Honkai: Fire Moth Herrschers-Chapter 252: The Deepest Place

Beep—

"Name: Michael"

"Gender: Male (Tentative)"

"Position: Captain, Fire Moth Anti-Entropy Battalion"

"Clearance: Highest Level—Authentication Successful"

Whoosh—

The heavy armor doors slid open to either side. Michael tilted his head back slightly, gesturing with his chin.

"Let's go. Don't need me to push you, right?"

"Hmph!"

A cold snort was his only reply.

Michael ignored him, walking ahead into the deep tunnel.

Taro waited where he was for a long moment, but when Michael didn't turn back, he could only huff twice more before gripping the handles on his wheelchair and pushing forward.

Rumble-rumble—

The wheelchair moved surprisingly fast, catching up to Michael in no time.

He couldn't help but glance down at his own limbs. Thankfully, it was just a broken leg and arm; they'd heal in a few months.

Tap— Tap— Tap—

Rumble-rumble—

The endlessly long tunnel muffled the sounds, drawing them out.

Taro really wanted to ask: "Do all you Fire Moth people like such gloomy environments?"

Before he could speak, his eyes inadvertently caught sight of a sign hanging overhead, stained with blood and clearly unchanged for a long time.

Faint fluorescent characters glowed on the sign, eerie as a beast's eyes in the dark tunnel, especially after making out the words—

[Fire Moth · Poisonous Cocoon Base Entrance]

Taro, who had been about to grumble, instantly shut his mouth. He wished he could sew his lips shut.

After all, it was his own guilty conscience.

So, were they keeping him here for that reason?

Just as he was thinking this, Taro casually looked up and froze.

The space before him was empty. Where was Michael's figure?

A shiver ran down his spine. A thousand thoughts flooded his mind; fear and regret surged simultaneously:

"Damn it, I knew it! How could they possibly let me go! Saying they'd take me to see Kiel—damn it, this was just a trick to lure me here and kill me!"

"Damn you bastards! If you have the guts, kill your old man me out in the open! And I actually believed your crap! What kind of man lures someone over to kill them like a coward!"

"Wait, I don't think Mei is a man..."

His neck stiffened. A torrent of angry words reached his throat but never escaped—in his panic, he had forgotten to press the wheelchair's brake button and couldn't find it in his haste. He could only watch helplessly as his four-wheeled chair sped off into the darkness.

"Ahhhhh!"

Clunk!

Michael lifted his heel slightly, stopping the still-spinning wheelchair. Taro belatedly snapped back to reality and immediately released the handles.

He quickly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his hand, afraid of being looked down upon by Michael. But halfway through wiping, he noticed another problem—why was it so bright all around?

He looked up, surveying his surroundings. High above, the center of the domed ceiling featured the world-famous painting, The Creation of Adam. Surrounding it was a ring of extremely crude, gilded, auspicious cloud carvings. Perhaps it was an illusion, but Taro narrowed his eyes and saw the clouds in the painting seem to subtly shift. The naked Adam's head and face remained still, but his eyes suddenly darted sideways and winked at him.

"Hiss!"

He shrank back, sucking in a sharp breath, not daring to look up again.

Sunlight streamed in from all sides, refracting through kaleidoscope-like windows onto the smooth marble floor, creating splashes of vibrant color.

There was even... the low chanting of a choir. But Taro looked around; the pews were empty, and only two figures stood on the altar at the front.

Remembering the winking Adam from before, Taro found this slightly less bizarre now.

Wait a minute! Isn't this just a church?!

Taro craned his neck to look forward. The figure seated on the altar was bound hand and foot, their eyes and mouth covered with black cloth.

As for the motionless nun standing beside them, if not for an unseen breeze stirring her robes, one might easily mistake her for a painted statue.

But... they were clearly in a dark tunnel just moments ago. How did they suddenly end up in a church?

His gaze shifted, darting back and forth between Michael and the nun.

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Sudden understanding dawned. He instinctively wanted to pat his shiny bald head but inadvertently aggravated his injured left arm, letting out a muffled grunt.

Taro finally recalled the nun's file—Aponia. A nun recruited by Michael after arriving in Twilight Street. United Government intelligence had very little information on her, only remembering she was one of the earliest psychic-sensitive MANTISes.

After all, the ability known as Discipline was top secret even within Fire Moth. Forget ordinary soldiers; even the MANTISes who underwent emergency metamorphosis surgery during the Eighth Honkai Eruption were unaware of Discipline's existence—though they might have already been subjected to it more than once.

"Could this place be constructed by psychic power? Is this what psychic-sensitive MANTISes can do?"

While Taro was lost in thought, Michael stomped his foot lightly, pulling his attention back.

Michael had no interest in addressing his confusion, even though Taro's thoughts were laid bare under the illumination of the Eighth Herrscher's Authority.

He simply said softly: "Let's go."

This time, Taro didn't need to push himself. An invisible force latched onto his wheelchair, pulling it slowly forward behind Michael.

The Ninth Herrscher's Authority and the Second Herrscher's, though different in principle, were undeniably similar in manifestation.

Like now, that faint gravitational pull—was it the Authority of the Void or the Authority of Earth? Unless Michael said so, no one could guess. Hmm, maybe I can use this to make a bet with Ely next time.

"Thank you for your trouble, Aponia."

Michael leaped nimbly onto the altar, while Taro's wheelchair stopped just below it.

Aponia's chest rose and fell slightly, straining the white fabric of her robes. She lowered her clasped hands from her chest and said helplessly: "Michael, one must always maintain a sense of reverence... Why didn't you use the stairs at the side?"

"Oh, that? Kalpas said not to use the stairs, you'd find it too slow." Michael smoothly shifted the blame to Kalpas, only to hear a cold snort from above.

"I knew Aponia was always bothering... paying attention to me for a reason! So it was you spreading rumors all day!"

Michael looked up awkwardly, only then noticing a third person present—Kalpas, suspended in the air, using a file to carve patterns on the dome.

"Master Kalpas, please come down first."

"Scram... Please step aside, I have work to do."

"But I'm a little scared if you don't come down."

"You—"

"Alright, Kalpas, you may leave for now... This place is my mental construct; such trouble isn't necessary." Aponia, seemingly unable to watch any longer, waved her hand. The crude patterns Kalpas had carved with the file rippled and reformed into neat, beautiful designs.

"Then why did you call me here to do this?"

"Kalpas, you are too impulsive. I hoped to temper your disposition this way, that is all."

Clatter—

Kalpas's file dropped to the floor. His free hand covered his mask, and the surrounding temperature began to soar: "Aponia, you—"

Master Kalpas's voice cut off abruptly. Being a consciousness space, he was directly asked to leave by Aponia.

Opening his eyes again, he was back in the dark tunnel. His anger surged, but with nowhere to vent, he could only aim it at the tunnel wall.

Yet, the flaming fist stopped just inches from the armor plating. Remembering the last time he did this, Aponia had dragged him off for a month of hard labor. He couldn't beat her, nor could he win an argument against her...

Winning an argument was impossible; he had learned how formidable she was even before meeting her.

But being unable to beat her... facing Aponia who commanded psychic power, he, Kalpas, had been insta-killed eight hundred and twelve times.

Counting the recent defeat without a fight, that made it eight hundred and thirteen.

"Tch! It's just a wall, I... I'd better go to the combat simulation room..."

Unlike Kalpas in another possible reality, he held no deep-seated grudge against Aponia that needed settling, so...

Though he didn't know why, Michael and Kevin always found time to tell him things like... a real man endures when he has to, but... Fine, endure!

He couldn't stop huffing coldly, yet he also started humming an unheard-of tune, completely out of character.

The strange sound echoed in the cold tunnel. He had once firmly declared Eden's singing to be noise, but if Eden heard his humming now, she would probably frown deeply.

Though his voice wasn't bad, the melody could only be compared to... er, rivaled... Kosma's stage debut?

Whoosh—

He pressed the button, and the access door slid open.

Taking two more steps forward, just half a step from exiting the tunnel, Kalpas suddenly stopped. Arms crossed, a cold smile playing on his lips, he waited idly without speaking.

One minute later, his bangs were damp with anxious sweat.

Two minutes later, he was letting out no less than one cold snort per second, white vapor billowing frighteningly from the gaps in his mask.

Three minutes later, he finally couldn't stand it anymore—

"Mobius, just how long are you going to wait!"

"Tch! Don't flatter yourself. I'm waiting for Michael, not you!" From one side of the tunnel exit, the petite Mobius strolled out slowly, hands stuffed into the pockets of her overly large lab coat.

"Oh, really? First time I heard someone waits for another by deliberately hiding in an unnoticed corner." Kalpas felt his intelligence had been insulted.

"Whatever you think. Anyway, I'm just waiting here. Not bothering you." Mobius leaned casually against the tunnel wall, even pulling her empty hands out of her pockets to show Kalpas.

"Hmph!" Kalpas strode away, his peripheral vision still fixed on Mobius.

But even as their figures passed each other, Mobius indeed made no further moves.

Kalpas wouldn't feel puzzled; he'd just think—She knows her place.

However, the inevitable always arrives.

Watching Kalpas walk further away, showing no desire to stop for further conversation, Mobius's lips curled up, and she suddenly called out: "Kalpas, regarding that matter, have you made up your mind?"

Kalpas grunted, fists clenching tightly. He struggled internally for a long time before steeling himself. Adhering to the principle of not damaging camaraderie, he suppressed a string of newly learned swear words and turned back impatiently, retorting: "Which matter?"

"You know, that one..."

"Mobius!"

"Hahahaha... Hahahaha..."

Shrill laughter echoed in the tunnel. Only when Kalpas, unable to bear it any longer, took a step towards Mobius did she cover her mouth and stop laughing.

Pale green fluorescence highlighted snake-like vertical pupils, exceptionally striking in the darkness.

In contrast, white steam rose from Kalpas's body due to overheating.

"Ahem! That woman was right, your suppressed anger does look rather cute... But, Kalpas, do you truly not care? Don't you truly want... to become stronger? Like your comrades."

"Hmph, stop trying to tempt me. I don't need that kind of power."

"Your original power is indeed formidable, but I don't see it conflicting with being a MANTIS. Look—didn't Michael and that woman, both Herrschers, undergo MANTIS surgery?"

"Hmph! That woman's identity was confirmed so quickly?" Kalpas's focus was clearly misplaced. Mobius bit her lip lightly; his attitude made her feel like she had lost to that woman in some aspect again, which was clearly unbearable.

But in pursuit of this readily available truth, she could only force herself to accept it.

"Tsk! Although she has no core and displayed no specific Authority, you were present during her metamorphosis. Based on the feelings of the three of you, is there truly a difference between her and a Herrscher?"

Two streams of white vapor puffed from Kalpas's nostrils again, as if his nostrils were twin flintlock barrels.

"Mobius, I don't like you referring to them as Herrschers. It reminds me of..."

"Tsk. Whatever. Call them whatever you want." Mobius knew the man before her was awkwardly changing the subject with his poor emotional intelligence. She had to interrupt, even though his words, from a certain angle, were heartfelt.

Kalpas fell silent for a moment. This time, he wasn't angry but turned to use Michael as a shield—

"Even though he underwent that surgery, hasn't he abandoned that power now?"

"Oh?" Mobius tilted her head, sharp laughter ringing out again: "Hahahahahaha! Ahahahahaha—Poor, foolish little Kalpas, you don't actually believe Michael gave up that..."

BOOM!

Lightning and fire collided, causing a violent explosion and clouds of dust.

Mobius retreated rapidly from the smoke and fire, flames licking at the lab coat Klein had just washed and dried for her.

Before she could extinguish the flames, the smoke cleared. Kalpas was long gone.

She warily scanned the surrounding darkness. Ten seconds passed, but Kalpas didn't reappear.

She patted out the flames with her hands, looking at the hole burned into her lab coat, clicked her tongue, then shoved her hands back into her pockets—given Kalpas's temper, if he truly wanted to fight, he wouldn't have restrained himself for ten seconds without attacking.

"The male creatures here, every last one of them, still have the temper of children." Mobius shook her head disdainfully. Although her prey had escaped her grasp once more, where could he possibly run?

She believed she would eventually have the chance to unravel these mysteries and attain eternal truth.

The armor plating of the surrounding tunnel walls shattered, sparks spitting from the exposed wiring. The sparks seemed to ignite some lubricant, quickly escalating into thick smoke and fire.

She covered her nose, coughing lightly. She heard chaotic footsteps approaching from the distance—security mecha units and firefighting teams arriving together.

"Mob... Doctor, are you injured? What happened here?"

"Nothing, Kalpas threw another tantrum. Check the surveillance if you don't believe me."

"Ah... Ah, I see. Then it's alright. Um..."

Mobius whipped her head around, her narrowed emerald eyes nearly scaring the soul out of the fire chief.

"Tsk, were you transferred over from the United Government?"

"Y-Yes!"

"Tsk, remember this: Kalpas damaging public property during fights is common. Have your department head bill Michael directly for the repair costs."

Dropping this line, she stuffed her hands in her pockets and departed coolly.

The fire chief had just breathed a sigh of relief when the tapping sound of heels on the metal floor approached again from the distance, returning.

"Doc... Doctor Mobius... You..."

"Why am I back?"

"Ah, yes, yes! Why did you come back... Ah no, I mean... Uh..."

Seeing Mobius frown, looking quite displeased, the fire chief's heart leaped into his throat.

Fortunately, Mobius didn't press further: "Alright, get back to your work. Don't mind me."

She had simply remembered she still needed to wait here for Michael.

Yes, that's right. She hadn't lied to Kalpas.

It was just that her presence inevitably put a group of firefighters, who had heard various horror stories about Mobius eating people even before joining Fire Moth, on edge.

"What are you all looking at me for?"

"No, no, no, no..."

"My name is Mobius, not Mei. Can't you even tell the difference?"

"N-no... No, no, no, that's not it..."

Seeing the group's nervous, fearful expressions, Mobius's eyes darted around. She suddenly stuck out her tongue, making a hissing sound like a snake flicking its tongue:

"Hisss... Hisss..."

Everyone's movements became stiff and slow.

She walked behind a female team member, stealthily swiped the flashlight from her belt, then patted her shoulder.

The girl turned her head rigidly. Under the flashlight's pale beam, Mobius tilted her head up, looking down at her through her nostrils.

Her small tongue flickered out, then her lips stretched rapidly into a wide grin—

"Heeheehee, come let me eat you—"

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!"

Startled abruptly, the girl instinctively closed her eyes, ducked her head, and turned the high-pressure water hose in her hands—a green figure was sent flying defenselessly by the powerful stream.

---||---

Shhh—

Michael ripped the two black cloths from Kiel's face. His rough action made Taro, standing below the altar, flinch.

"Can you still speak?"

"Hehehehe... Hahahaha... Ahahahahaha!"

Michael shook his head and turned to Aponia: "Has he been like this the whole time?"

Aponia's gaze, filled with pity, fell upon Kiel. When she turned her head towards Michael, following his voice, her eyes narrowed slightly, filled with deep meaning.

The next moment, Kiel began shaking his head and singing—

"「One day, She fell from the heavens. People looked up, and thus they beheld the starry sky...」"

"「One day, She fell from the heavens. People looked up, and thus they beheld the starry sky...」"

"「One day, She fell from the heavens. People looked up, and thus they beheld the starry sky...」"

He tirelessly sang the ancient song and prophecy, in different languages, different tunes, sometimes not singing but praying, sometimes reciting in a low drone.

Cold sweat slid down Michael's forehead, merging with the hair at his temples.

He guiltily avoided Aponia's gaze, looking at Kiel, whose eyes were bloodshot, madly disregarding everything, and asked knowingly: "He's gone mad?"

"Yes, he's mad. Only this sentence remains in his mind." The calmer, more natural Aponia's tone, the more guilty Michael felt.

He didn't believe Aponia couldn't see it—Kiel's state was, in fact, his doing.

Whether intentional or not, he had personally pushed him towards the Honkai.

But his confidence quickly returned. He didn't regret it either.

The dilemma that once could have troubled him for days and nights now vanished in the blink of an eye.

What's done is done. Causing the opposite effect is what happened.

Only children feel guilt, feel regret.

Adults simply adopt an attitude of "Yeah, I did it, what are you gonna do about it?".

"Michael, do you still hold that pity within your heart?" Aponia suddenly asked.

Michael didn't answer immediately. He seemed to genuinely spend a long time contemplating the question. Only after three to five minutes did he give a definite answer—

"Of course."

"That is good."

Michael waved his hand, and the black cloths re-covered Kiel's eyes and mouth. Silence fell upon the church for a moment, leaving only the holy singing of the choir drifting unhurriedly.

"[The Deepest Place] is entrusted to you, Aponia." Michael broke the silence, hands behind his back, feigning maturity.

The so-called Deepest Place was a prison commissioned by Fire Moth, built by Vill-V on a small island in the Pacific designated P-21.

Initially intended to house the remaining Poisonous Cocoon prisoners, those individuals had "mysteriously disappeared" overnight.

But construction hadn't stopped. Now, a large batch of prisoners would be sent there.

Among them were Fire Moth soldiers who couldn't withstand years of battle and developed mental illnesses, causing casualties.

There were creatures, neither human nor ghost, created over years by MANTIS surgery and the Stigma Project.

There were also die-hards from the United Government who refused to cooperate with Fire Moth.

Having failed to persuade these individuals, neither Mei nor Michael had any more patience for them.

Only Aponia, the nun who could be more ruthless than anyone yet was always associated with pity and indecisiveness, was willing to take on the duty of guarding them.

As for the distance, it hardly mattered. With the Second Divine Key and Michael, traveling back and forth from The Deepest Place was instantaneous.

"You can take Kiel and those 'experiments' first. But the others... I'll send them over in a few days."

"...You won't even spare those who once fought for humanity?"

Their conversation didn't exclude Taro, although he was mostly lost anyway.

"Oh, that. You can take some of them now too. For others, we have consent from their families."

"..." Aponia said nothing, just stared silently at Michael.

"Alright, those ones don't have families."

"...Michael, if Mobius were saying this to me, I would politely ask her to leave gracefully. But you... I trust you. I trust that everything you do stems from the same purpose as mine, correct? Please answer me, Michael."

"Yes." Michael's lips moved uncontrollably, giving an affirmative answer. Only then did Aponia reveal a weary smile.

"When you get there, pay close attention to the seabed. Losing an entire continent so suddenly causes frequent tectonic activity. The Eye of the Deep can no longer be sealed... In short, be careful. If you can't handle it, just report it immediately."

"Mm." Aponia gave a shallow acknowledgment. Michael wasn't sure if she had truly listened.

She turned her head again to look at the bewildered Taro below the altar—

"Is he also here to receive Discipline?"

"Er? Not really. Just letting him see his old comrade."

"Oh. Does he not need to go to The Deepest Place?"

"No. Although I don't think it's necessary, Mei decided to establish a new Fire Moth Council. He is one of the council members."