to?
While Theresa pondered nonstop, a voice suddenly rang in her ear.
"Nice to meet you, Theresa Apocalypse."
A cold voice carrying a faint trace of warmth emerged from the darkness.
Theresa reacted swiftly and immediately asked: "…Who?!"
The next moment, Kevin's figure materialized as he spoke: "A shadow of Kevin Kaslana—an artificial consciousness belonging to the Kaslana Stigmata."
"For convenience, you can also call me the Stigmata Will."
Theresa didn't respond right away. Instead, she observed the man before her while thinking to herself:
"The will of the Stigmata? I seem to recall Siegfried once mentioning…"
"No, why would he appear in my dream, in this deepest void of nothing?"
"To me, this is clearly just something I've heard about in passing…"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) said slowly: "…It seems you don't understand how the situation has evolved to this point."
"You've clearly devoured the seven layers of dreams and reached the boundary of consciousness."
"Yet this remains a purposeless adventure—you still haven't discovered why you're trapped here."
"…Very well. Allow me to show you the full sequence of events."
"Let us begin with one of your self-proclaimed rebellious students."
With that, a memory segment about Mei—from Kevin's perspective—flashed rapidly through Theresa's mind.
Theresa murmured: "This is…"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) explained: "The real Kevin intends to activate the Stigmata Project, but Raiden Mei does not approve of his methods."
"Kevin allowed her to leave, giving her the chance to do what she believes is right."
Theresa furrowed her brow slightly: "The Stigmata Project?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) nodded: "Correct. The Stigmata Project."
"In fact, it has already begun. That's why you—040—were captured by the dream aboard the Hyperion near the Moon and ultimately arrived here."
"This place is only one step away from the core region of the Kaslana Stigmata space."
"A dim remnant the real Kevin once left behind."
"But compared to that, you're clearly more concerned about the Stigmata Project itself, aren't you?"
Theresa hesitated for a moment before getting straight to the point: "…If what you say is true."
"I'm afraid thousands—tens of thousands—of people on Earth have already fallen into despair. How do I leave this place?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) answered: "You must pass my trial and become a true Stigmata Awakener."
"Once you do, the restraints the Stigmata Project imposes on you will naturally vanish into thin air."
"The sanctuary of the Child of Destiny will open for you, and you will safely pass through this great upheaval of the world there."
If it were anyone else, they probably would have accepted gladly.
But Theresa said: "Compared to that… if you truly are the will of the Kaslana Stigmata."
"Then please tell me how I can save everything from the Stigmata Project that has already begun."
"Since, by your own words, the disaster has already occurred."
"Then you should understand that what I need right now is absolutely not information on how to safely weather the world's upheaval."
Kevin (Stigmata Will), as if caught off guard, persuaded: "Ah, there's no need to be so hasty."
"The Stigmata Project currently being implemented is not simply a rehash of the Arc Experiment."
"And understanding why you—aboard the Hyperion—have also become deeply trapped within it."
"Would be quite helpful for grasping the current state of affairs."
"Let me give you a reassurance pill."
"As of this moment, not a single person on Earth has truly lost their life because of the Stigmata Project."
"So don't panic. We still have time to understand everything happening behind the scenes."
Compared to the sunny young Kevin or the ice-cold Lord of World Serpent Kevin.
This Stigmata Will Kevin felt more like a courteous gentleman?
Regardless, as Kevin's words fell, another memory—from Raven's perspective—surged into Theresa's mind just as quickly.
Theresa couldn't help but say: "Kevin and Raven… is this recent too?"
"Wait—why do you know about these World Serpent matters?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) explained: "Didn't I already say?"
"I am the will of the Kaslana Stigmata. I am not part of your dream."
"I am a genuine manager of Stigmata existing in the world. Naturally, I have ways to receive fragments of the real Kevin's memories."
"Moreover… due to the Stigmata Project, the boundaries between us will grow increasingly blurred."
Theresa immediately asked: "The boundary between you and Kevin? Or… between you and me?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) said: "Actually, both. As I mentioned earlier."
"As of this moment, not a single person on Earth has truly lost their life because of the Stigmata Project."
"Because at the endpoint of this plan, the manifested Stigmata will take humanity's place."
"And humanity will merge into the dream, becoming one with the past Stigmata space."
"…"
Theresa was silent for a moment before saying: "Leaving aside what exactly that statement means."
"It does relate to my current situation—that much is true, right?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) nodded: "Correct. The Moon is a key node of the Stigmata Project."
"Because you approached the Moon unknowingly, you became one of the plan's first victims."
"But due to Vishnu's characteristics—you ultimately did not sink into the dream. Instead, you devoured every illusion along the way until reaching this point."
Theresa immediately realized something and quickly said: "Wait—so for ordinary people…"
"They would simply immerse themselves in that initial dream… like the St. Freya I dreamed of, where Himeko and everyone are still there…"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) acknowledged: "Yes. Their consciousness will convert into an existence identical to Stigmata."
"Retreating from the real-number world into the crevice of the imaginary, while correspondingly—the thoughts within Stigmata will manifest as entities."
"Finally descending step by step into the outer space. They will move toward each other, replacing the quietly sleeping humans."
Hearing this outcome, Theresa said in disbelief: "Stigmata… replacing humanity…"
"But isn't the so-called Stigmata Project supposed to be a plan that spares no effort to screen out every single Stigmata Awakener from humanity?"
Not only was Theresa stunned—even viewers outside the TV never expected this twist and were almost dumbfounded.
"Stigmata replacing humanity—how could I be dreaming something like this?"
"666, holy crap—an Infinite Tsukuyomi? What's wrong with a dream world?"
"Damn, sacrificing humans to manifest as Stigmata in reality—this plan is way too fucking heartless!"
"This isn't just heartless—it's downright deranged!"
"…"
In the fan group, fans had already started targeting a certain dog director.
Throwing knives was one thing, but with the ending approaching—what the hell was this?
Was the malice really this high?
But no matter how unbelievable, the plot on TV continued to advance relentlessly.
...
Kevin (Stigmata Will) explained: "The value of Stigmata Awakeners is naturally extraordinary."
"But they are merely the intersection between Stigmata and humanity—the most primitive safeguard of the Stigmata Project."
"—Let me give you an example, Theresa."
"If the characters from books and stories all descended into reality, independently forming a world and independently extending their infinite possibilities toward the future…"
"How do you think such a world would compare to the current human world?"
"…"
Theresa shook her head: "I don't know. But… it probably wouldn't be bad, right?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) shifted his tone: "Then what if I added that…"
"The characters from books and stories suffer no pain of aging, illness, or death, and face no danger of world-ending catastrophe."
"Would you still think it's merely 'not bad'?"
Theresa seemed to realize something: "This… are you saying…"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) continued: "Since you've guessed something, allow me to summarize it this way…"
"If Schicksal's principle is to find the correct fate, and Anti-Entropy's principle is to resist the wrong fate—"
"Then World Serpent's principle is to transcend fate itself."
"These three may originally hold no superiority over one another… but as history has repeatedly shown."
"When their purposes become incompatible, friction between justice and justice becomes inevitable."
Theresa pondered: "So… in the eyes of those in World Serpent."
"Because the Stigmata Project can definitively prevent the Herrscher of the End from descending, all other plans can simply be disregarded, right?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) countered: "It's not that simple."
"As I mentioned earlier, the current Stigmata Project allows Stigmata to take humanity's place."
"They will fully inherit the civilization humanity has built—"
"In that way, from the planet's perspective, Earth loses nothing—instead, it ushers in a form of sublimation."
Theresa murmured: "Earth… will be sublimated?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) went on: "This matter is still too abstract for you, trapped in the dream."
"Rather than forcing yourself to understand such things… perhaps the memory from fifty thousand years ago that comes next will hold more value for you."
"That could also be considered… one of the starting points for the Kaslana family."
The memory surged in again—but this time it wasn't a fleeting montage. It felt as if she were truly present.
Mobius appeared and said: "Kevin, first time seeing your child—how do you feel?"
A single short sentence was already a devastating critical hit.
What the hell?
Kevin's child?
Whose?
Leaving aside the exploding nationwide audience—at Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company.
All the actors instinctively looked toward Kevin. Su in particular quickly asked: "You two have a child?"
Kevin of course immediately shook his head: "MEI and I are in a traditional relationship—the kind heading toward marriage. It's still way too early for that."
Hearing this, everyone let out a collective sigh, their disappointment plain as day.
Then they turned their gazes back to the TV.
Kevin: …
Speechless, but the show still had to go on.
Observing the child before him, Kevin was silent for a moment before saying: "…He has her eyes."
Mobius said in surprise: "Really?"
"We designed the eyes based on your genes—after all, his mother has congenital myopia."
"…"
Seeing Kevin remain silent, Mobius didn't mind: "Forget it. Now's not the time for humor."
"Do you know what this child will have to bear in the future?"
Kevin broke his silence and said: "He may have to kill me."
Mobius raised an eyebrow: "Oh my, suddenly saying something so resolute."
"I regret it. Someone who only says things like that doesn't deserve to have her child."
Kevin said calmly: "I'm merely stating facts."
Mobius replied indifferently: "Fine. Then I'll state facts too."
"When the Herrscher of the End descends, I will personally hack into Its body."
"That way, in the next cycle, I might be able to personally wipe out all your descendants."
"…"
Kevin fell silent again.
Mobius continued: "What kind of father you want to be is up to you—"
"But as fellow so-called Flame-Chasers, I'll at least give you one piece of advice."
"Since you've already shouldered the Stigmata Project, there's no need to drag MEI's child into it as well."
"The world after Finality descends is clearly so vast and infinite…"
"Before the cycle turns again, he has plenty of time to enjoy the freedom of being human."
"You people love that kind of freedom the most, don't you?"
"…"
Seeing Kevin still silent, Mobius showed a dangerous smile.
"Don't worry—the Stigmata Project is absolutely fair."
"When it has the capital to descend upon the world, it's not just Finality, not just fate, not just humanity—"
"Even you yourself can rest assured be crushed to nothing by it."
Kevin said quietly: "…That would be ideal."
Mobius sneered: "No matter what, we're just a bunch of primitives living in a cave underground."
"Ah, I don't mean this current shelter, you know?"
"We're just a group of primitives, backs to the cave entrance, sitting on the ground with our hands and feet shackled."
"Able only to see the dull stone wall before us by the firelight behind."
"Occasionally, thanks to the fire, the shadow of something is cast onto the wall—those shadows become our entire world."
Viewers who had just been talking about how tsundere Snake Snake's mouth was now started typing again.
"Sure, sure, back to philosophy—we're all primitives."
"Seriously, I'm crying—he really loves dropping philosophy bits in Honkai Impact 3rd."
"Even so, I still have to shout: the hardest thing in the entire Elysian Realm is Snake Snake's mouth!"