----
"Fate once posed a question to the world."
Short clips appeared one after another on the screen, serving as a sort of teaser film with a prelude.
"And so, heroes gave their answer."
"Surpassing endless reincarnations…"
Scenes from past shorts and key moments of the storyline played — the breaking of the quantum space, Fu Hua raising her hand in the instant before the dust settled, blazing fire illuminating the pitch-black puppet theater…
"Creating a story that belongs to each person."
Suddenly, before the player could do anything, the scenario automatically transitioned to another cinematic.
From inside a train carriage, a sound played. The "Graduation Journey" logo on the screen shifted into the display on the phone in Kiana's hands. She was dressed in a luxurious purple outfit — the uniform symbolizing the authority of the Finality — leaning against the door of the train.
"When a story is about to end, we always recall its beginning."
"As if… everything… has returned to before."
Kiana, with a hint of melancholy, lowered her phone, leaning her back against the train's seat armrest. This scene had surfaced in her mind several times before. She gently closed her eyes, letting her mind savor the warm and moving memories.
The scenery outside the train window shifted in sequence — passing by the golden swaying image of the Tree of Imaginary Numbers.
Beyond the window, the glow of the setting sun spilled over, lighting up strange and magnificent trees in dazzling hues. The light poured into the carriage like a glass of wine, its color turning a fiery red, dazzlingly beautiful.
"For example… like now, right?"
At some unknown moment, Otto had appeared, leisurely holding a glass of red wine in evaluation. As always, he wore a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, swirling the liquid from side to side in the glass.
Kiana lifted her gaze toward this fool. At the end of his life, he had fulfilled his greatest wish — yet nearly dragged down the entire world with him as the price.
"Ah, you don't seem to be thinking much anymore," Otto said, placing his hand on the train window, his gaze drifting toward the familiar scenery outside — the place where he had finally gone to sleep.
"This scenery… doesn't it make you nostalgic?"
The blood-red afterglow from the window fell on his shoulder. He leaned contentedly against the not-so-luxurious seat, like an old friend greeting her warmly, composing an oddly serene picture.
Soon, the train rolled out of the Tree of Imaginary Numbers' region, the light outside suddenly dimming as they entered a pitch-black theater.
Inside, a puppet dropped down from above, the twin odd golden horns on her head instantly giving her away. Her head spun in circles as she spoke in that strange tone:
"Don't flatter yourself. She's not like us — she still wants to keep moving forward."
The puppet danced comically, waving her hands in bizarre motions. Her face bore that unsettling not-quite-a-smile expression, her erratic movements giving no clue what she might do next.
"What's wrong? Seeing me… are you surprised?"
Kiana remained silent, arms folded, not answering. With this one, she truly had no words. She simply closed her eyes, waiting for this stop to pass.
"But… aren't we missing someone?"
The puppet peered into every corner of the carriage, remembering there was still that hide-and-seek lover who liked to hide away. Where was she? Where?
The image suddenly distorted, static-like mosaic snow appearing. On the carriage's display screen, a Corrupted gaze appeared. Outside the window, the green-tinged cityscape of the Elysian Realm's final battle emerged.
On the screen, the pupil glared at the puppet, then, visibly irritated, rolled her eyes. The disdain was expressed with exquisite precision.
The train passed through the Elysian Realm's battlefield against the Law of Reality, eventually entering a boundless pitch-black tunnel without light. The corroded eyes vanished with a tremor, leaving only a line of untransmitted words on the screen — a silent farewell.
"But unfortunately, our story has already ended," Otto said, elegantly swirling the red wine in his tall glass. The vivid liquid reflected an alluring hue under his emerald eyes.
"So, for people from the past… let them stay in the past."
With that, Otto's figure faded from the seat, leaving not a trace — like a sandstorm dissipating without a mark.
"Well then… goodbye~"
The puppet stood not far away, tilting her head playfully as she made a waving gesture. Her covered eyes and mechanical mouth moved with less disdain than usual. Then her figure too faded away, leaving only an empty carriage. Kiana's footsteps echoed in the space, as if to say — someone had just been here.
----
[Domination, Binding, and Corruption appear together — the three strongest Herrschers in the final chapters.]
[Murata Himeko… she's gone.]
[Can Wendy still be saved, or was her Herrscher status removed?]
[This really is… goodbye >_>]
----
In the Golden Courtyard.
"Graduation journey…"
"Does it mean Kiana has completed her graduation, or that the players involved in this story have reached its end?"
Elysia's hopeful eyes carried a trace of melancholy as she watched this final epilogue cinematic.
Otto, the Herrscher of Domination, and the Herrscher of Corruption — all were cunning and dangerous enemies along her path. But even enemies, in their own way, had acknowledged her.
In the process of uniting all Herrscher powers, their authorities had also partially assimilated into hers.
"I guess so, Ely-sis."
"The Peace is Mei-sis' graduation gift, but this ending here… is humanity's graduation from the Age of Finality."
Pardo spoke unexpectedly, saying words that didn't quite fit her usual character.
The story approached its conclusion — but no one knew whether the next one would be better or worse. Leaving a familiar place and its people always led to the next being utterly unfamiliar.
She had been through such moments countless times.
Fear born from uncertainty about the future… hesitation from the fog of confusion…
Of course she knew that the next scenery might be more beautiful — but she simply didn't have that kind of courage.
She would rather stand still, cherishing everything she had now.
Even if she was always the type to be pushed forward by others, and her own opinion never seemed to matter.
"Heh heh, it's rare to see our naive little kitten having such sentimental moments~" Vill-V teased with a playful smile.
"No, no, not at all~ I was just thinking, Vill-V-sis… later on, I won't be able to see Kiana, Mei, or… our story together."
"In the future, when it comes to vacations and fun activities, it won't be good to rely too much on that."
Pardo awkwardly scratched her head, her toes curling inside her shoes and pressing against the ground — a little habit she always did when she wasn't being completely honest. But… this time it wasn't exactly a lie either.
Pardo felt a little annoyed with herself.
"That being said…"
"From now on, we'll only be able to see them in reality, then create new stories together with them, and put those into the game." Vill-V grew more and more excited as she spoke, her eyes sparkling with tiny stars.
Then she patted Pardo on the shoulder, exclaiming:
"Good thing you reminded me, little Pardo!"
"Ah ha ha~" Pardo gave an awkward laugh on the spot. She wasn't really that courageous of a person. But… she was just an ordinary person, after all.
"In the end, you still chose to portray it as a train… does that carry some deeper meaning? And what was with those farewells…" Mobius noticed this detail and fell into deep thought.
Of course, she wasn't too concerned about these villain characters' final words. They had left plenty of "last words" already — especially Otto's.
She genuinely suspected that these people might one day come back from the dead, just to once again bombard her memories.
"Because saying goodbye is a very meaningful thing~ At the moment of the ending, one should say a proper farewell ♪~"
"No matter what paths they choose, they are all still Herrschers in nature — living and fighting by their own will… I may not like that group very much, but I think they have a bit more sense of purpose than the Herrschers from our own era."
"Even if… it's not always in a good way."
Elysia smiled, clasping her hands behind her back and spinning halfway around gracefully. She looked at each of her companions, letting her gaze rest on each of them for a brief moment.
She thought, an ending like this… wasn't bad at all.
----
Meanwhile, in the recording room.
The current civilization's Herrscher of Domination and Herrscher of Corruption were also gathered here. Luo Mo and the suddenly arriving Su Lu exchanged a rather indescribable look.
In a way, the two of them could be considered "alternate versions" of themselves from the short film.
Only… the atmosphere here had turned awkward.
The "protagonist" had found that all the major villains were now lining up beside him, making Luo Mo wonder whether he had done something utterly unforgivable without realizing it.
"No matter what, you two don't have to look at me like that… The version of me in the short film is still quite different from the real me, okay?"
Su Lu shifted her gaze slightly, clutching a stack of documents in her arms.
With a faint, embarrassed smile, she swept her eyes over the people in the room.
No matter what anyone said, she would never agree to equating herself with her fictional counterpart. She really didn't have that kind of strange hobby — absolutely, completely, definitely not!
"Indeed, no matter how much you don't like me, I'm not going to suddenly turn into someone from on-screen." Luo Mo added from the side, stirring the pot.
[Hey hey, isn't that phrasing basically an insult to both of us? ♬] Miss Herrscher of Corruption seemed a little displeased.
"…Boss, Miss Su Lu, we didn't say anything, you know?" Fu Hua sighed helplessly, rubbing her forehead.
"Even if you didn't say it, the meaning in your eyes is way too obvious. I'm very experienced in this kind of thing!" Su Lu pouted, casting an annoyed glance at Kiana — who was rubbing her nose — and at the little Senti whistling beside her. Those two weren't even trying to hide what they were thinking…
No, wait. To be precise, they were just terrible at hiding it, unlike the boss, who would at least put in half an effort when trying to trick her.
"…Let's not even get into where you got that weird kind of experience…"
"Speaking of the Herrscher of Domination in the short film, even if they ended up dying, I think they were actually… not so bad." Herrscher of Sentience gave her blunt opinion.
It wasn't entirely for comfort — this time the Herrschers of Domination had actually given a decent farewell. It was just like the saying: "When a person dies, their words become kind."
Sure enough, corpses are easier to get along with — just like Otto.
"Mm…" Su Lu's eyelids twitched, but she stayed rational and kept silent.
---
"...That may be so, but Otto, you still didn't leave the people from your past behind in the past."
At Schicksal HQ, Kallen closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh.
Even after he had left the game, traces of him were everywhere.
---
Back in the short film.
At this moment, Kiana had reached the elevator platform leading to the next area. The lift slowly rose, and in front of her, a crystal reflected her own image.
Within her transparent blue eyes was the color of the sky. On her head, the black cross ornament was set with a deep crimson gem — unmistakably the outfit of the Herrscher of the Void. Kiana closed her eyes and slowly reached out to touch it.
"You're not going to say anything?" Her voice carried a hint of nostalgia and sorrow.
In the previous carriage, she hadn't gone to give her final goodbye. But now, she really wanted to keep moving forward.
Her reflection slowly moved her hand away from the reflection, then placed it back. When she opened her eyes again, they were bright golden. The Queen filled with cold dignity, without joy or sorrow.
"Hmph… Not bad."
Her face was calm, revealing no true emotion. But in the end, she still gave an evaluation of Kiana's journey. Even the proud queen couldn't deny the way she had saved the world.
After all, she was the one who had promised to grant Sirin a beautiful world.
With that brief remark, she and the surrounding battleship hatch turned into purple-red feathers, swiftly vanishing toward the dark horizon.
In the dim sky before sunrise, with the still-sleeping city below and the distant horizon yet to see the first light of dawn, the clouds hung like a massive gray curtain.
Kiana closed her eyes, letting herself fall freely from the sky.
She turned into a flurry of feathers, scattering in the wind, savoring the taste of the wind and the sky — until she felt warmth on her hand, and her descent stopped.
Opening her eyes with a smile, the first thing she saw was Mei's gentle smile and her outstretched hand.
In that moment, she gripped Mei's hand tightly.
They landed together on the academy rooftop. The rusty fence and the worn training field were just as they had been in the past. This time, it was Mei who caught her.
"Exactly the same as before."
"Mm."
"So much has happened." Kiana's voice softened, and their words to each other became quieter.
"Yeah… so much really has happened."
They gazed out at the sleeping city of Nagazora, the tall buildings rising like a forest, their shapes looking almost unreal under the dim sky. Beneath their feet, the academy rooftop bore witness to their most important shared memories.
They watched as the sun's first rays rose over the horizon. They saw dawn slowly arrive, its light gently staining the edges of the clouds, scattering brilliant golden beams across the land.
"This time… are we going to part ways here again?"
Mei held her hand and said firmly,
"No. This time, we'll walk to the very end—together."
As the dawn light reached them, their fingers intertwined. The gentle warmth lit up their cheeks. A shy smile appeared on Kiana's face.
They exchanged a knowing smile, and Kiana tugged Mei's hand, running toward the rooftop door. With a soft creak, the door swung open—life had begun anew.
In Nagazora City, where green vines now climbed the tall buildings, the streets that had once been desolate from the Honkai disaster were regaining signs of life and people. Kiana and Mei walked along, laughing and teasing each other, occasionally patting the dust off each other's clothes.
They passed the places where they had once met their friends, each spot holding scenery and photos they had left behind.
"This is a story about love… and it will also have… an ending that belongs to love."
Familiar faces appeared one after another in these ordinary, peaceful scenes, flickering briefly before fading—Himeko smiling fondly as she watched the kids, munching on a bun while wandering down the street; Rita and Durandal sitting together, playing with a cat.
Then came the beach: Rosalia and Lilia playing ball in the water; Bronya and Seele enjoying fresh fruit under a sunshade; Kiana and Mei walking past them. Only for Bronya to join them after telling Seele with a smile.
Scene after scene flowed by, each with its own story.
"So… just like before—one step, one step—let's keep moving forward."
Under a cherry blossom tree, Yae Sakura and Kallen enjoyed sweets.
In a supermarket, Sirin and Cecilia shopped with a reluctant Siegfried who was carrying all the shopping bags by his wife.
In nNew York, Welt and Tesla sipped coffee by the roadside, with Einstein and Joyce watching their interaction from nearby, and old friends.
"Look—we've left our footprints. No matter what, they'll always be here…"
Near the golden courtyard of St. Freya, the Thirteen Flame-Chasers stood bathed in sunset light.
Kevin and MEI paused on the academy's pathway, both wearing their old, innocent school uniforms.
Those memories and stories lingered in her mind—their voices, their colors, their smiles… none of it was false.
The last scene was of a train station. In the darkness, an old train slowly pulled in. Theresa, Mei, Fu Hua, and Bronya came to see her off after taking a picture.
It was a farewell without words—warm, yet tinged with sorrow.
Until, Kiana stepped onto the train herself. The door closed, and the warm melody faded into silence.
"..."
Her clothes shifted back into her battle armor—the same she had worn at the very start of this journey. Silently, she walked forward into the carriage.
"..."
"Kiana"
That familiar, gentle voice made her stop instantly. Her heartbeat quickened, her mind went blank.
She turned around quickly—before her eyes was the old academy, just like in the past. In the middle of the hallway stood a figure in crimson, smiling softly.
Her gaze was warm, expectant—like a bird watching its fledgling, ready to take flight.
It was Himeko-sensei.
The person… she missed the most.
Along with her friends.
[When good old friends are going away]
[Will you wish them to remember your name?]
The gentle, sorrowful music rose again, like cool rain falling softly on the ground—warm, tender, yet deeply moving.
Himeko, Theresa, Fu Hua, Bronya, and Mei.
The five of them stood together like a photograph frozen in memory, lingering in that beautiful moment. After that dreamlike call, there were no more words—only that tender, unwavering gaze, making the light in Kiana's eyes tremble.
She sniffled quietly, wiping her nose when no one could see, holding back tears. Turning away, she carried that strength forward.
Now, there was no more confusion in her eyes—only courage and conviction.
She walked to the front of the train, staring straight into the dark, endless universe. But this time… she knew she was no longer alone.
---
Inside the recording room.
The moment the music began to play, Kiana realized her heartbeat had slowed. Without realizing it, tears streamed down her cheeks. The beauty of the memories from before, amplified by the music, overflowed.
Even if she was the "Goddess of Earth," in that moment she was still just an ordinary human—someone who had left behind many beautiful memories in this world.
"All because of you… you're breaking the rules~" Kiana muttered, wiping her tears, sobbing softly.
It felt as if she had become her in-game self again, walking the same road through storms and sunshine—already lost in the deep well of emotion.
Those were all people she knew. Even if some events never happened, even if some people were gone, their footprints…
Their footprints connected across the world—like scattered lonely islands that eventually linked together into a bright, colorful world.
Luo Mo shrugged helplessly. He wasn't moved to tears like the girls—but he did feel a strange sense of loss.
Not because of the ending itself, but because the main story of the game was finally over. It had tormented him for so long… yet brought him so much joy.
When something you've worked on for so long suddenly disappears, there's always an empty moment inside. When you see the ending, there's always that faint sense of disappointment.
"How could you blame me for that? Looking back makes it easier to move toward the future. Memories are treasures—you have to take them out and let them shine once in a while," he said casually.
Kiana just stared at him in a mix of confusion and embarrassment.
She really couldn't win against him… how annoying!
And those Flame-Chasers? Those weren't even her memories!
"What an… idiot," Mei whispered, a smile curling at her lips. She brushed away a tear with her finger.
"When was I ever an idiot, Mei?" Kiana asked as she wip her tear.
"Haha… Because—you're still you."
Not a god. Not someone who had abandoned anything. Just herself.
"Ugh… this music really is a sentimental trap," the Herrscher of Sentience muttered, still crossing her arms—though Luo Mo always thought there was nothing for her to "cross" them over.
"Kiana… you've worked hard," Fu Hua said softly. She had seen the storms Kiana had weathered, and in the end, she had become part of Kiana's spiritual strength. That was enough.
"Everyone got a good ending. It's a happy end," Bronya concluded in her calm tone—but her eyes had softened. Those memories, or perhaps those imagined images, were truly beautiful.
A world without the Honkai.
She was looking forward to it.
---
At Cecilia's villa.
"At last, our little tsundere Sirin has admitted she likes Kiana."
Cecilia pinched Sirin's soft, lively cheeks, an expression of fondness that made her reluctant to let go.
"Nguh… She's Herrscher of the Void now. I–I didn't admit anything."
Sirin scrunched her nose and braced herself against the sofa arm, trying to escape those devilish hands, but her strength felt oddly powerless. In the end, she could only surrender and mutter her protest.
After that little debate between the two great "literary giants," neither Kiana nor Sirin truly believed the in-game characters were themselves. Compared to Kiana, however, the real Sirin did indeed have far more room for sophistry.
"I just don't see the difference~ You two clearly can get along just fine," Cecilia said with a playful, squinting smile that made Sirin unable to refute her. She could only turn her head away, refusing to respond.
But when she heard that melody tinged with sorrow, her gaze was drawn back against her will, watching the closing moments of the story. It was so beautiful—more beautiful than she could have imagined. She had formed bonds and deep friendships with so many people; for her, the world was no longer cold and lonely.
She felt a twinge of envy, but then remembered that in the story's setting, it was essentially an extension of herself. That thought tugged her lips upward. It truly was the wish the real Sirin most longed for—something she could attest to.
"What a touching story. Even I shed a tear, haha," came the uniquely mechanical voice of the electronic girl.
It inevitably reminded them of that scene—At least shed a tear for her.
"Um… Did you just… mock me? Unit 17? Then should I… maybe smile back?"
Misteln hesitantly rubbed her hands on her thighs, asking with some lack of confidence.
Even though she was always willing to understand the other person, she sometimes couldn't grasp the full meaning of their words. Of course, if necessary, she could imitate Bronya and use two fingers to lift the perfect smile into place.
"…That won't be necessary," Prometheus replied quietly. She had only been looking at the sight of MEI and Kevin walking shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the academy at sunset, a feeling she couldn't quite put into words. She still wanted to understand emotions for herself… but she still couldn't feel them.
"Siegfried, me, Sirin, and Kiana went shopping at the mall together once—ah, brings back memories. But in the future, we'll still have plenty of time to experience such things again… if Sirin is willing to put on nice clothes, it'll be even better," Cecilia said, pausing for a moment as an image flashed before her, then giving a helpless little smile. No matter whose wish or memory it was, it was warm and beautiful.
"I! Do! Not! Want to! That's basically treating me as a clothes hanger!"
Sirin's lips curled in obvious displeasure.
Clearly, in this area she still refused to put in the effort to dress up, and she certainly didn't want Cecilia tirelessly fussing over her. She liked beautiful clothes, sure—but only when the mood struck her. Truthfully, she preferred lying down and goofing off. Best of all with a cold soda and a pile of chips.
---
In the Golden Courtyard.
"Oh… suddenly the sandstorm feels heavier—close the door, Kevin."
Her voice carried a faint, almost pitiful tone. Elysia felt her eyes moisten, unable to suppress the bittersweet ache in her chest. This kind of story—of overcoming Honkai and moving forward together—was exactly the sort she had always yearned for in her heart.
If the world could truly be saved by the Stigma Project, she knew such miraculous feelings would be rare treasures.
Just as Prometheus had said, it was only a standard answer. Kevin, of course, didn't move; he only glanced at the firmly shut door. There was no wind or sand in the room. He understood—Elysia was simply moved by a story whose ending connected with theirs.
In that ending, within the countless ordinary dreams of false heroes, they had once raised doubts, and now she had given them the answer: In a world without Honkai, how would we simply live?
Lively, joyful, mundane connections and work, without having to fight disaster with all their might…
"Well, well~ Elysia, are you crying again?"
Mobius leaned forward slightly, a faintly amused smile on her lips as she tilted her head to look up at Elysia wiping her tears—a gesture equal parts teasing and probing.
It was, of course, far from polite. But for Mobius, as long as the target was Elysia, it was never a problem.
"Ellie's just a little emotional, that's all… too much feeling to keep inside," Eden said dreamily. In her eyes, those scenes weren't extraordinary—but they were beautiful enough.
"That's fine. Those stories… it's okay. I… no, we… will create even better ones in the future."
"Once the Honkai ends, there's so much I want to do," Elysia said, taking a deep breath and gently pushing away Mobius' face, shifting her head aside with a faintly wistful tone.
Whether it was summer beaches, icy island drinks, a joyful New Year's trip, or the St. Freya vs. Golden Courtyard matches, there was still so much she wanted to try.
So no, she wasn't crying—just a little moved.
Mobius lightly rubbed the cheek that had been pushed away, falling silent.
---
In the short film.
After the final farewell, the train's journey moved into its next stage.
In the pitch-black void of space, the train's sharp whistle echoed as it carried its passengers through the star-filled cosmos. Not far ahead floated a massive, irregular crystal.
Its surface was made of countless transparent violet crystal layers, shimmering in pale purple and deep black intertwined, as though tracing the flow of cosmic energy.
Kiana stared at it, her gaze unwavering, eyes fixed on the cocoon's core—where a rhombus-shaped black void shone with profound purple light, drawing everyone into endless dreams.
The train roared toward the crystal's center, and when it was just short of the final distance, Kiana's form dissolved into a swirl of brilliant light behind her, like newborn wings fluttering—then vanished.
[Never Can We Suspend The Time]
[Having To Leave The Tracks Behind]
She wore a radiant smile and dove into the cocoon's depths, like a shooting star breaking free from the infinite sea of stars toward the white earth below—bringing with her the boundless dreams of the beginning.
She spread her arms wide with joy, ready for an embrace. The gentle melody reached its peak at this moment, intertwining past and future, revealing both, blending memories with emotions, and returning at the end to her original self.
[There is a longer way ahead,]
[After all.]
A flash of white light passed through, and in the snowy forest, little Kiana trudged forward, carrying a bundle bigger than herself. The snow reached above her ankles, each step a dangerous challenge for her small body. Her foot slipped, and she fell heavily, leaving a long mark on the snow.
Gritting her teeth, she tried to push herself up with her thin arms—only to feel another gentle strength lifting her. Looking up, she saw herself, but older.
The grown Kiana brushed the snow from the little girl's head and shoulders, smiling warmly with encouragement, as if to say:
"Keep moving forward. You'll meet many new friends, live wonderful stories, and see the future you dream of. As long as you stay on the road, there will always be hope."
They looked at each other and exchanged a nod. With her nose reddened yet stubborn, the little one said nothing. No matter how hard or tiring it was, she simply walked around Kiana, picked up the fallen bundle, and continued on into the unknown.
They moved in opposite directions—one toward the present, the other toward the future. Above little Kiana was the Earth, glowing with lights, the birthplace of humanity, the starting point of the story.
Grown Kiana stood under the green aurora, raising her hand toward the falling stars. Her eyes held a tender yet resolute smile, and above her was the rugged, dark moon.
This was the ending to a beautiful story. They each headed to different places—one setting out, one prepared for the journey, some grown, some still young. The only thing they shared was the same determined gaze.
[My the beauty of this world, Always shine]
----
[Every ending is also a new beginning. From here, head toward tomorrow]
[Thank you for showing me the beauty in life. The real world will never end like a game does.]
[Now you shine like gold, and your story will never truly end.]
[I didn't see your story begin, but I was lucky enough to be with you for the last chapter. Good luck, our hero]
[May all the Beauty be blessed and shine]
---
Players from all over sent blessings for the two Kianas, each running toward their own future.
---
In Cecilia's villa
"Wow, that's little Kiana!"
"I haven't seen her like this in so long."
Cecilia's eyes lit up. Children always grow up and drift away from their parents, and as a mother, she couldn't help but miss the time when her daughter was small. Of course, this also included Durandal—Cecilia never favored one over the other.
"That was during her world journey. Even then, she was this strong. It wasn't easy."
Shigure Kira sighed sincerely.
"Yes, at the very end, she sees her original self… Isn't that the most romantic thing for a human?"
Misteln hid her smile behind her hand, her beautiful eyes calm and warm. If it were her, she wouldn't want to see herself at the moment of her birth.
"Indeed… impossible to understand."
Prometheus nodded slightly. She wasn't human, after all.
"This whole journey gave her story meaning," Theresa said softly. "Kiana must want to tell her younger self about the scenery ahead… but she doesn't need to. Little Kiana will experience it all herself, and she'll keep going, because she understands herself."
Theresa looked at the girl who always called her "Auntie" without hesitation. Seeing how far she'd come made Theresa's heart swell with emotion.
Many characters had grown throughout the game, Theresa included, but the one who had changed the most—always appearing before the players—was still that energetic, carefree girl. She seemed to have transformed greatly, yet the most important things had never changed: her strength, her kindness, and her longing for beauty. Theresa felt proud of her.
---
In the game.
After the short film ended, there was one last scene:
In the darkness of space, a small figure carried a large, colorful travel bag, walking forward toward the only distant light.
It was the symbol of hope and new beginnings, bringing with it a beautiful story—and one final gift.
"This is a story we created together."
"Stories always end eventually, but the memories will never fade, and the feelings will never disappear."
Kiana's voice narrated slowly, sincerely, as if breaking the fourth wall, speaking to everyone who had ever listened to her story—explaining what beauty truly was.
"We will become the keys for those who come after, remembered forever… continuing into the future."
"Like when we open this time capsule, we meet again with a girl named Kiana Kaslana…"
"Back then, she knew nothing of the world…"
"And we knew that the path she chose would bring hardship, and a fate she could not escape."
"…But from that moment, she also knew she would meet the most precious thing in the world—"
"Something called love."
....
On the Moon base, inside her quiet quarters—
Bzzzt—
Her phone vibrated. A message for Kiana.
It was from her friends on Earth—Bronya and Mei—reminding her that the new Earth-Moon communication station was set up, making it easier to talk with those on the surface. Next time, she wouldn't have to rely on laggy in-game voice chat.
Even her life on the Moon was steadily improving.
Stretching, she looked up at Earth, hanging above her in the endless, ink-black universe.
Just like that distant afternoon when she jumped from an empty plane—
It didn't feel so different after all.
She aimed the camera at herself, thinking about what pose might be missing. Sometimes she placed her hands on her hips, sometimes she made a scissor-hand gesture—constantly changing her stance.
Finally, in front of the lens, she raised her right hand in the shape of a pistol, closing only her right eye. The smile of a youthful girl bloomed like a flower on her face, and she made a playful click sound with her mouth.
"Go, Kiana!"
The image froze at that exact moment.
The girl who had accompanied them through countless days and nights now stood at the end of the story, smiling just as she had at the very beginning, crossing the far shore of destiny to once again declare her call to action—reminding the players not to forget the next journey, whether or not they would walk it with her.
---
In the Recording Room
"Go, Kiana~"
Kiana couldn't resist imitating her in-game pose, making the exact same gesture. Her thumb and forefinger formed the gun shape, the rest of her fingers curling slightly back. She flicked her hand in the air with a light snap, joy sparkling in her eyes.
"The first time Kiana deployed in the game, she kicked an enemy drone clean out of the sky. I wonder how it will be this time?"
Luo Mo teased her with a grin.
"That's because during the cutscene there was no 'injury setting' turned on~"
Kiana laughed half-jokingly, giving him a sideways glance. It had been a whole year already—could they really call this "just a scene"?
"Kiana had to spend so much time alone on the Moon. Honestly, it's the perfect chance for her to sleep in like she's always dreamed," Bronya commented from the side, adding, "She's always saying training makes her too tired."
"Hey, that's not true! I lasted until the end, didn't I?"
"Exactly. If you're on the Moon, you need a safety net! Honestly, I think Seele would be perfect for that job—she could probably just stay there doing nothing for a year or two."
Kiana immediately put her hands on her hips in protest, but couldn't help laughing. She didn't even want to imagine what Seele would become after a few years of doing nothing. Still… maybe she'd just eat instant noodles every day. That might actually be the one good thing.
Of course, Kiana didn't yet realize that even from Earth, someone could still keep real-time tabs on whether she was eating those noodles or not.
"Little Kiana… so cute."
Mei stared at the recorded footage in a daze. She had never seen Kiana as a child before, and now it felt like such a deep regret. She really wanted to give her a hug.
"Speaking of battles," Senti said, "this time all the Herrschers are on the human side. Isn't that kind of overkill…? Ahem, anyway, the real question is—do we even have an enemy?"
"If we all work together—no bragging here—even if all the Herrschers showed up, we could still knock down Kevin," the Herrscher of Sentience declared, coughing twice before crossing her arms smugly.
She admitted she was a little arrogant before, but with all the hidden talents in their group? She didn't see how Kevin could stop them. Just imagining it made her grin wickedly.
Reality wasn't like the game, where only three people could fight at a time. They could launch an all-out justice brawl if they wanted. She was practically glowing at the thought. Everyone needed dreams, after all—and hers included the joy of beating Kevin into the dirt.
"You know," Kiana said slowly, "what you just said… makes it sound like uniting Herrscher powers is as simple as a high school reunion."
She couldn't help giving a strange look, as if the whole thing sounded far too easy.
"That's thanks to your Aunt Theresa laying the groundwork for you. Don't waste her expectations," Luo Mo said encouragingly—only to earn a glare from Kiana.
Really? He didn't think he had anything to do with it? If anything, he should be taking some credit, but instead he was pushing it all onto Theresa…
If he could just cut down on the teasing, Kiana might have mistaken it for quiet admiration. Unfortunately, everything about his behavior made it clear he simply enjoyed poking fun at her aunt.
"Yeah, yeah," Kiana replied with a sigh.
Sometimes she thought her boss acted like a weird little kid. But maybe that was exactly why they got along so well—because they could joke like this.
---
In the Golden Courtyard.
"Ah, look at that pose—so cute."
Elysia smiled as she watched Kiana's final gesture. She was happy that Kiana had made it through the far shore and allowed civilization to break free from the cycle. But even more than that, she was happy Kiana had not become some cold, inhuman god. That beautiful humanity of hers had not faded away.
She was still the same as she was in the beginning.
"So that's the ending… but doesn't it still leave someone stranded on the Moon?"
Mobius frowned, already calculating the possible outcomes. All power was slowly being concentrated in the far shore's hands, and the already-damaged Earth could hardly bear both the far shore's burden and the immense Honkai energy…
"Still, it's fine. If even heroes need this kind of ending, I can accept it. Heh, I wonder what the sunlight on the Moon is like," Pardo said with a scratch of her head, hiding the courage and resolve in her eyes.
"It's probably not worth looking forward to," Vill-V said with a mysterious smile. "There's no atmosphere on the Moon, after all. Don't get your hopes up, little Pardo."
"Now that the story's over… shouldn't we discuss your matter? Mobius, Vill-V…"
Elysia turned toward them with unyielding curiosity, her reddened eyes still showing traces of tears.
"Just how did you convince Kevin?"
"That's not my department," Vill-V shrugged.
Mobius: "..."
She couldn't shake the feeling she had just been sold out.