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

Time rewinds to an earlier moment.

In another space, the movements of the other Flame-Chasers unfold—what happened after Kalpas reached the depths and encountered Aponia.

Eden and Aponia quietly looked at the man who was always full of anger. At the end, they closed their eyes in peace.

No one could have predicted that the loudest among them would leave so calmly.

This, without a doubt, highlighted the severity of the current situation.

The current scene was far from optimistic. Eden was well aware of the green traces of corruption on Aponia's hands, the flying obituary pages ahead, and Kalpas's death.

Yet, at this moment, she thought back to a moonlit night, after the curtain fell on an opera performance.

It was on that night that she met the girl who changed her life.

After the show, Eden stepped out onto the rooftop, letting the cool evening breeze brush against her wine-red hair. There, she encountered a stranger.

In a world swept along by fate, she took steps toward an unwanted future, powerless to resist.

From any angle, that play was undeniably a tragedy. Yet, as Eden looked at the neon lights, she softly sang, because the focus of the final act was not on human despair.

Amid the ruins shrouded in dust, a single sprout pushed through the earth…

"A tragedy isn't an end; it's the beginning of hope."

"The footprints we leave in this world will one day become guiding lights for someone else."

Her eyes sparkled like stars as she turned back, her face illuminated gently by the moonlight.

That was their first encounter and the moment their bond was formed.

Amid the devastation of the present, Eden recalled the beauty of that moment.

So now, she felt she had to live up to the hope those words once inspired.

Eden looked at her companion in front of her, and Aponia happened to meet her gaze. She gave her a final Discipline, Do not come into contact with the enemy.

As for the secret hidden by the four crystal flowers, they decided to reveal it once more.

The two exchanged no words; everything that needed to be understood had already been communicated. The process of Aponia's corruption was irreversible, and what remained had to be completed by Eden.

A soft sigh drifted through the silence, like a final prayer for the afflicted.

Eden's figure disappeared into the darkness.

Aponia would remain in that chaotic realm of data, offering her sincere blessings for Eden's actions.

However, it was clear that the realm was not devoid of life, the snake who first exited the stage was lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity.

---

[Their first meeting: A flower of new life blossomed from the ruins.]

[A little 'too' cute, yet so modest—what a paradox!]

[So… Kalpas became a guiding light for their journey by burning himself as a torch?]

[??? Not quite… but not impossible either.]

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

In the Golden Courtyard,

Eden let out a soft laugh, shaking her head slightly as memories played out before her eyes.

Though distant, she hadn't forgotten.

"Never expected you to still remember the scene of our first meeting, Eden."

"That makes me truly happy, my dear Eden~"

Elysia gazed at the desolate sky and the fleeting light of the rooftop. She quickly recalled the memory, a starlit night when two young girls met for the first time, chatting during their impromptu "date."

Her self-introduction back then wasn't exactly flawless, but seeing how Eden remembered it after all this time, she couldn't help but feel delighted.

"Of course, I could never forget that moment, my dear Elysia."

With a gentle clink of her wine glass, Eden's melodious voice resonated like a soft note.

Elysia turned her gaze back to Eden, who met her eyes with a warm smile. In that brief exchange, they once again glimpsed the unwavering faith they shared deep within their hearts.

Of course, to a certain green fairy watching nearby, this scene probably appeared through a romanticized pink-tinted lens.

"We're far from the point of a despair-filled tragedy, aren't we?"

Mobius, her voice dripping with jealousy, added, "Although, dealing with the Herrscher of Corruption in a data space is certainly no easy task."

"Ah, Dr. Mobius, you really don't understand a girl's heart. Even Fu Hua has learned so much and is steadily improving."

"Why, of all times, would you say something so out of place when the atmosphere is this good?~"

Elysia sighed dramatically from the side, while Eden took another sip of her wine.

"Hmph—I'm merely stating the facts," someone replied defensively.

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

As one of the most unique individuals within the Elysian Realm, Aponia was using her abilities to share crucial information with the remaining Flame-Chasers through her "touch".

She conveyed the truth about Sakura's innocence, the Herrscher's existence, and the nature of the anomaly…

The information spread to every corner of the Elysian Realm, reaching everyone without omission.

This was something only Aponia could achieve. Whether in reality or the Realm, she stood alone in this capability.

However, she still hadn't found a definitive way to counter the Herrscher of Corruption.

She hesitated between deepening her interaction with the Herrscher or maintaining her own data stability.

It was a dilemma, a choice she had to make in this uncertain moment.

Then… she chose the former.

Aponia ventured into the Herrscher of Corruption's consciousness, a vast ocean of flowing data.

There, she saw faces that should no longer exist—phantoms of those long gone. Amid the illusory crowd, she found companions she thought had vanished.

Kalpas was one of them, mimicking Elysia's tone of voice as he spoke.

"What's wrong? I thought you'd be happy to see me."

"This place is interesting, but it ends here. Hurry up and take me away."

Kalpas turned, his tone calm yet impatient.

Then there was Vill-V—

"Well, I do love everyone, so… no matter how noble the cause, I'd prefer everyone cherish each day of their lives."

"Their smiles must not disappear. That, to me, is what matters most."

Gone was her usual mischievousness. Vill-V's face lit up with a heartfelt smile.

"…"

Aponia fell silent.

Now, she was certain—the root of all this was indeed connected to Elysia.

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

"Pfft, hahaha—"

The Herrscher of Sentience didn't bother hiding her laughter. Seeing her two former companions like this was too unexpected.

She clutched her stomach, laughing so hard she nearly rolled on the floor.

Especially Kalpas—he hadn't realized it at first.

Only through Aponia's telepathic description did he notice that his tone resembled Elysia's.

But… it was hilarious!

"…Hmph. I don't recall ever voicing that tone," Kalpas said coldly, glaring at Luo Mo.

When had he ever sounded like that pink-clad woman?

"All of this was for the sake of the story. Trust me, it really was," Luo Mo replied sincerely.

"I see. But… I didn't expect this from you. Fine, very well."

Luo Mo's anger simmered but didn't erupt. With a deep breath, he suppressed it. There was no rush—there were plenty of accounts to settle with this person.

Clinging to the game's plotline wasn't a sufficient excuse. He had already made a pact with the others under Elysia's watchful eye.

But this time, Luo Mo had delivered the reason directly to him.

Once the saga of the thirteen Flame-Chasers concluded, perhaps not even Elysia would feel inclined to stop him. Who knew—maybe even his other companions would…

Such thoughts flickered through Kalpas's mind.

(TL: hehehehe~)

"Indeed, the attention to detail is apparent. Both Kalpas and I appear here, speaking in Elysia's tone… The data of those not deleted has merged with the Herrscher of Corruption's."

"And the form they've constructed… is the version of Elysia that resides in the Herrscher's heart, correct?"

Vill-V analyzed calmly, now wearing glasses as if to signify a different persona.

In life, they often adopted such subtle cues to distinguish themselves.

Clearly, the magician Vill-V's turn had quietly ended, giving way to another.

"...An expert?"

Elysia curiously asked a question.

To be honest, she didn't quite understand the previous scene. She felt that if it were her, she wouldn't have said those lines, there should have been some differences.

"Hmm," she said reservedly. "If you're asking about the thing you entrusted to me, I'm afraid it will take some more time."

"I mean, I did want to ask, and it's strange that a loudspeaker could take so long to make, but… I'm more curious about when the original Vill-V actually appears. What's her schedule?"

Elysia's interest was piqued. She'd been keeping an eye on her for several days but had yet to see her make an appearance.

She'd even seen the Vill-V responsible for Kevin's equipment once!

"Hmm… let me check."

The Expert closed her eyes, seemingly conversing internally. Then, opening them again, she cast Elysia a somewhat surprised glance.

"She… voluntarily switched to a midnight shift. As expected of you, Elysia."

"Eh? I just discussed trying out skydiving with her. How did it come to this…? I even made arrangements with Bella and Cecilia!~"

Elysia said, disappointed.

Hadn't they agreed to overcome difficulties when faced with them? How could Vill-V back out?

"…Switched to nights? You guys even made a schedule for appearance times?"

Luo Mo, overhearing, couldn't help but interject.

He hadn't paid much attention to this collaborator's affairs recently, so… had they implemented some kind of democracy now, with equal shifts for every Vill-V?

"Yes. Each Vill-V must appear for at least two hours. It was Elysia's suggestion, and everyone liked it, so we adopted it," the Expert replied succinctly.

"Anyway, back to the earlier scene. Since it's a group activity, I can't just leave…"

"But it seems the Herrscher of Corruption has fulfilled the vision Aponia wanted, a concept of 'Elysia' that remains eternal."

She spoke with certainty.

Everyone's eyes turned to Aponia and Elysia.

"…But that's not the future Elysia wanted, is it?" the Expert sighed softly.

"Of course not. If I were the only one left alive… what meaning would there be in that?"

Elysia smiled as she spoke.

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

Could she really just be… trying to save our lives in her own way?

Aponia couldn't help but entertain this absurd conclusion in her mind.

But if this was an act of love… how could she reshape the Herrscher's mind or change its behavior?

Even if it was a form of obsessive, twisted love.

Just as she found herself in despair, facing certain failure…

From an unexplored corner, a dark green liquid slowly rose, transforming into the shape of Mobius. She gazed at Aponia, who was approaching, and spoke in a teasing tone.

"What's this? Did you really think… I'd end things so carelessly?"

Aponia gradually understood everything.

Those previous words hadn't been spoken in Elysia's voice. To be precise, they were spoken in a tone imitating Elysia's.

This place wasn't the domain of the Herrscher of Corruption.

"So it's you… Mobius," Aponia said softly. "It's good to see you again."

She understood Mobius's experiments. Under her gaze, everything became clear.

So… was this Mobius's hidden trump card?

Was she waiting for Aponia's arrival, implying that things had already reached an irreversible point, and she had become the final safeguard?

Aponia felt nothing but… sincere joy.

"Don't flatter yourself, Aponia. The only reason I waited until now is because you still have value to me."

Mobius sounded impatient, but if one looked closely, there was a subtle hint of unease—something rare in the doctor often seen as cold and unfeeling.

"…I'm listening."

"Break the barriers. Connect the Elysian Realm with reality, Aponia. Then, take me to Klein's location."

"Under the Herrscher of Corruption's control, only you… can make this happen for me."

Her gaze grew deeper as she quietly observed Aponia.

Both knew that this task would inevitably lead to Aponia's death.

"Only you can make this happen for me."

Mobius would never speak such words lightly to anyone. That's precisely why Aponia understood the dire situation they were in. Even this genius had reached the end of her rope.

Her assessment was correct. With Vill-V's departure, this was indeed a feat only Aponia could achieve.

And Aponia couldn't find a reason to refuse.

She embraced the death Mobius had planned for her without hesitation.

"When Kalpas left... I promised him I would atone for my sins of the past. I thought... I would break that promise."

Aponia clasped her hands tightly and took a deep breath. She let go of the lingering burdens in her heart and looked at Mobius before her, speaking:

"After all, it was because of me that it came into this world. But this time…"

"Mobius... you won't let us repeat the same mistakes again, will you?"

"Of course not. I'm not you," Mobius said casually, narrowing her eyes.

A faint smile appeared on Aponia's face, even though her body was heading toward death.

But light had begun to shine through.

"If possible, please offer my apologies to it… to that person—"

"To the former Twelfth Herrscher."

Those were the final words left by Aponia as she merged herself with the Elysian Realm. This wasn't just an obsession lingering in one person's heart.

---

In the Golden Courtyard,

"Hmph, I don't accept your apology," Kalpas retorted coldly. After a pause, he added, "But at least dying served some purpose."

"So this is… my end? My own death, something I could not foresee."

Aponia smiled gently and nodded.

"Not bad."

She held no resentment toward this conclusion.

"…Forgiveness…?"

Rin lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with the others.

Although her interactions with Aponia weren't unpleasant—Aponia was always gentle, teaching her life's basics, though occasionally overly affectionate and blocked by a grumpy uncle standing protectively in front of her—Rin wasn't afraid of Aponia.

If anything, she was more afraid of Uncle Kalpas. Though, admittedly, his grilled dishes were quite good.

She suddenly felt a cool yet gentle hand lightly stroke her hair.

It was her Sister.

Rin could tell easily. She looked up slightly and saw her sister's cold gaze, which always softened a little when directed at her.

"Don't dwell on it, Rin," Sakura said softly, her hand applying just the right amount of pressure. "This isn't fifty thousand years ago anymore."

"…"

"I understand… But I've never resented someone distant, someone who's never interacted with me."

"When I was hurt, I did blame those guards… I'm sorry, Sister," Rin said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

The hand on her head paused, then gently brushed her hair again.

---