Honkai Impact 3rd, what should an ordinary player do at the start?

"But why must there be competition?"

"Isn't it possible to become friends with Jiang Cheng?"

Kiana's rebuttal still retained a naiveté befitting her age—so Mistelin merely pointed out the problem.

Do you think the distance between you and your loved one is appropriate for normal friendships?

"Isn't it?"

She raised her head, and a corner of her long, silvery-white hair was gently lifted by the wind.

The colors are excessively innocent and flawless, as clear as looking up at the sky.

Indeed, it was ignorance...

Even though Siegfried initially took him in under Tesla's pressure, he was a wild child who was completely undisciplined for a long time.

Looking into those clear and pure eyes, Mistelin was speechless for a moment. The words rolled around in her mouth three times, but she swallowed them back in the end.

How exactly did Siegfried deliver it?

Did she actually treat this guy like her own daughter?

He kept wondering about this question in his heart—even so, he had to make Kiana realize how harsh and unrealistic her life would be from now on.

"In short, you can understand it this way. Due to the discussions between Raiden Mei, Yae Sakura, and me, we will each confess to Jiang Cheng again to make up for Jiang Cheng's past psychological shadows and inner deficiencies. The same goes for you. You must think carefully about how to fight for your place and prove yourself."

"Your relationship with your sweetheart has gone far beyond that of normal friends. To maintain your status as lovers, there needs to be some competition. Even if you were the first person to be by your sweetheart's side, you've been separated for far too long."

"But……"

"—No buts!"

Mistelin's fingertips conjured a virtual hourglass filled with information, and a holographic image emerged in the trajectory of the falling sand—a scene from before when Kiana straddled Jiang Cheng's lap, intending to commit indecent acts. The silver-haired girl's stockings hooked around the boy's knees, and tears slid down her collarbone and into the depths of her collar.

The scene freezes on the moment Kiana violently tears at the dress she'd only worn once—the next thing that appears is her beautiful, gradient-colored eyes.

"Would ordinary friends be so strong? Or is this a traditional friendship etiquette passed down in the Kaslana family?"

"Deceiving yourself is useless unless you are willing to give up all physical contact with Jiang Cheng."

impossible……

This kind of thing can be confirmed without even needing an answer.

You could tell from those gently shimmering eyes.

Although it seems a bit like overcorrection, the shimmering colors are somewhat similar to tears, and what remains after the loss of innocence and romance is more confusion.

"Why……"

"Why is this happening?"

Even when I was with Mei in Changkong City, we only argued occasionally.

"Because we were all late."

Mistelin could only respond by shaking her head.

"Strictly speaking, we are both mistresses, both philanderers who destroy relationships."

……

……

……

The entry of latecomers to share the pie will inevitably cause conflicts and disputes. If we don't do this and let Jiang Cheng walk in first and face it, it will still explode.

Infidelity is something no one likes. Just as people love loyalty, they also hate betrayal.

Especially since this is the second time, if they don't choose to muddy the waters or use other methods, the final result might even be a direct fight.

Not just that previous battle where nothing was really fought.

It's to the point where they absolutely won't hold back.

If I hadn't pointed out the problems back then, Jiang Cheng would have had to face Raiden Mei and Yae Sakura instead.

Moreover, such competition is necessary; it is essential to get everyone involved and to allow everyone to carefully examine their own feelings.

Even so, pioneers like Raiden Mei definitely have an absolute advantage, at least far more than Kiana.

"Although there are few eliminations this time, it's not entirely nonexistent. It's just a bit milder compared to a bomb explosion and a chaotic free-for-all. After all, I personally proposed this, so I know best what the outcome will be."

"If you don't work hard enough, it's really possible that even your own spot will be taken by someone else."

Even if it may seem overly cold and cruel, it is the truth from Mistelin's heart.

Of course, not everyone can accept something like this.

Just like the girl at this moment—

"Could it be..."

"Can't things be more peaceful?"

"Why do you have to turn love into something that everyone has to fight for?"

……

……

……

Unintelligible. (The rest of the text appears to be gibberish and unrelated to the initial statement.)

Can not accept.

Kiana simply couldn't accept that this fight over love was a brutal struggle. Her own pursuit was being trampled on, so she clenched her fists and lashed out at the girl, unable to contain herself as she roared out—even though her outburst of anger seemed savage and crude, she simply couldn't stand it anymore.

Can something that lacks love, peace, happiness, and gentleness, and is closer to a brutal war than a romantic relationship, truly be called love?

Can?

Is it really possible?

Mistelin gazed at the pitiful girl who was bristling like a cat—her all-encompassing silver-purple gradient eyes met those wide-open, shattered blue eyes, with tears swirling within them. She dared not even blink, as if closing her eyes would cause the tears to fall from both sides.

Ahhh...

This must be really hard for Kiana to accept.

"But if it's peaceful... that's what Jiang Cheng and Mei were like in the beginning."

……

A life of mutual respect and harmony is indeed beautiful. Even now, the girl can still recall the scene she saw from the high-rise building before participating in the mission to assassinate Otto: Mei and Jiang Cheng embracing each other under the gentle, golden sunlight, their intertwined fingertips and their earnestness.

At first glance, upon closer inspection, and finally upon careful observation, each viewing reveals a different perspective. The initiative shifts from the seemingly assertive and serious young man who makes all the decisions to the silent and gentle young woman… In the end, however, one discovers that the two deeply respect each other.

Just looking at it makes me feel that there is still hope in this world, that this world is still beautiful, and that tomorrow's sunset will be very gentle, with wisps of light like shimmering gold.

Unfortunately, all of this beauty still retains a certain distance, and this distance leaves gaps that others can sneak into.

Whether it's Yae Sakura or myself... in reality, even without myself and Sakura, someone else would have gotten in.

As an ordinary person, Jiang Cheng can attract four people, but as a bishop and a prophet, he can attract even more.

Such a conservative, mild, and overly distant approach is not suitable for the present era.

Mistelin has no intention of exonerating herself or using any reason to justify her actions.

—That is, a mistress.

—It's like a cat that steals fish.

However, a crucial question must be raised: such an attractive and beautiful object, such a captivating city, will inevitably attract thieves if not properly preserved. Placing it at the perfect distance for appreciation will only give those with ulterior motives an opportunity to steal it.

Even if it's blindingly bright or hurts your body when you keep it close, you still have to hold it in your arms at all times.

That's how the world develops; what's best isn't necessarily what's suitable, but what survives is always what's suitable.

Simply facing it won't work.

Simply running away won't work either.

This competition is not an escape, nor is it an escape for anyone—even Jiang Cheng has only been given some time to sort out his feelings and think properly about how to treat the four girls. What was originally a helpless escape and a weak and gentle nature has been transformed into a true determination and awareness.

And ultimately, while such stories are beautiful and happy, they also...

"Beside Jiangcheng."

"—Then I wouldn't exist."

……

……

……

"What do you mean?"

Kiana didn't understand why this sentence suddenly came out.

It was neither a beginning nor an end, and seemed more like an exclamation than an answer.

She raised her head, hoping for an answer, but only met that seemingly unfathomable gaze—the pure and innocent girl seemed to have shattered her composure with her own hands, her gently clasped fingers no longer possessing their former gentleness, and her voice was unusually forceful for the first time.

she says.

"If there is no war and no struggle, we will not be able to get in, and we will not be able to stay by our loved ones' side... I don't want that, so even if it's selfish, we will fight for it."

"I don't want to be a bystander watching Jiang Cheng and other people's happiness. If you could tolerate that, then you wouldn't have pinned Jiang Cheng down when I went there."

"You don't want to compete because you think that as long as you don't compete, you will have a place by Jiang Cheng's side. You think that I have stirred up your happy and peaceful life and made everyone have to fight for it. But have you ever thought that love is not enough to go around? If you don't want to compete, you will only be eliminated."

That's how cruel it is.

It was just that cold.

It felt like returning to the time in Siberia, experiencing that biting cold wind all over again.

We must fight, we must battle, we must confront the Honkai Beasts—because the original name was given to us by our father because we pointed a gun at the Honkai Beasts.

This kind of constant, extremely busy work, the need to constantly focus one's attention, and the relentless competition with no room for rest, is something everyone hates, and even makes young girls feel nauseous.

This machine-like cruelty is the complete opposite of the warmth she felt when she was with the boy.

But no way.

Mistelin had no choice.

Even when one looks at this seemingly omniscient girl, the only response is the same powerless shake of the head—

"Of course I hate this kind of thing too. What I want to see is something beautiful and stable... but unfortunately my preferences don't really matter. Compared to the importance of Jiangcheng, I'd rather be a little selfish at this time."

……

……

……

There's nothing to say; this is selfishness, a human tendency to sacrifice others' happiness to achieve one's own desires, and to accept actions that cause others harm in order to make oneself happy.

Even before she met Jiang Cheng, and before she was changed, she would say—"Rather than understanding someone through preconceived notions, I'd rather experience things firsthand. Any suggestions?" How could a girl who had changed accept herself as an observer, someone who could only witness the happiness of others?

Even though they are at different levels of life, the way they are transcribed is completely different from human gestation and birth, and the essence of a girl is actually similar to that of a human.

Yes, even just watching from the sidelines is fine; I certainly enjoy the unexpected surprises.

"But I still really enjoy experiencing it firsthand."

"To create my own memories."

Her slender, soft fingertips gently pressed against her chest, savoring every moment, every minute, every second she spent with the boy—the corners of her lips gradually lifted into a smile that would make anyone feel happy, like the warm spring sunshine shining on a camellia.

The essence of the rational type is non-human; it has neither the inherent flaws of humanity nor, in some respects, is more extreme than human nature.

For this warmth, for this memory, and even more so for beloved Jiangcheng, the girl would do anything.

Not everything can be done.

Yes……

—It can do anything.

……