Chat Group: Starting by Swapping Bodies with Elysia?

Elysia, in a less-than-sunny mood, picked at her ribs. Or, more accurately, she gnawed at the bones. The crunch, crunch echoed ominously, as if she were chewing on something… less porcine, more… person-shaped.

Grind! Grind them all to dust!

The pink-haired goddess puffed out her cheeks, a picture-perfect example of "eating someone alive" (metaphorically, of course!).

Truth be told, Elysia was somewhat used to Jiang Qiao swapping bodies with other girls… okay, fine, she was fuming, but what could she do? 

When Jiang Qiao's power activated, even he didn't know when or with whom he'd swap. 

And as for the active swapping method… that was the real kicker, the source of Elysia's simmering resentment.

Was my body not good enough?! Did he have to use other girls' bodies?! And of all people, Mobius!

Ever since Jiang Qiao arrived, Elysia had made it her personal mission to keep a close eye on him. Especially when he was with her—Elysia wasn't about to let any other woman get her claws in him!

And this was the result? Infuriating!

The only consolation was that it was all for the experiment. For the greater good, for the sake of fighting the Honkai and saving the world! Such noble sacrifices… though Elysia felt a twinge of dejection, she understood… hmph!

Still mad, though!

But after some reflection, Elysia's anger dissipated. She recalled last night's shared pillow, the sweet dreams… Clearly, she was the one closest to bad-boy Jiang Qiao! Mobius had just borrowed his body for a bit. Even if they kissed, the most important "first" already belonged to her! 

Mobius was just a latecomer!

This realization brought a smug grin to Elysia's face. The smile of a victor.

Jiang Qiao, however, remained oblivious to her inner turmoil. His mind was still replaying the recent events at "Mobius's Wonderful Workshop of Snakes."

How to put it? While he had technically transitioned from "boy" to "man," Jiang Qiao didn't find it particularly noteworthy. Even the process itself felt… underwhelming.

The primal act of reproduction, the pursuit of physical pleasure… For Jiang Qiao, with his unparalleled control over his body, even in this human form, such pleasures were easily attainable.

If he needed that kind of gratification, he could just sit there and tweak his brain chemistry to achieve a level of ecstasy far surpassing anything physical intimacy could offer. 

The pleasure derived from reproductive acts was less than a drop in the ocean compared to that.

Therefore, he rarely indulged in such things – inefficient and boring. If it happened, it was solely because someone else wanted to experience it. 

While Jiang Qiao had no personal interest, he didn't mind obliging for the sake of a relationship – your happiness is my command, and all that.

Take Mobius, for instance. Obtaining genetic material could be done far more efficiently. 

Jiang Qiao could fill a cup with… the stuff… in an instant without lifting a finger, and even tailor the concentration to superhuman levels. 

Creating "puff pastry" was merely a matter of need for him. The blood flowing through his veins was an ample source material.

Yet, for her own amusement, Mobius chose the inefficient, even foolish (from a biological researcher's perspective) method of collection. 

Perhaps out of curiosity, she wanted to experience things from a different perspective – valuable data for a biological researcher, after all.

But frankly, Mobius lacked the… stamina. Despite her vast knowledge and brilliance, the almost-thirty-year-old Mobius was but a novice in this arena. Lacking experience and technique, she couldn't possibly make the Jiang Qiao body perform as it did under its true master.

And when it came to piloting the Mobius mecha, she was no match for Jiang Qiao's mastery. With a cursory familiarization, he gained complete control of Mobius's body, including her musculature. And the implications of that were self-evident. 

Trying to compete with a body piloted by Jiang Qiao was like trying to arm-wrestle a hydraulic press or out-suck a vacuum cleaner. He could complete the "collection" task in a second, a task that would normally take Mobius minutes, even hours.

Upon realizing this, Mobius wisely relinquished control. After all, as a desk-bound researcher with questionable health and zero experience, letting Jiang Qiao continue would turn her "revenge" into a humiliating defeat. It wouldn't be domination; it would be being dominated!

Mobius couldn't accept that. Besides, the defender always has more fun, right? While seemingly disadvantaged, she could still dictate the pace. However, even in defense, Mobius, a creature of the mind, was physically outmatched.

Even with the defender's advantage, she was still a mere "mook" against Jiang Qiao's onslaught. His relentless attacks, each a critical hit, taught her the true meaning of "putting on a brave face."

"Jiang Qiao! I'm going to Mu Continent too!"

"Huh… what?" Jiang Qiao snapped back to reality, surprised. Elysia, cheeks still puffed, glared at him with her blue eyes, flecked with pink. That bad Jiang Qiao! Spacing out during dinner with me… Hmph, probably thinking about other women again!

"I said, I'm going to Mu Continent too!" Elysia insisted.

She'd learned her lesson. She'd snuck into his room last night, only to find him gone this morning, whisked away by MEI for "experiments." She'd only caught up with him after the deed was done. If she let him go to Mu Continent alone, who knew what would happen?!

She had to go. She had to stick to him like glue!

"Did MEI agree?" Jiang Qiao didn't object; he merely asked.

This question irked Elysia. Did she need permission to supervise him…? Well, actually, yes. As a key figure in the Fire Moth, her movements had to be approved. They were a strict military organization, after all.

"We're going to ask MEI right now!" Elysia grabbed his arm and dragged him toward MEI's lab.

However…

"You want to go with him?" MEI raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

Elysia expected immediate approval, but MEI frowned and shook her head. "I'm afraid not. We're severely understaffed. There are disturbances all over the globe. We're stretched thin dealing with Honkai outbreaks."

While the pink-haired goddess seemed to have all the time in the world to wander around the base, she was far from idle. For the Fire Moth, Elysia, their strongest combatant, was a vital asset. Especially now, before the "True Self Bracelets" were fully deployed, their forces were outmatched against the Honkai.

Sending Jiang Qiao to Mu Continent for a retrieval mission was one thing. He wasn't officially a Flame-Chaser; he was an extra, a reliable one at that. But Elysia… with the current situation so precarious, sending her along with him was a luxury they couldn't afford.

"If possible, I'd prefer you go to Southeast Asia. A major Honkai eruption occurred there three system hours ago. A Emperor-class Honkai beast needs handling."

Emperor-class beasts were a serious threat, second only to Herrschers. Even a small squad would struggle against one. Without resorting to large-scale weaponry, only Sakura and Elysia could reliably handle such incidents. Sakura was currently investigating the Church of Apocalypse in Eastern Europe, so she was out.

"…Fine." Elysia sighed and nodded.

She could be stubborn and refuse, and MEI likely wouldn't force her, but Elysia wouldn't do that. She wouldn't abandon her duty for personal reasons. Too many innocent lives were at stake.

It seemed her only option was to have Elf Elysia keep an eye on that rascal. But recalling how the little sprite had slept in this morning, abandoning her after last night's escapade… Elysia had little faith in her.

…Was there a better solution?

Then, a spark of inspiration!

"Jiang Qiao~ Come here~"

Elysia skipped to a corner, beckoning him with a mischievous smile. Jiang Qiao, though puzzled, followed.

Under MEI's watchful gaze, Jiang Qiao approached Elysia, hidden behind some equipment. Then—whoosh—he was pulled in.

"Give it to me!"

"Eh—?"

"No arguments!"

"Fine…"

Moments later, "Jiang Qiao," wiping their lips with a pink handkerchief, emerged, looking satisfied.

"Honestly…" A pink-haired girl—now [Elysia]—followed, sighing dramatically.

Suddenly wanting to swap…

"Heehee~ This is my body now~" Looking at Jiang Qiao, now in her Elysia form, she puffed up her chest, proud of her ingenious solution.

She couldn't trust Jiang Qiao in his own body to behave while she was gone. So, the solution was simple: confiscate his body! Trap him in hers!

She knew his tendencies. In his own body, he was uninhibited. But in a girl's body, especially hers, he'd be on his best behavior.

Of course, if she simply told Jiang Qiao, "Don't mess around," he'd probably agree. But that wouldn't work. It was his body; she couldn't restrict his freedom because of her insecurities.

But if he was in her body, it was a different story! Heehee~

He wouldn't dare do anything untoward in her body! He couldn't, even if he wanted to!

Plus, using Jiang Qiao's body was actually more effective for her missions. Same level of Honkai energy control, but with extra perks! Way better than her own.

But… as she flexed her new arms, a strange sensation washed over her.

…This felt weird.

Her lower back ached… a strange emptiness… Did it feel like this when she used his body before?

She tried to recall last night, but her pure mind couldn't comprehend this new feeling.

"Uncomfortable?" [Elysia] noticing her expression, rested her chin on her hand, then approached Jiang Qiao's body, placing a hand on her own firm abdomen. A faint pink glow emanated.

Elysia closed her eyes, a soft moan escaping her lips. "Mmm…"

Warm… like a void being filled… so comfortable…

But noticing MEI's presence, Elysia's cheeks flushed—a rare sight for the usually bold Jiang Qiao.

"That should do it," the pink-haired girl smiled, retracting her hand. The experiment with Mobius had drained Jiang Qiao's… essence. Literally dry as a bone.

He'd even transferred some of his own blood to compensate. As a human, he couldn't regenerate with Honkai energy like a Herrscher. He'd planned to recover gradually.

Then Elysia had ambushed him, stealing his body before he could replenish himself. But now, in her body, he could simply borrow some of her essence. Her body was brimming with it, easily convertible with Honkai energy.

MEI watched with fascination. Even though she'd seen it before, Jiang Qiao's ability never ceased to amaze. She wondered how Mobius's research was coming along. She'd have to drop by and see if she could glean any insights.

As for Elysia handling a major Honkai incident in another body… she didn't care. As long as the job got done, the details were irrelevant.

Besides, having Jiang Qiao pilot the Elysia unit was ideal. Elysia barely scratched the surface of her own body's potential. 

Jiang Qiao's body, while versatile, lacked the raw power of Elysia's. He relied on skill.

With this swap, Elysia got a more manageable body with fun new tricks, and Jiang Qiao got a significant power boost. A win-win!

Boarding separate aircraft, Jiang Qiao (as Elysia) headed to Mu Continent, and Elysia (as Jiang Qiao) set off for Southeast Asia. Elf Elysia, naturally, was assigned to the former.

With Jiang Qiao's "tools" confiscated and Elf Elysia on babysitting duty, Elysia felt reassured. No problems this time, right?

She dozed off, hoping to revisit last night's pleasant dream. It had been an experiment, but it seemed… successful?

The dream was hazy, the location unclear. She wandered through the blurry landscape, half-asleep, half-awake. Was this her room? MEI's lab? It looked familiar, but she couldn't place it. The only distinct objects were some transparent beakers.

But the scenery didn't matter. It was the face that made her heart flutter.

Ooh, the dream's starting! This time, I'm going all the way!

This hazy thought propelled her towards the figure, just like last night.

Heeheehee~ Jiang Qiao~ You can't escape! Let me have a good look at you~

A mischievous grin spread across her face. She'd never be this bold in real life. A proper maiden had to maintain her decorum! But in dreams? Anything goes!

Like watching from a third-person perspective, she continued her "mischief," half-lucid, half-dreaming. She tried to remove her clothes, but couldn't… Oh well, whatever! I'm fine with this!

Leaving them on was even more exciting, right? Half-concealed, half-revealed…

She took her time, remembering last night's abrupt ending. Too much too soon, and the dream would shatter.

First… a kiss! She reveled in the soft, wet sensation, blurry but real. She'd spent most of last night's dream like this, only to black out when things progressed. To avoid that, she'd stay at this stage!

But dreams are fickle. Despite her intentions, lost in the moment, she pushed open a certain door. In the dream, she was sitting on him.

With a flutter of anticipation… she felt a surprising new sensation.

Numb… swollen… Something she hadn't experienced before…

The pleasant dream continued. Meanwhile, back in Mobius's lab…

The snake-like scientist pulled down her dress, setting aside a tube of ointment labeled "Anti-inflammatory."

Hmm… Too tired to stand for experiments today. Guess I'll stick to the sitting ones… Oh well~

She dismissed a news alert about Eden's upcoming concert tour. Perhaps she should ask Vill-V to design her a levitating scooter. Walking was so tiring…