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

The world doesn't need Karen, but Otto needs Karen!

[This reminds me of—no matter the cost…]

"A rational villain... a very standard and fitting description."

"The mantle...successor?"

Karen sighed, her gaze involuntarily sweeping over the faces of the people Otto had mentioned.

Then she had to admit that these people all had qualities that she greatly admired, or rather, commonalities.

Therefore, she was also closer to Kiana, Theresa, and Durandal.

“But you’re not included, are you, Otto…”

Karen's eyes held a complex expression, her heart churning with emotion.

Why…

Why is it that even though they were your closest comrades from the beginning and even the end, you can't include yourself in their group now?

Even knowing that the world doesn't need Karen's brave heart to beat again, you still chose to bet everything on it?

Was it all worth it?

...

"A rational... villain?"

Vilvi stroked her chin with one hand, the two words lingering on her lips, feeling...somewhat familiar?

"Isn't that a perfect description of you? Stop looking, it's you, Vera Weil~"

Mebius chuckled. Her clothes were rather tight, trying her best to show off her graceful figure, although she and Vervière were still in different weight classes.

"Hiss... Don't slander me, I'm not extremely evil right now."

Wilvi puffed out her cheeks and looked at the other person with dissatisfaction.

She didn't like that kind of compliment; she preferred to be called... the Great Inventor? Wait, never mind, I won't steal her nickname.

Let's choose her magician; she definitely won't mind.

"Whether she's extremely evil or not... what does it matter to you? What you did wasn't something she did alone. Before she even came out, weren't you already a 'normal' person?"

Mebius said with a smile, but his words contained malice.

This gave Verviel a headache, and she couldn't help but retort, "And what about you? Aren't you?"

"Rationality? Do you think... I'm still rational when I'm conducting experiments? Infinity is what I'm pursuing."

A manic glint appeared in Möbius's eyes; her dangerous, serpentine pupils gave off a madman vibe.

"Haha, how about it?"

"..."

"You almost fooled me, but in the end, you might not do anything as outrageous as Otto. You still care about others."

Vervi breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the other person with apprehension.

"Oh dear, you, my true self, are so boring—tsk tsk,"

Mebius shook his head regretfully, then left in disappointment...and left.

Before Velvi could react, she stared blankly at the other person, then jumped up.

"Huh? What do you mean?!"

"Speak clearly to me!"

...

"—Look, the first person who wants to settle scores with me is already very close."

Otto gave a look that was hard to decipher—it was a smile—as he glanced at the blond knight who had already arrived.

The clouds and mist completely dissipated, and he returned to reality. Memories are just memories; he was about to embrace her new life.

Durandal was glaring angrily at Otto.

Otto, as always, looked at her, his last student.

"Welcome, my dear friend despite the age gap, the foremost S-rank Valkyrie of Destiny."

Otto put aside his lingering thoughts of the past and began to face the present, the future he had prepared for.

So, with arms outstretched and a warm smile, they welcomed them.

Durandal naturally came to get to the bottom of things; she had so much to ask him about his thoughts and that plan.

She needs to ask the other person—to destroy the present, and then choose the past again…

What does this mean?

Otto stated that if we view history and the past as records on a magnetic tape, then reality is that special pointer.

But what would happen if we kept this current pointer and forcibly moved it to the past?