i calmly replied: "Kiana, I am very clear-headed right now… This is my own decision. Stay out of it."
"Why…" Kiana simply could not accept it.
Especially the way i had no intention of explaining.
Kiana was furious: "…Don't joke around… There's no way I'll agree to this! I absolutely won't let you go to World Serpent!"
"…Kiana…"
i did not know what to do with her either.
Kevin spoke at the right mont: "It seems you still have so matters to settle. Tell her everything you want to say, but don't waste too much ti."
With that, he turned and left directly.
Yet his words echoed in i's mind.
Things I want to say…?
If I told her those reasons, would she understand, and would I be able to leave with peace of mind?
No…
That would only make her bla herself more, make her suffer more…
...
The words she wanted to say—she had already said them countless tis in her heart…?
Kiana, I'm so glad I t you, that we experienced so many stories together and created so many mories.
Go ahead and do everything you want to do, realize your ideals.
…Let walk into the darkness so you can return to the light.
And Kevin's final voice drifted over: "Go bid her your final farewell, Raiden i… Welco to this side of the world."
Kiana was still questioning: "i, why…! You clearly know everything they've done…"
i answered: "I don't care."
"You idiot! I won't let you leave!" To stop i from leaving, Kiana attacked directly. Even if it ant knocking her out, she would never allow her to join World Serpent.
She knew full well what World Serpent had done—the Stigmata Project, experinting on entire cities' populations, treating human lives like grass, committing every evil imaginable!
She would never allow it!
She would never let i beco one of them.
i watched Kiana attacking her relentlessly. While dodging, her heart ached. Kiana absolutely should not be fighting anymore—her physical condition was already extrely poor.
In an instant,
her eyes changed, becoming even more resolute.
She took a step back, putting distance between her and Kiana. Crimson lightning coiled around her sword sheath. In a flash, she closed in and struck Kiana in the abdon.
While Kiana bent over in pain, i grabbed her by the throat: "This ends here, Kiana."
Countless bolts of lightning erupted from her hand, electrocuting Kiana into unconsciousness.
Then she turned and left.
Kiana, who had fainted, woke up again after just 0.3 seconds. She struggled to prop herself up: "It's… not over yet…"
"I absolutely… absolutely…"
"Will never let you go!!!"
To stop i, she even used the power of the Herrscher of the Void.
i stopped instantly: "Kiana, you shouldn't use that power anymore."
Kiana ignored the advice and gripped a subspace spear, charging at i. With every swing, mories of the two surfaced…
If i's around, it's like having the strength of a hundred people…
If you turn into that Herrscher thing again, I'll wake you up with my bat once more…
These scenes flashed one by one, then were torn apart one by one.
The mont she used this power, i shattered it with lightning. Kiana's body was sent flying helplessly toward the railing.
Kiana struggled to her feet once more: "I won't let you go!"
i said coldly: "With the way you're barely clinging to life?"
"With my fists!"
This ti, Kiana fought i bare-handed.
But the result was still the sa. The current i was no longer the i of the past. Even without using the power of the Herrscher of Thunder, she was far beyond what the battered and bruised Kiana could oppose.
After being sent flying once again,
Kiana understood that without using the full power of the Herrscher of the Void, she could not stop i.
As the core's power surged, the entire rooftop of Senba Academy was surrounded by countless spatial portals. Innurable subspace spears shot out from the portals, pinning i in place like a cage. One spear hovered at her throat to prevent any movent.
Kiana stepped into the air, her entire body trembling. She could no longer withstand this power.
This enraged i greatly.
"You're always like this… You're always like this…"
Raindrops fell, wetting i's cheeks. She said angrily: "Clearly covered in wounds, yet you still force yourself to smile. You saved , saved everyone, yet you bear all the pain alone, even at the cost of your life."
"i!"
Kiana interrupted her, saying weakly: "This… is my mission."
Those words made i feel even worse. She clenched her fist and broke free of the subspace spears: "I understand grand principles like saving the world…"
She reached out and gripped the subspace spear at her throat, letting the tip cut her neck: "But how am I supposed to endure all of this…"
The power of the Herrscher of Thunder gradually erged: "All I know… in my heart… compared to this world… you are more important!"
As lightning fell,
i no longer held back. She turned into lightning and chased Kiana into the sky.
Subspace spears collided with lightning; countless portals were shattered by the lightning…
At this mont,
i was utterly resolute and would not hold back.
She flew straight into the sky, gripping her long blade, gathering lightning. With a flash of light, crimson thunder rained down from the heavens.
Kiana was completely defeated and fell powerlessly from the sky.
i flew toward Kiana and reached out to grasp her hand, just like the mont they first t.
"That day, you grabbed my hand. From the mont you took it, my fate was changed by you. You are the most important person in my life."
She gently placed Kiana on the academy rooftop.
"If saving you is a sin, then let be the sinner. Farewell, Kiana."
Finally, i mounted Kurikara and left the academy, leaving Kiana lying alone on the ground.
Just when the audience thought the episode was over,
the scene shifted to a dimly lit room.
Otto was staring thoughtfully at a screen.
On the screen were images that did not belong to this world. What caught the audience's attention most was a scene of Wendy riding a dragon—sothing they had seen during Wendy's livestream, which she said belonged to another world.
This first experint had brought Otto results far beyond expectations.
Ding—
A soft sound. A window popped up—a report from Amber.
Raiden i has joined World Serpent. K423 has been taken away by the Hyperion. The Fifth Herrscher is about to descend. The balance of the world may once again be shaken.
But for now, Otto was not concerned with these matters.
Let Theresa handle them for a while.
The night was still long, and he had much to do.
Then… the ending the played.
This episode ca to a close.
Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainnt Company, lounge.
Everyone present was silent, quietly watching the ending credits.
Until Eden spoke first: "Ellie… Was the plot of this episode really written because your husband held a grudge against Kiana for saying in the company group that she wanted to kick him, as revenge?"
Elysia nodded: "Yes, everyone knows about that. What's wrong, my dear Eden?"
Eden shook her head and looked deeply at Hessian.
She could not believe it.
A script this outstanding had actually erged from such a trivial matter.
"I can't see any trace of it being forced. Whether it's i becoming the Herrscher of Thunder and joining World Serpent, or her battle with Kiana—it all unfolds almost entirely under the coercion of the tis."
"Neither of them is wrong, and both care deeply for each other. Yet it is precisely because of that love and concern that the current situation has co about. It's truly heartbreaking and lantable."
Elysia nodded: "Exactly~ So Eden thinks the sa way! Especially i in this episode—she's so brave and strong. I really love her~"
Fu Hua overheard this nearby.
She quickly asked: "Ellie, do you really like roles like that?"
Elysia nodded: "Of course! Who wouldn't love a beautiful, strong girl? And i is so gentle, so pretty, so cool, right?"
Her words earned Eden's agreent: "Yes, in this episode, i's performance was truly outstanding. And Kiana was amazing too—the emotional shifts, and especially her desperate attempt to keep i at the end, were all superb!"
Elysia strongly agreed: "Yes, yes, yes! I really like Kiana too. She's strong, kind, very mature, and beautiful—a truly adorable girl. I love her too!"
The two excitedly chatted away.
Elysia and Eden already shared many common interests, and Elysia always knew how to say things Eden loved to hear, which was why their relationship was so good. Discussing this now made them both very happy.
It left Kiana and i nearby feeling a little embarrassed.
But they themselves had to admit that the effect of this episode was truly incredible.
Even Kiana proudly said: "See… I told you, if you want a great storyline, you have to stab the director in the back."
"Whoa!!"
Tesla suddenly exclaid.
Everyone turned to look and asked: "What happened?"
Tesla said: "Isn't it my turn to stream today? I was checking the audience reactions to this episode, and I saw that i gained ten million followers."
Theresa: "What!!!"
Rita: "Ten million??"
Hiko: "That's more than now?"
Fu Hua: "That's four tis mine?"
Kiana: "My followers increased too!! Hehe, almost the sa total as i's now."
i could not hide her joy: "As expected, everyone prefers the Herrscher of Thunder version of . Thank you, Director He, for shaping this character for ."
Everyone in the lounge was talking all at once.
Only Fu Hua sat to the side, lost in thought, murmuring: "Ellie likes roles like the Herrscher of Thunder… Becoming a Herrscher gains followers… Stabbing the director gets revenge… Which ans a specially tailored role…"
She slapped her thigh: "I see!"
She imdiately stood up: "You all keep chatting. I'm going to help Kalpas make curry rice. We'll have it as a late-night snack soon."
"Huh?"
Everyone was stunned.
Kalpas was dumbfounded: "What? You're really making cook curry rice for a late-night snack?"
Fu Hua didn't care about that: "Yes, Kiana and i gained so many followers—we should celebrate with curry."
Uh…
Kalpas looked at Fu Hua. He held no grudge against her.
After a brief thought, he said: "I see. i's curry is the kind that lifts your spirits. I'll go make curry rice for everyone now."
Hessian suddenly interjected: "I'm afraid of spice. I want bell pepper curry!"
Kalpas, who had taken two steps, froze instantly.
His fists clenched and unclenched.
In the end, he chose to ignore it and left the lounge directly.
Hessian also stood up, stretched, and headed to his office to prepare the script for the next episode.
At the sa ti,
Fu Hua, who had co out with Kalpas, asked directly: "Kalpas, do you know any way to knife the director? Preferably… sothing that leaves a deep impression and makes him furious."
Hearing this,
Kalpas grew interested: "You want to knife Director He too? There are plenty of ways. For example, put laxatives in the curry later and lock the bathroom saying it's under repair. Or take a knife and stab him in the leg, asking if the curry is sweet. Or…"
He listed over a dozen thods—all non-lethal but guaranteed to be unforgettable.
However, Fu Hua found these thods far too brutal.
Unexpectedly, Mobius, who had appeared at so point, said: "There's another way. Ellie is here, isn't she? Go seduce Hessian and let Elysia catch you. Once Elysia gets angry and divorces him, I guarantee he'll spend the rest of his life in pain."
Kalpas agreed: "Good idea! Let's do that. I'll take her to find Director He; you go call Elysia over."
Without waiting for Fu Hua's consent, he dragged her toward Hessian's office.
Watching the two leave,
Mobius did not go call Elysia.
Though the couple often bickered, she genuinely cared for Elysia. In the past, she had suggested divorce only because Hessian was too useless.
But now that he had displayed talent that even shocked Eden, she needed to see if his character was worthy of Elysia.
The best way to test that was to see if he would cheat…
In simple terms, this was Mobius's test for Hessian.
In the office,
Hessian was writing the script for tomorrow's shoot.
Fu Hua suddenly pushed the door open and entered.
Seeing her face flushed, Hessian asked curiously: "Is sothing the matter?"
Fu Hua recalled Kalpas's instructions in her mind: "Don't say anything—just take off your clothes, but not all of them…"
So she directly removed her jacket.
She even prepared to take off her short-sleeved shirt…
Seeing this, Hessian imdiately stopped her: "Wait! Fu Hua, if there's sothing, just say it directly. What's the aning of coming in and stripping?"
"I…" Fu Hua hesitated, unsure how to speak.
Hessian observed her carefully and thought…
This behavior was clearly out of character for Fu Hua. And for soone to send the "Shenzhou flatboard" to seduce him, it definitely wasn't a smart person. The only one who would do sothing like this was Kiana.
No!
She was probably thrilled about her follower gain right now.
Then it had to be soone completely clueless about relationships, who held a grudge against him and wanted to knife him… That could only be Kalpas.
After figuring it out, Hessian stood up.
He walked over to Fu Hua, helped her put her jacket back on, and said gently: "Let guess—is it because after Kiana said she wanted to kick , I gave her and i such wonderful storylines that Ellie loves, making you want an even better role too?"
Fu Hua was surprised: "How did you know?"
Hessian smiled: "How could I not? All the girls signed with the company because they like Ellie, and Ellie signed you all because she likes you. So it's perfectly normal for you to want Ellie to like you even more, right?"
He handed her the script he had just started writing: "Don't worry. The next episode is your story. Make sure you act it well~"
Fu Hua looked at the script. Though she only saw a rough outline, it was indeed centered around her.
She imdiately nodded: "Yes! Thank you, Director He."
Hessian waved his hand: "Alright, go out and eat curry with everyone."
As soon as Fu Hua left,
Mobius walked in.
She said with a sigh: "I didn't expect it. You weren't moved at all."
Hessian looked at her and smiled: "Of course. My wife is Elysia—how could I be interested in anyone else? Besides… using the Shenzhou flatboard to test a cadre? What cadre couldn't pass that test?"
"Shenzhou flatboard?" Mobius didn't understand.
But following Hessian's gaze to her own chest—where she couldn't even see her toes—she instantly understood and laughed: "I see…"
Then she turned and left the office.
She took out her phone, opened the chat, and sent a ssage to soone with the ID Aponia: "I need you to seduce soone for ."
Aponia replied: "No interest."
Mobius sent another ssage: "He's the director of your favorite drama, Honkai Impact 3rd—Hessian."
Aponia replied almost instantly: "I accept."
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