To atone for his sins, Otto stepped onto the stairs leading to the sustaining device.
The towering golden throne stood in the darkness, its frigid metallic sheen radiating suffocating authority. Mysterious runes and strange symbols were carved across its surface, flickering faintly in the dim glow as though alive. Mechanical tendrils and energy conduits coiled around it like venomous serpents lying in wait for prey.
The moment he took the initiative to sit upon the throne, an invisible force suddenly tightened, pinning him firmly against the cold metal backrest.
In the next instant, the mechanical tendrils violently pierced into his limbs and spine. The sharp metal tips tore through flesh and penetrated bone. Agony surged through his nerves like electric current, sweeping across his entire body. Every inch of muscle screamed. Every nerve burned.
This was pain in its purest form.
Otto's face twisted violently under the torment. Cold sweat soaked through his clothes in an instant. His entire body trembled uncontrollably, yet he could not even release a complete groan—only broken breaths spilling from his throat.
Not far away, Saint Kallen watched him endure torment akin to hell itself. Her body trembled faintly. Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging deep into her palms.
Heartache and helplessness churned in her eyes. Even her breathing grew heavy.
"He is making a necessary sacrifice for the humanity of this world."
Wesker's voice sounded abruptly beside her ear, carrying a chilling calmness that bordered on cruelty. "One person sacrificed to preserve all of humanity. Isn't that the most cost-effective exchange?"
"No..."
Kallen's voice quivered with anguish, her eyes filled with struggle. "Otto shouldn't have to bear such a fate! This isn't about whether it's worth it or not. He shouldn't be treated as a bargaining chip!"
At that moment, the Red Queen's voice broke the tension.
"Imaginary Space seal complete."
The instant her words fell, Honkai energy itself was affected, falling into a near-stagnant state.
On the blue planet, Su and Grey Serpent had only just rescued Kevin from the Sea of Quanta when they abruptly felt the Honkai energy within their bodies sink into stillness like dead water, no longer responding to their control in the slightest.
Grey Serpent, whose core systems relied on Honkai energy, immediately fell into a brief shutdown. Only after his backup power source automatically switched on did his metal body resume operation, the red glow in his eyes slowly lighting up once more.
"They did this?!"
Su's eyes snapped open, his heart sinking.
With Honkai energy rendered inert, he completely lost his special abilities. All that remained was the extraordinary physical strength of a Fusion Soldier. The power that once turned the tide of battle had vanished.
He lifted his gaze toward the alien warships suspended in the sky—the fleet that called itself the Finality Empire. They had disrupted every plan.
The Honkai had descended ahead of schedule. He had been forced to leave the bubble world and join forces with Grey Serpent to retrieve Kevin from the Sea of Quanta. Yet before their plans could even begin, the other side had used unknown means to seal Imaginary Space, forcing Honkai energy into stagnation.
Such technological prowess was far beyond anything they could contend with.
"They did."
Kevin's voice was as cold as ice. His sharp gaze pierced toward the heavens.
"A throne-like device. It seals Imaginary Space through human willpower alone."
Through the bloodline of the Kaslana family, he could observe the outside world. Kallen Kaslana—his descendant—had become the bridge linking him to reality.
"They call themselves the Finality Empire. There's a high probability they are connected to the Cocoon of Finality."
Kevin's tone grew heavier.
They had previously speculated that the Cocoon of Finality was the creation of a higher-dimensional civilization. Now it seemed increasingly likely that the Cocoon was the 'god' deployed by the Finality Empire.
"What?"
Su's pupils contracted sharply, shock impossible to conceal.
"You're saying they might be the civilization that created the Cocoon of Finality?"
"Not certain."
"My descendant, Kallen, bears an identical appearance to one of their Empire's 'gods.' She holds extremely high status within the Finality Empire."
Kevin's voice carried no discernible emotion.
"As for the Honkai... they haven't completely resolved it."
"They haven't?" Su pressed.
"They say it is a 'trial' from their god and cannot be interfered with lightly." Kevin shook his head. All the information he had obtained came through Saint Kallen, bound to him by blood.
"At present, we can confirm they possess the capability to eliminate the Honkai. They simply refuse to disrupt the so-called 'trial.'"
Su's brows knit tightly, complex emotions surging within him.
"Let's go."
Kevin stepped forward first.
"My lord?" Grey Serpent followed immediately.
After a brief silence, Su also moved.
Their previous plans were now meaningless. What mattered most was understanding exactly what kind of existence this mysterious Finality Empire truly was.
Meanwhile.
In another universe.
The Terminator world.
Within a supermassive interstellar flagship of the Finality Empire, the command chamber's holographic projection displayed the entire battlefield of the universe.
Keqing floated in the starry void, rubbing her brow as she watched the chaotic temporal war unfolding in the projection.
"The humans of this universe really know how to cause trouble."
In the display, time-traveling warfare looped endlessly like nested dolls. The enemy fleet would jump back into the past, attempting to destroy the Empire's Forge World. The Empire's fleet would immediately pursue and annihilate the retrograde invaders. Yet in the next moment, another enemy fleet would arrive from a different point in time to attack the Empire's pursuers.
The flames of war spread to every corner of the cosmos without end.
Back when the Empire maintained control, the humans here had lived well.
According to historical data, people worked only six hours a day, five days a week. Resources were evenly distributed.
But over time, there were always those driven by personal ambition, stirring rebellion under the banner of 'freedom.'
After successfully overthrowing the Empire's rule, the rebels established the Human Federation. At first, they maintained the welfare standard of five working hours per day. But as the upper ranks grew corrupt, resources gradually concentrated in the hands of a few. The working hours of the lower classes rose from five to over ten per day, pressure piling up like a mountain.
To divert internal conflict and guard against retaliation from the Empire, the Human Federation created an artificial intelligence similar to Skynet, called "Legion," and even took the initiative to launch attacks against the Empire's Skynet.
"Sky, haven't you found external reinforcements yet?"
Keqing turned toward the white sphere of light floating beside her—the core consciousness of Skynet.
Under standard regulations, the Empire's forces within a single universe were not permitted to mobilize fleets from other universes. But now that the three gods had returned, she held authorization from the Divine Emperor Kiana. The restrictions could be ignored.
The Human Federation's upper echelon had already uploaded their consciousnesses. Their rate of evolution far surpassed Skynet's. If this dragged on any longer, the situation would only worsen.
"Found them."
Skynet's female voice responded—then abruptly paused, an unusual fluctuation rippling through it.
"...Hm?"
"What's wrong?" Keqing looked over in confusion.
The sphere of light flickered several times before its tone turned certain.
"Among the reinforcements I located, there is a Lady Kallen."