I Told You to Scout, Not Destroy Them?

When a life is weak, its protests and struggles become entertainment for the strong.

Like a cat toying with a captured mouse, or humans describing the frantic movements of certain creatures as "cute."

Though the writhing mass of flesh in Shu's hand could hardly be called cute.

"It's… less disgusting now," Shu commented, watching it struggle, remembering to add a few more layers of protection.

"Tentacle extension requires mobilizing flesh from other areas. So, the energy for its shrinking came from sacrificing that flesh?" He idly manipulated the [Champion], observing.

The battle had seemed dangerous, but the biggest risk was Shu potentially dying from the shared pain.

As for actually defeating the [Champion]… he'd prepared three plans, and a simple "poke" had tricked it into revealing its weakness?

He was starting to get used to the feeling of emptiness after unleashing a powerful attack. And the constant pain had… desensitized him, somewhat.

That, and the "mental fortitude" buff he'd applied.

The flesh on his hand began secreting a lubricating fluid, and the attacking tentacles developed hardened tips, their strikes becoming sharper.

Shu frowned. After a final examination, he sent the [Champion] to the afterlife, thoroughly disgusted.

He might have felt pity for the other mutants, releasing them gently.

But this… thing, which had sent his sanity plummeting and inflicted so much pain… he felt no compassion.

The only reason he didn't utterly obliterate it was that he didn't want to experience that pain firsthand!

The [Champion] vanished, leaving behind a translucent, blood-red crystal.

What was this? A monster core? A kidney stone?

He examined it closely. It looked… familiar.

He looked around at the battle scars, then back at the cracked, cloudy crystal in his hand. His eyes widened.

"This isn't a… Herrscher Core, is it?!" He cursed, then shook his head. "No, a Herrscher Core wouldn't look this… pathetic."

He held the crystal between two fingers, turning it over as he walked back towards the elevator.

Compared to the pristine Herrscher Cores he'd seen in the displays, this one looked like cracked marble next to flawless jade.

But he could definitely feel Honkai energy emanating from it.

What else had cores?

Emperor-class Honkai Beasts had cores… So, the [Champion] really was an Emperor-class?

He hadn't sensed the Honkai energy before because it was contained, shielded by the [Champion]'s thick flesh.

…And because he'd immediately withdrawn his heightened senses after seeing the [Champion]'s full form.

He could tolerate agonizing pain, but not being utterly disgusted by the writhing mass of blood vessels and worm-like muscles.

And those grotesque eyes…

He suddenly stopped, grabbing the core tightly and turning back.

"Damn… almost forgot about you…" He glared at a splattered eyeball near the door, his expression grim. He picked up a small fragment, then set the remains ablaze.

Thought you could escape just by dying? If I didn't need tissue samples for B3, I wouldn't even leave this behind!

This time, the flames were even more intense, spreading quickly throughout the eleventh level, consuming the remains with a crackling roar.

Shu stood at the door, observing the inferno. Feeling no discomfort from the flames, he finally relaxed.

"This is how fire should feel… Wait, what am I saying…" He caught himself, scratching his head, and stepped through the doorway.

Next time I encounter something like this, no more scouting. Straight to annihilation.

It's fine to expend a little more [hope]… No, wait, still need to test, in case I die from the shared pain…

He reviewed the battle in his mind, then tentatively pressed the elevator button.

Fortunately, Heliopolis, being located in Shenzhou, had excellent construction quality. The tremors hadn't damaged the elevator.

Otherwise, he'd have to fly up, though that would have been faster…

"Hey, there."

Tossing the inferior core in his hand, he greeted Pet, who was waiting in the elevator.

"Congratulations on your victory, Mr. Shu," Ethics's raspy voice came from Pet after a moment.

After the "hell" he'd just experienced, even that grating voice sounded… pleasant.

Shu was silent, startled by his own thoughts. He was definitely hungry…

He needed to get the data and return to the Nest to rest.

"Ethics, we can go to B3 now, right?" He grabbed the cloudy core, producing the small fragment for Pet's camera. "The tissue sample you requested. I… made sure to save it. This is all that's left."

Ethics remained silent.

So, you did utterly obliterate it? My original plan was for you to collect a small sample and then… retreat.

He silently added "currently the strongest known lifeform" to Shu's file.

"Please proceed to the twelfth basement level, and then locate the access point to the thirteenth," Ethics finally replied.

"Wasn't it B3?" Shu asked, starting the elevator, his voice casual after his ordeal. He was in a talkative mood.

"Thirteen is three."

Shu stared at the robot. "...Are you making a pun?"