A couple of days has passed, and the now named 10th herrscher has attacked bases all around the world. They are called the herrscher of legion, the gems they collected disappeared one by one. While new ones appeared more and more.
Moth has already lost multiple production sites and bases. They were trying to prevent the damages as much as possible, but they can only locate newly born herrschers. And the fallen ones pass their will to new people, there were now approximately 700 sightings all over the world.
"This is a disaster. They have a hivemind for sure, because the location of our secret bases have been compromised. We also had a report of one of our high ranking officials turning into a herrscher." Mei massaged her temples as she tried to contain the damages of the 10th herrscher. They seemed to know certain things that the other would, even if they're at the opposite side of the world.
And with their collective minds, they were mounting an attack at the important facilities of Moth that keeps the populace safe. And if they kill one, they just reappear.
"What's the situation with Mobius as well? I can't believe that Klein succumbed..." She asked Fuxi and Nuwa as they looked down on the ground and teared up. "She's now conscious Dr. Mei, but she didn't remember what was happening there in the research facility. All she knows is Klein died to the 10th herrscher." Fuxi stated as Mobius forgets a lot after she dies and resurrects, so the only thing she knows for now is Klein died from an attack of the 10th.
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Ein was in the center of the sun. Training under billions of bars of pressure, millions of degrees of heat and explosions of nuclear energy. As he finally acclimated and was now done with his training, stronger than ever.
He escaped to mercury and opened up a portal at the surface of earth. "Ahhh, I'm finally back." He was still hot as hell, literally. As he cooled himself down and travelled quickly back to Moth.
He noticed that the base is on high alert as he went up to Mei to know what's the situation. "Mei, what's wrong? Is there a strong honkai beast that appeared?" She quickly gave her a file as he read it.
He then frowned gravely as he saw that a herrscher has appeared. But it was weak, and it relied on hit and run tactics. Except it was also very dangerous, as they are many in number and can come back after passing on their will to others.
"Even members of Moth have turned Ein. Kalpas' adjutant has been neutralized by him. And Klein was also one of them..." She sighed as he immediately tried to feel her presence.
"Was? What happened to Klein? Did you guys manage to take out the core and heal her up?" He didn't feel her anywhere, as he thought that she might be in another facility that healed her up after the extraction. The 10th was weak, so they must have restrained her and took out the core.
Mei bit her lip and shook her head. "She was killed by Mobius... Su was in the scene, look at this." She opened up a video footage of what happened. He saw Klein kill Mobius as Su entered the lab, then she froze up. Her mind restrained by Su easily, but Mobius' shadow instinctively devoured Klein as the nearest source of rich honkai energy.
"No way... This. This is a disaster..." He shook his head as he reviewed what happened.
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Ein was being a radar to locate all the herrschers and put their cores inside his inventory, as they significantly dwindled, new ones didn't appear if their cores were inside his storage. They have dealt with 700 of them already, and 1000 have been confirmed. Ein swooped in on another herrscher and collected the core. As he sighed heavily and thought of what to do with Mobius.
"I don't have the heart to tell her... Klein is important to Mobius. I don't know how she'll react if she knew she's the one that killed her." He forlornly remembered Klein, the hard working assistant and severely overworked, that's why he gave her bubble tea as much as he could.
He went another round in roaming around the world as he tried to locate every single one of them, so they won't cause any more damage.
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Mobius was already working again as after forgetting her earlier findings, she reviewed it again, as Nuwa and Fuxi reported. "Dr. Mobius These are the statistical data for the weekly experiments.
Mobius looked at Fuxi. "Got it, turn the data into a graph Klei." She looked down on the ground for a bit. "Nevermind, just put it there."
Nuwa then gathered her courage. "Dr. Mobius, cheer up! I'll buy milk tea for you!" Mobius looked at her. "I don't like milk tea."
"Huh? But didn't you?" Fuxi elbowed her as she whispered. "Idiot Nuwa, can't you understand?" As Nuwa looked at Mobius' gloomy aura. "Is there anything else?"
"Um. Dr. Mei wants us to inventory the remains of the herrscher of legion. She wants to see our lab." Fuxi said, but Mobius turned around and was about to leave.
"You two go without me." Nuwa tried to run after her. "But Dr. Mobius! This is Klein's last goodbye!" She had a sad tone in her voice as Mobius looked at her. "There would be nothing that remains after you are dead." She then went to review the data of their experiments.
As Fuxi and Nuwa left her to her own devices.
Mobius then read the data. "No. This is wrong, this isn't right either. Not this either... Argh! Dammit! Do you have any bubble wrap Kl-..." She then took a can of coffee, but she returned it back. "Nevermind, Ein has left some food and beverages for me anyway."
After a few hours. She was getting reports from Fuxi and Nuwa. Nothing important she thought, as she worked tirelessly. "Hah. What is it again?" Nuwa took out a stuffed toy of a snake. "Doctor. I found this in Klein's belongings... It's a snake doll sewn by her, and it has a birthday card on it. I think it's a present for you."
Mobius sighed as she took it. "I didn't ask for that..." She started reading the card. *Happy birthday Dr. Mobius, this might not be much. And you won't be as happy as what Dr. Ein would give you, but I wish you a happy birthday. Please stop eating cup noodles and canned vegetables when Dr. Ein isn't here, you know that he is very busy... And cheers to a new year that we will spend once again.* It had a chibi little Klein sticker and a picture of Hamsuke playing with Mobius and Klein.*
Mobius stored it in her pocket and sighed heavily. "Thank you Klein." Goodbye to the one who understands me...
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After a week. Ein finally disposed of the last herrscher, as he returned to the base. Hua has an important procedure to undergo today, as she is still 17 and underage. Her body is more pliable than others, she specifically requested for something more to become stronger.
Hua was undergoing a procedure to be augmented with SWARA. Subliminal Weaponization & Artificing Of Reflex Arcs. It is made to increase the muscle strength and neural response of underaged neo-tech soldiers.
It was made by Mobius and Mei to increase Hua's combat effectiveness. Based on Ein's physiology, they will augment her neural pathways and increase its efficiency exponentially. While her muscles would be more denser and stronger. In theory, if she masters her new body in line with her powers. She would be the strongest MANTIS, even more powerful than Kevin.
It was a lengthy procedure, even when Ein and Mobius were the ones operating on her. As it was very delicate and has no room for error. But it was a success, and Hua started to gain consciousness after an hour. Floating inside a capsule as she heard Mei.
"How are you feeling Hua? It would be quite weird, as you'd perceive the world much slower now. Kind of like Ein, so it would take some time in getting used to."
Hua was still out of it as she mumbled. "Dr. Mei? Was it... A success?" Mei chuckled as she thought that Hua was too driven.
"Yes, and you have the potential to be the strongest MANTIS, though you would need to remove unnecessary memories after a certain amount of time." She showed her Fenghuang down. With Hua unable to forget anything starting from now, her brain would inevitably be overloaded. As she wasn't like Ein that could cram tons of information in his head with just a glance. So Mei decided to give the 8th key to her, as a way to remove memories.
Production of the 9th and 10th key also started. And with the tons of new cores, they would be able to arm a lot of the soldiers with divine keys. Although, it would be weaker than the ones made with just one core.
As Ein and Vill made them like no tomorrow, giving birth to different weapons. The divine key also morphs and resonates with the user. "It is time! For another of Vill-v's magic show!" She raised her hands and had a smug look on her face. "Hah, how many times did I tell you maestro? Don't mistake me for her, I'm not interested in magic shows. But, this... Is surely interesting." She picked up a divine key and looked at it with interest. "Oh... Is that so? You look both the same to me anyway." She talked to herself as Ein pinched her cheek.
"Uhhh. Vill? Did you develop multiple personalities?" Ein started to think that this might be the effects of her metamorph surgery.
"Ahhh. I haven't told you, there's 2 others. The one who likes magic shows and flashy gadgets, and the expert which is hypercritical." She smiled wryly.
"Damn, you're fine though? Was it born out of stress or trauma?" He worriedly asked, as she might have developed them because of extreme stresses.
"No. They're just a nuisance at times." She sighed as her other personalities can be sometimes annoying.
"Okay... I won't do anything, but if they try something. I'll delete them in a blink of an eye." Vill shuddered as the 2 personalities knew he was dead serious and if they do anything funny. They'll be popped like a bubble.
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After a few months. Moth was getting spread thin, as they dealt with the problems all over the world. Ein developed a vaccine, or that's what he called it, as the serum contained his inactive stem cells he painstakingly made. And he could only make a small amount, as they started to evolve once again and didn't want to calm down again. It had a certain program that would activate once the conditions were met. As he injected the gang. "This would up your control in honkai energy, and it will be beneficial for normal people as well, making you more resistant to honkai energy." And it was true, but he didn't tell them the real purpose of it.
Everybody accepted it gratefully, and started to feel the effects. "Wow, this is a nice little addition for us. Though it's a shame you couldn't make more of it." Elysia smiled wryly, as she thought that it would help the populace survive.
"So you have to research for months on end again to make another batch?" Mei and Mobius were curious about what it truly was.
He scratched his head and smiled. "It was a failure. I can't make more of it without further research, and it would take a longgg time." Everybody then left, except Mobius. She gave a file to Ein and it was a blueprint for a facility that transfers their memories to make a simulation, to aid the next generation of humanity. But Mobius had her own plans as well.
"We already have the void archives for this Mobius. Are you positive that we would need this?" She nodded quickly. "I assume that the new generations would raise warriors to fight as well. If we do fall, you can call it a back up plan." He thought about it, and shrugged. Green lighting the project as it won't be high priority anyway. It works with Su and Aponia as the main players, using their powers to make the simulations and make it real as much as possible. Though the ones training inside would still receive mental damage if they are too weak.
"Alright, talk to Eden and Vill about this Mobius. I need to help with Mei's most important project." She nodded, as Selene would be their trump card against herrschers that would be too strong.
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Thanks for reading guys, the binding incident is near. And not that kind of bondage. As after the 9th, herrschers actually appear faster. Ciao!