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

Mei's sharp and elegant gaze reflected her contemplation. Finding that person was a carefully considered decision.

But upon their reunion, after some hesitation, Mei still asked the question,

"May I ask… who are you?"

Yes, despite seeking her out, Mei couldn't suppress her curiosity about this mysterious woman magician.

They weren't complete strangers, but Mei's knowledge of her only deepened her understanding of the magician's hidden secrets.

Her personality was ever-changing, her demeanor inconsistent. The reasons for this were varied, and the truth was shrouded in rumors.

But one thing was certain, this individual held clues to successfully resisting the power of discipline. She also had the key Mei needed most.

Even the genius magician herself was slightly taken aback, wondering if Mei's memory was as short as a fish's.

"Haven't we just met…? Oh, wait. Are you asking which persona I am?"

The magician quickly realized, flashing an amused smile.

"Since I thought it might be more polite to address you this way."

Mei nodded slightly, her gaze unyielding.

According to her research, Vill-V possessed a certain "back door" in everything she created.

As one of the creators of the Elysian Realm, Vill-V likely had a means to access its deepest parts, or perhaps even to reverse its workings entirely.

And that would suffice for Mei.

The Elysian Realm was built by the thirteen MANTIS. It comprised shared spaces, personal domains, and even overlaps between two individuals.

The deepest part of the realm was Aponia's private domain, like a surgery room was to Mobius or an art studio was to Griseo. Without explicit permission, no one could enter these spaces.

However, privacy within the realm was relative and not absolute. As its architect, Vill-V was bound to have fragments of her memory intertwined with its depths, particularly those connected to the fire moth's hidden history.

Thus, even from a logical standpoint, Vill-V likely had a passage to that hidden layer.

The ten-day prophecy loomed ever closer, and Mei's thoughts deepened. She dismissed the frightening threats woven into the prediction and rejected the inevitability of fate, which even the other MANTIS seemed resigned to accept.

To Mei, prophecy was like a target designed to capture her attention and force her to focus solely on the content of the vision. It distracted her from the true purpose of her journey, the ultimate secret buried within the deepest part of the Elysian Realm, a secret the fire moth had kept hidden.

Though she didn't yet know what it was, Vill-V would be the key to unlocking it.

Vill-V clapped her hands in admiration of Mei's deduction, a look of pleasant surprise gracing her face.

"...Cough, cough. Remarkable, truly remarkable! I'm thoroughly impressed, Herrscher of Thunder... Or perhaps someone once told you that you'd be better suited as the Herrscher of Reason?"

She grinned, adding her signature playful touch.

Teasing was an indispensable part of her conversations, after all.

Vill-V clearly recognized flaws in Mei's reasoning. Yet the very fact that Mei had pieced together this much was a testament to her brilliance and determination.

Mei's lips twitched slightly. She didn't respond, but she seemed to recall someone asking her a similar question before.

Unaware of Mei's reaction, Vill-V continued to smile mischievously. She had already laid out the terms of her proposal, a deal Mei was unlikely to refuse.

To enter the depths of the Elysian Realm, Mei would have to share every corner of her mind with Vill-V. It was not unlike the invasive connection Elysia had once promised to spare her from.

Both would see into each other's memories, leaving no secrets or privacy untouched.

This was the only way to pass through the sea of consciousness and reach the deepest part of the realm.

Mei nodded in agreement, her resolve unwavering. She had nothing to hide or be ashamed of in her mind.

Without hesitation, Mei opened her thoughts entirely. As soon as they made contact, Vill-V's presence overwhelmed her.

A deluge of voices echoed chaotically in Mei's ears. They belonged to different facets of Vill-V's split personality, contradictory, competitive, and endlessly noisy.

Some of these voices Mei recognized. Others were entirely unfamiliar, new dimensions of Vill-V's mind that she had never encountered before.

Among them, one voice emerged distinct and deliberate,

"Visitor… please, save us."

When Mei landed, she immediately knew she had been deceived.

This was not the entirety of Vill-V's memories. The fragmented scenes she had witnessed barely scratched the surface of the 50,000 years Vill-V had lived.

But there was no turning back now. Mei pressed forward, moving closer to the inevitable prophecy of her demise.

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

In the Golden Courtyard

"Vill-V? Something about her feels... strange."

"Could it be, Vill-V, that you like Mei too? If you're sending her to the depths of the Elysian Realm, why bother with the memory-sharing condition? Or are you smitten with her?"

Elysia's curiosity was written all over her face as she teased Vill-V, a spark of amusement in her bright eyes.

To Alicia, the unfolding story felt like an otherworldly drama, with herself and her companions as key players.

Vill-V ignored Elysia's playful remarks, her fingers resting lightly on her chin as if lost in thought—or perhaps interrogating her own inner voices.

[Master Magician: Ultimate Evil?]

[Ultimate Evil: Please refer to me as... Pride.]

[Conductor: Are you quoting some show again? And don't act like it's not obviously you.]

[Ultimate Evil: So what if it is? Can't I rise from the ashes and sing a triumphant song? Don't pin false accusations on me!]

[....]

Their internal dialogue collapsed into petty bickering.

Vill-V's face betrayed a rare, somber expression—a mix of frustration and enlightenment.

"Sigh… It seems I was right all along. The true culprit… is myself."

She looked a little dejected and discouraged.

Gradually, she began to understand everything, even though the subsequent plot hadn't been revealed or teased.

"Hm? Did I overlook part of the story?"

Elysia was baffled. How did Vill-V end up being the mastermind?

Wasn't the next scene supposed to feature Aponia and her own grand entrance? Elysia couldn't possibly be unaware that the greatest secret of the Elysian Realm was herself, could she?

In other words, Mei's ultimate goal had always been her. That thought made her feel a little happy.

But shouldn't she have been the one hiding the deepest secrets?

After spending so much time with Mei, guiding her step by step to learn more about the Elysian Realm, and then suddenly revealing herself as the beginning and the end—

Wouldn't that be amazing?

"...Let's keep watching. As you said, sending someone to the Elysian Realm isn't all that troublesome. Besides, for beings like us, who exist as memories, what's the point of obtaining Mei's memories?"

"You know, I wouldn't do something like that in the name of so-called fairness."

Vill-V lowered her gaze and idly waved her hand.

"Seems like you're quite dangerous. Which of your personalities made that cry for help at the end?"

Mobius slowly floated closer, nudging Vill-V with her elbow in curiosity.

"Who knows? Maybe it was the main personality."

"Look, everyone who meets Mei can't help but ask if she's the Herrscher of Reason. In some sense, isn't this also influenced by Dr. Mei? Hm~ Kevin, what do you think?"

On the other side, Elysia began wandering around the hall, looking for topics of interest to her.

Her curiosity always revolved around Mei—it was... her nature?

Though, her teasing often leaned a little too strongly.

So, when she smiled and stared directly at Kevin,

Kevin merely glanced at her silently, hesitating on how to respond.

While Mei and Dr. MEI might share similar appearances, their differences were evident early on. After parting ways with Kiana and venturing through the Elysian Realm, Mei's knowledge and rationality grew rapidly, even earning her the playful nickname "Herrscher of Reason."

But that didn't change the fundamental distinction between them as separate individuals.

The line dividing them remained clear.

"I don't think anyone would confuse the two unless it was deliberate," Kevin said indifferently.

"That's true. In some ways, Mei is a bit cuter," Elysia nodded, deeply agreeing.

"Heh—"

Kevin chuckled softly, clearly disagreeing with her opinion.

Aponia watched Mei's actions on the screen with a serene expression. A gentle smile formed on her lips as she placed her right hand on her chest, looking forward to the choices Mei would make.

She hoped someone could inherit Elysia's will, given their similar identities.

---

In Theresa's Villa

"Vil-V, the inventor of Judah...?"

Theresa looked at the screen with some hesitation, observing the free-spirited individual. It was said that Vill-V suffered from dissociative identity disorder, though from her many interactions with her, Theresa wasn't sure this claim was accurate.

But the fact that she was the creator of Judah… That name was now etched into Theresa's memory.

"Indeed, remember this. It's a key point for future exams," Luo Mo reminded her with great interest.

That's right, this was the pivotal moment leading up to Mei's final reveal, so understanding the context was crucial.

"Hm... Huh? Key point? Are we going to have a Honkai Impact 3rd knowledge quiz now?"

Theresa couldn't help but complain.

That seemed a bit excessive. Though Honkai Impact 3rd had incorporated quite a lot of Schicksal's history, from events 500 years ago to the legends of Shenzhou's Immortal Chi Yuan, and even the classification of Honkai Beasts, all of which had become essential learning materials for Valkyries.

More importantly, it provided an official reason to justify revisiting these topics, practical study, without worrying about criticism from parents.

"Not a bad idea. For example, how about testing: How do we calculate the headmaster's height?" Luo Mo said absentmindedly, following up with a casual remark.

"Huh!?—"

"Ahem, the reason I wanted you to remember this is purely because it's critical to the plot. Don't mind it, Theresa… You're already very tall," Luo Mo said, choosing to lie through his teeth.

Couldn't she see Theresa's legs beginning to stretch in his direction?

"Hmph—"

"This reminds me of when Kiana failed her tests, and Mei would say, 'Kiana, you've already done great.'"

Bronie smiled brightly as she spoke, though her words carried unmistakable malice.

Luo Mo: "..."

"Captain, you're not planning to deliver a gut punch next, are you?"

Irene's sudden question was alarming, her smiling inquiry particularly dangerous. But Luo Mo, having anticipated this, immediately swore on his conscience that no gut punches were coming next.

Bronie: "What else?"

Luo Mo: "Otherwise, let's make it so Theresa's height stops growing—pretty vicious, isn't it?"

"...!?"

Theresa didn't quite get it, but she felt like something was definitely wrong with him.

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

Heading deep into the recesses of her memory, Mei was only a short distance away from its deepest depths. She was about to confront Aponia and face the prophecy that had plagued her for ten days.

When she saw the figure ahead, the only thing she held tightly was the blade in her hand.

Aponia admitted that she indeed knew what fate held, and she had struggled against it.

At first, she resisted fate, only to prove that it was unavoidable. Then, she tried to change humanity through discipline, only to find that human nature could not be altered. Finally, she sought to isolate every human being into their own island, allowing them to find happiness alone—yet humanity could not bear solitude.

Aponia was a failed MANTIS. In all her attempts, there had been nothing but failure and greater failure. She had never achieved the future she hoped for... only the dissolution of all things.

(TL/C: damn woman. You need a man or someone)

She wanted to deny the fate she had foreseen, but reality only reinforced that fate was undeniable.

And in the end, the two could only clash in battle.

In the golden beams of light raining down from above, Aponia revealed golden wings. With a gentle flutter, they summoned a gale, descending like a divine messenger to deliver punishment. Roars of thunder resounded, relentless and unyielding.

Golden lightning engulfed the entire battlefield, leaving Mei with nowhere to hide.

But... this did not make her helpless. What she had learned in the Elysian Realm far exceeded this.

She had acquired the signets of all thirteen Flame-Chasers. Though it was still a fierce struggle, in this life-or-death duel, she would not easily admit defeat.

Moreover... the opponent's strength did not feel as insurmountable as Kalpas' final form.

In the end, she emerged victorious, her final strike cleaving down like a blade descending from a dragon.

"Aponia... do you still firmly believe in this?"

Mei sheathed her blade, glancing at Aponia's figure as she fell like a butterfly from the sky,

Elegant, moving, and still radiating beauty even as she descended in defeat to the ground.

For a moment, Mei raised her hand to shield her eyes. Her vision blurred, and a surreal sensation welled up in her heart.

Truthfully, she had prepared for all sorts of outcomes following Aponia's defeat, including the possibility that Aponia would smile and dismiss everything as a joke. But now, having achieved victory against all odds…

Before Mei could relax, a multitude of translucent cracks suddenly appeared before her eyes.

Like a flower in a mirror or the moon in water, everything shattered and fell apart in an instant.

The space underwent a dramatic transformation, leaving no trace of destruction behind.

And yet, Mei remained in the same spot as before.

Everything that had just happened seemed to have been an illusion, but Mei couldn't even tell when she had entered that illusory realm.

The scene returned to how it had been at the start. Aponia knelt lightly in the center of the space, gazing up at the bewildered Mei with a faint smile.

She gently parted her lips and spoke, as if reciting scripture,

"Mei, do you know? Once… someone said the exact same thing to me."

"At that time... she too charged forward without hesitation toward a predetermined conclusion."

"From beginning to end, I was unable to see her fate."

Her tone dropped, her calm narrative carrying a deep and complex emotion, revealing a tragic truth Mei could not fully grasp.

"So I thought there was a turning point. She accomplished something I couldn't, using a method I didn't know."

"But, as you know, the outcome didn't change. That once-glorious civilization, now, not even grains of sand remain of it."

"So... are you choosing to continue searching for answers in this Elysian Realm?" Mei asked hesitantly, unsure of Aponia's thoughts.

The earlier illusory scene had drained her strength. Moreover… she seemed to understand now what it meant to face a MANTIS with psychic perception. Aponia, in this space, was someone she couldn't defeat.

"No."

Aponia shook her head, denying Mei's assumption.

That answer was, by now, no longer important.

During her journey in the previous era, perhaps Aponia had already lost too much that should never have been lost.

"I choose to remember everything about that person, using the 'blessing' the heavens have bestowed upon me."

A soft voice spoke, tinged with sadness. It carried a calm narration yet reached Mei's ears with perfect clarity.

"I recorded every moment of that person's life as it intertwined with mine, and I carefully reviewed them over the long passage of time—"

"I saw how she lived, how she fought, how she walked through the mud, and how she was crowned with thorns... She arrived at her final banquet adorned in new attire." (wedding dress)

"In her life, I discovered the things I had once overlooked."

"What were they?"

Mei asked softly.

She could feel that she was now approaching the true essence and purpose of this Elysian Realm. The person described by Aponia began to take shape in her mind.

Even though... that person seemed somewhat different from the perpetually optimistic figure she had known.

Yet, the contrast made Mei feel an undeniable sorrow.

Aponia glanced at Mei, the admiration and reverence in her gaze unmistakable. Mei understood, it was not directed at her.

What she hadn't expected was how much faith Aponia placed in someone of equal status as a MANTIS.

Her voice grew louder, filled with emotion she seemed unable to contain.

"Just like how you stand before me now, that day, she stood before me and told me of the fate that would claim her in ten days."

"Fourteen days later, the new attire Eden had prepared for her would be ready, and her eyes still gleamed with genuine joy and anticipation. Sixteen days later, it would be Kevin's birthday, and she sang softly to leave him her final gift."

"And then... she said that sentence."

"..."

Aponia paused, her gaze filled with pity as she looked at Mei. In Mei, she saw a reflection of that person.

In a heavy voice, she said,

"You understand now, don't you, Mei? ...You've made the same choice she did."

"'Even if the future cannot be changed, I will decide how to reach that outcome myself.' How admirable."

"But when such helplessness truly descends upon you, will you still be able to say those words with such ease?"

"I don't know… But until then, please keep moving forward. Rather than discussing such uncertain matters with me, it's better..."

"... you meet someone like yourself."

"...Like myself?

Something seemed to dawn on Mei.

Mobius' mention of a traitor, the mystery that separated Elysia from everyone else, Aponia's devout faith, the love and admiration of all,

In the end, Mei returned to the beginning.

She found the one she had first encountered, the one who had guided her through every trial at the perfect moment.

"The answers you've been seeking, the purpose of the Elysian Realm's existence, and the secret safeguarded by its deepest depths…"

"The location of the Thirteenth Herrscher. You now have the qualification to reach it."

Amid the soft, hymn-like whispers, the true form of the Elysian Realm began to reveal itself to Mei.

A door of pure light slowly opened in the air, casting a serene glow. Transparent white steps stretched downward, leading to the very heart of the depths.

No one had expected such a heavenly gate to descend, but there it was, quietly awaiting the one who had passed the trials.

"Go. She's waiting for you."

Aponia turned her back, her voice gentle. Mei was the only one present, there was no other choice.

Mei's eyes trembled slightly, but she took the first step onto the staircase.

"Open the ultimate door."

"...Pure and noble soul."

Following the fluttering path of blue butterflies, her ascent began, from slender white fingertips to graceful, ornate attire. Her pink, flowing hair cascaded softly, and that ever-familiar smile awaited at the end.

The so-called Thirteenth Herrscher, the secret Aponia had guarded—

—was Elysia.

With a lighthearted laugh, she gazed at her visitor. The Mei she had always trusted had finally arrived.

Elysia reclined lazily on a bench, twirling a strand of her silky hair with her fingers.

"You've finally made it here, haven't you?"

"Then… let me reintroduce myself."

"Elysia, the second of the Flame-Chasers, bearer of the Signet of Ego."

"And my other identity… you've probably already guessed, right? But when you truly stand before the Thirteenth Herrscher…"

"Hi~! How does it feel?"

She grinned playfully, her expression the same as it was in the Hall of the Elysian Realm. Elysia seemed to anticipate Mei's surprise, perhaps hoping for the perfect reaction.

Wouldn't it be... the perfect entrance?

This time, Aponia had even helped prepare it. Wasn't that something to look forward to?

(TL/C: Kyaaa! Elysia!!!🥳)

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

[Comments of awe, tears, and joy fill the atmosphere.]

[The Signet of Ego? Is this the hidden signet we've been searching for?]

[The Thirteenth Herrscher? Why does such a Herrscher exist?]

---

"This entrance… truly worthy of me!"

Elysia crossed her arms in satisfaction, her radiant demeanor captivating. She conversed animatedly with Eden and Aponia, exuding charm and grace.

"But… my dear Aponia, weren't your words a bit too much? You're making me blush..."

She touched her cheek, relieved to find it wasn't burning, though a faint red tint had crept across her face. She couldn't help but glance at Aponia.

"I was only speaking the truth… Besides, I believe those were praises Elysia deserved."

Aponia replied lightly, a smile touching her lips.

She had immersed herself in the Elysian Realm to witness the things her eyes had shown her, to follow the traces Elysia had left behind.

"Tch. The Thirteenth Herrscher, what a liar," Mobius grumbled, dissatisfied.

"Eden's new attire, Kevin's birthday, all those moments with you… Aponia, you're making me regret things now. What am I supposed to do?"

"Hmm… It's a bit embarrassing. Am I really that perfect?"

She poked Mobius' cheek.

"No, fake."

Mobius frowned in annoyance.

"...Hah, Mobius always says the opposite, so it's probably true."

She chuckled softly.