"You want to dance with ? Of course, i."
Elias looked at the girl before him—her face identical to i's—and instinctively couldn't refuse her wish.
(Alright, success!)
On the other side, Dr. i clenched her fist slightly. She might have appeared calm and collected, but it had taken her quite so ti to work up the courage to invite Elias.
Her lips curved upward. This person was just as before—holding an inexplicable fondness for her. She didn't know where it ca from, but as long as she could max out Elias' favorability toward her, she wouldn't care who exactly it was directed to.
She pulled Elias into the dance floor.
With graceful, lodious music playing, the two began to dance. However…
(Ah… just kill now.)
Barely a few seconds in, Dr. i's face went pale with embarrassnt. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and never co out again.
She had stepped on Elias' foot…
Focused entirely on how to invite him and how to prevent that pink elf from interfering, Dr. i had neglected one very important fact—
Her dancing was terrible!
As a scientist, she had no use for advanced social skills like ballroom dancing. Any free ti was better spent on experints.
Elias, in contrast, moved with calm elegance.
"It's fine, just leave it to ."
"Eh?"
"Relax, don't tense up. Let give you an unforgettable experience," Elias said confidently.
He had every right to be confident. Just a few steps in and the more knowledgeable guests could already tell—this white-haired boy was a master on the dance floor.
The mont his steps once again touched the floor, it beca his domain.
Guided by him, Dr. i perford countless advanced moves she never thought she could do. Her steps were entirely under his control, and the surrounding guests applauded in amazent.
No one had expected the heroic young man and the genius girl to possess such skill. Truly worthy of the title of prodigies—they excelled at everything.
(Ah… this feeling… it's wonderful…)
Dr. i's eyes narrowed happily. It was the first ti she had felt this kind of joy in being led.
(Elysia, you truly monopolize sothing enviable. I'll just steal a tiny taste—you won't mind, will you?)
When the dance ended, Dr. i quickly pulled Elias aside, giving up the central spot of the dance floor. Clearly, she was still a bit embarrassed.
"Thank you, Elias. I had a great ti."
"Mm, as long as you're happy, i."
Elias nodded. But before he could start another conversation, Dr. i leaned close to his ear, her voice low, cold, and urgent.
"Be careful, Elias. The higher-ups might be planning to make a move against you."
This was her real purpose for coming to the banquet—to warn the white-haired boy that his situation was becoming dangerous.
"Your influence and popularity are too high, and you don't follow their arrangents. On the surface, they're friendly, but in the shadows, they want you gone."
"Heh… a bunch of parasites. I really don't know where they find the courage to co after ."
Elias smirked coldly, full of disdain.
If the Fire Moth higher-ups could actually succeed against him, what face would a certain golden-haired, green-hatted fool have left?
Otto might be shaless, but what he could pull off was far beyond the reach of ordinary people. To truly oppose Elias, you had to at least be on Otto's level. And these so‑called Fire Moth higher‑ups thought they were qualified?
Truly a case of unfounded confidence.
"Elias, have you heard of 'Cocoon'?"
"Mhm, vaguely. Fire Moth's assassination division, set up to silence dissenting voices. I've heard that everyone in it carries… ah, no, is accused of so cri, and they specialize in fighting humans."
"You seem to know quite a bit." i covered her mouth in mild surprise at his knowledge. Elias only shrugged—if not for his past‑life mories, he wouldn't know a thing about Cocoon.
"I've found out the higher‑ups recently hired a powerful assassin from there. Codena: Forget‑‑Not."
"i~ you worry too much. What, do you think I'd actually get taken out by so assassin?"
"Well… true, that's hard to imagine." i smiled faintly. She realized she was overthinking. After all, this was soone even Herrschers couldn't touch—she couldn't imagine Elias being defeated, or even wounded, by re small fry.
anwhile, Elias' lips curved.
(Forget‑‑Not, huh? Perfect. So she's finally here. I've long wanted to et that pink‑haired donkey‑eared crybaby.)
Forget‑‑Not was Sakura's codena.
Elias was eager for his upcoming encounter with the Fla-Chaser known as "Setsuna."
Ding~! Ding~! Ding~!
Just then, the chis rang out. i's face changed, like Cinderella realizing the magic was about to end. Reluctantly releasing Elias' hand, she said:
"Sorry, Elias, I have urgent business. If you run into trouble, contact —don't hesitate."
"i?"
"Hope Kevin does his job… Ow! Shouldn't have worn such high heels. No… no ti—every extra second is dangerous. I'm no fusion warrior, I can't beat that elf. Gotta run." (muttering)
"…You really are Cinderella." Elias watched her hurry away—no, bolt—losing one heel in her rush.
Picking up the shoe, Elias mused it was a sha it wasn't crystal. He tossed it into Imaginary Space, planning to return it next ti they t.
"Wonder what she was panicking about. Not like her at all… Whatever. Better think about how to deal with our soon‑to‑arrive Miss Forget‑‑Not."
anwhile, on the other side, Mobius' eyes lit up when she saw i leave, and she imdiately headed toward Elias.
Normally she'd much rather stay in her lab, but seeing Elias in a rare formal suit made the snake restless enough to join in.
She wasn't here angling for a dance—just felt that defeating a Herrscher was worth celebrating. With the whole base present, skipping it would seem unsociable.
(Klein, still stuck working overti in the lab, was less than amused.)
And Mobius hadn't been idle.
She was very busy—promoting her lab to the new recruits, coaxing—er, recruiting—volunteers, all while keeping an eye on Elias' interactions with other won.
(Didn't expect both i and Hua to be people to watch… The latter… mm, no threat at all. The forr, though, definitely one to be wary of.)
Her gaze slid over Hua's eternally flat chest before turning back toward where i had been. Mobius, after all, knew Elias' tastes well.
So people may say, "If the chest isn't flat, how can you bring peace to the world," but in the end, they still prefer to gather hearts…
Mobius: (Hmph~ n. I really need to get back to my original form… and size.)
Seeing Elias dance with i earlier had filled her with such jealousy that she crushed her wineglass—thankfully, it had only been filled with juice, given her terrible alcohol tolerance. At least it suited her current petite, loli-like appearance.
Now, watching i leave in a rush, Mobius' eyes glead. She didn't know why i had left so suddenly, but she certainly wasn't going to waste the opportunity.
She subtly adjusted her gown and moved toward Elias—
BANG—!
The closed hall doors suddenly swung open.
"Miss Pink Elf, sparkling debut!"
"Elysia!" Mobius nearly ground her teeth to dust. Now she understood why i had bolted—it was because she knew this pink elf was on her way back.
The rule for inviting soone to dance was first co, first served. Mobius was just about to grab Elias and drag him onto the dance floor when—
"Oh my, whose adorable child is this~?"
"Elysia, what are you doing—put down!"
Mobius found herself scooped up from behind in a tight hug. With her reduced loli form, her feet dangled helplessly above the ground, completely immobilized.
"Nope~ It's grown-up ti now. Little kids shouldn't be wandering around here. Miss Mobius—cough, I an, little sister—go find your mommy and daddy, okay? Bye-bye~"
With a bright smile, Elysia opened a window and promptly tossed the petite scientist out.
"Elysia, you—*******"
Thrown out of the banquet hall, Mobius was seething. She hadn't even managed to make her move yet! And if Elysia had any guts, she should have gone after i instead of picking on a poor, weak, defenseless little snake.
"Tch, let i-chan get away, did I?" Elysia scanned the hall but couldn't find her dear friend. She clenched her tiny fists.
"Ah, did sothing delay you, Ely?"
Seeing his Miss Pink Elf finally appear, Elias felt as if he'd found sothing precious he'd been missing. They instantly closed the distance between them, forming a private two-person world.
"Mm, got held up by a little trouble, but it's been taken care of. Sorry to keep you waiting, Elias."
"No worries~ By the way, you look stunning, Ely."
"Thanks—and you're the most handso, Elias!"
They gazed at each other without blinking, morizing the image of the other in their platinum suit and pink-white gown.
Elias imdiately noticed Elysia had expended energy. Using the Herrscher of Rebirth's power, he checked for injuries and transferred his own Honkai energy to her.
Her face softened with sweet contentnt, the earlier frustration fading away.
During their earlier fight, Kevin had imdiately dropped his weapon and surrendered the mont the clock struck midnight. But of course, Miss Pink Elf wouldn't let him off so easily. A flurry of crystal arrows later, Kevin—now resembling a porcupine—was floating in the small river outside the base.
Elysia decided then and there: even if she ever kept a pet at ho—whether a Judgnt-level Honkai Beast or a Vipralopa-class one—she would never keep a husky.
(Well, I may have arrived a little late, but not too late. At least I got to stop—er, tornt—Mobius. Besides, the heroine always shows up last. Hehe~ My Elias was just too handso tonight!)
Elysia couldn't help but be entranced by the boy before her. Even in his usual uniform, Elias was soone she never tired of looking at. But now, dressed in a white suit with gold trim, he looked like a prince stepping straight out of a fairy tale… and she herself was no less stunning.
A pale pink knee-length dress paired with white silk heels, light makeup carefully applied, and those pointed elf ears—she was every bit the vision of a pink fairy from a blissful paradise.
…
Standing together, they were like a beautiful illustration co to life.
The sight inspired no jealousy—only pure admiration and heartfelt blessing. They matched perfectly. Too perfectly. If these two didn't end up together, it would be a cri against nature. Soone should fetch the marriage office right now.
Elias glanced at the ti.
It was nearly the finale.
Placing one hand over his chest, he extended the other toward Elysia and invited, "My dear Ely, would you honor with a dance?"
"It would be my pleasure, my dearest Elias~"
Without hesitation, she took his hand.
They walked together to the very center of the dance floor, moving in ti to the enchanting music.
Elysia loosened her hair tie, letting her pink hair cascade down like a waterfall.
She was more captivating than the fullest bloom of cherry blossoms, a crystal flower both strong and fragile, radiating an indescribable allure with every step.
In that mont, everyone was spellbound.
But no one dared feel possessive.
They all knew—this fairy-like girl belonged only to that equally extraordinary boy.
And Elias, at that mont, was like a musical prodigy who had finally found the perfect instrunt to express his full talent.
His steps were stronger and more forceful than before, each one striking the hearts of the onlookers.
Yet his gaze was so gentle, so warm it could lt millennia-old ice.
Every woman present could have fallen for him—but they all knew he belonged only to Elysia. All they could do was watch in envy.
"You know… ever since we were kids, it's always been like this. I sing, Ely dances, and sowhere along the way, you pull up to dance with you."
Elias' eyes were full of fond rembrance as he looked at the girl in his arms.
"Yes… every ti I hear you sing, I just can't help but dance. And this Miss Pink Elf is your dance partner alone, Elias~"
Elysia's expression was one of pure bliss. She wished this mont could beco eternal, that she could dance with him until the end of ti.
Everyone present instinctively stepped back, giving the entire stage to Elias and Elysia. Just watching the two of them dance filled their hearts with beauty and longing.
How could they not envy them? Look at that flawless coordination—it was as if they had rehearsed a thousand tis.
How many tis must you have held her waist, taken her hand, to spin her so effortlessly? How many tis must you have locked fingers, felt his breath, read his gaze, to follow his every step?
It was a perfect dance.
Just as they themselves were perfect.
In that mont, everyone could only offer their blessings.
—
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