Honkai: You're telling me this difficulty is from Honkai Impact 3?!

Yun Mengxi's voice, amplified by the speakers, reached Yun Feng's ears, despite being barely a whisper. He started to rise, then froze.

Too late…

He stood paralyzed, watching Yun Mengxi standing in the spotlight. After a long moment, he slumped back down.

"So…that's it, huh…" he whispered, a sad smile touching his lips.

In the control room, Chen Shicheng watched Yun Mengxi and Liu Zhuohua on stage, equally speechless.

Too late…it's done. The moment Yun Mengxi spoke, their fate was sealed.

Thousands of zombies roared, turning towards the stage, surging forward. The barriers held them back for a moment, but they were designed for a few unruly fans, not a horde of thousands. It was only a matter of time before they broke through.

"Aaaaaah!!" Liu Zhuohua screamed, clinging to Yun Mengxi. Her scream, amplified by the microphone and speakers, further enraged the zombies below. Thankfully, it was a single shriek. But her trembling legs and frantic muttering betrayed her terror.

"I shouldn't have come…I shouldn't have let you do this…I shouldn't have given in…I…I…I…" Tears welled up in her eyes, and she covered her face. "I haven't even had a boyfriend yet!"

Yun Mengxi chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry…"

"Shut up!" Liu Zhuohua snapped, lifting her head. "Don't talk, kid!" She pulled out a compact, furiously applying a lethal dose of powder to her face. "Even if they eat me, they're getting a mouthful of foundation!"

Yun Mengxi smiled sadly, then turned to face the dense crowd below, her own fear rising. But fear wasn't her primary concern.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Time rewound in her mind. The shelter, Yun Feng's decision, the Honkai beast, the arrival of Shu and the others, the zombies…the events of the past month flashed before her, finally settling on the moment before the Honkai erupted.

Back then, she'd also imagined what it would be like, standing on stage.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

She opened her eyes, looking down at the horde, then tapped the microphone twice.

"Hello, everyone! I'm Yun Mengxi!" she said, smiling, waving cheerfully.

"Rooooar—!!" The zombies roared in response.

"Okay~" she shrugged, feigning a playful pout. "That's…not the response I was expecting." She tapped her head, then brightened, pointing a finger at the crowd. "But hey, a response is a response! I should be happy, right?"

"Hmm…I don't have any instruments with me, so you'll have to bear with me." She offered the zombies an apologetic smile. "Now, what to sing…" She tapped her fingers, then nodded, a bright smile spreading across her face.

"How about…The Shape of the Future?"

She looked beyond the walls of the arena, her gaze fixed on a distant point.

"I hope…this future…truly becomes what we hope for…"

"The Shape of the Future?" Liu Zhuohua frantically flipped through her songbook, which contained all of Yun Mengxi's songs. She didn't have to search long. It was Yun Mengxi's debut song, the one she knew best, the one Yun Feng loved most.

Yun Mengxi closed her eyes again, her gaze still fixed on that distant point—the train station, the direction of the future.

"Mist obscures the dust-filled exit…a gentle breeze brushes closed eyes…"

In an open space, the three college students finally stopped talking, sitting up, their gazes meeting Yun Mengxi's across the distance. The familiar melody resonated with a newfound poignancy.

"After a nightmare with no answers…I wake to find your smiles…"

Yun Feng sat before the speaker, leaning against it, smiling as he watched the performance. It wasn't a perfect concert, it was a disaster, but in this moment, it was met with smiles.

"Afraid the world will end, the future losing its shape…"

"But courageous paths won't be stopped by time…"

["Boss, I finally did something brave…" Xiao Chen murmured, wiping her eyes.]

["We're proud of you," the middle-aged couple said, nodding.]

["Us too!" The three college students exchanged glances, clasping their hands in a dramatic salute.]

"Disappointment repeats day after day, with no end in sight…"

"But we'll still fulfill our dreams, that afternoon…"

["Hello, Mr. Yun Feng."

Shu looked up, saluting Yun Feng solemnly.

"I'm the acting captain of the First Squad of the official anti-Honkai organization, Fire Moth. My codename is Captain, but you can call me by my real name, Shu."]

"The hourglass forgotten by time

Still holds your smiles

Now, strength replaces my fragility—"

Yun Mengxi opened her eyes, her gaze steady, no longer filled with fear. She sang, her voice strong, a final song in the midst of the Honkai.

"The fireworks stained with regret

Even in black and white, still protect

The shape of the future—"

She raised her hand, wishing she had a full band…

Perhaps…this was the firework stained with regret…

She was pushing herself beyond her limits, but she couldn't give the perfect performance…

What a pity…

…

Amidst the sea of roses, Shu felt a tug, and instinctively raised his hand.

[From Yun Mengxi: A perfect performance, a grand finale.]

It was a wish that required almost no Hope, yet he felt compelled to fulfill it. He offered a sliver of his own Expectation.

In the real world, during a brief pause in the song, in the desolate city…

The Shanghai Pearl…lit up!

The arena lights miraculously flickered on. The glow sticks, long dimmed, reignited one by one. The zombies fell silent, their roars ceasing.

Yun Feng, the four on stage—none of them noticed. They were completely immersed in the performance.

As the lights brightened, Yun Mengxi sang:

"Across the galaxy

We never gave up

Flying towards a brighter tomorrow…"

As her voice echoed through the city, people emerged from hiding, gazing at the illuminated Shanghai Pearl, then turning, silently walking towards their destinations.

The lights dimmed again, everything returning to its previous state, as if nothing had happened.

The zombies resumed their assault, breaking through the barriers, surging towards the stage, clawing at their target. Yun Mengxi didn't flinch. She stood calmly, lifting the microphone, whispering her final words.

"If you had two paths before you…which would you choose?"

She closed her eyes, content. This time, she had her own answer.

"The better one…"

As the last note faded, Yun Feng switched off the speakers, silencing the music.

Moments later, a train whistle blew, carrying one hundred and forty-three survivors towards the future.

Thanks to the song's blessing, not one was left behind.