Ein woke up with the other 6 all over him. "Hahhh, they were quite energetic." He smiled and carefully unentangled himself from his lovers. He then took out some breakfast and left it on a table for when they wake up, still steaming hot food will surely put them in a good mood after waking up.
He then dressed and went to the sea of quanta to harvest a valuable but dangerous resource. Neutron star material, neutronium.
"Umu, I can get some of them here. I can change their properties more safely too." He entered a bubble universe and went to space, locating a magnetar or pulsar. Or simply a celestial body with intense gravity that's 2nd only to black holes.
He took out some equipment that could find them through their electromagnetic energy and gravitational waves. Their magnetic fields were violent as hell and he found one already a few hundred lightyears away.
"Huh, a pretty close one. Neat." He then calculated the speed of it and prepared himself. Offsetting the gravity and magnetic fields that could sterilize earth in a heartbeat.
He teleported to it and was still pretty far away, about as far as the sun is to Pluto, but it was moving so quick it would be too far to move it inside the sea of quanta without using too much energy.
"You won't run away, come to papa." He made a big portal, some kilometers wide. It quickly entered and disappeared in the sea, he then followed it. He was bombarded by the jets of extreme radiation from the star and was being sucked by the gravity.
He quickly went to work and started stabilizing the thing, he redirected the energy of the sea and started to change it. 1st was the immense gravity and weight. The sea of quanta did its magic slowly, but surely. Making the violent celestial object into something he and others could use.
Then the intense magnetic waves. Dampening the electrical currents inside that spews out beams of particles. He was straining from the intense energy usage and even had to use his cores in maximum output. While he was much safer from the sea because he used the ambient energy.
"Phew. This shit is much harder than I thought, now to harvest it." He started taking it apart piece by piece, the durability of it was a problem and he had to use the 6th's power with large amounts of energy to even bend it.
He huffed and sweated. Exhausted from his endeavors, but with a huge smile on his face. "Only one thing left. But that's easier said than done." It was just a piece of metal that was nigh indestructible right now and he needed to imbue it with the properties of the sea like Soulium.
"Ahhh, how about using the ether anchor. But instead of honkai, bathe it with the sea's energy." He was going to pitch it to Vill and MEI, make a structure that is similar to the ether anchor but focus it on the material until it evolves.
"The question is how much would be needed, hah. Work is tiring as hell, tons of experiments would be needed again. But that's life I guess." He returned to the base and saw Kallen with Sakura with bags under their eyes.
They looked like ptsd patients and were shell shocked. "Hey girls, what happened? Why the long face?" They looked at him and then at his crotch.
"Uhh, nothing. Just too excited about exploring the base and all, we played too much videogames." Kallen learned to lie from Sakura and her accomplice nodded.
"Umu, it was very interesting and addicting. We just couldn't help it you see?" She gave a dry laugh and he raised a brow. "Ooookay? Don't overdo it though, or you'll be no good and just play games all day." He gave them some chocolate milk so they could relax, he also added some extra tryptophan so they can sleep well.
"Ahem. Dr. Ein, they lie as they breathe." Klein appeared with a flash drive and a clip board. The 2 flinched and started sweating. "Hmm? What did they even do Klein? I imagine it won't be too ridiculous." He checked the base and everything was in order, no broken things or explosions that happened.
"It is easier to see Dr. Ein." She then put the flash drive in the port of a monitor and he saw Kallen with Sakura watching them have copious amount of sexy time.
"We can explain! It's not what it looks like!" Kallen grabbed his arm and was in a panic. "Yes! We just couldn't help it! It's just natural curiosity, we promise!" Sakura added and was quickly getting anxious.
"Hohhh? Is that so? I guess you 2 are quite the perverts huh? Klein, I assume that's a report? Good girl, give it to me." He patted Klein's head and gave her some milk tea. She snatched it quickly and gave the clipboard to him.
"Hmm, it says here you 2 were and I quote. Watching us closely, even zooming in while we were doing the deed. Eyes peeled with laser focus and taking notes." He deadpanned at them and they held their head down in shame.
"Hahhh. I didn't think you girls would be voyeurs, I know you haven't seen it before. With sex being a taboo and porn not existing and all, but you do understand that the others might not like what you did. It's all fine and dandy with me, but I'll leave your punishments to the others." He sighed again and the 2 nodded slowly.
"You can just ask if you wanna see my body or something. Or Mobius might agree to do a demonstration, she doesn't care if other women see her after all." The 2 went wide eyed and looked at each other.
"I have work to do, go and apologize to them alright?" He then left, silence and Klein sipping on some milk tea were the only sounds left.
"Sakura, he gave the ok and told us he doesn't mind." She had a sleazy smile on and Sakura choked on her saliva. "K-Kallen! You would only prove his point! We're women of character, let's not be hasty."
She was saying that, but was infinitely curious about his body. She was at that age after all, and him being kind, helpful, and most importantly a powerful person that helped Rin. It was a recipe for attraction and sexual tension. Not to mention that he had washboard abs and a pretty face.
"Heh." Kallen gave a smug smile. "You say that, but weren't you the one who made excuses and still watched over their nightly activities?" She teased Sakura and the pinkette fumed.
"You dare! Why you're a holy maiden that indulges in voyeurism! Such a lewd woman that wants to engage in debauchery!" She retorted back and they started bickering.
"Ahhhh, I don't know why. But Dr. Ein's milk tea gives me strength. Thank you Ms. Kallen and Sakura for indirectly giving me this wonderful drink." She sipped the beverage that was almost as big as her and chewed on the boba pearls in bliss.
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Ein was now meeting up with MEI as Vill and the others were still enjoying their meal, along with the afterglow. "MEI, you guys made the ether anchor. I need to change it and harness the power of the sea."
She nodded and started to give out the blueprints. Her brain and neural network was also upgraded by him, she could remember as clear as day like she was enhanced by SWARA.
"What are you making anyway? The sea is honestly more violent than honkai energy. It could erase you in a heartbeat if you're just a normal person." She was curious and he gave her a piece of metal that looked like pure iron.
"Hmmm? What is this? Iron? We already have Soulium, is this somehow special?" He nodded and smiled. "That my dear, is neutronium. Pretty neat huh?"
She gasped and looked at it closely. "You... This thing is? Then this is unbreakable, I doubt even cosmic harmony or Shamash can do lasting damage on this thing. Except abyss flower." She held it on her hand and was amazed. The metal was revolutionary.
"Yeah, and I'll make it like Soulium. Only for the sea of quanta, not honkai energy. The weapons or structures we can make would basically be better divine keys without using herrscher cores." She got excited and was thinking of all the possibilities.
"Though that would be incredibly difficult to make. And when we succeed, it would be even more scant than Soulium after the transformation." She didn't doubt their success. Everything is possible with enough grit and experiments, the problem is the amount.
"We have plenty of time I assume. Herrschers won't appear for hundreds of years in my calculations. And we'll be able to make soldiers with potentials even higher than Kosma or Kevin." Kosma inherited Vishnu's genes, the more honkai beasts he assimilates, the stronger he becomes, in pure might he is ranked 3rd among the chaser. And he is the only one that can probably hold Kevin off in his honkai cascade form, while Elysia will beat him for sure at full power so she's an exception.
MEI imagined the weapons with infinite energy from the sea, while their warriors would inherit honkai genes and stigmatas that can be improved further. Mobius was here and they'll inevitably improve them.
"Un, but what about the will of the honkai and the imaginary tree? They will be useless against those I imagine." She thought that creating stronger warriors might be irrelevant in the final battle.
"Heh, I got that covered. Look at this." He gave her some papers about his plan. She read it and she looked at him like a madman. "You're insane... You'll assimilate the whole sea of quanta? If this goes wrong, the infinite multiverse would end." She was aghast at the scale of his plan.
"That's just life. If I want to have a peaceful life, I need to take care of everything. And the sea along with the imaginary tree are included." His mind was made up and it might take centuries, even millennia. But great things take time.
She sighed and massaged her temples. "You were always a bit crazy. But aren't we all? You're just crazier than the others." She put down the papers and thought about the 1st steps to humanity's ultimate rise to the apex.
"What would you call this material anyway? Amazing is an understatement on how unbelievably useful this is." She started to think about armaments and armor for the new generation of fighters like Kallen.
"Hmm, how about we go with something simple. I'll call it Adamantine. Unyielding, unbreakable, and magical." He would start with a signature weapon, the Masamune. He has to honor his homie Sephiroth after all.
"Okay, let's go and talk about this with Vill later. I imagine she'd be delighted about this material even without having affinity with the sea of quanta." They decided to work on the ether anchor 1st and made plans.
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Eden and the others were notified of Sakura and Kallen's misdeeds, they were sitting in a row while the 2 miscreants are in front of them.
"Hah... You guys, I didn't expect that from you." Eden sighed and never imagined that the upbeat Kallen, graceful, but strict Sakura would peep on them.
"Uhh, I think that's my fault too. Force of habit, I installed cameras everywhere even in Ein's room when I was bored." Vill said and the 2 that were on trial sighed in relief.
"Hmm, but they'll be off lightly nya. They could've just looked away, and they saw all of our embarrassing moments." Phyllis wasn't convinced and she passed the reports of Klein to the others.
"Such naughty children. It seems you need discipline." Aponia looked at the 2 and her words made them sweat.
"We were just curious! We won't do it again we promise!" Kallen asked for forgiveness and Sakura added. "Ein even gave permission to let us see him or touch him. And maybe see it in action, but if only you guys agree." Eden sighed and thought it was an Ein thing to say.
"How about just let them join in and call it a day? They're clearly interested and I have research to do. And my time is valuable." Mobius said while reading some of her experiments on the disciples of Hua's body parts.
"You're too straightforward Mobius. You already know things don't work like that normally." Eden chastised her, but Vill nodded.
"Hey Kallen, Sakura, do you like Ein?" They were surprised by the question and needed to think about it for a solid minute.
"Come on. Synaptic transmission should only take 0.5 seconds, did you run out of neurotransmitters? It's a yes or no question." Mobius rolled her eyes. They didn't understand but got the gist when Vill made a long ooohhhh.
"Yes! He's honestly too good to be true, but I like him nonetheless." Kallen spoke her mind and of course as a Kaslana, she's very outspoken. And when she desires something, it was pretty obvious.
"Umu, we might not know him for long. But he's given me hope and strength that would be impossible with me alone." Sakura enjoyed every waking hour when he arrived and he even saved Rin.
"Okay, meeting adjourned. SAKURA, how about you show them the ropes? One of them is basically you anyway." Mobius singled out the silent SAKURA that was having a mental breakdown. Seeing her doppelganger peep on them was too much for her.
"Wh-what!? Why do I have to do it? You're obviously fine with it, why don't you do it!?" She protested and Eden raised her hand. "Let's vote on it with true democracy, majority wins."
It was 4 on SAKURA, Aponia voted herself, and the unfortunate winner picked Mobius. "Haha, that's on you SAKURA nya." Phyllis laughed at her and she gritted her teeth.
"Better practice now, you'll eventually do it with her anyway. Train them well and show them the way for Ein-sama." Aponia nodded and they all went on their way.
"Hey... Don't you think it's kind of unromantic? I want to confess to him and we'd smooch and hug or something." Kallen protested and Sakura sighed. "I guess... Maybe let's start with that? You go 1st, you're more confident anyway."
"Huhhh!? You go 1st, you obviously liked him 1st. You were all mushy and was like a maiden in love talking about how he saved Rin." Sakura gasped and quickly retorted.
"Well, you were all kyaa! When you told him your dream and he decided to help you! And you might even like his cooking even more than him you glutton!" They started bickering and SAKURA bonked them on their heads.
"You guys start on confessing to him 1st. This will be a fiesta." She sighed and then left. Lamenting on why this has to happen to her.
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Ein was about to go to the surface to catch some fresh air. They were having difficulties in theorizing how much energy from the sea they'll need to perfect Adamantine, so they decided to wait for the ether anchor 1st and do experiments.
He then saw the black box again that was left in the fake house and clinic. "Hmm, what does this have inside anyway. Kallen has this with her when I found her in the river." He decided to call Kallen and let the Kaslana explain.
She arrived shortly and frowned when she saw the box. "What's in this anyway Kallen? You were holding it tight even when you were injured, and I know what this thing is made of."
She sighed and sat down. "It contains a gem. It was the cause of the black plague and Tilie was experimenting on it to cure the disease. It even turned one of my juniors to an abomination when she put it on her chest. She said she opened the door when god knocked."
He immediately knew it was a herrscher core. And it was probably the 12th. "Okay, I'll handle this. You don't mind do you?" She shook her head and was relieved instead.
"I actually came here to the east to find the immortal celestial to try and seal that box from the public forever. But we already know what happened. And please do so, it would give me peace of mind."
He nodded and they went to a bunker lined with Soulium so it won't escape. He then put his hand inside and grasped the core.
"Hah, what should I do with this. It can be used to hack computers and people, but that's not needed anymore." They could hack anything and ordinary people that could be infected with the 12th herrscher are of no use to him anyway.
"Hmm. Maybe that will work." He received an upgrade on his skill that was invaluable. It was basically a cheat and that's why he was confident he could take care of the imaginary tree once he assimilated the sea.
Honkai energy Immunity
- A tolerance type skill that nullifies any and every effect of honkai energy. I.e. Corruption, mutation, etc. Though physical effects could still affect the skill bearer.
He then heard a voice from the herrscher personality inside the core. "Ein-nii? Is that you? Are you really here?" She heard RIN's voice but slightly different and this changes everything.
"Umu, how are you doing? It's me, forgive me RIN. I was unable to protect you and SAKURA back then." The herrscher personality started to sob and she seethed in rage.
"Those humans! They hurt me! They killed me! They're an abomination in this world and they must all die!" Kallen frowned and her new belief was cemented. Humans were terrible creatures that can do unspeakable things to others.
"They're already dead RIN. Shhh, they won't hurt you now. I know, how about I give you a body? Live peacefully from now on with your sister." The persona was surprised.
"SAKURA-nee is still alive? I thought... I thought I killed her." She said in a somber tone, Ein called SAKURA and explained the situation.
"RIN, is that you? I'm alright and fine. Don't beat yourself up because of it. I understand that you were not yourself back then." She arrived and quickly tried to defuse the situation with Ein.
"Nee-chan... Uwahhh! Sorry! I also hurt you. I thought you died and even Ein-nii didn't return. I was trapped inside this box after I launched the missiles." Ein sighed as this would be a mess.
"It's in the past now RIN, and things were much much more different than now. So? How about it? Do you want to have a body?" RIN quickly accepted.
"Un, but I don't want to live in a human's body. It reminds me of my weakness. I'll change one to my liking, just please prepare one." He nodded and started to make a body that was superhuman so it can house her persona.
A black mist then left the core and latched onto the body. It started to morph and became a small girl with fox features. (Pic here)
She then opened her eyes and looked around, while trying to get used to her new body. "Ein-nii, nee-chan. Call me Higyokumaru from now on, I know I'm not RIN." She then transformed again and turned plushie sized. Floating near SAKURA and Kallen immediately had stars in her eyes from her cuteness. (Pic here)
"Ahh! So cute!" Kallen caught her and rubbed her cheek against the small flying creature. "Nee-chan! Save me from this girl!" She said in a cute voice, making Kallen squeal.
"Hah, stop that Kallen. You might crush her you know?" Kallen reluctantly released her and she got sad. Ein then gave her a cute plushie that looked like a nendroid of herself so she won't harass Higyokumaru.
He then looked at the core in his hand and it was still definitely active. Just without a herrscher personality inside. "I hope this works, bottoms up." He swallowed it whole and he was charged up with honkai energy.
It was then assimilated by his body and he could feel a connection with the imaginary space. "Woah, am I the 12th herrscher now? Interesting." He filled up his body with honkai energy and it was basically infinite. But he could only use its full potential with the 12th's powers. Being a self aware virus that can hijack tech and humans alike. Which wasn't that useful. But it was still welcome nonetheless.
"I guess it's still a pleasant discovery." He then looked at the flying creature. "Higyokumaru is too long, how about Pochi?" He teased her and she threw a fire ball at her.
"Woah, she can use fire! That's cool." Kallen said while SAKURA smiled. "Hmm, how about Hellmaru? Because she's a kitsune that can use maybe foxfire? Sounds good too." The little fox girl nodded and smiled.
"Umu, it's much better than Ein-nii's nickname!" They laughed and they started a party, full of Hellmaru's favorites that were tofu based which is very much like a kitsune of her.
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Thanks for reading everyone, Higyokumaru has appeared. While Adamantine is being developed to make superweapons. I will find Elysia once I know what her herrscher powers are, and after Kallen and Sakura confesses, There'll be a small time skip to Kallen's trial. She will face it head on, she's still a Kaslana at the core after all. But Ein will bamboozle the Apocalypse scion. Ciao.