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

...

"But things didn't go as planned. Even though Vera didn't perish in Fate's final counterattack, she still couldn't escape the constraints of lifespan,"

"She was conspicuous in the waves, but she didn't make a ripple. Time eventually froze her there, not giving her a longer future like a flower."

"Vera...she's dead."

Karen sighed silently, her eyes filled with sorrow as she watched the flashback footage.

Even though she was the victor in that battle and the price she paid was relatively small, the absence of many familiar faces inevitably made her somewhat sad.

Perhaps it is fate, and destiny has already revealed a glimpse of itself.

Vera did not live as long as her. Instead, as her most loyal protector, she passed away peacefully in her sleep that winter. Miracles do not happen without reason, but she was already considered a lucky person of that era, having experienced the vicissitudes of war and finally dying peacefully in her old age.

So Karen could only sigh. She just hadn't expected Otto to put his name before hers.

But here, in this world, she could only represent Vera, and only Vera. Perhaps in the end, her slightly cloudy eyes remembered something, but she could no longer speak.

“Otto… Vera…”

...

It's another flashback, but this time it's after the battle is over.

Otto Apocalypse stood alone in the hall of the Cathedral of Destiny.

The crowd outside the church sang and danced, celebrating the victory that belonged to the people.

With the support of the people, he eliminated Lisa Shaniat and her puppet bishop Marcel Apocalypse.

It ended the chaos and unified the mandate of heaven.

Today, everyone praises his great achievements.

He was praised for carrying on Karen's legacy and cleansing away a century of decay.

To recreate the universe and reshape destiny.

In everyone's eyes, he was a success, a great man, a hero.

No one thought of him as a weakling anymore, and no one thought of him as a clown anymore.

...except for himself.

He knew he was merely following in the footsteps of the saintess.

He knew he only wanted to change this imperfect world.

Transform it into the way she wants it to be.

But... is that enough?

If he did this, Otto Apocalypse's life would be complete.

Is this how you treat Kallen Kaslana, who is already dead?

The silent words struck his heart, and the guilt and remorse in his heart made it almost impossible for him to breathe. He fantasized about changing any point in the past, and prayed to change the saintess's inevitable fate of death.

But only now, after her death, has he grasped the power that could truly change everything.

It's really... ironic.

If he had chosen to follow the saint's path and the black box back then... perhaps the world now would be the priest's timeline.

[The clown? That mask?]

Although you're not the Joker, at least not now... but that might change later.

I'm starting to understand Otto's mindset... When someone important dies, it's not something that can be resolved with just a word of understanding. At least Otto had the will to bring them back to life...

Otto cannot accept a future without Karen; his guilt and sorrow only grow with each passing day, fueling his despair.

He remembered that day fourteen years ago.

He remembered that forlorn figure.

She is a hero.

A tragic, weak, and unlucky hero.

She once transformed into a phantom thief, robbing the rich to help the poor.

Yet they could only stand alone against the ugliness of the powerful and wealthy.

She once fought hard to take away Pandora's box.

Yet, unknowingly, it spreads disaster to every corner of the world.

Finally, her eyes, filled with the determination to prove her point even in death.

It ripped a huge hole out of his heart.

On the other side of time and space, fate seemed to have played a cruel joke on her as well.

By a twist of fate, her last figure on the execution ground...

It has become a spiritual totem that will be remembered for generations to come.