Basement Level One - Entertainment Area
Perhaps because night had fallen, the Anti-Entropy mecha units active in Nagazora City had finally quieted down.
This allowed the perpetually tense Fuli to breathe a sigh of relief. He sat cross-legged and began to cultivate the Peerless Nine Turns he had obtained in his previous life.
According to his Cousin Hua, who had given him this cultivation art, although its prototype was based on the legendary ascended immortal, the Celestial Phoenix—and her cultivation art, the Edge of Taixuan—it actually had very little connection to it anymore.
Its true function was to create various pseudo-organs within the human body.
As fellow humans, we all know that we perceive the world through the various organs in our bodies: our eyes see colors, our noses smell scents, our ears hear sounds.
In reality, the world is not just composed of scents, colors, and sounds; it contains many other things.
For example, some animals are colorblind, and some can only see infrared. In their eyes, the world is a completely different place.
What the world is like depends on the observational organs a creature possesses.
If one could grow an organ capable of observing time, then the world in human eyes would become four-dimensional, with length, width, height, and a time axis.
The purpose of the Peerless Nine Turns was to artificially create or modify Honkai-fied organs with various supernatural abilities within the body, such as the core inside an Emperor-Class Honkai Beast, horns that release thunder and lightning, or the special soldiers of World Serpent who have undergone Honkai Beast transformation.
This characteristic was also known as the [Pseudo-Chimera Factor]. If one cultivated the art to a profound level of Nine Turn or more, the cultivator could even transform into a legendary MANTIS, a Fusion Soldier capable of fighting a thousand enemies alone.
Fuli had heard of the great name of the MANTISes. They were the main force created by the Previous Era's civilization to combat the Honkai, powerful beings fused with the genes of Emperor-Class and above Honkai Beasts.
But why would a cultivation art based on the Celestial Phoenix's Edge of Taixuan allow one to transform into a MANTIS from the Previous Era? Combined with the bizarre name "Chimera Factor," which would sound awkward and abstruse to ancient Easterners, could it be that the Edge of Taixuan, who ascended five hundred years ago, was also a Pioneer left over from the Previous Era?
In his previous life, Fuli had asked this question in confusion, only to be met with Cousin Hua's helpless, bitter smile.
Fuli deeply respected this Cousin Hua, who had brought him into the Honkai world and gifted him a top-tier A-Rank cultivation art like the Peerless Nine Turns for free. Seeing her reluctance to speak, he had decisively changed the subject.
Of course, that was all a story from his past life. At least for now, Fuli and the full-named Fu Hua were still in a state of "I know you, but you don't know me."
Their interaction in the previous timeline was because the former had spent over half a year searching for a way into the Honkai world. It was only through a series of coincidences that he finally contacted Fu Hua through a WeChat group called [The Old Fu Family Lives Happily Ever After], a steady cousin who was said to be a descendant of an ancestor left behind.
At least, that was the story on the surface. After all, if our Ah-Hua wanted to infiltrate St. Freya as Otto's spy, she needed a reasonable public identity to fool the background check from the Far East Branch (laughs).
...
"Fuli, do you think Kiana can get anything out of her?"
Mei, sitting beside him, was quite bored and didn't seem to think she was disturbing Fuli's cultivation.
Goddesses probably don't have that kind of self-awareness.
"Hard to say. What if?"
Fuli, whose thoughts were interrupted, didn't mind her interruption. The girl's fragrant and soft little hand was currently being held by him.
The Human Immortal Dao could devour Honkai energy to fuel the Peerless Nine Turns, which craved immense energy to construct organs. As for Mei, although the reason was unknown, whenever the Honkai energy in her body was depleted, the faucet named the Gem of Conquest would open, quickly refilling the dry pool.
This was a match made in heaven for Fuli's cycle, and Mei was happy to help him.
"Don't answer a question with a question."
Feeling the Honkai energy drain from her body, the girl, moonlighting as a power bank, sighed.
Unlike the emergency situations before where she was drained dry, Fuli was absorbing with much more restraint this time.
Under this gentle, steady flow, not only did Mei not feel uncomfortable, she actually felt a tiny bit pleasant, like someone was gently tickling the bottom of her feet with a feather while she was lying in bed. It was tingly, itchy, and numb, making her wish it could go on forever.
"Then I think Kiana can get something out of her," said Data Cable Fuli calmly.
"That's so perfunctory! And I feel like you calling yourself a 'data cable' is taking advantage of me, the 'power bank'!"
"So, since you can ask such a question, Mei-Mei must already have your own opinion."
"..."
The girl, hit bullseye, fell silent. From her perspective, she truly felt that her friend's actions were completely meaningless.
Fuli also sighed faintly.
When Bronya first called Cocolia "mother," he was undoubtedly shocked.
Running downstairs to switch with Kiana was also an opportunity to clear his thoughts.
As he sorted through them, many pieces of information began to connect.
Cocolia did indeed operate some orphanages around the world. These orphanages specialized in recruiting underage girls from war-torn countries, and had even clashed with Schicksal, who needed similar girls to cultivate Valkyries, a few times over it.
An anti-Honkai organization adopting underage girls with a naturally high adaptability to Honkai energy... one didn't need to think hard about what that was for.
Rumor also had it that the girls in these orphanages affectionately called Cocolia "mother." Whenever this topic came up in conversation after meals, many people would slap the table and laugh their heads off.
But Fuli never expected that Bronya would also come from such an orphanage.
Considering her A-Rank strength at such a young age, and her legs that couldn't walk...
The words "human experimentation" naturally popped into Fuli's mind.
He wanted to persuade Bronya to leave Anti-Entropy, but every time he recalled the light that shone in the girl's eyes when she mentioned Cocolia, he felt utterly helpless.
Someone who has been mired in darkness for too long can be made fiercely loyal without much cost.
Just like a praying mantis possessed by a horsehair worm; knowing it will die if it enters the water, it still seeks out a river, step by step.
The basement fell silent once again. Several minutes later, a loud crash came from overhead without any warning.
"Kiana!"
Mei immediately reached for the Escape Dagger she had placed beside her, but grabbed only air. Fuli, a step ahead, had already grasped the dagger and activated its ability, teleporting to the living room on the first floor.
"Ah-Li..."
Kiana was half-sunk into the sofa, her eyes unfocused. She stared at the ceiling, looking as decadent as Ge You. [T/N: A famous Chinese actor known for a popular meme posture of him slumping on a couch.]
On the floor, Bronya propped herself up with one hand, a rare hint of smugness on her face.
Fuli's gaze swept over the spot where the coffee table Bronya had been leaning on used to be, now empty.
He was pissed.
Roughly understanding what had happened, he walked over with a smile. "What's wrong, my dear Miss Kiana?"
"I'm pondering a question."
The slumping white-haired girl emptied her mind. "When a furry is on the verge of death, will they get a boner seeing Ox-Head and Horse-Face at their side?" [T/N: Boki is Japanese slang for an erection. Ox-Head and Horse-Face are guardians of the underworld in Chinese mythology.]
"How did human society manage to give birth to such a profound thought?"
The boy, awestruck by this, moved behind her and thoughtfully began to massage her shoulders, which were stiff with extreme anger. "There, there. It's okay if you couldn't get anything out of her. There are still some leftovers in the kitchen, want me to heat them up for you?"
At the mention of leftovers, Kiana sprang out of the sunken sofa with a POP! "There's more? Really? Didn't this Young Lady already execute them all?"
Then she lay back down to continue enjoying Fuli's shoulder massage fan service, her eyes眯ed and her purrs lazy, just like a big white cat having its chin scratched.
"Of course I hid some specifically to keep you from stealing them."
Fuli took a moment to toss the dagger to a hastily arriving Mei, shaking his head. "It's nothing."
Mei glanced at the wreckage of the coffee table, which Kiana had smashed into a corner in a fit of rage, then cast a cold look at Bronya before giving a faint nod. "I understand."
...
If the main trio were destined to sleep in the same bed in the future, then their chemistry must be good.
As it turned out, their chemistry was indeed very good.
The kind of "good" where each of them wanted to stab the others with a knife, and after stabbing, twist the handle 360 degrees to the left and 720 degrees to the right.
Under these circumstances, Fuli couldn't possibly say the words, "The food in the kitchen was actually prepared for Bronya."
The moment he said it, Kiana and Mei would absolutely explode, and it would be the kind of explosion that could only be suppressed with violence.
"Not hard enough!"
"Yes, yes."
Hearing Miss Kiana's bossy orders, the guilt-ridden Fuli quickly increased the force of his shoulder massage.
Dammit, what happened to the happy life of a reincarnator with a girl in each arm? Prometheus, Pro-nya, save me!
"Much better (`×ω×´)!"
Enjoying the boy's fan service, the white-haired Tuna squinted her kitty-cat mouth and instinctively stretched out her legs, wanting to rest them on something.
Only when her feet met empty air did she remember that the coffee table that was supposed to be there had been sent flying by her fist in a fit of extreme rage. Her small feet, clad in bubble socks, traced an arc in the air before reluctantly landing on a footrest.
"Eh?"
Kiana, who had expected to step on nothing, opened her eyes to see a horizontally placed Trailing Shadow Sword supporting her restless, slender calves.
He's so thoughtful... Hmph!
On a whim, the girl rubbed off her bubble socks on the blade and said with a seemingly nonchalant attitude, "My shoulders are about done. Ah-Li, come give this Young Lady a foot massage!"
"I—"
"Don't go too far, Kiana."
Before Fuli could finish speaking, Mei walked over.
Under the warm lighting, her long, fair legs were dazzling.
She pulled the Trailing Shadow Sword out from under Kiana's feet with one hand, did a little flourish, and threw it backhanded.
The longsword rapidly disintegrated as it flew towards its destination, which made its intended target, Bronya, breathe a sigh of relief.
"Hehe, Mei~"
Kiana, caught in the act, sat cross-legged and gave a sheepish laugh. Fuli, having deactivated the sword, also removed his hands from her shoulders. "I'll go get some more food. Let's have a late-night snack!"
"I'll go," Mei said. "Where is it?"
"It's just—"
Fuli told her. The girl nodded and turned towards the kitchen.
She took some effort to retrieve the food, staring at the plastic wrap on it with a strange expression.
As Mei expected, this wasn't leftovers at all. It was food Fuli had set aside from the very beginning, specifically for Bronya to have something to eat when she woke up.
But our relationship is better... I was here first...
The girl's hands unconsciously clenched tight. Lightning surged, and her expression instantly became incredibly ferocious.
"Mei—! Aren't you done yet?"
A lazy, drawn-out call came from the living room.
"Sorry! Coming right now!"
Calming down, Mei took a deep breath. She placed her slender hands on both cheeks, forcing her reflection in the wall tiles to show a heart-wrenchingly beautiful smile.
"Good."
She gave her reflection an encouraging nod, then turned and walked towards the living room with the food.
"Here, this should be everything."
Returning to the living room, Mei said gently. The ponytail tied at the back of her head fanned out, as if stardust was flowing through it, looking no different from usual.
"It's so fresh!"
Unlike Mei, who hid everything in her heart, Kiana, who had also noticed the issue, immediately blurted out her complaint.
She put one hand on her hip and pointed at Fuli. "This isn't leftovers! You prepared this specifically for this little shrimp!"
"Whew! Whew-whew!"
Fuli, whose thoughts had been exposed, whistled guiltily, though the fact that no sound came out was quite frustrating.
He couldn't help it. Bronya had saved his life in the previous timeline.
If it were Cocolia, he wouldn't hesitate. Slicing her up would be a service to the people.
Seeing Fuli playing dumb, Kiana huffed, wrapped her arms around ninety percent of the food, and hugged it to her chest. "Mine! Mine! This is all mine!"
The fact that she was willing to leave ten percent for Bronya showed that the girl was still kind at heart.
Fuli didn't say much. He carried the last remaining plate of egg fried rice over to Bronya and squatted down.
Enduring the girls' needle-like stares, he tremblingly brought the spoon to Bronya's lips.
"My little ancestor!" he whispered. "Don't cause trouble for me at a time like this!"
"Bronya won't."
Trapped in an enemy camp, with two hostiles watching her like hawks.
In this situation, Bronya certainly knew who she needed to please.
The little girl obediently opened her mouth. "Ahhh—"
Chew, chew, chew.
Gulp!
"Yummy," she said, her mouth full.
In stark contrast was Kiana across the room. Her ancestral Kaslana genes made her think about the next meal while eating the current one, and want another meal right after finishing.
Her eyes darted to the intimate "big brother, little sister" interaction over there, then back to the fragrant food in front of her. The foodie girl rested her chin on her hand and, for the first time, lost her appetite.
A spoonful filled with shrimp was suddenly offered from the side.
"Eat," Miss Mei said with a smile. "I'll feed you."
"Yay!!!"
The white-haired Tuna, rewarded with being fed, cheered and took the bite with an "Awoo!"
She chewed exaggeratedly, her face full of bliss as she gave a thumbs-up. "Delicious!"
The true teachings of Hokushin Ittō-ryū, created by a sword saint who roamed the ancient Far East by combining numerous Eastern sword styles, had the Tengan-tsu (Heavenly Eye) at its core.
The Tengan-tsu allowed one to see the minute details of objects within one's field of vision, even observing the muscle movements of the human body.
Back in the clothing store, Mei had used this skill to see through Fuli's presence concealment before Kiana could.
And now, she could also use the Tengan-tsu to see through the true thoughts revealed by Kiana's micro-expressions.
Is it delicious?
Yes, it is.
But if she switched places with Bronya, would Kiana be happier?
Yes.
I see...
The girl, whose shoulders seemed to have grown heavier, continued to smile gently and offered another spoonful of fried rice with shrimp.
After all the fuss, the time had come to 8 PM.
Mei volunteered to take care of the leftovers. The other two, bored out of their minds, decided to make full use of the entertainment area in the basement.
They dragged Bronya, who had been re-tied into a caterpillar at Kiana's strong suggestion, down to the first basement level. After looking around, they decided to play some games first.
And then, Bronya's blood pressure shot up with a swoosh!
"Follow up the E with a Judgement Cut! He's staggered, what are you waiting for? Phantom Swords!"
"Just F2 A-move! F2 A-move and this game is in the bag!"
"Teammates? Help, someone help!"
"Pick Alchemist! In this meta, Sword Master is only good for giving teammates crit damage!"
"SUKA BLYAT!!!"
Whether it was Fuli or Kiana, their difficult pasts had made them quite skilled at video games.
But the noob-on-noob pecking drove Bronya crazy, making her curse and shout. She said more words now than during the entire interrogation, clearly tilted by these two clowns.
However, despite all that, watching the two of them scratch their heads, bicker, blame each other, but then make up and restart the game again and again, a look of envy couldn't help but surface in Bronya's heart.
The ultimate gaming setup was never a high-end graphics card, but friends.
And the friend who was willing to play games with her was still in the sunless Sea of Quanta, waiting for Bronya to rescue her.
So the question was, who caused all of this?
Fuli's earlier "bad words" about Cocolia drifted through the girl's mind. She shook her twin-drills forcefully, as if doing so could shake all these things away and end her troubles.
...