"Elias, you truly are surprising. I didn't expect the progress to advance this much. I finally understand why that little Mei is so obsessed with you."
Inside the lab, Mobius looked in awe at the results before her. The fusion warrior technology, which she'd expected would take far longer to complete, now had its entire theoretical framework finished.
And it was all thanks to Elias.
Mobius had originally thought of him as just a mysterious and exceptional warrior. What she hadn't expected was that he was also a genius on par with herself in knowledge and research!
"To me, it was just copying the answers."
Elias shook his head. In truth, fusion warrior technology wasn't recorded in the Void Archives. For some reason, the Previous Era hadn't passed down that technology to the Current Era.
But by reverse-engineering it from existing data, and with Mobius—the original creator—assisting, the two quickly pieced together a theoretically viable MANTIS procedure.
"Then let's not waste time. Let's begin right now. I can't wait to experience this creature's abilities~"
Mobius turned excitedly toward the experimental pod behind her, where the heart of the Judgment-level Honkai Beast, Shesha, was still beating powerfully.
That heartbeat alone made it clear: even reduced to just a heart, Shesha was still not dead!
Such incredible regenerative ability was too enticing for Mobius to ignore. Elias could only sigh in resignation.
Some time ago, Shesha's heart had even begun regenerating its body. If Elias hadn't noticed in time and destroyed it back down to just half a heart, the entire Fire Moth base might've been annihilated by a reborn Judgment-level Honkai Beast.
Mobius would've been the first to die—she was, after all, the closest one to it.
"Calm down, Mobius. We've only finished the theoretical stage. Rushing into a trial is far too dangerous. I won't allow it. Get someone else."
"Heh~ And who exactly do you suggest? Elias, not everyone values the soul as proof of humanity like we do. The moment someone sees a tail or a pair of horns on a person, they'll brand them a monster."
Mobius sneered. The next second, she gave Elias a teasing look and said slowly:
"Besides, isn't this a double standard? You say I can't—but others can? In the eyes of our great hero, do other people's lives not matter?"
"That's not it, Mobius."
Elias shook his head expressionlessly. He stared directly into her eyes and said firmly:
"It's just that… you matter more to me."
"...What?"
"All lives are equal. But to me personally, you're more important. It may sound heartless, but... compared to strangers, I treasure the lives of those I care about more."
Elias wasn't without selfishness. In fact, he'd always been someone who placed his personal values first. He didn't mind being called a hypocrite—after all, that too was part of human nature.
If life were gold, then under normal circumstances, Elias would do his best to save everyone. But if he had to weigh someone else's life against that of Mei, Elysia, or Mobius—
Then sorry, that gold might as well be stone…
"..."
Mobius froze for several long seconds before suddenly turning away from him.
"Make sure no one else hears what you just said. Our dear hero's reputation would take quite the hit. But... you're right. Rushing into the surgery is too risky. Let's start by recruiting some volunteers. See if anyone's willing to be a guinea pig."
"Huh? You're actually listening this time?"
Elias blinked. He had honestly expected Mobius to ignore him and insist on going through with the fusion surgery herself.
He reluctantly let go of the rope in his hand, visibly disappointed. He had been fully prepared to tie up the naughty little snake if she disobeyed.
"Stop imagining things. We're done here. If you've got nothing else, then go."
"Use me and toss me aside, huh? Mobius, you're so heartless. Whatever. It's lunchtime anyway."
Elias glanced disdainfully at the cup noodles on the table. To be honest, the lab's food was just depressing—instant noodles for every meal. Maybe Kevin could survive on that, but he was already sick of it.
Shaking his head, he headed toward the cafeteria, not noticing the faint flush on a certain snake's face.
"Klein, forget what just happened."
"Uh, yes, Doctor..."
Beside Mobius, a green-haired girl in a white lab coat timidly nodded.
The girl reached with pale hands for her coffee mug.
Her thick dark circles could make a panda mistake her for kin—clear signs of severe sleep deprivation.
She was Klein, a new assistant who had joined the First Research Lab three months ago. Ever since entering Mobius' lab, she had forgotten what the word "vacation" even meant.
"Doctor, your face is a bit red..."
"Looks like you don't have enough work, Klein. You've got time to study my complexion, huh~?"
"Sorry, Doctor! I'll get back to work. Ugh… so this is what Mrs. Blanca called a great job? I swear she's got a grudge against me."
Klein sighed, glancing toward the lab door. She tried to remember the last time she'd stepped outside. And had she even slept more than 15 hours this entire week?
On the other side, Mobius took a deep breath to calm herself. Don't get the wrong idea—she definitely wasn't flustered or anything. Her heart rate had just gotten slightly out of sync, that's all.
"Shesha Honkai Beast... abilities: immortality, lightning, and venom... Hmph, Elias, you're even more toxic than Shesha."
Mobius shook her head and turned her thoughts to how she could recruit a test subject for the MANTIS Project.
Was she really going to have to print out flyers and stick them around?
Yeah right. Even though her reputation had improved somewhat, the number of people at the Fire Moth base willing to enter her lab could be counted on one hand. Recruiting talent? Good luck with that.
"Maybe I'll just look among acquaintances. Elias—pass. Klein—pass. Elysia... she's a maybe."
A dangerous smile spread across her face as she pictured a certain pink little piggy.
"Even if the simulations are perfect, accidents can happen in untested experiments. If something goes wrong... well..."
Elysia, your boyfriend is now under my care!
"Doctor, I don't think Elias would approve."
Klein spoke up slowly. Sure, Elias had said Mobius was important to him, but… Doctor, do you really think your favorability rating compares to Miss Pink Elf?
One must know their place!
"Klein. Focus on your work."
"...Yes, Doctor."
Mobius' eye twitched slightly in annoyance. She bit her thumbnail and muttered under her breath:
"If only someone would just offer themselves up as a test subject..."
"Huh? Elias isn't here?"
Just then, a certain husky poked his head into the room.
Kevin scratched his head, not finding Elias anywhere in the lab. He had come hoping to grab lunch with him.
But at that exact moment—when Mobius was just wishing for a test subject—Kevin walked right in. Her eyes instantly narrowed like a predator spotting prey.
"You're Kevin, right? One of the two new recruits Elias brought in recently. Looking for him?"
"Uh, hi Auntie. I was hoping to eat lunch with Elias and maybe get him to take me on another mission this afternoon. Ugh~ Fire Moth doesn't let rookies apply for missions alone. So annoying."
"A... Auntie...?"
A vein bulged on Mobius' forehead as she stabbed the scalpel straight into the table. Did this brat not know how to talk properly?! Should she splice in some mosquito Honkai Beast genes into his fusion surgery later?
"He's busy this afternoon! Elias' entire afternoon is booked with me! Instead of wasting time slicing up a few Honkai Beasts with you, he's better off staying here and doing research with me—much more productive!"
"Uh, what? He actually does research too?"
Completely unaware that he'd just stepped on a landmine, Kevin blinked in genuine surprise. In his eyes, Elias was already ridiculously overpowered—able to defeat Herrschers and wreck Emperor- and even Judgment-level Honkai Beasts with ease.
But apparently, Elias was also a science guy?
Kevin glanced at himself. He'd been with Fire Moth for nearly three months now and could barely handle Emperor-level threats.
Talk about low-tier!
"Damn it. I really wish I could get stronger. At this rate, when will I ever be able to fight alongside him?"
Kevin sighed, visibly frustrated.
"Oh? You want to get stronger?" Mobius' eyes lit up.
"Yes! I want to be stronger!"
Kevin clenched his fists, voice filled with determination.
He too wanted to become a hero who could save the world like Elias! Ever since the Third Honkai Eruption, when he saw that white-haired youth defeat a Herrscher and save so many lives—
Kevin had looked up to Elias.
Unfortunately, he hadn't had enough time to grow. Right now, taking down an Templar-class Honkai Beast was the most he could manage.
Mobius smiled widely.
"Excellent, such spirit~ You're lucky—there just so happens to be an opportunity that could let you skyrocket to new heights. Sure, it's a tiny bit dangerous, but if it succeeds, you'll be hundreds of times stronger! Step right up, don't miss this limited-time offer~"
Gulp!
Though it sounded sketchy, Kevin still swallowed nervously. At the same time, he realized just who this green-haired "auntie" was.
Wasn't she the one Elias always talked about? Dr. Mobius?
If Elias trusted her, then she probably wasn't lying!
With that thought, Kevin nodded like a woodpecker.
"Getting hundreds of times stronger... seriously? How's that compare to Elias? Can I get stronger than him?"
"...That, well, maybe." Mobius averted her gaze slightly.
"Alright! I'm in! Let me do it!"
"Hehe~ Experimental log: white-haired, blue-eyed male. Subject appears to have possible congenital cognitive limitations, which may lead to unforeseen effects on the procedure. Regardless... Little mouse, you've said the words. No backing out now~"
Mobius snapped her fingers. Instantly, mechanical arms like octopus tentacles sprang out from the experimental platform and grabbed the now-worried Kevin.
They dragged him straight onto Mobius' exclusive operating table.
"A-Auntie, w-what are you trying to do?!"
Kevin broke into a cold sweat. Even a goofball like him could tell something felt seriously off now.
He struggled with all his might, but it was no use. This table had been custom-ordered by Mobius from Helixcraft—it wasn't something the current Kevin could escape from.
"Little mouse, if you call me Auntie one more time, I can't promise a scalpel won't accidentally slice off your tongue. Oh, and Elias said I have to notify him before performing this kind of experiment."
Mobius took out her terminal and sent a message.
Meanwhile, Elias was peacefully enjoying his meal in the cafeteria—
Beep beep!
"Hm? A message from Mobius? She found a test subject—er, volunteer—for the fusion procedure? Already? Who the heck has the guts to sign up so fast?!"
Elias' eyes widened in disbelief. He had assumed it would take at least a week or two to find a willing candidate.
Who would've thought—Elias had barely left the lab and hadn't even finished his meal when Mobius already found a volunteer?
He suddenly suspected she might've injected someone with crazy snake venom or something. Was this really a volunteer? Or a forced volunteer?
Shoveling a few more bites into his mouth, Elias rushed back to the First Research Lab. The moment he pushed the door open, the scene that greeted him left him stunned.
"K-Kevin?!"
"Elias, save meeeeee—!"
There he was—a poor white-haired husky strapped pitifully to an operating table. Beside him, Mobius was gleefully sharpening (surgical) blades and sizing up where to make her first incision.
Kevin trembled and looked at Elias as if he were the light of salvation. He felt like he'd been tricked by an evil aunt. This wasn't a bit dangerous—this was a billion bits dangerous!
"Ah~ Elias, you're just in time. This young man has volunteered to be the first participant in the MANTIS Project. Let's get started—I've been dying to begin!"
"I'm starting to question your definition of 'volunteer.' Kevin, if she forced you, just nod your head."
Vigorously nods
Watching Kevin nod and shake his head like crazy, Elias raised a brow. Maybe it'd be better to step in directly.
Sensing Elias' doubts, Kevin quickly added:
"I mean, I did agree, but it's sounding way more painful than I expected... Uh, that's not even the main thing. Elias, as a friend—just tell me straight. What's the success rate of this fusion surgery?"
Kevin clenched his teeth, but there was a real spark of resolve in his eyes.
He could endure the pain.
As long as it wasn't a scammy procedure where failure meant death—and a 99% death rate on top of that.
"Can't say for sure about the success rate. You'd be the first. But even if it fails, I won't let you die. If it works, you'll gain enormous strength. However..."
"...That's enough. If you say that, it's good enough for me. Let's do it!"
Before Elias could finish, Kevin had already impulsively accepted. He believed in Elias.
If Elias said he wouldn't die, then he wouldn't.
And Kevin desperately wanted to become stronger.
In the three months since joining Fire Moth, he had followed Elias on many missions, witnessing firsthand the horrors of the Honkai—and the crisis humanity faced.
He too wanted to protect this world teetering on the edge.
"I'm ready. Begin the procedure... and please—use a lot of anesthesia."
"...Kevin, you really are something else."
Elias looked at the white-haired husky lying obediently on the table. His body still trembled slightly, but his eyes held unshakable determination. Elias spoke with heartfelt admiration.
From the moment they met in childhood, Elias had already changed Kevin's fate—guiding him away from chasing Mei, away from becoming someone else's shadow.
Now, Kevin wasn't joining Fire Moth for anyone else. He was here entirely of his own will—to save a world ravaged by Honkai.
"Mobius, begin the procedure."
Elias took a deep breath, quietly readying the power of the Herrscher of Rebirth.
"Alright, I'll start scanning for a compatible Honkai Beast."
"No need. Use Parvati—the Emperor-class mammoth-type."
Elias pointed at a specific Honkai Beast genome.
There might be better matches out there in terms of pure compatibility.
But Elias knew—this world did have such a thing as fate. And he was certain that Kevin's best chance for success lay with Parvati's genome.
"Fine, we'll go with that."
Mobius didn't hesitate. She didn't understand why Elias chose that one, but like always—she trusted this white-haired boy too.