Behind-the-scenes video of the beginning of Honkai.

Otto: "Don't try to pin all the blame on me. I can guarantee that my parallel universe self would never help the Ice Queen!"

After all, before Kallen is resurrected, he won't let things get out of control. Given the Ice Queen's current state, she has the power to challenge him, and given his personality, he would consider her far too dangerous and necessary to eliminate.

The scene then shifts to Kiana and her friends, who are exploring the moon after they emerge. Along the way, they even encounter Durandal and Li Sushang.

However, under Otto's command, they decided to return to Earth first. Faced with the continuous onslaught of Gray Serpent's forces, they chose to take a long-term approach and gradually dismantle the Stigmata Project.

Kiana and her group wanted to stop the Ice Queen's plan, so the two groups separated.

The four people on the screen also successfully reached the deepest part of the moon by taking the elevator.

"Ah...we're finally out." Kiana breathed a sigh of relief. "Next, we'll have to face the Ice Queen! If we defeat her, we can successfully stop the Stigmata Project, right?"

"...As you put it, defeating the Ice Queen is as easy as buying cabbages on the street..." Bronya was speechless at Kiana's words. She was pessimistic about being able to defeat her counterpart in this timeline. After all, the Ice Queen's previous duel with Kevin showed that he was definitely not an opponent they could defeat. "Kiana, do you really know what it means to fight that Ice Queen?"

"Of course I know!" Kiana patted her chest. "Don't worry, I've already mentally prepared myself for this!"

"So what if you defeat the corrupted version of Bronya in this world? Just you wait and see! I will definitely defeat the Ice Queen and end the Stigmata Project!"

"That's right, the savior has no rivals on his journey!"

"You two are really..."

Mei looked at these two incredibly confident idiots and didn't know what to say. Where did this inexplicable confidence come from...?

Just as the four were about to continue, a soft and soothing clapping sounded from the live stream, and at the same time, a voice that sounded very familiar to everyone rang out.

Hello everyone.

Without any aura, the unfamiliar woman suddenly appeared before them. She sat calmly amidst the ruins of the moon, her expression serene and peaceful.

It felt as if this place wasn't some alien planet, but rather a sun-drenched countryside.

As if she had long been accustomed to such moments of solitude in countless similar days and nights, she spoke softly, her voice gentle and melodious.

"Brave girls are always the best."

This unfamiliar woman was none other than Yutu, who had saved Prometheus 17 earlier.

"you……"

Raiden Mei narrowed her eyes slightly at the suddenly appearing Yuto, watching it warily.

Yu Tu tilted her head, her slender index finger pressed against her lips, and she revealed a bright smile like an innocent young girl.

"I know you must have many questions in your hearts. And that's why I'm here to answer them."

"I will answer your questions one by one, don't worry, the Ice Queen will not come to bother us for the time being," Yu Tu said gently. "I am very willing to help everyone... so please don't be so hostile towards me."

Even when faced with Yuto's seemingly harmless attitude, Raiden Mei remained vigilant and alert, with faint flashes of lightning on her forehead.

She stared directly at Yutu, and said warily, "We've finally met in person. If I'm not mistaken, you are the mastermind behind the Stigmata Project, 'Yutu,' right?"

"Oh dear! That's quite a surprise. I clearly remember we've never met before. As expected of a Master from Chaldea, who comes from beyond this world." Hata smiled slightly at this. "However, since Mei already knows me... then I'll have to keep my self-introduction as brief as possible!"

Yutu then leisurely jumped down from her high place and said to the group, "That's right, my code name as a cadre in World Serpent is indeed 'Yutu,' and the project I was in charge of was also 'Project Stigmata.' However, the name I've given myself now is Misterlin Schariac."

"Of course, my current client isn't Lord Kevin, but the Ice Queen..."

"So, you're saying you betrayed Kevin!?"

“That’s not entirely true.” Yu Tu didn’t seem resentful about it. “World Serpent and I are just cooperating partners. Besides, it was Gray Serpent who represented World Serpent in our cooperation. Even Gray Serpent, our partner, joined the Ice Queen. So, as a newcomer, I naturally joined as well.”

"Even Gray Serpent has betrayed World Serpent. It seems Kevin isn't managing his subordinates well!"

Mei was speechless. With Gray Serpent, a key figure in the World Serpent, betraying them, Kevin was likely to be sidelined. She estimated that if Kevin weren't so powerful, Gray Serpent might have led the entire World Serpent to betray them.

Chapter 264 Failed Negotiations

"Strictly speaking, I am not human," Yuto explained to Kiana and the others. "I am the manifestation of a crystallization activated by the awakening of the Stigmata of the Stigmata. As for what a Stigmata crystallization is, it seems that none of you here are very clear about it, are you?"

Yu Tu smiled and said, "But don't rush. We've come all this way, and I'm sure we haven't seen the scenery in this 'End Crater' yet. We can walk and talk as we go."

After saying that, she turned around and walked forward on her own. The others exchanged glances and had no choice but to follow her, since they also wanted to get some information out of Yu Tu.

"Did you come here to act as a lobbyist for the Ice Queen?"

"That's true. I hope you won't stop the Ice Queen's plan!"

"Heh, you make it sound so easy!" Mei paused, then continued, "According to Dr. Mei's speculation, the so-called Stigmata Project is to create beings like you, existing between humans and Stigmata! Then all humans will become puppets imprisoned in the Stigmata Space by the Ice Queen!"

“Well, you can’t say that.” Yu Tu pondered for a moment and said, “After all, being a puppet is really too awful. Compared to the possibility of dying from collapse at any time outside, this price is insignificant.”

"As the executors of the Stigmata Project, our ultimate goal is to defeat the Honkai. We are just like humans; humans are merely a vessel of civilization. The fact that she was able to achieve this greatly exceeded my expectations. After all, humanity has not disappeared; it has simply transformed into another form."

"But humans would not agree to this approach."

After all, humans are not willing to be trapped in the Stigmata Space and live like caged birds.

"This...? That's not something I'm considering. So give me your answer here: friend or foe? Choose!"

In response to Yu Tu, the group produced their weapons.

"This is really a headache. I guess I'm not suited for this kind of negotiation. I should have left it to Gray Serpent." Seeing the group that had already taken out their weapons, Yu Tu complained. "But I don't have the fighting power to take on several of you Herrschers, so we'll see you later, everyone."

As soon as Yu Tu finished speaking, the space around them instantly began to change. The next second, Yu Tu disappeared, and the group appeared in a new environment.

"Damn it, we let that guy get away!"

Seeing this unfamiliar place, Kiana knew that they had been ambushed by Yuto and now they had to find their way again.

"Forget it, there's no use in Kiana complaining now. I should find a chance to leave here as soon as possible. The longer we stay here, the worse it will be for us."

……

The group then began their exploration, finding several fragments of memories along the way. Through contact with these fragments, they witnessed Bronya's past, including everything she experienced in her homeland called 'Mother,' and the fall of her home.

After finding it a few more times, during subsequent explorations, what they saw were not Bronya's memories, but the memories of the first Herrscher of Reason.

The green-haired beauty depicted in this memory caused Tesla and Einstein, who were watching the live stream, to exclaim in surprise, because it was none other than Emma Planck, one of the founders of anti-entropy.

Through this memory, Bronya also learned that the core of the Herrscher of Reason has entered a very troublesome state and is very likely to physically split and disintegrate.

"So, our problem now is how to free Bronya's Herrscher Core from the effects of the Stigmata Project, giving Bronya a chance to regain her power."

“But Mei and I didn’t encounter that difficulty.” Kiana paused, looking up as if in realization, and said, “Is it because our Herrscher core is different from Bronya’s, not the ‘distributed’ type you mentioned?”

“…It’s not just that.” Bronya shook her head. “Unlike Kiana and Mei, Bronya is not a Herrscher who has undergone ‘Ascension’.”

The group accelerated their exploration of the memories and soon found another fragment of memory. However, Joyce was not present this time.

"Everyone, get ready. As our investigation progresses, the entity hidden behind our memories may emerge and come up with a solution."

Bronya reminded Mei, Kiana, and Jiuxiao, her expression somewhat serious.

A faint crackling of electricity flickered on Mei's forehead: "In short, stay alert and be ready to fight at any time, right?"

"Yes."

Bronya nodded, then turned around and reached out to touch the memory fragments in front of her.

The memory being viewed this time is still Bronya's memory, a memory from her childhood, and also the moment when she first came into contact with a computer, laying the foundation for her future becoming a computer expert and gaming fanatic.

At the end of this memory, Bronya suddenly realized that she seemed to be able to naturally regain her thinking within the memory, and couldn't help but sense something strange!

"Bronya, we meet again."

"That voice...you're Prometheus 17? How did you get here?"

Prometheus 17 said, "You can call me by that name. It may be hard to believe, but if you want to understand the weaknesses of the Feathered Rabbit, you'll probably be even more confused after I finish talking about it."

“Well then, Bronya only has one more thing to ask you,” Bronya inquired, “your world bubble, it…”

"It has already disappeared irreversibly, as has Dr. Mei. I am only temporarily 'alive' in the form of data, thanks to the favor of fate."

Prometheus 17, not wanting to dwell on the matter, said instead, "Alright, let's leave it at that. Dwelling on the past won't help people move towards the future. Especially, according to the new intelligence I've gathered..."

"If you still want to resist or even overthrow the Stigmata Project of this world, then the power of the Herrscher of Reason is a cornerstone of it."

Bronya asked in surprise, "The Herrscher of Reason... is the Foundation?"

“That’s right. But it’s a long story, and it’s no good to keep talking about these memories that are hard to describe as ‘pleasant’,” Prometheus said. “...Let me do a little more with the space you’re in.”

Then Bronya and Prometheus 17 went straight back to the place where they first entered the memory fragment, but strangely, Kiana, Mei, and Kusanagi were nowhere to be seen.

Where did you take them?

Bronya questioned Prometheus 17, but Prometheus 17 claimed that he had simply moved Mei and Kiana to a place where it would be easier for them to escape their predicament.

"You should think about yourself. Now Yu Tu has her eye on the Herrscher of Reason's powers. The reason she moved you here is ultimately for your benefit."

Bronya was surprised that she had become the prey, but she was more curious about how Prometheus 17 knew about it and why she was so familiar with the Feathered Rabbit.

Prometheus 17 stated that he was able to appear before her because Yuto had previously used the same method to save her from the dissipation of the World Bubble.

"So... Yu Tu is your savior?"

"Yes, but I have no intention of repaying her kindness, so this description is inaccurate!"

Kiana: "Wow! To say he has no intention of repaying the favor so easily, Prometheus 17, how utterly heartless!"

Bronya: "However, Kiana, Prometheus 17 is an artificial intelligence, so it's not surprising that it's ruthless."

Yuto: "...Although I really didn't intend for anyone to repay my kindness, seeing this person say this still makes me feel a little uneasy."

Theresa: "You are the Feathered Rabbit of the World Serpent. What is your relationship with Cecilia Shaniat?"

Although Yuto is the crystallization of the Stigmata, the two look so alike and are both named Sariat. She simply doesn't believe they're not related!

Yu Tu: "This...? It should appear later in the live stream, then you'll find out."

Chapter 265 Bronya has a good mother, and Feather Rabbit is her aunt!

During the live broadcast, Bronya finally convinced Prometheus 17 after a conversation.

The world seemed to undergo a slight distortion for a moment, and when Bronya came to her senses, her three companions were back with her.

Mei, Kiana, and Jiuxiao were all shocked by Prometheus 17's sudden appearance, but Prometheus 17 didn't want to waste any more time explaining what had happened.

She told them that this place was both the moon and the interior of the Herrscher of Reason's core, and explained the relationship between humanity and civilization, stories and narratives, and the Herrscher and the Stigmata Project.

"Similar things have happened many times in history, haven't they?"

Prometheus 17 tilted his head: "Whether it is your history or our history, the meaning woven by man is always applied to humanity itself."