Considering the future, Ryan had agreed to cooperate with Mobius. However, within days, things deviated from his expectations.
For the first three days, he remained wary, refusing anything Mobius offered. After five days, the demanding research consumed him; from dawn till dusk, he manipulated Honkai energy, recorded data, and drew conclusions from repeated failures.
Ten days later, he finally realized something was amiss.
There were no schemes, no manipulations, no probes. He was like an ox, working tirelessly for Mobius from morning till night. Blanca collapsed from exhaustion multiple times; Ryan had several opportunities to meet Kevin and fulfill his promise, but Mobius persistently prevented it.
She folded her arms, lifting her chin, offering a sarcastic smile and saying,
'I'm still persevering, and you, a grown man, can't handle it?'
'If your energy is low, I have supplements here. Want to try them?'
Ryan couldn't afford to lose face. He'd killed hundreds of Honkai Beasts; he couldn't be mocked by a woman. Besides, he was also a researcher; a scholar's pride was essential.
Therefore, he focused even harder on his research, repeatedly using Honkai energy to activate cellular debris, cautiously stimulating cells.
Mei and others from different departments came to help several times, but exhaustion overcame them within days; eventually, everyone stopped coming.
About half a month later, they finally discovered a fusion reaction on a sample. Under the electron microscope, a strange, completely new gene appeared.
"Doctor, sample NL03124 shows a reaction; the aberrant phenomenon is minimal, exhibiting a stable structure." Blanca, with heavy dark circles under her eyes, quickly raised her hand.
Mobius, who was using a centrifuge to separate the sample, froze, hurrying over and pushing the assistant aside before rushing to the microscope.
She was intensely focused, observing and making notes. Ryan could feel her excitement.
"Success! My hypothesis was correct! Humans can merge with Honkai Beast genes. Each cell will contain energy; countless cells combined will create a superior individual."
Mobius lightly tapped the table, her exhaustion instantly replaced by exhilaration.
"Now that we've started, I can delve deeper into my research, from micro to macro, gradually clarifying the limits. If truly successful, humanity will take a giant leap forward."
"Congratulations, Doctor. Can I go rest now?" Blanca supported herself on the table. Working with Mobius was exhausting, but she was also incredibly happy.
Each breakthrough increased the chances of defeating Honkai. In fact, after discovering the Honkai energy's overwhelming power, all Fire Moth research institutes had been delving into this energy.
Controlling Honkai energy's destructive power, and making it usable as a power source for giant war machines, were the main objectives.
"You've worked hard. Go rest." Mobius showed a rare gentle smile, then seeing the man behind her, called out. "Hey, you can't leave yet."
Ryan stopped, gritting his teeth. "Are you finally finished? You've treated me like an ox for a whole month; I've eaten and slept in this lab, and I haven't received a single cent."
He'd miscalculated. Ryan had expected to guard against Mobius's schemes, but instead, he'd fallen into her trap. He ate instant noodles every day, slept on the floor, and had no idea what he was doing. But he had to admit, he admired Mobius.
This intensity of research was suicidal. Even his battle-hardened body was strained; a normal woman could persevere, a testament to her workaholism.
"Don't be angry. I haven't encountered an assistant with your caliber in a long time." Mobius approached, placing a hand on Ryan's shoulder, her expression sincere. "We're a good match. Without your assistance, it might have taken one or two years to achieve results."
So she could speak human after all.
Ryan's resentment lessened. Mobius's experiments were incredibly complex; Honkai energy had intense radiation, making containment difficult before Soulium's discovery, and the remaining energy in Honkai Beast corpses quickly decayed.
Therefore, Ryan's ability to gather and precisely control this energy was crucial. Without living tissue, a slight surge of energy would destroy the samples.
"No wonder you didn't ask Elysia for help. She lacks theoretical knowledge; the slightest mistake would ruin the equipment."
"That woman has no patience and talks too much, distracting me." Mobius wrinkled her nose, speaking calmly. "So, you'll be my assistant. Cutting and killing is boring. Each breakthrough we make is more valuable than defeating a Herrscher."
"Cut it out. I was originally just a bodyguard; you inexplicably dragged me into this research. And the overtime pay?"
"Don't be so materialistic. We're fighting for humanity's future! Don't you have any sense of purpose?"
"Oh yeah, I bought those instant noodles too; consider it a loan, right?" Ryan took a deep breath, realizing things were becoming increasingly unusual.
Mobius was perpetually short of funds; her several million euro annual salary was entirely poured into her research, leaving no money for even instant noodles.
A workaholic, capricious, sometimes erratic, sometimes mature and elegant, sometimes coldly distant—unfathomable, yet her dedication to her ideals shone brightly.
After a grueling month, Ryan understood her better. His guard lowered slightly, his expression turning serious.
"Your experiment has opened a new path, but things will get tougher. Merging Honkai Beast and human tissues to allow humans to utilize Honkai Beast abilities while maintaining rationality… it's incredibly difficult."
"At least I know this path is viable. It's just a matter of conducting hundreds of thousands of experiments to find a method, then repeatedly refining it." Turning serious, Mobius spoke earnestly, turning slightly. "If it proves effective, I'll be the first test subject."
"You're truly insane."
"Exploration is about the unknown. Without dedication, it's impossible. Again, aren't you considering continuing to help me?"
Mobius leaned lazily against the wall, her high black heels and the exposed creamy skin between them, combined with her slightly labored breathing after exertion, creating a captivating picture.
Ryan's breath hitched instinctively, then his rationality restored it. He didn't know if Mobius was doing this deliberately, nor did he care to analyze it further.
He replied seriously, "To survive in this world, strength is key. No matter how brilliant a scientist is, annihilation of the body renders everything meaningless."
"But if this research succeeds, immense power will be gained. Perhaps knowledge itself is power."
"Too slow. You know the third Herrscher is approaching, and others will follow. The best way to deal with them is indeed research, but—" Ryan clenched his fist, his tone firm. "Someone has to confront them, and I can do it."
Mobius's gaze softened, a profound sense of displacement arising. She had confirmed his intelligence and knowledge during this time, even developing a rapport with him. But now, she saw something else.
A strong scent of blood, from Honkai Beasts, humans, and the piles of corpses. This smell was found in reckless warriors; she hated that type of person.
"You're a strange mix, Ryan," Mobius yawned, rubbing her eyes. "I never thought a warrior and a scholar could exist in one person. I wonder what you truly want."
"And what do you want, Mobius?"
"I want something simple." The exhausted girl swayed, clenching her fist. Her murmured words revealed boundless ambition.
"With my own hands… I will become a god!"
Ryan's pupils constricted slightly. She wanted to create a god. Beneath the complexity, a pure, unwavering conviction lay hidden. But he couldn't mock her; this was the true Mobius.
Now, he took a step forward, his first proactive approach towards Mobius. He instinctively embraced the exhausted woman, seemingly forgetting her previous schemes.
A soft body nestled in his arms. He realized Mobius was quite curvy, her waist slender, her body limp. Her large breasts pressed against his chest, slightly uncomfortable, and her warm breath on his face was faintly ticklish.
No wonder Blanca had said that after each experiment, Mobius would lie on the cold table, squeezing out every last bit of energy.
Ryan didn't overthink it; he didn't act flustered. His hands moved from her waist, gliding across her high, round buttocks, feeling the delicate texture, down to her knees. He lifted Mobius effortlessly, pausing before leaning close to her beautiful face.
"Mobius, do you know what I want?"
"Hm?" A sleepy murmur.
Ryan didn't answer immediately; he held her close, leaving the laboratory amidst the stunned stares of the researchers, and headed towards the rest area. He opened Mobius's room.
He laid the woman on the bed piled high with books, watching her quickly curl up and pull the covers over herself. He patted her smooth shoulder.
"May this journey of mine ultimately withstand the constellations."