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

Returning to the hall, Pardo said her farewells and left, claiming she was heading to a new place to restock. According to her, she would inevitably have the chance to stop by again. As for Raven, it seemed there were many questions she wanted to ask.

"You said you saw a space that resembled a prison…?"

"Well… how should I put it? It just felt like a prison," Raven corrected, her expression tinged with uncertainty.

"Felt like?" Mei asked in return.

"Yes. I'm not sure how else to describe it, but from the moment I entered, it was as if I instinctively assumed it was a prison," Raven replied.

"But in reality, there was nothing there—just endless darkness… aside from that mysterious woman."

Propping her chin on her hand, Raven seemed lost in thought. However, she hadn't even gotten a proper glimpse of that woman—her mystery was overwhelming. Then, as if remembering something, she quickly reached into her pocket to retrieve something.

"Before I completely lost consciousness, she seemed to say something to me… and handed me… Oh, I remember now—"

"It was that pendant! How could I have forgotten about it?—Wait, where's the pendant?"

Raven searched her entire body but couldn't find a trace of it. Dumbfounded, she searched again, unwilling to give up, but it was still nowhere to be seen.

All she could do was describe the lost item, a golden pendant embedded with a sizeable blue crystal.

With the disappearance of this pendant, all leads once again broke off.

Mei, however, seemed to have a new perspective, and it just so happened she had a recently met friend who was good at finding things.

------------

In the Golden Courtyard.

"Little Pardo~"

Elysia called out softly, her eyes full of mischief as she looked at the other party. Her gaze said it all: Confess. She knows who did it.

"It's you, isn't it, little Pardo? Taking something so blatantly isn't a good look," Vill-V softly sipped a drink, completely shedding her earlier disheveled state as she lounged on the couch. It was clear that a different Vill-V had taken over.

"Cough, cough—! I didn't do it on purpose! Besides, it hasn't been confirmed it was me, okay? Wait until you're sure before accusing me!" Pardo muttered, scratching the back of her head. She reasoned that Raven must have accidentally left it behind, and she had just helpfully picked it up.

How could that be considered stealing? Absolutely impossible!

Pardo, after all, never stole things. She merely stocked up from unclaimed sources.

"Tsk, then it must be Mobius, right? Look, something's missing, and it just so happens to be Mei, Mobius's rival, who's missing it. Isn't that quite telling?" Vill-V said casually, though her words made Mobius's brow twitch.

"Hahaha… makes sense!" Kalpas chimed in approval.

"Vill-V—! It's not like someone took something off my body. I wouldn't stoop to petty thievery, humph!" Mobius coldly huffed. She could tell Vill-V was stirring trouble, but she refused to shoulder such baseless rumors.

It was like how things mysteriously showed up in her wardrobe; it was undoubtedly Elysia's doing!

"Uh… well, it should be me, then. Yeah, Vill-V, let's not jump to conclusions. Besides, it's just in the game… haha," Pardo hurriedly interrupted Vill-V's accusatory gaze at others.

It was clear that this version of Vill-V had quite the detective streak.

Seriously… couldn't she stop making random accusations? Otherwise, wouldn't Pardo end up offending every one of the Flame-Chasers?

--------------

Soon, Mei found Pardo—or rather, Pardo hadn't even attempted to hide. After all, she was running a shop, and it would be bad if the owner was unavailable!

However, while Pardo enthusiastically promoted a clearance sale of treasures from years ago, Mei's focus landed on one particular item. It matched Raven's description perfectly.

Mei's gaze sharpened as she calmly said, "There is indeed something I'm interested in among these items, this golden pendant. It's quite special."

Pardo immediately lit up and began her sales pitch.

"Wow, Mei, your taste is impeccable! This pendant was one of the top-selling items back in the day. I had to debate for ages before keeping this last one!"

She tried to highlight its rarity and uniqueness.

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yes, yes! Just like they say, it's all about fate. The first impression really matters—"

"I recently promised Raven to help her find a lost pendant, a golden one with a blue gemstone. It looks exactly like this one."

"Uh… great taste! Fantastic taste! I never expected Raven to like this design too, hahaha~"

"Hmm, what a coincidence."

Mei nodded slightly, her violet eyes locking onto Pardo's fidgeting figure.

Pardo… was sweating profusely.

Yet she refused to back down. She offered to sell the pendant at a steep discount, insisting it must be sold.

Just as Mei was pondering how to negotiate with this greedy cat, an inexplicable voice pulled her away.

"...It's you. You've finally arrived."

"Mei!! Don't scare me like that!"

Pardofelis's voice can be heard fading away, as Mei's conscious went else where.

[Pardo: Is this a scam??]

[Wow, one is forcing a sale, and the other is running a scam. Let's see who's more skilled!]

[So… was Aponia waiting for Mei?]

--------------

"Turns out it was Pardo who took the pendant. So her 'restocking' was…" Theresa frowned slightly as she considered.

"Indeed, Pardo has a habit of taking things conveniently. I wonder if she's improved since," Luo Mo nodded in agreement.

"Do you think she has?"

"I don't think so," Luo Mo replied without hesitation.

"…Why? I'd like to hear your reasoning."

While Theresa also thought Pardo might be linked to a recent string of thefts on campus, she was curious about his opinion.

"…Because last time, she came to my room to restock." Luo Mo sighed.

"…"

Theresa was speechless. Couldn't this person act a little more professional? Wasn't she supposed to be a Flame-Chaser? Or had Schicksal failed to provide sufficient funding?

"No need to worry about the cat—uh, I mean Pardo. Her behavior is tied to her survival instincts from before. Stealing was her way of life, unlike now. She probably didn't take anything too important…"

Luo Mo coughed twice, expressing his satisfaction with Pardo. At least she was reliable when called upon and always delivered in voiceovers.

Don't underestimate this, it's tough to manage Flame-Chaser voiceovers.

"She just took a few shiny marbles I confiscated from the kids. Thinking about it now, I can't even return them… Other than that, it's mostly unimportant stuff," Theresa said with a helpless shake of her head.

A penchant for theft—what could she say? It was rare to encounter someone older than her, and now, even her age advantage was gone.

------------

In the pitch-black darkness, Mei finally understood what Raven had described—the sensation of being in a cage.

The surroundings were engulfed in darkness, with what felt like invisible pillars towering around her. Without the permission of the space's owner, it seemed impossible to leave.

"Come closer to me, visitor," a voice echoed.

"The answers you seek lie here."

The mysterious voice continued, unhurried and filled with kindness and compassion. It was almost like the voice of a holy being, yet paradoxically, it came from this unseen abyss.

"There's no need to rush… Here, no one will urge you to move forward."

"You may take your time to traverse the path that lies before you."

Following the path ahead, Mei walked on.

The road stretched endlessly through the silent night—there were no lights, no railings.

No one hurried her, yet a faint sense of anxiety and unease lingered in Mei's heart.

What did this person want?

Finally, she arrived at the figure's presence. Through the dark barrier, Mei gazed inward.

A faint silhouette stood within, its pale, pristine hands clasped before it.

"Stranger, may I ask for your name?"

"Raiden Mei."

Without hesitation, Mei gave her name, as if the answer bypassed her conscious thought entirely.

"(Huh? That's strange… why did I…)"

"Mei. Such a warm name… It's a pleasure to meet you."

"…"

"And you… who are you?"

Mei had realized she hadn't answered of her own will.

Mental manipulation… could it really be this powerful?

"... Please forgive me, Mei. I cannot answer your question yet," the figure said sincerely. Every word she spoke seemed to compel trust—not through logic or reason, but through an unexplainable force.

"To answer would only deepen your confusion or lead to misunderstandings… something I do not wish for. So please believe me, neither I nor this prison bear you any ill will."

"…"

Mei couldn't speak. Yet, a part of her heart inexplicably began to believe those words.

But… why? The thought flickered briefly through her mind.

"Ah… look, there's a hint of doubt in your expression again. But even more so, there's the exhaustion this journey has brought you."

"You need a place to rest, a corner where you can pause, and a friend to share your burdens…"

(This… feels strange…)

(My instincts tell me this woman before me is dangerous. Yet… I can't help but want to believe her. What is this…?)

"It's all right, Mei…"

"I understand… for now, there is still a wall that stands between us."

"(She… knows what I'm thinking?)"

Mei clenched her teeth, but it didn't change anything.

"... As I said, there's no need to rush. Here, no one will urge you to move forward."

"The sands of time will wear down the walls; and after that, gentle sunlight will dispel the shadows between us."

"Ah, as I thought… for you, its burden is still too heavy…"

"It's all right, Mei. Relax… listen to my words and close your eyes…"

"Imagine… an endless grassland with a gentle breeze passing through… Release all your stress, slowly, slowly, as you close your eyes…"

"You've fallen asleep—"

Abruptly, Mei opened her eyes. What she saw first was Pardofelis' tense expression and the pendant tightly clenched in her own hand.

The warm-toned hall came into view, orange light spilling into every corner. It was cozy and soothing, banishing the chill from her body entirely.

Just as promised, her exhaustion was gone.

But the chaos in her heart deepened. The mysteries seemed even harder to untangle. She needed to ask others, gather more information to solve the puzzle.

------------

"So this… is what they call mental manipulation…"

Kiana froze for a moment, completely baffled by Mei's actions and Aponia's strange behavior.

Why was Mei unable to move from the very beginning? What kind of power was this?

It was entirely beyond comprehension. Compared to Mobius' venomous, snake-like danger lurking in the shadows, or Kalpas' overt, earth-shattering destructiveness, Aponia's danger was invisible, intangible—a cage woven from her words before you even realized it.

Her actions bore no malice, yet they exuded the deepest sense of foreboding. In that instant, Kiana seemed to understand why both Kalpas and Mobius harbored such deep fear toward Aponia.

In reality, during their brief encounter, Aponia had appeared to be a gentle and delicate older sister.

"No… not all forms of mental manipulation are like this. To reach this level… only Aponia could do it," Fu Hua explained, shaking her head.

"But this is just… why? Isn't this way too insane?"

Bronya's small mouth opened slightly in shock.

"Insane? Hah—well, Aponia is the third-ranked among the Thirteen Flame-Chasers. Her position represents not just her ability, but also her strength. Against humanity, she's practically unbeatable," the Herrscher of Sentience said with arms crossed, half-boasting and half-explaining.

The Flame-Chasers were strong, and she took pride in being among them. Senti was equally proud of the strength of the Flame-Chasers —steadily holding her place as an unshakable force.

"The third… then what about Elysia!" Kiana suddenly exclaimed, recalling Elysia's self-introduction as the second-ranked Flame-Chaser. If Elysia's strength was on par with Aponia's, then she must also be overwhelmingly powerful. But Aponia had effortlessly overpowered Mei…

"She certainly deserves her title as deputy leader. In fact, before Kevin's rise, Aponia was undoubtedly the strongest among us," Fu Hua admitted with a nod, revealing secrets only those from that era would know.

"One day, we'll surpass her," Kiana said earnestly.

Now they understood the terrifying strength of mental manipulation, and indirectly, the significance of Elysia's rank.

-------------

Mei sought out Eden and Sakura to learn more about Aponia. While she gained insight into Aponia's enigmatic and dangerous nature, she still couldn't find a safe way to approach her domain.

"Mysterious yet dangerous, gentle…" was how Eden described Aponia.

During her conversation with Sakura, however, Mei was once again pulled into that abyssal realm, into the deepest depths.

This time, the encounter was even stranger. Unlike the outright danger posed by Mobius and Kalpas, Aponia's approach remained soft-spoken, considerate, and apologetic.

The problem was that Mei found herself unable to stray from Aponia's line of thought. Her questions and ideas were all laid bare before Aponia.

This time, Aponia started with a simple question, asking about Mei's favorite animals. Mei could only obediently respond.

This deepened Mei's sense of Aponia's danger and strengthened her determination to find her own way to meet her.

Thus, she sought out the one person who seemed to know everything—Elysia.

---

"Oh my, did you meet Aponia?"

Elysia smiled gently, her features as delicate as a painting, radiating warmth beyond words.

"Just look at your expression now. You want to go back there, don't you? You want to see her again. Those complex, intense feelings are practically spilling out of you," she teased.

"So… the deep end—are they part of Aponia's powers as a MANTIS?"

"Ah, no, not quite," Elysia replied lightly. "As I've mentioned before, the Elysian Realm is a space constructed from the memories of the Flame-Chasers. Thirteen flowing consciousnesses, intertwined, weaving this vast and brilliant world."

"But some of those memories… some are simply too vivid and intense, so much so that they don't need to merge with others' perceptions to exist."

"The deep end you experienced are an example of that—a domain born entirely from Aponia's own memories.

"Rather than calling it the deep end, it's more accurate to call it Aponia's inner world."

She concluded brightly, her insight proving her worth as the second-ranked Flame-Chaser.

"Eden mentioned you could help me reach the abyssal depths," Mei said.

"Oh my, Mei… what a bold thing to say," Elysia remarked with a hint of surprise, her eyes curving into crescents and her smile practically overflowing.

"After me and Mobius, now you want to step into Aponia's heart too? I didn't expect you to be such a dangerous girl."

Her gaze lifted slightly, stopping at just the right angle.

There was nothing there—except Mei's horns.

"Huh?" Mei looked at her, confused.

"Mm-hmm~"

Elysia's smile deepened, the meaning behind it self-evident.

"You..."

Mei clenched her fists and glared at Elysia. Of course, Elysia, not one to back down, playfully countered.

"Let me think... Wouldn't this be considered... a callback to earlier foreshadowing?~"

"..."

She chuckled, her laughter as radiant as blooming flowers.

Indeed, this tied perfectly with the recording from before. After all, how could such a thing serve no purpose?

"..." (Steady breathing)

"Hmm...?" (Curious, intrigued)

"....." (Breathing slightly heavier)

"Oh...!" (Astonished)

"...." (Breath quickening, body trembling)

"...Wow... This is... completely different from what I imagined!"

"...Have you touched enough?!"

Mei, looking slightly annoyed, glared at Elysia, who had just withdrawn her hand from Mei's horn, rubbing her palms in satisfaction and curiosity.

(TL/N: I recommend watching the game scene in YouTube, then you will all understand more. Just type "Elysia touch Mei's horn")