The Second Experiment

Quantum Shadows poured out like a tide. After dozens of experiments, Durandal knew them well.

To ordinary soldiers, they were a catastrophic threat, but to Bianka, they were a minor nuisance. Following the researchers' instructions, she moved through the simulated battlefield, eliminating them.

「Divine Key reaching threshold. Quantum layer breached. Entering phase two. Initiating coordinate observation.」

Deep beneath the city, ten Hyperion-class Honkai reactors roared to life, powering the Second Divine Key, the Key of Infinity, known as the [Cosmic Juggernaut], as it tore through reality, opening a path to the Sea of Quanta.

The unstable quantum immersion process constantly spawned Quantum Shadows. Durandal's task was to eliminate them, ensuring the experiment's safe execution.

Once the threshold was crossed, the Might of An-Utu would pierce through the Sea of Quanta, initiating the second phase.

Transitioning to a deeper, more mysterious realm, where the laws of the universe were shaped: the Imaginary Tree.

The energy expenditure was immense. Each experiment consumed the equivalent of a major city's annual power consumption.

There was no other option. It was almost impossible for regular people to study the Imaginary Tree. Otto's success showed how clever humans can be, something only Schicksal had the resources for.

The observation lasted mere seconds before the reactors reached their limit. In those precious seconds, the Honkai computer recorded millions of data points, yet the specific world Otto sought, the one holding the key to Kallen's revival, remained elusive.

Otto, understanding the experiment's difficulty, wasn't discouraged. He estimated maintaining a stable connection for thousands of hours to find the target world, a timeframe humanity likely wouldn't have.

"I hope you'll surprise me. Otherwise, we'll have to resume our pursuit of the Herrscher of the Void."

…

Two days later, disregarding the equipment's strain and the researchers' exhaustion, Otto ordered another experiment.

This time, Ren would participate.

After what felt like an eternity, Ren returned to the surface, greeted by scorching desert air and endless sand.

His face was pale, the aftereffects of the ARC City battle still lingering. He'd barely recovered before being brought here.

"Ren, you're familiar with the procedure, correct?" Bianka stood beside him, lance in hand, ready for battle. Despite Ren's apparent compliance, she remained vigilant.

Ignoring her, Ren channeled Honkai energy, a dangerous aura radiating from him. The heat intensified, melting the sand beneath his feet into glass.

As Durandal prepared to intervene, Ren chuckled.

"Relax. It's just a warm-up."

「Attention all personnel. Experiment forty-three commencing.」

The announcement came over the intercom. With Ren participating, Otto had prepared a special BattleSuit for protection.

The reactors roared to life. The sky tore open, Quantum Shadows raining down.

Originally, the Herrscher of the Void was the ideal candidate for opening the gate to the Imaginary space, but with her still at large, they had to rely on Ren.

"Ren-san, please begin." Otto's voice was tense. If Ren tried anything, he would pay.

Snap!

A small flame appeared in Ren's hand, then erupted into an inferno. The scorching flames cleared the sand, the oppressive yellow replaced by a vibrant orange. The flames coalesced, forming a massive sword.

This body didn't contain the Gem of Haste, but that allowed him to connect this place to his Theater of Domination. The flames were a disguise. The Theater was the true key.

He swung the fiery sword, carving a deep chasm in the ground. He looked towards the observation room, knowing Otto was watching.

He smiled, his eyes glowing with the Herrscher of Fire's orange light. He inhaled, then swung.

「Burn!」

The 40-meter blade sliced through the sky, forcing even Durandal to retreat. The intense heat and flames shattered the dimensional rift, far exceeding the reactors' output.

Otto, seeing this, immediately sent the Cosmic Juggernaut through the opening.

This time, bypassing the Sea of Quanta entirely, they pierced directly into the Imaginary space.

"The Herrscher of Fire can breach the Imaginary space? No, he can breach it." Even Otto, usually unflappable, was surprised. He immediately began observations.

Ren had deliberately opened the path. Due to the Theater of Domination, he could access the Imaginary space more easily than Kiana, the Herrscher of the Void. The Theater's proximity to the Imaginary Tree granted him greater access to the Honkai's authority.

But he didn't want Otto to discover the Theater. The path he'd opened led to a different location near the Tree. This was the bait: he could breach the Imaginary space, but not with pinpoint accuracy.

It was still far more efficient than Otto's brute-force method. And because the data was incomplete, Otto would need him again, solidifying his value.

「This way, Kiana will be safe from Schicksal.」

"I didn't expect you to cooperate with the Overseer because of Kiana." Durandal, having dealt with the few remaining Quantum Shadows, approached him. Bypassing the Sea of Quanta had drastically reduced their numbers.

"It's not cooperation. It's a transaction."

It wasn't even a transaction. It was bait.

Otto was too smart to fall for tricks. Pretending to be a simple, easily angered Herrscher wouldn't work. It was better to show his own cunning, to be seen as an equal.

For people like them, a clear transaction was more reliable than cooperation.

But the real bait was Ren's ability to open the path.

Dangle the hope of reviving Kallen, and Otto would take any risk. Whether Ren's concern for Kiana was genuine was irrelevant.

"People ruled by emotions are so foolish. Fortunately, I'm not."

Ren sighed.

"Then why make a deal with Otto?" Bianka asked, puzzled.

"..."

You sweet summer child…