[February 9, 2000, 16:00 – Babylon Tower Training Room]
Siegfried vented his frustrations through relentless training, questioning whether his choices on the battlefield had been right.
If he hadn't chosen to save Theresa back then, and instead fought alongside Welt…
Would the Second Herrscher have escaped?
Would tens of millions of lives have been spared?
Never before had Siegfried loathed his own powerlessness so bitterly.
As his thoughts churned chaotically, Welt entered the training room and informed him that an agreement had been reached with Overseer Otto—
Siegfried would now assist in the lunar operation as a representative of Schicksal!
Hearing this, Siegfried's face lit up with excitement.
At last, he had a chance to avenge those innocent lives.
"I've made up my mind—no matter the cost—
I will stop him!"
"Let's go. We don't have much time."
The plane was already waiting outside.
Without another word, Welt led Siegfried toward the airfield.]
[March 7th]: "The final battle is finally starting!"
[Stelle]: "Why do you sound like you're watching a movie?"
[Theresa]: "Perhaps… if I had been stronger back then, none of those tragedies would have happened?"
[Siegfried]: "I don't regret saving you, Theresa.
I only hate that I wasn't strong enough to stop Otto from letting the tiger return to the mountain."
[Honkai Impact·Welt]: "In short—damn Otto!"
[As planned, Welt brought Siegfried to Anti-Entropy's North American base.
Along the way, Siegfried bombarded him with questions, curiosity burning in his voice: "So what exactly is your plan?"
Walking ahead, Welt replied mysteriously, "You'll find out soon enough!"
By the time they reached the base entrance, Ryoma Raiden had already been waiting for them.
"Lord Overseer!"
The purple-haired man immediately saluted upon seeing them.
"You've worked hard, Ryoma."
Once inside, Siegfried and Ryoma exchanged glances.
"Tch… Siegfried of Schicksal… I heard he's a careless fool.
No idea why the Overseer values him so much."
"Huh? Did he just glare at me? Seems like a real stickler for rules… Did I offend him somehow?"
Siegfried scratched his head in confusion.
Welt led him deeper into the base, where—under the bright ceiling lights—a massive, awe-inspiring mech stood before them!
Stunned, Siegfried blurted out its name: "ALAHATO!!!"]
[Kiana]: "No way… ALAHATO is real?!"
[Raiden Mei]: "Father? So he was part of this plan too?"
[March 7th]: "Wait, so the mech models Mr. Yang always plays with are based on real ones?!"
[Honkai: Star Rail·Welt]: "That was Anti-Entropy's finest mech at the time! My life's work!"
Back on the Astral Express, Welt enthusiastically hyped up his creation to the crew.
[Kosma]: "…Cool."
In the Elysian Realm, Welt found himself surrounded—especially by the boys, all drawn to the sheer coolness of the mech.
No one could resist its charm!
[Not wanting to waste time, Welt cut short Siegfried's excitement and laid out their plan for the lunar mission:
Upon reaching the moon, Welt would confront the Second Herrscher to buy time while Siegfried piloted ALAHATO to collect Honkai Reactor samples.
Afterward, they would join forces against the Herrscher.
But the odds of success were slim, so Welt proposed a Plan B.
After hearing it, Siegfried slammed his fist against the wall: "Tch… So this is your Plan B?"
Ignoring his anger, Welt leaned on his cane and walked out of the hangar: "Which plan you choose is up to you."]
[March 7th & Stelle]: "Mr. Yang… that Plan B was dangerous for you, wasn't it?"
[Honkai: Star Rail·Welt]: "It was my duty!"
Welt didn't deny that his life had been at stake.
[Inside the base, Welt silently watched Dr.
Tesla directing adjustments to ALAHATO from the catwalk.
For a moment, neither spoke.
To them—this might be their last meeting.
Tesla knew Welt's mission to the moon was near-suicidal… yet she couldn't stop him.
"Hey… before you go… do you remember promising me a dance when you grew up?"
She turned away, forcing a smile as she asked.
4 hours 50 minutes until launch.
Welt stepped into a vast hall where sunlight streamed through towering windows, illuminating a grand piano.
Memories of his childhood practice sessions flashed before his eyes.
*"How long has it been since I last played…?
I remember loving it as a child, begging Einstein to teach me…"*
"Sometimes I wonder—if I weren't Welt… who would I be? A pianist? A teacher? Or maybe…"
"But ever since inheriting this name…"
"I lost my father. I lost the hero who saved me. I lost my identity. I lost my life."
"The Herrscher's power tore through every cell in my body."
"Every night of my childhood was sleepless."
"Yet I never resented it—because this is Welt's mission."
"And in my darkest moments…"
The sound of the door opening pulled him from his thoughts.
Turning, he saw Tesla standing there in an elegant dress, her cheeks tinged with a shy blush.
Welt smiled warmly and knelt on one knee in the sunlight, extending his hand: "Dr. Tesla… may I have this dance?"
With a graceful lift of her skirt, she replied: "Don't disappoint me now Joachim."
As they danced, Joachim felt as though his past companions were watching them—cheering and applauding their waltz.
"After becoming Welt…"
"I lost so much."
"But I never regretted it."
"Because you showed me the beauty of humanity."
"And that beauty is worth protecting with everything I have."]
[Elysia]: "Awwww, so sweet~!"
The Flame-Chasers—especially Elysia—watched Welt with sparkling eyes full of gossipy delight.
[Tesla]: "…Joachim."
Even the usually fiery Tesla softened at the memory, her face turning lobster-red under Einstein's amused gaze.
[Kiana]: "Mr. Yang really did become our teacher in the end—guess that counts as fulfilling a dream?"
[March 7th]: "Mr. Yang, your bond with Dr. Tesla is so beautiful~!"
[Stelle]: "Wait, so Dr. Tesla basically raised you? Mr. Yang… she's not mad at you for disappearing all this time, right?"
The thought of returning unannounced after so long made Welt break out in a cold sweat.
[Guinaifen]: "Mr. Welt here is like those generals from Xianzhou operas—covered in death flags!"