Beneath the blazing sun forged from crimson-black ethereal flames, a terrifying torrent of cold, seemingly capable of freezing the entire world solid, erupted instantaneously.
In mere moments, the desert battlefield Ren occupied was completely frozen solid by this heaven-shattering wave of frost. The soft yellow sand beneath his feet was instantly replaced by hard, smooth ice radiating a ghostly white chill.
Even the massive, crimson-black fireball hurled by Arsene began to slowly encrust with ice-blue frost due to the astonishing cold erupting from below. The lingering crimson-black embers of the setting sun slowly died out within the immense ice formation.
"This level of power... is a bit ridiculous, isn't it?"
The violent torrent of cold air slammed against Ren, coating even his black phantom thief attire with a layer of white frost.
Lowering the arms shielding his face, Ren stared at Kallen Kaslana, who had instantly transformed the desert battlefield, freezing everything in sight. She was now slowly turning her gaze towards him.
A bead of cold sweat couldn't help but form on Ren's forehead.
The power level of this Palace far exceeded Ren's expectations.
This wasn't a Palace a newbie like him, who had awakened his Persona less than a week ago, could possibly challenge normally. This was hell difficulty!
"Something's wrong. Are you... really Kallen Kaslana?"
Ren's brow furrowed tightly. He stared at the figure of "Kallen," whose sapphire eyes had transformed into icy blue bestial pupils—displaying traits utterly different from the real Kallen—and questioned her sternly.
Although he had never fought the real Kallen, Ren had witnessed her fighting style in Yae Sakura's Desire Stone memories.
The cognitive Kallen in Yae Sakura's Palace, while exceptionally skilled, wasn't unbelievably powerful like the one before him now.
Even the Yae Sakura Persona residing within Ren's heart began to doubt this strangely acting Kallen.
"I am Kallen Kaslana, yet I am more than just Kallen Kaslana. You may consider me Kaslana itself. The power I currently wield is Kallen's own, merely... revealing some possibilities she had yet to unlock."
The Kaslana Stigma Will, manifesting in Kallen's form, slowly clenched her fist, catching a drifting, crystalline snowflake in her palm. She responded to Ren in a level tone.
"This too is part of the trial. I will not use power exceeding Kallen's own level. When you truly defeat me, this power that Kallen had yet to awaken will also belong to you."
The power of the Kaslana Stigma ensures that the Honkai Beast ICHOR factors within the Kaslana bloodline never dilute or diminish, no matter how many generations pass. Regardless of the passage of time, those possessing the Kaslana Stigma retain the potential to awaken their bloodline and unleash the power of Active Honkai Reaction.
As the Will of the Kaslana Stigma, while she couldn't achieve a complete Artificial Cascade, she could certainly touch upon and wield aspects of that power.
"Joker, this isn't Kallen Kaslana's personal Palace! It's the Palace of everyone who possesses Kaslana blood! The Shadow you're facing isn't Kallen herself, but the Kaslana collective consciousness appearing in Kallen's form!!"
Just as Ren was puzzling over the Kaslana Stigma Will's riddles, Hare, observing from the sidelines, provided a timely explanation, revealing the true identity of the Stigma Will manifesting as Kallen.
"...Collective consciousness, you say? Isn't that remarkably similar to the Evil God?!"
Hearing Hare's revelation about "Kallen's" true identity, and seeing "Kallen" cross her arms without denying it, Ren's pupils abruptly dilated to their limit.
Ren knew only two examples of beings formed from collective consciousness.
One was Philemon, a god formed from humanity's collective unconsciousness. Igor, the master managing the Velvet Room, was a doll created by Philemon.
The second example Ren knew was the Evil God, Yaldabaoth.
Yaldabaoth was also a will born from humanity's collective unconsciousness, specifically a Treasure formed from the single, distorted desire for sloth.
The "Kallen" Ren faced now wasn't Kallen Kaslana herself, but the collective consciousness of the Kaslana family... No wonder this "Kallen's" personality felt wrong, and her power was unimaginably immense.
Though Ren didn't know what was so special about the Kaslana family that they could birth a collective consciousness...
Since this consciousness existed, even if its power couldn't reach the pseudo-god level of Yaldabaoth, it could definitely surpass the vast majority of Persona users.
"Indeed. The essence of this Kaslana collective consciousness is very similar to the Evil God, just significantly weaker. Calling her a Shadow of God wouldn't be inaccurate!"
Hare nodded, agreeing with Ren.
Kevin Kaslana, being the first and strongest Kaslana, exerted the greatest influence on the Kaslana Stigma Space.
One could even say the Kaslana Stigma Space was initially Kevin's personal Stigma space. Its purpose was to allow later generations of the Kaslana family to inherit Kevin's supreme power at any time.
Just as Hare was born due to Cecilia's Holy Blood Liberation and thus naturally inclined towards Cecilia's appearance and personality...
Kevin's importance to the Kaslana Stigma was so immense that the Kaslana Stigma Will would inevitably lean more towards Kevin's style.
Through the Kaslana Stigma's actions, Hare could glimpse fragments of the ideology of that "Evil God"—the Sovereign of World Serpent [Kevin Kaslana].
"...Stronger than me? An Evil God? Is that what you call him?"
"Kallen's" brow furrowed slightly. Hearing the conversation between Ren and Hare, she murmured thoughtfully.
"That's right. Given his extreme methods and the terrifying power others are utterly powerless against, being called an Evil God is entirely logical."
Ren and Hare clearly knew her true identity as the Kaslana Stigma Will, so they would naturally understand the formidable power she possessed.
The strength of the Kaslana Stigma Will was top-tier even across entire civilizations, capable of easily defeating even Herrschers.
There was only one existence universally acknowledged as stronger than the Kaslana Stigma Will, yet remarkably similar in nature—the first and strongest Kaslana: Kevin!