Honkai Transformations - 111 - 120

Honkai Transformations - 111

--+--

As the Humvee veered off the main road and onto a winding forest path, the trees on either side grew denser.

The road narrowed until the branches overhead wove together into a verdant canopy, filtering the sunlight into distinct, visible beams that danced through the gaps.

Hardly anyone would have guessed that one of the leaders of Anti-Entropy, the Executive, would hide the children she’d taken in in such a secluded place.

A few minutes later, the surroundings opened up. Before them stood a mansion-like building with white walls, draped in vines blooming with small, white flowers.

"We're here," the Executive said, parking the Hummer at the gate.

As Cocolia stepped out, she looked up at the wooden sign hanging above the entrance.

Carved onto the wood were the words:

[Cocolia Orphanage]

Looking at it, Cocolia felt a complex array of emotions.

She knew that whether in manga, games, or lore descriptions, the Executive truly, deeply loved her children.

Yet, Cocolia couldn’t quite grasp it.

If the Executive loved the children she’d adopted, why was she so willing to sacrifice them for her plans without a moment's hesitation?

After turning off the ignition and pocketing the keys, the Executive stepped out.

A moment later, the gate creaked open.

Two small, adorable heads peeked out from within.

"Mom’s back!"

"Mom!"

Rozaliya and Liliya.

Cocolia recognized the two cute girls immediately, though they were still far from growing their Honkai beast tails.

Inside the gate, even more children were running out of a three-story European-style building, rushing toward the entrance in an excited swarm. It was clear that the children genuinely loved the Executive from the bottom of their hearts.

"Look, everyone! There are two Moms!" Rozaliya saw the two 'Cocolias' at the gate and turned to shout happily at the other children behind her.

"Dummy Rozaliya, one of them isn't our mom."

Liliya’s seemingly blank gaze settled on Cocolia.

Cocolia scanned them, then looked past them to the crowd of children—the oldest only thirteen or fourteen, the youngest perhaps five or six—and the pure, adorable smiles on their faces.

The stern expression in her eyes softened, replaced by a touch of gentleness.

"There really are two Moms! Rozaliya wasn't lying!"

"Wow... we have two Moms now!"

The children charged through the gate, swarming around Cocolia and the Executive.

Caught off guard, Cocolia lifted her hands clumsily, looking at the children around her—utterly at a loss, yet terrified of hurting them.

The Executive had been watching Cocolia the whole time. Even though they were technically the same person, she had been deeply wary of Cocolia since their conversation yesterday.

However, seeing Cocolia’s awkward but gentle demeanor, and how careful she was not to hurt the children, a soft smile finally graced her sharp, beautiful features.

"Mom! Rozaliya bullied me yesterday!"

"I did not! She snatched the toy from me and Liliya first!"

The children chimed in all at once, bickering and tattling about yesterday’s events.

The scene made Cocolia think back to before she transmigrated. It felt just the same.

Back then, she’d loved to talk excitedly to her mother during dinner about all the interesting things that happened at school.

Even when her stories were dull and rambling, her mother would always listen quietly until the end.

"..."

Cocolia’s expression softened further. She reached out, albeit a bit awkwardly, and gently stroked the children's heads.

"Alright, alright, quiet down now." The Executive cast a stern look at the pouting Rozaliya, her tone gentle yet touched with a hint of helplessness. "Mom brought a guest today."

The children’s eyes shifted in unison to Cocolia.

Cocolia realized then that these children had likely sensed something was 'off' early on. But because she looked exactly like the Executive, they were perfectly willing to be close to her.

"Are you Mom's twin sister?"

"But Mom said before she didn't have a sister, right?"

The children chattered away, their little faces full of confusion and wonder.

Amidst the crowd, a girl with short purple hair and heterochromatic eyes stood by, looking at Cocolia with a puzzled expression. She felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity coming from her.

Sin Mal.

Cocolia’s gaze swept over her, and a wave of warmth filled her heart.

Long time no see, Sin.

"Alright, that’s enough."

The Executive clapped her hands, drawing the children's attention. "Let the guest inside. We can talk more once we're in."

"Okay—"

The children chirped in unison, then clustered around Cocolia and the Executive, laughing and talking as they made a grand procession toward the three-story European building.

Rozaliya grabbed Cocolia’s hand, while other children pushed from behind, causing her to stumble slightly as they made their way inside.

She looked flustered, her purple eyes filled with a bit of bewilderment, as if she had absolutely no idea how to handle so many kids at once.

The sight seemed both familiar and amusing to the Executive. It reminded her of the past—of herself, back when she had just opened the orphanage.

"Big sister~ what’s your name?" Rozaliya looked up at her, tilting her head and grinning.

Cocolia lowered her head to look at Rozaliya, her voice softening involuntarily: "Cocolia Rand."

"Just like Mom!" Rozaliya’s eyes went wide with surprise, and she grew even more excited. "Then! Can I call you Mom, too?"

"Dummy Rozaliya, Mom's name is just Cocolia, not Rand."

"Isn't... isn't that the same thing!"

Watching the two of them start to bicker, Cocolia’s lips curled slightly, her expression softening.

An uncontrollable warmth and fondness for these children welled up in her heart.

Maybe it was because of the character she had transformed into.

“You can call me whatever you like.”

“Then I’m calling you Mom too! Two moms!” Rozaliya shouted happily. Then she turned around and yelled to the other children behind her, “Everyone~! This mom says we can call her Mom too!”

“Yay! We have two moms now!”

The children burst into cheers, their bright, childish voices echoing throughout the yard.

Seeing how happy they were, Cocolia’s gaze grew even gentler.

Walking nearby, the Executive glanced at Cocolia, the corners of her lips lifting slightly as well.

She didn’t mind her children being this mischievous and greedy about wanting two mothers.

After all, Rozaliya had complained before that having two moms would be wonderful—one mom could always stay with them, and the other mom could stay with them too.

And now, she felt that her counterpart from another world wasn’t completely beyond saving after all.

At the very least, she believed Cocolia’s attitude toward children was sincere.

For the entire morning, Cocolia stayed at the orphanage, playing with the children in the yard.

The courtyard wasn’t very large, but it was fully equipped.

There were slides, swings, a sandbox, and even a small soccer field.

The children ran across the grass, laughter and shrill squeals rising one after another.

Or they would excitedly—and very sneakily—drag Cocolia away in small groups to their secret hideouts.

Then they would pull out snacks that would definitely earn them a spanking from the Executive if she ever found out: nuts gathered from the forest outside the orphanage or strips of dried meat secretly swiped from the kitchen, all of which they happily shared with Cocolia.

At that moment, Cocolia admitted that even if she hadn’t become this character, she still would have grown to love these children.

Meanwhile, the Executive silently watched it all with her arms folded, a gentle smile resting on her lips.

Though when Rozaliya produced some berries that could only be found deep within the forest, a particularly “kind” expression appeared on her face.

By noon, Cocolia followed the Executive into the orphanage kitchen.

"Do you know how to cook?" The Executive, now wearing an apron and looking like a true mother, turned to look at Cocolia.

Cocolia was silent for a moment before nodding.

"A little."

"Then come and help."

Cocolia didn't refuse. She walked over and tied on an apron, then began helping the Executive prepare the meal.

The feeling was somewhat novel. Back at the dorms, Mei and Yae Sakura rarely let anyone step into the kitchen; they handled all the cooking.

The same went for doing the dishes.

Now, though her knife skills weren't exactly expert, Cocolia worked with great focus.

The Executive didn't offer pointers or urge her on; she simply worked quietly alongside her.

The golden sunlight from the kitchen window bathed them, casting a soft halo over them and making the scene look as beautiful as a painting.

Near the doorway behind them, several little heads peeked in, curiously watching the two women cooking.

However, a minor mishap occurred when the Executive tried to teach Cocolia how to make a pot of soup.

"You put too much salt in..."

"Then add some water... you added too much."

"So what do we do?"

"...Forget it, leave it as it is. Those little brats aren't picky anyway."

Hearing the Executive’s helpless remark, Cocolia’s lips quirked up in a wry smile. But the little heads at the door, having overheard their conversation and confirmed the state of the soup, quickly retreated.

Sigh, looks like I’ll be the only one drinking this soup later.

Cocolia noticed the movement at the door and sighed to herself with a resigned smile.

The Executive, meanwhile, just smiled gently at her side, saying nothing.

Half an hour later, the meal was served.

The children had been waiting at the table, and they erupted into cheers as the food was set down.

"Dinner time, dinner time!"

"I want that one!"

"Don't grab, everyone gets some!"

Cocolia looked at the children with tenderness, then pulled the pot of soup she’d made toward herself.

This soup... will I be able to finish it today? Cocolia fretted internally.

"Mom! We want soup, too!"

The next moment, Rozaliya held up her little bowl, pushing it toward Cocolia with a bright, adorable smile.

"What?" Cocolia froze, confused.

"I want some too!" Liliya pushed her bowl over as well.

"Geez, eating without soup makes your mouth feel so dry."

Sin, looking somewhat uninterested, held out her bowl as well.

The other children followed suit.

Cocolia stared at the line of bowls held out toward her. After a moment of hesitation, she lowered her head, took a deep breath, and offered a gentle smile as she picked up the ladle.

"Alright..."

The rest of the time passed quickly—perhaps because Cocolia felt genuinely happy being there.

By the time she realized it, she had been playing with the children all afternoon.

The horizon was already painted with a faint, reddish sunset glow.

The children were called back inside one by one to wash up and have dinner.

Because many of them were quite young, Cocolia found herself in the bathhouse, assisting the Executive and the older children in scrubbing the little ones down.

For once, it was a moment where her mind was refreshingly free of any ulterior motives.

"Sin! Your hair isn't dry yet!"

"Liliya, put your pajamas on properly, don't catch a cold."

"Rozaliya, stop jumping on the bed! It'll collapse!"

Sin looked defiant while Cocolia dried her hair, but upon meeting Cocolia’s purple eyes, she inexplicably calmed down and grew obedient.

Watching her cute behavior, Cocolia felt a surge of joy.

Sin was still so cute.

By nine o'clock in the evening, all the children had been tucked into bed.

"Mom, can you tell us a story?"

The children in the room looked at Cocolia with anticipation.

Cocolia, who had changed into pajamas, hesitated for a moment before nodding softly.

"Yay! Can you tell us a story!"

"Alright."

Cocolia smiled and nodded gently.

After a brief thought, she declined the storybook the Executive offered and instead, drawing from her own memories, began to tell fairy tales from Belobog.

These were stories the children in the orphanage had never heard before.

They listened with rapt attention, delighted by every word.

Cocolia kept going, story after story, until the children’s eyelids began to flutter and they drifted off to sleep. She didn't stop until even Rozaliya had unknowingly fallen into a slumber.

"Come sit in my room for a while."

The Executive, whose opinion of Cocolia had completely shifted, spoke softly to her as she stood up. "I have some black tea in there."

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 112

--+--

"Thank you for looking after the children today."

Inside the Executive’s bedroom, she spoke to Cocolia in a hushed tone. "They have grown quite fond of you."

"Mhm."

Cocolia nodded, lifting her teacup to take a delicate sip. "They are... all very adorable."

The room fell silent. It was as if they had absolutely no common ground to discuss.

Once both of their cups were empty, Cocolia set hers down first. Watching the Executive’s calm, gentle expression, that sharp, scrutinizing glint resurfaced in her purple eyes.

"Executive."

"Yes?"

"I want to ask you one more time about the X-10 experiment."

The Executive’s fingers paused mid-movement. The softness vanished from her face, replaced by a complex expression.

"You... haven't given up on that idea yet?"

"It’s not a matter of giving up." Cocolia shook her head, holding the Executive’s gaze with a flicker of resolve brewing in her eyes. "It’s that I must know how much of your previous promise to me can truly help me—and help Belobog."

The Executive watched Cocolia in long silence. She kept her gaze steady and serious, as if searching for something, confirming something.

Cocolia had a feeling her previous proposal had rattled the Executive more than she let on.

"If you don't wish to conduct the X-10 experiment on a large scale in your world, I will not force the issue," Cocolia continued softly, her expression gradually smoothing out. "Because this is your world, and I, ultimately, must return to Belobog."

"Fine..."

The Executive finally let out a soft sigh and nodded. "Fine."

She stood up, walked over to her desk, pulled open a drawer, and took out a black tablet. After tapping the screen a few times, she handed it to Cocolia.

"These are the coordinates for the X-10 laboratory."

The Executive’s voice turned calm, professional, and business-like. "It’s on the seabed of the Sea of Okhotsk. If you want to see it... I can take you there now."

Cocolia took the tablet and glanced at it. She was completely unfamiliar with the coordinates shown.

"Let’s go." Cocolia handed the tablet back. "Let's go now."

"Now?" The Executive glanced at her, seemingly surprised by her urgency, but she didn't refuse. "Very well. I will make the arrangements."

The two then left the room, walking down the corridor toward the stairs.

The hallway was quiet, with only their footsteps echoing off the walls. Not a single child was seen roaming about for a midnight snack.

However, neither of them noticed that as they left, two tiny shadows in the corner of the corridor were pressed tightly against the wall, holding their breath, not daring to move an inch.

"Rozaliya..." Liliya whispered, her voice so faint only the two of them could hear. "We should go back."

"Go back?" Rozaliya blinked, her eyes sparkling with immense excitement. "No way! An underwater lab! That sounds super cool!"

"You want to follow them?" Liliya tilted her head, a look of helplessness in her deadpan eyes. "But Mom will be angry."

"She won't! We'll just sneak after them, and once we get there, we'll pop out—then Mom won't be able to kick us back!"

Liliya listened to her sister for a second before giving a slight nod.

"Alright."

The two shadows followed soundlessly behind Cocolia and the Executive, moving like agile kittens. They treaded through the shadows of the staircase, avoiding every light in the hallway. To ensure they didn't make a sound, they had even kicked off their shoes.

But...

Cocolia’s ears twitched slightly. As she rounded a corner, she swept a casual, unmoving glance toward the shadows at the side of the hall.

Nobody there...

But she felt two gazes had just been spying on her.

Interesting...

It took Cocolia only a moment to guess who it was. Rozaliya and Liliya—it had to be them.

A faint curve tugged at the corner of Cocolia’s mouth, but she quickly suppressed it.

It seemed those two brats had been eavesdropping at the door the whole time; she wondered how much they had heard.

But...

Cocolia had a feeling that, given their personalities, they would definitely follow.

And she was right.

When she and the Executive exited the orphanage and headed toward the main gate, she caught a glimpse of two tiny figures slipping out through a small hole in the outer wall.

They took a wide detour, stealthily creeping toward the back of the Humvee. They pried the trunk open, scrambled inside, and closed it gently behind them.

Watching this, a sense of amusement bloomed within Cocolia. She didn't tell the Executive; she wanted to see just how far these two little brats could keep up.

Inside the dark trunk, not a single sliver of light penetrated the cracks.

"Rozaliya, it’s so cramped in here," Liliya said, her voice perfectly calm.

"Just bear with it!~ It'll be worth it once we get there!"

"...Mhm."

When Cocolia got into the car, she could only hear faint, muffled sounds from the back, perfectly masked by the roar of the Hummer’s engine.

"What are you thinking about?" The Executive asked softly, noticing Cocolia’s quiet, contemplative look.

"Nothing," Cocolia pulled her attention back. "I was just wondering... why you built the orphanage in such a remote place."

"For safety."

The Executive’s tone remained steady, though her eyes held a complex glimmer. "It’s far from the cities, far from the activity zones of Honkai beasts, and far from... the eyes of Schicksal."

Cocolia nodded, thoughtful.

Indeed.

Most Honkai outbreaks occurred in densely populated areas. Plus, being in such a remote location meant that if any Schicksal spies or Valkyries approached, they could be spotted immediately.

As Cocolia pondered, she allowed her mind to drift.

Those two brats in the trunk really have endurance.

Still... once I finish seeing the X-10 lab and check this off my list, what should I do? I can't take the research data with me anyway. Never mind, I’ll just honestly wait for the sixth day to see what character I change into next.

Cocolia sighed inwardly.

But...

A new thought crossed her mind.

Should I go out and explore on my own after I turn into someone else later? I’ve been in this world for so long, and I haven't really wandered around anywhere yet...

Back in the trunk, Rozaliya and Liliya swayed slightly as the car bumped along, but neither spoke, terrified of being heard by Cocolia or the Executive. They simply hugged each other tightly, their eyes glowing in the darkness.

After half an hour, the Humvee drove back along the path they came to the Anti-Entropy base.

Even at night, the base was brightly lit. Patrolling Titan mechs and Anti-Entropy soldiers were as numerous as they were during the day; the security was incredibly tight.

The Executive parked the car near a landing pad deep within the base and turned off the ignition.

"We depart from here. Taking a transport plane will take about an hour," the Executive said as she walked toward a small transport aircraft on the tarmac.

Cocolia followed behind her, scanning her surroundings.

The tarmac was quiet, save for a few searchlights sweeping across the night sky. Occasionally, a squad of patrolling soldiers could be seen walking in the distance.

Hmm~

The security here is lighter than other places. If I wanted to leave the Anti-Entropy base, I’d definitely choose this route.

Once the supply crates meant for the underwater laboratory were loaded onto the transport, the engines roared to life, and the plane slowly ascended, flying toward the distant sea.

And in the corner of the cargo hold, hidden behind a stack of supplies, Rozaliya and Liliya huddled together, hands over their mouths, their eyes shining brightly. Heaven knows how they managed to sneak on board.

"Sister..." Liliya’s voice squeezed out from between her fingers, tiny and faint.

"Yeah?"

"Are we going to get caught?"

"No way!" Rozaliya was full of confidence, not even bothering to lower her voice now. "We weren't caught the whole way here, so we won't be now!"

"...Fine."

The transport plane flew across the night sky, skimming just above the surface of the sea. Below, the water was pitch black.

Cocolia gazed at the scene, her brows drawing together slightly.

"Don't see the ocean often?" The Executive asked, watching Cocolia’s expression with a small smile.

"Aside from the time you brought me here, I’ve never seen the sea."

Cocolia took a deep breath, feeling a bit uneasy. She found that in this current body, looking out at the endless expanse of dark, churning water triggered a primal sense of resistance deep within her heart.

But that was only natural. In Belobog, Cocolia had never seen the sea.

About an hour later, the transport plane began to slow and descend. It dove straight into the ocean, heading toward the deep.

After diving for over ten minutes, a base appeared before them—a facility deep on the seafloor, its lights flickering in the pitch-black water.

After passing through multiple isolation doors, the transport finally came to a stop in a spacious hangar deep within the base.

"We've arrived." The Executive stood up and turned toward the hatch.

Cocolia followed her, her eyes scanning the facility. The hangar was busy; ground crew personnel were operating Titans, walking in and out of the transport to unload essential resources, much like diligent ants.

The base held a classic, cold-toned Anti-Entropy style, radiating both a sense of iron-fisted efficiency and icy indifference.

As Cocolia and the Executive left the transport and prepared to head deeper into the base, back in the corner where the supply crates were stacked, Rozaliya and Liliya poked their heads out, curiously eyeing this strange new place.

"Sister..." Liliya’s voice was calm, though her eyes held a trace of curiosity. "It's so big here."

"Shh—" Rozaliya held a finger to her lips, peeking out again. "Keep it down, don't get caught."

"...Mhm."

Cocolia walked alongside the Executive, her gaze constantly sweeping the area.

If I recall correctly, in the early records of the game, Rozaliya and Liliya were the ones who sneaked into this very base and injected themselves with Honkai beast genes while the Executive wasn't looking.

That’s how they became those two 'Demon Pills' with combat power rivaling an Emperor-class Honkai beast.

But in the new version, it was because they were heavily injured while being hunted by Schicksal, forcing them to undergo surgery by Jackal to end up the way they did in the game.

I wonder which version of themselves they'll turn into.

"Executive."

At that moment, a staff member hurried toward them. He struggled to distinguish who was who for a second before his expression turned odd, looking between the two with a hesitant, "I have something to say" look.

"What is it?" Cocolia stopped in her tracks, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Well..."

The staff member hesitated, then blurted it out: "We found two little girls in the transport's cargo hold."

"What?" The Executive’s expression froze the moment she heard that.

Oh? Found out this quickly?

Cocolia turned toward the transport, a faint curve appearing on her lips.

"Let me guess—Rozaliya and Liliya, is it?"

The Executive let out a helpless sigh at Cocolia’s comment and turned around.

There, they saw two tiny figures standing next to the transport’s ramp, surrounded by a group of Anti-Entropy soldiers.

Rozaliya was tilting her head, looking at the soldiers with an innocent expression, trying to talk her way out of it. Liliya stood beside her, staring blankly into the distance like a statue.

"Rozaliya! Liliya!"

The Executive’s voice sounded as if it were squeezed out of her throat, her purple eyes flashing with genuine anger. "Why are you here?! Who told you to follow us!"

"Ugh..." Seeing the Executive’s angry face, Rozaliya’s lips trembled. She looked guilty and terrified, her eyes beginning to redden. "Mom, don't be mad... we were just curious..."

"Curious!" The Executive’s voice climbed an octave, sounding like a true mother driven to her wits' end by a disobedient child. "Do you have any idea what kind of place this is? Do you know how dangerous it was to follow us here?!"

"But..." Rozaliya sniffled. "We wanted to be with you..."

The Executive’s expression froze.

Direct hit!

Cocolia stood to the side, watching the rage in the Executive’s eyes slowly dissipate, replaced by deep helplessness and heartache.

She also saw the tears starting to well up in Rozaliya’s eyes. It wasn't fear—it was hurt. It seemed she genuinely just wanted to be with the Executive.

Beside her, while Liliya remained expressionless, Cocolia noticed her small hand had involuntarily clenched the hem of Rozaliya’s clothes so tightly her knuckles were turning white.

These two brats.

Cocolia sighed softly and stepped forward to the Executive’s side. "They... are still just children."

Cocolia had never imagined there would come a day when she would say a line like that!

It feels surprisingly satisfying!

"Forget it..." The Executive rubbed her temples, her face etched with exhaustion. "What's done is done. Get them settled for now. Tomorrow morning, I'll have someone send them back."

"Yes, ma'am."

The staff member nodded and turned to make arrangements. The soldiers exchanged glances before quietly returning to their patrols. The Executive sighed as she looked at the girls, while Cocolia couldn't help but let out a small, amused chuckle.

"Come with me." The Executive turned to lead the girls to her living quarters.

As Rozaliya walked away, she looked back at Cocolia, winked, and gave a grateful, joyful smile, then quickly turned back around as if nothing had happened.

Cocolia watched her retreating back, the corners of her mouth curling up.

This kid... she’s interesting.

Soon enough, they reached the base’s living quarters. The space was smaller than the areas above, but well-equipped.

Cocolia didn't follow them to get the girls settled. Instead, she stood in the corridor, arms crossed, observing her surroundings and waiting quietly.

Specifically, her gaze remained fixed on the end of the hallway, where a heavy, closed metal door was marked as the entrance to the experimental area.

The X-10 lab must be on the levels below.

Cocolia was incredibly curious: if she changed into a character related to Seele later and underwent the X-10 experiment again, would she be able to enter the Sea of Quanta and find Seele?

If she could, that would be wonderful—she could just fish Seele out years ahead of schedule. Though, she had no idea if Kevin had already found her yet.

"My apologies." The Executive’s voice rang out from the side.

Cocolia turned. She saw the Executive looking visibly drained, faint fine lines appearing around her eyes in the harsh light.

"I've made a fool of myself," the Executive offered a tired, helpless smile.

Cocolia shook her head, offering a soft, gentle smile in return. "It’s nothing. Those two children... they’re adorable. A little mischief never hurts."

"Adorable?"

The Executive couldn't help but laugh softly, looking like a woman burdened by fate. "You haven't seen them when they’re really causing trouble. Last time, Rozaliya spilled flour all over the kitchen and rolled in it, claiming she was a snowman. Liliya was just standing next to her, trying to jam a carrot onto her nose."

Nice. That fits my impression of Rozaliya perfectly.

Poor Executive...

Cocolia looked at her with a hint of sympathy, though the corner of her mouth couldn't help but lift even higher.

"Alright."

The Executive pulled herself together, her expression turning serious once more. "The laboratory is on the floors below, but it’s too late tonight... the researchers need their rest. I'll take you down first thing tomorrow morning."

"Fine." Cocolia didn't refuse.

In truth, she was exhausted. She hadn't even slept since she last transformed. After playing with the kids all day, she was worn out.

The Executive nodded, handed Cocolia an ID card, told her where the guest lounge was, and turned toward the opposite direction.

Cocolia stood where she was, watching the Executive’s back recede. After a moment, she returned to her own room, cleaned up, laid down on the soft, spacious bed, and closed her eyes in peace.

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 113

--+--

Cocolia didn’t know when she had drifted off, but she felt like she had slept deeply and soundly—more so than she had in a long time.

There was none of that usual, messy, R-rated chaos swirling in her mind.

Just a night of peaceful dreams.

In her dreams, she saw the entire Honkai world transformed into a place as beautiful and serene as the Golden Courtyard.

Schicksal and Anti-Entropy had both evolved into multinational mega-corporations that, while dabbling in various industries, primarily focused on entertainment.

Otto was finally starting to lose his hair, and Welt was balding from drawing manga all day.

Kevin lived in the Golden Courtyard, too.

She even had her own room there, where she could watch the sequel to the Golden Courtyard every day to her heart’s content. It was glorious.

Then…

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP—!!!

A piercing alarm erupted, sharp and urgent, as if someone were jamming an electric drill right into Cocolia’s temples.

"What’s going on?" Cocolia bolted upright, her eyes snapping open. She scanned her surroundings with a sharp gaze, her body tensing instantly.

Warning lights flashed rhythmically throughout the room, bathing everything in a harsh, pulsating red.

Cocolia threw off her covers, pulled on her clothes, and bolted toward the door.

As she yanked it open, she was met with pure chaos.

Emergency lights blared in the corridor, and Anti-Entropy personnel and soldiers were sprinting past in every direction. Some were clutching stacks of folders to their chests, while others, barely awake, were struggling to pull on their tactical vests while on the run.

"What is happening!" Cocolia grabbed a guard sprinting past her, her voice cool yet hurried.

"Cocolia... Executive!" The guard stumbled as she grabbed him. He blinked, stunned for a split second upon seeing her face, before his expression turned frantic. "It’s Schicksal! They’re attacking!"

"Schicksal?" Cocolia’s pupils constricted. A wave of shock and bewilderment washed over her.

"Yes! It’s the Far East Branch fleet! They’re right above us!" The guard was practically shouting, trying to be heard over the deafening blare of the alarms. "The Hyperion is leading them! There are at least seven or eight warships! They must have found us!"

Cocolia released him, and he immediately scrambled toward the end of the hall.

She stood frozen, the red strobe of the alarm light flickering across her face.

The Far East Branch?

Did Theresa and the others come to save her?

Cocolia found it hard to believe. She wasn't surprised they knew where she was—after all, Bronya had been here before—but she couldn't understand why Theresa would take such a massive risk.

By rashly sending a fleet into Anti-Entropy territory, didn't Theresa realize she was practically declaring war between Schicksal and Anti-Entropy?

"Cocolia."

The Executive’s voice echoed from the other end of the hall. Cocolia turned to see her walking toward her with a stern expression. Her hair was slightly disheveled, as if she, too, had just been ripped from her sleep.

"Schicksal’s Far East Branch fleet is assembling in the waters directly above us," the Executive said solemnly. Her eyes were piercing, scanning Cocolia as if she were trying to gauge her reaction.

Cocolia knew that she was likely worried about whether she would defect.

"How many?" Cocolia asked, her voice calm.

"At least eight." The Executive looked grim. "Reinforcements from the other base won’t arrive for another twenty minutes."

Cocolia frowned. Eight warships? Theresa had practically emptied the Far East Branch’s entire arsenal.

In the original story, the only time Theresa had launched such a large-scale military operation was after Kiana had been taken by Otto, leading to a joint effort with Anti-Entropy to raid Schicksal headquarters.

And this time… was it because of her?

Cocolia’s mind raced. In the eyes of Theresa and the others, she was just Cocolia, not the companion who had been living alongside them for nearly two months.

They were probably only acting to retrieve her so that the role she would eventually take on would still remain within their branch.

"What's the situation?" Cocolia asked, her composure returning.

The Executive hesitated for a moment before speaking. "The defense systems are fully operational, but the Schicksal fleet arrived too quickly. Based on our current defensive strength…" A look of frustration crossed her eyes. "In about twenty minutes, the Valkyrie units will breach the base."

Twenty minutes? That was the same amount of time it would take for reinforcements from the other base to arrive.

This facility was one of Anti-Entropy’s most important research sites; its defenses were not weak. But they were up against the main fleet of the Far East Branch, not to mention hundreds of Valkyries and the Hyperion. Twenty minutes was likely an optimistic estimate.

Cocolia’s expression darkened. "What do you intend to do?"

The Executive looked at her with a complex emotion in her eyes, which made Cocolia feel a sinking dread.

This woman! She wasn't actually planning to hand her over, was she?

"I’ve ordered the evacuation of non-combat personnel," the Executive said calmly.

"The researchers will withdraw through the emergency tunnels; the Valkyries won't harm them. The combat units will stay behind to buy us time."

"Buy time, huh." Cocolia’s frown deepened.

If it came down to a fight, all they had were herself, the Executive, some Anti-Entropy soldiers who probably wouldn't be much help, and a few Titans.

Buy time my foot!

Cocolia wasn't sure how much she had agitated Kiana and the others before leaving, especially Yae Sakura.

She suspected Sakura’s mind was entirely consumed with the desire to drag her back, hoping to see Kallen reappear or to find a way to resurrect her.

"Their target is me, isn't it?" Cocolia looked at the Executive.

"..." The Executive nodded after a long silence.

"Let’s go. To the command center."

Without giving Cocolia a chance to press for more, the Executive turned and headed deeper into the hall. Cocolia followed, feeling a surge of helplessness.

It seemed her brief vacation was coming to an end.

She had hoped to let Kiana and the others take a break and stop causing them so much heartbreak, but it looked like her sudden departure had only fueled their obsession further.

The corridor remained a chaotic mess, the red emergency lights painting every running face in a ghastly hue. Cocolia followed the Executive into the combat command center.

Located in the upper section of the base, it was a semicircular room with no windows, dominated by a massive holographic screen that spanned the entire wall.

As she entered, she saw a sea of red on the display, depicting the real-time battle. Blue dots represented their defenses, while the red dots were the Valkyrie forces. Even now, their autonomous Titan units on the perimeter were being rapidly decimated.

"Report!" the Executive said, walking to the console.

"We’ve lost 60% of our outer perimeter!" a tactical officer shouted without looking back. "The Far East Branch Valkyries are advancing too fast!"

"Where is the Schicksal fleet?"

"Still holding position above us! But they’ve deployed at least thirty Valkyrie squads, surrounding the base from all directions!"

Cocolia stood behind the Executive, her eyes glued to the holograms. She saw the trio of Kiana, Mei, and Bronya, along with Himeko, Fu Hua, and Yae Sakura. She recognized many other Valkyries from her time at the academy.

They moved like a pack of bloodthirsty sharks, closing in on the core of the base from all sides. The blue dots were being swallowed up, disappearing in clusters.

"What about the researchers?" the Executive asked, her voice remaining icy.

"The first group made it through the emergency tunnels, but..." the officer paused. "They were intercepted."

The air in the command room seemed to freeze. Cocolia could see the Executive’s expression sour instantly.

"They seemed to know the layout of the tunnels," the officer added, swallowing hard. "The Valkyrie squads blocked the exit points before our people could even get through. They didn't stand a chance."

The Executive fell completely silent.

Cocolia didn't have to guess—this was definitely Bronya’s doing. She was the only one who had been to this base.

On the screen, Cocolia saw the Valkyries moving fluidly through the underwater environment in full diving gear, agile as black swordfish. In front of them, Anti-Entropy’s automated turrets fired wildly, only to be effortlessly parried by the Valkyries, led by Yae Sakura, before being ruthlessly dismantled.

Logically, this base’s defenses should have been more than enough to handle one branch. But they were up against the Far East Branch.

In the original story, Kiana’s team had been able to breach an Anti-Entropy base and take down the Father Titan all by themselves. With Yae Sakura in the mix, it was even worse.

Cocolia looked at Sakura on the screen. She was like an unsheathed blade—sharp, cold, and dripping with killing intent. The sight made Cocolia shiver, realizing just how hard she had pushed her.

"Report! The Valkyrie units have broken through the outer perimeter!" the officer cried, panicked. "They’re approaching the main entrance!"

"What about the automated turrets!" the Executive yelled.

"80% destroyed! The remaining ones can't form an effective firing net!"

"Initiate emergency protocol! Lock down the entire base!"

"It’s already initiated! But their hacking skills are too advanced! Our technicians can’t block them!"

Cocolia’s gaze fell to the corner of the holographic screen—the main entrance, the same place she and the Executive had arrived.

Bronya was there, several blue holographic screens floating before her, data streams cascading rapidly. Behind her, the Valkyries were assembling, waiting for the gates to open.

It was no surprise the technicians couldn't match Bronya—not when she possessed the power of Aether Editing. Cocolia’s mouth twitched. She never expected that the things she had taught Bronya would one day come back to bite her.

"Executive!" a comms officer turned around, urgency in his voice. "We’ve received a communication request from Schicksal—the Far East Branch!"

The room fell silent. The Executive’s brows knit together; she hesitated for a moment before walking to the console and pressing accept.

A small voice appeared on the holographic screen: Theresa.

She was still wearing her nun’s habit, likely still on the Hyperion rather than participating in the assault. But the usual cute, soft expression was gone, replaced by a cold, unwavering resolve that made one forget how innocent she looked.

"Cocolia." Theresa’s voice echoed through the speakers, and for a split second, Cocolia thought she was talking to her.

"I am Theresa Apocalypse. I demand that you immediately release the Supreme Guardian of Belobog, whom you took during your unprovoked invasion of St. Freya Academy!"

Every eye in the command room turned toward Cocolia and the Executive.

"She is mine," the Executive interrupted, breaking the tension. "You taking her is out of the question!"

The Executive’s defiance made Cocolia feel a flicker of relief. She looked at Theresa, her own gaze hardening.

"Theresa," Cocolia said calmly. "This was my own choice."

"Is that so..." On the screen, Theresa’s eyes shifted to Cocolia, her expression complex, but her resolve quickly sharpened again.

"If that is the case, then this operation serves as a proportional retaliation for Anti-Entropy’s three unprovoked provocations and the intrusion into the Far East Branch!"

Theresa’s fierce, authoritative demeanor made Cocolia see her in a new light.

"If you don't want to talk, that's fine, too," Theresa added, turning back to the Executive. "I will breach this base, and I’ll talk to you from inside your command center!"

The room went quiet again. Cocolia felt a strange, unnameable emotion stirring in her chest.

At the edge of the screen, a countdown appeared: [12 minutes].

The Executive saw it, too. After a long silence, she looked devastated. The base falling was inevitable.

"It seems our partnership ends here," Cocolia sighed.

The Executive took a deep, shaky breath, looking at the screen. She locked eyes with Theresa and asked, "How do you want to talk?"

Theresa’s expression didn't soften. "It’s simple. I’m taking Cocolia with me."

"Impossible."

Even though the Executive was still saying "no," Cocolia could hear that her resolve had wavered.

She was probably just putting on a show, ensuring Cocolia didn't think she was being abandoned the moment things turned south.

"She came to Anti-Entropy voluntarily, you have no right—"

"She is not 'yours'," Theresa cut her off. "She is from another world. She belongs neither to Schicksal nor to Anti-Entropy."

"Theresa." Cocolia looked at the screen, her voice steady. "I do come from another world. Schicksal doesn't have the technology to help Belobog, but Anti-Entropy does. I cannot return to Schicksal with you; I need the data and technology from the X-10 experiment."

"What?" Theresa frowned at the unfamiliar term.

"The X-10 experiment," Cocolia repeated. "It is the core research project of this base. I need all the technology and data associated with it. It is vital to Belobog—and to me."

The Executive’s brows twitched imperceptibly. She didn't want to hand that data over. She had seen the files.

In Belobog, there was a Bronya, a Seele, and other counterparts of the orphanage children living vastly different lives. But Cocolia had lost her mind; she wanted to let the existence known as the Fragmentum erode all of Belobog, seeking what she called 'eternity' within its depths.

"Then..." Theresa looked at the Executive, eyes deadly serious. "As compensation for your three unprovoked invasions of St. Freya, we will take this data!"

Cocolia was stunned. It was another reminder of just how much they valued her.

"That is impossible!" The Executive’s reaction was explosive. "I will never hand over that technology!"

"You have no choice." Theresa’s voice was calm and firm. "Even if you don't give it to us, it will only take us a little longer to take it by force."

"Then I’d rather destroy it all right now!"

"Cocolia!" Cocolia yelled the Executive’s name, fire in her own eyes. But the Executive remained resolute.

"You have no idea what I sacrificed for that technology! You want to just take it away? I cannot accept that!"

Seeing the Executive’s unshakable conviction, Cocolia’s heart sank. She realized why the woman was so emotional. The X-10 experiment had cost the lives of at least four or five children in the orphanage. And those children… the Executive had raised every single one of them herself.

Just as the conversation seemed about to collapse, a communication channel forcibly bypassed the security protocols and cut into their feed.

"Mother Cocolia, Principal Theresa." Bronya’s face appeared on the screen, the backdrop showing the ocean outside the base.

"Bronya?" The Executive looked at the screen, her expression dark. She clearly understood how the Far East fleet had found them so precisely.

"Bronya has a proposal," Bronya said, meeting the Executive’s gaze with a calm, earnest expression. "The data will be studied jointly by the Far East Branch and Anti-Entropy, and then delivered to the Supreme Guardian."

Cocolia fell silent. The Executive’s expression flickered through hesitation and calculation.

"If that is the case, I can accept it." Cocolia said coldly.

The Executive glanced at her, a complicated, indecipherable look in her purple eyes. But as the base’s outer defenses were finally breached, she nodded.

"Fine. I agree. But you must stop the attack immediately!"

"No problem." Theresa nodded. After she issued a stern command, the Valkyrie units and the Anti-Entropy Titans ceased fire.

"Cocolia."

Theresa looked at the Executive, her tone hardening. "For the time being, the Far East Branch will take over the security of this base! Have your reinforcements stay ten kilometers away!"

"That’s impossible!"

The two of them began to argue. It took a long time before they reached a compromise. The base interior would remain under Anti-Entropy control, but the outer perimeter would be guarded by Valkyries.

The incoming Anti-Entropy fleet retreated to ten kilometers out, waiting silently—though, at that distance, it hardly made a difference.

"The Valkyrie squads will enter the base to assist you in securing the X-10 data for the Supreme Guardian."

"Fine, but no more than six people."

"Agreed."

Once the deal was struck, silence returned to the base. Cocolia sighed internally.

It felt like the days ahead were going to be anything but easy. She had just wanted a vacation; instead, she had been cornered by a fleet.

As the holographic screen dimmed, the Executive turned away, her face showing signs of deep, weary exhaustion. "Let’s go."

Cocolia nodded, her own expression heavy, and walked alongside her out of the command center toward the main entrance.

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 114

--+--

"Are you nervous?"

As they walked toward the main entrance, Cocolia glanced at the Executive, whose expression was notably rigid, and asked in a low voice.

"Nervous?"

The Executive instinctively reached up to touch her face, her expression clouded with a flicker of confusion.

"When I first arrived in this world, Bronya called me Mother," Cocolia said, looking at the Executive with a calm gaze.

"But back then, there was resentment in her eyes when she looked at me. So, I suspect that in this world, Bronya and you share the same mother-daughter bond."

"That's correct."

The Executive let out a soft sigh, her face shifting into something more complex.

"Bronya was one of the children I adopted, but later, for the sake of things that simply had to be done, I hurt her. I also caused her to lose the other child who meant the most to her."

Cocolia remained silent for a moment before continuing, "Because of the X-10 experiment?"

"Yes."

The Executive’s tone was significantly deeper now.

"If it is for the sake of this world, no matter who has to be sacrificed, it is worth it," Cocolia said, her voice steady.

However, the Executive's expression tightened.

"Is it really worth it..." she murmured, recalling the weight of the past. Thinking of how she and Bronya had become sworn enemies, a profound sense of exhaustion settled in her heart.

Especially considering...

Cocolia was actually planning to drag her entire world into the Fragmentum, intending to make everyone exist eternally within it—which was to say, turning them into those monsters.

The more the Executive thought about it, the more foolish her past self seemed.

Soon, they reached the main entrance.

There, the Anti-Entropy forces were locked in a standoff with six Valkyries. Those six were none other than the main trio, Himeko, Yae Sakura, and Fu Hua.

This lineup was more than enough to take on any single Herrscher below the Herrscher of Finality.

Kiana was the first to spot Cocolia; her eyes lit up instantly, as if she had discovered some long-lost treasure.

Cocolia, however, felt a bit helpless. She knew that what Kiana and the others were really concerned about was which character she would transform into next.

When on earth will I be able to just choose whichever Valkyrie I want to transform into?

Mei and the others looked over as well.

In particular, the moment Bronya saw Cocolia, her gaze locked onto her, only drifting toward the Executive after a long, lingering pause. In her arms, she clutched that ugly-yet-cute Bronya-themed Homu doll.

The Executive met Bronya’s gaze, her own eyes filled with an unnamable emotion.

Observing the two of them, a playful thought stirred in Cocolia’s mind.

In the game, those two had tormented each other until the very end before finally reconciling.

But now that she was here—if both of these upcoming transformations turned out to be related to them—she could absolutely force them to reconcile within these next two weeks!

The only uncertainty left for Cocolia was whether the Executive would still try to capture Raiden Mei for the sake of her plan.

If the Executive was truly that stubborn, then Cocolia would be genuinely out of options.

"Alright," Cocolia said, sweeping her gaze over everyone with a calm, serious expression. "Whatever conflicts you might have between you... for now, set them aside."

"..."

The group said nothing, their eyes fixed on Cocolia.

"Executive," Cocolia turned to her, a sense of urgency in her eyes. "Please, take me to the X-10 laboratory now."

The Executive frowned, a complicated look flickering in her eyes as she weighed her options, but eventually, she nodded.

"Very well... follow me."

Rather than lingering to catch up with Bronya, the Executive turned calmly and headed into the depths of the base. Cocolia followed immediately, with Yae Sakura and the others trailing behind.

Bronya quickened her pace, falling in step beside Cocolia.

"I'm sorry..."

Clutching the Homu doll Cocolia had stitched for her, Bronya spoke in a quiet, steady tone.

"..." Cocolia glanced at her, deliberately allowing a flash of emotion to cross her face. Finally, the corners of her mouth curved into a soft, gentle smile.

The Executive, walking in front, faltered for a fraction of a second before regaining her composure. Cocolia couldn't help but feel that the Executive now carried an air of someone burdened by a cruel fate.

"We're here."

After descending to the lowest level of the base, the Executive led them into a laboratory that appeared to have been abandoned for ages. She turned to face the group with a tranquil expression.

"This is the X-10 laboratory."

Cocolia looked up at the empty glass chamber at the front of the room.

"Seele..." Bronya gazed at the chamber, her silver-gray eyes filled with a sharp, piercing pain.

"Is this where your friend disappeared?"

Cocolia looked down at Bronya, reaching out to gently pat her head. "Bronya... if she hasn't truly perished, I believe that one day, you will be reunited with her."

"Really?" Bronya looked up at Cocolia, her eyes full of confusion and uncertainty.

"Yes."

Cocolia nodded gently, her soft gaze unwavering.

"Bronya... trusts you." Only then did Bronya nod slowly, her expression hardening with resolve.

In truth, this was the countless times Cocolia had spoken those words to Bronya. And every time she said them, the character she was transformed into was different.

It was high time to plant some psychological suggestions in the girl's mind.

"From here on, Bronya will be responsible for organizing all the materials from the X-10 experiment," Bronya said, stepping forward to meet the Executive’s gaze, her silver-gray eyes cold and determined.

"Very well."

The Executive gave a slight nod, looking back at Bronya with a composed, professional expression. Soon, several researchers who had been in charge of the experiment arrived to begin helping Bronya copy and transfer the experimental data.

However...

Kiana walked up to the empty glass chamber, tapped on it curiously, and tilted her head toward Bronya.

"Bronya, what was this experiment even for? It gives me the creeps just looking at it."

Bronya fell silent for a moment, her silver-gray eyes dimming. Cocolia looked at her, as if she, too, were searching for the answer.

"The X-10 experiment used artificial means to stimulate Honkai energy adaptability in the human body, allowing ordinary people to obtain power comparable to a Valkyrie."

"Is that so..." Cocolia murmured the words, a joyous smile curling her lips.

"Bronya once participated in this experiment as well." Bronya looked up at Cocolia, her expression turning severe.

"Huh?" Kiana blinked, looking puzzled. "Bronya, you were part of it too?"

"Yes." Bronya nodded, but kept her eyes locked on Cocolia. "The failure rate of this experiment is astronomically high! Almost... no one survives. Even Bronya herself... did not truly succeed. Mother... if you are trying to use this technology to save Belobog... there is no hope."

Cocolia listened, her expression remaining serene. Her purple eyes still held that gentle, unwavering focus as she whispered, "Bronya... I have no other options. And Belobog... has no time left."

Beside them, the Executive’s expression darkened.

It wasn't because Bronya called Cocolia 'Mother,' but because she realized Cocolia was truly 'insane.' Cocolia wasn't trying to save Belobog; she was trying to drag it into the abyss!

Fu Hua, listening to their exchange, furrowed her brows. Sensing something was wrong, she stepped forward.

"Supreme Guardian, I have a question for you."

"Please, speak," Cocolia turned to her immediately.

Meeting her eyes, Fu Hua asked, "Does the Honkai exist in your world?"

"It does not," Cocolia shook her head lightly. "In our world... there are only things called Stellaron, and the Fragmentum that is born alongside them."

"If that is the case, you can only use this experimental technology as a reference," Fu Hua continued, her tone calm. "Because according to Bronya, this technology is based on research into Honkai energy... and the Stigmata gene bank left behind by the Previous Era. Not... on the Stellaron and the Fragmentum."

"I know."

While everyone else looked stunned, Cocolia simply nodded, her expression unchanged.

"But I have no choice."

"No choice?" Bronya looked at Cocolia, eyes full of bewilderment.

"Yes." Cocolia nodded, a cold, almost ruthless glint in her eyes.

"Once I return, I will hand this technology over to the scientists of Belobog. I hope... that they can find some inspiration, or draw some experience from it."

Hearing this, the others felt as if Cocolia was desperately grasping at straws. Only the Executive, standing to the side, wore an expression of profound gravity and distaste.

She was the only one who knew what Cocolia was really aiming for—even if that, too, was just a lie Cocolia had spun to manipulate her.

The thought of what Cocolia might do with this technology once she returned to her own world made the Executive's stomach churn.

"Supreme Guardian," the Executive stepped forward, looking at Cocolia with a grim expression. "The dangers of this technology are far greater than you imagine."

As she spoke, everyone turned toward her. The Executive's eyes held a mixture of exhaustion and a flicker of regret.

"The erosion of Honkai energy causes irreversible damage to the test subjects. At best, they lose their sanity; at worst, their bodies succumb to Honkai corruption. And the most severe consequence... is that the laboratory may be lost outside of the world, never to return."

At these words, Bronya’s fingers twitched, and a flash of pain crossed her eyes. Yet, Cocolia’s gaze remained perfectly calm as she looked at the Executive.

Cocolia felt that... the Executive would likely never again entertain the idea of initiating the X-10 experiment.

As for the earlier fear of the Executive piloting the Selene into St. Freya High School for a suicide run... that, too, seemed unlikely to happen now.

"The thing I regret most is letting my children... participate in this experiment," the Executive said, looking at Cocolia, the weight of her remorse deepening.

"They were still so young when they lost their lives because of these experiments, or vanished into the void, never to come back."

"Your... children?"

Kiana’s eyes widened little by little, staring at Cocolia in utter horror. "You used your own children... for experiments??"

"Yes..." The light in the Executive's eyes dimmed, and she gave a small, weary nod.

Kiana and the others stared at her in disbelief, unable to comprehend the cruelty of it.

"At the time, I thought..." the Executive continued softly, looking at Cocolia. "That it would allow them to evolve, to possess the power to survive the endless waves of Honkai... But I was wrong. I let them die in those experiments for nothing, erasing them from this world."

Bronya looked at the Executive, a flash of astonishment in her eyes.

She had never expected the Executive to show such regret for the past.

To hear the woman who once ruthlessly sacrificed orphans for the sake of her experiments speak like this was shocking.

But Cocolia’s expression toward the Executive turned to one of fury.

"You have become cowardly, Cocolia."

"...What?"

Hearing Cocolia say this, the Executive stiffened, her eyes widening in sheer bewilderment.

"When you brought me away from St. Freya High School... you weren't like this," Cocolia stared at the Executive, the fire in her eyes intensifying.

"Back then, your will was iron. You believed that through this technology, ordinary people could wield the power of Valkyries, ensuring they wouldn't be helpless in the face of the Honkai. How have you become so cowardly?!"

Amidst Cocolia’s angry outburst, the Executive clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white, her jaw set tight, and her own eyes began to flare with rage.

"No! You don't understand! This path is a dead end! I have already walked it!"

As the Executive roared, Cocolia sneered.

The respect in her eyes was replaced by blatant scorn.

"That is the very proof of your cowardice! If you give up just because of that, then what was the point of everything you sacrificed before? What of the children who lost their lives because of you?!”

“As for me... I will not be as cowardly as you... I will keep walking this path. I will save Belobog! I will make Belobog rise from the ashes!"

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 115

--+--

"Mother?"

Bronya looked at Cocolia, completely at a loss. It was as if she had never imagined that Cocolia’s stance could be so resolute.

Around them, the others exchanged uneasy glances. They didn’t know how to persuade her, for they all knew that in Cocolia’s world, Belobog was on the brink of total annihilation.

"No, you don't understand at all!"

The Executive stared straight at Cocolia, her fists clenched tightly, clearly desperate to make her see reason.

But Cocolia simply shook her head.

With a cold, unyielding expression, she cut her off: "No... it is you who doesn't understand. I have already passed the point of no return. Did you really think I wouldn’t know... what the consequences of my actions might be?"

"..."

The Executive froze.

"But if I don't do this," Cocolia gazed at her, a flickering light dancing in her eyes, "in two months’ time... even without the Fragmentum, Belobog—stripped of its energy—will be instantly swallowed by the Eternal Freeze. Its people will freeze and starve to death. It’s time you faced reality, Executive."

"..." The Executive fell silent.

Nearby, Kiana and the others stood in stunned silence.

"Throwing yourselves into the Fragmentum will only lead to ruin," the Executive said, shaking her head softly as she echoed the words Cocolia had once told her.

"You want all of Belobog to be reborn within the Fragmentum... to achieve eternity? But that would only turn everyone into those monsters!”

“Have you... have you ever asked the Bronya or Seele of your world, or any of its people, if they were willing to follow your arrangement and be consumed by the Fragmentum?"

At those words, Bronya snapped her gaze toward Cocolia. Kiana and the others also widened their eyes, looking at Cocolia in utter disbelief.

"Mother?" Bronya asked, her voice trembling with shock. "Do you... truly want the Fragmentum to erode Belobog?"

Cocolia fell silent for a moment, a flicker of iron resolve gleaming in her violet eyes.

Of course... not.

But this was the persona she had to play.

To ensure her cover wouldn't be blown when she eventually transformed into a character from Honkai: Star Rail, and to satisfy her secret desire to occasionally tease Bronya, she didn't mind playing the villain at all.

"Bronya, this is my will," Cocolia said, her voice eerily calm. "And it is the first step toward Belobog’s rebirth."

"No!"

Bronya stumbled back a step. She looked at Cocolia as if she had been betrayed, her face twisted in a mix of fury and disbelief. She shrieked with that youthful voice:

"You are dragging Belobog... dragging Seele and everyone still fighting against the Fragmentum into the abyss!"

"Bronya..."

Cocolia met her gaze, brow slightly furrowed.

Her tone was gentle, yet disturbingly earnest as she spoke: "When facing a power that cannot be resisted... why not listen to its plea? If we only agree to its request, we... Belobog... will be able to step into a glorious new era."

"There will be no more hunger, no more cold, and certainly no more suffering!"

As Bronya and the others listened to these words, their expressions deepened into sheer horror.

"You're insane!" Himeko frowned deeply. "I don't know much about the Fragmentum, but I've heard Silver Wolf and the others talk about it. It’s like a cancer that spreads infinitely! The beings born within it are mindless monsters! You want to turn your people into those things?"

"No," Cocolia countered. "That is evolution."

The moment those words left her lips, everyone realized that Cocolia had completely lost her mind. She might look normal, but her way of thinking was fundamentally detached from humanity.

"If that’s how it is..." Bronya took a deep breath. Looking into Cocolia’s eyes, she seemed to have reached a painful decision.

Cocolia met her stare for a moment, then asked with a complicated look: "Bronya, are you going to... kill me?"

"No..."

Bronya’s eyes flickered for a split second at the question. But she still shook her head. "Bronya... will stop you!"

As she spoke, Project Bunny materialized behind her. Its massive cannon instantly blasted through the laboratory equipment at its side, and with a burst of Aether Editing technology, every piece of data within the machines was thoroughly wiped.

The Executive watched this scene, her eyes widening in shock. She closed them in pain as she looked at the useless scrap metal and the destroyed data, but a bitter, relieved smile soon followed.

Cocolia, meanwhile, stared at the scene as if caught off guard, her eyes widening in feigned shock.

"Bronya... will not let you take that data back!" Bronya declared, her tone stern and resolute.

"...What have you done?"

Ignoring Bronya, Cocolia slowly walked over to the ruined machines, peering down at the wreckage and muttering in apparent disbelief.

But inside, she was cackling with excitement.

Nice work, Bronya! You’ve just saved me from having to worry about those loose ends!

Cocolia was certain that Bronya’s impulsive move, combined with the stress she’d already placed on the Executive, meant the latter would surely abandon those plans now.

Just... what do I do next?

In the ensuing silence, the others watched her, expecting an explosive outburst at any moment.

"Cocolia," Himeko felt a chill run down her spine. She never could have imagined things would reach this point. "Stay calm. Listen to us..."

"No..." Cocolia shook her head, her demeanor remaining eerily calm. She turned to face them, her violet eyes deep and hollow, like bottomless pools. Her voice was as still as a frozen lake.

"I am perfectly calm."

The way she said it sent a shiver down everyone’s spine. Not a single person present believed she was actually sane.

"After all, this method never had much chance of succeeding to begin with," Cocolia said, looking down at the sparking machinery with a blank expression.

Better avoid a fight if I can, she thought. I don’t want to be the one to get a beating from the main trio or be on the receiving end of Fu Hua’s Edge of Taixuan.

"Mother..."

Project Bunny did not dissipate. Bronya’s silver-grey eyes remained locked on Cocolia, glowing with unshakable determination. "Bronya... will not let you hurt everyone again. I won't let you hurt Seele!"

"Why, Bronya?" Cocolia looked at her, a hint of genuine confusion peeking through her calm facade.

Uh oh, Cocolia sighed inwardly. Bronya is dead set on protecting Seele. And I have to maintain this character...

"What does the fate of another world have to do with you?" Cocolia looked at Bronya, speaking with chilling composure. "And you... you simply don't understand what Belobog is actually facing."

The atmosphere began to sour. The researchers began to quietly retreat, while Kiana and the others subconsciously readied themselves for battle.

"No, Bronya only knows one thing: until the very last moment," Bronya looked at Cocolia and raised her right hand. Following her lead, Project Bunny aimed its cannons.

"Are you certain you want to make an enemy of me here, Bronya?"

Cocolia looked at her and laughed.

The Executive’s face turned ghastly. "This is the deep sea, Bronya! Do you have any idea what kind of consequences a battle here would trigger?"

Bronya’s movements halted.

Yes!

So this is the thrill of using morality to suppress the protagonist! Cocolia felt a rush of satisfaction.

The Executive then looked at Cocolia, drawing a long, heavy breath. Her voice was low and weary.

"You’re just like I used to be—stubborn, paranoid, convinced that only your path is the right one. But... have you ever considered that you might be deceived? You are the Supreme Guardian of Belobog! You have a responsibility to your people!"

"This is already the best outcome," Cocolia said calmly. "As long as... when that day comes... everyone can be reborn within the Fragmentum."

The standoff remained at a deadlock. Everyone looked at Cocolia with visible distress.

The Executive was both deeply annoyed at her decision to bring Cocolia here and strangely thankful.

If she hadn't seen with her own eyes how far Cocolia had descended into madness and paranoia, she probably would have remained convinced that she herself was right.

They all realized simultaneously that there was no way to stop Cocolia—unless they killed her.

Only Fu Hua remained silent, watching Cocolia closely.

Cocolia noticed Fu Hua’s gaze. For a split second, the skin on her body turned dark and deep, filled with countless stars that twinkled and blinked back at the group, as if watching them.

Then, it returned to normal.

In that instant, everyone, including Fu Hua, felt as if they were facing a mortal threat.

"What... what was that just now?" Kiana stiffened, her eyes wide as she stammered.

"Her skin..."

Raiden Mei’s heart pounded violently; the other consciousness within her was startled, already beginning to stir.

"You know nothing of the gift they have bestowed," Cocolia gazed at them, her expression serene.

Yet, it was this serenity that made them feel even more uneasy. A madman who always maintains their cool is the most dangerous kind of enemy. And it seemed that none of them had the means to stop her.

Cocolia, having managed to intimidate even Fu Hua, let out a breath of relief internally.

I definitely don't want Fu Hua showing up at my bedside in the middle of the night with a Feather of Fenghuang Down in her hand. That would be a disaster.

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 116

--+--

The lab fell silent.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Cocolia, filled with a deep, encroaching wariness. The transformation she had just undergone brought to mind the Stellaron that Silver Wolf had mentioned before.

Her sudden shift, combined with her unshakable conviction that the Stellaron could bring salvation to Belobog, left everyone with no doubt: Cocolia had been thoroughly corrupted by the Stellaron’s influence.

Yet, they were truly at a loss for what to do.

"Mother..." Bronya gazed at Cocolia, a flicker of pleading in her silver-gray eyes. "Bronya… begs you. Please, don't do this."

"Bronya..."

Cocolia looked back at her. The warmth that once defined her expression was gone, replaced by a cold, detached stillness.

"You don't understand the suffering Belobog has endured. You only know of it through our words. Perhaps my arrival here today was a mistake from the start."

"..."

Bronya fell silent. Just as Cocolia assumed this farce was drawing to a close—and that she could wait out the remainder of her transformation in peace—Project Bunny 19C, hovering behind Bronya, raised its long lance.

With a sharp, sudden motion, it pointed the weapon directly at Bronya’s own throat.

"Bronya!"

Seeing this, Cocolia and the Executive instinctively took a step forward, their faces twisted in sudden panic and fury.

"What do you think you’re doing!"

"Mother… Bronya doesn't know how else to stop you." Bronya stared fixedly at Cocolia, her eyes burning with a resolve that felt entirely new.

It was just like the memory Cocolia recalled from the records—the time Bronya had used this same tactic to threaten the Executive into putting her through the X-10 experiment once more.

"But… Bronya does not want to see Seele die. I do not want to lose Seele again."

The lance pressed slightly into the soft skin of Bronya’s neck. Cocolia watched, her eyes wide with visceral, disbelieving rage.

Around them, Kiana and the others grew frantic.

"Bronya! Don't do something stupid!"

"Bronya!"

Everyone tried to intervene, but no one dared to take a step closer, fearing they might agitate her and cause Project Bunny’s lance to pierce deeper.

If that happened…

Bronya would be finished.

Cocolia never expected she could push Bronya to this extreme. She stared at the girl, her own heart a chaotic storm of conflicting emotions. Beside her, the Executive looked as though she wanted to kill Cocolia on the spot.

"Using your own life to threaten me, Bronya?" Cocolia’s gaze gradually leveled out. "Have you forgotten? I am not a being of this world. Are you truly willing to sacrifice yourself for someone you only spent seven days with in another dimension?"

The lab went quiet again. But this time, it was the kind of stifling, suffocating silence where no one dared to even draw a breath.

"Bronya!" Kiana couldn't help but want to rush forward, but Mei grabbed her arm, holding her back with all her might.

"Don't go over there!" Mei’s voice was urgent. "You’ll only provoke her!"

"But!"

Kiana tried to argue, but Himeko’s voice cut in from the side: "Kiana, listen to Mei!"

That forced Kiana to stop, though she did so reluctantly. She bit her lip, her eyes rimmed with red, but she stood her ground.

Yae Sakura’s demeanor had shifted entirely. Standing on the periphery, her hand was already locked around the hilt of her blade, Sakura Blossom, her eyes darting between Bronya and Cocolia. Cocolia knew that Sakura was waiting for the slightest opening to strike.

Fu Hua remained motionless. She stood there, her gaze calm as a lake beneath her red-rimmed glasses, yet her fingers were slightly curled, as if she were invisibly gripping something.

Honestly…

Cocolia felt a rising sense of irritation.

Why did everything have to keep spiraling toward the worst possible outcome?

Bronya was still watching Cocolia with that stubborn, unyielding gaze, waiting for an answer.

Should I lie to her?

Just a small deception. It wouldn't hurt. That would be enough to avoid a fight.

But…

Cocolia didn’t want to do it.

Her gaze steadied. In a blur of motion, she vanished.

When she reappeared, she was already standing right beside Bronya. She was fully enveloped in the form of the Mother of Deception; with a mere wave of her hand, she caught the lance of Project Bunny and shattered it into fragments.

As Bronya turned, Cocolia reached out and pressed a hand gently against the nape of her neck.

"Bronya."

Cocolia’s voice whispered in her ear—calm, impossibly soft. "You are too headstrong."

With a momentary surge of power, Bronya’s eyes clouded over, her pupils dilating as her body went limp and started to slump toward the floor. The spectral image of Project Bunny dissolved behind her.

Cocolia bent down, sliding one arm under Bronya’s knees and the other behind her back, catching her gently in her arms.

"Mother... don't..."

Even on the brink of unconsciousness, Bronya kept pleading.

Cocolia only lowered her head, watching the girl’s quiet, sleeping face.

She looked at the silver hair spilling across her arm and the way Bronya’s brow remained furrowed, even in slumber, and stayed silent.

Cocolia’s own appearance was terrifying now.

Though she maintained a human shape, her skin had taken on the hue of the starry void, with tiny constellations flickering beneath the surface, gazing out at the others with blatant malice.

Several shards of ice floated at her sides, aiming at the room with a lethal, shimmering intent.

"Bronya!"

Kiana finally broke free from Mei’s grip and lunged forward.

Cocolia didn't look at her; she merely floated above the ground, extending her arms to pass the unconscious Bronya over.

"Take care of her." Her voice seemed to echo with a strange, layered resonance, ringing in everyone’s ears and making their skin crawl.

"When she wakes up, tell her I will not hurt her Seele."

Kiana hesitated. She glanced cautiously at Cocolia—who appeared as a monster, yet possessed a dangerous, lethal beauty—before carefully taking Bronya into her arms.

As Bronya settled against her, Kiana realized that this girl, who always hovered in mid-air, argued with her, and constantly called her a "dummy" with that flat, emotionless tone, was actually so light…

And so reckless.

"Cocolia…" Kiana looked up, wanting to say something more.

But the very next instant, she saw two figures emerge behind Cocolia—one brandishing a blade, the other with a hand raised like a knife—striking down toward the back of Cocolia's head.

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 117

--+--

Cocolia did not turn back.

However, a trace of amusement stirred within her.

I’ve been waiting for you all to make a move!

In an instant, the icy blades behind Cocolia shattered, transforming into countless tiny ice crystals that coalesced into a translucent shield in mid-air.

Clang!

Yae Sakura’s Sakura Blossom struck the shield, sending a spray of ice shards scattering.

Fu Hua’s palm strike followed immediately, slamming into the exact same spot. A spiderweb of cracks instantly rippled across the wall of ice.

Sorry, you didn’t break the shield, Cocolia thought with a smirk. She turned to face the group, her voice calm and ethereal, echoing against the walls of the laboratory.

"A sneak attack? Is this how your world operates?"

Yae Sakura didn't answer. Her figure vanished, only to reappear a moment later on Cocolia’s left. The Sakura Blossom shimmered with a pink light, aiming straight for Cocolia’s throat.

Fu Hua wasn't idle, either. The moment Yae Sakura struck, Fu Hua lunged from the right, her fingers curled like a blade, driving toward Cocolia’s ribs.

Cocolia couldn't help but wonder: didn't it hurt for Fu Hua to strike like that with her bare hand?

Although their coordinated attack from both sides was seamless, Cocolia could still handle them with ease before Fu Hua got serious.

With a slight tilt of her head, she dodged Yae Sakura’s blade, while her right hand shot up and clamped onto Fu Hua’s arm.

The moment their skin made contact, Fu Hua’s pupils constricted.

She felt as though her hand had been enveloped by a piece of solid ice—the cold was bone-piercing.

"Too slow."

Cocolia’s voice echoed through the lab as she casually tossed Fu Hua aside. She watched as Fu Hua hit the wall in a heap and slumped to the floor.

Yae Sakura didn't stop. The light from her blade became a blur, weaving a net of steel to trap Cocolia.

Cocolia didn't bother dodging.

Every time the blade landed, it left nothing more than a faint white mark.

Wrong elemental affinity. How do you expect to break my shield with that?

Meanwhile, Kiana had already grabbed Bronya and retreated to the laboratory doorway. She glanced back to see Himeko charging in with her greatsword.

Purple electricity crackled along the Castigation in Mei’s hand. She turned into a bolt of violet lightning, thrusting toward Cocolia’s right flank.

"I’ll be right back!" Kiana gritted her teeth, clutched Bronya tighter, and bolted out of the laboratory.

The battle inside continued.

Cocolia stood motionless amidst the barrage of attacks.

Himeko’s greatsword, Mei’s katana, Yae Sakura’s blade, and Fu Hua’s strikes—every blow left only cracks and white marks on her shield.

"Too slow..."

Cocolia whispered, and the ice shield shattered instantly, spraying outward like a miniature ice storm.

The laboratory, roughly the size of a basketball court, filled with floating ice crystals that caught the light, creating countless reflections of Cocolia, effectively surrounding them.

"Too weak. You think you can stop me with this?"

Cocolia’s voice seemed to come from everywhere, vibrating with an unsettling, grating undertone.

Icy shards solidified and fired toward Mei and the others.

"Hmph!" Himeko bit her lip, flames roaring to life along the length of her greatsword as she swung in a wide arc.

Most of the ice shards were shattered in mid-air, though Himeko’s blade was repeatedly deflected by the incoming projectiles.

Just as a shard was about to strike Mei’s chest, a flicker of violet light flashed in her eyes. Mei blurred, her Castigation slashing down, shattering the ice.

The Herrscher consciousness within her was agitated, itching to take over the body once more.

But Cocolia wouldn't give Mei the chance to reach her second stage.

After the surrounding ice crystals were cleared away, Cocolia revealed her inhuman form in the center of the room.

"Enough playtime." Cocolia’s voice was dead calm. "It’s over."

She raised her right hand and, mimicking the gesture from a Stark movie, snapped her fingers.

Snap!

A crisp sound echoed through the lab.

The power of the Stellaron, long suppressed within her, erupted from her body like a shockwave, sweeping in every direction.

Himeko’s greatsword was blown from her grip, and she was tossed aside, hitting the floor hard.

Mei’s Castigation was ripped from her hand, spinning through the air before embedding itself in the far wall. She stumbled back a few steps before dropping to one knee.

Yae Sakura and Fu Hua fared no better.

Though, Cocolia could tell that Fu Hua was putting on an act.

She was standing the furthest away, pretending to be blown against the wall by the shockwave, but her clothes weren't even ruffled!

Cocolia glanced at her. Their eyes met for a split second before she looked away.

She was sure Fu Hua knew that she had seen through the act, but they both stayed silent—saving face for one another. She wouldn't call Fu Hua out, and Fu Hua could tell that Cocolia wasn't planning on truly harming Mei and the others. They were all just playing their parts.

"Who’s next?" Cocolia’s voice reverberated in the lab, carrying a weight of unquestionable authority.

No one answered.

Himeko lay on the ground, gasping for breath, her golden eyes fixed on Cocolia with nothing but frustration.

Mei remained on one knee, her fingers clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Cocolia noted the violet lightning in Mei’s eyes growing more intense.

"Since no one is..."

Cocolia paused, seemingly dropping her guard. But in the next blink, she was standing directly in front of Raiden Mei.

She reached out, placing her hand atop Mei’s head. A bitter chill poured from her palm.

"Ugh!"

A layer of frost instantly coated Mei’s body.

As Mei let out a pained whimper and reflexively grabbed Cocolia’s wrist, Cocolia bowed her head slightly.

Sorry, Mei...

Your Herrscher persona is about to take the wheel.

It’s come to this, so please, take a break.

"Mei!"

The others reacted instantly. Himeko struggled to stand but collapsed again.

Yae Sakura lunged, her Sakura Blossom raised high to strike Cocolia’s arm, but Cocolia simply waved her other hand. A wall of ice formed, blocking Sakura off.

"Too noisy."

Cocolia’s voice was calm. She wasn't speaking to Sakura; she looked down at Mei and said softly, "Your Herrscher... is too loud. Keep her quiet for a while..."

Cocolia released her hand.

Mei slumped to the floor, unconscious.

Just then, another figure rushed into the lab.

"Cocolia!!!"

Kiana gripped her White Comet sword tightly, her silver braided hair flying behind her. She moved like a cannonball, charging straight toward Cocolia.

Cocolia looked up at Kiana.

Kiana’s timing is terrible.

She doesn't think I just killed Mei, does she?

I’d be so wrongly accused if she did.

The thought passed through Cocolia’s mind in a heartbeat, but her eyes immediately locked onto the golden light beginning to glow from the White Comet sword.

Cocolia realized this was the perfect opportunity for Kiana to truly master the weapon.

She waved her hand.

An ice shard shot from behind her toward Kiana.

Kiana instinctively raised her sword, parrying the strike.

Clang!

Sparks flew. The sword was knocked from Kiana’s hand, embedding itself in the alloy wall next to the Castigation.

"Kiana!" Himeko’s voice was filled with despair.

After all, when they arrived, they never imagined things would escalate this far.

Kiana tried to charge again, but another ice shard hit her, detonating instantly and wrapping her body in a thick layer of ice.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!"

Kiana roared in fury, but she was frozen solid, unable to move. She could only watch with bloodshot eyes as Cocolia stood beside Mei, who lay motionless on the ground.

"You are no match for me."

Cocolia floated slowly toward Kiana. She looked into those furious, desperate eyes, her voice remaining calm.

"You can't protect anything. Not your friends, not your family..."

She spoke sentence by sentence, testing Kiana’s limits to see which hit home the hardest.

"And you—you can’t even master that weapon."

Even behind her crystalline mask, Kiana could feel the icy, dismissive gaze directed at her.

"What could you possibly protect?"

"Kiana..." Mei’s voice drifted in at the perfect moment, barely a whisper.

"AHHHHHHH!"

As Kiana screamed again, Cocolia turned and began walking toward the door, completely indifferent to Kiana’s cries.

Come on, move! Do something!

As she walked, Cocolia’s gaze remained fixed on the Xuanyuan Sword on the wall, praying for it to change. But by the time she reached the door, the sword remained unchanged.

Cocolia felt a chill.

All that acting, and I’ve got nothing to show for it?

Just as she was about to step out of the lab in disappointment, Kiana’s voice rang out from behind.

"Don't you dare leave!!!"

The sound of shattering ice followed.

"Hmm?" Cocolia’s heart skipped a beat. She paused and glanced back.

She saw Kiana, with unbelievable force, crushing the ice seal with her bare palms.

Are you kidding me!!!

Cocolia’s eyes widened, though thanks to her mask and her status as the Mother of Deception, no one could see her shock.

You just crushed my ice-attribute powers as if they were nothing?!

In that moment, Cocolia understood exactly what the Herrscher of Thunder felt when facing Kiana in Nagazora.

It was just plain unreasonable!

Hummm—!

The Xuanyuan Sword began to vibrate, golden light swirling around its blade.

Cocolia tilted her head.

She felt like there should be background music playing right now.

Kiana was entering her "power-up" state.

Cocolia hesitated. Should she pretend to lose?

The sword was completely enveloped in golden light before splitting into two beams, flying past Cocolia to land in Kiana’s hands.

Cocolia turned to look.

She moved with all the sluggishness of a scripted boss in a cutscene, waiting for the protagonist to finish her off.

Judgment of Shamash.

Cocolia murmured the name as she saw the dual pistols in Kiana’s hands, thinking the whole situation was becoming ridiculous.

"I won't let you just walk away!"

Kiana broke free from the ice completely, her eyes locked on Cocolia. She raised the twin pistols and pulled the triggers. Raw, attribute-less energy blasted from the barrels.

Cocolia watched the beam and did some quick mental math on its power.

Hmm... about three or four minutes, and my shield will break.

Lovely.

She leaned slightly, letting the energy stream graze her shoulder, blasting a row of workbenches behind her into dust.

"...What?"

Cocolia feigned shock. Kiana’s pistols flashed repeatedly, golden energy rounds raining down like a storm.

Cocolia dodged left and right, occasionally raising a thin ice shield to block a few shots.

Each shield shattered on impact.

Fu Hua sat against the wall, watching the scene with complicated eyes.

She could tell—Cocolia was holding back!

Just as Cocolia had known that she was holding back earlier!

Fu Hua didn't understand why Cocolia was doing this, but seeing Kiana successfully resonate with the Soulium weapon brought her a measure of comfort.

"Your movements," Cocolia taunted as she dodged, her tone dripping with intentional disdain, "are too slow. Is this how you protect your companions?"

At Cocolia’s words, flames seemed to ignite in Kiana’s eyes.

She thought of the unconscious Bronya, the fallen Mei, and... everyone else Cocolia had defeated!

Driven by that thought, Kiana slammed the two pistols together. They fused instantly, the golden light expanding into a sharp, heavy blade.

"Shamash... unsheathe!!"

Kiana roared, her expression set in desperate rage. She was enveloped in golden light, transforming into a meteor that slammed straight into Cocolia.

You’re not even using the Divine Key and you’re already doing an "unsheathe"?!

And you don't even remember your childhood!!!

Cocolia’s mouth twitched as she watched the attack. She crossed her arms, creating a thick, solid ice shield in front of her.

The golden meteor struck. The ice shield detonated instantly, and the force of the blast sent Cocolia stumbling back several steps.

That’s about enough...

As the golden light barreled toward her without slowing down—like a massive truck—Cocolia sighed inwardly. She didn't dodge, and she didn't defend.

She simply watched the light draw nearer, and nearer...

BOOM—!!!

Golden light exploded in the laboratory, the shockwave sending rubble and shards of ice flying.

Himeko raised her arm to shield her face; Yae Sakura’s shrine maiden outfit billowed in the wind—a scene of disarray, but no one was looking.

Fu Hua leaned in the corner, her long hair whipping in the gale, her eyes wide open.

When the light finally faded.

"Hah... hah..." Kiana gripped the Judgment of Shamash, which had reverted to its dual-pistol form. Her arms shook violently, sweat beads covering her face. Her breathing was ragged, as if she had exhausted every ounce of her strength but was forcing herself to stay upright.

But before her...

Cocolia was still hovering in the air, motionless.

Her head was bowed slightly. Though her eyes were hidden behind that crystal mask, it felt as though she were still looking straight through Kiana.

Kiana looked at her, her voice hoarse as she choked out a single word: "You..."

Cocolia watched her silently, saying nothing. The mist formed by the intersection of ice and fire swirled around her, condensing into even finer, smaller ice crystals.

She looked like some sort of lofty, transcendent being, radiating a strange divinity. Countless stars flickered on her skin like eyes, watching Kiana as if she were merely an ant attempting to challenge a god...

Kiana’s lips parted, as if she wanted to say something more.

But her body had run out of steam.

Her legs gave way, and she tipped forward.

Before her consciousness slipped into total darkness, Kiana branded this image of Cocolia—cold, divine, and indifferent—deep into her mind.

Thud.

As Kiana hit the floor, the Judgment of Shamash slid from her hand, hitting the ground with a sharp metallic clatter before rolling away.

The laboratory fell into absolute silence.

Cocolia scanned the room.

Fu Hua was still sandbagging, Himeko and Yae Sakura were too exhausted to fight, and Mei was just as unconscious as Kiana.

Hmm?

Where’s the Executive?

When did she leave?

A question mark appeared over Cocolia’s head. But she didn't dwell on it. It didn't matter; she didn't need the Executive anymore.

Cocolia glanced at Fu Hua one last time.

Their eyes met, but neither spoke.

Then, Cocolia turned and floated toward the exit.

As she reached the door, she decided to leave one final parting shot to make sure Himeko and the others would remember this.

"You... are too weak." Her voice was soft, calm, and indifferent, as if she were merely stating a fact. "Don't come to throw your lives away next time. Although... after today, we shall not meet again."

With that, the laboratory doors slid open automatically. Cocolia’s figure drifted out, disappearing into the darkness of the corridor.

As the doors slowly closed, the group lay scattered on the floor, shivering in the silence of the aftermath.

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 118

--+--

After leaving the laboratory, Cocolia glided down the corridor toward the exit.

The hallway was now completely devoid of Anti-Entropy guards and researchers. It seemed they had all followed the Executive's orders and evacuated the facility.

The emergency lights were still flashing throughout the base, but the grating, relentless wail of the alarms had finally fallen silent.

"Time to go..."

Cocolia mused to herself. She needed to find a secluded spot, settle down, and wait for this transformation to wear off.

After that, she would see which character she was fated to become next. Besides, she had delivered a heavy blow to Kiana and the others; it would probably take them quite a while to recover.

Just as she was lost in thought, she rounded a corner and came face-to-face with a strange figure.

The man wore a hoodie that covered him completely. His face was hidden behind a white mask marked with black stripes, and it featured only a single eye socket, through which a red electronic eye glowed.

"Who are you?"

Cocolia stopped mid-air, looking down at the man. Her voice echoed through the hallway, shimmering with an ethereal, layered quality.

"I am... Gray Serpent."

Gray Serpent bowed slightly to Cocolia, a gesture that seemed intended to show respect. His voice was low and gravelly, carrying the distinct texture of grinding metal.

Cocolia watched him, a chill creeping into her heart. After the Executive, had World Serpent set their sights on her as well?

What did they want? Was it to fish Kevin out of the Sea of Quanta? Or perhaps they wanted technology from her home world? Or something else entirely?

The possibilities were endless.

"I come on behalf of an organization that is neither Schicksal nor Anti-Entropy," Gray Serpent said, his gaze fixed on her. The red light within his electronic eye pulsed with an ominous, scarlet hue. "It is called... World Serpent."

"Are you here to bring me back to your organization, too?" Cocolia asked, her voice calm and ethereal, laced with a hint of mockery.

"No, no..."

Gray Serpent straightened up, his glowing eye fixed steadily on her. "I... simply wish to make friends with you, Supreme Guardian."

"Is that so?"

Cocolia remained skeptical. She didn't believe for a second that Gray Serpent would move without a profit motive.

Without another word, Gray Serpent pulled a data pad from his hoodie and tapped it lightly. A flurry of dense code began to scroll across the screen.

The most prominent label among the files read: [X-10 Experimental Data].

Cocolia’s pupils constricted slightly. Well, well, it seemed he had a backup after all!

"This data," Gray Serpent continued, his voice calm and low, "was handed over to World Serpent by the Executive of Anti-Entropy three years ago."

Cocolia fell silent. She felt that this was exactly the kind of thing the Executive would do. After all, once Bronya’s attempt at the X-10 experiment had failed, the Executive had never initiated it again.

To the Executive, the X-10 data was useless; trading it to World Serpent in exchange for something she needed made perfect sense.

"What do you want in exchange for this?" Cocolia asked, her voice steady.

"Nothing at all." Gray Serpent let out a low, gravelly chuckle. "I am merely here to act as a representative of World Serpent and befriend you, Supreme Guardian. Nothing more."

"Is that so?"

Cocolia’s tone remained unchanged. She still wasn't buying their "kindness."

"Indeed."

Gray Serpent spread his hands and smiled at her. "Moreover, World Serpent is willing to help you out of your current predicament. After all, the perimeter of the laboratory is already surrounded by the fleets of Schicksal and Anti-Entropy. They seem to harbor some unnecessary hostility toward you… And we at World Serpent can help you leave this place."

The moment she heard this, Cocolia understood.

Gray Serpent wanted her to go to their territory so they could observe her subsequent transformations and see if she would bring any "surprises" to World Serpent.

After all, she had transformed into so many different characters in this world—there was no telling if they were betting on her becoming one of the Flame-Chasers from the Previous Era.

"You are no different from them," Cocolia noted, her voice still calm and ethereal.

"No," Gray Serpent chuckled, his voice dropping into a somber tone. "We will respect your wishes, rather than making decisions for you as they do."

Cocolia had to admit, the offer was tempting. She genuinely wanted to see what World Serpent was like—who knew, she might even end up in the Elysian Realm! That would be far more interesting.

"And, regardless of whether you choose to leave with us, we will provide you with this technology." Gray Serpent extended the data pad and then let go.

The pad hovered in mid-air and drifted toward Cocolia.

"Oh, right."

As if suddenly remembering something, Gray Serpent added, "For some reason, those who travel to this world are unable to take things back with them. So, I suggest you record all this data into your memory immediately."

Cocolia took the pad and remained silent, staring at the flowing data. Ha! She couldn't understand a single line of it. But that didn't stop her from pretending she was busy committing it all to memory.

"Fine," Cocolia nodded. "I agree."

Gray Serpent nodded, letting out a satisfied laugh before bowing again. "Then, please, follow me."

Cocolia gave a calm nod and fell in behind him.

Sorry, Mei, Kiana—I suppose we’ll have to see each other next time. Cocolia felt a twinge of regret.

Perhaps once she met Elysia and her companions, and had her fill of fun in the Elysian Realm, she would find time to drop by Schicksal.

Oh my, oh my... Elysia would definitely be interested in her! They had probably already heard that she could transform into various Valkyries from parallel worlds.

If she transformed into the Herrscher of Thunder in front of her one day, it would certainly be a blast.

"Stop!"

Just as Cocolia was following Gray Serpent toward another exit of the base, a sweet but stern voice rang out ahead of them. Cocolia looked up to see Theresa standing there, wearing an expression of intense seriousness as she looked at her and Gray Serpent.

"Cocolia," Theresa said, her tone grave and determined. "What did you do to... Kiana and the others?"

Gray Serpent stopped in his tracks, turned his head to look at Cocolia, and spoke with an effortless casualness: "Supreme Guardian, would you like me to handle this little nuisance for you?"

"No."

Cocolia didn't even glance at Gray Serpent. She simply stared at Theresa, her voice calm. "They are in the X-10 laboratory on the lowest level. I did not kill them."

"..." A flash of anger crossed Theresa’s small face. "Why would you do this?"

"In order to... save Belobog."

Cocolia’s tone was flat. Theresa’s expression cycled through confusion, disbelief, and fury. Finally, she moved—her golden cross pendant expanded, and she slammed it into the ground.

Oath of Judah.

It looked like another fight was inevitable. Cocolia felt a pang of resignation.

"Sorry, but until I can figure out what is really going on here," Theresa gripped two golden spears, her expression hardening, "I cannot let you leave!"

She stood there, her small figure appearing quite fragile in the vast corridor, yet the golden light emanating from the cross was impossible to ignore. Her eyes were filled with determination and vigilance.

Cocolia watched her for a long moment, then flicked her wrist. The ice blades floating behind her launched forward, moving at a blistering speed.

Even with her reflexes, Theresa only managed to strike down one with her spear before the second blade struck her, encasing her in a thick layer of ice, just like Kiana before her.

"What?!" Theresa’s eyes widened. Before she could swing her spear again, she was completely frozen, with only her head left exposed.

"Supreme Guardian," Gray Serpent remarked from the side, his voice low and amused. "Your power inspires true awe in me. It is clear that neither Anti-Entropy nor Schicksal knows how to show you the proper respect."

"I have said it before," Cocolia interrupted, her voice as calm as if she were discussing a triviality. "Nothing can stop me."

Though she didn't particularly care for Gray Serpent, she had to admit, the man knew how to talk.

Cocolia drifted over to Theresa and lowered her head, locking eyes with the girl’s furious, bewildered blue gaze. "Theresa... thank you for the hospitality over the last two days."

Theresa opened her mouth to speak, but her teeth began to chatter uncontrollably. Right, Cocolia thought, that’s a normal reaction. Not like Kiana, who had just shattered the ice with her bare hands.

"Kiana and the others are in the bottom laboratory," Cocolia continued, satisfied. "They aren't seriously injured. You'll find them soon... or perhaps they’ll come looking for you."

"What... exactly... are you trying to do?" Theresa asked, her voice trembling with frustration.

"It’s simple," Cocolia said, her tone heavy and composed. "I am saving my world. If you cannot help me, I will find others who can."

With that, she didn't bother looking back at Theresa’s defeated state.

She followed Gray Serpent toward the base’s exit. If they didn't hurry, she suspected she’d run into Otto, or perhaps a Valkyrie wielding the Abyss Flower, blocking the door.

"Please, Supreme Guardian." Gray Serpent stopped in front of a sleek, jet-black ship shaped like a shuttle and bowed.

"Understood."

Cocolia floated into the cabin. Gray Serpent followed, and moments later, the ship hummed to life. The outer shell became transparent and camouflaged, and as the exit opened, they shot out, leaving the base behind at high speed.

"Supreme Guardian," Gray Serpent asked as he piloted the craft, his voice low. "You seemed to... show them mercy earlier."

Cocolia tilted her head to look at him. "And what of it?"

"Nothing," Gray Serpent replied with a hint of a gravelly smirk. "I simply feel you are perhaps too kind to them, given that they are incapable of understanding your will."

"..."

Cocolia fell silent. His flattery was starting to feel… pleasant.

"They fought with everything they had to stop you, without once considering that you might be the one in the right—that your Belobog will eventually be saved by your hand."

"..."

Cocolia feigned indifference, but internally, her mind was racing. Could Gray Serpent know about Kevin's Stigmata Project?

In her view, Kevin's plan and the mission of the Supreme Guardian of Belobog, though different in nature, shared a certain... thematic resonance.

A moment later, Cocolia gazed out at the black ocean waves below, a flicker of curiosity stirring in her chest.

"Where are we going?"

"To a safe place," Gray Serpent replied, his voice low. "A place where no one will disturb you, and where you can spend these next few days recording all the X-10 data into your mind."

"The World Serpent base?"

"Indeed."

Cocolia went quiet, then nodded. "Very well."

She found herself growing expectant. If Gray Serpent were taking her to the base where the Elysian Realm was located... well, that would make things much more interesting.

After drifting through the depths for some time, the ship surfaced. Sunlight spilled through the portholes, lifting Cocolia’s spirits.

"Supreme Guardian, please, just a little longer."

Gray Serpent’s voice remained respectful. "It will take us a moment more to reach the World Serpent base."

"Understood." Cocolia nodded, not asking further questions.

The ship pushed onward, piercing through the clouds toward the horizon. Cocolia leaned back, remaining in her transformed state.

She wouldn't gamble on whether Gray Serpent would strike at her the moment she let her guard down.

Time passed quickly. Before long, they reached the ruins of an ancient building tucked away deep in the mountains.

The Elysian Realm. The headquarters of World Serpent.

Cocolia peered out the window at the inconspicuous ruins below, overgrown with vines and long abandoned. Her heart began to race.

It really is the Elysian Realm!

Gray Serpent had actually brought her here! Wasn't he worried that she might lose control and endanger the realm? Kevin hadn't even emerged from the Sea of Quanta yet!

A surge of excitement bloomed in her chest. The thought of potentially meeting Elysia herself made her even happier.

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 119

--+--

The spacecraft descended slowly.

In the midst of the ruins blanketed by vines and moss, the ground suddenly split open, allowing the craft to settle into the hidden hangar below.

Cocolia peered through the porthole, taking in a sight vastly different from the surface world.

The hangar beneath the ruins was vast and brightly lit. It was filled with cold, grey metallic surfaces, exuding a militarized aesthetic not unlike the Anti-Entropy bases.

Several other aircraft were parked neatly on either side, with ground crew members bustling between them.

However, Cocolia couldn't help but notice the expression on their faces: a stoic, iron-willed focus.

It was the look of people who knew exactly what they were fighting for, and were entirely prepared to sacrifice everything to achieve it.

Just like Kiana and the others.

"Please," Gray Serpent said, stepping toward the opening hatch and gesturing for her to follow.

Cocolia shifted from her floating state, dropping back to the floor and stepping out behind him. Her boots clicked sharply against the metal deck.

As she stepped out of the ship, the pupils of several ground crew members dilated in shock. Looking at her, she was barely more than a humanoid shape; apart from that, she hardly looked human at all.

"Where is this?" Cocolia asked, her voice calm as she surveyed the surroundings.

"An underground research base of World Serpent," Gray Serpent’s voice came from ahead, low and steady. "Just like that undersea base, World Serpent has similar facilities scattered all across the globe."

Yeah, right.

Cocolia chuckled inwardly, a sense of amusement washing over her.

It seemed Gray Serpent was still trying to gamble, hoping she would transform into one of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers so he could lure her into the Elysian Realm—or perhaps seize something from her while she was in that state.

While there were many possibilities, those were the ones she found most likely.

Cocolia followed Gray Serpent through a long corridor, passing through several heavy metal doors that required identity verification, until they finally stopped before a completely ordinary-looking door.

"This is the lounge World Serpent has prepared for you, Supreme Guardian." Gray Serpent reached out and tapped the sensor by the door, which slid open silently to reveal a luxurious, elegant room.

Gray Serpent stepped aside and bowed slightly. "I am just next door. If you need anything, please call for me."

"Understood."

Cocolia walked inside, taking in the room.

Outside, Gray Serpent added with a note of apology, "The facilities are modest, I hope you can forgive us, Supreme Guardian."

"It’s fine."

Cocolia glanced at the decor, which mimicked the style of ancient European nobility, and couldn't help but inwardly scoff. If this was considered "modest," then the Valkyrie dorms she used to live in with Kiana and the others were nothing more than dog kennels.

Gray Serpent turned and left, the door sliding shut behind him.

Standing in the room, Cocolia hesitated for a moment before walking to the window to look out.

Skyscrapers glittered with neon lights in the night, and a constant stream of cars flowed along the broad roads below.

Crowds of people moved along the streets, each face carrying a different expression. Holographic projections shimmered between the buildings, advertising products in a dizzying array.

There were no Honkai-themed mascots, nor any of the brands she had recognized since crossing into this world.

The Previous Era.

Cocolia murmured to herself.

The scene outside the window was a fabrication, a simulation generated by AI, depicting the long-lost world from fifty thousand years ago.

It felt incredibly surreal to Cocolia. If she could, she would have stood there watching the view forever—it was absolutely priceless, after all. But alas, Gray Serpent and his cohorts were likely monitoring her, and she had to keep up the charade.

Sighing helplessly in her heart, Cocolia turned away and sat at the desk, picking up a data panel to stare at the dense streams of information scrolling by.

Good grief...

She couldn't understand a single thing.

Cocolia stared at the data, rigid as a statue. She hadn't dared to deactivate her transformation, afraid that something might go wrong if she did.

If Mobius in the Elysian Realm found out she was here, she would surely be ecstatic—likely even trying to manipulate Gray Serpent into capturing her for some twisted experiment.

Time began to slip away as Cocolia sat there, lost in thought.

It was a grueling wait for her. Her mind kept wandering to the secrets of the Elysian Realm.

Elysia, the Thirteen Flame-Chasers—if she eventually entered the realm and met those MANTIS Soldiers from the Previous Era, what kind of chaotic fun would ensue?

One thing was certain: since she could only turn into beautiful girls, Elysia would be incredibly interested in her! And because she could keep shifting into different people, she must look like a never-ending puzzle to Elysia, a riddle that could never be solved.

Then there was Mobius. That research-obsessed maniac who looked like a total yandere. She would definitely be fascinated by her existence. Who knows, she might even try to dissect one of her transformed personas to see what made her tick.

And eventually, she would probably conspire with Vill-V to figure out the mechanics behind her transformations.

They might even force Hua to use the Fenghuang Down to enter her mind and read her memories.

Just thinking about it was a headache.

Cocolia still didn't know if they were actually capable of that. But deep down, she had a hunch—as a traveler with a "cheat code," it wouldn't be easy for others to infiltrate her mind or her powers.

Time continued to drift by.

When Cocolia finally snapped out of her stupor and saw that the data on the panel had stopped scrolling, she realized she had lost track of time. She glanced at a grandfather clock in the room.

It was...

Oh.

It was already that late.

A flicker of curiosity rose in her chest. Less than an hour left before her current transformation ended?

How interesting.

The thought that her transformation would end so quietly left her feeling a bit unsettled.

Knock, knock.

Her heart skipped a beat—or at least, it would have, if she still possessed a literal heart.

"Come in."

As she spoke, the door slid open, and Gray Serpent stepped inside.

"Supreme Guardian," he bowed, his voice low and respectful. "I apologize for the intrusion."

"What is it?"

Cocolia set the data panel down and turned to face him calmly.

"I have come to inform you of something, Supreme Guardian," Gray Serpent straightened, his glowing red ocular lens locking onto hers. "In exactly one hour, you will be leaving this world."

Cocolia listened in silence, as if reflecting or feeling a sense of nostalgia. After a moment, she nodded. "I know."

"May I ask if you have managed to memorize all the data?" A hint of probing crept into his voice.

Cocolia nodded lightly. "Do not worry, I have committed all of it to memory."

That wasn't a lie—she had indeed memorized the shapes and patterns. However... she hadn't understood a single bit of the actual content.

"In that case, I am relieved," Gray Serpent replied. "Is there anything else I can assist you with, Supreme Guardian?"

Cocolia looked at him, silent for a moment, then shook her head.

"That will be enough."

"Then I shall take my leave. Should you need anything, I am at your disposal."

Gray Serpent turned and walked out with crisp, decisive movements, looking exactly like someone who didn't want anything from her.

Cocolia was glad for it. At the very least, she was certain that Gray Serpent wanted to keep her here, and that he likely had a new scheme waiting for the moment her transformation wore off.

Cocolia turned back toward the window, silently admiring the view of the Previous Era. She felt a surge of anticipation and curiosity—what kind of persona would she end up as next?

If she could become Seele, that would be wonderful. She suspected that if she turned into Seele, Elysia would be absolutely bursting with excitement!

The clock ticked down to the final moments. Cocolia guessed that Gray Serpent was probably already waiting nearby with his team. She couldn't help but fix her eyes on the grandfather clock, watching the second hand make its final rotation, ticking rhythmically toward the end...

And then...

Cocolia vanished into thin air.

Knock, knock.

"Supreme Guardian?"

There was no answer.

The door slid open, and Gray Serpent walked in. His gaze landed on the empty space by the window. He stood there in silence for a while, waiting patiently.

But...

Time ticked away, second by second, and no new person appeared.

Gray Serpent wasn't impatient; he simply waited.

Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then twenty.

Still nothing.

The light in Gray Serpent's electronic eye flickered rapidly, as if he were deep in thought.

"Cocolia," he said, his voice changing as if he were speaking into a communicator. "She has departed. Did any new otherworldly visitor appear on your end?"

"Hmm... continue observing."

The connection cut off.

Gray Serpent waited a few more minutes, but there was still no one.

He let out a quiet sigh and was just about to leave when a sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor, accompanied by a young soldier’s panicked shout: "Lord Gray Serpent! Lord Gray Serpent!"

Gray Serpent turned toward the door. A soldier burst in, face deathly pale, his eyes wide with a terror that suggested he had seen a ghost.

"What is the meaning of this?" Gray Serpent asked, his voice still calm, though his electronic eye narrowed, scrutinizing the soldier as if he were a living human being.

"The base... the base..." The soldier gasped for air, his words jagged. "A lot of things... they're missing!"

"What?"

"All sorts of things!" The soldier’s hands were shaking. "The bathtubs! The teapots! Weapons and supplies from the warehouse! And the valuables we had in the safe! They’re all gone!"

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 120

--+--

"Everything is gone?"

Gray Serpent's cybernetic eye fixed unblinkingly on the soldier, his tone laced with an unsettling, clinical intensity.

"Y-yes! Every bit of it!" The soldier swallowed hard, his skin crawling under the intense scrutiny of that glowing ocular implant. "We checked everywhere! It’s like the items just vanished into thin air. No signs of a breach, no alarms tripped, and the security footage didn't pick up a single anomaly!"

"Nothing on the cameras?"

"Nothing!" The soldier's voice strained toward the edge of a breakdown. "When the bathtub was stolen, someone was actually taking a bath in it. In the blink of an eye, the tub and the water just... evaporated! The poor guy was left hovering in mid-air for a split second before crashing to the floor!"

Gray Serpent fell silent, processing the information. After a moment, he asked, "Anything else?"

"There is this." The soldier's voice dropped to a nervous murmur. He reached into his pocket and cautiously held out an object. "We found these in several locations."

Gray Serpent took it, lowering his gaze.

It was a gold coin.

Engraved on the front was a stylized, abstract cat head. It was round, with two upright ears—simple, almost cartoonish in its abstraction. On the back... there was an inscription.

Gray Serpent’s mechanical eye zoomed in on the characters.

A job well done~

He stared at the coin for a long, heavy silence.

A cat head. A gold coin. Theft.

Connecting these dots, a specific Flame-Chaser came to mind:

Pardofelis.

If he wasn't mistaken, it had to be her. She was the only one with the uncanny ability to slip out of a room unnoticed and loot an entire base within twenty minutes.

Still... it felt like a declaration. A taunt. A "Veni, Vidi, Vici" for the petty thief.

According to the records, Pardofelis didn't operate like this. She usually vanished with her prize before anyone even knew it was missing.

After a long pause, Gray Serpent said in a low, composed voice, "Lock down the entire base. No one enters or leaves."

"Understood!"

"And..." Gray Serpent hesitated, "Broadcast information about World Serpent, including the history of its predecessor, to the entire base."

The soldier blinked, surprised by the command, but he nodded and hurried off to comply.

Once the soldier was gone, Gray Serpent turned and began walking down the corridor, heading step-by-step toward the Elysian Realm.

At the entrance of the Elysian Realm…

"So many goodies here~" A petite figure sat perched on the edge of a ventilation duct, swinging her legs. She held a cherry in her hand, her pink tongue flicking playfully around it.

Heh heh heh heh~

This transformation perfectly catered to one of Cipher’s favorite pastimes: hoarding!

The moment she arrived in this world, she’d slipped out of the room at a speed even Gray Serpent’s sensors couldn't track, snagging everything she found remotely interesting across the entire base.

Best of all, this form came with a built-in storage space, and every single treasure she’d snatched was safely tucked away inside.

Gulp.

She popped the cherry into her mouth, chewed for a moment, then spat the pit onto the floor, completely indifferent to whether she’d be caught.

After all, that was the calling card she’d left for Gray Serpent.

"Now then..." Cipher pushed off the vent, dropping silently to the corridor floor. Her boots landed on the hard, paved stone without making a single sound.

Like a real cat, she was light, agile, and utterly soundless.

She glanced curiously down the long, shadowed corridor. She remembered from the game—this was the path to the Elysian Realm.

"Well, I’m already here. Might as well take a look~"

Cipher began to walk, stepping into the deep darkness of the hallway. The walls were thick, ancient stone, and the floor was coated in dust, suggesting it hadn't seen a visitor in ages.

The ground was uneven, worn down by time, creating a bumpy texture under her feet.

The air was thick with the scent of stagnant dust.

She felt a sneeze building, but she suppressed it and carefully pressed forward.

In the gloom, her blue eyes glowed faintly. Being a cat-girl had its perks—this darkness had no effect on her at all. She could see everything clearly, her tail swaying rhythmically behind her.

Cipher was already musing to herself: once she was in a safe spot, she’d have to examine her new ears and tail properly to see how sensitive they were.

After all, if the light novels were anything to go by, a cat-girl’s tail was quite... useful.

"How long has it been since anyone was here?" she muttered to herself. "Still... I have a feeling there’s a surprise waiting for me inside~"

After walking for about seven or eight minutes, Cipher finally stepped into a wide-open space.

It was nothing like the narrow, ancient tunnel. This was a massive hall with alloy-reinforced walls. It was sparse and hollow, save for a raised dais at the very front.

On the dais sat a metallic chair, seamlessly built into the wall like a throne. The back of the chair was high, stamped with the unmistakable emblem of World Serpent.

The moment Cipher saw that chair, her footsteps halted, and her eyes lit up.

She recognized this place! This was exactly where Kevin sat in the comics.

"Found it~" Cipher flashed an excited, curious grin and skipped toward it.

Her boots tapped against the metal floor, the sound echoing endlessly through the empty hall. Reaching the seat, she didn't hesitate; she spun around and plopped herself down, her tail swishing happily behind her.

"So... so hard. But this is where Kevin sat, right? It feels pretty grand~" She let out a contented sigh, feeling like she’d claimed the throne herself.

Her mind began to race. It was such a comfortable seat, but she wasn't about to leave it behind. She was going to dismantle it and take it with her!

Just as she started to hop off to figure out how to pry the throne from the wall, her ears suddenly twitched and stood straight up.

From the tunnel behind her, a steady, measured set of footsteps began to approach.

She knew exactly who it was.

Gray Serpent.

"Already caught up, have you?" A pleased smile played on Cipher’s lips. She hopped off the seat, took one last look at the prize, and then—in a blur of motion—she vanished.

A split second later, the seat, along with a chunk of the metal wall it was anchored to, vanished entirely.

"Perfect!"

Cipher beamed at the giant throne now resting in her storage space. With another flicker of movement, she disappeared from the hall just as the footsteps in the tunnel grew closer.

--+--

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