Thinking’
“Talking”
“Attack”
Act 5 – Laboratory Shadows and Fresh Coffee
[ Location: Yagami Star System – Ruan Mei’s Laboratory ]
[ POV: Kiana Kaslana ]
The moment the Genius Society meeting wrapped up, I looked straight back to Void Archive.
“Alright, output,” I said, leaning back against the edge of the worktable.
“What did you find out?
Show yourself and don’t leave anything out.”
The shimmering golden cube at my shoulder flickered, projecting the tall, elegant form of Void Archives draped in her usual white cloak.
“I took the liberty of publishing our theoretical paper in the Erudition Archives,” Void Archives replied, her tone smooth and unbothered.
“Right after Nous broadcasted your official induction as Member #85, I ran a sweep on how the major factions reacted.
A few highlights: the IPC is already scrambling to pitch a strategic partnership, while Terminus actually stepped in to warn the Stellaron Hunters directly explicitly forbidding them from crossing paths with you as enemies.”
‘Terminus actually warned them off?
Now that was interesting.’
“Go on,” I murmured.
“I also reached out to Lady Asta over at the Herta Space Station regarding our upcoming collaboration,” she added.
I narrowed my eyes slightly, looking at her hologram.
“And why were you so sure Herta and I were going to team up?
Sure enough to message her representative in advance?”
Void Archives offered that irritatingly enigmatic smile of her.
“It was simply standard procedure under the End Protocol.”
“And what exactly is the ‘End Protocol’?” My voice turned sharp.
“Explain it.”
“Regrettably, I cannot,” she replied without a single hitch.
“The details are locked deep inside your corrupted memories and encrypted system logs.”
I glared at him for a quiet second.
I still didn’t fully trust her, but pressing the issue right now was like punching a brick wall.
I let it slide.
“One last detail,” Void Archives said, a faint hint of amusement softening her voice.
“I took a peek at the First Herrscher currently hanging out on the Astral Express.
His physical energy is surprisingly weak.
When he heard your name mentioned, he let out this absolute blood-curdling scream about the Honkai.
I must admit…
it was quite a performance.”
She adjusted her projection’s cloak with a light flick of her wrist.
“In any case, Lady Ruan Mei is waiting for you in the cafeteria to discuss your joint projects.”
“Right.
Time to go do some actual work.”
[ Location: Laboratory Cafeteria ]
[POV: Kiana Kaslana]
When I walked into the cafeteria, Ruan Mei was already sitting near the floor-to-ceiling glass wall, quietly watching the distant nebula spin in space.
I pulled up a chair and sat right across from her.
Reaching into the Gate OF Babylon, I manifested a fresh tray on the table between us hot coffee, tea, and a few small pastries.
“Alright, Mei,” I said, leaning forward on my elbows.
“Give me the run-down on this project you wanted to collaborate on.”
Ruan Mei’s quiet demeanor shifted instantly into focused precision.
“I am currently working on replicating and resurrecting the Propagation’s Emanator, Skaracabaz.
I want to integrate the Honkai Beast data you brought up during the meeting into its biological design.”
I stared at her for a second, making sure I heard her right.
“You want to splice Honkai energy into a Swarm Emanator?
Look, it’s an incredible concept for testing genetic limits, but how do you plan to control it?
A normal Skaracabaz is already a nightmare to contain. New chapters come out on g.com first.
Stirring Honkai Beast DNA into the mix is practically begging for a cosmic biohazard.”
“I will build a biological control terminal keyed strictly to my own DNA,” Ruan Mei answered smoothly, not a single trace of hesitation in her voice.
“It will function similarly to an Aeon’s command over an Emanator.
As for the Honkai energy, I can balance it against the Swarm’s innate reproductive drive.”
I tilted my head, genuinely intrigued.
“A biological terminal to house the core construct…
basically a artificial Swarm Mother.
Okay, fair enough.
But what happens when the rest of the cosmos finds out a live Propagation Emanator exists?
The IPC and the Xianzhou will form a fleet to put it down, and the Arbiters might drop by your front door.”
“It won’t be fully alive,” Ruan Mei explained quietly.
“I’ll revive it briefly for initial diagnostics.
After that, I’ll store it in a detached pocket space in a suspended state.
I’ll only materialize it during controlled tests or real combat.
Because it isn’t an active entity in the cosmos, Ho-Oh and the Arbiters won’t care.”
I nodded slowly, impressed despite myself.
“Smart move.
Fine, I’ll supply the Honkai energy samples along with genetic data from various beasts though I’m keeping the highest-tier stuff out of it.”
Ruan Mei caught the boundary immediately.
“Because it’s too dangerous for this world?”
“Because it’s way too volatile,” I corrected, my tone turning serious.
“The power output in those top-tier strains would literally tear local space apart.
Even I keep myself capped below fifty percent of my Herrscher Authority right now.
Anything more, and the surrounding dimensional fabric starts cracking.”
I pulled out a few sealed containment vials filled with pulsing Honkai energy and compressed genetic strands, sliding them across the table to her.
Ruan Mei picked up one of the vials, her eyes lighting up as she scanned it with her handheld terminal.
She spent five silent minutes analyzing the floating data streams before looking up at me.
“Honkai energy really is fascinating,” she murmured, a rare flick of warmth showing through her usual reserved posture.
“It rewrites biological structures at a fundamental level.
I could use this to design a Stigma network…
a biological buffer that offloads cognitive strain and extra memories into a shared mental realm.
It could even anchor human consciousness like a world unto itself.”
Her fingers flew across her terminal as she drafted a functional Stigma model on the spot.
Within seconds, her eyes widened slightly.
“This could cure the Mara in the Xianzhou,” Ruan Mei said, looking up.
“If we shift the mental burden into a shared Stigma realm, their bodies won’t degrade.
I’ll need live subjects to confirm full integration, though.
I can reach out to the Xianzhou Alliance for a joint trial.
They’ll view it as a miracle, and I’ll get invaluable research on the Abundance.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at how fast her mind worked.
“Do you have a way to contact the IPC, too?”
Ruan Mei glanced back at me, a little surprised.
“Yes, I have direct lines.
Why?”
“I have a side project,” I said.
“It’s a resonator device that boosts a person’s Path energy using their willpower and emotion.
But as a hidden feature…
it anchors their soul when their body dies.”
Ruan Mei’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“A soul anchor?
Is this for something long term?”
“Very long term,” I confirmed.
She didn’t push for details, simply nodding in agreement.
Once the Skaracabaz project wraps up, Ruan Mei thought quietly to herself as she looked down at the data, ‘I need to take my own step toward becoming an Aeon.
I could ask Kiana for a Herrscher Core, but relying on someone else’s power goes against my pride as a researcher.
Self-coronation is the only way.
With the data from the Abundance and the Propagation… This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
I’ll begin Project God-Tree.’
She cleared her screen and looked back at me.
“I’ll send you the contact details for both the Xianzhou and the IPC so you can distribute your device.” She paused, her eyes searching my face.
“Would you mind if I started cultivating a line of Honkai Beasts completely under our supervision?”
“Go ahead,” I smiled softly.
“Just make sure they’re completely harmless to innocent people.
As for our enemies…
I don’t care how brutally they tear them apart.”
I took a slow sip of my coffee, setting the porcelain cup back down before looking her in the eye.
“Mei…
I’m going to be stepping away soon.
I need to travel out into the cosmos to search for my missing memories.
Do you have any problem with that?”
A subtle, quiet shadow passed over Ruan Mei’s face.
The cold, analytical scientist suddenly hesitated, a rare touch of loneliness slipping through her gaze.
Seeing her face drop, I instantly panicked, waving my hands.
“Wait no!
I mean I’m only leaving for a quick trip!
Just a week or so!
I’m not leaving permanently!”
Ruan Mei let out a quiet, almost imperceptible breath, her calm composure returning.
“I know it’s temporary…
When are you leaving?”
“In about a week,” I said softly.
She nodded, then looked at me with a firm, unyielding stare.
“Fine.
But if I hit a critical phase in my research and need you, you come back immediately.
No excuses.”
I gave her a warm, reassuring grin.
“I promise.
The second you call, I’ll be there.”
We spent the rest of the night sitting by the glass wall, comfortably drifting between complex theoretical debates and quiet personal conversations.
By the time the lab’s simulated cycle dimmed into night, we finally called it an evening and headed to our quarters.
Author’s Note & Poll Results!
Hey everyone!
Thank you so much to everyone who voted in the recent polls.
The results are officially in:
1.
Multi-POV vs.
Genius Society Focus
Result: Multi-POV Continues!
Note: The majority voted to keep seeing the world react to Kiana through multiple faction perspectives (Stellaron Hunters, Astral Express, IPC, Genius Society, etc.).
We’ll keep switching POVs to explore the wider cosmic ripples!
2.
Romance & Pairing (Harem vs.
Single Interest)
Result: Harem Wins (by 1 vote!)
Final Pairing: Kiana × Ruan Mei × Acheron
Note: A huge number of you requested to add Acheron to the dynamic alongside Ruan Mei, so this will be our final pairing setup going forward!
->Have any thoughts, feedback, or objections regarding the harem dynamic?
Feel free to drop a comment directly on this paragraph!
I read all your feedback and love hearing what you think.
Thank you all for the incredible support!
Enjoy the chapter!