208. Vill-V's Resolve
Yes, Vill-V had been placed under Aponia's control.
"What are you doing!" Vill-V clutched her forehead, staggering back a few steps.
"I'm sorry, I can't let you take any risks. Little Ling, whether you hate me or resent me, I absolutely cannot let you go there," Aponia said calmly.
However, the next second, countless guns were aimed at her.
"Aponia, you are suspected of attacking a member of the Fire Moth. Please come with us."
As one of the top Grand Mechanics within the Fire Moth, Vill-V was still relatively respected.
The Fire Moth noticed her the moment Aponia stopped Vill-V.
But facing so many people, Aponia's expression remained unchanged. Invisible ripples spread around her, and then they all lowered their weapons and automatically retreated to the side.
Vill-V gritted her teeth; no one could withstand this incredibly powerful mental force. Although she could barely be considered a psychic-sensory fusion warrior, the difference between her and Aponia was like heaven and earth.
Moreover, her mind had been implanted with 'Commandments,' making it impossible for her to even consider going to the 'Divine Grace Barrier.'
"You can't do this, Aponia."
A pink figure quietly appeared beside Aponia.
"Elysia..." Aponia softly called her name.
"You guessed it!" Elysia jumped out from the side, placing her hand on Aponia's shoulder.
"Are you here to stop me, too?" Aponia asked.
"Yes, I must stop you," Elysia said with a smile.
Elysia was someone Aponia couldn't understand in terms of fate, and someone she couldn't control with her Commandments.
Elysia didn't know the reason, but she knew that if Elysia truly wanted to stop her, she was powerless.
Fortunately, the Commandments had been implanted; at least this time, it would ensure Vill-V's safety. Aponia was taken away by Elysia, but Aponia still underestimated Vill-V.
At this moment, an emergency meeting was held in Vill-V's mind.
'Conductor': I'll take on the responsibility of upholding the commandments. Although I bear the responsibility of commandments, there's not much actually needed for me. You all have your own ideas.
'Grand Magician': I disagree. Just because it's not needed now doesn't mean it won't be needed later. How can a decision-maker just disappear? I think I can do it. Anyway, I only bring a little joy to everyone. Any other Vill-V could do it.
'Mystic Scholar': You bring not only joy but also novel ideas. In this era, this kind of thinking is indispensable. So let me do it. My pharmacology and astrology aren't very useful.
'Hundred Flavors': No, your talents aren't limited to pharmacology; you also have biology. Now, Mobius and Dr. Mei need you. Astrology is also necessary. Don't we already have a Project Ark? The executor hasn't been decided yet, and if it were you, you'd be indispensable. I think I'm most suitable to bear the commandment; as for eating, there shouldn't be any problem within the Fire Moth.
The group held differing opinions, each wanting to be the one to bear the 'commandment'.
This was Vill-V's method of self-preservation: let one of her personalities bear the 'commandment', then let her die, and wouldn't the 'commandment' disappear?
The Expert and the Transcendent remained silent; they absolutely could not be abandoned, so they were not among the choices.
But one person remained silent.
'Lecturer': Alright, stop arguing, let me do it.
The lecturer decisively accepted this certain death mission.
"I disagree," the Conductor shook her head.
'Lecturer': Sigh, give me a chance to prove myself. I've finally managed to play a small role. If all else fails... consider it punishment for being the first to betray the 'Vill-V Treaty'.
'Conductor': ...If all else fails, let's vote anonymously.
Seeing no one object, the Conductor produced a box.
Each person wrote down their vote in the box.
The final results came out quickly.
'Lecturer' 3 votes, 'Conductor' 1 vote, 'Great Magician' 1 vote, 'Mystic Scholar' 1 vote, 'Hundred Flavors' 1 vote.
Unsurprisingly, all the Vill-Vs present, except for the Experts and Transcendents, voted for themselves, but the Experts and Transcendents voted for the 'Lecturer'.
They analyzed the situation rationally and concluded that the 'Lecturer' was the best choice.
"Goodbye, everyone. Remember to be a good older sister to Ling and protect him well. I'll be going now." The Lecturer smiled resignedly, bidding farewell to the Vill-Vs with feigned ease.
"...It's alright. If nothing unexpected happens, we'll be there to join you soon," the Conductor said earnestly.
In an instant, all the 'commandments' converged upon her, the lecturer's body emitting a faint glow before slowly disappearing from Vill-V's mental space.
With her vanished, so too did her assigned area—the small classroom with only one seat.
"I don't know how much longer I can hold Ling off, but Ling should have sensed something. Let's act quickly."
The Sonductor closed her eyes and spoke to the other Vill-Vs.
"Yes."
After clearing the commandments, Vill-V rushed to the front lines as quickly as possible.
She needed to verify a number: the upper limit of the 'Divine Grace Barrier'.
This was something only she could do.
Gazing at the transparent membrane in the distance, Vill-V paused for a moment, then resolutely stepped inside.
Just as she stepped inside, Vill-V felt all the strength drain from her body, and she collapsed to her knees.
"The experiment...begins! I'll go first..."
Vill-V held a counting device in her hand.
Her fingers pressed the counter button incessantly, the numbers jumping steadily.
1, 2, 3... 17, 18, 19... 41, 42, 43...
When the number reached 121, Vill-V's hand paused.
"Is it over? Then it's my turn."
Vill-V continued this meaningless act, the counter still increasing.
When the number reached 274, Vill-V's hand paused again.
"My turn, my turn." Vill-V gave a bitter smile.
Each increase in the number meant their personalities had been severed once.
She wanted to test just how much this divine grace barrier could withstand.
The Conductor was severed 121 times, Hundred Flavor 153 times, the Grand Magician 314 times, the Mystic Scholar 177 times, and the Expert 735 times!
However, the number still hadn't reached the limit.
"You call me arrogant? You're all far more arrogant than I am!" The Transcendent Vill-V couldn't help but sneer.
The count continued to rise with each split of her personality.
The total quickly reached two thousand, already showing signs of saturation, but not yet at its limit.
2100...2200...2300...
The Transcendent Vill-V felt her eyelids growing heavier, and the frequency of her finger presses decreased.
2400...2500...2600...
Finally, the final number settled at 2871.
And Transcendent Vill-V... Her hand finally stopped.
"This…this…must…be sent…to…the Fire Chaser…"
The Transcendent Vill-V ultimately could no longer control this body.
Fortunately, a green figure quickly approached from a distance.
Mobius checked her bodily functions; thankfully, she was still alive.
She hurriedly took Vill-V to a safe location and injected her with some potions to restore her vitality.
Vill-V quickly woke up.
"Yo, isn't this Vill-V? What's wrong? You look so disheveled."
Mobius finally had the mind to mock her.
Vill-V held her head, squatting there, refusing to speak, letting out a few sobs.
"Ling…Ling…everyone…is gone…everyone…is gone…"
"Hey, Vill-V, what's wrong with you? You're making me feel so inferior, letting you, my former opponent, slip away." Mobius frowned, wondering what had happened to Vill-V.
"Ling...Ling..." Vill-V suddenly fainted.
Mebius tilted her head, then noticed a small notebook tucked in her pocket.
She opened the notebook and read it, her eyes wide with shock. This was Vill-V's plan.
"To split one's personality to the limit of the Divine Grace Barrier...that's truly insane." Mobius's lips twitched slightly.
If this wasn't handled properly, Vill-V would become an idiot.
The counter showed 2871 counts, meaning the Divine Grace Barrier's maximum capacity was 2871?
But the total number of MANTIS Warriors inside the Fire Moth had barely exceeded that limit.
Really, was it such a coincidence?
Or was the Honkai meant to annihilate all the MANTIS Warriors?
Mobius didn't speak, but simply sent the number to Dr. Mei and briefly explained the reasoning.
Soon, all the MANTIS Warriors received the order.
The order was only one sentence:
"Fill the Divine Grace Barrier!"
...