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

Let's rewind time to a certain moment in the past.

When Raven was summoned by Grey Serpent for a mission, it was a highly classified, top-secret operation.

She and another Grey Serpent were dispatched to a warehouse, completely cut off from communication. World Serpent had cleared the area of all personnel, including any traces on the Grey Serpent network.

Though it was located in an urban setting, it was effectively isolated from the world.

The reason for such extreme measures was the target of their mission—a particularly troublesome enemy, infiltrative and omnipresent.

Raven and Grey Serpent advanced cautiously, wary of even the slightest contamination.

This Grey Serpent, evidently fond of chatter, rambled on incessantly, and while Raven occasionally bantered back, she couldn't completely hide her unease.

During this operation, the iron rule was clear: if anyone was contaminated by the target, they would be eliminated.

There was no exception.

---

After clearing Pardofelis of suspicion and revealing the absurd reason behind her secret, Mei had a little more confidence in the hat's functionality.

As Pardofelis said, it was indeed a quick and convenient method.

However, before Mei could continue probing Vill-V's memories, Hua arrived, disrupting the brief tranquility.

Hua rushed over, her expression filled with urgency. Judging from her face, the news she bore wasn't good—in fact, it was likely dire.

Her usually calm demeanor was now fraught with panic, as she prepared to deliver a critical message.

But Vill-V interrupted, insisting Hua still needed to pass the hat's screening. Besides, such an important matter would be easier to convey through scenes than mere words.

Mei wanted to say she didn't doubt Hua—only Vill-V.

However, considering the possibility that the mastermind could disguise themselves, and the unfairness of only investigating Pardofelis, she silently agreed to Vill-V's suggestion.

Hua, without hesitation, agreed to the memory probe. She had nothing to hide, after all.

This time, Mei and Pardofelis entered the memory together.

In Hua's recollections, on the dark night when Kevin disappeared, Mei and Pardofelis saw Hua standing silently in an empty space for the entire night, as though watching over a dream she didn't want disturbed.

But before they could leave, the scene was overtaken by a deeper shade, and vivid memories flooded in, shattering the calm stillness.

In the Elysian Realm's laboratory—a space usually exclusive to a certain someone—Hua had stumbled upon something shocking while delivering a message to Mobius.

Mobius was dead.

The scene before her was one of utter destruction. Familiar remnants floated in a black mire, fragments of green liquid mixed with scraps of clothing. Among them, an image of Mobius' face lingered, her lips curled in mockery.

For a moment, Hua and Pardofelis were rendered speechless.

It felt like a hammer had struck their minds, leaving them dizzy and disbelieving of what they had seen.

The Flame-Chaser who feared death the least had exited the stage.

Back on the main interface, Mobius' mirror symbolizing her presence in the Elysian Realm shattered, leaving only ten of the thirteen.

---

Few had anticipated this, the third to die would be Mobius, who had never appeared in the Elysian Realm.

From the perspective of events in the Elysian Realm, her death had been instantaneous—she had no chance to act.

The three who had died so far, including the precarious situation of Kalpas, were acknowledged as some of the most formidable among the Flame-Chasers, at least in terms of self-preservation.

Yet the mastermind seemed to target only the most difficult individuals, eliminating them one by one.

This painted a grim picture for the rest.

-------------

"Uh… Mobius' story ends so abruptly?" Kiana raised an eyebrow, glancing curiously at the others.

All those grand claims about seeking infinity and eternal life, and now… gone just like that?

"As unbelievable as it sounds, Mobius'… uh… thing has shattered. Based on what happened with Kevin and Elysia earlier, she must've run into trouble," Pardofelis muttered, scratching her raised tail as she reached for Can, trying to coax her back into her arms.

That disloyal Can!

"Hah, foolishness. I wouldn't die so pathetically. Life should be vibrant and glorious, not this wretched mess…"

"Interesting. It seems in the game's timeline, I die before that man," Mobius sneered, though she didn't name names. Kalpas picked up on it, a subtle sign of their mutual understanding.

"Hahaha—reduced to a puddle of water. Who'd have thought you'd end up like that?" Kalpas burst into laughter.

"Kalpas, do you have to be so gleeful?" Elysia asked sadly.

"Of course, it's worth celebrating! That woman was most confident in her so-called immortality—her indestructible vitality—yet it crumbled with just one poke!"

Ignoring the bickering between those two, it was clear that with so many people watching, no real confrontation could take place.

The others who hadn't participated in the discussion gradually picked up on the implications. Wasn't the boss claiming that the number of deaths wasn't high?

Yet, to them, it seemed more like they were watching a chain reaction of deaths, one after another.

Even Mobius, the hardest to kill, had met a tragic end in her own laboratory. Didn't that mean the remaining Flame-Chasers were even more vulnerable?

(???)

Bronya folded her arms as she looked at Luo Mo. She now habitually maintained a confident and full posture, her Silverwing: N-EX appearance granting her the aura of a more mature "Bronya-sis."

Indeed, none of her classmates recognized her.

She had deliberately created an additional identity for herself within her family and firmly assured Welt and the upper echelons of Anti-Entropy that this wasn't a secret enhancement she had applied using her authority.

Naturally, her foster mother, still in prison, was shocked by this transformation. For a moment, Cocolia thought Bronya might have done something extreme, like undergoing surgery!

"So… how many of the thirteen Flame-Chasers are left?"

Bronya asked Luo Mo directly. Since the source of the information was right here, why bother guessing?

Though, if she were to speculate, considering how the "boss" seemed to operate, he might leave none alive, cutting them down one by one with precision, stabbing deep into the audience's emotions.

Bronya certainly had the skill to hack and uncover company secrets, but she obviously wouldn't do something as unethical as spoiling the plot ahead of time. On the one hand, as an employee, she had her principles; on the other, it was more fun to theorize about the story alongside Seele, Kiana, and the others.

"Hm, how many are left…"

Luo Mo tilted his head toward the ceiling as though counting the patterns above.

On closer thought, Bronya hadn't specified a timeline. If they were to base it on the conclusion of the Elysian Realm arc, the survivors would be Hua, Kevin, Griseo, and Su, with others' fates still unknown.

Which meant…

"Four!" Luo Mo declared confidently, giving her a reassuring answer that was sure to ease her concerns.

"Four Flame-Chasers survived this calamity?" Bronya mused. Seeing the boss's confident demeanor, she decided to trust him for now.

Strangely enough, as things had progressed, she found herself thinking that four survivors didn't sound too bad. Had she been gaslit into accepting such a grim reality?

In a way, Luo Mo wasn't lying, he was simply accustomed to being misunderstood.

"Four… really?"

Elysia rubbed her temples, pondering for a moment before casting a playful glance at Luo Mo. She refrained from correcting the final count.

In this invasion, the exact number of surviving Flame-Chasers remained a mystery. Some had retreated into obscurity, some had fractured into multiple selves and fought among themselves, and others had died repeatedly, rising again and again.

Throw out any number, and it would likely align with some point in the timeline.

The realm of memory was truly a strange and wondrous thing.

-------------

After witnessing Mobius's death in Hua's memories, Mei and Pardo returned to reality, still reeling from the scene.

The image lingered vividly in their minds.

Hua merely stated that she needed to relay this information to the others and left promptly.

Hearing of Mobius's demise, Vill-V's expression shifted. A mix of anxiety and urgency overtook her as she urged them to act faster.

Otherwise… if they delayed, it would be too late.

Now, clearly, the only one present who had yet to prove their innocence with the device was Vill-V herself.

She insisted that Mei delve into her memories next, a subtle and enigmatic smile curving her lips.

Having been reassured by the device's straightforward functionality during the previous tests, Mei didn't hesitate to enter Vill-V's mind, ready to inspect the memories of her final companion.

Little did she know, she was walking into a trap.

---

Upon arriving in Vill-V's mental space, Mei found herself in an entirely different setting, this wasn't an ordinary memory. It was the Theater of Domination.

Indeed, she had entered Vill-V's thought space, but the scene resembled the Dominator's Stage from that previous encounter.

Undoubtedly, this was a space Vill-V had pieced together based on their memory exchange.

This was only the first surprise the magician had prepared for her, and certainly not the last.

Unlike the others, Vill-V's memories were chaotic and sprawling.

Mei witnessed snippets of Vill-V's daily life and uncovered many of her secrets.

For instance, when working on a project, one of her personalities would create something only for another to criticize and add their modifications. This back-and-forth often resulted in the final product deviating significantly from the original plan, much to the surprise (or horror) of the client.

When faced with budget cuts, Vill-V would creatively repurpose materials emblazoned with Mobius's logo to improve her designs for Kevin's combat equipment, only to endure Mobius's furious outbursts later.

Simply put: magnificent chaos.

Deep within these memories, Mei stumbled upon a locked mirror. Heavy iron chains bound it tightly, concealing whatever secrets lay within.

This was clearly a symbol of Vill-V's most guarded truths: about restraint, personality, malice, and a certain experiment she once conducted on a remote island, equipping monkeys with weapons to Mobius's dismay.

Mei observed Vill-V's complexities: her capacity for good and evil, or rather, her apparent indifference to both. Most of the time, she stood at a distance, lips curled in a mocking smile, admiring her "masterpieces."

Her words were veiled in half-truths, her intentions difficult to discern.

Vill-V could even mimic another person entirely, as demonstrated during her drone assault on the Flame-Chasers. Who would've guessed it was the result of only three months of learning?

If she set her mind to it, she could become anything.

Mei watched in astonishment as Vill-V voiced dangerous ideas, showcasing her unparalleled brilliance, vast knowledge, and terrifying ability to learn.

If Mobius was a genius in biology, Vill-V could master any discipline she chose.

Piecing together various clues, Mei began to sense an ominous thread running through everything she had witnessed. A dreadful realization took root in her mind.

"You… You!? Aaahh—"

In the distance, from above, came Pardo's scream—a sharp, pained cry.

Then, there was silence. The final "you" did not even utter a name before fading away. In their place appeared a group of faded, monstrous figures, blocking the path ahead.

They materialized out of nowhere.

Mei was startled, but she reacted instantly. She swiftly dealt with the monsters, moving at a speed unparalleled in her life. She knew, Pardo had been targeted by the mastermind.

And without a doubt, the mastermind, the one who had cunningly lulled Mei into a false sense of security, was none other than… Vill-V, the traitor!

Mei wasted no time, quickly defeating the monsters and dashing forward, climbing the stairs without pause.

But when she reached the top, all she could see was Pardo's limp figure on the ground. Her form shimmered with the flickering distortion of an electronic screen, colors tinged with unreality.

"Pardo!"

"Mei… Mm—uh..."

Pardo's voice trembled, filled with terror. Her pupils shrank as she spoke haltingly, unable to endure the pain coursing through her body.

She sounded as if she were on the verge of tears, pulling at the heartstrings of anyone who heard her.

Almost half of her body was shrouded in a faint, indistinct haze, exhibiting an unstable, chaotic state.

"...Don't worry," Mei said, gripping Pardo's hand tightly. It felt icy, as though life itself were slipping away.

Pardo's body arched upward in a sudden, jerking motion, but the intense pain forced her to curl up once more.

"No… no, Mei-sis… We need to—we have to leave here quickly."

"Inside there… it's… it's… V—"

Her hurried words were interrupted by fits of coughing (glitching).

Following Pardo's gaze of horror, Mei glanced at the mirror beside her. There was no reflection, neither of them nor anything else. Only an ominous shadow loomed within.

"It's Kevin's memory! The memory of his disappearance! The one who killed Kevin… is… is…"

Pardo's coughing grew more violent, her voice trembling with fear. Mei, who was holding her, could feel the full extent of her panic.

Her body quivered uncontrollably like a frightened kitten, soft and fragile, as though she might vanish at any moment.

Everyone knew that she feared death above all else.

But now, it seemed she truly was on the brink of it.

"I understand, Pardo. You don't need to say anything more…"

Mei, however, could do nothing.

All she could do was hold Pardo's hand and comfort her with hollow reassurances, despite the sorrow evident in her eyes. As Pardo's tear-filled gaze met hers, Mei tried her best to offer strength.

"If anything dangerous happens, leave it to me to handle, okay?"

"Just like… before."

"Oh, Mei-sis… Don't say things like that… You're making it sound like… I really am going to die…"

Pardo forced a weak, awkward smile, tears glinting under the theater's dim light. Her breathing grew labored.

The coughing subsided, but it felt like the calm before the storm. Each word seemed to drain what little energy she had left, and fear lingered in her every breath.

Yes, she was the last of the Flame-Chasers, but what right did anyone have to demand more of her?

She was just an ordinary person, someone who had become a Flame-Chaser purely out of luck.

"There's no way… Don't say such unlucky things…"

"I've always… been so lucky…"

"Mei-sis…"

This was her final word, her last time calling Mei's name. Her hand grew colder, lighter, until it felt like Mei was holding nothing at all.

With tears streaming down her face, Pardo wore an expression that seemed to waver between a smile and a cry. In a faint, weak voice, she said,

"I… I don't want to die…"

And like an ephemeral glow, her body disintegrated into countless fragments of light, vanishing in Mei's arms. The figure Mei had touched was gone, leaving nothing behind.

But the weight that had been there was undeniably gone, leaving a void Mei couldn't ignore.

(TL: Ugh... the scene.... reminds me of Peter on Tony's arms. I don't want to die/I don't want to go)

It happened too quickly. Even Mei, the Herrscher of Thunder, skilled in battle, could not react in time, nor could she properly describe what she had witnessed.

It was faster than lightning, impossible to grasp.

Mei didn't even know how to return to her previous stance.

After a long moment, she moved her arms, trying to grasp at the air, as if searching for something.

But there was nothing there.

---

[No! Not Pardo!]

[Why would you take away my last source of happiness?]

[Why did even the cat have to go?!]

[Nine lives couldn't save her… QAQ.]

[She died in my arms, and I couldn't do a single thing.]

[MiHoyo, you are so evil! She was just a kid! Sob...]

-------------

In the grand hall of the Golden Courtyard, no one could laugh in the face of such a scene.

Elysia, who had initially chuckled at Vill-V's memories, offering comments and gaining a deeper understanding of her, grew somber as events unfolded.

When Pardo's scream echoed, Elysia had sensed something was wrong.

But after seeing so many Flame-Chasers fall, even herself included, Elysia didn't seem to mind much anymore, though she did furrow her brows in disapproval at Pardo's suffering.

Listening to Pardo's final, broken words in Mei's arms, Elysia had unknowingly turned away.

Grabbing a tissue with a practiced motion, she wiped her reddened eyes while quietly mourning Pardo's passing.

Soft sobs filled the air.

The faces of the Flame-Chasers were similarly grim.

Yes, Pardo had always been lucky. If she didn't approach danger, it wouldn't approach her.

But that only applied when she avoided peril.

Cats may have nine lives, but curiosity killed the cat.

Nine lives couldn't save her from this fate.

"Pardofelis… why would anyone want to hurt you…"

Elysia sighed deeply, her voice tinged with sorrow. Watching Pardofelis' figure fade away in that instant, she recalled the heart-wrenching words, "Sister Mei, I don't want to die…" She felt as though her heart shattered.

(TL: Ugh! I'm getting flashback of Peter's snap)

Shattered into countless pieces… Her heart chilled with sorrow, like it was crying silently.

Then, her beautiful eyes sought the culprit, Luo Mo.

"Hey, don't look at me like that. I'm not the one to blame. All I did was show the truth," Luo Mo protested, forcefully pressing his twitching smile downward. It wouldn't look good if anyone saw him smirking at a time like this.

But this time, Elysia cried, and that was his victory!

(TL: you son of ****)

"Ah—"

Even Kiana couldn't help but feel sorrowful. So young, yet she had already learned to sigh.

That recent stab was just too devastating. Once again, she felt the precision of Mihoyo's storytelling.

Compared to the bewildering earlier twists, this one struck straight at her heart. Pardofelis' weak gasps and coughing were vividly clear, enough to make her burst into tears.

"Boss, can you at least try being human?"

She wiped her tears away and couldn't help but direct her frustration at Luo Mo.

---