I am a former Flame Chasers

The defense alarm has been lifted, and the number of guards has tripled in the key areas. Whether this is the work of an unknown Herrscher or not, it's always wise to have more eyes on everything.

The lights in Villa dimmed gradually, and everyone returned to their rooms. Ryan took the initiative to stand watch, forcing Sakura and the others back into the house, despite their protests.

In his words, "The Herrscher will never stop, but life must go on. If you're on edge all day, you'll go crazy sooner or later. If Honkai dares to strike here, I'll respect them as a man."

If the fusion warriors are weapons of destruction, then this peaceful little villa is nothing less than an arsenal. Even a scratch could be enough to take on the Herrscher of the End.

Soon, the villa fell silent. In the yard, a new pond had been dug, with the faint sound of fish tails slapping the water.

The computer screen flickered, reflecting the typing software. The cursor blinked, but the writer couldn't type a single word.

"No, I still care," Ryan muttered as he adjusted his glasses. He suspected Mobius was playing tricks on him with her vague remarks, which had left him unable to write even a hundred words in two hours. He had planned to finish one chapter, think about where to go next, and sleep for two hours so he could wake up refreshed and beat Kevin the next morning.

"Don't fall for her tricks. If I feel tired tomorrow, I'll be mocked for months," Ryan told himself. He calmed down, put his hands on the keyboard, as if they were the keys of a piano, and then—

Click.

The sound of the door lock snapped his attention. He quickly turned to see the door open just a crack, and a blurry figure slipped in.

It was Mobius. Her green hair was wet, as if she'd just washed it. She hid in the shadows, so her expression was hard to read. She wore a large white shirt that covered her body, with the hem just reaching her thighs, and black stockings.

The stockings stretched over her knees, leaving faint impressions on her full thighs. Between the hem of the shirt and stockings was a sliver of skin, like an "absolute territory."

This outfit was strange—combining the laziness of getting ready for bed with the efficiency of an office worker.

Ryan opened his mouth to speak, but Mobius raised a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet. She peered out into the corridor before closing the door behind her.

What was with that guilty look?

Ryan was speechless. Watching Mobius close the door, he sighed. "I've never seen anyone wear stockings to bed. Do you have a serious illness?"

"I like it. It's none of your business," Mobius retorted, raising her white forearm, flipping her long hair back, and walking to the center of the room. She scanned the place. "What are you looking at?"

"Humph, this room has no life. It doesn't even have an academic atmosphere. Pathetic. Looks like only Kevin and Kosma have been in here," she said. Ryan's room had only a bed, a computer, a table, and a lazy sofa Hua had sent. Seeing Ryan's angry eyes, Mobius fell silent, cursing herself for her bad habit of always speaking too frankly.

"If you're here to mock me, just go back to sleep."

"Haha, I won't leave. If you start, I'll call for help. Let's see who will suffer," Mobius said confidently, sitting on the chair and stretching her long black-silk legs on the table. "You wouldn't want to be seen as a pervert by that cute junior and student, would you?"

Ryan was speechless for a moment. He had truly fallen into her trap. He should've locked the door and added ten layers of protection after she tempted him.

"So what do you want to do? Come here to treat my hypotension in the middle of the night?"

Because I want to stay with you, even if it's just for one night, Mobius thought to herself but said, "It's been a while since we talked alone. Now I finally have some free time. Don't forget, you're my assistant. It's my responsibility to care for my subordinates."

"I don't remember signing a contract with you. So, what do you want to talk about?" Ryan replied with a grin, spinning around and leaning against the back of his chair.

What were they going to talk about? Work was bound to ruin the mood, and he didn't really understand romantic topics. So why was he even here? Why not just sleep?

It was now Mobius's turn to be confused. After a moment, she threw her legs onto the table and leaned back in the chair.

"I've been so tired lately. Help me relax."

"Why?" Ryan asked.

"First, I said I'd come to you tonight, and you didn't lock the door, which means you agreed. Second—" Mobius paused and gave him a sharp look. "I helped you complete Aponia's key trump card, so why did you give Elysia a gift? Do you think I can't see that?!"

Actually, that was part of my plan. Didn't I ask Elysia to return the favor later?

Ryan blushed, realizing his mistake. He hadn't forgotten Mobius, but he had no idea what this woman wanted.

"It's my fault. I forgot, sorry," he muttered.

"Oh, the great General Manager is apologizing of his own accord."

"Hey, I warn you not to push your luck." Ryan grumbled. This weird skill was really frustrating, and even his temper was starting to show signs of cracking.

Mobius didn't say anything, just shrugged lightly and stretched her neck. Ryan sighed, walked to her side, and started massaging her.

"Let me be clear, go easy on me. Don't press any strange pressure points too hard."

"Yes, yes, I won't mess around. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Ryan placed his hand on her smooth, snow-white shoulder. The sensation was perfect. Delicate, smooth, and pleasantly soft.

Looking down, the shirt had two buttons undone, giving a glimpse of what lay underneath. The sight was alluring—like a mountain hidden in the mist, majestic and tempting.

Ryan couldn't help but stare, but Mobius was completely relaxed, enjoying it. Her legs were stretched out on the table, her crystal-clear fingers twitching slightly.

His hands were rough but gentle as he massaged her shoulders. She was used to being careful with such vulnerable areas but couldn't help but relax fully under his touch. It felt wonderful.

The sensation was so relaxing. In this area, Ryan was truly a professional.

As her body relaxed, Mobius started to feel proud again. Hero of humanity, the Fire Moth's general, and yet here she was, enjoying a good massage. Elysia, this fool, didn't know the true benefits. How stupid.

It felt great, but wouldn't it be even better with a little electricity? The sensation last time was amazing...

This thought came to her mind, and instinctively, she clenched her legs together. Her face flushed slightly, and she cursed herself for being too relaxed. How could she even think of something so shameful? If she brought it up now, she couldn't hide behind her usual excuses.

But the more she tried not to think about it, the more she wanted it. Plus, she had been studying some new art techniques with Vil-V lately.

Why did a simple massage make her twist and turn? Why was her face turning red? She really was a pervert.

Ryan noticed Mobius's expression reflected in the window. He thought he was being professional and not crossing any lines, but the atmosphere was undeniably strange, as if the air was thickening.

"Uh, are you uncomfortable?" he asked.

"No, no, keep going. I just wanted to take the opportunity to rest," Mobius replied, closing her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly. "Well, my skin feels a little sore after pressing for so long."

"Then should I take a break?" Ryan asked, relieved.

"You want me to let you go so easily?" Mobius asked, pulling out a small bottle from her chest pocket. "This is my latest muscle relaxant. Perfect for you to accompany me in this experiment."

Ryan didn't say much. He opened the bottle, which emitted a floral, greasy scent. "Isn't this essential oil? With some special additives?"

"I got the idea from a mutated tank-level Honkai beast. It has a tentacle-like body and excretes oil. After testing, this oil contains Honkai energy, which can relax the enemy's muscles and make them relax without realizing it. Of course, regular people will die if they use it."

What kind of Honkai beast is this? Why have I never encountered it?

Skeptical, Ryan applied the oil to her pale shoulders. Maybe it was just psychological, but he really felt more relaxed.

Though the slippery sensation was a bit strange, he couldn't help but notice a drop of milky white oil sliding down her collarbone and into the deep valley. His body was still sluggish, though his mind was alert.

He kept rubbing it while watching the oil slide, disappearing into the shadowed space.

Ryan felt the strange sensation as Mobius finally relaxed under the effect of the "drug," her legs gently parting.

"Hey, when do you think this will all end?"

"It will eventually end. Why? Are you getting annoyed by the Honkai's existence?" Ryan asked quietly. Mobius was one of the few heroes who didn't have intense hostility toward the Honkai.

She saw it as an opportunity—an opportunity for human evolution.

"Yeah, a little. If they didn't stir things up, I'd be able to call you every day. I don't know why, but lately, I've been getting bored doing experiments."

"You're actually feeling tired? This must be Elysia's influence."

"Everyone feels the same way. I've seen you getting lazier lately. Your murderous intent is growing stronger, isn't it?"

Ryan paused for a moment as he massaged her neck, then gently stroked her back.

"You see, the more you cherish the present, the more you want it to end. No heavy burdens, no worrying about when a Herrscher will appear and kill any of you."

"So I won't stop you from doing whatever you want outside." Mobius's voice softened, as if she was mumbling to herself. She had unknowingly touched the part of her heart she feared the most.

"What happens after it all ends? Will you continue living like this?"