Regarding the question of whether one thousand lives are enough to beat Honkai Impact 3rd.

Under the nun's compassionate, sorrowful yet resolute gaze, Su Qing'an gave his answer:

"it is good."

a long time.

In the brand-new incubation tank, the boy was shirtless, with a special respirator over his mouth and nose that was different from the original one. To maintain the precision of the surgery, the machine was wrapped around his body to ensure that he would not waver due to the pain during the injection of the holy marks.

Even though a large amount of anesthetic was mixed into the Honkai Energy Suppression Solution, according to previous experimental records, the pain caused by artificial stigmata transplantation cannot be avoided by drugs alone.

Even Valkyries undergoing artificial stigmata transplantation must pass certain screening processes. One reason for this is that Valkyries with unqualified wills may experience wavering due to pain, which could reduce the success rate of stigmata transplantation to some extent.

The special anesthetic that Theresa chose to administer could only alleviate the initial pain; everything that followed would have to be borne by Su Qing'an alone.

"Artificial stigma transplantation, begin." Theresa took a deep breath for a while, and after confirming that the anesthesia had taken effect, she gave the order to the researchers.

The robotic arm drew ripples in the Honkai Inhibition Fluid, and the protruding syringe plunged into the pulse, allowing the artificial stigma to flow into the boy's body through the fine needle holes.

The organ transplant, which was almost certain to fail, began.

Theresa didn't understand, but Su Qing'an did.

He is not human in this world at all.

Whether it is possible to successfully inject artificial stigmas that are essentially replicating genetic factors is itself an unknown.

In addition, given his male identity, the probability of death was far higher than Theresa had imagined.

Su Qing'an agreed without hesitation.

It's as if what he's about to face isn't a life-or-death crisis, but rather like when you're paying the bill and the cashier says to you, "Sir, here's your change of sixty-eight dollars and fifty cents, please keep it."

Then, without thinking, you can easily say "okay" as you take the change.

They were so fearless and composed.

64. The Beginning of the Stigmata (Part 2)

What was the reason for agreeing?

If he had refused, he could have lived for another ten days or so.

But he wanted to struggle a little longer.

After asking about the Honkai at St. Freya Academy, Su Qing'an realized that his previous two deaths hadn't even qualified him to become a suicide soldier.

Humans with excessively low Honkai energy resistance can only become ordinary zombies.

He inevitably felt resentful, unhappy, and deeply humiliated.

It turned out that his death was far more gruesome than he had imagined.

Having died twice in this manner, I absolutely do not want to die so easily this time.

Let's struggle a little longer.

Let's try a little harder.

Then the pain shattered all thoughts; it was the pain that had been forged through all the suffering so far.

Theresa's specially prepared anesthetic had no effect whatsoever, and the suffering caused by this transplantation of the Stigmata was far more terrifying than any previous experiment.

The Honkai energy suppressant liquid in the entire container shone brightly, and the boy, gently enveloped in the light, appeared extremely sacred.

But that seemingly beautiful scene was actually caused by a severe rejection reaction.

The bubbles surged violently. The respirator Su Qing'an was wearing was a specially designed product, but in that instant, it was dissolved and vanished by the terrifyingly concentrated Honkai energy.

The Honkai energy suppressant was evaporating, and in the immense light and heat, the machinery binding the boy and the still-unrecovered mechanical arm melted into steel wreckage.

Aaaaaah! That was a silent wail.

Even with Su Qing'an's resilience, she could not overcome this calamity that felt like it was tearing her soul apart.

His throat felt as if it had been melted by Honkai energy. Amidst the large amount of steam, the boy's painful howls were hoarse and silent. The remaining Honkai energy suppressant liquid that rushed into his throat instantly transformed into heat that tormented his body.

"Quick! Continue injecting the Honkai energy inhibitor, don't stop!" Theresa commanded anxiously.

How could this happen? It's just an artificial stigmata transplant, why is it causing such a severe and exaggerated rejection reaction?

No, this situation cannot be explained by a simple rejection reaction.

“His respirator is already damaged, and continuing to inject Honkai energy inhibitor will cause him to suffocate.”

"Never mind that. If the Honkai energy inhibitor wasn't added, it wouldn't be surprising if his body were melted by Honkai energy at any time. The fact that Su Qing'an's body hasn't disappeared with the steel proves that the artificial stigma transplant hasn't completely failed." Theresa said this, but there was a hint of gritted teeth in her voice.

She understood that the chances of success were extremely slim.

Honkai, how much more do you want to take away before you're satisfied?

"Minister, I suggest opening the outer safety valve to seal it off. According to previous experimental records, this artificial stigmata transplant is unlikely to succeed. With such a rejection reaction and Honkai energy concentration, only monsters called 'Death Warriors' will emerge alive."

Seeing the dangerous red light flashing on the screen, the researcher, while injecting a large amount of Honkai energy inhibitor as instructed, offered rational advice.

"...If that's the case, I will take responsibility for killing him." The nun straightened the veil over her white hair. She looked sadly at the boy struggling in purgatory, now submerged in liquid again. Her hand was placed on the oath of Judah, as if to prove her determination.

The experiment proceeded in a cold and impersonal manner.

The boy's unheard cries and anguish were reflected in Theresa's eyes; the scene was like entering an endless hell.

Theresa couldn't truly empathize with Su Qing'an, but she was undoubtedly suffering inwardly, with guilt and sorrow causing endless torment in her kind heart.

The scalding steam is sealed in a sturdy container, and the heat that escapes is enough to cause serious damage to human skin.

Even if the artificial stigmata transplant is successful under such circumstances, Su Qing'an's entire body will be left with large, indelible scars.

Moreover, the surgery can already be considered a failure at this point.

The artificial holy mark was undoubtedly incompatible with Su Qing'an. The current situation was as if the holy mark was extremely disgusted with the boy's body and wanted to escape, but was forced to merge with a part of it, causing the artificial holy mark to struggle wildly.

One ton of Honkai energy suppressant has been evaporated by Honkai energy, and the research institute's Honkai energy suppressant reserves are almost exhausted.

But the torment Su Qing'an suffered was far from over.

He lost consciousness more than once during the journey, only to be forced awake by excruciating pain that pressed on his nerves every few seconds.

Just as he had thought, this was a surgery that was very close to failure.

Wouldn't that eliminate any regrets? Su Qing'an looked at her already festering hands with confusion.

Had he tried hard enough? His once fair face was now scalded and bruised, making him look so ugly that it didn't suit his own aesthetic preferences at all.

Through the transparent container, Su Qing'an vaguely saw her current appearance, but lost the feeling of emotion.

Death, death, death.

The pain seemed to separate his body from his spirit, he muttered those words.

Should he pray to the gods? He wondered to himself in his confusion.

The moment this thought crossed Su Qing'an's mind, she froze, then flew into a rage.

I pray to your mother!

A fury hotter than steam engulfed the pain. Compared to everything this body had suffered, Su Qing'an seemed to be overwhelmed by some immense humiliation in that instant.

How could I have wavered in my faith in so-called gods? Realizing his weakness, Su Qing'an gritted his teeth. The boy opened his eyes, the steam causing the nerves in his eyes to groan, but he stubbornly refused to close them.

I don't want to admit defeat.

I don't want to admit defeat.

I don't want to admit defeat.

Only that god, even if he himself was as insignificant as dust, the boy would not allow himself to show such an expression, nor would he allow himself to have any thoughts of weakness or submission.

Because, if that's the case.

He was no longer Su Qing'an.

A strange pattern, as red as cinnabar, meandered along the boy's back.

That's what the artificial holy marks should look like after the creation of Destiny is successful.

Thanks to Su Qing'an's unwavering will, the surgery was half successful.

The container could no longer withstand the pressure and heat inside. With a deafening roar, smoke and steam bloomed into magnificent flowers. Theresa used Judas to protect herself and the researchers beside her.

Before the dust had settled, Theresa went inside.

The surgery was successful, but it was only half successful.

The boy's body was broken both inside and out. Ignoring the researcher's reminder, Theresa squatted down. She looked at Su Qing'an's face, which was no longer recognizable. An immense sorrow bent her back, and the girl seemed to be curling up unconsciously at this moment.

But the next second she regained her original posture; weakness should not be shown, a principle that Theresa had long understood.

Her fingertips traced the red pattern on the boy's back, and she suddenly gave a bitter laugh. The transplant was successful, but the boy's breathing could no longer be heard.

He must have done an incredible job to endure the rejection reaction by sheer willpower.

I'm sorry, I'm so useless.

You clearly said you believed me.

“I believe you, Principal Theresa,” the boy said with a smile.

Not long ago, he could still show such a gentle smile, but in the blink of an eye, his body began to gradually grow cold.

How long will this suffering continue in this world, and will it ever end?

Throughout Theresa's more than forty years, she has been forced to lose something every year, but when the feeling of loss comes again, she still can't get used to it.

The artificial stigmata on Su Qing'an's back glowed.

It means exactly what it sounds like: this near-certain death surgery, after a complete failure, seems to have found a turning point.

The lines drawn with vermilion color melted into nothingness, and sacred gold surged from the essence of the soul and descended into reality, as magnificent as the light of countless fireworks blooming in the night, illuminating the entire research institute.

Golden light converged into a stroke of ink on Su Qing'an's back—it was a [Sacred Mark]. However, unlike the artificial Sacred Marks of Destiny, this [Sacred Mark] was like a trace of Su Qing'an's existence. In an instant, the boy's mind, which had been plunged into darkness, regained its clarity, and what surged into his soul were all the events and trajectories he had experienced in this world.

In a brief moment of confusion, Su Qing'an understood.

The Taixu Sword Qi bestowed by the gods is a modified version of a ghost.

This is nothing more than something else disguised as the Taixu Sword Qi. The Dustless Realm he entered did not actually enable any precise manipulation of the body. It was merely an illusion he believed because the leap in ability from the Still Water Realm was too great.

The realm of purity should be the first step in condensing one's own organs, similar to [Holy Marks].