"But her believers will never give up because of this!"
The mimic Abyss Flower in Otto's hand transformed into the mimic Xuanyuan Sword. Holding the Xuanyuan Sword with both hands, he continuously slashed forward and hurled countless Xuanyuan Swords outward.
He forcibly carved open a path toward the Imaginary Tree.
Just as he took one step forward.
He was drawn by the sound from behind. The Imaginary puppets rapidly gathered and fused, ultimately forming a massive creature hundreds of meters tall.
The television screen switched to the day of Kallen's execution. She stepped onto the execution platform step by step, the noose placed around her neck…
But the entire city was suddenly destroyed by Honkai beasts that appeared out of nowhere. Countless Honkai beasts slaughtered civilians.
Kallen tore the noose apart, shattered her shackles, and rushed down from the execution platform…
ROAR!!!
Otto was also sent flying by the monster's roar.
Facing such a powerful monster, he could only take passive blows. Even the mimic Xuanyuan Sword could not harm it in the slightest.
After being knocked back once more.
He activated the mimic Oath of Judah. Countless chains flew out from the crucifix, tightly binding the monster.
Otto then leaped up while holding the crucifix and smashed it down hard onto the monster's head from high above.
The monster's head shattered with a crack.
Its entire body collapsed powerlessly to the ground.
By now, Otto was no longer able to support his own body. He could only use the direction of the monster's fall to inch closer to his ultimate goal.
He struggled to rise from the ground.
Staggering, stumbling—one step, one step—toward the Imaginary Tree.
Because he had fought here for too long and been delayed for too much time, his own body had already begun taking on the same color as those Imaginary puppets. If he lingered any longer, he too would become just another one of the countless Imaginary puppets here.
He laboriously made his way toward the Imaginary Tree.
His hand was just about to touch the Imaginary Tree…
In that very instant.
Countless whip-like thorns pierced through his body. On the television screen, Kallen's body was also pierced by the Honkai beast in an instant.
His consciousness gradually scattered.
"I… cannot… give up… Kallen…"
His lips trembled slightly. In his final moments, he saw Kallen—he saw that most beautiful smile…
A wish held for a hundred years, an obsession carried for a century—all for her!
All to grant the one who wore that smile a second life.
Otto forcibly gathered his fading consciousness once more, forcing his already broken body to move again.
Every cell in his body seemed to roar, squeezing out the very last drop of strength, all for the sake of fulfilling his century-old wish.
Void Archives activated at zero rated power.
Countless rays of light devoured all the black threads, annihilating every single monster.
"Once a person's soul is scattered to the winds, they cannot be brought back to life."
"The world allows consciousness to match a new vessel, but it does not permit the vessel to gather the scattered consciousness."
"To save the one and only her, I can only… create new possibilities in the past."
Otto tossed the Void Archives to the ground.
He picked up the mimic Judgment of Shamash.
Step by step, he walked toward the Imaginary Tree.
He placed his hand upon the Imaginary Tree, allowing it to grow new branches, recreating new possibilities from the past.
"This other future will belong to her timeline."
In that very instant.
In the very moment Kallen was killed by the Honkai beast.
Time came to a complete standstill.
Then it began to flow once more.
The spike that had pierced Kallen vanished…
High in the sky.
Otto, gripping Judgment of Shamash, plummeted toward the Honkai beast in front of Kallen.
Even after five hundred years.
He had never forgotten this location.
His speed grew faster and faster.
Finally transforming into a streak of light, he completely annihilated the Honkai beast.
His existence vanished entirely: "Kallen, live on."
The wind passed through the frozen time.
Though the man's consciousness had already dissipated, his final words continued to echo in the motionless wind.
"…That's the story. I took a trip to a very, very distant future, experienced all sorts of adventures, and finally had the chance to tell you the truth of the world like this."
"Don't worry. This time, everything will change because of you."
"Just as, a very, very long time ago, you changed a certain boy."
"It was a spring morning…"
"The boy who was unloved met you when you climbed over the wall."
"You greeted him warmly and invited him to play with you."
"And in that very moment—"
"That boy received the salvation of his entire life."
Kallen: "…"
Kallen: "..."
Kallen: "Farewell, my great inventor."
With that.
This episode of Honkai Impact 3rd came to an end.
The ending credits were completely different from before. Accompanied by the BGM, a montage of Otto Apocalypse's life appeared: the wooden airplane he threw as a child ultimately landed at the feet of his hundred-years-older self.
In the very last scene, a young Kallen and Otto leaned against each other under the night sky beneath a great tree and fell asleep.
The episode officially concluded.
But the audience in front of their television screens remained unable to snap out of it for a long time.
They had clearly shed tears for Otto for so long, yet seeing him ultimately revive Kallen at the cost of his own existence also made them feel happy for him.
Countless people didn't know what expression to make.
Those who had originally planned to celebrate Otto's death in bars now had no mood to drink.
They all sat in the bars in a daze.
Someone subconsciously switched the television to Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company's official live stream.
Inside, Theresa was broadcasting live.
"I've really been too busy lately. Before I knew it… so many days have already passed."
"Schicksal Headquarters is still running smoothly. Everyone is guarding their posts as before… just a little busier than usual…"
"Everything that's happened these past few days feels like a hazy dream—unreal."
"The signature on old documents, the study in the old headquarters, the paintings on the wall… every time I see them, I feel an indescribable emotion. It's not quite sadness, nor quite regret."
"It's like there's some inexplicable thread in my heart that occasionally tugs at me when I least expect it."
"I don't know why, but I always have this dazed feeling: maybe after some more time, that person will appear somewhere else, post another video, and casually stir up another huge piece of news…"
"Just like the day he grandly announced his resignation to the world."
"…"
"No…"
"What am I even thinking? Grandpa really has already…"
At this point…
Theresa could no longer continue the stream. With a sobbing voice, she said: "I need to go handle Schicksal matters."
She stood up and hid in a corner, beginning to cry.
Her emotions instantly triggered the feelings of countless viewers.
"Aaaaahhh! Why do I feel so uncomfortable, so eager to cry now that Otto is gone?!"
"I'm really being knifed to death. Can Otto really knife me like this?"
"My Bishop, can you come back again?"
"Wuwuwuwuwu, I don't want Otto to die. I regret it—what do I do?!"
"I've never liked a character this much before. Dog director, why did you make me fall in love with him and then kill him off?"
"The Bishop's charisma is too strong. I really love him to death. Why did the day I fell in love with him have to be the day I lost him?"
"Dog director, can you at least respond—will Otto ever come back to life or not?"
"I'm really being knifed to death. This drama is pure knife. I've cried all my tears dry today…"
"…"
Unlike the mood in the chat groups.
In various bars, the viewers who had originally come to celebrate Otto's death sat in prolonged silence after the episode.
They wiped their tears and raised their glasses: "To our former Bishop Otto Apocalypse, the highest respect!"
The others also raised their glasses one after another: "To our former Bishop Otto Apocalypse, the highest respect!"
"Cheers!!"
Everyone drank down this bitter cup with hearts full of sorrow.
Meanwhile, inside the company.
Elysia was comforting Theresa.
Hessian walked over and said: "Theresa, don't cry anymore. Even though you've lost your grandfather, you still have me."
Theresa, already crying with pear blossoms bathed in rain, rushed over upon hearing this and bit down hard on his arm.
"It's all your fault! You're the one who wrote my grandfather to death! It's all because of you!"
Hessian grimaced in pain.
After finally getting the girl to let go, he said aggrievedly: "How can you blame me? If Kalpas hadn't threatened me with a chainsaw, would I have written Otto's death? This was a character I acted myself—I'm the one who's suffering the most."
Kalpas, who had been sitting nearby full of regret and sorrow,
was stunned upon hearing this.
Just as he was about to speak.
He saw Theresa's furious gaze.
He wanted to seek help from the others, but after looking around, everyone was more or less the same—blaming him for threatening Hessian.
If he hadn't impulsively threatened him, Hessian definitely wouldn't have written Otto's death like this.
Helpless.
He could only bear everyone's resentment.
But then he suddenly spotted someone—Li Sushang.
He immediately said: "It's not all my fault. If Li Sushang's drone livestream hadn't exposed Director He's location, the audience wouldn't have been able to threaten him."
Li Sushang, who was already feeling miserable and regretful, was now dragged into it by Kalpas and felt utterly wronged: "How was I supposed to know Otto was such a pure-love guy? If I'd known he was this pure in love, I would've fallen for him myself. Why would I want him dead?"
She looked toward Hessian: "Director He… can you bring Otto back to life?"
Hessian said decisively: "No! He's already dead beyond dead—body dead once, soul extinguished once, his very existence erased by the Imaginary Tree. How could he possibly come back? He's thoroughly, completely dead!"
"…"
"…"
The entire company fell into dead silence.
Hessian mercilessly delivered the final blow: "Wasn't this the outcome you and Kalpas wanted? I did exactly what you asked—why are you crying now?"
"I…"
"We…"
Kalpas and Li Sushang felt bitter beyond words.
They both wished they could slap themselves again—why had they been so impulsive back then!
Before they could continue regretting.
Hessian continued: "I remember you both have fan groups, right? Well… to keep the audience from holding onto unrealistic hopes, go ahead and leak what I just said."
"Just tell them Otto is already dead beyond dead—body dead once, soul extinguished once, his very existence erased by the Imaginary Tree. He's thoroughly, completely dead and absolutely impossible to revive."
"…"
"…"
Upon hearing this, both of them wore constipated expressions.
They felt as miserable as could be.
Having them personally tell their fans this—wouldn't the fans tear them apart?
SAKURA, standing to the side, reminded Pardofelis: "Pardo, remember—never offend him. Look at what happened to them."
Pardofelis nodded vigorously: "Mm! Don't worry, Sakura-nee, I absolutely won't go offending him."
Eden, who hadn't left yet, also sighed: "Ellie, your husband really is terrifying."
Elysia smiled and said: "It's fine~ He was just bullied too much before. Now he finally has a chance to get a little revenge. It's okay."
Just as they were speaking…
Everyone heard the commotion coming from outside the company.
A sound like this—they had heard it only last week.
Mobius said: "Hessian, it seems that group of viewers is back again."
Hessian didn't care at all. He directly said to Kalpas and Li Sushang: "Perfect timing. You don't need to say it in the fan groups anymore—just go outside and repeat what I just said to these viewers."
"Holy crap! This is straight-up demonic!" Tesla couldn't help but blurt out.
Einstein immediately covered her mouth: "Director He, she didn't say anything just now."
Hessian truly didn't mind. He only urged: "Hurry up. Don't keep the audience waiting."
Kalpas steeled himself.
Thinking that it was his fault anyway—he might as well go!
Seeing him leave, Li Sushang followed after him.
The two arrived together at the company entrance.
A crowd several times larger than last week's had already gathered here. This time, the viewers did not smash bottles or throw things, nor did they shout things like "kill the dog director."
When they saw Kalpas.
They immediately began asking in a flurry:
"We came today just to ask for an explanation—is Otto really dead? Is there any chance he could come back?"
"If the director wanted to, could he find a way to bring Otto back later? After all, he came back to life after being killed by the Herrscher of Sentience too."
"Don't stay silent—give us a clear answer!"
"We're not here to kill the director this time. We just want an answer, or for you to fulfill our request."
Kalpas was just about to speak.
When Hessian's voice came from upstairs: "Rest assured, everyone—I guarantee Otto is dead beyond dead. No matter what, he can't come back. I've perfectly fulfilled your demands! Everyone can be happy now, rejoice!"
"…"
"…"
The viewers below all wanted to curse.
Damn it!
They came precisely to see if the director could find a way to revive Otto.
The reason they weren't as aggressive with their words as last week was because on the way here they felt they had gone too far last time and felt a bit embarrassed this time.
They hadn't even started making their request yet, and he was already saying it was impossible?
And telling them to rest assured?
To be happy and rejoice?
Who the hell who watched this episode could actually laugh?!
Seeing everyone below wearing constipated expressions.
Hessian asked with feigned curiosity: "Huh? Why aren't you happy? Last week it was clearly Kalpas threatening me with a chainsaw to write Otto's death. And Li Sushang—you were the one who livestreamed my declaration, right? So you should be happy!"
"Holy shit!"
"It was you guys!"
"You damn bastards—it's all because you threatened the director to kill Otto. Otherwise there would've at least been some room to turn things around!"
"You motherfucker—even threatened him with a chainsaw? If you're so capable, go threaten the director with a chainsaw now and make him write Otto back to life."
"Back to life your ass? Didn't you see the end? He's dead beyond dead. Himeko at least left a body that wasn't found—Otto's body was shattered to pieces."
"Fuck!! It's all because of you two—my Bishop is gone because of you!"
"Wuwuwuwu, my Bishop can never come back. It's all your fault, all because of you!"
"I'm never threatening the director again. You really knifed me to death. I regret it so much!"
"Kalpas, why don't you go threaten the director again? Think of something!"
Kalpas standing in front of them was also helpless.
He really had no way out. This dog director had long ago sealed off any retreat—filming Otto's death so thoroughly that even a god couldn't think of a way to bring him back.
Li Sushang was also filled with regret.
Why had she played with a drone last week?
Playing with a drone was one thing—why did she agree to come to the company?
Sigh…
Regret beyond measure!
However…
These viewers didn't curse them for too long.
After all, everyone had a bit of guilt in their hearts—they had all been participants in last week's events.
After cursing and crying themselves out, they slowly dispersed.
Hessian looked at the two who were already exhausted and said with a smile: "Alright, let bygones be bygones. Starting tomorrow, Kalpas, you need to start acting."
Kalpas, upon hearing this, instantly took several steps back in fright: "Director He! You're still going to torment me? I really know I was wrong. I definitely won't threaten you again in the future."