On the streets of The MOTHs' experimental district.
Fu Li looked at Hua, collapsed on the ground in the distance, and Su, who was temporarily incapacitated. A deep sigh escaped him.
He didn't know if it was because of fate or because this world's Mobius was more perfect, but this time, Su was actually unable to control her.
Fortunately, he was still here. A MANTIS who was also a quasi-Herrscher. He was completely stacked with buffs, so to speak.
"I'm just a researcher... I don't have their overwhelming strength..."
The Mobius who had lost her reason seemed to have locked onto Fu Li, ignoring everyone else. In her eyes, there was only her little brother.
Silly sister.
Fu Li sighed. With each step he took, his body began to swell and contort.
A dragon's head, a human torso, a single horn, feathered wings, sharp fangs, a snake's head, a turtle's shell, a lion's head, goat's hooves...
All the Honkai Beasts he had ever devoured—their traits and energies became his fuel, constructing for him an Artificial Honkai Collapse form that was exceptionally unique, even among MANTISes.
Codename: [Chimera]. Signet: [Fusion].
"I'm sorry, Mobius. This is the last time..."
The giant serpent was still roaring. Fu Li's massive claw easily slapped her scepter away, then grabbed her by the shoulders, pinning her to the ground before she could struggle.
"It will be over soon... so, don't be afraid..."
A sibling tragedy? No, not at all...
From the very beginning, Fu Li had never intended to harm Mobius.
"I'm sorry, Sister. Don't be afraid..."
The boy who had become a monster pulled the giant serpent into an embrace. One by one, venomous stingers pierced his body, greedily drawing out his Honkai energy.
Fu Li did not resist. He chose to give his everything to Mobius.
If Mobius didn't kill him, then he, having become one with the Herrscher of Sentience, would become a nightmare for all humanity.
"Li, stop! She's your sister!"
The late-arriving Sakura saw this scene, and her heart began to pound violently.
She had naturally sensed the Herrscher's aura on Fu Li. From her perspective, Mobius was trying to stop Fu Li who had turned into a Herrscher.
But now, it seemed Mobius was on the losing end.
"Damn it... In this state, I can't possibly interfere in their fight..."
Sakura's gaze sharpened. Gritting her teeth, she prepared to enter her own Artificial Honkai Collapse form.
Only then could she help free Fu Li from his torment and save Mobius.
I'm sorry, Fu Li. You wouldn't want to kill your own sister with your own hands, would you?
In that case, let my blade be the one to end your suffering.
Though her heart was filled with grief, Sakura slowly drew the sharp blade from her waist.
But just as she steeled her resolve, Fu Li's voice echoed in her mind.
'Sakura, don't stop Mobius.'
'I know I have become a Herrscher. There is no turning back.'
'I am not a hero. I can feel it... I cannot overcome the will of the Honkai. So...'
'Let me use my everything to help my sister...'
Hearing the telepathic message, Sakura's pupils contracted sharply.
Only with Fu Li's reminder did she realize that Fu Li, who had the upper hand, showed no intention of attacking, doing nothing more than restraining Mobius's movements.
Feeling the Honkai energy within his body gradually depleting, the dragon head of his collapsed form actually wore the same gentle smile as always.
He forced his Herrscher Core out of his body, allowing Mobius to freely absorb his final vestiges of power.
"Take it... This is the last of my strength..."
"Mobius... meeting you was my greatest fortune... so..."
"My time is short. Please, live on without carrying any burdens, because..."
The low murmur came to an abrupt halt. The massive body of his collapsed form suddenly fell to the ground.
With the young man's passing, the green slime slowly coalesced, reforming into Mobius in her white lab coat.
She was cradled safely within the remains of Fu Li's body.
[This simulation has ended.]
[Congratulations, Host, on inheriting the talent 'Vishnu Gene (Mutated)'.]
[Note: As the host's current body cannot withstand the full energy from the simulation, for your safety, your fusion genes will be reset to their initial state.]
[Note: You may re-select which Honkai Beasts to absorb based on your previous life's experience.]
[Congratulations, player, on obtaining the rewards: 'Mobius's Blood', Tarot Card - The Lovers (Usable only in simulations), Lifespan Extension: 30 Days, Crystals x300.]
[Congratulations, player, on completing your first simulation. The 'Shop' function has been unlocked.]
---o---
"Mobius... Klein..."
Hearing the voice in his head, Fu Li's face was devoid of expression. He simply muttered their names, feeling no joy from the generous rewards.
You are the most important person in my life...
The Fu Li in the simulation never got the chance to say those words.
But he wasn't worried. Not only because he believed they shared a deep connection, but also because of the contingency he had left behind: Elysia.
"System, the things I did in the simulation... they really won't affect my current reality?"
[Of course, Host. As the system stated at the beginning, nothing you do in the simulation will affect your current reality.]
Is that so? Maybe, once he grew strong enough in secret, he could go and snatch the Elysian Realm from Kevin.
But the Snakey in the Elysian Realm wasn't the real Mobius, and she probably wouldn't recognize him...
She might even treat him like a guinea pig and trick him into her bed.
Fu Li's feelings were a complex mix of emotions, neither happy nor sad. He patted his cheeks, but suddenly felt something was off.
His hands moved upwards, touching a pair of hard horns.
His enhanced organs.
Touching his own horns, however, didn't feel like a big deal.
Part of it was that he was used to them, and the other part was that he could retract them. It wasn't like there was much Honkai energy around for him to absorb right now anyway.
Retracting the horns, Fu Li sighed. "Whatever, let's check the rewards first..."
[Mobius's Blood]
[Your Honkai energy and Mobius's are intertwined in symbiosis. Whether in reality or in a simulation, your talent for biology and genetics will be enhanced.]
[Your self-healing ability is greatly increased. You have three chances to be reborn through molting. Each rebirth will cause you to de-age by one year.]
[Note: A hidden special effect will trigger when you meet Mobius in a simulation.]
[Tarot Card - The Lovers]
[A life-long effect card. Permanently increases your charm and grants you artistic talent for one entire simulation.]
"Healing ability, plus three extra lives! ...And a Lovers card?"
Fu Li was very satisfied with the first reward, but he looked at the Lovers card with a hint of disdain.
Charm? He wasn't a girl. What use was this?
And artistic talent? What was he going to do with that?
After confirming his rewards, Fu Li looked at the newly appeared Shop option. Unable to contain his curiosity, he tapped it.
Instantly, a large screen of light appeared before him, with a "Recommended Purchases" section at the very top.
Tarot Card - The Fool (10,000 Crystals)
Effect: Can fool history once in reality, grafting the fate of a person destined to die onto another.
Benares Gene (5,000 Crystals)
Effect: Can be devoured by the host, granting four cores of Ice, Fire, Lightning, and Darkness, the ability to control weather, and a pair of dragon wings.
Kurikara Gene (3,000 Crystals)
Effect: Enhances the Benares Gene, granting stronger lightning abilities. Note: Prerequisite is acquiring the Benares Gene.
"Bella's genes? There's some really good stuff in here..."
Casually scrolling through the shop, Fu Li saw the genes of various rare Judgment-class and Emperor-class Honkai Beasts.
Among them were even Kalpas's 'Asura' and Elysia's 'Maheśvara' genes, but they were all ridiculously expensive, far beyond what he could currently afford.
"Although the other Honkai Beast genes in my body have been wiped clean, with my previous experience in combining them, perhaps I can walk a completely new path."
Just as Fu Li was muttering to himself, a knock suddenly came from the door.
"Hm? That voice... is it Yuno? Oh right, I have school today."
Hearing the voice calling from outside, Fu Li froze for a second, then quickly grabbed his school bag.
He couldn't be late on his first day of school.
...
Time rewinds to the Previous Era.
In an office filled with advanced technology, violently popped bubble wrap littered the floor. Mobius sat on the ground, her face grim, her entire body drained of strength.
And on the floor in front of her, a framed photograph of her and Fu Li was covered in cracks.