"…There is no need."
Kevin said expressionlessly.
Hare sighed: "Yes, there is no need. Everything is just futile."
"But for humans, every act of futility has its own special meaning, doesn't it?"
"Otherwise, what was the purpose of your actions earlier?"
In the surrounding space, the fluctuations brought by the power of Finality had still not completely dissipated.
Kevin said indifferently: "That was merely a way of conversing."
"…"
"You should withdraw. They are coming."
Seemingly sensing something, Kevin no longer had any desire to continue talking with Hare.
Hare naturally went along with it and disappeared like a dream bubble.
Then came the trio led by Kiana, arriving before Kevin with unyielding courage.
Looking at the three girls, Kevin proactively said: "Let us first make one thing clear."
"Fu Hua is not here."
Mei's eyes narrowed: "…Fu Hua?"
Kevin continued: "She is my only remaining comrade in this world, and also a respectable opponent."
"But the Stigmata Plan does not need that, so I don't mind using my own methods to let her rest for a while."
Mei said bluntly: "…In other words, the same thing you did last time in North Africa, right?"
"…"
Kevin did not answer.
Kiana then spoke: "Anyway, as long as she is fine."
Kevin nodded: "Indeed. Rather than that… just like with her, I will not refuse any battle request from you."
Upon hearing this, Mei spoke: "…Kevin, I understand the entirety of that history and know the reasons why you had to do this."
"Therefore——this is not a duel, but a conversation."
Kevin remained expressionless: "You may ask questions."
"…"
With Mei not speaking, Bronya said: "Then Bronya will ask first."
"No matter the cost, humanity will definitely defeat Honkai."
"——In your view, this cost also includes humanity itself, correct?"
Kevin said calmly: "You are mistaken about one thing, Herrscher of Reason."
"Humanity will never perish."
"Even if the current humans no longer exist, civilization will continue to be passed on."
"This is no different from dinosaurs evolving into birds."
As soon as Kevin said this, most viewers across the country started spamming things like "Why can birds fly" and other Kevin-style quotes.
On the TV, Kiana questioned: "Even if this would lead to the extinction of today's humans?"
Kevin said indifferently: "Every species can only choose between extinction and stagnation. Humanity is no exception."
"Raiden Mei, you should understand… there is no perfect solution in this world."
"…"
Mei was silent for a moment before saying: "Of course I know what price you paid to barely obtain this worst possible plan."
"But Kevin… before everything is finalized, this era still has the right to search for a better answer."
"——I am not referring to Kiana, Bronya, the Class President, or myself."
"I am referring to every single person living in the present in this world."
Kevin said: "Fire Moth was once an organization that followed the principle of the minority obeying the majority."
"And its result… as you can see."
Kiana refuted: "That is not a reason for you to unilaterally decide humanity's fate."
Kevin said indifferently: "When Finality decides humanity's fate, it doesn't even need a reason."
Mei said slowly: "Since you put it that way——Kevin, I have one most perplexing question."
"Finality… what exactly is it?"
Facing this question, Kevin raised his head and looked up, gazing through the thin veil formed by Honkai energy.
He stared directly into the bottomless darkness above.
"One day, It fell from the sky. People looked up and thus saw the starry sky."
Kevin suddenly said: "There is a saying that civilizations that do not understand each other easily develop hostility toward one another."
"But honestly, even among people who meet by chance, such conflicts arise easily."
"Since this self-destructive tendency can be considered the original sin of intelligence…"
"Then the fear of loneliness and the longing for one's own kind must also be equally universal on the scale of the universe."
Memories surged, and MEI's figure seemed to cross time and space to explain here.
"So, imagine that deep in the starry sky, there exists such a being."
"They are like us, rooted on a planet, living off it."
"But unlike humans, they go further and completely merge with the planet."
"Their will spreads across the earth, omnipresent and eternal, with no barriers between their minds…"
"If such a civilization truly exists, what do you think its wish would be?"
"At least in my view, it would very, very, very much desire… to embrace its own kind."
Kevin and MEI's voices fell at the same time, and the atmosphere fell into an eerie silence.
Only after a long time did Kevin proactively say: "Yes, that is the final conclusion our era could reach."
"Finality is not of Earth. It is a mechanism that manipulates fate, cycling through human civilizations again and again."
"——All so that its creator could have its own kind."
Mei said in realization: "So… this is why the Stigmata Plan is guaranteed to succeed?"
Kevin said: "Correct. It cuts in from Finality's weakness and dominates it in a way it cannot refuse."
Bronya said at this time: "If that is the case, then Bronya finds it even harder to understand."
"——Do you really think this can be considered defeating Honkai?"
Kevin shook his head: "No, of course not."
"Paying the price and defeating Honkai is a challenge belonging to humanity."
"Of course, I am also human. There is no doubt about that."
"——Precisely because of this, I look forward to you surpassing everything."
As his words fell, Chimera's Blade in its Finality form appeared in Kevin's hand, and a tangible sense of oppression arose naturally.
At the same time, various Honkai Impact 3rd fan group chats became extremely lively.
"To be honest, this is my first time seeing a boss like Ancestor Kevin."
"What the hell, the protagonist group has no chance of winning, yet the villain even comes to help the protagonist group fight against himself?"
"I originally thought it would be a brainless righteous plot, but I was too shallow!"
"Are we fighting the final boss already? I feel like there's no chance against Ancestor Kevin!"
"How did the dog director come up with such an ultimate, invincible, ridiculously overpowered boss?!"
"…"
Seeing the atmosphere on the TV instantly become tense and confrontational, most viewers began to feel nervous along with it.
Because they were watching from a god's-eye view, they felt Kevin was simply invincible!
This included inside the company.
Kalpas clicked his tongue: "Hmph, don't tell me this is the ending?"
Aponia smiled: "Of course not. Didn't you hear what Kevin said in the plot?"
"He is 'looking forward to you surpassing everything'!"
Many actors were still watching the TV without blinking, not only because the battle between Kevin and the protagonist group was about to break out.
But also because this was their first time seeing a boss like Kevin.
On the TV.
Kiana said gravely: "This aura, it is…"
Kevin said indifferently: "Correct. This is the power of Finality."
"Compared to it, we are no different from the grass and trees on the ground."
"It knows neither sorrow nor joy, neither fatigue nor rest, only cycling through all things and reshaping civilization."
"It is like death that every person must face, hanging high above civilization's head, not even bothering to scoff at us."
"I once told another challenger——all wisdom in the universe is limited by its own mode of existence."
"That is an obstacle that cannot be overcome by will alone."
"And facing the Stigmata Plan… what you need to challenge is precisely such a mode of existence."
The calm and indifferent narration continued to echo, without affecting Kevin as he faced the encirclement of the three Herrschers.
No, rather than facing them, it was more accurate to call it a lesson——from words to actions.
Although Kiana and Raiden Mei had fully recovered their combat power, even surpassing ordinary Herrschers.
But facing Kevin in his Karma Demon form wielding the power of Finality, they were like children.
No matter what attacks they made, it was useless.
They were even easily exploited for openings by Kevin. Terrifying ice power turned into solid ice that rose from the ground.
Not only Kiana and Mei who were fighting head-on, but even Bronya was frozen and bound by the ice.
Kevin looked at this scene and said indifferently: "It seems the determination of Herrschers is only this much."
But the next second, Kiana's extremely firm voice rang out: "It's not… over yet!"
Even though she was bound by solid ice and terrifying cold swept around her, the scorching Flamescion never extinguished.
Just like the firm firelight in Kiana's eyes, shining brightly.
"Flames will not cool."
"They will only… ignite once more!"
Her firm will was like the best firewood in the world, causing the inextinguishable flames to rise into a raging blaze.
Under such high-spirited and undying power, even though Kevin had not held back, the ice bindings were still broken free by Kiana.
She gripped the Flamescion greatsword tightly and slashed mercilessly toward Kevin himself!
Kiana, who had undergone a small power-up, wielded her greatsword and continuously clashed with Kevin. The flames continued to rise.
However, Kevin seemed to grow impatient. After forcing Kiana back, he directly condensed several ice spikes around them and let them fall.
"With this blaze… nothing cannot be severed!"
There was not a trace of fear on Kiana's face, nor any intention of retreating.
Just as she had said, the flames gathered on the greatsword and ultimately turned into an unstoppable blade.
It completely engulfed the solid ice Kevin had cast down!
Faced with such fighting spirit, even Kevin couldn't help but praise: "Keep up the good work, Herrscher of Humanity."
Even so, Kevin showed no mercy with his attacks, forcing Kiana to go all out every time.
But at this moment, Mei and Bronya also broke free from their bindings one after another, aiding the lone Kiana.
"You should not underestimate the power of Finality."
"The battle has only just begun."
Even though Kiana alone could barely fight Kevin earlier, when Mei and Bronya joined in.
The situation did not improve. Instead, it became even harder to handle.
Bronya couldn't help but say: "What should we do…"
"If it were Mr. Welt facing a similar situation…"
At that moment, both sides pulled apart again. A glint flashed in Bronya's eyes.
Under the power of the Herrscher of Reason, a sci-fi cannon quietly took shape.
It was also at this moment that Kiana took the initiative to attack, only to be evaluated by Kevin: "Too slow."
Facing the combined attack of Kiana and Mei, Kevin could even strike a few poses before erupting with power.
In just an instant, he sent Kiana, Mei, and Bronya flying simultaneously!
The petite body smashed into the wall, and the sphere Bronya had constructed also fell to the ground.
It ultimately slid slowly to Kevin's feet.
That was Eden's Star, the Divine Key that could control gravity.
Just as Kevin bent down to pick it up, several black feathers shot toward him like arrows.
Kevin dodged subconsciously, but the Eden's Star beneath his feet disappeared.
The next moment, a long-haired figure appeared behind Kevin, holding Eden's Star in her hand.
Needless to say, it was Fu Hua who had used the power of the Herrscher of Sentience!
Under the excited gazes of viewers outside the TV, Fu Hua, descending like a divine soldier, activated Eden's Star without hindrance.
Imitating the unmatched cosmic might of a black hole, a gigantic black sphere enveloped Kevin.
Mei and Kiana watched this scene and couldn't help feeling excited: "Class President…"
Because while the black sphere covered Kevin, it also enveloped Fu Hua herself.
Bronya also opened her eyes, looked around, and said: "In the end, it was the Class President and the Herrscher of Sentience who protected us…"
"Using a pseudo-black hole to greatly consume the opponent's time—this is the tactic Mr. Welt once used on the Moon…"
Directly confronting Kevin was undoubtedly impossible, but the gravity of a black hole could even distort time.
Combined with the authority of the Herrscher of Sentience and Fu Hua's power, they barely managed to stall Kevin.
At that moment, Hare's voice suddenly rang out.
"Sigh… although this result is indeed unexpected, but——merely stalling for time is not the path you seek, is it?"
"Why do humans always do such futile and heartbreaking things…"
"However, the current result isn't bad."
"Although I feel somewhat sorry toward my Lord——as friends who have only known each other for a short time, we should have some time alone together, shouldn't we?"
Upon hearing this, Bronya immediately felt a bad premonition: "You…"
Although extremely unwilling, as the designated one who always gets tormented in the trio, the Duck-Duck.
Before she could say another word, a strong wave of blankness suddenly assaulted her, like anesthetic mist.
It quickly pulled Bronya into darkness.
Silence enveloped everything, not just Bronya, but also Kiana and Mei.
The three of them once again fell into dreams and World Bubbles.
It could only be said that Kevin treated the three equally. Even though Kiana and Mei could barely stand.
But facing Hare, who was still at full strength and extremely mysterious.
They had no power to resist at all.