"If you don't kill me, then I will make my move."
Xiao Te's prototype bowed to the three, then summoned dust to swirl around her.
"Hatred must be repaid."
"You're a bit too extreme." Theresis held his sword, but the blade was not pointed at his sister.
"Alright, I think I know what part of her is missing." Xing Chen looked at Theresa, "She lost her kindness and tolerance."
"Not necessarily. Perhaps the whispers of those ancient ancestors affected her too deeply." Theresa smiled and said to Xing Chen.
Although Xiao Te's prototype was ready for battle, the three showed no tension.
Because the Xiao Te prototype before them had been severely weakened; not only were her power and some of her thoughts separated, but she also lacked the most fundamental difference between Theresa and ordinary Sarkaz—the continuity of civilization.
In other words, she could easily defeat weaker opponents, but against top-tier combatants, she would immediately be incapacitated.
As expected, the moment Theresa made her move, Xiao Te's prototype was defeated.
"Why don't you kill me? Only then can the whispers of the collective souls be completely quelled," Xiao Te's prototype asked Xing Chen, puzzled.
"Because I want it all." The Theresa beside him was already perfect, but she was ultimately influenced by the future Seer and Prythian, no longer belonging to Terra.
And this defeated one was the true Xiao Te, belonging to Terra's civilization.
However, perhaps in the eyes of the Sarkaz, that benevolent, majestic, and powerful Demon King was Theresa, even though not everyone agreed with her ideals.
And the Xiao Te prototype, having lost these qualities, was merely a replica with her memories and some emotions.
If not for the Theresa beside Xing Chen, it would be normal for Xiao Te's prototype to be considered the original.
Unfortunately, with a substitute that looked more like the original, she naturally had no reason to exist; in fact, among fervent fans, she was an act of blasphemy.
But Xing Chen felt that although she was incomplete, she was the one who truly returned to the collective souls after Theresa's death.
If he could, he wanted to save everyone. Even if this outcome was not what the person themselves wanted.
Be selfish, then; who doesn't have a little self-interest?
"Once we obtain a portion of the Originium authority from Prythian, we can permanently eliminate the influence of the souls on the Sarkaz."
Theresa helped her prototype to the platform atop the tower, both looking up at the rhombus above them. At the same time, Prythian was also observing them.
"We are about to face the Creator." Theresis said to Xiao Te's prototype, "Wait for us here."
Xiao Te's prototype nodded.
Theresa paved the way for the three, and Xing Chen broke through the barrier with his sword.
The first crack appeared in the sky of the Internalized Universe, followed by the second, and the third. Finally, a broken rift appeared in the endless void.
Behind the rift was a white space. Under a giant machine similar to the inside of the sarcophagus, sat a black-haired woman in a white lab coat.
Seeing the arrival of the three, Prythian merely sat calmly at the control panel.
This was somewhat different from the scene Xing Chen had imagined.
"You've arrived," Prythian spoke in the Sarkaz language.
"You speak our language?" Theresis's expression was serious, his hand tightly gripping the hilt of his sword.
"I am a linguist; it's normal for me to speak multiple languages."
Prythian claimed to be a linguist in the game, but in the story, she almost exclusively spoke the language of the Pre-civilization.
Xing Chen felt that her being a linguist might refer to something else.
Considering the Doctor's ability to master an unfamiliar language with just a few conversations with Theresa, it was normal for Prythian to speak Sarkaz.
But they hadn't spoken first either.
"Guests from afar, would you like to rest first?"
Prythian snapped her fingers, and three sets of tea and pastries appeared out of thin air on the control panel.
"Don't worry, there's no poison. Since they're made of information, you won't get fat from eating them."
The kinder Prythian's attitude, the stronger the three's vigilance became.
"Xing Chen, would Prythian be so friendly to us?" Theresa leaned close to Xing Chen's ear and whispered.
"I don't know," he recalled Prythian's first meeting with Theresis in the game, which was almost an instant fight.
To Prythian, the current civilization was merely an unexpected variable in the Pre-civilization's Originium plan, an existence that needed to be erased.
But in later meetings between the Seer and M3 with Prythian, and in the process of adopting Hilda, she showed a very friendly attitude.
"It seems that except for the two times your brother broke in and Kal'tsit hissed, her emotions were indeed very calm," Xing Chen whispered to Theresa.
"Is that so? I know what to do now."
Theresa disengaged her combat stance, letting the continuity of civilization float above her head.
"Hello, Prythian."
Theresa decided to show her friendly attitude, just as Xing Chen had told her, an extra friend means one less enemy.
She stepped forward, came to the control panel, and sat down face-to-face with Prythian.
Xing Chen and Theresis stood behind her; if Prythian suddenly attacked, they would be prepared.
"Your appearance has changed significantly compared to the past," Prythian said with a smile, then gently pushed the tea and pastries towards Theresa, "Won't you try some?"
Theresa picked up the teacup and took a small sip. She was very familiar with this taste; she had once curiously tried a sip when Xing Chen was working late at night.
A lot of sugar was added, but it was still very bitter.
"My and the Seer's personal preferences, I hope you like them," Prythian also picked up her coffee, "You seem to have many questions; take your time. I have been in hibernation for ten thousand years, now we have plenty of time."
"Where is annanah?" Theresis asked directly.
"Right here." Prythian spread her arms, "This, is annanah. If you want it, take it."
Hearing Prythian's answer, Theresis slowly drew his sword. He had only drawn it halfway when Theresa stopped him.
They could sever Prythian's connection with annanah at any time, but next time, would they still encounter a Prythian willing to sit down and talk with them?
"A wise choice."
"Prythian, I want to know, what exactly happened to me?" Prythian shouldn't say frivolous words like "I know everything," but if she could detect a useful piece of information, that would be excellent.
However, Prythian did not respond, still smiling at Theresa.
What's going on? Did she not hear me speaking?