The farewells from the twelve Flame-Chasers, plus Elysia—who was both the beginning and the end.
In a daze, the viewers in front of the television screens truly felt as though they had become the protagonists of the plot.
Or perhaps some of those words were directed at them all along.
"I cried, I really couldn't hold it in anymore—the Thirteen Flame-Chasers… everyone was so good!"
"Damn dog director, how many times does he have to knife me with these thirteen people!"
"My tear threshold is high; I hadn't cried in five years, but ever since watching Honkai Impact 3rd, I've gotten used to crying like a dog!"
"Dog director, you really deserve to die—do you really want to make me cry until I'm blind?!"
"…"
It wasn't just viewers from all over the country; even the people inside Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company were affected.
Whether it was Kiana, Bronya, Seele, or the Flame-Chasers like Kevin and the others.
Even Kalpas seemed to be secretly wiping tears in the corner, occasionally glancing toward Hessian.
The meaning was obvious: if there was ever a chance, they absolutely could not let this dog director off!
Mobius also glared fiercely at Hessian and said irritably:
"Compared to this kind of soft knife cutting into flesh, the direct knives from before were at least a little better."
"Hessian, you really deserve to die—better sleep with one eye open tonight!"
Hessian didn't mind at all; instead, he chuckled and said, "Just tell me if it was good or not, and if you want to keep watching!"
Hearing this, forget Mobius—even Kalpas and the others fell silent.
Although the dog director kept throwing knives and it was infuriating, actually knifing him would feel a bit of a shame.
After all, without Hessian, where would they get the rest of Honkai Impact 3rd's plot?
But no matter what, the plot on the television wasn't completely over yet.
On the screen.
Mei stood there in a daze, seemingly unwilling to leave just like that.
Elysia's voice couldn't help but ring out, "Ah, what's wrong?"
"If you don't set off soon… it really will be too late, you know?"
Mei didn't answer, nor did she leave.
"…"
Elysia said somewhat helplessly, "Okay, I know."
"You're really reluctant to part with me, right?"
"Of course I feel the same."
"But it's okay—you've already shouldered all of me, haven't you?"
Mei still didn't speak and didn't leave.
Elysia seemed to realize something, "Ah, are you thinking—"
"As long as you stay like this, you can keep talking to me forever?"
"That's no good—teasing a girl's heartstrings like that, I really will cry, you know?"
Mei pursed her lips and gave a silent, soft laugh, though the corners of her eyes were slightly red.
"…"
"…Okay."
Elysia was completely helpless and said dotingly, "It's fine—if you don't want to move forward, then just pause for a while."
"Then look beside you, look behind you…"
"Look—we're always here, exactly the same as before, aren't we?"
As Elysia's sweet voice faded, a photograph slowly appeared on the television screen.
The Thirteen Flame-Chasers stood with their backs to the dawn, in front of the plaza in the Elysian Realm.
The viewers who had just been smiling at Elysia's voice now burst into tears again.
And on the television, Elysia's voice continued to ring out.
"So please don't forget—"
"What the Elysian Realm recorded was just such a simple story."
"This story contains pain and failure, betrayal and parting, but at the same time it also holds happiness and joy, warmth and emotion."
"Sorrow won't disappear out of thin air, but warm feelings will also be cherished in the heart forever."
"What should be passed down to future generations must not be only hatred and duty."
"Only those who have witnessed the brilliance and splendor of this era can understand the meaning of what we fought for."
"Cold, hard knowledge and technology can be left to textbooks to teach."
"What the Flame-Chasers should pass on is the glory of being Flame-Chasers, the reason for fighting."
"It is what our souls ultimately entrusted during this journey of chasing flames."
"And you who come after will witness the footprints of our lives, the imprints of our souls."
"And find within them the answers you seek."
"Not being pushed or dragged forward, nor walking along a path chosen by others."
"But with this kind of thought—I want to do this, I should do this."
"To decide your own path, your own imprint."
"With your own will, toward the goals you set for yourself."
"In your own way, to live with all your might the life where you are the protagonist."
"Look—I am like this, and so is everyone."
"The era I knew, and the thirteen people it gave birth to, were all like this."
"Countless trajectories intertwined and entwined, giving birth to a miracle of blooming flowers."
"This is beautiful eternity, the… true self that I believe in."
"This is the Elysian Realm—the story of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers."
"With this, our story has ended."
"And from now on…"
"It will be your story."
Mei finally broke her silence, "…Thank you."
"I won't forget."
"Goodbye, Thirteen Flame-Chasers."
"Goodbye, Elysia."
When her words completely fell, the ending BGM began playing on the screen.
At the same time, a narration appeared: Model No. 666 has been activated.
This signaled the complete destruction of the Elysian Realm, becoming the tomb of the Herrscher of Corrosion.
Of course, it was also the tomb of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, including Elysia.
"What the fuck!! The Elysian Realm is just gone like that? My huge Elysia is just gone?!"
"The Thirteen Flame-Chasers—all gone, and not just once, wuuu…"
"Hahaha, knife, good knife—dog director, the plot can be fake, but you are definitely real!!"
"This is an endless hunt—dog director, you better sleep with your eyes open!!"
"…"
Although they had anticipated it, when the Elysian Realm truly ended, viewers nationwide still couldn't accept it.
It was already just memory data—why couldn't the Thirteen Flame-Chasers get a good ending?
Especially Elysia…
The Previous Era vanished once, and the Elysian Realm died more than once!
Fuck!
Just thinking about it sent a surge of rage straight to their heads, nearly driving many viewers to lose their reason.
But fortunately, the plot on the television wasn't over yet, so they couldn't bear to leave.
…
A long while later.
The BGM gradually softened, and Mei's figure reappeared in reality.
"I… came back?"
Mei seemed somewhat dazed; the story of the Elysian Realm and the Thirteen Flame-Chasers felt like another lifetime.
Behind her was the already vanished past—heavy and long.
Before her was the future she would step into.
"…Hm?"
Seeming to notice something, Mei looked forward.
There stood Kevin, holding the Judgment of Shamash, standing alone ahead.
Mei wasn't surprised and said, "Looks like you're the final safeguard here."
"…"
Kevin remained silent.
Mei continued, "In the end, you still didn't make a move."
"…I can tell you have a lot of faith in your former comrades."
Kevin said flatly, "You too."
"…"
This time it was Mei's turn to fall silent.
For a moment, she couldn't discern the meaning behind his words.
But Mei didn't think too long before asking directly, "Kevin, they…"
Kevin spoke first, "I know."
Mei: "…"
"Even so… you're still unwilling to see them one last time?"
That would be meaningless.
Not only Mei, but the viewers in reality also thought Kevin would say that.
But he didn't.
Kevin was only silent for a moment before saying, "I don't want to disappoint her."
His tone was terrifyingly calm, as always.
From these words, Mei understood that this man who symbolized power wasn't complaining to anyone.
He was simply stating his own weakness.
The Kevin who appeared here was not merely there to serve as the final safeguard.
He was there to remember… and to bid farewell.
After the narration, Mei couldn't help but say, "You…"
Kevin interrupted, "Let's go."
The World Serpent's sovereign no longer revealed any more emotion.
Or perhaps he had already revealed more than enough.
Kevin was lonely, yet no one had ever noticed his loneliness.
Mei asked, "…To do what?"
Kevin replied, "The Stigmata Plan."
Mei: "…"
Of course she knew—the Twelfth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Corrosion, had already been eliminated along with the destruction of the Elysian Realm.
And the Thirteenth Herrscher was merely a lie.
—The destined moment had finally arrived.
Mei said as if with emotion, "This day has finally come, hasn't it?"
Kevin said expressionlessly, "If you're unwilling, then there's no meaning in you staying here any longer."
Mei said directly, "Kevin, you know I've never agreed with this plan."
Kevin said, "That doesn't matter."
"After all, you are already able to understand."
Hearing Kevin's seemingly ruthless voice, not only Mei fell silent—the viewers outside the screen did too.
Understand—fuck, they understood too well!
How many knives the Elysian Realm had thrown, that was how deeply and painfully they understood!
Mei said slowly, "Understand…"
"Perhaps…"
After witnessing the beginning and end of that era in the Elysian Realm.
Whether it was Mei in the plot or the viewers outside it,
They understood more than ever why the man before them had become the way he was now.
"But understanding, after all, does not mean agreement."
Mei said firmly, "Kevin, every person has the potential to become a hero."
"But you shouldn't demand that everyone become the hero you chose."
"That kind of result is not what she wanted to see."
Kevin's face showed no ripple, "Raiden Mei."
"…There will never be a second Elysia."
"The result she wanted to see was never here."
"It was in you."
"…"
Mei was silent for a moment before saying, "Looks like I've lost the last reason to stay in the World Serpent."
"So the real purpose you recruited a Herrscher to join the World Serpent back then…"
"I've already fulfilled it, haven't I?"
Kevin admitted, "Mm."
Surprisingly, Kevin—who had been seen as completely unhinged at the beginning—responded very softly.
"Then, that's it… Raiden Mei."
"As sovereign, I permit you to leave the World Serpent."
With those words, this episode of Honkai Impact 3rd came to a complete end.
And the viewers, almost in unison, began typing in the fan groups.
"There will never be a second Elysia—fuck, one last knife at the end, huh!"
"I don't care, Elysia is my wife, I will always love Elysia!"
"Dog director! You're really a dog! How many times did you knife me in one Elysian Realm arc!!"
"Wait, it's over just like that? Elysia's gone too? What about the earlier foreshadowing?"
"Mistake or forgotten? Deliberate or accidental?"
"…"
At first everyone was still discussing the plot and denouncing a certain dog director, but soon more and more viewers realized.
This plot isn't right!
It's just over like that?!
Of course, even more viewers were knifed beyond endurance.
They erupted again, charging toward Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company.
Inside the company.
Kiana and the others also looked at Hessian with unfriendly eyes, yet the certain dog director remained completely oblivious.
"Elysia, my beloved wife—how about wearing those new black stockings tonight?"
Hessian was hugging Elysia, constantly showing off their affection and scattering dog food.
Elysia cooperated perfectly, "Okay okay~ Since you shaped my image so wonderfully."
"Of course I have to give my dear hubby a little reward!"
Now forget Kiana and Himeko—even Kalpas and the others were itching to take action.
At that moment, Kalpas suddenly glanced at the fan group, then sneered at Hessian and said:
"No need to do it yourself this time—a certain someone has completely pissed off the fans."
As soon as Kalpas finished, everyone immediately understood.
After all, Hessian had thrown both hard and soft knives this time, fast and slow, and in huge quantities.
Once the viewers processed it, it was only a matter of time before they exploded!
At that moment, SAKURA walked in from outside and nodded, "The company's surrounded by fans outside; they're extremely worked up."
So everyone—including Eden and Aponia—turned to look at Hessian.
They wanted to see how this dog director would handle it.
"Hahaha, mere rabble—watch me pull a little trick."
Hessian planted a kiss on Elysia and sneered disdainfully.
Long before this episode, he had already made full preparations.
Otherwise he wouldn't have cut out the "Because of You" story.
It was deliberately saved as a countermeasure!
Thinking of this, Hessian looked at Eden and the others and said, "Now, please have all the Flame-Chasers head to the livestream immediately."
"At the same time, promote our movie short theater—it'll serve as a teaser."
Hearing the words "Flame-Chasers," Kevin, Kosma, Kalpas, and the others quickly got into character.
Mobius, however, was a bit reluctant—or rather, a bit embarrassed.
Mainly because whenever she appeared, the fans would start shouting things like:
"The hardest mouth in the entire Elysian Realm belongs to Snakey!"
"Even if the whole Elysian Realm gets destroyed by Model 666, Snakey's mouth would probably still be there."
"Hahaha, no way someone actually thinks Snakey isn't tsundere, right?"
"…"
Plus having to act out young Mobius in the Elysian Realm, even changing her voice to that little clip tone.
Mobius became even more unwilling.
"Dog director, just you wait!"
Thinking of this, Mobius glared viciously at Hessian.