Chat Group: Starting by Swapping Bodies with Elysia?

The moment Mobius became a Herrscher, her physical functions undoubtedly transcended the limitations of mortal flesh.

Cellular strength, telomere length—all saw exponential growth. And because this authority belonged to the Herrscher of Death, Mobius, now wielding the power of Creation, was incredibly difficult to kill, ranking among the top Herrschers.

The only aspect where it fell short of the [Sesa] genes used by the original Mobius was perhaps durability.

Of course, this was nothing to be concerned about. Although Honkai beasts did possess robust physiques superior to Herrschers, the difference was limited.

When ascending to a certain level, like that of a Herrscher, a Honkai beast's so-called robust physique was insignificant against a Herrscher wielding their authority effectively.

Before death, all life withered equally.

Even someone as powerful as Kevin couldn't withstand this.

Under the power of Creation, capable of reviving the dead and regenerating flesh and bone, healing the "scars" on [Mobius]'s body was naturally effortless.

Of course, Mobius wouldn't concern herself with such trivial matters. She had more important things on her mind.

For instance...

Having adapted to her rejuvenated body, Mobius, like a cunning, hungry female snake, wore the same smile Jiang Qiao had worn earlier, her eyes fixated on him with malicious intent.

"Hee hee~ Helping me complete my evolution is commendable, but if you disobey me, I'll be very displeased~" Her tone, like that of a mischievous girl, mirrored that of the later era's Elysian Realm Snake.

This wasn't surprising. Mobius had always been like this in her youth; she had only mellowed out slightly later, partly influenced by a certain someone.

And now, for Mobius, it was simply a natural progression.

"How peculiar. Being reproached for doing a good deed."

"Hmph~ Less nonsense, I haven't settled the score with you yet."

"What are you referring to?"

Seeing Jiang Qiao's smile, Mobius's expression faltered. She seemed to remember something, her cheeks flushing slightly. But the next moment, she shook her head and revealed a wicked smile.

"Hehe~ Smooth talker. Let's see if you can still be so cheerful later."

"When it comes to silencing lab rats, I'm exceptionally skilled."

"Besides~ against this body, don't even think about winning." Mobius swayed her hips, the snake-like skirt accentuating her movements. She licked her lips, approaching Jiang Qiao with a predatory gaze, as if she would devour him whole, leaving not even a bone behind.

"Did I just shoot myself in the foot?"

"Hee hee~ Self-aware, aren't we? But I won't be holding back. Even begging for mercy won't help~" Mobius hummed, her breath growing hot.

The thought that this body was the fruit of this bad guy's labor, and she would be using his own creation to "teach him a lesson" filled Mobius with a twisted sense of pleasure.

She was incredibly smug and confident, certain of victory in the upcoming "war."

This was different from the last time she was utterly defeated. With this Herrscher body, with the power of Creation and its infinite regeneration, she was physically invincible.

And this guy in front of her—hmph, so what if he knew some annoying special techniques?

No matter what, [Jiang Qiao] was still just flesh and blood. He couldn't even repair his body like a Herrscher, relying on Honkai energy.

But she could regenerate infinitely… Looking at her reduced bust size, Mobius didn't feel regret, but rather a sense of pride—the nearly thirty-year-old Mobius and her teenage self were completely different!

In conclusion—times have changed, Jiang Qiao!

This time, the one utterly defeated wouldn't be me, Mobius, but you, Jiang Qiao!

The confident Mobius pressed forward, raising the curtain on her 'counteroffensive against Jiang Qiao.'

Several walls away, Elysia was playing with little Griseo.

Well—perhaps it was more like she was playing with little Griseo.

However, staying outside the lab indefinitely wasn't ideal; there was nothing fun to do here.

So...

Elysia glanced at Mobius's lab, hesitated for a moment, then said to Griseo, "Come on, little Griseo, Big Sister Elysia will take you somewhere else to play."

Although she had the thought, "Wouldn't it be bad if Jiang Qiao came out and couldn't find me?" Remembering Jiang Qiao's mischievousness, Elysia puffed out her cheeks.

Hmph, what did she care if that guy couldn't find her when he came out? He was so bad! She had to punish him severely! Make him anxious because he couldn't find her!

What was it called again… Elysia tried to recall the information she had seen online. It seemed to be—a "silent treatment."

The easier something was to obtain, the less it was cherished.

Elysia, firmly believing in this principle, decided to adopt this method to educate that bad guy.

As for Mobius…

Hmm, nothing should happen, right?

Elysia didn't consider the possibility of anything "strange" happening; she was still quite naive—and someone like Mobius definitely wouldn't do anything like that.

How long had she and Jiang Qiao been together?

Thinking of this, Elysia immediately felt reassured. Carrying Griseo on her back, accompanied by Fairy Ely, she began to wander around the Fire Moth base.

Halfway through their stroll, they encountered a blue-haired woman who looked remarkably like Griseo—Blanca.

"Griseo!" she exclaimed, somewhat agitated.

"Hi~ Blanca."

"Elysia? Why is Griseo with you?"

"She said she was bored being alone, so she went to Mobius's lab, and I ran into her there. I've been showing her around the base."

"Ah, I'm sorry… I've been busy with work lately and haven't had time to look after her. I apologize for the trouble."

"Not at all, I really like this child. She's so small and cute~" Elysia waved her hand dismissively, her blue eyes filled with a smile.

"Fairy Ely is clearly cute too!"

"Very cute!" Griseo echoed in her timid, childish voice, making Fairy Ely hug her wand with a satisfied expression.

"See, see! I'm a fairy from the Land of Fairy Tales!"

"Yes, yes, you're both very cute." Blanca chuckled helplessly.

"Where are you going, Blanca?"

"Well, I noticed Griseo was missing when I went back, so I came out to look for her… Since I've found her, could you please take care of her for me, Elysia?"

"Of course, no problem."

"Thank you so much. I'm sorry... I have to go to the training grounds now." Blanca's voice held a hint of urgency. Working in Fire Moth's medical department wasn't easy. Even at headquarters, there were plenty of incidents.

The training grounds were a particular hotspot. Injuries from training mishaps were a common occurrence.

"That's a coincidence. I was just planning to take little Griseo to the training grounds for a look."

"...Alright, let's go together then." Blanca glanced at Griseo hesitantly. Although she felt it wasn't appropriate to take a child to such a place, considering the chaotic state of the world, there shouldn't be any issue with just observing some training. So Blanca nodded in agreement.

The training grounds they were headed to were currently bustling with activity.

Due to the completion of the 'transformation bracelets,' Fire Moth was currently upgrading its basic combat strength.

Of course, considering the adaptation period, only a limited batch had been distributed for data collection and trial fittings.

At the center of the training grounds, an orange-haired girl clad in bright yellow armor beamed.

Many Fire Moth warriors surrounded the training area.

"This new weapon from the organization is truly impressive." A man with deep blue hair, wearing the standard Fire Moth combat uniform, patted the dust off himself, unable to contain his amazement.

This was, of course, Griseo's father, Ato, captain of the 9th squad.

With the situation in New Zealand resolved and no pressing matters in Mu, the 9th squad had returned to headquarters for a brief respite—and also to be equipped with the new gear.

As a fellow test subject alongside Kosma, Dystopia was the main focus of the demonstration.

"Your armor looks pretty cool too, by the way." Ato's voice was full of admiration. As the saying went, mechs were a man's romance.

Although armor wasn't equivalent to a mech, such objects with a blend of metallic and technological aesthetics undoubtedly appealed to men, even an "old man" in his thirties like Ato.

Out of curiosity, as the 9th squad's strongest fighter, and a top-tier warrior within Fire Moth second only to "monsters" like Elysia, he had sparred with Dystopia. The outcome was self-evident… Fortunately, the considerate Dystopia hadn't gone all out, otherwise Ato would be lying on the ground right now.

Even so, the True Form Armor's incredible combat power had left Ato with a few broken ribs, and several other warriors who had joined in the fun were now out of commission, awaiting rescue from the medical department.

"Hee hee~ Looks good, right? But there's more to it than that. This armor has some very interesting little surprises."

"Surprises? You're being so mysterious. Now I'm really curious." Ato chuckled. He picked up a 'transformation bracelet' from a nearby tray and examined it. "I can't believe something this small can achieve such power. Times have truly changed."

"The design is quite nice, but it's not very manly… It would be better if it were designed like a watch; it could also serve as a timepiece."

"Alright, let me try out this so-called little surprise of yours." Despite being a mature man, Ato's eyes held a hint of excitement. After all, he had just personally experienced the combat boost Dystopia had received from using this thing.

To put it bluntly, Dystopia, a rookie girl, wasn't particularly outstanding among Fire Moth's warriors, despite her talent. Even in the original timeline, she only gained a certain status due to being one of the first eight MANTIS warriors.

But after using this thing, she had completely dominated Ato, a veteran top-tier warrior. Combat experience... no matter how skilled you were, if you encountered overwhelming physical strength, reflexes faster than a feline's, and top speeds reaching near supersonic levels, you were outmatched.

Although Ato didn't particularly care about strength, he only wanted to protect his family. However, with the Honkai threat growing increasingly severe, conventional warriors like him were becoming more and more inadequate.

Even with the numerous Honkai energy weapons Vill-V had developed since joining Fire Moth, every battle remained fraught with peril due to the limitations of the human body.

Every time Ato went on a mission, he would write his will in advance.

His wife, Blanca, grew increasingly worried about this, but she couldn't persuade her husband to transfer to a different position like she had—because even though Ato loved his family deeply and was willing to sacrifice everything for them, his pride wouldn't allow him to become a deserter.

A man capable of inspiring others with the ideals of Marcus Aurelius spoke volumes about his character. Ato was someone who remained unwavering in his beliefs.

Knowing her husband's personality well, she naturally wouldn't try to dissuade him. She could only resign from her position under Dr. Mobius and take a less demanding job closer to Ato.

After all, if something happened to Ato, Blanca couldn't let little Griseo lose both her father and her mother.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Ato took a deep breath and put on the bracelet.

With this new equipment, future battles should be safer, right?

Thinking this, he paused for a long moment.

"What's wrong? Is there a malfunction?" Dystopia asked, puzzled, seeing that Ato hadn't moved for a while. The staff members responsible for collecting data also became nervous.

A malfunction during the initial trial would undoubtedly be a major setback for the project.

"It's nothing, it's just this transformation phrase… Can't it be omitted?"

"Hmm… probably not for now?" Dystopia wasn't certain.

"Alright." Ato took a deep breath. A little awkwardness was fine; a middle-aged man like him had a thick enough skin.

He muttered softly, "Respond to me! True Form Crystal!"

The next moment, the crystal lit up in response, emitting a blinding light that enveloped Ato.

A moment later, the light dissipated.

"This power..." Ato looked at his pale hands, feeling the surging power within his body, far exceeding his previous strength by tenfold, or even ninefold. He was incredibly excited.

Even though he had sparred with Dystopia, experiencing the power firsthand was far more impactful than being on the receiving end.

He felt like he could take on a hundred of his former selves. Against Honkai beasts on the battlefield, even Chariots had posed a significant threat in the past. Now, Ato felt like he could flip one over with ease.

Even Templar-Class Honkai beasts probably wouldn't be a match for him!

Wait… why were they looking at him so strangely?

Ato, immersed in his newfound power, noticed the odd looks from the others, and Dystopia struggling to suppress her laughter. He was puzzled.

What was so funny?

… Wait… were his hands always this pale?

Ato suddenly noticed something amiss. As a top-tier warrior, his training intensity went without saying. His hands, constantly gripping his weapon, had developed thick calluses. How could they be so pale and tender? They looked like… like a young girl's hands.

And…

Looking down, Ato finally noticed something that shouldn't be there. He stared blankly at his chest, at the prominent pair of headlights, dumbfounded.

He instinctively squeezed them… They felt similar to Blanca's, but larger… And below…

He felt air.

At this moment, Ato's mind went blank, his pupils dilated.

"Aaahhh—!"

With a scream, Ato, finally realizing he had transformed from a man into a woman, snapped out of his daze.

The surrounding warriors, besides their odd stares, began to murmur amongst themselves.

"So, how's that for a surprise?" Dystopia covered her mouth, trying hard not to laugh out loud—after all, he was a senior, and she had to show respect!

"T-This is the surprise you were talking about?!" Ato was stunned, staring at his breasts in utter disbelief.

"Just how surprised are you?"

"..."

Surprised he certainly was, but pleasant… how was this a pleasant surprise?! This was a fright!

Ato, who had gone through thick and thin with his "bro," was now experiencing a complex mix of emotions, bordering on collapse. His current state of mind resembled a pie chart.

"Am I going to stay like this forever?" Ato's face was contorted in anguish. If he stayed like this, then Blanca…

Dystopia consoled him, "Hey, don't worry. You'll change back once you take off the armor."

These words finally allowed Ato to breathe a sigh of relief.

Although his feelings were still complicated, as long as he could change back, it was fine. He didn't want to become a second mother to his precious daughter…

"...Can't this… this surprise be removed?" Ato asked, still distressed.

Honestly, he was very satisfied with this power. With this, his survival rate on the battlefield would increase exponentially. He was even prepared to pay a price.

Even burning away his lifespan would be acceptable.

But it turned out it wasn't his lifespan being burned, but his manhood… that was worse than burning away his life!

As an older man, Ato felt this was a devastating blow to his psyche.

But the answer he received was clearly negative.

After all—this thing was created by [Elysia].

Besides Elysia… [Elysia], no one else could change it. MEI might be able to play a role, but since it didn't affect its functionality, they might as well just use it as is.

So what if something was missing? If something was lacking down there, couldn't they just compensate for it up top? Dystopia didn't seem to have any objections when using it! What a fuss!

"..."

Ato felt a wave of despair, but ultimately sighed.

Fine, people always learned to compromise.

Although the price of this thing was somewhat unacceptable, the power boost… it was truly tempting! Impossible to resist.

And if he couldn't resist, he could only accept, right?

Compared to dying on the battlefield, sacrificing his manhood was still relatively acceptable. At least it wasn't permanent, only temporary.

He just had to endure it.

His little buddy would suffer for a while, and he would make it up to him after the war!

However...

—He absolutely couldn't let Blanca and Griseo see him like this!

Ato gritted his teeth. The thought of his wife and daughter seeing him in this state…

It made him feel sick.

Fortunately, this "manhood removal" only occurred when using the transformation bracelet. He just wouldn't use it normally, and Blanca and Griseo definitely wouldn't see him like this.

Thinking of this, Ato breathed a sigh of relief.