Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

Next, Lin Wei spent some time with Elysia returning the Divine Keys to their rightful places, bustling about like an errand boy running quests across a massive open-world game map.

To be specific...

"This one goes here... this one, this one is... ah, over there! And this one, this one, this one, their spots are respectively..."

Elysia gestured wildly at a non-existent "map" in the air, pointing here and there, explaining to Lin Wei where the overwhelming number of Swords of Domination—which didn't actually belong to any specific Flame-Chaser—needed to be placed to be considered "returned to their owners." Lin Wei felt a headache coming on just listening.

Where is 'here'? And where exactly is 'there'?

None of this makes any sense!

"Hey, Elysia..."

Lin Wei finally interrupted the eloquent Elysia, unable to bear it any longer.

"Are you sure all these things belong in strange places like 'under the tree roots,' 'inside the giant rock,' or 'on the snowy mountain,' instead of one or several specific rooms or warehouses?"

Just listening to the descriptions, it sounded like they were scattered everywhere, north, south, east, west, completely disconnected. Where did you even find all these?

"Of course, I'm positive!"

Elysia put her hands on her hips defiantly.

"Because I personally placed every single one of these many Divine Keys there myself!"

"..."

No wonder you remember it so clearly. Case closed.

But... what's the point?

"Don't you think this makes the entire Elysian Realm much more interesting? Look, if future visitors adventuring here go a long time without meeting a Flame-Chaser they connect with, how frustrating, how sad, how boring would that be~?"

Elysia batted her eyelashes, excitedly patting her chest as she enthusiastically explained her "grand design."

"So, to prevent that from happening, I racked my brains and deliberately left lots of little gifts like these for them throughout the Elysian Realm! Lin Wei, just think about it—if it were you, even if you kept missing the legendary Flame-Chasers, but then accidentally found a Divine Key, also from legends—see? Doesn't that instantly fill the whole journey with surprises?"

"..."

Lin Wei listened in sheer awe, resisting the urge to give this master of shenanigans a big thumbs up. Seriously creative.

It had to be you, Elysia. You've practically turned this little corner of the Elysian Realm into your personal playground!

I almost dread imagining what kind of chaos you inflicted upon the Flame-Chasers back in the day...

"Great idea. I fully support it."

Lin Wei beamed, clapping his hands in admiration of Elysia's brilliant idea.

"Right? I knew you'd like it!"

Elysia readily accepted Lin Wei's affirmation and praise.

"But in that case, doesn't it mean that the owner of these Divine Keys is actually... you? Since you personally buried them in those places!"

Lin Wei dropped the heavy bag stuffed full of keys with a loud clang in front of Elysia.

"If that's the case, returning them to their owner—farewell!"

He turned and bolted immediately, giving Elysia absolutely no time to react.

"Hey, how could you do this? We agreed to return them together!"

As if Elysia would let Lin Wei get away with teasing her like that! Her cheeks puffed out, and she immediately gave chase.

"Don't run!"

......

In the end, Lin Wei didn't get away. Elysia dragged him along, forcing him to traverse nearly every corner of the Elysian Realm, leaving behind some sort of special "marker" in each area.

In gaming terms, excluding some hidden paths known only to Pardofelis and a few restricted "hidden areas," this trip boosted his "map exploration percentage" directly above 90%.

The only ones who could surpass Lin Wei in this regard, besides the Flame-Chasers who were local residents, would probably be the future Raiden Mei...

"Seriously, I'm exhausted. Who makes someone run around like that?"

Finally escaping Elysia's clutches and successfully "fleeing" back to the main hall, Lin Wei felt physically and mentally drained. Yawning, he started heading towards the lounge. He really needed a good nap.

But clearly, plans rarely keep up with reality.

Before Lin Wei could even take a step, a small, green-haired "girl" wearing an obviously ill-fitting lab coat materialized before him. She spoke in a weak, lifeless voice, filled with a sense of deadness.

"Test subject, you're back? I've been waiting for you for quite some time."

She was extremely petite, only reaching slightly above Lin Wei's knee. Her features bore a slight resemblance to Mobius, and combined with her familiar voice, Lin Wei immediately guessed her identity. He asked for confirmation:

"Klein?"

This was the first time he had seen Klein in person. New character unlocked! Elysian Realm achievement +1!

Just as strange thoughts popped into Lin Wei's head, Klein spoke again, seemingly ignoring his question.

"Please do not misunderstand. This is merely a pre-recorded holographic message. After all, I have much work to do and little time to waste on waiting."

Klein's words were concise, as if she had only squeezed out a moment to record this message hastily.

"The Doctor asked me to inform you that the research project you previously submitted has made some progress. She would like you to return to Mobius's Laboratory to proceed with the next phase of research."

Klein paused slightly here, allowing Lin Wei a moment to digest the information before continuing.

"Additionally, the Doctor wants me to tell you not to bring any irrelevant personnel this time. She dislikes noise there—Alright, this task is also completed. I have other matters to attend to. Goodbye."

In the final second before the image vanished, Lin Wei clearly saw Klein pull out a large notebook from her coat and decisively check off an item. Below that checkmark were densely packed lines of small text, presumably her to-do list.

And the notebook was very thick.

"...Has this little one been living in hell for the past fifty thousand years?"

Lin Wei couldn't help but shed a tear of sympathy for Klein. A life consisting only of work, followed by more work, was truly miserable.

Also, Mobius didn't come to notify me herself but had Klein relay the message, even specifically telling me to come alone...

Lin Wei pondered slightly. After all, for a Flame-Chaser Sim, traveling between the depths of the Realm and the main hall was infinitely easier than it was for an outsider like him. Her not doing so could only mean...

Is she holding a grudge? Or perhaps... she got scared off?

Considering his somewhat peculiar, yet surprisingly harmonious and strange relationship with Mobius, Lin Wei quickly dismissed the suspicion that "she's plotting something again." That left only one possibility.

After all, since their brief, hurried encounter in the hall last time, he hadn't seen her again.

Originally, Lin Wei thought she was genuinely preoccupied with research, but now it seemed there might be another reason?

Because, after Mobius fled in panic that time, Lin Wei learned what happened afterward from Sakura—

After Lin Wei left the field first, Mobius, in the second half of the battle, fell back into her stubborn habit of "losing the fight but not the spirit." Trying to save face after her encounter with Lin Wei, she directed all sorts of cold taunts and sarcasm at Yuno, who was already simmering with anger. This, in turn, provoked Yae Sakura, who had been holding back and hadn't intended to join the fray so early.

Thus, one burning with fury, the other turning shame into courage, the two unleashed their full power, no longer needing to worry about protecting the "squishy support" Lin Wei. They clashed intensely with Mobius, who was equally frustrated, leading to an incredibly fierce battle.

In the end, although Mobius, leveraging her "stat advantage," managed to knock out Yuno, who had been confronting her head-on, she was immediately struck down by Yae Sakura, who seized the opportunity. Sakura's slash forced Mobius back into her original form, leaving her sprawled pathetically on the ground, unable to get up...

In fact, Mobius knew how pathetic she looked. To prevent others from laughing at her further, she fled the scene without a second word.

Then, perhaps out of a fifty-thousand-year-old habit of seeking solace in the lounge whenever troubled, or maybe wanting to settle the score with the main culprit, Elysia, she returned to the hall, still fuming—only to bump into Lin Wei again.

At that time, she stubbornly claimed victory, which wasn't entirely false—she had defeated Yuno. It was just... complicated.

Anyway, this "scientist assaulting people incident" concluded with Mobius fleeing in panic once more.

So, under these circumstances, for Mobius to seek him out again could only mean it was for official business.

"Sigh, they really don't let you rest, do they..."

Lin Wei cast a longing glance towards the lounge, then turned 180 degrees and headed back into the depths of the Elysian Realm.

This trip isn't for leisure. Better hurry!

......

Deep within the Elysian Realm, Mobius's Laboratory.

"Hmph, finally here. You certainly took your time. I've been waiting quite a while."

Mobius glanced up at the travel-worn Lin Wei, her opening words dripping with unceremonious sarcasm.

"What, did Elysia finally decide to let you go?"

Although looking at Lin Wei still filled her with irritation, she was actually quite pleased that he had truly come alone as requested. It signified trust in her.

Dr. Mobius, feared by all, had a soft spot for this, but she would never show it on the surface. She just waved her hand impatiently, speaking in a condescending tone of bestowing favor.

"Come with me~"

With that, she turned abruptly and floated deeper into the lab on her strangely shaped toolbox.

"Sigh."

Lin Wei was used to her pretentious attitude, so he just rubbed his nose and followed silently behind her.

Seeing his sensible behavior, Mobius showed no reaction externally, but inwardly, she felt a surge of smugness.

Hmph, detestable little guinea pig. So high and mighty, so arrogant before, but isn't he obediently falling in line now?

Win!

Her vanity and pride greatly satisfied, Mobius's mood improved considerably, and her toolbox moved a little faster.

Rounding a corner, a heavy automatic door slid open smoothly. Mobius let out a soft chuckle and led Lin Wei inside.

"We're here."

"This is?"

Behind the door lay a hidden world. Dozens of instruments and devices of various shapes were neatly arranged—this must be Mobius's actual working laboratory.

Unlike Vill-V's Spiral Workshop, cluttered everywhere with brass and gears, brimming with steampunk style, Mobius's lab was much more conventional—nothing more than operating tables, incubation pods, and intricate instruments flickering with lights of various colors.

It didn't look particularly special, aside from—as always—the eerie, pervasive green hue. It even bore a striking resemblance to the simple lab Lin Wei had seen at Hu Liang's place. Lin Wei even spotted some junk food wrappers, like instant noodles, in inconspicuous corners.

Except...

"What are these?"

Lin Wei immediately noticed the two massive incubation pods in the center of the lab. Inside each rested a figure, one male, one female. He froze for a moment, then walked quickly towards them.

Bright light illuminated the cylindrical pods. The green nutrient fluid filling them shimmered like translucent jade. Bubbles occasionally escaped from the mouths and noses of the submerged bodies, drifting past their cheeks, rising with the liquid's buoyancy towards the top, and disappearing.

Lin Wei's eyes widened as he looked closely—the person inside one pod looked exactly like him!

This bizarre scene made Lin Wei's scalp tingle. He couldn't help but turn his gaze to the adjacent pod—the peacefully sleeping girl floating inside was unmistakably identical to Yuno, her grey hair fanned out in the liquid, drifting gently.

If Lin Wei didn't know for certain that the real Yuno was currently back with Hua, helping look after things, he might have truly believed she had fallen victim to Mobius!

"What, scared you? What exactly did you think was the purpose of all the experimental data I went through so much trouble to collect earlier?"

Mobius scoffed disdainfully at Lin Wei's exaggerated reaction.

"Wasn't it all to perfectly replicate people from the real world like you as data bodies within the Elysian Realm? Otherwise, how could I, a mere Sim, conduct true research on real beings like you? After all..."

Mobius spoke with a mix of regret and manic fervor.

"Even though you stand so clearly before me, spanning the gap between us is an invisible, insurmountable chasm!"

"...Finding a way to cross that chasm, that's your real goal, isn't it, Mobius?"

Lin Wei saw through Mobius's intention instantly, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"Completely collecting all information about a real person, then compiling it into a complete data body using the methods of the Elysian Realm; then seeing if the reverse operation is possible, transforming an original data body into a real existence... Tsk, it seems, in a way, I really have been a 'guinea pig'."

Seriously, Mobius never lacks bold ideas!

"...You really are a clever one. If possible, I'd genuinely want you as my assistant."

Mobius felt a flash of annoyance at having her thoughts laid bare, sneering coldly.

"And I have you to thank for the inspiration! If it weren't for fulfilling our agreement, I wouldn't have racked my brains to come up with such a method—What, are you perhaps thinking of stopping me?"

She had been opposed so many times it had practically become a part of her life, but that didn't mean she had no objections to it.

"Not at all. Compared to solely relying on my own hypothesis, having another research direction to explore is a good thing."

Lin Wei said admiringly.

"On that level, I actually quite like you, Mobius."

"Huh?"

Mobius froze. Aside from Elysia, who claimed to "like" everyone, she had never heard such words from anyone else.

"Among the Flame-Chasers in the Elysian Realm, including Elysia and Vill-V, many are bound by their past experiences, not thinking about—or deliberately avoiding thinking about—the future, as if they truly are just echoes of past existences. But you're different."

Lin Wei spoke earnestly.

"You never accept fate. Even now, you're still trying everything possible to carve out a different future for yourself, for your companions—Mobius, I genuinely feel that if the world lacked arrogant madmen like you who look down on everything, it would be far too dull, too lonely!"

The past era was filled with brilliant stars—Mei, Kevin, Elysia, Mobius, Vill-V... This current era couldn't even find one person comparable. Letting such individuals fade away fifty thousand years ago, fade away in this Elysian Realm, wouldn't that be too much of a pity?

Therefore, Lin Wei genuinely wanted to bring the Flame-Chasers out of the Elysian Realm—and on this matter, perhaps only Mobius wouldn't object.

Because she represented "Infinity," therefore, she would never abandon the "future."

Lin Wei had seriously considered: when the Herrscher of Corruption descended, when Elysia brought the Elysian Realm to its grand finale, when everyone else had found closure, would Mobius be the only one left with regrets?

After all, before that point, she alone had persistently clung to the desire to return to reality. With the Elysian Realm's end, all her efforts were declared finished—perhaps, even at the moment of the finale, she was the loneliest one.

"..."

Mobius could swear she had never heard such heartwarming words in her entire life. For a moment, she almost lost her composure.

But she was still Mobius. She managed to hold it together.

"Hmph, utter nonsense. Wanting to pass judgment on me? Little guinea pig, you think far too highly of yourself!"

Mobius scoffed dismissively.

"Alright, enough idle chatter. It's time to get down to business—First, hand me the scalpel and the hemostat..."

--------

Latest Chapter Sneak peek: 

The sky rips open with a torrent of raw Honkai energy, a swirling vortex of violent purple.

Launched like a cannonball, Lin Wei hurtles toward it, the world a dizzying blur.

Far below, Overseer Otto Apocalypse watches with a cold, placid smile.

"He will die," Durandal states, her voice heavy.

"I know," Otto replies, his tone unchanging. "The threat is too great. This is the only way to be sure."

From the ground, a girl's desperate scream tears through the air.

"NO!"

---

The battlefield is chaos. A mysterious, pink-haired shrine maiden with fox ears fights with the grace of a storm, her blade clashing against Rita Rossweisse's scythe.

"Who are you, really?" Rita demands, wary of this powerful new enemy.

The shrine maiden smiles, a look that is both beautiful and cold. Her gaze sweeps across the battlefield, past the fighting, past the swirling sand, and locks onto one man: Otto Apocalypse.

Her voice, clear and resonant, rings out for all to hear, a declaration that shakes the very foundation of a 500-year-old obsession.

"My name is Yae Sakura," she shouts, her voice filled with righteous fury, "and I am Kallen Kaslana's lover!"

In the distance, Otto's calm facade shatters. He whips around, his eyes wide with disbelief and rage, staring at the source of that impossible claim.

---

Lin Wei stands alone in the sky, facing down his enemies. He is battered, outmaneuvered, and cornered.

But there is no fear in his eyes. Only defiance.

"Otto," he roars, his voice echoing with newfound power, "are you out of cards? Now, it's my turn!"

In a blinding flash, his form shifts. Purple lightning engulfs him, coalescing into a dark, crackling battlesuit. His eyes glow with the fury of a tempest, and wings of pure electricity spread from his back. He has become a force of nature, an incarnation of lightning.

He has become the Herrscher of Thunder.

With a final, triumphant laugh that sounds like a thunderclap, he dives from the heavens, a living thunderbolt aimed directly at the stunned Overseer.

"OTTO, PREPARE TO DIE!"