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

"Rita, don't you have anything to say?"

For once, Durandal finally had a chance to mock Rita. Although the latter had appeared earlier, it seemed all the embarrassing moments so far had been hers.

In other words, she had been constantly making a fool of herself, whether in front of her younger sister, her mother, or Rita.

But now, it was Rita's turn!

Regardless of what might happen later, at this moment, Durandal couldn't wait to revel in it.

"Uh… I don't really want to say this, but since that's only a projection of me, I'm afraid it doesn't hold much credibility. Especially considering the strange coin that somehow ended up in Miss Kiana's hand... It feels more like some kind of guide."

Rita didn't seem too bothered by what she said.

On the contrary, she found it amusing that Durandal was finally starting to show some pettiness, which made her quite happy.

"Hmm—, that's a fair point. Indeed, in such a world, finding such a critical clue on your side so easily..."

Durandal stroked her chin, looking deeply contemplative.

"This is just a video. There's no need to treat it as cautiously as one of your regular missions. It's obviously just a comedy… A comedic video, for the most part."

Sirin wrinkled her nose, clearly uninterested in their discussion.

Was it possible for such a happy film to suddenly turn into a tragic twist later on?

It was just this segment's atmosphere that felt a little off…

At least, that's what Sirin thought at the moment.

.....

Inside Su Lu's body, the various consciousnesses were in complete chaos, buzzing like a swarm of flies as they argued incessantly.

She couldn't help but press her temples, signaling her growing headache.

"And they say we're like the Herrscher of Dominance —how cunning! We're nothing like that!"

"Exactly, slander, absolute slander!"

"How could they seem more like villains than we do? That won't do!"

"We don't even have assimilation abilities… Wait, why don't we?"

Su Luo suddenly felt like even after becoming a Herrscher, she was still doomed to the fate of a corporate drone, endlessly tormented by the consciousnesses in her head. The Herrscher of Dominance didn't even listen; only noise churned relentlessly in her mind.

As for her current state, she felt more like an outsider or a third-party observer watching her body move. Honestly, it was… terrifying.

And annoying at the same time.

------

Dangling behind Kiana, Dumb-Theresa stared at her prey and posed a second question, taunting it as if playing with its last moments.

"If you were about to be assimilated by my ray right now, but you could block it by using that passerby in front of you, thus saving yourself,"

"What would you do?"

Dumb-Theresa chuckled mischievously as she asked her question. Through the goggles provided by Rita, the figure she mentioned wasn't visible at all.

Her eyes glowed a crimson red, with beams of light ready to unleash at any moment.

As she said, it was nothing more than a projection, an ordinary bystander's shadow.

She knew it wasn't a normal passerby. In this train, under Dumb-Theresa's control, there couldn't possibly be any other survivors.

"…But I will still choose to protect them!"

Despite this, she chose to pin the "person" before her to the ground and shield them with her body. She would never use someone else as a shield.

"Hehehehe—I really like you! I really like you!"

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

Dumb-Theresa's voice grew more sinister, her words sounding deranged, as if devoid of any semblance of rational thought. She babbled incoherently while the lights in the carriage flickered, swinging between dark green and crimson hues, deepening the eerie and terrifying atmosphere. The static sound of the broadcast added to the unease.

"Unfortunately, wrong answer! Hehehehe—"

"For your own safety, please don't be so reckless and show off!"

Kiana frowned, analyzing Dumb-Theresa's intentions. What exactly was she planning?

Was she trying to stop her?

Or… something else entirely?

However, Kiana failed to notice something, was the world displayed through the goggles truly real?

Or perhaps, were Rita's words, and the tools she provided entirely trustworthy?

"Come out! Show yourself!"

Kiana looked around and demanded sharply.

"I really like you! So, I'll give you a chance!"

Dumb-Theresa's words were laced with ambiguity. Whether it was truly a chance or another trap was unclear. Despite her declarations of "like," her actions were nothing but malicious and playful.

At that moment, the train grew brighter. White light streamed through the windows and doors, and it appeared as though they had arrived at a station. The train slowly came to a stop.

The doors opened slowly, revealing what seemed to be a normal world outside.

"Now, for the final question—"

"When faced with extreme danger and the train doors open, what should you do?"

Dumb-Theresa asked with a sinister grin.

The world seemed to fall silent, awaiting Kiana's answer.

As long as she stepped out... yes, if she stepped out now, she could escape this place, this hell.

Dumb-Theresa awaited her choice.

-----

"Hmph, such a crude trap… Even the current me wouldn't fall for it. She's clearly scared!"

Kiana declared confidently, her expression brimming with smugness.

From her voiceover in the game, it seemed she managed to conclude that the world was safe and that she had successfully saved it.

But what had gone wrong afterward? Why did the loop continue?

Whatever it was, it definitely wasn't her fault.

"After all, dumb Kiana is the protagonist… Damn it, why is Kiana the protagonist?! Bronya… Bronya will make her own game someday!"

Bronya's eyes flickered with a trace of frustration as she spoke.

Despite her harsh words, deep down, she acknowledged Kiana after spending so much time together.

She couldn't believe Kiana would choose to run away. No matter the situation, Kiana would never do that.

Even if she didn't understand Kiana's thoughts, she knew Kiana's idiotic intuition would guide her to the right choice...

Wait, was that the reason?

Hot-blooded anime protagonists were often fools who drove the story forward, weren't they? If that were the case, then Bronya was indeed at a disadvantage from the start.

Bronya's eyes narrowed as if she had discovered the true reason.

(TL/C: those are old-classic protagonist. These days, people like edgy-evil protagonist.)

.....

"Why do I end up like that in the game?"

Theresa's expression faltered as she spoke, almost breaking down. She had no strength left to argue, what had she been turned into in the game?

"Ahahaha…"

She tried to mimic the sound but utterly failed. What was that, even?

"Don't scare us, Theresa, or we'll have to put you down for good!"

Luo Mo, deep in thought, was suddenly interrupted by the absurd noises Theresa made. He turned to her with a playful jab.

What kind of voice acting was that?

Luckily, they hadn't let her do the voiceovers. Theresa was clearly useless now, just a mascot at this point, Luo Mo thought with amusement.

"Huh?"

Theresa tilted her head, puzzled.

Seeing everyone's strange gazes fixed on her, their eyes darting left and right, she started to panic.

Although she was nothing like her in-game counterpart, mistakes couldn't be allowed!

Any mistakes here would be a global disaster. Even scarier than the Stigmata project.

"Luo Mo, explain this to me! I'm not going to end up like that, right?! Who—who would… That's impossible, right?"

Theresa panicked, her tone growing frantic as she noticed the worried looks from everyone around her.

"That was just a joke, right?"

Theresa's expression was tinged with sorrow as she looked at Luo Mo, her usual dignity as an academy headmaster nowhere to be found.

She doesn't want to turn into some crazy dumb-zombie!!

"Ahem—objectively speaking, perhaps such a bubble universe exists? But… if it does, it would definitely be artificially created and unrelated to her," Luo Mo replied, his gaze shifting evasively.

Everyone present was exceptionally sharp, and he had no intention of spoiling the ending so soon.

He figured the extended interaction would serve as an excellent opportunity to warn them about the dangers posed by a certain green-haired doctor, reducing the chances of them falling victim to her.

As for Mobius? When had her reputation ever been good? Luo Mo couldn't help but indulge in a malicious guess.

------

Back to the video...

Kiana, however, did not take a single step forward.

Even though she knew that stepping out of the train would free her from danger, some responsibilities must be borne.

Facing Dumb-Theresa's emotionally charged words, Kiana's expression was resolute as she declared,

"I will not yield to you!"

"I will not run away!"

"I will stop you here and now!"

Her serious response revealed the convictions she had carried throughout her journey.

The worlds she had harmed, the people she had assimilated, she vowed to reclaim all of them, restoring the corrupted timelines to their rightful state.

"To bring this world back to the way everyone hoped it would be!"

"Wrong answer!! Ahahaha—"

The train doors slowly closed, and it started moving again. Red light enveloped everything in sight.

"Everyone's will resides with me!"

"We want… a world filled only with laughter and joy!"

Electronic sounds buzzed as more Dumb-Theresa hung down from the train ceiling, transforming the once-normal atmosphere into one of fear and dread.

It seemed Kiana's words had angered her opponent. The games and ambiguous questions ceased, giving way to a full-blown assault.

"So, Kiana, what will you do now?"

Dumb-Theresa's crimson eyes glowed, all of them locked onto Kiana within the carriage. The situation seemed increasingly dire.

"My sights are set on you. Have a pleasant journey~"

"Hmph—you think I'm all brawn and no brains? If you could have dealt with me so easily in this carriage, I wouldn't have been able to dodge the laser earlier," Kiana said, her tone calm and her reasoning sharp.

Back then, though she shielded the so-called bystander, it was impossible for all of those dense beams of light to have missed her entirely.

The only plausible explanation was that it had been intentional!

Because… if those beams had truly hit, Dumb-Theresa's true form would have been exposed.

"Seeing is not believing, you are not in this car at all!"

As soon as Kiana finished speaking, she didn't wait for a response. She leapt into the air, adjusted her posture mid-jump, and kicked the side of the train car, shattering a window.

Crash!

The glass broke into fragments that scattered everywhere.

"You're…"

Kiana's voice was filled with certainty. She had found Dumb-Theresa's true location, there was no doubt about it!

From the beginning, this carriage had been nothing but a façade, a tempting but deceptive illusion targeting her senses and perceptions.

"You're in that place!"

Kiana jumped to a screen where Dumb-Theresa's face appeared vividly.

Her expression turned panicked, clearly unprepared for Kiana's sudden action.

"You… how could you…"

But Kiana wouldn't give her another chance. She grabbed the can drink Rita had handed her earlier, opened it, and splashed the entire contents onto the screen.

With a cold, firm voice, she declared,

"This ends here!"

She stared at the screen, which now displayed Dumb-Theresa's shocked and distorted visage, her pixelated form unraveling into indiscernible blocks. The surroundings fell silent, and the colors returned to normal.

The heavy weight in Kiana's heart finally eased. No matter what, this mission had been a success.

"This train has arrived at its final stop."

"Please ensure you take all your belongings and disembark promptly. Thank you for your cooperation."

The train's polite announcement played over the intercom, but it didn't feel out of place.

Kiana lowered her eyes, her mood far from jubilant. The weird train ride had left no room for happiness. She disembarked quickly from the bizarre train.

"It's finally over..."

Stepping out of the underground station, she sighed helplessly and took one last look at the unfamiliar city.

It was devoid of any signs of life, eerily quiet to the point of being unsettling.

"It seems this place is on track for recovery as well," she muttered to herself, fiddling with the controls on her thigh leg ring. There was still so much left to do.

She didn't raise her head and failed to notice the strange anomalies in the station. As she passed through, the text on the overhead sign was inverted, with several letters blurred or erased altogether.

Moreover, the thigh leg ring didn't display the "Mission Complete" notification.

Was the city truly silent, or had it yet to awaken?

Subtle clues hinted at something greater, had the disaster really ended? Was what she saw truly reality? Had she… truly saved this world?

The answer was revealed amidst the turmoil after Kiana left the world.

As she departed, the twilight quickly transformed into darkness.

A real train slowly arrived at the subway station. Its rear bore the image of Rita, crying yet she had also been assimilated into Dumb-Theresa. The pathogen had ultimately infiltrated this world.

From a corner of the station, a faint sobbing sound echoed, a soft, almost imperceptible weeping.

Clang!

After a long delay, a bottle of soda slowly rolled out from the vending machine. The label displayed an image of Rita, tear streaming down her face.

In the night, countless screens across the city lit up, displaying Dumb-Theresa. Her countless duplicates laughed wildly, cheered, and celebrated.

They had successfully deceived the last threat.

And now, they had fully occupied this city.

From the very beginning, she had lulled Kiana into complacency.

[Mission… complete. Buggy bug accidentally made a deal with the enemy.]

[Where did it all go wrong? Why didn't it work?]

[The leg thigh ring didn't show mission completion~ Buggy bug, you got careless!]

[As expected of Tazi-sis—failure comes late but never misses! Although… the crying part is a bit creepy.]

-----

"Wait, I… failed?"

Kiana had been filled with joy, convinced she had achieved victory.

But that joy quickly faded as she stared in disbelief at the scene of the city's occupation.

"…Where did I go wrong?"

She raised her gaze in confusion, turning to Luo Mo. All along, she had thought she had succeeded, but now she was utterly baffled.

It felt as incomprehensible as those unexplainable points deducted in math exams.

Or… maybe it was like the vague grading criteria in essays?

"Hmm… want to take a guess?"

"You don't know either, do you?"

Kiana shot Luo Mo a skeptical glance, inwardly grumbling.

"This should be my game!"

"But there's plenty you don't know, like those quantum and imaginary number concepts…"

Kiana puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

She had only voiced the parts leading up to her supposed victory and had genuinely thought she'd won. Yet this twist completely blindsided her!

"It probably started with Rita… the items she gave, either the goggles, the drink, or both were wrong. Alternatively, Kiana, you might have guessed Dumb-Theresa's location incorrectly," Elysia speculated thoughtfully, nodding her head.

"…Or maybe Kiana's coin toss at the start ended up contaminating Rita," Mobius sneered.

A mistake from the beginning, how could things turn out right?

Luo Mo didn't answer.

Because… Kiana had guessed correctly… and even he didn't know what went wrong.

(TL/N: In case you want to watch the original video "teri-teri apocalypse fanmade" here the link..)

Luo Mo didn't know which was the correct outcome, as every step carried the potential for mistakes.

But he knew how to act mysterious.

So, he simply gave a cryptic smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Maybe that car is the source of the infection~ or perhaps it's the wrong train,"

Vill-V reacted cheerfully, reclining slightly on the sofa with an unexpectedly serene expression under the sunlight, completely devoid of her usual madness.

She wasn't particularly interested in how the plot unfolded inside; she just wanted to see the result quickly, to confirm if it matched her predictions.

As for the scene in front of her?

If you really take "seeing is believing" to heart, then why not speculate that Kiana couldn't find Dumb-Theresa from the very start? She was on someone else's turf, using false information. To be honest, Vill-V didn't think there was any chance of success.

"...Sigh, I was still too careless."

Kiana couldn't help but blame herself. From an outsider's perspective,

she really had overlooked many things. She ran off without hearing the thigh ring's alert and failed to notice some subtle details.

"If it's Dumb-Theresa, just being able to face her is already something, right?"

Luo Mo kindly tried to comfort her.

"…Hey, Luo Mo! I'm still here!"

Theresa jumped slightly, dissatisfied. What do you mean, just facing Dumb-Theresa is something?

"Uh… I meant that you're amazing?"

"Heh—do you think I'm really that stupid?"

Theresa wasn't fooled; instead, she spoke with disdain.

"This world… this world… Theresa, you're indeed dangerous. As expected of the headmaster of St. Freya Academy, you even possess such hidden potential!"

The Herrscher of Sentience couldn't help but marvel.

She had to admit that she had underestimated Theresa in the past. Now it seemed... as expected of the headmaster of the Herrscher Academy!

Not to be underestimated... absolutely not!

.....

"Rita, you guessed it right —"

"I honestly wish I hadn't guessed right… huh," Rita sighed, her gaze filled with sympathy as she looked at the image in the bottle. The other party's journey could almost be foreseen, it must have been filled with despair.

"Is the one behind this the real you?"

Durandal couldn't help but ask.

"…Perhaps, or maybe it's just the coin's fault. Or... maybe this world never had a chance to be saved from the start. Fighting against an entire world is just too difficult."

Rita shook her head, not directly responding to the question.

The video was deliberately vague, leaving much to interpretation. On the optimistic side, perhaps only the bottle of drink meant to fight against the Dumb-Theresa Virus was incorrect. On the pessimistic side... maybe Kiana's goggles were fake, and even the train itself was an illusion.

-----

After enduring countless hardships, Kiana arrived at a mysterious inn located in a dimensional rift of time-space.

This was a resting spot for many Kianas traveling through different timelines.

It was a sanctuary for their souls, offering all-encompassing and attentive service!

From repairing glasses frames to bulk discounts on Divine Key replicas, everything could be arranged here!

Face your desires with ease!

Bon appétit~

This was the advertisement slogan of this new world, created in response to the desperate hunger of Kiana, who had traversed countless timelines.

Although it was still technically a video, this realm was beyond the reach of the Dumb-Theresa Virus.

For once, Kiana felt a sense of relief as she dined at the table, devouring food and enjoying life to the fullest.

Burgers, milk tea, cakes, sandwiches, the table was laden with everything imaginable, delighting her taste buds and soothing her weary spirit.

Kiana Kaslana was genuinely grateful for this miraculous place, which allowed her tormented body and mind to rest and recover.

There were even multiple versions of herself sitting at the table, a bespectacled Kiana, a Kiana with resolute facial features, and others like a maid, a waitress Kiana (looks like Firefly from HSR), a young lady, Teri-na, and countless other variations.

It was an eye-opener for everyone.

As for their stories, There was one Kiana who lived in a world where Honkai had been sealed and thus became a true noble young lady.

Another became an idol to save the near-bankrupt St. Freya Academy. (Idol Kiana)

One embarked on a hero's journey and successfully defeated the final boss, Otto. (Anime hero Kiana)

And then there were stranger versions: a Kiana almost entirely turned into vibranium, a cyberpunk Kiana whose consciousness had been uploaded to the network, a fully catified furry Kiana (cat Kiana), and even a golden shining Buddha Kiana.

Kiana couldn't help but feel like her image had been violated in some way.

And then came the Super Saiyan Kiana, who outright destroyed the Whiteworm Inn when she Kamehameha the Kiana-zila, forcing her to move on to the next world in her journey.

[Wow, so many Kianas—]

[Can these even be called Kiana anymore?]

[Is this Mei's happy ocean? Are there taverns for other characters, like Mei who can't cook, or a busty Fu Hua with big breasts?]

[The Red immortal looks at you with a silent smile.]

-----

Watching the scenes in the video, Kiana had no idea what kind of expression she should wear.

She certainly didn't remember such scenarios appearing in the game!

Or perhaps...

"Boss?"

Her gaze, no longer skeptical but filled with certainty, fell on Luo Mo.

It must have been his doing!

No further evidence was needed.

"This is a staple event, one that reminds us of the diversity of life forms," Luo Mo said solemnly, his tone sincere.

"…I'm not thrilled about my own diversity at all," Kiana retorted mercilessly. "How does this even qualify as diversity of life forms?!"

"Ehehe.... within the Kiana multiverse, there's endless varieties of Kiana… Look on the bright side; at least there's no Doujin-na."

(TL/N: either it means fandom, circle, or loli)

Luo Mo sincerely tried to console her. Unlike others, Kiana might actually come up and punch him.

While his current strength could reach an A-tier—if Rita and Theresa were considered S-tier, he wasn't completely helpless.

However, he definitely couldn't use Divine Keys or Herrscher Cores, and his inability to wield Honkai energy was a glaring weakness.

"Hmm?? Boss, did you just say something outrageous?"

Kiana opened her small mouth, her expression slightly puzzled.

"Bronya finds the earlier two Kianas—though only barely fitting the definition of 'Kiana' quite intriguing. Vibranium Kiana, cyberpunk Kiana…"

Bronya's eyes narrowed slightly, her interest subtly revealed. Kiana wasn't wrong; Bronya was indeed intrigued by Cyber Kiana.

-----

The next world was relatively mundane.

Though the art style shifted dramatically into a distinctly bold JoJo-like world, it was hilarious that Kiana's Stand turned out to be Sirin, the fairy queen.

Even funnier was the scene of her slurping instant noodles, leaving everyone speechless.

Meanwhile, Mei's Stand was aptly named the Herrscher of Rice, as one might expect from the name.

Bronya's Stand was Heavy Armor Bunny, which seemed ordinary enough, though its ability was to drive cars, really fast cars.

-----

"Why are you all staring at me? I didn't eat any instant noodles!"

Sirin looked at the others in confusion as their gazes turned toward her and muttered curiously.

How odd… had she somehow been linked to instant noodles? What kind of bizarre setting was this?

.....

"Come to think of it… among your sisters, isn't Sirin the one who often eats instant noodles?"

Elysia suddenly recalled something, looking at Kiana with curiosity.

"Who said that? I also love… Actually, you're totally right," Kiana answered halfway before noticing Mei's gentle gaze beside her. And when Mei's hand slowly approached her waist, she decisively changed the topic.

"I only like eating Mei's cooking, truly!"

Her eyes sparkled with determination as she looked at the pink-haired woman she didn't particularly like and responded earnestly.

"…oh, so Sirin inherited Kevin's habits, huh?" Elysia didn't expose the truth but instead eagerly began discussing it with Vill-V.

...

"Bronya must clarify. Heavy Armor Bunny doesn't just drive cars."

"Oh? For example—"

"It also assembles cars!"

-----

In the JoJo-style Honkai world, Kiana and her team's task was to fight vampires that descended from the Kaslana bloodline's progenitor.

Just as Kiana set out, confused, on this peculiar mission to save the world with her Stand, she turned left outside the starting village and immediately ran into the vampire boss—Luna.

Luna was already waiting at the village entrance, clearly not intending to allow them to power up.

Just as an epic battle was about to break out, and Kiana's father Siegfried and others were filled with fiery resolve, Luna accidentally threw her parasol to fight. Her actions exposed her to sunlight, and due to her vampire traits, she disintegrated into ash on the spot.

Thus, this world ended hastily, earning the title of the fastest Honkai world completion. Mei, Siegfried, and others even delivered their victory speeches.

------

"Huh? Although I've said this countless times, I can't help but say it again—this is way too absurd."

Kiana blinked, utterly baffled. Even as a participant, she found it overwhelming, let alone the others.

Everyone was stunned by the boss fight that ended as soon as they left the house, unsure of what to say.

"If a game were designed like this… it would undoubtedly be a massive failure. This is too rushed," Bronya commented, feeling a mix of speechlessness and disbelief.

Still, as a short film, it was quite impressive, at least surprising her in its own way.

"Indeed… I feel the same. By the way, can someone explain what the Herrscher of Rice is?"

Mei's smile froze as her mouth twitched, her embarrassment palpable.

While the nickname had secretly spread behind her back, having it revealed in public was another matter entirely.

She couldn't help but cast a reproachful glance at Kiana and Luo Mo, feeling an inexplicable pang of frustration. The title of Herrscher of Thunder felt tarnished in her hands, now had it devolved into the Herrscher of Rice?

However, Luo Mo failed to notice Mei's rare expression of resentment, instead comforting the little vampire—well, to be precise , a former vampire.

"If sunlight kills vampires, does that mean I don't have to wake up early anymore?" Luna asked expectantly.

"No," came the blunt reply from Kongming.

"Ha, someone who can't even rise with the morning sun, why bother with excuses like waking up early?" Kongming whispered mockingly.

"What's the use of waking up early if you don't arrive early? Isn't punctuality more important?"

"Heh heh—"

"Ho ho—"

Luo Mo wisely chose to remain silent as the two  clashed. Should this be seen as healthy competition driving personal growth? Or was subjective motivation the true key?

Ever since Kongming's arrival, Luna had matured rapidly, at least in terms of mental growth.

Physically, the three Theresas remained on the same playing field.

-----

In the next world, for some inexplicable reason, a giant Dumb-Theresa Apostle appeared, wreaking havoc everywhere.

Kiana and Mei had to enter Unit-00 to fight it. (Giant bunny mech)

During a grueling series of battles, Mei shielded Kiana from the giant Dumb-Theresa deadly ray.

Thus, with Mei's request and the collective will of countless comrades, Kiana sacrifice herself to defeat the gaint Dumb-Theresa Apostle and saved that timeline.

Once again, Kiana set out for the next world.

...

With the arrival of the final world, the animation suddenly took on a cartoonish style.

It was hard to tell whether this was due to budget constraints, but in this last world, all mysteries would finally be revealed.

Kiana, now using her brain for a change, began investigating the mastermind.

She visited Theresa's house to uncover the truth and stumbled upon something unexpected: Theresa was flipping through a book titled MiHoYo's Fashion Guide.

Peering closer, Kiana discovered it was full of Derisa "dumb face" reaction memes, each captioned "World's Cutest Expressions."

Piecing everything together, Kiana formulated the truth,

Theresa had lost the title of "World's Cutest," harboring a grudge as a result.

She had then been corrupted by a bootleg magazine, which poisoned her mind and caused widespread harm!

Realizing this, Kiana quickly swapped out Theresa's magazine. The one she replaced it with prominently featured thigh leg bands as the latest fashion trend, but she hadn't cared too much about the replacement choice at the time.

Kiana comforted her and said: "In the Honkai world, leg thigh bands are the sole standard of beauty!"

Then, the leg band suddenly snapped, as if it had fulfilled its purpose. Kiana decided to present the leg band as a gift to Theresa, assuming she would love it after reading the magazine.

Feeling accomplished, Kiana set off for the next world. This was likely the final world where everything would return to normal...

If all went as expected...

IF....

-----

"What do you mean, leg thigh bands are the only standard of beauty?"

"Doesn't that feel weird?"

"...And why do I feel like I come across as such a fool in all this? Is it just me? What's with the idea that I'm upset over losing the 'World's Cutest' title? And those bizarre expressions, who would even believe that? And, above all, why would I need Kiana to comfort me?!"

Theresa rolled her eyes, utterly speechless at the absurd video that seemed to maliciously target her.

Everything about it felt strange! It made Kiana look like she could do everything, while Theresa herself seemed like the one always dragging everyone down!

"Of course not." Luo Mo merely shook his head.

"So it's fake, huh!"

"No, it's not an illusion, it's the undeniable truth," Luo Mo said with a hint of emotion, shattering Theresa's delusions.

"...You better be joking!"

Theresa's expression turned icy as she cast a sidelong glare at Luo Mo.