Humans, Herrschers / Experimental Waste ...

"Another revelation from God or something, ptooey." The man scoffed at this. "You're the one who chose to adopt them, to give homeless people a place to go. Don't blame everything on some non-existent 'God' or 'fate,' it's so boring."

"..."

"Tsk, whatever, this is your sanatorium anyway."

The man seemed to sense a subtle emotional fluctuation beneath the Nun's unchanging expression. He turned his head away without saying anything more, while the Nun watched him leave and then resumed her conversation with the little girl.

Her gentle words soothed the girl's anxiety.

"Does that masked older brother not like me?" the little girl asked timidly. Having no family, she was quite sensitive to the outside world and could sense that the conversation was about whether or not he should adopt her.

"No." The Nun smiled gently and stroked the girl's head. "He's just... not good with words... just like you. He's still learning how to get along with people normally. Before that, he couldn't express his thoughts well."

"However, he definitely doesn't dislike you. He's kind to many people, and he's the same to you."

"Is that so?"

"Um."

The Nun sighed; she wanted to touch the ugly stripes, but stopped herself.

Those stripes don't hurt; they're like lines drawn on the body, yet they're truly rooted in people's bodies, taking their lives.

In the year or so that she began taking in these people, more than a dozen people, including children, have died.

They initially showed no abnormalities, but later developed symptoms such as organ failure, vision loss, shock, and hemorrhage. No matter what medicine or doctor they were treated, they were helpless.

All she could do was pray for them before they died, hoping their souls could rest in peace.

"So, what should we do?"

She murmured, praying earnestly, hoping for an answer.

However, she didn't know who would respond to her, just as the man said, she didn't even know who she was praying to.

Chapter Nine: Man, Herrscher

"A guest?" Mobius, who was putting the blood extracted from Lin's body into a vessel, looked up and glanced at Lin, who was standing properly to the side.

She wouldn't be surprised if anyone said that word, but when that guy who only ever talked about missions said it, she was genuinely a little astonished.

"Compared to that, what I found on you is more interesting." Mobius didn't say anything more about it. She skillfully projected the image she wanted and then pointed to the graphic on it, saying, "In terms of both consciousness and body, you are very different from the past. In terms of physical concepts, you and the previous Lin can even be said to be two different people."

"First, there are the two medicines I gave you before. Their ingredients are similar, but the former is not as stable as the latter. After the Honkai Sickness Serum clears the Honkai Energy from your body, the parts that were originally eroded by Honkai will return to normal. However, the modifications to those medicines do not fall into this category, and you yourself were modified in the embryonic stage to enhance your drug resistance."

"To put it simply, you've developed a resistance to the drug. Both its positive and negative effects are essentially numb to it, and there are also some drug-related impurities in your blood, with some residual effects of the drug on your cognitive activity."

Mobius handed over a mirror, and Lin took it. Through the reflection of the mirror, he saw that his dark pupils had some faint green tinge. It didn't fill the entire pupil when the drug was fully taking effect, but it still gave people an eerie feeling when they looked closely.

"Isn't it interesting? Lab Rat with color-changing pupils."

Lin put down the mirror, the emerald green shimmering in her eyes before gradually fading.

"However, this change was within my expectations. Surviving a certain death is a minor matter, as the changes inside your body are relatively minor. The important thing is that your consciousness has also encountered some... 'minor problems' after entering the Herrscher Core."

Mobius pulled her swivel chair over, sat on the soft cushion, raised her chin, and stared into Lin's eyes with a strange gaze mixed with fanaticism.

"Tell me, what 'special' feelings did you have after entering the Herrscher Core? Note that I said 'special,' not your personal feelings. It must be feelings that only Herrscher can experience and that humans cannot understand. That is the answer we are looking for."

Lin even felt that she was about to pounce on him and rip his brain out the next second.

Lin then began to recall the profound empathy he experienced in that dark space where he clashed with the Sixth Herrscher's consciousness—a empathy that was of extraordinary significance to humanity.

"The Sixth Herrscher once said something to me." The Sixth Herrscher consciousness, who had been playing both human and Herrscher and was eventually named Seele, may not have said everything, but to make people believe a lie, you must add a part of the truth to the lie. Lin believes that some of the clues revealed by these clues may very well be the truth.

"..." Mobius knew this was a crucial moment, so he didn't interrupt and looked at Lin with some anticipation.

"'You and I are now one, so you are also Herrscher.'"

Mobius's keen intuition allowed her to immediately perceive the extraordinary significance of those words: "Does this mean... that your consciousness at that time was actually already of the Herrscher type?"

"At that time, in addition to fighting against the consciousness of the Sixth Herrscher, I could also vaguely sense an 'existence' through the power of the Sixth Herrscher."

"..."

Lin said in a deep voice, "I can't explain what that feeling is. Maybe it's a connection of consciousness, or maybe it's a connection unique to Honkai. But I can feel that the Herrscher Core is connected to something similar, but that thing is much larger than the Herrscher Core. The Herrscher Core may be the sub-entity in this connection, like the relationship between a host and a sub-host."

Something even larger than the Herrscher Core?

Before this, many people had speculated that the Honkai might be controlled by one or more higher-dimensional consciousnesses, but there is no evidence or indication to suggest that this speculation is correct. In terms of the Honkai's behavior, it is more like a 'response' to humanity. Each large-scale Honkai will evolve in order to target one or more parts of humanity, which is a single reaction method.

Thus, another speculation arose: the highest being in the Honkai — the Herrscher— is actually a sub-body of the Honkai aggregate, constantly splitting off sub-bodies to attack humanity, until finally the true embodiment of the entire Honkai descends upon the human world, bringing destruction to humanity.

That tangible entity is temporarily named "The Finality".

Lin's current feelings undoubtedly reinforce the correctness of this statement, but this is not information worth celebrating for humanity; in fact, it can be described as extremely bad news.

Because humanity simply has no way to resist the manifestation of the entire Honkai.

The appearance of individual Herrscher has already dealt a significant blow to humanity. Each major Honkai is like opening a wound on humanity's already fragile shell. If the "Finality" truly arrives, it will be a fatal blow to humanity, the last straw that breaks the camel's back.

Moreover, the weight of that straw is likely greater than all the previous loads combined.

"Interesting." However, Mobius seemed unaware of this, or perhaps she was aware but didn't care at all, and gave a sly smile for a moment. "Since you were able to connect with that being, it proves one thing: the Sixth Herrscher did not lie. You did indeed become Herrscher consciousness at that moment, gained the Honkai's approval, and retained your human personality."

The acceptance of the Honkai?

This is more like using a counterfeit access card to accidentally enter the correct restricted door, Honkai itself will not recognize.

"Then we can confirm something very important. Hmph... Come with me."

Mobius stood up from her chair, but instead of picking up anything from the table, she went straight to her private laboratory, which was located deeper inside her private office.

Within "Mobius's" laboratory, there is a Mobius's Laboratory, a private area exclusively Mobius. Here, she can conduct experiments that differ from those required by the Fire Moth. Most of these are small projects, but more often... she does things that cannot be told to others.

Mobius placed his hand on the touchpad, confirmed his fingerprint, and then an infrared beam scanned his pupils to confirm the pupil pattern. With a mechanical click, the not-so-large mechanical door slowly opened.

"My authority with the Firemoth can be described as high or low, depending on how those old guys treat me depending on the circumstances. Of course, I have no interest in, nor is there any need to, argue with them. I usually get what I want before they even warn me."

"Therefore, let us appreciate with humility and contempt the most exquisite creations of nature and the most wicked creatures of humankind in history."

"The Second Herrscher's... Herrscher Core."

In that small laboratory, a transparent container held the gray gem that shone with a light that distorted space...

Chapter Ten Experimental Waste

"Although I know you are a faceless man with severe facial nerve paralysis, at least give me some reaction at this time."

Mobius slammed the door shut and locked the lab door. Seeing Lin Bo's calm demeanor, her tone became somewhat unfriendly.

"... The core of the Second Herrscher, this is not something that can be privately owned." Lin's attention was focused on the gray gem that seemed ready to break the vessel and disappear into the spatial rift at any moment. Just having it there made people feel uncomfortable.

The Second Herrscher is the Herrscher subjugation took the longest. Her powers and the impact she caused rendered the Flame Chaser helpless against this second-time reappearance of the humanoid monster. In other words, "The Second Herrscher appeared too early."

Yes, the Herrscher of the Void is ranked second among the Herrscher, but her wickedness has surpassed that of all the current Herrscher except for the Sixth Herrscher.

Therefore, after defeating the Second Herrscher, the research on this Herrscher with special powers has never stopped. From the corpse to the core, every possible method of research has been used, delving into every pore and every Honkai Energy fluctuation.

Most of the Honkai devices available today are based on research on the Second Herrscher, including Honkai Energy conversion devices, Spatial Fracture Device, Honkai Energy detectors... The harm she caused to humanity is no less than the legacy she left behind.

Therefore, the importance attached to the Second Herrscher Core is actually much greater than that attached to other Herrscher Core, which also involves the research on the Quantum Sea led by Einstein, who recently set off.

The fact that the core of the Second Herrscher appeared in Mobius's laboratory is hardly... good.

"It's just a loan. I'm in no way inferior to anyone else when it comes to researching this core. Rather than letting it sit in a high place as an ornament, it's better to make good use of it before that careless Vill-V turns it into a weapon. Maybe it'll be an experiment that concerns the life and death of humanity." Mobius licked her lips, her eyes full of excitement. At this moment, her only feeling was impatience.

"Since you briefly became Herrscher consciousness, and in a state where your human personality was not tainted, then from another perspective, is it possible that after that you were actually completely Herrscher consciousness, but still retained your human personality, and thus could not be detected?"

This statement makes some sense.

Changes require a reference point, but changes in the type of consciousness cannot be judged by a reference point. The Sixth Herrscher also said at that time that even if Lin was expelled from her body, she would not attack him. Does this mean that Lin is actually on the same side as her?

"Then, let's give it a try. Try to resonate with this Herrscher Core. You briefly used the power of the Sixth Herrscher, so you might also be able to use the power of the Second Herrscher." Mobius's tone grew increasingly impassioned. She had already picked up the transparent vessel, inside which an unknown liquid enveloped the Herrscher Core. "A Herrscher with a human heart—don't you think this is the future of humanity?"

"I can't do it."

"... Huh? What did you say? Did I hear you wrong? You're saying you can't do it before we've even started?" Mobius pondered for a moment, put down the Herrscher Core in his hand, and then ran his fingers through his hair in confusion.

"I am able to use my powers because my consciousness is located within the Herrscher Core. Externally, I cannot feel any connection to this core."

"..."

What is this? A waste? The Herrscher Core she painstakingly stole is going to be put back just because of this guy's words?

To be honest, Mobius had considered whether to directly implant the Herrscher Core into Lin's body. The birth of Herrscher involves the accumulation of Honkai Energy in the body to form the Herrscher Core. Implanting the Herrscher Core into a human body would be equivalent to replicating this process. Provided that the Herrscher Core does not corrupt the human, a new Herrscher could very well be born.

But if the consciousness of the Second Herrscher were to revive in Lin's body, and the true Herrscher of the Herrscher of the Void is far removed from the Herrschers with human consciousness as imagined, were to return to the world, then the current Moths and human society would not be able to stop them.

Therefore, this method of trying to use Herrscher Authority externally became the purpose of her experiment.

At this point, the experiment failed due to Lin's indifferent rejection.

"That's true. If it were that easy to create Herrscher, then the complexity of consciousness wouldn't be recognized." After recovering from his slightly frustrated mood, Mobius sneered. "However, there is no doubt that your consciousness is special. Live well and wait for the day when you need it."

She remembered that in Mei's Divine Key Project, there was a special Divine Key.

That was a vision following the concept of the Divine Key —a Divine Key that didn't require a fixed Herrscher Core and belonged exclusively to humanity.

An armament capable of directly triggering Herrscher- level abilities and reproducing Herrscher Authority.

If that idea can be realized, then perhaps it is also possible to artificially create Herrscher with human personalities.

"In that case, you should go back now. Today's experiment is over." Mobius sighed as she looked at the Herrscher Core. She was a little reluctant, but containing this thing was too much trouble for her alone. It would be better to leave it to the Firemoth for more rigorous supervision.

As she reached the door, she glanced at something out of the corner of her eye and seemed to remember something.

"Oh, by the way, could you help me throw this away? Just put it in the garbage disposal room."

Mobius walked to a corner of the laboratory and pointed to a bag at her feet. It looked heavy and full of something, and it would be difficult for her to move it by herself.

Lin happened to pass by the garbage disposal room on his way back, so he nodded, walked over, and picked up the bag.

To be honest, it's lighter than I expected.

Waste from experiments is usually quite heavy and denser than ordinary substances, but this bag of "waste" weighs only... the weight of an adult.

Lin looked at Mobius silently, his eyes already showing a hint of ice.

"Oh..."

Mobius didn't seem to want to explain anything; she simply gestured for him to look inside before turning and leaving.

Without hesitation, Lin opened the bag, and what appeared inside was something that left him speechless.

Something that was similar to what I had guessed, yet completely different...

Chapter Eleven: The New Betting Platform

"Splash."

I pushed the door open and let a little light in.

There was nowhere to put your feet down as far as the eye could see, only the clanging of empty, crushed wine cans. The dark room was filled with the pungent smell of alcohol, which began to stimulate the nerves in the brain the moment it entered the nasal cavity.

"Clang." Another jar of liquor was thrown to the ground with a slam. The light that Lin hadn't completely blocked out shone into the hand of the person sitting at the small table. She seemed completely unaware that someone had come.

Or perhaps... she doesn't really care.

Lin glanced at her back, squatted down to pick up a can, and scanned the outer packaging.

With an alcohol content of 4.3%, it's not high, but it is definitely beer.

In my memory, she wasn't a good drinker, and her alcohol tolerance was all talk and no action. Compared to her hearty beer drinking, what others remembered most about her was probably how she would force people to drink, but then get drunk and act crazy before anyone else.

But now, this person may have drunk more alcohol than she used to drink in a month, yet she is so quiet, as if in a deep sleep.

"Lin? Or Dessidobia?" She finally reacted to the beam of light beside her, but instead of turning around to look at the direction of the light, she reached her hand into the darkness ahead and took out another can of wine.

"It's me."

"Hehe... What a rare guest."

"Laugh."

The red-haired woman, her hair disheveled, opened a beer and downed it in one gulp. She turned her head slightly, and through her tired eyes peeking out from her messy hair, she saw Lin standing completely at the door.

This brought some comfort to her otherwise exhausted face.

"It seems you're almost fully recovered. Are you alright now?"

"... No, there are still some."