Volume 4, Chapter 5: Bronya - Seele is Here for Me

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The intrinsic and quantum worlds were complete opposites.

In the intrinsic world, time, space, physics, chemistry, life... all these diverse laws held meaning. In contrast, within the quantum realm, none of them mattered—not because they didn't exist but because their significance vanished entirely.

Here, time was chaotic, space fragmented and discontinuous, physical rules ambiguous, chemical concepts virtually nonexistent, and life manifested through countless possibilities.

Existence, collapse, and superposition intertwined.

Theoretically, within this quantum domain, one could witness both their past and future selves.

While the quantum realm possessed all the laws present in the intrinsic world, disorder rendered everything chaotic. Some hypothesized that the so-called Sea of Quanta is itself a chaotic ocean formed from worlds utterly annihilated by Honkai, hence its disarrayed nature.

To Raiden Mei, this was uncharted territory.

But Bronya had ventured here once before.

"Project Bunny was Seele's gift to Bronya, though even she couldn't have anticipated it would lead Bronya to find her."

Bronya spoke the truth.

It's likely that not even Seele foresaw such functionality for Project Bunny.

Originally, Project Bunny was created using Seele's Stigmata power when she first entered the Sea of Quanta as a gift for Bronya. The true extent of these Stigmata powers remains unknown to all.

In fact, it was due to Bronya reaching her limit that Project Bunny autonomously sent itself into the Sea of Quanta. This action ensured the girl could be rescued at critical moments, much like Shigure Kira and Schrödinger.

And because of the Stigmata connection, Project Bunny guided Bronya towards Seele.

Such is the power of the Stigmata; even amidst the chaotic Sea of Quanta, its guidance must be followed. In the original storyline, Bronya and Seele found each other within the Sea of Quanta precisely due to this unique force.

Of course, Raiden Mei couldn't comprehend this phenomenon.

She didn't even know who Seele was.

"Who is this 'Seele' you keep mentioning?"

"My little sister, also an adoptive daughter of Mother Cocolia," Bronya replied with mixed emotions. "Mother Cocolia committed many wrongs, but Seele is the most innocent and kind-hearted child."

Bronya feared that Raiden Mei might hold Cocolia's mistakes against Seele.

Raiden Mei shook her head, reassuring Bronya, "I trust you, Bronya."

"But now, the problem is how do we get back from here?"

"I don't know."

While Durandal joined the Kaslana family and Raiden Mei with Bronya were dragged by Project Bunny into the Sea of Quanta, Xia Chen faced a more complex situation.

Despite Raven notifying the Garden of Eden's overseer, it was not the same as informing the administrator of Heroic Spirits. The Herrscher of Sentience at least maintained Fu Hua's appearance, but for another Herrscher like him, he encountered the purest malice from the Garden's Heroic Spirits.

Especially when confronting this Heroic Spirit named Mobius alone.

Xia Chen looked at these spirits and said, "I didn't come here to fight you; I have no interest in battles. After all, on the real-world timeline, you no longer exist in this world."

He paused briefly before continuing, "I only wish to ask Dr. Mobius about something related to Stigmata."

Xia Chen didn't come here for combat, nor did he require imprints to harness the power of his Stigmata. Fundamentally, his Stigmata already existed in its most perfect state; he could have left the Elysian Realm immediately.

The reason for his lingering presence was still related to the Stigmata. He sought to fully understand Project Stigma.

Among those present, Mobius was most likely to provide this information.

"Hmph, the lab rat questioning the purpose of the experiment? Don't you find it amusing?" Mobius showed no fear towards Xia Chen, a Herrscher. "However, considering you brought Hua back, I am quite willing to enlighten you, provided you answer one question first."

Mobius's vertical pupils fixed on Xia Chen intently.

"I've seen you before, little lab rat. So let me ask, how did you traverse time and space to appear before me, ultimately obtaining your Stigmata?"

Raiden Mei finally comprehended just how chaotic time and space were within the Sea of Quanta.

Despite moving forward, they often found themselves circling back to even later points. When heading left, future versions of themselves would appear in the distance. Taking another route, their bodies would inadvertently overlap, attracting attacks from quantum beasts.

Here, none of the rules from the original world applied, and they were still discovering the new ones governing this place.

"Bronya, can you sense the location of Seele that you mentioned?"

"No." Bronya shook her head. "Project Bunny seems to detect something, but the Sea of Quanta is vast."

"In this region, trusting any intuition is unreliable. Moreover... finding someone at the same point in time here is incredibly difficult."

They might encounter past or future versions of Seele, but what brought joy to Bronya was knowing she was alive.

As long as Seele lived, they could continue searching indefinitely.

However, Raiden Mei spoke up, "Since you're unsure of the direction for now, Bronya, follow me first."

"What is it, Big Sister Mei?"

"The other me inside said she sensed a Herrscher's presence."

The "other her" within Raiden Mei naturally referred to the Herrscher consciousness.

However, unlike other Herrscher consciousnesses, this one didn't care about what Raiden Mei did or even control over their shared body. It seemed genuinely fond of Raiden Mei.

It was worth noting that Saint Freya had placed a limit on Raiden Mei's body, activating whenever Honkai Energy exceeded a certain threshold. Yet, the Herrscher personality effortlessly bypassed this restriction long ago. Despite this, she promised not to manifest unless specifically requested by Raiden Mei.

Hmm, it appeared as though the Herrscher of Thunder existed primarily to coast along without lifting a finger.

Nevertheless, this news compelled both Raiden Mei and Bronya to take immediate action seriously.

A Herrscher...

And one located within the Sea of Quanta, no less.

Regardless of the circumstances, they needed to ascertain the nature of this Herrscher firsthand.

"Then Bronya will follow you, Big Sister Mei."

"Oh right, Bronya, how's your leg now?" Raiden Mei noticed that Bronya seemed to move like any ordinary person.

Bronya replied matter-of-factly, "Bronya has always been able to walk normally; it's just that with Project Bunny, there was no need for me to do so. Now that Project Bunny isn't leading the way, I must walk myself."

She justified her laziness as if it were perfectly reasonable.

"Alright then, let's proceed."