I am Möbius's sister.

[[Cirin]: How did you guys end up talking about celebrities? I remember we were just sharing information, right? By the way, are all your media devices like wristbands, just like mine?]

[Eden]: Hmm, mine is also a bracelet, a gold bracelet with intricate patterns carved on it and inlaid with good quality gemstones.

[Mei]: My bracelet is different from yours. It's a silver-white bracelet with a futuristic feel, and there's nothing else embedded in it.

[Alice: My bracelet is pretty cute~ It's a cutout design, light pink, and studded with purple diamonds.]

[Kevin]: Mine is a silver-white openwork bracelet with some patterns on it, but it's not inlaid with anything.

[Hua]: My bracelet... um... it looks more like a bangle. The fiery red egg-shaped part is mixed with other colors. It feels warm and cool to the touch, which is very comfortable. It looks like it's made of jade, but the texture is unusually hard.

[Cirin]: It seems everyone's bracelet is different. Mine is a purple bracelet with some patterns on it. It's a hollow design and there's nothing inlaid on the surface.

Sirin told a lie very skillfully, but she regretted it as soon as she sent it. Alicia would definitely make her show the bracelet, maybe to compare which one was cuter, or which one was prettier. No matter what reason she used, it would be a bad thing for her, because she simply couldn't produce it.

How will she deal with it then? But since it's already been posted, she can only take it one step at a time.

[Cirin]: By the way, Kaiwen and Mei, are you in Changkong City?

[Mei]: Yes, we're in Changkong City. I'm currently on the outskirts of the city center.

[[Kaine]: I'm also in Changkong City, somewhere in the city center, a bit far from the city center. Anyway, there are a lot of monsters around here. Just now, two pale-skinned guys walked by.]

[[Sirin]: Then make sure you all stay safe first. Don't act rashly. Wait for rescue. New rescue teams should arrive in about three days. Alicia and I will come to find you then, but we need your location information before then.]

[Mei]: You're coming to rescue us? Are you members of the Firemoth?

[Cirin]: Hmm... sort of, I just joined today.

[Kevin]: Is that the organization with the emblem of a giant moth? I remember when those monsters attacked, it was those people who fought desperately to stop them, otherwise I might have died then and there. If those people were still alive, I would like to thank them.

[[Alicia]: Those people you mentioned are most likely wiped out. There are no members of our organization in Changkong City right now; we've all gathered in the suburbs, and we're being held up by a huge, ugly snake.]

[[Kaine]: What a pity... I was going to thank you, but this is the only thing I could do.]

Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly somber, Xilin couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable. She thought it best to lighten the mood; it wouldn't do for things to stay this dull.

[[Cirin]: So you have to live on, don't wait until the rescue team finds you only to discover a mangled corpse.]

[Kevin]: Yeah, I'll survive. There are a lot of monsters here, but there are plenty of supplies. If I'm careful, I can survive for a long time.

[Mei]: I only have water on me, but there are no monsters around, so I can easily find supplies. I should be able to survive until then. However, I still feel something is off. Why aren't there any monsters here?

Looking at Mei's words on the screen, Sirin was slightly taken aback. She seemed to have heard Alicia say that the Honkai energy level in the center of Changkong City was rapidly increasing, and perhaps what Mei was saying was related to this.

Just as Xilin was about to comfort Mei, another notification sounded in Xilin's mind.

[An emergency has been triggered! The current emergency scenario is: [Rescue Mei and Kevin]: Mei is currently in an area with a high concentration of Honkai energy. The Honkai energy in this area will increase to a level harmful to humans in four days. Please prevent Mei from being corrupted by the Honkai energy. Kevin is in an area with a high density of Honkai Beasts and zombies. In three days, an Emperor-level Honkai Beast will emerge in this area and wipe out the survivors. Please rescue Kevin.]

[If either Kaiwen or Mei dies, the unexpected event will automatically fail, causing extremely negative consequences for the future. Please proceed with caution.]

[Upon completion of this event, you will receive one chance to win a prize and a golden treasure chest.]

[Note: Golden Treasure Chests are below Colored Treasure Chests and Prize Pool Rewards, and can yield high-quality special items.]

Hearing the news report about the emergency, Xilin was dumbfounded. This was supposed to be just a slight increase in difficulty? Finding two people and rescuing them while ensuring their safety within a day sounded simple, but the actual difficulty was immense.

However, Celine had no choice but to do this, as May and Kevin were extremely important people and there was absolutely no room for error.

Chapter Eight: The Unreliable Training

After chatting for a while and obtaining some more information, it was already midnight before Xilin realized it.

Although she used to stay up late playing games and cultivating immortality at this time, things are different now. Tomorrow at six o'clock, Alicia will come to take her to training.

For Celine, who had never gotten up this early before, this was undoubtedly a tough challenge. She was quite curious about what the training program would be tomorrow.

[Alicia]: It's past midnight~? Sirin, you should go to sleep, or you won't be able to get up tomorrow~?

[Cirin]: Okay, I'm going to sleep now.

After replying to Alicia, Sirin turned off the light screen. Looking at the starry night sky outside, Sirin sighed softly. Indeed, chatting in the group was a better way to pass the time. It was already past midnight.

Well, it's time to go to sleep.

However... she doesn't seem sleepy at all... In the past, when I stayed up late, I was most sleepy between midnight and 1 a.m., but now I feel energetic.

Was it the effect of gaining the power of the Herrscher? Sirin raised her small hand and looked at it carefully. It was still as fair and tender as ever, and she felt that nothing had changed. However... she could feel the enormous power contained in her petite body, a feeling she had never experienced before.

This feeling made her slightly intoxicated. The immense power within her gave her a deep sense of satisfaction, and a strong sense of confidence welled up within her, as if she could do anything.

But her reason told her that she was still very weak, and that this feeling of being invincible was just a side effect of suddenly gaining immense power without adjusting her mindset or adapting to it.

Although her name was Celine, she wasn't some inflated pufferfish! Before long, Celine suppressed this unpleasant feeling. It has to be said, this feeling of looking down on everyone was quite exhilarating; if she hadn't known about the tragic end of that certain pufferfish, she probably would have become addicted to it.

Sirin opened her hand and tried to use the Herrscher power within her. A small purplish-black cube appeared in Sirin's hand. It was a substance from the Imaginary Space that she had converted. Then, she gently squeezed it, and the cube instantly disintegrated.

As expected, it's the power of the Second Herrscher. How amazing and fun! Since she's a Herrscher, she should have a Herrscher Core, right? Sirin closed her eyes and tried to sense the Herrscher Core within her body.

A moment later, Sirin sensed the energy fluctuations of the Herrscher core. The Herrscher core was located in her lower abdomen, roughly around her navel. Although the Herrscher core did exist inside her body, it was more accurately described as existing in a special space within her body, which was connected to her body.

After finishing her sensory experience, a few beads of sweat appeared on Xilin's forehead. It was quite tiring to do something like this for the first time, but it was worth it as she had gained a basic understanding of her own body.

After wiping the fine sweat from her forehead, Xilin glanced at the wall clock. Almost twenty minutes had passed, but she still wasn't sleepy at all.

How about... we go for a walk outside?

Let's forget about it. It would be bad if she were discovered. Although she would be fine, the soldiers guarding her would definitely be punished, and the surveillance on her would be intensified. It would be a losing proposition.

So... I should just go to sleep.

But before going to sleep, she should take a nice, fragrant bath. They had been chatting for hours and almost forgot to shower. Although Sirin was practically spotless after becoming a Herrscher, the long-standing habit made her feel uncomfortable if she didn't shower, and she hated that feeling.

She took off her dress and white stockings, and wearing only her underwear, Celine skipped and hopped into the bathroom. Although Celine could already be called a young girl, she was still quite petite, and her chest was a little unsightly, but not flat; rather, it was slightly undulating and could be easily held in one hand.

A moment later, the sound of running water and Celine humming a lullaby came from the bathroom; she was in a good mood.

Tonight... is Christmas Eve.

Everyone has a peaceful and sweet dream, but when they wake up, they have to face the cruel reality.

……

In her dream, Xilin felt as if she were in the deep sea, sinking uncontrollably, her heavy eyelids unable to open, and all she could see was complete darkness. The deep sea seemed endless and without end.

Until the calls rang in her ears, she felt herself rapidly rising to the surface, and her eyelids no longer felt so heavy.

When Celine opened her eyes, what greeted her was a pair of unexpectedly soft hands, followed by pink hair falling onto Celine's small face.

"Cirin~ You're awake~? It's still ten minutes to six o'clock, are you sure you don't want to sleep a little longer?" At this moment, a very familiar voice rang in Sirin's ears, and a pink-haired woman who left a deep impression on her appeared in her field of vision—Alicea.

Indeed, Sirin was currently lying on Alicia's lap, enjoying Alicia's lap pillow. This was truly an imperial-level luxury, so much so that Sirin was stunned upon realizing it.

Was she really sleeping so soundly that she didn't even notice when her pillow was changed, and that bizarre dream...?

"Ah, it's already six o'clock, Sirin~ Time to get up~?" Alicia smiled and pinched Sirin's little cheek.

Feeling the movement on her cheek, Xilin snapped out of her daze, her face flushing a delicate pink, making her look incredibly pretty.

Just as Sirin was about to pull away from Alicia's thighs, perhaps because she was too hasty, she bumped into Alicia's soft breasts, instantly creating a wave, and Sirin herself was bounced back by the reaction force.

Looking at the waves before her, Xilin glanced at her own little hill and suddenly felt a lump in her throat. It was so big.

Although Sirin bumped into her, Alicia didn't blame Sirin at all. Instead, she found her even cuter and a little silly.

Feeling Alicia's gaze upon her, the pink on Sirin's face gradually turned crimson. She silently turned her head away, lowered her head, and sat on the edge of the bed with a slightly shy expression.

"Let's go wash up and then have breakfast. After breakfast, we'll start training, okay?" Alicia gently placed her hand on Sirin's head and stroked it softly.

Before Celine could even speak, Alicia pulled her into the bathroom to change her clothes.

A moment later, Sirin's scream echoed from the bathroom.

When they came out of the bathroom, Celine had changed completely. Her pure white dress with lace made her look even more innocent, and her white over-the-knee stockings clung perfectly to her body.

The lingering blush on Celine's face sparked suggestive thoughts, and upon closer inspection, it became clear that Celine's underwear had been changed.

"Sister Alicia, are you really training dressed like that?" After calming down, Sirin complained to Alicia.

This outfit doesn't look like something someone going through combat training would wear.

Hearing this, Alicia tilted her head playfully and said, "Of course you can train for that! Just listen to me~ Fighting is an art, you know~ You must defeat your opponent with an elegant and cute style~"

"Elegant and cute..." All I can say is, as expected of you, Alicia... Sirin felt a little helpless about this.

"Alright, let's hurry to the training grounds~" Alicia urged.

Sirin glanced at Alicia and nodded, but for some reason, a bad feeling arose within her.

……

Chapter Nine: Sirin's Special Nature

While Sirin was being taken away for training by Alicia, Möbius had already spent the entire night in the laboratory. He hadn't slept a wink all night, afraid of missing any detail of the experiment.

Sirin's blood is really too special. She has dissected the remains of the Second Herrscher and seen the blood of Herrschers, but she has never seen cells that can actively absorb Honkai energy to maintain their own life activities.

This is not a subjective choice manipulated by a specific consciousness, but an unconscious action of the cell. The only thing that can make the cell do this is DNA.

At that moment, Mebius was studying the DNA extracted from Sirin's blood, her eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.

However, the deeper she analyzed, the less excited she became, replaced by a solemn expression.

Looking at the analysis report she had just finished, Mebius frowned slightly. In addition to the characteristic of absorbing Honkai energy that she had already anticipated, she also unexpectedly detected a faint Herrscher core reaction in Sirin's DNA.

No, it can't be said to be a reaction of the Herrscher core, but rather a very similar one. This reaction is emitted by a mysterious gene fragment in Sirin's DNA, and can only be detected after being stimulated by Honkai energy.

Although Mebius was unclear about the specific connection between this gene fragment and the Herrscher core, it must be very close.

Most importantly, this is a gene segment that exists in Sirin's DNA, and it appears to be a dominant trait, meaning that it can be passed on to the next generation.

However, this gene fragment is inert and requires external stimulation to activate. In layman's terms, it is normally dormant and does not have any effect, but once you wake it up, it will start to work.

Mebius didn't know what role this gene fragment could play, but she could speculate based on the information she had—Sirin's Herrscher core was not an ordinary Herrscher core, but an extremely special one.

The Herrscher Core is the source of a Herrscher's power and the key to accessing Honkai energy and authority by communicating with the Imaginary Space. This is the nature of the Herrscher Core within a normally generated Herrscher, but it doesn't seem to apply entirely to Sirin, a special individual.

Sirin's power is that of the Second Herrscher, but the Herrscher Core of the Second Herrscher is still well preserved in the headquarters of the Flame Chaser. So the question is, how did Sirin obtain her power? Is it related to this special genetic fragment of hers? These two questions swirled in Mebius's mind.

After pondering for a long time, Mebius threw the analysis report into the shredder and destroyed it completely. It was enough for her to know the information in the report. If her guess was correct, the special nature of Sirin was probably far beyond everyone's expectations.

Their research on the Herrschers was limited, and the future remained largely unknown. Mebius did not have enough information to answer these two questions.

However, there is no doubt about Celine's importance, and she does not want anyone to know anything about Celine for the time being.