It was as if the entire space blurred for an instant. When the world snapped back to normal like a skipped frame...
The Kaslana Stigma Will, who had been heavily wounded and lying on the ground after taking Ren and Kallen's finishing combo, was now standing before Ren once more, completely spotless and without a single scar.
Previously, the Stigma Will had only used the power Kallen Kaslana herself could wield, along with a few latent possibilities Kallen hadn't yet tapped into.
Even Ren alone might have been able to defeat her under those conditions, let alone with the help of Kallen's own power from within the Kaslana Stigma.
Compared to the Kallen persona simulated by the Stigma Will, the Oath of Judah clearly recognized the real Kallen more readily.
Constrained by the Key of Binding and the inherent conflict between its power and that of a MANTIS, the Kaslana Stigma Will was defeated by Ren far quicker than she had anticipated.
What puzzled the Kaslana Stigma Will slightly...
Kallen Kaslana's Stigma power should still have been dormant. Yet, triggered by Ren's battle, she had awakened from her slumber and manifested herself.
With the Kaslana Stigma Will suppressing the purple iris mask that served as a beacon, Kallen shouldn't have been able to sense Ren's arrival so quickly and rush to the battlefield immediately. Yet, somehow, she had.
After pondering it, the Kaslana Stigma Will concluded that Ren's memories and cognition of Kallen must have resonated strongly with the dormant Kallen Stigma, acting like a powerful call that miraculously drew Kallen directly into this battlefield.
To be able to create such an unbelievable miracle, the Kaslana Stigma Will felt Ren possessed some kind of special "aptitude"—something she couldn't quite define but which undeniably existed.
If it was Ren... perhaps he truly did possess the potential to stop the Stigma Project and defeat that "Evil God," Kevin.
The Kaslana Stigma Will decided she was willing to gamble on Ren, betting that he could truly change the sorrowful and helpless future.
"Kaslana collective consciousness... speaking of which, do you have a name?"
Seeing the Kaslana Stigma Will stop fighting and adopt a friendly attitude as promised after the battle, without throwing a tantrum, breaking her word, and starting a Phase 2 fight, Ren breathed a small sigh of relief.
If the fight had continued, Ren wasn't confident he could defeat a collective consciousness just below the level of a pseudo-god at his current stage.
"There is no need for me to be called by a name. If you insist on addressing me by one, simply call me Kaslana."
The Kaslana Stigma Will, still maintaining the appearance of nun-clad Kallen, nodded slightly in response to Ren.
So, because it's the collective consciousness of the Kaslana family, it's just called Kaslana? Simple enough, I guess.
After silently musing on this, Ren eagerly posed his question to the collective consciousness before him.
"Kaslana, do you know the methods used in the Velvet Room to cultivate Persona abilities?"
As a consciousness born from a collective, Kaslana was the being Ren had encountered so far most likely to possess knowledge about nurturing Persona users, potentially providing immense help on his journey of rehabilitation.
"The Velvet Room? What is that?"
Kaslana crossed her arms, frowning slightly at Ren's question.
No matter how hard Kaslana searched her memories, she couldn't dredge up any information related to the term "Velvet Room."
"You don't know about the Velvet Room either?... It's a place that doesn't exist in the real world. It can change its environment depending on the visitor, but its essence remains unchanged. Its purpose is to prepare for impending disasters by selecting individuals with potential from humanity, inviting them in, and cultivating their abilities."
Ren tried describing the environment and function of the Velvet Room to Kaslana, hoping to get some effective advice or help from her.
The Velvet Room exists in the liminal space between dream and reality. Depending on the visitor, it appeared as an elevator (P3), a luxury limo (P4), or even a prison cell (P5). Basically, it could transform into any place—it could probably even become a disco if needed.
Every time a visitor was summoned to the Velvet Room, a pseudo-god or evil god ended up getting killed. Counting non-mainline games, each protagonist probably had at least two god-kills under their belt. That's the kind of pedigree the Velvet Room has!
"A special space, non-existent in reality, capable of changing its environment, and serving a cultivation function... I understand what you are referring to. But unfortunately, I cannot nurture you in the same way as the individuals within that place. Compared to them, the help I can offer you is limited."
After hearing Ren's description, a look of understanding and realization dawned in Kaslana's blue eyes.
The place Ren was describing... wasn't that the Elysian Realm space left behind by the Previous Era?
The memories of the Previous Era's thirteen Flame-Chasers were all recorded within the Elysian Realm.
Their paths and beliefs were passed down to the successors of the Current Era in the form of data-based Signets. Those chosen by the Flame-Chasers would bear their power and face the world-ending trials brought by the Honkai.
The Elysian Realm contained the Signets and legacies of all thirteen Flame-Chasers, including geniuses like Vill-V and Mobius whose minds were utterly unfathomable to ordinary people.
The Kaslana Stigma Will could, at most, grant Ren the legacy of the Signet of [Deliverance]. She was completely powerless regarding the other twelve Signets.
"If you have the chance, I believe it would be best for you to visit that place personally."
Therefore, Kaslana ultimately advised Ren to enter the Elysian Realm himself, visit the thirteen Flame-Chasers residing within, learn from their failures, and grow stronger by completing their legacies.
"Of course, I want to visit the Velvet Room personally! But unfortunately, that place has been sealed off tight by the Evil God. If I rashly enter the Velvet Room now, it'd be like walking straight into a trap... After all, the Evil God himself resides within the Velvet Room now."