Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

Melutina felt a pain she hadn't felt in a long time, but she wore a mocking expression.

"But Herrscher, how far can your domain cover?"

"........."

"No matter how you look at it, your territory can't possibly cover every corner of the earth, right? No, it's actually just the area of ​​one city."

"Shut up."

Agnes slapped her across the face. Although the girl's face was turned to the side by the slap, Agnes felt disgusted by her eyes.

"...If it's an attack that can penetrate this distance, you're dead."

Suddenly, Melutina, who should have been unable to resist, suddenly raised her limbs with all her might. Blood flowed freely from her limbs, which were pierced by chains. But the next second, she used her body to lock Agnes tightly.

"You...?! Why did you do this..."

Why make such a pointless struggle? Agnes was about to say that, but then the terrifying heat behind her sent chills down her spine.

"Hey, Herrscher."

Melutina's body and cheek were pressed tightly against Agnes's, like a couple in love. She leaned close to Agnes's ear and whispered,

Do you know what "Heavenly Fire Unsheathed" means?

...............

PS: My status has been restored. The Parallel World Chapter (Part 1) has come to an end. We will now continue with the pre-civilization chapter.

Parallel World Chapter (Part 2) will serve as the finale of the side story.

Chapter Two, Thirteen

"Hey junior, that's really too bad for you! I heard you were hit directly by Kevin's attack, and if it weren't for the Herrscher on top of you... you would have died right away?"

Looking at Melutina lying on the hospital bed with both hands tightly wrapped in bandages, Velvi said while peeling an apple.

"That barrier weakened my outer skin as well... It wouldn't be surprising if I had been burned to ashes."

In fact, Melutina is currently wrapped in bandages all over her body and cannot move a single finger.

“Your Herrscher is indeed reduced to just the core… I’ve been ordered to write this Herrscher report.”

Velvi shrugged. Judging from her appearance, she didn't seem like an "expert" or a "great magician." Melutina guessed she was probably a "conductor."

"...What is the situation regarding casualties?"

"Hmm...you really want to know?"

Vivi paused in her apple-peeling motion and asked casually.

How many people are left?

Melutina knew that there was probably no one left.

"Thirteen."

Vilvi placed the apple on the plate, extended one finger with one hand, and held up three fingers with the other.

"……what?"

Melutina's thoughts didn't keep up for a moment, and she subconsciously asked a question.

"Thirteen remain. There are no other fusion warriors besides these."

"Vilvie said, enunciating each word clearly."

"This is impossible! Senior Vilvie! You should know that our fusion warriors are at the legion level! How could they just... wait, could their cause of death be..."

Melutina tried to straighten up, but the movement aggravated her wounds, causing her to contort in pain.

"Calm down, calm down."

Vivi reached out and placed her hand on her head, as if soothing a child.

“You’re right… The cause of death was the unleashing of the Heavenly Flame. Kevin couldn’t actually pinpoint the Herrscher’s location at all; that barrier isolated almost all search devices. So, his target was everyone.”

"Using thousands of fusion warriors... to kill the Twelfth Herrscher...?"

"...That's right."

Vervi sighed, keeping her hand on Melutina's head to avoid agitating her.

"Although I had long expected this day to come... well, it's all for the best. Humanity will always have problems because of this surge in fusion warriors. Although this process is not something to be encouraged... at least we did it."

"Has the problem itself been eliminated? That's not funny, senior."

Melutina could not accept this explanation either.

"What about the attitude of the higher-ups?"

Mei said, "Since there was no other way at the time, we could only accept it. Besides, if there hadn't been so many Fusion Warriors, that Herrscher wouldn't have remained in her domain for so long."

Velvi shrugged.

"Mebius said, 'Congratulations to Kevin for achieving a thousand kills. In terms of the number of targets he has hunted, he is truly unmatched.' Well, to be honest, Mebius's words were quite sarcastic."

"...Therefore, Dr. Mei still thinks this is reasonable."

Melutina was speechless for a moment.

“You should have known long ago that Mei is different from ordinary people… In her eyes, there is civilization, while in Möbius’s eyes, there is humanity. In fact, the two of them are not alike at all, but they are always compared together.”

"Vilvie said helplessly."

"The doctor, who has always been called a devil, seems more human."

Melutina pouted.

“I think Mebius has always been pretty good… well, Mebius isn’t bad either, it’s just that she rarely has a human side… except with Kevin.”

"Vilvie offered some words of comfort."

"What about the senior student?"

"Me? Hmm... that's a tough question. But I probably can't give an answer to any of them."

"Even if she's a senior..."

Melutina stopped mid-sentence.

"Actually, it's pretty good, isn't it?"

As if she knew what she was thinking, Wilvi simply smiled, stood up, and ruffled her hair.

“Your old friends have all survived, including Padofilis. You are now a senior, so you must guide the younger generation well.”

"Pado...she survived?"

I had already prepared for the best and worst, but then I heard an unexpected name.

"She's a good kid. Junior, I've always believed that good kids should be rewarded, but the world is always crueler to them."

Vervi walked to the door, turned her head,

"But I still love good kids...they make you want to treat them gently, don't you?"

"Senior, may I ask you a question?"

"what?"

"On Kevin's birthday, I received a pocket watch from a shop... but I didn't give it to Kevin as a gift. Was that shop owner actually you, senior?"

"Ah... is that so? I have a lot of business."

Vervi shrugged.

"If I could do it all over again, I'd rather be a watchmaker."

Melutina said, her head bowed.

"Actually, senior... doesn't want to stand between Dr. Möbius and Dr. Möbius, does she?"

"...I just..."

Vilvi walked out, leaving only those words echoing in the room.

"I'm just looking for someone of my kind. As long as I'm standing next to her... what does anything else matter?"

"..."

.........

"Sister Mei... Waaaaaah..."

"Pado, calm down."

The next day, when Melutina was discharged from the hospital, a girl came up to her with tears streaming down her face, drawing stares from passersby.

"I...I overslept that day...I didn't go...When I woke up...Waaah...Everyone...Everyone was gone...I heard Sister Mei was also in the hospital..."

Padofilis cried as she spoke incoherently.

"...Paddo, have you read the report?"

Melutina suddenly remembered the report that Vervie had left in the hospital, which seemed to involve Padofilis's background.

"What report?"

Padofelis rubbed her eyes and asked.

"...No, it's nothing."

The person is no longer here; even if we knew, it would only add to our burden.

So Melutina didn't continue, but changed the subject:

"You didn't come here just to pick me up from the hospital, did you?"

"Yes, the news of your hospitalization, Sister Mei, was kept from you by the higher-ups. Only Sister Wilvi knew. They said it was to prevent some people who harbored hatred towards you, Sister Mei, from taking advantage of your injury to attack the hospital."

Padofilis nodded.

"The remaining fusion warriors are all gathered with Boss Kevin, at Eden's Golden Garden. I'm here to take you there."

"……Yeah?"