Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

Aponia muttered to herself.

"Is this the awareness of a human leader? You've become a cruel person too."

Chapter Thirty-Two: My Promise

"...a thousand tribulations."

"What's wrong? You look like you want to say something but can't."

Qianjie, as always, squatted on the sofa, glancing at Ying, who looked at him with an indescribable embarrassment.

"No, it's just... I didn't expect your reaction to be so calm this time."

Sakura hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"I've heard many rumors about the deepest things, but none of them are very good."

"Ha... Rumors? When did you become like those trash?"

"...Alright, I won't mind your rudeness this time. It's precisely because I didn't know that I came to ask you."

Sakura, who was particularly good-tempered among the fusion warriors, did not get angry, but continued to ask questions.

"Then you've come to the right person... What is the deepest place? Do you even need to ask? It's where the wild beasts are chained."

Qianjie sneered.

"...That's not specific."

Sakura was not satisfied with this answer.

"Literally, that annoying engineer made chains... is it called Anubis? Something made from the genes of that Honkai Beast..."

Qianjie said coldly,

"However, for an outcast like me, that thing is useless, so my 'friend' personally put the strongest shackles on me."

"Uh, sorry, I might have misheard... your, um, friend?"

Sakura paused for a moment, then asked.

"You heard me right, my friend... Ah, I long to see her again, starting with those enviable hands, to tear her flesh apart, to leave her disfigured and lying in the filthy red..."

Qianjie clenched his fists, his tone even wilder than usual.

"..."

Sakura paused for a moment, then continued to ask,

"The chains of Anubis, would they work on Melutina?"

"Huh? Of course it's useful! Otherwise, why would those guys lock her up?"

Qianjie chuckled.

"For a skinny little girl like that, nothing could be more torturous than this... I imagine she's all alone in that damn castle-like empty room, chained up with five chains, unable to move."

"...Five chains? Why five?"

"Unless they're so disgusting that they tie two arms to one hand... ha, then I'd guess she's lying on the ground."

Qianjie sneered.

"...a thousand tribulations."

Sakura's expression wasn't good.

"According to you... Melutina's current situation must be very bad."

"Of course not, do you think she's on vacation?"

Qianjie mocked.

"...Why did Dr. Mei treat her like this? It doesn't make sense."

Sakura now realizes that Qianjie's guess was wrong.

"Unreasonable? Absolutely reasonable."

Qianjie loudly mocked Ying's naiveté.

“May is indeed better than those filthy, despicable scum, but what do you think she is?”

How many people died in the Fusion Warrior Project? In the Divine Key Project, weren't there any Herrschers she knew from the past? Do you think she wasn't involved in the sanatorium incident? Wasn't she the one who commissioned Velvet to build the Deepest Depths?

"..."

"You're also a member of the poisonous chrysalis; you should have realized long ago how... 'rational' that woman is!"

Qianjie's tone was full of mockery towards Ying Tianzhen.

"She is indeed right, she is always right. Because for her, reason can always suppress her emotions, so she is the hope of mankind!"

Saving Melutina, that's right! It was because of personal feelings! And guilt! But wouldn't Melutina pose a threat to humanity? There's definitely something we don't know about this situation. Mei doesn't believe Melutina is "safe"! Understand?! Sakura!

"...Although you can be crazy at times, I must admit that most of your views are very close to the essence of things."

Sakura fell silent. She couldn't refute what Qianjie said. She had known Mei for a long time, and she had long understood what kind of person Mei was.

However, she did not resent Mei for this. Someone always has to be the villain. Walking this path was not Mei's own wish, but something she had to do.

"So what? You come to me, and then you find out that little girl is locked in the depths of hell, unable to move... and then what? Go home and sleep? What's the point of this unnecessary guilt?"

Qianjie, however, was not buying it. He was very angry and disliked everyone.

"...a thousand tribulations."

Sakura spoke, not out of anger, but with a determined expression, which surprised Qianjie for a moment.

"Let's break them out of prison!"

"……what?"

It should be said that, for the first time in his life, Qianjie unconsciously uttered a syllable before he could even react.

…………

"..."

Kneeling in her own private cage, Melutina remained motionless; in fact, even if she wanted to move, it wouldn't be an easy thing.

Aside from the essential actions necessary to maintain her life, she made virtually no other movements.

Sometimes she would even fall asleep sitting up, but this long period of rest did not improve her health; on the contrary, it made her condition worse.

Although only a month has passed, according to Melutina's estimate, she has lost at least ten kilograms, and is probably only around forty kilograms now.

This was a weakness she had never experienced before, especially since she had always prided herself on her powerful physique as a fusion warrior.

"As expected of Dr. Mei... when she gets ruthless, she shows no mercy to anyone."

Melutina closed her eyes. According to her estimate, if she were locked up here for a year or two, her body would probably break down first.

At that time, May will probably find a "legitimate reason" to take her away, but the damage to her foundation is difficult to repair. It is estimated that she will eventually be transferred to an administrative position or go to the Möbius Laboratory.

This is indeed Mei's style. She saved Melutina from the perspective of consequences, but she also wanted to prevent her from being unable to use that power again. Obviously, Mei did not trust that power and even regarded it as an enemy of humanity.

Compared to Melutina herself, she trusts her own judgment more... I guess that's just how Melutina is.

"Don't expect me to be grateful to you, Dr. May."

Melutina thought to herself.

“Is every star my enemy? I used to respect you and agree with you. But Dr. May, no, May, I don’t think that way anymore.”

Melutina struggled to her feet, the heavy chains feeling like they were tearing at her flesh, and she was trying to get used to the pain.

"The result achieved through that process is meaningless... Mei, the final outcome you achieved is nothing more than a further extension of human depravity, a lingering existence in hell. You didn't actually change anything, neither people nor the world."

She was panting, leaning against the wall.

"Pain can destroy a person, and rational abandonment should never become a habit. The sacrifice of a comrade can indeed leave a mark on a person's heart, but if one is given the choice to make their own decisions, it will make them... cruel."

She poured the food from her plate into the drain; she hadn't eaten for a month.

"You can't select lives; that's God's prerogative, not human's. Many miracles happen because of the emotions in people's hearts. Even in the face of cruel choices, people will still choose to love."

You think you just killed Himeko through the Fusion Warrior Project... but you don't understand, it was actually a miracle caused by Kevin's love for you.

Perhaps it was also Himeko's feelings for Hana that made her hesitate... There had been so many incredible victories achieved because of the greatness of humanity.

Melutina closed her eyes and staggered forward once more.

“You love Kevin too… May, if this love can also transcend your rationality, you can truly become the savior of my dreams.”

But you are too smart. I would use words like "wise," "calm," and "genius" to describe you, but I would never say you are "great."

Even if a thousand people say the same thing about you, I will never say it aloud.

She fell to the ground in a disheveled state, sprawling on the floor, yet silently vowing to herself—

"Even if I end up in destruction, I will choose the only beautiful path."

This is my promise to you and to all of you.

Brother, Vanessa, Adam.

I will never... give up hope again!

This is just my personal opinion; I don't mean to argue with anyone.

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Chapter Thirty-Three: The Helpers

"..."

"What's wrong, Qianjie? You haven't said a word since we left headquarters."

Sakura, who was driving, turned her head and looked at Qianjie, who was sitting upright like never before, as if she were meeting him for the first time.

She had thought Qianjie might be squatting in the back seat... well, that was a bit of an exaggeration.