"Li, are you sure you want to do this? Afterward, both the Doctor and the higher-ups will put you under immense pressure."
Klein looked at Fu Li on the operating table and sighed.
"Fusing with Honkai Beast genes... besides Kevin and Elysia, there have been no other successful cases. You could die."
"You're only saying this now that we've prepared everything?" Fu Li's eyes narrowed slightly. The effects of the anesthetic were slowly kicking in.
Klein shook her head. "Because I know you're doing this to leave Dr. Mobius with more experimental data, so she can undergo her own fusion more safely, aren't you?"
No, it's because I won't actually die.
Fu Li pursed his lips and instructed, "If I kick the bucket, remember to give Mobius the contents of that package."
"Yes, yes, I know." Klein nodded and injected the last vial of reagent into Fu Li's body.
With that final injection, the surgery could only proceed. There was no turning back.
Mobius... she must have noticed by now...
In the last moments of his consciousness, Fu Li vaguely heard the sound of the door being broken down, along with a familiar, yet anxious voice.
"Klein... I owe you one..."
With that final whisper, Fu Li closed his eyes.
[You have undergone the MANTIS surgery. Though you knew the risks were great, you were fearless, having already arranged your affairs.]
[While performing the surgery, Klein set up a contingency, leaving the arriving Mobius with no choice but to help you complete the procedure.]
['Lucky Scholar's' hidden effect has activated. Your surgery is proceeding very smoothly.]
['Lucky Scholar's' hidden effect has activated. The 'Vishnu' genes you are fusing with have mutated.]
[Congratulations on obtaining the talent 'Vishnu Gene Fusion (Mutated)'.]
Blood was pounding... Veins were breathing...
Although his entire body was wracked with stinging pain... Although his muscles were screaming in agony...
Fu Li's heart was filled with an unparalleled sense of exhilaration...
This is... the power to surpass a Herrscher...
This is... a rebirth that belongs only to him...
This is... the power to protect them...
"Doctor! Doctor! His heart rate is accelerating, and his blood pressure has stabilized! Fu Li is out of danger!"
That voice... it's Klein...
But why does she sound so nervous...?
In a haze, his eyelids fluttered. Fu Li used every ounce of his strength and finally managed to see Klein and Mo... Dr. MEI?!
"I... I'm fine..."
Compared to the noisy clamor around him, Fu Li's hoarse voice was very soft. But the moment the words left his lips, the entire room fell silent.
A terrifying aura erupted from Fu Li's body. The researchers, the MOTHs executives ready to condemn him—everyone shut their mouths at that moment.
When a pair of brilliant golden eyes swept over him, a man in a suit froze, his feet subconsciously taking a step back.
He didn't know why, before he could even speak his accusations, he was being targeted like this.
"Li, please calm down..."
A white-haired young man stepped in front of Dr. MEI, his gaze fixed warily on Fu Li.
Mobius... where did she go?
"Hmph..." Fu Li's gaze sharpened. He sat up from the bed, bypassed Kevin, and walked directly toward the man in the suit.
"Mobius. Where is she?"
Fu Li felt like something new had appeared on his head, but he paid it no mind, looking at the man with a grim expression.
Just then, Dr. MEI's cool voice sounded out. "Dr. Mobius just went to get some medicine. Mr. Li, please, calm down."
"It's fine, I'm very calm. Sir, is what Dr. MEI said true?"
"Y-Yes, that's right. Dr. Mobius went to get medicine." The man in the suit's legs trembled, his terrified gaze fixed on the top of Fu Li's head.
Fu Li smiled. He hated pointless power-flexing showdowns, so he chose to nip such scenarios in the bud before they could even begin.
A hand shot out without warning, pinning the man against the wall. Fu Li leaned in close to his ear and whispered his threat.
As the words were spoken one by one, the man's face grew paler, and his body began to shake uncontrollably.
He couldn't understand. He was supposed to be the superior, so why did this man dare to threaten him?
He should have been delivering a reprimand, but he realized that the Fu Li before him now would genuinely kill him.
And he knew, with chilling certainty, that his own life was not worth as much as the man's in front of him.
"You people think you're the judges? How laughable."
Looking at the man, a cruel smile stretched across Fu Li's lips. "Relay my words back to your masters. Understood?"
"Y-Yes... I, I understand..."
"Then scram."
Fu Li turned his head, his imposing aura receding. He transformed back into that sunny young man and forced a smile at the others.
"Sorry, I'm a bit irritable after the surgery. But don't worry, I mean you no harm."
MEI, Kevin, and Klein—they were comrades, friends, his people.
"Ah, it's alright. How is your body?" Dr. MEI was the quickest to react. She smiled, choosing not to mention the incident with the man in the suit.
As a scholar, she was sharp enough to perceive Fu Li's discontent with the higher-ups, but also that he held no malice toward them.
Just like the Fu Li who had handed her his business card back then.
"Alright, since your body is fine, you should get a full check-up once Dr. Mobius returns. We won't disturb you any longer."
"As for the higher-ups, I'll give them a little reminder. You can leave that to me."
Noticing that Fu Li kept looking at Klein, Dr. MEI cleared her throat and tactfully pulled Kevin out of the ward.
"Mm, thank you."
After seeing the two of them off, Fu Li looked at the silent Klein, confused. "What's wrong, Klein?"
"I... I'm sorry." Klein looked up, her gaze discreetly flicking toward the top of Fu Li's head before she quickly looked down again.
Seeing her reaction, Fu Li's heart tightened.
Don't tell me my face is ruined?!
At that thought, Fu Li bolted for the bathroom. When he saw his reflection in the mirror, he froze completely.
There, on top of his head, was a pair of pure black, sharp horns.
He had to admit, the horns were just like Herrscher Mei's, only a blackened version.
But...
"I fucking fused with Vishnu, didn't I?! What the hell is this?!"
Staring at his reflection, Fu Li covered his face, feeling an immense sense of injustice.