[Miss Pink Elf always heals me. I really wish paramecium could meet her too!]
[Maybe that's why I've been a fan of Miss Pink Elf for so many years.]
[I'm fired up now! Paramecium, go for it!]
The viewers in the livestream were moved by Elysia's sincerity.
The story continued.
Elysia controlled Kiana as she ran across the overpass, when suddenly a voice from Himeko echoed—
"Let's introduce ourselves."
"Himeko… sensei…"
Kiana's vision blurred. When it cleared again, it had already become St. Freya Academy.
This was a precious memory that belonged to Kiana.
It was Kiana's first time at St. Freya Academy, the first time she met Teacher Himeko.
Kiana was still so lively and energetic then, full of all sorts of absurd and comical ideas that made people smile without realizing it.
She would proudly provoke Himeko, only to be "mercilessly" defeated by her.
Sometimes she'd be melancholic and lost, unsure of her direction, but at those times, Himeko would guide her—then she'd forget her sorrow, regain her cheer, and return to her carefree self.
She'd be nervous on the battlefield, far less composed than now, but back then Himeko was her pillar of support.
One blissful memory followed another.
Until everything froze on the image of a gravely wounded Himeko bracing herself with her sword as she said:
"Kiana… this is the final lesson…"
Every player could deeply empathize with the mental breakdown Kiana was experiencing in that moment.
The sweeter it once was, the more painful it became now.
Just then, the Herrscher of the Void seized upon Kiana's inner vulnerability and once again dragged her into the mental realm.
She spat out piercing words that cut into Kiana's heart.
"Her sacrifice left a wound in your heart that will never heal—an opening for me to return."
"Every brief distraction, every painful memory, grants me more freedom, turning wherever you linger into a wasteland."
"So pitiful… you coward who only knows how to run."
"There's never been a place in this world where you belong."
The Herrscher of the Void didn't just attack with words—she summoned wave after wave of Honkai Beasts to assault Kiana.
Eventually, Kiana was completely exhausted.
She dropped to her knees, drained physically and mentally, with no strength left to fight.
[No way! No way! Don't tell me Kiana is really done for?!]
[Then wouldn't Himeko's sacrifice be meaningless? I can't accept that!]
[Someone save her, please!]
The livestream audience was frantic. Elysia, too, stared intently at the screen, eyes unblinking.
And then—Kiana made a decision no one expected.
She gripped her pistol and pressed the barrel under her chin.
Kiana would rather die as a human than let the Herrscher of the Void take over her body and resurrect.
"I… will never let you…"
As the sound of the trigger being pulled rang out, everyone watching felt their hearts skip a beat.
In the next second—
The muzzle would unleash a burst of flame.
Thankfully, at the very last moment—
Fu Hua appeared!
"It's not time to give up yet, Kiana… I'm here."
[Immortal Fu Hua forever the best!!]
[So heartwarming! So, so heartwarming! From today on, I'm a die-hard class monitor fan!]
[Gotta pull for Fu Hua now out of respect!]
The story continued.
With Fu Hua's power, Kiana returned to reality once more.
At some point, she had run into a deserted street.
Her exhaustion made her gasp for breath.
Roar!!
At that moment, the roars of Honkai Beasts echoed from all around.
She was already surrounded.
And now, she didn't even have the strength to fight them—only to flee for her life.
Just as a few Honkai Beasts were about to strike her—
Time suddenly froze.
The climax of the entire interlude to Chapter 11, Void Sky, Lonely Moon, had arrived.
As the BGM "Amazing Grace" began to play, the entire livestream audience held their breath.
On screen, Kiana lifted her head—and saw cracks forming in the air before her, like shattered glass.
A familiar silhouette slowly walked toward her from a great distance.
Her teary eyes widened slowly, her face showing disbelief.
Shards of glass scattered in all directions. Himeko smiled as she passed Kiana, stood behind her, and once again raised her weapon.
"Kiana… what are you waiting for?"
As Himeko's voice faded, her form shattered like glass, piece by piece—
Eventually turning into white foam and dispersing.
Kiana closed her eyes, letting the tears flow freely. In that moment, she finally understood her heart.
Fu Hua's betrayal, others' distrust, the truth of her own origin, her fear of the future, and the guilt of so many innocent lives…
She should have given up long ago and succumbed to the Honkai. But it was Himeko—Himeko's final lesson—that kept her going!
Betrayal, trust, identity—none of it mattered anymore.
Because she knew there was someone who was truly willing to risk her life to pull her back from the abyss. That seed of kindness had been planted deep within her heart.
And that was enough!
It was exactly that which made her decide to always carry gentleness and justice within her, no matter what.
"Teacher Himeko… I won't run away anymore."
Kiana opened her arms. Subspace Spears lined up behind her. The erupting Honkai energy easily crushed the approaching Honkai Beasts.
And the expression on her face changed completely in an instant.
She had grown up—not the same… paramecium she once was.
...
Silence. Silence. Silence.
It was hard to imagine a million-viewer livestream being so deathly quiet.
No one knew how long it lasted.
[I thought she really came back… to bring Kiana home.]
[Confession, gratitude, redemption, rebirth—paramecium has grown up. She can fly on her own now, but I really want to cry. 😢😢]
[Until I was nineteen, I naively believed my future was rosy. 😭]
[I don't know why… I cried while laughing and laughed while crying.]
[miHoYo, you have no heart… No, you just understand people too well!]
"Mr. Otto."
"Hm?"
"Turn this imperfect story… into the version you always hoped for."
Elysia asked earnestly, "Kiana will carry on Himeko's will to the end, right?"
"Of course. She'll do it well," Hokuto replied softly.
"If you lie at a time like this, you'll have to swallow a thousand needles~~" Elysia hummed lightly.
"That's terrifying," Hokuto replied. "Good thing I'm not lying—Kiana will definitely carry on Himeko's will to the very end."
"Kiana will do far more than any of you imagined."
Whether it's becoming a star to ignite hope, or inheriting the flaming will to protect what's beautiful and rewrite this imperfect story—
Kiana will achieve far more than anyone ever imagined.
So much that you can't even call her paramecium anymore.
So much that it makes you want to call her paramecium again.
"Is that so~~"
Elysia's tone lifted gently: "Now I'm really looking forward to the story ahead."