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

As Otto's scandalous deeds gradually came to an end, this version of the story also neared its final chapter.

The man had departed, leaving behind a complex mix of emotions in many and an entirely new world he had shaped.

Theresa's Ring Project served as the players' grand finale, with Otto and his granddaughter astonishing everyone in their own ways.

The game's main storyline delivered surprises to all, seamlessly transitioning into the next phase. Otto's story had ended, but the tale of Honkai continued.

In reality, the battle over the Overseer position concluded with Kallen's defeat, signifying her continued tenure.

If everything had truly ended like this...

If...

"Ahhhh—Luo Mo, I don't care, I don't care! You need to release another video to clarify this! Who would believe I'd ever act like that?!"

Theresa sat on the couch in the hall, puffing with anger, still sulking over the video from two days ago.

The wind chime hanging by the window swayed with the breeze, its ringing filling her ears.

But she only felt irritation, deeply annoying.

Perhaps it was her imagination, but in the past two days, everyone she encountered seemed to glance at her eyes first. Sometimes, when she paused silently with her back turned, students would scatter in panic.

But it wasn't real!

She had tried more than once to clarify, yet her efforts seemed futile. People still feared "Dumb-Theresa". While the lingering effects of the media portrayal would fade over time, the past two days had been utterly unpleasant for her.

"It's all that guy's fault—"

She thought indignantly, her gaze growing even colder as she glared at Luo Mo.

"Hahaha, wasn't it just recently that you insisted on tarnishing your own reputation? Changing your mind so quickly isn't exactly the hallmark of a wise person."

Across from her, Luo Mo looked helplessly at the flustered future bishop, or rather, someone who might no longer be the future bishop.

After all, with a video as striking as a gem circulating, Kallen might think that the position of bishop is far too small a role for Theresa.

Perhaps she's more suited to becoming a world-destroying demon lord or something along those lines.

Of course, everyone understood that this was just a joke.

"Tarnishing my reputation? Who said that? I was just asking if there's a way to push the bishop position onto someone else," Theresa retorted indignantly, giving him a sidelong glance.

She never explicitly said she wanted to use self-sabotage as a means. Sure, the thought might have crossed her mind at the time, but she didn't go that far. Could she ever hope to redeem herself now?

It felt like she had completely dug herself into a hole!

"Besides, 'changing your mind quickly'… doesn't that phrase feel strange? Let me think—"

"Isn't that something used to describe ancient emperors of Shenzhou?"

After a moment of thought, Theresa recalled what she'd read about Shenzhou in books. The phrase was used to describe foolish rulers who…

"Isn't that just implying how noble and dignified you are, Theresa?" Luo Mo tilted his head, trying to downplay her overreaction with a wry smile.

"...Are you sure you're not just calling me incompetent and implying I'll soon be ousted by the students?" Theresa said flatly.

She knew very well that whenever this guy complimented her, something was definitely off! She'd figured out his tendencies by now.

"Haha, I'll write for you a future storyline to try and fix public opinion," Luo Mo readily agreed. He did have plans to create a Post-Honkai Odyssey, so it wasn't entirely a lie.

Principal Theresa, I wasn't lying!

"You'd better," Theresa sighed, her eyes vacant as she continued to dwell on the weight of her tarnished reputation.

It was truly admirable how she could remain indifferent to fame and fortune, such a lofty spirit, like a towering mountain.

Luo Mo felt the urge to shout, 'Fear not, for there are always those who know you; who in the world does not recognize you!'

-----

As for the Final Ring Project's output, it wasn't much, just a measly 3,000 crystals. A single ten-pull on a standard banner.

There was also some video output, but it didn't match what the game offered. It was listed as a supplementary feature, and while it might surpass what the comics produced, it still wasn't impressive.

As for the system's gacha, Luo Mo obviously couldn't wait for the next refresh cycle.

After some hesitation regarding the Magical Girl Sirin banner, Luo Mo finally decided to roll. After all, hoarding crystals forever wasn't exactly ideal; converting them into combat power seemed more practical.

Luckily, this time, perhaps due to rolling for the Stigmata of the E-rank Queen herself, he didn't hit pity. Instead, he scored it on the seventh pull.

Even though the result wasn't the 10,000-crystal banner jackpot, Luo Mo was in high spirits.

Of course, compared to the one and only Aponia in his heart, it was still far from satisfying.

During the gacha session, he also scored a costume card, making it six in total.

Holding onto them didn't feel right; he needed to use them. Plus, he was curious about what they were.

Recalling how he'd upset Theresa recently, he figured gifting her an outfit might be a good way to apologize. After all, he had been staying at her place for quite a while; it wouldn't hurt to pay some "rent."

In terms of strategy, it was certainly best to focus on the bigger picture.

However, when it came to such novel gifts, starting with someone close to him seemed reasonable.

That's when Luo Mo realized just how serious the problem was.

Staring at the dazzling array of outfits on panel screen, he was overwhelmed. Even narrowing it down to Theresa's Valkyrie wardrobe didn't help much, they were still too numerous to count.

"Which one should I pick?"

He stared at the outfits, scrolling through them over and over. Theresa's battle suits were surprisingly abundant, though not as extensive as the wardrobe of a certain rumored lady executive from Russia, her collection was almost second to none.

He needed something to improve their relationship but not too drastically.

"Magical Girl TeRiRi, Verdant Sky, Shallow Sunset … Heat of Trifolium?!"

(TL: the last one is Klee outfit.)

The first three were on his shortlist, but when his eyes landed on the last one, he couldn't look away. He suddenly found himself curious about how an older Theresa might appear… What to do?

A mischievous idea began to stir in his heart, like a tendril prodding and tickling his thoughts.

"Maybe I shouldn't pick Magical Girl; I don't want to touch Theresa's fragile nerves. Verdant Sky looks great, and Shallow Sunset' swimsuit is also appealing… so let's go with Klee's outfit!"

With that, Luo Mo cheerfully made his decision, exchanging for Heat of Trifolium.

After all, come to think of it, Klee was also voiced by Theresa's VA. It's basically the same person, right?

The outfit icon disappeared from the shop, replaced by a costume card in his inventory.

Interestingly, many of the outfits here weren't just from the game; some were from promotional posters or artwork. For instance…

Luo Mo spotted a cute pigtail-wearing Fu Hua, a post-Honkai Theresa, and an older unifo—wait, Luna?

Luo Mo's gaze froze. He felt like he'd seen something strange. Did Luna ultimately betray Theresa?

Though such pessimistic thoughts swirled in his mind, he couldn't help but smile faintly.

As for the next Stigmata, it was giving Luo Mo a headache.

Not because it wasn't strong, but because Valkyries kept getting power crept!

[Current Crystal Count: 63,457]

[Exclusive Banner Refreshed – New Banner: Benares Awakening!]

[Description: The dragon reborn from death has long since forgotten her first master… Now, she is but a weapon. Merely a weapon. (Equipable by Lightning Valkyries… Sirin grants an additional blessing.)]

Before equipping the Magical Girl Seele stigmas, Luo Mo might have considered redeeming this new one. Its versatility was impressive, it could work for Seele, Bella, and Mei alike. However, after some analysis, he realized that Bella was out of the question, and Mei was destined for the Origin set. This stigma, being somewhat outdated, was better off skipped.

And besides, he still had plenty of crystals left!

Thinking positively, Luo Mo decided to try his luck on another pull.

[Current Crystals: 62,457]

[New Featured Pool: Bronya Zaychik]

[Description: After crossing the unseen barrier and treading where no one else dared, she arrived at the gates of truth. Beyond them lies the ultimate revelation. (Requirement: Herrscher of Reason core)]

(TL/N: it's the 3 Stigmas for the Herrscher of Truth)

Luo Mo's gaze sharpened as the vivid image of Bronya appeared on the screen, showcasing her at various stages of her journey. Each stage symbolized the ultimate destiny of the Herrscher of Reason, a culmination he had long awaited.

It was also one of the three essential pieces he had been striving to acquire.

No matter how much he tried to downplay it, Luo Mo had to admit that life among the Big Three had become part of his everyday routine. Their once-desperate struggles were now a distant memory.

Thus, it was time for him to make amends. The best and most reliable way to do so was by acquiring the stigmas pivotal to the final battle.

Without hesitation, Luo Mo tapped the draw button, his excitement rising, a rare occurrence for him.

[Current Crystals: 52,457]

[Acquired Stigma: Bronya Zaychik]

[Category: Stigma (4-star)]

[Attributes: Physical DMG +110, Honkai Resistance +150, significantly boosts Herrscher of Reason core comprehension and speeds up Ascension.]

[Requirement: Herrscher of Reason Core (Hidden: Bronya)]

[Hidden Condition: Even among unique stigmas, this one has rare effects that can influence its specific bonus.]

[Description: Humanity's only unchanging truth is that "human truths are destined to change."]

[...]

"Hmm?"

Luo Mo furrowed his brows. Where was the judgment notification? After pulling Magical Girl Seele earlier, the system had immediately given him an odd heterochromia buff. He still had no idea why that existed but had dismissed it with a fleeting image of Kiana's Vagabond outfit, it hadn't seemed particularly impactful.

But where was the buff for the Herrscher of Truth stigma?

[Did I forget to mention that using a costume card can negate one stigma buff?]

[Costume cards are an extremely special reward.]

"...What?" Luo Mo's jaw dropped.

"When did you ever say that? Or did I just dream it?"

[Uh... maybe I mentioned it in a dream? Anyway, not a big deal. Moving on!]

"..."

Luo Mo took a deep breath, stunned by the sheer audacity of his system. It was even less reliable than he was! A sleep-deprived system? Who would've thought?

As countless words churned in his mind, ready to erupt like a tidal wave, the system dropped another revelation:

[By the way, I'm guessing I also didn't tell you about the hidden feature of costume cards, right?]

"Ha, yeah, you didn't." Luo Mo deadpanned, glancing at the cards in his inventory. Four of them shimmered with a mysterious light, clearly distinct from the others.

And wouldn't you know it, the one he just gave Theresa was one of them.

[As you've likely figured out, these special cards can negate one buff from the stigma pool. Of course, you can choose not to use this feature.]

[There are also two types of costume cards: regular and special. The latter includes visual effects, while the former is purely cosmetic.]

Well, that didn't seem particularly useful. Luo Mo's urge to punch the system lessened slightly.

[Oh, here's a fun fact, special costume cards automatically adjust sizes if there's a significant difference between the wearer's dimensions.]

"I… You… WHAT?!" Luo Mo felt his blood pressure spike.

He had been wondering whether costumes like Descent Theresa or Luna's outfit would end up looking baggy or comically oversized. Now the system casually dropped that size adjustments were automated?!

[Oh, did I also forget to mention that collecting 20 special costumes unlocks the Costume Mastery achievement, which grants access to a hidden shop?]

Its voice grew quieter, almost sheepish.

"You—You—YOU—!!" Luo Mo gasped, barely holding back a string of expletives. He was so frustrated he could almost pass out.

(TL/C: many crystals has been wasted. Karma lol~)

The system, his system, was utterly useless!

[It's all quite logical. Costumes unlock after acquiring five special stigmas. And hey, your luck's been great! Four special cards already, it's something most players wouldn't get even after the apocalypse.]

Luo Mo inhaled sharply, exhaling a long sigh. "Logical, huh?"

At least now he understood the twisted sense of humor behind the system's operations.

The system seemed to notice that Luo Mo was just one step away from passing out, so it deliberately poked fun at him again. Maybe it was its way of discouraging his bad habit of late-night grinding. In a way, it was like a parent scolding their child, except here, it was a system berating its user.

Luo Mo pinched the bridge of his nose hard, trying to keep himself from fainting.

How many things had this system kept hidden from him?

Grinting his teeth, Luo Mo realized the pattern: he teased Theresa, and the system teased him in return.

Having this system... really left him speechless.

[New Featured Pool: Carlo Collodi]

[Description: We only welcome... EXPLOSIVE FLAMES!! (Requirement: Madness, Explosions)]

The name barely rang a bell, and Luo Mo no longer had the energy to think about it. He decided to rest and deal with it later.

He needed a little joy to lighten his mood.

Glancing at the costume cards, he decided to send one to Theresa as a blessing. After all... it was quite a precious gift, wasn't it?

Luo Mo's face hardened, still fuming from the system's antics.

---

On his way to the Headmaster's office, he unexpectedly encountered Fu Hua walking alone.

Noticing her from a distance, he was about to enter the building when something struck him.

Wait a minute... Alone?

"Where's Senti?"

Luo Mo glanced at Fu Hua's side but didn't see the usual cheerful figure of the Herrscher of Sentience.

The Herrscher of Sentience was nowhere to be found. Considering their personalities, the two were practically inseparable. Wherever Fu Hua was, the Herrscher of Sentience should be nearby!

"She... she said she wanted to craft a weapon that suits her," Fu Hua replied, frowning slightly. Even she couldn't quite understand the sudden desire to forge a weapon.

Still, it had been peaceful these past two days without her around.

"Oh—?"

Luo Mo nodded knowingly, already guessing what kind of weapon Senti might be making.

A brick. It had to be a brick.

Although he didn't know what prompted her to choose such a practical path, Luo Mo felt inexplicably gratified!