Warning! Warning! Warning!
The piercing sound of the alarm blared, and the researchers, who had been on standby, immediately sprang into action.
"Report! The test subject's Honkai energy reaction is rising sharply! It's beyond controllable levels!"
"Dammit, what's going on?"
"Hehe~ I never thought we'd meet this way, my dear host~"
A voice, tinged with a wicked charm, rang out. The demon squatted down, looking at the incredulous Seele.
"You're… that voice that's always in my head?"
"Bingo! You guessed it~"
Seeing the trembling little rabbit, the demon's smile grew even more wanton as it explained, "I am the memory engraved within the Stigmata. Starting tens of thousands of years ago, I was artificially transcribed into the human genome to pass down the power and resentment towards the Honkai from the previous era."
"Inside that box lies technology, knowledge, and power far beyond this era. But you cannot wield that power right now. You will be devoured by it."
"But…" Seele bit her lip, her voice firm. "I have to save Big Sister Bronya."
"Bronya?" The demon tilted its head, a cruel smile spreading across its face. "Did you not hear what I just said? If you open it, you will die."
"But…"
"Aargh! How childish! If you die, I'll disappear too! Don't you dare drag me down with you!"
As it spoke, the demon transformed into the spitting image of Sin Mal and pounced on Seele.
"Crybaby Seele! You can't do anything right! How could you possibly complete the experiment? Stop daydreaming!"
"Sin Mal…" For a moment, fear gripped Seele's heart, but it was immediately replaced by resolve. She pushed her away forcefully.
"Seele is… No! I won't be afraid of you anymore!"
"Heh…" The demon laughed for a moment, then shifted into Cocolia's form and held out a hand.
"Seele, this experiment is too dangerous. I don't want to lose you. Come back, Seele."
"No, Mother. I've already made my decision…" Seele clenched her fists, her hesitation gone.
"Mm… You've grown up, haven't you?" The demon stroked Seele's head, embraced her, and transformed into Bronya's likeness, speaking gently.
"Bronya will be with Seele forever. It's alright if you don't do anything. I will always protect you."
"Bronya… doesn't want to see Seele disappear."
"Big Sister Bronya…" Finally, tears streamed down Seele's face. She reached out and returned the embrace.
She knew this was just an illusion created by the demon, but the sorrow in her heart was real.
"If… if Seele's experiment fails, then Big Sister Bronya will have to undergo it, won't she?"
"Every time Seele cries, Big Sister Bronya and Brother Amon are always there to hold me and comfort me."
"Words of escape like 'don't' and 'I'm sorry' used to bring me peace, but this time, I will not run away again."
The demon fell silent. It realized it couldn't seem to change its other self. She was determined to open that box.
"Seele… you truly are a kind child."
"Honestly, I don't know what to do with you. I'm telling you now, I'm not taking responsibility for whatever happens next."
"But no matter what lies ahead, I will walk with you. After all, I am you, aren't I?"
Two hands, one black and one white, pressed down on the lid together and opened it.
Faintly, a golden light flashed. Seele thought she saw Bronya turn around and smile at her.
0.2 seconds: The space around the test subject began to warp.
0.6 seconds: The metal sphere under her control erupted in a brilliant light.
0.8 seconds: The metal sphere vanished into the Sea of Quanta, and the distortion subsided.
These were the 0.8 seconds that encapsulated all of Seele Vollerei's courage and resolve.
Amidst the cheers that erupted in the laboratory, Seele slowly opened her eyes. She looked at her own hands, a wave of joy rising from her heart.
However, a sudden change occurred.
Seele watched as her hands began to turn ethereal, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Aww~ What a pity, Seele. It seems your body still can't withstand the power from the box."
"Seele, we're about to disappear from this world."
"Alright, alright. Before we vanish, let's go see our dear big sister one last time."
---o---
Meanwhile, at the orphanage.
Bronya leaned against a wall, her fists clenched tightly as she recalled the promise she had made to Seele a week ago.
She still remembered her own words, telling Seele:
"The sea… it's the color of Seele's eyes."
"Bronya believes that anyone who has seen the sea will fall in love with it. It embraces everything, nurtures everything, and makes one feel incomparably calm and warm."
"But once the life it protects is in danger, the ocean will erupt with astonishing power to protect everything it wishes to shield."
"So, Seele, summer is coming soon. Why don't we go to the sea together? Let's go to the Sea of Okhotsk, it's not far."
The promise of that day still echoed in her ears, but the person was nowhere to be found.
Seele, where are you?
From the shadows, Fu Li sighed as he watched Bronya huddled in the corner. He naturally knew what was on her mind.
He couldn't offer words of comfort right now, nor could he make any promises.
The only thing he could do—the one thing he was capable of—was to reunite them.
Gently closing the wooden door, Fu Li returned to his room, took out a laptop that looked exceptionally high-end, and began typing rapidly.
Go, Seele. Go and see Bronya. This separation is only temporary, and I will ensure you meet again.
"Report! The test subject has breached the outer wall! The target has left the Okhotsk Sea area and is heading southwest! The destination is… Lady Cocolia's orphanage!"
Dammit, what on earth is Seele trying to do?
Cocolia waved her hand without hesitation and issued the order, "Deploy the mecha units immediately! You must stop her!"
"Yes, ma'am!… Wait?!"
The researcher stared at the screen, which was now completely red, his throat suddenly dry. "Lady Cocolia, this is bad! Our mecha units have been infiltrated by an unknown hacker!"
"Our entire mecha force is paralyzed! We can't deploy them at all! Dammit!"
While chaos ensued in the laboratory, Seele had already prepared for battle, rushing with all her might towards the orphanage where Bronya was.
She didn't want to hurt anyone, but if anything dared to stand in her way, she would cut it down.
Unexpectedly, however, her path was completely unobstructed, as if someone had silently cleared the way for her.
Finally, spared from any battles, Seele arrived at the orphanage. Seeing Bronya curled up in the corner, she placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm back."