The three ventured deeper into The Deep.
The moment they crossed the enormous threshold, the atmosphere changed.
The ruins outside had already been breathtaking, but what lay within was something else entirely.
The corridors seemed to stretch far beyond what should have been physically possible. Ancient structures floated at impossible angles, suspended in the strange gravitational field of the Sea of Quanta. Massive fragments of buildings hung upside down in the distance, while glowing streams of energy flowed through the ruins like rivers of light.
There were no visible lamps, yet the entire interior was illuminated by an eerie blue-white radiance.
The walls appeared to shift whenever Theresa looked away, as if the architecture itself couldn't decide which shape it was supposed to have.
For a moment, Theresa simply stood there, staring.
Theresa: "Is this… The Deep?"
She slowly turned her head from side to side.
Theresa: "Whoah. It's… it's so different compared to what we saw outside… it's like another world…"
Theresa took another step forward.
The ground beneath her feet seemed to tilt ever so slightly.
She immediately grabbed the side of a nearby structure.
Theresa: "Just looking around this place makes me feel dizzy…"
Bronya calmly examined the surroundings.
Her visor continuously scanned the strange structures, attempting to map the impossible geometry.
Bronya: "These ruins of the Previous Era appear rather unique."
She turned toward Einstein.
Bronya: "Dr. Einstein, what is the Sea of Quanta?"
Einstein stopped walking.
For a moment, she remained silent.
Einstein: "…"
She adjusted her glasses before beginning her explanation.
Einstein: "All matter in the universe is formed by quanta, and each of them brings innate uncertainty."
Einstein: "Once observed, a quantum collapses countless parallel universes to form one specific universe."
Einstein: "This is the basis of the famous Many-Worlds Interpretation, or MWI."
Theresa blinked.
She clearly understood some of the words, but not nearly enough to make sense of the entire explanation.
Theresa: "Okay. Erm… can you try repeating that in layman's terms?"
Einstein sighed lightly.
Einstein: "I'll attempt to use an analogy."
Einstein pointed toward the strange streams of light flowing through the ruins.
Einstein: "Assume that the universe is a glass of water surrounded by an infinite number of other glasses of water."
Einstein: "Overflowing water will flow along the glass walls to form a puddle in the middle of the table."
Einstein: "This puddle does not belong to any glass… but the water of the puddle may be from any glass."
Einstein: "People of the Previous Era found this "puddle" dimension between the myriad of other parallel universes."
Einstein: "This "puddle" was named the Sea of Quanta."
Theresa's eyes widened.
Theresa: "WHOAH. It sounds like something Rita needs to clean up… why not call it the Puddle of Quanta?"
Bronya raised a finger slightly.
Bronya: "Ahem. If the Sea of Quanta does exist, we might be able to reach other universes with it."
She looked deeper into the impossible landscape.
Bronya: "Is it really possible?"
Einstein shook her head slightly.
Einstein: "It's just a theory… and no one's ever seen the other end of the Sea of Quanta."
Einstein: "Getting inside the Sea is difficult enough."
Einstein gestured toward the ancient structures surrounding them.
Einstein: "From the archives of The Deep, scientists of the Previous Era managed to create a portal to enter the Sea."
Bronya looked around.
Bronya: "The Bronya guesses that portal would be these ruins…"
Einstein: "Correct. Natives of the Current Era call this place te moana kino, the malevolent sea."
Einstein: "In truth, this is not a city nor is it a fortress. It's a giant portal for entering the Sea of Quanta."
Einstein: "The best name for this portal would be the Eye of the Deep."
Theresa suddenly looked uneasy.
Theresa: "Eye of the Deep?! No wonder."
She glanced around nervously.
Theresa: "I swear I was feeling uncomfortable all this while. Turned out an eye was staring at me."
Einstein: "The Sea of Quanta slowly eroded the Eye and turned this artificial building into an alien dimension."
Einstein: "We attempted to explore the Sea of Quanta last year, but…"
Einstein's voice trailed off.
Her expression became noticeably more somber.
Einstein: "…I'll just say that we had failed."
Theresa noticed the change in Einstein's expression but didn't interrupt.
Einstein: "Tesla and I believed that we lacked the technological capabilities to explore the Sea."
Einstein: "That project was placed on indefinite hold. We never returned to The Deep…"
She looked ahead.
The strange light reflected off her glasses.
Einstein: "Until now… And for other reasons too."
Einstein: "We must get to the other side of the Eye, find the Gem of Desire, and return it to the real world."
Suddenly—
ROOOOOAR!
The ruins shook.
Theresa immediately reached for the Oath of Judas.
Bronya summoned Project Bunny behind her.
Several distorted shapes emerged from the darkness.
The same strange Honkai Beasts they had encountered on the island crawled into the chamber.
Their bodies twisted unnaturally as they charged.
Bronya immediately recognized them.
Bronya: "It's the new Honkai beast type we fought on the island."
Bronya's visor scanned the creatures.
Bronya: "Perhaps they're related to these ruins."
The beasts lunged.
Theresa thrust the Oath of Judas forward.
Multiple golden spears erupted from the weapon and pierced through the first creature.
At the same time, Project Bunny raised its enormous cannon.
BOOM!
A blast tore through the remaining beasts.
Theresa spun around and finished off another creature with a sweeping strike.
Within moments, the chamber fell silent.
Only drifting particles remained where the Honkai Beasts had been.
Theresa lowered her weapon.
The three continued deeper into the ruins.
Eventually, the strange passage opened into a massive chamber.
Einstein stopped.
Einstein: "We've reached the end."
Theresa stepped toward the edge and looked down.
Below them was an enormous spatial distortion.
The floor seemed to dissolve into an endless vortex of blue, violet, and black energy.
Fragments of ancient architecture floated within it, slowly disappearing into the depths.
Theresa swallowed.
Theresa: "Oh dear… it looks like a big mess down there. Do we have to dive into it to enter the Sea of Quanta?"
Bronya looked toward Einstein.
Bronya: "Doctor, to enter the Sea of Quanta…"
Einstein interrupted gently.
Einstein: "I've thought about this."
She stepped toward the edge.
Einstein: "I'll go in myself. Please protect the portal."
Einstein pointed toward the surrounding ruins.
Einstein: "While the Eye of the Deep is open, its energy emissions will attract nearby Honkai beasts."
Theresa immediately looked at her.
Theresa: "You? Alone?"
Einstein nodded.
Einstein: "Not everyone can enter the Sea of Quanta."
She looked directly at Theresa.
Einstein: "Madam Theresa, you've been feeling unwell since you entered The Deep."
Theresa frowned.
Theresa: "I'm just uncomfortable. I can still fight…"
Einstein shook her head.
Einstein: "It means that the Sea of Quanta is rejecting your presence."
Einstein: "The Sea affects people differently. Only a few could stomach its negative influences."
Einstein: "You're unlikely to survive exposure to the Sea."
Theresa reluctantly lowered her weapon.
Theresa: "Ugh…"
Einstein then looked toward Bronya.
Einstein: "Bronya seems alright, but I don't want to risk anyone."
She turned toward the massive spatial vortex.
Einstein: "I shall go forth on my own."
Bronya looked concerned.
Bronya: "Will Dr. Einstein be alright?"
Einstein gave her a reassuring smile.
Einstein: "I'll be alright. Trust me."
She then turned away from the portal.
Einstein: "That's enough for today. Let's head back to the Hyperion. We have so much to do next."