Setsuna had Fu Hua undergo another detailed examination.
From the DNA level, they studied the Judgnt-level Honkai Beast she had fused with.
At the sa ti, the massive beast in the breeding grounds—larger than a small starship—was also brought out.
Compared to when he had first subdued it, Setsuna felt Chiyou had grown a little bigger.
It looked like a giant rat, its surface covered with hardened armor ford from Honkai energy. Now completely under the control of his authority of erosion, it lacked the usual violent aura of Honkai Beasts.
When it saw Setsuna, it obediently lowered its head to the ground in submission.
Whatever he commanded, it did.
After watching it for a while, he even felt it had a strange cuteness to it.
"Maybe keeping this thing as a pet would be pretty stylish?"
Setsuna thought raising sothing that could fight Honkai Beasts wasn't a bad idea. It could also provide DNA for future MANTIS surgeries.
Cangxuan, Dan Zhu, and the Life Sciences lolis brought all kinds of equipnt. Piloting a small shuttle, they thoroughly examined Chiyou from head to toe.
They even extracted so of its tissue for comparative analysis in the lab.
Two days later—
Cangxuan reported her conclusion to Setsuna with a face full of disbelief:
"Commander, to put it simply—it's still a juvenile, not fully developed."
"We discovered that Chiyou's body has changed slightly since it was captured."
"Compared with its first checkup at the Honkai-1 space station, its Honkai energy has increased by 0.003%. Its body size has grown by 0.002208%."
"In addition, its other data points are also rising slowly but steadily."
Since capturing Chiyou, the Research Division had conducted regular examinations.
Comparing the reports over ti revealed a subtle clue.
The changes weren't large, but for such a colossal creature, they were far beyond the margin of error.
"A juvenile? It's still growing?"
Setsuna was stunned.
"Yes. At first we also thought Chiyou was a Judgnt-level Honkai Beast. But based on the current evidence, I believe we underestimated it."
Cangxuan and Dan Zhu spoke seriously.
"It's a newly-born juvenile, still in the growth stage."
"Judgnt-class is only its starting point, not its limit."
"…Huh?"
Fu Hua looked up at the massive creature in disbelief.
From its size alone, it was already countless tis larger than ordinary Emperor-class Honkai Beasts. Normal people were like ants before it.
"And that's only its juvenile form?"
"That's right."
Cangxuan nodded.
"Chiyou's base physique is far larger than other Honkai Beasts."
"After being born in ancient tis, it instinctively devoured everything it could to absorb energy, converting it into Honkai energy for its growth."
"But it hadn't had much ti to grow before the Commander knocked it down."
"…"
"So we caught a baby?"
Setsuna looked at it with a strange expression.
At first, since it was nad Chiyou, he expected it to have so special ability. But aside from its appetite, he hadn't noticed anything.
Now it seed the problem wasn't that it was weak—it was just still a child.
"Hmm, Honkai Beasts with growth potential are rarely recorded. In most cases, their level is fixed from the mont they're born."
"We were misled by Chiyou. Without long-term observation, we never would have realized."
Dan Zhu thought aloud.
"Then what level can it grow to?"
Fu Hua asked.
Chiyou had already been born at Judgnt-class. According to Previous Era classifications, the next rank up was only Vipralopa-class.
"I'm not sure."
Dan Zhu brushed her hair back and shrugged.
"Reaching Vipralopa-class is certain. Beyond that… I've never seen it."
"Planet-class? Like Jyahnar?!"
Setsuna suddenly grew interested in Chiyou.
Planet-class Honkai Beasts were far stronger than ordinary Herrschers. Even if it seed underwhelming for now, he could raise it slowly.
"What?"
Cangxuan and Dan Zhu had never heard of the concept of Planet-class Honkai Beasts, nor did they know who Jyahnar a was, but they still nodded in agreent.
"Its power will inevitably surpass Vipralopa-class. Calling it Planet-class… isn't a problem."
Then, they turned to Fu Hua.
"This also explains why, after the ta-Morph surgery, even though you fused with Chiyou's DNA, your strength didn't grow much."
"This thing is still a juvenile. You need to give it ti and opportunities to grow."
"…"
Fu Hua frowned, thinking it over.
"Like Vishnu?"
She rembered that growth-type Honkai Beast. When it was born, it was only at a lower level, but it could keep evolving by devouring.
"Sothing like that. But I think Chiyou's ceiling is higher. After all, it was born at Judgnt-class…"
"Since you fused with its juvenile DNA, you should also be able to grow stronger by absorbing Honkai energy like it does."
"In theory, the more Honkai energy you absorb, the faster your growth. So, yes, you need to reconsider your training."
Dan Zhu answered Fu Hua's doubts in a few words—and painted her a big picture.
"…"
"Re-train, huh… that's fine."
Fu Hua pondered.
Her limits had already been reached long ago, back when she walked Shenzhou. For thousands of years after, nothing had changed.
Now, with her limits broken, she could once again seek new ways to grow stronger.
The immortal found this even more interesting than she had imagined.
To temper herself and see how far she could climb.
...
Under Setsuna's orders—
The lunar research base began a Chiyou-raising program.
The large number of low-level Honkai Beasts converted by Setsuna were all fed to Chiyou.
Those small fry were just taking up space anyway. Better to use them to help Chiyou grow faster.
Normally, Honkai Beast juveniles grew extrely slowly.
But with massive feedings, Chiyou absorbed a huge amount of Honkai energy in a short ti. Its size alone grew by 10–20%.
The caretakers clicked their tongues in amazent.
"This guy… just its juvenile form is this huge. Once it's fully grown, won't it be as big as a continent?"
Cangxuan sighed as she directed the Angeloids in feeding it.
Not long ago, she had been fighting this creature for her life.
Now, with the Commander here, she had beco a scientist and part-ti Honkai Beast keeper.
Life was strange indeed.
So of the sharper little lolis began thinking—if raising one pet was possible, why not more?
They applied for several scout fleets to search deeper into space.
"Commander, we want to see if we can find things like Ether Dragons or space amoebas!"
"The universe is so big—there might be space creatures out there!"
"…"
"I doubt it, but if it makes you happy, go ahead."
Setsuna approved casually.
"And how do you even know about those? Did Grey teach you?!"
...
anwhile—
Fu Hua began her own training after learning the situation.
"Absorb Honkai energy… absorb Honkai energy…"
Naturally, she couldn't devour Honkai Beasts like Chiyou.
But every day after teaching her disciples, she would spend so ti training alone.
Sure enough, she discovered she had inherited part of juvenile Chiyou's ability.
Not only training, even eating als helped her grow stronger.
The gains were tiny, but real—she was indeed converting external energy into Honkai energy within herself.
"So if I keep absorbing energy like Chiyou, I'll beco stronger over ti…"
The immortal thought it over seriously.
"It really is a bit like Vishnu. Now I'm curious—how strong will an adult Chiyou be?"
If it truly surpassed Vipralopa-class, her strength would exceed even that of the Thirteen Fla-Chasers.
"That's simple."
Setsuna waved his hand.
"Take any supplents or potions we've brought from other worlds—whatever you want."
"If you need energy, just cook up so of those monsters over there."
"Besides diligent training, I have an even easier way to replenish Honkai energy."
"What is it?"
The immortal looked at Setsuna curiously.
"In the past I've supplied mana to Heroic Spirits, and spiritual power to Spirits. Honkai energy should work the sa way, right?"
Setsuna felt proud of his ability to harmonize the powers of different worlds.
"Anyway, I'm a Herrscher. No one here has more Honkai energy than ."
"Co, I'll give you a recharge."
"Ah???"
...
One week later, at dawn—
"The so-called Taixuan Eminence is achieved when one masters the fifth essence—the Essence of Divinity—reaching the state where divine power shapes the sword, and sword energy follows the heart."
"At that point, the sword fills all of space. The sword is space itself—everywhere, unstoppable."
"The essence of divinity is essentially the shaping and extension of Honkai energy. The prerequisite is the ability to manipulate vast amounts of Honkai energy."
At the peak of Sky Summit on Mount Taixuan, Fu Hua once again began instructing her disciples.
After their transformation into MANTIS, their progress was astonishing, like a thousand miles in a single day.
Genetic ascension had granted them powerful comprehension and reflexes, and becoming MANTIS further enhanced their physiques.
Theoretically, given the sa Honkai Beast fusion, the Starsea Empire's MANTIS were slightly stronger than those of the Previous Era. The only drawback was their relative lack of combat experience.
"As far as I know, those who have mastered the Essence of Divinity are limited to the Herrscher of Sentience who inherited my mories, the fifth disciple with natural stigmata, Cheng Lingshuang, and the Commander."
"But since you are MANTIS who already control Honkai energy, mastering the Essence of Divinity should not be difficult."
Fu Hua demonstrated her ultimate art move by move.
Whether it was the Butterfly sisters, Night Raid, or Gudako, all studied diligently.
They had seen the Commander unleash the star-annihilating version of the Taixuan Eminence. Even if they couldn't reach such absurd levels, achieving sothing on par with the immortal would suffice.
"To wield this sword, your heart must be as calm as still water. Ritsuka Fujimaru, you are too full of distractions. Go back and temper your sword-heart."
Fu Hua tapped Gudako on the shoulder with her sword hilt.
"Ugh…"
"I just think too much, that's all…"
Humanity's Evil didn't dare talk back and obediently accepted.
"Mm. Kanae, Kanao, Shinobu—you've done well."
"At this rate, within half a year you should be able to use the Taixuan Eminence smoothly. As for its power… that will depend on your training."
The immortal nodded with satisfaction at the Butterfly sisters.
They had arrived at the capital earlier than most, and were the first to co into contact with extraordinary powers—quickly realizing their own shortcomings.
Thus, they were especially humble, willing to train diligently day after day.
"Thank you, Master!"
Kanae bowed respectfully after her practice.
They trained from dawn until sunset.
During a break, while others were resting—
She quietly approached Fu Hua and whispered:
"Tonight the Commander asked us to accompany him. Master, will you co too?"
"?!"
The immortal was utterly stunned.
"What are you saying?!"
"Oh co on, the Commander said you're too serious sotis, and that everyone should bond more."
"It's not good for you to always keep to yourself. Here, you're our master. But aboard the Eternal Snowfall, we're sisters."
"???"
The immortal was shocked by Kanae's logic of 'master by day, sisters by night.'
Unable to resist her persuasion, she reluctantly agreed.
"This is just… to replenish Honkai energy. Replenishing Honkai energy…"
Fu Hua tried to convince herself with a straight face.
...
"Commander, stay with us a little longer~"
Azure Lane Harbor, in the Commander's quarters.
Every ti Setsuna ca here, he had the feeling of Oh no, I'm surrounded by shipgirls.
With favorability scores sky-high across the board, he could practically enter any shipgirl dormitory freely.
In fact, the mont he appeared here, his office would often be mobbed.
"You've been so busy with the MANTIS and those companions from the Honkai world lately, you hardly visit anymore."
"You owe us so quality ti—you'd better make it up to us."
Taihou leaned against his back, whispering softly in his ear.
"Didn't I just co down from the Eternal Snowfall the other day…"
"Not enough~"
Taihou's voice was a mix of yandere and seduction.
"You love my body the most, don't you? Neither Fu Hua nor Kanae and the others can compare to . After all, I can do things they never could…"
"…"
Setsuna admitted that so playstyles required a certain "foundation" to pull off.
Nagato couldn't, Origami couldn't, even Fu Hua couldn't—only carriers or battleship-class shipgirls could.
"Shoo, shoo, you're glued to the Commander every day."
Formidable pushed Taihou aside.
"Commander, if you're free tonight, would you like to co to the Royal Navy port? I'd like to share so tea and music with you. I just bought a few limited edition CDs…"
"What's the point of all that frill?"
Akagi slipped into his arms, her large fox tail brushing up and down against Setsuna as she issued a direct invitation:
"Commander, won't you co to my bedroom tonight? Or even into my ship body—it's fine. Kaga can join too if you like."
"???"
The dumbfounded dragon maid was shocked.
"Hey?! Where did you co from?! You're not even an oath-bound ship yet?!"
"After tonight, won't I be?"
Akagi's passion burned.
"Huh?!"
"Victorious, quick, help get her out! Indomitable, stop sleeping—our Commander is being stolen!!!"
"Ohhhhhh—!!!"
Setsuna suddenly realized that from now on, the Eternal Snowfall might as well turn into an open buffet.
No need to restrict it to oath-bound shipgirls—anyone who wanted to could simply step up.
Heaven. This was heaven.
...
After paying a certain price to leave the harbor—
Setsuna felt his body just a bit worn out.
Considering he still had to deal with others later that night, he took a short rest at the administrative center while also planning future developnts.
"Mm. Keep raising Chiyou on the moon. Feed it more Honkai Beasts and try to grow it up sooner."
"As for Fu Hua… she'll be able to get much stronger. That's good too."
The results of the first MANTIS experints, along with the unexpected discovery about Chiyou, left Setsuna very satisfied—one could even call it a pleasant surprise.
That juvenile, if raised properly, would one day beco a Planet-class Honkai Beast. Not only would it be overwhelmingly powerful, but its DNA could also be used to create MANTIS, boosting their overall strength by another tier.
As for Fu Hua, the immortal who by chance fused with juvenile Chiyou, it was foreseeable that her power would also rise quickly.
Given her diligence in training, coupled with the Starsea Empire's support, Setsuna felt that it was only a matter of ti before she could punch Kevin and kick Finality aside.
The only downside was that while Chiyou grew bigger through devouring, Fu Hua seed to inherit only the strength growth—her figure remained the sa as ever.
Sad.jpg.
After finishing the loose ends of the experint and resting for a few days—
Setsuna looked at his space-piercing skill, long off cooldown, and naturally turned his gaze to other worlds.
"Alright, gather up."
"Let's go find so idiot goddess, a magical girl, or maybe grab a cooking-strip chef to improve the nu?"
"Oh, and there's Unit-01 and Strelizia too, right? Tsk, looks like we'll be busy again."
—
—
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