Dedicated to the Thirteen Flame-Chasers.
The Elysian Realm comes to its curtain call here.
Looking at the text formed by pink petals coalescing in pure white on the television,
Countless viewers across the country finally snapped back to reality and completely exploded.
"yysy, even though the dog director buries knives, his sincerity is too much!"
"Elysia, the Elysian Realm, and the Flame-Chasers' departure… it somehow doesn't feel so hard to accept anymore…"
"Yes, this is exactly the grand finale, making up for the regrets in history."
"Elysia is always like this—the beginning of everything, and also the end of everything!"
"Tragedy is not the end, but the beginning of hope!"
"…"
After this short film ended, the number of viewers cursing Hessian as the dog director dwindled to almost none.
Most viewers were captivated by the quality and content of the short film.
The exceptionally high quality, the perfect fit of the BGM, and the appearances of Elysia and the Flame-Chasers—
Every single one of these was far more worth discussing than that infuriating dog director.
The only thing people still couldn't accept was that the Thirteen Flame-Chasers and the Elysian Realm were truly gone.
That flawless pink true-self Flame-Chaser was ultimately frozen forever in a dreamlike sea of flowers with her turning-back smile.
…
Inside Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company.
Everyone was excitedly discussing it as well. People like Seele had red eyes, yet their faces clearly showed relief.
Although the Thirteen Flame-Chasers were gone—even dying a total of 43 times across the thirteen of them—
But as the end credits said, the short film had already become a grand curtain call belonging to the Thirteen Flame-Chasers.
It made up for the Previous Era's regrets and even subjugated the Herrscher of Corrosion.
In comparison, Eden and Aponia seemed somewhat quiet.
Elysia leaned over for a look and realized they were staring at their phones.
In the fan group, everyone was spamming one sentence:
"Celebrate! This is the supreme? most beloved? most good? most beautiful? most pure? most true TruE?!"
"True Self Elysia!!"
Mobius chuckled and said, "This seems to be the first message your husband sent—it attracted a ton of fans to forward it!"
Eden also smiled, "It really is quite fitting, isn't it?"
If it were an ordinary girl, even if she didn't turn into a steam girl, at the very least her face would be flushed red by now.
But Elysia simply smiled lightly, "That's right~ Please give me more praise like this—my husband really understands me best."
Even so, Hessian still felt a chill down his back—he had the distinct feeling that tonight wasn't going to end well.
Then came the next day.
When everyone in the company saw Hessian, they noticed the dog director not only had faint dark circles but was even drinking goji berry tea for health.
Clearly still very young, yet he looked as though he had already entered middle-aged retirement life.
"Don't retire, dog director—you can't retire!"
Kiana, who had no idea what she was imagining, suddenly shouted.
After shouting, she immediately sensed something was wrong—everyone around her was looking at her with eyes that said "beyond saving."
What made Kiana tremble even more was Hessian's kindly smile:
"Kiana, what did you just call me?"
Although "dog director" had already become the nationwide viewers' affectionate nickname for Hessian,
Kiana daring to say it so openly left everyone admiring her courage.
Kalpas: "6!"
Kiana forced out a smile uglier than crying, "Forgive me just this once, okay?"
"At least… for the sake of me being the heroine?"
Before Hessian could answer, a radiant Elysia was already cuddling up to Kiana.
"Ah, of course~ Kiana is so cute—how could anyone bear to refuse your request?"
Hugging Kiana cheek-to-cheek, Elysia said with a beaming smile.
Mei, watching this scene, suddenly felt her head grow heavy.
She now completely understood how Kiana had felt before.
…
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
During the filming of the subsequent plot, everyone was noticeably more at ease and proficient.
Compared to the listless feeling after the end of "Apocalypse, As Said,"
This time, viewers nationwide were eagerly waiting, looking forward to the continuation of Honkai Impact 3rd's story.
Inside Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company.
As usual, everyone sat together, surrounding Hessian in the middle to prevent him from throwing knives and running away.
After all, Kiana had publicly called him "dog director" before.
Although Elysia was acting as guarantor, Kiana was still a little nervous and even more serious about acting than usual.
Hessian, however, was completely unfazed and even had the mood to take out his phone to check the fan group messages.
"The Elysian Realm arc is over, Elysia and the Flame-Chasers left in a grand finale, but fuck I can't sleep!"
"Same, same—now I've got full pink-hair PTSD. I see pink and immediately think of Elysia!"
"Elysia, take me with you—without Elysia, what meaning is left in this world?"
"Speaking of which, has Honkai Impact 3rd's plot reached its ending already?"
"Kinda reluctant… in the blink of an eye, weekly must-watch Honkai Impact 3rd has been engraved into my DNA!"
"…"
As expected, even now, Elysia still held unmatched discussion heat.
In contrast, viewers looking forward to and discussing the subsequent plot were few and far between.
But as the new episode began airing, viewers nationwide and the actors in the company all focused intently.
Afraid of missing any important plot point.
…
On the television screen.
No picture appeared at first—only a familiar voice sounded.
"…"
"I remember it very clearly…"
"That night, I happened to walk to the window and looked up at the starry sky."
"I suddenly had a strange feeling—as if it wasn't me gazing at the stars, but the stars gazing down at me."
Without a doubt, it was Dr. MEI's voice—a memory as unforgettable as ever, no matter how much time had passed.
Just like thousands, tens of thousands of nights before.
The cold starry sky overlooked a man equally cold.
The starry sky was unfathomable.
So was the man.
He felt neither sorrow nor joy, untouched by reincarnation.
—In the eyes of his followers, he was like a will constructed directly from vacuum.
"Sovereign."
A voice suddenly rang out.
"…"
Kevin remained silent and did not respond.
"Sovereign?"
The voice sounded again, now carrying doubt.
Kevin spoke, "…I'm listening."
Under the night sky, World Serpent's Sovereign Kevin shifted his gaze toward Raven beside him.
Raven said without changing expression, "Jackal asked me to report to you—the Hare's project has passed the verification experiment."
"Please give instructions."
"…"
Kevin silently sized up the mercenary before him, as if they were meeting for the first time.
Raven, facing Kevin's gaze, felt as though pins and needles were pricking her back.
Fortunately, just as Raven was about to break into a cold sweat, Kevin said flatly:
"…Have the children been settled?"
Hearing this, Raven even doubted her own ears.
She had never imagined that Sovereign Kevin would discuss this topic with her.
But Raven still answered quickly, "I arranged a camping plan for them."
"Everyone is really looking forward to the starry sky there."
Kevin remained cold, "It is indeed worth their anticipation."
Listening to Kevin's voice—as always devoid of sorrow or joy—Raven suddenly realized
she might have been overthinking things earlier.
Outside the television, many viewers couldn't hold back and burst out laughing on the spot.
"Is Raven sweating buckets or questioning her life right now?"
"If you don't understand Kevin, that's just how the World Serpent Sovereign filter works."
"Wuuu, Kevin… he really carries too much. We shouldn't have called him unhinged before."
"Cheerful big-boy Kevin, Elysian Realm Kevin, and now Sovereign Kevin—it's so emotional!"
"…"
After the baptism of the Elysian Realm, no viewers called Kevin unhinged anymore.
In fact, they felt that if they were put in Kevin's place, they might be even more unhinged.
His beloved MEI was truly gone, the Previous Era destroyed, surviving comrades few and far between…
Especially her—Elysia, who as the Thirteenth Herrscher was subjugated, yet brought no hope to the Previous Era.
But no matter how viewers lamented, the plot on the television continued.
…
In the distance, an owl hooted untimely, making Raven recall a certain Gray Serpent's funeral.
Back then, she had silently watched certain remains that could barely be called corpses.
They were being methodically dismantled step by step by a swarm of busy micro-robots.
Ultimately reduced to a pile of unremarkable mechanical parts.
"…"
"…"
In the suffocating silence, Kevin took the initiative to speak: "Raven, in your opinion—why do birds fly?"
Raven hesitated, "This…"
An inexplicably strange question, but she knew her Sovereign never said inexplicable things.
Even if she didn't understand, she had to answer honestly.
Thinking of this, Raven pondered and said, "If it's my personal opinion… I think birds can simply fly."
"There is no 'why' to it."
"…"
Kevin fell silent. Perhaps this answer didn't satisfy him.
Seeing the Sovereign before her fall silent, Raven also fell silent.
Viewers in front of the television were a little confused.
Inside the company.
"Birds… why do they fly?"
Eden pondered the sentence and said, "This seems like a philosophical question?"
Compared to Eden, the others mostly showed clear, innocent confusion.
Like Kiana and Theresa, Kosma and little Griseo…
Mobius crossed her arms and gave a cold snort, "What philosophical question—it's obviously someone playing riddle speaker."
Hessian didn't refute this, instead showing an enigmatic smile.
Seeing this infuriating smile, Mobius became even more annoyed.
But since the dog director hadn't thrown any knives yet, she couldn't lash out directly.
At the same time, on the television.
Looking at the silent Raven, Kevin spoke: "You didn't say anything wrong."
"But Raven… in front of the children, would you answer the same way as just now?"
Raven replied without hesitation, "No, that's not the answer they want."
"In front of them… I think…"
"I would tell them that birds fly because they want to fly."
"It's the fate they forge for themselves."
Kevin said flatly, "I hope so too."
Raven noticed Kevin's gaze.
Clearly, those words weren't directed only at her.
This mercenary suddenly realized something—perhaps that entire seemingly whimsical conversation earlier had been the same.
Kevin's gaze passed over Raven and looked toward a deeper distance.
But there was nothing there—only the boundless starry sky.
One week later.
Raven arrived beside Mei.
Mei took the initiative: "Raven, is there something you want to say to me?"
From the underground base to the surface wasteland, then following the Shepherd's Path all the way into this ruined city.
After a long silence, this was the first time Mei—who was no longer part of World Serpent—had taken the initiative to ask.
Raven shrugged noncommittally, "Who knows?"
"Keep going forward, and you'll enter Schicksal's territory."
"If I really had something prepared to say, I should have told you clearly from the beginning."
Mei didn't dwell on it and instead asked about something else: "Are little Sora and the others doing okay?"
Raven replied, "Of course—rather, after these days, they're all a bit over-energetic."
"You know? Last time I went back, I saw the villa wallpaper completely covered in all kinds of graffiti."
"There was even a stick figure rolling on the ground—they all said that was me."
Hearing this, Mei couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Raven saw this and smiled as well: "If there's a chance in the future, remember to go see them again."
"Little Sora really likes you."
Mei nodded gladly, "Mm, it's a promise."
At that moment, Raven seemed to think of something and asked, "By the way… have you proactively contacted anyone from Schicksal or Anti-Entropy?"
Mei shook her head, "Not yet. If it's not face-to-face, I don't even know what I should say."
Raven sighed, "Ah, only at times like this do you turn back into the old Miss Mei?"
Mei: "…"
Raven waved her hand, "Okay, okay—no more jokes."
"Sending you off for a thousand miles must still end in parting…"
"The rest of the road, you'll have to walk alone."
"I'll take my leave now? I still have a pile of tasks personally assigned by the Sovereign that I haven't finished."
Mei caught the blind spot and asked, "Wait—you said Kevin personally assigned tasks to you?"
Raven answered, "Hard to imagine, right?"
"Same for me—but I can't belittle myself in front of the Sovereign."
"In short, right now my hands are full of dirty work, and I can't push it onto Gray Serpent."
Mei said softly, "Dirty work…"
Raven realized her words sounded ambiguous and explained, "Ah, not the kind you're thinking."
"How should I put it… it's proper physical labor, I guess."
Mei frowned, "That sounds even more suspicious."
Raven showed a smile, "What— even though you're no longer part of the organization,"
"our Miss Mei still cares about World Serpent's business blueprint?"
Mei narrowed her clear, cold beautiful eyes slightly: "I'm not joking, Raven."
"I originally felt that Kevin's behavior was somewhat hasty and strange."
"You know—if I go back just like this without understanding anything, it won't help me at all."
Raven asked curiously, "Oh? Then what do you plan to do?"
"…"
Mei was silent for a moment before speaking: "I'm going to follow you, Raven."
"Openly follow you."
Raven raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"