Bizarre Honkai, a Wife-Chasing Crematorium

A putrid stench filled Li Mo's nostrils. He looked down. A small, emaciated corpse lay at his feet, still bound by chains, the shackles now unconnected, scattered on the floor like discarded toys.

Bright lights flickered in the hallway outside, revealing the corpse's identity.

Himself.

He was the new prisoner.

"A Bizarre phenomenon that transports its victims to a fixed location. It sent me into the painting, or rather, a hidden memory."

He looked at the chains binding his small, five-year-old body. He recognized this form. His first arrival in this world.

Voices echoed from outside. He closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. The corpse remained untouched, ignored, forgotten.

When the door opened, only Li Mo remained, the sole occupant of the cage.

He was taken to an operating room, injected with a massive dose of anesthetic.

One dose wasn't enough. He felt needle after needle piercing his skin.

"Increase the dosage?"

"Yes. Until he's asleep. Don't worry, he can't die."

Li Mo stared at the ceiling, his eyes open, feigning unconsciousness. He wasn't asleep. He was merely biding his time.

He'd lost his Herrscher powers, only his Bizarre immortality remaining. But he wasn't a true Bizarre entity. He could still die, though it would be difficult.

He waited, replaying the image from the diary: countless corpses, all bearing his face, and Mei, the Herrscher of Origin, standing upon them, her eyes empty.

That was the truth he sought.

The doctors sighed. This boy's resistance to anesthesia was extraordinary. They hadn't taken the previous researcher's warnings seriously. They were the best in their fields, experts in human biology. But this boy… he defied everything they knew.

"His blood is cold…"

"Focus on the dissection. The wounds will heal quickly."

"Sever the arteries quickly. His heart regenerates faster than his skin."

Li Mo felt the scalpel piercing his chest, his flesh parting, revealing his cold, beating heart. The wound closed instantly, trapping the blade.

The doctors, unnerved, continued cutting. A team of experts, each focused on a specific task, their movements precise, their expressions grim.

Li Mo felt every cut, every tear, but he didn't react. Pain was nothing new.

"We have it! Transplant the heart into Miss Mei!"

They swiftly replaced Mei's heart with his, then placed her heart into his chest.

The surgery was a success. Ryoma's wishes fulfilled.

"Why put Miss Mei's heart into him? He can't die."

"Quiet! Don't say that so loudly!" The other doctor leaned in, whispering, "I heard… it's about Miss Mei's Honkai Stigmata. It's… unusual. She wouldn't live past seven without intervention."

"But the heart transplant…? The Stigmata isn't related to the heart…"

"No, but the heart is vital. It affects the entire body."

"So…?"

"This is just a rumor, but… transplanting parts of Miss Mei into another person temporarily suppresses the Stigmata's effects."

"You mean…?"

"She's been surviving like this? Using other people's organs?"

"Yes. The other person bears the burden of the Stigmata. But as she grows older, it's not enough. That's why Ryoma found him. An immortal… to absorb the pain, the suffering. As long as he lives, Mei is safe."

"But… that's inhumane! It's monstrous!"

"You'll understand. Human experimentation is… necessary. For the greater good. Ryoma was even considering implanting the Gem of Conquest. A Herrscher's core can destroy entire cities. Is that any less monstrous?"

"I don't understand…"

"You don't have to. It's like the trolley problem. We don't have a choice. And if we did, we'd choose the option that benefits us. We're not saints. We're selfish."

"What about him?"

"The monster? Don't worry about him. No family, no connections. He's a lab rat. An immortal lab rat. A scientist's dream."

"Don't repeat this. It's an unspoken rule. Just take the money and go home. Take care of your family."

The young doctor felt sickened, but he knew the other doctor was right. People were selfish. He'd pull the lever too, sacrificing the few to save the many, especially if the few included his loved ones.

This surgery benefited everyone: Nagazora's population, Ryoma, the doctors, even Mei.

But was it right? To steal someone's life, to condemn them to decades of suffering, without their consent?

Yes. Because no one cared about this Li Mo.

The next morning, Mei woke up, seeing the boy sleeping soundly in the next bed.

As she was about to greet him, the door opened, and Ryoma entered with breakfast. Normally, a heart transplant patient wouldn't eat for a day. But Mei and Li Mo weren't normal. They couldn't die. Mei couldn't even feel pain.

"Dad, where's my brother's breakfast?"

"Mei, you need to have a check-up after you eat."

"But he hasn't eaten yet."

"Someone will bring him food later." Ryoma lied, a pang of guilt twisting his gut. He couldn't risk letting the monster regain his strength. The previous lab had warned him.

"Dad, when can we go home?"

"In a year. Just rest. I'll get you anything you want." He stroked her hair, remembering his late wife. He owed Mei so much. "Mei, when you wake up from this dream, everything will be alright."

While Mei was undergoing her check-up, Li Mo was taken to another lab. No check-up for him. Just… tests. To ensure Mei's safety, they had to determine if she felt his pain.

The lab filled with the sounds of steam, whips cracking, fists impacting flesh. But Li Mo remained silent.

Chained and bloodied, his head bowed, blood dripping from his forehead, he stared at his tormentors, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Freak. Not a single word. Are you mute?" The man grabbed Li Mo's hair, slamming his head against the wall. He'd been paid handsomely to inflict pain, to hold nothing back. The money had silenced his conscience.

Researchers entered, carrying blood-drawing equipment. Mei's check-up had shown no adverse effects. The boy was bearing the burden alone.

"You can leave."

"Really? The payment…?"

"Tell them your name at the front desk."

"Thank you! Thank you!" The man hurried out, eager for his reward.

The researchers inserted a large needle into Li Mo's vein. He'd expected them to cut his artery. More efficient. Were they hesitant? Bound by some lingering sense of human decency?

"Are you sure… you want to use my blood?"

His sudden question startled them. He hadn't uttered a word during the torture, yet now, during a simple blood draw…

"Your blood is valuable. It can cure many diseases," one researcher explained. Many organizations were vying for his blood, hoping to unlock the secrets of immortality.

Even if they failed, it was still incredibly valuable, the most potent medicine ever discovered. It could rejuvenate the elderly, cure blood-related illnesses… They didn't understand how, but the results were undeniable.

The rich would pay a fortune for it.

"It can even cure Honkai…"