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

The silent night gently soothed everyone's hearts. Tonight, the moonlight seemed especially bright, illuminating the restless academy.

Aside from a few dormitories with their lights on all night, the campus was relatively quiet.

For Bronie, spending her first night in this new world turned out to be quite fulfilling.

In a cozy yet simply decorated room with cool-toned painted walls, light blue furniture, and a ceiling that matched, a large bed lay in the corner, partially unpacked luggage scattered about. But clearly, its occupant had no time for organizing.

At first, she had been observing a game. While doing so, she checked out related reviews and was pleasantly surprised, it didn't seem too bad!

This world's internet was remarkably advanced, which greatly satisfied her as a lover of gaming and entertainment. After a brief overview, she dove right in.

But soon, things took an unexpected turn...

Especially after reaching the climax of the story.

Watching Himeko's death brought her to tears. Following the story further, the faces she had seen during the day appeared again in the game, acting out their promises to their teacher in their own ways. When meteors streaked across the sky, when lightning flashed through the heavens...

Scene after scene stirred deep emotions. Before she realized it, she had binged the game all the way to the present.

(TL: I wonder how much Hours it would take to reach from chapter 1 to chapter 28)

The upcoming parts seemed even more exciting, sweeter even... But! Bronie no longer trusted any of the reviews!

Now, Bronie was curled up under her warm blanket, her eyes red as she wiped away tears while muttering complaints under her breath.

She resolved to confront the person who had recommended the game to her the next day!

"Thanks a lot! What a gift to receive upon arrival here. Who said this game was 'heartwarming'?! Say that again, I dare you!"

By the dead of night, when the world outside was pitch black, Bronie was still tossing and turning in bed, restless. She didn't want to play the game anymore, but she couldn't sleep either... Images of Kiana, Mei, and Himeko alternated in her mind.

Unable to resist, she sat up halfway, gazing at the empty, personless room.

"That person is awful! How could they lie to people like this, especially newcomers?"

"And those glowing reviews with a few malicious comments mixed in—I even thought the company was being unfairly targeted. Heartwarming? Where's the warmth?!"

She lamented her inevitable dark circles for the morning ahead.

But with her thoughts in such turmoil, how could she possibly sleep?

"That Vill-V character... And the game developers... Are they psychopaths?"

"Are you guys asleep? Because I can't sleep, not at all!!"

At this moment, she had yet to realize that the game's developer was not far away. Nor did she understand the idea of aiding a tyrant.

Meanwhile, Luo Mo slept soundly.

---

The next morning in the villa, upon seeing Bronie's dark circles, Luo Mo couldn't help but laugh. His mischievous grin lingered as he studied her exhausted face, unable to conceal his amusement. This was exactly what he had anticipated the previous day.

The results were outstanding.

As expected of a gamer, he loved this type of player.

Completely engrossed in the game and eager to explore as soon as they finished.

After a brief exchange, Bronie was already slumped on the couch, head propped on her hand, her eyes unfocused. Who knew how late she had stayed up? Judging by her state, though, she seemed trustworthy.

Apparently, Irene had said she would show everyone around today, but that wasn't Luo Mo's concern.

"Tell Irene... Tell her... I'm skipping today..."

Bronie mumbled, shaking her head to stay awake, her willpower strong despite her drowsiness.

Gamers never give up.

She would persist until she explained things to that person in person!

Luo Mo shrugged and ignored her.

He had plenty to do today, particularly regarding Bronya's stigmata. He had initially planned to gather all three of them at once or arrange a mutually beneficial trade.

But... There didn't seem to be anything he truly needed from her. Defeating Honkai was the most urgent task, but that was a global concern, not a personal one. Offering too much without reciprocation could lead to resentment—it was an age-old truth.

Honestly, if Bronya weren't the protagonist and someone he already knew well through the game, he wouldn't bother gifting her anything.

If there had to be conditions...

He kind of wanted to see Bronya in her duck costume—it just seemed so... appealing.

As expected of the protagonist from eight years in the future, her growth was truly impressive!

Using the stigmata as part of a deal with Schicksal was reasonable, especially since the game's support for Bronya had already been maxed out.

Walking along the street, Luo Mo pondered over these random thoughts, his mind wandering far and wide.

He greeted employees as he passed, eventually arriving at his office without incident.

Su Lu had been oddly quiet recently, not a peep from her all day.

Today... He decided to complete Bronya's stigmata.

Giving himself a pep talk for the rare task of doing something serious, Luo Mo also planned to release a side story.

Delta had arrived at an opportune moment. He had been debating the timing of its release, but with Delta here, today was the day.

As for analyzing and discussing Delta's arrival...

Obviously not. Luo Mo quickly dismissed that idea, not even glancing at the related files. Instead, he picked up "Seele's Brave Adventure."

This was what he truly needed.

The tale of brave Seele, the ever-present Spirit of the Spring, and Bronya's transformation into a demon king...

But this time, the spotlight wasn't on them.

It was on a cool, silent warrior wielding a greatsword—Delta.

Finally, the illustration drawn by Griseo, depicting the "fusion" of the two sisters he described, leapt vividly onto the paper. It was indeed identical to the visitor from yesterday...

Su Lu, however, had no interest in the documents before her. Although Luo Mo had already distributed the prepared event plan, she merely forwarded those arrangements.

At the moment, her brows furrowed as she focused on the chaotic dialogue echoing in her mind.

The other party... really was noisy!

"Why don't you just die already, you detestable dolls!"

"…Failed, failed, so terrifying, so terrifying!"

"Yes, yes, so many companions... swoosh! Gone without a trace!"

"It's so dangerous, so dangerous! Is there any way to save us? Sob, sob!"

"…How about killing that nearby culprit? It's him! He's the one who caused us to be betrayed. Even though—though they were the ones who truly betrayed us…"

Heh, the side with fewer people is the real betrayer, isn't it? Look at how many Herrschers there are on each side.

Right now, you are the betrayers. Hurry up and surrender with me.

Su Lu's expression remained indifferent as her lips moved silently, voicing words unheard.

"You... have no backbone at all. Oh, right, you were never on our side to begin with."

"Silence!"

Su Luo heard the crisp sound of a hammer strike, and her consciousness seemed to be pulled into a theater.

Scattered dolls sat sparsely on tiered seats, black smoke drifting in the dim sky. The large theater, filled not with people but dolls, buzzed with unsettling energy.

Their joints occasionally moved in ways impossible for humans. The noisy clamor subsided after the hammer struck. Then, all their eyes focused on her in the center.

A strange smile played at the corners of their mouths—bizarre, scrutinizing, hesitant...

"Are you all planning to kill me?"

Su Lu's voice trembled slightly. Witnessing the Dominator's Theater from the game in real life was surreal. But she wasn't one of those battle-hardened warriors like Kiana and the others.

In fact... even Kiana as she is now couldn't compare to the version that entered the Dominator's Theater in the game.

At the end of the day, Su Lu only had the strength of a two- or three-star Stigmata. She herself wasn't anything extraordinary.

Some of the dolls shook their heads; others nodded. More stayed motionless.

"…Then, let the judgment begin! Along with the path we choose!"

(TL: What? No~ don't end up giving up~)

The dolls on stage cheered wildly, while those offstage reacted with euphoric madness.

Madness, sin, survival, and longing, all of it played out in this small theater. Yet it remained confined to this tiny corner of the world, silent and unseen by others.

---

Elsewhere, in the recording studio

The usually bustling room was unexpectedly empty. Senti, being an impatient type, had long gone with Kiana and the others to save the world.

Fu Hua, however, stayed behind, along with Bronya, Seele, and the two Vodka Girls.

Fu Hua looked curiously at the Stigmata in Luo Mo's palm. Instinctively, she felt that the power contained within it might surpass even her own. So... could there be differences among Stigmata too?

"This Stigmata is…"

Bronya's face lit up with excitement. Even though she had expected it, she couldn't hide her emotional reaction.

Depicted on the Stigmata was her own image, with various stages of herself portrayed.

At the same time, she felt an attraction emanating from it, as if it was something of utmost importance to her.

"If we're talking in game terms, it would be your exclusive Stigmata," Luo Mo explained, stroking his chin. He tailored his words depending on the person, and clearly, communicating with Bronya using gaming terminology was most effective. Perhaps... that other Bronya, the one who might be lying in bed right now, would understand too?

"Its name is Bronya Zaychik. It's probably something that appears much later in the story."

"So it hasn't been introduced in the game yet?"

"Exactly. In fact, I think the current you isn't even recognized by it yet... After all, you haven't fully accepted your own Core."

"…Huh?"

Bronya tilted her head, her puzzled gaze fixed on him. She looked young and naive, the kind of clear, innocent foolishness unique to students.

She could distinctly feel the Core within her. Was it fake?

Does staying in school life for too long do this to people?

That thought briefly crossed Luo Mo's mind.

"Compared to other Cores, the Herrscher of Reason's Core is the safest one for humans to accept, but that's for a reason. Think of it this way: someone else has borne the risk for you."

"If you can't overcome the thoughts of those 300,000 individuals… you'll never reach your limits. The risk is fixed. If the trials you face earlier are less, the final step will be tougher. There's no shortcut."

He hesitated slightly before explaining it in a way he understood.

As the saying goes, blessings and curses go hand in hand. Fully transforming the Core into one's own power, taking that step to ascension—Herrschers of Reason seem to gain noticeably more strength from this, using the power of Truth to rival Kiana and Mei.

"Uh…"

Bronya was clearly taken aback. She lowered her head, seemingly deep in thought.

She seemed to understand what he meant…

So merely inheriting Mr. Welt's will wasn't enough, huh?

"Use them as a foundation, but… what if the original Herrscher of Reason couldn't defeat them either?"

Luo Mo threw the question back at her, almost as if questioning himself too.

He believed that the Bronya before him understood everything.

Fu Hua, listening from the side, was slightly lost in thought. Her fingers subconsciously brushed against her chin as she silently agreed with the sentiment,

If they couldn't surpass their past, they wouldn't be able to open the door to the future that they couldn't reach before.

But surpassing the past—how could that be easy…

"Bronya-sis…"

Seele hesitated, reaching out her slender hand to place it on Bronya's shoulder.

[...Is that why her progress isn't as fast as yours? Even though she's still far ahead of you now, in the future…]

[But later on, who knows? That Stigmata… it's way too overpowered.]

Dark Seele muttered, sounding slightly jealous. The price of being a Herrscher had all been borne by her, yet Seele's mastery was still too weak. She should have been no weaker than herself overall.

"What about Herrscher Ascension… Luo Mo, how many Herrschers on our side have completed their ascension?"

Fu Hua turned her head, her long hair swaying. Her outfit, no longer monotonous, featured a blend of black and white with youthful accents and even some cute Chiyuan-style accessories.

Unfortunately, her chest remained as flat as ever—truly a pity.

"…Perhaps the Herrscher of Sentience  and Wendy are the closest to that level? Mei is still uncertain…"

Luo Mo hesitated, using his hands to gesture a height before lowering it slightly for comparison.

Wendy was becoming increasingly studious, and he couldn't help but worry she might turn into the "Wen Emperor" of Honkai Impact 2nd, where her destructive power swept across the entire world, leaving no survivors. In a twisted way, that would indeed solve the Honkai problem. But jokes like that weren't something to make lightly.

"Though perhaps, being one step away could still mean an insurmountable barrier for life…"

Fu Hua seemed thoughtful after hearing this. Could the level of the Herrscher of Sentience still grow stronger?

Beside her, a certain girl had already made up her mind. There had only ever been one path forward in this reality.

She was just… more determined now.

"…Bronya understands. Bronya will work hard and definitely surpass her predecessors! Boss, is there anything else you need? This is far too precious, but… there's no reason to refuse. It feels as though it's calling to me,"

Bronya closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. A hint of heat flickered in her gaze as she softly muttered, "…I want it."

Her gray eyes burned with intensity; she didn't flinch or look away.

"The price? Well, every item already has its corresponding cost when it descends. But if you ask what I want… giving it to you was always the best choice to begin with."

Luo Mo sighed helplessly.

Bronya's response didn't surprise him. She didn't like owing others, and being clever, she always drew clear distinctions. If it were Kiana, she'd probably carry it in her heart forever, never forgetting.

"Best doesn't mean only. Bronya can promise the boss certain requests, though… nothing beyond reasonable limits."

She stared directly at Luo Mo, speaking plainly, without the slightest trace of shyness or leading others to think of anything inappropriate.

"…Who's that kind of person! Fine, take it. If you can fully utilize it, maybe you'll surpass Fu Hua ahead of time!"

Luo Mo, hearing this, couldn't help but feel irritated. He turned his gaze away in frustration, unwilling to let it linger.

He absolutely hadn't been thinking of anything improper!

"…Feeling guilty, huh?"

"Ugh, there's no way Luo Mo-gege would do that! Seele must've misunderstood."

"Surpass… me? Why me?"

Fu Hua tilted her head, her eyes filled with confusion and doubt. The only part of the conversation that puzzled her was the last statement.

Was she supposed to be the goal?

"Well, you know, the saying goes, eight years east of the river, eight years west—don't underestimate a young girl's… poverty!"

"Exactly."

Luo Mo admitted it frankly, trying to explain himself to Fu Hua. Somehow, though, he had accidentally let the words slip!

"Poverty?"

Fu Hua's confusion deepened.