dmims Page 147
Page 147
"Perhaps... it is true, as you say, that I am powerless right now and am just wasting my energy..."
"Let alone fighting you, even maintaining this standing posture is difficult for me."
"But... whenever I collapse to the ground, in so much pain that I want to give up, I inexplicably remember a lot of things..."
"Burnt toast pizza, non-spicy bell pepper curry, a parfait for three, feathers shimmering with light, the gates of St. Freya, and... her last lesson..."
As Kiana finished speaking, the music abruptly changed, becoming somewhat melancholic and heavy.
As Kiana's voice accompanies him, Eden feels a slight sinking in his heart, as if he has been stabbed a few times.
She couldn't help but cover her mouth, a very ominous feeling creeping into her mind.
Could it be... that Kiana, despite her best efforts, will still fall here?
Then, will they have to fight Bronya and the others?
Kiana's voice continued without giving her time to think.
"Their smiles, their gratitude, their hopes for the future, the hands they reached out to me, the light they shone on me..."
"Just thinking about all this, I just can't bring myself to say the word 'give up'!"
"I have gained so much along the way..."
"Courage, blessings, hope... all my most beautiful memories, they will always be in my heart..."
"It feels heavy, and it warms me at all times..."
Hearing these words, Eden was already somewhat moved to tears.
"so--"
As Kiana finished speaking, the game screen suddenly went black...
"I am not without anything!!"
As Kiana roared, the game music became more rousing.
Her clothes had also changed back to the Sky Ranger outfit.
Upon seeing this, Eden's pupils widened in surprise.
She felt a surge of heat rush to her heart.
She subconsciously ignored the concepts of cheating or the protagonist's sudden burst of power.
"What?!" The Herrscher of the Void was also shocked.
But Kiana ignored the Queen; her eyes were resolute, and her voice rose and fell with conviction:
"I want to pass on what I have gained so far!"
"I want to bring them to more people; I won't fall here!"
"I will carry her ideals, their ideals... and keep going!"
The Queen suddenly seemed to realize something: "No, wait, this is... the power of the Plague Gem?"
As the Queen finished speaking, a short video played in the game.
In the scene, Kiana is engulfed in flames, and a broken sword appears in her hand.
Only then did Eden realize the truth.
This... is Himeko's greatsword...
This isn't cheating!
The Plague Gem is in Kiana's possession, and carrying the beliefs passed down from Himeko, she awakens the remnants of Himeko's consciousness within the gem...
That makes perfect sense.
Thinking of this, and looking at Kiana holding the broken sword in the picture, Eden's body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
The comments section was incredibly lively.
【Ahhh... Kiana!!】
[Awesome!! Bug is so cool!]
[Tears welling up... Wow~~ Himeko-sensei...]
……
The game has entered combat mode again.
Eden had no interest in controlling the game character anymore, so the keyboard was handed over to Alicia.
Kiana, wielding a broken sword, continued to slash at the Queen.
At the same time, the Herrscher of the Void's somewhat angry voice came over:
"Why? Why did the Plague Gem recognize you?"
"Just because that woman used it?"
"It's just a fragment of consciousness remaining within a gem, why should it resist?"
"You're already dead, why are you still getting in my way?!"
Kiana retorted, "Himeko-sensei's life was one of constant struggle; that was her flame, her color!"
With Alicia's intervention, the Queen's health finally reached zero.
At this moment, the game screen changed to a scene of Kiana confronting the Queen.
"Why? Why were you able to defeat me? Just because you are good Sirin and I am evil Sirin?"
Kiana: "That kind of thing never existed. I chose good, and you chose evil!"
During the conversation, Alicia rapidly pressed the attack button.
As Kiana suddenly swung her sword, the scene turned into a white blur.
"it's over!"
Herrscher of the Void: "..."
"...Yes, it's over."
"The power of the gems is flowing towards you; they have abandoned me and chosen you. It seems your [faith] has prevailed."
She seemed to sigh, her tone no longer displaying the arrogance and indifference of before.
Instead, it seemed to reveal a hint of fatigue.
Kiana breathed a sigh of relief: "I will use this power wisely."
Herrscher of the Void: "Whatever. Anyway, you'll be much more relaxed without me."
Kiana: "I will take responsibility for the sins you have committed; it is my duty."
"Heh~" The Queen chuckled softly, but there was no sarcasm in her laughter:
That's your own business; you don't need to tell me.
“You could have lived in complete ignorance, or simply died as an innocent experimental subject, but you chose this path…”
"The blood that stained Celine, her sorrow and despair, the inherent conflict between good and evil that all humanity must confront... You must bear this weight for the rest of your life."
Kiana paused for a moment, then said, "I will work hard to ensure that there will never be another Sirin in this world."
Herrscher of the Void "..."
She took a deep breath, her tone gradually becoming calm: "Alright, stop... I don't need your sympathy, nor will I agree with your ideas."
"But since you've won, continue down your path, fight to the very end with all your might... Kiana."
Kiana: "Goodbye, another Sirin..."
…………
After completing this part of the story in one go, Eden felt a sense of exhilaration...
Starting with Sirin's dream, they witnessed together everything Sirin had suffered before.
There is malice from humans.
There was also kindness and warmth from Cecilia.
The Queen's words just now weren't just directed at Kiana; they seemed to be directed at all Honkai Impact 3 players, and at Eden as well.
Was the Queen defeated simply because she was a villain, while Kiana was a hero?
In the past, Eden would have answered with certainty, "Yes!"
Isn't that the case in all ACG works?
Justice will ultimately prevail over evil...
However, after reading about Celine's life and having that dream as a prelude,
Now... Eden will give a different answer.
It wasn't because the queen was a villain that she failed.
What Sirin truly desires deep down is... the love from Cecilia in her dreams.