Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

11°20.9' N, 142°11.5' E

Over 6,000 meters below sea level.

The City of the Deep, a massive ruin, lay before them. Within it was the key core that could open the way to the Sea of Quanta.

It was like a seed in the center of a white pistil, floating quietly, waiting for its master to awaken it.

After Tesla easily cleared away some marine animals that had turned into Honkai Beasts, the device leading to the Sea of Qu-anta, never before seen by human eyes, could finally be activated.

And then...

The expedition party was blocked at the very doorstep of the City of the Deep.

Brothers, we see a giant snake the moment we step out the door. What should we do?

Kiana never would have imagined that the moment she entered the Sea of Quanta, before she even had a chance to get a good look at its quality, she would be greeted by the shadow of a massive serpent.

"To encounter an enemy like this right off the bat... the Sea of Quanta seems pretty deep. How about we retreat?"

Bronya felt the snake's gaze on her was a little hostile.

'Why are you staring at me? Did I do something to you?'

Little Bronya frowned and quietly retreated behind Noldrei.

Her feeling was not wrong. She was the only one carrying a Herrscher Core.

And this giant serpent just so happened to be solely focused on the problem of the Honkai.

"You are... a member of the Previous Era's anti-Honkai organization?"

Noldrei asked this question right away, seemingly unconcerned with whether the being before him was even human.

The City of the Deep... blocked at the entrance. They couldn't get in.

According to the information Durandal provided, an "anchor point" was crucial for pinpointing a world's location within the Sea of Quanta.

This meant that the giant serpent's shadow in the Sea of Quanta had a memory of the City of the Deep's "anchor point."

[You are... Kaslanas?]

The great serpent saw it at a glance. The figures emerging from the City of the Deep were clearly three Kaslanas and one Herrscher.

And this Herrscher's aura seemed different from those of the Previous Era.

'Damn, the fame of the Kaslanas is everywhere? How does even the Sea of Quanta know about you?'

Bronya felt the name "Kaslana" was like the "Will of D." from a shonen manga. Whether they were actually powerful was one thing, but you had to give them face.

"Man of the Previous Era, since you've found this place, why don't you go back?"

Noldrei's question was also the serpent's question.

It was obvious the serpent didn't want to go back; he simply couldn't.

If the City of the Deep hadn't been activated, he wouldn't have been able to find its anchor point.

But once it was activated... well, here came our serpent friend, knocking on the door.

[This is the crevice between cognition and existence. Having lost my anchor point, I could only wait for the City of the Deep to activate to capture it again.]

Durandal was a little surprised. She hadn't expected this serpent fellow to be so honest, telling Noldrei the truth right away.

She felt she might have done something wrong, because the serpent's aura was somewhat intimidating.

"I see. Were you also sent out by the Previous Era to hunt Herrschers? I'm sorry to tell you, but the Previous Era has vanished. Your mission is over."

Noldrei felt a little sorry for this fellow. According to the information he had, the Previous Era was already strong enough to crush the Honkai, yet they were still wiped out.

That meant the Previous Era was destroyed by internal human conflict. They had imploded on themselves instead of expanding outwards first.

So, Noldrei naturally assumed this serpent fellow was in a similar situation to him: the Herrschers at home weren't enough, so he had gone to a parallel world to catch one or two for use.

The serpent seemed not to have expected this. He was silent for a long time before speaking.

[I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean.]

"Quite the straightforward one. Kiana, these are your predecessors. You must take good care of him."

Noldrei even specifically instructed Kiana before turning to look at the serpent's shadow in the Sea of Quanta.

"I originally guessed you were a warrior sent by the Previous Era to conquer new territories. I assume you must have found a parallel world without the Honkai and killed all the natives there, right?"

"That way, we can transfer the civilians from our world over. I know you're heartbroken to hear about the destruction of your civilization, but don't worry, we will carry on the will of the previous humanity!"

Noldrei spoke with great passion, rendering the great serpent speechless.

The other party seemed to be processing the information in Noldrei's words. He couldn't imagine that someone would think he was a pioneer sent to seize resources from parallel worlds for humanity.

This...

Actually, that wasn't a bad idea, was it?

The serpent's mind couldn't quite wrap around it for a moment. He felt this descendant of his was truly a man of ideas. A normal person wouldn't have thought of such a "cuckoo-in-the-nest" plan.

Unfortunately, that path was impassable. After all, parallel worlds also had the Honkai. You could transcend it, but you couldn't escape it.

[No, I was just...]

The serpent hesitated for a moment. He didn't know how to talk to his descendant anymore.

This Kaslana descendant was a bit too fierce, already preparing to slaughter his way through parallel worlds.

[Parallel worlds also have the Honkai. We cannot escape it. Your idea is good, but it won't work.]

"That's fantastic!"

Noldrei was overjoyed.

What was this? It was like someone handing him a pillow just as he was getting sleepy!

"Kiana, Bronya, did you hear that? Parallel worlds also have the Honkai! That means those worlds must have Herrschers too. The problem of our world not having enough Herrschers is about to be solved!"

Noldrei laughed heartily. "This is the hope for human development! Countless parallel worlds, countless Herrschers, countless Herrscher Cores! In our world, everyone can have a gem, everyone can have a Divine Key! The good era of Honkai freedom is upon us!"

Durandal also hadn't expected Noldrei to strike such a rich mine. She shared in the joy, "That's great! This way, we can further expand the forces of Academy City and the Valkyries!"

Although Kiana felt something was a little off, she joined everyone in popping champagne at the entrance to the Sea of Quanta.

Little Bronya was a little scared. She was a Herrscher now, but did they have to treat Herrschers like this?

The great serpent was once again rendered speechless. Had he just heard something incredible?

What did you just say? Everyone gets a Herrscher Core? Everyone gets a Divine Key?

So you didn't come to the Sea of Quanta to find a way to defeat the Honkai?

You came so that everyone could become a Herrscher?

[This... you people...]

The serpent's shadow wanted to say something, but what was there to say?

He was already separated from the humans of the Current Era by a thick barrier.

Wait, this isn't how things are supposed to go!

Damn it, why?!

Didn't the Kaslanas inherit the will to 'take revenge on the Honkai'?!