The Second MANTIS

And thanks to our Pink Fairy Lady for finding herself a wallet for the rest of her life.

While Elysia and Eden were still cuddling, Kevin had already finished his report on the campaign against the Herrscher of Flame.

Although Mei had noticed the sorrow hidden beneath Kevin's calm expression, there was nothing she could do. She could only hope that Kevin would pull through on his own.

However, as she looked at the Chimera Project in the files, Mei's gaze grew resolute. I hope you won't blame me someday, Kevin.

The end of the celebration also meant the Seventh Herrscher incident had finally come to an end.

During this time, two major events took place within the Flame Chasers.

The first was Eden officially joining the Flame Chasers. As a phenomenon-level artist and an international superstar, even though art had been destroyed in a single blaze by the Herrscher of Flame, Eden herself had not been affected.

Some things would never change, such as people's appreciation for art. As long as Eden lived, she could create new art at any time.

Even setting aside Eden's identity as an artist, her status as the world's richest person was something the Flame Chasers could not ignore.

For such a wealthy patron and potential investor, the Flame Chasers' upper ranks naturally did everything they could to bring Eden aboard their ship.

From the moment Eden joined the Flame Chasers, they no longer had to worry about funding.

The second major event was that, after deliberation by the Flame Chasers' upper ranks, Kevin was granted the title of Humanity's Strongest, and the Fusion Warrior Project was made public.

Now everyone in the Flame Chasers knew that Kevin had fused with Honkai Beast genes and become the first Fusion Warrior.

After hearing that Kevin had killed the Seventh Herrscher alone, people held him in deep admiration.

But after Kevin went on several missions, the tide began to turn.

Whenever Kevin went on a mission, he resolved the target Honkai Beast with a single strike. Yet those same Honkai Beasts were foes that hundreds or even thousands of others together could not defeat.

As Kevin acted more and more often, the ordinary soldiers of the Flame Chasers gradually began keeping their distance from him.

Rumors also started spreading through the Flame Chasers, such as:

Kevin is so strong. Isn't he already no longer human?

Obviously. He fused with Honkai Beast genes, so he definitely isn't human anymore.

Say, won't he suddenly turn into a Honkai Beast?

Probably not, right? He's already this strong. If he turned into a Honkai Beast, wouldn't he be even stronger than a Herrscher?

Kevin knew all those rumors.

Faced with the fearful looks others gave him, Kevin did not know how to respond. After completing his missions, he could only return to the lounge alone.

Kevin's expression grew increasingly gloomy. He still could not let go of the fact that he had killed Himeko with his own hands.

Mei could do nothing about it either, other than advise Kevin to see a psychologist.

After receiving that advice, Kevin returned to the lounge with a somber expression.

What Kevin did not notice was that today, he seemed to have passed by a certain pink-haired girl.

Today, Elysia was very happy because she had met the little cutie in front of her.

"Ah~ Little Griseo, you're still as cute as ever?" Elysia pinched Griseo's soft little cheek. "Let me give it a squeeze~"

Hadn't you already squeezed it?!

"Ugh..." Griseo struggled, trying to escape Elysia's clutches. "Let go of me, Sister Elysia."

"That's not right." Elysia released Griseo's cheek, then put her hands on her hips. "You should call me Little Sister Elysia."

"Why?"

Little Griseo was clearly confused.

"Because if everyone heard you call me that, they'd definitely be shocked." Elysia smiled. "They'd be so confused, and the looks on their faces would definitely be especially funny!"

"Mm, I understand, Little Sister Elysia."

Griseo really was such an obedient good child.

"Oh, right." Elysia prepared to keep leading her astray. "Remember to call her Grandma Mobius."

"Grandma..." Little Griseo hesitated slightly. "Won't Auntie Mobius get angry if I call her that?"

"Oh my, Griseo still doesn't understand." Elysia wore an expression that said, You're still young; you don't get it. "Compared to Grandma, being called Auntie is what truly hurts a girl."

Hello, police? The military police will do too. There's a bad woman here corrupting a child!

"But it's all right. One day, Little Griseo, you'll understand. It won't be too late to change how you call her then, okay?"

"Um... all right. But Auntie Mobius is so pitiful. She's been busy so late lately that she can't even eat."

Griseo really was a good child. She even cared about the adults' lives.

"There's probably some urgent project, so she can't rest. But how do you know that?"

"Mom wants to go to Dad's place, so she can't keep staying in the laboratory. She plans to introduce a new assistant to Auntie Mobius."

At that moment, a handsome white-haired man passed by, completely unaware of the two talking by the roadside.

Griseo continued, "When I heard them discussing the work handover, I think they mentioned... modification? Surgery?"

"Oh."

"Click!"

The sound of the door closing drew both Elysia's and Griseo's attention.

"Ah, look who's back?"

After a brief silence, Elysia spoke.

There was no response from inside the room.

"Uncle Kevin doesn't seem to have heard us, and... his complexion looks terrible."

"Mm..." Elysia paused. "After all, we'd only just defeated the Seventh Herrscher. Maybe he hasn't recovered yet."

"Dr. Mei advised him to see a psychologist. He should have just come back from there. I'll go talk to him. Griseo, stay by yourself for a while first, all right?"

"I understand, Little Sister Elysia."

Griseo answered obediently.

"Such a good girl. Desideria said she'd be back soon, so just wait for her here."

With that, Elysia walked into the lounge.

Chapter 56: The Second Fusion Warrior

The moment she entered, Elysia felt a temperature completely different from outside the door.

"Ha... It's so cold."

"..."

Kevin answered the newcomer with silence. He did not even turn around, only slightly turning his head to look at Elysia from the corner of his eye.

"Are you planning to take the cold, handsome guy route?" Elysia seemed to have uncovered the truth. "No wonder you ignored me. I thought you hated me. How heartbreaking."

"...Sorry."

Kevin did not know how to answer. In the end, he could only offer an apology.

"I heard about it, you know. The Fusion Warrior Project. How awful of you not to tell me about something like that."

Elysia walked over to Kevin's side.

"..."

Kevin's answer to Elysia was still silence.

"You had something this good and didn't share it with me. Were you trying to secretly surpass me?" Elysia put her hands on her hips. "Is this the Flame Chasers' open and covert rivalry? Kevin, you're being very sly right now."

"Elysia..."

"Mm-hm? Elysia has been right here all along."

"...Thank you for comforting me, but... I want to be alone for a while."

"...Oh."

"Sorry..."

"You've already said sorry twice. That doesn't suit you." Elysia shook her head, as if proving the truth of her words.

"Mei said the same thing." Kevin lowered his head, his tone filled with an indescribable sorrow. "But whenever I close my eyes, I see Himeko... She's standing there, smiling and waving at me. Nothing ever happened, and it feels as though we've returned to that ball that night... You were there, Mei was there too..."

"Do you know?" Kevin looked at Elysia. "When I delivered that final strike, she had that same expression... But I didn't dare hold back... Just like with the Sixth Herrscher, I was afraid it would cause even worse consequences..."

"..."

Elysia could only respond with silence. After all, everyone knew what had happened with the Sixth Herrscher.

"...Sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up."

"It's all right. I'm actually rather happy. After all, I'm in your dreams every night." Elysia looked at Kevin. "Maybe... you really do need some time alone. I should probably... stop bothering you?"

With that, Elysia turned to leave. Before she could move, Kevin's voice came again.

"Elysia... I'm afraid of that dream... But I'm even more afraid... of waking up from it..."

"Don't worry about it, Kevin. You just... haven't met a good doctor..." With that, Elysia left the lounge.

"..."

Kevin was left alone in the activity room.

"Griseo... Griseo..." Elysia called Griseo's name twice but received no response. "Oh my, no one's here. Looks like Desideria took her away. Then..."

Elysia made her decision. "You were the one who said sorry first, so don't blame me, Kevin."

"..."

"..."

In Mobius's laboratory, Elysia and Mobius stared at each other. In the end, Mobius spoke first.

"I never expected you to be the one to come looking for me first."

"That's a bit too much, Mobius. You clearly knew I didn't want to fall behind Kevin, and I didn't want to fall behind you either." After a slight pause, Elysia continued, "Well, I no longer have a chance with the former, so as for the latter... I have to fight for it no matter what."

"Fine. Since this is your choice, I'll move you up the line." Mobius stared intently at Elysia. "Elysia, I'd be more than happy to personally pick a way for you to die."

"That won't do, Mobius. I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you." Elysia took out a test tube. "I prepared this before coming here. Elysia's Fusion Factor... must be one of a kind, right?"

"This... really is surprising." Mobius looked at Elysia in shock. "But since the subject is you, it somehow feels perfectly reasonable."

"Ah, Dr. Mobius, it seems... my surgery was a success?" Having successfully become a Fusion Warrior, Elysia looked toward Mobius.

"It seems you are highly compatible with Mahamayuri. The surgery went very smoothly, without even the slightest complication. Unlike Kevin, who lost his vital signs several times. Honestly, I think the only reason Kevin pulled through was because he's absurdly tough!"

"That really is frightening. After all, pretty girls are afraid of pain." As she spoke, Elysia examined her body for any changes.

"These Fusion Warrior surgeries now... Tch, what a hassle. Let's just call them Hypervariable Surgery from now on." In just a few words, Mobius had settled on the new name for Fusion Warrior surgery. "The current Hypervariable Surgery technology is still not perfected. In theory, you should have some side effects too, more or less. Mei's little follower has particularly severe side effects: her body temperature remains at negative thirty degrees Celsius, and she constantly radiates cold air. So what about you, Elysia?"

"Side effects..." Elysia touched her ears. "Do these count, Mobius?"

Looking at Elysia's ears, which had become like those of a fairy from a storybook, Mobius nodded. "Of course they count, but is there nothing else?"

"I haven't discovered any other changes for now."

"In that case, you're no longer useful. Hurry up and leave. Don't disturb me while I continue my experiments."

Having gathered nearly enough information, Mobius began ushering her out.

Seeing this, Elysia did not linger. "Thank you, Mobius. I'll come see you again next time."