Ouroboros

Surging out with the black mud was a dense shadow, almost solid in its form. It instantly ensnared Mikael's limbs, creeping towards his chest.

"Stay back!"

Elysia tried to approach, but Mikael stopped her. She was also a target, but the shadow seemed far more interested in Mikael.

The shadow pierced his flesh, seeping into his bones, crawling towards his chest. He felt his body go numb, an unbearable itching spreading through the areas enveloped by the shadow. If his limbs weren't restrained, he would have clawed at his flesh until it was raw and bloody.

But now, unable to scratch, the sensation was even more agonizing.

The first tendril of shadow reached his Herrscher core.

His body convulsed as if electrocuted.

The Herrscher core contained a small amount of Honkai energy. "Small" only in comparison to the demands of sustained combat. In reality, the energy within the core was enough for a single, devastating attack.

In other words, compared to a human, it was an immense amount of energy.

But it was being drained.

Drained completely in less than a second, not a single drop remaining.

"!?"

"Could it be…?"

This world operated on fundamental laws, principles that governed its logic and ensured its stability.

And the only law known to humanity, undeniable from both philosophical and scientific perspectives, was equivalent exchange.

To gain something, one had to pay a price. Conversely, paying a price meant gaining something in return.

Honkai energy was simply another form of energy. Energy couldn't simply disappear. It had to manifest in some way—

And for Mobius, infused with Śeṣa's factor, resurrection required a massive influx of energy.

Mikael understood. He stopped struggling, focusing on protecting his core from being directly seized. Instead, he drew upon the Honkai energy from the Imaginary Tree through their connection.

His Herrscher core became a relay station, Honkai energy flowing in and immediately out, surging into Mobius's body until it was satiated.

Like rewinding time, the shadow receded from Mikael, retreating into Mobius, who was almost completely assimilated with the black mud.

Mobius opened her eyes.

Blood flowed through her veins again, her entire body trembling with the renewed thumping of her heart. Even her eardrums vibrated, as if struck by a drumbeat.

Her consciousness felt detached. Without any conscious command, her body began to gasp for air.

An intense itching spread beneath her skin, like insects gnawing at her flesh. As the itching reached her bones, it turned into a sharp, stinging pain, as if the insects were devouring her marrow.

"Ugh…"

She groaned in pain.

A cold, viscous sensation clung to her skin, accompanied by a slight numbness. But the numbness wasn't unpleasant. It was almost… addictive?

The light was too bright. Mobius raised her hand to shield her eyes. Her hand seemed smaller than she remembered, covered in a black, sticky liquid.

"Why… why am I here…? No… who am I…?"

She was confused.

She felt like she should remember something important, a heavy weight of memories pressing down on her mind, making her feel drowsy.

But the memories weren't distant, just blurry, as if a thin paper barrier separated her from her past self.

And for some reason, she didn't even have the strength to pierce that barrier.

"Elysia, don't approach yet. The black mud is still spreading."

Elysia? Such a familiar name…

And that voice… so familiar…

Mobius's eyes unfocused, trying to use the voice as a key to unlock her memories, but it was futile.

No…

Not entirely futile.

She felt a surge of anger…

Yes, anger, resentment—a negative emotion.

Directed at the owner of the voice, and at the name "Elysia."

It seemed… her past self often felt negative emotions when interacting with these two?

Then they must be enemies!

She sat up abruptly. A familiar figure was cautiously approaching her.

"Mobius? Mobius? Doctor?"

"Mobius… Doctor…"

Her thoughts swirled, forming a long snake crawling forward, but she didn't know where it was going…

Before she could untangle her thoughts, her body acted on its own.

"No—"

Green lightning erupted, black mud splashing outwards, engulfing the approaching figure.

But as the mud settled, a flickering Imaginary shield, bombarded by the lightning, became visible.

"Calm down, Doctor."

The unharmed figure spoke softly.

Mobius scoffed. Others might lie, but the negative emotions within her couldn't be faked.

But as she was about to attack again, she found herself unable to move.

She looked at the figure. He was pointing a finger at her.

He looked apologetic. "Spatial lockdown… Honestly… this wouldn't work on the 3rd Herrscher, but it's just right for you, Doctor."

"What did you do to me?!" Mobius demanded.

But as soon as she spoke, she felt something was wrong.

"Pfft… hahaha!"

Elysia was taking pictures with her phone—how annoying.

"Mobius… why are you so much smaller?!"

Mobius wanted to look down and see what Elysia meant, but trapped in the spatial lock, she couldn't even move her eyes.

"Alright, Mobius, how are you feeling? Do you remember anything?"

Although Mobius couldn't move, her eyes were no longer vacant, replaced by a look that clearly said, "Are you stupid?"

Mikael smacked his forehead, loosening the spatial lock slightly.

Mobius shook her head.

The paper-thin barrier in her mind remained stubbornly intact, blocking her memories.

"Then let's see what you do remember. Phamas… Phamas, do you remember that name?"

She shook her head.

"Ato, Blanka?"

Shake.

"Himeko, Fuxi, Nuwa, Elvin?"

Shake.

"Elysia?"

Mobius frowned, glancing at the giggling girl who was now recording a video, then shook her head.

"Klein?" Mikael played his trump card.

A flicker of anxiety and guilt crossed Mobius's childish face, but it quickly faded.

Mikael's expression turned grim. Only one name remained…

"Mikael. My name is Mikael, Mobius. Do you remember that name?"

Mikael… Mobius…

"Ah…"

She uttered a soft sound.

The green snake representing her consciousness bit its own tail, forming a closed loop. But its movement didn't stop. It continued to crawl, devouring its past self. This Mobius strip would continue, stretching towards infinity…

Humans… what were humans? Creatures that constantly devoured their past, searching for infinite possibilities—

And this human… this human before her… was the very subject she'd been searching for… he was… she was…

A thrill ran through Mobius. She began to breathe heavily, and after several waves of cold sweat, she looked up at the boy before her.

"Welcome back, Mobius."

Mikael instinctively reached out, then hesitated, as if unsure whether it was appropriate.

But finally, he placed his hand on her head, ruffling her damp green hair.

Under Mobius's increasingly hostile gaze, he grinned.

"You little rascal!"