"So that's how it is. You became a MANTIS by relying on that Vipralopa-class Honkai organism. That's quite reckless. Even now, that creature still holds many unsolved mysteries."
"There's no problem. I have indeed been strengthened. I've gained the power to stand at your side. Although there are some side effects, isn't that acceptable?"
Rita nestled into Elias' arms and swallowed what was in her mouth with effort. As expected of a perfect maid, her talent for "cleaning up" was exceptional.
Not a trace of impurity was left behind by that lilac tongue.
"An amplification of emotions... that kind of side effect is still very dangerous. Without strong self-control, a normal person would quickly be consumed by those heightened emotions."
Elias toyed with the Rita in his arms while examining her physical condition. Only after confirming she was fine did he let out a sigh of relief. The reason he hadn't absorbed that Honkai organism's Meta-Morph factor back then was precisely because he feared it would intensify his emotions too much.
After all, Elias knew very well that he wasn't exactly a calm person to begin with. If he became even more emotional, who knew what he might turn into.
Elias understood his own power better than anyone—and because of that, he feared himself more than anyone. He was the type whose brakes didn't work very well. This Meta-Morph factor was powerful, but it couldn't compare to the priceless rationality he possessed.
"It's fine. I've already found a way to minimize this side effect, Lord Elias."
Rita smiled faintly, a smile capable of bewitching all living beings.
"Oh? As expected of you, Rita. What did you do?"
Elias raised an eyebrow curiously.
"I tried guiding the side effect. Instead of 'amplifying all of my emotions,' I turned it into 'extremely strengthening a single emotion.'"
Rationality was just as important to Rita. Though she had strong self-control, allowing the side effect to run rampant would inevitably cause problems.
So she made a choice. Rather than letting all the brakes fail, she chose to let a single brake completely break. If handled well, the side effect might even become beneficial.
"As for which emotion I chose to strengthen to the extreme... would Lord Elias like to guess?"
"No need. I can tell just by looking into your eyes."
Elias lifted her face, staring directly into those wine-red eyes—eyes that could dissolve one's reason if gazed into for too long. At this moment, they were filled with a burning, flame-like passion.
The emotion Rita had allowed to spiral out of control was, without a doubt, her loyalty to the white-haired boy. She hadn't chosen love or similar feelings, because she understood one thing very clearly.
There was no emotion in the world more dangerous than love when it ran out of control.
But loyalty was different.
And absolute loyalty was exactly what Rita Rossweisse desired. Once bitten by a snake, one fears ropes for ten years—she would never again give herself a chance to betray Elias.
Now, even the mere thought of betrayal would instinctively make her want to bite off her own tongue. Such unwavering loyalty filled Rita with immense satisfaction.
Yes... it had to be this way.
"Thank you, Rita. For doing so much for me."
"What are you saying? Rita is merely doing what she should. And... I've already received my reward."
Rita stroked her lower abdomen with satisfaction, then licked her soft lips again. She had never experienced anything so exquisitely wonderful. Just now, she had felt as if she might ascend to the heavens.
The Vipralopa-class Honkai organism—Asmodeus.
When it had still been human, it had been a true queen.
After falling into becoming a zombie and then being parasitized by a psychic Honkai Beast, its will was twisted by Honkai corruption. Before it was exterminated, it had drained and killed seventy humans.
Because of that, although Rita could redirect the intensity of her other emotions into loyalty toward Elias, there was one particular impulse she found difficult to suppress—her desire for intimacy.
In truth, she had chosen loyalty partly out of fear that she might become a wanton, unrestrained woman. But that concern turned out to be unnecessary.
"Lord Elias, I love you... Ah, being able to belong to Rita is truly wonderful."
Her beloved master... was a genuine monster beyond all standards.
Even though Rita Rossweisse had evolved into something far stronger, she was still only a Vipralopa-class MANTIS. Compared to Elias—a Planet-class MANTIS—the gap between them remained vast.
Even in that regard, her abilities had been enhanced...
...But she was still entirely the one being overwhelmed, with not the slightest ability to resist.
Elias fulfilled Rita's desire to be punished roughly.
But Rita herself couldn't last until dawn. The maid only held out for three hours before begging for mercy.
"I feel the same, Rita. I love you too."
Elias gently stroked the girl's head. Fulfilling the wishes of the maid who served him was part of his duty as a master—and he was grateful he had the strength to do so.
He pulled up the blanket to cover her, and the two embraced as they drifted into sleep.
...
The next day, Rita woke up unusually late.
And after seeing the obvious changes in her, everyone's gaze shifted toward MEI—who now wore a look of regret. Their expressions quickly grew heated, especially a certain flat-chested immortal.
"She... actually evolved directly to E-cup."
"Cough... I think I also need a Meta-Morph surgery. As for the material, I'll use the same one as Rita."
"Kiana, you can't handle it. Let me do it instead. Dr. MEI, I can teach you cooking too, so..."
"A Meta-Morph factor that can force physical development... as long as I have this, I can... defy fate!"
"Wah! Class monitor, your expression is terrifying!"
Fu Hua's eyes were practically glowing red, as if lasers might shoot out at any moment. The immortal hugged her chest tightly, feeling as though she had finally glimpsed hope for growth.
If Rita could go from B to E in an instant...
Then her going from "nothing" to "something" wasn't asking too much, right?
As for the fact that she had already fused with Garuda genes and shouldn't be able to fuse with anything else?
Just a minor problem.
Fu Hua believed she could solve it through sheer willpower alone.
Never underestimate the obsession of a fifty-thousand-year-old flat-chested immortal.
It was an obsession that might even surpass Otto Apocalypse's lifelong wish to revive the saintess.
However...
"Hmph! I've already completely destroyed that material. Don't even think about it." MEI pushed her glasses up and said.
"No! How can you do this!!" xN
"This is exactly how it should be! Just accept reality obediently. I won't allow anyone to become like Rita again!"
Even now, MEI was still in a state of emotional breakdown. Asmodeus' Meta-Morph factor could greatly enhance feminine charm.
Just look at Rita's radiant appearance this morning—and that slightly swollen lower abdomen.
MEI couldn't help but regret not using that material herself back then. Compatibility didn't even matter—if it could produce such effects, plenty of people would be willing to accept it no matter how severe the side effects were.
But reality was that she no longer had the chance.
Unless one became a Chimera MANTIS. Yet in this world, the only two capable of becoming a Chimera were Elias and Kevin—and both of them were men. What use would they have for this Meta-Morph factor?
So MEI chose to destroy the material, erasing the possibility at its root to prevent anyone else from achieving a reversal like Rita.
Rita: "That truly helps a lot."
Mei: "You've been strengthened a bit too much this time, haven't you?"
The "rice cooker" looked at Rita with envy. This time, she herself had only advanced from the Herrscher of Thunder to the Herrscher of Thundervoid, going from a single Core to dual Cores. It was already a massive upgrade.
But compared to Rita—who had gained an Astral Harness and become a MANTIS—it seemed insignificant. This maid now undoubtedly possessed power on the level of a Multi-Core Herrscher.
From being the weakest in the dormitory to rising into the T0 tier—was this level of turnaround even fair?
"Would you like to spar a little with me, Miss Mei?"
"...Sure. Let me test my blade."
"Hehe~ that's what I should be saying."
"Looks like the training ground will need renovations again..."
...
Inside the training field, the two began fighting without any signal.
Wearing the Spina Astera battlesuit and empowered by her MANTIS body, Rita was actually able to keep up with Mei's lightning-fast movements.
"Don't think I'm the same as before, Miss Mei. Everything is different now."
"Ugh... that's true..."
Mei's katana clashed with Rita's war scythe—and the one forced back was Mei. The immense strength of a MANTIS was difficult for a Herrscher to withstand. Even the power of thunder was blocked and extinguished by stellar energy.
As for technique, Rita still held the advantage.
Mei used the Hokushin Itto-ryu style, while Rita employed pure killing techniques. Although she was holding back due to it being a spar, the maid still maintained the upper hand.
Moreover, facing Rita's wide, sweeping scythe attacks—and her ability to perform high-difficulty maneuvers like flipping midair with the scythe locked between her legs before bringing it down—
Mei's katana lacked the necessary power and versatility to deal with it.
If not for the Herrscher of Thunder battlesuit's two massive armguards—each wielding a large blade—blocking many of Rita's attacks, she would likely have already lost.
"The power of the Herrscher of Thunder alone can no longer threaten you... but what if I add the Herrscher of the Void?"
"Oh?"
Rita swung her blade down, only to find Mei had suddenly vanished from her position. This wasn't high-speed movement like before—it was instantaneous disappearance without any warning.
Clang!Clang!
Two Subspace Lances struck unexpectedly. Although they hit Rita, they were deflected by the Spina Astera battlesuit.
"Tch! The battlesuit Elias gave you is quite useful."
"Hehe~ indeed it is."
Even the Subspace Lances, said to pierce through all defenses, could not penetrate the Astral Harness. After all, it too possessed spatial attributes.
Mei grew completely serious.
Those earlier lances had been restrained—she hadn't aimed at vital points and had only intended to pierce Rita's battlesuit slightly before stopping.
After all, in past sparring matches, Mei had always held an overwhelming advantage. Subconsciously, she had placed herself in the position of the stronger one.
But reality now proved otherwise.
Rita was already faintly surpassing her.
"In that case, I'll go all out—Void Divine Thunder, descend!"
Rumbleeeee!!!
Today's weather: extreme thunderstorm.
Dozens of lightning bolts instantly pierced through the training ground's ceiling. Crimson-gold thunder crashed down from above.
Each strike carried enough power to instantly kill an Emperor-class Honkai Beast, flooding the entire confined training field.
"That's it? Well... I admit, it's indeed powerful."
Even Rita felt her body go numb.
If not for the protection of the Astral Harness and her MANTIS physique, she would likely have been charred inside and out. Thunder infused with spatial power was simply too domineering.
But for the current Rita, it was still within her tolerance. Although her entire body was stiff and paralyzed from the lightning, making close combat impossible...
However...
For a psychic-perception-type MANTIS, close combat was merely an added bonus.
Rita's lips curled upward as she decisively unleashed her mental ability.
An invisible force spread instantly, enveloping the battlefield.
"Ugh! What's happening?"
Mei felt dizzy, unable to think. All her abilities were dispelled in an instant. Her face flushed red as if intoxicated, and she could barely stand.
"Centered on myself, I create a mental disruption field spanning roughly one thousand meters. This is the simplest and most direct use of my psychic ability. And Miss Mei... have you neglected your Edge of Taixuan training for too long? Otherwise, as a Herrscher, you should at least be able to remain standing."
Rita walked forward with a gentle smile. Unless one was also a psychic-perception-type MANTIS, or possessed Fenghuang Down, even thinking would be difficult within her domain.
Not even a Dual-Core Herrscher was an exception.