"I know her character well," Keisha said slowly, a trace of almost imperceptible gentleness flashing in her eyes. "If I were to give it to her directly, she would surely decline in panic, or perhaps even view it as a burden, restless day and night, only wishing to repay it tenfold. She treasures the quiet days spent with Minerva and would likely be unwilling to accept such a massive favor."
"Then we won't let her know," Hexi smiled slyly, having already planned it out. "The construction of a Fifth Generation God Body is incredibly complex. The initial framework and the cultivation of the energy core can be seamlessly integrated into her routine 'check-ups,' 'potential development,' or 'star dome adaptation training,' carried out quietly and imperceptibly. Once the foundation is deeply rooted and bound to her Dark Plane and soul wavelength, it will be a fait accompli. Even if she wants to detach it, she won't be able to. As for the final activation and manifestation... we can find a suitable opportunity, such as after repelling a strong enemy or achieving a great merit, and bestow it 'naturally' under the guise of a 'reward' or'spoils of war.' By then, the die will be cast, and she won't be able to refuse."
The legion commanders heard this and all wore knowing expressions. Dealing with their own pure-hearted and stubborn little benefactor, who is also the "king sword wielder," sometimes truly requires a bit of "benevolent" calculation.
"Hexi, you are fully responsible for this matter," Keisha decided. "Ensure it is handled properly; do not let her feel any psychological burden."
"As you command, Queen." Hexi bowed to accept the order, already planning in her mind how to "trick" her precious student.
"Next," Keisha's gaze became sharp again, returning to the main topic. "Regarding the trip to Earth. Hexi, can the full deployment of the optimized Third Generation God Body be completed within the planned time?"
"No problem!" Hexi said confidently. "The production lines have been adjusted according to the new model, and resources have been allocated. All combat Angels planning to go to Earth this time, including the new generation elites led by Yan, as well as the members of the infiltration team selected by Judgment, can complete the full deployment before departure! Combat effectiveness and survivability will be conservatively estimated to increase by more than thirty percent!"
"Very good." Sharpness gleamed in Keisha's eyes. "Then let us show certain people what a true 'whetstone' is! Pass the order: for this Earth operation, all participating Angels shall use the latest optimized Third Generation God Body as the baseline configuration! I want to let the demons, the Taotie, and all those with ill intentions understand what price must be paid for provoking the Angels!"
"Yes!" The legion commanders replied in unison, filled with killing intent.
"Finally," Keisha's tone softened slightly but remained unquestionable. "Regarding Artoria... will she participate in this Earth operation?"
Everyone's eyes focused again.
"I am her teacher." Hexi spoke first, her voice calm but tinged with complexity. "I have witnessed her purity, her kindness, her thirst for knowledge, and the beautiful bond with Minerva that must not be tainted. As her teacher, I truly hope from the bottom of my heart that she can stay away from the flames of war, enjoy peaceful years in the Silver Moon Observatory with Minerva, delve into the knowledge she loves, and live a safe, quiet life."
She raised her head, her gaze clear and sincere. "This is not to underestimate her courage or potential. On the contrary, it is precisely because I cherish her that I am even more unwilling to see her get involved in bloodshed and conspiracy too early. The battlefield is ruthless and ever-changing; even if we control the overall situation, we cannot guarantee perfection. She has the right to choose peace, and the Angels now have enough power to protect her. No matter what path she chooses, no matter where she wants to go, as long as the banner of the Merlot Heavenly Court continues to fly, no one, no force, can force her to do what she does not wish to do, nor can they harm her in the slightest! This is our promise to the wielder of the 'star dome,' and it is also our protection of her selfless gift!"
Hexi's words were resonant, filled with a teacher's care for her student, and even more filled with the absolute confidence and dominance of the Angel Civilization towards their benefactor and the defender of the symbol of royal power!
"However," she changed the subject, wisdom flashing in her eyes. "It is also because I am her teacher that I know more clearly that the path must ultimately be chosen by her. Whether to choose to stay in a relatively safe harbor, continue to accumulate, and stay with her lover; or to choose to step into the storm, witness the truth of the World with her own eyes, be tempered and grow in blood and fire, and grasp power faster to protect everything she cherishes... this decision should be made by her. All I can do is analyze the pros and cons clearly, and after she makes her choice, no matter what the road ahead is, I will do my best to protect her."
Hexi looked at Keisha and bowed slightly. "Therefore, Queen, I dare not overstep in this matter. Whether to inform Artoria about the Earth trip, and whether to give her the opportunity to choose, the final decision lies with you, and with her."
Keisha listened in silence, her golden eyes as deep as the Universe. After a long while, she spoke slowly:
"Inform her."
"Tell her the truth about what we know regarding the situation on Earth, the plans of all parties, and the possible risks and opportunities, provided it does not involve top-secret information."
"Then, let her choose for herself."
"Just as Hexi said, she has the right to know and the right to choose. And I, the Angel Civilization, have enough strength and determination to respect and defend any choice she makes."
"If she chooses peace, the Silver Moon Observatory will be her eternal paradise, and no storm shall dare to disturb her in the slightest."
"If she chooses to step into the storm..."
Keisha's voice suddenly rose, carrying the majesty that pierced through the galaxy and unparalleled dominance:
"Then I will make this storm make way for her! Let this battlefield become the ladder for her growth! Let the Universe know that the wielder of the 'star dome' is the star that I, the Merlot Heavenly Court, will give everything to protect! Her will is where the Angel's sword points! Her path will be accompanied by Angel wings!"
"Go and prepare. Let the stage of Earth welcome its true... protagonists and audience."
Keisha's projection slowly dissipated, but those resonant and unparalleled domineering words echoed like a great bell in the "Heart of Dawn" research lab and in the hearts of every Angel, lingering for a long time.
Inside the Silver Moon Observatory, soft artificial starlight simulated the dawn, spilling over the busy experimental workbench. Artoria was carefully adjusting a complex set of energy circuits, and a pale blue glimmer danced between her focused eyebrows. Beside her, Minerva's "first-generation body" stood quietly, occasionally her fingers would twitch slightly, or her eyelids would blink, showing that the consciousness inside was struggling to adapt to this new "home."
Just then, in Artoria's private communication channel, a special, slightly lazy and smiling voice sounded, appearing directly in her mind:
"Little Artoria~ What are you busy with? Did you miss your master?"
It's Master Hexi! Artoria's hand paused, and a relaxed and happy smile appeared on her face involuntarily. She quickly put down her tools, patted the non-existent dust on her hands, and connected the communication, and the projection of Hexi's beautiful face with a teasing smile appeared before her.
"Master Hexi!" Artoria's voice was full of joy. "Why do you have time to contact me? Is there any progress on the project? Or... did you find something delicious again?" Speaking of the latter, her eyes brightened slightly, recalling the experience of Hexi secretly taking her to a hidden restaurant in the Heavenly City to taste "Starlight Dew."
"Eat, eat, eat, only know how to eat, you little glutton." Hexi's projection tapped Artoria's forehead, her eyes full of smiles. "Let's talk about you first, and your Minerva, how is it going? Is that body getting used to it? Is there anywhere uncomfortable or uncoordinated?"
Mentioning Minerva, Artoria's expression became softer, with a hint of heartache: "Minerva is trying very hard to adapt... but, Master, the situation... might be more complex than we expected."
"Oh? How so?" Hexi restrained her joking expression, showing concern.
Artoria pulled up the data panel next to her, pointing to the fluctuating waveform on it and said: "Look, this is the synchronization rate between Minerva's consciousness fluctuations and the body's bionic nerves. Although the soul connection core is very stable, the pure dark information state consciousness has a large delay and'signal distortion' when it comes to fully controlling a materialized body, especially when performing fine operations and energy fine-tuning. Simply put, it's like... like using a pair of huge and insensitive mechanical gloves to pick up a needle; the thought is there, but the action is half a beat slow, and it's easy to use too much force."
She sighed, pointing to a slightly dented alloy table next to her—that was a "souvenir" left when Minerva accidentally crushed a cup while trying to pour herself a glass of water: "Minerva is very anxious and sad... she is afraid of breaking the body I worked so hard to make, and she is also afraid of being 'clumsy' like this all the time. I can only comfort her that this takes time to adjust, and... perhaps the body itself is not perfect enough in its compatibility with information-state life. I am trying to find a way to optimize the signal conversion efficiency of the bionic nerves, but progress is very slow..."
Looking at her apprentice's slightly frustrated but trying-to-be-spirited little face, Hexi's heart softened, but she didn't show it on her face, instead deliberately putting on a straight face: "Discouraged by just this little difficulty? Who was it that patted their chest and told me they wanted to overcome the problem of consciousness and matter fusion?"
"I am not discouraged!" Artoria immediately straightened her small body, her eyes becoming firm again. "I'm just stating the objective difficulties! I will definitely find a way! If that doesn't work... I'll redesign a body! Use better materials, more precise..."
"Alright, alright, I know you have determination." Hexi interrupted her "grand words," but nodded secretly in her heart. Not afraid of difficulties, having resilience, this is her good apprentice. "Technical problems can be solved slowly, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Minerva's situation is special, it can't be rushed. However..."
She changed the subject, a sly light flashing in her eyes: "Master has gained some insights from researching those 'little gadgets' recently, especially regarding the representation and interaction of energy and information at the material level... hmm, I've made some interesting little things, I'll send them to you later. You can take them as reference, perhaps you can build a... more special body for your Minerva."
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