Chapter 79: Otto - "Stigmata?! This Technology Isn’t Schicksal’s… It’s from the Previous Era!"

Chapter 79: Otto - "Stigmata?! This Technology Isn't Schicksal's… It's from the Previous Era!"

["Don't worry. Once the mission is over, you'll receive a new identity and disappear. Schicksal won't be able to find you."]

On-screen, Jackal confidently reassured Raven.

It was hard to imagine how she'd react if she knew her entire plan had already been exposed.

["And what about the people in this city…?"]

Unlike Jackal, Raven wasn't completely heartless.

She hesitated for a moment before asking the question.

Instead of answering directly, Jackal continued her speech.

["Don't waste your sympathy on things without value. Your compassion should be reserved for humanity itself."]

["Schicksal may be powerful, but they have always deceived humanity for their own gain. They've tricked people into believing that as long as they are under Schicksal's protection, the world will remain safe."]

『Pink Fairy Miss:』 'Oh? So this Schicksal organization is actually evil?'

A pink-colored comment floated across the screen.

Clearly, as the wielder of the Key of Ego, Elysia wasn't fond of such black-and-white statements.

Hokuto thought about it for a moment.

Since he was technically a Schicksal employee, he figured it was best to clear up the misunderstanding.

"That's not entirely true. Sometimes, people need hope."

『Your Great Inventor:』 'Exactly. Compared to the cold, harsh truth, people often prefer the comfort of an illusion.'

As soon as Hokuto finished speaking, Otto sent a message in agreement.

It was clear that as Schicksal's Overseer, Otto still had some attachment to his organization.

After all, he needed Schicksal's strength to complete his ultimate goal.

However, in-game, Jackal immediately countered.

["As long as Schicksal exists, humanity will remain like sheep in a pen—helpless and dependent. They will never rise above their own weakness."]

["But times have changed. Our Lord has returned, and he will break Schicksal's control over the world."]

["Under his leadership, humanity will undergo a transformation—one that will usher in a new era."]

["Only in this new world will you and those you wish to protect truly have a place."]

『Your Great Inventor:』 '…?'

Otto responded with a single "?", perfectly encapsulating his doubt.

Did he know what this so-called "new era" truly entailed?

At the very least, he now knew exactly who "our Lord" referred to.

After all, Kevin had already appeared in the prologue of this arc.

『Pink Fairy Miss:』 'Kevin…'

Another pink-colored comment scrolled by.

Clearly, Elysia cared less about Jackal's grand speeches and more about the person behind it all.

Kevin.

Her friend, her battle partner, and the man who had once fought alongside her in the Previous Era.

She couldn't help but wonder… Was this really the same Kevin she knew?

『No Matter the Cost, Humanity Will Prevail Against Honkai:』"..."

A single ellipsis appeared in the chat.

It was Kevin himself.

Seeing Elysia's comment,

The ancient warrior—who had survived for over 50,000 years—chose to remain silent.

He already knew what their answer would be.

Back in-game, Raven sighed and spoke.

["Then let's get started."]

With that, the mission concluded.

The next mission opened in a new setting—an industrial complex at night.

The screen displayed the narration text.

Under the moonlit sky, Rita moved like a shadow through the corridors of Shencheng Medical's research facility.

Thanks to the ID card she obtained, most of the security doors opened without issue.

["I'll check their data archives first. That should answer many of our questions."]

Rita appeared on screen.

A moment later, Arvette responded through the communicator.

["Please stay in contact, Miss Rita. I'll be playing the role of a reliable assistant, ready to support you at any time!"]

["Now… let's find out what secrets Shencheng Medical is hiding."]

Rita began moving through the facility, carefully avoiding patrol robots.

As she ventured deeper, an eerie feeling crept over her.

The information she had gathered so far seemed scattered…

But it all pointed toward a horrifying truth.

["Something hidden… Something they don't want the world to see."]

Arvette suddenly gasped over the communicator.

["Wait! If something terrible is happening down there, doesn't that mean you're in danger? Miss Rita, should you consider retreating and planning first?"]

Before she could answer, a signal appeared on Rita's visor—

A life detection scan, picking up faint traces of Honkai-infected entities.

["When hunting a target, you don't wait until it flies away to take your shot."]

Rita's voice was firm.

With that, the mission ended.

In the next mission, Rita pulled up a map of the facility.

["This blueprint doesn't show any underground structures. But my scanners are detecting Honkai energy readings below…"]

["Arvette, order all Immortal Blades units to stand by. Be ready to assist at my coordinates."]

["Understood!"]

Rita then commanded her mechanical hunting hound to scout ahead.

It quickly picked up a hidden path.

["We're close to the truth."]

As Rita descended into the lower levels, the environment changed dramatically.

Rows upon rows of massive containment pods lined the underground laboratory.

Suspended inside them were countless test subjects.

Each one bore markings that sent a chill down Rita's spine.

["These are…"]

Dead soldiers.

Lifeless, motionless… yet etched with glowing Stigmata.

In the past, only a select few chosen by fate could bear these markings.

And now…

These symbols—once reserved for Schicksal's elite Valkyries—were being artificially implanted on the undead.

『Your Great Inventor:』 'Stigmata… on these creatures?!'

Otto's green-colored comment floated across the screen.

For once, even he was stunned.

The truth had been revealed.

This was no Schicksal experiment.

This technology…

It belonged to the Previous Era.

As Otto's message appeared in the chat, the system notification promptly followed.

[Because of your livestream content, Your Great Inventor is shocked. You have gained 1,140 crystals!]

Clearly, this revelation had shaken Otto to his core.

Of course, it wasn't because he thought Schicksal had a monopoly on Stigmata technology.

As Schicksal's Overseer, Otto knew better than anyone where such technology originated.

So what truly shocked him?

Most likely… his overwhelming desire to get his hands on this Previous Era technology.

On-screen, Rita clenched her fists, staring at the faces within the containment pods.

She breathed a sigh of relief—

None of them were people she recognized.

But that relief was quickly replaced by something far stronger.

Rage.

The "test subjects" varied in height, size, and age.

Some had Honkai beast tissue grafted onto their bodies, their skin covered in a white, silicate shell.

Others had entire limbs removed and replaced with cybernetic prosthetics.

This place…

It wasn't a research facility.

It was a grotesque museum, displaying the horrifying extent of human experimentation.

Rita had reached the heart of the secret.

As Rita stood frozen, a voice crackled through her earpiece.

["Miss Rita… Are you alright? I'm detecting a spike in your heart rate and blood pressure."]

Arvette's concerned voice brought her back to reality.

But Rita didn't answer.

Instead, she gripped her scythe tightly and charged forward.

Suddenly, a group of unknown mechanized units appeared.

Clearly, if she wanted to uncover the truth, she would have to fight her way through.

The game entered battle mode.

Despite only wearing her base Shadow Rose battlesuit,

Rita swiftly cut down the mechanical guards.

Before long, she reached the facility's main control console.

A mechanical hunting hound climbed onto the console, interfacing with the system.

Countless documents flooded Rita's visor.

Among them, one file stood out.

"Stigmata—Humanity's most precious genetic inheritance."

"Contrary to popular belief, Stigmata are not a natural evolutionary trait. They are a technological miracle from the Previous Era's bioengineering."

"Before their civilization collapsed, the Previous Era implanted complex Honkai-resistant genetic structures into a select number of human embryos."

『Pink Fairy Miss:』 '…Collapsed? So it really happened. Their civilization is gone…'

As the revelation settled in, three consecutive system notifications rang out.

[Because of your livestream content, Pink Fairy Miss is saddened. You have gained 1,140 crystals!]

[Because of your livestream content, Today's Performance Wasn't Perfect is saddened. You have gained 1,140 crystals!]

[Because of your livestream content…]

At this moment, the Flame Chasers had just learned an undeniable truth.

Their civilization… had perished.

The Truth Behind Stigmata

The data logs continued.

"These genetic structures manifest as unique markings on the skin—what we now call Stigmata."

"Humans born with Stigmata exhibit greater Honkai resistance and enhanced combat abilities."

"However, over generations, these genetic sequences became fragmented and scattered."

"Once a puzzle is broken apart, its meaning is lost."

"Thus, while every modern human carries Stigmata genes, only a rare few can naturally express them."

"Schicksal attempted to artificially replicate Stigmata implantation. However, the technique remains flawed and highly dangerous. It is nothing more than a crude imitation."

『Your Great Inventor:』 '?'

A single green-colored question mark appeared.

Clearly, Otto was not amused by this particular line in the document.

A moment later, he sent another message.

『Your Great Inventor:』 'I prefer to think of it as a revolutionary, cross-generational experiment.'

『Pink Fairy Miss:』 '…'

『Today's Performance Wasn't Perfect:』 '…'

A series of ellipses scrolled across the chat.

Clearly, no one was convinced by Otto's attempt to reframe history.

On-screen, the documents continued revealing more secrets.

"With the guidance of the 'All-Knowing, All-Powerful Serpent,' our research has made groundbreaking progress."

"Serpent?"

Rita muttered under her breath.

["Could it mean… World Serpent?"]

"We have discovered a way to artificially reactivate and reconstruct Stigmata fragments in the human genome."

"The process is extremely dangerous. Those who cannot endure it will perish, or worse—become mindless husks."

"But those who survive… will gain the power to endure the Honkai."

"The cost is high, but the reward is greater."

"Our current activation rate remains low. To expedite our results, we plan to conduct large-scale experiments in a densely populated city…"

Rita's eyes widened.

"They're planning to experiment on an entire city's population?!"

She couldn't believe what she was reading.

At that moment, the laboratory's central screen flickered to life.

A familiar face appeared on the monitor.

["…Sometimes, I feel the same way."]

The image of Shencheng Medical's receptionist, Ciora, appeared before her.

『Pink Fairy Miss:』 'I didn't expect… something this terrifying…'

A pink-colored comment floated across the screen.

Clearly, Elysia was shaken by what she had just learned.

『Today's Performance Wasn't Perfect:』 '…Kevin. What are you doing?'

Fu Hua followed up, her concern evident.

Neither of them had expected the man they once knew to allow something like this to happen.

『where did the little lab rats hide?:』 'Hmm. A bold plan. I can't wait to see how this unfolds.'

Unlike Elysia and Fu Hua, Mobius remained completely unfazed.

She was far more interested in seeing how "modern-day Kevin" would handle things.

As his old friends expressed their disbelief, one figure remained silent.

Kevin.

He watched their comments pass by, saying nothing.

What could he even say?

The truth had already been laid bare.

Kevin's Silence - A Response to His Friends

As Elysia and the others reacted with shock, Kevin simply watched.

He didn't answer. He didn't think too deeply about it either.

By now, he was certain of one thing—

The people in this livestream were all from the timeline before the Final Battle.

It all made sense now.

Of course, they would say such things.

How could they possibly understand?

They had never experienced the true horror of [Finality].

They had never faced an enemy so absolute that no human logic could hope to defeat it.

Meanwhile, in the Past…

In a different time and place, three Flame Chasers sat together in a lounge.

They were deep in discussion over what they had just witnessed in the livestream.

Elysia was the first to speak.

"I think it's finally time we talk to Kevin."

"I support Elysia's idea."

Fu Hua nodded firmly.

She had previously warned Elysia against revealing anything to the others.

But after seeing what the livestream had shown, she knew—

They couldn't afford to just sit back and watch anymore.

They had to take action.

"Wait. You two."

Just as Elysia and Fu Hua were about to leave,

A calm voice stopped them.

It was Mobius.

They turned back to look at their fellow Flame Chaser.

"What's wrong, Mobius? Are you upset we didn't invite you?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Elysia!"

Mobius briefly lost her composure, but quickly recovered.

Then, she gave them a serious look.

"Do you really think talking to Kevin right now is a good idea?"

Her question caught both Elysia and Fu Hua off guard.

They didn't know how to respond.

That, of course, was exactly the reaction Mobius had expected.

She flipped her hair and continued with a smirk.

"We have no idea how someone like him will react to this information."

"We don't know what choices he might make… or what choices he might change."

"So for now… we wait."

"We need to know everything first."

Elysia and Fu Hua exchanged glances.

Then, reluctantly, they nodded.

For now… they would hold off on confronting Kevin.

The next mission began.

A cutscene played, showing Rita standing in front of several containment pods.

Inside one of them floated a young girl, wearing an exoskeleton and a strange pair of goggles.

Her eyes suddenly flashed red.

The screen cut to Rita—surrounded by a horde of undead creatures.

["I'm surrounded. Immortal Blades, regroup immediately."]

Her voice was calm, but the urgency was clear.

["Yes, ma'am!"]

Arvette's voice came through the comms.

Reinforcements would be arriving soon.

But until then…

Rita had to survive on her own.

Before the battle began, a familiar voice rang out.

It was Raven.

["I must say, Schicksal is quite bold—breaking into someone else's territory and prying into their secrets without permission."]

["But people must always pay a price for what they take, don't you think?"]

["The price for what you've seen here… will be your life and the lives of your subordinates."]

It wasn't long ago that Rita had spoken similar words to others.

Now, those words were being used against her.

But Rita wasn't fazed.

["Do you even understand the kind of opponent you've provoked?"]

["If World Serpent truly believes they can destroy Schicksal's Valkyries with such methods… I can only pity you."]

The game entered battle mode.

Rita faced off against waves of experimental creatures.

Fortunately, they were weak.

She easily cut through them with her scythe.

But just as she finished clearing them out—

A voice spoke from above.

["I prepared a little present for you."]

On the large screen behind Rita, Raven smirked.

Then—

A dark-red gas began spreading through the room.

["Let's see how well the so-called 'Immortal Blades' fight when they're truly backed into a corner."]

Rita immediately pulled out a gas mask and secured it over her face.

Her eyes narrowed.

["Undead creatures, poison gas… How pathetic. Resorting to such petty tricks only proves your own weakness."]

["Oh? I don't see it that way."]

Raven remained completely unfazed.

Her voice was calm—amused, even.

That was when Rita realized something.

The undead creatures weren't attacking anymore.

Instead…

Their bodies were withering, collapsing into dust.

["This isn't ordinary gas."]

["It's HSN-B46 Serum. I assume you've heard of it?"]

『Your Great Inventor:』 'HSN-B46 SERUM?!'

A green-colored comment shot across the screen.

[Because of your livestream content, Your Great Inventor is shocked. You have gained 1,140 crystals!]

Otto wasn't just surprised.

He was furious.

HSN-B46 was the very foundation of his most important secret weapon.

The " Schariac Holy Blood"—Schicksal's trump card against Honkai.

But now—

World Serpent was using it like some disposable bioweapon?!

Had someone stolen his research?

Or worse…

Had World Serpent managed to recreate the formula entirely?

How many samples did they have?

Had they already advanced the formula further than Schicksal?!

『Your Great Inventor:』 'If I'm not mistaken, this was originally developed by a certain Schicksal scientist…'

『Your Great Inventor:』 'I must say, such blatant imitation is highly disrespectful. Do you think it's too late to file a patent lawsuit?'

Back in-game, Raven continued speaking.

["HSN-B46 was designed by a Schicksal scientist."]

["But this version was specifically modified… just for you."]

["It doesn't need to be inhaled—just touching your skin is enough to shut down a Valkyrie's Honkai resistance completely."]

["Using Schicksal's own weapons against their own people… don't you just love the irony?"]

At her command, a group of mechanized soldiers dropped from above—

Rita braced herself.

The real battle was about to begin.

 End of Chapter 79