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

“Mechanical instruments?” Theresa asked, frowning.

"Yes. In the initial research, we tried watering it with a very small amount of Honkai energy to test its activity."

"As a result, we were eventually forced to open the safety valve and release a large amount of nitrogen and Honkai energy suppressant to calm it down again. The robotic arm used to place items and the surrounding high-strength walls were covered with black and red patterns."

"It can now be confirmed that these are markings created after the object was manipulated. We compared these seemingly meaningless patterns with a database and found that they are similar to the markings created on humans before they were infected and turned into zombies."

"Of course, there has been no progress in this area yet; it's just that we've gained another direction to explore."

"What we know and can now prove is that it has a tenacious and almost immortal vitality, and at the same time has the property of absorbing Honkai energy to restore itself."

“I have reason to suspect that, given enough Honkai energy and time, it can revert to its original form and then reshape that monster.”

Theresa sighed upon hearing this:

"What a dangerous and bizarre force. They encountered something like this on their very first mission. Is it good luck or bad luck?"

"Fortunately, they took on this mission, otherwise the outcome would probably be very different now."

"...Minister," the researcher seemed hesitant to speak, but finally said, "I believe that such strangeness and ability can only be explained by the residual power of the Herrscher."

“Yes, you’re right. It’s highly likely that it was left behind by a Herrscher.” Theresa nodded in agreement.

When she connected this fragment with Yae Sakura, she vaguely understood that the essence of this fragment was likely derived from the Herrscher.

Only a Herrscher could create a monster of Emperor-level Honkai Beast status using only a fragment of their remaining power.

"Have you increased your monitoring and control over it?" Theresa asked.

In her view, it is not an overstatement to attach great importance to what is suspected to be the power left behind by the Herrscher.

Given the resources and financial strength available to us, preventing accidents with all our might is the most basic requirement under these circumstances.

The researcher nodded and said, "Yes, of course."

"We have already overdrawn a lot of funds for this purpose."

"I hope that you, Minister, can apply to His Holiness the Bishop for more funding next year."

"Wait, you said a lot of overdraft, roughly how much..." Theresa suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Just two months ago, Minister, the one ton of Honkai energy inhibitor you used was already a considerable amount. Moreover, you spent even more on the extra mission equipment you provided for the students beyond the standard budget. The budget was already overdrawn."

The researcher said quietly:

"With this repair and reinforcement, next year's budget has probably already evaporated."

"Okay, I understand. I'll figure out the funding. You guys just need to focus on your jobs," Theresa said, rubbing her forehead in frustration.

She had been slacking off on recent reports and paperwork, to the point that she was almost completely unaware that the budget had been exhausted long ago.

But Himeko probably knows that.

Hmph, I bet she's gloating.

Theresa felt a little guilty about dumping the work on Himeko, but she quickly became self-righteous, since as the headmaster, she was the one who had to solve the problem of funding.

It's understandable to slack off at work occasionally, right?

Thinking that she would definitely get a beating if Himeko found out, Theresa suddenly sensed something was wrong.

A moment later, the warning red light shone brightly!

The communicator lit up; the person requesting the communication was a researcher on duty for surveillance.

Without hesitation, she answered the phone, and a voice came from the other end:

"Minister! The fragment has acted strangely! The Honkai energy suppressant was forcibly evaporated within a second, and the safety valve has automatically opened. However, according to calculations, it is highly unlikely that it can stop its advance. It is expected to reach the outer area where you are within a minute!"

Upon hearing this, Theresa calmly issued the order:

"Understood. Turn on the broadcast and notify all researchers to evacuate!"

In this situation, it would be pointless to keep the technicians.

Even the regular armed forces are of little use in the face of such a bizarre situation.

Since the opponent can corrode the safety valve, it can naturally corrode the B-class Valkyrie armor as well.

There is no need for meaningless sacrifices, Theresa reiterated this judgment:

"I'm notifying you again, that all the trainees on duty should also evacuate the research institute!"

"I'm telling you again, everyone evacuate!"

"Yes!" the other party replied quickly.

Immediately, the broadcast efficiently conveyed Theresa's orders.

"Damn it, Judas wasn't brought along."

Theresa frowned. At a time like this, she was without her most trusted weapon, which made her somewhat irritable.

It's normal that Judas isn't by her side. Even though Theresa values ​​Judas's oath, carrying a cross weighing hundreds of pounds around all day would damage her image and be quite troublesome.

In contrast to her extreme caution on the battlefield, Theresa at the academy even had a student go to the library to retrieve Judas, whom she had forgotten there.

The peaceful life at the academy had numbed her.

But in fact, this was the first time such a sudden incident had occurred.

If this incident goes smoothly, Theresa will likely be working behind Judas's back for a long time.

The researcher beside her entered her pupil and fingerprint, and the wall parted to reveal a glass cabinet. He entered the numerical password again, took out a golden long spear, handed it to Theresa, and said:

"Minister, take this."

"This is a semi-finished product that Minister Changguang created last time. Because it is still being tested, it has been placed in the research institute. It can now be used on the battlefield. Even if it is not as good as your Judah, it is the best weapon that can be obtained here at this stage."

“I know your personality well. You wouldn’t choose to retreat so easily, right? Even if that’s the best solution.”

"I'll take my leave now. Technical staff should do what technical staff are supposed to do. We will try our best to give you a response regarding this incident."

For a moment, the man showed a look of shame and humiliation, but in the end, he still rationally said that he would take his leave first.

The young man, who has reached this point through his outstanding abilities and wisdom, can be said to have a deep understanding of the Honkai. He clearly understands that in this situation, he is nothing more than a burden.

After a calm assessment, he immediately found the unnamed, unfinished spear for Theresa.

Theresa took the spear and said with a smile:

"I understand. But Matsushima, if your response doesn't satisfy me, as the person in charge of this project, you'll be working non-stop this year, working overtime until you die."

After the man named Matsushima Shiraishi nodded seriously in agreement, he left the research institute without delay.

The dark red mist had gradually spread to the outer edges. Theresa glanced at the man's back, recalling the fleeting expression on his face, and muttered to herself:

"You've done very well. After all, that's the power of a Herrscher; it's not surprising that human technology alone cannot fully control it."

"As for the areas outside of this, I will take responsibility."

The girl gripped the spear tightly, and the black and red mist finally began to spread.

The safety valve didn't stop it for long; in fact, the material of the safety valve itself was distorted and shaped into a deformed monster by the mist.

The specially made metal walls and instrument data were all mixed together by the fog, forming a huge and eerie enemy.

The girl's body gradually became hot, and the mist and her body seemed to be having an ominous reaction.

Theresa brandished her spear.

A terrifying, monstrous strength wielded a sharp weapon, tearing everything in its path apart.

too weak.

Aside from the inherent hardness of the material, these monsters move and react slowly and are utterly harmless.

Within just one minute, Theresa had wiped out all the monsters within the fog.

Even without Judas, Theresa's fighting prowess should not be underestimated.

After the monsters were all dead, the fog mysteriously dissipated.

But she could sense that her body temperature was still gradually rising.

Theresa frowned, her breathing becoming rapid due to the unusual sensation in her body:

"Damn it... was the reason that fragment went out of control because of me?"

A subtle, ant-biting pain welled up from the depths of her bones, and on her back, a crimson hue meandered, outlining a mysterious pattern.

It is a stigmata.

But the next second, all of that vanished in an instant.

The physical pain and fever had vanished without a trace, and the strange appearance of the stigmata had also disappeared without a trace.

The girl stood silently inside the chaotic research institute.

Her slightly panting breathing returned to normal.

After a long while, she muttered to herself:

"It seems that physical testing should be the top priority."

"That dream and the riot of fragments... the ominous premonition is getting worse and worse."

The entire research institute was completely destroyed. Fortunately, the research data was not lost because it was synchronized with the Far East Branch's database. However, the destruction of a large number of valuable instruments still resulted in another deficit in funding.

Theresa then underwent repeated physical examinations, but still could not find anything unusual.

Everything seemed to be fine.

But the fragments that disappeared in the research institute and the strange phenomena that had occurred in the body proved that everything was not so simple.

54. Nishikujo Sara's Personal Opinion

2014 5 Month 6 Day.

A week has passed since the riot at the research institute, and St. Freya Academy has remained as peaceful as ever.

The matter seemed to have been quietly swallowed up by the sea breeze, and no one except the parties involved felt any turmoil.

Meanwhile, inside the office...

After carefully confirming that it was quiet around her, Theresa solemnly pulled out a comic book titled "Houmu's Great Adventure" from the pile of documents.