Chat Group: Starting by Swapping Bodies with Elysia?

Although MEI was appointed as the frontline commander, the Fire Moth higher-ups clearly weren't entirely at ease with the fledgling MEI, who was recommended by Elysia.

For example, now—

Regarding restricting Jiang Qiao, MEI adopted a laissez-faire attitude.

Perhaps anticipating this situation, the Fire Moth higher-ups naturally sent another commander to replace MEI later.

Of course, this wasn't the main point.

"Although I had this guess from the beginning, I didn't expect it to actually be you."

Looking at MEI, whose complexion wasn't good and whose neck had alarming purple Honkai markings, the sweet and energetic girl's voice was filled with helplessness and surprise.

Jiang Qiao looked at her, clearly sensing that she was transforming into his "kind."

"This place is quite far from Nagazora City, where the eruption occurred, right?"

Initially, he thought the powerful Honkai energy reaction in the center of Nagazora City was the Third Herrscher.

But after arriving, he discovered it was only the Third Herrscher's companion beast, Śeṣa.

Strangely, after defeating Śeṣa, Jiang Qiao couldn't find any trace of the Herrscher within Nagazora City.

Had it not been born yet? Or…

Had the Third Herrscher already been born, but wasn't in Nagazora City?

And now, the answer was revealed.

MEI, at the front lines, was the Herrscher host chosen by the Cocoon.

"Fortunately, I anticipated this possibility and took precautions, otherwise things would have been troublesome."

These words, filled with relief, made the exhausted MEI nod: "Yes, thanks to the power you left in me, otherwise I might not have been able to hold on."

For MEI's safety, Jiang Qiao left a trace of Origin within her.

The main purpose was to protect MEI at critical moments, such as… assassinations.

There was no Kevin to act as MEI's bodyguard now.

However, having a Herrscher of Origin leave part of her power within her, this level of protection was much stronger than Kevin using his life to block those assassination attempts.

It was precisely because of this power that MEI wasn't immediately consumed by the Cocoon's will when she was chosen as the Herrscher host.

"Can you resolve it?"

Feeling the restless consciousness in her head, MEI clutched her forehead, her expression pained, and looked at Jiang Qiao.

After noticing her abnormality, she immediately contacted Elysia. Out of rational consideration, MEI felt that Elysia might be able to help her overcome this difficulty.

"No problem, no problem. Although the previous one was a bit too late, now… well, at least in your situation, it's still easy to solve."

The later the Herrscher in the Previous Era, the more likely they were to retain their consciousness, such as the Eleventh Herrscher, who chose to stop moving, and the Twelfth Herrscher, who initially showed no abnormalities.

The reason for this anomaly was Elysia's influence.

Because she later realized her identity, the gradually awakening Herrscher of Origin was able to preserve the self-awareness of the subsequent Herrschers to a certain extent.

And for the current Jiang Qiao, he was Elysia, and he was the Herrscher of Origin.

After realizing this and completing the Herrscher's self-recognition, Elysia's power was enough to influence and interfere with the subsequently born Herrschers.

The Second Herrscher had already transformed before Jiang Qiao took control of the body, and her consciousness had almost completely disappeared.

But the current MEI—

Just right!

Pressing his forehead against MEI's, such an intimate action, under normal circumstances, would make even the rational MEI shy. But MEI, who was currently struggling with another personality created by the Cocoon, clearly didn't have the leisure for such feelings.

—The authority of Origin activated at this moment.

"It might hurt a little, bear with it."

The sweet girl's voice carried a hint of seriousness. MEI, being reminded, subconsciously relaxed, groaning, her pretty face contorted.

A moment later—

"Alright, it's done."

As MEI was covered in cold sweat, the pink-haired girl sat on a chair nearby, crossing her nylon-clad legs, her plump, fair thighs eye-catching.

A crystal, highly similar to the Herrscher core of the Seven Thunders of Retribution, with a 100% similarity rate, was being played with in Jiang Qiao's hand.

This was the Herrscher core of the Third Herrscher.

Looking at the Herrscher core taken from her body, MEI felt relieved, but also couldn't help but feel a lingering fear:

"I didn't expect to be chosen as the Herrscher of Thunder's host."

"Hmm… Maybe it has a special liking for your face?"

The girl guessed, a hint of teasing in her voice.

Under normal circumstances, the Third Herrscher of the Previous Era didn't choose MEI, who was busy stacking buffs at Chiba Academy, as her host.

But they had interfered quite a bit. Although Jiang Qiao could ensure that the Herrschers of this era were generally the same as the original ones through certain methods, he couldn't interfere with the specific host selection or some small details.

Just like now, the Cocoon forcibly chose MEI, who was outside Nagazora City, as the Herrscher host.

"Please spare me."

MEI smiled wryly and sighed, "I definitely won't go near any eruption sites in the future."

Who could understand? She was so far from the eruption site, yet the Cocoon insisted on making her a Herrscher.

"Hmm~ You're being a bit disingenuous. If Dr. Mobius knew about your situation, she might be envious to the point of tears~"

The girl's voice was filled with amusement.

Although after the Herrscher core was removed, MEI couldn't use the Herrscher's power anymore, and because she was far from the eruption site, the core's development was extremely poor, MEI's body was no longer that of an ordinary person, but a true Herrscher's body.

"MEI, how does it feel to be a Herrscher?"

"It's hard to say, but it's indeed much more perfect than a fragile human body."

MEI clenched and unclenched her hands, flexing her wrists, the cracking sounds making her sigh with emotion.

Compared to her previously frail human physique, a Herrscher's body didn't need to worry about diseases, could quickly recover from injuries as long as there was Honkai energy, had an incredibly long lifespan, and possessed powerful physical qualities.

It truly made her feel wonderful.

Looking at the core in the girl's hand, MEI said softly:

"But, with this…"

"This eruption is basically over, right?"