Chapter 59: Van's Return?

Accompanied by the barrage of comments from netizens speculating, the video continued to play.

After bringing the humanoid puppet back to Hyperion, Einstein immediately began repairing it, with Bronya assisting on the side.

And during the process of everyone's repairs, people also came to understand what kind of organization the [World Serpent], where Grey Serpent belonged, actually was.

At this moment, a communication suddenly came from Cocolia, who was also a leader of Anti-Entropy.

After the battle against the Herrscher of the Void, Anti-Entropy and Schicksal had essentially torn off their pretense of peace.

From Cocolia's words, it was learned that the forces she stationed in Abyss City had recently been frequently attacked by Schicksal.

In order to prevent Anti-Entropy's base in Abyss City from being taken by Schicksal, Cocolia hoped she could let go of past grudges with everyone from St. Freya Academy and work together to resist Otto.

But due to past experiences, Theresa and the others were very wary of Cocolia.

During the negotiation between both sides, the warship's system was suddenly hacked.

[Unknown signal connected to the channel. Hyperion's defense program cannot take effect.]

[Noise interference, system beyond revalidation…]

Accompanied by a series of static noises, Grey Serpent's face replaced Cocolia's on Hyperion's main screen.

Seeing the already-dead Grey Serpent appear once more in perfect shape, everyone present showed expressions of shock.

"Shall we continue the unfinished deal?" Grey Serpent's voice echoed through the control room.

"Grey Serpent?! Weren't you already dealt with by Rita in Sky Dome City?" Theresa said in surprise.

"Death is a life that has passed. Life is a death that is still on the road." Grey Serpent said coldly. "Everyone, no need to be surprised. The serpent is a creature that does not yield to death."

"But the humanoid puppet has already been reformatted. How can we continue the deal?"

"No, the deal has already been completed." Grey Serpent's crimson prosthetic eye flashed on the big screen. "From the moment you took the humanoid puppet away, the deal was already established. And now, it's my turn to take what I want from you."

After speaking, Grey Serpent unilaterally cut off communication.

The next second, Hyperion blared with crazy alarm sounds.

[Weapons system shut down.]

"Detection system shut down.]

[Emergency landing initiated. Hyperion is entering docking state.]

The rapidly worsening situation made everyone aboard Hyperion wear serious expressions.

They never expected that at such a critical moment in the fight against Schicksal, they would also provoke the World Serpent.

However, this was not the worst situation yet.

Very soon, a Valkyrie came to report, "Headmaster, the sentry personnel have reported visual confirmation that an unidentified mechanical unit is approaching us and attempting to board Hyperion's deck!"

"Grey Serpent… what exactly does he want?" Einstein frowned slightly, falling into deep thought.

"No matter what he wants to take from Hyperion, I won't let him succeed!"

After saying that, Theresa turned to Einstein and said, "Doctor, I'll leave the task of reclaiming Hyperion's system control to you and Bronya."

After explaining everything, Theresa took Himeko, Raiden Mei, and the others to the deck to face the enemy.

When everyone from St. Freya Academy and Anti-Entropy had just arrived on the warship's deck, they were attacked by the World Serpent's mechs.

Looking at the strangely familiar mechs in front of her, Raiden Mei asked doubtfully, "Dr. Tesla, have you noticed that the World Serpent mechs invading the warship seem to share many similarities with Anti-Entropy's mechs?"

"Though I'm reluctant to admit it, you're right." Tesla gritted her teeth. "This pneumatic device, alloy armor, and the design of the rapid-fire tracking missiles…"

"It's like it was stolen straight from my head! They just changed the color! Hey! I never received any patent fees! Where the hell did they get Titan's blueprints?!"

Tesla's roar echoed across the deck, and the netizens watching the video in the real world also erupted with reactions.

——_

[Mei, remove the "seems" already]

[LOL, Lobster-head Doctor is about to cry from frustration]

[Tesla: There's a mole, terminate the deal]

[So it turns out it's not just Schicksal and St. Freya that have moles, Anti-Entropy has them too]

———

At the same time, while Theresa and others were battling the World Serpent's mechs on the deck, Einstein and Bronya had already begun operations to reclaim control authority.

Under Einstein's instructions, Bronya successfully entered Hyperion's virtual data space.

There, just as expected, Bronya encountered Grey Serpent. Under Grey Serpent's illusionary assault, Bronya saw the most painful memories buried deep in her mind.

Whether it was losing her mother as a child and being trained into an assassin, or being adopted by Cocolia and subjected to the X-10 experiment, which caused her friend Seele to become lost in the Sea of Quanta.

And also how she herself lost her legs while trying to retrieve Seele.

Facing these sudden flashbacks, Bronya felt immense torment in her heart.

Bronya's breakdown made the nearby Grey Serpent very pleased.

"As the chosen one who survived the X-10 plan, you possess potential so great it could surprise even serpents. Come, head to the Eye of the Serpent, and become His child."

"Bronya... refuses!"

"Don't force yourself, child. I've already seen the struggle and hesitation in your heart. Don't you want to retrieve your partner who is lost in the Sea of Quanta? Seele-Flores is waiting for you~"

"Seele... is... waiting for me?"

"Yes, so come to our side. Only the Serpent can help you fulfill your wish."

Grey Serpent's bewitching voice gradually made Bronya lose herself, and the people in the real world also grew extremely anxious.

At this desperate moment, a fiery red feather suddenly drifted down in the virtual data space.

———

Seeing this, the netizens in the real world instantly cheered.

[That familiar feather! Is it that man?!]

[Yes, you didn't see wrong. That man is back!]

[Sob sob sob, Van, I missed you!]

[Van: Children, I've returned]

———

As the players cheered, Van within the Dust-Passing Feather had already helped Bronya break free from the mental oppression.

"Van… arbitrarily entering someone else's memory isn't exactly commendable behavior, but... thanks."

When Grey Serpent realized he could no longer use the previous method to stir Bronya's pain, he decisively chose to retreat.

Before leaving, Grey Serpent didn't forget to continue recruiting Bronya, "Bronya, if one day you change your mind, the Serpent will always open its arms to you."

After confirming that Grey Serpent had truly left, Bronya let out a long sigh of relief, then turned to look at the familiar figure beside her.

"Van, why did you appear here? Where have you been all this time? Everyone has been looking for you…"

However, what 'Van' said next made Bronya's pupils contract sharply.

"Sorry, little girl. I'm afraid I'm not the person you're familiar with. The form of my existence is something even I don't fully understand…"

"What do you mean!" Bronya said anxiously. "You say you're not Van, then who are you?"

"I am one of the many feathers left behind by the Eighth Divine Key Dust-Passing Feather. As for why I appeared in your mind, that, you'll have to ask the person you mentioned."

After saying that, Van's figure began to burn like a flame held high in the night.

Immediately after, the maze-like illusory space began to collapse, with cracks in the space spreading like a spider web.

At the same time, Bronya felt as if her mind was being swept by a tidal wave, as massive unfamiliar data surged in.

"Ah!"

Accompanied by a painful moan, Bronya lost consciousness.

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