Making Honkai Impact lll In A World Where Kallen Exists [Continuation]

In response to Vita's protests, Kevin had only one reaction. He raised his blade, resting its edge lightly against her slender neck.

"You're free to say no," he said, his icy blue eyes staring her down.

This was a game of strategy—a negotiation for cooperation.

She could make demands, but outright refusal was not an option.

"…" Vita pouted, puffing her cheeks with visible resentment. Her eyes brimmed with frustration, almost as if her glare could take physical form. Yet, this had no effect on Kevin.

Charming gestures were utterly lost on someone as stoic as Kevin. No amount of coaxing could sway his iron will.

(TL: Even if his enemy is a female version of his best friend ~)

Griseo remained silent, offering no persuasion. After all, in Kevin's account, Vita was aligned with Sa—or at least, she still acted as Sa's proxy for now.

Elysia's smile remained as radiant as ever, her gaze steady on Vita. Her thoughts weren't difficult to discern, Vita was not truly free-spirited. Those who claimed not to care about anything rarely had weaknesses, but in doing so, they also lost a sense of purpose in life.

Vita, however, was not one of those people.

After obtaining all relevant intelligence from Luo Mo and uncovering Vita's true objectives, the group's plans were unsurprisingly tailored to counter her every move.

Every action Vita had taken had a purpose. Whether it was following them, guiding them to Griseo, or even introducing her benevolent "Vita" self along the way, Elysia suspected she had some form of access to the restricted areas. Any stripping of her authority likely occurred after an incident, not before.

It was clear Vita wanted the group to meet her smaller counterpart, to foster mutual understanding and trust. From this perspective, she wasn't entirely heartless.

The standoff stretched on.

Gradually, Vita's expression turned colder. She dropped her sheepish smile and abandoned her outwardly enthusiastic facade, her demeanor shifting to indifference and frost. This sudden change caused both Griseo and Hua to frown, sensing the dishonesty in her words.

"So… you've got me cornered, huh? Sure, I admit it—I can't take you all on, not alone. But against five of you at once…"

She rubbed her temple, looking genuinely exasperated. Perhaps, she was beginning to regret following them in the first place.

After all, in the vast emptiness of the void-like corridor, she could have easily hidden from them.

"So, I suppose I have no choice but to surrender~," Vita said, forcing a smile. She lightly tried to push the blade away from her neck but failed. Unfazed, she continued casually, "But… have you forgotten? I can run. Think about it—does this look like my real body to you?"

"And as for access… well, you know about the relics, don't you? Just press the seven little Vitas a bit harder, and they'll be forced to step up in the face of Fuhlos' danger…"

Elysia listened quietly. She maintained her smile, responding gently, "You're right; you could flee. But where would you go? The City of Salt and Snow? The Quantum Sea? Or perhaps some barren, desolate land?"

"But even then, would you truly escape Sa? After all, you wouldn't want to see this entire region reduced to ashes of war, would you? Otherwise… you could've walked away from the start. I still believe we're on the same side here. Why not join us instead?"

"The City of Salt and Snow… such a fitting name," Vita murmured, her heart sinking. She suppressed her discomfort, her forced expression betraying her unease.

Having her final refuge exposed felt unsettling.

In truth, she didn't want to squander this rare opportunity either. If Griseo were rescued, this place would lose its last traces of outside vitality. The cycle of beginnings—floods, apocalypse, rebirth—would endlessly repeat. This city, under the shadow of its god, would remain unchanged.

"Fine. I do have a way to let you meet the god… and perhaps avoid Fuhlos' destruction. While the other Vitas still trust me, and before Sa fully casts me aside, there's one chance left."

"But you need to understand… your records are wrong. This isn't just a god—it's a god who ascended from a human vessel, a being with a will of its own. It will kill you. Though, frankly, I couldn't care less about that…"

"Still, do you have any means to oppose a god?"

Vita ultimately chose compliance. As a proxy, she still had the authority to confront Sa directly—though only once.

And this was her one and only chance to gain such authority.

"Hmm?~"

Elysia chuckled lightly, showing little sign of compromise. "There's no need to overstate it. Confronting a god, huh? But isn't Sha only a tenth of the size of the Cocoon of Finality?"

"Even a tenth is beyond the reach of mortals," Vita muttered, though she felt a slight sense of relief. If Elysia knew about it, then it meant the battle was still within the realm of possibility.

After all, they had faced the Finality before; they knew the weight of that power.

"So, does that mean we've achieved our initial goal?~"

Elysia spoke softly as Kevin set down his greatsword. At some point, he had faded into the background.

But that didn't matter; achieving the goal was what counted.

"The only question is... how did you know I was going to steal her power?" Vita finally asked, both testing and revealing her hand.

"Hmm?~"

Elysia smiled without answering, her face betraying no surprise.

Among the group, only Griseo appeared startled. But if one didn't rule out the possibility that they were all adept at masking their emotions, it would mean they had likely known all along.

This realization left Vita feeling a mix of frustration and reassurance.

"...May I ask one thing? Does your... future-seer among you have any predictions about your success or failure?"

Vita's sudden question was loaded with meaning, one that was not hard to decipher. In fact, they had already disclosed much of it themselves.

Their knowledge of the museum, of Sa, and even of Vita herself, was far too thorough. It exceeded the realm of mere intelligence.

(TL: it's called "Transmigration into a game" maam~)

Engaging in a battle of wits with them felt like playing chess with someone who could read your mind, where every thought was laid bare.

This left Vita feeling increasingly helpless, as if being led by the nose.

Initially, she had intended to observe from the shadows, allowing either side's victory or defeat to remain irrelevant to her while she reaped the benefits without risk. But now, she was being forced into hard labor, with failure guaranteeing that Sa would hunt her down.

On the flip side, there were still seven little Vitas who could carry on in her stead. Thinking this way should have brought some comfort... or not! Who would want to live like that?!

Elysia blinked in surprise at Vita's question, giving her a peculiar look but saying nothing.

"Alright, alright, that was probably a dumb question. If you thought you'd fail, you wouldn't have come all this way," Vita said, patting her forehead in exasperation.

Kevin remained stoic, giving away nothing. If Vita wanted to believe that, then so be it.

The implied threat of foreseeing the future was highly effective. Even after stealing Sa's power, Vita would remain wary when targeting Griseo.

Griseo, meanwhile, pondered the notion of predicting the future. Did it mean Aponia-mama had been revived as well?

But the futures Aponia foresaw often didn't end in success.

If things truly were that beautiful... they wouldn't have failed in the first place.

Griseo knew, however, that this wasn't the time to speak. Despite her many questions, she kept them to herself.

---

Elsewhere...

"Look, Vita mistook your ability for predicting the future," Vill-V snickered, pointing with one hand.

"Isn't that normal? Besides, it's no different from actual foresight," Luo Mo replied with an eye-roll, leaving Vill-V to figure it out herself.

Indeed, the future was already within their grasp.

"There's essentially no difference," Mobius remarked calmly—before suddenly staring intently at Luo Mo. The sudden change sent chills down everyone's spines. "I really want to dissect and study you~."

Her unsettling laughter signaled her descent into a manic episode. Luo Mo silently took two steps back. Dangerous. Very dangerous.~

"Boss, do you think they'll succeed? That Sa could be compared to Finality," Kiana prodded Luo Mo in the waist, asking curiously.

She was enjoying herself here—seeing another world's version of events felt surreal.

"Trust Kevin. And if not, well, there's still you." Luo Mo reassured her.

"Me? I'm still far from ready," Kiana said sheepishly. She was confident, but not arrogant.

-----

Everything was ready. Borrowing one of the little Vitas, as the big Vita explained, their presence would help conceal the group's activities for the time being. They weren't on Sa's list of enemies.

Vita gave her final, serious briefing, the usual coquettish tone replaced with a heavy gaze as she looked at the gloomy sky.

"First, let me correct something I said earlier. Compared to a human or a god, Sa is now more like a machine—its energy is bloated, its thoughts sluggish, and its actions inefficient."

"Though she's omniscient, she can't properly assess immediate threats around her. Though she's omnipotent, she can't fully wield her power in the Quantum Sea."

"Her obsession is with absorbing and storing energy—your term for this would be 'fear of loss'."

"If we can sever her tendrils here, destroy or expel her avatars, her only options will be retreat or withdrawal. That will be our victory."

"Now... are you ready?"

She scanned the group, noticing none of them showed any signs of panic.

Instead, their battle spirits burned fiercely, eager to clash with the enemy. Vita felt awkward for a moment, scratching her head.

"Let's move. I can't wait any longer. Let's fight!"

Kalpas growled, his gaze fixed on the oppressive clouds as he could no longer hold back. He had been waiting far too long for this moment.

"It's time," Kevin said calmly, then turned to Griseo, speaking softly. "Griseo, stay here."

"But I... sigh, fine."

Griseo wanted to argue but caught sight of Vita out of the corner of her eye. Vita was calmly adjusting her attire, even giving Griseo a bright smile when their gazes met.

Was Vita signaling her to look to her for instructions?

Griseo pursed her lips and chose to agree. She only wanted to contribute too; after all, she had learned some impressive sword techniques!

Unfortunately, there wasn't a chance to show them off.

"Let's go—! I may not excel at combat, but a beautiful maiden must be versatile in every way, right?~"

"I'll do my best," Fu Hua said flatly, clenching her fists tightly.

Seeing them ready and resolute, Vita let out a silent breath of relief. Holding the key given by the smaller Vitas, she focused all her energy on connecting with Sa.

As one of Sa's proxies—and not yet in betrayal—she naturally had her own bridge to communicate with the deity. In any case, with Sa's slow reaction speed, the difference this time was merely the added number of participants.

Vita optimistically thought to herself: Oh, divine one, even gods must fall someday.

Closing her eyes, she activated the proxy's authority, uniting it with the strength of the smaller Vitas.

In an instant, the sky changed color, and the earth groaned in sorrow.

A black storm loomed high in the heavens, rumbling ominously from within. Lightning, like serpentine dragons, slashed through the inky sky, painting it with jagged streaks of light.

Fierce gales swept across the land, nearly dislodging everything in their path.

The foreboding signs of an impending storm had materialized into reality. White beams of light pierced upward into the dark clouds, illuminating a twisting path that led into a colossal black vortex in the sky. Within it, torrential rain cascaded endlessly, pouring into the world that the god had once created.

The people of Floros hadn't yet comprehended what was happening when the downpour began. Doomsday was upon them.

All they could do was wail in despair, rushing back to their homes or falling to their knees, praying for the god's mercy.

This was... divine punishment.

The god who had created everything could, therefore, destroy it all at will, without seeking permission from anyone.

Within the black void, a massive and awe-inspiring figure stirred slightly. Its emotionless gaze seemed to lock directly onto Vita's position. The overwhelming pressure made her heart clench; she let out a muffled groan and glanced at the figure with a hint of resentment.

But it didn't matter. The path was laid; the arrival was what truly mattered.

Neither the deluge nor the hurricane could deter their steps. The being above was their target.

So what if it was divine?

"Kill, kill, kill—! Everything in my path must die! Perish!!"

Before anyone could react, a flash of flame streaked skyward. Kalpas had hurled an enormous pillar of fire into the heavens. As the flames ascended, he followed, his manic laughter ringing out. Though the rain tried to extinguish the flames, they only grew fiercer, burning brightly even amidst the apocalyptic storm.

The deity cast a glance downward, and an invisible barrier deflected the pillar of fire. A violent explosion followed, scattering the flames into a massive arc that clung to the barrier before fading into the torrential rain.

Yet Kalpas didn't care. Laughing maniacally, he hurled pillar after pillar of fire upward, his flames defying the divine authority of the god above.

To challenge a god's dominion with mortal flames—such was his audacity.

The people of Floros froze in shock, witnessing the fiery brilliance igniting the heavens. Even amidst the overwhelming flood, the flames shone defiantly.

But, alas, they were no match for the celestial phenomenon above.

That was... until they saw it.

A sun.

Amid the raging tempest, a blazing sun ignited, searing through the heavens.

"Heavenly Fire—Unleashed!"

Blue eyes flashed with determination as Kevin swung his massive sword, not as a mere threat this time, but with full intent to strike.

The scene that followed was indescribable to Vita. The heavens were consumed by fire, a blinding blaze that overwhelmed all other colors. It was as if a second sun had been born, ascending to challenge the god.

The fire burned brighter than any sun Vita had ever seen.

--------

(TL/C: Let's Fuging Go!)