"Oh, so Sister Sakura has a past like that." Little Corruption nodded as she listened to Elysia's account from the side. "Then where is Sister Sakura right now?"
"Blocking the door to my laboratory." Mobius cast a sideways glance at Little Corruption. "And she somehow managed to retrieve the Seven Thunders of Retribution from somewhere."
"And judging by her hesitant attitude, I assume Kalpas must have told her something he shouldn't have."
It was precisely because of this that the two of them were either teaming up to block her door, or taking turns doing it. As for where Kalpas went when he wasn't there?
The Deep End. Klein couldn't possibly miss the flames constantly erupting from that direction. However, that nun should be coming out soon anyway.
Mobius didn't believe that with Aponia's personality, she would hide forever. Once Rin woke up, that woman would eventually have to emerge.
Whether she intended to apologize or seek atonement, Aponia had to come out eventually. And even if Aponia didn't come out, given Kalpas's volcano-level temper...
100%, without even needing to guess, he would definitely drag Rin along and kick the door down directly.
"Well, it was impossible to keep it hidden forever, anyway." Elysia shook her head. They had been able to keep it a secret before simply because Sakura didn't want to ask, and everyone else refused to speak of it.
If Sakura truly wanted to find the answer, she could have asked many people and would have learned the truth sooner or later. Now that Rin had returned, it was only normal for Sakura to want to know the truth.
And Kalpas... Kalpas had always been a very considerate person. If Sakura begged him, it was a foregone conclusion that Kalpas would spill everything.
As for Aponia, Elysia could only cross herself and watch from the sidelines to prevent any major issues. After all, this was a matter Elysia really couldn't interfere in easily.
Rin was truly a victim of Aponia. Otherwise, Kalpas wouldn't have held such intense rage toward Aponia for so long.
Of course, back then, every single one of them was technically at fault. It was just...
"Eh, it feels like the atmosphere has become a bit heavy." Little Corruption keenly sensed that everyone around her had fallen somewhat silent. She scratched her head, not understanding the specifics of the matter.
In her world, although she got along very well with everyone, it was obvious that there were still things the group hadn't spoken about. Especially since this clearly looked like a wound that shouldn't be reopened, they naturally wouldn't talk about it casually.
"Hmph, because there was nothing good to talk about regarding this topic to begin with." Mobius waved her hand. "An ability whose principles weren't understood, used by a group of people who didn't understand the specific consequences, messing around together to produce a result."
"Everyone was pushed to their limits back then. If Aponia hadn't issued that Discipline, perhaps everyone would have collapsed first..." Elysia could only try to absolve her close friend of a little bit of the responsibility.
After all, when Aponia placed the Discipline on everyone back then, they were all aware of it and had consented. Humanity at that time had truly been pushed to the absolute brink.
Especially after experiencing the Herrscher of the Legion. The previous Herrschers had already dismantled two continents, and the destroyed nations were countless. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been left with only the final three cities.
That wasn't the illusory apocalypse depicted in stories, but a literal reality where only three lingering cities remained, struggling for their last breath.
The psychological pressure on the people living in those cities could be imagined—living in daily terror, wondering if the Honkai would destroy them one day. And this fear, the pressure on the soldiers fighting on the front lines, was the same, if not even more terrifying.
Aside from newborns, everyone who lived to that point had watched a once incomparably glorious civilization decline step by step to that state.
If ordinary people were like this, there was no need to mention the soldiers fighting the Honkai head-on at the front lines.
Yes, they won, but could that really be called a victory? The land they could protect grew smaller and smaller, the cities that could survive became fewer and fewer, and the people they could protect dwindled.
Originally, everyone could still pin their hopes on the MANTISes continuing to protect them. At least at that time, MANTIS technology had indeed begun to mature, gradually becoming capable of withstanding each Honkai attack with minimal losses.
Then, just when everyone placed their hopes on the MANTISes again, hoping they could protect everyone, Binding descended.
People hadn't even begun to pray. The objects of their hope were reduced to just those thirteen individuals. The string of human rationality had long since been pulled taut, or even snapped.
During that period, the leading cause of death might not have been Honkai attacks or Honkai infection, but collective suicide.
Every person, every soldier's spirit had been stretched to the limit. Just a little more force would snap it directly. Or perhaps, for many people, it had already snapped back then.
No one felt there was any hope. If things continued like that, the entire human civilization would have self-destructed without the Honkai even needing to make a move.
It was precisely because of this that MEI had Aponia place that Discipline on everyone, so that they wouldn't completely collapse.
It was just that no one had expected that Discipline would be taken to such an extreme by everyone, to the point that humanity pressed the button of their own destruction with their own hands.
"I know." Mobius didn't intend to push all the blame onto Aponia. "That's why I said it was a result of a group of people messing around."
Little Corruption scratched her head. She could feel the atmosphere around her becoming even more stifling. Her sentence just now was meant to shift the topic, but she hadn't expected it to backfire, making the mood among the group even worse.
Irene patted Little Corruption on the shoulder. When Little Corruption looked over, Irene shook her head, signaling her not to speak further. This matter was already set in stone; there was no point in discussing it further.
Catching Irene's meaning keenly, Little Corruption nodded and fell silent, simply following Mobius and the others toward the laboratory.
Before long, the group arrived in front of Mobius's laboratory. At this moment, a visibly displeased Kalpas and a calm-faced Sakura were standing or leaning against the lab wall, looking at the group that had just emerged from the portal.
"Hmm?" Kalpas looked at Little Corruption and frowned. "What is the deal with this guy?"
"Mm, she's my little sister~" Elysia grabbed Little Corruption. "Kalpas, look, we look very alike, don't we? How about it? Is my little sister very cute?"
Little Corruption immediately understood Elysia's intent and nodded repeatedly in agreement. "That's right. Brother Kalpas, hello Sister Sakura. I am Elder Sister Elysia's little sister."
"..." Kalpas crossed his arms, wearing an expression that said 'Do I look like I believe you?' "Tell me the truth. Do you think I'm blind and can't see the imprint this guy is carrying? Elysia."
"Mm, alright, I forgot about that~" Elysia looked somewhat regretful that her prank hadn't succeeded. "Mm, she is Little Corruption. As for the situation, although it's a bit complicated..."
"But it's the same as Little Pardo and Irene."
"Another guy from a parallel world?" Kalpas glanced at Little Corruption. "Then what did you bring her here for? Does this guy have a problem?"
"Brother Kalpas is still as, mm, as always..." Little Corruption deliberated on her phrasing. "Explosive as ever. It's really great that this hasn't changed."
Upon hearing Little Corruption's words, Kalpas raised an eyebrow beneath his mask. "It seems you do have brain problems. Also, I am not the Kalpas you know. Don't think I'll acknowledge you just because you carry my imprint."
The imprint on Little Corruption wasn't hard to perceive—or rather, she was practically displaying those things openly now. So, Kalpas had realized the issue the moment he saw her.
But even if this guy in front of him had obtained it in that world, so what? He hadn't acknowledged her yet, so it meant nothing to him.
"It doesn't matter. We just need to get to know each other again." Little Corruption wasn't surprised by Kalpas's words. After all, this was Kalpas.
Mobius didn't participate in their idle chatter. She walked to the door on her own, turned back, and looked at the group who seemed intent on continuing their chat.
"Alright, if you plan to keep chatting, I don't recommend it. But I don't know how long that little fellow inside can wait."
"Dr. Mobius, do you have a lead on my sister's treatment plan?" Sakura, who had originally intended to stay silent, immediately looked up upon hearing Mobius's words.
"This fellow is a Herrscher of Corruption from a parallel world." Mobius pointed at Little Corruption. "Although I'm not clear on the specifics, seeing how she can get along with Elysia like this, at least her brain isn't that of a bad person."
Although Mobius and Elysia appeared to be at odds, it was obvious that while she might look down on Elysia in other areas, Mobius could still trust this idiot's character a little bit.
Their imprints weren't that easy to snatch. Even for the Corruption, one had to obtain their acknowledgment openly and honestly to acquire them.
Others were easy to talk about; one could obtain their imprints mainly by being acknowledged for certain traits. For instance, that person from a while ago—what was she called? Jackal, it seemed—had come to visit her.
Although she had some petty schemes, Jackal was passable in scientific research. It was precisely because of this that she had received a tiny bit of guidance and her imprint.
But Elysia's imprint could definitely be called the hardest to obtain. Over so many years, there had been many successors who came in, but very few could formally gain Elysia's acknowledgment.
Although she flirted with plenty of girls, that fellow rarely gave her imprint away. The fact that Little Corruption before them could have it proved that this guy at least passed the test in terms of character. Of course, looks as well, since this guy had copied Elysia herself.
However, Irene probably could have obtained it too. Given how much Irene had done, it would be strange if she didn't get it. It was just a matter of time and how that fellow planned to give it.
As for herself... she would wait until this guy finished the course she prepared. Consider it a small gift from a teacher to a student.
"Is the Herrscher of Corruption the same as Rin?" Sakura turned her head to look at Little Corruption, the burning intensity in her eyes causing Little Corruption to involuntarily take a step back.
Little Corruption scratched her head and looked at Sakura. "Wow, this is really the first time I've seen Sister Sakura this agitated. Mm, but Sister Sakura, I have to say this: regarding treating a Herrscher of Corruption, I have never encountered this specific situation."
"So I can only do my best. So please, you absolutely must not pin too much hope on me."
"It doesn't matter, as long as there is a sliver of hope." Sakura shook her head. "The situation can't get any worse anyway."
"Ah, it seems the situation isn't optimistic." Little Corruption looked at Mobius. "Then, Sister Mobius, how about we go in and check the situation first?"
"Come on in. You've already wasted enough time." Mobius walked into the laboratory, first glancing at Danzhu and Cangxuan, who seemed to be working diligently.
After confirming that they appeared to be working seriously, Mobius withdrew her gaze and led Little Corruption into the innermost experimental zone.
"Oh, is it this one?" Little Corruption looked at Rin, who was sleeping quietly in the stasis pod, as soon as she entered. "It's a dormancy caused by the soul being unable to maintain self-awareness due to a lack of Corruption virus."
"It seems you really are more professional than I am." Mobius looked at Little Corruption. Mm, no need to read any reports; she guessed the situation correctly with just one glance.
It seemed professional matters should ultimately be left to professionals. Letting a Herrscher of Corruption solve a Herrscher of Corruption's problem was indeed the most suitable approach.
Little Corruption waved her hand, rejecting Mobius's statement. "Oh, that's not it. It's just that I've seen too many situations like this. Although, mm, the circumstances were different, the principle is the same."
When she created that Realm, she had also recompiled human minds using the Corruption virus. Only in this way could she incorporate those human souls into her Core, which was essentially adding them to her Paradise.
After all, the Spiritual Adam wasn't that easy to invade. Without undergoing such a process, even a Herrscher of Corruption would find it difficult to embed the Realm she created into it, let alone protect other humans.
But after all, as a single-core Herrscher, her output was ultimately limited. In the end, the number of people she could protect was only a few.
But Little Corruption, having inherited Elysia, was by no means satisfied. After all, the more people she could protect and keep lucid, the more she could, in a sense, extend the life of the Spiritual Adam.
Even if it was just extending it by a second, it was precious to Little Corruption. But regrettably, Little Corruption's capacity ultimately had an upper limit. So she had no choice but to let a portion of the protected people remain lucid while the other portion fell into slumber.
Those sleeping people were in a state almost identical to Rin's current condition. By extracting the majority of the Corruption virus, their souls were put into a temporary dormancy.
So she saw Rin's current condition at a glance. Her soul was intact, but there was too little Corruption virus supporting her soul.
"In other words, you have a way, right?"
"That's right." Little Corruption nodded confidently. She had wondered what kind of situation it would be, but wasn't this playing right into her hands?
She had spent a very long time achieving the technology to ensure everyone's consciousness was preserved by the virus while simultaneously not being affected by the imprint belonging to her carried within the Corruption virus~
"Anyway, leave this matter to me. I'll return a healthy younger sister to Sister Sakura right away~"
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