Next, It’s Your Story

Regardless of how angry Theresa was, on this side, Kiana handed over the controls to Luo Mo.

Although Luo Mo still wanted to trick someone into crying, the short film was already approaching fast.

Time waits for no one.

He happily agreed, after all, if it followed the same script as the one with Himeko, and someone chose to leave directly, wouldn't that mean he wouldn't get to see the full story? That would be even more frustrating.

So, without hesitation, he chose not to leave.

Thus, Mei... continued her conversation with Elysia.

A pure white, flawless space, just like Kiana's situation earlier.

Mei and Elysia were parting ways. Even though Mei had already stepped one foot into the passage leading back to the outside world, she still felt reluctant. The moments she had shared with Elysia flashed through her mind.

She would remember their existence forever, but even so, parting was inevitable.

This was the last time.

Mei understood this in her heart, yet she still hesitated to leave.

Elysia felt the same way.

But staying silent wouldn't solve anything. Some things had to be faced, and some farewells had to be spoken.

Only by becoming a star guarding the night could she see the person she longed for again, looking up and continuing forward.

"If you don't leave now... you really won't make it in time, you know?"

"Alright... I get it. You really don't want to leave me, do you? Of course, I feel the same way."

Elysia comforted Mei, and in doing so, comforted herself as well.

Her starry eyes held a gentle smile, yet they also carried loneliness. No matter how many times she experienced it, she still hated farewells.

She looked at Mei, watching her hesitant steps, unwilling to part. Then, she suddenly smiled brightly.

"But it's okay. Haven't you already carried all of us on your back?"

"Oh? Are you thinking—if you keep things this way, you can keep talking to me forever?"

"That's not very nice, teasing a girl's feelings like this... I might actually cry, you know?"

She smiled, her tone no different from before.

Yet those playful words struck Mei's heart harder than ever. Mei clenched her fists, but she still selfishly wanted to listen a little longer.

From the initial wariness when they first met, to her eventual resignation, and finally to her realization—

Without even noticing, Mei had spent so much time with her, and now, she fully trusted her.

"...Alright."

Elysia ran a hand through her hair, as if troubled, yet the faint smile at the corner of her lips and the reluctance in her eyes were unmistakable.

Mei didn't want to let go of this Elysia. And wasn't that proof of how close they had become?

"It's okay. If you don't want to move forward yet, then just pause for a moment."

"And then, look beside you. Look behind you..."

"See?"

"We will always be here."

(Image)

As her words fell, a beam of light seemed to appear in the white space, a painting forming in Mei's consciousness.

A painting depicting all the Flame-Chasers.

A ray of sunlight shone from behind them, illuminating their backs, as if carrying boundless radiance. Their gazes were fixed ahead, as if looking directly at her, encouraging her, anticipating her, hoping for her, delighting in her presence...

Just like how she remembered them.

So beautiful.

And their smiles, their hopes... were just as dazzling.

"It looks exactly the same as before, doesn't it?"

Elysia asked, looking at Mei.

"So, please don't forget—"

"The Elysian Realm recorded a simple story like this."

"A story filled with pain and failure, betrayal and separation. But also with happiness and joy, comfort and warmth."

"To set a goal with one's own will, to live freely in one's own way, to dedicate everything to one's own story as the protagonist of a lifetime."

"Look, that's what I did. That's what everyone did. I understood that era, and the thirteen people it brought forth were all the same."

"Countless paths intertwined, converging, giving birth to a miracle where a hundred flowers bloomed."

"This is eternal beauty, and I believe... this is the Ego."

"This is the Elysian Realm—the story of the Flame-Chasers, the Thirteen Heroes."

Elysia sighed softly. She loved this story.

And she loved the people in this story even more.

But she could no longer watch how her own story would unfold.

"This is the end of our story."

"And from now on..."

"It's your story."

She let out a long breath, smiling as she spoke, her voice soft, reluctant to let go of this final farewell.

Yes.

Their story had come to an end.

Just one last punctuation mark left.

She was reluctant to place it.

But this was the story's purpose. Continuing it any further, what would that even accomplish?

She didn't want it to end, but even more than that, she didn't want it to become something it was never meant to be.

"Thank you. I... won't forget."

Mei hesitated, her voice tinged with sorrow.

"Goodbye, Flame-Chasers..."

"Goodbye, Elysia."

In the midst of a blinding white light, she returned to reality.

From the peaceful, misty whiteness, from the world where she had met those thirteen Flame-Chasers—she stepped back, ready to face the grand and glorious conclusion that awaited her.

She could no longer witness how the story would end.

But surely, it would be a beautiful ending.

------------

In the end, there was no choice left for Luo Mo to make, this story had only one direction, just like that time with Himeko.

So, they had to send her off with joy.

"Just like that... it's over?"

Kiana wiped away a tear. That scene just now had almost made her cry again, and now the tears were welling up in her eyes, waiting for permission to fall.

"Sigh, as expected, this part could have been refined a bit more..."

Luo Mo said with a bit of regret.

This scene hadn't brought a single tear from those watching. He was a little dissatisfied.

"Our story, huh... I never thought the tale of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers could be this moving! As we talked about it, even someone like me, who's used to small heartbreaks, found myself surprised."

"Although... although, most of it was sister Elysia's story that was moving!"

"I-I-I still feel proud to have been part of the Flame-Chasers!"

Pardo spoke seriously, her tail swaying slightly.

"Don't say that, Pardo. Aside from Elysia, you're the most outstanding."

Luo Mo shook his head, rejecting Pardo's self-deprecating thoughts.

Why feel inferior? Have some confidence! You were the one who made the audience cry the most.

Though, if we're talking about being outstanding... there's no such thing as the "Meow Sect"!

"Outstanding, huh..."

Pardo stretched out her words and sighed. "I can already guess what kind of standard you're judging by. In that case, I suppose you're right."

She didn't want to argue further, nor did she feel like explaining.

"This time, the story... really suited my aesthetic. It gave Elysium another kind of ending, even if it was still a destruction-filled conclusion."

"On the other hand, I really liked that painting... It's rare to see all thirteen of us together in one scene. In my memory, even for important gatherings, it was rare for everyone to be present."

Elysia changed the subject, her gaze slightly unfocused as she looked at the image where everyone was gathered.

"Griseo painted it, didn't she?"

Elysia asked, already sure of the answer.

"Mm... Yes, but Luo Mo gave me the colors..."

Griseo said softly.

She loved that painting too. It was bright, comforting... Everyone was in it.

"Haha."

Elysia chuckled, her expression becoming more radiant.

She looked at Mei and gently said,

"Mei, from now on, this world belongs to your story."

"Although we can't experience it as vividly as in the game, I believe you've understood this tale and know what it's truly trying to say."

"Keep moving forward, I believe you can do it."

"...Mm."

Mei nodded lightly. She wasn't afraid anymore.

Seeing that no one needed to be lost because of this, she understood the true meaning of growth.

Rather than reaching the point where nothing could be saved, wasn't it better to prepare early?

Crying over a game... It was still better than shedding tears over a fading figure.

That was an obvious truth.

------

In the World Serpent base.

"So, this is a fate that has never changed?"

Kevin watched the images flowing before him and asked silently.

That painting... it was a little dazzling, a little nostalgic, yet it still didn't quite match his memories.

"...Perhaps."

He murmured.

Many people had been able to resolve their unfinished regrets in Elysium. That alone was already a great relief. It was the lingering regrets that haunted the Flame-Chasers the most.

Like him, Aponia, Kalpas, and himself.

They did not fear death, they had all found a way to fill the holes in their hearts.

-----------

After Mei left, Elysium faded from white to inky black. With a mix of emotions, Elysia walked toward the mastermind.

She was curious about her.

She felt sad for her.

She had once been the Herrscher who buried the final remnants of humanity in the previous era, now, she had taken on her appearance.

Elysia had long wanted to meet her.

But when she truly appeared, it was alongside Elysia's death. So, she had only ever seen her through the memories of her companions.

"Wow, you really do look exactly like me! As expected, I look stunning in any color~ ♪"

After some time to restore and refine herself, it had once again taken on Elysia's form.

However, what truly belonged to Elysia had already returned to her hands.

She was nothing more than a shell.

The Herrscher of Corruption looked at this being that had always tried to imitate her. Or rather, this fragment of data consciousness. Every individual she had met denied their resemblance, until even she had to acknowledge it.

No one could imitate Elysia.

Elysia was a one-of-a-kind existence.

And now, wasn't she capable of using that 'K666' to erase herself?

If they were to face each other directly, and she wasn't careful, she might end up eroding herself. If that happened, everything her friends had fought for would be in vain.

Did the other party not realize this?

But Elysia simply smiled and calmly acknowledged this reality. However...

Precisely because of that unique power, perhaps she could use it to accomplish something she had never been able to do before. Only in that way would Elysium's grand finale be complete.

So that everyone could be together again—just like this♪

"... After leaving this place, I will weave for you the most beautiful dream, together with... them."

The Herrscher of Corruption hesitated before speaking.

She had hesitated for a long time. She was, indeed, not just anyone, nor could she become Elysia... As expected, no matter how she thought about it, she felt that existing, being alive, was more meaningful than anything else.

It wasn't that she didn't understand their intentions, nor was she ignorant of the significance of civilization, but when the time came to choose, her priority was still survival.

That's why she could never become Elysia.

She deeply loved humanity, but what she loved most was her own existence.

"But... being together with them doesn't necessarily mean it has to be a dream♪"

Elysia tilted her head and smiled, nudging a stone with her foot. "Besides, I can't let you leave this place."

"Well then... I accept your challenge, Herrscher of Humanity."

The Herrscher of Corruption stared at Elysia, locking eyes with her.

Her figure was gradually engulfed by the black mist, merging with the entire city. Her fading face carried a sorrowful smile, and from the darkness came an almost inaudible sigh.

"In the beginning, choosing to become like this was really just because..."

"I thought you were beautiful. That was all..."

That was the only truth she had ever spoken.

Just like how Elysia had once spoken a single lie.

Becoming Elysia wasn't because she was particularly intelligent or understood the Flame-Chasers' strategies...

Rather, she deeply admired her.

That's why she wanted to become her, the Herrscher who was also human.

(T/C: poor girl... Anyway)

-----------

In the Golden Courtyard

"Why would the Herrscher of Corruption still want to give sister Ellie a dream? Just like when sister Aponia did... it wasn't necessary, was it?"

"How should I put it? It feels like a villain suddenly having a change of heart."

Klein scratched her head, unable to understand the reasoning.

That last sentence, though... was it really just because she found Elysia beautiful?

It wasn't like sister Elysia wasn't pretty, but...

Were Herrschers also creatures that cared about appearances?

She couldn't make sense of it.

"That's not so strange. If you think of it as a transaction, Elysia gave her the opportunity to fight, even though that wasn't Elysia's true intention."

Mobius calmly explained,

"And as for the Herrscher of Corruption... considering her relationship with the Honkai beasts and what she called her 'companions,' after witnessing Elysia's memories, it's possible that she genuinely admired those moments."

"Look, they are both Herrschers. She could even disguise herself as Elysia. So why wouldn't she... Take. The. Greater. One?"

She enunciated each word with a chilling tone.

Her eyes shifted slightly, landing on Elysia.

This was all because of her.

"Oh? So the Herrscher of Corruption also has human emotions? At least enough to consider things from a human perspective?"

Elysia mused skeptically.

"That's right. That great feat you accomplished that night... even for a Herrscher known for committing evil, it seems they're not entirely devoid of feelings."

Vill-V nodded in agreement, confirming her speculation.

"So? Elysia, even your enemy acknowledges your beauty. Aren't you feeling a little overjoyed?"

Mobius remarked sarcastically.

"How did you know? Are you really that familiar with me, Mobius, dear scientist?"

"So the Herrscher of Corruption chose to become Elysia for that reason... Surprising, isn't it? Unexpected?"

Elysia beamed brightly.

Since they were both voice actors of sorts, she was quite familiar with this kind of script.

Just now, she was simply returning the favor to Mobius.

"What a twisted kind of love!"

Vill-V exclaimed, slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected that to be the reason.

"Almost comparable to Dr. Mobius."

"You! Vill-V!!..."

Mobius gritted her teeth in frustration, glaring at her.

"Alright, no need to argue over this."

"The protagonist and the antagonist are finally facing each other... Hmm... But this is both me and my opponent's drama, it really is quite strange, isn't it?"

Elysia tapped her head lightly, glancing around at everyone, feigning helplessness.

But, of course, she was also looking forward to it.