"Catching a meteor barehanded… really, Elias? Only you could pull that off. I can't compete, not even close."
Kevin looked at the meteor before him with a complex expression.
He could almost picture it—the scene of the [Reverse God] Elias flying into space, spotting a stray meteor drifting by, then chasing it down for fun and catching it mid-flight.
…Yeah. That actually sounded kind of entertaining.
Kevin lowered his gaze to his own hands. Maybe, someday, he should try it too. If the [Reverse God] could do it, then surely his [Diabolic] form could manage it as well.
Truth be told, the cratered meteor didn't look all that appealing, but Elysia, Mobius, and Mei seemed to adore it.
"Haha~ My Eli is the best! You're the first person in history to pluck a star from the sky as a gift for a girl!"
"Mm, yes. Thank you, Elias. I've always wanted a meteor for my collection."
Elysia and Mei each kissed one of his cheeks. Looking at the radiant [Reverse God] before them, they couldn't help feeling they'd gained an incredible bargain.
They'd just kissed an angel!
"As long as you're happy, then plucking a star or two is nothing."
Elias pouted briefly over the fact that neither kiss had landed on his lips, then proudly patted his chest. In his current state, there was nothing he couldn't do. Catching a star? Child's play!
"My dear little lab rat, you truly never fail to surprise me," Mobius said, her excitement barely contained. "But forget the meteor—what fascinates me most right now is you. Come, let me see for myself."
She stepped closer, eyes gleaming as she studied the shining figure before her. [Reverse God]—what a fitting name, she thought.
An angel defying the divine itself.
If the Honkai were a god seeking to destroy civilization, then Elias was the angel sent to descend and save it.
Mobius could feel her heart race uncontrollably. The angel before her—noble, beautiful, powerful, and limitless—was beyond anything she had ever conceived. He embodied her lifelong pursuit of [Infinity] itself… and perhaps even surpassed it.
Discreetly, she wiped a bit of drool from her lips.
(Alright, fine—I admit it. I want him. I really want to study that body. Maybe even… collect some of his genetic material. Yes. Tonight. I'll act tonight!)
Of course, that plan wouldn't be easy. After all, she wasn't the only one eyeing him. The pink-haired elf beside her and Dr. Mei both subtly swallowed as well.
"I can't accept this~~!"
Kevin's sudden outburst startled everyone.
"Hm? What's wrong, Kevin?"
"Elias, seriously—how did you pull that off? I'm starting to think we didn't even go through the same Chimera experiment! Why is your artificial cascade so elegant while mine looks like a final boss villain?! It's not fair!"
"So, you don't like your [Diabolic] form?"
"Eh… it's fine, actually. Still looks cool."
Kevin scratched his head awkwardly. His [Diabolic] might not have the grace or splendor of Elias' [Reverse God], but the chaotic, menacing vibe had its own style too.
Still, the gap between them was enormous. He couldn't forget that when Elias had stepped out of his pod, he'd instantly conjured that majestic, gold-and-purple armor. Kevin had tried doing the same earlier… and failed completely. The injustice burned deep.
"Don't worry, Kevin," Elias said with a reassuring smile. "Our results may differ, but we're both undeniably Chimeras now."
"Yeah, yeah, sure—but tell me how you did it! If you don't, I won't sleep tonight!"
"Oh, that? I suppose it's because I defeated and subdued all fifty thousand Honkai Beast consciousnesses."
"...Damn it. You win. I can't compete."
Kevin twitched at the corner of his mouth, utterly defeated. Just picturing fifty thousand Honkai Beasts swarming toward him made his body shudder.
Now that he himself had become a Chimera, he feared nothing—but before that? Back when he was merely an Emperor-class MANTIS… yeah, he definitely would've died trying.
Even with all his talent, there was no way Kevin could've defeated the consciousnesses of more than fifty thousand Honkai Beasts. The thought alone made him feel even more respect for the white-haired boy before him.
(I give up. Elias, you really haven't changed—you keep doing things I couldn't even imagine myself achieving.)
As Mobius ran her scans, her eyes grew brighter and brighter. Kevin's [Diabolic] form had already exceeded experimental expectations several times over—but Elias' results? Dozens of times stronger.
After hearing Elias' explanation, both Mobius and Mei quickly realized why there was such a massive difference between their two outcomes.
Mei adjusted her glasses thoughtfully. "I see… so that's where the gap lies. Fascinating—and perfectly reasonable when you think about it."
Mobius nodded. "I understand now. Relying on Fenghuang Down to stabilize consciousness may have ensured safety, but it also severed the possibility of further evolution. The difference between the two results couldn't be starker."
[Diabolic] Kevin and [Reverse God] Elias.
The former had been overwhelmed by the countless Honkai Beast consciousnesses. Though Fenghuang Down protected Kevin's mind from destruction, his defeat in that mental war remained a fact.
Because Kevin couldn't conquer those willful instincts, the Honkai Beasts' meta-morphic factors scattered chaotically within his body—hence the wild, unstable nature of [Diabolic].
Elias, on the other hand, did the exact opposite. He hadn't used Fenghuang Down to shield his mind. He fought every single one of those fifty thousand Honkai Beast consciousnesses in a brutal, endless battle—never retreating, never faltering.
In the end, Elias had not only defeated them all but subjugated them, forcing them into obedience and arranging their meta-morphic factors in perfect order within his body.
That was the reason [Reverse God] shone with such divine majesty.
"Still, isn't the difference too extreme?" Mobius muttered. "One's Honkai energy sits at two hundred thousand HW, while the other's at six hundred thousand. That's triple the power output."
Of course, Mobius had no idea that Elias had undergone the procedure not just as a human—but as a Herrscher and a being of [Palatinus]. If she did, she might have realized that this threefold difference was actually conservative.
"Well then, Kevin," Elias said suddenly, a spark of mischief in his golden eyes, "care to have a little match?"
He could barely resist the urge to beat up this smug pseudo-demon, this Diabolic dog of a man.
Kevin's face twitched, and he immediately took a few steps back. There was no way he'd accept a fight he knew he'd lose. Sure, he might act reckless, but that didn't mean he was actually stupid.
He just preferred not to overthink things…
"No thanks. I'm not in the mood to get wrecked today. But don't get too proud, Elias. I'm sure I've still got room to grow."
"Perhaps." Elias arched a brow, smirking slightly. "But for now, you're still a few steps behind."
He couldn't help but think about Kevin's future—the day when he would gain the power of Finality and ascend as [Deliverance] Kevin, his ultimate form.
In that future, even Elias' [Reverse God] might not stand a chance.
But that was still far away…
(And besides, I've already reserved the Power of Finality for myself. Sorry, Kevin, but there's no way I'm letting you get your paws on it.)
Elias wasn't being selfish, of course—it was for Kevin's own good. The Power of Finality wasn't something just anyone could endure.
Even though a Chimera like [Diabolic] could theoretically wield that power and become unmatched, the pain would be beyond comprehension—an eternal torment no sane mind could bear.
Kevin, the cheerful and bright young man he was now, would crumble under it. The agony would break him long before the strength did.
So yes—Elias decided, this burden was his to carry.
After all, if he didn't claim the power of Finality, it would be a waste of this body that the Honkai god had personally modified.
"Anyway, if you don't want to spar, that's fine," Elias said suddenly, his eyes lighting up with an idea. "But I do have a perfect opponent for you. Interested?"
"Oh? Let's hear it first," Kevin replied, both wary and intrigued.
He really wanted to test his new strength against a worthy foe—but this was Elias they were talking about. There was no telling what kind of monster he might throw his way.
And while Kevin was confident that, as long as Elias didn't intervene personally, there wasn't a being on Earth who could best him… he still knew better than to underestimate whatever Elias came up with.
"Relax—it's someone on par with you."
"What?" ×4
Everyone froze at Elias' words.
Mobius, Mei, and Elysia all stared at him in disbelief. It was no wonder—how could there possibly exist another being equal in power to Kevin, a Chimera wielding 200,000 HW of Honkai energy?
Aside from Elias himself, such a monster shouldn't even exist.
And yet… it did.
"Follow me. This place is too small."
"Fine! Let's see what you've got!"
...
The group soon arrived above the vast open sea, where Elias had been earlier. The endless horizon stretched before them—wide enough to serve as the perfect stage.
"Come forth—my Chimera, Heaven Devourer!"
ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR!!!
"W-what?!"
Elias had reverted from his [Reverse God] state, but the instant he called out Heaven Devourer's name, nine thunderous roars echoed across the heavens, shaking the entire world.
The next moment, his violet-gold armor burst apart into radiant light, separating from his body and shooting across the ocean. Under the stunned gazes of the others, it reformed into a colossal Honkai Beast above the waves.
ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR!!!
The nine roars shook heaven and earth. Even Elysia trembled slightly, her pink hair fluttering in the sheer force of its breath.
The creature before them was immense—its body stretched over ten thousand meters long, covered in crimson scales, each the size of a house. Its four limbs were not bulky, but each claw gleamed like a sharpened blade. Its massive tail stretched for kilometers, ending in a split lined with jagged barbs. And most striking of all—
It had nine heads.
Each of its draconic necks bore a head crowned with a glowing amethyst, all connected to the same titanic body. Yet rather than monstrous, its form was majestic—like a divine beast born from ancient myth, radiating dominance and grandeur.
"A C-Chimera?!" Mobius gasped.
She instantly realized what she was seeing. This creature, emanating an aura far beyond even a Vipralopa-class Honkai Beast, was the result of Elias' countless Honkai Beast genes merging into one—the ultimate fusion.
Project Chimera had only been named after the concept of merging all meta-morphic factors into a single entity—but Elias had literally created a true Chimera Honkai Beast!
And not just any Chimera—a nine-headed one, reminiscent of the god of destruction that rivaled creation itself in legend.
"It's my mount," Elias said proudly. "A Nine-Headed Chimera-class Honkai Beast. I call it Heaven Devourer. Oh, and by the way—it has the same Honkai energy level as you, Kevin. 200,000 HW. What do you think? Up for a match?"
The colossal beast lowered its nine heads toward him affectionately, and Elias reached up to pat each one in turn. The creature's nine faces all beamed with delight.
Kevin slapped his own cheek in frustration.
His own metamorphic factors had fused into a new Honkai Beast as well—one he'd named Brahma. But now, compared to Elias' Heaven Devourer, his creation felt utterly unimpressive.
Not only was the name far less imposing, but he couldn't even summon it physically as a companion.
(Damn it! If I'd known beating all fifty thousand consciousnesses would unlock that, I'd have gone guerrilla warfare for weeks if I had to!)
This was humiliating.
Even Elias' mount had the same Honkai energy as he did!
Kevin gritted his teeth. "Fine then! I might not beat you, Elias, but I sure as hell can beat your mount! Let's fight!"
Elias smirked. "Heh. Go on then, Heaven Devourer—crush him."
ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR—ROAR!!!
And so, Kevin and the Nine-Headed Chimera Honkai Beast began their "friendly" brawl.
Elias, just in case, invoked the Herrscher of the Void's authority, sealing the surrounding space completely.
Otherwise, a creature with a body spanning ten kilometers and Kevin's [Diabolic] strength could easily devastate the planet. A single motion from Heaven Devourer could trigger a global tsunami, and a stray blow from Kevin could pierce straight through the ocean floor.
This world was far too fragile for beings like them. A careless gesture from either could spell disaster.
(Heh, as expected of my Chimera. It's way more majestic than Durandal's future horse. Still, there's one problem—it's strong, sure, but… way too big.)
Elias couldn't help feeling both proud and slightly helpless.
"I see now," Mei said thoughtfully, watching the Nine-Headed Chimera Heaven Devourer exchange devastating blows with Kevin in midair. "That explains where the high-concentration liquid Honkai energy I supplied to you disappeared to—it was absorbed by this Vipralopa-class beast of yours."
Beside her, Mobius wore a strange, conflicted look.
"So the Chimera Project could produce this kind of result? That doesn't make sense… how did I not know about this?"
As the primary designer of Project Chimera, the serpent scientist was utterly dumbfounded. It was like taking a test, skipping half the essay questions, and somehow still getting a perfect score.
Of course, Mobius didn't know that the Heaven Devourer wasn't entirely the result of her design. While it was born from the fusion of all meta-morphic factors, its ability to manifest outside Elias' body—as armor, weapon, and mount—was due to his [Palatinus] power.
(Whatever. It's a good thing either way. If this makes Elias even stronger… I'll just have him let me examine that creature thoroughly later.)
"Wow~ That thing's scary!" Elysia exclaimed, her sapphire eyes wide. "It's completely different from your [Reverse God] form, Eli—oh no, Kevin's getting bitten! Waaah~!"
"My [Reverse God] is shaped by my personal nature," Elias explained calmly, "but Heaven Devourer is pure Honkai instinct—a fusion of countless meta-morphic factors. Of course it looks different. But don't worry—it's well-behaved."
Indeed, the Nine-Headed Chimera obeyed Elias completely. Born from the unified will of tens of thousands of Honkai Beasts, it recognized only him as its creator and master.
"Come on, Kevin! If you can't even beat my Heaven Devourer, I'm going to seriously make fun of you later!"
"Ha! Who says I can't?!"
"I do~ And if you lose, you're buying noodles."
"Damn it!"
At the mention of noodles, Kevin's fighting spirit ignited instantly. His power surged several levels higher as he threw himself back into the fray with newfound intensity.
Elias sighed, shaking his head. "Same old mutt. So easy to motivate."
But as he watched Kevin and the colossal Chimera trading titanic blows over the ocean, he couldn't help chuckling.
"Why does this feel like watching a kaiju movie?"
With that, he opened a spatial gate, pulling out several buckets of popcorn and bottles of soda, handing them to the three women beside him.
"There. Now it's perfect."
"..." ×3