Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles? (Chapter 481-482)

Chapter 481: Doubts

Unlike in the original world, the Cocolia in this world bubble was both an obvious nuisance and a useful tool for Lin Wei.

Working with her might not have been difficult, but it was meaningless in a world with a "loop mechanism."

She was the direct person in charge of the X-10 experiment, and her control and influence over its resources were clear. Therefore, the best solution was to use the "Welt" persona to make her willingly obey Lin Wei's arrangements.

The power of the Fenghuang Down might have been a shortcut, but unlike her original world counterpart, this woman's cunning was unexpectedly deep.

Weaving a false memory was easy, but if Cocolia sensed something was off and shrewdly discovered the truth, she might turn the tables on him and sabotage his plans.

After all, Lin Wei knew from experience that even he had been able to see through the illusion Fu Hua had personally woven and counter it. Therefore, he would never underestimate any other intelligent person.

The X-10 experiment could only be completed by her and her experimental team. Even if Schrödinger were the greatest scientist, she had no say in this matter.

Gaining her trust was ideal. As long as he could successfully step onto that operating table and entrust his "life" to "Cocolia's hands," whether she still had doubts would no longer be important. All she had to do was follow the procedure and start the experiment.

Leaving Schrödinger by her side was just a precaution.

If Cocolia was so cunning that she would wait until the last moment to sabotage the experiment and threaten Lin Wei, then with Schrödinger's extensive knowledge and research experience, even if she had no understanding of the X-10 experiment itself, she would be able to detect the possibility of danger at the first moment and intervene in time.

After all, unlike Tesla and Einstein, although Schrödinger had once been a helpless scientist like them, after being "gifted" with quantization by Otto and traveling for so long, she also knew a thing or two about fighting.

With her and Seele as his "quantum guardians," Lin Wei had almost nothing to worry about and only needed to focus on himself.

If this loop fails, I'll just try another method in the next loop!

Therefore, the only risk lay with Lin Wei himself—

"This is a very clumsy cover-up, Lin Wei. A cover-up for the main risk of this experimental process."

Before everything began, after hearing Lin Wei's detailed plan, Schrödinger calmly pointed out the issue that Lin Wei had been avoiding while he was talking.

"All the information related to this experiment is hearsay. And your so-called plan is just speculation based on this unsubstantiated information. It's like a rugged wilderness where you can't see your hand in front of your face, and you're stepping on the gas with no idea whether there's a cliff or a tree ahead. Lin Wei, do you know what a blind gamble you're making?"

She hated Lin Wei's unreasonable way of doing things. She had been fooled by him once before, and she definitely wouldn't let him off so easily this time.

"Doctor, why bother with these details? Alright..."

Lin Wei was a little helpless. Since it had come to this, he had to give a direct answer.

He took a deep breath and said, "You're right. I know there are certain risks in doing this. But, please listen, Ms. Schrödinger—the reason I'm so insistent is because the X-10 experiment in this world bubble is my only chance to reawaken my dormant Stigmata, to hear that long-lost voice again, to find the companion who is one with my soul."

Seele couldn't help but look up and stare at Lin Wei's still pale face. Lin Wei glanced at her, but didn't use her as an example again. Instead, he continued to meet Schrödinger's gaze.

"Doctor, from the first time we met, you were full of suspicion, even doubt, toward me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have appeared only as a voice for so long, but would have used your real form to guide me."

"...You knew from the beginning."

"It was just a guess. I didn't point it out. It was only after you showed yourself that I confirmed my guess. But that's understandable. After all, although you weren't sure about my identity, you were still willing to give me advice and help, which is already very much appreciated."

Lin Wei smiled and said, "Doctor, you were full of scrutiny and vigilance toward me before, and you decided to keep a certain distance from me. But even so, you were still willing to appear by my side. Isn't that also a risky behavior?"

"..."

Schrödinger was silent for two seconds, then sighed helplessly. "You're really good at twisting words."

"Twisting words? Maybe."

Lin Wei was noncommittal. He took out the small beacon from his pocket. "In the end, what made you willing to take this risk was this thing that represents your two companions, wasn't it? You've always believed in them, even after being separated for so many years."

"...I think you may be getting off topic, Mr. Lin Wei."

Schrödinger's calm tone sounded like a thesis defense advisor who was close to lunchtime. "Please let me reiterate, now..."

"I know, Doctor."

Lin Wei gently interrupted her insignificant protest and smiled. "You believe in your companions, and I believe in mine. Even if she is sleeping deep in my cells and can't wake up, I believe that when I touch her again, she will definitely respond to my call again."

"...A lyrical expression cannot hide the weakness of your argument. You are still twisting words, respected Mr. Lin Wei."

But as a science and engineering student, Dr. Schrödinger was too lazy to give his "defense" a big fat zero.

"But we're not debating, are we? The fact is, I am taking a risk. But there are always some people, some things in the world, that are far more important than a few cold numbers."

Lin Wei placed the small beacon in his hand into Schrödinger's hand and smiled. "After this world bubble ends, our agreement will be officially completed. If we have the chance, I hope we can officially become friends the next time we meet. Although in my opinion, the moment you were willing to appear before me for the second time, we were already friends."

"..."

Of course, she didn't accept Lin Wei's "farewell gift." Not only did she not react, but Seele—or rather, the usually hidden Veliona—also couldn't help but appear, almost snatching it and smashing it in Lin Wei's face!

Although she didn't do it, she still pointed at Lin Wei's nose and cursed him. You're playing the farewell game at a time like this?

Bad luck!

Then Lin Wei apologized awkwardly and sheepishly, and the matter was dropped.

But in any case, after being messed with by Veliona, this topic couldn't continue. After the slightly awkward atmosphere ended, Lin Wei's "proposal" was passed in a muddled way.

"..."

"What a shameless sophist..."

In a dimly lit room with flickering lights, Schrödinger sighed helplessly.

Cocolia's laboratory was a huge, enclosed space with a tall life support device in the middle. Thick, reinforced glass in the shape of a cylinder contained tons of oxygenated liquid, which glowed with a translucent blue light under the equipment's lights, clearly showing Lin Wei, who was already inside.

If it weren't for the fact that his limbs could still move like a lazy fish, and his gaze was scrutinizing everything around him, one could even use the word "lifelike" to describe this "specimen" in the jar.

"This is a novel feeling."

Lin Wei looked at the dozen or so probes that were constantly scanning him with a strange expression. He thought to himself that he had always been an "observer" outside the jar before. This was the first time he had been a real test subject, entrusting everything to a cold machine.

In the past, he had hated such things, because it meant his life was in someone else's hands.

But the second time he entered the Elysian Realm to find Mobius, he had already been mentally prepared for a situation like today's—that is, to lie on someone else's operating table.

It sounded contradictory, but in fact it wasn't. Lin Wei certainly hated having others control his destiny. At the same time, he also hated "loss."

To prevent losing some important things, he was willing to take risks for them.

Mobius's experiment was heart-wrenching. She hadn't directly cut him with a scalpel, but had fulfilled him in another way. Lin Wei had been relieved, thinking he had escaped this ordeal, but in the end...

"It still came to this."

Lin Wei felt the various intelligent robotic arms placing cold patches of various sizes on his chest, back, and limbs. He also endured one needle after another being inserted into his body.

Hiss... it really hurts!

Actually, the pain wasn't intense.

Compared to the erosion of Honkai energy, compared to the Elysian Realm, where his chest and arms had been beaten to the point of losing consciousness by Fu Hua's iron fists, compared to the countless times he had been hit and beaten on the battlefield later, this feeling of being injected was not even worth mentioning...

But, who the hell didn't hate injections?

Hiss, another one. Is it ever going to end!

Lin Wei was very angry. But he was Welt now. He had to be serious, calm, and have the self-awareness and self-cultivation of an actor.

So, he just calmly looked at the researchers at the operating console in the distance, and at Cocolia standing behind them, his face calmly passing the time as if it were years.

Is it not over yet?

"..."

Schrödinger seemed to have read his true thoughts, pursed her lips, and turned back to where she was supposed to be.

Cocolia called out to her coolly, "Dr. Schrödinger, if you still want a tour, I can give you a detailed introduction to every piece of equipment here after this experiment is over."

Cocolia gave her a cool look. "But now, we probably have other, more important things to do."

Everything was going smoothly. Not only was there nothing unusual on the other side, but during the security check before entering the laboratory, she had also secretly and repeatedly scanned every inch of "Welt" and Schrödinger's bodies, and even Seele was not spared. The result was that no suspicious items were found, which made her feel much more at ease.

She had taken full precautions. And if Welt really was just a clone, trying to cause destruction with stolen authority, then she could only take this base with her to the grave, while she and the experimental data and personnel she had copied beforehand would escape through another, more hidden escape route.

"Thank you for your reminder, Ms. Cocolia. Please rest assured, I am not trying to steal any information without your permission."

Schrödinger shook her head. "I'm just a little disappointed that compared to such an important experimental project, the experimental facilities here seem a bit crude. The only core equipment is just a culture container used to maintain basic vital signs."

Schrödinger pointed to the sealed chamber that already contained Lin Wei.

The entire laboratory was built around this one thing. Her emerald-green eyes glanced at Seele not far away, and she commented sharply in a calm voice, "So, the so-called X-10 experiment, in my opinion, is just to inject highly concentrated, purified Honkai energy into children like her and let them struggle in vain in pain. And the meaning of that life support device, to put it bluntly, is just to let these children struggle for a little longer."

Schrödinger found it hard to believe. This was the experiment that the original world's Anti-Entropy had once conducted?

Cruel, barbaric, and senseless!

Einstein, Tesla, what have you all been doing all these years?

"...Hmph."

Cocolia snorted coldly and didn't offer any defense.

The so-called "X-10" experiment was just that: using Honkai energy to stimulate the human body and awaken its potential, in order to master the ability to adapt to Honkai energy and use it to control energy.

This experiment was highly dangerous, so they could only find children with very high Honkai energy adaptability—and then "exhaustively" test the limits of what the human body could withstand.

The first child died. Record it. Next time, reduce the dose and lower the injection frequency.

The second child lasted three minutes longer. Record it. Next time, maintain this dose and continue to lower the frequency.

The third...

As the executor of this experiment, Cocolia knew better than anyone how cruel it was, but she had no choice.

Faced with Schrödinger's doubts, Cocolia just snorted coldly, then took a deep breath and said into the microphone next to her, "Lord Welt, we are about to begin."

"Mhm."

Lin Wei nodded. He had already made sufficient mental preparations.

The next second, a pale purple liquid was slowly injected into the chamber and quickly diluted by the transparent liquid. A few minutes later, a feeling of drowsiness and weakness washed over Lin Wei, making him close his eyes.

He knew that his own "X-10" experiment had officially begun.

Chapter 482: Slumber

"Seele, what are you thinking about?"

After Cocolia gave the "start" command, Veliona clearly felt Seele's body tremble violently. The movement was so obvious that even Cocolia, who had her back to her, was drawn to cast a glance at her.

"I... I don't know..."

Seele lowered her head, cowering, avoiding Cocolia's piercing gaze. "Coming to this place, Seele feels... very scared..."

This was her second time here. Although, strictly speaking, it wasn't the same place, the scene, which was no different from her memory, was constantly stirring the images in her mind.

The last time, she had come here with the courage of certain death, bravely and calmly facing her destined end. But after a long and lonely period, that initial bravery had become a thing of the past in her memory.

At that time, Seele firmly believed in the courage of self-sacrifice. But when she came here again, what emerged from the sea of her memory was one painful memory after another. Her body felt as if it were in a furnace, burning from the outside in.

That was the continuously injected Honkai energy, eroding her already frail body inch by inch.

Then, it was as if she were in a steamroller, being squeezed with all her might, and being torn and ripped by large hands from all directions...

So, when she finally regained consciousness, waking up from the excruciating pain that seemed to be able to shatter even her soul, and felt no pain as if she were liberated, her delicate and slender hands began to turn to dust before her eyes, and she watched herself being devoured by nothingness, bit by bit.

After that day, her world was left with only an endless darkness, and...

If that endless darkness was a terrible hell, then this laboratory, which had caused all of this, was the very gate of hell. It was as if another step forward would plunge her into the terrifying darkness, back into that hopeless abyss.

"Relax, Seele..."

Veliona had also experienced all of this. She quickly understood the fear that had been stirred in Seele's heart and patiently comforted her. "It's okay. It's all over. This is just a distant world bubble. You don't have to participate in that damn experiment anymore!"

"Seele knows that these things that have happened are not so terrible..."

Seele's face was pale, her eyes filled with tears, as if she were on the verge of collapsing under the bottomless fear. But while she was trembling with fear, she gritted her teeth and forced herself not to collapse on the ground. Her two pale hands were clasped tightly on her chest, as if in prayer. "The one who is really scared is... the Seele in this world!"

"What..."

Veliona was first surprised, then stunned, and then speechless. "So that's how it is..."

They had thought that their appearance in this world bubble was a complete replacement of the original Seele, and that she could only return after they left. Seele had even been filled with guilt for this. But it was only now that they suddenly understood.

It turned out that the cowardly Seele had been hiding in the deepest part of this body from beginning to end, curled up in a small ball, without anyone discovering her...

"Hiding in a corner where no one can find her whenever she's scared, that's really something Seele would do..." Veliona smiled bitterly.

"Wuwu... waah..."

Seele pouted, held it in, and then finally couldn't help but burst into tears. Her cries were like a flood, uncontrollable, and in an instant, they attracted everyone's attention.

Even Seele herself couldn't tell whether the person who was crying so mournfully was herself or the other Seele, who was as familiar and yet as strange as a frightened rabbit.

---||---

"Who is that? What are they crying about? Is someone dead?"

Even through two layers of medium, Lin Wei could still hear the faint sound of crying in the distance, and he couldn't help but frown.

What a grudge. How unlucky.

But he didn't have time to complain about it, because at this moment, he was in a strange and wonderful state.

He quickly understood the function of the pale purple liquid that had been injected into the chamber and had slowly dissolved—it was to deprive the test subject of the strength to struggle, to ensure the smooth progress of the experiment. But other than that, it didn't affect his consciousness or any of his physical senses. His sense of touch, hearing, and even pain were all normal.

Thus, Lin Wei also felt the pain that Seele and Bronya had once experienced.

The purplish-red Honkai energy solution was injected into his hands, feet, limbs, chest, back, and even his neck through dozens of slender tubes.

The next second, a burning pain, like that of sulfuric acid corrosion, appeared at these injection sites. Then, familiar purplish-red lines gradually appeared on his skin at these burning spots and spread out like a spider web.

"What a familiar feeling..."

Lin Wei watched the changes in his body with great interest, ignoring the unbearable burning pain. He just calmly watched these Honkai energy erosion lines, which had once made him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles, spread out, and then be pushed back bit by bit by his own super-high resistance.

"Hmm..."

Lin Wei pouted in dissatisfaction. It can't erode me? Are you even trying?!

He complained in his heart, then looked up and calmly met Cocolia's gaze from the control console. This level is not enough.

"Take Seele down first."

Seele's miserable state was very much in line with her usual performance. Cocolia just frowned, but didn't show much reaction. Then she turned her head and happened to meet Lin Wei's scrutinizing gaze.

She took a deep breath, then picked up the microphone and asked the last question in her heart. "Lord Welt, as a Herrscher, your resistance to Honkai energy is naturally far superior to others. But can the experimental data collected from you really be used on these other children?"

She had deep doubts.

"Herrschers are also human, Cocolia. Otherwise, Welt would not have stood with humanity and established the current Anti-Entropy. The Herrscher side of me goes without saying. As for the human side, I can feel a dormant Stigmata on my body."

Lin Wei's voice reached her ears from the chamber filled with the cyan solution, pressing the accelerator on everything. "Now, I entrust my body, along with my life, to you and Dr. Schrödinger beside you. You can do as you please, without caring about my feelings. If you can awaken such a Stigmata from me, then the entire concept of this experiment is feasible. If even I fail, then there is no need to waste any more meaningless resources and lives here."

His tone and demeanor were like that of a true leader, calm, steady, resolute, and unquestionable, as if the one on the operating table was a complete stranger.

"..."

Schrödinger shook her head, lamenting this man's madness.

"..."

Cocolia was also silent for a moment. She hadn't expected Welt's determination to be so deep. But if he failed, could Anti-Entropy afford the loss?

As for whether she would be blamed, she didn't care much about that.

"Don't worry, Cocolia."

Lin Wei guessed what she was thinking and smiled. "Schicksal has been hit and won't be a threat in the short term. Even if the experiment really fails... hehe, don't forget, I, Welt, am a Herrscher."

He was going all in with this persona. Hearing him say this, Schrödinger's brow furrowed even tighter.

Don't you know whether you're a Herrscher or not?

You're not leaving yourself any way out!

"...As you command, my lord."

At this moment, everything about "Welt" logically came together as a whole. Although there were still some minor inconsistencies, at this moment, these details seemed insignificant.

Cocolia took a deep breath, looked at the researchers at the various operating stations who were whispering and hesitating because "the test subject is Lord Welt," and said coldly, "Order, continue the experiment!"

Cocolia's authority was deeply ingrained in the souls of everyone present. Hearing her irrefutable command, they all shuddered and said in unison, "Yes, ma'am!"

Soon, more needles were accurately inserted into Lin Wei's body under the control of the robotic arms. The burning pain Lin Wei felt began to intensify, from the surface to the bone marrow, becoming more and more unbearable.

"Heh, I really asked for it..."

Lin Wei laughed bitterly and self-deprecatingly. But who could he blame for this?

After thinking about it, he simply closed his eyes, like an unreasonable madman, and "enjoyed" this feeling of his body being eroded, his tissues being torn, and his cells hovering between life and death...

Seele had awakened her Stigmata in such a process, so in the boundless pain, Lin Wei relaxed every nerve in his body, waiting for the warm feeling of a hot spring to come from his back again, waiting for the clear, cold sound of a mountain spring to ring in his ears again.

If Yae Sakura woke up and saw me like this, what would she say?

The half-asleep Lin Wei thought to himself. With her stubborn personality, she probably wouldn't say anything, just stare at me with her eyes full of blame and anger, waiting for me to give her an apology and an explanation...

What would I explain?

Lin Wei thought with a strange expression, then it dawned on him. Yae Sakura wouldn't want me to take such a big risk for her...

"Alright, alright, I apologize..."

Lin Wei thought as if in a dream, a playful smile on his lips. "Even if you want me to apologize, you have to wake up and be able to hear me!"

I did it. What do you think?

What an insincere apology, Lin Wei thought to himself. In his half-asleep state, he seemed to see the anger in Yae Sakura's eyes intensify.

Lin Wei showed a mischievous smile like a child. Come on, scold me, hit me, whatever you want~

At this moment, Lin Wei was like a child who would never grow up, eagerly "watching" the Yae Sakura he was "bullying." But he only saw the anger in her eyes fade by a third, the blame also fade by a third, all turning into a complex smile of helplessness. She looked at Lin Wei deeply, her eyes half-joyful, half-regretful.

What are you regretting?

Lin Wei thought with some confusion. The next second, he saw Yae Sakura shake her head, say nothing, and silently turn to leave, her long cherry-blossom hair fluttering in the wind, like scattered petals...

"Wait!"

Lin Wei was anxious. He quickly reached out to grab her, and then suddenly woke up. He only grabbed a cold robotic arm, and felt a sudden emptiness in his heart, as if something had completely left his world.

"..."

Lin Wei was speechless for a moment. He glanced at the people at the control console in the distance, who had been startled by the sudden change, then closed his eyes again and said softly, "Continue."

"...Yes, ma'am."

And so, everything continued.

A deep drowsiness once again washed over him, making Lin Wei fall into a half-asleep state again.

But this time, no matter how hard he searched, there was only emptiness. He could no longer find that cherry-blossom-like girl...

"Why is this happening?"

Lin Wei couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. He could clearly feel the presence of the Stigmata, radiating a familiar, gentle glow in the sea of his soul, as if it were within reach, as if he could just gently reach out and embrace it again, but...

"No, that's not right..."

Lin Wei shook his head. That's not what I'm looking for. But when he looked around, there was nothing else. It was the only Stigmata on his body.

"Why... is this happening?"

Lin Wei murmured to himself again. The next second, another memory emerged from the sea of his soul—

A doctor in a white coat typed a few commands on the computer next to him, handed a physical examination report to Lin Wei, and said calmly, "Don't worry, there won't be any major changes. It's just an 'independent Stigmata gene' being embedded into your own DNA and becoming a dominant gene expression."

"..."

Lin Wei was silent for a moment, just as he had been when he saw that report.

At this moment, he suddenly understood that he had succeeded, but also failed. He also understood what he had been resisting.

One more step forward, and he would have peeled off the dormant Stigmata. But that was just Lin Wei's own Stigmata. As for that beautiful, cherry-blossom-like girl...

To awaken one Stigmata, but to bury a girl...

"No, that's not right!"

Lin Wei resisted loudly, wanting to break free from that warm slumber.

The next second, the warning indicator for the experiment's risk suddenly lit up in bright red!

Cocolia was startled. Schrödinger turned to look, and Seele rushed out from the room next door.

What... what just happened?