To create Honkai Impact 3rd in a world where Kallen exists.

"Raising a tiger is a recipe for disaster... I must never make such a mistake."

"I understand the law," the Law Master said softly, raising his hand to make the figures of the group disappear.

Fu Hua remained silent, lost in thought.

The question I just asked wasn't just directed at the other person, but also at myself.

Does she hate him?

It seems like hatred, yet it also seems like no hatred.

The memory of that sword wound still stings, just like the spear wound...

She had fought countless battles and faced death more than once, but the heart-wrenching betrayal still left her bewildered, so she remained silent.

...

"An immortal...?" Cangxuan Zhishu looked at Fu Hua with concern.

It knew that all the mistakes were its own fault. It should have known long ago that the immortal was not good at interpersonal communication, but it did not expect it to end up like that.

However, that plan was destined to cause Fu Hua to get into trouble.

"Do you... still remember Qing?"

Fu Hua asked the Herrscher of Knowledge, she didn't know which was right or wrong, but what she couldn't forget was the betrayal of that sword.

"Me?" The Herrscher of Knowledge pointed to herself, somewhat surprised.

"Ha—for you, it's an experience etched into your bones, an emotion you've felt. But for me, it's more like a story from a book I know by heart; I can't understand the emotions you feel."

"So, I don't feel sad or regretful at all."

It's clear that the Lawbringer of Knowledge is still stubborn.

"Oh, but someone told me that you should take your words the opposite way."

Fu Hua stared at her for a while, then said calmly.

"Hmph, you old relic, your life has been quite successful!"

...

Following the choice of those who abide by the laws of knowledge, the two arrived at Mount Taixu.

The mountain scenery is beautiful, and the ornaments are just as they were back then, like a reflection of five hundred years ago.

She picked up a feather, crimson red, the one she had once dropped.

"Otto's memories again," she muttered after closing her eyes and sensing them for a moment.

"...I really didn't like my old ways."

He glanced at Fu Hua meaningfully, then said, "Of course, I know you look down on me too."

"...I was worried about you."

"Worried about me? Haha—" The Herrscher of Knowledge chuckled, as if she had heard an amusing joke.

"I'm perfectly fine! I've never felt so good. For the first time since I woke up, I feel free: carefree and without any worries."

"I finally understand who I am: I am Fu Hua, it's that simple! This Mount Taixu is my hometown. Walking here, everything is so familiar, yet so new..."

"These feathers, these memories... they are all mine."

"This is what belonging feels like. I'm doing great!"

The Herald of Knowledge nodded with great satisfaction, completely unaware that Fu Hua sighed again beside him.

This child is beyond saving; it completely proves that the illness is quite serious. He has completely turned into Fu Hua's shape.

[Didn't like your previous style? Have you considered that you were a completely different person back then?]

"You...really like Mount Taixu?"

Fu Hua looked at the other person with some hesitation, and then asked.

"No, no, who would like that awful place? The transportation is inconvenient, and the technology is underdeveloped."

"But didn't you say that's your home? A sense of belonging..."

Fu Hua tilted her head and asked in confusion.

"Hehe, not anymore. Home is too quiet and boring. St. Freya looks pretty good. Everyone there is talented. It's very interesting!"

The Law Master, his expression somewhat excited, said...

Here, she won't face discrimination because she's a Herrscher, and interesting things happen every day. What could be better than this place?

"Hmm? Is Xiao Shi trying to say... home is wherever Fu Hua is~"

Alicia found their bickering antics quite amusing, and she even considered joining in!

But Mei doesn't welcome me, and neither does Shi. What should I do?

"It's more like it is for you," the Herrscher of Knowledge said with a sneer. She had already tested Alicia and found out that she had her original strength and was not easy to deal with.

"Hmm~, of course, home is where your companions are. Looks like we're on the same page. How about you come stay for a few days?"

A hint of a smile flashed in Alicia's eyes. She wasn't entirely without experience in dealing with tsundere girls.

Once they're here, they're not leaving. She has to carefully study how they differ from Hua.

"No, no, there's no need for that."

The Lawbringer's mind went blank, sensing an inexplicable danger. "Although the old antique family is a bit poor and has few possessions, but..."

"You can go anytime you want." Fu Hua's lips twitched.

The other person was really rude. She didn't lose any furniture, so it's alright.

"I was just saying it; why would I want to come here? At least with the old antique, I feel an unimaginable sense of security."

...

"Fulfill your marriage vows with me. You know I... won't let you die."

Deep within a dimly lit dungeon lies the imprisoned saint of destiny—Karen.

Just within Otto's reach, separated by only a wall,

"...Destiny doesn't care about my life or death, nor does it care about my relationship with you. If I agree to your request, then I've become a hostage used by the bishop to control the Caslan family."

Even in prison, Karen was somewhat thin, but her upper body remained ramrod straight.

"...right."

Otto certainly knew,

He knew everything, even meticulously analyzed the interests of all those involved in the entire affair, but he was too weak right now.

So much so that... all we could do was watch helplessly as Karen teetered on the brink of death.

He could neither persuade the other party nor appease the higher-ups.

He can't do anything.

"But if that marriage contract could be just a blank piece of paper back then, it can be now, and it can be in the future..."

Otto couldn't help but say, his voice growing increasingly weak, "The important thing is... you're alive, Karen."

He knew her so well that he could guess what she was going to say next.

But we still hope for a miracle.

“Living is perhaps important…” Karen said softly, a rare look of bewilderment in her eyes. “But betraying one’s own heart, playing the role of a pawn, is that really living? That kind of living is no more noble than death.”

Otto had a wry smile on his lips, but in his heart he could only sigh, "Just as I thought."

But it's impossible; Karen cannot die.

He wouldn't allow her to die.

Karen shouldn't be the one who died.

He had made countless mistakes in the past, but this time, it was to save her life. Wasn't that more noble than any other time?

Otto's fingers gripped the cold iron bars; the harsh reality of fate had shattered his pride.

"Karen, I understand... I understand everything... but I won't let you die, no matter what it takes, I will never!"

Beyond the darkness, Karen suddenly smiled softly.

"Thank you—my great inventor."

Silence, and more silence. There was so much more they could say to each other.

But beneath that wall, everything was meaningless; Karen wouldn't agree to the deal, and neither would Otto.

Finally, Otto poured Karen a full glass of red wine, the very bottle Karen had given him, and then left.

"Perhaps in some other world..."

Karen's murmur came from behind, but no one could hear her anymore.

How pathetic, even he has moments of such humiliation.

[Thus, for five hundred years, Otto's image has never left the wine glass; whenever he fills a glass with red wine and sways it, watching the faint image of his friend appear on the surface of the liquid.]

Karen's ideals were too lofty, too pure to be tainted in the slightest, and could not be shaken. But for Otto, all he desired was... Karen to live.

That was her wish: "Come with me to save the world, my great inventor."

This was a lifelong regret for him—not having the ability to do those things back then. Therefore, from that time on, sitting atop the clouds and firmly grasping power, he would never again allow himself to be as powerless as he had been then.

At this moment, at least no one was judging him anymore.

Faced with the torrent of destiny, even Otto could only helplessly pray for a miracle that would never happen.

After all, he wasn't the main character, at least not at that time.

“That’s Otto. He’s always been this way, he’s never changed. For him, Karen is everything.”

The Law Master didn't utter any more harsh words; she simply said in a helpless tone,

"You probably don't know what happened after that, except for this guy, of course." She glanced at Luo Mo and continued.

"Otto made a deal with someone to save Kallen, releasing the Honkai Beasts to disrupt the execution ground."