Honkai Impact: Starting from Wandering with Kiana

Theresa took out a beer, gulped down half a bottle in one go, and then wiped her mouth with her sleeve.

"Yeah, I know, but so what? I can't save Kiana, and I can't save anyone else. I have nothing left now..."

Friends, family, career... after the great collapse, everything turned to ashes and scattered with the wind.

I'm still alive only to fulfill the promise I made to Cecilia.

"..."

The bottle's logo... is bitter melon juice... Theresa no longer drinks bitter melon juice, and instead, she only drinks alcohol...

Chapter 287 A World Existing in the Past

After watching Bronya and the others quietly from a distance for a while, Theresa left.

The Honkai creatures of Changkong City had all rioted and were marching towards ME Corporation. Theresa was worried about the safety of the Fire Moths, so she rushed over immediately. Now that the danger had passed, she was naturally leaving.

Daylight broke... and a cold wind was howling...

In the dawn light, this silent world launched another assault on the dead spots, sunlight slanting through the gaps in the spots and illuminating the earth.

Although the light was brief, disappearing in just a few minutes, darkness returned the world to chaos.

But it is precisely because this brief glimmer of light still exists that the survivors, like moths drawn to a flame, chase after the light called hope, even if they are ultimately burned to ashes by its glow…

Sitting on the elevated platform, Jiu Xiao looked towards the place where St. Freya Academy was located in his memory, and his thoughts drifted away.

There are only three real people in this world. I am one of them, Penglai Temple Nine Heavens is another, and now the remaining one has awakened...

No, since she still chooses to remain in this dream world, how can that be considered awakening...?

Oh, that's not right... There aren't only three real beings in this world, there's a fourth...

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Penglai Temple's Nine Heavens consciousness subsided, and he was enveloped in a bizarre and fantastical dream...

His vision was completely black, his body was weak and powerless, and fatigue and drowsiness filled Penglai Temple Jiuxiao's mind.

"Am I dead... or is this just another boring, empty dream...?"

"I'm so tired... I'll take a rest first..."

Penglai Temple's Nine Heavens gave up resisting; perhaps it would be best to just sleep like this forever...

But a voice, both unfamiliar and familiar, echoed in her mind.

"Don't sleep, or you'll end up like me, never to wake up again..."

Penglai Temple's Nine Heavens opened its eyes and looked in the direction of the sound.

The girl who had been sleeping in the dream opened her eyes at this moment.

It was oppressive, yet hollow and devoid of any spark of inspiration, filled only with endless sorrow...

Kiana Awakens

Penglaiji Jiushou revealed a bleak smile, "It's you... Kiana... You've finally woken up?"

“I am not awake, but you are asleep… but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you must stay awake, Penglai Temple Jiuxiao, or you will be stuck here forever.”

"Staying here...does that mean dying?"

"...It is not death, but it is not life either. This is the boundary between life and death, an illusion that does not exist anywhere in the world."

"Just a fleeting dream, destroyed by me but created by you..."

"What I created...?"

"You can't understand it now, but one day you will understand its meaning... It's the tragedy of an era, and the love between two people..."

“You’re right, I don’t understand anything yet. I don’t even know who I am or how I got here…” Houraiji Kyushou scratched his head in distress, then looked at Kiana with hope.

"You've been here for so long, can you tell me the answer?"

"Answer...? I don't know... There is no answer here, nor is there any need for an answer."

"Then what are you waiting for here?"

"Waiting... Jiuxiao, Penglai Temple Jiuxiao, your arrival surprised and delighted me, but... it no longer matters to me. Atonement or redemption... it's all meaningless now."

Kiana looked up, gazing through the walls, through the coastline… and into the distant heavens.

"The changes of the times cannot be reversed... This place is just a symbol left over from the past, and only those who live in the past cannot let go of it."

All I can hope for now is to lie beside her forever in eternal sleep…that's all.”

"Who is she? Mei?" Houraiji Kyusho asked.

Kiana turned her gaze back to Penglai Temple and chuckled softly.

"Heh, you're really greedy... always wanting to understand everything. But there's no time... She'll be back soon, back to them, and take them away..."

"No... I still have so many things I want to ask you..."

"Go back, or everything will be over..."

Kiana patted Houraiji Jiuxiao, banishing her from the dream. Then she looked back into the distance, towards where Jiuxiao was; she knew he could see and hear her…

"Those words were also for you... That's enough. This world doesn't need salvation... I'm the same way... Take them and leave."

Jiuxiao looked at Kiana and slowly spoke a few words.

"I do not want!"

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"Ouch...it hurts..."

When Penglai Temple's Nine Heavens opened its eyes with a painful groan, it found itself facing the familiar train ceiling.

Just like the scene when I first opened my eyes...

This time, however, it wasn't a Houmu robot beside her, but...

When she woke up, Penglai Temple Jiuxiao found that Jiuxiao and Xier were all gathered around her bed, watching her anxiously.

Upon hearing this, Penglai Temple's Jiuxiao felt a warmth in his heart and revealed a happy, simple smile.

But Penglai Temple's Jiuxiao's laugh stunned everyone. His laugh was so silly, could he have injured his brain?

"You're finally awake. How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"

Jiuxiao saw the "dream" of Penglai Temple Jiuxiao, so she knew that she was alright, but Seele and Bronya did not.

The two of them bombarded Penglai Temple with questions, fearing that she had suffered some unknown injury and become mentally impaired.

"What are you laughing at? Have you injured your head again?" "Do you remember who you are? Does anything hurt anywhere on your body?"

"Big sister, you're asking too hastily!"

"Sorry, let me ask you again slowly, do you remember..."

"Uh...no, no, I'm fine...I was just too tired and fell asleep..."

Penglai Temple Nine Heavens quickly interrupted Bronya's barrage of questions, initially feeling somewhat overwhelmed by Seele and Bronya's enthusiastic questioning...

"It's good that you're alright. You've been unconscious for a whole day. Do you want anything to eat?"

Jiuxiao brought over a cup of water and a plate of food, handing them to Penglai Temple Jiuxiao. Then he brought over another plate of food and offered it to Bronya, but Seele took it instead.

Jiuxiao: "Bronya thinks it's because of her that you were injured in the battle with Mei. She's been worried about your injuries for a long time. After returning from Me Company, she stands by your bedside and prays for you whenever she has time..."

Seele: "Yes, my sister has been so worried about you lately that she's been restless and can't even eat."

Chapter 288 We Are Not Afraid of Sacrifice

"Cough cough cough, please stop talking..."

Bronya coughed lightly, her face slightly flushed from what Jiuxiao and Seele had said.

"Now that you're awake, let me briefly explain the situation to you."

Mei's attack rendered many of our plans useless, but thankfully we managed to salvage one production line, so it wasn't a complete loss..."

"So where are we now? Why are we all on a train...?"

Penglai Temple Nine-Sky pointed to the carriage, and through the carriage window, one could see many more people boarding the train one after another.

"Although we wiped out all the Honkai creatures in Changkong City a few days ago, it doesn't mean we're safe now."

The base has been exposed, and Raiden Mei could attack us at any moment. We must move to a safe place before then.

Jiuxiao explained to Penglai Temple Jiuxiao that she had also seen her dream, so according to Kiana, Raiden Mei could attack them again at any time.

It's certain that Mei can't defeat Jiuxiao. But if Mei launches a sneak attack, Jiuxiao will be fine, but the rest of the Fire Moths will be in danger.

"Really... Oh right, I saw Kiana, she's awake!"

Penglai Temple Jiuxiao briefly recounted what he had seen in his dream to the few people present.