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

"True or not, can't you just confirm it yourself?"

Raven sighed, setting her untouched wine glass aside.

Anyone would feel off after suddenly hearing about their own supposed death.

If it was a joke, then hopefully it was only a joke. If not… well, that would truly be grim.

"No need for that. Why are you here?" Mei asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

She admitted that she might have misspoken earlier, but spending so much time in the Realm had made her almost forget the outside world.

So, Raven probably had something important to tell her?

"As a member of World Serpent, I'm here to check on a hardworking junior. Is that a problem?"

Raven's crimson eyes glinted as she gave Mei a sidelong glance.

Judging from the look of things, Mei seemed to be doing quite well in the Realm.

"Hah—so envious."

Raven couldn't help but sigh. She longed to leave this place, especially after that incident...

"Alright, let's set that aside for now."

Mei's cold voice interrupted the idle chatter, steering the conversation back on track.

What intrigued her more at this moment was another matter entirely.

"You once mentioned that every World Serpent executive undergoes a trial in the Elysian Realm. Does that mean… all of you reached the final destination?"

Her violet eyes shimmered faintly as she scrutinized Raven.

Raven, however, shrugged indifferently, explaining that each visitor's trials were different, and the so-called "completion conditions" varied from person to person.

"Then… did you encounter any anomalies during your time there?" Mei narrowed her eyes curiously.

Recently, the Realm had been plagued by peculiar green, viscous liquids and trials where the light would suddenly grow dim or completely dark. Although Klein attributed these occurrences to abnormalities in the Realm, Mei couldn't shake her curiosity about the root cause.

Was she really the only one experiencing these things?

"Anomalies… What kind? Don't tell me you got blocked by that masked man?" Raven asked incredulously.

She thought she was the only one unlucky enough to run into the most difficult Flame-Chaser.

"...No, not that. It's the administrator, Klein…"

Mei's tone faltered, and her feelings grew complicated.

Seriously, did everyone have the same impression of Kalpas?

In some ways, his consistency was truly commendable.

As for Raven's real purpose for coming here, she hadn't explicitly stated it.

Instead, she relied on the excuse she'd casually thrown out earlier—that she was helping to repair an important organizational asset.

----------

"Impressive as always, Kalpas. But did you also encounter Miss Raven? I don't seem to recall anything about her," Vill-V teased with a sly grin, delighting in poking at Kalpas's nerves, even if it risked provoking his temper.

In their current state, with their powers restrained, the gap in their combat strength was significantly reduced. If sufficient resources were provided, the balance might even tip in the opposite direction.

"Hmph—no recollection whatsoever. Though I do remember her running away quite quickly."

Kalpas l snorted coldly, his tone dripping with disdain.

While some might call it a keen sense of danger on the battlefield, fleeing upon contact made it impossible to receive his signet.

"Still, why would the Realm experience malfunctions?" Vill-V wondered aloud, scratching her head.

"With my designs, such massive flaws shouldn't exist."

After all the incidents they'd been through, including the Herrscher of sentience and Otto's fleeting appearance, everyone was convinced that the game world they were experiencing reflected a real, alternate reality.

So, why would the Realm in this alternate world exhibit such vulnerabilities?

Could it truly be tied to the unique nature of Herrschers?

"Hah—then maybe your funding should be slashed to match Mobius's," Kalpas remarked with a schadenfreude-filled grin.

Even though he didn't fully understand these matters, one thing was certain: if there was a list of the least likable figures in the Fire Moth, Mobius would definitely rank among the top.

Her funding, compared to others at her level, was pitifully low.

For Kalpas, this was a source of endless amusement.

The worse things were for her, the happier he was.

Feeling sorrow or pity for that woman? Sorry, wrong person.

"That's going a bit far… I'm not even close to Mobius's level. And besides, there isn't much funding to begin with—what with the Honkai still looming, all eyes are on us," Vill-V muttered, uncharacteristically displaying a hint of complaint.

Why all the suspicion toward her? Wasn't one Mobius enough?

At least Vill-V didn't have her kind of reputation.

"If we really had been keeping a proper watch on you, that incident wouldn't have happened," Kevin stated coldly, his posture unchanged, as if frozen in time.

"Oh, come on, I was just trying to contribute a bit more to this civilization."

"The Stigmata reveal everything…"

"But that's not a power humans could ever truly control… Surely you think the same?"

Kevin said nothing in response.

--------

"Oh, how glorious your past was, Natasha! I never expected such brilliance!"

Sushaana's admiration was practically unreserved as she spoke to Raven.

If anyone asked why, well… it was a little embarrassing.

Recently, she'd participated in a dubbing project and realized that the dialogue, particularly between her and Alvitr, perfectly matched memories she had of past events.

Somehow, these secrets being exposed felt awkward.

But no, she absolutely did not badmouth Lord Durandal behind her back. Never, not even once!

At least, that's what she told herself.

And asking Kiana and the others confirmed that the portrayal was almost entirely accurate.

"sigh, can't you just go back to how you used to be?"

Raven stared at the rising steam from her coffee and sighed inwardly.

---------

Raven's true intentions seemed far less simple than she claimed. She undoubtedly carried a purpose of her own. After all, when had a World Serpent executive ever been without a mission?

During the next exploration, in a certain section of the Elysian Realm, Raven once again confronted Mei.

Under the dim and dull colors of winter, dark branches stretched outward, and some grayish flowers bloomed in the bushes behind her. She sat quietly on a branch, her blood-red gaze fixed on the approaching trial-taker, her beloved Mei.

Since their real-world confrontation and collaboration, this would be their first clash without outside interference. The first time, Mei had no Herrscher powers; the second time, she wielded the Staff of Yama.

But now... Mei would face the true gap between an ordinary human and a Herrscher.

All because—

"Miss Mei, you've crossed the line."

Sitting atop the dim branch, Raven spoke softly, her lips curling into a wry smile.

Because of someone's guidance and orders, she had to stop Mei from delving deeper into the Realm, even though she had no desire to do so.

Words alone couldn't change Mei's determination to move forward, and as for force… Raven was no longer at an advantage against her.

But life often didn't allow choices based on willingness.

And so, she had to appear.

Even though the result involved her holding back, Mei's growth was undeniable.

After a grueling battle, Mei gripped Raven's sharp, stitched claws and pinned them against the tree, Herrscher lightning flickering around her as if ready to strike.

Raven was "forced" to reveal the true meaning behind the existence of the Elysian Realm, or at least, her understanding of it.

"In the end… you don't need its blessings."

"A facility created by MANTIS warriors... its purpose was naturally meant for MANTIS warriors or those destined to become one."

"To be blunt, the true purpose of the Elysian Realm is to lift certain restrictions on Stigmata Awakeners."

Raven stubbornly raised her head, locking eyes with the close-up Mei. Her tone carried a mocking edge, though it was unclear whether it was directed at Mei or herself.

"Restrictions?"

Mei asked skeptically, unwilling to fully believe Raven, yet not dismissing her words outright.

Alicia had said it before, the Elysian Realm held a unique perspective for each individual. Mei had already experienced this firsthand.

Eden was immersed in the dreams of the past, fitting for someone who lived in bygone days. Kalpas hoped for nothing but flames of battle everywhere. As for that young Felis girl, she had even opened a shop within the Realm.

But if it were the true darkness of the Realm…

What would it see?

Mei didn't want to know. Yet the path forward was entirely blocked by Raven. To proceed deeper, she had to overcome her.

"No, I can't even confirm if there is an end… Because before receiving the so-called blessing, I turned and ran, without a moment's hesitation."

Raven took a deep breath and spoke a horrifying truth.

"It had already become a monster… If you'd seen that form, oh yes, the form every MANTIS warrior is supposed to have."

"For me, living well has never included giving up my humanity."

She pursed her lips, as if still haunted by the fear of that moment.

She didn't want to become a monster.

Mei released her grip, silently observing Raven. She didn't think Raven was lying. And for someone who had held back and deliberately disclosed this information…

But Mei had no intention of retreating. She would uncover the truth of this place with her own eyes.

[Monster? What does that mean?]

[So, the final blessing involves abandoning one's humanity? Is this truly a trial for those who come after?]

[Mei-sama~ This feels oddly familiar. Could it be... could it be Kiana...?]

---------

"What's going on? Didn't you say… the Realm was just a storybook?"

Kiana tilted her head in confusion, unable to make sense of the conversation.

Had the gap between her and Mei grown so vast that she couldn't even understand Mei's words anymore?

Was this what the books meant when they described lovers reaching a point where they no longer spoke the same language?

Wait—that book was Elysia's work, wasn't it? Fake! Definitely fake!

"Hmm~? Although it's not good to suspect people, the 'little explosive crow' this beautiful lady mentioned must be referring to a small, green-haired, crown-wearing, petite loli, right?"

Elysia tilted her head with a smile and made her suggestion.

And so—

Unsurprisingly, all eyes turned toward Mobius.

After all, her appearance perfectly matched Elysia'sdescription, making her the center of attention.

Like a shining light bulb in the dark.

---

"...I don't know why, but even though you're not wrong, Elysia, I really feel like hitting you right now~"

Mobius clenched her small fists, gritting her teeth as faint black lines surfaced on her uncovered forehead.

"But I didn't say anything wrong."

"Which is why I didn't hit you—ugh, if I could… Fine, fine. What Raven said is true."

"All the bad things are Mobius's fault. Turning into monsters and all, it's all Mobius's experiments… When will these rumors stop~"

Mobius shook her head with a sigh, seemingly helpless about the situation.

Then, she stared at the pink-haired figure in front of her.

"Sigh~ Why do these kinds of stories always come back to you, Elysia?"

"Oh? There's such a rumor? Elysia didn't know that~"

Elysia's innocent pink eyes sparkled faintly as she widened them, speaking softly in a way that only made Mobius even more frustrated.

"Pfft—"

"…What are you laughing at, lab rat?"

"I just remembered something amusing."

Luo Mo covered his mouth, chuckling while observing the banter between the two.

The Mobius outside the Elysian Realm felt significantly different from the one inside. Why was that?

"Oh? If you can't explain yourself properly… hmm~"

Mobius's eyes glimmered with a dangerous light as she stared at Luo Mo, clearly harboring ill intent.

"I was thinking of something about Griseo," Luo Mo replied casually, hoping to divert Mobius's attention to Elysia instead. Surely, Elysia could handle this perfectly!

"Hmm? Griseo… you mean the one involved in the Ark Project?"

Mobius's expression instantly grew serious, her brow furrowing deeply. Luo Mo's lighthearted mention had struck a nerve.

She hadn't brought up Griseo in a long time, yet now that her name resurfaced, a pang of guilt tugged at her heart.

Right. Where was Griseo?

Su's disappearance had partly been related to Kevin. Hua had lost portions of her memory. And Griseo…?

Mobius turned sharply toward Luo Mo, the playful glint in her eyes now entirely gone. When it came to Griseo, she bore undeniable responsibilities.

"Hmm?"

Seeing Mobius's sharp gaze, Luo Mo realized what he had just triggered.

His initial attempt at joking quickly faded, replaced by seriousness. But Griseo... was now really the right time to address this?

Luo Mo hesitated. Since the topic had been raised, ignoring it no longer seemed like an option.

---------

From Raven, Mei had pieced together fragments of the story. Yet, the information provided no concrete answers, only deepening the mysteries surrounding the Elysian Realm.

The only certainty was this: Mobius was dangerous.

Hoping to find clues, Mei sought out Klein, Mobius's former assistant, who might have additional insights.

Unfortunately, instead of clarity, Mei found more puzzles.

Klein, a scientist once terrified of death, no longer feared it, because she had achieved immortality.

Even in the present day, none of the Flame-Chasers believed Mobius had truly succumbed to death.

There was also the abandoned research on consciousness transfer from the Eighth Herrscher. Memories of the Mobius from the Elysian Realm didn't entirely align with her present-day self.

Scattered information, messy and disordered, now lined Mei's path forward like carefully placed obstacles.

They awaited her unraveling.

But Mei was at a loss.

....