Mei stared at the severely damaged buildings in the distance, falling into memories.
Back then, she, Kiana, and Bronya had escaped Nagazora together, only to run into… Himeko-sensei right here.
And a small conflict had broken out.
During that battle, her Herrscher power rampaged. It was Himeko-sensei who exhausted every means to suppress them. The Hyperion was sent directly to the repair dock after returning, and the carrier-based weapons still in testing were completely scrapped.
Himeko-sensei was nearly disciplined by HQ over this. In the end, it was Academy Head Theresa who bore the responsibility.
During the escape, she had been terrified of losing control. The moment she went berserk, she truly thought it was all over.
But when she awoke, she found herself lying in a warm bed—Himeko-sensei was standing in front of her, completely unfazed by her identity.
She even said she'd train her into a warrior who could master her powers.
That was also why she became a Valkyrie.
Now thinking back, she suddenly realized—it had already been three years in the blink of an eye.
And everything was now different.
The Kiana who once clung to her and saved her was now missing.
The Himeko-sensei who had protected her, taught her how to wield strength, and helped her become a Valkyrie, had also gone missing.
Recalling all this while gazing at these old memories—
Not only did Mei inside the game feel tightness in her chest, but players outside the game also felt a knot in their hearts.
They remembered when they first started playing Honkai Impact 3rd.
They had thought it was a lighthearted campus romance comedy.
Turns out it was...
A "12+" game full of health, sunshine, optimism, and warmth.
Well done, Honkai Impact 3rd! (twisted face)
Players felt melancholic, but their eyes remained glued to the livestream.
Mobius continued controlling Mei forward.
While moving around Nagazora setting up scout devices, the two suddenly discovered an "Anti-Entropy Guidance Robot" near the ruins.
After placing the second device, they encountered a mysterious girl who wasn't a Dead or a Honkai Beast.
"Is that… a child?"
Mei couldn't hide her shock—how could there be a child in a Nagazora ravaged by Honkai?
That was absurd!
But there was no helping it. Even if they didn't know who she was, they couldn't just ignore her.
So they brought her aboard the Helios for treatment.
After the girl regained consciousness, they learned her name was "Sora," and she lived with other surviving children in a place called the "Nest."
A woman who visited once every month or two to deliver supplies—whom Sora called "Teacher"—was the manager of the Nest.
"Argh…"
Dr. Tesla clutched her head and let out a pained groan.
"The situation was already messy, and now she brought back a pile of trouble. Things are so chaotic it's worse than a chicken coop of a bedroom..."
"Ugh… Ahhh!!!"
She was thoroughly disturbed by the current mess.
After venting a little—
Tesla waved her hand and said, "I need to think this through. You go keep her company."
Mei nodded knowingly and opened the infirmary door.
She chatted with Sora for a while and learned that the Guidance Robot they found earlier belonged to Sora. So she specially went out to retrieve it.
Tesla even helped repair the damaged parts on the side.
Later, Mei decided to escort Sora back to the "Nest," hoping to learn something about Kiana from the residents.
Along the way, Mei followed Sora's directions, turning left and right, and eventually passed through a tunnel entrance.
She arrived at the Nest.
The architecture was strange, chaotic yet beautiful.
Like a blooming white flower atop the ruins.
That resilient vitality stirred the soul.
[Got to say, miHoYo's artists are gods! Every CG is flawless!]
[Some are still stunned, I already took screenshots.]
[Some are still taking screenshots, I've already logged in to experience it myself.]
[Some are still…]
Ignoring the sudden chain-reaction banter in the chat—
After arriving at the Nest, Mei began asking the children about Kiana's whereabouts.
Eventually, one child told her that Kiana had headed to the western district.
She returned to discuss with Tesla. Tesla advised her to wait until tomorrow, but Mei, no longer able to hold back, insisted on going—even just for recon.
Tesla could only agree but reminded her to be back before sunset.
So, led by Sora, Mei crossed the Nagazora wall to the west district. On the way, they passed Chiba Academy, and Mei, touched by the familiar scenery, began telling Sora about her and Kiana's story.
She was an only child. Her mother passed away when she was young.
Her father raised her alone. But shortly after she enrolled in school, he was framed and imprisoned, leaving Nagazora.
That period was a painful memory. Her only family was gone, and the Raiden name was tarnished.
Malice from the surroundings surged in like a tide. It was the first time she had faced so much hostility.
Having lived in a greenhouse until then, she was caught off guard. Other than silently enduring, the girl had no other way.
The public's judgment, the family's burden, school bullying...
All kinds of malice engulfed her and made her suffocate...
"Tch."
Mobius, who had calmly been pushing the plot, suddenly clicked her tongue.
"Hmph, having such a unique edge in your hands and not knowing how to use it, just running away… hoping someone will reach out a hand from the dark to pull you up?"
"Honestly, Mei, you're way too naïve."
"Hoping for a miracle? For some [understander] to descend from the heavens to save you?"
Mobius, who had always been different since childhood, had experienced something similar to Mei.
But she obviously wasn't going to act like Mei.
If you want help, count on yourself. She understood that the moment she was born.
"Mei, there's no such thing as an [understander]..."
Mobius wasn't wrong. But expecting every underage girl to think like Mobius wasn't realistic either.
She continued playing.
The upcoming scene had been edited by Hokuto to a degree. Originally, Kiana was supposed to meet Mei only after Honkai descended on Nagazora.
But Hokuto had borrowed part of the "Thunderous Theater" plot.
He had Kiana meet Mei at Chiba Academy before the Honkai catastrophe.
At Mei's absolute lowest—
A ray of light pierced through the endless darkness.
It broke through and shone on her without reservation.
Yes, at that moment, she met Kiana.
Kiana reached out and pulled her from the abyss.
Kiana would shout at those who insulted her behind her back.
Kiana would eat lunch with her on the rooftop, smiling happily while eating the bentos Mei made. That was when Mei truly began to love cooking.
You see, her cooking at first… was actually terrible.
But because of that, she became a master of meals.
She also discovered that, to Kiana, her matters were more important than Kiana's own.
Someone like that—other than her father—was the first she had ever met.
This part of the story had no tragedy, just overwhelming sweetness.
[But fate played its trick and made Kiana disappear from Mei's side.]
[…I see the viewers have also mastered emotional stabbing. If you can't comment nicely, just don't comment at all (twisted face).]
[Now I completely understand why Mei would do anything to find Kiana. If it were me, I'd go insane too.]
"Tch."
Compared to the viewers' reactions, Mobius scoffed.
There was something odd in her tone.
The snake seemed… genuinely agitated.
['My dear Elysia': Miss Snake, don't be like that~ This kind of girls saving girls story is sweet, right?]
['My dear Elysia': If one day you fall like this, I'll reach out to you too~~]
"..."
"..."
"Elysia, what nonsense are you spouting? I would never disgrace myself like that."
Mobius fell into what was probably her longest silence in recent times—then responded coldly.