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

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"You met him, didn't you?"

Elysia asked, noticing the subtle changes in Mei before and after her encounter with Su.

Sigh, she's picked up someone else's aura again, hasn't she?

Elysia couldn't decide whether to be happy for Mei's progress or lament the fact that more people were now occupying Mei's time and attention.

What a dilemma!

More and more people were recognizing Mei's beauty and charm, vying for her company… Maybe this was proof of Elysia's good taste?

"As his title suggests, he is indeed a transcendent figure."

But Elysia clearly wasn't concerned about such "minor" matters as Su's reputation or persona.

"So, could he really recognize you? Even while keeping his eyes closed?"

She blinked her bright eyes, her gaze fixed on Mei, full of curiosity, much like a child eager to uncover the secret behind a magician's trick.

That's what she truly wanted to know.

"..."

Mei looked at her, lost in thought, unsure of what to say.

"Oh, come on, I'm just curious. When you talked to him, did he call you by name? Or…"

"Visitor. Aside from the initial address, he usually refers to me as 'Visitor.'"

"Oh… I see. So, he does the same with you."

Elysia nodded knowingly, as if she had unraveled a great mystery.

"So, does that mean he's always closing his eyes because he actually doesn't know who he's talking to?"

"Wait… but that doesn't make sense."

She quickly dismissed her own theory.

"He mentioned the other person's name, and not even once did he get it wrong…"

That day, Elysia wore an expression Mei had never seen before, one of torment… mixed with amusement.

It was simultaneously heart-wrenching and delightful.

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"Elysia, sigh...."

After a moment of silence, Su finally let out a deep sigh from the depths of his throat.

"Forgive me, my friend. Even I am powerless in this."

Kevin shrugged, watching Su with a mix of helplessness and humor, as if they had been transported back to their school days.

Everyone had someone they found difficult to face, like dealing with a strict teacher back then.

"Why is she so curious about this? I just…"

Su sighed helplessly again. He couldn't understand Elysia's fascination with the matter and couldn't guess her reasons, either.

As the MANTIS of Bodhi, dealing with Elysia felt as challenging as saving the world itself.

...

"Honestly, I'm also curious about Su's eyes, how they work. His danger predictions are always so accurate. Unfortunately, I don't have that ability… So jealous,"

Pardo chimed in, voicing her admiration.

Su's abilities were the second thing she envied the most.

What? The first? You're asking about the first? Of course, it's Eden!

Sure, Boss Kevin has an unimaginable sense of security, Elysia is gentle, approachable, and kind, and Vill-V gives constant new supplies. But if you ask who she can't live without,

it has to be Eden!

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Meanwhile, Mei's exploration of the Elysian Realm was halted by one name.

All clues converged on this name, blocking her progress entirely.

Mobius.

It was undoubtedly a trap set by someone, an intentional interruption designed to cut off all information before her name, forcing Mei to approach her step by step.

"She was a member of the first MANTUS Squad, designated CM-003. She was the creator of MANTIS, a founding elder of the Fire Moth, and also… the embodiment of its darkest aspects."

"Oh my, I didn't expect you to deduce this much on your own. Compared to the Herrscher of Thunder, maybe you're more suited to be the Herrscher of Reason,"

Elysia praised and clapped for Mei's insights.

From scattered, fragmented words, Mei had uncovered so much information. It was both admirable and concerning, What exactly was Mobius plotting this time?

"Just some rumors… You don't seem to have a good relationship with her."

"Not a good relationship? How could that be? Everyone here sees each other as valued companions,"

Elysia said, blinking her big eyes, a trace of amusement sparkling within them.

"Oh, if it's because of what I said earlier, that unity led to failure, that's a bit extreme. Of course, there were disagreements among us; that's undeniable. But you must understand, it was a shared ideal that brought these thirteen individuals together."

"This has always been the case."

"So… you have a good relationship with her?"

"Hmm? Maybe? After all, I seem to get along well with everyone,"

Elysia replied with a smile, completely unfazed.

She turned lightly, her graceful figure illuminated by the warm light.

"But… if you insist on meeting her, then go ahead and complete the final trial,"

she said with a soft laugh, gesturing for Mei to continue her exploration.

"She's actually a pretty cute person, though… maybe a bit eccentric?" Elysia added with a teasing smile.

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"Eccentric? Hah, you're the eccentric one! And Elysia, do we really have a good relationship? I don't feel that way at all."

Mobius's sharp and serious tone cut through, her expression betraying her disbelief.

Besides, their relationship wasn't good enough to be described that way, was it?

"What? It's not? I thought that, you know, when girls do that and that… it already shows a good relationship,"

Elysia said, widening her eyes in mock disbelief. Yet, if one looked closely, her eyes glimmered with hidden amusement.

"That and that?"

Theresa looked curiously between the two, her gaze shifting back and forth.

"Children shouldn't know about that. It's a forbidden topic,"

Elysia teased, narrowing her eyes playfully and wagging her slender finger, which looked almost temptingly edible.

At that moment, Mobius's only desire was to bite it.

Theresa, however, froze before growing annoyed. She hated being called a child, but then again… how old was Elysia anyway?

If she did the math, wouldn't that make Elysia calling her a child rather ironic?

"Don't throw around weird phrases. How do I not know about this?"

Mobius's expression remained stoic, though her lips twitched slightly as she sneered.

"Well… speaking of this, was it a few days ago? Hmm, hard to calculate. But Mobius really did put in a lot for her plan, like the Stigmata…"

Elysia counted on her fingers for a moment, then stopped with a knowing smile when she saw Mobius's expression darken.

She was certain, her relationship with Mobius wasn't bad at all!

.....

"Hmph. Set aside your relationship. But this Mobius … is she really that important in the Elysian Realm?"

Bronya cleared her throat, signaling for them to stop their verbal sparring, even though it felt more like teasing.

But she was genuinely curious, if all of Mobius's identities were true, then she was undoubtedly a remarkable figure.

"It's true. All of them are,"

Elysia nodded firmly.

In fact, almost every Flame-Chaser who remained was a treasure of a bygone civilization.

....

"The MANTIS… were also completed under her leadership."

"Well, it's more accurate to say she took credit for many contributions. If it were just Mobius, it would erase the efforts of countless others. But her contribution to the civilization is undeniable."

Elysia nodded in agreement.

"Hmph—"

Mobius's expression softened slightly. Though she didn't want to admit Elysia's every word, the latter wasn't lying, and she begrudgingly accepted it.

Without the others, she might have needed more time. Without her… the technology might not have existed.

"There's also this bizarre rumor floating around—

Even if the Fire Moth falls, the hardest thing will remain."

"What?" Bronya tilted her head curiously.

"Hm?"

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At the final trial, Mei stood cautiously, scanning her surroundings.

According to Elysia, a severe challenge awaited her here. She had prepared herself, knowing that to truly enter the depths of the Elysian Realm and face the woman who obstructed her path, she had to overcome whatever lay ahead.

But what she hadn't anticipated appeared before her.

The girl she had seen countless times in the hall now stood directly before her. Amid the ruins where purple crystalline flowers bloomed, the girl's familiar smile remained as she casually raised her hand.

A resplendent pink bow formed in her grasp.

She lifted an arrow but didn't immediately aim it at Mei.

"How do I look?"

The girl smiled lightly. Though she still bore the same familiar demeanor, there was now an air of dominance about her.

Yes, the final trial was none other than Elysia herself.

"This should be the first time I've revealed my weapon in front of you. What do you think? Doesn't a bow suit me?"

She slowly nocked an arrow, not attacking yet but instead reminiscing.

The weapon, she explained, was one of her favorites. Its colors matched her uniform perfectly, with elegant details complementing its design.

"So… this is the trial you mentioned?"

"Don't be so tense~"

"Courage, wisdom, beauty… You already possess everything you need to face Mobius. But as a responsible guide, I thought I'd give you a little gift."

"For instance, some experience battling a Flame-Chaser."

Elysia smiled sweetly and loosened the bowstring.

An arrow soared through the air, leaving a trail of pink light before blossoming into a beautiful crystal flower on the ground near Mei's feet.

With that, the battle began.

Mei tightened her grip on her blade, electricity crackling in her eyes as she assumed a defensive stance.

Elysia's voice carried over the battlefield, cheerful yet slightly teasing.

"Compared to Kevin, I might—maybe—probably be a little weaker."

She scratched her cheek bashfully as if embarrassed by her modesty, though her grip on the bow remained taut and steady. Her instincts were sharp, betraying no carelessness.

"Well then, be careful, Mei. A beautiful girl's sincerity must be properly received, okay~?"

Arrows rained down in rapid succession, each one spreading a layer of purple crystal upon impact. Mei dodged and deflected with her blade, her frown deepening as the arrows grew harder to evade.

Elysia simply chuckled, casually firing another arrow into the sky. Moments later, a translucent purple dome spread over the battlefield. Within its bounds, arrows ricocheted unpredictably, their trajectories becoming harder to track.

Mei found herself increasingly on the defensive, struggling to keep up.

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[In the end, the bad woman appears! Elysia's the enemy now, huh?]

[Wait, why do you need "beauty" to face Möbius? Is this beauty test even normal?!]

[A bow! Finally, Elysia's using a bow! I need her now—release her outfit already! I can't hold back any longer!]

[Long live Elysia! Wait… when did I join her fan club? Was it because the leader is too pretty?]

"Hmm? My battle stance has been portrayed quite well, though in reality, I wouldn't stand still for you to hit me, Mei~"

Elysia smiled playfully, waggling her finger. She leaned forward, inching closer to Mei.

"So, how did I do? Disappointed? Did I let you all down?"

"Disappoint? How are we supposed to fight against you? That crystal ability of yours is way too overpowered!"

Kiana's lips twitched, a helpless expression spreading across her face. She had initially thought her Herrscher abilities could put up a fight, but now she was glad she hadn't gotten too cocky.

Good thing the Boss always joked about "Herrscher of Pufferfish" this and that. The shame from her second sister's defeat still loomed large, no way she'd let herself fall into the same trap!

"But a bow? Your weapon is a bow?"

Kiana's curiosity was piqued. The game hadn't introduced such a weapon yet, though she figured Elysia's new battle suit would probably include it.

"Why are you so surprised? Don't you think it's cute? Hmm… just like me."

Elysia nodded confidently, her playful demeanor unwavering as she crossed her arms and struck a proud pose.

"Uh… who chooses weapons based on cuteness?"

Kiana rolled her eyes, feeling that Elysia's standards were far from ordinary.

"Well, since I'm already cute enough, if my weapon isn't cute, it just wouldn't match, don't you think?"

Elysia's words trailed off with a mischievous hum, leaving the rest unsaid.

Theresa and Kiana exchanged skeptical looks. Surely, Elysia wouldn't discard a strong weapon just because it wasn't cute enough… right?

But then again, with Elysia, who could say for sure?

"This reminds me of the tragic tale of Black Abyss White Flower. Truly heartbreaking."

Luo Mo sighed dramatically, lamenting the fate of the Divine Key left in obscurity.

Though Elysia couldn't be accused of outright neglecting powerful weapons, her penchant for aesthetic appeal did leave Black Abyss White Flower feeling like it had lost unfairly.

On the other hand, perhaps Elysia, as a Herrscher, had reasons for avoiding Divine Keys.

Who could truly understand her thoughts?

"Black Abyss White Flower? My mom's and sister's weapon?"

Kiana asked, eyeing Luo Mo's increasingly awkward expression. She began to suspect a strange connection between the man and the spear.

"Uh… let's just say, it wasn't meant to be?"

Elysia blinked and gave a casual reply.

"..."

"Oh~" Luo Mo let out a long, drawn-out sound, layered with teasing nuances.

"Hmph, just admit you didn't like it," scoffed Mobius, smirking coldly. "Picking and choosing like that."

Not that she cared, after all, the Divine Keys weren't her creations. It was merely Vill-V who suffered the consequences.

"You can't put it that way. Black Abyss White Flower is fine, but… it's just not suited to me. Clearly, a bow is much more fitting," Elysia explained, though her tone lacked genuine sincerity.

As a Divine Key, earning the right to wield it was already a monumental task. To dismiss it outright seemed almost boastful.

"What a peculiar person," Theresa remarked, sighing.

She couldn't imagine discarding Judas simply because it wasn't "pretty." Without it, who would handle her paperwork? She just wanted to be a carefree principal!

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