I sat down on Pandora's small bed that was clearly meant for children. I looked at the solemn and rigid furnishings around me. I was speechless at this stubborn loli. Although Pandora's words and actions were becoming more and more like a normal little girl under my influence, there were some aspects, especially her living habits, that were extremely difficult to change. This bedroom, which could be used as a temporary battle center, was the most obvious example. If I didn't say it, who would have thought that this place was a little girl's bedroom?
However, it wouldn't be wrong to say that I didn't improve at all. My gaze slowly swept across the room, and I unexpectedly found a small and cute box on the bedside table. There were five or six colorful lollipops inside, showing off how different they were from the rest of the people in this room.
I immediately looked into the distance.
I didn't expect that after my Hugs, Dolls, Dolls, and Fairy Tales army was completely annihilated, it was actually the lollipops that were originally unremarkable that firmly defended their position. As expected, in this world, only lollipops were invincible and invincible weapons against lolis?!
I just don't know what expression the subordinate commanders would have when they came to Pandora's room to report the emergency situation and saw their general licking a lollipop by the side of the battle map …
Noticing that my gaze was focused on her lollipop jar, Pandora, who was originally sitting by the side waiting for me to speak, immediately blushed. Then, the little girl stood up with lightning speed, wanting to eliminate the culprit that affected her image as a general of the Empire.
Of course, I knew what Pandora wanted to do. Thus, I immediately grabbed her collar and carried the little girl on my lap. My expression was incomparably solemn and stirring, "Pandora, let this group of warriors who defend this terrifying place stand their last guard! Their comrades have already sacrificed enough … "
For the sake of those hugs, dolls, and fairytale martyrs that no one knew where the owner of the house had left them, lollipop warriors, you must hold your post in Pandora's room!
My words caused Pandora to instantly reveal a dazed expression. She blinked her eyes as she didn't understand why the topic would suddenly change to guard duty.
"Standing guard … Sicarro's soldiers should be at their posts …"
The little fellow couldn't understand how I treated cultivating her normal loli personality as an eternal battle.
"Okay, let's get down to business." I thanked the only lollipops that could pique Pandora's interest. Then, I patted Pandora's head and said with a serious expression, "Pandora, do you have an older or younger sister?"
"No."
Pandora replied in her usual concise manner. Her expression was still the same doll face that never changed. Other than the movement of her lips, her entire face was like a fixed sculpture.
"No sisters?" I thought for a moment and changed the way I put it. "Then … Is there anyone among the Shiring Apostles who looks exactly like you and knows you? If there is, how many of them are there? "
I recalled what Visca had said. She kept emphasizing that there were "many, many" Pandora, or even tens of thousands of Pandora. That was why I added the last sentence.
This time, Pandora's expression finally changed. She was stunned for a moment before revealing a pondering expression. Then …
I didn't dare to confirm what kind of expression it was. Perhaps it was surprise, perhaps it was confusion, perhaps it was realization, but … it could also be a hint of sadness and worry.
I didn't dare to believe that such an expression would appear on Pandora's face. That was why when I saw the usually cold face in front of me reveal such an expression, my first reaction was that I was hallucinating.
She must know something.
That was my first reaction. Pandora's expression had already explained everything. Furthermore, she revealed such a complicated expression, which meant that not only did she know about the existence of Shiring Apostles who looked exactly like her, but she also had a deep relationship with them.
"Pandora, what do you know?"
Pandora lifted her head and looked into my eyes. She had a rare expression of struggle on her face. Then, she lowered her head and didn't speak for a long time.
I could tell that she was very conflicted. However, the appearance of the black Pandora was too important. Even though my heart ached for Pandora, I couldn't not ask her.
Suddenly, I felt a small hand grabbing my hand tightly. Then, Pandora's calm voice rang in my ear. "Brother, they are … my shells …"
"Shells!?" I exclaimed in surprise. I suddenly recalled that Visca had mentioned this term before.
Pandora nodded silently. Then, she continued, "They were part of a huge plan of the Xiling Empire from millions of years ago. Most of the information regarding that plan has been lost, but the remaining information is still preserved in the memory cores of all the Shiring Apostles. This includes the 'Immortal Plan,' which is also the source of my shells …"
"Immortal …" I repeated this grand title in a low voice. I thought about the 'shells' that Pandora and Visca had mentioned. I had a vague guess in my heart.
Pandora's next words confirmed my suspicions.
"The Immortal Plan is a research on endless rebirth technology. This was an experimental technology that the Empire had carried out in order to ensure the survival of the top-level Apostles." Pandora explained in a calm tone, as though it had nothing to do with her at all. "The Shiring Apostles are a war race that was born to destroy the Chaos Abyss. Even though we don't know when we received this mission, but ever since the Empire's information center was established, destroying the Chaos Abyss has been listed as the highest order of operation for all Apostles. Almost every Shiring Apostle is a warrior, and all of them have to participate in the endless war against the Chaos Abyss. This will definitely bring about massive casualties. Low-level War Puppets are one-time-use consumables. They don't have any thoughts or intelligence, and can be mass-produced in factories at any time. That's why we don't care how many of them die in battle. However, mid-level and high-level Shiring Apostles are extremely precious, especially high-level Apostles who can fight against True Gods. Their battle experience and wisdom are absolutely not something that can be mass-produced or replicated. Their powerful individual strength means that such Apostles can't be mass-produced. That's why the death of every high-level Apostle is a tremendous loss to the Empire. In order to reduce this loss and preserve the precious high-level Apostles, we activated the Immortal Plan."
As if tossing aside all hesitation, the usually silent Pandora no longer held back on her words as she explained the entire plan to me. As for me, I was completely stunned by this astonishing plan.
Immortals didn't refer to creating a type of apostle so powerful that it was impossible to harm them. Instead, it referred to giving the chosen apostles the ability to be reborn indefinitely. To put it simply, it was to prepare countless bodies for high-level apostles and store them in various safe locations. Although the bodies of high-level apostles were abnormally powerful and mass-producing them was basically impossible, compared to their precious souls, creating some bodies was far easier. Also, these bodies didn't need to be as powerful as the original ones. As long as these high-level apostles could be revived, they would naturally be able to regain the power they had when they were alive in a very short period of time. It was just like how an archmage's soul in a novel would be reborn in an unremarkable body. With the memories and experience from when they were alive, the increase in power was completely possible.
Pandora was one of the participants in this plan. Although Pandora wasn't a great general of the Empire at the time, she still relied on her astonishing talent and outstanding achievements to obtain the opportunity to become an "Immortal". Her body was duplicated, and thousands upon thousands of soulless "Pandora" were stored in the core of a dead star that served as a research facility. These empty bodies were equipped with signal transmission devices that could cross dimensions. As long as the body Pandora was using died in battle, then all of her soul, including her memories, personality, and emotions, would be instantly uploaded and then injected into a certain sleeping body through the communication system, thus completing a complete revival.
However, this technology was still in the experimental phase, and there were many areas where it wasn't perfect. Pandora talked about many things, but I was sure that everyone had already guessed that I didn't understand a single thing … In any case, in the end, this plan was forced to stop, because the Xiling Empire's researchers had already found a more mature and reliable method to preserve souls. There was no need to expend a tremendous amount of resources to create a large number of backup bodies. Just a small soul crystal would be enough to preserve one's soul. However, in order to not waste resources, Pandora didn't destroy her backup bodies. Instead, she set them to an indefinite standby state, which could be considered a backup plan in case of emergencies.
Without a doubt, that black Pandora, the little girl I named Visca, was one of these thousands upon thousands of replacement puppets.
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