"He's absorbed this much Honkai energy… once Elias' fusion is complete, the results he achieves will far surpass anything we could possibly imagine. And… look at this data."
Dr. Mei spoke as she handed one of her observation reports to Mobius. The serpent-eyed scientist took a glance—and her pupils widened in astonishment.
"This is… Elias' brainwave data?"
"Yes. According to my records, for the past three days, his brainwaves have remained in a state of extreme hyperactivity. In simpler terms—he's been dreaming. And not just any dream—a highly intense one."
"A dream? Don't tell me that's Misteln's doing? If that's the case, then we don't have to worry."
Mobius sighed in relief.
Dreams always reminded her of a certain dream-weaving bunny, but she knew that no matter what happened, Misteln Schariac would never harm Elias.
"Besides that," Mei continued, "the Honkai energy he absorbed isn't all stored in his body. My data shows that a considerable portion of it has simply… vanished."
"What? How's that possible?"
"I'm not sure. But I don't think it's a bad sign. And after all… I still have faith in Elias."
Dr. Mei leaned back against her chair, conserving what little strength she had left. Even standing had become a luxury—she needed to preserve her stamina for as long as possible.
The girl clenched her fists, her eyes firm and resolute. No matter how long it took, she would wait. She would not rest until she saw Elias emerge from the pod with her own eyes.
The numbers and charts no longer mattered. What mattered was that Elias was in the middle of something beyond measurement—a state of true transcendence. The Chimera Project's theoretical limit had already been shattered by the white-haired boy.
...
Elias' consciousness drifted within a world of frost—an endless realm sealed beneath sheets of eternal ice. Across the sky stretched countless blue veins of light, and suspended high above was a colossal black crystal.
Of course, he knew exactly where this was.
The Kaslana Stigma Space.
ROAR!! ROAARRR!! ROAAARRRR!! ×N
The air shook with the roars of tens of thousands of Honkai Beast consciousnesses. Their shapes twisted in all directions, savage and violent, each one radiating endless fury and destruction. Yet Elias merely smiled at the sight.
"Well done, Misteln. Everything's gone according to plan. Now then—initiate the Kaslana Stigma Awakening Trial. The path of Palatinus begins here."
"Sigh~ My dearest master, you truly are fearless. Running the Chimera experiment and attempting to reach the level of Palatinus at the same time? You've left even an [Idea] like me speechless."
Misteln appeared beside him, her eyes gleaming with fascination. It was she who had brought Elias and the countless Honkai Beast consciousnesses into the Stigma Space. And she alone understood what this white-haired boy intended to achieve.
She could only marvel at his audacity.
"Heh. It had to be done eventually," Elias said, gazing out over the sea of raging beasts. "Might as well take care of it all at once—save myself some trouble later."
Normally, awakening the Kaslana Stigma's power required defeating the will residing within it. But thanks to Misteln's authority, he had rewritten the trial itself.
As for becoming a Chimera… Elias had actually succeeded on the very first day. In fact, his fusion speed had even surpassed Kevin's by a wide margin.
After all, the Chimera experiment's compatibility rate with him was far higher than it had ever been with Kevin.
(No matter how great Kevin's talent was, his foundation was still human. The Chimera Project could never reach its full potential in him. But I'm different…)
A Seven-Core Herrscher. A vessel of Finality. No matter how much Elias insisted on his humanity—in pure, objective terms—there was no being more perfectly aligned with the essence of Honkai than he was.
"I… am Honkai itself," Elias declared softly.
The Chimera Project was, without question, the most fitting path for his evolution.
This body—once altered by the Will of Honkai—was capable of far more than merely housing multiple Herrscher Cores. It could contain infinity itself.
More precisely, Elias could contain any form of "Honkai-natured" energy—and naturally, the [Chimera Genome] fell well within that compatibility range.
Thus, by the third hour of the experiment, his fusion with the [Chimera Genome] had already succeeded. On this path, he could walk it faster, farther, and more easily than Kevin ever could—and achieve even greater results.
At this point, his body had already become that of a Chimera MANTIS.
All he needed to do was awaken, and he would be able to command this immense power.
But Elias was not satisfied with that alone.
Looking at the countless Honkai Beast consciousnesses surrounding him, he realized—this was the perfect opportunity to ascend to [Palatinus]!
In truth, he was only one step away from reaching that level—the complete awakening of the Kaslana Stigma.
After all, the Schariac Stigma had already awakened to the highest degree possible—it had literally taken human form…
Misteln: (Ehehe~)
(If I can conquer all these Honkai Beast consciousnesses, then the Kaslana Stigma will be fully awakened.) Elias thought.
After all, the power of the Kaslana Stigma was derived from the super-mutation factors of Honkai Beasts. Awakening it meant completely mastering those factors within oneself.
Thus, Elias refused to rely on Fenghuang Down to protect his consciousness and escape by dying within the dream. Instead, he chose to fight—and to conquer the will of these beasts.
To make them kneel. To unify them under his command.
"Normally, this would be impossible. The consciousness of a Honkai Beast possesses its own will. A will can be defeated—but almost never subdued. As long as it doesn't yield, it will rise again no matter how many times you strike it down."
Misteln casually swatted aside an incoming Emperor-class Honkai Beast, sending it flying. Yet, even with a hole blasted through its head, the beast roared and rose again, undying.
To destroy humanity—to eradicate civilization—that was the instinct Honkai had engraved upon them. Their will might not be as absolute as that of a Herrscher, but it could never be tamed by brute force alone.
However…
That was true only for someone possessing the Kaslana Stigma alone.
"To overcome rigidity with gentleness—there is no power more suited to restraining the Honkai than the Schariac Stigma. Heh… let the power of the Saint become the reins that tame these beasts."
Elias spoke as he activated the power of his Schariac Stigma.
Unlike the domineering, unyielding, and resolute nature of the Kaslana Stigma, born for [Deliverance], the Schariac Stigma—rooted in [Salvation]—was tranquil, flexible, gentle, and warm.
Elias knew that in the future, Durandal—Bianka Ataegina—would also use the power of Schariac to tame the super-mutation factor within her Kaslana bloodline, becoming the [Palatinus Equinox].
Since she could do it, so could he… even if the scale was entirely different. What he faced now were tens of thousands of Honkai Beast super-mutation factors.
But as long as victory was possible—
Then nothing else mattered.
"Misteln, let's go!"
"Yes, Master!"
ROAR—ROAAR—ROAAARRRR!! ×N
Empowered by the strength of the Schariac Stigma, Elias and Misteln launched themselves into battle against the countless Honkai Beast consciousnesses. Those that were struck down by them seemed to have invisible collars placed around their necks.
Once defeated, they became tame—submissive.
With each new beast brought under his control, Elias could feel himself drawing closer to complete transformation.
However…
ROOAAAR!!
"Tch! Not being able to use wide-area powers (Herrscher abilities) is a real pain!"
Elias slammed his fist into an Emperor-class Ganesha, sending the mammoth-like beast flying. Before it could even crash to the ground, he was already at its landing point—delivering another crushing blow straight to its skull, finishing it off.
Yet within moments, dozens more beast consciousnesses surged toward him. With Misteln simulating Abyss Flower in his hands, Elias spun the twin guns in a flash and tore through them all with overwhelming precision.
In the Stigma Space, using Herrscher authority would only backfire. Though they shared the same origin, their energies repelled one another—any beast struck by Honkai power would not submit, but instead grow even more frenzied.
Thus, Elias could only rely on his own strength to fight.
"This is way too slow…"
Elias couldn't help but complain. At this rate, he and Misteln together had only managed to deal with around three hundred Honkai Beasts.
In the real world, he could have unleashed a single wide-range Herrscher attack and annihilated every beast in existence—no matter how many there were or what level they were at.
This kind of inefficient battle was something Elias hadn't experienced in ages. Though their progress was steady, he couldn't help but grow impatient.
Misteln, too, shared his frustration.
Currently manifested as a spiritual entity, she fought like a true Valkyrie—slaughtering everything in her path. Aside from the Vipralopa-class and Judgment-level beasts, none were a match for her.
But still—it was far too slow…
Normally, when she and Elias fought together, they wouldn't even need to lift a finger. Their combined Holy Blood resonance and the overwhelming amplification of Honkai energy alone were enough to wipe out lower-class Honkai Beasts in an instant.
But here, they had to defeat each one manually.
Hissss~!
Grrr!!
Suddenly, a massive serpent's shadow lunged out and ambushed Misteln.
Caught off guard, she was struck by a blast of virulent green mist—the poison breath of the Judgment-level Honkai Beast, Shesha. The giant serpent's tail lashed out immediately after, slamming the [Idea] woman across the frozen ground.
"Misteln?!"
"I'm fine, Master. Poison doesn't work on an [Idea]."
Misteln rose from the shattered ice pillars, counterattacking and eliminating several nearby beasts that tried to ambush her. Once Elias confirmed she was unharmed, his expression hardened—and he charged straight toward Shesha.
"You bastard—die!"
HISSSSSS!!
Elias grabbed the serpent by its tail and began spinning in place.
The colossal Judgment-level snake, stretching nearly a kilometer in length, couldn't even begin to match his raw strength. After several dizzying rotations, Elias slammed it down with such force that the impact shook the entire Stigma Space.
BOOM—!
The ground quaked violently.
Unlike in the real world, any beast defeated within the Stigma Space wouldn't resurrect—it would instead be subdued by the power of the Schariac Stigma.
But before Elias could catch his breath…
ROAR! ROAAR!! ROAAAAAR!!!
Wooooo!!!
RAAAHHH!!
Suddenly, multiple energy beams streaked toward him. As he dodged, he turned and saw the source—Vipralopa-class Vishnu, Judgment-level Chiyou, and Emperor-class Asura.
And not just them—every Honkai Beast across the battlefield began to unleash their ranged attacks simultaneously. Tens of thousands of concentrated Honkai energy blasts filled the air, many carrying the destructive power of intercontinental missiles.
"Tch… fine, we'll tank it head-on then."
With so many attacks converging at once, the entire surface of the Stigma Space was about to be obliterated. There was nowhere to run—no room to evade.
Elias scooped Misteln into his arms, scanning for an area where the bombardment seemed least intense, ready to brace for impact.
But just then—
ROOOOOAAAAARRRR!!!
A single dragon's roar cut through the chaos, so powerful and familiar that Elias froze mid-step. That voice—he knew it better than his own heartbeat.
His eyes widened in shock and delight as he looked up—and saw a familiar silhouette soaring through the icy sky.
An enormous dragon swept down from above, her wings creating a powerful gust as she caught Elias and Misteln upon her back, carrying them safely away from the deadly barrage.
"Haha! Bella! It's so good to see you again!"
ROAR~!
Seated on the back of the azure moon dragon, Elias wrapped his arms around her neck, laughing with sheer relief and joy as he pressed a kiss against her scales.
The Vipralopa-class Honkai Beast—Benares!
As Elias' companion Honkai Beast, Bella had always been his most loyal partner, no matter the circumstance.
As the saying among the Flame-Chasers went: you could doubt a Herrscher's loyalty to humanity—but never a half-Honkai Beast's loyalty to their Herrscher.
Among the tens of thousands of Honkai Beasts here, only Benares was unquestionably his ally.
Even if she wasn't the original Benares—merely a genetic clone created by Elias' Herrscher of Rebirth authority—as long as her name was Benares, her loyalty would never waver.
Not by even the slightest bit.
"Bella, I didn't expect that even in the Previous Era, we'd have a chance to fight side by side again. Now—dive that way!"
Elias gently stroked Benares' neck, a faint smile softening his expression as memories of the Second Eruption from the Current Era flickered through his mind. Then, pointing toward the greatest threat—the colossal Vishnu—he gave his command.
ROAAARRR!!
Benares spread her wings and burst forward, transforming into a streak of silver light that shot across the frozen skies straight toward the opposing dragon.
Though both were Vipralopa-class Honkai Beasts, Benares' dive struck with overwhelming force, sending Vishnu crashing hundreds of meters away. Elias immediately followed up—hurling Abyss Flower like a spear, the black weapon pierced through Vishnu's heart, pinning it to the ground in a single, decisive strike.
With a Vipralopa-class companion fighting beside him, the pressure on Elias and Misteln lessened dramatically.
Moreover, since Benares' essence shared the same origin as these beast consciousnesses, her attacks could effectively harm them. All Elias needed to do was use the power of the Schariac Stigma to capture each beast subdued by Bella.
"That's it! Keep going—just like that!"
Elias felt the burden ease from his shoulders.
The trio—one man, one woman, and one dragon—continued their relentless hunt. Soon, the tide began to turn completely. The countless Honkai Beast consciousnesses fell one after another, subdued and tamed. When the final Garuda collapsed under their combined might, bowing in submission—the Stigma Space itself began to tremble.
A radiant light gathered before Elias.
From it, a figure emerged—the Kaslana Stigma's will.
"Congratulations. You have passed the Stigma Trial in a way far beyond expectation. Normally, you would need to defeat me first, and only then would you earn the right to conquer the Honkai Beast genome. But since you've already done the latter so effortlessly… there's no need for further trials."
"Uh… why do you look like me?" Elias asked, visibly taken aback.
The Kaslana Stigma's will was supposed to take Kevin's form. Yet, standing before him now was a perfect mirror image of himself.
For a brief moment, Elias' expression twitched with concern. Don't tell me I've accidentally altered history to the point where the Kaslana bloodline originates from me…?
"I can take any form," the will explained. "After all, I am not human—merely the manifestation of the Stigma's will."
"Alright then… so what are you here for? I've already dealt with everything." Elias gestured behind him.
Tens of thousands of Honkai Beasts now knelt before him in reverence, an awe-inspiring sight. They had severed their ties to the Honkai itself and were now wholly his—his power, his army.
"I came only to offer a small token of congratulations to the victor," the will said, smiling faintly. "And to do what little I can. I shall aid you in unifying these beast consciousnesses—fusing them further into one, forging a Chimera truly worthy of you."
As the will spoke, the countless beast souls began to merge together, their energies intertwining in a vast spiral of light. The roars and howls faded one by one, until all that remained was a single unified will—one that bowed completely before Elias.
They would become his armor. His steed. His new manifestation of controlled destruction.
"Congratulations, Elias—the strongest Chimera of this world, and the true pioneer of the Path of Palatinus. You have transcended the finite."
The Stigma Will applauded him, its voice echoing with divine reverence.
Then, a luminous gateway appeared behind it.
"Now, return to the real world—and feel the power you've attained with your own hands. Your evolution has taken three days… and many are waiting anxiously for you."
—
—
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven