Help! My Honkai Impact 3rd Livestream Attracted the Actual Characters!

Chapter 103: Mei – ...Kiana, We Can Never Go Back to the Past…

Elysia's question left the entire livestream in an eerie silence.

Not just Kevin even Otto and the others, who had been following the game's events, found themselves curious about the answer.

『Your Great Inventor:』 "That girl named Mei… she's quite intriguing. That whole theory about 'all the stars being enemies'… Hmm, was she unknowingly predicting something?"

A green-colored chat message drifted across the screen.

Otto Apocalypse, completely oblivious to the tension that had settled over the chat, continued his commentary as usual.

He had no idea that the "Pink Fairy Miss" pressuring Kevin right now was none other than the Herrscher of Origin, the second Flame-Chaser, and the holder of True Name

Elysia.

『Pink Fairy Miss:』 "So then… where exactly did Kevin hide Mei?"

Another pink-colored message appeared, unrelenting in its pursuit of an answer.

Elysia wasn't letting this go.

She wanted answers.

Kevin, who had remained quiet this entire time, was visibly caught off guard.

He had anticipated questions about many things

But not this.

Kevin knew he couldn't just avoid the topic anymore.

However, he also knew there was no way to fully answer it.

『No Matter the Cost, Humanity Will Prevail Against Honkai:』 "She went… somewhere very far away."

"With her best friend."

"Once everything is over… I will go find her."

A blindingly white message appeared in the chat.

Kevin had finally answered.

But instead of clarifying things

His words only created more questions.

Somewhere Else…

The Flame-Chasers' Headquarters.

A spacious lounge.

Hua and Mobius sat on either side of Elysia's couch.

It was rare for the three of them to be together like this.

Yet today they were.

"Somewhere very far away… What does that even mean?"

Hua was the first to break the silence.

She tried to make sense of Kevin's words.

"And why would he wait until everything is over to go find her?"

Mobius, tapping a finger against her chin, let out a quiet chuckle.

"Hmm… Yes, that does seem odd, doesn't it?"

"But, if Kevin became a 'Pioneer' in this era, then wouldn't Mei have also become one?"

"It's not like he'd be the only one."

Elysia, smiling mischievously, immediately added her own theory.

"Oh~ Are you saying Kevin might just be hiding Mei away?"

"Maybe they're secretly enjoying their own little world together?"

"And hey, since Kevin became the ancestor of the Kaslana family, don't you think that means he must've had a lot of children?"

"What are you trying to say?"

Mobius frowned, not following Elysia's train of thought.

Elysia's smile widened.

"What if Mei has something to do with the Kaslana bloodline too?"

"I mean, why else would Kevin be so determined to fight for this world?"

"Ah… I almost wish he'd stop already."

Elysia's tone shifted slightly, her usual playfulness laced with something softer.

Mobius and Hua fell silent.

The Stigmata Project they all knew what it was.

Some knew less, while others had been directly involved in its creation.

Mobius was one of those people.

She understood what was at stake.

She understood Elysia's feelings.

But she did not oppose the project.

Because to her, it was humanity's only way to survive.

"Tch. You don't understand anything, Elysia."

"That's why I can't stand you."

Mobius clicked her tongue, choosing to change the subject.

Elysia giggled.

"Oh~? Am I being hated again?"

"Just kidding. Let's keep watching maybe we'll finally see the Mei from this era too."

With that, the three of them turned back to the stream.

At the same time, back in the livestream

The screen had gone completely dark.

With the sound of water hitting the ground, text appeared on the screen.

A subtle yet unsettling rhythm filled the air

Like grains of sand tapping against papyrus.

Like dry beans bouncing inside a blender.

Drip. Drip.

A chill seeped into her bones, shooting straight to her mind.

And then

An awareness slowly took shape within the darkness.

This… sound.

It's rain.

From a faint murmur to a growing roar, the rain's voice swelled

Becoming the thunderous symphony of a full-blown storm.

What… happened?

Half-conscious, she forced her eyes open

The black screen faded, revealing Mei's figure in the dialogue box.

Her vision was met with a world in chaos.

[...What... is happening...?]

Flickering dim light cast eerie shadows, like puppet strings manipulating the city's warped ruins.

[What happened... Why does Nagazora look like this...? Where is World Serpent...?]

[Ah...! Kiana... Helios is in danger!]

Fragmented memories surfaced, then vanished, leaving her with only pieces of the truth.

She ran forward without knowing where to go.

[Gameplay Begins]

The game transitioned into real-time combat.

The player controlled Mei, rushing toward Helios while being ambushed by countless Quantum monsters.

Her body was weak, her vision blurred but she had no choice but to fight.

Despite her dizziness, she pushed forward, slashing through wave after wave of relentless enemies.

Finally, after what felt like an endless struggle

She reached the turning point of the mission.

As her exhausted body swayed, and dark spots clouded her vision

A powerful gust tore through the battlefield.

With a deafening roar, the monsters were shredded into nothingness.

And from the storm's eye, two figures emerged

Kiana.

And Benares.

[Cutscene Begins]

The screen shifted

Kiana stood before her, panting heavily.

[Haa… Haa…]

Mei's eyes widened.

[...Kiana?! Why are you here…!?]

But instead of relief

Her voice carried anger.

[Ah... Your wounds...! How could you just leave Helios like that!?]

Kiana, however, was just as frustrated.

[I should be asking YOU that!]

[You just ran off without a word do you have ANY idea how worried I was!?]

[Forget that enemies could show up at any second. Go back to the ship and regroup with Tesla.]

Hearing this, Mei hesitated.

[Go back? What about you?]

[I have something to do.]

Kiana's gaze drifted to the horizon

To the pillar of light piercing the sky.

[That light… I've seen it before.]

[If I use the Herrscher of the Void's power, I can close the rift in the sky and stop this storm at its source.]

[What...? No NO, you can't!

[Your wounds haven't even healed yet! You CAN'T keep fighting!]

Mei shook her head violently.

She could not accept this.

She would not accept this.

She couldn't watch Kiana not again push herself to the point of breaking.

But Kiana did not waver.

[Mei, I can't ignore this.]

[The monsters are still coming. The Honkai energy is still growing.]

[If we don't stop this, it won't just stay in Nagazora it'll spread.

It'll reach other cities. Other people.

Mei clenched her fists.

The truth was cruel.

And yet, they had no choice but to face it.

[I must stop this.]

Mei still wanted to stop her

But in that moment, Kiana finally confessed everything.

She had known for a long time.

Her time was running out.

That was why

In the little time she had left

She wanted to do what she could.

To fulfill the responsibilities she bore.

To face the people she had hurt

To face herself

To face… Himeko-sensei.

She turned back, smiling as she always did.

[Mei, don't worry! I'm really strong… Just wait for me, okay?]

[Kiana NO !]

The wind howled, rain pelting against Mei's face.

She watched as Kiana leaped onto Benares' back, soaring toward the distant pillar of light.

She kept calling out

But every word was swallowed by the raging storm.

Until her voice disappeared

Until that familiar figure faded from view

Until she could no longer see her.

Until she could no longer reach her.

[Stage Cleared]

As the final line of text vanished, the stage came to an end.

『Pink Fairy Miss:』 "Ah… Mei must be feeling awful right now. She could only watch as Kiana left… and she couldn't do anything."

A soft pink comment floated across the screen.

Elysia's voice held a trace of sorrow.

She could feel Mei's pain.

Because she had seen this so many times before

She had watched Mei desperately search for Kiana.

She had witnessed their long-awaited reunion.

Yet just like that

Mei lost her again.

『Pink Fairy Miss:』 "She finally found her… and now she's losing her again… It's so unfair."

But before anyone could break the silence, the game moved forward.

The next stage opened

And it began with a memory.

[Hold onto me! I won't let you die!]

The screen flashed, revealing a younger Kiana gripping Mei's hand tightly.

[Wh… What are you doing…?]

[Isn't it obvious?! I'm saving you! Now hurry up grab my other hand too!]

[No… No! Please, while I still have control ]

[JUST DO AS I SAY! Whatever it is, we'll talk AFTER you climb up!]

Kiana

Had saved Mei.

And then

The screen faded to black.

From the darkness, Mei's inner voice echoed.

[That disaster… led me to you.

For the first time, my life became entwined with someone else's.

From that day on, loneliness and silence slowly faded away.

At some point, I stopped fearing the darkness…

Because I knew

There was always a light waiting for me.]

[…Kiana, please come back!]

Pain gripped Mei's body like vines, forcing her to the ground.

She struggled to lift her head, her gaze locked on the distant figure

A solitary silhouette soaring through the storm.

Countless Quantum Shadows swarmed toward her.

Each time they clashed, a golden flash split the sky.

Mei knew

Every spark of light was Kiana's life burning away.

[No… Please… I beg you… Don't fight anymore…!]

She knew

Her voice couldn't reach her.

She knew

The right choice was to stop running.

But she couldn't stop.

She couldn't stop moving.

She couldn't stop thinking.

She couldn't stop chasing the light within the darkness.

Water splashed under her feet

Shattering into fragments, along with her memories.

The text faded away, and the game transitioned back into combat.

[Gameplay Begins]

Mei ran.

She raced toward Kiana, the storm raging around her.

Enemies blocked her path Quantum Beasts appearing one after another.

She was exhausted.

She was battered.

But she had no choice but to push forward.

She had to keep going.

Before she realized it, Mei had reached a shattered temple.

Ahead

Was a world in ruins.

But Mei paid no attention to the abnormalities surrounding her.

She kept running.

As she ran, memories flooded her mind.

The first mission they completed together.

The Valkyrie exams they took side by side.

The Schicksal War, where their paths were forever changed.

Every moment she had spent with Kiana

Flashed before her eyes.

Mei didn't understand what was happening.

But from these visions of the past, she realized something.

[I was too weak… I failed to protect you…]

[I… I was the one who pushed you toward this fate…]

Unknowingly

Mei had reached the end of the corridor.

Before her, a door bathed in white light stood silently.

She was about to step through

When behind her

A familiar voice called out.

[Mei? What are you doing here…]

[I'm here to bring you back. Back to Hyperion.]

Kiana hesitated, looking at her with a mixture of regret and sadness.

[I… can't go back, Mei. I'm sorry… I can't let you all take this risk.]

[Kiana…!!]

Before Mei could reach her, Kiana stepped into the light.

Without hesitation, Mei followed.

In the blinding whiteness, her thoughts echoed

[I know deep down, you've never changed.]

[You're still the girl who smiles and extends her hand to strangers.]

[Even after all the pain you've endured ]

[Even after realizing the world isn't perfect ]

[Even knowing that some tragedies can never be undone ]

[You're still the same.]

[You fight for your friends. You fight for others.]

[You fight for the beauty you believe in.]

Mei closed her eyes.

[Kiana… You will become a hero.]

[The world is waiting for you to become its hero.]

[But… maybe…

[Maybe the one who was wrong all along was me.]

[Kiana… We… can never go back to the past.]

The white light faded.

The screen shifted back to reality

And what appeared next

Was Benares, plummeting from the sky.

[No… No!!]

[Stage Cleared]

As the scene concluded, a single green comment appeared

『Your Great Inventor:』 "This sequence… it's almost surreal. Were all those visions… the result of the Tree?"

[Because of your livestream content, Your Great Inventor is shocked. You have received 1140 crystals!]

It was clear

Otto had glimpsed his own inevitable path.

The forbidden land

The place no human should reach

The realm beyond the Gate of Truth.

[End of Chapter 103]