The Fusion Soldier Plan needed a volunteer.
The success rate of the surgery was virtually zero. Humanity had never attempted anything so crazy. Even the alien species, the Starlight, only modified themselves into creatures resembling Honkai Beasts, rather than integrating a Honkai Beast into their own bodies.
This was a surgery that was almost guaranteed to fail, which was why, so far, only two people volunteered.
Kevin and Lin.
"I want to be the first to undergo the Project Soldier Surgery."
"Why?"
"The experience gained from my surgery can be used for Kevin. His success rate will increase."
"…"
Even without asking why, Mobius understood his reasoning.
He was the MSA-079 she was so painfully familiar with now, the soldier who could use poison without hesitation for the sake of humanity, the living dead who would follow even the command to die.
The Lin who had thawed his inner ice in recent months, who tried his best to change himself and enjoy life, had vanished like a mirage.
That man who spoke calmly about understanding her, who even apologized, was not the same person as this one.
Mobius looked at the man, who was half a head taller than her. His cold exterior was identical to before: "There won't be much difference between the first and the second. The deciding factor for the Project Soldier Surgery is 'luck.'"
"But some experience will definitely be gained." Lin steady voice echoed inside the helmet like a ringing bell.
So, are you planning to abandon your life just like that?
Abandon the life you had already decided to face positively, to enjoy like a normal person?
Mobius couldn't bring herself to ask. She couldn't refute him with "such a matter." He was so righteous, so rational, so willing to sacrifice himself for humanity and for his friend.
Every "selfish" reason, every "personal" excuse, was rendered defenseless by his wording.
She felt disgusted, and precisely because she was Mobius, she refused.
"I once made a promise to you that I would be the first volunteer for the Fusion Soldier Plan, and you told me that as long as I was alive, you would perform the surgery for me."
"Now is the time to fulfill that promise."
Mobius finally realized that she still hated Lin.
This had never changed since the first time they met.
...
"The Honkai Beast for fusion will be Vastsak, the Emperor-class Honkai Beast born during the Second Honkai Eruption. MSA-079 has a certain compatibility with it, as he was the one who subjugated it."
"Does MSA-079 require anesthesia during the surgery? The severe pain from the surgery might have a positive effect on maintaining his consciousness."
"If the surgery fails..."
"The injected Honkai energy..."
"The replacement parts..."
A technical discussion on how to transform a human into a monster was taking place in the Fire Moth Headquarters, a place that could be assimilated by alien civilization in a few tens of hours.
They racked their brains, striving to perfect the surgical plan. State-of-the-art equipment was wheeled into the lab, and multi-colored liquids were loaded into syringes.
Everyone spoke their thoughts without reservation, condensing them into a surgery that would last less than three hours.
Yes, this surgery was scheduled for less than three hours.
The Project Soldier Surgery was originally scheduled for nearly ten hours.
Because according to the plan, they were scheduled to perform two Project Soldier Surgeries consecutively. Time was tight, leaving no room for leisure. Lin low-success-rate surgery, being the first, was primarily for experimental verification.
In other words, they had already concluded from the start that Lin surgery would fail.
Mobius sat in the corner of the long table, not participating in the discussion, but watching Mei in the other corner with icy, dagger-like eyes.
The two watched each other in silence. Mei merely accepted Mobius's sharp gaze, which threatened to pierce her, with a calm composure.
"Are there any other suggestions?"
After the discussion concluded, Mei asked everyone.
And only one person, at this moment, emitted a discordant, jarring voice.
"I oppose performing the Project Soldier Surgery on MSA-079."
When others saw that it was Mobius, their expressions changed. Although they were all co-planners of the Fusion Soldier project, this didn't mean they shared Mobius's temperament.
She was a madwoman. Even among their group of mad scientists, she was the craziest.
But Mobius acted as if she hadn't noticed their looks. She slowly stood up, looking down at the others: "His Honkai energy adaptability is far below average, while his Honkai energy resistance is elevated due to the Honkai energy serum. He completely fails to meet the requirements of the Fusion Soldier Plan. Even if the surgery succeeds, he may be far from achieving the expected results we need."
Low Honkai energy adaptability and high Honkai energy resistance—the opposite of the original intention of the Fusion Soldier Plan.
Therefore, this was the most "rational" reason.
"But MSA-079 is one of the only two volunteers."
"…"
Mei's statement rendered Mobius speechless.
She knew in her heart that when two individuals undergo the same experiment, the more prone-to-failure individual, the one with more variables, is often chosen as the primary subject.
This was common sense.
It wasn't a question of suitability. Even if he wasn't suitable, they had no other choice.
Thus, this meeting, without any surprises, ended in the silence following the irrelevant "ravings" of one "madwoman."
...
Mobius occasionally recalled her childhood.
Human memory is selective. If a person's childhood is tragic, they might unknowingly forget it as they grow up.
But Mobius clearly remembered her past, a childhood that ended amidst the smell of drugs, dirty ceilings, and someone's hysterics.
Her goal was set then: a determination to evolve humanity into a more "beautiful" form, rather than a mass of wriggling flesh, drug-addicted maggots festering in a sewer.
She would survive at all costs, and bring about humanity's evolution, just like her name, witnessing the "infinity" of life.
This was the truth Mobius recognized.
She should have scoffed at Lin life principles, which were diametrically opposed to hers, giving up on himself so easily just to buy a chance for others.
But now, she was doubting.
The hand holding the scalpel had begun to tremble at some unknown moment.
She, who had executed countless surgeries coldly, never hesitating whether to take life or give life, stopped at this moment.
She was the lead surgeon.
"Clap."
A hand grasped her trembling hand, making her hold the scalpel tightly.
It was the man lying on the operating table, the one who hadn't even been injected with anesthesia. He squeezed her hand with a tenderness she had never experienced before.
"Begin."
Don't say it.
Mobius wanted to cover her ears.
Don't say those words to her.
"I believe in you."
Her heart seized up.
The heart that hadn't felt pain since the day she left the cave called "home" seized up.
Three hours later, Lin Project Soldier Surgery was declared a failure.