Several days passed after that.
"Eli, you're so mean. Even while you're with me, you're thinking about another girl. Hurry up and coax me, or Miss Pink Elf is really going to cry."
Elysia puffed out her cheeks and poked the absentminded Elias in the face with one flawless hand.
Then she pinched her own cheek. After comparing the feel of the two, she immediately suffered a tiny bit of emotional damage—only about a hundred million points' worth.
"All right, all right. I'm sorry. I was wrong. My Ely is the best in the world, and I love you more than anyone. But how did you know I was thinking about something else just now?"
"Hmph, do you even need to ask? I can tell what you're thinking with a single glance at your expression. Don't forget, we're childhood sweethearts who grew up together."
"Heh, that's true. In that case, I know what you were thinking too. Were you just feeling jealous because my skin is even better than yours?"
Elias curled his lips into a smile and raised a hand to rub Elysia's soft, wonderfully pleasant cheek.
"...Don't say that out loud! More importantly, why is your skin so good when you're a boy? It used to be about the same as mine. Confess. What brand of skincare products are you using?"
"I don't use any skincare products. It's merely the effect of the Chimera genes and being a Palatinus. My body is evolving every second, so even if I do nothing, my skin naturally becomes better and better, my body grows stronger and stronger, and I become increasingly perfect as a whole. Aren't you the same, Ely?"
The side effects of the Meta-Morph factor from the Maheśvara Honkai Beast, combined with the influence of the authority of Origin, were also causing Elysia to become more beautiful without pause.
Even without exercising, she maintained elegant curves. No matter how terrible her sleep schedule became, her skin still improved with each passing day. She never developed acne, her hair always remained soft and fluffy, and every today found her even more beautiful than yesterday.
However, there was one point in which Elysia was truly remarkable.
Under the influence of Maheśvara's Meta-Morph factor, it should have been difficult for her to gain weight even if she tried. After all, this Vipralopa-class Honkai Beast, renowned for its defensive power, possessed the characteristic of "immutability."
Yet Elysia, this gluttonous little elf, had broken through the limits of her own genes. Despite possessing a Meta-Morph factor with the characteristic of "immutability," she had somehow eaten enough to force her weight upward!
It was nothing short of a miracle!
Elias narrowed his eyes, lifted the pink elf into a princess carry, and bounced her lightly in his arms a few times. Then he revealed the girl's weight, a secret more highly classified than the launch codes for a nuclear bomb.
"Hmm... 58.9 kilograms. Ely, you've gained..."
"Aaaaaah~~ Aaaaaah~ I can't hear anything! I can't hear anything at all~!"
Elysia immediately covered her pointed ears with both hands and turned her head away to escape reality. My husband's ability to act as a human weighing scale is even scarier than his authorities!
Moreover, while Maheśvara and the authority of Origin caused Elysia to grow more flawlessly beautiful every day, Elias possessed the same Meta-Morph factor. Combined with his evolution as a Chimera MANTIS and a Palatinus, his rate of transformation was even greater.
At the thought of this, Elysia became somewhat speechless.
(Is this reasonable? My husband's looks are improving even faster than mine. At this rate, am I eventually going to develop an inferiority complex every time I look at Elias?)
"Ahem! Let's return to the original topic. Eli, confess. Which girl were you thinking about just now? Is she cute? How far have the two of you gone?"
Running away might be shameful, but it was extremely effective!
Elysia immediately changed the subject. The pink elf plopped down on Elias' lap, pinned him against the sofa with one hand, and drew circles over his chest with the other.
"Well, all that's left now is the confession."
"Boohoo, how could this happen? Eli is having an affair~"
"I'm talking about Fu Hua."
"Oh. Then never mind."
The pink elf, who had just been fake-crying with all the exaggerated flair of an opera performer, instantly developed a blank, beady-eyed expression. Fu Hua was involved? There was truly no need to feel jealous or guarded against her.
In fact, everyone else needed to worry on her behalf.
"What? Fu Hua still hasn't secured her position?"
"Mm-hmm~ She clearly promised to confess after we defeated the Herrscher of Million, but I've waited so long that the flowers are about to wither."
"Oh, Fu Hua~ You're far too hopeless. Still, if everyone were as honest as you, I wouldn't have nearly so much to worry about."
Elysia did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Elias merely shrugged helplessly. Honestly, it had been a close call this time! Considering how troublesome the Herrscher of Million had been, Fu Hua had nearly lost her chance to confess forever.
Fate truly loved targeting people. To prevent the Flat Immortal from securing her position, it had actually arranged for an unkillable Herrscher to appear.
Fortunately, Elias had been as reliable as ever and defeated fate yet again. However, several days had already passed since the battle ended, yet a certain Flat Immortal still had not come to fulfill the promise she had made.
"At this rate, Fu Hua might not secure her position even after we completely clear Honkai. Maybe I should just confess to her instead."
"Hehe~ I've thought of a wonderful idea. Leave this matter to me. Eli, just wait here. I guarantee Fu Hua will come confess to you immediately. Romance Master Elysia, heading out!"
As though she had thought of something entertaining, Elysia flashed a mischievous smile and quickly ran out of the dormitory.
Elias blinked. After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately decided to remain obediently seated and wait. Although his Ely could be mischievous, she was always dependable and efficient when it came to getting things done.
Every mission report she submitted simply read: Extremely easy.
Several minutes later, the pink elf returned while pushing a beautiful immortal with gray hair and blue-green eyes toward him. Fu Hua's cheeks were faintly flushed, but her face was filled with unmistakable urgency and desperation.
Before Elias could even arrange himself into a proper pose, Fu Hua strode quickly up to him and seized both of his hands.
Then she voiced the feelings she had hidden for fifty thousand years.
"E-Elias, I love you!!"
"..."
Elias widened his eyes and froze in place, feeling as though he might be dreaming. There was no way his Flat Immortal would confess so easily. Therefore, to confirm that this was not a dream...
He leaned down and kissed the immortal's red lips.
"!!!"
The sudden kiss caused Fu Hua's brain to crash. She stood stiffly in place, clumsily allowing the white-haired young man to take whatever he wished from her. Before long, her eyes had turned into spinning spirals.
"Wow~"
Elysia transformed into the world's greatest camerawoman, holding a video camera as she recorded this beautiful moment. At the same time, the kiss allowed Elias to confirm that he truly was not dreaming.
"Mm, I love you too, Fu Hua. We..."
"Ahem~ Eli, Fu Hua has already fainted."
"Huh? That's all she could handle?"
"She suddenly had her first kiss stolen by the boy she's secretly loved for fifty thousand years. Of course she'd end up like this~ Besides, Eli, your kissing technique is simply... slurp... Ahem! In any case, Fu Hua at her current level can't possibly withstand your passion."
Elysia spoke while reviewing the footage she had just recorded. As she briefly recalled Elias' kissing technique, she unconsciously licked her own lips, her cheeks flushing crimson.
In short, Fu Hua, who had only just succeeded in confessing, was equivalent to a novice who had only just changed classes. Her level was still far too low to withstand the assault of the great boss Elias. Better leave that to Miss Pink Elf!
"All right. But setting that aside, Ely, how exactly did you do it? You actually made Fu Hua so... proactive?"
Even now, Elias found it unbelievable. Immortal Fu Hua had actually charged straight in. This was a miracle rarely seen in ten thousand years! What kind of magic had this pink elf used?
"Well~ I merely gave Fu Hua a tiny push." Elysia cutely stuck out her tongue.
"Elias! Check out my new look! Hahaha~" A lively laugh suddenly rang out.
"Hm? That laugh... Senti?"
The moment Senti appeared, Elias froze for an instant. Then he immediately understood what Elysia had meant by giving Fu Hua a push.
The sight before him was simply too impactful.
The Herrscher of Sentience stood proudly with her hands on her hips and her chest thrust forward. Mounted on her front were two enormous headlights that would not lose even in a comparison with Aponia's! They bounced violently with every step Senti took.
As a consciousness-based entity, the Herrscher of Sentience could freely alter her own figure. Thus, a certain pink elf had previously suggested that Senti use this method to put some pressure on Fu Hua.
The results were obvious.
When Fu Hua saw the two enormous objects on Senti's chest, so massive that neither hand could fully contain them, she suffered an unimaginable shock. Those were things she did not even dare dream of possessing!
Then Elysia had leisurely offered a few remarks.
"Fu Hua, at this rate, your position will be in danger. You wouldn't want Senti to become your replacement, would you?"
"I... I..."
"If you don't hurry up and confess, it'll be too late. Senti is extremely passionate, after all. She's about to go find Eli right now."
"!!!"
"Just imagine it. In the future, Eli is being all lovey-dovey with Fu Hua, except that Fu Hua isn't you. Would you truly be satisfied with that ending? Are you still going to remain frozen in place?"
On rare occasions, Miss Pink Elf transformed into a witch who toyed with people's hearts. Under her provocation, Fu Hua's sense of crisis exploded. At last, she stopped hesitating and finally took that step forward.
Elysia: "A secret love spanning fifty thousand years has finally reached its conclusion. Dawn has broken after this endless night. Let us offer our praise as Immortal Phoenix finally secures her position. Congratulations~"
Elias: "Uh, Ely, you look like a priest right now. Here, take this cross and Bible. Praise the Ely Gate."
Senti: "Huh? Why did the old antique faint? Hurry up and look at my new style! Hahaha~ I'm way too cool!"
Fu Hua: "I think I had a dream. I dreamed that my confession succeeded and Elias kissed, kissed, kissed me... on the lips. Someone tell me whether that was reality or a dream. Also, Senti, come with me to the training ground later."
The Flat Immortal stared at the Herrscher of Sentience's frontal armor with profound resentment. She felt it was absolutely necessary to teach Senti about the dangers of the martial world, as well as the fact that certain things must never be done!
Those two obscene lumps of useless flesh... No, tumors! They would only become weaknesses during battle!
For Senti's safety, it would be best to cut them off! She would use Taixuan Eminence as the scalpel for this tumor-removal operation!
"Fu Hua~ Size isn't actually that important. We have a modernized saying in Shenzhou: How can one pacify the world without first having a flat chest? You possess the bearing of an emperor!"
"...Elias, thank you for comforting me, but rather than pacifying the world, I would prefer to gather people's hearts."
"Uh, all right. Then let me give it a try."
"Huh?"
Before Fu Hua could react, Elias slapped one hand against the steel plate on her chest. The corner of his eye twitched, and his expression became complicated.
He felt as though his hand had been bruised.
In the next second, the authority of the Herrscher of Rebirth activated.
As the white flower of creation blossomed, a pair of towering mountains rose from the flat earth beneath the shocked gazes of Elysia, the Herrscher of Sentience, and Fu Hua herself.
Elysia: "You can do that?!"
Fu Hua: "S-Senti, hurry up and hit me."
Senti: "You got it! Grip of Taixuan!!"