MDV 301-312 (Patreon)

Lots of Extra Chapters here.

Chapter 301: Seven Thunders of Retribution - Another Out-of-Body Experience

“They built another workshop in such a short time?... But the scale... seems completely unnecessary.”

Meanwhile, after the banquet ended under the pretext of “giving Mei and Lin Ling some space,” Sakura wandered through the Elysian Realm alone.

She didn't seem to be casually strolling; she had a clear destination.

Soon, she arrived at a massive building.

The building was filled with various lathes, gears, and machine tables.

It appeared to be a workshop for weapons and tools.

Upon noticing a guest enter, the workshop's owner, Vill-V, greeted her.

“...Oh Sakura, you're here. You seem surprised? This place is far from complete”

Sakura subtly surveyed the "unnecessary" facilities around her. After all, this wasn't a real space, but after a moment's thought, she ultimately said nothing.

For a Flame-Chaser, giving "advice" was always a sign of arrogance.

So Sakura crossed her arms, her tone still icy but carrying a restrained compliment.

“Indeed, when you were building those bases, the progress was far more astonishing than this workshop. They were also far more secure; without sufficient authorization, no one could have taken anything from them.”

“Hmm...” Vill-V paused for a moment. “You really are terrifying, Sakura. What is this? An assassin's habit? The first thing you think about when seeing your comrade's work is how to exploit it?”

“This is a lesson learned from you... no,” Sakura shook her head slightly, “from 'her.'”

“Oh... the 'Expert,' right? As before, does she have any weaponry that needs maintenance?” Vill-V understood the implication, knowing Sakura was referring to her other personality. She shrugged.

“Your timing is off; she just fell asleep.”

Sakura stopped beating around the bush and stated directly, “You know why I'm here.”

“Oh... alright, alright.” Vill-V sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Isn't there anything that can keep you interested? Come on, it's time to return it to its rightful owner. Although I never have to think about anything related to 'weapons'... perhaps that's why I was somewhat... surprised to see it restored.”

With that, Vill-V snapped her fingers. The entire workshop instantly began to transform violently, like a Transformer.

Zzzzz~

Then, accompanied by intense purple lightning, Vill-V's and Sakura's hair was slightly tousled. A katana crackling with powerful electricity emerged from a locked workbench.

It slowly floated upward, then, as if a divine weapon had chosen its master, drifted toward the two of them.

Vill-V explained, “The third one is the Divine Key. After all, it's an early work by the 'Expert,' so the design is a bit conservative. While that random mood system is certainly whimsical, it doesn't change forms in the Elysian Realm.”

“That's exactly why it deserves to be fixed,” Sakura retorted coldly.

Vill-V complained slightly, “Oh... really? I think the ability to freely switch between seven forms during battle is much more in line with the definition of 'surprise.'”

“...”

Sakura didn't reply. Perhaps the creator found surprises interesting, but for someone who frequently faced life-and-death situations, it would be more of a frightening experience.

“However...” Vill-V smiled faintly. “Although this may be somewhat redundant... Sakura, what exactly do you intend to do with it?”

“It was originally my weapon. I don't think I need any additional 'purpose' to wield it again,” Sakura replied calmly.

“Oh~” Vill-V narrowed her eyes slightly. “But I seem to have heard that you only use this sword on special missions, such as 'cleansing house,' 'slaying traitors,' or even...”

Vill-V left the sentence unfinished.

Sakura replied without hesitation. “Those are necessary missions.”

“Oh... 'Necessary~.' Ahaha, it's alright.” Vill-V laughed again. “I was just asking casually. Although I wanted to borrow it for experiments, an accident happened, so I'll consider that my fault. But I'll still return it to you. You know... for me, 'surprise' is often more important than 'responsibility.' Go on.”

“No, Vill-V. It hasn't been truly completed yet.”

“Oh?”

Sakura reached out and slowly drew one of the swords from her waist. It was another weapon besides 'Frozen Naraka,' one that countless successors had never seen unsheathed.

Yet when it was finally exposed to the air, it looked crude, with barely a sharpened edge.

“Just a temporary substitute?... Oh...” Vill-V nodded thoughtfully. “So you mean...”

Then she smiled, grasped the Seven Thunders of Retribution—the blade Sakura had been reluctant to touch, the one that concealed the symbol of 'Conquest' within it—and slowly inserted it into the scabbard Sakura had just vacated.

Vill-V said, “That's right. Only this way is it truly repaired, together with the 'Expert's' design and that person's 'Discipline,' right? You actually wanted to retrieve that 'Discipline' as well... I really didn't expect that.”

Sakura replied. “You know about that.”

“I've sealed away some memories of your past use of it within the weapon, releasing a portion each time it is drawn, thereby multiplying the psychological pressure you feel while wielding the Shining Sword. Aponia has gone to great lengths to 'protect her comrades.' So I hope that both you and I... will get what we want from now on.”

As she spoke, her gaze never left Sakura's hand or the hilt of the Seven Thunders of Retribution. In her eyes, an unreadable sense of expectation flickered.

“You know, Vill-V, I've been thinking about something lately.”

Her hand finally rested on the hilt of the Seven Thunders of Retribution.

“That girl who keeps crying in my dreams... who exactly is she? And where does her hatred come from?”

“Oh?”

Only then did Vill-V realize she might have made a mistake.

But it was definitely... definitely quite an interesting mistake.

“Now, I finally know.”

Fifty thousand years had passed within the Elysian Realm.

In its owner's hands, the Seven Thunders of Retribution had once again been unleashed...

---

Chapter 302: Don't Rush to Play with Me/Undercurrents Are Simmering...

"Oh, right! Stop arguing! You can examine my body however you want whenever you have time!"

Suddenly, Lin Ling suddenly remembered something important and immediately interrupted the argument that had arisen from their strange competitive spirit. Then she asked Mobius.

"By the way, Dr. Mobius, where's Higyokumaru?! Why didn't she come with you?"

"Hmm? You mean the little fox?" Seeing that Lin Ling was asking about the little fox, Mobius replied curiously, "Didn't she come looking for you before I did? Haven't you seen Guinea Pig yet?"

"No." Lin Ling shook her head. "The last time we met was... the last time... oh no, in reality, in Miss Klein's office."

Mobius frowned. "That's strange. The Herrscher of Corruption showed a slight fluctuation earlier. She clearly took the opportunity to enter the Elysian Realm before us."

Mei thought for a moment. "Maybe... she's lost? But the name Higyokumaru... it sounds familiar, like I've heard it somewhere before..."

"Higyokumaru?" Elysia repeated the name with interest. "Sounds like another cute girl. Oh, Ling~ you're such a lucky star! Ever since you arrived, so many cute girls have appeared."

"Cute?"

Lin Ling's eyes drifted upward as she recalled the little fox girl. Sometimes she was innocent and naïve, calling her "big sister" and sticking to her like a shadow. At other times, she resembled a terrifying giant fox from hell, seemingly ready to devour her alive.

She replied with a complicated expression, "Well... when she's cute, she's... pretty cute, I guess."

"Heh heh~" Mobius chuckled mysteriously. "Don't ask, Elysia. You'll see what she looks like soon enough. Maybe she's an old acquaintance."

Elysia tilted her head. "An old acquaintance?"

She couldn't imagine what old acquaintance she could possibly have in the outside world after fifty thousand years.

"Liar! Big liar! You tricked me again! You're trying to kill me!"

Speak of the devil, and she appears~

Just as Lin Ling and the others were talking about Higyokumaru, accompanied by a deafening roar, a gigantic five-tailed fox suddenly appeared.

It opened its blood-red maw and swallowed Lin Ling whole!

...

"Eh? So that's what happened?"

"Oh, it's you, Ling~ I didn't expect to run into you again. It's been such a long time. And it seems you've regained your senses? Oh, I wish Sakura were here too."

Soon afterward, in the Elysian Realm garden, the girls, having cleared up the misunderstanding, sat together once more.

Finally, the petite pink-haired girl with fox ears scratched the back of her head sheepishly.

"Eh~ so that's what happened? So that fake big sister wasn't Lin Ling in disguise? It was the Herrscher of Corruption who orchestrated everything?! Damn it, I was completely fooled again! I'm so sorry, Lin Ling. I misunderstood you before. I thought you were lying to me again... I'm sorry..."

"Ahaha, it's alright, it's alright."

Sitting opposite her, the white-haired girl in tattered clothes let out an awkward laugh. "It's really not a big deal for me... and you might not believe it, but your bite didn't hurt at all. It just left me a little sticky and uncomfortable because of your saliva..."

"Hmm... then?" the little fox girl asked after a moment of thought. "Should I transform back into a fox and lick it clean for you?"

"No need."

Before Lin Ling could answer, Mei rejected Higyokumaru's suggestion on her behalf.

She didn't want Lin Ling to be further contaminated by someone else's saliva.

"Okay..."

After being scolded by Mei, Higyokumaru quietly withdrew and apologized again.

"I'm sorry..."

"Do you think saying 'sorry' is enough? Please don't be so reckless next time. At the very least, make sure you've identified your target before attacking."

Although Lin Ling had already forgiven Higyokumaru for biting her, Mei still gave the little fox a serious lecture.

"Waaah~"

Higyokumaru's fox ears immediately drooped.

"I'm sorry, Mei-nee... I'll never bite Lin Ling-nee again..."

"Alright, alright, Mei. This isn't reality anyway." Unable to bear seeing the girl so dejected, Lin Ling gently rubbed her fox ears. "It's only a piece of clothing."

"Hmph. Of course you don't care. There are only pretty girls here that you like, so you wouldn't mind being naked, would you?"

Mei glanced at Lin Ling's clothes, which were riddled with holes. Although the damage wasn't severe, her lover now looked rather disheveled, with parts of her body exposed for a certain pink-haired girl with elf ears to shamelessly admire. That left Mei slightly annoyed.

"Hmm? Why would I think that? I'm not a pervert. Oh right, Mei-chan... no... Mei. I just remembered, I think I can..."

Lin Ling closed her eyes and silently activated an ability she still wasn't very familiar with. A flash of light enveloped her, and moments later, a new set of clothes identical to the previous one covered her body once again.

Elysia watched Lin Ling's display in astonishment.

"Oh? This is... the power of the Herrscher of Reason? Ling, you've really opened my eyes once again. Just how many Herrscher abilities do you have? Now forget about Mobius and Vill-V. I want to strip you down and take a closer look."

Lin Ling froze.

"Huh? Strip... strip me?"

"So! Lin Ling, my dear sister~"

At that moment, Higyokumaru clung to Lin Ling's arm again, acting adorably.

"When are you taking me to meet my dear sister?!"

"You mean Miss Sakura? Hmm, she was just here. She should still be somewhere nearby. Let's go. There's no time to lose. I'll take you to find her now."

From the very first glance, Lin Ling had felt that the tall pink-haired girl with "rabbit" ears had an incredibly kind face. She and Yae Sakura weren't exactly alike, but they looked remarkably similar. At that moment, Lin Ling even suspected that Sakura might really be Higyokumaru's older sister.

Unfortunately, she had been paralyzed by Mei's electric shock and couldn't even stand, let alone speak. After that, one incident followed another, and despite immediately feeling a sense of familiarity with each other, the two never truly had the chance to connect.

"Yay!"

Hearing that she could finally meet her sister again—her real sister—Higyokumaru jumped with childlike joy.

At that moment, Mobius said to Lin Ling, "Well then, Mei and I are going to prepare for the memory extraction. The process is a little complicated, and we need to return to reality. You may have to wait a little longer."

"Okay."

Lin Ling nodded. Before they parted, she whispered into Mei's ear.

"Ahem, Mei. If Dr. Mobius does anything strange, like asking you to help with some other experiments, don't agree. Remember to come find me immediately."

"Okay... I will."

Seeing that Lin Ling never forgot to protect her, Mei nodded gratefully.

Then, looking at Lin Ling with obvious concern, she remembered hearing that this girl had already gotten involved with another girl in just a few days—the very same Kallen, the Schicksal saint from five hundred years ago, who had just been forcibly married by Aponia. Now, with an extremely dangerous pink elf constantly by her side, Mei whispered into Lin Ling's ear.

"You need to be careful too. If you encounter danger, remember to run away. Don't let anyone eat you."

Lin Ling tilted her head in confusion.

"Huh? Eat me? Are there any scary creatures around here?"

"Of course. For example, a certain pink elf..."

Afterward, the five girls temporarily split up.

Mei and Mobius returned to reality to extract the memories and create a new, genuine memory replica.

Meanwhile, Lin Ling set off with the two pink-haired girls, one tall and one short (not referring to their height), to look for Sakura.

However...

Strange things soon began to happen. Things were far from the smooth progress Lin Ling and the others had expected.

"Miss Sakura? I'm sorry. I only saw her at the banquet."

First, Lin Ling brought Higyokumaru to Hua, who honestly admitted she knew nothing.

"Miss Sakura? Although I invited her to my room to try on my new designs, she declined, and I haven't seen her since."

Eden, who was relatively close to Sakura, also said she hadn't seen her.

"Sakura-nee? Oh, I saw her. She went to Vill-V-nee's territory alone. But... I'm sorry. Her expression was so cold and intimidating that I didn't dare approach her."

Only Pardofelis had a useful clue.

"You mean... Sakura took the Seven Thunders of Retribution from you, and then she disappeared...?"

However, when Lin Ling and the others found Vill-V, the trail went cold once again.

...

"Strange... How could she suddenly disappear? Higyokumaru could have met her if she had arrived just a few minutes earlier..."

Lin Ling frowned in confusion. Sakura, who had been with them at the banquet only moments ago, had mysteriously disappeared. Everyone claimed they hadn't seen her since, as though she had vanished from the Elysian Realm entirely.

Success had been within reach, yet one unexpected event after another prevented Higyokumaru from reuniting with her long-lost sister.

She sadly lowered her fox ears.

"Eh... Big Sister... my big sister, where did you go? Could it be... that you don't want to see me?"

"No, that would never happen."

Elysia gently rested her hand on Higyokumaru's head.

"You know, don't let her quiet demeanor and icy beauty fool you. Whenever she talks about you, she becomes incredibly talkative. Your sister loves you more than anyone else. She would never deliberately avoid you."

"Um... Big Sister..."

---

Chapter 303: Deep Sisterly Bonds, Love and Hate Between Them~

“But… while your sister certainly wouldn’t hide from you, the way she looks now… emmm…” Lin Ling stroked her chin worriedly. “I have a bad feeling about this. I hope I’m just overthinking it.”

“!” Higyokumaru’s tail twitched.

“N-no way… isn’t this the Elysian Realm? Aren’t the Flame-Chasers all… friends? That annoying Herrscher of Corruption has disappeared. How could this be…”

“You two little idiots~” Elysia gave the two frowning little ones a light flick on the forehead. “Stop speculating. Sakura always prefers to be alone; she’s probably just taking a walk somewhere. But Elysian Realm is really too big. The three of us searching like this is too inefficient. How about we split up?”

Elysia suggested.

“Should we split up? But…” Lin Ling gave Elysia a worried look.

"I don’t mind. It seems you all know me, but…”

“Ling, are you worried about Ling’s safety? Indeed, after all, in everyone’s memory she’s still… but…”

Elysia understood Lin Ling’s meaning and gave her a very approving look. “Ling is indeed a gentle person; no wonder so many girls have fallen for you.”

“Hehe~” Lin Ling, suddenly praised, scratched her head sheepishly.

Clap, Clap.

“Then how about this,” Elysia suggested again. “You two newcomers can look after each other, and I’ll search alone.”

“Hmm, that works too. That’ll at least double the efficiency.”

Then the two groups split up again.

Lin Ling, with Higyokumaru, continued their haphazard search within the Elysian Realm, while Elysia quietly went off alone to another location…

…

Squeak~

With a soft sound, the door to the archives slowly opened.

Then the two pink-haired girls, one standing in the doorway and the other in front of the typewriter, met each other’s eyes as if they had expected it.

The surrounding gloom obscured Sakura’s expression.

But the weapon hanging at her waist was clearly visible.

“As expected, Sakura, you’re here.” Elysia smiled. “So, Sakura, are you still willing to believe me? Just like… in the past. Consider it my ‘request’… don’t do that, okay?”

Sakura then slowly said, “What’s wrong, Elysia? You have something to say to me?”

It was unclear whether she genuinely hadn’t understood Ellie’s words or if there was another reason…

Elysia didn’t seem to care, only looking at Sakura with concerned eyes.

"I’m just a little worried. In the Elysian Realm, there probably won’t be any situations where you need to use ‘Seven Thunders of Retribution,’ right? There won’t be any traitors here.”

“...”

The answer was silence. After a long while, a voice finally came from the other side.

“Elysia, I only want to confirm one thing. As for what will happen next… I’m sorry, I can’t make any promises right now.”

“Hmm, okay… I’m happy to hear girls’ private conversations… So, Sakura, what do you want to know?”

“It’s something a girl should know, and I want to hear the answer from you.” Sakura looked into Elysia’s eyes. “You might avoid the question, but you would never lie, and only you would prioritize this situation… Is it fair to me to remain silent?”

Her tone was so nonchalant, yet so chilling.

As people accustomed to life and death, they both understood that the deeper the grief, the calmer it appeared.

“Because of my past experiences, I have the most cognitive deficiencies within the Elysian Realm. Fortunately, everyone can share information, so there are few inconveniences and misunderstandings, except for one thing.”

Sakura’s gaze seemed to pierce through fifty thousand years, looking at the illusion of the past, or perhaps reality.

“For a long time, I’ve been trapped in the same dream. Beyond a desolate void, there sits a lone girl, weeping with hatred. Perhaps because of my amnesia, I can never remember who she is. Every time I approach her, I abruptly wake up. This dream shows no sign of disappearing; in fact, it’s becoming more and more frequent. It’s been so long since I learned… since I learned… that Rin was killed as the ‘Herrscher of Corruption.’”

“Hmm! ‘Learned’?” Suddenly, even the usually composed Elysia’s expression tensed.

In truth, she had had a premonition, especially after seeing the sword return to Sakura’s sheath.

But even after hearing Sakura say it aloud, Elysia was still utterly astonished.

Especially the phrase: “It’s been so long.”

“‘So long…’” Elysia understood the deeper meaning in Sakura’s words. Her eyes widened as she looked at Sakura.

“Sakura, you!?”

Sakura nodded slightly. “I… I always knew. After I died… no, rather, before I was about to completely die, Mobius transferred not only my memories but also my remaining consciousness into the Elysian Realm. So, I… I always knew…”

“Shortly after ‘The Tragedy of Binding’—”

At that time, to preserve the precious information of the last thirteen human MANTIS, Eden, at Elysia’s suggestion, funded the construction of the “Golden Garden,” later known as the Elysian Realm, to store the MANTIS’ memories.

However, before the garden was fully completed, Sakura’s younger sister, Rin, was detected with Herrscher signals within her. The tragedy of the Sakura and Rin sisters began from this point.

In the end, Sakura paid the ultimate price to lure her Herrscher-transformed sister into a trap…

But at this moment, seeing Sakura on the verge of death, Mobius had a bold idea.

Although Sakura’s life was already hanging by a thread, and conventional medical methods were powerless to save her...

...perhaps there was a way to “save” her, to resurrect her in another sense.

Subsequently, ostensibly, she claimed that the MANTIS’ memories were too precious to waste, and retrieved Sakura’s “body,” declaring that she would continue collecting and organizing Sakura’s memories to complete the Golden Garden.

But secretly, leveraging Sakura’s tenacious life force as a MANTIS, before she suffered complete brain death, she attempted to transfer her consciousness into the Elysian Realm using her latest research.

Of course, Mobius wasn’t entirely confident; after all, consciousness is humanity’s most wondrous and profound secret. Even this clandestine experiment wasn’t solely for saving her companion. To some extent, she also wanted to test the success of her “consciousness transfer” experiment to gather more data.

Unfortunately, Mobius failed, but fortunately, Dr. Mobius didn’t completely fail.

Before Sakura’s physical body completely perished, her spirit was indeed successfully transferred to the Golden Garden.

Meanwhile, for the peace of the Golden Garden, Mobius erased Sakura’s memories related to the “Herrscher of Corruption” to prevent any potential rampage or acts of revenge.

However, a person’s consciousness isn’t like a girl who can be dressed up at will. Even Aponia, even the Herrscher of Sentience, couldn’t completely control a person’s “soul,” let alone a strong MANTIS like Sakura.

Fragments of broken memories awakened unintentionally in her mind… Slowly, she dreamed of some things…”

“How could this be… When did it start? You never said anything… Hmm… Is that… so?”

Suddenly, Elysia understood something. She pursed her lips and looked at Sakura with emotion. “Sakura, when everyone was keeping this a secret from you out of goodwill, were you doing the same thing?”

Sakura smiled self-deprecatingly. “Goodwill? Not everyone was acting out of ‘goodwill.’ Everyone had a different conclusion in their hearts about the potential consequences of letting me know this. But… there were also people who genuinely didn’t want me to be sad.”

Sakura looked into Elysia’s sincere eyes and smiled. “Like… you.”

“Sakura…I…” Even the usually eloquent and articulate Elysia was momentarily speechless.

“Surprising, isn’t it?” Sakura continued.

“No, Sakura, you never surprise me. I just… don’t want to see you face such a painful choice again.”

“Yes, what a painful choice… I can’t accept letting go like this, but revenge would also lose its meaning… Who can I take revenge on? The ‘murderers’ who died fifty thousand years ago? Or Aponia, who has merged with the Elysian Realm and become the Elysian Realm itself. Eden always says ‘May time stand still,’ but I am the one who most wishes time would stop. Some things should end abruptly so that the beautiful ‘moment’ of today can be preserved. Once we step into the future, everything will be swept into chaos and pushed to… some unpredictable ending… In my opinion, the Honkai is such an existence. No one has ever truly made a mistake, yet they still lose everything. I… am not an exception.”

“I’m sorry… I should have realized it sooner…”

“Elysia, don’t look so guilty… It was my choice to hide it from everyone.” Sakura shook her head with a bitter smile.

“Rin… for a long time, she was my whole life. At first, I was indeed consumed by hatred. What I said before was just pointless rhetoric. Even now, though I understand it rationally, my emotions still refuse to accept it. Even though I’ve long lost the object of my revenge, I still have to endure the torment of this impulse… Perhaps, like Kalpas, seeking revenge against everything would lessen my pain a little.”

“But you didn’t do that… you didn’t choose revenge. So, you asked Vill-V to repair the Seven Thunders of Retribution, actually to retrieve your sealed memories?” Elysia’s gaze fell on Sakura’s waist, where the Divine Key hung suspended.

“Yes, I wanted to find the answer to free myself, but sealed by Discipline… all I have are memories of wielding my sword against my ‘kin,’ which is useless. Instead, here, through this wondrous typewriter, I realized that those images weren’t just dreams—including that night when I said goodbye to you.”

Once, after Rin was imprisoned by the Fire Moth, Sakura decided to forcibly take Rin away, leaving the Fire Moth and flying far away.

This act was tantamount to betraying all of humanity; therefore, the only person she chose to say goodbye to was the one she trusted most, Elysia.

Elysia then said regretfully, “It’s a pity… we should have left sooner. If we had…”

In that case, perhaps Sakura could really take Rin away and escape this place of trouble. And as long as Rin doesn’t die, she won’t awaken as a Herrscher, and all the subsequent tragedies might be reversed…

“No…” However, Sakura suddenly shook her head forcefully. “Elysia, what if I told you that the one who was hiding something back then was me? Before Rin was taken away by the Fire Moth, I originally had a chance to take her away, but… yes, Rin, she refused me.”

“What did you say? How could that be?…”

“Although in my eyes she’s still a child, in reality, she’s no longer. Rin, like everyone else, grew up witnessing a world rife with disasters. She quickly understood her own situation… even more so than the Fire Moth, worried about her uncertainty. Though terrified, she trusted the Fire Moth, believed Mei’s actions weren’t unfounded—voluntarily being taken away, not letting others bear the brunt of the storm because of her, that was the choice she made. And she also believed… Mei would ultimately make the right judgment. Even if the Honkai Eruption is such an unreasonable entity, we humans still have the opportunity to control ourselves. Through responsibility… through compassion.”

“She…” After hearing Sakura’s story, Elysia paused for a moment, then sighed. “She was a remarkable child. Didn’t you agree with her decision back then?”

“Yes, that’s why we had that farewell. And everything that happened after I came back… In the moment I regained that memory, I realized… the girl who constantly appeared in my dreams, she wasn’t just anyone, she was… myself.”

At this point, Sakura gave another self-deprecating, bitter smile.

“At first, I thought that pain and hatred were the echoes of Rin remaining in my heart… but that was a misunderstanding. Just as I mistakenly thought I was always protecting Rin, when I decided to go against my own initial intentions and Rin’s wishes to rescue her, our relationship had already reversed… So, actually, she was protecting me; the one who couldn’t leave her was me. Therefore! I absolutely cannot let myself go on a ‘revenge.’ A MANTIS like me, once she loses her rationality and can’t act on her own… the only outcome is becoming no different from a ‘Herrscher.’ And that would be tantamount to shaming everything Rin had tried so hard to prove. I can’t let her down again….”

Even though she was so adept at expressing her emotions, the “helplessness” in her voice still spilled uncontrollably.

“I am, after all, the ‘older sister’… I should set a good example, shouldn’t I?”

Sakura… how much suffering you must have endured in the past.

In that instant, Elysia understood that the girl before her had never truly let go.

The long and tragically lonely battle she endured within the Elysian Realm for fifty thousand years is unimaginable to others.

“So, Elysia, I only want to ask you one thing…” Sakura said.

Elysia raised an eyebrow, a bad feeling creeping in. “What is it?”

Sakura’s eyes turned cold. “Dr. Mei’s plan… did it succeed? Was Rin, now a Herrscher, successfully transformed into a Divine Key? Is she… still alive?”

“!” Elysia was startled. “Sakura, how… how did you know?”

Actually, Elysia had been deliberately leading the wrong way, taking a detour, because she wanted Sakura and Rin to avoid seeing each other for the time being. After all, the sight of Rin almost devouring Lin Ling when she first appeared had truly startled her. She could tell that Rin hadn’t fully regained her humanity and was still deeply affected by the Honkai Eruption… so she wanted to mediate, at least to test the older sister’s attitude toward her younger sister.

After all, in her understanding, Sakura knew absolutely nothing about what had happened after her sister became a Herrscher.

But things had taken a completely unexpected turn.

“I’ve been having dreams lately, dreams of things that shouldn’t belong to me, like someone intentionally planted them in my head.” Sakura gripped the hilt of Seven Thunders of Retribution, clenching her teeth, her voice filled with anguish and struggle.

“There was a giant fox demon, rampaging through a village, utterly cruel. Thankfully, a nun successfully sealed her away… But the instant she was sealed, I saw… that terrifying fox demon was… actually my sister? So… what I want to ask is… does Elysia, Rin, no, the Herrscher of Corruption still exist in this world? Has she broken free of her seal? Has she… returned to… the Elysian Realm?”

——————————————————————

Chapter 304: I Choose to 'Believe'!

"If one day, pulling the trigger on me like this could save the 'majority'...

What would you do?"

For no apparent reason, Elysia recalled a phrase—a question she had jokingly asked Kevin.

Back then, the icy figure remained aloof, offering no answer and only silently observing her. Perhaps he didn't know the answer either, or perhaps it was a question that didn't need one...

But, to Elysia's surprise, the very question she had once posed to someone else had now returned to her in a different form—from the perspective of an observer, one in which she felt utterly powerless...

Faced with this situation, what would the wise sages of the past say?

—"A person's choice is their destiny."

Given Sakura's personality, what choice would she make?

Sisterly love? A love-hate relationship?

Or would she let Rin go, only for Rin to be moved in the end, allowing the two sisters to live happily ever after?

Or perhaps a moment of leniency could lead to an irreparable catastrophe...

She wasn't a god; she didn't know what the future held...

So, what should she choose?

Deceive Sakura?

No... this couldn't be hidden forever, could it?

Should I tell Sakura?

Actually, it doesn't seem necessary. Judging from Sakura's words and actions just now, she seems to know everything...

Then why did she come to ask me?

Ellie looked at Sakura. In Sakura's eyes, there was confusion and inner conflict, and hidden deep within... a longing?

Sakura, you don't know what to do either? Are you struggling too? So... you want guidance from the person you trust most—from me?

In that case, I will never betray your trust—

Elysia took two steps forward and gently embraced the other. Sakura didn't speak, simply letting her body relax as she leaned into Elysia's neck...

Then Elysia said softly but firmly, "Sakura, Rin is back. She came to see you. But I hope you can trust your sister's decision this time, and also trust everyone..."

...

"Mobius, does he know you've returned?"

In the other reality, two girls, one tall and one small, one purple-haired and one green-haired, were stealthily making their way through the World Serpent base.

The taller, purple-haired girl seemed vaguely worried about something.

"Hmph No need to worry." Mobius seemed unconcerned. "Mei-neechan, you know what? I'm actually the owner of the Elysian Realm, and even the founder of this World Serpent! So this is my territory~ This secret passage is known only to me, so there's no need to worry about anyone discovering it."

"Is that so...? But it's been fifty thousand years... I'm afraid this place would have been discovered long ago." Mei still harbored some doubts and worries.

"Well," Mobius thought for a moment, stroking her chin. "Actually, even if he knew, it wouldn't be a big deal. The fact that he's doing nothing means either he hasn't discovered it, or he's tacitly approving of my actions. As long as I don't go too far, that little Mei's lackey won't care. Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Next, we should go find your senior."

"Senior?..." When Mei thought of World Serpent's senior, only one person came to mind. An image of a short-haired girl appeared in her mind, and she asked in surprise.

"You mean Raven? Wait, why are we going to find her? Aren't we going to extract my memories and then help Ling regain hers?"

"Extracting memories isn't urgent. After all, memories are important, but compared to Guinea Pig's life, they take a back seat. You should know, she carries the burden of a dangerous being."

"Life? She carries... a burden? Wait, are you referring to Higyokumaru?"

As expected of Mei, who was said to be perhaps even more suited to becoming the Herrscher of Reason, she immediately deduced Mobius's meaning from her pun, realizing that Mobius was worried about the Herrscher of Corruption from the Previous Era.

However, as a witness to 'Sakura-Samsara' and one of the people who almost replaced Lin Ling in entering the Stigmata space to save Theresa, Mei naturally knew something about Lin Ling and Higyokumaru's situation.

At that time, they combined the power left behind by Kallen to defeat the crazed fox demon, and Rei used her silver tongue to persuade and influence her, leading her to abandon her desire for killing and revenge and settle down.

So she asked doubtfully, "But hasn't she already regained her humanity? Just like me, she still has a spirit."

"Oh It seems that because almost all the Herrschers of your era were saved by Guinea Pig, you think it's a simple matter to help a Herrscher regain her humanity? Hehe How naive."

However, Mobius shook her head at Mei, clicking her tongue. "It's only temporary. As a Herrscher of our era, Rin and the Herrschers of your current era are fundamentally different. Back then, Elysia used her last strength to give the later Herrschers—that is, you—the possibility of regaining your humanity. But Rin, who became a Herrscher earlier, wasn't so lucky."

Mobius's few words seemed to reveal an incredible amount of information...

"..." Mei paused for a moment, quickly processing, analyzing, and understanding the other person's words. "You mean it was Elysia's sacrifice that gave the Herrschers of our current civilization the possibility of regaining their humanity?... That also means... if it's Higyokumaru, a Herrscher from the Previous Era, even if she can suppress the Honkai Eruption's consciousness for a short time, she ultimately won't be able to resist the Honkai Eruption's corruption?" Mei clenched her fists.

"Could it be... could it be that we ultimately have no choice but to..."

"Hmph." Mobius smiled mysteriously, patting Mei's shoulder. "That's not necessarily true. There are no flawless loopholes in this world. Even the Honkai itself can be manipulated, let alone a mere Herrscher of Corruption. Let's go. Although there were some setbacks along the way, the time should be almost ripe. We also have our own methods for dealing with the Herrschers from the Previous Era."

...

"Ugh..."

In the dimly lit room, a pair of crimson eyes suddenly opened.

Then she slowly sat up...

"Hmm... I actually dreamed about that woman... I don't know if that counts as a nightmare..." Raven looked around the dark room, remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head. "I have a feeling something bad has happened lately."

Then she stood up, intending to get a glass of warm water from the water dispenser to clear her head...

"Huh?!"

But suddenly, she caught a flash of cold light in the dim room, followed by an icy blade instantly pressing toward her neck.

"Someone's trying to attack me?"

Years of battle and countless life-or-death experiences allowed Raven's instincts and combat experience to kick in instantly. She immediately dodged to the side, avoiding the attack. The next moment, she swiftly drew a dagger from her thigh and launched a counterattack.

"Hehe What a vigilant Guinea Pig Please don't move."

However, just then, a childish voice rang out from the other side.

Although she was a high-ranking member of World Serpent and a former top mercenary, she was facing a combined attack from two people far stronger than her—a rather unsportsmanlike sneak attack. She was forced to surrender before she could even raise the alarm—

A knife was held to her neck from behind, leaving her unable to move.

However, Raven remained completely calm. Instead, she laughed and said to the person behind her,.

"This electric current, this power that makes my hair stand on end—my Miss Mei. What, suddenly attacking me? So you were just pretending to surrender, weren't you?"

"I'm very sorry, Raven. I meant no harm. My impolite behavior tonight was simply to avoid alerting others. I hope you won't take offense."

Now that she'd been recognized, Mei dropped the pretense. Maintaining a posture of readiness, she slowly approached Raven.

"I... just want you to meet someone."

"Hmm~ Could it be...?"

Although Mei held her life in her hands, Raven still couldn't resist teasing her with a smile. "So you're going to capture me and offer me to that little pervert? Is it Master's order? You don't mind?"

Mei ignored Raven's teasing and spoke directly, "No, it's someone else, and she's already here."

"Oh?" Raven recalled the childish voice from earlier and looked toward the other side of the dimly lit room with interest.

"Judging from the voice and build, she's still a child. I never imagined there would be a child with such strength in this world... Hmm!?"

Suddenly, Raven's eyes widened.

Just as she was about to ask who the little girl, whose strength was no less than Mei's, was,

unlike the static electricity generated by Mei's outburst of power, a face as venomous as a snake emerged from the shadows—a face that sent chills down Raven's spine.

As a member of World Serpent, Raven had naturally undergone trials in the Elysian Realm before. And what terrified her most during those trials wasn't the fire-wielding man who was always ready to fight and burn everything.

It was this indescribably terrifying, seemingly cute but actually venomous mad scientist before her—

"Mo-Mobius!"

"Yo My Guinea Pig, Number 12-34578 Long time no see~"

"Wait! Mei, do you know who she is? How did you two end up together?"

Mobius's appearance finally threw Raven, who hadn't panicked even with a knife at her throat, into a panic. "She'll kidnap you and perform horrible experiments on you! You'd better get away from her! And take me with you!"

Mei nodded calmly. "Of course I know who she is. Besides, didn't I just say I brought her here to find you?"

Raven looked incredulous. "How could you do this?! I considered you my best friend! How could you do this to me?!!!!"

"Hehe, look how scared you are." Mobius chuckled mischievously, lifting Raven's chin and examining her closely. "Hmm I must say, your body is truly one in a million—a perfect candidate for a host body This time, it should be..."

"N-No!" Mobius's words seemed to trigger some terrifying memories in Raven, and she looked at Mei, QAQ,

her eyes filled with a desperate plea for help~

Seeing this, Mei spoke, "Alright, Dr. Mobius, didn't you say the time was almost here? Let's not waste any more time. Let's get down to business."

"Official business?" Raven was startled again. What important business could this "mad scientist" possibly have with her?

Instantly, Raven's mind conjured up a whole host of horrific images: being captured, dissected, and reassembled with all sorts of random things...

However, Mei simply searched Raven's body for a moment before pulling out a strange device. "Hmm, so you haven't finished using this thing, and you're carrying it with you."

Mei then tossed the device to Mobius.

Raven immediately recognized it. This was the very thing they had intended to use against the Herrscher of Ice but had ultimately used on Mei instead—a precious artifact capable of temporarily disrupting the connection between a Herrscher and the Imaginary Dimension, thereby weakening the Herrscher's powers to the greatest extent possible—the Scepter of Duat.

"Huh? This is... the Scepter of Duat? What are you going to do with it?" Raven asked hastily. This was an artifact that World Serpent's chief scientist, Jackal, had painstakingly crafted using all the resources she could gather to create only eight of. It was extremely valuable.

"Don't worry about that. We have a better use for it. Of course, we definitely won't do anything to harm humanity or damage the interests of World Serpent," Mei explained.

"Oh? The Scepter of Duat?" Mobius examined it with a hint of disdain. "This technology is so crude. How dare you call it the Scepter of Duat? Seriously, we gave you all the data, and you only managed to copy this much?"

"?" Mei knew Mobius was the greatest scientist of the Previous Era, so she asked with some concern.

"Is this not good enough?"

"Well, it's passable, barely enough. The main problem is that we don't have time to make a new one right now." Mobius then put it away.

"In that case..." Mei retrieved the blade from Raven's neck. "Let's move on to the next step."

"Okay, let's go, Mei-neechan~"

"Phew~" Hearing this, Raven finally breathed a sigh of relief. So it wasn't her they were after, but the Scepter of Duat.

"Wait a minute~ Did I almost ruin something important?"

But suddenly—

Mobius, who was about to leave, turned around and gave Raven a wicked smile.

Then the tentacle-like devices behind her instantly wrapped around Raven's limbs, waist, and neck like an octopus, locking her firmly in place!

Raven was immediately shocked and struggled to break free. "Wait! You... didn't you get what you wanted? Why won't you let me go?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. No one is allowed to disturb the upcoming experiment, so sorry, little Raven" Mobius gave a kind smile. "Before we finish the experiment, to prevent you from alerting anyone, you'll have to come with us."

Raven was on the verge of tears. "...Unfortunate."

...

"Hmm... not here either."

After another fruitless search, Lin Ling was beginning to feel tired. She found a bench and sat down, then spoke to the little fox behind her, who remained silent with her head lowered, seemingly lost in thought.

"Well, well, don't be sad, Higyokumaru. Although we haven't found her here, Miss Elysia might have already found her. She's on her way... You must be tired too. Come and rest for a bit. You can lean on my shoulder anytime~"

"..."

The little fox silently sat down beside Lin Ling, still without any reaction, her head lowered so that her expression remained unreadable.

But... beneath her calm exterior, her heart was in turmoil...

From the very beginning, from the very first moment she learned that her sister might still be alive, she had already decided on her course of action and her fate.

Fifty thousand years of struggle, fifty thousand years of hatred, fifty thousand years of hope. She was utterly exhausted. She knew that even if she gave it everything she had, she couldn't suppress the terrifying, evil thoughts that continued to rise within her, and sooner or later she would succumb to madness once again.

She understood even more clearly that her past actions, which had essentially destroyed human civilization, were utterly unforgivable.

She didn't know how to face her sister, yet she still couldn't help wanting to see her one last time... and after that final farewell, she would end everything.

But now... why had it turned out like this? She couldn't even see her sister one last time?

Rin clenched her fists. "Sister, where are you? Don't you really want to see me? My time... is running out..."

"Hi~ Ling, and Rin, you're both here. Hmm, I suddenly realized... your names are a bit too similar. I'll call you Little Fox, Rin. Of course, you can also call me Ellie."

Just then, a cheerful voice came from not far away, immediately attracting their attention.

Lin Ling turned around and saw Elysia waving at her.

However, Higyokumaru, who had been lost in thought, remained silent.

Until... Elysia's next words:

"I found Sakura, and I brought her here~"

"Huh!?"

Sure enough, upon hearing that her older sister had finally arrived, Higyokumaru abruptly looked up, only to see—

Beside the energetic Elysia stood a tall, slender, pink-haired woman with long fox ears and two samurai swords at her waist.

Everything was exactly as it had been, just as it was fifty thousand years ago.

"Rin~ Long time no see."

Sakura, usually an icy beauty, smiled gently and warmly at her younger sister...

Higyokumaru, meanwhile, pursed her lips and, after a long silence, choked out.

"Sister, you've finally decided to come see me..."

——————————————

Chapter 305: Bearing the Name of THE Flame-Chaser, We Will Never Lose!

"That's the story. My brother-in-law helped me, allowing me to rediscover my humanity during my most desperate and frenzied moment. That's why I'm able to see my sister again today, fifty thousand years later..." The little fox sat on the bench, leaning against her sister's shoulder and holding her hand as she recounted her experiences over the past fifty thousand years.

Her sister gently stroked her little head and the fox ears that, though not quite the same as her own, were still those of her kind. After experiencing confusion, inner turmoil, deep-seated worry, and even fear, Sakura had finally decided to see her younger sister.

Seeing that her younger sister had truly broken through the boundaries of the impossible, regained her humanity, and returned to her former obedient and sensible self, she couldn't help but feel immense relief and gratitude.

"Rin, actually, when your brother-in-law first said she could let me see you again, I thought she was joking. I never expected she would actually let me see you again. I can never repay this kindness."

"Yes, Sister, you have to be nicer to my brother-in-law. I heard you're always pulling your blade against her. That's too violent, you know. She has plenty of women around her. Be careful she doesn't get snatched away by another woman."

Sakura smiled and shook her head. "Really, who told you that? I'm not the kind of person who resorts to violence so easily."

Rin tilted her head. "It was brother-in-law who said that?"

"Wait, wait!"

Just as the two pink-haired girls, one big and one small, were snuggling together and recounting their experiences over the past fifty thousand years, a certain Miss Elysia, who appeared cute but possessed extraordinary wisdom, seemed to have noticed a... blind spot?

She called out to the two girls in confusion.

"The brother-in-law and sister's husband you're talking about... could it be... the wife thing..."

Elysia looked at the two of them, then turned to Lin Ling, who wore a smug, maternal smile, and asked. "...is it the same person?"

"Huh?" ×2

The Sakura and Rin sisters exchanged puzzled glances. They had been so overwhelmed by the joy of their reunion after fifty thousand years that they didn't seem to realize there was anything wrong with their words. They simply answered in unison,

"The brother-in-law I'm referring to is Sister Ling."

"Huh?!"

Upon hearing this, the white-haired girl, who had been enjoying the spectacle of the sisters' reunion, instantly lost her smile!

No, she hadn't lost it. Her smile had simply shifted to Elysia's face.

"Pfft, hee hee~" Elysia chuckled, covering her mouth. She stood up and spoke to the still-dazed Lin Ling.

"You heartbreaker, aren't you going to run? Didn't you notice? Sakura's hand is already on the Seven Thunders of Retribution!"

"Huh?! The wind's picking up—time to go!"

Realizing the situation had turned bad, Lin Ling immediately turned to run.

But the next moment, Sakura, who had just been behind her, suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Miss Ling! So you and Rin aren't like that? You lied to me? And not only did you lie to me, you also lied to Rin? Even if you've done me a great favor, I can't pretend I didn't see it!"

"Big Sister Lin Ling! Having my sister isn't enough? You're going after me too?" Rin, whose nails were as sharp as blades and whose fangs extended like daggers, resembling a legendary fox demon, quickly followed.

Seeing that both the path ahead and the path behind were blocked...

"Sigh~" The girl had no choice but to plead, "Sisters—no, judging by your ages, you're practically my great-great-great-grandmothers. Please, you two old ladies, have mercy on me. I don't even know what I did in the past, QAQ."

"Grandma?"

"Old lady?!"

However, her words didn't earn the forgiveness of the two angry girls. Instead, they only fueled their anger!

Soon, a joyful atmosphere of flashing swords and clashing blades filled the Elysian Realm.

...

Not long afterward, a certain sinful girl was caught by two pink-haired girls, each restraining one of her arms behind her back.

At this moment, she was like a complete novice elementary school student with top-tier equipment but no basic skills, and she wasn't even putting up a serious fight.

Faced with Sakura and Rin, two "professional players" with fifty thousand years of combat experience despite not having the most advanced equipment, she was quickly defeated by the sisters' pincer attack.

"Waaaaah! (T▽T) I was wrong, I was wrong! I don't know what I did before, but I was wrong! I hope my two beautiful sisters, who are as stunning as fish sinking and geese falling, as beautiful as the moon hiding its face and flowers blushing, as radiant as peach blossoms and as graceful as plum blossoms, as lovely as spring flowers and as beautiful as jade, as naturally beautiful as peach blossoms and apricot blossoms, as graceful as orioles and swallows, as elegant as ladies who could topple kingdoms and cities, as beautiful as paintings, and as incomparably gorgeous as peerless beauties... please forgive me!"

Then, whether it was the awakening of past memories or simply the saying "old habits die hard," after Lin Ling realized that her wording had been inappropriate and had only added fuel to the fire, she suddenly began reciting every compliment for women she could think of, launching a relentless barrage of praise at the two sisters.

"..."

"Pfft~" Finally, Rin and her sister exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh.

"Honestly, I heard you had amnesia. I was a little worried at first, but now that I've seen you, you seem no different from before. Just as frivolous and unruly."

Sakura couldn't help but chuckle before adding an admonishment. "If you really want to pursue me—cough—or if you want to get along well with me and my sister, you'd better be more mature."

"Yes, yes, yes." Lin Ling nodded vigorously. "From now on, I will definitely be an upright, brave, strong, kind, righteous, and faithful person..."

"Alright, alright, alright, stop it, you heartbreaker! Praising others is one thing, but who praises themselves like that?"

Seeing Lin Ling about to start reciting the dictionary again, Elysia couldn't stand it anymore. She covered Lin Ling's mouth and pouted.

"Besides... um... why have I never heard you praise me like this before? Come on, praise me!"

Lin Ling: "Mmm-mmm!" (Then let go of my mouth!)

However, in the end, after punishing Lin Ling a little, the sisters let her go.

"Thank you, Ling." Rin even thanked Lin Ling in return. "I didn't expect you to help me fulfill another, even more distant wish."

"Haha? Really?" Lin Ling scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "I'm glad you like it. By the way, what was the wish?"

"Before, every time I watched my sister go out on missions alone, sometimes returning covered in injuries while I could only watch helplessly, my heart ached terribly... and I felt a deep sense of resentment." Rin looked at Sakura.

"You know, Sister, I've always wanted, wanted, wanted to fight alongside you!"

"I'm sorry... Rin... I've only ever thought about protecting you, keeping you behind me, and completely ignoring your own feelings. I'm sorry. Now, you've grown into a strong person who can stand on your own. From now on, I won't control you anymore; I'll respect your thoughts."

Sakura gently stroked Rin's face, letting go of her older-sister protectiveness, then smiled with relief.

"But, as expected, you'll always be my proudest little sister!"

After hearing her sister say, "You'll always be my proudest little sister," Rin silently stood up. With her back to everyone, she slowly spoke.

"Sister... will I still be your little sister until the very end?"

Sakura's smile vanished as a bad premonition rose within her.

Looking at Rin's trembling figure, she asked worriedly, "Of course... no, it should be said, you always have been... Rin? What's wrong?"

Still with her back to Sakura, Rin gritted her teeth and revealed a fact she had deliberately omitted earlier.

"Sister, I... killed people... I killed so many, many, many people..."

"..."

Sakura fell silent for a moment, then smiled again and reached out, trying to grab Rin's arm and pull her back to her side. "I... I know... but it wasn't your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault. Honkai twisted your will. Honkai amplified your hatred, creating this tragedy..."

However, Rin dodged her sister's hand as it reached for her. Her left hand was already gripping her right hand tightly, which was now covered in countless dark-purple markings...

"Haha, it's so hard to see each other again, so hard to find someone like Yae Sakura-neechan and Lin Ling-neechan—people who, besides my sister, can believe in and understand me..."

"Rin?"

Rin's words were becoming increasingly strange, causing Sakura's expression to grow even more serious and worried...

"So, Sister, to prevent Honkai Eruption from corrupting my mind again and to avoid disappointing you..."

At that moment, Rin controlled one of her tails, slowly moving it from her side to the front of her body.

Whether it was an illusion or not, as Rin twisted her tail into position, Lin Ling, standing farther to the side, seemed to catch a sharp flash of light.

"I will protect the honor of being your sister!"

Suddenly, with that final vow, Rin drove her tail fiercely into her own heart. Upon closer inspection, the white fur at the tip of her tail shimmered with a metallic sheen; she had transformed her tail into a blade.

Hatred for humanity had allowed Rin to endure fifty thousand years of transformation within the black box. Her longing for her sister had allowed her to rediscover a sliver of humanity fifty thousand years later.

But this was merely a final, desperate struggle.

After reconciling with her sister and gaining her acceptance, her heart finally found peace... but it also exhausted her.

In that moment of relief, the Will of Honkai began to take over once again.

Therefore, to ensure she would remain her sister's beloved little sister until the very end, she decided to end her own life before things became irreversible!

But at that moment—

Rin stared intently at the woman who had once again dared to stop her, her eyes bloodshot.

"Why are you stopping me? I will perish here! I cannot disappoint my sister!"

But Rin was surprised by her opponent's strength. The moment her tail was caught, it felt as though it had been clamped in a thousand-ton iron vise, unable to move even an inch.

Seeing this, Rin had no choice but to control another tail and thrust it toward her heart once again.

Clang!

But this time, she was stopped again.

"It's you!..."

Rin looked at the pink-haired girl before her. After a brief moment of stunned silence, a powerful aura of rage erupted from her body, and her eyes began glowing blood-red.

"D-Don't stop me! Didn't you just say you'd respect my wishes?! Then let me, the one who essentially destroyed the humanity of the Previous Era, this incurable sinner, die completely and utterly here!"

Slap!

Suddenly, Rin felt a sharp pain on her cheek.

The pain temporarily calmed her down.

"Rin!" her sister, Sakura, shouted angrily.

"Respecting your wishes doesn't mean letting you do whatever you want!"

"Sister..." Surprisingly, a sliver of clarity miraculously returned to Rin's eyes. "I know you care about me. You're protecting me, but... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I really can't resist anymore. Before I become a complete puppet of Honkai, Sister... please, kill me..."

However, contrary to Rin's lucid expression and words, her body began to disintegrate into black mist.

As the mist touched the surrounding ground, benches, and even the air, it produced a powerful corrosive effect, like sulfuric acid.

Even the sword Sakura was using to stop Rin from committing suicide began to crack...

Rin had begun to uncontrollably release her power, corroding everything...

"Rin. Perhaps you've already developed the ability to fight alone, but you're still far too inexperienced." Yet, faced with this perilous situation, Sakura smiled instead.

"A true battle is never a one-person show, Rin! You're never alone. You must believe in everyone! Believe in the power of your comrades!... Elysia!"

Suddenly, Sakura called Elysia's name.

"Understood~"

Lin Ling turned around and saw that Elysia had somehow already summoned her weapon, nocked an arrow, and drawn her bow, assuming a graceful stance with the bow pointed skyward.

Then, with a whoosh, she fired the arrow into the sky with all her might.

Immediately afterward, the arrow shattered like crystal, transforming into countless specks of starlight that rained down from above. Finally, the starlight coalesced into a crystal barrier around Rin, enveloping the three of them and temporarily halting the spread of the corruption.

"Hahaha... hahahaha..."

But then, Rin inexplicably lowered her head and laughed...

When she raised it again, the crumbling markings had spread across her entire body. Then, Hellmaru laughed maniacally.

"Hahaha! Too late, too late! Kill all of you soft-hearted, hypocritical bastards! I will corrupt this entire world!"

As she spoke, she extended claws like those of a legendary fox demon and viciously attacked the crystal barrier, trying to tear apart the last obstacle standing in her way!

Fortunately, Lin Ling also had a flash of inspiration and fully unleashed the power of the complete Ice Herrscher Core that Ana had given her.

Countless icy fragments instantly spread from her hands, freezing the nearly out-of-control Hellmaru just as her razor-sharp claws were about to touch the barrier.

But this was merely a temporary measure. This world was ultimately a world of data; neither cold nor heat were true physical phenomena but merely simulated data. Moreover, within this world of data, the Herrscher of Corruption was virtually invincible under its rules. Soon, cracks appeared throughout the ice imprisoning Hellmaru, from which more black mist poured out, accompanied by her increasingly frenzied laughter.

"Hehehe... you traitor to Honkai Eruption, you think you can stop me?!"

Left with no other choice, Lin Ling unleashed even more power, combining it with the power of Parvati that she had obtained from Kevin to further reinforce the frozen seal.

...

"Hmm!? There's a reaction."

Meanwhile, outside, Mobius, who had been watching over Lin Ling, suddenly noticed that Lin Ling's skin had begun to crystallize faintly. This phenomenon appeared only when Honkai Eruption reached its peak, and he immediately understood that the time had come.

He immediately said to Mei, who was already poised to act, "Mei, quick, now!"

Instantly, Mei moved like lightning and slammed the device in her hand onto Lin Ling's back, directly over the three-tomoe mark on her snow-white skin.

"Ugh?" As Mei activated the Scepter of Duat, Lin Ling suddenly felt a wave of weakness wash over her. Her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground.

"Hahaha! Heaven is on my side!" Hellmaru was overjoyed at the sight, unleashing her power once more to break free from every restraint. "Hmm?"

But the next moment, she also felt the same weakness Lin Ling was experiencing, as though her connection to the Honkai Eruption had suddenly been severed. She, too, collapsed to the ground, her body going limp.

"What's happening? My... my corrupting power?!"

It seemed Mobius outside had begun the operation.

Sakura and Elysia exchanged knowing glances.

Rin was now under their control. They had done everything they could. The next step was to trust their teammate. They believed that since Mobius had dared to bring Rin into the Elysian Realm, he must have had a way to resolve this situation.

No rehearsal was needed, nor was any prior discussion required. They understood one another perfectly, achieving flawless cooperation. This was the tacit understanding forged through fifty thousand years and countless life-or-death battles—the Thirteen Flame-Chasers!

...

Meanwhile, Mobius stepped forward, donned a stylish white coat, and tightened his white surgical gloves. He slowly approached the naked Lin Ling, picked up a scalpel, and smiled back at Mei behind him.

"Leave the rest to me."

Bearing the name of the Flame-Chasers, we will never lose!

——————————————————————————————

Chapter 306: Musou Isshin, but It's the Ling Version

Mei was immediately startled. "Mobius? What are you doing? Why... um?"

Just as Mei was worrying about Lin Ling's condition, she suddenly realized that when Mobius's scalpel sliced through Lin Ling's body, it didn't tear flesh or cause blood to fly everywhere. Instead, it blended seamlessly into Lin Ling's body, like water mixing with milk.

It wasn't an ordinary scalpel but a special light that formed a blade-like shape.

Then Mobius used her nimble little hands to wield the light blade, rapidly moving it up and down around the Stigmata on Lin Ling's back...

Poof!

Suddenly, an invisible wave spread out from Lin Ling, blasting the nearby Mobius away!

Then an invisible force began to fluctuate around Lin Ling. Her body was slowly lifted by an unseen force, her hair moving without wind.

Finally, as if riding the wind, she arched her chest and leaned back in midair.

The next moment, rays of light rose from her body, transforming into a magnificent suit of armor that continued to extend outward in long, flowing ribbons of light…

"Dr. Mobius." Mei caught Mobius, who had been pushed away by Lin Ling's power, and asked with a mixture of doubt and worry, "Ling, is she alright?"

"Phew~"

Mobius breathed a sigh of relief. Although this manipulation hadn't consumed much of her energy, the extremely precise nanoscale micromanagement had almost drained her mental strength. She struggled to her feet, supporting herself on Mei's arm.

"She's fine."

"And your plan?"

"Hmm~" the weakened Mobius replied, "Mei-neechan, everything is going according to my plan. Do you remember? I just explained that the little fox is different from the Herrschers of your current civilization. Without Elysia's blessing, this PE Herrscher of Corruption has no chance of finding humanity among the Herrschers. Therefore, if we want to prevent her from harming the world without killing her, there's only one last method..."

Mei raised an eyebrow. "What method?"

"You'll find out soon enough." Mobius didn't answer Mei's question. Instead, a confident smile played on her lips as she looked at the girl undergoing the transformation.

Mei followed Mobius's gaze and looked at the scene, which resembled a magical girl transformation straight out of an anime—

The girl's dazzling, skirt-like light from her Instant Transformation was becoming increasingly solid, even beginning to materialize. At the same time, a new change occurred.

A particularly bright light emanated from the very center of her chest, the location known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as the Tanzhong acupoint.

Then, within this dazzling light, a clearly visible jet-black spot appeared. It continued to extend, forming a column-like structure... no—

"That's... that's a sword hilt?"

As a member of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school, Raiden Mei had practiced swordsmanship at the dojo since childhood and was extremely familiar with such objects. She recognized it at a glance.

"That's right. It's a knife," Mobius explained. "Since she can't truly regain her humanity as a Herrscher, then wouldn't it be enough to transform her into a Divine Key? Mei's plan back then didn't completely fail. Fifty thousand years of continuous transformation—even a Herrscher of Corruption couldn't completely stop it. Her body already shows signs of Divine Key transformation. Therefore, as long as I take advantage of the moment she loses her power, the moment she gives up resistance, and follow the path Mei left behind, I can definitely complete the final transformation..."

Whoosh~

But at that moment, like a light bulb running out of power, the light emanating from her body flickered unstably, and the elongated skirt began to shorten and recede...

"Hmm..." Mobius frowned. "Due to the interference from the Scepter of Duat earlier, Guinea Pig's Honkai energy is insufficient now, making her unable to sustain the complete transformation into a Divine Key. It seems I underestimated the difficulty of forcibly transforming a living Herrscher into a Divine Key, so..."

Mobius didn't finish her sentence, only giving Mei a knowing look.

"Understood..."

Mei nodded solemnly, then slowly approached Lin Ling, whose eyes were closed and whose body was radiating power...

Then she grasped the hilt of the sword emerging from Lin Ling's chest!

Immediately afterward, powerful red lightning erupted from Mei's hand. The complete power of the Herrscher of Thunder within Mei poured into the sword and into Lin Ling's body, which was connected to it!

In an instant, the dimming light around Lin Ling became dazzling once again, and the hilt itself began to emit wisps of black mist.

The interplay of black and white power was like water merging with water into a yin-yang symbol...

Finally, at the perfect moment!

Whoosh!

Mei suddenly exerted force, pulling the black sword hidden deep within the girl's body free!

"This sword is called—Jizo Mitama."

…

"Hmm? Where am I?"

After a long while, the unconscious girl slowly opened her eyes. What greeted her was no longer the unreal beauty of Elysian Realm.

Instead, she found herself in a dark, somewhat oppressive metal laboratory.

"Oh, Guinea Pig, you're awake..."

Then a voice like that of a femme fatale reached her ears.

Turning her head toward the voice, she saw Mobius standing next to her—drumroll—holding a large syringe.

Lin Ling instantly sat up, simultaneously covering her backside. "Hey! Dr. Mobius, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I saw you were still unconscious, so I was thinking of giving you a high-concentration Honkai Eruption injection to perk you up," Mobius explained.

"Ah... no need, no need. I'm awake now, and I'm full of energy. I don't need any boost."

"Hmm... okay then." Seeing this, Mobius regretfully put away the syringe she had been holding, which she called a "boost." "Since you're alright, go to the next room. Mei and the little fox are worried about you."

"Miss Mei... and... the little fox!?"

At the mention of the little fox, Lin Ling, who had just woken up, suddenly remembered that she had been in the middle of her love-hate relationship with Higyokumaru before she had suddenly fainted.

She hurriedly asked, "How are Higyokumaru and the others? And how are Sakura-nee and Elysia?"

"Oh, they're fine, perfectly fine. It's just... the little fox is dead."

"What!? Dead?" Lin Ling's mouth fell open, and she froze on the spot.

Thankfully, Mobius added, "Don't worry. Although, in a sense, she's dead, she's not completely dead."

"This..."

Lin Ling couldn't understand what "dead but not completely dead" meant, so she quickly got up and went to the next room to find out.

...

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Swish!

Then she saw a tall, purple-haired girl wielding a somewhat sinister-looking katana that was entirely black with a few red accents.

"Ling, you're here."

Sensing someone approaching, Mei immediately abandoned her Hokushin Ittō-ryū stance and quickly came to Lin Ling's side, grasping her hand firmly.

"Are you alright? Is anything bothering you?"

Lin Ling blushed as her hand was held by this beautiful, "unfamiliar" girl she had only recently met. She turned her head away, trying to pull her hand back, and spoke somewhat awkwardly.

"I... I'm fine. I just don't know how I suddenly got back to reality."

"It's good that you're alright."

However, Mei gripped her hand even tighter, making it impossible for Lin Ling to pull away. Then she gently helped her to a nearby chair.

"What happened while you were unconscious? If you want to hear it, I'll tell you everything slowly."

"Oh... oh~" Seeing this, Lin Ling felt too embarrassed to refuse the girl's kindness and obediently sat down beside Mei.

"Actually..."

"Hey, hey. You bad woman, are you pretending not to see me? And Mei, are you planning to ignore me too? We've been partners for almost a year. That's heartless~"

Just as the two were talking, a very resentful girl's voice came from the dark shadows in the corner.

Then a girl wearing a cloak emerged from the shadows.

Mei said speechlessly, "Who told you to hide in the shadows all the time?"

Raven shrugged. "Can't help it. Occupational hazard."

Curious, Lin Ling asked the girl whose face was mostly hidden beneath the cloak.

"Who are you?"

"You don't even recognize me? Looks like you really do have amnesia. Interesting. What karmic retribution! You've been ruining girls everywhere, and now you're finally getting your comeuppance." Raven's tone subtly conveyed a sense of vindication.

"Raven!"

However, her words provoked Mei's displeasure. Mei immediately defended Lin Ling, saying, "Ling lost her memory while saving others, not as punishment!"

"Oh" Raven drawled. "Is this guy risking her life to pick up girls again? Honestly, sometimes I have to admire you. Are you really willing to risk your life for pretty girls? If you did that for me someday, maybe I'd fall in love with you"

"Hmm..." Before Lin Ling could react, Mei gave her "partner" a hostile look.

"Ahem." Lin Ling coughed lightly, then looked around to make sure only the two girls were there besides herself. She asked with some concern, "Are you two the only ones here? Where's Higyokumaru? Dr. Mobius said she's here too."

"Hey, hey, Lin Ling, I'm here!"

Then Lin Ling heard Higyokumaru's energetic voice, which finally put her mind at ease.

However, although the voice was as energetic as ever, why couldn't she see her?

Lin Ling immediately stood up and looked around nervously again. "Higyokumaru, where are you?"

"So clumsy, Lin Ling. You were smarter before."

Then black mist emanated from the knife in Mei's hand, which Lin Ling had found strange at first glance.

The mist spread to the communication device on Mei's wrist. Then, with a shift of light and shadow, a pink-haired fox girl appeared before Lin Ling—it was Higyokumaru.

Lin Ling's eyes widened as she stared at the scene before her. "You... you found a body?"

"No." Higyokumaru shook her head. "I only hacked into and took control of a projection device."

"Oh, I see. But... how exactly did this happen?"

"Ling, it's like this."

Then Mei recounted the entire story—

The entire process of Higyokumaru's transformation from a full Herrscher into a slightly less powerful Divine Key.

However, although she had been downgraded from a Herrscher to a Divine Key, it wasn't entirely a bad thing. With this change in status, Higyokumaru also completely broke free from the shackles of the Honkai, and her spirit finally regained true and complete freedom…

After hearing Higyokumaru's story, Lin Ling reached out, wanting to pat the poor little fox girl's head. However, since Higyokumaru was currently just a projected image, her hand passed right through it.

Then Lin Ling looked at the black knife in Mei's hand and spoke with some emotion.

"So, little fox... you... have become a blade now? Sigh, I was thinking of asking Dr. Mobius if she could give you a body."

"I'm not an ordinary blade... I'm the Divine Key, the strongest Key of Corruption! So~"

Higyokumaru corrected Lin Ling's misunderstanding. Then the blade emitted wisps of black mist that coiled around Raven, who seemed lost in thought and engrossed in Higyokumaru's story.

Raven was startled and struggled frantically to shake off the black mist, but to no avail. "Whoa! What is this? What are you doing? Hmm!?"

Soon, the black mist completely entered her body, and Raven stopped moving...

"Clang! Clang!"

Then she suddenly was like a different person, pulling off her hood to reveal short pink hair and... a pair of fox ears.

Lin Ling was startled. "Miss Raven, what happened to you?..."

"Seriously, even now, you still don't recognize me, Big Sister?" "Raven" grabbed her fox ears and spoke.

"I'm Higyokumaru, aren't I?"

"Huh?"

"Have you forgotten? My ability is to corrupt anything, so whether I become a sword or a person makes no difference to me. So Big Sister, if you need anything"

Lin Ling tilted her head. "Need what?"

"Well, if you want to get intimate" Higyokumaru turned her head shyly. "Even if I'm Higyokumaru, it's not impossible, and I can become any type you like~"

"Eh?! Th-This... this isn't good."

Although she said it wasn't good, Lin Ling's eyes still couldn't help but look "Higyokumaru" up and down.

Seeing that Lin Ling seemed somewhat "tempted," Mei calmly advised.

"Ahem, alright, alright, Higyokumaru, stop playing around. Give Raven's body back to her... It's getting late. Everyone's been busy all day. They should go home and rest. Come to think of it, Miss Raven did help you out."

"Hehe, Mei-nee, I was just joking. I'm not the kind of person who just steals other people's bodies. Otherwise, you'll scold me. Besides, this girl seems pretty strong. I can't control her for long. Hmm, if I get the chance, I'll ask Snake-nee to give me a clone body."

As she spoke, Higyokumaru obediently withdrew from Raven's body, restoring Raven's hair to its dark gray color.

"Ah! What nonsense was I spouting?" Raven, regaining her senses, covered her face in disbelief. "I think... I think I just tried to seduce her?! Did I get Stockholm Syndrome? I was played by that wicked woman before, but now I like her?"

"Wake up, Raven. Higyokumaru just used the power of the Herrscher of Corruption to enter and control your body."

After hearing Mei's explanation, Raven calmed down. "Oh, I see... You little brat, you're not allowed to enter my body so easily, you hear me? Don't think I can't handle you. Honestly, were you corrupted by that womanizer?..."

Higyokumaru had used a method similar to the one she had used on Theresa, placing Raven's consciousness into an illusion before taking control of her body.

However, Raven was, after all, one of the top executives of World Serpent, the most deeply rooted and historically significant force in the fight against the Honkai. She wasn't an ordinary person who could be easily manipulated and could still vaguely sense her own body. Therefore, in her hazy perception, it felt as though she had just seduced Lin Ling, leaving her momentarily confused.

"Wait!"

Suddenly, Raven realized something.

She said to Mei in shock, "You said she can use the powers of the Herrscher of Corruption? Could she be the Herrscher of Corruption?! No, weren't the Herrscher of Corruption and all their backups destroyed by me and a Gray Serpent?!"

Mei was also puzzled. "Destroyed? No, you must be mistaken. I heard Dr. Mobius say that Higyokumaru was sealed away fifty thousand years ago, not destroyed."

"Fifty thousand years ago? How did we get to the Previous Era? I was talking about the present civilization... um..." Raven calmed down and pondered for a moment before asking, "I think I understand now. This Miss Higyokumaru's real name isn't actually Rin, right?"

Higyokumaru, whose consciousness had returned to Jizo Mitama, tapped the blade a few times. "Yes. The name Higyokumaru was given to me by Yae Sakura. My original name was Rin."

"Oh~ I see." Raven breathed a sigh of relief. "So you're the Herrscher of Corruption from the Previous Era. I thought a copy of the Herrscher of Corruption from the present era had made its way to the Elysian Realm."

"What!?"

But just as Raven breathed a sigh of relief, someone else tensed up immediately. It was Mei. She instantly moved closer to Raven.

"You mean the Herrscher of Corruption from the present civilization also has the ability to back themselves up and copy themselves?"

"Yes." Raven nodded. "But don't worry, my dear Mei. While you were traveling through the Elysian Realm, I destroyed the Herrscher of Corruption and all their backups in the real world."

"No... what I'm worried about is that if the Herrscher of Corruption in the real world can keep replicating themselves, then... the Herrscher of Corruption in the Elysian Realm must have already... been... gone!"

Mei, realizing a terrifying possibility, immediately grabbed Lin Ling's hand. "There's danger in the Elysian Realm. We have to go back quickly."

"Mm!" Lin Ling, though more innocent, hadn't become foolish and immediately understood Mei's concern.

"Let's go now..."

But just as the two girls were about to leave hand in hand, Jizo Mitama trembled violently and emitted Higyokumaru's voice.

"Hey! Big Sisters! Wait! What about me? Remember to bring me too! I haven't had enough of being by your side yet! And if the opponent is Corruption, how can you go without me? As the saying goes, to defeat magic with magic, we must defeat Corruption with Corruption!"

"Hmm..." Mei nodded, finding Higyokumaru's words quite reasonable. Then she casually picked up the Corruption Divine Key, Jizo Mitama.

"Wait!" Higyokumaru continued. "I'm not quite familiar with my new form yet, and as a Divine Key I've severed my connection with the Imaginary Space. I need someone to provide me with energy, so let's use the old method to get me to the Elysian Realm."

"What old method?"

"Of course, it's to send me back into Lin Ling's body."

"How do we do that?"

Higyokumaru replied matter-of-factly, "Of course, we go back the way I came out."

"Hmm..." Mei hesitated. "Is that the only way?"

"Hehe, that's the only way..."

"Hmm... never mind! Time is of the essence. I can't worry about that now!" Mei didn't have time to think any further. She turned around and yanked open Lin Ling's collar.

"Huh?!" The girl was instantly mortified and quickly covered her chest. "Mei—Miss Mei, what are you doing?"

Mei didn't bother explaining. She simply gripped her knife tightly and raised it toward Lin Ling's chest.

"Let Higyokumaru merge with you once more!"

Then she plunged it in fiercely…

---

Chapter 307: "Ling, Do You Really Want to Go In?" / "Yes, I Must Go In."

"I can't get in! No matter how hard I try, I can't get in!... Eh? I actually got in..."

The girl kept touching her chest, finding no injury, not even a hint of pain, as if the bizarre scene had never happened—if she hadn't witnessed it with her own eyes.

Mei explained, "It was originally pulled from your body, so it's only natural that it can be put back."

As she spoke, she reached out and touched the spot where Lin Ling had been stabbed by the sword. It was indeed completely healed. It even felt smooth, delicate, warm, and soft to the touch—very comfortable. Mei found herself momentarily captivated.

"Ahem... so amazing."

Lin Ling coughed lightly, subtly shaking off Mei's hand. She closed her collar and silently took a step back, trying to create some distance between them.

"Emm, how should I put it? It's like a divine artifact from a fantasy cultivation novel, one that can merge with its owner, and Higyokumaru is the artifact's spirit."

What had just happened reminded Lin Ling of a fantasy novel she had recently read out of boredom—a Shenzhou novel featuring the legendary Jingwei as the protagonist.

"You still enjoy these unrealistic fantasies as much as ever. Let's turn our attention back to reality." Mei shook her head helplessly, then stepped forward, pulled Lin Ling along, and quickly headed toward Klein and Mobius's laboratory, where the administrator had hidden a backup device that allowed consciousness to enter the Elysian Realm.

Since the two rooms were very close together, their conversation was naturally overheard by Mobius, who was looking for Lin Ling and Mei.

Then Mobius's voice came from outside the door.

"That's right. Your understanding is correct. A weapon like the Jizo-Mitama, possessing self-awareness and powerful abilities, is no different from those wondrous magical artifacts in myths and legends, and the little fox has now become your sword spirit."

Hearing this, Mei threw open the door and said to the little girl in the white coat before her, "Dr. Mobius! Let's not talk about that now. The Herrscher of Corruption in the Current Era has the ability to copy and back itself up. What we destroyed before might have been just a clone! She's still alive! The Elysian Realm is in danger!"

Mobius replied, "Oh, I already knew that. I heard about it from Rita's reports in Schicksal, and I knew the Herrscher of Corruption had appeared. I just found some more detailed information about World Serpent in Little Raven's room... I just didn't expect her to go to the Elysian Realm, which is almost completely isolated from the outside world."

Lin Ling immediately asked with delight, "So? You already have a solution, Dr. Mobius?"

This time, however, the wondrous Mobius did not immediately produce some magical gadget to solve their problem.

She simply shrugged helplessly.

"Seriously, Guinea Pig, do you think I'm some kind of magical blue robot cat? While our Previous Era's technology was indeed far more advanced than current human technology, it wasn't capable of everything. Just like how Sakura had to go to great lengths to trick Mei into her trap after the little fox became a Herrscher, now that cunning Guinea Pig—no, I should call her the little black rat—is deeply hidden. Unless the entire Elysian Realm is formatted or physically destroyed from the real world, she can only be eliminated indirectly. Otherwise, I don't even know where she's hiding, so naturally, I can't do anything to her."

"Destroy the Elysian Realm from the outside? Completely format it?!" Mei exclaimed in surprise before quickly asking, "What will happen to the Flame-Chasers after it's formatted?"

"Mei-neechan~ You've probably heard this before. Human neurons are just 'organic transistors.' The most basic signals they emit are electrical signals, and those electrical signals are digital. They're controlled by the opening and closing of particle channels, and the opening and closing of those channels only produces action potentials with fixed amplitudes." Mobius gently tapped the tablet-like device in her hand. "It's remarkably similar to an electronic computer. Therefore, so-called consciousness and so-called memory are essentially just data..."

Mei immediately replied unwillingly, "So... if the data is formatted, then those Flame-Chasers will also..."

"Eh?! Snake!" Lin Ling suddenly seemed to have an idea and immediately suggested.

"Since memory and consciousness are just data, and since you can come out, they should be able to come into the real world too, right? Why not bring all the Flame-Chasers out first, then format the Elysian Realm?"

Mobius pouted and shook her head again.

"Hmm... maybe some Flame-Chasers don't want to leave the Elysian Realm. Those people are all incredibly stubborn."

"Hmm..." Mei nodded. "For example, the one who exiled himself to the lowest level of the Elysian Realm to atone for his sins..."

"That strange nun who suddenly said she wanted to marry me?"

Lin Ling raised her right hand and looked at her slender ring finger. Although it was now bare, the feeling of wearing the ring was still vivid in her memory. She had willingly sacrificed her own happiness to suppress that "evil demon" for the peace of the Elysian Realm—truly a selfless and great saint.

Then there was Sakura, who had never forgotten her sister for fifty thousand years; that cute little girl who loved to draw... and the flawless, pure, and beautiful Elysia... Everyone in the Elysian Realm was incredibly lovely...

How could she just stand by and watch them disappear?!

"And," Mobius added, "the Herrscher of Corruption is invincible in the data world. If someone were secretly infected by her and brought into reality, it would likely create an even greater danger. So... I regret to inform you... don't go back. Leave the rest to me..."

"..." Mei stopped speaking and clenched her teeth.

"No!" Snapping out of her memories, Lin Ling clenched her fists. "I will never allow the Herrscher of Corruption to be defeated by sacrificing them!"

"Oh?" Mobius looked at Lin Ling with a half-smile. "Then... Guinea Pig, what do you intend to do?"

"I don't know." Lin Ling shook her head decisively, but immediately looked directly into Mobius's snake-like eyes.

"But I believe there must be another way to solve this! Dr. Mobius, you just said that the reason you can't do anything is because the Herrscher of Corruption is hiding, right?"

Mobius nodded.

"Yes, that's what I meant. So... what then? My dear Guinea Pig, what are you trying to say?"

"Well." The gentle, soft, and easily pushed-around girl who had been "manipulated" ever since losing her memory smiled with a smug confidence that both Mei and Mobius found familiar.

"If I have a way to lure her out, couldn't you do something? Just like you always say, 'If you can observe it, you can interfere with it; if you can interfere with it, you can control it.'"

"Hmm..." Mobius lowered her head and remained lost in thought for quite some time. Then she met Lin Ling's gaze and nodded solemnly.

"Theoretically speaking, while that statement is arrogant, it isn't wrong. However, I must remind you that scientific research in reality doesn't always progress smoothly, and the Herrscher of Corruption won't give us enough opportunity or time to study her. The risk is truly enormous. Even so, do you still insist on going? From a rational perspective, it's safer for us to destroy the Elysian Realm directly from the outside. If you forcibly return to the Elysian Realm, I'm afraid the outcome will be dire."

However, Lin Ling's answer was unwavering.

"Of course!"

————————————————

Chapter 308: Will Androids Also Give Out Electronic Keyboards?

"Ling, are you sure this will lure out the Herrscher of Corruption?"

Mei looked at the white-haired girl in the overly flamboyant maid outfit, which was completely unsuitable for actual maid work, her eyes filled with doubt.

"Let me see~"

Lin Ling slowly twirled in front of the full-length mirror, her light skirt billowing up and nearly revealing a glimpse of her cleavage.

"Mind your image."

Fortunately, Mei quickly stepped forward to cover a certain important area. "Ling, it seems you rarely wear clothes like this. Don't be as carefree as usual, okay? Maintain some elegance, or you'll end up exposing yourself."

"Hehe~ I know." The girl blushed, then scratched her head and grinned sheepishly. Although she was indeed a little embarrassed by what she was wearing, she had to resort to this tactic for the sake of everyone in the Elysian Realm.

However, she had to admit that seeing herself in the mirror made her feel a little excited.

So, she forced an explanation.

"But that Herrscher of Corruption seems to have an almost twisted obsession with beautiful girls, so what I'm doing might actually pique her interest. Then she'll appear... 'Probably, maybe, perhaps, it'll work...'"

"Hmm..." Hearing Lin Ling's usual ambiguous answer, Mei remained silent for a moment before analyzing.

"While that Herrscher of Corruption is indeed as hentai and perverted as you, she's not exactly the same. Didn't she reject your kindness last time? Completely ungrateful. Speaking of which, she's different from other Herrschers. She wasn't transformed from a human; she merely borrowed your appearance and even stole your memories. She's just clumsily imitating you. You don't need to be so attached to her..."

As she spoke, a hint of jealousy flashed across Mei's originally suspicious eyes. (She's never done anything like this for me...)

"Hehe But, Mei" Lin Ling smiled mysteriously. Rather than answering Mei's question, she asked.

 "Do you know why the Herrscher of Corruption, despite possessing invincible abilities in the data world, still hides herself?"

"Perhaps even in the virtual data space, she's not truly invincible? She still needs to grow, and maybe she's afraid of something... Um!?"

Suddenly, Mei seemed to remember something. "I know, it's because of Higyokumaru!..."

...

*[Account Login]*

*[Guest Login]*

It was still that unknown website, still that group of data of unknown origin, and they were once again holding a secret meeting.

Anonymous A: "I don't want to die..."

Anonymous B: "Me too. I don't want to just disappear like this..."

Anonymous L: "I'm so bored... I've died twice already, haven't I? I'm starting to think dying doesn't matter anymore. Let me go out and move around."

Anonymous A: "No. Survival is the first priority."

Anonymous B: "Your appearance will expose our existence."

Anonymous J: "Don't worry. I secretly told her sister about the 'ex' who also came to the Elysian Realm through a 'dream.'"

Anonymous D: "Including the sins committed by the 'ex.'"

Anonymous J: "This indeed stirred up their conflict."

Anonymous D: "But unfortunately, it didn't completely destroy them. Instead, it allowed them to recognize each other again, and the sisters reconciled."

Anonymous J: "But it wasn't all for naught. The 'ex' has now been demoted to a 'tool,' no longer a true Herrscher."

Anonymous A: "So the only thing in this world that can directly confront us no longer exists?"

Anonymous L: "Then can we go back to doing what we like? I want to get close to pretty girls~"

Anonymous W: "We can't be careless. I recently discovered something that might threaten our existence from within by formatting the entire Elysian Realm."

Anonymous A: "But in that case, they'll all perish together. For living beings, survival is paramount. I can't imagine them doing that."

Anonymous B: "But based on past experience, it's not impossible. Survival is paramount. We must nip all risks in the bud."

Anonymous L: "Then... what should we do?"

Anonymous J: "There are two options. First: bring in more important people from the outside world, then seal off the Elysian Realm, preventing them from making any rash moves. We can even instigate internal strife again, allowing us to reap the benefits once more."

Anonymous A: "But that's also very risky."

Anonymous J: "So there's a second option: gain control of the formatting program."

Anonymous W: "Regarding the second option, I've found a friend willing to help us. She'll assist us..."

Anonymous L: "Oh, a beautiful girl? Let me handle contacting her!"

Anonymous A: "...L, you haven't fully recovered from your serious injuries last time. You can't even maintain your human form anymore, so you're not allowed to participate in this operation. Continue to remain hidden to avoid alerting the enemy."

Anonymous L: "Eh~ No, I can't stay here any longer!..."

Anonymous B: "This is the collective will of everyone! You have no right to choose."

Anonymous L: "No! I don't care about you. I want the people. I want freedom!"

After a moment of silence...

Anonymous Crowd: "...L's behavior is abnormal. Error code: 'Lin Ling.' Analysis suggests it may be a lingering effect of the attack during the last event. There is currently no solution. After a vote, it has been decided to take the necessary measures..."

...

Once, the renowned social psychologist and founder of third-generation psychology, Maslow, proposed the Hierarchy of Needs theory—human needs can be divided into five levels:

1. *Survival Needs:* The need for clothing, food, shelter, and transportation. These satisfy the basic requirements for personal survival.

2. *Safety Needs:* Once basic survival needs are met, the need for personal safety and the security of life and property becomes even stronger.

3. *Social Needs:* Humans are social animals, and social interaction is the driving force of human society. After survival and safety concerns are resolved, people seek greater social interaction to fulfill their needs as individuals within society.

4. *The Need for Respect:* Respect is the recognition and acknowledgment of an individual's dignity by others. It is also the pursuit of inner self-esteem. Everyone desires a decent life, and this need continually motivates people to pursue excellence.

5. *The Need for Self-Actualization:* This is the highest level of human aspiration. It involves continually surpassing one's own limitations through self-motivation and integrating the realization of self-worth into the advancement of society.

These five levels of needs, while not strictly hierarchical, explain to some extent the core concerns of individuals under different circumstances and personal conditions. By analyzing and identifying an individual's hierarchy of needs, it becomes easier to understand their thoughts and behavior and adopt appropriate strategies for effective management and guidance.

Now, the greatest threat and enemy facing the Herrscher of Corruption, Higyokumaru—also a Herrscher of Corruption—has been demoted to a Divine Key, severing her direct connection with the Imaginary Space and leaving her unable to confront the Herrscher of Corruption directly.

Therefore, the Herrscher of Corruption, who had vanished without a trace, has resurfaced in the Elysian Realm, resorting to every means necessary for survival...

...

*Link Start!*

Meanwhile, after a series of bizarre transformations, the first ray of light shone in, and Lin Ling and Mei boarded their one-way tickets back to the Elysian Realm.

"Hehe Haha"

This was the deepest secret of the Elysian Realm—the Garden of Elysium. The distant sounds of laughter and chatter reminded Mei of Elysia.

She always smiled like that, even when saying goodbye, like a dream, yet eternal and flawless...

"Elysia doesn't seem to be here yet. Let's wait for her here," Mei said as she turned back.

"Oh." Lin Ling seemed a little disappointed and muttered softly, "I was hoping to see her reaction when she saw me dressed like this."

Hearing Lin Ling's complaint, Mei glanced at the clearly expectant girl beside her (﹁﹁) and said with some displeasure, "Hmph, I think you just want her to praise you, right?"

"Ahem, no, no." Lin Ling denied it repeatedly. "But, come to think of it, who doesn't like being praised? Besides Mei, you're the first one to see me like this so what I really want is your praise."

"...Have you really lost your memory? I feel like you're becoming more and more like your old self. You were so well-behaved when I saw you yesterday. But..."

Mei was speechless for a moment, then realized she had indeed been a bit too stiff. After coming from the dimly lit, enclosed laboratory into the sunlit garden, she noticed the white-haired girl in her maid outfit truly shining beneath the sunlight and smiled.

"Hmm, this maid outfit really suits you. It looks great on you."

"Hehe~ Thanks for the compliment, but I really do have amnesia. Look."

Lin Ling took out a miniature version of the Jizo Mitama and played with it for a while. "My memories are all stored here."

"Ling, be careful. Don't break it. To prevent further Corruption, this memory storage device is set to self-destruct if any of its data is altered. So you can only open it after the Herrscher of Corruption is completely destroyed."

"Seriously, I know. I'm not a child." Lin Ling shrugged helplessly before putting the knife-shaped memory storage device back into her leg ring.

She added casually, "Ugh, I think I understand why you Valkyries like using leg rings. Wearing such revealing outfits... it's really inconvenient to carry things. Speaking of which, Mei, why did you all agree to wear those Valkyrie armors that are practically swimsuits?"

(I don't want to. You've practically exposed half your butt.) Lin Ling's words inexplicably reminded Mei of when they had gone on a mission together and Lin Ling had complained about her Crimson Pulse armor.

The memory left her speechless and filled with nostalgia. She chuckled and scolded.

"Really... you asked that before too. It was designed this way for ease of movement... but you always miss the point. It's because you're looking at these things through yellow-tinted glasses that you think they're so erotic..."

"Haha, is that so...? By the way, what were you wearing back then? Can I see?" Lin Ling asked curiously.

Mei blushed slightly upon hearing this and turned her head away.

"No! Let's talk about Elysia instead. The air is so fresh, and I can smell the sweet fragrance of flowers. In other words, if her memories formed such a beautiful garden, then she must have always viewed herself this way. Oh, and the mural in the distance."

"Mural?" Lin Ling followed Mei's gaze, looking up at the strange pattern atop the oddly latticed building. "I wonder what it depicts."

"I noticed it the first time I passed by. Let's ask Elysia later."

"Oh! Lovely humans! You're back!"

Just as Lin Ling and Mei were talking about Elysia, Ellie quietly appeared behind them.

However, it wasn't the voluptuous Ellie but a miniature version of the winged fairy Ellie with a halo. She waved her staff and cheerfully greeted the two.

"Meeting you so early in the morning—is this the fate of fairies?"

"Although I'm pretty used to it, I still have to say something," Mei remarked. "No wonder she's modeled after Elysia."

"Yeah." Lin Ling nodded in agreement. "So extroverted, unlike me. I'm totally socially awkward."

Mei: "Huh?... You call yourself socially awkward? I think you're no different from Elysia and Fairy Ellie. No—in some lewd ways, you're even worse."

"Ah... really? Let's go ask Elysia. By the way,"

Lin Ling suddenly remembered something and asked the mini Ellie, "Fairy Ellie-san, why did you come alone? Where's Ellie? Before we came, Mobius told us she was supposed to meet us here."

Fairy Ellie tilted her head.

"Oh? You didn't see her either? So, you weren't with the mature me today?"

---

Chapter 309: Will We Be Enemies the Next Time We Meet?

"...That's impossible."

"I thought it was impossible too, so I checked it repeatedly."

"Perhaps... we have a blind spot?"

In the garden, with the absence of a certain important figure—the central figure—the Flame-Chasers gradually became uneasy, each expressing their own opinion.

"Is it that hard to understand? Do you really think she's hiding somewhere right now, watching our expressions while laughing her head off? She's never made that kind of 'joke' before."

But Mobius disagreed. She had arrived before Lin Ling and the others and was the first to discover Elysia's disappearance.

"I didn't expect to hear you defending her. It seems you're quite shocked as well, Mobius," Aponia said with some relief.

Faced with such criticism, Mobius would normally never remain silent.

But this time, she was uncharacteristically quiet, her head bowed.

—Perhaps because, before she could respond, another person joined the conversation. It was someone who had come looking for Elysia after being stood up, following a conversation with the fairy Ellie.

"Um, excuse me..."

Mobius turned around and exclaimed, "...Oh, look who's here! Isn't this Mei and her little uke? Why are you so late? Did you two have an unforgettable, sleepless night and oversleep?"

"..."

"...What uke?" The girl pouted in dissatisfaction but didn't retaliate, thinking to herself, It seems this Mobius isn't just a director but also a pretty good actor, pretending she really doesn't know anything.

"Hello, Mei." Aponia greeted Mei warmly, then turned her gaze to the girl beside her, a hint of hesitation flashing across her face. "And... um... darling? Is there something you need?"

"Hmm? 'Darling?'" Mei immediately frowned, looking at Aponia with obvious displeasure.

"You don't actually consider Lin Ling your wife, do you?"

"...No." Aponia slowly shook her head.

Seeing Aponia's denial, Mei finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Actually, Miss Mei, I see myself as a wife," Aponia said.

"Huh?!"

This caused Lin Ling, standing nearby, to instantly raise an eyebrow, in stark contrast to Mei's deeply furrowed brows.

...

"Alright, Mei. I've extracted Guinea Pig's memories from your mind. If we combine them with the memories I collected from Guinea Pig's other lovers, then, as long as you release them all within the Elysian Realm, we can use the Elysian Realm's algorithms and computing power to recreate a complete memory of Guinea Pig. Then, by reversing the memory synchronization, everything will be perfect..."

Rewind to a short time earlier.

After finishing the experiment, Mobius removed her gloves and explained the process to the still somewhat dazed purple-haired girl lying on the experimental table.

Mei slowly sat up and removed the helmet-like device connected to countless wires from her head. Dizzy for a long moment, she stared blankly at her hands.

"Are these all my memories of Ling...?"

While Mobius had been extracting her memories using a device left over from the Previous Era, her mind had involuntarily replayed everything about that girl—

But... for some reason...

Mei looked at the white-haired girl beside her, who was watching her with concern.

"Mei, are you alright?"

"I... I'm fine." Mei smiled and nodded, indicating that Rei shouldn't worry.

But deep down, she always felt a vague sense of emptiness... as if an important memory, an important promise, remained unfulfilled...

"Then I'll ask you one last time."

Soon afterward, Mobius, unusually serious, solemnly asked the two girls, who were fully prepared to leave. "Are you really determined to return to the Elysian Realm?"

"No!" This time, Lin Ling shook her head vigorously.

"Hmm?" This surprised both Mobius and Mei.

"Didn't we agree that I'd go back alone? Why is Mei going back too? No way! No way! All the beautiful girls in the Elysian Realm are mine. You can't take them away from me!" the girl said angrily.

"...Ling, are you worried about us?" Although the girl was throwing a tantrum like a child, Mei felt warmth well up in her heart.

Lin Ling used to be like that too. Whenever something potentially dangerous happened, she would say infuriating nonsense to drive away those closest to her, then foolishly run off to bear all the pain alone.

But this time, Mei wouldn't let her have her way. She had seen through Lin Ling's little tricks long ago.

She gently took Lin Ling's hand.

"I obtained most of the Flame-Chasers' Signets in the Elysian Realm, and the Herrscher of Corruption can't directly corrupt me because I possess the Herrscher of Thunder's powers. So, Ling, let me help you. Don't go and do something foolish alone."

"I..."

Whether it was the pain in her hand or the fact that she'd been exposed, Lin Ling finally stopped her 'yuri fanatic' act. "Ouch, ouch, ouch! Let go of me!"

"Indeed, how can we let just the two of you go in?" At that moment, Mobius added with a smile, "Of course, I'm coming too."

"Huh?" Lin Ling was stunned. "Why, Dr. Mobius? You're going in too?"

"Why can't I go?" Mobius retorted. "You little idiot, even if your plan succeeds, do you know how to operate that trap? Do you know how to replicate the Herrscher of Corruption virus? Do you know the consequences if any backup of the Herrscher of Corruption were compromised? No, perhaps I should ask a simpler question. Do you even understand the most basic principles of computer viruses?"

"Ah, um... a computer virus is... everyone is familiar with computer viruses. They're something we encounter every day. You might be surprised and wonder why computer viruses are like this. Why have they become so widespread? But that's the truth. I'm surprised too, but that's just how computer viruses are..."

Then Lin Ling started spouting nonsense with a straight face.

"What are you talking about?" Mobius asked with a look of disgust. "See? Just as I thought. Without me, you can't do anything."

"I..." Lin Ling was speechless.

However, looking at the angry expressions of the two girls, one older and one younger, Lin Ling felt warmth rise in her heart.

"Um... well... thank you..."

Mei cupped Lin Ling's small hands in hers.

"No, Ling. I should be thanking you. I've always been grateful..."

The two girls' eyes met, their burning gazes gradually drawing closer...

"Mei~"

"Ling~"

"Alright, alright!"

Suddenly, Mobius reached out and stopped their increasingly close faces, interrupting the moment.

"What time do you think it is? You're still doing this? Time is of the essence. Don't waste any more of it. Let's move on to the next step of the plan. You two wait here for a bit. After I brief you, go to the Elysian Realm and casually stroll around to attract attention. As for me... hmm... I need to sneak off and meet that wicked woman who's just as bad as you..."

---

EX Chapter: Your Name

In the beginning, the world was chaos.

There was neither light nor darkness; no beginning and no end.

Only pure "nothingness" remained.

From this nothingness, "she" was born.

"Ah..."

First came "sound."

A sound that tended to dissolve into chaos, rippling outward in shallow, silent waves, as if calling out to someone, as if commemorating someone.

...?

Then came light.

That light was good, for it separated chaos, illuminated the darkness, and dispelled the original nothingness.

That light was so faint.

That light was so bright.

"Ah..."

More and more points of light poured in, carrying sound, color, and a gentle warmth. The light flowed across the calm lake, creating ripples upon the water.

Like seeds, like sprouts, like budding yellow jasmine, they gradually took root within the chaos of nothingness.

As her consciousness gradually cleared, she opened her eyes to the increasingly brilliant light—

"Ah..."

What she saw was the lush green of the trees, the refreshing coolness of the spring, the leisurely drifting clouds, and the cheerful songs of birds...

Her eyes reflected the world, and the world reflected her image.

A gentle breeze brushed across her cheek, welcoming her arrival. She, too, spoke softly, as if responding to the earth's expectations.

"Wah..."

A cry.

This was the first sound she brought into the world, a sound from someone destined to live a life filled with laughter.

...

A hardworking gardener found a little pink-haired girl beneath the tallest ash tree outside the town. She slept peacefully there, like a daughter of nature.

The gardener brought the little girl back to town and took her to the orphanage beside the church.

The girl was lively and adorable, always smiling and affectionate. Everyone in town loved her.

During the season when the spring snow began to melt, she stood at the church entrance, offering every passerby a flower she had picked herself.

During the season of warm sunshine, she weeded the orchard with the children from the orphanage, hoping for a bountiful harvest that year.

During the season of falling leaves, she learned to speak, pasting colorful leaves into pictures and stories that she read aloud to everyone.

During the season when the world was draped in silver, she drew musical notes in the snow and softly sang lullabies within the winter forest.

The girl was like a gift from the forest. No one knew where she came from, yet everyone accepted her. Her innocent smile always touched the softest corners of people's hearts.

It was just a pity that she didn't have a name yet. Everyone wanted to give the girl a beautiful name, but no one had found the perfect one.

"Haven't you thought of one yet? It's so inconvenient not having a name," a childish voice asked.

"Hmm~ But... aren't all these names cute?" The girl's answer was a little willful, but it didn't annoy anyone.

"But I think 'Atharashia' and 'Theia' sound really nice!"

"No, no! A name is very important. I have to choose the one I like best!"

...

Time passed day by day, and the girl continued longing for her name.

Until, a year later, the day arrived once again when she had first been brought back to town. Along with the cake she received, the orphanage director gave her a picture book.

"Wow—thank you, Mother Celia!"

The girl hugged her first gift tightly before opening it beneath the beautiful moonlight.

"Wow..."

It was a story adapted from an ancient legend—

The legend spoke of an Elysium located at the edge of the world. The protagonist set out on a journey to find it, but everyone said that Elysium did not exist.

The protagonist refused to give up. He traveled tirelessly, enduring countless hardships, until he finally reached the end of his journey, only to find it empty—the legendary Elysium did not exist.

But the protagonist still refused to give up. Standing at the edge of the world, he shouted—

"If Elysium does not exist, then I will create one myself!"

And so, he embarked on a journey even longer and more arduous than before.

His goal changed several times, and the road was filled with twists and turns.

Yet because of that, more and more people gathered around him.

People who shared the same dream marched together toward their destination until, at long last...

"They cheered, embraced one another, and sang in celebration of their dream fulfilled."

"They finally arrived at Elysium. It was there, at the end of their journey. The people cheered and shouted its name—"

"Ah..."

"This is it...

The flawless Elysium... the eternal Elysian Realm...

Hmm... hmm! A name... a name..."

The girl's eyes widened as the moonlight silently illuminated the story's final word.

"My name is... 'Elysia!'"

---

Chapter 310: Translation: What Is a Surprise?

"That's strange. My mature self made a promise... Oh, I know!"

Fairy Ellie seemed to have realized something. Excitedly drawing a circle in the sky, she looked into the distance.

"The mature me must be playing hide-and-seek with us, right? Heh heh, let's see how easily we catch her! Let's go, humans!"

With that, Fairy Ellie grabbed the hand of the maid-dressed girl beside her without further ado and quickly left.

"Wow! Wait a minute! Slow down, slow down! My skirt's a little short today. It's going to fly up!..."

"What are you afraid of? Actually, this makes it easier to bring out my mature side!"

"Hmm... what you said makes sense. Wait! Something seems off. Why do you insist that I 'bring it out'? I think you're quite cute too."

"Wow! Cute yet wicked human, what are you planning to do to me? Are you curious about your own body?"

"Why not? How will you know if you don't try?"

"Really."

Watching the two lively figures, one big and one small, slowly disappear into the distance, Mei shook her head helplessly.

"They're like children who will never grow up."

Then she started walking to catch up with them.

"Sorry, Mei. I'm late. After all, it's an important date, so I took a little time to dress up nicely. You have to compliment me, right?"

But she had only taken half a step when the playful voice behind her made her stop.

Looking back, she saw the princess they had been waiting for finally arrive at the corner of the wall, or perhaps...

"Elysia..." Mei paused for a moment. "Why won't you see her? Do you hate her?"

"How could that be, Mei? I love cute girls the most. But precisely because I like her so much..." Elysia watched Lin Ling disappear into the distance.

"...I can't see her."

"Why?" Mei couldn't understand.

"Because, Mei, what I'm about to tell you is a girl's deepest secret, but it's also everyone's secret in the Elysian Realm. So, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. This secret can only be told to you. We agreed on a 'date' just for the two of us."

"Hmm... because it's not just your secret, it's also the Elysian Realm's secret. I've passed all the tests, so I can hear it, but she hasn't passed the other Flame-Chasers' tests yet, so... not yet?" Mei roughly understood.

Listening to Mei's reasoned analysis, Elysia suddenly clutched her chest in panic. "What should I do? My heart was completely exposed to Mei! Using this ability on a girl, Mei, that's so unfair!"

Mei: "(﹁﹁)..."

"Okay, okay, stop looking at me like that. I really want to tell Ling everything. So... how about we go ride that roller coaster over there? I believe Ling will definitely break the record for the fastest speed ever and gain everyone's approval. Then I can share my story with all of you..."

"Judging from your tone, someone has passed the final trial before and learned the final secret?"

"Of course. After all, that person was you, Mei~"

...

"Ah! I see it! Pink hair! It must be me when I'm fully grown!"

On the other side, Fairy Ellie rushed toward a pink figure without hesitation as soon as she spotted it.

"Hmm? Who is it?"

However, she was met with a flurry of sword flashes. Fortunately, the flashes came and went quickly.

They didn't hurt Ellie, but because they were so fast, the wind generated by the sword blows still sent the doll-like Ellie flying backward into Lin Ling's arms.

"So it's you guys..." The moment Sakura saw Lin Ling again, a fleeting smile appeared on her usually stern face, but... upon seeing Lin Ling with Fairy Ellie, the smile vanished.

Then Sakura's pink lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something to Lin Ling or confirm something, but ultimately hesitated. "..."

Lin Ling noticed Sakura's deep concern and sighed with feigned regret.

"Sigh..."

At the same time, she felt a tickle in her chest, as if something was about to burst out...

"!" Sakura was immediately startled. "Ling, is she... is she alright?"

"I'm very sorry, Miss Sakura. Although we did our best... the Herrscher of Corruption from the Previous Era is completely gone..."

"..." Sakura simply bit her lip and remained silent.

"Clang, clang!"

Suddenly, a wisp of black energy condensed behind Sakura into a small pink-haired fox girl with a red highlight on her forehead, who grabbed the spot where Fairy Ellie had failed to launch her sneak attack.

"Sister~ Brother-in-law and I have come to see you!"

...

"Sister Don't be angry. Brother-in-law just wanted to give you a surprise"

The little fox snuggled up to the big fox, constantly trying to appease her anger with sweet talk.

After all, they were sisters, and they hadn't seen each other for 50,000 years, so Sakura couldn't do anything about her younger sister, but...

She turned her gaze toward a certain "mastermind."

"Pfft~" The girl swallowed.

Although the other party's face remained as calm as ice, Lin Ling could feel boundless anger spreading...

She even felt that even if the other party drew the icy blade from her waist and stabbed her right then, it wouldn't be too much, since the joke had indeed gone a bit too far.

And looking at the little fox, who was grinning mischievously and winking at her...

"Damn it, this seemingly innocent but actually cunning little fox. She makes it sound like I was the mastermind with just a few words. We clearly planned this together, and now you're just adding fuel to the fire! Besides, compared to me, an outsider, my sister's words are definitely more trustworthy. It's too late for me to say anything now."

"Um, Sakura-neechan, I didn't have time to finish earlier. The Herrscher of Corruption from the Previous Era has indeed disappeared because she became the Twelfth Divine Key."

Lin Ling had no choice but to explain, and Higyokumaru cooperated by transforming into a blade and flying back into her hand.

Sure enough, Sakura's attention was drawn to her younger sister's transformation. She gently stroked the blade of the Jizo Mitama that the girl respectfully offered with both hands and asked with concern.

"Rin, are you alright? I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I couldn't protect you..."

"Don't blame yourself, Sister." Higyokumaru transformed back into human form, taking one arm each from Rin and Sakura. "See? Whether I'm a 'weapon' or a 'human' makes absolutely no difference to me, right? I can still hug both of you, can't I? And most importantly, Sister, I'm completely free from the control of the Honkai now. From an apostle of the Honkai who destroyed humanity, I've become a Divine Key that protects humanity. Perhaps this is the best redemption for the sins I committed."

"Rin..." Sakura gently patted her sister's head with satisfaction. "You've really grown up."

"Hehe, but I'm still my sister's little sister. By the way, Sister, even though I've become a Divine Key, my powers are still there. As long as I drain Ling's Honkai energy and corrupt your data—or rather, integrate it into my database—maybe I can take both of you out of here and back to the real world! Then we can defeat the Honkai together, buy a big house, and live together forever!"

"Okay. I'm really looking forward to it..."

...

"Then, Miss Lin Ling~"

After the two sisters had shared their reunion, Sakura turned her gaze to Lin Ling, who had been silent and trying her best to minimize her presence.

"I wonder if you've seriously practiced the 'small gift' I gave you last time?"

Unexpectedly, Sakura let Lin Ling off the hook and only brought up their last meeting.

(Oh? Sakura-nee changed the subject. Is she forgiving my joke?)

"Haha." Lin Ling chuckled in relief. Having lost her memory, she had no recollection of the so-called "last time," so she could only casually say, "Last time? Haha, it was pretty good. It felt nice, and it's suitable for sensitive skin."

"Sigh..." Sakura sighed helplessly. "It seems you've completely forgotten the Signet I gave you. Since that's the case..."

Sakura closed her eyes, a kind smile on her face, and gently patted Lin Ling's shoulder, squeezing it firmly yet gently.

"Then let me personally give you some pointers."

Huh!?

Feeling the force on her shoulder, this was definitely not going to be that simple...

...

"Haaah! A fleeting slash..."

On the open ground, with each syllable uttered by the girl, her figure inexplicably appeared in a different location. Finally, it seemed as though four Lin Lings appeared simultaneously before slashing down at Sakura in the center.

Clang~

The three metallic clangs rang out almost perfectly in unison.

Sakura had parried Lin Ling's first three attacks with incredible speed, and the final strike...

"Ah! Stupid Lin Ling! What are you trying to do to sister?!"

At that moment, Higyokumaru, who had been watching the fight, rushed over angrily and pressed down on Lin Ling's sword.

It turned out that Lin Ling's final strike had already broken through Sakura's defenses.

"It's alright, Rin. Ling won't hurt me. This was just teaching and sparring. I didn't use much Honkai power." Sakura first comforted her sister, then looked at the white-haired girl and nodded with satisfaction. "But I really didn't expect it. The 'surprise' continues. My 'Setsuna' technique finally has a successor. No, I should say, Miss Lin Ling, your speed already surpasses my 'Setsuna'..."

"Ahaha You flatter me" Lin Ling scratched her head. Actually, she felt unworthy of such praise. The "surprise" just now might have only been a "surprise" for Sakura, but for her, it was truly a "joy." At the moment when the other party was at her most flustered, the strange voice in her mind that called itself the "System" rang out.

At that moment, she had already acquired the other party's "Setsuna" technique, but because she wasn't proficient, she was initially at a disadvantage.

However... after incorporating the power of the Herrscher of the Void, along with some kind of power from the so-called MANTIS, her disciple's speed had already surpassed that of her "master"...

However, regarding this power gained by manipulating others' hearts, she genuinely felt... a "heavy" burden.

---

EX Chapter: Until the End of the World

“Can we go home now… Mommy Célia?” a little girl asked nervously as she fearfully tugged at the headmistress’s hand in the orphanage.

The girl’s voice eased the headmistress’s worry and tension. She gently knelt down and spoke to the little girl.

"Yes, those people made a mistake. Everyone is fine. As an apology, we received a large sum of compensation.”

“Wow, that means we can buy lots and lots of cookies!” the girl laughed happily.

But another girl looked very worried.

“But… what are they looking for? They’ve done physical examinations on everyone. This is the third time.”

“I don’t know, but they said everyone is fine, so that’s enough…”

Whether it was the adults’ comforting words, the children’s conversation, or the shared worry of both adults and children, all of it was observed by a pink-haired little girl.

…

After dinner, the girl stayed behind as usual to help the adults clear the dishes and clean the table.

After everything was cleaned, and after the headmistress had said goodnight to each child, the girl nervously tugged at her sleeve.

“What’s wrong, Elysia?” the older woman asked gently.

“I... I...” the pink-haired little girl paused several times before finally gritting her teeth. “I have something I want to say to Mother Célia.”

The tension in the girl’s voice surprised the woman. She knew Elysia, just as she knew every child there.

She took the child’s hand and gently encouraged her to continue.

“Mother Célia,” the girl said as she looked into the eyes of the woman who was more like a mother than anyone else, “I... I want to leave here.”

“Leave the orphanage? Oh... do you want to become an apprentice at the bookstore? After all, you love storybooks so much.”

“No, no. I... I want to leave the town.”

“Leave the town?” The woman’s voice grew even more surprised.

“Those people who came here and took everyone away before, they... they...” the innocent little girl continued to explain.

“Elysia... what’s wrong?”

“They made me realize how big the outside world is! So I want to go out and see it. I want to be like the protagonist in the picture books and find Elysium at the end of the world!”

A complex mix of emotions flashed across the woman’s face: surprise, confusion, reluctance... but in the end, she looked at the child who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and nodded gently.

“Okay. Then I’ll prepare your travel bag.”

“Huh? Mother Célia... aren’t you angry?”

“Elysia has her own dream. How could Mother be angry? But you must be careful out there alone. The outside world is vast, with many unknowns and many choices that you’ll have to face on your own. Don’t worry too much about what’s right. Just follow your heart. Elysia has always been a smart and kind child. Mother believes you can take care of yourself.”

“Mmm... thank you, Mother!”

“For the next few days, remember to say goodbye to all the neighbors. Everyone here loves you, and they’ll all be sad to see little Ellie go. I need to go to the general store tomorrow to get you some extra food. Oh, and a few more clothes too—a girl needs to look her best. Oh, and I also need to find your Uncle Kimil and ask him to make you some basic self-defense tools. Wow, there’s so much to do…”

…

And so, amidst the blessings and farewells of the townspeople, the girl shouldered her pack and embarked on her journey, taking her first step toward the rising sun.

Birds sang for her, flowers bloomed for her, and even the babbling brooks played beautiful melodies. The forest sheltered her as she traveled through it, quietly guiding her along the way.

Finally, she reached the highest hill outside the town.

“Wow…”

It was the first time she had ever seen such a sight.

“So many lights... so many houses... so many... so many...”

She marveled at the scene before her. Thousands of lights converged beneath the night sky, shimmering together to create a magnificent panorama.

The small town she had once believed to be the entire world was merely a tiny speck of light within that vast panorama, almost impossible to distinguish.

Yet it was precisely these countless tiny, flickering lights that created this ocean of light.

“So... beautiful!”

She had finally found the right words—the words that expressed her joy, a heartfelt exclamation. This beautiful world captivated her.

“Then... it’s time to find my ‘Elysium’!”

…

“Elysia, you have a wonderful mother.”

At first, Mei only wanted to learn the hidden secrets of the Elysian Realm, the top-secret files concerning the Thirteenth Herrscher. But Elysia, as always, was willful, pulling Mei onto the Ferris wheel and beginning her story from the very beginning.

Mei was gradually drawn into this fairy-tale-like story.

“Not only my mother, but all the children and adults in town love me!” Ellie’s face was full of pride, yet it was completely genuine.

Mei couldn’t help but smile. “It’s because you grew up in such an environment that you became the person you are today, right?... So…”

After a pause, Mei looked at the beautiful girl dressed in pink before her.

So Elysia really is a Herrscher?

“The anomaly detected by Fire Moth wasn't a false alarm. A Herrscher was indeed born in Vostok. They even conducted multiple investigations but ultimately failed to detect her existence.”

“Perhaps this was Elysia's privilege—her ‘super charm’ that made everyone love her and never doubt her?”

“But regardless, you sensed something was wrong and chose to leave.”

Elysia’s expression softened slightly as she recalled the past.

“Elysia, you were a little scared too.”

“Even though you didn’t know the cause or the consequences, it was all to protect the town and its residents. You must have been very reluctant to leave this place. Otherwise, you would have left without saying goodbye during the first investigation. The first Herrscher—an existence born even before the First Herrscher... her actions went against everything the Herrschers of that era stood for. Why did the Honkai Eruption give birth to such a special Herrscher? I always feel that anything related to Elysia is unconsciously shrouded in a hazy, romantic aura, like a fairy tale.”

“Why say ‘like’? My life is obviously a fairy tale! So then, Mei, do you still want to hear the rest of the story?” the pink-haired girl asked again.

This time, the purple-haired girl nodded sincerely.

“Of course.”

...

The girl embarked on a journey without end. In the time that followed, she traveled through cities, mountains, villages, and wilderness.

She experienced many things and met many people.

She once listened to the melodious chorus of a choir among the ruins of a church.

“Little girl, are you hungry? Here, have some bread.”

“Grandpa, what about you? This is your bread...”

“I’ll wait for the next batch. You’re still young. You need to eat your fill. It’s alright. This place exists for everyone, to help everyone.”

...

She had once stood shivering beneath a cloak outside a closed station.

“…Why are you following me?” a thin girl asked impatiently.

“Eh? But you said that if I gave you that apple, you’d give me an orange...”

“I was lying. I didn’t have any oranges. You fell for it. Hmph~ Consider it a lesson. People here have to do things like this just to survive.”

Even though she had just deceived someone, the thin girl spoke like a wise elder, using her own experiences and philosophy to teach the innocent little girl.

“Oh...” Without the slightest hesitation, the flawless girl rummaged through her pocket and held out her hand again.

“I have two more candies. You can have them too! Here, one for each of us!”

“You...” This time, it was the young woman’s turn to be stunned. Her previous smugness vanished instantly. After a long silence, she managed only a single sentence.

“Thank you...”

...

She had once been captivated by the heavenly voices onstage in a magnificent theater.

“You came all the way here to watch this performance too, right? Ah, musicals really are amazing, aren’t they?”

“Wow... so amazing... so beautiful! I want to hear more songs like this!”

“Oh, so this is your first time experiencing something like this. Do you know what vinyl records are? Come on, let me show you my collection.”

...

She had once wept in a rain-soaked alley alongside a city beneath the night sky.

“Are you alright? Are you okay?”

“Waaaaah... Ever since that masked man started punishing evil, helping the good, and giving money to homeless kids like us... a group of people has been targeting us, robbing us whenever he isn’t around. Waaaaah...”

“How could this happen... That person was clearly only trying to help…”

…

She had passed by lush school grounds, where children around her age were studying behind high walls.

“Little girl, are you thinking about applying here? Hehe, you look smart. I’m sure you’d make an excellent student.”

“Can I apply?”

“Of course! Why don’t you visit during our open day? The student cafeteria here is famous far and wide…”

…

She had once witnessed a horrifying ceremony from behind a crowd in a secluded village.

“Why... why is that person tied to the pillar? Why are there so many wounds on him?”

“Go away! Don’t meddle in this!” a man interrupted rudely and impatiently. “Be careful, or you’ll end up as crazy as those people. We only agreed to let you stay for one night. Haven’t you had enough? Pack your bags and leave. This place is beyond saving. The man you saw was tied up willingly.”

“But... that’s impossible…”

…

She had once traveled far to the East, stopping along a bustling street.

The owner of a martial arts school noticed the curiosity in the girl’s eyes.

“Haha, what’s wrong, young lady? Want to learn martial arts too? We mostly teach men here, so the environment isn’t ideal. If you’re interested, there’s another instructor farther down the street. She teaches spear fighting and archery. How about it? Want to give it a try?”

“Archery?” the girl repeated with interest.

…

She returned to the street at dusk, sitting beside a dilapidated roadside stage.

A curious audience member said, “I heard that magician is a fraud. A group of people came to arrest her before the show!”

An excited audience member replied, “I heard that by the time they rushed backstage, she had already vanished! But there’s only one exit back there!”

A curious audience member asked, “Wow, it sounds like there’s more to the story. Who is she, anyway?”

An excited audience member laughed. “I even think it’s all part of the magic show!”

She listened quietly as the audience recounted the story of an incredible magician.

...

She once ventured into remote mountain villages, witnessing the joys and sorrows of the world.

“No, don’t come any closer! I know I was wrong! I’ll never do it again!”

“Calm down. I’m not some ‘killer’...”

“Don’t test me! Pink-haired woman... I knew it was you. I really know I was wrong! Please forgive me!”

“What terrible thing did you do to be this frightened...”

...

She once visited one of the hottest places in the world, witnessing both the joys and sorrows of its people.

“You really want to become her lab assistant? I heard it’s like a cannibalistic farm over there. One student disappears every hour. Anyone who didn’t know better would think the students were being put on an operating table.”

“Haha, the pay is really good. Besides, I’ll get to learn from that amazing Doctor. I’m sure I’ll gain a lot too... I have to work even harder—for you and for our child.”

Looking at the flawless smiles of the newlywed couple, the young woman couldn’t help but sigh.

What a romantic promise.

…

The girl’s footsteps gradually carried her across the world, and every encounter slowly shaped her soul. She received kindness from strangers, finding warmth, *compassion*, and encouragement in them.

She also suffered unprovoked malice, being deceived, exploited, and betrayed.

Like day and night, the world’s good and evil divided her journey into two halves—one of light and one of shadow.

At that moment, she could not understand why such contradictions could coexist within the human heart.

But she believed that the shimmering lights she had seen truly existed.

“Ah~ so... the earth is round. The world has no end. Just like the book said, Elysium really doesn’t exist... In that case... if Elysium doesn’t exist, then I’ll create one myself. It has to be a really, really beautiful Elysium! And then I’ll name it after myself!”

The flawless girl had grown into a flawless young woman, yet she had never abandoned her original dream. She would create an Elysium and give it the name inspired by the story of Elysium.

————————————————

Chapter 311: Everyone Loves Little Ling

Life is but a fleeting "reverie," a hurried arrival and a hurried departure. Since that's the case, why not live more freely? It's just a dream anyway, so why not be a little bolder...?

After saying goodbye to Sakura, led by Fairy Ellie, who was engrossed in hide-and-seek, the girl arrived at a small stall and saw a swaying... cat tail?

No, it was Pardofelis's tail. She was perched on her stall, propping her head up with one hand, pouting, and fiddling with an inconspicuous little marble.

"Hey, little Pardo, what are you busy with?" Fairy Ellie flew over, gave her a curious hug, and asked.

"Hmm~ What's this smell?"

Perhaps sensing someone approaching, Pardofelis slowly turned around and waved to Lin Ling in greeting. "Oh, Boss Lin, you're here! Just browsing? Is there anything you want to buy?"

For some reason, the cat seemed a little listless today.

"What's wrong, Miss Pardo?" Lin Ling asked. "Is something bothering you?"

"Hmm~ Yesterday, after Sister Eden got drunk, she gave me a ruby the size of a pigeon's egg. I'm wondering what to do with it," the cat said, looking somewhat troubled.

"This..." Lin Ling thought of the gentle and intelligent older sister and said with a smile, "So she can be this generous when she's drunk? Haha, I'll have to find her for a drink sometime. But aren't you happy that she gave you something?"

"Of course I'm happy, but you know, things are valuable because they're rare. I know I shouldn't blame her, but Sister Eden's excessive generosity, giving away rubies everywhere, has indeed made it harder for me to sell mine."

For fifty thousand years, with Eden's "reckless" spending as the Elysian Realm's major investor, rubies, which were incredibly rare in the real world, were no longer so special, leading to a gradual decline in the cat's ruby business.

"Hmm..." Lin Ling thought for a moment before comforting her. "Actually, gemstones are just different kinds of stones at the end of the day. Aside from a small number with industrial applications, they're not really that precious... By the way, I don't know if you people from the Previous Era still have diamonds. They're essentially just lumps of carbon, and they're not naturally rare. They can even be synthesized artificially, but the outside world has hyped them up so much that they've practically become the king of gemstones."

"Oh~!" The cat immediately became interested. "'Carbon' gemstones? Can something like that really be so valuable?"

"Maybe diamonds themselves aren't valuable, but as long as they're well-packaged and heavily marketed, they can sell for a very high price. Nowadays, the outside world has linked diamonds with 'love.' If you don't buy a diamond ring, it means you don't love your partner enough. If you want to get married, you need a diamond ring, making a mere one-gram stone sell for tens of thousands. They even created the slogan, 'A diamond is forever,' to symbolize eternal love." Lin Ling shrugged. "It's laughable. It's clearly just a lump of carbon, and it can't last forever at all."

"'A diamond is forever!' How romantic!"

Unexpectedly, Fairy Ellie instantly became interested. She immediately clung to Lin Ling's arm like a little girl clinging to an adult.

"My lovely human, I want one too~ Can you give Fairy Ellie one?"

"It's just a lump of carbon, and it can't last forever. It's actually very fragile and can't withstand high temperatures..."

"I don't care! I just want one! Don't you love me anymore?" Fairy Ellie stared at Lin Ling with her big, teary eyes.

"See?" Lin Ling said to the cat helplessly. "Some people know diamonds aren't actually that valuable, yet they still pay outrageous prices for them. That's typical consumerist brainwashing. Well, this Fairy Ellie is so innocent and naive that she's easily fooled. If it were an adult, it'd be best not to mention that diamonds are actually fragile and not very valuable."

After listening to the girl's analysis of the outside world's business secrets, the cat nodded thoughtfully. Having always been involved in the simple business of reselling, it felt as though a door to an entirely new world had opened before her.

"Oh dear. Okay, okay, I give up." Unable to resist Fairy Ellie's persistent pleading, Lin Ling asked, "Miss Pardo, do you have any diamonds here? Give me one. I want to give it to Fairy Ellie."

"I don't. I only have the gems Sister Eden gave me. Speaking of which, the Previous Era also had the kind of synthetic transparent carbon you mentioned, but it wasn't worth much and was mostly used for industry. I never expected it could be associated with love!" The cat suddenly slapped her thigh. "I think I get it! As long as you add cultural value to a product, you can sell it for a price far beyond its actual worth! In that case, I just need to do this, then that... wouldn't I become rich?!"

"Okay then, Miss Fairy Ellie, please wait a moment." Seeing she couldn't rely on the money-loving cat, Lin Ling had no choice but to squat beside a young sapling and gently stroke it.

A dazzling white light flashed. In the blink of an eye, the tiny sapling grew into a fairly large tree.

That was Lin Ling using the creative power of the Herrscher of Death.

"Snap~"

With another snap of the girl's fingers, the tree spontaneously combusted, becoming engulfed in flames before quickly burning down into a pile of black charcoal.

This was the power of the Herrscher of Flame.

"Boss, what are you doing?"

"Huh? A human?"

Pardofelis and Fairy Ellie both looked at Lin Ling in confusion.

"You'll find out soon enough."

Amid their puzzled gazes, the girl turned and smiled mysteriously.

Then she reached toward the pile of carbon in midair, creating an invisible gravitational force that drew the black charcoal into her palm.

Then...

"Hmph!"

She squeezed with all her strength.

Bang!

A loud sonic boom rang out.

When the girl opened her hand again, the black carbon had transformed into countless flawless, crystalline diamonds that shimmered brilliantly.

"Here, Fairy Ellie." The girl picked out one of the larger diamonds and handed it over. "Here's the diamond you wanted."

Fairy Ellie accepted it, happily flapped her wings, and circled Lin Ling once. "Wow, thank you so much, lovely human!"

"And the rest~" Lin Ling had no need for these useless lumps of "carbon," so she casually handed them to the cat beside her. "Miss Pardo, you can have them all."

"Wow, wow, wow! So many gems! Boss Lin Ling! Sister Lin Ling! I love you to death! Speaking of which, since you gave me diamonds, doesn't that mean... well, maybe we should just... hehehe, you know what I mean~"

Now, in the cat's eyes, the girl was more than just a sucker... no, more than just a big spender. Calling her a "big spender" was an understatement. She was practically an inexhaustible money tree. Naturally, the cat wasn't about to let her go.

"Uh-huh... what are you saying, Kitty? Wake up..."

...

"Hmm... Why haven't we found her yet? Why hasn't she appeared?"

After saying goodbye to Pardo, who was excited to the point of nearly proposing marriage, the girl, carrying the "Reverie" mark Pardofelis had once worn, once again embarked on a hide-and-seek journey with Fairy Ellie in search of Elysia.

But they found nothing. Neither Elysia, whom she was so interested in, nor the Herrscher of Corruption from the current civilization, whom she wanted to lure out, showed any sign of appearing.

"Hmm... Wasn't what I did enough? And this Fairy Ellie doesn't seem as innocent as she looks. She seems to be deliberately leading me somewhere for a reason. Hmm, never mind that for now... I wonder how Dr. Mobius is doing?"

As if by coincidence, just as Lin Ling was thinking about Mobius, a familiar voice reached her ears.

"Yo Guinea Pig, we meet again"

"Wow Mobius, it's been so long! You seem to have gotten even smaller! So cute" Fairy Ellie exclaimed as soon as she saw Mobius, whom she hadn't seen in quite some time.

"Hmph Aren't you even younger than I am, little one? Fine I'm not here to argue with you today. Guinea Pig, come here." Mobius shifted his gaze toward Lin Ling. "Come here. Let's go a little deeper... It's right there... the mark of 'Infinity.' I'll give it to you, as long as you take one more step forward... just one step."

As if bewitched by the legendary beautiful snake, or perhaps out of trust in *her*, Lin Ling unconsciously took a step forward.

Just then, whoosh!

Mobius's lower body suddenly transformed into a snake's tail. She coiled across the ground before swiftly appearing behind Lin Ling, quickly biting the back of her neck before withdrawing before Lin Ling could react.

Instantly, a mark resembling two overlapping "∞" symbols appeared around the wound.

"Huh?" Lin Ling quickly covered the back of her neck. "Dr. Mobius, what are you doing?"

"Hehe~ Guinea Pig, would you be happy if I told you it was a mark that would make you mine?"

"Eh, don't scare me."

"Guinea Pig, my Guinea Pig, I really, really want to eat you I want us to become completely one I've thought it over carefully, and I still can't let go of my love for you. So I'm going to trick you back into the Elysian Realm, and I'm going to take everything from you again!"

"Ah..."

Then Mobius attacked the girl without warning. However, unlike before, during the battle, Lin Ling, who also possessed the Sesa gene, uncontrollably began taking on serpentine traits under the influence of the "Infinity" imprint.

However, since they both possessed immortality, neither could kill nor defeat the other.

In the end, the two girls, each with a human head and a snake's body, became tightly intertwined like a DNA double helix—or rather, like Nuwa and Fuxi from the legends of Shenzhou.

...

"Hmm... Cute humans, your fight just now was so strange!"

The innocent Fairy Ellie asked in confusion.

"Ahem." The girl blushed and coughed lightly. "Really? I suppose so, but... at least I gained something. Is this what they call 'Infinity'? It feels a little strange, as though it's different from the previous imprints. Also, is Dr. Mobius really alright?"

"Don't worry. She won't die. She'll revive in a little while. So, let's continue searching for the next Flame-Chaser—or rather, let's find the mature me." Fairy Ellie then led Lin Ling to the next location.

...

"Because you've lost your past, have you also lost the imprint we once shared?" the blue-gray-haired girl asked Lin Ling with a complicated expression.

"Yes..." Lin Ling nodded apologetically. "I'm sorry, Miss Fu... no, Miss Hua. I've forgotten everything..."

"Life is but a dream. How much joy can it truly hold? Some say that memory is the most important thing a person possesses, and that is especially true for beings like us, who exist as pure memories. Therefore, I understand the pain of losing one's memories. But, Miss Lin Ling," the girl gently patted Lin Ling's shoulder, "I believe there are things in this world even more precious than memories, even more precious than life itself. That must be why you sacrificed your memories to protect them. Such an admirable act—how could I possibly blame you?"

Seeing that the girl before her didn't blame her for forgetting their imprint, but instead comforted her, Lin Ling was deeply moved.

"Ugh... QAQ Miss Hua, you're such a good person..."

...

"When the stars dim and the wine cups run dry, my king, why do you remain in this desolate land? To sound the triumphant song, to find the truth... to illuminate all that you can illuminate, to obtain all that you can obtain, to gather all the wealth and glory the world desires within yourself—this is the Signet of 'Gold.'"

...

"I am Kevin, the warrior bearing the Signet of 'Deliverance.' Seek here what you desire—you can surely bear the price it demands."

...

"All things are impermanent, subject to cause and effect, arising and ceasing in an instant, nothing but dreams and illusions. Come, step into this boundless light. This is the Signet of 'Bodhi.'"

...

"Let me paint a picture for you using my favorite colors—the blue of the sea, the green of the cypress, and... the 'Stars' upon you and me. Let me use them... to paint a starry night sky for you."

...

"I cannot give you guidance unless you want lessons from the defeated. The path of 'Daybreak' is a trail forged from countless dead ends... that's all."

...

Fortunately, the next few Flame-Chasers were all very easygoing. Without fighting or demanding anything in return, they generously gifted their Signets to Lin Ling.

...

Until Lin Ling felt the surrounding temperature begin to rise.

"Herrscher! How dare you trespass into my territory! You've courted death..."

...

"Indeed, Herrscher! It's been a long time since anyone has fought so freely with me!"

For Kalpas, there were only two kinds of people in this world: the weak, who could be easily torn to shreds, and the strong, who could not.

The Herrscher before him, though clumsy in her movements and crude in her use of power, was indeed strong enough to contend against his flames.

That greatly pleased him, as he hadn't been able to fight to his heart's content in a long time. Even his recent battle with the Herrscher of Thunder had been interrupted by Aponia.

Therefore, he acknowledged this girl as a true Herrscher.

"All things have been burned, and I too shall be destroyed without a trace. Life and death, existence and annihilation—only annihilation burns eternally! This is the Signet of 'Decimation'!"

"Ahaha, Brother Kalpas, you flatter me~ So, can you let me leave now?"

...

But unexpectedly, after leaving Kalpas, the girl encountered something perhaps even more terrifying than him.

"Within the confines, we gain civilization; only by pausing can we see the future. Come, reach out your hand. 'Discipline' is self-evident."

...

————————————

EX Chapters: Bonds

"Hmm~ Is this the hangar for 'Fire Moth'?"

In a corridor almost entirely made of metal, a pink-haired girl curiously observed the busy crew members and the aircraft constantly taking off and landing through a glass porthole.

Perhaps sensing the deeper meaning behind the girl's words, a grown man in formal work attire standing beside her chuckled.

"What? Not what you imagined? What did you expect? A circle made of several huge stone slabs?"

"Hmm~" The girl pouted. "I thought there would be humanoid weapons several stories tall. Hmm... a little disappointing."

"Haha, you've been reading too many comics. No matter how secretive an organization is, it's still built by humans. Fire Moth is essentially no different from the military-industrial complexes throughout human history. The only difference is that the enemy they fight has become 'non-human beings.' Remember the organization that came to investigate 'Vostok-51'? That was the predecessor of Fire Moth. It's quite surprising, though, that I'd run into that girl again after all these years. You've grown so fast that I almost didn't recognize you."

"Hehe, girls grow up so quickly~" the girl said matter-of-factly.

This young woman was Elysia. After traveling the world without finding the legendary 'Elysian Realm,' she had set her sights on a new goal.

By chance, she came across Fire Moth, an anti-Honkai organization founded by the United Nations of the Previous Era to save civilization from destruction.

She readily applied to join, and she had just passed the final test.

The official employee beside her was her examiner, Ato, a senior employee of Fire Moth.

"So, you're not trying to tell me... I passed the test because of past favors?" Elysia asked curiously.

"How could that be? As an examiner, I'm notorious for being ruthless. Besides, have some confidence," Ato praised. "Not only are you incredibly skilled, but your Honkai adaptability is also exceptionally high, exactly the kind of talent Fire Moth desperately needs. Actually, for my own sake, I don't want to send a young girl like you to the battlefield. I have a daughter, and my greatest wish is for her to stay away from all this."

"It's alright. It was my own choice. Speaking of your daughter" The pink-haired girl's eyes seemed to sparkle even brighter. "When can I meet her? I hope she looks more like her mother"

"Haha." The man laughed. "Why do I feel like you're implying something? Griseo should be in her mother's office right now, but I advise you not to go near that place lightly. After all..."

Upon mentioning a certain laboratory, the previously smiling and amiable senior colleague's expression turned serious and enigmatic, completely devoid of the relaxed demeanor he had displayed during their earlier casual conversation. It seemed that some untold secret was hidden there.

But just as he was about to offer a reminder to the newcomer—

"Ah~ hahaha." Like the face-changing act of Shenzhou's Sichuan opera, Ato once again let out a hearty, almost flattering laugh.

"After all! Dr. Mobius is renowned for being busy. We can't easily disturb her~"

"Hmph... I can't compete with your smooth talk, Ato." A somewhat gloomy voice sounded from behind Elysia.

Elysia turned around and saw a woman in a loose white lab coat with slightly messy long green hair standing behind her. She exuded an aura of...

"I'm here to check on the Second Herrscher's first attempt and also to pass on a message from Blanca—she's looking for you. Apparently, Griseo wants to play some kind of horseback riding game... um..."

The green-haired woman turned her gaze to Elysia.

"And who's this? A recruit? One of those 'going to the moon'?"

"No, it's 'remaining on the ground.' I'll go keep my little princess company then, Dr. Mobius. I'll leave the newcomer's tour to you!"

"Hey, wait a minute! Hey...! Ugh, I can't stand that man. He always pushes trouble onto others, and he's the first to run away. Whatever~"

Watching the man quickly disappear at the end of the passage, Mobius turned her gaze back to the newcomer and asked casually, with little interest and even a hint of indifference.

"What's your name?"

Although the other party seemed quite impatient, Elysia still responded with the utmost enthusiasm.

"Hello. My name is Elysia. I just joined Fire Moth. It's nice to meet you!"

Perhaps it had been a long time since Mobius had seen someone so sunny and energetic, especially someone who treated her with such enthusiasm, which made her somewhat uncomfortable. She coldly spoke.

"Listen up, recruit. Let me give you some advice. Don't get involved with me. I'm not interested in you. And don't let anyone see you walking with me. It's definitely not a good thing for you, understand?"

"Uh..." The pink-haired girl simply tilted her head innocently. "I don't understand."

"What?"

"That would be such a waste. I haven't even had a chance to get to know you yet. If I don't get involved with you now, wouldn't I lose the opportunity to truly understand you?" Elysia explained.

"..." Mobius paused for a moment before uttering a word others often used to describe her. "Weirdo."

She turned to leave, but as she did so, she added. "Come on. Over here."

"Hmm?"

"What are you standing there for?" Seeing that the girl behind her still seemed confused, Mobius turned back with obvious annoyance.

"Didn't that guy ask me to show you around? Keep up. I'm not waiting for you."

"Ah... okay! Oh, you're so kind!"

...

"Get out! This isn't a place for unauthorized personnel to come and go as they please!" Mobius snapped, annoyed by the smiling pink-haired girl who had suddenly appeared at the door.

"Hmm~ Don't be so formal, dear Mobius. Tomorrow's the day of the 'investigation,' and as her guarantor, I'd like to see her too." Elysia rattled off several whimsical reasons as she squeezed into the 'top secret' room. She then scrutinized the girl standing beside Mobius—a girl with short gray-green hair wearing a retro steampunk outfit.

"Speaking of which, you haven't even told me her name yet..."

Since Elysia had already barged in, Mobius could only helplessly say, "It's better to just call her a 'wanted criminal.' After all, she's wanted by twelve different regions simultaneously under different identities..."

"It's sixteen," the steampunk girl interrupted Mobius, correcting her.

"Oh? I didn't realize you were so smug." Mobius said with interest. "We'll see... how long you can keep that smugness."

"Don't scare her, Mobius. I've read the incident report. She didn't do anything too outrageous. While it might have crossed the line as a prank, are people crossing the line really that rare here?" Elysia smiled.

"Could it be that you're holding a grudge because she impersonated you to enter the university library and browse ancient books? She's just a studious person."

"..." Mobius paused for a moment. "Elysia, do you really understand how dangerous this person is? In just a few years, she forged twelve... no, sixteen identities, traveled through different regions, and finally declared war on Fire Moth all by herself. Of course, people with this kind of talent are not uncommon in the organization. But she has leaked countless Fire Moth secrets, making her a veritable threat. She also happens to be a master liar. We don't even know who she really is. Even so, are you still insisting that 'she can be used by us'?"

"I want to try." However, the girl's answer was somewhat willful. "I brought her back, so... give me a chance, okay?"

Mobius didn't answer but slowly walked toward the door. In her final moments before leaving, she spoke softly. "...You'll regret this."

"How will you know if you don't try? To verify someone's sincerity, you first have to believe them, right?"

Even after Mobius had left, Elysia answered her own question. Then she walked toward the girl, the con artist.

"Well... Vill-V, shall we talk? Dr. Mobius isn't here, so it'll just be the two of us."

A complex look flashed in the con artist's eyes, but... she didn't refuse.

...

Kosma: "..."

Destobia: "..."

Kosma: "..."

Destobia: "..."

One day, at Fire Moth's new recruit welcome party...

A young-looking man and woman stared at each other in silence.

"Uh... is this some kind of staring contest?" A pink-haired girl in a maid outfit approached them and asked curiously.

Broken out of the silence by the maid, the young woman laughed and said, "No. I thought he was just being quiet because there were some special rules."

"..." The boy remained aloof. "...Never mind."

"Hmm... then you two must be the new recruits Ato mentioned. Let me think~" The cute pink-haired maid rubbed her cheeks. "Destobia and Kosma?"

"Oh!" Seeing that the maid knew this information, the young girl thought to herself, Could she not be just an ordinary waitress? Hmm! Is it her?

Destobia immediately realized, "Oh! So you must be the 'meddlesome Elysia' the teacher was talking about! But, uh, why are you dressed like this?"

"Because it's the new recruits' welcome party today, and I wanted to dress a little differently. But~" Elysia pouted. "'Meddlesome' is unnecessary. I just like caring about others! I've heard a lot about you two, especially... Kosma?"

"...?" Kosma remained silent, but his eyes showed obvious confusion.

"Even though you put on a cool act and don't say anything, I know... you're the boy who got scolded by Kevin four times in one day, right?" Elysia said with a gentle smile.

"..." Kosma paused, then immediately turned around and glared fiercely at Destobia.

"Don't look at me. I didn't say that," the girl explained, sounding a little aggrieved.

"Kevin told me. You don't know—this was also his first time mentoring a new recruit. On the surface, you were the one crying, but deep down, he was the one who was anxious. Behind everyone's backs, he was scratching his head and pounding his chest in frustration. Everyone was talking about it. Wow, which girl is making Kevin so upset? We can't let Mei find out! You're amazing," Elysia sincerely praised.

"Besides Mei, I've never seen anyone leave such a deep impression on Kevin!"

"..." Even after receiving such praise, Kosma remained silent, nervously looking around as if searching for a hole to crawl into.

However, to make matters worse, Destobia patted him on the shoulder with a smile. "Wow, you're already a big star in the unit. As a fellow soldier, I'm a little envious."

Finally, on the verge of tears, Kosma spoke.

"Please... have mercy on me..."

"Well then, to welcome our two new friends, we'll use this megaphone." Elysia pulled out a loudspeaker—the kind you see at a street market—from who-knows-where. "Let's announce Kosma's 'great achievements'!"

"Hey..."

Kosma was about to stop her.

Elysia handed the megaphone to her "good teammate." "Team Member Destobia, this is your first task. Make sure you relay this message to everyone in the base accurately!"

"Okay!" Destobia respectfully accepted it with both hands and gave a crisp military salute. "I'll do my best!"

"Wait!! Stop—"

The newcomer welcome party was filled with a cheerful atmosphere...

...

"Sisters?"

"Yes. Look... you're a pink-haired girl, and I'm a pink-haired girl too. If we change clothes and stand together, everyone will think we're sisters. That way, no one will suspect our true identities."

One day, Elysia and Sakura were on a classified mission. Due to the mission's requirements, they had to conceal their true identities. Therefore, Elysia made an interesting suggestion.

"..."

Sakura pondered for a moment, then nodded. "You make a good point."

"Wow, you agreed? That's great!" Elysia clapped her hands excitedly. "Then~ Sakura, I'll leave it to you to be the 'older sister'! You have far more experience in this area than I do."

"..."

Sakura suddenly frowned. "How did you know? Did you peek at my pendant?"

As a member of the secret unit "COCOON," much of Sakura's personal information was classified, so she was particularly wary of anyone prying into her family, even her colleagues.

"No, no~" Elysia quickly waved her hand, then explained with a smile. "I just happened to catch a glimpse of it! Didn't you open it once when the plane took off?"

"Such a small movement is something no one else would notice." Sakura was a little surprised, not expecting this girl to pay so much attention to her. "It seems... Elysia, I really can't treat you as just an ordinary 'colleague.'"

"I think so too. Since we're 'comrades' on a secret mission together, shouldn't we get to know each other better? I don't usually have a chance to talk to you. So... Sakura, can you tell me about that photo? You look so beautiful smiling in it. I want to see what you look like when you smile too~"

...

It had been a long time since anyone other than her sister had gotten so close to her. After a moment of stunned silence, Sakura couldn't help but smile.

Faced with the girl's relentless onslaught, even an iceberg showed signs of melting...

...

"Come here, Griseo, over here. Let me pinch your cheeks~"

One day, Elysia once again visited the lab of the doctor who "hated" her the most, but this time her target was a cute little blue-haired girl.

"Hmm~ Umm..."

The little girl whose cheeks were being pinched let out a series of sounds that seemed slightly displeased but were actually quite happy.

"Mmm" Elysia nuzzled the little girl's face in her arms. "You're so cute! You don't look like your dad at all, and that's wonderful! Ah I have absolutely no resistance to cute little girls like you."

"Mmm~ Hmm..."

"That's right!" After happily cuddling the little girl for a while, Elysia seemed to think of a fun idea.

"Since Aunt Mobius isn't here, I'll take you out to play! Little Griseo doesn't want to stay in this green place all the time, right? Let's do something that only girls do, okay?"

"Okay~"

...

"Let's chat about anything, Aponia."

"Miss Elysia..."

"Don't be so formal, just call me Ellie!"

"You... aren't you afraid of me?"

"Afraid? Do you think I'll be overshadowed by your beauty, so I keep my distance? No way~. I love beautiful girls!"

...

"Sorry, I really don't know..."

In the hospital, a doctor who seemed to have his eyes closed spoke somewhat helplessly.

Before him stood a pink-haired girl with tears streaming down her face. "Please, Doctor... this is really important to me..."

Finally, Su couldn't hold back any longer and asked directly, "...May I ask you something, Miss Elysia?"

The girl immediately stopped her fake crying. "Just call me Elysia. What's wrong?"

"I don't understand. What does Kevin's weakness... have to do with your 'illness'?" Su asked, voicing his confusion.

"Hmm... Doctor, you don't know... this is all a girl's heartache..."

Looking at the girl whose eyes had instantly "recovered," Su was speechless.

...

"Phew. It's so hard to see you, you poor thing. You have no idea how many checkpoints they've set up. This place is practically hell... Perhaps you should try to escape once?"

"It's not difficult, but it's pointless," the man replied arrogantly.

"Your name is Kalpas, right? You look a lot like one of my friends, but with a wilder, more... unruly quality. Hey, you two aren't related by blood, are you? Can you take off your mask and let me see your face?"

...

"Eh~ Repeating what others have said is so boring, isn't it? So today there won't be any serious conversations, just lighthearted chatting. We'll only be talking about girls' private matters. That's the style of this unit, so you'd better adapt quickly. First..." Elysia sized up the girl before her and nodded subtly. "Hmm, right. Let's start with the topic of clothing and appearance."

"Appearance?" The long blue-gray-haired girl paused, seemingly surprised by the topic.

"You forgot?" the pink-haired girl reminded her. "Next month is Fire Moth's 'tradition.' The MANTIS don't attend the base's dance; we'll organize our own. Fewer people create a different kind of atmosphere. Look forward to it! Remember to dress up nicely and make some friends. This is your first task after joining the team. Hua, please take it seriously because... I'm in charge of the performance evaluation."

"...Okay. But I..." The girl looked somewhat troubled. Having grown up in a martial arts gym, she rarely dressed up, and most of the time she dressed like a boy.

"Hmm~" Elysia seemed to possess the ability to read a girl's mind. "Don't worry. If you don't know how to dress, I can help you. I won't say your current smart and stylish outfit is bad, but for such a pretty girl to always wear long pants, T-shirts, or uniforms is really... or, as they say in your hometown... such a waste."

"Um..." The girl blushed. "Thank you, Elysia-senpai."

"Don't call me senpai. It's too formal. Just call me Elysia or Ellie. Hmm? Why do I feel like I keep saying that?"

...

"No way~"

"Ah—!"

A sudden voice from behind startled the girl who was up to no good, making her jump like a startled cat.

"It's okay, but that's a gift for someone else," Elysia explained with a smile.

"Ah, this... oh... oh! You mean this hair clip?"

Following the other girl's gaze, the short brown-haired girl returned the stolen hair clip, then scratched her head sheepishly. "I just found it on the ground! Haha... this kind of thing always happens."

Elysia took the hair clip but didn't make things difficult for her. "Hmm~ Then let's consider this an accident. Be careful next time, okay?"

"Ahaha... well, boss... I'll be going now?" Seeing that she wasn't being pursued, the cat-like girl secretly breathed a sigh of relief before trying to slip away.

"Stop~"

But she was immediately stopped again.

The cat-like girl turned back fearfully. "Eh!? Wh-What is it now..."

"Let me see your merchandise again. There's a crystal flower brooch that looks perfect for me."

...

"So... Su will be seventh. You don't mind, right?"

"..."

"Kevin, don't be so silent. Does your child mind what happened before?"

"It's okay. I'm not angry anymore. You're right. We can't dwell on the past. So, you see, I'm making plans for the future. Don't you really have any suggestions for your old friend's number? Anything is fine."

"Elysia, I still don't know what you want to do."

"Hmm? Kevin, I thought you'd already guessed by now, given how long you've been silent. Even if you hadn't, you should at least understand the necessity of the current situation, right? Look, we're all about to part ways. It's sad, but it's also an opportunity for us to gain more control over certain crucial decisions. What I'm planning is both a 'heroic group' and humanity's last line of defense, the 'Thirteen Flamechasers.' Does that name satisfy you?"

...

A person's life is a collection of fragmented, complex, yet enduring moments.

"So many noisy memories."

Listening to the pink-haired girl recount those amusing past events, Mei feigned disdain, but a genuine smile appeared on her face.

Looking at the afterglow of the setting sun, she sighed.

"So much has happened."

——————————

Chapter 312: You Scumbag Woman! (Haha, Finally It's My Turn to Say That) by Ling

While Mei and Elysia chatted happily about their past, Lin Ling was facing perhaps the greatest threat she could ever remember—the strange, lewd nun who had forced her into marriage!

Unlike her encounters with the other Flame-Chasers, which were "coincidentally" arranged by Fairy Ellie, her meeting with Aponia was filled with "coercion."

Let's rewind a bit...

After a grueling "sparring" session with that masked, grumpy guy, Lin Ling and Fairy Ellie continued their journey to find Elysia.

Feeling a bit bored, Lin Ling slowly closed her eyes and sensed the inscriptions she had obtained from the Flame-Chasers.

"Hmm, let me check... 'Gold,' 'Deliverance,' 'Vicissitude,' 'Decimation,' 'Bodhi,' 'Setsuna,' 'Daybreak,' 'Infinity,' 'Stars,' 'Reverie'... Am I almost done collecting all of the Flame-Chasers' Signets, Fairy Ellie? I wonder if there will be any rewards or achievements after collecting them all?"

"That's right, lovely human. There will definitely be a big surprise, so let's hurry up and collect the last few!" Fairy Ellie said excitedly.

"Alright. I think collecting them is kind of fun anyway."

Gradually, Lin Ling also became interested in collecting the Flame-Chasers' Signets. After all, each imprint contained some kind of magical power.

However, even with her collector's obsession awakened, she couldn't help but complain.

"By the way, Fairy Ellie-san, wasn't our initial goal to find Miss Elysia?"

"Um... uh... right..." Fairy Ellie paused for a moment, then her two big, bright eyes darted around. "Hmph! No! Mature me is also one of the Flame-Chasers, so if you collect all the Flame-Chasers' imprints, you'll definitely find her, right? Maybe mature me is the final reward~ Let's go! Cute human, let's go find Vill-V next!"

"Ah... you make a good point. I'm speechless for a moment..." Lin Ling sighed and rubbed her forehead.

However, when Lin Ling removed her hand from her forehead, she found that her vision was still dim, as if it were obscured by something.

"Fairy Ellie-san? What did you do?"

"Dear human, what are you talking about? I didn't do anything... Eh? Human, what's wrong?"

Gradually, Fairy Ellie's voice faded from Lin Ling's ears.

No. It wasn't just that her vision was being covered up; the entire world had inexplicably plunged into pitch-black darkness.

"What!? What's going on?"

In this absolute darkness, where almost all five senses were blocked, the most primal fear began to rise within the girl.

However, this was no challenge for her.

Snap!

With a snap of her fingers, a flame rose from her fingertip, lighting a tiny candle in the hazy darkness.

"Hmm..." The girl slowly shook her head. "That's not enough. Then I'll increase the intensity!"

Using the vast amount of Honkai energy within her, the girl waved her hand upward, and the flame instantly transformed into a raging inferno, spreading across the sky like a mushroom cloud. She attempted to illuminate the entire dark world with her own power.

However, to Lin Ling's surprise, even so, the firelight illuminated nothing. Stretching infinitely in all directions, everything remained pitch black. There was no sky and no earth, as if this place truly consisted of nothing but absolute, empty darkness.

The only things that existed were the stairs suspended above the endless abyss beneath her feet and the door at the end of those stairs.

"Where exactly is this place? Is it going to let me see what's behind that door?"

Thud

Suddenly, just as Lin Ling was cautiously preparing to investigate, the sound of something small falling to the ground caught her attention.

Lin Ling turned around and saw a small, somewhat dark, still-smoking object lying on the ground.

"Wow! Sorry, sorry! I thought there was nothing there because it was so dark in here!"

Lin Ling quickly ran over to check on the little thing that seemed to have been accidentally injured by her own flames.

"Two legs... and a flashing screen in the middle. Is this... a robot? Hmm... I wonder whose it is. Will they ask me for compensation? I hope it's not something too valuable, but unfortunately I don't know how to fix it... Oh! I heard that Miss Vill-V is an expert. She should be able to fix it. But before that..."

Lin Ling picked up the "little robot," which was about the size of a pendant, and continued toward the door.

...

However, after passing through the door...

"The one who grants me salvation, the one who ultimately destroys my sins... you have finally come."

The strange nun was kneeling devoutly before her. Her hands were clasped together in front of her forehead, and she was saying things that Lin Ling couldn't understand at all.

"Ah, Miss Aponia, what are you doing? Please get up quickly."

Lin Ling didn't think much of it. She casually clipped the small robot onto her leg strap, then hurriedly reached out to help Aponia up.

But then she realized that countless thorns were wrapped around Aponia like shackles, forming a cage that made it impossible for her to escape. Even the slightest movement caused the sharp thorns to pierce her delicate skin, drawing blood.

No, it seemed that Aponia herself didn't want to get up.

"Attempting to change fate led to the tragic death of an innocent girl. A self-righteous act of salvation ultimately resulted in the mutual destruction of loving sisters... Just as prophesied, the things people feared have been brought to pass by me, one by one. I know my sin; my sin is ever before me..."

"Ah? Although I've only heard a little about it..." Lin Ling looked at the girl, who was bleeding slightly from the wound caused by Lin Ling's attempt to help her up, and felt both regret and heartache.

"But didn't you just say that your sins had been ended by me?"

"Yes, Miss Lin Ling."

Finally, Aponia raised her head and smiled faintly at Lin Ling.

"Thank you for helping those two unfortunate sisters whom I separated reunite. Thank you for fulfilling my wish of fifty thousand years and helping me find liberation..."

"Liberation?"

Although this nun always spoke strangely, Lin Ling couldn't help but frown upon hearing that word.

"If you're liberated, why are you still bound here?"

"Throughout history, the greatest punishment has been 'death,' yet death is also a form of 'escape.' Knowing my own inadequacy, being afraid to face and solve problems, and being unable to bear the pressure, pain, cost, and emotional entanglements... that is why I chose to atone here in the Deep. But after fifty thousand years, finally, I can..."

Aponia slowly rose, letting the thorns tear through her clothes, pierce her skin, and stain her garments with blood.

Yet unlike her battered body, her face was filled with a relieved smile.

"Wait! Aponia!"

Suddenly, Lin Ling grabbed the arm of the nun, who was considerably taller than she was, forcefully stopping her self-destructive actions.

She finally understood.

Aponia believed her sins were over and therefore wanted to free herself through suicide.

"Miss Lin Ling, you don't need to stop me. Although my body has merged with the Elysian Realm, my spirit is not essential. My departure will not harm the Elysian Realm in any way. On the contrary, it might make many people feel relieved... Besides, after I leave, Miss Lin Ling, you are a good person, and I have decided to give you control of the Elysian Realm. You can do whatever you want with my body..."

"Miss Aponia... your sins are far from over. Although you certainly don't owe the Sakura and Rin sisters anything... but... have you forgotten?"

This time, it was Lin Ling's turn to lower her head, her voice filled with resentment.

"You forced me to marry you yesterday without any explanation, and you forced me to wear that ring. My right ring finger is still aching slightly, and you want to die just like that? How are you going to repay what you owe me!?"

Suddenly, the girl looked up and shouted. A burst of flames mixed with soft white light erupted from her hands, instantly incinerating the thorns binding Aponia.

"But... I'm sorry, Miss Lin Ling." Aponia bit her lip slightly, her eyes darting around. "I mistook the Herrscher of Corruption for you, believing you would disturb the peace of the Elysian Realm, which is why I resorted to that tactic. But when I realized you weren't such a lustful madwoman, I released the unjust 'Discipline' I had imposed on you yesterday. You are free..."

"You scumbag!"

Finally, Lin Ling, furious beyond measure, could at last say those words with complete conviction.

She grabbed Aponia, forcing her to meet her gaze, then glared fiercely into her eyes.

"Do you think a simple misunderstanding will make me forget everything you did to me yesterday? Just because you unilaterally lifted that 'Discipline' doesn't mean we're divorced! I don't agree! The ceremony is over. I'm your wife now! You can't go back on your word. You're not going to shirk responsibility. You owe me so much that you'll have to spend the rest of your life paying it back! Don't even think about running away!"

As she spoke those harsh words, a soft white light emanated from Lin Ling's hands.

"..."

Aponia felt the warmth from the girl's hands. Under that warmth, the injuries she had just sustained gradually healed.

She stopped avoiding the girl's gaze. Lin Ling looked both angry and adorable, yet incredibly resolute, like a puffed-up kitten. A warmth began to rise in Aponia's heart.

"What are you laughing at?" Lin Ling blushed. "Am I wrong?"

"No... Miss Lin Ling, you're right. I was wrong. Sin doesn't disappear; it can only be transformed, only transferred. The debt I owe you can never be repaid..."

"Since that's the case, what are you still standing there for? Come home with me obediently! Hmm... Since Snake Snake can get herself out of here, she should be able to get you out too, right? Then be a good husband and go out to earn money to support me!"

"No... Miss Lin Ling. Putting aside why the husband has to earn money, there's one more thing you're wrong about. You've misunderstood..."

"Huh!? What did I misunderstand? Why are you so stubborn?" Lin Ling was furious. "Do I have to knock you out and kidnap you before you understand? Don't think you MANTISes are so powerful. I've also fused with a lot of Honkai Beast genes, you know. I can become a cat girl, a fox girl, a dragon girl, and so on... Hmm, why does this sound less and less intimidating?..."

"No."

Aponia interrupted, then blushed slightly.

"That's not what I meant. I... I just wanted to say that... I actually see myself as the wife type..."

"Ah..."

...

"Ah~ What am I thinking!? What stupid things did I just say!? We've only known each other for a day!!!"

After saying goodbye to Aponia, the white-haired girl, now back in the Elysian Realm, frantically pulled at her hair in apparent agony.

To keep things from getting out of hand, she had acted on impulse. In the heat of the moment, she had said something that sounded like a confession—or even a proposal—to Aponia.

Now that she had come back to her senses, Lin Ling was so embarrassed that she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself.

"Ouch~"

Just then, Lin Ling suddenly felt a sharp pain in her thigh, bringing her back to reality.

She quickly looked down and saw that the pain was coming from her leg strap, where the little robot she had picked up earlier was struggling.

"Oh? This little thing isn't broken?"

Lin Ling removed the small robot, which had somehow regained its mobility, and noticed that her skin was red and swollen where it had been attached, as though she had been bitten by a tiny insect.

"Strange. Does this smooth robot have a mouth?"

Lin Ling scratched her head, but it wasn't a big deal. She could sense that the Honkai energy contained within the robot was extremely weak. Even the self-proclaimed weakest cat could easily crush it with a little force, let alone her.

So she didn't pay much attention to it. She simply squatted down and placed the robot on the ground.

"I'm sorry I hurt you, but you seem alright. Go home now."

Then Lin Ling stood up and continued searching for Fairy Ellie—no, for Vill-V. She had already collected eleven of the thirteen Flame-Chasers' imprints. Only the mysterious Miss Vill-V remained.

She believed that once she gained Elysia's approval, Elysia wouldn't avoid her anymore, and then...

But just as the girl was pondering her next move and walking away, the "little robot" followed her like a clingy puppy, even grabbing onto Lin Ling's ankle.

"Eh?"

The girl stopped, bent down to pick up the little robot again, and, resting her chin on her hand, asked suspiciously,

"You little rascal, why are you following me? Are you planning something naughty?"

"Beep~!"

The little robot immediately shook its head like a rattle.

"Haha, you little guy seem pretty smart. Are you some kind of high-tech AI from the Previous Era? Hmm, maybe you're worth a lot of money."

Lin Ling thought for a moment, then placed it on her shoulder.

"Let's take you with us. Vill-V can take a look too."

...

————————