Chapter 1348: Opherus 3.4 (383)

I'm afraid that's exactly the case. Zuotian lowered his head in thought, "Besides, there is also a number that is likewise a perfect number, but I don't know whether the appearance of this number is intentional on Laigushi's part or merely a pure coincidence."

What?

33550336. Zuotian extended a finger, emphasizing to the people nearby, "Counting this star's experience, it exactly matches the current number of eternal returns. If this number is also intentional on Laigushi's part, then it means…… the hatred of NeiKos in this lifetime has reached a 'perfect' state."

But I really can't sense any hatred from Bai'e at all!" Chunshun furrowed her brows, "Even if it is hatred, it is Bai'e's hatred toward Heichi, toward 'Destruction,' not hatred toward 'Knowledge.' Can this kind of 'hatred' be used by Laigushi?"

I don't know either. The so-called 'perfection' on Bai'e, to the Golden Heirs perhaps represents flawlessness, but in Laigushi's eyes it carries a different meaning——

Misaka Mikoto took a deep breath, speaking each word clearly:

——The most perfect 'Destruction' model.

——

"…Or perhaps we still have another option."

After a suffocating silence, Xilian suddenly spoke, breaking the calm.

"Just as you said, Opherus is merely an experiment; we are participants, able only to follow the set trajectory toward an ending watched by the stars..." Xilian slowly walked to Bai'e's side, "But that also means the 'Star God' casting a glance at Opherus is certainly not just one?"

"……Oh?"

Laigushi finally turned around.

This is the first time it has faced the girl before it directly. It is also the first time it did not immediately give an answer.

"Ah, is this question hard to answer? Or perhaps I guessed correctly, in fact…" Xilian, hands on hips, stared directly at the silent Laigushi, "Hasn't this world already been under the gaze of other Star Gods?"

"Because no matter how you think about it, it's strange." Xilian, hands on hips, tone light yet each word precious, "Obviously, as long as you coldly watch us complete the ritual, be swallowed by Heichi, your goal would naturally be achieved. Why go to the trouble of explaining all this to us?"

This time, Laigushi's silence was unusually long.

"You put on an act, laying out the so-called 'truth' in full, merely to deceive us and conceal another possibility…" Bai'e said in a low voice, "Opherus's fate is not limited to just 'destruction'."

"……"

Laigushi suddenly chuckled twice, then countered: "You two want to rewrite the ending written by the myriad stars with the humble status of a 'Demigod'? On what basis do you think you can do that?"

"Hmm… a little bit of courage and determination? Just kidding, the answer is actually simple——" Xilian placed the back of her hand behind her, giving Laigushi a playful wink, "But we have no intention of telling you♪"

——

Honkai 3.

"Xilian she, she is really smart——!!"

"Aili Sister, you saw that too, right? Xilian actually forced that genius club guy into speechlessness! Haha, look at its tone of speech at the end—it must be angry!"

Seeing Laigushi actively dodge Xilian's question, Paduo couldn't help clapping and cheering; in that instant she felt an indescribable sense of relief, as if Aili Sister had proactively shot an arrow into its face in the heavens—truly satisfying!

However, it's not completely satisfying…… until that bastard is thoroughly taken down, it doesn't count as a victory. She still understands that principle.

Ailixiya smiled lightly, her eyes reflecting Xilian's petite figure: 'Smart and cute, with a little bit of…… cunning? What a perfect girl—now Laigushi will have to pay for its contempt♪'

"But Aili, I also don't understand something." Eden's golden eyes glanced at her, "If Laigushi chooses not to reveal these truths to Bai'e and Xilian, they cannot learn more about Opherus's truth. Silence…… isn't that the best option for it?"

"Or perhaps it feels it already has victory in hand, thinking Bai'e and Xilian have no other means to overturn the ending it has written for Opherus?"

"It's not that complicated; I think it simply underestimated Xilian." Weierwei said lightly, "Deliberately releasing part of the true information or intelligence, trying to use information asymmetry to deceive others—Laigushi isn't playing this trick for the first time—earlier, in the Creation Vortex Core, wasn't it trying to lure Bai'e into completing the Recreation of the World in a similar way?"

"But this time, Xilian's cleverness exceeded its expectations. It intended to lure Bai'e and Xilian toward the 'Destruction' ending, yet it didn't expect Xilian to directly reverse-engineer that Opherus still has other endings…… this time, it's its turn to get its eyes pecked by an eagle."

——

As Bai'e raised his hand and brought down the blade, Laigushi's head rolled to the ground with a 'gurgling' sound.

"……"

Seeing Laigushi motionless on the ground, Xilian lowered her head in deep thought for a long while before slowly speaking: 'We must weave a long dream for Opherus, making it believe the experiment is still ongoing, everything continuing…'

Bai'e lifted his gaze to the totem on the far right of the vortex core: 'With Oluonisi's power, it should be impossible no matter what.'

"Yes. So I can only place my hope in that childhood dream…… the deity behind Oluonisi that appeared in that dream." Xilian said firmly, "Now I can be certain: 'Ages' is the page recording Opherus by that Star God (Fuli). If it disappears from the world, everything it has recorded will be lost in the starry sky, and that Star God will surely turn its gaze here."

"That will be a trans‑temporal glance, allowing each of my future selves to become your power to reset the Ages——infusing my soul into this ritual sword, creating an endless Fire Pursuit Journey."

Bai'e nodded solemnly: 'I understand. Let me enter reincarnation, continue Opherus's calculation… deceive the gods, deceive this world. But to make the Ages vanish from the world also means…… you……'

Bai'e paused, his Adam's apple trembling with difficulty; the remaining half‑sentence, he simply could not utter no matter what.

"All right, don't let the atmosphere be so heavy. What we're about to embark on is truly a hero's journey. So……"

Xilian's lips curled into a faint smile, that smile as clear and gentle as ever.

"Smile, okay?"