Making Honkai Impact lll In A World Where Kallen Exists [Continuation]

Bronya glared angrily at Kiana, who was awkwardly trying to smile. She had thought Kiana was genuinely hungry every time!

But... it turned out that the reason for the first few times was because she had gotten a bad hand?

How could that be!

Of course, she was even angrier that she hadn't figured it out, that she had been fooled by Kiana, something she had never expected!

Normal people wouldn't believe such a lie, but Kiana's words... even if she ate nine meals a day, no one would question her. It was a natural advantage.

At most, people would think that Mei was too indulgent with her, or that she had been working too hard lately.

Kiana felt guilty and gave Bronya a flattering smile, trying to persuade her. Then, she glared at the boss.

Why would he mention it? How could she have blurted it out?

Luo Mo lowered his head and pondered. He began to reflect on whether he had really done something wrong.

But everyone heard Luo Mo's words, and they quickly understood what he meant.

"Are you sure about that?"

Mobius questioned with suspicion. What did he mean Honkai wanted to restart the game?

"I don't know, I'm just guessing. But all those Herrschers inside are rebelling against Honkai. I think if it really had emotions, it wouldn't allow something like this to happen."

Luo Mo wasn't entirely sure, his voice laced with doubt and belief.

Gradually, he began to believe his own words.

"But Honkai doesn't have that kind of self-awareness, does it?" Mobius pointed out the biggest problem.

"You have to ask them. How would I know?"

Luo Mo shrugged, indicating that he had no answer. If anyone knew, it would be the people from the previous civilization. He was just copying the script.

"...Actually, there's some logic to it, right?"

Elysia giggled, her fingers twitching, a strand of pink hair she was holding swaying for a moment.

"After all... there are so many Herrschers who've defected in the game. There are only so many of them, and they all don't want to work anymore, so they quit."

"Hehe, that makes sense too."

Elysia nodded in understanding, a smile permanently etched on her face. It was so interesting!

It seems she had a pretty big impact back then!

Everyone present had different expressions. They couldn't imagine Otto using this to negotiate with Honkai, but it was true, Honkai should feel pretty hurt.

"Then it's even worse now... in the game, only half of them defected... now all the Herrschers are running to my school!"

But besides Theresa, she felt like she had been deeply affected.

In the game, since St. Freya was practically nonexistent, it wasn't a big deal. But now, almost all the Herrschers who had appeared were gathered in one class. This forced her to confront the discussion, namely... whether the name "Herrscher Accelerated Academy" was actually true.

"You're still bothered by that? As the Principal, you need to be more magnanimous."

Luo Mo glanced at her, offering some consolation.

It was more like, if it weren't for her constantly reminding him, every time Theresa thought about it, she would explode. This gave Luo Mo a lot of motivation.

The motivation to capture the next Herrscher and stuff them in there.

"Precisely because I'm the Principal, I have to care about this... and besides, doesn't that mean we can also negotiate with the Will of Honkai?"

"Why? Aren't we doing a good job resisting?" Luo Mo was a little confused, holding back a laugh.

"...Ah, yes."

Theresa was speechless, sighing. That was true.

Mobius and Vill-V exchanged glances, quickly communicating some information. Thinking about the Will of Honkai, they still felt something was strange.

-----

Facing such a dire situation, with a rather bleak future outlook,

Theresa, as the head leader, followed the advice of the two Anti-Entropy doctors and began to arrange for battle. According to the changing situation, they would do their best to make the battle more favorable to their side.

In the first phase, they first needed to figure out Otto's overall plan. So, they decided to split up and gather more information. A straightforward approach and a flanking maneuver would be most suitable.

The division of troops would also be based on everyone's strengths, ensuring maximum familiarity and combat effectiveness.

One group would be Bronya and her orphanage harem, the other would be Kiana and Fu Hua, considered the Tai Xu faction.

Another group would be the "old folks" group, responsible for logistical support. Theresa and the two Anti-Entropy doctors would be in this group.

Though Theresa might not yet consider herself old...

Soon, the group, consisting of a handful of people, set off. Bronya and her group would be the vanguard, attracting Otto's attention as much as possible to create opportunities for the others.

And clearly, Liliya and Rozaliya, while they were still calm at the start,

Once they were out, they were practically running wild, unable to settle down, fully unleashing their nature.

Bronya tried her best to restrain them,

But her eyes couldn't help but show a hint of nostalgia. Once upon a time, she and Kiana had been like that, only now, times had changed, and her old friend had become different. The three of them were now one less.

"...Huh? Bronya Onee-Chan, let's go quickly... huh, was Onee-chan smiling just now?"

Seele was about to follow the two who were bouncing around, but she turned her head and saw her Bronya-nee staring at their backs, a slight smile on her lips.

"Bronya was just feeling a little sentimental looking at Rozaliya and Liliya."

Bronya glanced at Seele, then at Liliya and Rozaliya, who were vying for first place in the distance. Their bouncing figures reminded her of the past.

They were like that too, back then, giving the seniors Valkyrie a headache...

Thinking about it, time really does fly. They were actually starting to play the role of seniors, teaching the new generation of Valkyries.

She pursed her lips and said to Seele, who looked puzzled,

"Those two... are very much like Kiana and Bronya when they first entered St. Freya."

"Back then, Kiana was just a carefree goofball. She skipped school, slept in class, failed exams, got into trouble everywhere, and always clung to Mei."

Although she was saying bad things about Kiana, it was more like she was reminiscing about the good old days.

The good old days of having Kiana, Theresa, and Himeko-sensei, living carefree lives in that beautiful school.

Even now, whenever she thought about it, it filled her with warmth and the strength to fight.

She looked at the distant sky and said quietly,

"Bronya just found her noisy, couldn't stand her, and always picked on her. She was defiant, so she challenged Bronya. Bronya, of course, wouldn't refuse."

"Just didn't expect that Kiana, that girl, was more serious than she seemed. Although she never beat Bronya once, she never gave up, always coming back to challenge her again and again."

"Because Kiana seemed so energetic, Bronya was worried that she would cause some kind of trouble on her own, so she couldn't help but follow her and correct her behavior."

"Kiana was always too free-spirited, even doing some ridiculous things. Whenever that happened, Bronya would point out her mistakes without mercy."

"As a result, unknowingly, we gradually became familiar with each other..."

Bronya's smile became even more pronounced as she recalled the times they had worked together.

Though they were noisy, she didn't dislike it.

Looking back, it brought a unique warmth.

" ...Thinking about it now, it's an incredible way to make friends. But Bronya doesn't dislike that feeling."

"Huh, maybe that's what they call 'fate'?"

Seele was a little envious of her sister's experience. In her eyes, it was also a testament to growth.

Having companions to work with, no one would dislike that.

At least, that's what she thought.

"If you have to say, it should be called 'karma'."

Bronya's lips curled up, her eyes bright. "Back then, Bronya felt that taking care of Kiana was easier than fighting... now, it's completely reversed."

"That's how the world is. Everyone grows up, constantly updating themselves."

Bronya looked at the two who were running around the town, lively, active, full of energy.

They were like them back then, mischievous and playful, giving Himeko-sensei a headache.

She couldn't help but look at the bright, gentle girl beside her, the one she had always wanted to save, but now she was by her side.

She smiled confidently and said,

"Don't worry, Bronya knows what Seele wants to say. 'Remember the past, to create a better future', right?"

Seele's eyes lit up, filled with admiration.

As expected of her Bronya-nee, she always spoke so wisely!

[Please don't stab, please don't stab. If you stab her again, she'll be dumb]

[Sigh, I miss the old Tuna. Sadly... Tuna is gone, never to return]

[Ah— Tuna is gone, now she's a warrior of the all beauty of the world]

[Mei is currently with World Serpent...]

[Seele: Bronya-nee is talking about other women in front of me... I guess it's time for a separation (sharpens knife)]

-----

"What! Karma? Bronya, you're saying that our deep friendship is karma?"

Kiana pouted in dissatisfaction.

"...Isn't it?"

Bronya looked over, a hint of disdain in her eyes, but she also found it amusing.

"Of course not! Though you are a bit of a nuisance sometimes, always getting in the way, being suspicious, reporting me, expressionless... but we've been through a lot together."

To this, Bronya simply said,

"Hehe, it would be better if you could remove the first part of that sentence."

"Remove it? You should remove the bad reviews in the game too! Slander, that's slander against me!"

"Not really, now Bronya is considering adding another line, 'dishonest and deceptive, now she's learned to scam'..."

"No, I just do it occasionally, and besides, I was really hungry back then!"

Their voices continued to bicker, clear as day in that small space.

Mei, caught in the middle, could only separate them and then offer comfort.

"Alright, alright, you two. You miss each other when you're apart, but you're still so harsh with your words. Didn't you agree it was a warm memory?"

Mei held them both down with one hand each, offering comfort.

"That's for later." Bronya answered first.

"Hmph— I definitely miss Mei more! A mere Bronya..."

"Hehe, it's only because Seele is face-to-face with Bronya in the game, otherwise who would remember you!"

"You!..."

"Alright, stop it, you two. You're really..."

Mei watched the two bickering, rubbing her forehead in pain, but a smile couldn't help but appear on her lips.

-----

And soon, Bronya lost that nostalgic feeling, all trace of longing vanished.

She watched the two girls huddled together, muttering to each other.

She couldn't help but rub her forehead, a wry smile appearing on her face.

"I have a sudden urge to apologize to Headmaster Theresa..."

She suddenly understood the hardship of Himeko and the headmaster back then... empathy. This is what it feels like to take over a mess?

The two girls had initially been quite orderly, using their detectors to search back and forth.

Then, they slapped their foreheads, and somehow, they tied the detectors to their great swords and spun them around, saying it was to expand their search range. But as they spun, the detectors flew out, smashing against the wall and breaking.

Now, they were discussing blaming it on a Honkai beast...

how to say? There is a sense of déjà vu between Kiana and myself...

It's not like Kiana has never done anything like knocking over her own fighter plane with one kick.

Bronya gritted her teeth, feeling a headache coming on.

But luckily, suddenly, the detector made a sound, signifying that it was still working valiantly.

The severely damaged detector shell trembled with Doctor Tesla's voice, making one wonder if it would simply collapse and disintegrate the next moment.

And suddenly, a sense of unease washed over them.

Bronya instinctively shielded the others, her eyes alert as she looked at the sudden barrier and the spatial rift at its center.

There was no doubt, they had been ambushed, forcibly invited to another location. And... it was a place they had been to before, a place that left a bad impression on our duck.

—They had arrived at the Theater of Domination.

They could only cautiously explore, step by step, until they reached the deepest point.

"Following the tradition of this theater, should I say... 'Welcome to the Theater of Domination'?"

A cool, elegant voice echoed, laced with a hint of flirtation.

Rita, perched gracefully on a railing, watched the arriving group with amusement. After all, she had just met the Ural Silver Wolf not long ago.

Her eyes held a glint of crimson, her armor had a new design, looking more refreshing, as if it were sparkling with starlight. Her fair legs were crossed on the steps, incredibly alluring.

As if to set the mood, she had several strands of silk wrapped around her lower body.

After meeting Otto, it was clear that her stance had shifted subtly.

She still insisted that she didn't want to harm those on the Hyperion, maintaining the position of a maid, but that was under the condition that Bronya would stay here safely for 12 hours...

Obviously, no one would agree to that.

Bronya couldn't allow her companions outside to be in danger while she was safe here.

The two quickly transitioned from sparring to a real fight, the battle between the evenly matched and the undefeated legend would eventually come to a conclusion.

At this moment, they would settle it.

[Bringing a child is not easy!!]

[Who the hell tied the detector to the greatsword and spun it around? Who invented that, so reliable?]

[PTSD is kicking in. Why is it the Theater of Domination again? It's like a ghost that won't leave!]

[As expected, we have to fight. Against Schicksal's Valkyries... But Rita is so hot! This outfit is even hotter!]

[A fight between two losers!]

-----

"Ahhhhh! How dare they do this to my invention!? They're doing this on purpose!"

Tesla raged in frustration, looking at the shattered pieces. Her anger boiled over. The detector wasn't meant to be a weapon accessory!!

He decided, absolutely, absolutely to stay away from those people from Cocolia Orphanage!

Only Bronya seemed reliable!

Seele was also okay, but the other Seele was unreliable! And those two sisters were practically lawless, and Sin Mal was also restless, both of them were troublemakers.

"...Perhaps, they genuinely feel that Doctor Tesla's inventions need to be broken and rebuilt?"

Einstein pondered for a moment, calmly replying.

"Huh? Mop-Head, what do you mean? Are you saying my inventions are just junk?"

Tesla glared at her.

"No, Doctor Tesla, you said it yourself." Einstein said calmly.

"You! You jerk!"

"But... on the bright side, even after being thrown around several times and shattered into pieces, it still works. It undoubtedly shows your capabilities."

_____

The battle was a strange sight to behold. It was clear that these two fighters were perfectly matched, neither one better than the other.

It was a stalemate, a perfect balance of power.

You might think that strong fighters are all different, but the truth is, they often share similar strengths. Weaker fighters, on the other hand, tend to have their own unique ways of fighting.

Rita was incredibly skilled and had mastered her techniques. But Bronya had something special – a Herrscher core, which gave her a huge advantage in terms of energy.

She could keep fighting for a long time without getting tired.

The fight itself wasn't very exciting. Both fighters were cautious, carefully watching each other's moves, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

It was like they were playing a game of chess, trying to outsmart each other.

In a way, Bronya and Rita were eerily similar. Both had experience in assassination and infiltration, and they both knew better than to reveal all their cards.

They locked eyes during the fight, their gazes burning with battle intent.

Rita took two swift steps forward, her right hand swinging the sickle in a lethal arc. The sharp blade sliced through a portion of the floating cannons Bronya had constructed.

She let out a delicate laugh, glancing at Bronya. There was no immediate pursuit.

"The warm-up is almost over, Miss Bronya," she said, her voice smooth. "Time to show your true strength, wouldn't you say?"

Bronya remained expressionless, but she felt a wave of pressure from Rita. The other woman's skill was superior, and there was an inexplicable power flowing through her. Bronya wasn't entirely confident.

But it was too late to back down.

She took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on her opponent.

She hadn't expected them to be on opposite sides so quickly... The sparring session they'd had before now seemed to be leading to a decisive outcome.

"To be honest, Bronya wasn't planning on using this... at least not here."

"But it seems like there's no time for hesitation anymore. Bronya can't stop here, so there's no need to hold back."

"This time, Bronya will use everything she has - to defeat you."

Bronya looked at her opponent, her eyes filled with determination. Rita maintained her smile, but her already high level of alertness shot through the roof.

Despite her words, Bronya continued to engage in a fierce battle. The sickle's blade and the creations of the Herrscher of Reason clashed, sparks flying as they dissipated within the Theater of Domination.

She only had one chance, and she had to seize it at the perfect moment.

"Star of Eden!!"

A miniature black hole seemed to appear out of thin air. Bronya let out a low shout, a hollow, empty sphere forming in her palm. She was using the power of the Herrscher of Reason to mimic a Divine Key!

The charged sickle flashed through the air.

Crackle - Pop -

"A simulated Star of Eden... it's breaking."

Rita couldn't believe it. The black hole was shrinking before her eyes, the sphere in Bronya's palm cracking and fading into nothingness.

"Whew... that was close. It ends here, Miss Bronya. Sadly, your gamble failed."

Rita let out a sigh, a smile returning to her face. The tide had turned back in her favor.

In her mind, Bronya's greatest weapon was shattered. The victory was hers, and the rest was just a matter of mopping up.

"To construct a simulated Divine Key in just a few months... from any perspective, Miss Bronya, you are a genius."

"No. Bronya... I've been hesitant all along."

A flicker of struggle crossed Bronya's face, as if she was making a difficult decision.

Time had moved too quickly. She had always felt lost about this legacy, this power.

"While I did accept the Herrscher of Reason's core... I've always been lost about Anti-Entropy, about the world, about the legacy of the Herrscher of Reason."

"The name 'Welt' itself means 'World'," she continued.

"The leader and successor of Anti-Entropy, the guardian of humanity, Mr. Welt... the burden he carries is beyond anything Bronya could imagine."

"In the Herrscher core, I saw countless memories, each one enough to crush an ordinary person - yet Mr. Welt endured them all."

"The more I trained under Mr. Welt, the more I learned about his life, the more uncertain I became."

"Do I truly have the right to be that successor? The things Mr. Welt carries..."

"He carries the world on his shoulders, stumbling forward. No matter what obstacles lie ahead, he never lets go, never backs down."

"Bronya believes she doesn't have the resolve to carry the weight of the entire world. So, I only inherited the title of Herrscher of Reason, and abandoned any attempt to take on other responsibilities."

"...But, Bronya also understands that this is just an escape."

Bronya's eyes began to shine brighter.

But, at that moment, she no longer wanted to run away.

[How did Rita trigger her opponent's inner power-up? Isn't she supposed to be the villain?]

[Flashback attack! I declare the winner has already emerged!]

[The unbeatable legend of the Herrscher of Reason... is it about to be shattered?]

[Ah! My youth is returning!]

[Ofcourse. The Flashback power up.]

-----

At some point, Rita had walked over to Bronya's side, standing silently beside her.

They watched the battle unfold, gaining a deeper understanding of their own abilities within it.

As for the Armor, Rita and Durandal exchanged a glance, their minds already working.

Durandal pondered - This could be a solution, after all. In the short term, Rita certainly has the qualifications, it's worth a try!

"It seems Rita underestimated things this time..."

Rita had already guessed the outcome, even though the voice acting made it more obvious.

But her opponent had truly put in the effort.

"In a game, it's the protagonist's advantage after all... and Miss Rita didn't really intend to stop me, did she?"

Bronya glanced at her, things becoming clearer from a third-party perspective.

Rita was clearly just going through the motions, simply standing guard. She hadn't even used many of her tricks.

"Heh, who wants to be a villain if it's not necessary?"

Rita didn't confirm nor deny, a chuckle serving as a way to brush past the topic.

-----

Bronya continued to display the will passed down from the three previous Herrschers of Reason.

"Without the Herrscher core, Mr. Welt's power is far less than it used to be. On top of that, his body is riddled with scars from countless life-or-death battles."

"Even so, he silently carries all the responsibility, allowing Bronya to grow easily, to freely choose the path she wants to take."

"That was a choice he didn't have when he became the Herrscher of Reason, a dream he couldn't fulfill, a future he always longed for..."

"Many people say he's always been like that, always putting the happiness of others first, rarely considering himself."

"Perhaps, as Dr. Tesla said... he is a 'complete and utter fool.'"

"...Protecting the world isn't a burden imposed on us by others, it's not a path predetermined by our environment... it's truly the desire for good that resides deep within each of our hearts."

"We don't fulfill our responsibilities because we have power, but because we want to protect the world we all share, and that's why we must use every bit of power we have!"

Her words grew stronger, her aura sharper, her eyes shining with light.

Bronya clenched her fist. She had never considered giving up, and the spirit passed down by the Herrscher of Reason had never known surrender!

"The first Herrscher of Reason, Walt Joyce. He was a born Herrscher, yet he chose to fight for humanity, to stop the fall of the stars, to protect a city."

"The second Herrscher of Reason, Joachim Yang. He inherited Walt's name, dedicating his entire life to saving humanity from crisis, time and time again."

"No one demanded they do this. They chose the world, they chose to be loyal to the name of Welt!"

Bronya took another deep breath, her gaze fixed on Rita, who was now on high alert.

The Honkai energy within her surged, the Divine Key reappearing in her palm.

Countless black holes appeared around Rita. If one wasn't enough, then more would be. She constructed more.

"This is the weapon used by two previous Herrschers of Reason,"

"This is the power to overturn the laws of physics,"

"This is the Star that rewrites the world!"

But this time, it still wouldn't work.

A simulation was just a simulation. Rita remained motionless.

She shook her head with a smile. The first failed attack, no matter how many times it was repeated, would be even harder to make effective.

"Heh... have you ever seen a star shatter?"

[TL/C: It's the Line!]

Bronya let out a cold laugh, taking advantage of her opponent's lapse in concentration. She once again formed a glowing sphere in her hand, but this time the light was different, brighter, more intense.

This wasn't a simulation, but the real Star of Eden.

"Star of Eden, Zeroth Rated Power - Quasi Black Hole - Release!"

Empty becomes full, full becomes empty.

From the beginning, the real Eden's Star had been with her. Her previous actions were simply a distraction, a misdirection to hide her true trump card. This was the real attack.

And it worked...

The theater couldn't withstand the full power of a Divine Key. A blinding white light flashed, and the buildings began to crumble, returning to the embrace of reality.

This was Bronya's moment. She would turn the tide!

Finally, she had broken the invisible curse of the Herrscher core.

[Someone keeps sacrificing their lives... pfft...]

[No one is purely evil, not even Otto.]

[Whether it's plot armor or whatever, in the end, the one who remains undefeated is... Sister Rita!]

[On the bright side, maybe Rita's two burdens held her back? Duck doesn't have that problem...]

-----

"This time... Rita underestimated things. Next time, perhaps we can have a real-world sparring session, how about that?"

Rita chuckled, seemingly unfazed by everything.

But her smile was far less natural than usual, stiff and strained.

"...Okay."

Bronya was a little suspicious, but she nodded in agreement. She knew she would likely lose, after all, she still lacked experience.

But she also remembered what her boss had said about the eight-year agreement. She would prove that she could reach the Captain's level even faster!

Meanwhile, on the other side,

"It's kinda touching, but something feels off... what is it?..."

Elysia pondered, her little head nodding.

Elysia had been wanting to say something, but couldn't find the right words.

"Could it be that Miss Rita lost again?"

Luo Mo offered a sly suggestion.

"While I'm curious about the outcome between Bronya and Miss Rita, Eden's Star... how did it end up in your hands?"

Elysia crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at the group.

"Uh..."

Eden did feel a bit strange, but after Elysia pointed it out, it felt even weirder.

"It's in Anti-Entropy's hands, not Bronya's."

Bronya shook her head. She was quite curious about that weapon, but unfortunately... she could barely manage a simulation in the game, let alone casually whip it out like it was nothing, without needing any energy.

That was just too difficult.

"Hmph, let's not talk about that for now. Let's just say your naming skills aren't great. Our name, Cosmic Harmony, is far superior..."

"But the Herrscher of Reason... they are truly admirable. All three Herrschers of Reason chose to fight for the people."

Elysia sighed with a touch of admiration.

She had a soft spot for Herrschers who fought for humanity. Of course, it would be even better if they were beautiful girls.

Like... someone like Mei, for example, she really liked her!

Unfortunately... her appearance was only appeared for a brief moment. She was just there to show her face, she didn't even get to say hello to Mei.

Thinking about it, it was quite funny! Her opening line... honestly, she was really looking forward to it!

Thinking about it, Elysia puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. It was only a matter of time before she appeared again, but...

"Little Griseo, why did you draw me so beautifully? It's so cute! ?"

Elysia wrapped her arms around Griseo and rubbed against her, vigorously rubbing her soft cheeks, messing up her beautiful blue hair.

"You're so cute, little Griseo. It would be great to see what you look like when you grow up!"

[TL/C:...]

She put down the innocent, unknowing little angel in her arms, sighing with regret, noticing the glances from some of the people present.

Everything was great in the Paradise, except that it maintained everyone's original size, without any sense of change.

People like Griseo, like Mobius, they felt like they were missing something!

"Sigh... please be normal, and your conversation jumps around too much..."

Luo Mo couldn't stand it anymore, sighing and complaining.

He glanced at Elysia, who showed no signs of correcting herself, still holding Griseo, displaying her true lesbian nature.

[TL/C: She is not. She loves everyone]

"Besides, what did you find odd? Don't just leave things half-said."

"Hmm... uh... I can't remember! ?"

"But she's so similar to Mei, they both like to say those edgy things. Is that a group trait?"

Elysia rolled her eyes at him, unfazed.

She just wanted to rub against Griseo again. It was so comfortable to hold her, even small.

"Huh? Don't say that! It's just for the game! And Mei is fine normally..."

Kiana started off strong, arguing with Elysia, but her voice got quieter and quieter, her gaze involuntarily drifting to the side.

Hiss...

Mei's gaze was so cold, so terrifying.

"Ahem, we don't normally talk like that. It's just something the Boss added to make us sound more powerful during battle!"

Kiana corrected her seriously.

…

Inside the Anti-Entropy base,

"It seems Bronya in the game has fully inherited your ideals, Yang."

Tesla exclaimed with surprise.

"That's a good thing. Maybe she can do it here as well,"

This was the only good news she had gotten from watching the videos lately. Most of the rest were just watching her make a fool of herself, which was quite frustrating.

"Hmm... perhaps. She is a good choice."

Walt Yang nodded slightly, casting an approving glance.

Whether it was her understanding of responsibility or her mastery of her abilities, Bronya was exceptional. She had articulated things that even he couldn't summarize.

Although... that line about seeing a star shatter...

Taking advantage of the distraction, Yang couldn't help but scratch his palm. Honestly, it was a bit embarrassing to think about it now. After all, yelling out those edgy slogans in front of so many people...

But speaking of embarrassing, Yang was quite impressed by the little girl from the Raiden family.

One time, Raiden Ryouma came over, and a student who was out on a trip happened to be playing a game. Mei shouted "Wind, submit to me!" inside the game, which clearly made his expression darken and become quite awkward.

So... as long as he wasn't the most attention-grabbing one, that was fine. As for being good at sit-ups, well, there was nothing he could do about that.

At least it wasn't a derogatory term.

_______

________

[Flashback 2: Identity/ Old Friend]

Otto's inner monologue in the "Dominion" flashback short film has sparked a lot of discussion among players, offering a glimpse into a hidden corner of history.

[To reshape the world into something she desires? ... A familiar sentiment.]

[It's truly a legacy inherited from Kallen. Chronologically speaking, she should be considered the first to propose such an idea.]

[Kallen... Ragna... Himeko... Kiana. The Herrscher of the Flame, from beginning to end, the flame of the Herrscher burns eternally!]

[Otto... Even after a decisive victory, he remains shrouded in sorrow?]

-----

"Is this... a fragment of my own memories?"

Rita looked at the screen with a hint of doubt, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. She had once held the Gnius (AKA Genius) in her hands, but unfortunately, it wasn't as pristine as the one in the game.

Or perhaps... she hadn't encountered the person from the game.

"The memories retrieved aren't limited to the past five hundred years. They could be fragments from other people's memories, but they must be hidden secrets,"

Luo Mo simply replied, "Of course, this isn't the complete picture. There might be significant discrepancies with reality."

He had his own Rita here, now known as Irene. He glanced at her, only to find her staring intently at him, a graceful smile playing on her lips.

Luo Mo's heart skipped a beat, a sense of being caught cheating creeping over him. It was unsettling.

-----

This flashback event was triggered by Rita.

For the past five years, Rita Rossweisse had always carried a symbolic memento of her adventures: the Gnius.

Back in 2012, with the help of this device, she and Bianca Ataegina, then 12 years old, ventured into a world bubble in the Quantum Sea, embarking on numerous adventures before eventually returning victorious.

...Though the outcome wasn't perfect.

However, the Gnius, once a mere historical relic to Rita, had gained an unexpected ability under new circumstances.

At this very moment, she was alone in the command deck of the transport ship "Hestia," engaging in a mysterious conversation using the Gnius.

"October 13th, from west to east..."

This was a secret that even her captain, Durandal, or her Overseer, Otto, had never known.

"This time, we have a much wider window than before."

A ghostly figure, appearing silently in the secret room, shrugged and spoke to Rita in a familiar tone.

It felt like they weren't meeting for the first time, and indeed, they weren't.

This was a woman with brown hair, calm blue eyes, and a pair of cat-like decorations on her head. Her figure was ethereal, even with the excellent projection signal.

Half of her body was a blue blur, becoming part of the Quantum realm, as if she wasn't in this dimension. Her eyes were calm, and anyone familiar with her would recognize her instantly: the early missing scientist of Anti-Entropy - Schrödinger.

"You still haven't told Bianca about our meetings?"

"If you think it's the right time to reveal everything to everyone, I wouldn't object."

Rita didn't mind the teasing, even though it hinted at a separation between them.

"Heh, you've become even more sharp-tongued than before. What mission are you on this time?"

Schrödinger didn't deny it, but she didn't want too many people to know about her existence, especially those from Schicksal... though she never quite understood this woman's intentions.

She wouldn't betray, but she wouldn't be blindly loyal either. While she walked a tightrope between both sides, Rita did carry out Otto's plans.

"Heading to the World Serpent headquarters to deliver a top-secret letter from the Overseer."

"Hmm, Otto that guy is up to something again."

Schrödinger furrowed her brow slightly.

Who could guess what Otto was up to?

"What does his letter say?"

"I don't know. After all, the bottom line of confidentiality is that it can't be easily broken."

Rita politely declined, a faint glimmer of sadness passing through her eyes as she smiled.

"Alright. You're a strange one, you know."

Schrödinger looked at her for a moment, sighing,

"You maintain contact with someone like me, yet willingly serve someone like him."

"I'm simply doing what I believe is right."

Rita wasn't surprised by her words, maintaining her calm elegance.

After all, Schrödinger had helped her a lot, and as she said, she had no intention of favoring either side.

The last time Schrödinger helped Durandal, it allowed her to escape the world bubble, relieving Durandal of some psychological burden. Rita was sincerely grateful for her help.

She was truly grateful for that.

"Hmm. As expected of her."

Schrödinger had no doubt about Rita's efficiency. Her combat prowess and potential were terrifying...

But she quickly realized something, her expression shifting slightly. The experiment was progressing too quickly, wasn't it?

"You've already finished that experiment so soon?"

"Yes, the Overseer seems more eager than anyone else."

Rita sighed, her words hinting at something deeper. This information made Schrödinger's heart sink, causing her to ponder the implications of Rita's choice.

But she was still powerless to challenge Otto's actions, even if she knew what he was doing.

"Hmm... If he's still trying to control the power of the Herrscher of the Void, your world will inevitably face another wave of bloodshed."

"From the accidental success of the Abyssal Eye, to the North African experiment that created this quantum stealth infiltration point, and then to the subsequent Nagazora City..."

Schrödinger pointed out Otto's experimental trajectory, the path he was striving for in pursuit of his so-called ambition.

"He seems like he's constantly walking a tightrope between skyscrapers, trying to measure wind speed at high altitudes while doing so..."

She made a joke only an experimenter would understand, but it also highlighted the underlying danger.

Rita was taken aback, then smiled slightly,

"The Overseer told me that if we want to reconnect the world bubble with the Imaginary Tree, the power of the Herrscher of the Void is essential..."

"But the reality is, he partially achieved this using only the power of the Second Divine Key."

She paused, seeming to hint at something, a glimmer of light flashing in her eyes.

"Or perhaps..."

"Or perhaps... the resurrected Herrscher of the Void is a key prop carefully prepared for his true ambition."

Schrödinger picked up where Rita left off, understanding the meaning she was trying to convey.

Rita didn't elaborate further, continuing the conversation calmly,

"But at least in terms of props, the new 'Herrscher of the Void' hasn't fulfilled the desires of that gentleman."

"She has a deep and passionate soul - a heroic spirit that might not be inferior to Bianca at all."

[Rita: No one is as good as my Bianca!]

[Durandal! Durandal, nya~]

[It seems the events in ARC City left a deep impression on Rita - and made her remember Kiana.]

[Damn it, Otto still has his eyes on My Tuna!]

The half-illusory figure was stunned for a moment, then sighed after a while,

"Wow, it's rare to see you give someone such high praise, Rita."

"That person saved a city with a large population while stumbling along."

"So it's just a fair assessment."

Rita smiled without saying anything, but the person's will and choices at that time did have a unique power.

"Is that so..."

"By the way, you know, whenever I start analyzing the people and things around you,"

"I always wonder - how many Miss Ritas do I actually know?"

"The one who takes with one hand and gives with the other..."

"The one who cares for those around her with meticulous attention..."

"The one who can speak with conviction about justice, like Bianca..."

"Which one is the real her?"

"They are all... or perhaps, none of them..."

Schrödinger's scrutinizing gaze fell upon the ever-elegant maid.

Her face was hidden in the darkness, barely visible, but a soft chuckle could be heard. The girl, with one eye hidden behind her bangs, laughed from the depths of her being.

Her cool and elegant voice echoed throughout the room,

"Don't you already know the answer to that question?"

"I am the assassin under the command of Mr. Otto Apocalypse..."

"...and also the Valkyrie descendant of Miss Ragna Lothbrok."

" - I cannot abandon either of these identities."

Rita took a slow step forward, bathed in the moonlight. The familiar smile was back on her face, still radiant and captivating.

-----

"Rita's identity shifts are truly amazing, even I'm surprised. No wonder I feel a huge difference between the Rita I meet on missions and the one I see outside."

Durandal shared her opinion candidly.

"Oh? Which Rita do you prefer?"

Rita smiled, but a hint of killing intent flickered in her eyes as she looked at the blonde knight, seemingly asking casually.

"Uh... I'm just doing my job. Besides, they're all Rita."

Durandal was a bit confused, but she did give the right answer.

Perhaps it could be attributed to her intuition?

"Wait, wait, Ragna... Is she also Rita's teacher?"

Kiana jumped in between the two, curious,

She didn't know that!

She thought Rita only had Himeko as a teacher.

"Well... you could say that. When I was younger, Durandal taught me a lot. And as you saw in the Domination storyline, I inherited her ideology and path."

Rita thought for a moment before answering.

"What about Dr. Schrödinger?"

Bronya had held back her curiosity earlier. She knew the history of Anti-Entropy well, and naturally understood Dr. Schrödinger's situation.

Although she didn't suffer the same fate as in the game's Moonlight Throne event, she did become partially quantized by a twist of fate.

She's still missing.

"I still have the device, but communication hasn't been successful."

Rita explained.

-----

"Yo, old friend. How've you been?"

A golden cube floated in mid-air, its interior seemingly holding a spark of intelligence.

Otto Apocalypse smiled contentedly as he looked at the golden box in his hand.

Six months ago, he had given this treasure to Kevin Kaslana in exchange for the "beacon" he needed.

"Heh, it wasn't like he didn't see through your tricks. That's why he kicked me out."

Its voice held a hint of resentment as it confessed.

Over the past five hundred years, both had understood each other's intentions. Though neither had any good intentions, they knew that separating was the lesser of two evils.

For some reason,

This artificial intelligence, which had experienced fifty thousand years, sounded younger than Otto, who was "only" five hundred years old.

"Tricks? You mean when I half-jokingly told him that you could secretly replace me as the Overseer of Schicksal?"

"You're kidding, my old friend. He's Kevin Kaslana..."

"Would he not know your true value? You hold within you all the knowledge he needs to understand the world of the past thousand years."

"Oh, I'm really worried that after I leave, World Serpent, with your knowledge, will make this world dazzlingly brilliant."

"After all, think about it. It's only because my plan objectively exhausted the Honkai energy that the 'Imaginary Number Invasion' hasn't fallen on everyone's heads."

"Heh. If you really wanted to do good for this world, you should have announced your resignation as Overseer of Schicksal sixty years ago."

Void Archives wasn't fooled. Otto's feigned sincerity made it speechless.

They called each other comrades, but to put it bluntly, they were accomplices.

They both knew what the other was like.

If he truly cared for this world, he had more effective methods.

Instead of doing all these terrible things...

"What a pity...the First Herrscher of this generation. His value in your heart is not as good as a clone child who will never grow up."

Void Archives' voice echoed, clearly referring to someone.

Otto smiled slightly, half-jokingly,

"But aren't you also the first Herrscher to fight for humanity?"

"After I'm gone, you can help guide Theresa, right?"

"Cut it out. For the past five hundred years, I've been stained with your colors and aura. You really think they'd be willing to cooperate with me? To obey my every word?"

"Don't believe it. You wouldn't truly care for them anyway, would you?"

Otto tilted his head, looking up at the ceiling of this space, pondering the final stage of his plan.

[Interesting, both are technically the first Herrschers.]

[Done, Void Archives has become Otto's shape...]

[Guiding Theresa... That's a power grab...]

"Yes, I only serve the concept of 'humanity'."

"In that sense, I'm quite similar to those World Serpent folks."

Void Archives' flat voice echoed through the space.

"Perhaps, but Kevin Kaslana is an exception."

Otto was a bit bored. He needed to figure out how to deal with this 'old friend' who had been inseparable for five hundred years...

"That's also why he let you back. He tacitly allowed you to assist my plan."

"Perhaps I've truly lost my value to be exploited... but what benefit could this bring him?"

Void Archives asked with a hint of confusion.

Admittedly, it wasn't lacking in knowledge, or even wisdom.

But it lacked human thinking, and the perception of change.

Therefore, it didn't understand why the Flame-Chaser no longer needed it. From any perspective, it should still be valuable.

"It's simple. He envies me, so he's willing to make me look good."

Otto said calmly, his tone unwavering.

Although the situation was far different from what Void Archives thought, it was thinking in terms of intricate exchanges of interests and schemes. But coming from this man, it remained skeptical.

"Although, relatively speaking... I should be the one envying him."

[The pure love warrior's approval!]

[Two pure love warriors appreciating each other.]

[Does Kevin also approve of what Otto is doing? Interesting.]

[Pure love is invincible!]

"Heh? Have you forgotten how he scorned you the last time you met?"

"Obey or be destroyed, choose."

" - It's understandable that you envy him; but why would he envy you?"

"Our envy and strength have nothing to do with each other,"

Otto's eyes flickered, a series of images of Kallen flashing through his mind, from their meeting to her death.

"That's only because I can do what he can't;

And he did what I could never do fifty thousand years ago."

"Cut the riddles. What are you referring to?"

"Don't rush, don't rush, my old friend."

"You know, going back fifty thousand years from now is impossible; But fifty thousand years ago, in that era that was even more advanced than today..."

"He didn't choose to do something similar to what I'm doing now."

"...Otherwise, he and I wouldn't be in the same world at the same time."

Otto said meaningfully. The moment he saw Kevin, he understood where his unwavering belief came from, and how it turned to ashes.

Yes, they were similar people,

The difference lay in their choices at crucial moments. Those choices, right or wrong, were their own, and no one had the right to judge them.

"Are you saying he's actually someone who cherishes his own life too much?"

Although he said that, Void Archives didn't believe it himself. He was just thinking along with Otto's words, speaking without thinking.

Except for a few, the Flame-Chasers, as the last warriors, wouldn't hesitate to use their lives as stakes if necessary.

As for the few exceptions... Kevin, naturally, wasn't included.

"Haha, how could that be?"

"Quite the opposite, Void Archives..."

"It's precisely because that man sees the value of 'himself' so low..."

"That he envies me, and I envy him even more..."

A soft sigh filled the room, signaling the end of this conversation.

[Riddle people! Two riddle people!]

[Similar yet completely different experiences, both fighting for their loved ones.]

[It has nothing to do with power, indeed... They've never envied power, they've just plunged into the whirlpool of emotions.]

-----

"Envy?"

Elysia was a bit confused.

"Because both of them faced the choice between saving the world and their loved ones, but their choices... were different."

Vill-V spoke up, glancing at Kevin, whose eyes were already filled with complex emotions.

"They chose different paths?"

"That's not quite the right way to put it... but the focus is definitely skewed."

Vill-V neither confirmed nor denied.

It wasn't a completely singular choice, but the results of their choices were visibly different.

"Kevin, do you really envy him?"

There's no better way to find out than to ask the person directly. Since he was right there, Elysia didn't hesitate to ask.

"...Yes."

Kevin looked at Otto for a moment, nodding unexpectedly, directly admitting it.

"If I could revive MEI, I would definitely envy him."

"As for him... I believe that if MEI's plan hadn't been involved, it would be quite obvious which choice he would have made if faced with those two options."

"...Is that so? It's true, I can imagine that, Kevin."

Elysia wanted to smile, but couldn't. Her hand, reaching to pat Kevin's shoulder, stopped in mid-air, then retracted. She sighed.

"Fifty thousand years... impossible to return..."

Vill-V frowned, rubbing her temples, feeling a bit troubled.

She understood what he meant. Otto must have guessed the power of the Finality.

The difficulty wasn't the length of time, but the interruption of the cycle.

But she couldn't think of a solution for the moment.

…

"The Overseer of Schicksal and the Lord of World Serpent envying each other... heh,"

Kallen couldn't help but feel a little helpless. She now understood what Otto regretted and envied.

Once, he lived for her, but he separated from her will, their goals incompatible.

A rift formed between them, almost impossible to heal.

Kevin, on the other hand, must have followed his beloved's will until the very end.

That's the difference, and it predetermined their choices.

It seemed like just a choice, but combined with their past paths, it was a necessity. Otto wouldn't abandon Kallen, while Kevin... couldn't abandon Mei's plan and last words.

Their wills were similar, but they were not for the same thing.

No wonder they envied each other...