Bai Ge: Sakura, Can I Touch Your Ears? (Continued)

That mission almost killed her.

The person who underwent a failed Hypermutation Surgery turned into a terrifying monster, nearly killing her. In addition, Sakura also saw the corpses of countless other people who died from failed surgeries.

Even some "lucky ones" survived.

But the result was that she was severely corrupted by Honkai Energy, and most of her body turned into Honkai Beast... She felt that if she became like that, it would be easier to die.

That incident made Sakura subconsciously think that the situation here was similar, perhaps with a higher success rate, but the result of a failed surgery was still death or being eroded.

"Sakura~ Where did you hear that strange rumor? How could someone die from a failed Hypermutation Surgery?"

"Really... I won't die?"

"Anyway, I've never heard of anyone dying from a failed Hypermutation Surgery. Look at that person over there, I remember she had surgery a few days ago but it didn't work, and she's still alive and well... She also said that although her surgery failed, some of her old ailments have disappeared."

Daisy Dobiya said enviously.

Actually, that's because when Bai Ge treats warriors whose surgeries have failed, he also treats their minor ailments, since the Herrscher of Life and Death can be considered the most powerful healer in the world.

"This is different from what I know," Sakura said, dumbfounded.

"Oh dear~ I don't know where you heard the rumors from, but don't forget that we have that Lord Bai Ge in our base. We don't need to worry about anything, we just need to follow that person to fight the Honkai."

"..."

Sakura was shocked but also somewhat relieved. She had thought that there was a 99% chance she would die on the operating table before she could assassinate Bai Ge.

But now it seems I can live a little longer.

Thinking of this, Sakura couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It might be more dignified to die at the hands of a great hero than to die on the operating table or become a hideous monster.

Although killing someone like herself would probably dirty Bai Ge's hands, Sakura apologized to Bai Ge in her heart countless times.

The day for the Hypermutation Surgery is fast approaching.

Inside Mobius's laboratory, Sakura, Kosma, Daisy Dobiya, and other warriors gathered, curiously and nervously observing this place known as the Demon's Lair.

"Oh my~ There are two lovely girls this time," Elysia said with delight.

"Elysia, what are you doing here?" Mobius looked at her with disdain.

"Because Bai Ge said there were a few people he cared about this time, I came to check it out out of curiosity."

"Tch, get the hell out of here!"

Watching Elysia and Mobius bickering as usual, no one knew how to react.

Bai Ge raised his hand and tapped each of them on the head, then clapped his hands and arranged for everyone to undergo the Hypermutation Surgery. He had also invited Mei to come today.

Currently, there are only three people in the world who can perform Hypermutation Surgery: Bai Ge, Mobius, and Mei.

"The Honkai Beast genes that match yours have been screened out. The Hypermutation Surgery of the lower-level Honkai Beast genes will be handled by Mei, while Mobius and I will be responsible for the Hypermutation Surgery of the High-Level Honkai Beast genes."

"Gurgle!" xN

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Bai Ge smiled slightly, reassuring them.

"Don't worry, whether the result is successful or not, I guarantee that you will not die or suffer any aftereffects, so there is no need to be nervous. It's just a matter of taking a nap."

"Yes, Captain Bai Ge!"

After he finished speaking, everyone felt much more at ease.

This is also a result of Bai Ge's extremely high reputation. Because of emotions such as trust, respect, and admiration, many people now believe what he says even without evidence.

In this batch of surgeries, only three people were matched with the genes of the High-Level Honkai Beast: Sakura, Kosma, and Daisy Dobiya.

"Sakura, you were matched with the Emperor-Class Honkai Beast Yasha, Kosma, you were matched with the Apocalypse-Class Honkai Beast Vishnu, and Daisy Dobiya, you were matched with the Emperor-class Aquila."

Bai Ge projected the Honkai Beast illustrations of the three of them onto the screen, but neither Sakura nor Daisy Dobiya paid attention to the Honkai Beast they were matched with. Instead, they both looked at Vishnu.

"What is a 'Apocalypse-Class Honkai Beast'?"

"I don't know, I never mentioned this level."

"Captain, what exactly is my Honkai Beast?"

As warriors fighting against the Honkai, the three of them were naturally familiar with the most basic Honkai Beast levels, but the concept of the Apocalypse-class was something they had never heard of before, and they were immediately curious.

"The Apocalypse-Class Honkai Beast are classified as the [Undefinable] category of Honkai Beast, and in terms of potential, they even surpass the Judgment-Class Honkai Beast."

"This... there are actually Honkai Beast like this?!"

"Hehe, nothing is impossible for Honkai. By the way, among the confirmed Apocalypse-Class Honkai Beast, besides the Benares fused with Bai Ge and the Mahadeva of Elysia, there is only this Vishnu left."

Mobius added.

At the same time, a hint of fanaticism flashed in her snake-like eyes.

After learning about the characteristics of Vishnu Honkai Beast from Bai Ge, Mobius almost couldn't resist giving herself another Hypermutation Surgery.

"Vishnu was only a low-level Honkai Beast in its initial stage, but it could continuously evolve by devouring other Honkai Beast. Although it was only at the Emperor-class when it was captured by Bai Ge, its potential was enough to surpass the Judgment-Class Honkai Beast."

Mobius's tone was tinged with envy. The constantly evolving Honkai Beast perfectly matched her pursuit of 'infinity'.

However, she is no longer moved by it.

Because when Snakey almost couldn't hold back, Bai Ge stopped her in time and said that Vishnu was, in a sense, the Honkai Beast that was completely opposite to what she was pursuing.

Although it can grow stronger by consuming external objects, it has huge side effects; Vishnu Honkai Beast can be said to be in a state of constant hunger.

Fusion Warrior born from its genes are also prone to going berserk and losing their minds. They need to constantly devour other Honkai Beast factors to maintain their sanity, but excessive devouring can also lead to a breakdown of their sanity.

Upon hearing this, Mobius was immediately disappointed.

Mobius: (That's it? What a disappointment. All it does is expand its power, but at the cost of losing its rationality and many other side effects. Does something so flawed really deserve to be called evolution?)

In her eyes, evolution is about constantly eliminating one's own shortcomings and moving closer to a more perfect level of life. Although Vishnu can evolve infinitely by devouring others, he is ultimately just a beast.

Even so, it's already strong enough.

As long as the limits are controlled, the Fusion Warrior born from their genes will inevitably possess extremely strong strength and potential.

"So? I've told you both the pros and cons. Are you still willing to undergo this Hypermutation Surgery?"

"I do!"

Kosma agreed without hesitation.

He wasn't unaware of the side effects Bai Ge had mentioned, but at that moment, the only thought in this immature teenager's mind was...

(...handsome!)

Looking at Vishnu Honkai Beast encyclopedia, Kosma was very tempted. This Honkai Beast, which resembled a black evil dragon, looked like a villain!

It couldn't be more perfect for the aesthetics of a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) teenager.

And...

(A Honkai Beast of the Apocalypse-Class Honkai Beast, the same level as the one Captain Bai Ge fused with, I'm so lucky! Does this mean I'll be as strong as the Captain after fusing with it? No, no, no, thinking like that is too presumptuous. Besides, I've heard that the higher the rank of the Honkai Beast, the lower the success rate... Please succeed, please succeed, please succeed!)

Kosma clasped his hands together in prayer for the success of his surgery, while also thinking that he had burned incense before leaving home that day, hoping that the mystical methods he had learned about online would be useful.

On the other side, Sakura looked at the Honkai Beast she had been matched with, a pink fox with donkey-like ears. She really didn't expect that she would actually be matched with High-Level Honkai Beast.

Although a successful surgery would significantly increase her mission success rate, it didn't make her happy at all.

Sakura: (... If it were a low-level Honkai Beast, that would be better, at least I definitely wouldn't have been able to complete the mission... This feeling of only giving people a sliver of hope is sometimes even more unbearable.)

The helpless girl even prayed in her heart that her surgery would fail.

However, all three surgeries were successfully completed.

When they woke up from their sleep on the operating table, they all felt that their abilities had undergone a tremendous change, becoming many times stronger than before the surgery.

"Sakura, what were you thinking when you were performing surgery 963?"

Just as Sakura was immersed in her own power, Bai Ge suddenly spoke to her, and even Mobius looked at her with a strange gaze.

Sakura's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that she had talked in her sleep during the surgery and exposed her identity as an undercover assassin? That couldn't be that far-fetched, could it?

"Excuse me, what's wrong?"

She asked, forcing herself to be brave, with a sliver of hope.

"You almost sent it."

"Huh?"

"Your compatibility with the Yasha Yaksha Honkai Beast is very high, and the fusion is going smoothly, but... your behavior is like you are rejecting this fusion. This is the first time I have seen this situation."

Bai Ge crossed his arms and said with a subtle expression.

Normally, it is the Honkai Beast genes that reject humans, but in Sakura's case, the Yaksha Honkai Beast was craving fusion, while the Forget-Me-Not Girl was refusing to fuse. This rejection almost caused the surgery to fail.

If it weren't for Dr. Bai's strong will and ability to complete the surgery to the very end, Ying would at least be in a vegetative state, or worse, already in the underworld.

"I'm sorry, I... I don't know what happened," Sakura said, lowering her head to cover up her embarrassment.

"Okay, it's normal for accidents to happen occasionally, but you now owe me a life," Bai Ge said.

"Do I owe you a life?"

Upon hearing this, Sakura's expression immediately turned strange, and the angry girl revealed a bitter smile.

To think that you were saved by someone who was supposed to assassinate you/give you your head—what kind of situation is this?