Ein and Tesla shifted their attention to Elysia's livestream.
The viewers in the stream gradually calmed down from the earlier excitement of Queen's Arrival.
After all—
Mei had personally said that Chapter 9 of the main story would be even more exciting!
Although... they didn't seem to notice that Mei had said it as a question.
That uncertain tone—no one seemed to catch it. Or maybe, even if they did, no one cared?
Back on track, after a brief break, Elysia officially entered Chapter 9 of the main story: Journey for Tomorrow.
The main story begins as a continuation of Queen's Arrival, with Raiden Mei and Bronya Zaychik battling the Herrscher of the Void under Theresa's command.
There's even a scene where Theresa attempts to rally but is immediately defeated at lightning speed.
It's worth noting that—possibly to entice players to spend crystals pulling for the Queen—this section where the protagonist team gets thoroughly beaten—
The player actually controls the Herrscher of the Void.
[miHoYo is truly devious, making us control the Herrscher to beat up Theresa Dumbas.]
[Why does my world's cutest Theresa always get crushed? …Oh, wait, I'm the one doing it. Never mind then.]
[Based on current story logic, S-rank Valkyries have power on par with Herrschers. The Herrscher of the Void clearly surpasses the average Herrscher, so Theresa losing isn't surprising.]
"..."
"It really is a bit hard to go through with it."
As Elysia said this, the energy gauge filled, allowing the ultimate to be activated—she immediately clicked it.
In-game, the Herrscher of the Void floated into the air, spatial rifts swirling behind her.
With a voice full of majesty, the Queen spoke her iconic line: "Now is the time… for judgment~☆"
The next moment, an intense barrage of cannon fire erupted from the rifts.
Upon seeing this, the comment section—previously mocking Theresa—immediately changed tone.
[That's the move! Snap + ultimate! It's exactly like the CG!]
[The level of fidelity… Honestly, this is the first time I've seen a game company take it this seriously.]
[In short, miHoYo is incredible!]
...
As the viewers chatted away, the plot continued.
The Herrscher of the Void's power was beyond what Theresa and the others could resist.
One after another, they fell—Mei even had the Gem of Conquest, which housed Herrscher of Thunder power, forcibly extracted.
Of course, throughout the whole sequence, as the infamous "Herrscher of Sentience"—
The Herrscher of the Void naturally kept spouting endless trash talk.
It was like she was the Gilgamesh of Honkai Impact 3rd.
Then Fu Hua descended from the skies and joined the battle.
At that point, a segment of Chapter 9 ended.
The scriptwriter clearly understood the art of cliffhangers—always ending at the most tantalizing moment—
Forcing players to keep playing, one stage after another.
"I told you, even though Hua sometimes seems dense, there's no way she's a bad person."
Elysia referred to Fu Hua simply as "Hua," but the audience, immersed in the plot, didn't notice.
"Come to think of it…"
Both Hua and Mei had become characters in the game. It felt like they were living alternate lives.
Very interesting. It made her a little curious.
If she became a character in Honkai Impact 3rd, what kind of character would she be?
She really was curious.
But Hua and Mei were miHoYo staff, so they could put themselves into the game. As for her…
At that moment, since Elysia hadn't clicked anything, the stream was flooded with question mark comments.
"Elysia? What's wrong?" Mei stepped in to prompt her on behalf of the viewers.
"Ah~~ let's continue the main story~~"
Elysia brushed away her drifting thoughts and focused on the plot.
Although Fu Hua had come to rescue Theresa and the others—
The Herrscher of the Void was simply too powerful. Even with Fu Hua and Theresa teaming up, they were still no match.
However, what shocked everyone was that Otto suddenly appeared and rescued them all.
Considering how, in earlier plotlines, Otto had been a definite antagonist—he was even the one who awakened the Herrscher of the Void—
"Otto doesn't seem like someone who'd be that kind. I suspect he's plotting something."
Elysia made this judgment.
But she didn't expect the plot to completely defy her expectations.
With just one line—
"Immortal Red Kite, I did not lie."
Bang!
Fu Hua, who had just been redeemed, was shot in the head by Otto.
Elysia: ???
[The class monitor was just killed by Otto like that?!]
[Otto! Show me your HP bar if you dare!]
[I've figured it out. In the entire main story, Otto basically never does anything remotely human! Stop calling him Otto—he's Dogto from now on!]
Player rage toward Otto was practically spilling from the screen.
[From my experience, with the way Otto is written, there's no way he dies without at least dozens of chapters of setup.]
[Dozens of chapters is fine. If Dogto doesn't die, I'm not quitting! I'll wait for the day Dogto gets crushed. I'll pop champagne to celebrate!]
[+1 to popping champagne]
[+10086 to popping champagne]
Fortunately, the perspective shifted to Himeko, and Fu Hua reappeared, calming the viewers somewhat.
After pushing through another segment of the main story—
Himeko acquired her latest battlesuit, launched alongside this update: Vermilion Knight: Eclipse.
By now, players had started speculating about the upcoming plot.
[This new suit must be really strong. It's going to crush the Herrscher of the Void and bait players into spending crystals.]
[Hmph, I see right through you, miHoYo!]
[GKD! As a Himeko simp, I need to see her shining moment!]
The story did seem to be going just as that player had predicted.
The previously unbeatable Herrscher of the Void was wounded by Himeko, empowered by Vermilion Knight: Eclipse.
They even fought on equal terms, and in the end, the Herrscher of the Void was forced to retreat after being struck by the Moonlight Throne under Einstein 's control.
Just as everyone sighed in relief, thinking the battle was over—
One final cutscene played.
The sorrowful BGM gave an ominous feeling.
Himeko held a serum capable of treating her body and reflected on her time as a Valkyrie, with countless emotions in her heart.
"This time… things really went too far."
The blaring alarms added to the unease.
"Well then… time to get some fresh air."
Himeko straightened up and walked against the crowd's flow.
"Even though they're a bunch of kids who won't grow up… I do like them. There's still a long road ahead, right…?"
"Good luck to you all."
The screen gradually darkened.
Finally, Himeko's voice came through: "I really… want another drink…"
And the scene ended.
[Fairy Miss, don't watch the next CG!]
Suddenly, a flood of players who had just cleared the main story rushed into the stream.
[If it were any other streamer, I'd egg them on—but Fairy Miss, you're different. Please, take my advice—don't watch it!]
[To hell with 'healthy, sunny, and uplifting'—I really bought miHoYo's lie!]
Chapter 18. The Love I Gave You Is the Thing I Cherish Most
The livestream chat was in utter chaos.
But no matter how desperate they were, it was already too late.
Elysia, completely engrossed in the plot, couldn't wait to see what happened next.
"Miss Himeko~~ You have to be okay~~"
Soon—
The CG began to play.
It started with a deep blue bubble rising and bursting.
The surrounding cacophony heightened the tension.
The screen transitioned to a clear and captivating eye—its slightly weary gaze seemed to be peering through the length of a lifetime.
Murata Himeko ultimately gripped the serum tightly. All of her emotions condensed into one: resolve.
Beep! Beep!
Accompanied by sharp alarms, the Judgment-class dragon-type Honkai Beast Benares soared across the sky, tearing apart the battleship's turrets with its terrifying claws.
From the very beginning, the atmosphere was intensely gripping.
Everyone was drawn in.
Even the viewers who had previously said they wouldn't watch.
Even knowing a major tragedy was coming, they couldn't tear their eyes away.
Elysia, too, forgot to interact with her viewers.
Completely focused, she didn't even notice the woman with long crimson hair in tight hot pants who had walked up behind her.
On-screen—
Himeko rode the Hyperion's elevator to the exterior deck and tucked the serum into her armor.
With the Godsbane Blade resting on her shoulder, she wore a confident smile. Radiant and full of spirit, there was no sign of the earlier gloom.
Faced with a turret crashing toward her, she batted it back like a baseball, smashing it right into Benares' head.
Without giving Benares a chance to react, Himeko leapt up and mercilessly kicked its massive body down onto the deck.
But just as she raised her sword for the finishing blow, a blinding light intercepted her strike.
The dazzling light grew stronger, gradually obscuring everything.
When the light faded—
Everything had changed.
The space was dim and deathly silent. Even the once-speeding Hyperion had come to an eerie halt.
With a burst of laughter—
The Herrscher of the Void descended slowly, walking on air.
"Did you think you could escape?"
Himeko showed no fear. Her crimson greatsword pointed directly at the Herrscher of the Void.
But with just a casual wave of her hand, the Herrscher sent Himeko flying.
"Struggle all you like… do your best~~"
The Herrscher snapped her fingers.
A purple cube imprisoned the airborne Himeko. Countless razor-sharp Subspace Spears formed ribbons that sliced through the cube, cutting it from the center where Himeko stood.
And that wasn't the end.
With a cold expression, the Herrscher raised a finger and slashed it downward.
Two intertwining Subspace Spears formed a spiraling point and plunged from above, impaling the cube.
The structure was completely pulverized—along with Murata Himeko—driven deep into the earth.
Turning away, the Herrscher said coolly, "So that's all? Hmph!"
The players watching clenched their hearts.
Himeko… couldn't really be dead, right?!
But in the next moment, a blade flew toward the Herrscher, forcing her to teleport to evade.
Himeko rose shakily from the rubble. Corrupted by Honkai energy, violet lines crawled across her body.
"Your attack's over… Now, it's my turn. No objections, right?"
Her once-weakened voice grew firm, her fighting spirit burning ever brighter.
"Hahaha~~ Ah—die!"
The Queen didn't panic. Covering her face, she laughed madly. Countless black voids encircled Himeko.
At that moment, the song "Nightglow" began to play.
In the somber opening bars, Himeko's monologue echoed.
The short film reached its peak.
"Kiana, when you wake up… you'll find this world no longer beautiful."
Crimson flames engulfed the greatsword. Limitless power erupted from the Crimson Impulse armor.
"Those ordinary days are gone forever…"
With one swing, countless Subspace Spears shattered. The explosive force shook the entire space.
"But… don't give up. Never give up!"
Himeko leapt high, raising her greatsword, and descended upon the Herrscher of the Void like a meteor from the heavens.
The music swelled—rousing and fierce.
The Herrscher's expression twisted. She gathered all her power into a single point. A black drill surged skyward to meet the fiery meteor.
An immense shockwave burst forth!
Under the impact, Himeko briefly lost consciousness.
Her pupils turned white. Familiar faces flashed through her mind—until they settled on Kiana's innocent smile as she called her "Aunt Himeko."
Tears streamed freely in the livestream.
At this moment, Himeko—burning her life to protect everything—pierced through the darkness.
"Keep moving forward. Turn this flawed story into the one you hope for."
The blazing meteor fell.
Everything around was bathed in searing light—
Until the space fell silent again.
Himeko injected the serum into Kiana's body. As she slipped into the abyss, only her whisper lingered:
"Live on, Kiana."
"This is… the last… lesson."
The song's final notes drifted gently, as if bidding farewell to Himeko.
The CG ended in dead silence.
A long, long moment passed.
[I…]
[miHoYo, you **! I f*ing—!]
[So sweet! Too sweet!! Let go of me, I'm not crazy, really!!]
[It's a knife! A knife through my heart! miHoYo, I'll never forgive you!! I—!!]
[I get it. I finally get it. No wonder Himeko's been so prominent in the main story lately… It was all building to this. Her final moment! (spits blood) (spits blood)]
"Elysia, are you okay?"
Eden, who had quietly stood behind her and watched Final Lesson together, asked softly.
"..."
"Eden?"
Elysia looked at Eden, who had leaned her head on her shoulder. "Of course I'm fine."
She looked at the screen where the CG had just ended.
"Although…"
She paused briefly.
"At the very least, Himeko definitely didn't regret it. She did what she wanted—and she succeeded."
"She was a good teacher."
"But…"
Elysia suddenly placed her hand on the keyboard.
She messaged Mei on a chat app with a small request.
Mei quickly sent her what she wanted:
The lyrics to "Nightglow."
"Eden, would you sing with me to send off Miss Himeko?"
"…Mm."
Eden nodded solemnly and took Elysia's hand.
Mei started playing the instrumental.
"The way I go through with
Red roses burn my eyes
Cold rain starts pouring hard
I'm being called upon
Never let you go
It's why I did them all
For a chance at least
To live in your way
Love of you
Is my most cherished thing
So stay alive, bravely."
Elysia and Eden's emotional voices echoed through the livestream.
After a while, Mei softly joined in.
Gradually, even the viewers quietly began to hum along.
Everyone seemed to see that fiery red figure once more.
"I wish I could wake from
The dream each time I dream
There's a long night coming soon
I'd shine as the last shine
Never let you go
It's why I did them all
For a chance at least
To live in your way
Love of you
Is my most cherished thing
So stay alive, bravely..."