Su has a Female Evil version?

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In the following days, Luo Mo tackled various events, such as the battles in Elysian Realm and new side stories from APHO. These events rewarded modest amounts of crystals, but without reaching the narrative climax, their payouts were limited.

Resolving to economize after his near-zero gacha results, Luo Mo reflected on how much he'd saved by defeating the Herrscher of Dominance with Elysia's stigmata set. Elysia's stolen set, snatched at great personal risk from Kevin—had proven its worth.

As for Griseo, Luo Mo knew her future was more than just his responsibility. It was a collective decision, and he would only play his part by presenting what he knew to his companions, leaving the ultimate judgment to them.

Now, it was time to share everything with Elysia, who had been asking about Griseo's whereabouts and condition. With this, the stage was set for the next chapter.

Thinking this through, he pushed the door open.

At the entrance of the quiet courtyard, he paused for a moment. It wasn't the season for cherry blossoms to bloom, yet the two trees in the garden were flourishing, their fragrance delicately wafting through the air and into his heart.

It made him reflect once again on the words he was about to say.

After sorting his thoughts, he stepped inside.

"Oh? What brings you here today, Luo Mo? That's rare. I thought you'd only show up to enjoy the scenery when a new update drops~"

Elysia set down the small pink watering can in her hand. The nozzle had been sprinkling water over the indoor plants. She turned her head curiously and saw Luo Mo standing there.

But… why did he seem a little anxious?

She remembered the last time he was in a hurry—it was to see her crying face. Oh yes, Sakura had mentioned it in a group chat, and then he rushed over impulsively.

Suddenly, her fists felt a little itchy.

Elysia's expression darkened slightly, and she casually set the watering can aside. Luo Mo, on the other hand, couldn't figure out why her mood seemed to shift. Was it that time of the month?

"What kind of talk is that? Can't I come and visit the goddess I worship? Many people are envious of me, you know. And… stop, stop! Don't come any closer. I'm here for serious business today."

"Oh? Serious business? Last time you said that too, but nothing came of it. It was just an excuse to avoid responsibility. Luo Mo, you need to face life head-on."

Elysia rolled her eyes and shook the water off her hands, though she didn't move closer.

"You're the one avoiding things. I'm here to ask about Griseo."

"Gri-se-o~? So you're finally bringing her up?"

"Griseo's okay, right? I couldn't reach Vill-V or Mobius, and while it's probably just because they're too far away, I'm still worried."

"If you hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have been able to hold back Mobius. She might seem indifferent, but she does care about Griseo."

Elysia spilled her grievances, unloading her frustrations on Luo Mo.

It seemed clear that she, too, was deeply concerned.

Looking at the sly, pink-haired fairy in front of him, Luo Mo's heart remained steadfast as a rock. Mere beauty wasn't enough—after all, Elysia was the goddess he revered, someone who practically radiated divine light!

"Uh… so, Griseo?" Elysia blinked, picking up a cup of water from the table to moisten her throat.

"She's on the other side of the mountains, beyond the seas… ahem, she's in a distant galaxy. I can't pinpoint the exact location, but Su might have it. However, he probably thinks defeating Honkai comes first."

Luo Mo tried to keep his explanation concise.

"Oh? So, by choosing to tell us, does that mean you disagree with Su's perspective?"

Mobius walked in gracefully, her snake-like eyes scanning Elysia briefly. Who knew how much of the conversation she'd overheard?

But the focus wasn't on that. Her vertical pupils locked onto Luo Mo as her red lips parted slightly, a trace of seductive charm in her voice.

"And what method does the little lab mouse have for finding her? I might reward you with lots of candy~"

"Why don't you all come together to hear the details? You'll likely need to work as a team," Luo Mo shrugged, offering a suggestion. "How you proceed will be up to you."

Neither Mobius nor Elysia objected to his words. The matter was serious enough to warrant gathering all present Flame-Chasers.

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Luo Mo briefly summarized the situation in an objective, third-person tone, describing Griseo's current predicament.

"So, you're saying that Griseo has been captured by a massive entity and forcibly put into a state of dormancy within another world? Phoros, and that entity is called… Sa?"

Vill-V listened with intrigue, clearly absorbed by the well-crafted tale. Still, her concern for little Griseo was evident.

To think someone had dismantled her ship and blatantly looted all its technology!

She had to admit, whoever did it was bold enough to bully Griseo while her guardians weren't around.

"It sounds a lot like Su, just based on the name," Elysia pointed out with a smile. Beside her, Su remained calm, his expression unchanged.

"Or perhaps a female version of Su. After all, the original form of this Sa shared a slight resemblance to Su's design, almost like a duplicate."

Luo Mo affirmed Elysia's theory. Given that Vita was a female version of Su, and since Vita's appearance closely matched Sa, the equation Sa = Su held up perfectly!

"Uh…" Su opened his mouth slightly, his lips twitching.

"Alright, alright, leave Su out of this… Do you have a way to rescue Griseo?"

Mobius waved her hand, ending the tangent. Her cold gaze shifted to Elysia, who stuck out her tongue playfully, feigning innocence.

How was it her fault that Luo Mo's description of Vita matched Su? And she just happened to glance in his direction!

"So… yes, I hope we can save Griseo. I think everyone here feels the same way."

Luo Mo spoke earnestly, genuinely sympathetic and full of admiration for the little painter who had journeyed alone for thousands, if not millions—of years.

She shouldn't be left trapped in that place. Besides, it seemed Sa had no ability to pursue her.

"But you understand that distance and anchor points will be significant issues. Without a clear direction, the vast distance makes it impossible to reach her."

Vill-V's tone turned serious, her usual playful demeanor absent. Her hand adjusted her hat, and her voice dropped to a measured calm.

"Yes, finding an anchor point is our top priority. In the tides of Honkai energy, far beyond the solar system's reach, this problem becomes even more complex."

"But Vill-V, if the records in the Elysian Realm are accurate, you installed a backdoor on every one of your creations. So… does your most prized invention—the Ark—also have one?"

Luo Mo looked directly at her, observing her shifting expression before it settled into a calm façade.

He knew he had guessed correctly.

Vil-V had indeed left a backdoor in the Ark as a contingency plan.

"Alright, fine. Yes, there is one. Geez, it's just a hidden mechanism that allows for three transmissions of Griseo's coordinates and emergency communications. However, activation takes a long time. Based on recent communications… she hasn't sent anything."

Vill-V sighed in resignation, feeling utterly defeated.

To think her intentions could be deduced simply by analyzing her personality and past actions!

How infuriating!

Vill-V continued speaking, as she always stated only objective facts,

"But there's another issue. You should be aware of the purpose of the Ark Project, right?"

"Honkai hasn't been eradicated here. If we fail, bringing Griseo back would be an utter failure. It's better to let her remain in a corner far away from Honkai's reach. At least there, she can avoid its attacks and preserve a shred of hope.

"Or… can you guarantee a 100% chance of defeating Honkai? Indeed, the situation now is much better than in our time, but I don't see a certain victory ahead."

Vill-V was nitpicking, yet her words represented the concerns of all the Flame-Chasers.

"I don't deny what you've said. That's why I entrusted the Stigmata to you all. But I must remind you, Griseo was awakened by Fu Hua after Honkai was defeated. Furthermore, in this world, there's no Otto. Consequently, there's also no replica—the critical participant and instigator. The course of events might not unfold as we expect."

Luo Mo explained logically, presenting his case.

"And… this involves a matter of sequence."

"Let's not talk about ensuring the defeat of Honkai first. There's a glaring flaw in your logic. In the absence of Honkai's defeat, do you really believe Griseo would be better off? Could she truly continue her voyage?"

"She was captured and forced into stasis in that place. Were it not for her will and her paints' unique attributes in that world, she would have perished long ago.

"In my view, even if the young artist is to continue her journey, we must first free her from her restraints.

"It won't be too late to have her continue after Honkai is defeated. But if we fail to defeat Honkai, and this world falls silent in destruction, leaving no one behind, Griseo would find no miracles either. She would simply be drained of all value by Sa and vanish entirely."

As the decision-maker among the Flame-Chasers, Kevin remained calm, silently listening to everything Luo Mo said. Then he asked evenly, "… So you believe we should rescue Griseo now?"

"Yes, whether or not we defeat Honkai, Griseo must be rescued. Precisely because we cannot guarantee victory against Honkai, we must ensure that our last hope is not confined within a cage."

Luo Mo met Kevin's gaze directly, slowly producing a Stigmata card in his hand, catching the attention of the other Flame-Chasers.

Griseo stared at the Stigmata for a few seconds but eventually shook her head gently.

It was what she desired and yearned for, yet it was not suited for her now.

"So many colors… so rich. Blue, purple, white… Hmm, and the scent of stars."

She murmured softly as if tasting a cotton-like candy, exhaling a sweet fragrance.

"Then… there's one last question. What you're saying… is it true?"

"Yes, Kevin. What he's saying is true."

A faint, ethereal voice greeted them, carrying the subtle fragrance of Bodhi leaves.

It was from another prophet, a distant greeting.

The real Su, who had always remained silent, observing the world's strange developments, sent his voice to his comrades who had left the Elysian Realm.

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