["Fine, don't answer if you don't want to. You're right... your [Rage] is truly strange. Judging from these memories, you never actually hated any specific person."
Then 'Kalpas' pretended to have a sudden realization: "Oh... I finally understand, Kalpas. No wonder you seem to hold no grudge against Sakura."
"Whether it was the day you were [cleansed] at the sanatorium, or every subsequent moment of powerlessness, the only one you hated was yourself?"
"That's why that rage never extinguishes... unless you meet your death, isn't that right?"
"Have you said enough?"
'Kalpas' sighed with feigned regret: "It seems you have no interest in understanding yourself. Then again, humans are more human in their sorrow."
"However, I discovered something even more interesting."
"You seem... remarkably content with your time working as a laborer at that sanatorium."
"It's so strange... Back then, you took no pleasure in killing."
"Even though they couldn't see you, you couldn't help but smile when those children praised you."
'Kalpas'' voice grew even more mocking and absurd, as if witnessing something unbelievable:
"In other words, given the choice, even someone like you, who has completely become a [beast], would prefer to be an ordinary person?"
"Shut up!" Kalpas was almost at his limit.]
[Himeko]: "Enough! Stop talking, my heart aches for him, it aches for him!"
[Kiana]: "Is the Herrscher of Corruption this despicable? Not just killing, but tormenting the heart too?"
[Fu Hua]: "But why exactly? From the looks of it now, Kalpas's memories are completely defenseless against the Corruption. Why is it doing this?"
[March 7th]: "Is it for revenge? But it doesn't seem like Kalpas offended the Corruption, right?"
[Dan Heng]: "It's more likely investigating information, something that can't be grasped just by reading the memory data, like 'emotions'."
[Vill-V]: "Disguising as a Flame-Chaser... Now I understand. The Corruption's target has always been Elysia from the start. Or rather, the weapon that only Elysia can activate — Divine Key 666."
[Kiana]: "But Elysia is already dead! What can it do now? Can the Corruption resurrect Elysia or something?"
[Mobius]: "Or perhaps... the Corruption wants to become that girl."
Eden did not speak, only the glass in her hand was clenched tightly, covered in cracks.
["I see. You are indeed not ordinary, yet you've hated yourself from the very beginning."
"What a perfect disguise, Kalpas. This is too amusing."
Facing Kalpas's precious memories, 'Kalpas' observed them like watching a circus act:
"No wonder every single one of them considered you a [comrade]."
"That beast whom everyone feared, who annihilated the most enemies... wasn't actually enjoying the slaughter. The reason you craved power was because you always felt weak and powerless in the face of calamity."
"An ordinary life? Ha... No, what you wanted was never something like that, but rather a..."
"I said, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Kalpas roared, cutting off what 'he' was about to say.
"..."
"Ah... Calm down. There's no need to argue with a dead man walking."
"It seems our stroll isn't over yet... It's meaningless to start a conflict here."
"Well then... Let's go. Ahead should be the final stop... for both body and mind."]
[Pardofelis]: "So Brother Kalpas fought so wildly... just because he wanted a home? I really misjudged him."
[Silver Wolf]: "He looks so rough, but who knew he had such a gentle heart."
[Elysia]: "Ahem, I told you, Kalpas is a gentle boy at heart~"
[Theresa]: "This last part... Did the Corruption develop killing intent? Kalpas, please be safe!"
[Jiaoqiu]: "It looks bad. Remember, we're on the Corruption's home turf. Even Kevin was defeated. I fear Kalpas is in grave danger too."
[The two Kalpases walked towards the pillar of fire ahead.
"Although these are memories from a very long time ago, they remain so clear, and yet... so hard to understand."
'Kalpas' spoke with some disbelief: "You... really fell from the sky?"
"Could it be that your memories were tampered with by that Aponia?"
"She wouldn't dare," Kalpas said in a low voice.
"Hahaha... Then I'll tentatively believe you."]
[Pardofelis]: "Brother Kalpas is really an alien? That rumor was actually true!?"
[Vill-V]: "Is that so surprising? Look at this chat group. Aren't we all aliens here?"
[Silver Wolf]: "Lmao. Aliens are a dime a dozen. To us, you're the aliens."
[Himeko]: "On our Astral Express, you can barely find two people from the same planet!"
["So, you fell there? That backward... and Honkai-corrupted village?"
'Kalpas' unhurriedly tore open the painful, unbearable memories of Kalpas's early days in this world, when he was called a god, and laid them bare before him.
"You can ask. But after you ask, you die."
"It seems I need to remind you... You can't do that. The one who is dying is you, not me."
"However, there really is no need to ask further."
'Kalpas' fully understood now: "No wonder you chose to fight a MANTIS to the death during the sanatorium incident... No wonder you never agreed with the Moth's methods, yet never chose to leave either."
"That Kalpas... the man who stood below only two leaders in the entire world..."
"Enough."
'Kalpas' ignored him: "What he truly desired..."
"Enough..."
"...was merely [a place to return to]."
"...a [home]."
"Am I right?"
"ENOUGH!"
Simultaneously, Kalpas threw a heavy punch at the form identical to his own.
But it was futile.
The punch that no one could take lightly simply stopped mid-air.
'Kalpas' seemed somewhat puzzled: "What's wrong? Don't you like my gift? I thought this was a rare opportunity."
"Ah..."
"Fine. Your time is almost up anyway. I'll drop the pretense with you."]
[Himeko]: "The Corruption is dancing on a landmine here, deliberately provoking Brother Kalpas's anger."
[Hi3rd - Void Archives]: 'This behavior reminds me of an old friend. Although, the Corruption's ability to provoke emotions is completely inferior to my old friend's, don't you think so, Mr. Welt?'
[Hi3rd - Welt]: "Piss off!"
[Boothill]: "Well I'll be damned... This guy just wanted a home, a place to return to. Dammit, I want that too,宝贝."
[Argenti]: "Rage burning to protect one's family... What a purely beautiful and noble ideal..."
[Elysia]: "Kalpas, do you consider us your family now? ♪"
[Pardofelis]: "Yeah, Brother Kalpas, let me hug your thigh!!"
[Kalpas]: "Hmph!"
[March 7th]: "How are we supposed to fight this? I can't figure it out. The Corruption is just too strong in the data space!"
[Himeko]: "Don't worry. We will win!"