No matter what, these people could not accept being played for fools by a mere test subject in their eyes.
So when Elias made another request, he was met with a firm refusal.
"You're just a test subject! Even if you're rare, don't think you can defy us. Die? Don't even think about it! If you have the guts, go ahead and slam your head into the wall again!"
"…A bunch of idiots."
Elias was speechless.
He glanced at his restrained limbs and couldn't help but wonder where Otto had found such a bunch of morons. With intelligence like this, could they really unlock the secrets of Stigmata?
"Do you really think that just by pressing my head down and tying up my limbs, you've gained control over my life? If that's the case, you're truly fools."
"Every form of power in this world can be taken away—except for the power to seek death. That is something no one else can control."
"I can bite off my own tongue, snap my own neck—even if my whole body is immobilized, I can simply hold my breath until I suffocate."
Death has always been a form of freedom. As long as one has the courage to seek it, it will inevitably answer.
In the next second, Elias nearly bit off a chunk of his own tongue. When blood began seeping from his mouth, these heartless beasts had no choice but to relent once more.
Taking advantage of the situation, Elias made even more demands.
But eventually, these monsters found a way to 'retaliate' against him—by intensifying the experiments.
Without endangering Elias' life, they lifted all restrictions on their methods, subjecting the boy's body to an array of ruthless human experiments. At times, they even stopped administering anesthesia altogether.
"Tch, these bastards."
Even with his [Pain Resistance] and [Extreme Pain Resistance] traits, Elias could still feel pain—though it remained within his tolerable range.
In truth, without those two abilities, he was a thousand percent certain his mind would have already shattered.
However, as the Honkai energy within him increased, Elias began to sense that he was on the verge of grasping something. His plan was progressing smoothly.
Because of the deal he had made, Sirin, Avrora, Agata, and Galina—who were supposed to have perished—were all still alive, contrary to the original timeline.
That day, after returning to the cell following another experiment—
"Agata, help me push the beds together."
"Avrora, take care of Galina."
"Sirin, you're holding onto my arm too tightly—I can't move."
After spending so much time together, the four girls had completely warmed up to Elias, and he had also come to understand their personalities.
Agata was a passionate red-haired girl.
Avrora was as gentle as the breeze.
Galina was the most timid—a little crybaby.
And Sirin—she was the strongest, the cutest, and the most perceptive of them all.
Today, the researchers had focused their 'special attention' on Elias' right arm.
Although the pain was bearable for him, his right arm had been damaged almost beyond repair. He could barely feel its existence, let alone move it properly.
"Don't worry, I'm really fine."
"…Liar. How could you be fine?"
"…Sorry."
"Elias, you're not allowed to apologize! It's those bad people who did terrible things—it's their fault! They're the ones who hurt you… who made it so we can't go home."
Sirin spoke with both anger and sorrow.
She hated those who experimented on Elias. She wanted to go home, back to the land where they all once lived together.
Sirin was deeply worried about her mother. When she was taken away, her mother was gravely ill. She had no idea how she was doing now.
"Don't worry, we'll be going home soon." Elias estimated the Honkai energy stored within his body and reassured her, gently patting her purple hair.
"...Mm."
It was mid-January in Siberia. Though the cold was kept at bay by blankets and clothes, the psychological burden of being in such a place weighed heavier.
So, they pushed their five soft beds together, curling up beside each other to feel safer.
Elias didn't overthink it. After all, they were still children, and in this hellish Babylon Laboratory, who even cared about separating boys and girls? This was a place devoid of laws and ethics.
As a result, every morning he woke up to find himself tightly embraced by the four little ones.
Sirin would always be clinging to his neck, her small face pressed against his chest. Avrora and Agata would clutch his arms, while the most timid, Galina, would be hugging his leg.
At first, it was a bit awkward, but Elias quickly adapted. Being close to the adorable girls wasn't a bad thing. More importantly, it was healing for him as well.
Of course, when morning came, he would be taken away for experiments again. The researchers were becoming increasingly cruel, only releasing him by evening.
...
Every time they saw Elias being taken away, Sirin and the others felt powerless.
"Elias is being taken again."
"What are they planning to do?"
"Someone from the next cell just died again."
"I don't want him to go through any more experiments!"
They were just girls, but that didn't mean they were oblivious.
Sirin and the others knew very well that the only reason they were still living in relative comfort was because of Elias' silent sacrifices.
Their small prison cell had become increasingly livable—first beds, then blankets, then clothes, and eventually even storybooks and small trinkets.
They had not suffered.
They had not been harmed.
But…
"Ahhh! It hurts! No! Kill me! Please just kill me! Ahhhh—!!"
"I want to go home! Please let me go home! I don't want to be experimented on anymore!"
"Mom, Dad, someone help me! It hurts so much! Please, let me go, I beg you!"
Only they had been spared.
The surrounding cells often echoed with agonizing screams, soul-crushing cries that constantly reminded Sirin and the others of the hell they were trapped in.
And just how lucky they were.
Whenever they were too frightened to sleep, Elias would tell them stories.
He would narrate bedtime tales—"Snow White," "Cinderella," "The Little Prince"—stories that always distracted them from the horrors outside.
But more than the stories, what Sirin and the others loved most was Elias' singing. His voice was soothing, comforting, something they could never grow tired of.
Even the most timid Galina would always smile from the bottom of her heart when he sang.
Elias' unwavering composure and reliability made them depend on him. And with the ever-present smile on his face, there was a time when Sirin and the others truly believed that perhaps he wasn't suffering all that much.
Until…
One day, they accidentally caught a glimpse of his body under his clothes.
There wasn't a single patch of unscarred skin. His entire body was covered in horrifying experiment marks.
At that moment, they finally understood.
Their safety, their comfort—everything they had was bought with Elias' suffering.
Sirin: "How could I be so useless? Every time, I can only watch as Elias is taken away. Why? Why… why can't I do anything!!"