Honkai: Star Rail — Kamen Rider!

[Power Refresh Timer Remaining: 02:59:59]

Robin stared into the mirror of the vanity in front of her.

Polished. Composed. Her clothes were the only difference between now and when she first arrived on this planet via starship.

She'd washed away the dust and smoke of the past few days, using this planet's own all-natural cosmetics to finish her look.

Soon, she would say goodbye to this world—a world that had endured so much. And despite herself, she felt reluctant to part with it.

What she'd been through here… she could never forget.

This kind of experience—life-threatening, surreal, stirring—would probably never come again.

"I mean, how many times can you say you've witnessed the resurrection of a Lord Ravager?"

Lord Ravagers were rare across the galaxy. Known in myth, feared in silence, rarely seen in truth.

And one coming back from the dead?

Once-in-a-lifetime.

If another were ever revived elsewhere… who would stop it?

Surely not Sora again… right?

Just thinking his name made Robin sigh. She picked up a long-forgotten object—her phone.

It had long since died. With energy critically scarce, she'd had no way to charge it.

But now that the sun once again shone on the surface, some power systems had become usable.

She finally turned it on.

"…Still no network?"

The signal bar sat dead at the top of the screen.

So Camille was still cut off from the galaxy.

Even though the planet had stabilized, it stood to reason that IP Corp's networks should've reconnected by now.

But there was still nothing. No signal. No connection. No outside contact.

"Well… at least the camera works."

A sudden impulse bloomed inside her.

Let's take a photo together. Everyone. Sora, too.

A keepsake. A tribute to this strange, impossible chapter of her life.

Decision made, she tucked the phone into her coat.

She would bring it up during the farewell ceremony. It was almost time, after all.

She set off toward the rendezvous point.

"Wow, Miss Robin—you look amazing!"

On the way, Robin ran into Ouja, who was also heading to the ceremony.

Unlike Robin, who had tidied herself up completely, Ouja still wore her usual getup—rugged, casual, endearing as ever.

She leaned in close, eyes wide, clearly impressed.

Robin quickly tried to hide her slightly flushed face behind a raised hand.

"Don't stare like that... I'll get embarrassed."

"We're all friends here! What's the big deal?"

Ouja slapped her on the shoulder with a grin. "Or… is there someone in particular you're hoping notices first?"

"Wh-what are you talking about?!"

Robin stomped her foot in flustered protest. Where was this woman getting her ideas?!

"Heh heh. I didn't say anything. You're the one thinking too much."

Ouja chuckled, then added, "But to be fair, Sora has been busy lately."

"I saw him put in a request with Anna for some supplies. Looks like he's prepping meals for the ship ride."

She sighed. "You two leaving so soon... It's kinda hard to take."

Robin nodded. "Yeah. I feel the same."

But in the galaxy, partings were the norm.

All things moved on. All things ended.

Still, even farewells could leave behind memories.

She pulled out her phone and shared her idea.

"I thought I'd take a group photo. That way, I'll have something to remember you all by—and you'll remember me."

Ouja's face lit up.

"Why didn't I think of that?! Damn, I'm already forgetting how to use modern tech…"

"The moment you take it, send me a copy. I'll make sure everyone cooperates."

She clapped Robin on the back, and the two continued toward the banquet hall together.

Outside the grand hall, they ran into Sora and Anna.

"First Seat! You're here!"

Ouja greeted Anna brightly.

Anna looked up, her eyes still faintly pink. Her gaze softened as she looked at Ouja.

"I'm glad you're okay."

Truly... I'm glad.

"How could anything happen to me?" Ouja laughed, scratching her head. "Though… it's kinda quiet in there. Not a single shout from the kids."

"Oh, I was playing hide-and-seek with them," Sora explained. "I won a few rounds as the seeker, so now they're all hiding in one safe place."

Robin frowned slightly. That… didn't sound quite right.

"Aww, too bad for them. No snacks, then. Guess I'll just have to help eat their share!"

Ouja grinned at the thought of the kids whining over missed treats.

"Let's go," Anna said softly.

She stepped up to the doors of the banquet hall and pushed them open.

Sunlight spilled into the room.

All heads turned toward them.

Inside were dozens upon dozens of people—men and women, young and old.

But the atmosphere was… still.

Silent.

They all stared at the four figures entering the room.

Anna trembled as she took it in.

Sora gently placed a hand on her shoulder and led her forward.

Robin and Ouja followed, both uneasy.

"So many people… why is it so quiet?"

Robin, sensitive to sound as always, couldn't shake the silence pressing around them.

There was no whispering. No breathing. Just void.

And the moment she spoke—

Something broke.

One by one, the seated attendees stood up.

Clap—clap—clap—clap—!

Thunderous applause.

Smiles bloomed across every face.

"Congratulations!"

"Congratulations!"

It was overwhelming.

But Ouja instinctively felt something was wrong.

"Hey—hey! What's with these people?! This a prank or something?"

They hadn't acted like this during the guerrilla days.

"I don't know," Robin said quietly. "Let's watch. I've got a bad feeling."

She clenched her phone tightly in one hand. Hard enough that her knuckles turned white.

Will I even be able to take that group photo...?

The applause faded. The people sat again.

Anna stepped onto the stage.

She forced a smile as she faced the silent crowd.

"…That smile's worse than if she were crying," Ouja muttered. "Honestly, she should just look serious. It'd kill the mood less."

"…What if she is crying?" Robin whispered.

"Wha—?"

Robin's sense of unease had hit its peak.

But she glanced at Sora.

He sat calmly, fingers drumming lightly on the table.

A faint glint of silver metal gleamed in the light.

Anna began to speak.

"Welcome, everyone… to this special farewell ceremony."

"Four thousand years ago, a world of life was born. Two thousand years ago, under the guidance of the Life Goddess, the name 'Kaemomiar' echoed across the galaxy."

"Five years ago, calamity struck. Our world, our civilization, entered the countdown to destruction."

"And now—Kaemomiar's surviving population: thirty-nine."

Ouja shot up.

"No way! That few?!"

There were nearly a hundred people in the room!

They'd fought, survived, bled for this world!

They don't count as people?!

She opened her mouth to protest—

But Robin pulled her back down.

"Look around you."

Ouja did.

And her breath caught.

The crowd remained still. Watching the stage. Emotionless.

A deep chill sank into her bones.

Thirty-nine.

Subtract the thirty or so children, who were hidden somewhere safe…

That left only—them.

Robin. Ouja.

Everyone else...

Mood, Gemma, Samuel, Blank, José, Chaudhry…

What were they now?

Anna's voice continued.

"And thirty-nine may not remain long. By the end, there may only be two."

Robin and Ouja both stiffened.

All eyes turned to Anna.

"…As royalty, I failed to protect my world. I'm sorry."

Bows.

"…As a leader, I failed to protect my people. I'm sorry."

Bows. A single tear struck the floor.

"…As a bearer of this civilization, I watched its end draw near without realizing. If death alone could make up for it, I would offer it willingly. But for our legacy to live on… someone must remember us."

She turned to Sora.

"My friend. The friend of our people. I ask of you—please launch the final light of our civilization."

Anna smiled at him through tears.

"Please, Mr. Sora."

"…Of course," Sora replied. "As you wish."

"[Luna]!"

"[Trigger]!"

He raised his gun.

Bullets ripped through the ceiling, tearing it apart.

Sora then slotted the silver bullet into the chamber.

The bow-shaped sigil on his hand flared, power concentrating into the weapon.

And then—he fired.

BOOM!

The world shook.

Anna and Ouja stumbled, struggling to stay upright.

The plants around them writhed, reaching skyward.

The ground erupted in waves of dust.

The world itself tried to stop the bullet.

But the silver round—

It disappeared from reality.

It slipped past barriers, escaped gravity, and soared into the void.

A streak of silver tore across the stars.

Across the galaxy—they saw it.

A meteor. A signal. A cry.

And in return…

Lights answered.

A cascade of color, like a meteor storm from the heavens, shimmered into view.

Anna looked at the people around her—

And watched them dissolve.

One by one, their forms unraveled.

Familiar faces—

Turning into Voidwalkers.

All this time…

They were already gone.

Her control broke.

Her walls shattered.

"WAAAAHHHHH!!"

Her wailing sobs echoed through the hall.

A girl's cry.

A civilization's elegy.

The end had come.

[Power Refresh Timer Remaining: 02:14:18]