Chapter 401: Choose
"This is… the moment of ascension to godhood!"
This was no longer a mere ritualistic line—it was Mobius's true inner voice.
Sigurd's physical body was so perfect that it nearly exceeded the limits of Mobius's knowledge. If she could devour his flesh and achieve rebirth through it, the power she would gain afterward would be unimaginable.
If this step succeeded, it would mean an outright leap in the level of life itself. And if she could also turn Sigurd's intellect into her own… the future would be limitless.
The colossal serpentine beast manifested.
With one arm, Sigurd held Sin Mal around the waist to keep her from slipping off him. He looked up at the giant monster before him, calculating its structural composition and Honkai energy intensity.
"So there have been some changes… results obtained from my blood?"
"To make full use of your physical materials, research is naturally necessary."
"But you still can't defeat me."
"Defeat you? Why would I need to fight you? All I want… is your body! Hahahaha!"
Mobius's wild laughter echoed from within the belly of the giant beast.
Among the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, Mobius was never known for raw strength. What made her terrifying was her bizarre life form, her endless methods, and her indestructible vitality.
The serpent raised its scepter, and green light spread across the surrounding area.
Sigurd allowed Mobius to act freely and shook his head.
"I still recommend reaching cooperation through dialogue, Dr. Mobius."
"Give me your body, and we can talk."
"If the exchange goes smoothly, that's not impossible."
"Really? I don't believe you!"
Mobius was suspicious, then decisively rejected Sigurd's olive branch. The green light on the scepter grew darker and more intense.
On one hand, it was her personality and way of thinking—she never placed hope in others. On the other, she still had cards left to play and didn't believe she would lose.
Mobius decided to take matters into her own hands and seize the key she needed.
Dark green radiance poured into the entire space, bringing with it viruses, erosion, apoptosis, and countless other negative elements. Sigurd couldn't help but frown.
"Hm?"
As he frowned, Sigurd tore off his coat and draped it over the unconscious Sin Mal, covering her body. At the same time, he activated the power of the Core of Corruption, erasing all negative factors approaching her.
At that moment, Sin Mal—who had just been quiet—suddenly opened her eyes.
"Hiss—"
After a near-inhuman sound, Sin Mal bit into Sigurd's waist.
Gulp, gulp—she swallowed Sigurd's blood in great mouthfuls.
As the blood flowed down her throat, it further awakened her ferocity. The black, indescribable monster once again seeped out from her left eye, wrapping itself around Sigurd's body like black vines feeding on a host's life, rapidly growing as it drained Sigurd's power.
"Hehehe!"
At some point, the surrounding space had already turned into an inky blend of darkness and green. Mobius's giant beast form was nowhere to be seen—only that bell-like laughter, carrying a sinister chill, echoed through the gloom.
"Skin, surface membranes, every capillary… even the consciousness body and the internal circulation mechanism of Honkai energy. Sigurd, my most beloved little lab rat—don't expose even the slightest flaw. Otherwise, you know what will happen."
The girl spoke with a gentle smile, her voice like lazy whispers between lovers beneath the sheets.
But Sigurd knew—it was a declaration of lethal intent.
"You're really that hungry for my body?"
As Sin Mal followed her instincts, devouring his blood and life force, Sigurd pressed a hand to her head and indulgently stroked her hair. His tone was low as he asked the question.
Mobius let out a seductive chuckle, replying instinctively from the darkness:
"Of course—wait, is there something wrong with how you phrased that?"
Even without exposure to modern internet culture, that line carried an unmistakably suggestive undertone.
"…Those who are pure would have a pure mind."
"Hmph! Whatever you mean, just prepare yourself to have your soul stuffed into an ELF!"
"Oh? You're not planning to wipe me out completely?"
"You talk as if, once you win and I lose, you'd actually take my life. Sigurd, we both know this isn't some irreconcilable fight to the death. What we're fighting over is absolute control—that's all! Winner takes all, loser becomes the dog. That's how it works!"
"..."
Sigurd fell silent.
Wasn't this snake beauty perfectly aware of everything? Then why put on an act as if she feared he might threaten her life?
He got it.
In truth, she still didn't trust him. By going along with his invitation to "talk," she was leaving herself a way out. If she really couldn't handle himlater, at least this would slightly increase the odds of ending up with a better outcome.
"The Thirteen Flame-Chasers all have their own personalities. Some can be coerced with rhetoric and lofty ideals. But someone like you…"
"You really do need to be corrected…"
Sigurd stroked Sin Mal's hair.
Black matter was still crawling and spreading over his body, and the wound at his waist was still steadily draining his blood and vitality. Even so, he very clearly realized—
That line… sounded kind of wrong.
After a brief pause, Sigurd patted Sin Mal on the head. Ignoring Mobius ferocious expression and gaze, he said calmly:
"I'm going to get angry."
"Hahahaha! You arrogant bastard actually believes in emotions? Science should be cold and rational. Or is it that I've overestimated you?"
Mobius laughed disdainfully, lurking in the darkness, watching for any flaw that might appear in Sigurd at any moment.
All her methods were devoured by Sigurd's power of corruption. Every attempt at infiltration failed.
But that didn't matter.
Snakes were patient creatures.
Mobius was on the offensive; Sigurd was on the defensive. And prolonged defense would inevitably lead to failure.
Meanwhile, Sin Mal was still clinging to him, biting and devouring his power. Yet Sigurd also had to divert his attention to take care of Sin Mal—because seizing Sin Mal's body was also one of Mobius's options.
Moreover, no matter how perfect a body was, it was impossible to wield Herrscher authority for long while remaining non-Herrscher. That simply wasn't something a human could do!
The advantage is mine, Mobius thought with certainty—and so she remained completely composed.
Then, the feral gleam in Sin Mal's golden right eye gradually faded.
"Si… gurd…"
She loosened her bite, dazed, and collapsed softly into Sigurd's arms. The black substances clinging to Sigurd rapidly solidified, then shattered and fell away.
Holding Sin Mal, Sigurd's lips curved upward.
"I believe in emotions. What's wrong with that?"
In the world of Honkai, something as intangible as emotion was given tangible power. In a sense, Honkai energy and human emotion existed in a strange symbiotic relationship.
Even from a purely practical standpoint, using emotion to resist Honkai was a very scientific idea. Even Otto had done it—so of course Sigurd believed in it too.
Of course, Sin Mal's own will was crucial. But what Sigurd didn't tell Mobius was that he had been using the power of corruption all along to undo some of the tampering Mobius had done to Sin Mal. That was also a key reason Sin Mal had been able to wake up in time.
"…Hah! Just a coincidence. Hand over your body! That is a necessary condition to reach infinity and pursue the truth!"
Mobius's cold voice echoed from all directions, devoid of even a trace of laughter.
Someone close to you being controlled by external forces, turning against you—only to be rescued at the last moment, leading to a happy ending. That scene stabbed painfully at Mobius's heart.
'Klein… no, what nonsense am I thinking?'
Mobius shook her head, purging the stray thoughts, forcing herself to focus on her confrontation with Sigurd.
Jingle—jingle—
At that moment, as Sigurd held Sin Mal, the Judgment Key ring on his finger emitted a violet glow. The Core of Corruption and Rock tied at his waist trembled in unison, producing clear, bell-like chimes.
With an expressionless face, Sigurd slowly raised one hand.
"You come over here," he said calmly, "or I go over there. Pick one."
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