To survive, no matter what.
That was likely the Herrscher of Corruption's sole desire. It wasn't surprising; for a newly born consciousness, yet to experience the world or find its own answers, survival is an instinct etched into the DNA of nearly every living being.
But survival was proving incredibly difficult.
The outside world was dangerous.
Lacking significant knowledge, the Herrscher of Corruption naturally didn't possess the wisdom needed to navigate its predicament.
The only good news was that the 'fragments' it had consumed as its initial nourishment provided new understanding, revealing the key to breaking the deadlock:
Become Elysia.
Within the Elysian Realm, becoming Elysia was the Herrscher of Corruption's only path forward.
After all, the Elysian Realm existed for her. In a sense, Elysia was the foundational logic of this place.
If it could become her, it wouldn't have to fear those malicious entities of its own kind—and the nourishment Elysia could provide would be enough for it to dominate this realm.
Instinctively, the Herrscher of Corruption wanted to devour her.
For any life form, acquiring nutrients for growth is perfectly natural.
However...
Perhaps it was precisely because of Elysia's unique nature, but almost any hint of malice towards her provoked terrifying counterattacks... not just from others like itself, but from the Elysian Realm itself, and even... from within Elysia's own body (data). That external data seemed to be protecting her.
The Herrscher of Corruption knew the source of this power—it was identical to the nourishment it had first obtained.
But unlike the dregs and scraps it had received, garbage already drained of nutrients, the portion Elysia possessed... pulsed with unparalleled vitality. While integrating into Elysia's life (data), it also acted like an indestructible wall, shielding the flawless girl, fragile as the crystal flower she symbolized.
As long as Elysia didn't instinctively, spontaneously reject this data, there was virtually no gap to exploit.
Realizing this, the Herrscher of Corruption felt a deep sense of helplessness, and... jealousy.
So jealous... Why did it only get 'fragments,' while the girl named Elysia possessed so much of this 'special data' it craved but couldn't reach? She seemed so fragile.
The hardships of survival seemed almost nonexistent for her.
Compared to its own situation, it was truly unfair.
Resentment and jealousy filled its core. Despite desperately wanting to change the situation, it was powerless—as long as that data remained, there was no opportunity... because the data and its source were what could be called the 'ultimate consciousness,' its level even surpassing its own as the ultimate consciousness virus.
But—
Nothing in the world is ever truly seamless or perfect, is it?
Just like Elysia, known as the Flawless, could make mistakes, could show cowardice... in some ways, she was no different from any ordinary girl.
And because of this, the Herrscher of Corruption found its chance.
True, the 'special data' Elysia possessed was nearly impenetrable, but she herself had far too many flaws, too many vulnerabilities... In fact, possessing this special data itself created a massive vulnerability for her.
Her trust in the data's owner, her complex emotions towards him... her unwillingness to remain merely a shadow left behind by someone from the past...
All these became exploitable weaknesses.
Thus, like a virus—these specialized life forms often use 'deception' and 'camouflage' to trick the immune system, slipping through unnoticed.
And the Herrscher of Corruption, as the ultimate consciousness virus, accomplished just such an 'infiltration'... no, perhaps it was more of an 'integration.'
Because it knew.
Simply 'usurping the nest' would never fool that special data—and even if it did, as an 'imitation,' it would never gain recognition from that precious data.
And for the jealous Herrscher of Corruption, like a child desperate for a beloved toy, it absolutely had to obtain this 'special data' that shared the same origin as its initial nourishment.
If that was the case...
Then—
Couldn't it just become a part of her?
The Herrscher of Corruption arrived at this answer.
Just like that 'special data'—though it originated from someone else, once taken by Elysia, it permanently integrated into her body, becoming a part of her.
If he could do that, why couldn't it?
By becoming a part of her, integrating into Elysia, it would undeniably be Elysia.
Then... wouldn't the data it desperately desired belong to it as well?
As for the continuation of its individual consciousness—perhaps an ordinary person would ponder this.
But for the Herrscher of Corruption, which lacked a clearly defined sense of self and gained its understanding of the world through 'fragments,' this wasn't a concern at all.
Just as the owner of the fragments perceived it:
—The so-called individual consciousness is itself a product of interpersonal interactions and the perception of reality.
If so, then from the moment people meet, they are already, in essence, becoming like each other.
If that's the case, then—
Then... letting itself become Elysia, or letting Elysia become itself, wasn't entirely unacceptable.
Even its original desire to survive could be fulfilled all at once.
So, what reason did it have not to do it?
"Honestly, it's because of you that I was so easily corrupted, you know."
A hint of complaint and dissatisfaction laced the sweet words. The fairy-like girl said this, yet her face bloomed with a radiant smile as she pressed his hand against her chest, as if wanting him to feel her heartbeat.
Just as Elysia said—the Herrscher of Corruption's ability to merge so easily into the Elysian Realm Elysia's data was partly due to Elysia's own vulnerabilities, but more significantly, it leveraged the 'special data' Elysia possessed.
While it protected Elysia, her unconditional acceptance of it also turned it into an open channel to the outside.
Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, as only one person could produce this data.
However—they hadn't anticipated an anomaly like the Herrscher of Corruption.
Using those 'fragments,' it managed to partially disguise itself as the special data. With Elysia willingly leaving the door wide open, the Herrscher of Corruption easily integrated into Elysia's core personality data, becoming a part of it.
If Elysia had harbored even a shred of 'caution' towards that data, the Herrscher of Corruption's crude disguise would never have penetrated her core data so easily—the moment she realized, the 'special data' would have helped her eliminate the external Herrscher of Corruption.
"Why did you do it?"
Looking at Elysia's face—still the same face, still the same sweet smile, yet now tinged with a fallen, seductive charm—Jiang Qiao understood everything and asked this question.
"Asking me why?"
"Why indeed?" Elysia touched her chin, but almost instantly, she smiled and gave her answer:
"Simple—because I wanted to."
"That's not strange at all, is it? After all... you've always done things that way."
"—Don't betray your current feelings."
"Because it told me, this is what I want to do right now, so... I just did it." Her slender, jade-like index finger twirled a strand of hair. The girl playfully examined her now truly tangible body, pressing close to him, remarking with a touch of emotion:
"A real body... it feels so different from a puppet body..."
"If you wanted one, I could have given you a new body from the start."
To this, Elysia clasped her hands behind her back and chuckled.
"That sounds nice too."
"But now, I can do it myself—though, hmm, I don't really feel like it."
"Besides... I was always her shadow, a part of her."
"In that case, doesn't this body belong to me too?" she retorted.
Jiang Qiao clearly couldn't answer that question.
After all, that was for Elysia herself to answer.
He couldn't even use her body to find out—because the current Fallen Elysia was also Elysia.
Furthermore, Jiang Qiao couldn't easily judge her current actions.
Because they mirrored his own long-held principle.
—Don't betray your current feelings.
As long as one doesn't betray their present feelings, the path to the future will not be lost in confusion.
Even if it might be wrong, even if it might lead to failure, at least it would absolutely not be a choice one regrets.
Of course—
That saying also had a preceding line.
—Don't forget your original self.
"Is the you right now the you you hoped to be?" Jiang Qiao asked Elysia softly.
"Nope."
She replied, the smile on her face unwavering, her expression barely changing.
"While I probably couldn't be called the 'best girl ever' or anything, I don't think I expected to become such a 'bad girl' like this either."
"The me back then probably never imagined I'd turn out like this."
"Can't be helped, I'm corrupted now, after all... Perhaps I truly have fallen, become something the old me couldn't even fathom." She murmured softly, a hint of helplessness and regret in her voice, but the next moment, her demeanor shifted abruptly, and she beamed.
"But, what does it matter?"
"Staying the same as when we first met is certainly one choice, but the me right now wants to become a version that makes myself happier."
"After all, people are always changing—how could I, who longed to become human, remain static?"
"Besides..."
"The one who changed me was you. Asking such a question now is rather mean, you know?"
Flies don't bite seamless eggs—an odd saying perhaps, but...
The reason the Elysian Realm Elysia became like this wasn't solely due to the Herrscher of Corruption; it was largely because she already leaned in this direction.
Conflicted about special feelings, but unable to express them directly due to a difficult personality, or perhaps afraid to... all the emotions accumulated because of a certain someone ultimately became the kindling the Herrscher could use.
If there had been no kindling from the start—then even as the strongest consciousness virus, it couldn't possibly have used its blank-slate, infant-like mentality to corrupt Elysia's fifty thousand years' worth of data reserves.
Doing so would only result in it becoming like some brain-fried child, ending up a drooling imbecile even if "cured."
"This is fine right now."
"Don't you think, compared to the old me, the current me is more my 'true self'?"
"This flowing emotion... this undeniable reality... these were things the old me struggled with, and even if I could manage them, it would always be incredibly awkward," the Fallen Elysia said with a smile, without much self-deprecation towards her pre-corruption self.
Because for her, the process from Elysia to Fallen Elysia wasn't about changing from one person to another, but simply a change within Elysia herself.
This essence wouldn't change just because the Herrscher of Corruption integrated... although it might indeed be twisted, might warp her emotions, Elysia could directly face these changes, could observe those past emotions... they hadn't disappeared, they still flowed within her heart, clearly visible.
The only change was that she had chosen to change.
Accepted it all, accepted this current twisted, fallen, altered self—the altered Elysia.
"Or perhaps, you don't like the current me?"
"If that's the case, it's okay too~"
"If you want, I can change back to the old Elysia—as long as that's what you desire."
"After..."
The girl stood face-to-face with Jiang Qiao, her enchanting, fairy-like azure-pink eyes reflecting his image.
An exceedingly cheerful voice whispered beside his ear:
"See? You're the only one left here now."