Chapter 188: Thundering Over Nagazora! The Meeting of Otto and Kevin
"Hi hi hi! Can everyone in the stream see me? It's everyone's favorite beautiful girl, Elysia~ ♪"
Elysia greeted the viewers in the livestream. While her words seemed a bit self-absorbed, coming from this "social butterfly," they didn't feel out of place at all.
[Ellie! Ellie!]
[Amen!!]
[Elysia is actually streaming!]
The viewers excitedly spammed "Amen" in the chat. As the brand ambassador for Honkai Impact 3rd and the beautiful host who appeared in every preview stream, Elysia had instantly captured the hearts of the vast player base with her stunning looks and lively personality. Who in this world wouldn't like Elysia? Anyone claiming otherwise was just putting up a front!!
Watching Elysia's self-admiring segment with the audience, Kiana felt her toes curling in embarrassment. She shifted her gaze toward Su Mu.
"Is she... always like this?"
Su Mu looked puzzled. "Didn't you watch our preview streams? she's been like this since a year ago."
Kiana's eyes darted guiltily. she couldn't exactly say that she didn't really watch the streams. Every time she saw Honkai 3rd, she remembered the past she couldn't bear to look back on—the time her "Get Rich by Losing Money" plan died before it even truly began. she wanted nothing to do with anything Honkai 3rd related, but as the President of MiHoYo and the prototype for the game's heroine, she was forced to make appearances. Thus, before every guest spot, Kiana would wail at home while catching up on the lore.
Fortunately, the plot was compelling enough that even though she was reluctant, she always finished it. This particular livestream was different, however, as it was being held at MiHoYo's own office with Elysia as the host. Even Su Mu, the usually "lazy dog" who rarely showed his face, was participating. Kiana had asked him before why he didn't attend some of the other streams.
Su Mu had simply smiled and said that "quality matters more than quantity." If he appeared too often, the mystery would fade. Kiana felt a drop of sweat. Mystery? You're just showing off.
In truth, Su Mu's real thought was that this chapter, Lament of the Fallen, would be spectacular. He wanted to be on the front lines of the stream to feel the players' pain and observe Kiana and Raiden Mei's expressions up close. Just thinking about it made him lose himself in excitement. Yes, this was exactly what he wanted to see!!
Raiden Mei watched Kiana and Su Mu bickering, feeling a hint of envy at their way of interacting. she could see Kiana spoke without filters in front of Su Mu, saying whatever came to mind, while Su Mu would tease and joke back. This relaxed and fun way of getting along was something Mei wanted to learn; unfortunately, her work environment was high-pressure, and such enviable relationships were nowhere to be found in her workplace.
"Mei, Mei, I'm telling you, you better stay away from this guy." Kiana took Mei's hand, glaring at Su Mu with a look of feigned disgust. "Don't be fooled by his 'Mr. Nice Guy' act; he's actually a total pervert!"
Raiden Mei blinked, her gaze landing on Su Mu. his handsome face made her avert her eyes slightly. "I-Is that so? He seems like a very decent person to me."
Kiana started huffing and puffing. "You have no idea! Every time he sees players wailing because of his game, he lets out this creepy laugh. He's a complete freak who enjoys torturing players for fun!"
Raiden Mei tapped her cheek with a finger. "Really? I felt that Su Mu was probably just happy because his work was being recognized by the players..."
Kiana's eyes widened. "Mei! Why are you always siding with Su Mu! Whose side are you on anyway?"
Su Mu rolled his eyes at Kiana. "What do you mean 'whose side'? I'm on the side of justice, obviously. Unless you want Mei to show favoritism?"
Seeing she couldn't win the argument, Kiana could only let out an angry huff and turn her head away, pouting. Su Mu didn't bother to coax her; he knew her temperament all too well. If he left this "white cat" alone, she'd be back to cling to him once her temper cooled.
After exchanging pleasantries with the audience, Elysia introduced the guests for the stream.
[Guessed right! Elysia is the ambassador, so President Kiana was bound to show up!]
[Wait? Old Thief Su Mu is appearing too? Get out, Old Thief! With you here, Elysia's room feels like it's becoming the underworld!]
[Keep the Honkai in the sun and the players in the dark—that's our Old Thief. Does your game have an Old Thief like this?]
[Honestly though, he hasn't been on camera in a while.]
[Wait, when has he ever been on camera? It's always a mask or an avatar!]
[Duh, would you dare show your face? You'd be doxxed in minutes!]
[Is it possible—I mean just a possibility—that someone already tried to dox him but failed?]
[Eh? For real?]
[You didn't know? his personal info is classified. You can't find anything! Unless you want to pick a fight with the government.]
[Wait, his background is that big?]
Watching these discussions, Su Mu merely gave a faint smile. his information had been encrypted long ago. It was a request Bronya had made to her mentor, Welt, after she read the script Su Mu had written. Initially, it wasn't at the level of "classified," but with the endorsement and partnership of Otto and Kevin, Su Mu had significant backing, and his files became top secret.
Sigh, it feels good to have powerful allies. Su Mu didn't mind relying on them; he had earned that support with his own talent. Influence is something built step by step like this.
The discussion about Su Mu's identity didn't last long because the Honkai 3rd maintenance update ended! As it finished, Elysia expertly logged into her account. As the "pink elf" and the leader of the Golden Courtyard's "enthusiasts," how could she not play? In fact, not only did she play, she whaled quite a bit. Players seeing her warehouse full of SSS-rank Valkyries for the first time were stunned.
[Holy crap! Ellie really plays!]
[she's the ambassador, of course she plays!]
[Don't be so sure, there are plenty of people who take sponsorships but never touch the product.]
[LMAO, is this a 'Salary Recycling Program'? Is all of Elysia's salary being recycled by MiHoYo?]
"Not at all! Ellie saves her salary very well~ Thriftiness is a virtue~!" Elysia answered the comments solemnly. "Besides, money earned through hard work isn't shameful to spend, as long as it brings you happiness!"
[Whoa, listening to Elysia's words is like... listening to words!]
[Are you just repeating yourself?]
[It's true though! We don't smoke, we don't drink, we don't do anything illegal. We just play games and top up for our 2D wives, what's wrong with that?]
[Can't find love in reality, so we look for spiritual comfort in the 2D world, right!]
[Brother, stop. My friend is about to break down. I'm fine, but my friend is really suffering...]
Elysia scanned the announcements and immediately opened Main Story Chapter 17: [Thundering Over Nagazora]!
The chapter began with Otto and Kevin sitting across from each other. Inside the Cage of the Void, a miniature world of imagery. Golden light flowed and shifted, projecting ever-changing scenes. This realm, created by the Divine Key Void Archives, completely isolated the two from the outside world.
Otto sized up the man before him. Those cold eyes were empty—devoid of emotion, memory, or warmth. There was nothing of a human gaze in them. It made him feel a sense of nostalgia; since becoming Overseer, he had rarely felt looked down upon. Yet this man held no regard for him, Schicksal, or anything in this world. Still, Otto welcomed his arrival.
["Long live World Serpent."]
["..."]
["Haha, just a joke. Using a friendly opening to try and create a harmonious atmosphere for our talk."]
Otto's sudden remark left the chat in a daze. Seeing that Kevin had no reaction to the joke, Otto's dry follow-up explanation made the players laugh.
[LMAO! Otto is being so awkward!]
[Hahaha, hard to hold it in!]
[Otto must be dying of embarrassment inside, right?]
[If the embarrassment is discovered, the path of the Overseer cannot continue! He has to hide it with a loud shout! Hmmm-haaaa!!!]
In the ensuing meeting, Kevin explained his purpose. World Serpent had no intent to become Schicksal's enemy; he came for one reason: to have Otto assist with Project Stigma.
["To make a request, one must pay a price. What will you give for my promise?"]
Otto tried to maneuver for terms favorable to himself, but Kevin's reply was unexpected.
["I do not need your promise. Obey or perish. You have only those two choices."]
This domineering answer sent a shock through the audience!
[Whoa! Kevin is too cool!]
[Pointing right at Otto's nose, scorning both him and all of Schicksal!]
[This is way too boss!]
"Wow! As expected of Kevin Kaslana!" Kiana's eyes were wide with admiration. "As the ancestor of the Kaslana family, this answer is so tough! That's the first time Otto has taken an L like that, right? Hahaha!!"
Seeing Otto uncomfortable made Kiana very comfortable. In the game, she had been tortured endlessly all thanks to Otto. Even a clay man has a bit of fire in him, and Kiana never claimed to have a good temper. she definitely wanted to smash Otto's head.
What about the real-life Otto? As the saying goes: "Insulting someone's mother in an online argument refers to a fictional mother; if I saw your real mom, I'd still politely say 'Hello, Auntie'." So don't worry about what Kiana thinks of the real Otto; what could she think? she was famous for slacking off at Schicksal; the fact that Otto hadn't kicked her out was considered a mercy—at least according to Siegfried, Kiana didn't care.
In the game, Otto faced Kevin's blunt threat.
["No, no, that is not a wise decision. You must understand that no matter how powerful you are, this world is still maintained by my Schicksal."]
["Imagine the worst-case scenario: Schicksal pours every resource and bit of strength into fighting World Serpent until the final moment. Yes, Schicksal would lose, but you would lose time."]
["You would lose the most precious time. In that case, you wouldn't be able to implement Project Stigma before the end arrives."]
["That is not the result you want, is it? I think it is time for a proper talk."]
["After all, I do not wish for war with World Serpent either."]
With his extraordinary courage and sharp observation, Otto deduced the direction of the conversation. Eventually, Kevin yielded, allowing Otto to state his terms. Otto needed one thing—something in Kevin's possession that was no longer of value to him. If he obtained it, Otto's five-hundred-year wish could be fulfilled. In exchange, Otto would vanish from before World Serpent forever.
What he wanted was the beacon of the Eternal Key, Cosmic Tower (15th Divine Key), to complete the incomplete Divine Key in his hands. This would allow him to activate its Zeroth Rated Power. Otto wanted to reach the Imaginary Tree. The Tree was the eternal moment, the origin of the end, and the birthplace of all truths and laws. It was the destination Otto was determined to reach.
In exchange, Otto chose to return the Void Archives to Kevin! This decision left the viewers stunned.
Void Archives was a God-Slaying weapon powered by the core of the Previous Era's First Herrscher, the Herrscher of Reason. In its base state, it was a golden cube that could turn into fluid. It could use Honkai energy to create weapons and items the user understood fundamentally; while it could copy other Divine Keys, they were far inferior to the originals. Most importantly, it contained an almost infinite library of knowledge from the Previous Era. It had been found in Asia by the first ancestor of the Apocalypse family, who called it a sarira of infinite wisdom.
It was the most vital tool Otto used to achieve his ambitions. And now, he was returning it to Kevin... did this signal that Otto was only one step away from fulfilling his wish? That he no longer needed its power?
Amidst the chatter, the scene shifted to the lounge of the Helios. Despite Dr. Tesla's treatment, Kiana was only temporarily out of danger. The three cores sealed within her were still consuming her mind and body. The time left for them was less than two months.
This sudden news was hard for Raiden Mei to believe. When they met in Arc City, Kiana's condition hadn't deteriorated this far. Although Tesla wanted to move Kiana to safety, they were waiting for the Hyperion's support for security. Raiden Mei asked Tesla not to tell Kiana the truth. Currently, the only one who could comfort her was Mei.
[Outside the infirmary door, Mei paused.]
[she wanted to go in, but her feet stopped. An emotion was dragging at her, preventing her from moving forward.]
[Hesitation? Panic? No, she realized it was fear.]
[Fear? Fear of facing Kiana... why such a thought?]
[Mei took a deep breath, casting aside the unspeakable turmoil in her heart, and forced a step forward.]
[Then—the door opened.]
On the bed, Kiana looked at Mei with a smile, but anyone could see she was forcing it. The Honkai erosion lines on her neck showed how much her condition had worsened. Even so, she maintained a facade for Mei, telling her she was fine. After a brief moment of re-savoring the joy of reunion, Mei told Kiana about the changes of the past four months, including what happened with Bronya.
At that moment, Kiana suggested going for a walk outside. Despite worrying about her health, Mei couldn't resist Kiana's pleading and eventually agreed to her request.
END OF CHAPTER
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