Hi3rd: Achievement Hunter

This city was converted into a defensive front in the western continent. Compared to the eastern continent, it had more natural landmasses. The wild beasts that evolved due to the honkai energy were their least of worries.

The number of honkai beasts in such a place exceeded that of normal. Add to that the two consecutive major honkai eruption, coupled with a few small-scale eruptions, it was enough to destroy small towns and amass a huge number of undead.

The area beside the highway was filled with hundreds of green trees. 

Now, more than half of them lay to the ground in half along with the huge templar-class honkai beasts.

Looking at the huge span of collateral damages, Dystopia knew what it was to fight alongside Aleph.

The latter was staring in a certain direction, scanning the remaining honkai beasts in his sight.

"Sir Aleph."

"Hm? Oh. You're Elysia's adjutant, am I correct?"

"Yes."

Bam-!

A loud sound disrupted their talks. They saw a huge honkai beast in the shape of an eagle crashing down into the city. It fell down into several ten-storey buildings before its momentum died down. A rather large dust cloud arose from the city.

The strong honkai energy immediately suggested who took action.

"My job isn't finished yet. I'll go meet everyone once I finish cleaning them up."

He pointed towards the swathes of honkai beasts and undead. The latter took the bulk of their numbers.

"I understand."

After she was greeted with Aleph's smile, the latter's figure swiftly disappeared from her eyes.

'That strength…'

Dystopia couldn't help but think how exaggerated it was compared to his prior feats.

*****

'It's not bad to unwind.'

Aleph did not sweat much during this battle. Compared to his current strength, emperor-class honkai beasts were no longer his match; even the Herrschers, given they came at him in batches of one or two.

Only the Herrscher of the End and the Cocoon posed a threat to him.

[Achievement Obtained: Easy Difficulty?]

[Easy Difficulty?: Defeat an entire army all by yourself without any difficulties.]

[Achievement Obtained: Modder]

[Modder: Use flashy attacks to win in a fight.]

…

Several achievements popped up in his sight. Their rewards weren't as significant as to the ones he got before.

Though, there are still times when Aleph manages to receive a few 'eccentric' rewards. 

One such example came from the [Modder] achievement.

[Visual Effects: Every time you perform an attack using Yamato, all visual effects are enhanced. This sensory disruption affects life of all levels.]

'...Really?'

Aleph deadpanned at this seemingly useless reward. Under this complicated mood, he crushed the [Major Energy Boxes] that he got at this moment.

[Cursed Energy (Converted): 15,450 → 15,650]

The five boxes gave him a total of 200 energy units. It was a small amount compared to what he got now, but it was better than nothing.

Tap.

Aleph landed inside the city. The one who waited for him was a familiar pink-haired woman.

As usual, her beauty caught the eyes of many. Aleph was no exception, though it was purely due to it. Her previously 'strong' charm became objective in his eyes.

"You… must have held back."

Elysia changed the words she was about to say when she felt his drastic changes.

Back then, she was able to see through Kurumi's information barrier. It was given she could have a grasp of Aleph's strength.

She saw the traces of 'something strong' at that time. She surmised it was one of the reasons why Aleph became very strong.

Now…

It was as if she was staring in front of a mountain-sized dragon.

"Eh? You're right this time."

Aleph sensed Elysia's previous emotions before. He wondered why she suddenly 'changed' just like that.

'It's confirmed, then…'

He chose not to speak of this to anyone else.

"Anyways, Mobius should have sent the details to you. Sakura, Vill-V, and Kevin underwent this procedure already."

"Hum."

It was a rare serious time. Elysia listened to Aleph's explanations without interrupting him.

"This is our failsafe for now. It should be fine to use it on others once we deal with possible traitors."

"No worries. I got it."

Soon, the two arrived in the lowest basement floor of the Fire MOTH's headquarters in this city. It was a huge hangar filled with dozens of crates. Contained therein were obsolete machinery that were kept as sentimental objects within this branch.

"Ahem. You should prepare yourself. You will come out naked once the process ends."

His warning was met with Elysia's teasing.

"Hm? Are you going to peak?"

"Of course not."

Aleph's gaze saw his right pinky finger being entangled with four thin red strings. He already felt guilty about what he did with Hua.

At the very least, he should have given Mobius and Mei a heads-up and wished for the best. He did not do that. Now, he was prepared to face it.

"Is. It. True~?"

Elysia leaned slightly forward to him.

Unfortunately for her, Aleph was locked in his thoughts—rather, worries. It was an added layer of defense against her teasing, and as such, it wasn't as effective as before.

"Yes, yes. If there's someone in this world who wouldn't peek at you, it would be me."

He replied with a proud tone as he took a chair out of the corner of the room.

Elysia was half-disappointed and half-confused with his responses.

Little did she know that after all those intimate contacts, Aleph's mental fortitude was increased. Add to that the extra layer of defense, she could not affect him much at all.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

"Yes, sure."

"Alright."

Click.

It didn't take long before she was covered with a black cocoon. Aleph's gaze stayed on her.

'A Herrscher turned MANTIS… How special would its effects be?'

Elysia was the only MANTIS who took in an ICHOR from a Judgement-class Honkai Beast, Mahesvara. It was the only available sample within the entire Fire MOTH, to boot.

While Kevin possessed cheat-like talents, Elysia had her specialties as the 'First Herrscher'.

It was for such a reason they were originally ranked one and two, respectively.

Of course, Aleph's existence pushed down their ranks by one.

Soon, idle thoughts filled his mind. They centered on one important question of his:

'Why does the Cocoon act against me?'

The description from the game stated how the Cocoon of Finality longed for a companion—an equal of sorts. Kiana, who managed to become the Herrscher of Finality, passed its test and received its embrace.

It wasn't wrong to say that Aleph could fill in that role.

Yet, the Cocoon began acting hostile against him. Not only that, numerous anomalies also occurred, which supported the previous fact.

'Something must've happened. Was it me? Did I do something?'

The vague and chaotic dream regarding the sea of stars and his colorful soul became rooted in his mind.

'Thinking about it is useless. I'll know about the answer once I…'

Aleph's gaze passed through the thick soil and numerous concrete before arriving into the bright white moon shining in the sky.

*****

A/N: Welp, I had a flu yesterday. The drowsiness and body pain chained me to the bed after uni. Expect two chapter debts that would be repaid anytime soon.