In response to Little Li's undisguised disdain, Raven muttered a few things under her breath before quickly coming to terms with it.
Hmph! Saying something that ominous right before a big battle... It's no different from a soldier declaring, "I'm gonna get married as soon as this war is over!" He might as well have "DEAD MEAT" tattooed on his forehead!
I, for one, would never stoop so low!
However, Miss Little Island Bomber Raven did silently take note of the "Star-Field Hegemon's Mind-Wipe" Fuli had casually mentioned.
As a high-ranking executive of World Serpent, Raven had access to the continuously updated "Fuli Observation Reports" compiled by Hare on the organization's encrypted channels.
Coupled with the fact that Fuli himself was a walking headline-generator who got into fights every other week, his intelligence profile was already semi-transparent.
The only exception was the Key of Erosion. Even within World Serpent, only a handful of core members knew of its existence. Information regarding its specific abilities and operational mechanics was almost a complete blank.
Could this so-called "Star-Field Hegemon's Mind-Wipe" be one of Jizo Mitama's rated powers?
Her fingertips unconsciously brushed against the smooth, cold energy barrier of the shuttle. In the dim light, Raven's rose-red, serpentine pupils gleamed with a mixture of vigilance and excitement.
As a wielder of a Divine Key herself, she knew better than anyone just how powerful these weapons were.
After all, the entire reason they were risking their lives diving into this abyss of death was to obtain the core of the Key of Radiant Skies to fight the Living Ocean outside.
The thought that "obtaining detailed intelligence on Jizo Mitama's abilities" was a high-priority mission on World Serpent's internal job board—a mission that promised a massive resource payout upon completion—made Raven's heart race.
She even entertained the idea of using this rare opportunity, while they were on the same side, to personally experience the effects of the Star-Field Hegemon's Mind-Wipe.
Fortune favors the bold, after all!
Beyond that, as she studied Fuli's handsome profile, made even more striking by the eerie blue light, a dangerous and intriguing ripple disturbed the long-still waters of Ms. Ciora's heart.
Fun fact: Although Raven and Rita couldn't stand each other, they shared a startlingly similar, secret personal preference—both had a high initial favorability towards younger men.
Of course, neither woman was a degenerate. They would never harm or molest a minor. It was simply a subtle aesthetic and emotional inclination.
And Fuli... setting aside his terrifying power and laundry list of troublesome titles, if she could actually conquer this clean, handsome, and delectable young man... just imagining the absolutely exquisite expression on Raiden Mei's face when the news reached that bitch's ears...
The mere thought made it hard for Raven to keep the corners of her lips from curling into a wicked, gleeful smile.
Being NTR'd sucks, but doing the NTR-ing... well, that's a different story altogether~
After all, bullying Mei is practically the fundamental law of the Honkai universe!
"Hey, Little Brother Fuli."
She adjusted her posture, making the bust straining against her tight leather suit even more prominent, striking a pose that was both alluringly lazy and subtly probing.
"Not interested."
Fuli's reply was swift and decisive, as if he'd already known exactly what she was going to say.
"I haven't even finished my sentence yet!"
Raven choked, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
"Then what do you want? I'm not lending you any money either."
"Who wants to borrow money from you!"
The beautiful woman took a deep breath and decided to get straight to the point. "I was just wondering, is your Hyperion hiring? What are the benefits like? Is there a year-end bonus? Paid vacation?"
"What's wrong? Not happy at World Serpent?"
"It hasn't been very comfortable lately," Raven replied with genuine feeling. "I feel like a rat in the street. The moment I show my face, a whole mob of self-proclaimed heroes, bounty hunters, or just idiots looking to make a name for themselves comes swarming in like sharks that smelled blood... Heh. Without even considering whether they're qualified."
Fuli thought for a moment. "It's not impossible for you to join Hyperion, but you'd definitely have to sign a blank soul contract—the highest-level one, too. Just in case you decide to bail before your contract is up and run off with some of our core tech."
If this were his previous life, he would have never considered accepting her.
Why? Because in Arc City, Raven had conspired with Jackal to kill a large number of Schicksal's elite Valkyries.
Fuli understood the concept of "each serving their own master," and he didn't know those Valkyries personally, so he wouldn't hold a grudge.
But people have their priorities. He and Durandal were incredibly close—close enough to have shared a bed and been one step away from dual cultivation. He had to consider her feelings.
But in this new life, things were different. It was only October 2014, a full two years before the Arc City incident.
From a purely pragmatic standpoint, recruiting Raven was a viable option.
Hearing his reply, Ciora was genuinely surprised. "You're agreeing to it?"
She had been fully prepared for him to say no.
"Why wouldn't I?" Fuli countered. "You're a top-tier A-Ranker, experienced, with superb survival and adaptability skills. For Hyperion, which is in a crucial growth phase, you're a profitable acquisition by any measure."
"Well, in that case, great!"
The beauty mark by Raven's lips tilted upwards with her smile, adding to her charm. "If the day comes when I really can't stand it at World Serpent anymore, or if I feel there's no future there, I'll pack my bags and come running to you, Little Brother Fuli! You'd better save a good position for me!"
She thought being a secretary sounded nice. When there's a crisis, the captain handles it. When there's no crisis... she could slack off!
"Then you'd better do it soon. The benefits and status you get for joining an organization during its growth phase are completely different from joining after it's fully established," the boy replied coolly. "If you come now, you might get to be a core member. But if you wait until Hyperion is a major power... Heh. It's hard to say what you'll be worth then."
"Major power? That's on the level of a Herrscher. There's no way you guys could grow that fast..."
Ciora instinctively started to rebut, but her words caught in her throat.
She had just remembered that this "mid-sized organization" she was half-jokingly offering to join had, just six months ago, been nothing more than a tiny group of four teenagers and a non-combat transport ship. Calling it a "ragtag crew" would have been a compliment.
"W-Well, can I reserve a spot first?"
Raven licked her dry lips, a shrewd glint in her eyes.
She was met with three perfectly synchronized eye-rolls—two human, one fluffy. The look clearly said, Even if you have a peach of an ass, you shouldn't be daydreaming all day.[T/N: A Chinese internet pun on "想Peach" (xiǎng Peach), which sounds like "wishful thinking".]
"I won't reserve it for free!" she declared, throwing down her bargaining chip. "I can get you World Serpent's classified intel! Inside information! Absolutely worth the price!"
This time, the gazes directed at her shifted to undisguised contempt for a traitorous mole.
Hyacine even subconsciously hugged Little Ica tighter, as if to shield it from the unclean presence nearby.
Fuli, however, was a little tempted. "How about a little proof of value first? See if you have anything I don't already know."
Ciora clicked her tongue. "My, what a tone. You make it sound like World Serpent is completely naked in your eyes."
And it isn't? the regressor thought with a smirk.
"Alright, let's start with a big one," Ciora said, realizing this conversation could determine her future escape route. She steeled herself and dropped a bombshell. "We've known since the end of the Third Eruption that you've been secretly imprinting the highest-level Stigmata."
"One of the main reasons Gray Serpent and the others haven't intervened is because they're observing you. They want to see if you can actually succeed where Dr. MEI's plan was rejected by the Fire MOTH council, and become the Current Era's Artificial Herrscher of Finality."
To be fair, it was a heavy one.
Hyacine was dumbfounded. Artificial Herrscher of Finality? Were those words that could even be put together?
Fuli, however, showed no surprise. "This has something to do with that person who doesn't dare to sneak over anymore, right? Her observation reports must be very detailed."
"Who?"
Raven didn't catch on at first, then her eyebrows shot up. "Hare? You knew?"
"So she is one of yours," the boy said, his voice full of disgust.
Ever since his battle with the mind-controlled Fu Xuan, when his Setsuna Blade: Cold River Reflects the Moon had evolved into Divine Mirror, he had been able to detect the peeping tom who occasionally used her Stigma-transcribing abilities to possess Bronya.
Perhaps realizing she had been discovered, Misteln hadn't shown up at Hyperion a single time since.
She was probably afraid of getting pinned to the ground and... educated... by Little Li again.
Last time, Kallen had at least accidentally stumbled into the dreamscape and drawn some of his fire. This time, who knew what would happen.
However, Hare had misunderstood Fuli.
Even if he saw her face and figure, which were nearly identical to his mother-in-law's, while fully conscious, the most he would do is gag a little to express his discomfort. He wouldn't do anything too extreme.
The ones responsible for the sins were the ones who committed them. The Cecilia clones controlled by the Herrscher of Domination were also victims of the Theater of Domination.
"Artificial Finality?!"
Compared to Hyacine, who didn't fully grasp the concept of a Herrscher, Mimi's reaction was far more direct.
She immediately floated down from Fuli's head and grabbed his shirt with her little paws. "If you do that, will you be in danger, Little Li? Will you stop being yourself?!"
"Relax."
Fuli booped the little creature's nose and shot a reassuring look at the worried Hyacine. "The reason Herrschers go berserk is largely because their power is a gift—or a curse—that falls from the sky. I'm building my power step by step. I'm always in control."
System of Finality, give me a gacha pull!
"Besides, compared to that pipe dream, our priority right now is descending into this abyss."
As they talked—or rather, as Raven unilaterally defected and exchanged intel—Fuli's shuttle finally reached the location Eden had described.
Generally, the first two hundred meters of the ocean are known as the "photic zone," where sunlight is abundant and life flourishes.
Below two hundred meters, in the "twilight zone," the light fades rapidly. And below one thousand meters is the "midnight zone"—an eternal night where sunlight can never reach, a suffocating, pure, overwhelming blackness.
In other, more nutrient-rich oceans, strange bioluminescent creatures might paint a bizarre and lonely starry sky in the dark.
But this was Point Nemo, the "oceanic desert," a forbidden zone for life.
Just looking out through the crystalline barrier was enough to evoke a primal, instinctual feeling of oppression and solitude.
My ancestors, with the blood of the sky and freedom in their veins, were forced to live for generations in this sunless abyss...
Hyacine hugged Little Ica tighter. Just imagining that long, suffocating history of oppression and longing made her heart ache.
However, unlike the weaker Mimi and Hyacine, Fuli and Raven's superhuman vision could pierce the darkness and make out the silhouette resting on the trench floor below.
It was the shadow of a city, its surface shrouded in a constantly shifting, hazy shadow that concealed everything within.
Even when they extended their spiritual senses, it was like a stone sinking into mud—absorbed, deflected, or blurred by the barrier.
"Hmph! Looks like my guess was right! There really is a super-shield that can hold back the seawater~"
Mimi sat atop Fuli's head, her paws crossed, looking smug.
"Yes, yes, our Little Great-Auntie is the bestest," the boy placated her with an exaggeratedly childish tone, then shot a look at Raven in the corner.
The mercenary understood her role. As a top-tier professional who had danced on the edge of death for years, she was no longer the joking, crying mess she had been moments ago.
"My life's in your hands, Little Brother Fuli."
She stood up, stretching her neck and wrists, and gave the boy a smile that was both sultry and serious. A layer of greyish-black Honkai energy formed a thin but durable shield around her body.
In the next instant, her figure passed through the shuttle's wall, silently merging with the high-pressure, dark, and strangely warm seawater outside.
Mimi and Hyacine held their breath, anxiously watching the spot where Raven had disappeared.
Fuli's right hand rested quietly on the hilt of Evernight, ready to react to any sudden developments.
Time flowed in the dead silence of the deep sea, each second stretching into ten.
After an unknown amount of time, a faint, rhythmic tapping sound came from the shuttle's outer shell.
"Pwah!"
Raven's figure slipped back inside.
The moment she entered, she spat out a mouthful of warm, salty seawater and shook out her dripping grey hair, sending water droplets flying in the blue light.
"What's the situation?" Fuli asked directly.
"Three things."
The mercenary wiped her face, her posture sharp and alert in the dim light. "First, the barrier itself is incredibly strong. Based on my initial probing, even an A-Ranker would have to expend a significant amount of time and effort to break through."
"Second, the water outside is much warmer than normal deep-sea temperatures, and it gets hotter the closer you get to the bottom. From this, we can basically confirm that this trench is sitting on top of a massive, active underwater volcano. If we were to go all out and try to force our way in, the energy shockwave could very well trigger a geological event. And then..."
She trailed off, but her meaning was clear.
"The entire city is built directly over a volcanic crater, using its immense thermal energy to power the city's shields and systems?" Fuli mused. "That's not surprising for Previous Era tech. What's the third thing?"
"Third, although the barrier is solid overall, I did a quick perimeter check and found a structurally unique spot directly above the city ruins. The flow and density of the barrier there are slightly different from the rest, forming a faint, door-like indentation." Raven winked at him. "You know the rest."
"An entrance..."
The boy thought for a moment, then had her lead the way.
Soon, they arrived at the spot Raven had described.
It looked no different from the rest of the barrier, still a hazy, shifting shadow.
But as Fuli scanned it repeatedly, he confirmed that there was indeed an extremely subtle node in the energy flow here, like a cleverly designed lock waiting for a key.
His gaze fell on Hyacine, who looked both nervous and excited. "Agent Hyacine."
"Here!"
The little healer straightened her back.
"Your ancestral heirloom—Water's Gleam Meets the Sky. You have it with you, right?"
"Ah! Yes!"
Hyacine was stunned for a moment, then an excited blush rose to her cheeks as she realized what he meant.
She quickly retrieved the foot-long, exquisitely carved flute from her spatial storage device.
Water's Gleam Meets the Sky. The unique, priceless heirloom Hyacine had inherited as a Descendant of the Sky.
It possessed the ability to guide the emotions of its listeners through music. Back at the Du Lan Fortress, she had used it to guide Cang Du into the beautiful dream woven by Phantylia for the Foxian slaves, successfully igniting the suppressed rage and hatred in their hearts.
"Water's Gleam Meets the Sky?"
Mimi floated over to the flute, reading its name aloud, before a look of realization dawned on her face. "So the fact that the Sky Kingdom was at the bottom of the sea was hinted at in the name from the very beginning!"
"Yes."
Fuli took the flute solemnly.
In truth, even if Eden hadn't come, based on the name alone, after spending two days searching the sky, his next step today would have been to search the sea.
But it was undeniable that Eden's arrival had greatly accelerated the process.
The drag and pressure of the deep sea would have still hampered his Lan Body, preventing him from conducting the kind of frenzied, high-efficiency grid search he could perform in the air.
"I'll be right back."
Leaving the protection of the shuttle, Fuli was immediately enveloped by the warm seawater.
Immense pressure squeezed him from all sides, only to be devoured as a light snack by his Abyssal Sublime Heaven.
Evernight hummed softly. The little dark red jellyfish appeared beside him, swimming back and forth, excited to be in its home turf.
The boy placated it with a gentle pat, then, holding the flute, he glided silently like a fish toward the entrance node.
Raven had already wiped away the deep-sea sediment, revealing a small, thumb-sized hole.
Without hesitation, Fuli aimed the jade flute at the hole and pushed it in steadily.
CLICK!
The crisp sound of a precision mechanism being triggered vibrated through his body. Before his eyes, the thumb-sized hole, like a drop of ink in water, rapidly spread and expanded.
A stable, rotating, azure vortex portal, large enough for several people to pass through, began to form in front of him.