Chapter 77: Daybreak: Kosma II
The entire squad fled, with the exception of Kosma. He believed he could protect the others and become a hero. However, they soon received news from Kevin: the Herrscher of Ice had been killed by him, whose identity was unknown at the time, and the Honkai disaster had not spread. During this period, Kosma also met a young Griseo.
The days that followed were quite peaceful. Kosma grew very close to his captain, Kevin, and together with his teammate Daya, they cared for Griseo, deepening their bond further. Kosma had always regarded Kevin as a hero and an idol, tirelessly promoting his deeds.
When the Seventh Honkai Eruption occurred, Kosma, Kevin, and others successively became MANTISes. Kosma fused with the genes of the Judgment-class Honkai beast—Vimana. However, due to the imperfection of the technology, his body underwent mutations; horns similar to those of a demon grew on his head, and his hands became deformed.
Because the number of MANTISes was small and their status was unique, they were not accepted by the general public. Daya often picked out gifts with Kosma to maintain friendships among the MANTISes. Eden once gave Kosma a harmonica, and Kosma began to learn it and carried it with him ever since.
After the Eighth Honkai Eruption, Daya died at the hands of the Herrscher of Sentience. Kosma inherited her final wish, continuing to buy gifts for the MANTISes so they would not forget Daya's existence.
Bin, who had once been Kosma's captain, was killed by the gravity of the Herrscher of Earth during the Ninth Honkai Eruption while covering for Kevin. Before he died, he pleaded with Kosma to take good care of Griseo.
Afterward, Kevin took full responsibility. Because of Bin's sacrifice, Kosma began to question Kevin's decisions. The previous actions that had repeatedly sent them to their deaths made him suspicious of the justice of the MOTHs.
Finally, Kosma broke with Kevin and left the MOTHs. It wasn't until later that Kosma was found by Mobius in a ruin, and the two reached an agreement: Kosma would serve as a test subject for Mobius to explore the limits of MANTISes, and in return, Mobius would help Kosma return to being human.
...
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Griseo: Papa! ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Kosma: Griseo, don't cry! ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Aponia: Leave her to me. ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Herta: Is it possible to return to being human after becoming a MANTIS? ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Theresa: Return to being human? Does that mean I could grow up? ]
[ Genshin Impact - Yae Miko: Oh my, poor Miss Theresa is crying and making a fuss just because she can't grow up. Wuwuwuwu, how pitiful! ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Theresa: ... ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Kiana: Hahahahahaha! ]
...
Later, with Aponia's help, Kosma returned to being human. Mobius also made him the first test subject for the super-mutation experiment. Kosma subsequently formed a squad with Pardofelis and Hua to carry out missions.
As time passed, the ARK Project was proposed. Kosma, who possessed the infinitely growing Vishnu genes in his body, was selected as the executor of the project. At first, Kosma did not refuse, but as the Honkai and the project progressed, he realized the corruption of his civilization. The so-called ARK Project was nothing more than letting himself become a deserter. Kosma felt this went against the belief in heroism in his heart and began to resist the ARK Project. In the end, Griseo replaced Kosma to execute it.
Under Elysia's recommendation, Kosma joined the Thirteen Flame-Chasers and participated in the Finality battle on the moon, where he ultimately sacrificed himself.
After Raiden Mei entered the Elysian Realm, in order to stall the Herrscher of Corruption, Kosma asked Griseo to use her own data to paint, so as to deceive the Herrscher of Corruption. This method was undoubtedly destroying his own existence as a memory construct, but Kosma still chose this path without hesitation, fulfilling his ambition as a hero.
...
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Kevin: Kosma. ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Kosma: This kind of ending doesn't seem so bad; it even let me experience what it feels like to be a hero. ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Robin: A hero's story should be written into songs so that everyone can praise him. ]
[ Genshin Impact - Venti: Eh, why does this sound so familiar? It seems I've said something like that. ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Sushang: That's great. If only I could become a great hero of the Xianzhou in the future. ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Guinaifen: Don't worry, Shangshang, if you train hard, you can become someone as amazing as them too. ]
[ Genshin Impact - Diluc: When the light comes, there will always be something that needs them to illuminate it. ]
[ Genshin Impact - Kaeya: That's true. So, Master Diluc, where did you go last night? Can you come to the Knights of Favonius and report it? ]
"Next, we will play a request from Honkai Impact 3rd - Kosma."
"This is no different from making Griseo kill you with her own hands, ..."
The screen slowly appeared, showing Kosma sitting on top of a ruined building, with endless yellow sand in the distance. He slowly opened his mouth and said: "I hope you can use the Eighth Divine Key to deceive Griseo's perception."
"I don't want her to use my colors, but rather… all the data, to become a painting from Griseo's brush. This is the best of both worlds."
"I am not dead, but have just changed the way I exist here forever."
"Hua, I'll leave the rest to you. Please deceive her for me!"
"The video ends here."
...
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Kiana: This… this is a tear-jerker, right? ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Griseo: Kosma… no, I don't want you to die. ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Kosma: I haven't died; I've just entered eternity in another way. Griseo, don't be sad, you must keep moving forward! ]
[ Genshin Impact - Zhongli: I wish to buy osmanthus wine and go boating together, but it is no longer like the days of youth. ]
[ Genshin Impact - Arataki Itto: If this Kosma were in our world, I would definitely invite him to join our Arataki Gang. ]
[ Genshin Impact - Kujou Sara: You silly oni, can you be a bit more normal? Can you stop making trouble here? Go play with mud somewhere else. ]
[ Genshin Impact - Arataki Itto: Kujou Tengu, what do you mean by that? ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Bronya: Being a hero? Actually, being a hero isn't that easy. ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Natasha: Don't worry, with Miss Topaz's help, we have basically gotten on the right track. At most, in ten years, Belobog will be able to regain its former glory. ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Topaz: That's for sure. ]
But even though Topaz said this, she felt helpless inside. After all, if she didn't do this, that Aeon of Destiny would have torn the Interastral Peace Corporation apart.
...
"Alright, alright, next we will play a social death video."
"What? Kosma actually likes the bare feet of girls under 12?"
...