My Game Studio is Full of Valkyries?!

Of the three options, Elysia had already picked two.

She tapped on the last one.

The story entered the correct route.

Fu Hua and Kiana prepared to set out.

Einstein appeared before them. She informed them that she had discovered a shortcut to Saint 537 Cathedral—where Otto resided.

However, that path was most likely a trap laid by Otto.

Still, after careful consideration, Fu Hua and Kiana decided to give it a try.

With their minds made up, they immediately set off, but in a maze-like area, they were blocked by a group of enemies.

"We can't sneak past without being noticed right now."

"Then… should we stick to the route and break through them head-on? Would that be too reckless?" Kiana analyzed the situation while asking Fu Hua.

[Paramecium is actually asking if it's too reckless?]

[Too reckless… That word coming from the mouth of that paramecium. (melancholy)]

…

Mature viewers were digging their own emotional knives. The main story continued.

Fu Hua and Kiana ultimately chose a frontal assault.

It might be a trap, but to save time, they had to charge forward.

As long as they eliminated every enemy, no scheme could threaten them.

They rushed in to fight. During the battle, Otto suddenly appeared. Fu Hua quickly warned Kiana that it was only a clone, but Kiana had already chased after it.

As a result, in the increasingly intense fight, Fu Hua was separated from Kiana.

Noticing this situation—

Players couldn't help but share Fu Hua's unease.

Was this, too, part of Otto's calculations?

No, no, Otto couldn't possibly predict this far, right?

Then again… maybe he could?

Their heads were starting to ache.

Just as Fu Hua was pondering, a pillar of searing flame erupted in the distance—there was only one person who could produce such blazing fire.

Guided by the blaze, Fu Hua reunited with Kiana and discovered her confronting someone.

It was someone she knew—Li Sushang.

Knowing Li Sushang's strength, Fu Hua persuaded Kiana to prioritize the bigger picture and go on ahead.

"…To be honest, I don't have much confidence when it comes to facing Otto either."

"So make sure you come help me quickly."

Kiana said before leaving. Knowing the class president's personality, she hoped Fu Hua wouldn't push herself too hard in the fight.

With Kiana gone, Fu Hua and Li Sushang entered combat stance.

Their first exchange was more like sparring—but it quickly became clear that dragging it out was pointless.

Fu Hua, weighing both sides' circumstances, decided to end the fight quickly—through bait and deception.

And then—

Players witnessed the usually honest and upright Fu Hua smoothly initiate scam mode.

She strained herself to activate Simulated Erosion and landed a hit on Li Sushang, then told her that she was now extremely strong, and that Li Sushang was only her equal at best.

Li Sushang, who revered the legend of the Phoenix Immortal, immediately believed it.

Fu Hua then declared that, for the sake of ending the battle quickly, she would unleash her strongest move. If Li Sushang didn't take it seriously, she might die.

The two of them immediately escalated to an ultimate-versus-ultimate clash.

Everything about this seemed reasonable… but it was all Fu Hua's bluff.

As players watched, their eyes widened. Their expressions became a complex mix of confusion and shock.

If it were anyone else—even today's Kiana—they wouldn't react so strongly.

But this was Fu Hua, Honkai Impact 3rd's most famous honest person!

She was that practiced in deceiving her own martial grand-disciple?

Class President, what exactly have you gone through lately? Why are you suddenly so good at bluffing?

[As expected, there's only one first scam, and then infinite scams.]

[Fu Hua is no longer just honest. She's a cunning honest person now.]

[Herrscher of Sentience: That's exactly how this ancient fossil tricked me!]

"My Hua has gone from a loyal fool to a scheming ancient mastermind?!"

Elysia was equally shocked.

Then she paused, and seriously drew a conclusion.

"This must be MiHoYo's fault! Teaching honest people how to scam!"

Hokuto: ???

"Don't be ridiculous. That's not a scam. It's tactical decision-making." he immediately defended.

"Can you really call it that?"

"Of course."

...

In the story, Li Sushang and Fu Hua were ready to clash.

"Then… Senior disciple of the Supreme Freedom Sect, Li Sushang, requests guidance from Grandmaster!"

"Taixu Sword Qi—Divine Rhythm!"

As Li Sushang's words fell, a short cutscene played.

It wasn't a simple animation like before—Hokuto had extended it a bit.

In the scene, Li Sushang floated midair, fingers spread, with the sky behind her blooming into strange, butterfly-like blue phenomena.

"Divinity, ultimate in transformation, speaking through wondrous things, beyond form and inquiry."

"Phoenix Immortal , beware this strike—!"

The camera zoomed out, showing the sky from a low-angle shot.

Normally, players would admire Li Sushang's celestial elegance.

But this time, all eyes were stolen by the colossal sword above her, blotting out the sky.

Three feet of water could sever clouds.

The moment the sword left her hand, everything in its path was swept into its force.

Only a sliver of black-gold remained unscathed amidst the torrent.

Players began to worry whether Fu Hua could survive this strike—though she baited the attack, was the power beyond expectations?

But then—

"Grip of Taixu!"

Fu Hua appeared calm as she activated a technique at the exact instant when the infinite sword edges were about to descend.

Everything seemed to freeze.

Her consciousness briefly detached from her body.

To counter the Taixu Sword God, Fu Hua revisited her memories.

One by one, they flashed before her.

Her conversation with Dr. MEI upon receiving Divine Tune. Her discussions with Tesla and Einstein.

Finally, a passing thought brought her to the fragment of Lin Zhaoyu that always existed in her heart.

Players were stunned—so Lin Zhaoyu from Taixu Mountain wasn't a hallucination constructed by the Herrscher of Sentience?

But rather a personality fragment Fu Hua created after being wounded by the Seven Swords?

Hmm… didn't the Herrscher of Sentience mention once that Lin Zhaoyu was real? We just didn't pay attention back then.

Fu Hua and Lin Zhaoyu exchanged thoughts. She explained her method of countering the Taixu Sword God.

In short, the Sword God dealt mixed damage (physical + mental). Fu Hua could withstand the physical part with her body and technique, while the mental part…

Well, Fu Hua's explanation was rather esoteric.

Elysia, watching, began to look confused and even started doubting herself.

"I feel like I get it… but also not at all. Do I lack some spiritual enlightenment?"

"But it seems Fu Hua doesn't plan to burn her memories anymore, instead..."

"Ah, what exactly is she going to do? I don't get it… Whatever! The most important thing is that Fu Hua finally awakened!"

She was ready to stop thinking.

Hokuto asked from beside her, "Didn't you read both novels and manga?"

"I did. Why?"

"...Then how do you not remember a single piece of lore?"

"Who reads lore seriously?" Elysia countered confidently. "I only look at cute girls."

"..."

Hokuto was momentarily speechless, then started explaining.

"Basically, Fu Hua plans to use shattered Divine Tune to block the mental attack from the Sword God, and let Divine Tune completely dissipate in the process."

"If there is no past, how can there be a future? The disappearance of Divine Tune and Fu Hua no longer burning her memories means she's found her own path."

"Oh, I see."

Elysia understood instantly, then immediately asked: "So, if it's that simple, why did you write it so cryptically?"

"...It's called the Shenzhou aesthetic," Hokuto replied after a moment's thought.

Shenzhou aesthetic, huh.

Is it that serious?

Elysia felt too tired to roast him and returned to watching the story.

...

Fu Hua was ready to receive the Taixu Sword God's strike. Her consciousness returned to her body.

Everything began to move again.

The giant sword formed from the Sword God seemed to press right onto her brow.

Another extended animation played.

Fu Hua and the seven disciple fragments in her mind each spoke.

They described…

How she began as a truly ordinary person, struggling through life, walking with fate. She had felt fear and pain.

She had faced hardship, confusion, struggle, numbness…

But after everything—she came to understand, to find peace. She had become a more complete self.

As Hua… as Phoenix… as Fu Hua—

All parts of the past were essential.

Every hardship, a step toward triumph.

A soaring BGM began to play. MiHoYo had once again brought their audio arsenal.

A massive crimson kite Signet appeared on the screen.

Players couldn't help but feel stirred.

"Grip of Taixu!"

Fu Hua, body and mind as one, faced the otherwise-unstoppable Taixu Sword God with a strike that appeared simple.

Like an ant shaking a tree, her blow struck the tip of the massive sword.

Ding—

A mystical chime.

As if echoing from the depths of both their souls.

"..."

Great sound has no voice. Great form has no shape.

The viewing platform fell into a sudden and utter silence.

Li Sushang, floating mid-air. The Sword God, descending like a sky-splitting blade. Fu Hua, unleashing a plain-looking strike.

In that moment, the three seemed suspended—like insects in amber.

Until—

Crack—

A crisp fracture. Cracks spread from the sword's tip to its entire body.

The Taixu Sword God, that seemed capable of devouring everything, vanished quietly into nothing.