Lavender experimental light flowed across the dome. Mobius' fingertips brushed over a translucent green panel, the data of the virus transmitted by Red Queen reflected in her pupils, her tone carrying a faintly playful lilt at the end.
"Assimilation ray... converting all organic and inorganic life into Theresa's form? A vacant expression paired with intelligent eyes. Now that's an interesting combination."
She tapped lightly with her finger, and the virus structure on the panel unfolded into a three-dimensional model, flickering with an eerie fluorescent glow.
"Grandma, what fun thing are you secretly researching?"
Space rippled faintly. Misfortune appeared out of thin air beside the lab bench, silver-white hair still dusted with faint stardust as she leaned closer to the panel with curiosity.
Mobius casually closed the panel. As she turned, the hem of her blue-violet dress swept across the cold metal table, her voice as languid as ever. "A laboratory isn't a playground for children. Isn't the universe outside enough for you to mess around in?"
"It's boring now. Those alien civilizations don't want to fight anymore."
"Then go find amusement somewhere else."
Mobius arched a brow.
Misfortune tugged at her sleeve. "By the way, Grandma! Do you know how to chase Sirin?"
Mobius let out a soft laugh, fingers stroking her chin as she spoke frankly. "Chasing someone is something I don't understand. I only have experience being chased."
"Chased by who? Sister Mei, or Sister Ely?" Misfortune's interest flared instantly.
"Can't it be that they both like me?" Mobius raised an eyebrow, a hint of slyness in her eyes.
"So, Grandma, you're the one stuck in the middle?" Misfortune tilted her head.
"Children shouldn't pry into adult matters." Mobius flicked her forehead lightly. "If you want to chase Sirin, go ask Kiana."
"Alright!"
Her figure vanished from the laboratory in an instant.
At the side, Red Queen spoke. "The emergence of this assimilation virus—could it be related to Misfortune's existence? She seems capable of triggering such anomalies."
Mobius walked to the window and gazed into the profound depths of the cosmos beyond. "It's not impossible." A faint smile curved her lips. "After all, that's how the script of fate works. Just like those protagonists—wherever they go, something happens."
Meanwhile.
In a lounge constructed through spatial folding technology.
Red-Eyed Kiana had buried her face in Skynet's soft silver-white hair, rubbing against it as if petting a cat.
Skynet obediently nestled in her arms, small hands clutching the hem of her clothes.
Su adjusted his glasses, speechless inside. This is the protagonist of our Honkai world?
No matter how he looked at her, she seemed like a pervert... And then there was his close friend Kevin. Once a bright and passionate young man, now his face was as cold as ice, a trace of inescapable weariness hidden in his eyes.
A sunny young man. A textbook hot-blooded shonen protagonist.
Just because he wasn't the protagonist, he'd been tormented into this state.
Wasn't this bullying an honest man?
"When are we going back?"
Shigure Kira finally asked, unable to hide the urgency in her voice.
Red-Eyed Kiana lifted her head. "Kira, in such a hurry to return—don't tell me you're afraid that if you're a step too late, Cecilia will be snatched away by someone else?"
"N-No! Don't make wild guesses!" Shigure Kira's cheeks flushed instantly as she waved her hands in denial.
Her feelings for Cecilia were practically written all over her face.
"If you don't want to wait, you can just go back first." Shigure Kira stomped her foot stubbornly, though her mind had already begun to wander. Cecilia is so gentle... what if someone really confesses while I'm not there?
"What's the rush?" Red-Eyed Kiana grinned slyly and pulled Shigure Kira into her arms. "I already adjusted the time flow. We could stay in this universe for decades, have a child and bring it back, and only a few minutes would've passed on Cecilia's side."
"Who's having a child with you!"
Flustered and embarrassed, Shigure Kira lightly punched her and huffed.
"I never said it'd be with you." Red-Eyed Kiana spread her hands innocently.
"You jerk! Do you dare listen to me sing a hundred times!"
Shigure Kira puffed her cheeks and glared at her, attempting to threaten her with her "ultimate move."
"I don't." Red-Eyed Kiana refused without hesitation, her tone firm and decisive.
"Sister Kira is going to sing?"
Space rippled again as Misfortune appeared instantly beside Shigure Kira, grabbing both her hands tightly. "Sister Kira, I want to hear you sing! Your singing voice is super beautiful!"
"Actually, I wanted to say that the first time we met."
Shigure Kira froze on the spot, her face full of disbelief.
She knew perfectly well the destructive power of her singing.
And now someone was actively asking to hear it?
"Y-You're serious?" Shigure Kira swallowed and asked uncertainly. "My singing is really awful."
After several rounds of "enhancement," it could no longer be described as merely awful.
"Sister Kira's singing is heavenly music to me!"
"You've heard me sing before?"
Shigure Kira looked puzzled.
"Of course! I'm your fan!"
Looking into the girl's sincere eyes, Shigure Kira felt a warm current surge through her heart, her whole body tingling pleasantly—this was a true fan!
She took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement, and revealed a gentle smile. "Then... then let's find a quiet place. I'll sing just for you."
"Mm-hmm!" Misfortune nodded vigorously, grasped Shigure Kira's hand, and instantly activated spatial transfer. Their figures vanished from the spot.
"Her singing is that bad?" Su frowned and looked at Red-Eyed Kiana, a trace of doubt in his voice.
Shigure Kira's speaking voice was full of girlish charm. No matter how bad her singing was, it couldn't be that terrible, could it?
A "kind" smile curled at Red-Eyed Kiana's lips as she patted Su's shoulder. "You want to hear it? I can send you over to 'appreciate' it right now."
An inexplicable sense of unease rose in Su's heart, yet curiosity ultimately overpowered caution. He nodded. "I'll go have a listen."
The moment he finished speaking, time-space energy lit up at Red-Eyed Kiana's fingertips, and she sent Su over without hesitation. She then turned to Kevin, Hua, and Melin, her smile growing even brighter. "How about you? If you miss it, there won't be another chance."
Kevin nodded expressionlessly. "Send me." He wanted to see what kind of singing could make Kiana this wary.
Hua also inclined her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
Melin adjusted her glasses, a probing smile tugging at her lips. "Schicksal's records state that Shigure Kira's singing can be used as a sonic weapon. I would very much like to witness it for myself."
Skynet, still cradled in Red-Eyed Kiana's arms, raised a small hand as well. "I'm going too! I want to record the acoustic data!"
"Alright then, everyone's heading out!" Red-Eyed Kiana laughed and snapped her fingers. Time and space instantly enveloped them.
The next second, every one of them vanished.