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The future of this world may have begun changing the day Xia Chen crossed over. However, Wendy only gradually realized what Xia Chen had truly done for her.
He gave her a new life.
That dream about the future wasn't merely a dream; it was the actual future.
If not for Otto creating quantum superposition in Klostern, which triggered memories related to herself, Wendy would never have understood her extraordinary fortune.
Thus, mustering her courage, she spoke up.
"Hmm, well..."
Xia Chen unconsciously rubbed his nose and said, "Actually, there's no need to bring up past matters again. It might be very significant for you, but for me, it was simply doing what I could."
He sensed the even more intense fervor beneath Wendy's composed exterior.
Wendy took another step closer. "So, what do you want to discuss then? Are you trying to keep distance from me?"
"No, I certainly don't have such disregard as you seem to think." Xia Chen shook his head.
Emotions were not the entirety of one's life; at least, that held true for him and Wendy. He wasn't narcissistic enough to believe Wendy would disregard everything solely due to her affection for him.
What he truly wanted to talk about was related to the Lunar Rabbit Suit.
Her unexpected appearance here caught him off guard.
"I just wanted to chat with you about our perspective on Schicksal's future. Whether we admit it or not, Schicksal is entering a new era, and we are seen as the villains who once hindered its arrival," Xia Chen explained. "That's why I thought we should discuss your thoughts on this matter."
At this point, Xia Chen indeed felt deeply uncertain.
Although Wendy was an S-Class Valkyrie, she wasn't indispensable. After Otto assumed God's Authority, the only remaining challenge facing the future was the Herrscher of Finality.
This world had not yet seen the emergence of Herrschers like Ice, Rock, Flame, or Death... but even if they appeared, they wouldn't pose significant difficulties.
He needed to plan for his next course of action.
Wendy looked at Xia Chen and asked, "Is this conversation because of that dream?"
The dream foretelling the destruction of the entire world sixteen years from now was a topic no one could avoid. Despite Schicksal's efforts to downplay public discourse on it, everyone remained deeply concerned.
Already, numerous individuals had approached Xia Chen through various channels seeking information about Fort Ark.
Xia Chen's confusion stemmed from the fact that, at this point, Fort Ark seemed to be the least risky plan. Both Project Stigma and Anti-Entropy's Entropy Reduction Plan were merely tragic struggles akin to ants against overwhelming forces.
Even now, he hadn't found a solution to counter Finality using the simulator.
After promising Ana to 'stay alive', he couldn't help feeling somewhat apprehensive.
Perhaps escaping Earth and seeking out a new civilization could be another viable option.
Xia Chen had been contemplating the idea of continuing to restore the Galactic Ladder.
"Yes," he admitted openly, "I am fearful, which is why I came to discuss this with you.
"You should know that having attachments makes me vulnerable; I cannot be a purely dedicated fighter."
"What thoughts can I possibly have?" Wendy maintained some distance as she spoke, "I'm just a warrior, practically half illiterate. Strictly speaking, the most optimistic scenario is that we still have sixteen years."
"In these sixteen years, we must continually adjust our readiness and give our best when the time comes." She looked at Xia Chen and added, "Moreover, even if something is from the future, it doesn't necessarily mean it will happen. For instance, my own future was altered by you, wasn't it?"
Wendy smiled, but it seemed forced.
Despite her casual tone, deep within her words lay only despair.
Changing the future was far from easy. Especially after Xia Chen's simulations, would humanity truly have these sixteen years left?
Finality's arrival was inevitable, Xia Chen knew well. The pheromones marking his body served as a constant reminder. It was merely a matter of time, sooner or later.
In simpler terms, even if Fort Ark were completed, he would have no chance of entering it. The pheromones marking his location left him virtually with nowhere to hide.
Wait...
Pheromones? Xia Chen suddenly had an idea.
Why couldn't he use pheromones to deceive Finality?
Based on previous simulations, Finality seemed more like an execution program rather than a sentient entity. Once a certain threshold is reached, it initiates its process.
The exact point of this threshold was currently uncertain.
Perhaps Finality occurs when Honkai concentration becomes either too high or too low. However, as long as humanity maintains within this threshold, their civilization remains temporarily safe.
"Wendy, can you assist me with an experiment?"
"What kind?"
"Catching bugs."
Xia Chen paused before explaining, "I've learned that some insects determine the locations of their companions and food through exchanging information via pheromones."
"So, I want to find out how far these insect pheromones can spread. Let's involve Alvitr; she should be proficient with technical aspects."
If viewed from the perspective that Finality acts like an insect, then both himself and Earth become marked prey by these pheromones.
Theoretically, if he could identify the source of these pheromones within his brain, analyze similar substances on Earth, and then eliminate them...
This would be a way to deceive the insects, potentially even deceiving Finality.
Without the simulation of "the final Honkai," Xia Chen might have believed that these pheromones were directly linked to Honkai itself. However, despite the simulation showing a significant decrease in Honkai concentration, it still attracted Finality.
This proved that while pheromones may have some connection with Honkai, it is not a strong one.
Of course, this approach has numerous flaws, but its advantage lies in the low cost of trial and error.
"Worried about something?" Wendy asked.
"Rather than worried, let's just say I had a sudden idea," Xia Chen replied. "After all, we don't have anything else to do at the moment, right?"
If his method to deceive the insects proves correct, various strategies could emerge against Finality.
For instance, creating identical pheromones in star systems beyond our solar system... The quickest approach would be for him to escape this civilization, carrying the pheromones along.
Xia Chen's thoughts suddenly froze.
"What's wrong?"
"No, nothing." He suppressed his racing thoughts.
His conjecture might not be accurate; perhaps it was merely wishful thinking.
"All right, I'm going to catch some bugs now. Those trees over there look promising."
He hurried away, almost like someone fleeing chaos.
Wendy, somewhat puzzled, followed nonetheless due to her trust in Xia Chen. Naturally, they also called Alvitr to join them.
Meanwhile, Anti-Entropy's group had reunited with Kiana after overcoming numerous hardships, reaching the entrance of the great hall. Li Sushang, who had been engaged with Kiana earlier, was nowhere to be seen.
Faced with everyone's questioning, Otto candidly revealed his plan.
"Returning to five hundred years ago benefits all of us, wouldn't you agree?"
Soon after, a shimmering curtain enveloped the northwest corner of Klostern, creating a sanctuary free from Honkai's decay within its bounds.
The Barrier of Order had descended.