Of course, although the True Self appeared to be slacking off, that wasn't really the case.
The True Self was just preparing.
Like now.
"The Villain" gave a cold snort when she saw how calm and unbothered the True Self looked.
That eerie green mist began to swirl around her body again.
Then, she outright gave up fighting, letting Mei slash at her without resistance—yet she didn't suffer even the slightest injury.
"See that? The miracle you long for... it stands on my side."
A full display of "I'm invincible, do what you want" arrogance.
But usually, when a villain shows off like this, it's the perfect time for them to eat dirt.
The same trick doesn't work on a protagonist twice.jpg
Especially when—
"The Villain" kept mocking Mei, who once said, "I can't do anything," by repeatedly declaring, "I can do anything."
This is Honkai Impact 3rd, after all.
"The Villain" was practically waving a flag that said "defeat me."
Sure enough, in the next instant—
The dark green mist surrounding "The Villain" vanished into thin air.
"What?!"
Caught off guard, she was struck down by Mei with a flurry of slashes, her body pierced by the power of thunder.
The True Self calmly explained as "The Villain" hit the ground:
"No need to be so shocked, right? Against an external force in one's own consciousness... one can always do something."
"And besides—cutting is something I'm quite good at."
In short—
Member "Corruption" had just been removed from the group chat A Family of Mutual Harm and Hindrance by group admin "The True Self."
But even facing such an unfavorable situation, "The Villain" didn't panic.
Or rather, with her personality, she didn't even know what "panic" meant.
She quickly distanced herself from Mei, stabilized her stance,
Then summoned a tank called [Custom Armament: Model IX].
Surprisingly, it wasn't the [Anti-Kevin Armament] the others had been so fixated on...
Anyway, a battle vehicle built from a magician's hat paired with cannons—cool and slightly ridiculous—but somehow just right for Vill-V.
"Let's make this battle a little more boisterous, shall we?"
With her declaration, the tank's turrets erupted in a barrage of fire toward Mei. In an instant, the entire battlefield was shrouded in smoke.
The overwhelming shellfire made even Mei struggle to keep up. All she could do was dodge again and again.
Seeing this, "The Villain" grew even more smug.
"Alright, it's all over."
At that moment, the True Self finally stepped forward and joined the battle.
Clearly, this signaled the final showdown was near.
But before the climax, the True Self revealed something to "The Villain" and offered her a sincere apology.
It turned out that "The Villain" wasn't the embodiment of evil thoughts, but rather the embodiment of Vill-V's confidence and pride.
It's just that, in that era, saying "I can do anything" was itself seen as an "evil."
So what twisted that prideful, confident self into this?
Was it the long passage of fifty thousand years? Was it fifty thousand years of imprisonment?
Nope! It was all MiHoYo's fault!
cough cough
Okay fine, in the actual story, "The Villain" really was locked up for fifty thousand years and lost her mind.
So… maybe MiHoYo isn't to blame?
"What, are you trying to say…"
"The Villain" stared at the True Self, unable to bear this "I was the clown all along" trope.
So she spoke with biting sarcasm:
"I was actually a good person? I should raise my hands and repent in agony now?"
The players shared a similar unease.
Was MiHoYo about to forcibly redeem "The Villain" just to make it easier for Vill-V to board the ship?
Honestly, wouldn't that be kind of… wrong?
Fortunately, the plot didn't take a weird turn.
Or rather, as long as Vill-V, who could stand in for eight people, had other lovable personalities, whether "The Villain" got redeemed or not didn't really matter.
So, in the story—
The True Self Vill-V simply shook her head at "The Villain's" mocking tone.
"Of course not. Right now, you really are a villain."
"If I let any one talent grow unchecked, maybe I could've become a genius... or maybe, ended up walking down your path."
That line—if interpreted in a properly Vill-V (i.e. humblebraggy) way—
If I (the True Self) weren't slightly insecure, I'd totally have turned into a genius like you!
Though, no one really understood how "letting all flavors bloom" would've led her to "The Villain's" path...
Was she going to start the Dark Culinary World? And try to conquer the world with cuisine?
Would she need help from experts crafting legendary cooking tools?
The players felt their old-school anime instincts spark.
But back to the point.
"The Villain" expected a long-winded debate from the True Self.
Instead… she was met with flat rejection.
"The Villain" was instantly pissed. "...Are you done?"
"Mhm."
The True Self even answered sweetly: "The mistake I made… I'll be the one to bring it to an end."
"You, who [only believe in yourself]—and..."
"The Villain" cut in: "And you, who [don't believe in yourself]?"
"..."
The True Self paused in silence, then gently shook her head.
"That's not it… But let me show you in a more practical performance."
The moment she spoke—
A brilliant white light enveloped the entire area.
In the game, thunderous drums roared.
"This is…?!"
"...?"
As the white light faded, the True Self had vanished.
"The Villain" didn't yet understand what had happened.
But Mei seemed to get it: "Haven't you realized what she plans to do? That's why you're just a [con artist]."
"I'm not in the mood for riddles."
Clearly rattled by what the True Self had said earlier, "The Villain" was off-balance.
"If she's gone, then I'll start with you—"
She charged forward in her tank to resume shelling Mei—
In the next moment—
The Magician Vill-V appeared on the battlefield.
"Welcome to Vill-V's solo show!"
She cleared away all the cannon fire aimed at Mei.
"What? The Magician? That's impossible! I clearly already..."
"Don't be so quick to conclude, my lovely audience. There are even bigger surprises yet to come…"
One after another, Vill-V's other personalities reappeared.
So this—was the True Self Vill-V's combat style.
Please, the other me.
Surely Vill-V and Seele would have a lot to talk about.
The only pity...
They probably won't ever meet.
The players thought so in their hearts.
If Hokuto saw what some players were thinking right now, he might say, "Not necessarily."
After all, Honkai Impact 3rd always finds ways for seemingly impossible meetings to happen.
But that's a story for another time. For now, let's focus on the escalating battle between "The Villain" and the True Self.
Once the True Self began summoning back each personality erased by "The Villain"—
The tide of the battlefield began to shift in her favor.
Players could even control Mei like the True Self earlier—just slacking off on the side without worry.
Elysia, for example, began piloting Mei in circles around "The Villain"
While admiring the ever-changing voices of Vill-V.
"Oh my, I accidentally conjured two friends this time!"
"Mixing two people up is like saying sugar and salt are the same."
"In fact, it's four friends~~"
Three lines, belonging to the Magician, Gourmet, and Scholar.
For context—Gourmet and Scholar were originally one personality, but due to Cat Cat's constant mishaps and snack theft, they were split.
That's why the Magician tried to summon just one Scholar but accidentally "poofed" two friends.
It's MiHoYo playing a "split personality" gag.
As explosions lit up the scene—
Each personality appeared, bringing bizarre props, dazzling lights, elaborate outfits,
With amazing voice acting and chaotic but perfectly timed BGM.
A total sensory feast for the players.
The curtain rises!
Rejoice—this grand performance begins now!!
[V2V, insane!!]
[Voice acting is god-tier. Give the VA a whole feast—every personality sounds distinct!]
[This segment is unbeatable! So cool!]
[This is real top-tier dissociation theater]
[They're back. Everyone's back. This is so good—I'm hyped again!]
Players were overwhelmed with emotion.
So much that they temporarily forgot—such grand entrances in Honkai Impact usually mean…
A curtain call is near.
…
In the story—
"The Villain" finally understood.
"This… no… it's you! You've been… re-dividing your mind to dismantle my [ability]?"
"To be precise… I became them first, then split them apart."
The True Self explained to "The Villain":
"They were thoughts within my mind to begin with… even if you erased them, it was easy to find them again, right?"
"You said I [don't believe in myself]... but that's not true."
She paused. Her voice, soft as a yellow oriole, echoed beside Mei and "The Villain"
"My name is [Legion]. Only like this, am I myself, Vill-V."
"Let's wait and see—when all the [Me's] form a [helix]—"
This time—
Vill-V would no longer perform as someone else.
She would appear as her True Self—
Helix: Vill-V, makes her entrance!
At that moment, her tone was still soft and mild.
Yet her words were bolder than any genius's declaration.
A self-evaluation forged after fifty thousand years of reconciliation:
"As long as I will it—then I can do it!"
When players heard that line, echoing her earlier words, chills ran down their spines.
It was like electricity surged through them.
This line—so bold! Too bold!!
But this—this is an Elite!! This is what it means to be an Elite!!
And finally, the earlier memory about all her personalities trying to create the [Anti-Kevin Armament]—
Had a reason.
Because...
They all wanted to prove one thing:
As long as Vill-V wills it, she can absolutely create an Anti-Kevin Armament that truly defeats Kevin.
To turn the impossible—into possible.
In her hands, miracles are born.
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium