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

The final scene unfolded. Otto walked alone on the final path, surrounded by a vast expanse of blood-red desert, with a golden 'tree' at its center.

It was completely golden, its branches intertwined, reaching high into the sky, its surface radiating a hazy glow, sacred and untouchable.

Strangely, there were no leaves on the branches. Instead, they were adorned with clusters of radiance.

He barely supported his body, walking towards the tree, his health bar at a single drop, his body riddled with wounds.

With each step he took, he uttered his final words from the depths of his heart.

"Life... is truly a fragile thing."

"When I was young, my sister died in battle..."

"They told me that her soul was immortal, that her spirit would ascend to heaven."

He scoffed at this.

"Heh... generation after generation, humans are always happy to deceive themselves with such lies."

He continued walking towards the distance, step by step, like a winding ladder ascending, leaving footprints on the crimson desert.

A giant tree stood tall and proud, untouched by anyone.

It had seen everything and everyone, but it remained unchanged.

He let out a short, humorless laugh and went on with his story.

His voice was tired, but there was still a lot of feeling in it.

"Believe in the so-called afterlife;"

"Believe in the eternity of consciousness."

"They disguise the mortal world as if death doesn't exist..."

"Until death suddenly invades their lives, descends upon those they love."

"Even then, they deceive themselves even more - believing that love can transcend all things, believing that affection can be eternal."

"Indeed... love, and even broader emotions, they can all work miracles..."

Otto kept moving forward, deep inside this strange, imaginary Space.

His body was weak, one arm dangling uselessly, but he didn't stop. He had to keep going.

All his plans had been accomplished, his final calculations had come to an end.

He would reach the end, he would revive Kallen.

This wasn't a reminder to himself, but a candid statement. It was something that would inevitably be accomplished, a bet he had placed with everything he had.

He whispered, with a deep sigh,

"But the creators of miracles can only be those who are still alive at that moment."

"I also once fantasized that human souls exist in higher dimensions;"

"I imagined that one day, my beloved, she could return to the world with a new body, living in a better future."

"Unfortunately, the rules of the world are not like that..."

He stopped for a second, catching his breath.

He was so tired, it looked like he might fall over at any moment.

But his determination was stronger than his weakness.

He wouldn't give up.

Yes, he had conducted countless experiments, but none had achieved their goal.

The revelation of the Will of Honkai wasn't wrong either. It was simply a life for a life...

The rules of the world, heh...

"Death is indeed the dissipation of consciousness, the end of everything - we cannot reconnect those stars that have already faded."

"Unless... we reverse time, awaken the silent graveyard island;"

"Pour the water of eternal life back into the past that buried everything."

"The path will split again,"

"There will be two choices, life or death, and they will create two different worlds."

"And the price... is simply the death of one person, the destruction of one person... and the 'Honkai' that was already trying to kill us."

"Unfortunately, when I realized this truth,"

"Otto Apocalypse, he was already a notorious villain,"

"He had already been thoroughly consumed by the very power he needed most, hatred."

He said it with a little bit of self-mockery.

It was a shocking confession.

He had planned it all from the beginning.

"But it doesn't really matter."

"She's proven it – anger born from love has the same power as love itself."

Love can create miracles, and so can hate.

Even though he missed those powers, stood against them,

It didn't matter. He still had a way to make it happen.

[Otto... unbelievable!]

[Is it really possible to revive someone?]

[Will of Honkai: You lied to me! *&%*￥…]

[The world where only Honkai is Get lost has been achieved]

[I see now. So he is going to create a different timeline in the past 500 years. That's a omniscient giga brain!]

-----

The hall was silent, the warm breeze of the setting sun flowing through, but everyone felt a chill run down their spines. They were stunned by Otto's words, by his actions.

Even Kiana, usually full of energy, was quiet, watching him carefully as he gave his final instructions. Little Senti, usually quick to speak, scratched her head, holding back whatever she wanted to say.

Kallen's eyes were a little glazed over as she looked at her former comrade.

His understanding of life and death, his belief in the power of emotions, it showed how much he had been through. The Kallen clone, Theresa, Amber, the mistakes he made during the Second Eruption... it all added up to this moment.

And before all that, his journey to China five hundred years ago, his rise and fall over five centuries.

He never gave up, never lost hope.

"His final journey?"

"He'll succeed, he's already come this far."

Kallen answered her own question. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, about what was important, what was worth it. She wanted to comfort him, to scold him. But she wouldn't get the chance.

The details of her dream became clearer in her mind. The figure falling, the golden sky breaking, the flames, it was almost as if she could see it all.

The Overseer outfit, the face, the hair… it was Otto, there was no doubt.

Her heart tightened, watching the figure struggling to walk, step by step.

…

"Unable to reconnect the fading starlight, choosing to reverse time, to form a second world?"

Mobius repeated word for word,

No matter how unbelievable it was, the possibility, however slim, was clear in the hands of someone named Otto.

The road ahead was not easy, she knew. The Imaginary Number Tree would retaliate, she knew that too.

But she was even more certain that he would succeed.

"Truly... a magic that will shock the world, a magic that will last through the ages. Even now, countless people are shocked by it."

Vill-V took off her hat. The magic hat didn't dance at her fingertips, but rested quietly in her palm. She should pay her respects to such a person.

But then her eyes flickered, a spark of excitement ignited within her.

Why couldn't she perform such a magic trick?

If she wanted to, she could.

"Even the Will of Honkai can be deceived... well, I'll try my best too."

The so-called con artist said lightly. She wasn't one to give up easily.

------

Otto kept walking, even though he was tired and his legs felt heavy.

He never quite made it to the big tree he was aiming for, but he didn't mind.

The journey was long, but he would eventually reach the end. Just like his journey of five hundred years.

Compared to that... at this moment, the end was already visible!

He couldn't help but think of those he cared about, his granddaughter - Theresa.

"Theresa, my dear granddaughter, you are growing into a great leader..."

"One day, you'll inspire people so much that they'll forget all about your grandfather. The good and the bad, the triumphs and the mistakes, will all fade into history, lost in the whispers of time."

"Only..."

His voice paused, a hint of sadness in it.

He wouldn't be there to see it. Theresa still had so much to learn, so much to experience.

She needed someone to guide her, someone to love and cherish her, someone to simply be by her side.

But Otto knew he couldn't fulfil that role anymore.

He could only sigh softly:

"Occasionally eat some fruits and vegetables besides bitter melon."

"...You always stay up late, you should be getting more diverse nutrition."

As he spoke, his foot slipped. His weak body almost couldn't support him. Those watching couldn't help but feel a pang in their hearts.

But he didn't fall. He continued to express his concern for Theresa, as a grandfather.

Perhaps he realized that his words sounded a bit outdated, a bit too paternal for the strong, independent woman Theresa had become.

But he was old, nearing the end of his long journey.

And as his time dwindled, he couldn't help but fall back on the familiar patterns of love and concern that had defined his relationship with her.

"You know... for tomorrow's coronation ceremony, Grandpa hand-sewed the Overseer's shoulder robe for you..."

"If you don't mind, wear it as you start your own era. Let it wash away any stains that I may have left on it."

"My old friends, the Red Immortal, the Herrscher of Reason... they are truly good people, they will help you find your own path."

[Old friends... they were all 'good friends' you tricked, but...]

[Starting to break down... maybe he did have genuine moments with Theresa]

[Otto acknowledges their qualities and spirit, but he has a plan he must complete]

[Another familiar cut, I'm getting used to it, and I'm starting to accept it... I'm becoming Mihoyo myself]

[I've fought the good fights, I've walked the paths I should walk, I've guarded the paths I should guard. From now on, a crown of justice will be reserved for me.]

[...… sigh]

-----

Theresa pouted, her cheeks puffed out, then she couldn't help but sigh.

Looking at the direction Otto was walking, she couldn't help but feel a mist in her eyes.

Although she wasn't very fond of her so-called grandfather, and still harbored some resentment for being wronged,

But along the way, whether it was his overt and covert concern for her, or his deep and burning affection for Kallen, it all made her sigh.

As for the bitter melon, staying up late, and vegetables... Teriri didn't know anything about that, okay?

Theresa's eyes drifted, then met the gaze from above.

Kallen silently looked at her, a strange light in her eyes, focused on Theresa's, without speaking.

"Ahem, Grandma, how could I be that kind of person?"

Theresa coughed awkwardly, trying to change the subject.

Kallen just placed her hand on Theresa's head, silent, continuing to watch the screen.

-----

"And Bianca, my last student..."

"I shaped your life, guided your destiny."

"I poured my heart into nurturing you, while also using you as a pawn to take and demand as I pleased."

He sighed, the weight of his actions pressing down on him.

Bianca, the exceptional Valkyrie he had trained, had ultimately rejected his teachings, choosing her own path. He had foreseen this, of course.

How could he expect her to embrace the darkness he had embraced?

How could he ask her to fight against Honkai with the same ruthless methods he had employed?

Theresa... wouldn't do anything to her either.

Otto knew that. And as for little Theresa... he hadn't lied to her, not about this.

He had always believed in her strength, her ability to rise above the darkness.

Look, isn't she doing exceptionally well?

"You know... everything I showed you in the last ten years,"

"Was just so that after my disappearance, someone could erect a nameless tombstone for me."

"I don't need anyone to judge me..."

He had made his choices, embraced his darkness, and now he was ready to face the consequences.

He didn't seek forgiveness, nor did he crave understanding.

Otto dragged his feet, looking at the tree that was getting closer and closer.

His voice was almost a whisper, a touch of self-deprecation in his tone.

"They've already taken root and begun to grow within the Imaginary Tree,"

"They're waiting, patiently, for the lost messenger to deliver the final message. Only then will everything truly come to an end."

"That moment won't come too soon, nor too late,"

"It will be a song of farewell, a requiem that transcends death itself. It will be a hymn heralding the arrival of a miracle."

"The world will turn for one person at that moment..."

"Let the imposed sins vanish, let the extinguished will move forward."

"The darkness, the ugliness, I will carry it with me to the grave,"

"But the light, the hope, will shine through you, guiding the world towards a brighter future."

[Let the world turn for one person at that moment... Charge, Overseer Otto!]

[I will fall into darkness, in exchange for your return to the light!]

[The world is not simply black and white, but a delicate shade of gray, permeating all boundaries]

[Farewell, former Archbishop of Schicksal]

[I didn't expect to feel like crying when saying goodbye to him in the end]

Otto's final words were barely a whisper, carried away by the gentle breeze. Despite being on the brink of death, a strange sense of peace and even contentment settled over him.

"Heh..."

"I tricked my friends, I deceived my loved ones, I even fooled the world and the very laws that govern it..."

"All to give the only true you, a second life."

He looked at the Imaginary Number Tree that was now right in front of him,

A gentle smile touched his lips, and his emerald eyes, usually so filled with sorrow, now burned with a fierce determination.

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Otto spoke, his voice trembling with emotion.

"I'm coming home..." he whispered, his gaze fixed on the tree.

"Kallen."

-----

"He wasn't after power or authority for himself. He did countless bad things for his beloved... such a person is truly contradictory."

Eden's golden eyes lowered, gently swaying the wine glass in her hand. The red liquid swirled, reflecting a complex expression on her face.

Otto... she couldn't bring herself to judge him.

His actions were driven by a love so profound, so all-consuming, that it defied easy categorization.

"...If Kallen were alive, I believe he would have inherited that spirit from Kallen. The spirit he taught the next generation of Valkyries wasn't a delusion. He just wanted to find the original inheritor, even though the people of later generations didn't need it..."

"But he needed it."

Elysia's eyes sparkled, her words firm and confident.

Everything Otto inherited, everything he passed on to others, stemmed from his deep understanding of Kallen.

If those ideals, those echoes of her spirit, could have brought her back, he would have clung to them with all his might.

But they couldn't.

What Otto truly craved wasn't the comfort of knowing her legacy lived on in others.

He yearned for the original light, the warmth of Kallen's presence itself.

She spoke with anticipation, her initial aversion to Otto turning into a complex mix of admiration and respect.

"Some say that the most profound influence on a person isn't necessarily a specific event, but a certain person who appears at the right time."

"The people Otto met later may not have lacked kindness, but it was she, Kallen, who appeared at the top of the wall when he needed encouragement the most."

That, Elysia realized, was the key to understanding Otto.

That ray of sunshine, that brief moment of connection with Kallen, had been enough to change his life forever.

Even if the warmth he found later in life was more enduring, it was Kallen's initial light that had chased away the cold in his heart.

"Then... let's start witnessing his final act, okay?"

Elysia said softly, her gaze gentle as she looked at Kallen, whose eyes were filled with unshed tears.

Kallen nodded, her throat tightening, a lump forming that made it impossible to speak.

She wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come.

"...Hmm," she managed, her voice choked with emotion, tears finally spilling down her cheeks.

The only true self...

Otto had found the truth, but only by turning back time, by creating a second world.

And that world, Kallen realized, was unfolding before her very eyes.

He had proven, with every fiber of his being, that she was more important than the entire world.

His love, his sacrifice, transcended everything.

-------

The screen flickered to life, a familiar anticipation building in the air.

It was time for the animated short, a tradition that had become synonymous with MiHoYo's storytelling.

Fans eagerly awaited the visual feast that always accompanied a Key plot point.

A man's voice, frail and distant, echoed through the speakers, accompanied by the haunting image of a single, obsidian eye.

"When a person truly desires to change the world," his voice rasped, "they realize just how insignificant their own power truly is."

The scene changed. It was the night after a rainstorm, and the sky was a dull, grayish color.

A group of crows, three or four at a time, were making loud, harsh cries from the branches of trees. Their bright red eyes seemed to glow, and their reflections kept rippling in the puddles of water below.

They take flight, flapping their wings and leaving the square.

Even the sun is consumed by darkness, its rays unable to penetrate the tainted earth. Dark clouds blanket the sky, casting an ominous shadow over the square.

This is where Kallen was executed, the place where Otto's regret would forever linger.

Guided by two nuns, the bound Saint Kallen walks towards the execution platform, step by step.

Her white braided hair swings gently behind her as she walks, head bowed, like a puppet.

The Saint glances at the crowd, searching for something, anything, in the eyes of the people she swore to protect.

But in the end, she gives up...

How could she save this world? How could she save him and herself?

"It's all so ridiculous. The Saint gave everything for the people…"

"And all she got in return were cruel shackles and a noose..."

Otto whispers, the scene shifting back to his location.

Before him stretched a vast desert, its sand the color of dried blood. In the center stood a single, magnificent tree, its golden branches reaching towards a sky that was pitch black.

In this world, people call it the Imaginary Tree!

And in this place, the origin of the world, the forbidden zone of life, a golden-haired figure appears out of nowhere.

He was a man with golden hair, his body covered in wounds. His white robes were stained with dust, and his Overseer's attire was torn and tattered.

But despite his injuries, the will burning within him remained unbroken.

It was hard to fathom the sacrifices he had made, the pain he had endured, to reach this point.

Yet, despite everything, his emerald eyes still shine with unwavering determination...

He will succeed. It's inevitable.

"The world is so chaotic,"

"It's neither fair nor rational."

He continued his journey, each step carrying him closer to the Imaginary Tree, his destination.

The blood-red sand around him begins to churn, gradually forming sand mounds the size of thousands of people. As the sand falls, countless figures emerge, each a perfect replica of Otto.

They are the manifestations of the Imaginary World, born from its twisted rules. The world hated change, it hated anyone who dared to break its established order.

These sand-creatures, these copies of Otto, were the world's way of fighting back.

They were its defense mechanism, its way of ensuring that nothing ever changed.

They would stop him, no matter what.

They would stop him from reaching the Imaginary Tree, from disrupting the balance of their world.

They will stop HIM!

"It persecutes heroes, and breeds scum, it is rife with ugliness, without a trace of beauty..."

Otto sighs softly, muttering to himself.

He looked around at the sand-creatures closing in on him. They were everywhere, a sea of darkness surrounding him.

"The malice of the world shall be sundered---

By the villain!"

As the words left his lips, a light bloomed in his hand, slowly taking the shape of a giant sword. It was the Seventh Divine Key – The Judgment of Shamash.

The blade crackled with heat, the air warping and shimmering around it.

Judgment Of Shamash Unleashed!

he roared, and the sword burst into flames, a fiery inferno radiating from its surface.

The sand-creatures, those dark figures, moved faster, a wave of darkness closing in on him. He was surrounded, outnumbered, but Otto didn't flinch. He stood his ground, his fiery sword held high.

With the courage of a hero and the determination of someone ready to sacrifice everything, Otto charged into the heart of the darkness.

The sand-creatures screamed as he sliced through them, his sword a whirlwind of flames in the blood-red sea.

[Charge, Overseer! You even manipulate the protagonist, these monsters are nothing to you!]

[The Sword of Pure Love! Only a Pure Love Warrior character can wield it!]

[Whether you liked it before or not, you have to support him now. Charge!]

[This is the moment a man fulfills his dream. Nothing... can stand in the way of a man's dream at such close range.]

[I've already popped the champagne... how can I celebrate if you don't succeed!]

[You better not die until you fulfill your dream, OTTO!]

On the other side, Saint Kallen is bound to the execution platform, surrounded by a sea of ignorant faces. As the rope tightens around her smooth neck, a sense of relief washes over her.

Perhaps... everything is finally over...

Not bad.

This is the best way she could think of to make a final stand against Schicksal.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Otto was fighting for her life.

He swung his flaming sword, parrying attacks and striking back with relentless fury.

He couldn't even count how many of the sand-creatures he'd cut down, they just kept coming, an endless wave of darkness.

And he himself is being corrupted by the Imaginary, black veins creeping up his neck...

"This is the distance between her and tomorrow,"

"This is the world's merciless revenge against her."

The black figures around him see his sword shatter and rush towards him, eager to devour him.

It's as if endless darkness is about to swallow the last ray of sunlight, but that ray suddenly explodes with blinding brilliance!

The light in his hand transforms, becoming a golden lance - The Sixth Divine Key: The Key of Creation - Black Abyss White Flower!

"But her believers,"

He roars from the depths of his soul, thrusting the lance forward with all his might, charging towards the Imaginary Tree.

"will never give up!"

How could the Saint's most loyal follower fall here!

He's stopped by a string of black figures, unable to advance any further. He throws away the Black Abyss White Flower, now riddled with puppets, and with a flick of his wrist, a golden longsword appears in his hand.

He slashes out a flurry of sword strikes, slicing through several puppets, sending them tumbling to the ground.

But before he can breathe a sigh of relief,

The endless black figures in the distance merge, coalescing into a colossal monster hundreds of meters tall.

His heart sinks, but he won't back down, he can't back down.

As if two timelines are mirroring each other, the Honkai Beast in the execution square is released at the same time. The colossal creature rampages through the crowd, attacking the very people Kallen swore to protect.

The flames of battle rage around her, the people scatter in panic, but Kallen's once-dimmed eyes reignite with conviction.

—In the name of Kaslana, she will be the people's shield!

She throws herself into the fray, breaking free from her shackles with all her might. Even without weapons, even weakened, she charges into the battle.

-----

"Huh? Is he going to be okay? Why is it so big?!"

Theresa gasps, staring at the monster in the distance on screen. How did it suddenly merge into something so massive?

"That's just the Imaginary taking form, A Imaginary Creation. However, that's going to be a bit of a problem... Considering the anger stemming from his equivalent of love, his body is still severely injured."

Vill-V shakes her head sadly. Even with the help of the Void Archive, this battle won't be easy.

"He'll succeed."

Kallen says softly, her voice filled with certainty.

"You... know something, don't you?"

Mobius frowns at Kallen, confused by her nonchalance.

Logically, Kallen might have clues about the truth of This world.

But she unconsciously ignores her, leaving Mobius feeling strangely unsettled.

"Look ahead, everything will be revealed... I'm seeking proof too, but even so, could he possibly fail?"

Kallen shakes her head, forcing a smile.

Kallen has complete faith in Otto, even though she used to think he was going down the wrong path. It's like she understands him, even the parts everyone else struggles with.

"He'll succeed... even though, even though I thought he did a lot of terrible things at first,"

Theresa hesitates, her voice growing stronger, "But in this case, I still want him to succeed!"

If he doesn't, even those who dislike him will feel a sense of loss! Plus, she actually disliked him from Kiana's perspective, but in reality, he's just been a bit harsh on her.

As for abandoning his granddaughter for love... well, she doesn't have the right, nor the desire, to judge.

At least in this moment, everyone will send their sincerest blessings to the former Overseer of Schicksal.

-----

The vast, red desert stretched out as far as the eye could see.

A monstrous creature, towering and terrifying, leaped into the air. It crashed down with a thunderous boom, crushing Otto beneath its massive weight.

Compared to its ten-meter-long arms, Otto is a mere ant.

He's blasted away in a single blow, sending a cloud of blood-red sand billowing into the air, creating a swirling red mist.

But in the next instant, dozens of golden chains suddenly burst from the mist, piercing the monster's body with brutal force!

These were the chains of the Eleventh Divine Key – the Oath of Judah!

The Void Archive can mimic all the Divine Key it has possessed, so even with its current limitations, it doesn't matter now.

Countless golden chains bind the monster, completely immobilizing it. Even if it's only temporary, it's enough!

Otto wiped the blood from his lips, his face grim. He leaped onto the monster's back, clutching the powerful Judah in his hand. The monster roared in rage, its body shaking with fury.

Otto jumped high, aiming for the monster's head. With all his might, he brought Judah crashing down.

Then, in a blinding flash, countless beams of light erupted from the top of Judah, obliterating the monster's head in a shower of fragments.

The immense force of the attack sent Otto tumbling to the ground, but he landed just a step away from the Imaginary Tree.

He struggled to his feet, his body aching. Behind him, the colossal monster collapsed with a deafening crash, sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air.

[Theresa, watch and learn! This is how you use Judah!]

[One Hundred Ways to Use Judah!]

[Otto, with only a drop of blood left, will never succumb to the game's health bar at this moment.]

[Though it may seem impossible, charge! Otto, you true man!]

[MVP, Void Archive!]

[GOOOOO!]

A smile plays on Otto's lips as he reaches out to touch the tree before him...

Five hundred years.

For five hundred years, every single scheme, every single thing he'd done had been leading up to this moment.

Since the Saint's death, a piece of his heart had died with her, leaving him a lost soul, wandering the world with no purpose.

And now, only now, in this moment... his heart started to beat again.

On the other side, Kallen sees a lost child, dodging the pursuit of a Honkai Beast.

She's too weak to fight.

But as she sees the Honkai Beast raise its spiked arm, she throws herself in front of the child without hesitation.

Blood splatters as the spike pierces her waist, tearing through her flesh, but she protects the child with her dying breath.

Splash!

"Cough!!!"

The smile on Otto's face freezes.

He looks down to see a black spike piercing his chest, blood spraying across his vision.

Then, more spikes fly towards him, piercing his body.

An overwhelming wave of pain crashed over Otto, the Imaginary's corruption spreading like wildfire through his body.

He was just one step away.

[What!]

[NO! You can't Die yet!]

Everyone who are watching the scene gasps in shock. Their heart trembled, worried that Otto might have failed.

Could five hundred years of planning, every single sacrifice, be for nothing?

Unwillingness flickered in Otto's eyes, his gaze becoming clouded by the pain.

Through the haze, he seemed to see a white-haired girl.

Five hundred years had blurred her image in his memory.

How long was five hundred years?

Long enough for him to almost forget her face, yet so short, a mere blink of an eye.

But her smile in the sunlight remains etched in the depths of his memory. Her white hair, her unwavering blue eyes, the curve of her lips, her perfectly thin lips, her desire to protect the people, her despair at her execution, the holiness she exuded as the Saint...

No!

He won't lose!

"Kallen..."

Otto calls out her name instinctively. He throws his head back, his eyes refocusing, widening, his emerald gaze sharp as never before.

The First Divine key, The Key of Revelation - Void Archive!

A golden cube appears before him. Otto grits his teeth, twisting the spike that has pierced his left arm, and grabs the Divine key in front of him.

"Once a soul is dissipated, one cannot be brought back to life..."

"The world allows Mind to match a new vessel, but it doesn't allow the vessel to gather the piece of mind..."

Zero-rated power, full release!

A massive golden torrent erupted, instantly dissolving all the spikes piercing his body and the Giand Imaginary Creation.

Free from his bonds, Otto gasps for breath, but a smile curls his lips.

He casually drops the Divine Key, sinking into the red sand.

His old friend, who has accompanied him for five hundred years, will be granted its freedom here.

And he, he will fulfill his greatest desire.

The Golden Judgment of Shamash materializes in his right hand.

He walked towards the Imaginary Tree, his voice a soft whisper as he spoke.

"To save the one and only her..."

"I can only..."

"Create a new... possibility in the past."

He gently placed his left hand on the trunk of the tree, and a surge of False God power coursed through him.

In a flash, the Imaginary Tree erupted in a brilliant light, a crimson purple radiance that banished the surrounding darkness. The tree, which had grown freely until now, began to change.

It was as if an invisible hand was delicately manipulating the very threads of fate.

Each branch, representing a different world, started to grow and divide once more, creating new possibilities and timelines.

"The other future..."

"Will… Belong to her"

Otto's body began to dissolve, breaking down into countless specks of light that were absorbed into the Imaginary Tree. Only his voice echoed through the vast, empty space.

To create a world where she could live, he had to pay the ultimate price.

The Will of Honkai has given the answer, and he... has long understood.

A life for a life.

Fortunately, the rules of the world are still 'fair' at this moment.

[Did he create a world where Kallen still exists... does such a world really exist?]

[To create a new possibility in the past...]

[Five hundred years, he used his own methods to turn this imperfect world into the one he desired!]

[This moment will belong to Otto's time, this is the feat of creating a world!]

[Kallen! This is your Great inventor, his masterpiece… A world for you!]

-----

"...Whew,"

Kallen lets out a long, trembling sigh, watching Otto's unwavering dedication, something no ordinary person could achieve. She feels a deep tremor in her heart.

The world consciousness wouldn't allow it, so he broke the rules.

Even if it was just for that smile, he did so much for her...

A tear falls silently, she doesn't know when it started, but tears have already streamed down her cheeks.

"Perhaps..." she says, her voice choked with emotion, her fingers trembling, "Otto, we could have created a better world together..."

"Never mind... it's too late to say that now..."

She purses her lips, trying to hold back her tears, but sadness can't be suppressed forever.

So, tears continue to flow…

This performance, where the protagonist desperately tries to bring his own story to an end, seems to be drawing to a close...

Along with his five hundred years of perseverance, and he, as if on cue, has brought tears to the eyes of the one who couldn't be there.

"It's truly something to be envied..." Kevin murmured after a long silence.

He crossed his arms, his eyes glued to the other person.

He was completely captivated by everything about Otto – what he said, how he acted, even his feelings from the moment he stepped into the Imaginary Space.

Kevin couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.

But there was something else he felt even stronger than admiration – envy.

He envied the chance this person took, the decision they made to put everything on the line for the person they loved.

If no one had ever succeeded, even knowing the option existed, Kevin might have chosen to continue fulfilling Mei's request.

However, seeing this person standing before him, seeing what they were willing to do for love, ignited a spark of envy in Kevin's heart.

It wasn't about being stronger or having more authority, as they had talked about earlier.

No, this envy stemmed from a much deeper place.

Kevin envied that this person could do something he couldn't…

That's all.

"Kevin..." Su began, his voice slow and heavy with concern as he looked at his friend.

He knew what his comrade was thinking, what he cared about most.

In many ways, Kevin was incredibly similar to Otto.

They were both leaders thrust into the position of guiding humanity's remaining forces.

They were both deeply, fiercely devoted to the women they loved.

But that's where the similarities ended. Their paths, their choices had led them to completely different outcomes.

Kevin sighed and shook his head, indicating that he was fine.

Besides, even if he had that thought, it wouldn't be him going. He was just a SIM body, and going to that place would turn him into a stream of information in an instant.

"He succeeded..." Vill-V said with a hint of emotion, her fingers tapping lightly on the glass table in front of them.

"Yes, he did. A performance grander than any of your magic tricks."

Mobius spoke with a hint of sarcasm, but there was also a touch of envy in her tone.

It was the envy of someone who couldn't personally experience this shocking experiment, a feat that defied the world's norms. She too wished to complete such an astounding experiment.

"Heh— I'll come up with a grander performance sooner or later."

Vill-V said excitedly, not seeing this as an obstacle blocking her path.

…

"Otto... Grandpa? And Grandma?"

Theresa looked at the screen hesitantly, then shifted her gaze to her own grandma, whose face was streaked with tears.

By now, she understood that this world in the game might not be a simple parallel world, but might have an unbreakable connection to this one.

But she couldn't yet grasp the deeper implications of their relationship.

But perhaps...

The truth was even more unexpected than she imagined.

She would call him "Grandpa" from now on.

____

(TL/N: We have now reached were we left off)