It has been a few days since you joined the Flamechasers. The appearance of another unexpected MANTIS hasn't gone unnoticed by the leaders of MOTH, and obviously, MEI was informed of this as well.

"So it's Aponia he's after?" - MEI asked Kevin who accompanied her for a walk out of the Golden Courtyard.

"Yeah, his reasoning was simple, he wanted to repay her favor by helping her in return, all because he viewed Aponia as a negative person who needed help." - Kevin said, to which MEI chuckled.

"To think that there still exists someone out there that thinks she is sad all the time... Well, he is not wrong but he just doesn't have a good understanding right?"

"Yeah, Elysia decided on not to tell him anything about this, and figured it's best for him to learn it by himself."

"That is reasonable and thoughtful, and what are the others' opinion?"

"Well... Most of them still hasn't met him yet, but for Aponia..."

Y/n has been banned from Elysian Realm.

"..."

"..."

"Wahahaahaha!!! Hahahahaha!!! All that... Hahahaha!!! And you got banned!!!" - Mobius was leaning against the wall with one arm, with the other hugging her tummy while she bursted out laughing like she has never before. If this wasn't the introverted, timid you, but rather the teacher/professor you that has had experience dealing with countless female students in the same scenario, you would have the urge to give her several correction sessions.

"Now now, don't be like that, Mobius. Y/n, give her some time, this is not the first time she has done this, the ban should be lifted after some time." - Vill-V said as she placed a hand on your shoulder.

"..." - You looked so disappointed that you started to emanate a nihilistic aura, so much so that Elysia's extrovert overwhelming aura for the first time was visibly less brightened.

"Don't be so disappointed, Y/n! In the meantime why don't we go take a look around? There is so much to show you!"

"Well, I will leave it to you then, Ely, it's time for me to work on some side projects of mine!" - Vill-V dashed off as she dropped you at Elysia's care, who looked like she is eager to preach to you about all that is beautiful in this world.

But out of the blue, Kosma appeared in the lobby, which was a rare occasion given that he sometimes wander somewhere by himself, but now the opportunity has arised, Elysia immediately dragged you over to meet him.

"Y/n! This is Kosma! Kosma! This is Y/n!"

Kosma visibly was shaken slightly by Elysia's sudden appearance with you behind her, but he regained his composure shortly after. But when meeting eye-to-eye with you, Kosma immediately fell silent as you two locked eyes to each other.

Elysia just slowly backed off from the scene once she saw that you two were staring at each other seriously, without saying a word but she felt like you are exchanging a whole book's worth of content with those stares.

"..."

"..."

This is it, the part where Elysia's own handbook became useful, to properly communicate with Kosma, she has personally taken note of and written down many behaviors and meanings behind the silence of Kosma, but unbelievable...

It has became completely useless now! That means this whole silence is another new thing she has yet to encounter! She was right to let you two meet each other.

Meanwhile, inside both of your minds...

You : Bruh

Kosma : Bruh

You : Why did he have to look at me in the eyes

Kosma : Why was he staring at me to begin with

You : Now I can't break eye contact with him

Kosma : Now it would be rude and inappropriate to break eye contact

You : And then there's the pink elf on the side watching things making this more awkward

Kosma : And Elysia just have to make this more uncomfortable than it is

You : Now what

Kosma : Now what

You : Why is he so silent

Kosma : ... He still hasn't said anything yet... Could it be...

You : Don't tell me that...

Kosma : He's...

Kosma raises his right eyebrow.

To which you immediately understood what he was asking, and in return, you answered him with a quick raise of both eyebrows, and Kosma immediately understood your answer, and smiled slightly as he closed his eyes, breaking eye contact.

Elysia was very amused by the whole situation unfolding in front of her eyes, but then she failed to understand even a single thing that happened simply because this is out of her league.

Meanwhile, in the Deep...

Aponia sighed as she stood there, thinking about you, more specifically on how she must deal with this matter... It seemed that the Discipline she placed on you that made you try and search for something to live for has worked, a little too well as one could say. Now that it has gone to an extent for you to go help her...

She did not consider the probability that it was your genuine feeling, only concluding that it was the Discipline's fault, her own fault. "What should I do... This has never happened before..." - She muttered as she heard footsteps approaching her from behind. "How can I help you? Kalpas?"

"Hmph. I heard that the newbie came here, I merely wanted to check, do you have a problem?" - Kalpas answered with his usual arrogant and annoyed tone. "Or did you already pulverize him with one of your Disciplines?" - He smirked, mocking her powers as usual.

"No, I did not... In fact, I lifted one from him that I had previously placed..." - Aponia confessed, to which wiped the smirk off the Decimation's face.

"What, that's boring... No, what exactly did you placed upon him?"

"Why would you want to know?"

"Tsk. No need for your answer then, I will see it for myself. After all... We need no weaklings around, right? Aponia?" - The question followed by the call out of her name, which was in the tone of judgement brought a possible scenario that will likely to happen to Aponia's mind.

"..." - Aponia stood silent for a moment. "Do not do it."

"That depends... But if you're asking me to stop now... Then that means you still don't know my methods yet."

— — —

"Elysia, Kevin is calling for you." - Sakura came and asked for Elysia when she was leading you around the base of the MOTH.

"Ah, must be for another strategic meeting... Well, Sakura, can you help me show him around the base? There's only some areas left."

"Understood, I am now in need of some companions as well... Go, I will make sure he understands what he will be experiencing here." - Sakura said as she placed her hand on the hilt of the sword hanging by her waist, she smiled at you. "So can you fight? What's your ability?"

"Uhh... I don't know yet."

"What is that answer? Shouldn't Mobius already tell you?"

"Well..."

A few moments earlier

You : So Mobius what is my power?

Mobius : Oh, it should be Adaptation

Vill-V : Wait, I think that was John's

Mobius : Oh? I think it should be something about Wind Manipulation?

Vill-V : That was Ben Dover's

Mobius : Huh, that's weird, I can't recall his ability for some reason... Or is it invisible?

Vill-V : That was Moe Lester's

Yeah your ability is being concealed for now just like how your house cat would conceal his poop somewhere

"Huh... I see, then I guess this would be a fine opportunity for you to find out then..." - Sakura said as she turned around.

"Eh? How are we going to do that?"

"Field practice."

And then Sakura went to bring you along for an extermination, it would seem that a cult of Honkai worshippers that has recently collaborated with the renegades from the MOTH to cause trouble in the Baohu Coast City, for some reason the local doesn't like it when you abbreviate their city's name.

"We're here." - Sakura said as you both stepped off the transportation plane, which are specialized for the Flamechasers' own use during missions. "Are you ready?"

Under Sakura's guidance for novice fighters, you were equipped at least with armors enough to withstand small firearms and given a sword to work with.

"Uhm... I don't think I am quite ready for this... I mean... Isn't killing people bad?" - However, even with this far on the path, you still weren't ready for that great leap for morality...

"..." - For a moment, Sakura was reminded of a certain someone that said the same thing as you... Only that they have been long dead by now. "We don't kill them for fun, nor is it to prove that we are right. But we have no other choice. They are being a nuisance, then they are an enemy. The longer they live, the more trouble to come. This world isn't all pretty with rainbows, dolphins flying out of the water and forming a heart shape being captured in a 4k colorful camera like Elysia did, it is just this disgusting and we are to keep whatever we can. So are you in or out?"

You stood silent for a moment... Until then you felt a hand on your shoulder, without even looking to the side, you already know who it is...

??? : Say yes... Remember why you are here

You trembled at the voice.

??? : Why are you standing here and doing nothing...? Did you forget that you wanted to help Aponia...? As well as helping others...?

You were shaken by the voice, and glanced to the side nervously, only to see that I, the Author, was standing there.

Author : tatakae, that is why you are here, also I don't want to spend a few more chapters to say how morality in killing people is bad but then write you do it anyways apparently people didn't like it the last time I did it

After some internal struggles, you reluctantly agreed and helped Sakura... Most of the work was taken care by her but you have stained your hands as well, after the brief battle ended, you sat down and looked at yourself through a reflection in the mirror.

"..."

"How does it feel?"

"... I feel... Awful..."

"... You'll get used to it soon, come, it's about time we get back-"

Before you took Sakura's hand, something came crashed down on a nearby building, completely destroying it, catching both of you off guard as you looked over, you saw a silhouette coming out from the smokes and rubbles...

"So... You're the newbie huh?" - A male voice, one of fury and arrogance. "Come."