"Eden…"
Elysia looked at Eden's tightly furrowed brows and already understood what was on her mind.
After all, anyone who had just watched that short film—unless they were a complete fool—could guess what would happen next.
But if Eden chose not to watch the video, would that change Himeko's fate?
Obviously not. On the contrary, it would only leave behind regret in Eden's heart.
And how could Elysia possibly allow Eden to live with regret?
She blinked her lively eyes and hugged Eden's arm.
"Eden, don't be afraid. Just click it~"
"Life is bound to have bumps and scrapes, but you can always lean on Elysia. I'll turn all of my heart into a brilliant sea of stars, to light up your sky."
"Elysia will never let you be sad~"
Eden exhaled deeply, forcing out a fragile smile.
"Thank you, Elysia…"
"Then let me see… just how magnificent Himeko's final battle will be…"
Amid the wails of countless viewers, Eden clicked on the last play button.
The video began with alarms blaring—the Hyperion came under attack from Benares.
Clad in Vermilion Knight: Eclipse, Himeko effortlessly cut down the Judgment-class Honkai beast.
Just as she swung her greatsword for the killing blow, the Herrscher of the Void suddenly appeared, dragging her into the Imaginary Space.
The animation quality was on par with The Queen Descends. Every single frame could have been a wallpaper.
Eden watched with rapt attention.
"Hehehe~☆"
The Herrscher's iconic laugh rang out.
She strode across the void, a queen in all but name.
"Did you really think… you could escape~☆?"
But Himeko showed no fear—only a burning will to fight.
Yet with just one hand raised, the Herrscher flung her far away.
"Struggle with all you've got… it won't matter~☆"
She snapped her fingers.
Snap—
A purple cube enveloped Himeko. In an instant, Herrscher of the Void slashed through it like blades cutting tofu, slicing it to pieces.
"So that's all you amount to~☆."
With disdain, the Herrscher glanced at the rubble in the distance and turned to leave the space.
Eden's heart twisted tight, her brows creasing.
"Wait… the Herrscher of the Void is this strong? Himeko doesn't even stand a chance…"
But then—like lightning—a blade thrust straight at the Herrscher.
At the last moment, the queen conjured a rift in space to divert the strike, barely escaping harm.
Eden finally let out a breath of relief.
The view shifted into Himeko's perspective.
Her voice, ragged and breathless, came through the comms:
"Is… that all you've got…?"
The camera panned upward, revealing her battered state—skin crawling with violet cracks, shattered armor, a swaying, broken body…
The sight made Eden's heart ache unbearably.
And then, the song Nightglow began to play.
The opening notes carried a sense of epic grandeur, yet beneath it lingered sorrow and tragedy.
Eden's breath caught—her nose stung with heat.
She was heartbroken, yet deeply moved.
Perhaps it was because of all the careful buildup before, that she could now accept the inevitable end of Himeko's story.
Those foreshadowings had been like gentle hands, guiding her emotions—helping her face Himeko's death without suffocating grief or anger.
At the same time, they revealed Himeko's brilliance bit by bit, making Eden fall in love with her character from the inside out—not simply because she was beautiful, but because she was Himeko.
Now came the moment of her fall.
Was it a knife to the heart?
Yes.
But it wasn't the cheap kind of knife, the kind that stabs you out of nowhere and then laughs in your face:
[Hahaha, did that hurt? Good! That's what I wanted—to watch you cry your heart out, because I think it's fun!]
That kind of blade only breeds anger, leaving you wanting to smash your keyboard or mail knives to the writers.
No.
This was different.
Now Eden wasn't angry. Instead, her eyes brimmed with tears as a storm of complicated emotions rose within her.
She wanted Himeko's final battle to be dazzling—yet at the same time, she desperately wished she wouldn't die.
Because by now, Himeko had become something more than just a character—she had become transcendent in Eden's heart.
"Kiana… when you wake up, you'll see that everything has changed. You'll realize this world is no longer kind…"
"Those simple, ordinary days will never return…"
"But… don't give up! You must never give up!"
The music swelled, fiery and triumphant. Paired with Himeko's heart-wrenching roar, Eden's tears finally overflowed.
In that moment, Himeko became the only light piercing the darkness—shining across a night sky turned away from the sun.
Just like the song's name: Nightglow.
If there is no sun—then I will ignite myself. I will light up the earth, so that you can still see—the road home.
"Himeko-sensei, I'll become the strongest Valkyrie."
The girls of St. Freya appeared one by one in her mind, as though bidding her farewell.
And at the very end, she saw Kiana's goofy, carefree smile.
"Kiana! Lift your head and keep moving forward! Go turn this broken story into the one you've always wished for!"
Blinding radiance engulfed the Imaginary Space.
When it faded, Himeko knelt weakly before Kiana, her eyes lifeless.
Her final sword stroke, burning away the last of her life, was not meant to strike Kiana—but to reach her.
"Live on… Kiana. This is…"
"…the final lesson."
The song swelled again as tears streamed down Eden's cheeks. A broken sob escaped her throat.
[The way I go through with red roses burns my eyes.]
On this path, crimson roses sear my vision.
[Cold rain starts pouring hard, I'm being called upon.]
Cold rain pours—yet here I stand, for the sake of that call.
[Never let you go, it's why I did them all.]
I will never let you go—that is the reason I've done everything.
...
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