"What is this world like?"
"A flushing toilet."
"..."
The murderous gaze of the green-haired woman brought the helmeted man, who was drifting in thought, back to reality. He rephrased: "A vortex."
"No matter when, no matter where you flee, you will be pulled back to the starting point."
"No matter how strong you are, there will always be a moment when you see your most fragile self."
"Screaming and struggling in the vortex, with nowhere to run."
...
A stalemate developed between Mobius and Blanca. Was this former assistant, close friend, and confidante really a Tenth Herrscher? If she was, what... should she do?
Save her? Can a Herrscher be turned back into a human? Is such a thing possible? Even if it couldn't be done, it had to be done...
But was the person before her Blanca? The light flickering in her eyes was identical to Blanca; Mobius couldn't be wrong.
The simplest way was to take Blanca for a Honkai energy check, but what Blanca said made Mobius even more unsettled. If Blanca wasn't a Tenth Herrscher, then Klein had lied to her. One of the two was definitely a Tenth Herrscher—someone who had devoured the flesh of Mobius most important person and was now wearing their skin, licking foul fangs and pretending to be innocent.
"Doctor!"
Just then, Klein's urgent shout came from outside the door, making Mobius shudder. Klein stood there, her worried eyes meeting Mobius. The green-haired doctor's lips trembled uncontrollably: "Why... are you here?"
"Your expression was strange when you left, so I..."
"Are you a Tenth Herrscher?"
Suddenly, Blanca gritted her teeth, staring at Klein outside the door. Klein froze, looked at Mobius, and immediately understood the situation. She also stared warily at Blanca: "Doctor... is Senior Blanca... a Tenth Herrscher?"
Mobius clutched her head as waves of noise crashed against her brain. Her eyes were vacant. The sharp accusations of the two made her want to flee.
Who had lied to her? Whose reality as a Herrscher was she supposed to accept?
It was like the day she stood before the operating table. The man's body lay there, his eyes clear as mirrors. She had gripped the scalpel with trembling hands, knowing full well that the moment she made the cut, she might start the countdown to his death.
It was the only surgery she ever feared, and the only time she thought about running away.
He had held her hand and told her he believed in her. The result was a failed surgery. There was no luck. All prayers were useless.
"Doctor..."
Blanca leaned against the lab table, handing her a cup of coffee, waving her hand with a light laugh. Her pale blue hair swayed like a flower under the surgical lights.
"Doctor..."
Klein, with dark circles under her eyes, looked up with a smile in the quiet laboratory as dawn broke, telling Mobius she understood everything the Doctor did.
Those memories were like a mirror. Looking into them, Mobius saw the fragile self she had seen in the man's eyes that day, trembling like a little girl.
"I believe in you."
That sentence turned into a nightmare, echoing in her ears every day and every night.
...
The bright moon hung in the sky, and a white robe shimmered in the moonlight. A black-and-white lance stood within the moonbeams. A young girl with long pink hair let it drape behind her; the scene looked like a painting slowly unfolding.
Her bright eyes sparkled with light. A young girl's secrets settled into the night.
She was currently stationed at Fire Moth's North American branch. This was the most chaotic region at the moment. After the Mu continent sank, social order collapsed. North America suffered the most, and most of the Tenth Herrschers originated from this area.
The once most uninhibited and free-spirited girl had now become somewhat steady. She didn't like the appearance of the lance in her hand, "Abyss Flower," and wanted to give it to someone else, yet she kept it. Perhaps it was because it was the last weapon that person had used?
When Vill-V personally handed Abyss Flower to her, she didn't offer a playful smile for the first time.
Rustle...
"Hmm?"
Long, beautiful elf ears twitched. She suddenly heard movement in the nearby woods. She had come out to sit in a secluded forest at night to reminisce; how could there be someone here? Could it be a member of the Thirteenth Squad looking for her?
At that thought, a stunning smile appeared on her face. She would never show her dejected side to anyone. She would always be that beautiful, proud, and cheerful girl, like a flying flower.
"My lady, the night is long and the insects are biting. Seeing as you are so elegant and charming, why not return to your room to rest?"
"..."
A muffled, raspy voice accompanied by a black cloak appeared in the moonlight. The pretentious, literary words made the girl—who had already prepared what to say—freeze for a moment.
However, he was complimenting her, right?
The girl was curious. She smiled and said, "Then, my lord, why have you come here alone in the dead of night?"
She had been to Shenzhou; that was how they said it, right? Though she definitely wasn't a pro at it.
"The night road is long. I observed the stars and saw flowers flying and wind guiding me to this path. Upon closer look, you truly are a peerless beauty. Why not watch the stars with me and create a beautiful story?"
Was this the "refined romance" of a scholar? Inviting someone to watch the night within three sentences. And in this place, a mysterious man speaking in classical style had appeared. To be honest, the girl found him quite interesting, but she'd pass on watching the night together.
"You should go home and sleep, my lord."
"Oh? Why does my lady heartlessly reject me?"
"Because I have to go home and watch Ultraman."
"..."
The girl gave a mischievous smile and picked up Abyss Flower, preparing to leave. She didn't know who this man was, but he should be able to tell she wasn't an ordinary person. Both her ears and Abyss Flower would let him guess she was a MANTIS of Fire Moth.
"Wait a moment, truly so heartless? How about leaving a phone number?"
Usually, it was the girl who playfully teased others. Today, someone was actually teasing her.
"No, no. My mother is calling me home for dinner and told me not to talk to strangers." The girl suppressed a laugh and moved to leave.
"Oh... and what if I'm not a stranger?"
"..."
Her footsteps stopped. The crescent moon in the sky looked like a cunning smile. The girl looked back blankly, her pink hair swaying slightly, as she looked at the man in black.
He shook his sleeve and raised his hand to pull back his hood.
"Actually, you don't have to go home to watch Ultraman."
The man, wearing a ridiculous Ultraman mask, spoke softly to her.
"I..."
Before she could finish, the girl flew forward and tackled the masked man, hugging his neck with trembling arms. The casual, strong facade others saw collapsed, releasing a different fragrance like flower petals.
"Lin..."