"Oh dear, what a pity. I thought my little doll could keep Mei company for a while longer." In the silent, empty night sky, Elysia's sigh echoed softly.
As the girl murmured, the quiet starry expanse seemed to finally awaken from its slumber. With a splash, a massive, beautiful ray leaped from the water's surface, soaring towards the clear starry sky. After tracing a captivating arc, the stars themselves seemed to light up in response.
And at that moment, Elysia sat upon the ray's broad back, dangling her legs, her expression full of regret.
Clearly, everything happening in the Elysian Realm had unfolded precisely before her eyes from the very beginning. Yet, for some reason, she hadn't intervened.
However, the regret quickly vanished from Ely's eyes. Smiling, she tilted her head back, gazing up at the clear, bright stars.
"Hey, Ren~ Actually, I have twelve more little dolls like that one. If you want one, I can give you one too, you know~"
The starry sky watched her in silence, offering no reply.
Yet, the silence didn't deter Ely. She leaned back, lying fully on the ray's broad back. The massive Apocalypse-class Honkai Beast seemed to sense her thoughts, obediently rolling over and carrying her higher.
"Wow, so high, so high~" The vast night sky carried the girl's joyful voice, like a princess confined to a castle stepping into a blooming garden for the first time.
After soaring around, the ray reached the apex of the space.
Compared to the shimmering sea below, this place was pure emptiness. The myriad stars felt so close, within reach if one simply stood up.
"Hey now, Ren, don't be shy! This is Elysia's one-of-a-kind gift, you know~" Her finger traced through the air, and pale pink magical light gathered at her fair fingertips. Within the hazy glow, Fairy Ely, hailing from paradise, rested peacefully with closed eyes.
"..." Faced with the girl's incessant chatter, a sigh inevitably escaped into the air.
A star fell from the sky, igniting a spark in the night. Golden motes of light gradually spread, coalescing into a human figure.
"I feel... you talk even more than I imagined," Ren said, frowning slightly, his eyes filled with helplessness.
In truth, that was quite an understatement. During their time alone, he had been subjected to Elysia's verbal barrage almost constantly.
Whether it was her experiences, hobbies, or opinions about her companions, Ely would meticulously recount everything in detail. She even tirelessly shared stories she had heard during her travels.
In just a few short days, it felt like she had spoken more than Ren had in the past six months combined.
"Hearing such an assessment from you truly hurts my feelings. What I've told you are merely insignificant little episodes from Elysia's life," Ely pouted upon hearing Ren's words, appearing quite aggrieved.
"You were the one who didn't believe in the light of humanity back then and made a wager with me. Now, I'm simply describing my past, fulfilling our agreement."
Finishing her sentence, she even dabbed at the corner of her eye, wiping away non-existent tears.
Ren was speechless. Just as he was about to explain he wasn't truly annoyed, he saw Ely narrow her eyes, looking at him with a sly smile.
Shaking his head slightly, he decided not to say more. If she wanted to talk, let her.
Strolling with Elysia amidst the stars, Ren's eyes subconsciously drifted towards the sea surface below. Crossing the spatial barrier, his gaze landed within the Elysian Realm.
Before entering the realm, he hadn't expected the answer he sought would be a wager, nor that the person he made the wager with would be Elysia herself.
After all, the river of time had flowed for a full fifty thousand years. This rough agreement had gradually faded from his memory over that vast expanse of time. Only after personally entering the Elysian Realm did he remember that, besides Kiana, another life existed in this world.
"The stars and moon sent forth the Daughter of God; she wished to become humanity's companion."
She was the girl from the stars, a flawless treasure gifted to humanity by the divine, and also humanity's very first Herrscher – the Herrscher of Origin.
"Elysia. That's the name I chose for myself. How does it sound?" Ely tilted her head, looking at Ren.
The playfulness and teasing faded from her, leaving only a faint yearning for acceptance.
Yes, fifty thousand years ago, Ren didn't know Ely's name. Back then, he was still trapped in the cage of Imaginary Space, never imagining a girl named Elysia would appear in the world.
"It's very nice," he replied softly.
Ely immediately narrowed her eyes, smiling happily.
"Oh, right, Ren! I've actually already met the 'Moon', you know~" As if remembering something, Ely lowered her voice, feigning mystery.
"How is that possible? The river of time isn't so easily traversed. Moreover, you are currently trapped within this small Elysian Realm..."
However, before Ren could finish, Elysia, anticipating his reaction, laughed triumphantly and softly spoke the name.
"The moonlight chased by gods, the girl pausing on the shores of time."
"Kiana."
...
BOOM!
As a violent explosion roared from the battlefield, the corpses of countless viral Honkai Beasts were instantly flung into the air. High temperatures and scorching heat swept over them, tearing them into irreparable fragments.
When the dust settled, Raiden Mei slowly emerged from the wreckage. Her hands were stained with blood, her clothes torn and damaged from the fight.
Fairy Ely's death had left her wide open, putting her at a disadvantage against the tide of monsters. Fortunately, her own strength was considerable, allowing her to hold on desperately until the inexplicable explosion moments ago shattered the monsters' formation, enabling her escape.
Was that support from the Flame-Chasers?
Casually dispatching the remaining Honkai Beasts, Mei let out a long breath. Stepping out from the debris, her gaze fell involuntarily on a massive mechanical cannon nearby.
"Miss Mei, are you alright?" A woman wearing a mechanical hat waved at her from atop an armed vehicle.
"Vill-V? Thanks for the support." Mei wasn't curious about how the massive war machine got there; as the head of engineering, it wouldn't be strange for Vill-V to produce anything.
What made her slightly curious was how Vill-V knew she was in danger. And how had her injuries recovered so quickly?
Regardless, Vill-V had indeed helped her escape. Coupled with forging the Seven Thunders for her earlier, Mei found herself trusting Vill-V a little more.
"Mm, let's head back first. Monsters haven't just appeared in the town; many never-before-seen Honkai Beasts have emerged in the garden too. It seems the enemy plans to wipe everyone out."
Vill-V looked at Mei, her expression complex. "I know there's some suspicion between you and the Flame-Chasers, but now is not the time for doubt. The enemy has launched their offensive. Cooperation is essential."