In a secret base buried deep within a snowy, frozen land, a man in military uniform silently observed a group of children sparring. This clandestine facility, hidden from prying eyes, was operated by a powerful organization. They would adopt orphans from across different territories, filtering out those with potential to be trained as assassins. These children were shaped into tools of precision, earning blood money through missions on behalf of the organization.
Those who lacked ability but had attractive appearances were turned into commodities—polished, sold at underground auctions, or gifted to people of influence to gain favor. As for the ones who had neither talent nor looks, their fates were handled pragmatically: some had their organs harvested and sold, while others were trained as peripheral personnel to serve in less demanding roles.
The current training session was a perfect example of this ruthless system at work. The man's gaze lingered on a gray-haired girl among the sparring children—his personal favorite. She was only eight years old, yet her agility and instinct in combat far exceeded her age.
He believed she was destined to become a top-tier assassin. Her youth alone would give her an edge—allowed to infiltrate places inaccessible to adults and accomplish assignments others couldn't. A beautiful assassin, young yet lethal, loyal and easily controlled—she'd be an unparalleled asset. And she'd fetch a price unlike any the organization had seen in years.
The instructor, however, felt a twinge of regret. A genius like her had to remain untouched to preserve her "value," which meant he couldn't satisfy his own perverse urges.
Just as he was about to select a few of the more disposable children to release his twisted impulses, a sharp, unnatural chill rushed through the air.
He didn't even have time to react. His body trembled as if winter had sunk into his bones. A split second later, his vision went black.
He never saw his own frozen corpse.
His lifeless body stood where he had once been—now transformed into a statuesque figure of ice, cold and still.
The sparring children stopped at once, staring wide-eyed at the man-turned-ice-sculpture. Standing beside it was a young man they had never seen before—quiet, unassuming, and calm.
"Children," the strange young man said with a gentle smile. "You don't need to train anymore. From now on, just rest. Big Brother has candy. Come, take some!"
As he spoke, a large pile of colorful candies suddenly appeared in his open palm.
The children blinked, startled and uncertain. Some teetered on the edge of approaching, their eyes flickering with hope—and fear.
But the young man didn't rush them. He walked slowly among them, kneeling down to unwrap each candy himself before placing the sweets gently into the children's mouths. One by one, eyes that had long been emptied of emotion began to light up again. Smiles that hadn't surfaced in years returned to once-expressionless faces.
Seeing their joy, Xin Yu—smiled too.
Childish laughter rang out in the bitter air, echoing in walls that once knew only screams and drills.
He turned to the gray-haired girl.
"Bronya."
She stared up at him, eyes wide with confusion. "…Who are you?"
"Your name is Bronya Zaychik."
"…Bronya…"
"Yes. That's the name your mother gave you. Remember it. It's a symbol of her love."
"…Who are you?" she asked again, her voice softer this time.
"I'm Xin Yu—your friend, from the future. We've met before. Well, from a certain point of view."
"…Bronya remembers."
Xin Yu remained there with the children for a while, conjuring toys, sharing snacks, summoning sweet drinks and warm food. His presence radiated sincerity, warmth. The children, long stripped of innocence, began to smile again. Real, genuine smiles.
Bronya, too, joined in their laughter, her eyes gleaming with joy she had never been allowed to experience.
But like all beautiful moments, it couldn't last forever.
When the Schicksal airship finally landed and their agents arrived to take the children away, they clung to Xin Yu's side, unwilling to leave.
"Children," he said softly, kneeling to meet their frightened eyes. "Take care of yourselves. Eat on time, stay clean, study hard. Grow strong. Be happy. Live well."
Otto Apocalypse stood nearby, watching as child after child waved goodbye with watery smiles.
"To rescue these children," Otto said, "you were willing to send your future memories into the past. Whatever the cost was, I doubt there's any personal reward for you in this."
But Xin Yu only smiled.
"I've already received my reward," he replied. "Their future was supposed to be full of pain—but it's changed now. Their empty expressions have become smiles. That's more than enough for me."
"If you ever met Kallen… you and she would have gotten along well."
"Actually, we didn't speak that often. She tried to avoid me."
"Oh?"
"Well," Xin Yu laughed, "one of her priestesses believed in me too much—saw me as a god. It caused some chaos for Kallen…"
Otto nodded. "Kallen once mentioned a young man in the Far East. The people called him a god. So that was you?"
Xin Yu chuckled. "In the original timeline, Sakura—the priestess—was in love with Kallen. But I guess my interference changed everything. My actions… left a lasting impression. She gave all of her heart to me."
"Do you regret it?"
"I don't. She showed me what 'love' truly meant. For over two hundred years."
Otto's expression turned contemplative. "So… what now?"
"I'll dismantle this vile organization from its roots," Xin Yu said firmly. "Then, I'll go back to Bronya's timeline and make sure her mother survives."
"And her father?"
"He dealt arms. Whether he died to Honkai Beasts or ended up in court… that's his own burden to bear."
"Are you not going to offer him a second chance?"
"I'm not a god dedicated to redeeming everyone, Otto. I've always known—I'm just an ordinary person… who happens to have special abilities. I can't rewrite the past for every sinner."
"…I see."
"I'm heading to the start of the Second Honkai Eruption next. There are things I still need to fix."
"You're not changing the Eruption itself?"
"I want to. But if I do… Kiana might never exist. Right now, I don't have a method to prevent that from happening. So for now, I'll wait. The past isn't going anywhere. I can always return and change it when I'm ready."
Otto gave a small nod. "For you, time truly is infinite."
"Farewell, Otto."
"Goodbye," Otto murmured quietly, watching Xin Yu vanish into thin air.
Then, softly, he finished the sentence—
"The God of Miracles and Salvation."