The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

It feels like...some clue has been discovered?

"No...it's nothing, it's just that you seem different."

Kiana said, looking away somewhat guiltily, not wanting to look directly at her familiar yet strange companion.

However, what she didn't know was...

This simple, unintentional remark left Xilin speechless and utterly perplexed.

Bronya decisively grabbed her chin, forcing her to continue facing herself.

At this moment, this grown-up best friend stared straight at him with such confidence and asked in a slightly serious tone:

"Changed? What, have you seen me before?"

"I... um, actually I've seen you before!"

Upon hearing this, Bronya was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly remembered.

"I remember the headmaster once told me that Mei had rescued you before, right? Perhaps the me you saw back then... Hmm, is it different? It is. I am different now."

A single sigh seems to carry with it a longing for the past.

And endless感慨 about the changes in myself.

Upon hearing this, Kiana pondered for a moment, then finally realized...

It's not that everyone has changed, but that she herself...

It's still stuck in the past.

Is this supposed to be the world of the future?

Kiana slowly grasped Bronya's delicate wrist, then sighed.

"Yes, you weren't this charming before."

Upon hearing the newcomer utter such incomprehensible words...

Bronya immediately gave a cold laugh, then gently lifted the other's smooth, long white hair.

He retorted in a haughty, senior-like tone:

"Heh, what's this all about? Newbie, are you harassing me?"

"How could that be? But you... don't grab someone's hair!"

Unfortunately, even though Kiana complained with an embarrassed expression, Bronya showed no sign of backing down.

She slowly withdrew her hand, then sniffed the soft white hair.

Just that one look made Kiana feel her heart race again.

Damn, how could she be so proactive?

Hmm! The old little venomous snake was much better; this one... I'm finding it a bit too much to handle!

Just as Kiana was lost in thought, Bronya released her grip and got up to tease her in a somewhat flippant manner.

"The scent of violets...is it perfume? I didn't expect it to have survived the river's flow all the way here. Did you use some special method to preserve the fragrance?"

"Uh...yes?"

Kiana curiously picked up her hair and sniffed it, and found that it indeed smelled of flowers.

How strange... Did the system spray perfume on me while helping me enter this world?

Feeling puzzled, she turned her head and found that the other person, apart from gritting their teeth and giving her meaningful glances, was not behaving themselves.

There was no further response.

"What a strange guy..."

Just as Kiana was inwardly complaining, Bronya waved her hand and then raised her weapon as if to go out.

"The fragrance is still so strong, as if it's frozen in time at the moment of bloom. If I ever have the chance, could you please tell me how you preserve it? Now... can I fight?"

"Anytime is fine."

Seeing that Bronya seemed to need her help, Kiana got up without saying a word, summoned the Flame King Sword and plunged it into the ground, then stood with her sword drawn and looked towards the warehouse entrance.

The entrance, which was empty just moments ago, is now suddenly filled with many monsters.

Unlike previous attacks, this time many strangely-looking enemies appeared in mid-air.

Several large monsters appeared on the ground, clearly indicating that they had come prepared.

Do you need me to fight alongside you?

After Kiana finished speaking, she raised the King's Sword and prepared to attack.

Seeing her surprisingly strong fighting spirit, Bronya turned around with slight surprise, once again asking herself, "Does this newcomer really need protection?"

Of course, with a formidable enemy at hand, she quickly put this question out of her mind.

"Take care of yourselves, they seem to have their eyes on us."

After Bronya finished speaking, she extended her lightsaber once more.

This time, without Kiana's obstruction, she was finally able to jump up without restraint and then swing her sword.

As the laser swept across, countless monsters perished!

"So powerful... She didn't even use the Herrscher Core? Is this the result of continuous technological advancements over the years?"

Just as Kiana was secretly amazed by the power displayed by her best friend, Sirin had already swung her scissors and begun to use her skillful control of space and fire to annihilate the enemy.

"Host, stop spacing out!"

"Oh!"

Reminded by her words, Kiana raised her sword and charged towards the monsters.

Its power, unleashed by deep purple particle flames, is in no way inferior to the lightsaber Bronya has displayed.

In the midst of this magnificent charge, Kiana's almond-shaped eyes widened as she shouted a battle-ready cry to the enemy.

The traveler's return...

"The moment of decisive battle has arrived!"

Why is everyone different now? (Honkai Impact 3rd): Chapter 4, where's Mei? Tell me where Mei went!

With each strike, the unprecedented monsters were quickly and severely injured due to the purple flames' underestimation.

Many monsters, which were like hunting dogs, crawling on all fours and using their claws to injure their enemies, were scraped and rolled on the ground, emitting thick smoke.

The fact that such a single strike yielded such a significant result truly surprised Bronya, who was watching from the sidelines.

"This team member is completely different from the one we're talking about. Is it because of that little guy?"

She skillfully used weapons to fire and slash, eliminating enemies while also keeping an eye on the little guy who was always following Kiana.

The opponent brandished that strange pair of scissors. It was more like he was smashing the monsters than cutting them with the scissors. Each smash not only took the life of a monster, but it could also unleash a flame-cutting attack to instantly clear the area.

Thanks to this little guy, virtually no enemies could get close to Kiana from behind.

The two killing gods, one large and one small, thus ran rampant, playing a lament of fire and cleavage for those monsters.

"Reliable, yet dangerous."

Bronya casually swung her hand, easily slaying the dual-wielding monster that had approached her, and then focused on the battle.

Seeing that Kiana was finally no longer staring at her, Sirin, who had been sharing Kiana's attention, breathed a long sigh of relief. She then spoke to Kiana, who was focused on eliminating the monster:

"Host!"

"what happened?"

"I told you to hide your identity, so please stop making things difficult for me! Displaying such extraordinary combat power will attract that thing's attention!"

That thing...

Could it be...?

"Okay, I'm just... a little excited about the reunion."

Kiana plunged her sword into the ground, then raised her hand and snapped her fingers, instantly causing flames to explode around her.

She blew up all the monsters that tried to rush at her.

As these ferocious creatures of unknown origin fell one after another, she remained where she was, leaning on her sword, ignoring the menacing monsters around her.

Even though those guys were baring their teeth and brandishing their claws, they hesitated to go forward because of fear and vigilance.

This stems from the fear of the strong, and also from the most basic fear of death.

Thanks to the fact that these monsters still knew fear, Kiana and Sirin were able to have the opportunity to talk and discuss.

"Even excitement shouldn't be like this! Besides... in the memories I extracted, your relationship with her wasn't exactly extremely good, was it? What, could it be that you've fallen for her because you saw she's grown up?"

"No, I'm just a little surprised... why does that talkative little guy from before seem so..."

Kiana turned her head and secretly glanced at her best friend who was fighting hard. After the joy of the long-awaited reunion faded, all she could feel was estrangement and unfamiliarity.

What exactly have happened over the years?

Why is Bronya able to move on her own, and why has she become so agile?

How many people were in the squad she mentioned? What did Theresa do after becoming archbishop?

Did that man... ultimately fulfill his long-cherished dream?

A host of questions arose in Kiana's mind, making her feel extremely alienated from this world.

It was a very strange feeling, as if she didn't belong to this world anymore.

Is it because they are not used to returning after being away for a long time, or is it because they have seen the changes in their companions that they feel distant?

"System, you're the one who took me away. Tell me why I feel this way? I know I won't get my way by asking you to reveal the truth, but at least you need to make me understand... who changed between me and her?"

"...Her. Time can change a person, you should know that better than I do, host."

Celine smoothed her slightly disheveled hair, then explained without changing her expression:

“I can assure you, host. This world is the home you long to return to, but time has passed, and no matter how hard we try, we cannot undo the past. Even if we could, it would come at a great cost. So... let's maintain the status quo.”