"For most primitives, there really isn't anything wrong with that."
"They pour their hearts into those shadows and worship, sing praises to, and glorify the stories they've fabricated."
"But what if, by some twist of fate, after endless ages, one primitive breaks free of his shackles and steps straight out of the cave?"
At this point, Mobius suddenly let out a laugh, her tone laced with dark amusement as she said:
"Of course that magnificent, vast world outside would be dazzling beyond words—"
"But… do you think that person would simply stay outside, or would he try to go back and save his former companions?"
Kevin said calmly: "His companions may not necessarily need saving, but for him, certain things are still unavoidable."
Mobius's dangerous snake-like pupils narrowed slightly: "Oh? That's quite an interesting thought."
"But Kevin, you wouldn't happen to see yourself as that torch casting the shadows, would you?"
There was no doubt—this was mockery.
And after Mobius's taunt, the scene shifted back to Theresa.
"…"
After a silence, Theresa slowly said: "I'm not sure how much of that I truly understood."
"But it seems that, for Kevin or the others… the Stigmata Project holds meaning far beyond simply defeating Honkai."
Kevin (Stigmata Will) said: "Stigmata record their knowledge and your history as well."
"To borrow the earlier metaphor—for civilization, it is likely humanity that is the shadow on the wall."
"And Stigmata is the true reality outside the cave."
"Humanity is full of flaws and often willingly degrades itself; though capable of creating beauty, it frequently destroys it."
"It's hard to say these aren't the reasons they are always dominated by failure."
Hearing the other's biting words, Theresa countered: "…Is this you boasting about yourself?"
"Stigmata Will?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) rebutted: "No. I'm merely relaying a perspective."
"Compared to true Ideals, compared to awakened humans, I'm still far short."
Theresa asked: "Ideals?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) nodded: "Ideals are the common endpoint of humanity and Stigmata."
"At least for those of you whose genes were inscribed with Stigmata fifty thousand years ago—this is especially true."
"I believe you're well aware of what Herrschers are, and Ideals are the opposing extreme to Herrschers."
"In outward characteristics, they are even quite similar."
"But you have never truly witnessed what an Ideal is, nor have you recognized the Primordial One even when meeting it."
"So, to put it in terms you can understand, we can translate the Stigmata Project this way."
"—Abandon humanity cursed by Herrschers and redefine civilization with a different cornerstone."
The Stigmata Project—this long-familiar topic—was once again stripped bare to its essence, inhuman to the point of outrage.
Theresa furrowed her brow slightly: "…Redefine civilization?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) nodded: "Yes. I think you need to realize…"
"In certain perspectives, humanity is merely a stepping stone for civilization."
"If that's difficult for you to grasp, then perhaps begin by confronting your own fate head-on."
Theresa had only just shown a puzzled expression when Kevin acted directly.
"Go on, Theresa Apocalypse. That is a trial you will face sooner or later."
The next moment, before Theresa could even react, the surrounding environment changed in an instant.
Bitter cold winds, ice thorns everywhere—a polar snowfield.
"This is…"
Instinctively surveying her surroundings, Theresa murmured: "Ice everywhere… Is this Kevin's dream?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) explained: "This is the deepest part of the Kaslana Stigmata space."
"In the sense of the Chimera Project, yes—this is indeed his dream."
Theresa noticed the key point: "…Chimera Project?"
The so-called Chimera, put simply, was something like a stitched-together monster.
Directly piecing together existing things and ultimately sewing them into one creature.
Kevin (Stigmata Will) said: "I believe you know that the origin of the so-called Kaslana bloodline is those Honkai Beast genes fused into Kevin's body."
"Powers from numerous varieties of Honkai Beasts converged and fused within him—hence the name Chimera."
"But few know that this is also the very starting point for the existence of Stigmata space."
Theresa quickly asked: "What does that mean… Kevin is the starting point of Stigmata space?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) didn't answer directly but first asked: "Do you remember how you got here?"
Theresa replied: "By devouring dreams—and with your guidance."
Kevin (Stigmata Will) said slowly: "Yes. As you've seen, under certain conditions, Stigmata space can connect with dreams."
"Because dreams are Honkai's way of thinking—that is the true reason your Vishnu can devour dreams."
"Quite unbelievable, isn't it?"
"Because humans must think through the passage of time, you find it difficult to understand time-chaotic dreams—and so would I."
"But it is precisely this chaos that created spaces beyond reality, making dream-capture possible for a certain plan."
"In such circumstances, even if a person cannot fully unite internally and externally with Stigmata power."
"They can still exchange their physical body with the dream, allowing Stigmata to take their place as civilization's cornerstone."
"Ultimately, the entire Earth will be replaced by Stigmata space, and civilization will embark on an entirely new journey from here."
"This process will begin simultaneously from both ends of the world."
"On the imaginary side, it is the original Stigmata space."
"On the real side, it is the destination of Finality—the endpoint of countless past civilizations."
Theresa immediately said: "You mean… the Moon?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) did not deny: "Of course. As I said, that is the fundamental reason why you—on lunar orbit—were the first to be affected by the Stigmata Project."
Theresa couldn't help but say: "But if the Moon is merely one endpoint of the Stigmata Project…"
"Then the other endpoint is actually this Stigmata space we're in right now?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) said: "Correct. So—what will you choose, new Bishop of Schicksal?"
"You can give up the struggle and return to enjoying the dream."
"You can push your limits and attempt to awaken your own Stigmata, or…"
Before he could finish, Theresa interrupted: "Or—since this place connects to dreams—"
"I can simply devour this endpoint and bring the so-called Stigmata Project to a complete halt?"
As soon as she spoke, the previously somewhat cordial atmosphere instantly turned tense, snapping the audience back to full attention.
Kevin (Stigmata Will) was silent for a moment before saying: "…Admirable courage, but I do not recommend it."
Theresa provoked: "Because you think I'm not capable enough?"
Kevin (Stigmata Will) shook his head: "No, that's not what I mean."
"I'm referring to a far more direct external condition—???"
The Kevin-like Stigmata Will's voice suddenly turned into garbled noise.
Only fragments like "Look, he really came" could faintly be made out.
Theresa was caught off guard by the sudden change: "All of a sudden… what happened?"
Before Theresa could sort out the situation, a familiar figure slowly appeared and approached.
The same appearance, yet fundamentally different from the Stigmata Will Kevin.
"Nice to meet you, new Bishop of Schicksal."
"I am Kevin. You may also call me… Kevin Kaslana."
Hearing the self-introduction, Theresa's pupils contracted involuntarily.
Kevin continued: "Since you've come this far, you must have some understanding of the Stigmata Project."
"All along, World Serpent has done its utmost to avoid direct confrontation with forces opposing Honkai."
"So this time, I hope you and your organization will not place obstacles in the only path to defeating Honkai."
Theresa murmured: "The only path… to defeating Honkai?"
Kevin said calmly: "Ever since leaving the Sea of Quanta, I have been observing you all and learning your history through the Void Archives."
"Up to now, you have all worked extremely hard and achieved far better results than we did back then."
"But facing Finality, you remain powerless."
Theresa's expression tightened: "The Herrscher of Finality… is it about to descend soon?"
Not only Theresa—viewers outside the TV erupted into intense discussion as well.
"Kevin and the Herrscher of Finality—which one is the final big boss?"
"I'm betting on the Herrscher of Finality. After all, the Previous Era lost, and Kevin is dead-set on executing the Stigmata Project!"
"I agree it's Finality. Kevin's probably just a mid-boss—maybe even gets defeated by the main cast and then redeemed."
"The main cast plus Ancestor Kevin vs. Finality sounds a bit iffy!"
"…"
All the viewers were deeply interested in who the final boss would be, and most believed it was Finality.
The main reason was that Kevin had completely accepted the utterly inhuman Stigmata Project as the way out.
Saying things like "the only path to defeating Honkai" made him look, in some viewers' eyes, like someone who'd been beaten into submission.
The Previous Era couldn't overcome Finality—so the Current Era can't defeat it either?
Of course, this did nothing to diminish Ancestor Kevin's popularity.
At Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company.
The actors present were also eager to know what the final boss situation would be.
Why did a mere Stigmata Project occupy so much screen time?
But Hessian simply held Elysia and smiled without a word, so they could only turn their attention back to the TV.
On screen.
Kevin continued: "This is a matter of balance, young Bishop of Schicksal."
"Not long ago, Raiden Mei assisted World Serpent in suppressing the Twelfth Herrscher."
"That means the experiences of our respective civilizations are now completely identical."
"In principle, within one to two years, World Serpent does have ways to delay Finality's descent…"
"But if we do that, the nature of the Herrscher of Finality will no longer be exactly the same as in the previous era."
"From the Herrscher of Reason to the Herrscher of Corruption, and then to the emergence of Raiden Mei and the others—"
"Though the process had its twists, at this very moment."
"The power of Finality determined by the thirteen Herrschers is precisely identical to that of fifty thousand years ago."
"It is also the only form of Finality that we truly understand from the outside in."
"Setting aside the situation before the first Herrscher was born…"
"Now is the only opportunity for us to execute the Stigmata Project and thoroughly defeat Honkai."
Theresa said in surprise: "You mean… ever since Sea Abyss City, you've been waiting for this moment?"
Kevin said indifferently: "I think that should be obvious."
"This is the only opportunity—and before it arrived, World Serpent did everything in its power to minimize the side effects of the Stigmata Project."
Theresa said without hesitation: "But from what I know, that just changes people's death sentences to life imprisonment."
Kevin crossed his arms: "How you compare them is your freedom."
"But I do not believe that, aside from this, Earth's civilization has any other way out."
"I lived through everything fifty thousand years ago. As I said—you still know nothing of Honkai."
Theresa: "…"
Kevin said calmly and indifferently: "Theresa, your eyes are filled with anger, yet you don't know who to direct it toward."
"Since that's the case, allow me to test your mettle!"
"This is the Kaslana Stigmata space—every fragment of Kaslana power here is perfectly equal."
"Come—challenge me."
"Battle is the true way to think through problems."
Without any hesitation, Theresa attacked directly.
Though still a little dwarf, she was Schicksal's veteran S-rank Valkyrie and the new Bishop of Schicksal!
Especially in Stigmata space, Theresa's power needed no restraint.
Every strike was more spectacular than many blockbuster special effects scenes.
Keep in mind—
This was a TV drama, and Theresa was performing in person.
Even with added effects, her effort and every movement still earned many viewers' "?" reactions.
Unfortunately, no matter how Theresa attacked, Kevin remained completely at ease.
He used neither weapons nor power, effortlessly dodging Theresa's barrage.
"I know what you call Schicksal."
"You believe civilization is what you see with your own eyes, and humanity is the form passed down through your generations."
"But that is merely arrogant delusion."
With that, Kevin—who had been dodging—summoned the Judgment of Shamash in his hand and effortlessly reversed the situation.
Theresa was forced to shift from offense to defense, simply because Kevin's power was utterly unfathomable.
"We remain no different from the grass and trees on the ground."
"Drilling wood for fire, slash-and-burn agriculture… even after flying into space, humanity cannot escape its childhood."
"Any intelligence in the cosmos is limited by its very mode of existence—this is not an obstacle will alone can overcome."
After this lecture, Kevin's patience seemed exhausted. He casually tossed aside the Judgment of Shamash in his hand.
"Do you know why birds can fly?"
Accompanied by the question, terrifying ice power gathered, and the same cold voice rang out again.
"…When Finality's meteor fell in the Cretaceous, only the free birds could leap out of predetermined extinction!"