As expected of sisters, perhaps.
Even the name could be considered part of an inside joke.
Still... the Monarch had no complaints about the name of Sakura's Collapsed State. In any case, it was good enough that she wasn't called "Flying Fish Ball."
Of the Thirteen Flame-Chasing Heroes, Sakura's transformation could directly stabilize the most troublesome among them, Kalpas. However, the one who would truly make this seemingly ferocious man—who in reality just wanted a place called "home" to return to—completely let go of his hostility was Aponia's transformation.
Aponia's body, like Sakura's, used an Armed Automaton created by Vill-V as its vessel.
However, due to using the first-rated output of Fenghuang Down, even though she had recovered some memories through Mobius's special methods, the side effects were still quite pronounced. She spent most of her time in a daze, and as a psychic-sensory type Fusion Warrior, the Discipline she often unconsciously released would always cause considerable trouble.
The Monarch had no means of restoring memories for others, but he could use the complete [Authority of Sentience] to help Aponia stabilize her existing memories and mental state, and while he was at it, transform her into a member of the [Primordial Species], just like Sakura.
As an aside, because they were Primordial Species evolved from the [Machine Species], when Aponia and Sakura transformed from their Collapsed State back to their human state, they did not experience the same "awkward" situation as Rin had.
The Collapsed State that Aponia transformed into was named:
[Primordial Species · Nai'a]
---o---
"Kosma."
"I possess the ability to assimilate other beings into Honkai Beasts. For you Fusion Warriors, who have long since blurred the boundary between human and Honkai Beast, this process will be much simpler."
"However, turning a Honkai Beast into a human..."
"Whether I can do it is one thing, but do you think Griseo truly wishes to live on as an ordinary human?"
"The protector and the protected."
Lu Xing's gaze swept over Sakura and Rin.
"Which identity is more painful, which is the one truly being protected... As the 'boy' who was once shielded behind the backs of Hen and Kevin, you should understand this better than anyone."
The Monarch did not "enlighten" everyone.
For Sakura, Kosma, and Aponia, it was merely a slight "mending" of past regrets... or perhaps, it should be called the Monarch's pity.
Finally—
Ding!
A clear, resonant sound blew away the hot wind, washing away the sweltering heat of summer.
In that instant, all the Fusion Warriors felt a change within themselves. More than just psychologically accepting themselves as Honkai Beasts, this sound made them feel an unconscious sense of belonging.
Among everyone, the change was most pronounced in Dr. Mei, who was not a Fusion Warrior.
"This is?"
She looked down at her own arm.
The aftereffects from forcibly wielding the Key of Blankness—the frequent numbness, stiffness, and sharp pains in her body, compounded by overwork into a "super-sized" ordeal... all these negative effects vanished without a trace after that sound reverberated.
Most importantly, Dr. Mei could physically feel that the Honkai energy, which had been stubbornly lodged in various parts of her body like a chronic disease, could now be actively controlled by her consciousness!
"Divine Sound."
"That research project you never had time to conduct."
"The [Divine Sound] derived from modifying [Discipline] has too many limitations. The current version, released with the [Authority of Sentience] and the [Authority of Erosion], can be adapted to by even a body like yours."
"On the basis of not assimilating you into my clan..."
"This is the best choice for the continuation..."
The Monarch's gaze glanced at Kevin—he had deliberately used "continuation" instead of "salvation" in his description.
"...for the continuation of your life."
"..."
"Does this make it more convenient to transform humans into Honkai Beasts?"
"Of course."
Facing Mei's question, the Monarch answered without any evasion.
"This is also why I have high hopes for you (all). Human discovery and creation can always play unexpected roles in unforeseen places, although, leveraging such roles must pass through my hands."
---o---
"Now then..."
As the Monarch's palm slowly opened, a rhomboid, translucent crystal appeared in mid-air.
"You should be quite familiar with this object."
Indeed, the members of Fire Moth couldn't be more familiar with something of this color and structure. This was especially true for Kevin; after all, this was the very thing that had nearly impaled him.
"My factor."
"The Honkai Beast factor belonging to the 'Monarch' of the previous stage."
When referring to this thing, Lu Xing hesitated for a moment before finally using the more ambiguous term "Monarch" rather than "Honkai Monarch." After all, if he told the truth... those with weak mental fortitude might just pass out on the spot.
"I cannot withstand the power of the 'Imaginary,' is that right?"
"No."
The Monarch shook his head in denial.
"It's not just you."
"None of you, including my [Retainers], can yet withstand the power that comes directly from the 'Tree'."
Dr. Mei had heard information about the "Tree" and the "Sea" from the Monarch before.
Even if the information was vague, it was still enough for her to combine it with various known facts to deduce a relatively correct answer...
The answer regarding the "Tree" and the "Sea."
The Monarch's power level, and his choice to use a lower-tier factor as a "reward," both proved this point from the side.
"As the inventor of the Fusion Warrior surgery."
"Compared to me using [Root Assimilation] personally, you and Mobius might be able to unearth more possibilities from this. In that case, spending a little more time is not unacceptable."
Dr. Mei accepted the crystal that floated before her. To her surprise, the slender, multi-faceted object was not just a single piece, but...
"The Chimera Project."
"The extra one is a 'gift' for Kevin."
"The [Karma-Demon State], as an advanced form of the [Collapsed State], is a potential outcome unique to the Chimera Project, but this is far from its endpoint."
"With the help of my factor."
"The power of the Karma-Demon State is not just its superficial combat strength. If you can overcome your nightmare on a spiritual level—that's right, this crystal can strengthen the power of the 'nightmare (me)' in your Karma-Demon State—you will also obtain even greater power."
Helping the Chimera form advance further and Dr. Mei's Fusion Warrior surgery were truly complementary... just like the existence of Kevin and Mei themselves.
Having said his piece, the Monarch's figure, along with Rin who stood quietly beside Sakura, began to grow illusory.
The fight against Finality was not his alone... and he had explained enough for one day.
"Remember."
Along with the Monarch's dissipating figure.
"Fourteen days—"
"I look forward to your performance."