Making Honkai Impact lll In A World Where Kallen Exists [Continuation]

Bronie's face was grim, likely due to the sting of her loss. She gripped the edge of the game controller tightly, reluctant to let go, her thoughts a jumbled mess.

Meanwhile, Academy Dean Theresa's expression was equally colorful.

What kind of experience was it to watch your own student leave you in the dust, silently work hard during calmer times, and then shock everyone with a sudden, astonishing performance?

Theresa didn't know, but it didn't stop her from feeling inexplicable anxiety and frustration at this moment.

Even Kallen raised her brows in surprise, not expecting the gap between them to be this wide.

To be honest, she had enjoyed using that Valkyrie when gaming. Her own strength was mediocre, and she hadn't unlocked any armor. Theresa's character, though decent, was limited in capability. By comparison, the similarly petite Bronya had become a substitute choice.

Now, seeing Bronya's new armor materialize again, Kallen couldn't help but wonder if she was the game company's favorite child. Prioritized for every costume and armor release, she finally understood the meaning behind Theresa's parody song. Perhaps it wasn't an exaggeration—perhaps it was the truth.

"Bronya… actually betrayed our group... Why… why did she betray me?"

Theresa clutched her head, mumbling in a daze, her mind in disarray.

Proven again, alongside becoming a magical girl or a vampire, jealousy could also make her eyes turn red.

"Hmph—nothing but a cumbersome excess. What's there to celebrate?" Kongming gloomily muttered nearby, clearly upset.

"Miss Bronya... perhaps we should ask about her daily habits?" Irene chuckled lightly, teasing Kongming and Theresa, finding their reactions amusing.

Luna, however, was completely unbothered. If anything, she was the one inciting the unease around her.

Leaning on the desk, her ample chest resting lazily, she seemed utterly bored. Her mind wandered, pondering what her Human might be doing at that moment.

Kongming clenched her teeth, clearly furious as she watched.

---

In the Golden Courtyard,

"Wow, this is… truly surprising~"

Elysia draped her arm over Eden's shoulder, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "I never thought Bronya could grow so much. Mobius, look at her!"

"If it weren't for Kalpas, would this even be an issue? You wouldn't have to go out of your way to make snide comments about me all the time," Mobius retorted, her tone bitter.

"Oh? You're saying it's entirely my fault now?" Kalpas replied coldly, crossing his arms. His expression beneath the mask remained impassive.

"Moreover, is it really all about me? You can't deny it's also because of your 'people-kill-on-sight' personality."

"People-kill-on-sight? And you're a people-fear-you-on-sight kind of person?"

"Shut up."

"You two really get along well, always finding common ground~" Elysia slyly inserted herself between them, blocking their increasingly hostile glares. "Not like me—I always have to go out of my way to start conversations with Mobius. She barely acknowledges me. Honestly, it's kind of discouraging."

Hearing this, Mobius paused momentarily, her expression shifting. Finally, she let out a scoff.

"Oh? Lost your eyesight, Elysia? How else could you think I get along with this guy? If you're trying to be funny, congrats—you've just told the funniest joke I've heard all year."

"Really, I mean it."

Her slit pupils gleamed with faint anger as she struggled to defend herself.

"For once, I actually agree with this green-eyed pest," Kalpas said coldly.

"Why does everyone team up against me the moment I show up? Weird~" Elysia muttered under her breath but didn't seem too bothered. Instead, she shifted her gaze to the lively Secondary Silverwing on screen, her lips curving slightly upward as though peering beyond the screen into the future.

Would she have a beautiful outfit too?

Well, she would keep her hopes up for now~

---

At the company

Bronya's growth was met with mixed reactions. Some struggled to accept it, while most viewed it positively.

Bronya herself was thoroughly pleased with her new outfit and appearance, her small hands eagerly touching her dress. Standing in front of the mirror, she nodded occasionally, her smile never fading.

From the flowing skirt to the ornate shoulder wings and her longer, silkier hair, everything delighted her deeply.

Seele, standing nearby, curiously reached out to touch it. Her fingertips brushed against it but quickly retreated, as if she were handling a priceless treasure. This made Bronya sigh with mild exasperation.

As for the earlier invitation from Bronya, Luo Mo decided to accept it. He touched her right shoulder adorned with the white outfit, as its design was particularly eye-catching. The garment nearly covered her entire fair arm, with blue gemstones reflecting a mysterious radiance.

When it came to texture, Luo Mo thought that the drooping wings felt like the finest silk—smooth, delicate, and cool against the skin. The connection between the shoulder and the upper section resembled metallic armor, with a crisp echo when tapped, showcasing its solid build.

"It seems… even the boss doesn't know the details of this outfit," Bronya observed with a sly, fox-like squint, catching the curiosity in Luo Mo's gaze. She felt slightly validated. The appearance of her "Silverwing: N-EX" form seemed to have eased some of her emotional restraints.

As she suspected, Luo Mo indeed lacked knowledge about the outfit. This left the task of exploring its mysteries to her.

However, it wasn't out of any malicious intent. To Bronya, this was a small "punishment" for Luo Mo's eight-year promise and a token "reward" for his gift of such a precious item.

"Hmm?"

Luo Mo frowned at her. The boss tries to stay on the same wavelength as you, but you want to play mind games?

If I could craft something like this with my own hands, would I even need to think about defeating Honkai anymore? Luo Mo thought, oblivious to the fact that he spent most of his time figuring out how to exploit players.

Meanwhile, Kiana and the Herrscher of sentience crept up behind Luo Mo. They exchanged knowing glances and simultaneously placed their hands on his shoulders, grinning mischievously.

"Hey, rotten lolicon boss, where's the grown-up version of me in eight years?"

"Luo Mo, what about the old Timer? Does she even grow up, or is she stuck as she is forever? We deserve answers!"

Luo Mo felt the weight on both his shoulders, followed by playful jabs from either side.

"Even 50,000 years couldn't save someone; what hope does eight years have? But as for what happens beyond that… who knows? Maybe Fu Hua will have some unique experiences."

He laughed it off, wiping the sweat from his forehead to mask his discomfort under Fu Hua's piercing glare.

"And Kiana, as for you… hmm…"

Luo Mo suddenly adopted a sorrowful look. His expression grew pained, and his gaze carried an indescribable grief. Slowly, he turned toward the window, pulling back the blue curtains to reveal the azure sky beyond. He raised his hand to touch the glass, adopting a contemplative pose. Regrettably, there was no moon in sight.

"Ah, I had my suspicions, but hearing you confirm it so bluntly… Boss, aren't you afraid of shattering my confidence?" Kiana rubbed her arm, her face showing no sadness—just relief.

Sacrifice? If that were her fate, she'd make sure it was worth it, especially for her teacher Himeko.

While Kiana showed a mix of resignation and acceptance, Fu Hua's previously stern gaze softened, the shadow of death retreating from her expression. She let out a faint sigh, unsure how to offer comfort when life and death were on the line.

But… would Kiana really die?

Instead of panicking, Mei silently turned her attention toward Luo Mo.

After all, if Kiana truly faced a life-threatening situation, Luo Mo wouldn't have the smug, taunting expression he currently wore. There's a saying that applies well, with certain mischievous friends, when danger strikes, their presence ensures safety. When all is safe, their presence ensures chaos.

What kind of person was Luo Mo? Mei, having keen observation skills due to her childhood experiences, could say with certainty that he deeply cared about his companions. Though he sought amusement at times, he avoided letting people like Himeko, Cecilia, or even her father face tragic outcomes. He actively intervened to solve problems.

Take her father, Raiden Ryoma, for example, that memory left a lasting impression on her.

In this regard, Mei believed Luo Mo was merely acting out of curiosity, playing a role to gauge Kiana's reaction. His behavior was rather despicable, but it oddly reassured her. She sighed inwardly, shaking her head while letting a faint smile appear as she watched the events unfold.

Kiana, meanwhile, was fully immersed in her tragic performance, mumbling sorrowfully to herself.

"Sigh, when the time comes, I won't be able to play games with Bronya and the Herrscher of sentience anymore. I was such a reliable friend, and now I won't be able to help them clear stages. I won't even be able to tutor Seele anymore. Seele as a Herrscher has so much to learn… darn calculus. But the worst part is… I won't be able to eat Mei's cooking anymore."

With her head hanging low, the sadness in the room grew heavier.

The Herrscher of sentience, who was just smiling moments ago, now wore a somber expression. She placed a hand on Kiana's shoulder, attempting to offer comfort.

"Well, Kiana, you…"

"It's fine. Internet cables can reach far. Classes can go online. As for Mei's cooking… instant noodles taste better anyway," Luo Mo chimed in cheerfully, offering practical solutions.

"But I'll already be dead, won't I?" Kiana blinked, still caught in her role.

"Who said that? You're just stuck on the moon, that's all," Luo Mo replied casually.

"Wait… what?" Kiana's expression froze, disbelief and shock written all over her face.

"Oh, I see. You were messing with us, huh? No way! Now that the mood is set, someone here has to die!"

The Herrscher of sentience, fuming, placed her hands around Luo Mo's neck in mock anger.

Kiana, too, puffed up her cheeks, glaring fiercely like a kitten ready to pounce.

Realizing he'd been played, Kiana's frustration boiled over. "You mean to tell me all that staring out the window was to look for the moon? Ugh! You're unbelievable!"

Ultimately, the skirmish ended with Luo Mo conceding under the pressure of Kiana's demands, signing several unequal agreements to make amends, though he never expected her to actually tear off a piece of his sleeve during the chaos.

-----

A few days later, after players explored Honkai Impact 3rd: Post-Honkai Odyssey (APHO), they were finally introduced to Bronya's new form.

Although her artwork had been circulating online for a while, some players remained skeptical due to the lack of official confirmation. After all, this new design was drastically different from Bronya's previous appearances. Moreover, the challenge level of APHO was somewhat high. However, the long wait ended when the new figure, Bronya: Silverwing, became available for gacha pulls.

With that, Luo Mo decisively opened the gacha pool. Due to the proximity of the next version update, this pool would span two updates.

Although this decision meant Luo Mo would earn slightly less money, he had his priorities straight. For him, story progression always came first. The gacha system was merely a side feature. He couldn't let early access to gacha items ruin the emotional immersion of players experiencing the story.

Today wasn't a patch update day—it was a different kind of event: the exclusive stigma pool refresh.

After his experience pulling for Vill-V's exclusive stigma previously, Luo Mo had refreshed the pool several times. However, the results had been less than ideal. For example, stigma like Kiana: Exam Prep wasn't exactly helpful, nor were redundant Bronya: Silverwing stigmata. And let's not even mention the irrelevant Seele: Ascension stigmata.

These redundant options, especially the 4-star stigmata, frustrated Luo Mo. He felt that such items shouldn't appear in exclusive stigma pools, given the hassle of swapping out 4-star gear for better ones later.

After spending 3,000 crystals over a few days with little success, Luo Mo decided to take a break and reassess his luck. Perhaps his connection with End of the World (Elysia's stigma set) wasn't strong enough yet.

---

[Current Crystal Count: 40,457]

[Exclusive Pool Refreshed: 4-star Stigma—Van Gogh]

[Description: A young artist obsessed with painting. One day, she realized she no longer needed a stool to reach her canvas and wondered, "When did I grow this tall?" (Requirement: A Star Observer)]

Luo Mo raised his eyebrows, hesitant for the first time.

For most stigmata, he had a clear sense of their value and suitability. This time, however, he found himself wavering.

This stigma was strong, no doubt—late-game stigmata always had better stats. Based on his observations, the later a stigma appeared in the game, the more its stats were adjusted upward.

However, compatibility was equally important. In real-world terms, this mattered even more, as different individuals would achieve vastly different results with the same stigma.

If compatibility were assigned a numeric value, Elysia's stigma would rank highest, over 90%. Elysia perfectly embodied her own power. Next would be Fu Hua, whose stigmata reflected her 5,000 years of protecting Shenzhou. Both had nearly unparalleled suitability.

Others like Himeko, Mobius, and Vill-V had compatibility rates of around 80%. While their stigmata matched their abilities, the characters themselves weren't exact replicas of their in-game cards. A small but critical gap remained.

Bronya, however, was an exception. Her stigma was based on her future self—abilities she had yet to master.

Luo Mo now mulled over Van Gogh's compatibility. While its stats were strong, the requirement of Star Observer excluded the younger version of Griseo. Only Griseo from many astronomical units away—so far that light itself would take 26 days to travel—could meet the criteria.

As for the Star Observer requirement, would it fit other characters like Kalpas or Su? If not, perhaps it would work for Kevin, who had traversed the Quantum Sea and seen countless stars.

The idea of Kevin wielding Griseo's stigma amused Luo Mo. It felt ironic yet fitting, a savior adorned with the creations of an artist.

Luo Mo chuckled at the mental image of Kevin choosing Mei's stigmata instead. Kevin would likely disregard compatibility or stats, driven purely by emotional attachment.

Shaking off those thoughts, Luo Mo decided to exchange for Van Gogh. Compared to gambling for stigmata, making a guaranteed exchange was far less painful.

His ultimate goal remained stigmata sets for End of the World and Origin. Everything else was secondary.

After confirming his choice, Luo Mo prepared himself for disappointment. Unsurprisingly, his gacha pulls were subpar—ten rolls yielded two costume cards and the rest, 3-star stigmata, which he immediately handed over to Kallen.

[Stigma: Van Gogh]

[Tier: 4-Star]

[Stats: +130 Physical Damage, +130 Honkai Energy Resistance]

[Requirement: Star Observer]

[Description: Through her long journey, she discovered many colors—the sailboats under the sea, the crabs in the clouds, and the stars' homes. She saw them all.]

[Current Crystal Count: 30,457]

Though it wasn't Mei's stigma, Van Gogh felt like a close second. Luo Mo decided not to exchange further, saving his crystals for more critical items.

---