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Time seemed to have hit fast-forward, with changes arriving one after another.
Vill-V kept her promise and underwent the MANTIS surgery. Afterward, she split her consciousness into several distinct parts.
Putting it in Mobius's words later, with a hint of playful appraisal: "Well, I suppose that counts as... making the most of every resource, maximizing the efficiency of that brain of hers."
Soon after, Ato, Dystopia, and Kosma also became MANTISes.
Ato fused with a Honkai Beast named "Mahoraga"—a creature of pure physical power. After the successful surgery, his already burly frame seemed to gain an even heavier, more solid presence.
Dystopia fused with a Honkai Beast called "Gandharva," becoming the first psychic-type MANTIS, capable of using telekinesis.
As for Kosma, he fused with "Vishnu," temporarily rated as an Emperor-class Honkai Beast. This was a special arrangement by Mobius, who saw something different in this introverted boy—no, a unique quality. He wasn't like Ato or Kevin.
As for Vishnu... it wasn't that it was only Emperor-class; a higher rating simply hadn't been assessed yet.
The procedure was perilous but ultimately successful. However, unlike the others, Kosma developed a clear external change—a pair of black, slightly curved horns grew from the upper corners of his forehead.
Yes, Kosma had grown a pair of horns. Unlike Sakura's ears, these seemed to serve no special function; they appeared to be a purely physical mutation.
These horns quickly caused significant trouble in Kosma's daily life. A moment's inattention while walking would lead to bumping into door frames, and he had to carefully adjust his sleeping position to avoid poking himself or the headboard.
Even more uncomfortable were the gazes from those around him—curious, probing, or even tinged with a trace of fear. He felt like a freak.
Mobius suggested that perhaps Kosma could try to retract the horns once he mastered Vishnu's power proficiently. If he couldn't, it was no big deal—just consider them decoration.
And so... the first group of MANTISes had emerged.
Kevin, Elysia, Sakura, Vill-V, Ato, Dystopia, Kosma.
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In a heavily secured deep-level area of the base, a thick alloy door slid open silently.
Elysia, holding Eden's hand, walked in briskly, a hint of smug satisfaction on her face.
"Elysia…" Eden looked at the complex, precise corridor ahead, curiosity in her voice. "How did you know the access code for this place? It doesn't seem open to everyone."
Elysia winked playfully. "I guessed it, of course~♪ Mobius's mind might twist and turn, but her habits for setting passwords... well, there's a bit of a pattern. Just had to think a little and voila!"
"But... won't there be any problems?" Eden still had some reservations.
"Ah, don't worry!" Elysia patted her chest, full of confidence. "If anything happens, I'll take the blame! At most, Mobius will grumble a bit; she won't really do anything to us~ Come on, come on, let me show you something cool!"
The two passed through the long corridor and finally entered an incredibly vast space. It resembled a giant exhibition hall, with numerous cylindrical transparent containers standing around, each with the remains of Honkai Beasts in various forms.
"So these are…" Eden glanced around, a barely detectable heaviness in her voice. "The monsters you normally fight?"
Though not a soldier herself, the immense, oppression from the biological specimens before her spoke volumes about the brutality of the battles.
"Mhm, pretty much," Elysia nodded, looking at the countless Honkai Beasts around. Her tone was light, but there was nothing but contempt in her eyes.
Eden's gaze rested on Elysia, filled with tenderness and a trace of undetectable heartache. "You've worked hard, Elysia."
Elysia immediately flashed a bright smile, naturally reaching out to rest an arm on Eden's shoulder. "Oh, it's nothing! For me, it's just manual labor~♪ Simple stuff!"
She always had a habit of downplaying her own contributions.
Eden was amused by her, shaking her head gently. "Truly amazing." Her tone held sincere admiration.
"Actually, it's just average~" Elysia displayed a rare moment of modesty.
"That so-called MANTIS project…" Eden inquired casually.
"That one, that's Mobius and Mei's handiwork~ They're really something," Elysia praised with a smile.
"I heard the side effects of the surgery are quite severe."
"Oh, I know. You must have heard the rumors about Kosma." Elysia waggled a finger. Indeed, some unkind whispers had emerged about the horns on Kosma's head.
"The side effects really aren't that serious, you know. Look at me—I underwent the surgery too. Can you see anything different about me?" She blinked mischievously. "Except... well, maybe I got a bit prettier?"
"Hmm, that is true…" Eden nodded with a smile, but her gaze soon shifted elsewhere.
"Ah, that one…" Eden involuntarily took a couple of steps forward, her eyes locking onto a massive form.
"What's up?" Elysia followed her line of sight and immediately understood. "Oh! You mean that big guy!" She pointed at the largest container.
"Mhm." Eden's response was soft, as if afraid of disturbing the presence within the container.
Inside the container was a massive, whale-like Honkai Beast that, even in its dormant or deceased state, still radiated a shocking power and strange beauty. Its fluid lines and massive body possessed a quiet, almost sculptural beauty.
Perhaps because of her own inextricable bond with "sound," Eden, as a singer, felt a strange resonance with it.
"I remember its name is…" Elysia racked her memory. "'Varuna'! Yes, that's it!"
The name wasn't why Elysia remembered it. The main reason was that Vya had captured it.
Vya had dragged it to the shoreline, urgently called Kevin over to have it frozen, and then transported it back.
"'Varuna'…" Eden repeated the name softly, her gaze growing even gentler.
"Well, looking closely…" Elysia also leaned in for a better look. "It really is just an especially pretty, especially big whale~ Though much more dangerous than your average whale," she added.
Eden stared at Varuna's massive form and subconsciously asked, "Does it... sing?"
Elysia recalled that heart-stopping encounter, her tone taking on an exaggerated note. "Of course it does! And its song packs a serious punch! Back when it was singing in the ocean, it drove all the Honkai Beasts in a huge area completely wild! That scene, wow~"
A flash of understanding passed through Eden's eyes. She imagined what that song, capable of penetrating the deep sea and stirring hordes of beasts, must sound like—how magnificent and wondrous?
She gave a slight nod, her voice as soft as a sigh. "It seems... it too is a remarkable singer."
...
(A/N: The Honkai Beasts fused with Ato and Dystopia earlier are not made up; they come from the [Eight Legions of Heavenly Dragons], which are also the [Eight Guardian Deities in Buddhism]. Let's see who's on the list: Deva, Naga, Yaksha, Gandharva, Garuda, Kinnara, Asura, Mahoraga.)
(Yaksha is Sakura's, Garuda is Hua's, Asura—also known as "Non-Heavenly"—is for Kalpas. I'll assign the remaining ones, trying to keep it as reasonable as possible, hehe.)
(Next up is writing about twiglight, and after that Su. Then we can start the 8th Honkai Eruption.)
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T/N: It's impossible to find anything about which Honkai beasts each MANTIS is fused with, even for the original ones, besides Elysia and Mobius.
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