Chapter 62: New Chasers
Elysia was currently inside the testing chamber. "Elysia, we'll proceed. I'll be helping you along the way, soldier on no matter what happens okay?" Ein spoke to her as she prepared herself mentally.
"You too Mobius. We're starting." Mei also added as Elysia and Mobius were getting their genes at the same time.
"CM 002, 003. Begin." They started the procedure as they steeled themselves. Elysia was the first to have reactions as her ears started to elongate. And she twitched violently from the pain.
Ein quickly started to slow down her mutations as Mahesvara's genes were extremely violent. She started to grow crystals on her body, but with Ein's intervention. It slowed down immensely as her condition started to stabilize.
Mobius' was more calm, in comparison. But she started to mutate as well. Starting with her eyes, it turned to slits. Snake like in nature, making her stare more unsettling. She started to grow black scales as Ein helped with her procedure too.
After a few more hours of grueling pain and changes, they finally finished as they both panted and were dead tired. "Hah, that was unpleasant." Elysia was on the ground, exhausted.
Mobius was extremely fatigued, but she smiled as she looked at herself on the mirror. "Hehehe. Hahahaha! I've done it! I will live on forever now! My shackles as a human is now gone." She remembered that Sesha's powers were to decrease in size and possibly age, then be reborn with the use of honkai energy.
Ein flicked her on the head as she cried out in pain. "Shut up Mobius, you aren't truly immortal. So don't get any funny ideas, and we don't exactly know what would be the side effects of your rebirth." He reprimanded her quickly to get her out of her funk.
She rubbed her forehead as she pouted. "But I can finally be free of my humanity. And I'll live on forever, doing experiments and spending time with you. I'm not a combat specialist after all." She shrugged.
He examined her as her appearance had some extensive changes. With her slit eyes and all, she couldn't control her body perfectly like he could. (Pic here)
He then left other MANTIS candidates to Mei. "I'll assimilate more honkai beasts. I'll leave the rest to you guys, Elysia, Mobius. Get some rest first, you'll need it." He exited quickly and flew away to neutralize large groups of honkai beasts.
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At a certain ruined city. A man with grey hair and black tips was fighting honkai beasts like a wild animal. Swinging wildly with his bare fists and decimating the creatures. (pic here)
"COME! I'LL TEAR YOU ALL TO PIECESSSSS!" What's surprising though, is how he could do it. Ein watched from far away as he analyzed the man.
"Hmm, he's loaded with honkai energy. How can he be still alive?" He sensed that the man was being enhanced by honkai, whenever he fought a beast, he would get stronger and stronger. His fighting style got more cruder than the last time as well.
"Is he hulk or something? Well, at least he's not green and shouting smash or something." The man continued to fight for a few dozen more minutes as he kneeled on the ground, out of gas.
Ein slowly went near him as the man noticed him. "Who are you? You shouldn't be at this place..." He talked with a seemingly hostile voice, he had a black mask on.
"Hmmm, you're strong. We need people like you, what do you say? I noticed that you really don't like honkai beasts." He remembered his rage filled shouts while fighting.
The masked man immediately went on guard as his face moved to a suspected frown. "So you're another one of those bastards! Wanting to find out why I'm strong. And promising rewards..." He started to get in a stance.
"Well, you're not really wrong. And I noticed that there are some people near a building here. Are you perhaps fighting to protect them? Then you clearly overestimate yourself." He scoffed.
"Shut up! What do you know!? I'll fight till I die! These fuckers will all be killed by me! And if you're in the way... Then I might as well kill you!" He seethed in rage as he started to run towards him with surprising speed.
"Let's go." Ein stood in place as the man attacked him. Punching with all his might on his chest. The impact created a crater on the ground as a shockwave was emitted.
He was shocked beyond belief as he stepped back a bit. "What the hell are you made of?"
Ein chuckled. "Played college ball ya know? Coulda gone pro if I didn't become a doctor." He said calmly as the man got confused by his words.
"Shut up!" He punched again and again as Ein just stood in place and crossed his arms. "I'm not one of those beltway pansies kid. I could break emperor class honkai beasts in two with my bare hands! Don't fuck with this scientist!" He decked the guy on the face, holding back a bit as he flew and got smashed through multiple concrete walls.
He was dizzy. He felt like crap as the man's fist was like a solid piece of steel that was hurled at his head with inhuman speed. He stood up slowly as he wiped blood on lips, his mask got destroyed quickly, revealing his orange eyes.
"I'll kill you! I'LL TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB!" the man clearly wasn't done as he sped up again, even quicker than earlier. Sending a flurry of punches to Ein like he killed his whole family.
Ein waited as the man sped up even more, and got even stronger. But his hits were like the wind, his skin didn't even ripple from the hits. Showcasing his ridiculously hard body.
"Why... Won't... You. Die!" He started to gas out, as he panted and his legs started to get wobbly. His knuckles showing his bones in some areas from the excessive beating.
Ein smiled as he looked at him from above. "Soulium son. It hardens in response to physical trauma." Ahhhh, I wanted to say that at least once in my life.
The young man kneeled as he gained his wits. "Kill me, and give them a swift death. They're already far too gone too. In a few weeks, they'll succumb to the corruption." He begged as his damaged body started to shut down.
"Hmm, that's not for you to decide." Ein took out abyss flower and quickly healed him up. Surprising the young man. "What's your name kid. I like your 'enthusiasm'. And don't worry about the people you're trying to fight for. I'll fix em up real good."
"I'm... Kalpas." He touched all over his body as it was now back to 100%. He then propped up immediately, remembering his words.
"You... Can save them?" His voice cracked as he did a full 180 from his earlier attitude.
"I'm Einheri. You can call me Ein, and yeah. I can, I'll make them even better." He thought that if he healed them up, they'll make more antibodies against honkai energy.
Kalpas then immediately ran to the building where the people hid as Ein followed him. Arriving in the basement of it, he saw multiple kids and women that were suffering different stages of honkai corruption.
"You're not lying are you!? Please. Help them..." His voice was helpless as he looked at the people.
"Umu, this will be a cinch." Ein rounded them all up and started with the worst one, a kid that was certainly going to drop dead or turn into a zombie in a few hours.
He used the soulium in his body and siphoned it out using the 4th's powers. As a pinkish liquid came out of the pores of the kid.
Ugh, this is like a scene in those xianxia novels where a pill extracts their impurities or some shit. He quickly took it out, but the kid started to get worse. Then, with abyss flower, he healed the kid as he repaired him to an atomic level.
"Well, that needed tons of focus and energy. This is a special occasion anyway." He then repeated it to all those present as they bowed deeply and started to cry.
"Woah, I ain't a charity you know." He looked at Kalpas as he nodded at him. "Tell me where to go. I'll do anything that involves honkai." He clenched his fists tightly.
"A transport vehicle will come here later. You can visit them, but probably not a lot. Better alive than dead." He shrugged. "You'll get your assignments and briefing later. See you later." He exited immediately and flew away.
Kalpas looked at the people one by one as he checked for any abnormalities. "You guys alright? We've been searching for a safe haven for a long time. Now, I can finally give you guys a place to live." He cracked a small smile as he thanked their savior in his heart.
"But... Who was that guy? He's not even remotely normal." He remembered their fight, and he didn't have a single scratch. He started to monologue too. "That guy's crazy..." He concluded immediately and was bewildered that a nut job like that guy was the one that helped them.
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"Mei. I want information about this guy, he's interesting." Ein sent a picture and a name to Mei as he wanted to know more about the reason why he was so strong.
"And don't be too touchy with him. He'll be at cocoon, a honkai beast specialist to be exact. I'll deal with him for now." He started to locate more places with large concentrations of honkai beasts and energy. As he munched on a dense ball of honkai beasts like it was a jaw breaker.
He searched and destroyed every honkai beast on his radar. He found some survivors here and there. Created barriers and let them be escorted by Moth.
He then saw a lone lanky young man with green hair as he tried to fight off a pair of seraphs. Protecting some kids. (pic here)
Ein clenched his fists as the seraphs collapsed and turned to marbles. "Who are you kid? You've got some fight in you don't cha?"
The young man was silent as he stood in front of the shivering kids. Just staring at him. "Hmm, you're the silent type huh? Thinking of why I'm here and who am I?" He showed off a sigil of Moth.
"I'm Dr. Einheri, call me Ein. Get the kids to safety, and you? You'll be a fine soldier. You want to fight and protect the weak, don't you? You'd have abandoned them earlier if you didn't." He admired the young mans morals and conviction.
"Yes, but I am weak. My name is Kosma." He introduced himself quickly and quietly.
"Kosma, then let's get you up to shape. I know just the guy like you." He remembered Kevin's desire to be stronger and fight honkai. It might be due to Mei, but his intentions were true.
He then contacted an evac for them to be sent to a shelter, and Kosma in the main base.
Hmmm, I'm getting tons of people. Well, more manpower, the less I'll have to shoulder. This guy might not be as strong as Kalpas, but he'll do fine. And he's better suited to the soldier corp than Cocoon.
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Ein had a productive day as he returned to the base and wanted to relax a bit on his calm tree. He saw Rin as he approached her.
"Hmm, you're Sakura's sister. What are you doing here again girl?" He saw her sitting on the base of a tree while reading a book and some modules.
"Ah! Hello Dr. Ein! I'm currently waiting here for my sister, she said that after a mission. She'll be back for some time." She nervously fidgeted.
"I see. Then I give you permission to wait here then, not like it's not available for others to come here anyway." People are too busy at work, and they know that this place is his. Making them steer away like their lives depend on it.
"Thank you very mush!" She bit her tongue as she cringed from the pain. He chuckled at her antics as he sat down on the base of the tree.
"You close with your sister?" He asked her a question that she could answer without a problem so she would calm down.
"Un. She's very protective and strict. But she takes care of me dearly, she even started to work here for my sake." She smiled as she remembered her sister.
"Then cherish her well. You never know, times are rough. And people might leave suddenly." He said in a somber tone.
"Ahhh. Yes, honkai beasts are starting attack more frequently. I'm worried about my sister as well, she is strong, but they are even stronger." She frowned, thinking of their safety.
He took out some bubble tea and gave it to her. "Well, you'll be safe here. And trust in your sister, she won't leave you alone even if she had to fight hordes of honkai beasts." He sipped his drink and patted her head.
Sakura then appeared, exhausted. "Rin, my mission is done. Ah! Command- I mean, Dr. Ein. Sorry for my sister barging here again. She just loves this place you see, it reminds her of home." She bowed and bowed Rin's head with her hand as well.
He waves his hand. "She doesn't do anything here anyway, if it comes to that. It would be a different matter, but she was just waiting for you. You have a good sister, take care of her well Sakura." He leaned on the tree as he closed his eyes.
"Thank you Dr. Please excuse us." They left quickly as Sakura started to scold Rin.
"Rin! You can't go there every time. That's Dr. Ein's place, and you keep bothering him as well." She reprimanded her.
"But, Dr. Ein is really nice. He even gave me this delicious milk tea, though I don't know how he got it. He also said that he doesn't mind." She rebutted.
Sakura sighed. "Ask for permission from him next time 1st. He's a VVIP! If he wants us gone from here, even the U.N. Will have to bend over. He's that important." She said to her again to let her know the gravity of the situation.
"Wh-what!? Is he the boss of your boss? But he's so nice. He doesn't seem like one of those boss types." She clearly didn't take it too seriously.
Sakura bonked her on the head. "Yeah, and you'll wait for me there again won't you? Hah, just don't ask him insensitive things okay? You can live a care free life here. I just don't want you to lose this opportunity." She said tenderly.
"Un, I'll make him my friend then!" She cheerfully said as they started to go home.
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Thanks for reading, and they're finally complete. I'll be entering the 8th soon. And to those wondering why Kalpas is relatively calmer. He started getting extremely unstable after he integrated with Asura, he actually doesn't have good honkai adaptability, the man is just too angry to die lel. And remember that Ein's human, not a honkai beast. Well, in appearance, so he won't go batshit crazy on him.