Lin Wei's guess was not without reason.
In the original timeline, when Bronya was undergoing Welt's "three trials" in the Sea of Quanta, she was just gently pushed by him and, in the next instant, entered the first world bubble.
And when she completed the first world bubble's trial, there was no linear process like "exiting" and "entering the next stage." Instead, just like how she entered the first one, she simply experienced a moment of mental trance before arriving directly at the next world bubble.
If one were to say this was due to the rules set by Welt, then Seele's experience proved it from another angle.
After separating from Bronya and giving up the contest for the Herrscher of Reason's core, she fell directly into a world bubble that was not part of Welt's trials. After the story there ended, she arrived directly before the real Kevin.
So, on one hand, traveling from one world bubble to another was not like jumping from one island to another.
Instead, they were layers of membranes overlapping in the dimension of space-time—like a closed book. When you turn one page, you automatically enter the next.
Therefore, after Bronya needed to become the Herrscher of Reason, she still had to rely on the guidance of Welt's consciousness to "traverse" a long distance in the Sea of Quanta.
For Seele, it was merely experiencing another story and meeting different people in another strange world bubble.
Before, from an outsider's perspective, Lin Wei had always thought this was a "coincidence," or perhaps "the arrangement of the scriptwriter."
But now, having become an insider himself, he naturally had a different understanding and feeling. The more likely truth was probably that Kevin had guided Seele back to his side in this manner.
And that world bubble, clearly related to the preceding events and memories, was likely the "path" he had drawn in this "overlapping space-time."
"The Sea of Quanta, as a special dimension outside the two-dimensional world, really can't be understood with the logic of classical space-time..." Lin Wei couldn't help but sigh.
Schrodinger had clearly tried her best to make her explanation as simple and easy to understand as possible, but it was still quite obscure.
If Lin Wei hadn't been able to get a glimpse from the stories of others, he probably wouldn't have been able to extract such an insight from her words.
But of course, Schrodinger knew none of this...
"...You are very clever. I think I understand why Tesla and Einstein were willing to help you."
Although Schrodinger was slightly surprised, her voice remained extremely rational, even sounding quite cold.
"While I can't say your current understanding is absolutely correct, humanity's rational cognition of the world and science has never been 'absolutely correct.' Just as new theories will always emerge to overthrow and replace old ones, humanity will sooner or later realize its past 'mistakes.' But at least, for understanding and solving the problems we face, and resolving the predicament we are in, it can already play a very important role. That is enough."
She was a scientist, and her way of speaking was naturally filled with the unique rigor and objectivity of a scientist. Or perhaps, this could be seen as the unique romance of a scientist.
Lin Wei, of course, understood this. In fact, he had heard several completely different interpretations and explanations of the Sea of Quanta before. Today, he had just heard a new version from Schrodinger...
"Dr. Schrodinger, among the several scientists I know, you are probably the one who is most like a scientist," Lin Wei said.
"It might also be that Dr. Tesla and Dr. Einstein, whom I know, interact with me more from the perspective of 'administrators of Anti-Entropy' rather than scientists."
"It's nothing. As a wanderer with nothing to do in the Sea of Quanta, one has to find something to pass the time. It just so happens that I use it for observation and research."
Schrodinger didn't show any particular reaction to Lin Wei's praise, simply continuing in her rational, indifferent tone, "Forgive my bluntness, but unlike me, you don't have that much time to waste on pointless small talk and pleasantries right now; just as I have yet to formally ask for your name."
Lin Wei was left speechless. Schrodinger's words sounded like criticism, even sarcasm. No wonder her former companions always complained about her being a "killjoy."
"My name is Lin Wei. As you said, let's leave a more detailed introduction for later. Before that, I have one last question."
Lin Wei didn't care whether Schrodinger's attitude towards him was friendly or hostile. Instead, he directly asked another question he was concerned about.
"Dr. Schrodinger, could you tell me how I will enter a world bubble, and what kind of world bubble I will enter? Is it possible that it will be a strange world lacking even oxygen?"
Lin Wei was still somewhat intimidated by this experience, which was almost like "transmigrating." After all, there were too many uncertainties.
"If you entered the Sea of Quanta near the moon or another planet, then—the answer is yes," Schrodinger said.
"Gravity traverses dimensions, and the Sea of Quanta is no exception. Because of this, world bubbles that are 'captured' by Earth's 'gravity' will naturally be imbued with information from Earth itself. In the process of their birth and demise, their form and the material world within them will naturally be close to the real Earth. By the same token, the moon, Mars, or other planets—the world bubbles within their gravitational influence will naturally be close to the corresponding center of gravity, which is that distant alien planet."
"...Is that so? I understand."
Lin Wei nodded thoughtfully. No wonder the world bubble related to the moon was just as desolate as the moon in the native world.
"So, the world bubble I'm about to enter will basically still be a familiar world, and there might be familiar people?"
Meeting a familiar stranger in a similar yet different world—it had to be said, that would be a rather strange experience.
Will I meet a good Otto?
Or an evil Kevin?
Lin Wei couldn't help but think. Or something else?
With his "top-tier luck" of having to face a boss wherever he went, Lin Wei had even prepared himself to "overcome all obstacles" in the face of all sorts of unimaginable difficulties and strange enemies...
Schrodinger didn't know what Lin Wei was thinking. She just said flatly, "That is not something I can know."
"Is that so? Thank you."
Lin Wei pushed aside those pointless imaginations and worries, smiled at Schrodinger, and said, "Then I'll give it a try."
With that, Lin Wei slowly closed his eyes and leaned back gracefully, just like when he had stood on the edge of the native world and leaped into the endless abyss of the Sea of Quanta.
He knew that if Schrodinger wasn't deliberately deceiving him, the next time he opened his eyes, he would be in another material world...
As for whether to doubt what Schrodinger said?
Admittedly, she might have deceived or hidden things from him. But in the strange and dangerous special dimension of the Sea of Quanta, when he currently needed a "guide," she was almost his only choice.
They had just met and had no relationship to speak of. She was only helping him because of Tesla and Einstein. If they didn't get along, Schrodinger could turn around and leave at any time, and Lin Wei would have no way to stop her.
In this situation, "trust" was the repayment he had to give her. Lin Wei understood this, so after clarifying some basic questions, he unhesitatingly did as she had said: jump.
"..."
Schrodinger said nothing, nor did she make any move to stop him. She just calmly watched as Lin Wei fell back before her and then disappeared in an instant.
From beginning to end, neither the half of her face that was clearly visible nor the other half that was like a ghostly phantom showed the slightest change in expression.
...
"Falling into a world bubble"—it's hard to describe exactly what that felt like. It wasn't a real "fall." Instead, it was more like "entering a dream" or waking up from one.
The moment he acted, Lin Wei felt that his body should have fallen back, fallen down, enjoying freefall to his heart's content like last time.
But this time, it was the complete opposite. Not only did he not feel any substantial sensation of "falling," but he had a feeling of "plummeting."
That feeling was like the occasional "fall" in a dream, where your body and consciousness suddenly jolt awake in the next moment, and you open your eyes to a familiar room and bedding.
Lin Wei also "woke up" in an instant, and when he opened his eyes, he saw another familiar room.
In the past, waking up from a frightening dream of falling, he would see his familiar room and smell the reassuringly familiar scent.
All his anxiety would be quickly smoothed over by the realization that "it was just a dream," and he would peacefully close his eyes again, entering the next dream accompanied by the still-reassuring sleepiness.
But this time, when Lin Wei opened his eyes, what he felt was not the clarity and joy of returning to reality from a dream. What he saw was not any familiar room or bed, but a strange landscape.
All his memories were crystal clear, not the disjointed feeling of a dream. A biting wind blew past, and in an instant, Lin Wei was completely awake from his daze.
"Good news, I probably succeeded in entering a world bubble..." Lin Wei looked up at the gloomy sky covered with thick dark clouds and muttered to himself.
"The bad news is, there doesn't seem to be anyone around, and..."
Another cold wind blew past, and Lin Wei couldn't help but shiver.
"And, this snowy, icy place... it's so damn cold!"
The wind was biting, and the snow was white. The distant mountains were draped in silver. In the forest before him, every tree's branches were bent under the thick snow. A gust of wind blew past, and the snow fell with a "swoosh" onto Lin Wei's hair, face, and clothes.
If it were any other time, seeing such a beautiful winter snow scene by chance, Lin Wei would definitely stop to admire it. He might even get playful and build a snowman like a child...
But now...
"I was in North Africa yesterday, North Africa!!!"
Lin Wei, dressed in cool summer shorts, stood in knee-deep winter snow, his hair a mess in the wind.
"What the hell is this place?!"
...
Seele felt like she had a very, very long dream. In the dream, she went to a very, very far place, which made her feel so, so tired...
"Seele, Seele... wake up!"
An incredibly familiar and important voice sounded by her ear. Seele was stunned for a moment, and the deep sleepiness receded like a tide.
"Bronya... oneechan?"
She eagerly wanted to open her leaden eyes—how could she not recognize that voice?
But every nerve in her body refused to obey her commands, as if her soul was imprisoned in a corpse. No matter how hard she struggled and cried out, she couldn't move a single finger or make a single sound.
And so, she was so anxious she wanted to cry, but even the ability to cry seemed to have been lost...
"Seele, Seele... what happened to you? Wake up..."
Bronya's voice sounded more and more worried, and Seele wanted more and more to respond, struggling more and more desperately. But her consciousness remained sunk in darkness, motionless.
"No! Why?"
Seele was frantic with anxiety. Suddenly, the Stigma on her chest emitted a faint light, and in that instant, she sat up abruptly, her leaden eyes opening as well.
"I'm... free?"
Seele stared blankly at the blanket that had slid off her body. She reached out a trembling hand and carefully stroked its softness, feeling the warmth that felt like it was from another lifetime.
While she was still in a daze, she suddenly felt herself being held tightly in an embrace.
"Seele, you're finally awake! That's great!"
Seeing the unconscious girl finally wake up, Bronya was relieved and genuinely happy.
"That's great, really great..."
Feeling the familiar warmth of this embrace, Seele felt like she was in a dream.
"Bronya... oneechan?"
Am I dreaming?
BANG!
Just then, the door was kicked open, and a girl with a rather androgynous dress style strode in.
"Hey, Bronya, how long are you going to stay here?"
She casually threw a few dead rabbits at Bronya's feet and said impatiently, "I just went to hunt some prey, and you gave it to this love... huh?"
Her gaze shifted, and she finally saw the frail girl being held in Bronya's arms. She couldn't help but chuckle and sneer.
"Hey, the crybaby's awake?"