At that moment, Mobius appeared, holding a ring-shaped device that gleamed with a metallic sheen. Her tone carried its usual syrupy sweetness. "Now we need someone to conduct a test. Which one of you will volunteer?"
"Grandma! I'll do it!"
Misfortune raised her hand.
Mobius shot her a sidelong glance. "You won't do."
Misfortune frowned. "Why not?"
"You're too special," Mobius replied lazily. "The more special you are, the greater your influence on the world line."
"If an ordinary person traveled back to ancient times without some destiny-script arranging things, they wouldn't cause much impact on history."
"But someone like you? If you went back, the entire world line would collapse."
"Yes, power can also be used to change the past," she added, "but that's not what we're testing right now."
"I see," Red-Eyed Kiana chuckled softly. "You want to use fluctuations in the world line to alter the past and the future."
Mobius' gaze slowly shifted to Saintess Kallen. There was unmistakable playfulness and suggestion in her eyes, as though silently saying, Come on, try it.
Saintess Kallen pointed at herself, her voice uncertain. "You want... me to test it?"
"I never said that." Mobius curled her lips into a foxlike smile. "But since you've volunteered yourself, then this 'little whi—' Ah, I mean, test subject, can only be you."
Everyone fell silent in unison, mentally supplying the swallowed word—lab rat.
Saintess Kallen took the Time Ring. Her fingertips brushed against the cold metal, and she couldn't help asking, "How do I use this thing?"
"It's just a leg ring. Put it on," Mobius replied offhandedly.
Saintess Kallen said nothing and fastened the ring around her calf as instructed. Faint blue energy patterns instantly adhered to her skin, emitting a dim glow.
"Dr. Mobius," Hua stepped forward, her tone unable to hide her concern. Memories of her time with Mobius in the Previous Era were gradually resurfacing—those past incidents of being used and harmed still left lingering fear. Even though she knew this Mobius was not the same mad researcher from back then, a chill still crept up her spine. "This test... will it be dangerous?"
"A test always carries a tiny bit of risk." Mobius waved her hand dismissively, as though it were something trivial. "If you're unwilling to take even the slightest danger, and you still want to save humanity?"
Hua fell silent.
The 'tiny bit of danger' in Mobius' mouth usually meant a situation with almost no chance of survival.
Mobius turned to Red-Eyed Kiana and Shigure Kira, her tone easing slightly. "We're heading to the next world. Aren't you two going back?"
"Not going back," Red-Eyed Kiana replied. "I'm going too. I'm going to save the world—for the beauty of the infinite worlds."
Kevin and Su were somewhat surprised that she would say something like that.
Mobius snorted. "The only beauty in your eyes is pretty girls, right?"
Red-Eyed Kiana laughed. "As expected of you, Snake—you get me."
Kevin and Su: "..."
...
Overlord World.
The group from the Honkai world had spent some time adapting to this land of swords and magic—a game-like otherworld—gradually familiarizing themselves with its rules and environment.
Scattered across the continent, they were eventually summoned by Vita and gathered in the Holy Kingdom's main city—Hoburns.
Houraiji Kyuusyou arrived as expected, with Delta closely following her as always.
"Kyuusyou."
At the familiar call, Houraiji Kyuusyou turned her head. A white-haired girl in saintly attire was walking toward her, a gentle smile on her face.
"Kiana, do you need something?" Houraiji Kyuusyou stopped, a hint of confusion in her tone.
"Nothing major." The Herrscher of Dominance Kiana stopped in front of her and Delta, her gaze sweeping over the two of them. "I heard you went missing for a while after arriving in this world. Nothing happened, right?"
"Missing?" Houraiji Kyuusyou froze for a moment, then realized what she meant. "My little sister and I went into a dungeon world."
"There's even dungeon worlds here?" The Herrscher of Dominance Kiana's eyes flashed with curiosity. Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Delta, who was floating in midair. "This pretty girl is your sister?"
Delta instinctively drifted backward, widening the distance between herself and the Herrscher of Dominance Kiana.
Noticing her vigilance, the Herrscher of Dominance Kiana halted her steps, muttering inwardly, That's strange. With this face and figure of mine, why is she so wary?
Could it be... she saw through something?
"Kyuusyou, your sister doesn't seem to like me very much," the Herrscher of Dominance Kiana said, turning back toward Houraiji Kyuusyou, her tone tinged with helplessness.
"Don't mind her. She's always been like this since childhood—very cautious around strangers," Houraiji Kyuusyou explained.
"Since childhood?" The Herrscher of Dominance Kiana blinked in surprise.
"She's my biological younger sister. We grew up together," Houraiji Kyuusyou added.
"Sister," Delta suddenly spoke, her voice cool and clear.
"What is it, little sister?"
"She carries the scent of many girls."