Lan Sen’s Illusory Defiance

Who was this chattering little girl before him, who looked utterly punchable and spoke such infuriating words?

Though fear had initially suppressed the anger in Lan Sen’s heart, once he realized this was merely a dream, he calmed himself, intent on reasoning with the little girl.

His experimental report was neither baseless fabrication nor a haphazard collection of ideas; it was the culmination of over a dozen seasons of meticulous effort from him and his colleagues.

Even though it was only a draft copy, being lectured by a flat-chested little girl who’d scribbled childish, crooked symbols all over it, and then explicitly told that his report was nothing more than third-rate science fiction, Lan Sen found his patience wearing thin.

“My young lady,” Lan Sen stated coldly, “I don’t object to someone pointing out my shortcomings. However, if you wish to critique my work, you must demonstrate some genuine ability, wouldn’t you agree? I, Lan Sen Larson, as a cyborg of upright character and progressive thought, never judge by appearances. Whether you are an AI, a human, or some strange hybrid creature, as long as you possess a certain level of intelligence, I will treat you with equal respect. Yet, my respect for your person does not grant you license to blaspheme against science!”

‘Oh-ho, how interesting. Was this the classic ‘face-slapping’ scene from novels, where someone boasts only to be humiliated?’

Gloria inwardly chuckled, her ahoge involuntarily curling into a fishhook.

At this moment, all she had to do was hurl her corrected experimental report at Lan Sen’s face, forcing him to open his ‘dog eyes’ and clearly see her revisions. This would surely make him swallow his previous arrogant words, compelling him to finally bow before the wisdom of Lady Gloria and humbly lick the back of her hand.

But that was the approach of a conventional novel protagonist.

Gloria, however, was a formidable Blasphemous Demon God; she disdained the flattery of mere mortals.

Furthermore, when she had revised the experimental report, she had employed advanced theories that surpassed current Earth civilization by five developmental stages—the other party likely wouldn’t even comprehend them.

As the saying went: ‘One step ahead, you’re a genius; two steps ahead, you’re a lunatic.’

And Gloria, ten steps ahead, would probably be dismissed as an arrogant loli prone to outlandish fantasies.

If such an outspoken loli were to flaunt theories ten steps beyond their time in public, her fate might not be much better than the ‘special case’ children of Project Guiding Light.

Besides, her initial purpose in annotating this report wasn’t to correct Lan Sen’s mistakes, but simply to indulge her desire to play teacher.

Lan Sen was no benevolent figure; he was a member of the Heart of the Galaxy who had fired the Skyfire Cannon, intending to kill X. There was no need for her to show him respect.

Therefore, confronted by Lan Sen, who righteously demanded that Gloria demonstrate some competence, she certainly wouldn’t play by the rules.

Furthermore, the temporary observer lurking outside the mental space was constantly urging her to act swiftly and eliminate her opponent, which clarified something for Gloria.

It seemed X had become excessively loyal to her, verging on fanaticism.

Upon seeing Lan Sen’s dismissive attitude toward Gloria, X had even declared, [Don’t bother with the Good Ending route; I want to speedrun this. Quickly deal with this annoying idiot; I want to see rivers of blood.]

‘Could this little one be turning into a yandere?’

Considering all factors, Gloria, having satiated her urge to play teacher, had no intention of explaining anything to Lan Sen, nor would she bother to flaunt ‘dozens of tons’ of evidence before him.

“I still prefer a more direct approach.”

“Direct? Then provide some evidence, why don’t you! Anyone can talk big!” Lan Sen challenged.

“You claim to be some Demon God? Well, I am the God of Science!”

As his perception of the dream grew increasingly vivid, he became bolder and more fearless, yet simultaneously, utterly oblivious to his impending doom.

“You’re right,” Gloria said with a smirk, “anyone can talk big. That’s why I always prefer to settle things with action, not words.” Her sweet, adorable loli demeanor vanished in an instant, leaving only the image of a seasoned ruffian in the lab, one foot propped on the desk, hands rubbing together, exuding an air of complete roguishness.

“You—what are you doing? I’m warning you, I am a second-generation cyborg from the ‘Next-Gen’ project! My strength and physique are twice that of a normal human; you stand no chance against me. Moreover, this is my dream, and I am its master!”

As he spoke, Lan Sen, following an unseen guidance, closed his eyes and spread his palms, causing the entire laboratory to tremble.

Then, under Gloria’s dumbfounded gaze, everything within the laboratory began to float, as if gravity itself had vanished.

Lan Sen stood firm in the center of a gravity well, his eyes glowing blue, surrounded by suspended metal fragments and various instruments rapidly orbiting him.

In that moment, Lan Sen exuded the aura of Magneto.

“Hahahahaha, I knew it! That earlier suicide was nothing but a nightmare, and this is just another dream. In reality, I must still be alive. You arrogant intruder, attempting to defile my mind, surrender now!”

With these words, Lan Sen commanded the storm of metal, crackling with blue electricity, to surge towards Gloria.

In response, Gloria merely let out a soft chuckle.

“It seems your brain, modified by the Alliance, is truly not thinking clearly. Never mind. To prevent you from straying and disrupting my grand entrepreneurial plans, I’ll spare your life for now. Just be a good little fuse, igniting the divergence of the future.”

Gloria’s arrogance filled Lan Sen with disdain.

In his eyes, this unlawful intruder who had invaded his dream was undoubtedly a scheme by those fanatical religious zealots.

They were speaking such nonsense to disturb his mind, hoping to make him betray the Heart of the Galaxy.

Betrayal? Impossible! He would rather blast his own head off with a vibro-gun than betray them and be subjected to a mental audit by the Department of True Sight at the Heart of the Galaxy, his personality destroyed, reduced entirely to a puppet who merely obeyed orders.

As long as he maintained his original resolve within the dream, he would absolutely not be deceived or brainwashed by the other party.

As for the previous dream of suicide, and why he had taken his own life, he had completely forgotten.

Such was the fragility of false memories disconnected from reality.

Filled with confidence, he wielded even more metal fragments, sending them hurtling towards Gloria.

He fully expected that under this onslaught, his opponent would be shredded beyond recognition, utterly doomed, then expelled, allowing him to awaken.

However, the little loli, who should have been panicking, made no move to retaliate. She simply, silently, unclenched her fist, a faint, infuriating smile playing on her lips.

In that instant, Lan Sen stared at the black specks of light, as if witnessing his own future dissipate like a firefly, and a chilling realization dawned upon him.

‘She seems to be serious!’

He realized he shouldn’t have attacked this loli of unknown origin. But it was already too late.

“Damn it!”

Amidst his roaring expletive, a silent black tide surged from all directions.

In a single instant, it engulfed the entire mental world, so completely that even light could not escape.

Lan Sen’s minuscule figure, under the cleansing sweep of such immense power, vanished without a trace.

“Source of Dark Arts, Second Manifestation: Infusion. Forget the illusory dream and go into reality to reverse your fated demise.”

Having dealt with the troublesome matter, Gloria turned with an elegant flourish, tossing the experimental report and her work uniform into the black tide. She herself, clad in an 80% transparent, borderline-illicit outfit, faded into the boundless void.