Hessian didn't care at all: "I was actually worried about my own safety too, so I added two extra locks to the company door. I'm going to sleep first—you all have fun."
Mobius: "See… you guys still underestimated him."
Hessian continued typing: "Have fun, everyone. Good night!"
Then he directly turned off his phone.
And went to sleep peacefully.
Golden Courtyard.
At this mont, the group's cheerful drinking mood from the party had completely vanished. Everyone gathered together looking at the script, trying to figure out everyone's endings…
But… a script is still just a script—it's very different from watching the show on TV. The only thing they could confirm was that everyone died.
How exactly they died, why they died, what happened after death—none of that was clear at all!
Eden finally couldn't hold back and said: "Ely, you should just get a divorce."
SAKURA also agreed: "Yeah, after you divorce him, I'll help you kill him."
Kalpas said: "If you're willing to beco a widow, I can go kill him for you right now."
Even Kiana and the others were having similar thoughts.
This Hessian had really made them way too angry!
They had just watched the show today and started liking these characters, and now the next episode they all die?
If this guy isn't sick, what is he?
Elysia quickly said: "Everyone, don't worry. Believe in my husband. He said he would make all Honkai Impact 3rd viewers fall in love with . Since he said it, he will definitely make it happen."
Kiana couldn't believe it: "You actually believe that kind of talk?"
Even Pardofelis didn't buy it: "How is that possible? Once people are dead, who would still like them?"
Then everyone started persuading her.
But Elysia kept insisting she believed in Hessian: "He's never gone back on his word before, even though the process is always a bit twisty."
Uh…
This made everyone start reflecting.
It seed…
She wasn't wrong.
Kevin unusually spoke up: "Thinking too much now won't help. It's rare for us to gather like this—let's just keep drinking and having fun. We shouldn't waste this great opportunity."
Theresa directly called him out: "You're just saying that because you see I here and don't want the mood to stay so cold, right?"
Kevin scratched his head and didn't deny it.
Elysia said: "Alright~ Everyone, just relax. If my husband really wrote nonsense, I'll help you all get revenge on him."
"Then it's settled!"
So… everyone started drinking again.
After a night of wild partying, they plunged back into busy filming.
Seven days passed.
This week, viewers were all discussing which Fla-Chaser was the prettiest, who was best wife material, or what the Fla-Chasers' dark sides were, and so on.
Finally.
The new episode began airing.
As expected, Hessian was surrounded by everyone in the middle—just like last week—to prevent him from running away.
Soon, the TV started playing.
The plot continued directly from the previous episode.
While searching for clues about Aponia, she received an invitation from Vill-V, the Fla-Chaser inscribed with Helix, to participate in her magic gala. Afterward, she continued searching for clues. Through conversations with the various Fla-Chasers, she gradually peeled away the fog and step by step uncovered the truth.
Finally, she arrived at the destination of her journey.
She found Vill-V: "There are so things I need to confirm with you."
Vill-V asked: "Oh? Why ?"
i said: "Since there's soone here who can freely shape others' minds…"
"I think seeking confirmation from soone who can break free from the influence of Discipline would make it less likely to be led astray."
Vill-V said: "Then I'm truly honored."
"But you're really reopening old wounds here, you know? The price I paid for this was very heavy—killing one version of myself isn't as simple as outsiders think."
"…Sorry." i imdiately apologized.
Vill-V felt a bit awkward: "Uh… you don't have to go that far. Being so polite actually makes feel a little embarrassed."
"Being a Fla-Chaser really is troubleso. If this were back when I was alive, I would've sent you packing long ago. So… what exactly do you want to confirm?"
i said: "Up to this point, I finally have a deeper understanding of the true nature of the Elysian Realm. It's a space constructed from cognition. On that foundation, it seems the Fla-Chasers each possess their own individual domains."
"Those are places that truly preserve their personal mories. Without the corresponding permission, no one can enter them."
"The operating room for Mobius, the studio for Griseo, the Deep for Aponia… all such existences."
Vill-V said approvingly: "Oho… your judgnt is very accurate, but this isn't exactly a secret. However… isn't the matter of permission a bit too absolute?"
i said: "Indeed. Elysia once helped enter Mobius's and Griseo's domains, but when it ca to Aponia, she seed unable to do sothing similar."
"Although I haven't figured out the reason yet, Aponia is clearly very special to the Elysian Realm."
Vill-V said: "That… I don't want to comnt recklessly. And then?"
i continued: "But after confirming that the Deep belongs to Aponia's mories, I developed a question."
"Assuming the Deep once existed as an important mory in different Fla-Chasers' minds, then… would two completely opposing subjective cognitions intersect with each other, or remain entirely independent?"
Vill-V asked: "Did you find the answer?"
i nodded: "I found it a long ti ago… it's just that I never had the opportunity to apply it until now."
"Kevin once told that the dark side of Fire Moth is constructed from subjective mories, and when pieced together, they might even contradict each other."
"So my first guess was correct. Moreover, the mories that make up the Deep do not belong to just one person."
Vill-V was sowhat surprised: "Wow! You actually got useful information out of Kevin's mouth. That's not easy."
i continued: "Kevin's words are the key to the Deep. And the corresponding door… is you, Vill-V."
"…"
Vill-V understood: "Oh, so that's the real reason you ca to ? Or rather… the most important reason?"
"Correct."
i openly admitted: "You are the builder of the Deep. Even if Aponia's mories hold absolute dominance in its construction, you… your cognition cannot possibly be absent from it."
"That is the key that allows to enter without permission."
"As for Aponia… no matter what, like all the other Fla-Chasers, the ultimate purpose of everything she does is still to save humanity itself."
"I acknowledge that—even Mobius, who had designs on , is the sa. But in Aponia's attempts to achieve this, her direction has shifted several tis."
Vill-V said: "Of course. People change—just look at Kevin. And then?"
i continued: "The Aponia I encountered is the sa. Her actions reveal two purposes: one belongs to her personally… but the other has absolutely nothing to do with her stated beliefs—perhaps even runs completely counter to them."
"She explained it with fate, but I don't think so…"
"—That is another person's purpose."
"In this ten-day prophecy, Aponia has a companion."
Vill-V asked: "Uh… you're not going to accuse , are you?"
i shook her head: "No, not you."
"My sole purpose in coming to the Elysian Realm is to reach its deepest part and obtain Fire Moth's true secrets."
"Aponia appeared during my advance. And everything she has done is to prevent from going deeper."
"I have reason to believe that sothing exists in the Deep that would cause a dramatic shift in my journey."
"And Aponia's prophecy—its true function is likely… to divert my attention from that point onto her, ensuring that the secret which would change everything remains forever hidden."
"In summary, I have co before you—a person unaffected by Aponia's abilities, and one whose cognition must contain the Deep."
"You did say you cannot go to the Deep on your own, but at that ti, I didn't understand you well enough."
"A magician would naturally have no connection to the Deep… but you… may be different."
"…"
Vill-V was silent for a long ti before saying: "Strange… what's going on? Did you really figure all this out yourself?"
"Oho~ That's impressive. I'm starting to look at you in a new light, Herrscher of Thunder… or rather, has anyone told you that you'd be better suited as the Herrscher of Reason?"
"Correct. If the mory spaces belonging to the Fla-Chasers are connected to one another to form this place…"
"Then the point of connection between and Aponia… is the Deep."
"But… you've already reached the edge of that place. You wouldn't think… that cathedral-like scene is born from my subjectivity, right?"
"I can indeed help you reach there, but anything after that is beyond my control."
i imdiately thanked her: "That's enough. Thank you."
Vill-V quickly said: "Hey! Don't thank yet. I really want to help you… but this ti is different."
"You know this is equivalent to building a bridge between cognitions. In other words… to reach the Deep this way, you must pass through my sea of consciousness."
"I would have to lay my entire mind bare to you without any defenses. If it were you, would you be willing to endure such a thing just to help soone else?"
"I'm not Elysia, you know."
"Let's make a deal, Herrscher of Thunder. A complete in exchange for a complete you."
"While traversing my cognition, every thought in my heart will be laid bare to you—even my most unspeakable secrets."
"But you… must also lay yourself bare without defenses, allowing to do the sa."
i agreed decisively: "Fine. I accept."
Vill-V said: "So decisive? Not going to think it over?"
i said: "I have no shaful past to hide. Besides… since I'm seeking secrets, I don't mind exchanging secrets."
Vill-V continued: "Oho, and one more disclair. I can indeed get you there, but I have no ans to let you leave… you understand."
"I understand."
i thought for a mont and finally said: "Although I think it's better to leave so things unspoken… I don't want anyone trying to deceive to mistakenly believe they've succeeded."
"Every ti, you appear just when my investigation reaches a bottleneck and provide crucial help. So… is my entire self the thing you've finally revealed to … your true purpose?"
Vill-V laughed: "Don't overthink it… Miss i. The chance for honesty is right in front of you. Go see for yourself."
"And… compared to , you're suspecting soone else much more, aren't you?"
Seeing this, the two reached a tacit understanding.
They said no more.
Under Vill-V's ability, their consciousnesses intertwined. i's entirety unfolded before Vill-V, but…
Vill-V still played a trick—she did not show her full self.
When i ca to her senses.
She had already arrived in the Deep.
During this ti, Aponia had frequently spied on her through various ans—even when she deliberately sought death in battle with Kalpas, Aponia intervened. Everything was to fulfill her prophecy—
—The end ten days later.
And now.
She had arrived in the Deep in her own way.
Appearing before Aponia.
Yet she saw the other kneeling on the ground, praying: "…Cease your admonition here."
"Raiden i, what exactly has made you resolve… to fall so miserably into this trap?"
i saw her and said: "Aponia, good. Seeing you appear here actually puts more at ease."
"My final doubt has finally been answered—my death date is indeed connected to my intention to reach the Deep. In fact… they are the sa thing."
Aponia sighed: "You still cannot understand my painstaking efforts?"
"What protects us is restraint. People can only know so much, and thus live on."
"The thirst for the unknown has already brought one era to its end. I simply did not want… you to beco involved as well."
i said: "No need to speak so euphemistically, Aponia. The essence of the matter isn't complicated—in fact, you cannot truly see my fate at all, can you?"
"The so-called prophecy, the truth is… you will not allow anyone to uncover the secrets of the Deep. If soone like dares to cross the line, you will inevitably strike them down."
"But… this is not as unavoidable as you claim."
"No matter how special you are in the Elysian Realm, just as I do not believe in the existence of fate, I also do not believe you are truly unbeatable."
Aponia said with emotion: "Strike down… what an apt description."
"Though you fly high like a great eagle, nesting among the stars, yet I shall pull you down from there—since you already know I will do this, why still risk yourself?"
i replied: "I've wasted too much ti in the Realm, so… this is sothing I must obtain."
Aponia said: "Bearing courage and determination, fiercely resisting everything you do not acknowledge…"
"What a lantable spirit—magnificent like humanity itself, and like all their deeds…
"…Utterly aningless!"
"I'm sorry, Miss i, but you still… disappoint ."
"I am the only one who can see fate… and I am also the only one who can fight against it."
"All others… who fancy themselves rebels against fate are rely unaware that they are within it."
"I just didn't expect… that you would be the sa. I once thought you brought change to the Realm, but the facts proved the opposite. That's why I ended those tentative co-existences."
"Before sending you onto the correct path, I must point out so errors."
"I can see fate… though there are parts I must conceal from you, it is not a lie."
"Unfortunately, I cannot show you that scene, but… your fate will end here and now. That is certain."
i snorted coldly: "…Hmph!"
Aponia continued: "Or rather… after our fates intertwined, both were severed. I can see no path beyond this—only silence."
"I do not know the reason, so I beca curious."
"Because I was curious, I stepped into it, and at this mont, I received the answer."
i asked: "You will kill here?"
Aponia replied: "Not necessarily. Either… I erase Miss i, or… I erase the Elysian Realm."
"Only I can accomplish the second, but I have not yet received the reason why I must do so."
"Miss i, fate has advanced to this point. You have no other choice."
i placed her hand on her weapon: "Perhaps you forgot to ntion one other explanation, Aponia. What if… I erase you?"
Aponia said: "That is… another error I have yet to point out, Miss i."
"As you already know… at first, I tried to change fate, but I failed. Fate cannot be avoided."
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