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

Suddenly, the Herrscher of Sentience felt a chill run down her spine. In fact, she had been feeling it for a few minutes now.

It felt like she was being pulled, but not physically.

But that sense of urgency was getting closer, and her heart skipped a beat for a moment.

She looked around, a rare look of seriousness on her face, feeling a bit flustered.

"Hey... Old Timer, do you... feel like something's wrong?"

"Huh? It's almost over, you're not planning to sneak off again, are you?"

Fu Hua sighed, looking at her.

Sometimes, she acted like a child.

"No, I would never do that! It's real. something... is about to happen." The Herrscher of Sentience shook her head anxiously, but couldn't pinpoint the source of the problem.

Fu Hua and the others, including Kiana, looked at her in surprise. Something was about to happen?

"Uh..." Kallen mumbled, momentarily forgetting her grief as she, too, felt a strange tug at her awareness. She looked around, her brow furrowed in confusion and concern.

At that exact moment, everyone felt a chime, like a bell ringing deep inside their hearts.

The sun was setting, painting the sky in fiery colors. As it dipped below the horizon, the twilight mist slowly faded, leaving behind a warm, golden glow that bathed everything on earth.

The feeling of time warping at sunset disturbed everyone's thoughts.

But it was limited to this courtyard hall, its origin likely due to the special individuals Inside it.

But soon, everyone realized this wasn't some kind of illusion.

They were completely frozen in time, unable to move.

Their minds were still awake, but their bodies were stuck.

It was as if the entire world, like a spinning planet, had suddenly stopped. Time itself had frozen in this very moment.

Everyone except for two people.

Five hundred years passed. Then, as if waking from a long sleep, a gentle breeze seemed to stir the air. It created faint ripples, like whispers traveling across the very fabric of time.

Imagine two lush, green branches dipping into a vast ocean. That's what it was like – two worlds, both vibrant and alive, gently touching within the endless expanse of time.

This meeting, unseen and unexpected, caused ripples to spread outward, blurring the lines between time and space.

For a brief, breathtaking moment, these two worlds intersected. It was as if a doorway had opened, connecting them across the gulf of centuries.

In that tiny space, where past and present collided, everything froze.

Time itself seemed to hold its breath.

Everyone was frozen, except for Kallen and the Herrscher of Sentience...

"Huh? What's going on?"

Luo Mo tried his best to open his eyes wide, but his eyelids could only flutter slightly, unable to move.

[The world is next to a place called the Imaginary Space, and there are two special things inside... but they won't last more than ten minutes. Don't worry, Host. ]

"...Who are you?" Luo Mo's mind raced.

He couldn't move a muscle, but thankfully, his thoughts were still his own.

[Huh? Ah—?? I'm the System, how come you don't recognize me? ]

Good, it was still the voice of the idiotic System. Luo Mo felt a bit reassured.

"Can I break free from this situation? Frozen... why does Kallen seem to be able to move?"

[t costs 100 crystals per second to unfreeze... The other person is the key that connects them.]

"huh? Are you trying to rip me off?"

…

Beneath the waves of the world, an unknown god seemed to cast a compassionate gaze,

Opening a passage for the two who had never met again. It was a gap across time itself.

The rules of time were rewritten in this moment.

One end of another world unfolded slowly before them.

Inside the room, a device designed to stabilize the fabric of space crumbled into dust, overwhelmed by the sheer power of this temporal anomaly.

Space itself began to fracture, threatening to tear apart the fragile connection. But time, in its infinite wisdom, held everything together, preventing complete collapse.

For a fleeting instant, this impossible scene remained intact, a fragile bubble of reality suspended between worlds.

The scene before them seemed like a dream bubble. Before them lay a red desert, just like in the images.

"...Kallen?"

A golden-haired figure stood not far away, his clothes somewhat tattered, yet still exuding an air of nobility.

Further away stood the golden Tree of Imaginary Numbers, its dreamlike beauty veiled before everyone.

Even in his weakened state, Otto couldn't ignore such a commotion. Everything around him seemed to pause, the space thick and heavy.

He sensed the situation and turned his head in surprise.

Space froze, the attacks also suspended in mid-air, seemingly about to strike him in the next instant.

But even with the black, long-range attacks inches from his face, he didn't show a flicker of panic. It was as if the attacks weren't directed at him, and instead, his attention was focused on the illusory scene behind him, like a dream bubble.

He stared in astonishment, his eyes meeting a familiar face, seemingly standing there from yesterday.

A mix of longing and uncertainty washed over him.

He never imagined he would see the fruits of his plan at the very end.

He began to doubt, to fear, to dream...

Countless emotions collided within him, a chaotic storm threatening to consume him.

But slowly, gradually, a sense of calm settled over him.

She was Kallen, he was certain.

And yet, she wasn't Kallen, he was equally certain.

That wasn't the Kallen he knew.

But she look like she grow, perhaps through hardship.

He also saw familiar faces, the leader of the thirteen Flame-Chasers, Kevin Kaslana, and the thirteen Flame-Chasers beside him, each with their own expressions.

He saw his granddaughter, Theresa, he saw Kiana, he saw Cecilia, the one he felt guilty towards...

he saw the Herrscher of Sentience, who had disappeared after that event.

he saw the Old Friend, the Red immortal, who had regained her full strength.

he saw Durandal, who had once wanted to erect a nameless monument...

And then there were those few who were completely out of place in this world: Red-eyed Theresa, Wise Theresa, and the mysterious Witch Rita... Perhaps it was a world bubble, he thought casually.

But in the end, his eyes only saw her, Kallen.

She was the one who had always been at the heart of his life, the reason he kept going.

Her pure blue eyes still held a certain innocent fantasy, even after all she had experienced, a touch of the world's wear and tear etched upon them.

Her white hair wasn't styled in the playful way it used to be when she was younger. Now, it was styled in a way that showed strength and wisdom.

Her face was beautiful. She was smiling, her eyebrows slightly raised, and her lips were thin. Her eyes looked a little tired, but it was just a tiny flicker of fatigue.

For a split second, he was right back in that moment when she jumped over the wall, her smile shining with sunshine.

The golden sunlight was shining on her, and it felt like everything was perfectly timed.

So much time had gone by, it felt like forever. Maybe it was five hundred years, who knew?

It seemed like there was no other way things could have happened.

The path ahead split into two, like the world was really starting to take shape in his hands.

Kallen sat with her hands folded in her lap, her mouth slightly open. She looked a little surprised and hesitant as she stared at Otto, who seemed a little messy. She took a deep breath and said,

"Well... Otto, long time... no see."

"Yes, long time no see."

Otto replied, offering the most genuine smile he had ever managed. He stared at her, a little dazed.

Even though he had just been in a fight, Otto still moved with a kind of natural grace as he turned around.

Time and space seemed to ripple around them, like waves spreading out in circles. Everyone was frozen, except for the Herrscher of Sentience, who was clenching her fists and gritting her teeth.

She was struggling against something invisible, something he couldn't see.

No one could speak. They were all just watching, but they were definitely still awake, because their eyelids were fluttering.

Kallen couldn't stand it anymore. She stood up and wiped the tears from her face. She walked towards Otto, reaching out to touch his body, which was covered in scars.

But as her palm passed through the black spikes, she couldn't help but flinch.

Yet, her hand continued forward without hesitation. Even though she had anticipated the scene, when she saw her hand pass through Otto's right arm as if it were nothing, she couldn't help but purse her lips.

Kallen's eyes widened as she looked through the blurry mist at the person standing behind it. She wanted to reach out, but she knew she couldn't touch them.

"Heh, you haven't changed a bit... Kallen," Otto said, not seeming bothered by the fact that she couldn't touch him.

He maintained his self-assured smile, his voice weak. He wanted to raise his hand, to touch her cheek again, to wipe away her tears.

Already injured, he found it even harder to move in this thick space.

His pale hand trembled as he lifted it, only to pass through her.

"What... Kallen, did someone bully you? Cough—"

Otto gave a small smile, but he had a way of making everything around him feel serious and important. It was like his power was just naturally coming out.

If it wasn't for the cough at the end, or the injuries on his body, Kallen would have been even more worried.

"You succeeded, Otto, my... great inventor."

Kallen's face, previously covered in tears, was gently wiped by her hands, leaving behind a trail of glistening water.

She looked at Otto before her, a familiar smile gracing her lips.

"Succeeded...? The world formed?"

A sense of relief filled Otto's eyes.

"Yes, you wouldn't believe it, Otto, I ran to that world. "

The Herrscher of Sentience, resisting the pull in her heart, gritted her teeth and said, raising her chin at him.

"Heh, the Herrscher of Sentience, huh? I always thought we could be friends. It's been... a long time, hasn't it?"

Otto said, looking away for a moment, but he couldn't help but keep looking back at Kallen.

As soon as she appeared, she was all he could see, nothing else mattered.

"Hmph— Don't be ridiculous. But, don't fail, you know. After all, you're still my enemy."

The Herrscher of Sentience said, waving her hand dismissively as she looked at the countless spikes moving towards Otto.

"Heh, of course. Seems like your opinion of me has changed a bit, huh?" Otto said, studying her face.

He noticed that the deep hatred he'd felt from her before was gone. Instead, he felt a kind of struggle inside her, which made him curious.

"...In this world, I learned the full extent of your plan from the game. Your Kallen knows too. You two chat, I can feel it, this meeting won't last long."

The Herrscher of Sentience focused on her internal struggle.

She could feel that this was just a temporary thing. If she gave up and went back to her own world, everything here would disappear right away.

"Alright, Kallen... My body is weak, and... his mission will be completed soon."

Otto sighed softly, looking at the girl who was no longer a girl. She reached out with a touch of worry,

She and he... had both lived through five hundred years!

The two stood face-to-face, a thick silence hanging between them.

It wasn't that they didn't want to meet, but rather that they had so much to share with each other, they didn't know where to begin.

It had been 500 years since they'd last seen each other, and this unexpected reunion left them speechless. Their hearts were pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

They couldn't help but study each other closely, noticing the changes time had brought.

Their faces were different, their demeanor were older, but the love and the deep connection they shared were still clearly there.

They both knew that despite the years, their feelings for each other hadn't faded.

Their hearts were filled with a kindness that time couldn't touch. They had always been willing to give everything for each other, and that hadn't changed.

Otto delicately adjusted his hand, allowing the once pristine white Overseer dress shirt, now marred with unsightly brown stains, to fall gently.

He wanted to hide his injuries a little, not wanting to appear so pathetic in front of her.

This was his only Hope and Prayer.

He knew that in her presence, he would always get nervous. His heart would beat faster, and he'd start acting silly, just like a kid.

He'd want to do more and more for her, but the more he tried, the more mistakes he'd make.

"Kallen... seeing you again, it must be a miracle..."

"Yeah, it's good to see the real you," Kallen replied, a faint smile touching her lips.

She looked at him with a mixture of joy and sadness in her eyes. Her gaze was intense, as if she was trying to read his soul.

"Have you truly understood what happened in those five hundred years? Not just the good parts, but also the things that are hard to talk about," Otto asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.

He'd never wanted her to know about those dark moments in his past.

He never thought she would learn about those things.

"Yeah, of course, but I can't punish you now, can I?" Kallen said, her voice light. "As for understanding... I learned about it through a game, kind of. Speaking of, what kind of game is Kallen's Fantasy?"

Kallen's face was calm at first, but then a soft smile touched her lips, like a gentle breeze had rustled her hair. She looked at him with a hint of mischief in her eyes.

"Fufu..." Otto let out an awkward laugh, his emerald eyes filled with embarrassment. He tried to keep his cool, but he couldn't help but blush a little.

"I imagine... it would be a game you'd like. After all, didn't you once say that we'd save the world together when we grew up?"

"That's exactly a game to save the world!"

Otto's gaze was steady, his words firm. Looking into her bright blue eyes, there was no trace of a lie.

This was a time for them, undisturbed, free from any calamity... unexpected or otherwise.

Time had calmed this corner of spacetime, allowing them to have this long-awaited reunion.

Before the next adventure started, before things got crazy again, Otto Apocalypse truly appreciated this miracle.

He was grateful for this chance to see Kallen again, to be with her, even if it was just for a little while.

"Saving the world, huh? But are you truly saving the world?"

Kallen couldn't help but ask, a hint of reproach and scolding in her tone.

She knew it wasn't the best way to start their reunion, but she couldn't hold back her question.

She couldn't help but worry about him.

And when it came to Otto, she felt her usual hesitations melt away.

"I am saving my world; I didn't lie."

Otto said calmly, his gaze unwavering.

He was like a lone lighthouse in the middle of a stormy sea, guiding lost ships to safety. He didn't need anyone's approval or support.

He was strong and independent, doing what he believed was right, even if it meant going against the grain.

"...For example, 'Red Immortal, I didn't lie'?"

Kallen couldn't help but chuckle, teasing him a little.

Her gaze was playful, her chin raised, her eyes bright and charming, just like before.

It was as if the five hundred years had never happened. The years had melted away like ice in the sun, like water flowing down a river, leaving only the present moment.

But in this moment, it was a spacetime transcending the world.

They faced each other, just like they used to, just like they were back in their younger days.

They remembered their adventures together, the late nights by the campfire, the rainy days by the river, the thrilling escapades of the thief, the tireless work of the doctor, the moments when they couldn't hold each other in front of the prison.

It was like the warm sunrise that first peeked over the wall, pure and innocent, a feeling of perfect peace.

So warm, so nostalgic.

"Heh—, I didn't expect you to know such details, but she was indeed my friend. I understand her, nothing will happen. And, I really didn't lie," Otto said, winking playfully.

He looked at her with warmth in his eyes.

Kallen seemed to know a lot about him, but he had never intended to deceive her. At most, he had told a few harmless white lies.

Whatever she wanted to know, he was ready to tell her everything!

Even if he gets beaten in the end!

but she can't… now it's strange that someone really wants to be beaten, but now all he wants her clean white hands to touch his face with force and scold him.

"Tch—"

From a distance, the Herrscher of Sentience couldn't help but let out a click of her tongue. In this space where no one could move, it was surprisingly clear, a silent gesture that spoke volumes. She simply rolled her eyes.

Both of them, without a word, chose to ignore the sound from the side.

"Lying... you didn't lie, exactly, but it wasn't entirely the truth either."

Kallen shook her head, thinking back to what he had said to Fu Hua.

She had a hard time arguing with him, he was so good at weaving lies with truth.

It was almost impossible to catch him out. And he was even better at it now than he used to be.

Otto didn't deny it. He simply smiled and moved on to another topic.

As for Theresa, who wasn't far away, Otto was curious.

Would she exist in this world too? and how does she exist in this world? Maybe himself and Kallen in that world...

"I'm curious too, about that little Theresa... does she exist in this world as well? And those thirteen Flame-Chasers, there seems to be a lot of wondrous things happening in this world."

Otto's voice, strained to maintain its warmth, spoke, his emerald eyes flashing with the image of that small figure.

Theresa was the only other person he had left in his world, besides Kallen. He hoped she would be okay, that she would find her way.

With those people's help, she would carry Schicksal, in a way different from her grandfather.

and in future she will erase the stain left by her grandfather.

He believed in her, but he also felt a pang of heartache.

Maybe he hadn't been a good grandfather... He wondered when Theresa would realize she didn't have the magical ability to make her cooking taste so good anymore.

"Theresa… she calls me grandma, you know. Thankfully, I didn't let her call me mom, otherwise..." Kallen said, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

"Ahahaha, that was my fault then. Her current title is fitting. But, Kallen, look... one person's strength is enough to change the world, right?" Otto said, chuckling. He smiled at her.

"How significant the death of one person can be, what a magnificent full stop it is. And the future that was once stagnant moves forward. Kallen, you're changing the world, aren't you?"

Otto looked at her, his eyes full of admiration.

After a moment of silence, under her slightly annoyed gaze, he couldn't help but ask a question. His eyes were fixed on hers, waiting for her answer.

"Well... yes, one person's strength is enough to change the world. Back then, I really underestimated myself. But if... I think, having a qualified childhood sweetheart would make things a lot smoother," Kallen said, a playful smile on her lips.

She thought for a moment, then covered her mouth with a soft laugh.

There was a definite truth in her words, something she had wanted to tell him for a long time.

"Heh—, that's true," Otto said, unable to help but freeze for a moment. He let out a helpless laugh, but he understood what she meant by "qualified."

"But, sigh, you even saw that part? Void Archives is really useless," he said, pretending to be troubled.

He waved his hand dismissively, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl upwards.

Those embarrassing moments, even for him, were a bit too much to bring up in front of the person he cared about most.

But it was true that the First Key was useless. It hadn't even been able to detect the outside prying eyes.

Still, Otto wouldn't dare throw it away in front of Theresa, for fear that Schicksal would actually be stolen.

"Void Archives? I've heard that the First Key has shattered, leaving only a broken core,"

Kallen pondered for a moment, giving him the answer.

Otto paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Oh, is that so? Heh, that's a pleasant surprise, one less potential threat," he said, trying to sound Casual.

He shrugged, but the warmth of a long-time friend was missing from his tone. They had been companions for five hundred years, after all.

If Void Archives knew, it would probably only feel helpless.

"Hehe, do you still remember the Yae Sakura you mentioned?"

There was a hint of amusement in Kallen's eyes, but there were still some tears in her eyes, tears that hadn't had time to dry.

Otto's face tightened as Kallen mentioned Yae Sakura.

"As far as I know, the one over there should be Miss Sakura, one of the Flame-Chasers," he said stiffly. It was clear that the mention of his lifelong enemy still bothered him.

She must have wanted to mention it when telling Kallen's Fantasy, but unfortunately, he couldn't interrupt it now!

If Kallen already knows what he did and maybe... think, why lie to her again?

All their relationship problems are because they are not honest with each other!

And for Yae Sakura...

Actually, Otto does not really have a personal grudge against Yae Sakura, he is just jealous.

Kallen stated that he fell in love with a herrscher named Yae Sakura in the trial, Otto knows it was her way commit suicide but it's still... he is jealous!

(TL/C: aha! See!? What a lazy but also clever writing for Mihoyo)

"There's no need to be so hostile, she's now gone in this world... Otto, I need to reiterate, I didn't like her like that," Kallen said, sitting up straight when feel hostile aura soar around Otto.

She addressed Otto, her cheeks flushed, but she still glared at him fiercely but then softy.

"Uh..."

When Otto heard this, a surge of joy filled his heart.

But he stared at her dumbfounded when she has little smile in her face.

"Sigh, let's not talk about that for now."

Kallen's face was still have a little flushed, she didn't want to dwell on it any further.

"Alright, then tell me your story, Kallen," Otto responded. He didn't push the subject any further.

He was glad that his Kallen wasn't stolen by the vixen but also sad to see Kallen alone for five hundred years.

Otto had braced himself to hear words like "lover," "married," and so on, and would be 'happy' to hear it. anyway kallen's happiness was more important than his personal feelings.

himself in the other world? Huh? this meeting alone was enough reason to scold him!

As for Kallen's story, he was indeed interested.

But more because his body was extremely weak right now, and it wasn't good for him to continue talking. And he hadn't forgotten that he had a more important task to complete.

He needed to finish what he started.

He just wanted to hear her voice, to see her flawless face, stained with tears, and wipe them away.

He wanted to hold her hand... to hold onto this miracle of seeing her again before it vanished.

There were so many things he wanted to do, but he knew he couldn't have it all.

[Beggars can't be choosers] he thought to himself.

"...If you're willing to listen, but it's really too long, isn't it?"

"I'm willing to listen to anything you say."

Otto simply shook his head slightly, speaking softly.

…

"It all started a long time ago, when I tried save a little kid from a Honkai beast at the execution grounds,"

Kallen said softly, her eyes gazing down at the red sand beneath her feet. She was walking next to him on the other side, right in the imaginary space. They decided to continue their chat alone, far away from the others.

Despite everyone in the hall can't move and can only see their figures afar, some of them, like the flames chasers and the Herrschers can hear them.

"You remember that, right Otto?"

"I… I remember it, Kallen," Otto quickly nodded, his voice barely a whisper.

He couldn't forget it. It was a memory seared into his soul.

She turned and started walking, her footsteps leaving trails in the crimson dust.

Otto followed close behind, his body aching with pain from the many injuries he had suffered.

Despite the pain, walking behind Kallen felt strangely peaceful.

It was like being carried by a gentle current, like a ship gliding through calm waters.

"For a moment, everything was bathed in bright light. I saw a figure, someone I knew, holding a giant golden sword, one I recognized. It was blazing with flames."

"But then, the figure disappeared, the light vanished, and the Honkai beast that had been attacking me was gone. All that was left was a big hole in the ground."

Kallen stopped walking and turned to face Otto, her gaze locking with his emerald green eyes.

as if finding confirmation she continued,

The silhouette… it was…

"It's you, Otto~" Kallen finished, a soft smile gracing her lips.

there was silence between them.

"Hehe, I can't forget that moment, Otto," Kallen chuckled, "Even after 500 years have passed."

Otto just mumbled a small "Emm..." in response.

Kallen didn't seem to mind his lack of enthusiasm.

She continued, "After that, things went downhill fast. I raised the flag of rebellion against the old Schicksal. At same time i searched everywhere for you, but it was like you vanished into thin air. Everything about you just... disappeared."

Otto who heard that started to use his Soulium brain to think hard and connect the dots.

Kallen in this world... Otto in that world... Could it be...?

"Everyone! Otto, Nobody even remembers you, even little Octavia or Eleanor" Kallen exclaimed, her voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and sadness. "I was so confused back then... I didn't know what to think."

She stepped closer to Otto, reaching out to take his hand. But her fingers passed right through him.

"I even started to wonder if you were real," she admitted, her voice softening. "If it was all just a dream, a memory that faded away…"

A small smile touched her lips. "But you're real here."

"Emm, and back then, while I was busy leading the rebellion, we finally managed to take over Schicksal from those old geezers."

"Long story short," Kallen said, "I became the Overseer of Schicksal because, well, you guys - the Apocalypse family - were a mess. Incompetent, corrupt, and the people were furious."

She shook her head, a touch of frustration in her voice. "I was so confused back then. What do you mean a seasonal fighter like me suddenly becomes the overseer? It's all so... political, and I hate politics!"

Kallen turned away, but couldn't resist peeking back at Otto over her shoulder. "Even though there's someone who could have actually fixed things," she whispered, sticking her tongue out playfully, "but he wasn't there when we needed him."

Otto, who had heard her, felt a mix of emotions. He wanted to laugh at her silly behavior, but he was also a little embarrassed by her words.

"Hehe, sorry, Kallen," he mumbled.

"Umph," Kallen grunted, turning around and starting to walk. Otto followed close behind.

"After that..." she trailed off, her voice softening. "Sakura... I don't really want to talk about it."

She took a deep breath and continued, "I went to China for some business and met the Red Immortal. We made a deal back then."

She paused, as if lost in thought. "After that, nothing much happened for hundreds of years. It all started when the first Great Honkai Eruption happ-"

"Wait a minute, Kallen…" Otto interrupted, a chuckle escaping his lips. "Haha you time skipped really far there, I have a question on my mind right now. How did you manage to live that long?" He hesitated.

"Ah, if you don't want to talk about it, it's okay," he added quickly, trying to lighten the mood. "No pressure."

Otto himself uses the Black Abyss White Flower to extend his life for one moment.

But From the Moment he Understood the Weakness of his Flesh... he changed to Soulium avatar.

Hearing Otto's hesitant voice, Kallen fell silent for a moment.

Then, she spoke softly, "If you're asking why I don't age... well, it's an accident with the Divine Key, the Black Abyss White Flower. As for why I wanted to live for 500 years... Would you believe me if I said it was because of you?"

(TL/N: thanks for the 1st TL for creating this explanation. Because the original Author never explained it)

"Kallen, I believe it." He even happy about it.

She continued, "It's more like... I kept going because of a promise we made when we were kids. They say a person dies three times: when they take their last breath, when they're buried, and when nobody remembers them anymore. Only I can remember you, and remember our promise. Remember? We promised to save the world together."

Kallen's eyes glistened, a flicker of determination in them. "And that's what I'm going to do."

…

Kallen briefly summarized the first and second Honkai Eruptions, comparing them to the events in Otto's world.

They turned back towards their starting point, and Kallen, catching sight of Theresa, remembered something.

"Oh, speaking of Theresa, she's from your Apocalypse clan... the last one. I raised her as my granddaughter because of some unfounded rumors going around."

"umm…"

"Otto?"

"Kallen, have you ever noticed how Theresa looks like you?" Otto asked, comparing them in his mind.

"You think so just from looking?" Kallen chuckled. "I think so too. Theresa reminds me of myself when I was young. She's so kind, so innocent, so... idealistic. It makes me feel nostalgic. Oh yeah, she's the one who proposed building St. Freya Academy...."

Otto listened intently, letting Kallen ramble on. Initially,

he had meant to say that Kallen (in her younger years) and Theresa were similar in appearance, not personality. He even wondered if someone had done a cloning experiment using Kallen's DNA in that world. (Kaslana gene is so powerful, ask where MEI intellect go for that)

But then, he shook his head.

Why bother with wild theories?

He'd let Kallen have her moment.

Let her talk.

…

Kallen continued her timeline, offering a brief overview of the third Honkai Eruption. She spoke of the arrival of the Outsiders, the Luo Mo, and how his presence sparked a chain of events. She talked about his games, the Flame Chasers, and everything that followed.

Kallen talked a lot, jumping from one memory to the next in this moment. It felt a bit jumbled, but she was clearly pouring her heart out.

He listened very carefully, very attentively.

He nodded from time to time, frowned occasionally, and even questioned her about certain details. Kallen, meanwhile, simply recounted her past, one piece at a time.

"Sirin, she lived to this day, and Kiana... what a perfect world."

Otto couldn't help but sigh, interrupting her story.

Because he sensitively sensed that the time limit was approaching, he was about to leave, but he was a little reluctant.

He hadn't heard enough of her stories, hadn't seen enough of that warm smile that lit up her face.

He took a deep breath, trying to collect his thoughts.

"Whew—, with these kind people by your side, Kallen, I'm truly happy. I believe you'll create a miracle that's no less than mine, in a different way."

"The spirit of the Saint will unite them, not my endless scheming."

"As for Theresa, you should supervise her and make her eat more vegetables and fruits... that magic of love in cooking has already failed, maybe this world doesn't have that kind of magic..."

"Durandal... she'll be an outstanding Valkyrie; and that Cecilia, I just hope she lives well... after all, I'm not a good person either."

Otto chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Kallen was silent, as if anticipating the approaching evening bell, the short reunion would be ruthlessly broken up again.

"I will... Otto, but about the Stigmata, can you survive?"

She looked at him hopefully, she wanted him to live, no matter the reason.

"Maybe..."

Otto glanced at Kallen's back, but he had no intention of acting. He simply looked at her gently, standing in the red desert.

"Why..."

Kallen couldn't help but exclaim, she was about to take a step forward.

"But Kallen... time isn't something that can be fooled. It has already predetermined the price from the very beginning. To have this moment, to see your smile again... I'm already so happy."

Otto said softly, he already had a premonition.

If he chose to enter the Stigmata, the world before him would shatter, everything would become mere talk.

That power that was about to change destiny would vanish, under the hand of the cage called time.

This meeting was a coincidental accident, but it was definitely not a carefully prepared dessert.

The rules of spacetime wouldn't be rewritten, and the Imaginary Tree could have stopped it, but it chose to let it be. It certainly wasn't out of kindness.

...But he was still grateful to it.

In the last brilliant moment of his life, he witnessed the great work he had created with his own hands.

For a man who pursued his path, he was content.

"...Is that so... I'm sorry, Otto."

"Kallen... you don't need to apologize," Otto said gently. "Go, save that world. I believe in you. You'll still have like-minded companions and comrades. This time, you'll be able to step over the stepping stones to victory more easily."

He smiled, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "I'll bless you, Kallen. In that distant future, I hope by some miracle we meet again."

"Goodbye, my dear Kallen."

"Goodbye, my great inventor," Kallen whispered, a tear tracing a path down her cheek.

As their time together ended, the space around them began to flicker, brightening until everything was wrapped in a blinding light.

Their reunion was over…

…

…

...

[..No]

...

...

But then, they saw each other again. The white light that had enveloped everything reversed, pulling them back to that moment.

???

Both Kallen and Otto looked at each other in surprise and confusion, unsure what was happening.

Just then, they heard someone shouting.

"Ooooooiiii!"

"You two! Hug, kiss, or whatever—hurry! Ahhh, my Crystals… Hurry! This won't last long!"

The familiar voice came from behind Kallen. She turned to see Luo Mo running toward them, panic etched across his face.

Not having time to think, Luo Mo immediately pushed Kallen's back forward, shoving her toward Otto.

Then, something unbelievable happened.

Thud!

....

______