Chapter 163: Garden's Upheaval: Kalpas' Ambitions

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Within the Elysian Realm, Ana and Elysia were leisurely strolling when suddenly, intense flames erupted in the distance, causing Ana to frown slightly.

"Hmm, it seems Kalpas couldn't wait any longer," she remarked.

Elysia beside her remained unaffected, instead smiling cheerfully.

"Yes, for Mei, Kalpas is indeed a formidable opponent."

Ana fell silent for a moment before responding slowly, "That goes without saying; after all, it holds true in the future as well."

However, this matter is worth briefly discussing. In the Elysian Realm, the strength of Heroic Spirits comprises two elements: their inherent power and their mental fortitude.

In simpler terms, characters like Mobius and Vill-V experience some enhancement here, but it isn't particularly significant. Conversely, Kalpas also receives a boost, primarily through his combat determination.

In reality, this translates to endurance, while within the Garden, it signifies mental resilience. With Kalpas's willpower, he can maintain fighting capabilities even when on the brink of psychological collapse, which is truly terrifying. He's akin to an indestructible cockroach.

Unfortunately, the Elysian Realm teems with exceptional individuals, rendering Kalpas's combat determination insignificant compared to Kevin and Elysia.

As for Ana, her resilience is even more extraordinary.

Just like a cockroach, no matter how resilient they may be, to humans, they're still just bugs.

However, for Raiden Mei, Kalpas's tenacity is genuinely terrifying.

To the previous era's leaders who ventured into the Elysian Realm, Kalpas could be considered a living nightmare, and it makes sense upon reflection.

Even Mobius, despite being portrayed as immensely formidable, realistically, without her manipulation or leveraging her research on Corrosion, her combat prowess would rank among the weakest Heroic Spirits here.

Of course, this isn't meant to belittle anyone; Raiden Mei's growth in strength has been remarkably swift. However, as the last Fusion Warrior from the previous civilization, each member of the Flamce-Chasers possesses exceptional power—on paper, far surpassing those of the current generation.

But indeed, Mobius and Kalpas serve as clear benchmarks. Only by overcoming their level can one truly claim mastery and gain access to deeper truths.

"Since we've encountered them, let's go say hello!" Ellie chuckled lightly, pulling Ana towards Kalpas. Initially, Ana planned to leave directly, but with Ellie's insistence, she reluctantly followed along.

In the Forgotten City, just as Ana first encountered Kalpas within the Garden of Eden, he found himself amidst another fierce battle.

Surrounding Kalpas were peculiar monsters; some weren't even Honkai Beasts but rather creations from other realms that existed in Ana's memories, now manifesting one by one in the Elysian Realm.

This sight elicited a somewhat perplexed expression on Ana's face. How should she describe it?

Can you imagine Kalpas unleashing his fury on a group of fire slimes, only to see "Immune" flash repeatedly across the screen?

Surreptitiously, Ana wiped away her sweat.

It wasn't her fault; Master Ke's lightning immunity had left too deep an impression.

Fortunately, no one in the Elysian Realm seemed concerned about the origins of these monsters. After all, alongside them were even more abstract creatures born from data corruption.

For instance, zombies wearing Hilichurl masks...

"Hey, Kalpas, what are you doing?"

Elysia ascended to the rooftop above Kalpas, watching him relentlessly pummeling the fire slimes. Normally, Kalpas' basic attacks deal physical damage and should cause harm, but due to Ana's ingrained perception, slimes could only withstand elemental damage.

As Kalpas continued to pummel the slimes relentlessly, Ana couldn't help but recall how "Genshin Impact" players used Jean and wind-type slimes for impromptu games of volleyball. It seemed like that's what Kalpas was doing here as well.

However, this perception belonged solely to Ana; from Elysia's perspective, it was entirely different.

"Woah, Kalpas, what kind of creature is this? It looks so adorable!"

Elysia jumped down, reaching out to touch one of the fire slimes. The slime bounced playfully, seemingly oblivious to Elysia's actions, appearing quite docile.

"I'm not sure either, but these guys provide me with endless combat practice, ha-ha!" As Kalpas spoke, he punched the slime away again. In no time, the resilient creature hopped back, much like a naive deer in the wild.

This characteristic meant Kalpas didn't need to worry about gathering enemies; all he had to do was freely unleash his punches.

"Wow, Ana, isn't this little fellow fascinating?"

Ana remained silent, her lips twitching slightly as she watched Elysia interacting with the slimes below. For some inexplicable reason, her mind conjured up images of erotic fanart featuring slime dissolving clothes.

No, no, mustn't think such thoughts—it's truly sinful.

Before Ana could respond, Kalpas suddenly interjected from the side.

"I'd advise you to stay away from these creatures; their slime can corrode clothing."

As Kalpas spoke, holes appeared in his shirt due to corrosion, leaving Ana even more at a loss for words.

"Hmm, indeed. In that case, I'll take my leave now."

Witnessing this, Elysia's eyes flickered momentarily. She gracefully produced a handkerchief to wipe the slime off her hands, stood up, and turned back to look at Ana in the distance.

"Darling, do such monsters really exist in reality?"

"Uh... well, they're not actually native to the Honkai World. Instead, we observed them through Unnamed Locomotive as creatures from another world—similar to the slimes found in magic storybooks," Ana explained cautiously. Of course, parts of this explanation were fabricated, but it didn't matter. After all, Otto had indeed observed Teyvat Continent, so borrowing elements and crafting a plausible narrative seemed reasonable enough.

Her memories involving the System and being a transmigrator were simply too extraordinary for this world, best left unmentioned.

However, Ana hadn't anticipated these slimes becoming punching bags for Kalpas.

She couldn't help but give Kalpas a few more scrutinizing glances.

Indeed, not bad at all! The mask designed and crafted by Eden remains unaffected by the slime's corrosive fluids.

"By the way, that Herrscher seems to be your student?" As Ana and Elysia were about to leave, Kalpas suddenly interjected.

"Yes, indeed," Ana nodded, then added, "Although, I'm merely her theoretical instructor; I haven't directly taught her any practical combat skills."

"Hahaha, 'theoretical instructor'?! Do you really expect me to believe that?" Kalpas laughed uproariously, a hint of madness evident in his voice.

"It's the truth, Kalpas." Ana shrugged, somewhat exasperated.

She could easily guess what was on Kalpas's mind: He still harbored resentment from their previous encounter, seeking an opportunity to regain face.

This reaction was entirely understandable.

Nevertheless, Ana spoke the truth—she genuinely had not trained the Main trio in combat. She was simply an ordinary teacher focused on imparting knowledge and nurturing growth.

"Kalpas, don't act recklessly. Her existence is crucial for both the Elysian Realm and this generation of humans."

"Very well, let's see if this promising student of yours truly deserves the significance you attribute to her, ha ha ha—"

A sudden headache gripped Ana. This Kalpa... her words might have inadvertently backfired. If Raiden Mei indeed suffered more than she should due to what was said, Ana would feel...

Well, somewhat content.

Surprising, isn't it? Not really, considering from Ana's perspective, enduring hardships within the Elysian Realm is preferable to facing them outside. Here, there are countless chances for a fresh start, whereas out there, you only get one shot.

Moreover, Ana had significant responsibilities planned for Raiden Mei, so—ahem, any present tribulations will be blessings in disguise for the future! My dear student, Raiden Mei, surely you can understand my intentions, right?

In that moment, within the garden, Raiden Mei suddenly sneezed, leaving her slightly puzzled.

"Am I catching a cold?"

She blinked, a hint of suspicion crossing her face. Could consciousness catch a cold? How peculiar. But soon after, she sensed something amiss.

An intense surge erupted from the depths of the Elysian Realm, its formidable power jolting Raiden Mei. Before she could react or resist, she found herself pulled into the Elysian Realm.

"Damn, what the hell is this?! Guys, seriously!"

In Brother Cake's live stream, as he watched the screen suddenly go dark, he was utterly dumbfounded. The Elysian Realm is supposed to be a realm of consciousness and memories, right? How could it actually swallow someone physically? Isn't that incredibly dangerous?

[Ha ha ha, Brother Cake's expression, killing me with laughter!]

[Guys, anyone else getting freaked out by this thing eating people?!]

[Now we're talking! Even when I experienced this part myself, I was totally baffled.]

Although this turn of events was abrupt, it turned out to be just a minor hiccup. One could only say that for this iteration of the Elysian Realm, Old Mi introduced many new elements to enhance immersion for the Captains. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Within the Elysian Realm, as everything around her lit up again, Raiden Mei found herself immersed in this realm—the Forgotten City.

However, the surroundings felt entirely unfamiliar to her.

Raging inferno consumed all, devouring and destroying everything in its path. Amidst this sea of flames stood a shirtless man, his back turned towards her, exuding the aura of an imperious emperor ruling over eternity.

"Are you Raiden Mei?" Suddenly, amidst the sea of flames, the man spoke slowly. His voice was raspy and deep, carrying an overwhelming presence. Naturally, ever since regaining consciousness, Mei had remained highly vigilant of her surroundings.

Both Ana and Elysia had previously warned her that the Elysian Realm is not a peaceful sanctuary; it harbors numerous dangers.

At present, Raiden Mei couldn't discern the intentions of the person before her, but she could sense his immense danger and power. This Heroic Spirit demanded her full attention and utmost effort.

"Yes, your actions seem rather impolite," Raiden Mei replied calmly, neither submissive nor confrontational.

"The process is irrelevant, Raiden Mei."

Kalpas turned around, allowing Raiden Mei to clearly see his face. Hmm, he appeared quite handsome, save for the mask obscuring it. His physique was indeed impressive, but Raiden Mei, being attracted to women, found no interest.

"I've heard about you."

"So, Ana-sensei actually mentioned me to you? What an honor."

On the surface, Raiden Mei and Kalpas engaged in casual conversation, but internally, she remained highly alert. She could sense that the Kalpas before her was fully prepared for combat, ready to strike at any moment.

And indeed, that's precisely what Kalpas intended.

Within his mind, it felt as though a bloodthirsty beast lurked, constantly suppressed. Despite appearing deranged, Kalpas still possessed rationality.

Today marked one of the least composed moments for him, yet it wasn't entirely his fault. Over this period, he had been closely observing Raiden Mei, sensing that she held enough power to engage him in battle.

Unfortunately, Raiden Mei was unaware of these thoughts; otherwise...

After a tense standoff, Kalpas finally couldn't contain himself anymore.

"Come on, Raiden Mei, show me your strength! Ha ha ha ha!"

With those words, Kalpas made the first move towards Raiden Mei. Procrastination was never Kalpas' style; whenever faced with situations requiring thought, his usual approach involved breaking them down with his fists!

"Ha ha ha ha! Rules are meant to be broken!"

Raiden Mei, naturally, anticipated Kalpas's move—or rather, she had been waiting for it all along. As soon as Kalpas made his attack, Raiden Mei responded swiftly.

Her Herrscher-level reflexes granted her extraordinary agility, further enhanced by the Authority of the Herrscher of Thunder. In an instant, she evaded Kalpas's punch effortlessly.

Facing this unfamiliar Fusion Warrior, Raiden Mei held nothing back and committed fully, swiftly striking at Kalpas with her blade.

Kalpas showed no intention of retreating either. With determination blazing in his eyes, the flames around him intensified as he countered with another fierce punch.

Boom!

As they collided, despite wielding a katana, Raiden Mei felt a sharp pain near her wrist. The Heroic Spirit before her seemed as formidable as a towering mountain, instilling awe with his overwhelming fighting spirit.

Nevertheless, though awed, Raiden Mei did not relent for a moment, swinging her sword again to meet his advance.