"Captain, are you okay?!"
"Jun'an, I'm here to save you!"
Elysia and Himeko kicked open the door to the Mobius Laboratory, only to find they were too late. Before them was Jun'an, drained and lying in the corner, with Mobius sleeping soundly, her head resting on Jun'an's thigh.
Seeing this heartwarming scene, Elysia immediately pulled out her phone to take a picture.
The two seemed exhausted, completely unaware of the camera shutter sound. Especially Mobius, who had let down all her guard.
"Wow, I never thought Mobius could look so girlish~" Elysia observed Mobius's peaceful smile, her expression carefree. "I'll show Eden and the others how she's drooling~"
Himeko could only sigh helplessly. That wasn't drool.
"I shouldn't have let the Captain come alone," she thought. "Even in the virtual world, he's been completely drained. And Mobius, with her backbending—the Captain's been turned into a 'human stick' again."
"Again?" Elysia looked puzzled.
"...Don't you smell something strange?" Himeko hinted, "That fishy smell. In my words, it's like a tomcat's scent."
"Really? The Mobius Laboratory always smells weird," Elysia responded casually. "Sometimes it smells like pumpkin yesterday, and strawberry today. A strange smell is normal."
Himeko could only marvel inwardly: truly Mobius's laboratory.
Elysia continued, "So answer my previous question—what do you mean by 'again'? Was he bullied?"
"Oh, don't worry about it," Himeko said with a bitter smile. "I just hope he learns and picks up a few more positions."
Although Elysia had lived in Elysium for 50,000 years and wasn't completely naive about intimate matters, her knowledge was limited. She couldn't detect the deeper meaning behind Himeko's bitter smile.
Himeko lifted Mobius's head, while Elysia positioned Jun'an to the side and provided a knee pillow for Mobius.
Elysia, noticing Mobius slightly frowning at the sudden change in height, took the opportunity to stroke her green hair. "I've always thought Mobius's green hair looks so beautiful. I wonder if I'd look good with a bit of green too?"
"Better not," Himeko replied, her feelings complex. For Elysia, Himeko's philosophy was simple: as long as they were compatible, she had no reason to interfere.
Still, she was slightly disappointed that the Captain's favorite wasn't her.
Himeko skillfully found a water bottle and helped Jun'an drink, finally waking him up.
Himeko narrowed her eyes, her smile not reaching her eyes: "Captain, enjoying your time as a minotaur?"
While Himeko didn't mind the Captain finding his own 'food', she still needed to maintain her dignity as the 'main dish'.
"...This is the price of getting stronger," Jun'an turned away, looking somewhat guilty.
He knew Himeko didn't truly mind, but he still needed to show that she was the primary partner.
"What kind of strength-building comes with this price? Is this some Harmony Sect technique?" Himeko pulled at Jun'an's face. "This isn't a price—you're just thirsty for her body!"
Jun'an wanted to argue that Durandal from the Harmony Sect could get stronger by consuming white Honkai energy, but fearing a beating, he chose to stay silent.
After Himeko dramatically affirmed her status as the primary partner, she finally asked, "Since you've paid such a price, did you secure the mutation factor?"
"Mm, I've already merged one. I'll need some time to become a fusion warrior," Jun'an replied, pulling out another syringe. "I'll keep this second mutation factor for another use."
"Can I absorb some Honkai energy?" Jun'an asked, feeling the power within his body. He could clearly sense his output limit had increased several times, but he was running low on energy and needed to consume Honkai beasts or absorb some Honkai energy.
And there was obviously a more suitable source right in front of him.
Himeko noticed his glance lingering momentarily on her chest before he quickly averted his eyes, remembering she wasn't lactating.
"Want to absorb mine?" Elysia suddenly offered. "I guarantee my Honkai energy is very sweet."
"Elysia, you're here!" Jun'an was startled. He had been planning to find an excuse to reclaim his masculine dignity after becoming a fusion warrior, but Elysia was already present!
Elysia responded matter-of-factly, "I've been here the whole time."
Himeko teased with a mischievous smile, "Captain, still want some Honkai energy?"
She was even tempted to push Jun'an down right in front of Elysia. Now that Jun'an had just become a fusion warrior and was in a state of insufficient Honkai energy reserves, he definitely couldn't beat her!
A warrior without fear.
"Why not?" Jun'an replied.
After all, absorbing Honkai energy wasn't limited to liquid exchange. As long as the other party agreed, simple contact could work. Like when Fu Hua, while residing in the Jade Blade, had absorbed the Herrscher of Reason's Honkai energy.
After shaking hands with Elysia for a while, Jun'an absorbed enough Honkai energy. Of course, fully absorbing was impossible - but about half a Herrscher core was enough to restore his spirit.
The unsatisfied Himeko still prioritized business. "How much of your power has recovered?"
"About ten to twenty percent," Jun'an stretched comfortably, feeling even the energy he'd been drained of was replenished. Honkai energy was truly convenient.
"Only ten to twenty percent?"
"Unlike Kevin, who starts at max level, I need to level up and unlock skills myself," Jun'an explained. Unlike Kevin, who was essentially "cheating" and starting at full numerical capacity, Jun'an needed gradual growth.
"First, I need to acquire some special abilities. Mobius's ability is already mine," Jun'an raised his hand, and a black shadow similar to Mobius's extended from his feet.
Devour. Replicate.
This was Brahma's ability as an end-times Honkai beast, quite similar to Vishnu's power. But while Vishnu's was pure numerical enhancement, Brahma's was purely ability acquisition.
Because Brahma's ability hardly improved numerical stats, for someone like Kevin with a numerical ceiling, merging with Brahma's primary value was accelerating the Stigmata Plan.
At a certain level, Honkai beasts' abilities simply couldn't match up. Sometimes a single impressive attack from Tianhua was more practical.
Like Kevin using Judgment to strike—not because he needed it to increase damage, but because it was easier to hit, had a wider range, and could cause melting damage across ice and fire, preventing being completely countered when throwing punches.
After all, punching bare-handed was painful.
"Want to practice with me?" Himeko suggested.
Jun'an, "Where?"
Himeko, "Outside Elysium, to suppress Honkai."
Jun'an, "Okay."
They exchanged a look and bid farewell to Elysia.
Himeko said, "We'll be gone for a bit."
Jun'an added, "Two hours at best, up to a day at most."
"But wouldn't practicing in Elysium be better? Nothing can be damaged there," Elysia said disappointedly. "I wanted to chat more."
"I must go to protect civilians from Honkai beast attacks," Jun'an stated seriously. "We're going to suppress a high-concentration Honkai entity this time."
"I'll talk more when we return," he promised.
Himeko and Jun'an turned and left Elysium, leaving only the sleeping Mobius and the regretful Elysia.
But Elysia quickly realized something was off.
Wasn't Honkai energy already transported to the moon? Hadn't Earth's Honkai energy been prevented from erupting? Why use such an awkward term as "high-concentration Honkai entity"? Normally, wouldn't terms like "Emperor-class" or "Judgment-class" be more appropriate?
Staring at Mobius, who was nestled against her, hugging her waist and nuzzling her belly with a silly smile, Elysia fell into deep thought.
Ah~ High-concentration Honkai entity.
Chapter End