MANTIS? No, Artificial Herrscher!

"If I were stronger… none of this would have happened…"

Lee clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, drawing blood. "If we had just cut off her head then and there, if we had killed her—!"

"Lee, calm down! It's not your fault!" Mobius rushed forward, gently prying open Lee's hand and quickly applying medication. "No one could have predicted this. You're not a god, Lee. You don't have to carry all this on your shoulders."

But Lee didn't respond. She simply looked up at Mobius, her eyes vacant. "…Doctor, if Mei and Vill-V are both working on a solution, why aren't you there?"

_I rushed over here because I was worried about you_—Mobius could use that excuse, but she wasn't sure if Lee would believe it.

Besides, Lee had said she trusted Mobius most. How could Mobius lie to her now?

"Because they're researching something I've already researched." Mobius sighed. "They're verifying the feasibility of the MANTIS surgery, planning to use it against the Seventh Herrscher."

"—?!" Lee's eyes widened in shock.

_Such a good opportunity, and they didn't call me?_—That's what she thought, but of course, she couldn't say it out loud.

"Doctor, didn't you say the surgery was too dangerous to be practical?" Lee asked cautiously, a hint of hope in her voice. "Did you improve it? Is the success rate higher now?"

Mobius hesitated, then shook her head. "…No, the success rate is still zero."

"But based on the data, if the subject has sufficiently high Honkai adaptability and resistance, theoretically, their survival chances are greater."

The MANTIS surgery. Ever since Lee had proposed the general concept years ago, Mobius had been working on it. Theoretically, it was complete.

But practical application proved far more difficult.

Mobius experimented on death row inmates, but their Honkai adaptability wasn't high enough. Those who weren't killed instantly were usually recruited into the Fire Moth's combat units. These unsuitable subjects usually couldn't even survive the agonizing surgery.

A few brave volunteers had also participated, with equally disastrous results.

Mobius had shelved the project, but now, in this desperate situation, it was resurrected.

"Kevin volunteered to be the test subject. If it's successful, we can defeat the Seventh Herrscher." Mobius lowered her head, unable to meet Lee's disbelieving gaze.

"Make Kevin undergo a surgery with a zero percent success rate…?" Lee's eyes trembled. "That's—"

"I can't accept that."

"There's no other way, Lee." Mobius sighed. "The other plans—the artificial life project and Vill-V's ultimate weapon project—take too long. The Seventh Herrscher isn't giving us that much time… Once Vill-V and Mei finish reviewing the surgical procedure, I'll join them to operate on Kevin."

"No… No! If that happens, Kevin will—!"

Lee frantically grabbed Mobius' hand, the freshly bandaged wound reopening. "Is there really no other way, Doctor?"

"We have no other choice, Lee." Mobius shook her head. "The current success rate for ordinary people is zero. We can only try with powerful warriors like Kevin and Elysia… If we can't defeat the Seventh Herrscher, humanity is doomed."

"…Doctor, my Honkai adaptability is also very high."

Lee gripped Mobius' hand tightly. "Let me undergo the surgery first. Since it was my idea, it's only natural that I try it first, right?! I remember you saying my Honkai resistance was too high for the surgery. Now, I should meet the requirements, shouldn't I?"

Mobius knew Lee would say this.

If someone had to take the risk, Lee would always put herself forward to protect others. Being the first test subject, if successful, would be a victory for everyone. Even if she failed, it would provide valuable data for Kevin's surgery, increasing his survival chances.

Mobius understood Lee's thinking, but she couldn't allow this.

"Lee, your resistance has indeed decreased… but the problem is it's now too low. If you undergo the surgery, your genes might be completely assimilated by the Honkai beast genes. And the surgery requires a healthy body. You're currently…"

Mobius didn't finish the sentence, but they both understood.

Lee was currently too weak. She wouldn't even survive the surgery.

"I don't care, as long as—"

"But I care, Lee." Mobius interrupted, her voice firm, a rare occurrence. She looked at Lee's stunned expression, her heart hardening. "This is non-negotiable. I won't help you."

Just then, Mobius' communicator buzzed. She sighed, turning towards the door. "The surgery is ready… I'll do everything I can to make sure that boy survives."

"…"

Lee didn't reply, simply staring at Mobius' retreating figure until the door closed, leaving her alone in the empty room.

Of course, her outward dejection didn't reflect her inner thoughts.

Firstly, the Seventh Herrscher's power level is insane! Kevin, who could crush the Sixth Herrscher, was defeated, along with Elysia.

Secondly, they won't even let me have the surgery?

Before, my resistance was too high. Now it's too low, and I'm too weak?

I just want to be a MANTIS ! Why is it so hard?!

Her long-held dream shattered again, Lee almost cried. But she was an optimist at heart—if Honkai beast genes might cause assimilation, then I'll just find another path that doesn't require them.

If Mobius' genetic science is a dead end, I'll talk to Vill-V about implanting a Herrscher core… That thing would cost millions in the system shop.

If I can't be a MANTIS , then I'll be an artificial Herrscher! I'm not picky!