Walking the path of darkness alone... the thought struck Lin Wei with a strange sense of familiarity, even a hint of nostalgia.
He recalled over a year ago, stepping into a different kind of darkness entirely. Like Don Quixote tilting at windmills, he had, in the frail body of a dying mortal, launched a seemingly ignorant and reckless charge against the Herrscher hidden deep within the darkness.
Back then, that madwoman had used all sorts of despicable tricks to defeat the invincible Demon King. And like something out of a cliché knight novel nobody reads anymore, he was fortunate enough to receive a passionate kiss from the rescued princess.
Thus, he was "knighted," becoming a true "knight" and gaining the riches and power to change his life thereafter.
Times change, things move on. The Lin Wei of today was vastly different from back then.
But even if the path he now walked led towards another demon terrifying in the eyes of the world, it was still true that she, a Flame-Chaser, was also incomparable to the Herrscher of the past.
While they were no longer like natural enemies, diametrically opposed and forced to fight to the death... on another level, this opponent, possessing immense wisdom and ambition, was even more difficult to deal with.
Mobius, who stood out like a crane among chickens even amidst the geniuses and non-humans of the Fire Moth organization, also gave Lin Wei a more direct, more profound understanding of this reality.
Although he had made considerable preparations beforehand, after meeting her face-to-face, he knew bringing Yuno along to meet this Mobius was unwise. At best, Yuno would be treated with disdain or contempt; at worst, they'd be laughed out the door.
Precisely because of this, Lin Wei had changed his plan at the last minute, asking Elysia to take Yuno back the way they came. He would proceed alone for this "visit," break the ice first, and then see.
"Seriously, why is it that every time the story reaches a certain point, I have to go solo the boss?" Lin Wei grumbled inwardly. "What kind of trashy third-rate novel cliché is this?"
As he spoke, he had already traversed the final stretch of the path, stepping into the region hidden deep within the Elysian Realm that should be called the "Mobius Laboratory."
Every Flame-Chaser stained the Elysian Realm with the colors of their own being; it was a reflection of their inner worlds.
For instance, Eden's domain was always filled with the warmth of sunset and the sound of singing; Kalpas resided within a dark and profound prison; Su would lean against a towering tree in the dawn light, meditating in silence, listening peacefully to the rustling of leaves mingling with morning dew; Griseo, like a good child, would diligently follow every instruction from adults, staying quietly in a small studio like a bird in a cage...
This was the Elysian Realm. A wondrous world woven from countless threads extending from the inner worlds of the thirteen Flame-Chasers, vastly different from reality. The Flame-Chasers walked within it, encountering countless future visitors like Lin Wei.
And the inner world belonging to Mobius... what kind of landscape would that be?
The moment Lin Wei stepped into this space, he felt his heart sink. It wasn't that he sensed any danger ahead, but rather the region itself, this entire space, seemed to crush his spirit, oppress his emotions, as if he had truly stepped into a bottomless abyss.
What kind of world was this? Oppressive, profound, dark. Amidst the endless shadows, only sparse pinpricks of light shone, and even those few rays were an unsettling, sickly green.
The overwhelming darkness played tricks on the senses, and combined with the seemingly distant, faint starlight, Lin Wei momentarily mistook his surroundings for the vast, empty cosmos.
An involuntary shudder ran through him, as if looking down would send him plummeting into this "starry sky," becoming another tiny mote of cosmic dust...
"Tsk. Mobius... you really are a bit intimidating." Lin Wei quickly composed himself after the initial shock, unable to resist clicking his tongue in admiration. To hold the cosmos within your heart... what kind of romantic inner world is this?
"Hehehe..." Suddenly, a strange, light laughter echoed from all directions. The sound, though artificial, carried an incomprehensible undercurrent of madness that made one's hair stand on end. "Oh my... I thought it was just some clueless mouse, but how brave of you to scurry up the drainpipe right into my home! I never expected it to be you, the little mouse I just met. What a surprise~"
In the distance, the patch of shadow erupted in a bizarre, violent churning.
Then, Mobius's petite, child-like figure "emerged" from the roiling darkness. One hand rested on the bizarrely shaped toolbox, while her serpentine eyes peered through the fingers of her other hand, coldly observing Lin Wei.
Her voice dripped with mock pity as she sneered, "How pitiful. Has the memory of the mice of this era degenerated so badly? Have you already forgotten what I said just a few minutes ago?"
Though her figure was small, her height barely reaching Lin Wei's chest, her tone and attitude were unquestionably that of someone looking down from a great height, as if Lin Wei truly were nothing more than an insignificant mouse.
Lin Wei found her affected posture rather amusing. Unmoved, he chuckled lightly and said, "Mobius, I'm genuinely curious, when did you start learning to talk like this? I remember you weren't like this before. Take my advice, this attitude and tone really don't suit you."
Lin Wei offered his sincere suggestion. Instead of this awkward imitation of Elysia, she should stick to her original way of speaking, her usual habits and demeanor. Even if her body had regressed into that of a little girl, her mind and spirit could still be that of the cool, wise big sister!
Lin Wei imagined the scene—a cool, rational, stubborn, slightly aloof green-haired loli with an air of mature sophistication that couldn't be ignored... Tsk, that contrast, it's overwhelmingly cute!
"Hah. Trying to get close to me like that? Who do you think you are? Little mouse, I've already shown great magnanimity. Was my meaning not clear enough? Then allow me to repeat myself: I do not wish to see you today; and yet, here you are before me..."
Lin Wei's overly familiar manner irritated Mobius. Losing interest in playing this game of "toying with prey," her expression hardened, turning purely mocking. She chuckled coldly, "Don't tell me you're that eager to climb onto my operating table? Oh my... if I recall correctly, weren't you avoiding me like the plague before? Why the sudden change? It's quite surprising, isn't it?"
"I believe you've misunderstood something, Dr. Mobius," Lin Wei calmly corrected her. "I wasn't avoiding you, I simply didn't come calling immediately. Honestly, of all the Flame-Chasers in the Elysian Realm, I've only really interacted with about half of them. Surely you wouldn't say I'm avoiding the others too?"
This blatant attempt at twisting logic naturally didn't fool Mobius. She immediately retorted with a cold laugh, "Hah! Nonsense! You clearly..."
"Dr. Mobius, please allow me to state a simple fact—I am merely an outsider. What right do I have to command the Flame-Chasers of the Elysian Realm?" Lin Wei cut her off smoothly before she could accuse him of being monitored or fearing contact with her would bring misfortune.
He continued calmly, "In contrast, Doctor, you and the others here are companions who have weathered trials together, spent fifty thousand years side-by-side in this Elysian Realm. Yet even so, you are still regarded as an unstable element requiring special attention. As a newcomer, a stranger, all I have done is merely accept this goodwill. That is all."
"..."
"Goodwill? Hehehe... Hahahahaha! Goodwill?!" Mobius fell silent for a moment, then burst into hysterical laughter. "Hehehehe... Yes! That's right! They are all acting out of goodwill! Only I am the irredeemably bad one!"
Once she had laughed her fill, the hysterical edge vanished instantly, as if it had never been there.
She simply regarded him with playful scrutiny and a cold smile. "What's wrong, little mouse? Since you've already accepted their goodwill and shut me out, why would you suddenly appear before me, the villain? Let me guess—you've run into some unspeakable trouble, those 'good people' can't help you, so you had no choice but to brave the den of this 'villain,' right?"
It wasn't a difficult conclusion to reach. For Lin Wei to suddenly appear in her domain, the reason behind it was obvious.
"Overall, you're not wrong! That's why I asked Elysia to bring me here to find you in the first place—and then we ran into Vill-V. You know the rest." Lin Wei wasn't surprised by Mobius's mockery.
He readily admitted to the probing accusation, then calmly added, "There's just one point I disagree with. As warriors who once fought desperately against the Honkai for human civilization, as Flame-Chasers of the Elysian Realm, whether it's Mobius or Elysia, I believe distinguishing 'good' from 'bad' is meaningless. Everyone is just human, with desires, different thoughts, and pursuits. Disagreements and conflicts are perfectly normal."
The so-called "Thirteen Flame-Chasers" were simply the thirteen MANTIS warriors who survived the tragedy that defined their era. In reality, there was never a formal organization by that name, and the relationships among its members were complicated and full of contradictions.
The only reason they accepted such a strange and nonsensical title and ranking was to humor Elysia, playing along with her childish game.
Yet, ironically, it was this very game that eventually gave rise to something remarkable: the Elysian Realm.
Lin Wei continued, "And precisely because of this, I don't intentionally seek out the Flame-Chasers in the Elysian Realm during my time here—including you, Doctor. I didn't live through your era; I have no intention nor the right to judge the rights and wrongs of it. I simply believe that behind every choice you all made, there must have been a compelling reason—and that includes you, Doctor."
For someone inherently tsundere, is there any more direct and effective way to break through their defenses than a straightforward approach? No!
"..." Mobius was momentarily stunned. This kind of objective statement, devoid of moral judgment yet implicitly acknowledging her perspective, was something she had previously only heard from Eden.
It was precisely because of this that she and Eden had always maintained a rather harmonious relationship.
Or rather, Madam Eden, with her immense empathy, talent for seeing the good in others, magnanimous nature, elegant speech, and presence like a refreshing spring breeze, could get along extremely well with anyone.
But that's Eden! Where did Lin Wei come from? Mobius was momentarily confused. Did Eden feed this guy lines? No, Eden might offer some subtle advice, but she would absolutely never do something that could put a companion in an awkward position. Could it be Elysia? Tsk, she definitely seems like the type who would do something like this.
Having subconsciously found the "culprit," Mobius quickly composed herself. Her slender eyebrows shot up, and her volatile, irritable nature showed signs of erupting again... but before she could say anything, Lin Wei threw her off balance once more—
"Speaking of which, the reason I came here so suddenly today was actually at your invitation, Doctor," Lin Wei stated firmly.
"Ha?" Me? Invite you? How come I don't know about this myself? Mobius laughed incredulously, feeling like her intelligence was being ruthlessly mocked and insulted. If you're going to make things up, could you at least do it when I'm not around?
"Of course!" As if not noticing the vein throbbing on Mobius's forehead, Lin Wei continued confidently, "During our brief encounter earlier, Doctor, when you were leaving, you didn't even say goodbye to Elysia, but you did say a few words to me—wasn't that an invitation?"
"What did you say..." Mobius was stunned, feeling she had never encountered such a brazenly shameless person before.
"Of course, I know what you said at the time, Doctor, was meant as a refusal. But..." Lin Wei paused, then said with a conflicted expression, "Elysia told me that you, Doctor, are someone who says one thing but means another. You constantly talk about disliking her, but deep down you like her immensely—so it's best to interpret what you say in reverse. Therefore, I..."
There was no need to hear the rest. Having found the true culprit, Mobius completely exploded. Her anger surged anew, and her small mouth opened, ready to continue her tirade.
"E-ly-si-a!"