"Sigh~~ You really should have a little more faith in me."
At that moment, Hokuto still didn't know when to quit, sighing and chiming in from the sidelines on purpose.
He was diligently playing Otto's part.
If the animated short hadn't already started…
He would have absolutely been flamed by the players.
The short began with Bronya staggering through countless Imaginary Bubble universes.
Each world bubble reflected a different possibility for Bronya—a world without Honkai, a Bronya who had lived a happy life.
Faces full of warmth and joy bloomed like flowers.
So dazzling, so radiant… a brilliance she could never truly obtain.
Yet Bronya did not linger on these illusions for even a moment—she merely dragged her broken body forward.
Because Bronya had only one wish: to bring Seele back!
"This is the Sea of Quanta... The Herrscher of Reason's Core is here..."
"Seele... Bronya will definitely save you..."
Bronya reached the end and lifted her trembling hand, struggling to pierce through a barrier.
Though utterly exhausted and covered in wounds, she still mustered every last ounce of strength to grip the Core tightly.
In that instant, the Core erupted like a volcano, unleashing a surge of Honkai energy powerful enough to blot out the sky, blasting against Bronya's small frame.
The Core changed from deep crimson to a wild, indescribable color that stirred a primal dread.
The entire space trembled. A portal to the Imaginary Space suddenly opened beside her.
Gray-white tentacle-like pillars surged out, and within seconds, coiled and twisted around Bronya, trapping her, trying mercilessly to tear her apart.
Unable to escape, Bronya's breathing became labored. Her already badly damaged mechanical leg shattered completely.
Crimson, ominous marks crept upward from her left hand. Wherever they passed, her skin turned deathly pale.
It was the death mark—proof of the Honkai corrupting her flesh.
"The Core... is going out of control..."
Watching this, the audience tightened their grip, nerves taut.
It was as if they wished they could take her place and hold the Core themselves.
The frantic di-li-di-li of the background music only amplified the anxiety in their hearts.
The scene shifted—to Bronya's hallucination in her final moments.
She felt as though she were sinking into the deep sea.
Then, in a haze, a blue butterfly representing Seele fluttered by and gently kissed her fingertips.
She struggled to open her eyes—and saw Seele reaching for her, trying to pull her back.
But the vision quickly vanished, replaced by a deep-blue gemstone.
The Herrscher of Reason's Core she had seized was slowly merging into her body.
At the same time, the music changed—its intensifying tempo made players even more transfixed.
Escaping the hallucination, Bronya had been fully cocooned in layers of tentacles, forming a thick, egg-shaped shell.
Yet even the tightest seal could not contain the blue light bursting out.
Countless tentacles were blasted away as the blue light transformed into radiant butterflies that clung to her body, reconstructing new components and flesh, healing her completely.
Bronya and Project Bunny were reborn in a brand-new form!
A cerulean crystal formed at her chest—wordlessly declaring:
The Herrscher of Reason has returned to the world.
Gray-white tentacles surged again, but before they could approach, they were crushed to dust by an invisible force field.
Project Bunny caught its master and patiently awaited the next command.
"All systems on."
"Ride on."
The crystal on Bronya's chest burst forth in dazzling light.
Project Bunny's form began to shift—its arm armor locking in, forming side panels. The chassis tilted forward, wheels retracted below, its cannon rotated to the rear, tightening into an arched shape—
And finally, it transformed into an ultra-stylish motorcycle.
Light-blue exhaust flames blasted from the tailpipe, and the roar of the engine overwhelmed everything else. Her determined gaze locked onto her target.
The Angel Form—reconstructed!
Ice-blue crystals formed a path forward. Bronya sped through the skies atop Project Bunny.
The music erupted—impatient, passionate.
Cheers for the return of the Herrscher of Reason!
"Though my wings've been bloodstained and could never rid,
I will try hard to soar to the heaven I dreamed.
There is no "exception" in this library,
For I know I will always go with you.
Superhot projectiles pierce the wind,
I charged up my armor into lightspeed..."
The Imaginary Space portal opened again. Countless tentacles surged at Bronya—turning the vast void into her grand ballroom.
They soared and danced, weaving, lunging, retreating—
After dodging six ferocious strikes, she was flung upward by her "dance partner," only to be surrounded and sealed by pre-laid tentacles.
A fatal strike descended. Bronya leapt high into the air, separating from Project Bunny, gliding through the corridor formed by the tentacles.
At last!
She slid out, gripped Project Bunny's handlebars, mounted the bike once more, completing a flawless relay.
The scene made everyone want to cheer.
Now was the time!
The side panels burst open. Blue flames erupted—like an angel spreading her wings.
"Shift up."
Together with her partner, Bronya delivered the final judgment.
The ice-blue crystal road extended once more—
A path toward the future, leading straight to Tlaloc's head. The motorcycle's speedometer surged to the max, exploding off the charts.
Velocity beyond all limits generated unstoppable kinetic force—effortlessly shattering Tlaloc's skull.
Finally, all came to an end. It was the climax of the dance!
The performer stood atop the stage.
Bronya's pupils transformed into golden gears. Pale-blue light wove an ornate dress around her.
In response to her will, countless floating cannons materialized out of thin air.
BOOM!!
A thunderous barrage—the roar of destruction. The final note an angel brings to a demon.
Tlaloc's shattered body disintegrated into sparkling motes, falling like a curtain call upon the stage.
All returned to silence.
Amidst the ruins—
Bronya slowly opened her eyes, gazing into the distant void. There was no joy of victory on her face—only a tender, hopeful smile.
"Seele... Bronya came to find you."
The short ended. All that remained was a blue butterfly gliding through the Sea of Quanta, deeper into its depths—
With the music looping in the background.
"I'll fly with all I've got toward the far shore in my dreams,
This engine won't return an error,
Because I know—I'll always walk with my heart..."
Everyone thought they had already gotten used to the kind of emotional impact miHoYo delivered.
But they had clearly underestimated it.
Cyberangel: ZERO Exception once again overwhelmed them.
They were thrown back to the time they first witnessed Queen's Arrival.
That deep, resonating shock—it demanded an outlet.
The livestream exploded like New Year's fireworks.
[Holy—! HOLY—!! HOLY—!!!]
[Salute the birth of a king! So hype! My whole body's on fire!!]
[This strike pierced the stars! Do you know what kind of power shatters constellations?!]
[I only have one thing to say: miHoYo is GOAT!!!]
"Ahhh~~!"
Even Elysia let out a "broken defense" cry:
"Chasing your silhouette—from the lost world, to the depths of the sea... That's way too romantic!!"
To Elysia—
The profound bond between Bronya and Seele—between beautiful girls—was incredibly captivating.
Especially the opening narration in Cyberangel: ZERO Exception.
After watching the whole short and thinking back to Interlude to Chapter 11: Void Sky, Lonely Moon, the more she recalled it, the more deeply moved she became.
"When it's time to go all-out, it goes all-out. When it's time to be romantic, it's romantic. Honkai Impact 3rd's story is just incredible!" she said sincerely.