Hi3rd: Achievement Hunter

Aleph didn't hesitate to tell the Evolution Cube's effects to Kalpas.

First of all, he wanted to see how he would react. There were few things stated in Kalpas' past. Most of it were hints and indirect clues that point out to his identity as an otherworlder.

That's right.

Aside from Aleph, Kalpas also came from another world—at the very least, the world outside this 'solar system'.

The plot from the 'game' he played revealed a lot of things. Five years before the Third World War began, it was already launched. It was able to persist for another five years before shutting down, mainly due to the collateral damages done by the war.

Overall, Aleph knew ten years' worth of in-game content.

For example, the gradual transition of Honkai Impact 3rd to Honkai Star Rail…

'Ugh… Too bad they left these things hanging.' He complained inwardly. 'It was Edison's non-honkai related power at first, then Kalpas' past…'

Aleph's mind worked extremely fast. A second was enough for him to perform hundreds of thoughts. 

Such were the changes brought by the passive physical enhancement of fifteen thousand energy units and Albion's own ability.

"So, are you interested or not?"

"Interested, sure."

Kalpas' tone audibly calmed down upon hearing his words.

He asked doubtfully:

"What kind of operation was it?"

"Its most basic function was gene optimization. Say, if you fuse with a foreign genome… such as the MANTISes, it'll remove some adverse side effects and give them better compatibility. If you have any defects and the likes, it could fix them. Keyword, could."

The Evolution Cube's functions were already revealed in the study Aleph brought out from the third sanctum. The A-level clearance allowed him to take a comprehensive study about it.

'Its first use has the greatest effect… Since the succeeding uses have lowered effects, it's best you grow stronger before using it in one go. I don't understand why it has a stacking effect of sorts, but it is what it is…'

Great Sage wasn't idle during Aleph's trip. Every single usage of the cube was recorded and compiled for her to analyze. Even now, more than sixty percent of her resources—processing power—was directed towards it.

That was how crucial these findings were.

"...Tell me. How much do you know?"

At this moment, Kalpas' expression turned serious. He stared at Aleph with a look that was ready to duke it out until his death.

Aleph's words simply suggested way too many things to Kalpas.

"What do you think?" Aleph asked rhetorically. "Kidding aside, I know that you… did not come from this world."

Tap.

For the first time, he used the Information Imprint to alter their surroundings. In the same manner as he did with the projection in Sakura's house, Kalpas' visual senses became affected.

Instead of the Sundown Alley, they were surrounded by high-rise buildings. Numerous screens were similar to that of a theater's.

"Is this your world?"

"No. It's just one of the worlds I saw." Aleph replied. "This is an ability of mine. I was lucky enough to see numerous worlds, including their secrets. Of course, this does not mean I know everything."

"..."

Aleph did not plan to continue altering the surroundings. Even if he wanted to show Kalpas some interesting things, such as IX's shadow, he would not be able to do so. The best he could do was to create its shadow based on his imagination, which was completely inaccurate.

Kalpas' sight saw the familiar Sundown Alley again. It was as if the scenery from before was a dream. Aleph's strange abilities and his brute strength was enough to make him reconsider.

"I'll do it."

*****

'Kalpas is an alien, but he took three days…' Aleph thought. 'His own genetic material was enough to compare to an emperor-class honkai beast.'

He recalled the topics he saw in the 'game'.

For once, Kalpas faced numerous difficulties when he was being transformed into a Meta-Morphed MANTIS. They tried Hua's treatment—injecting ICHOR through the Key of Domination—but to no avail. When they operated on him (the traditional method), he nearly died if it wasn't for Mobius.

In short, the mysteries on his body were huge enough to allow him to survive being punctured in the heart, as evident from his battle against Sakura.

'He'd lose control in a few years…'

It has been three days since Kalpas' 'evolution' began. After it was over, he presided over the patients' transfer from Aponia's sanatorium. The hospital was located in the Eastern Continent. 

It was one of the cities far from the affected cities. It was the transition point assigned by Fire MOTH whenever transfers of personnel occur. This turned the city into one of the more important points that connect Mu Continent with the Eastern Continent.

As such, it doubled into a closely defended city where the civilians could live in peace.

Aleph did not stay long. He was about to return to the third institute to check on everything he missed while he was gone.

That was until when Vill-V sent him a message:

"Drop by when you have a chance."

'It'll only take an hour or two…'

In the end, he was prompted to change his destination midway.

"Ah."

"Isn't that—"

"Our second Herrscher-level combatant…"

"I heard he did way more damage than Miss Elysia…"

The second institute was responsible for the creation of honkai weapons. The engineering department where Vill-V worked was the 'specialized engineering department'.

One might think of its fancy name at first, but in reality, it was a special 'department' that was made solely for Vill-V.

At first, nobody believed her abilities, mainly due to the fact that she did not earn any degree. Almost all of the researchers were skeptical about Mobius' and Elysia's decision to recruit her. Only a few trusted their decision.

Her skepticists were proven wrong after she finished creating the 'Truth Arsenal'. It was something that housed dozens of advanced technologies that needed several years to complete. 

That included the miraculous 'Soulium'.

Aleph did not mind the occasional mumblings along the way. He headed straight into Vill-V's 'workshop'.

Just as he arrived in front of her door, he sensed a set of footsteps coming from behind him. It wasn't unusual per se, considering there were numerous researchers here.

But…

A pair of hands covered his eyes. Simultaneously, a pair of mountains were pressed on his back.

"Guess who—"

"Vill-V. The chef."

"Aw…"

The moment these hands were removed, he saw Vill-V with her usual 'comically huge' hat.