Ikezawa's first thought was, "Could there be another transmigrator in this world? Are they already playing the plagiarist card?"
To be honest, just a few days ago, he'd considered bringing movies and anime from his previous life to this world, hoping to make a fortune as a plagiarist himself.
But after seeing how Outsiders were treated, he'd quickly abandoned the idea. Why bother working hard when the government was already giving him ten thousand yuan a month in subsidies? Wouldn't it be better to just laze around at home?
Now, it seemed that whether he gave up or not made no difference anyway. Someone had already beaten him to the punch.
Frankly, Ikezawa felt extremely conflicted. He never imagined that even after transmigrating to another world, the curse of Honkai would still be chasing him. This was beyond absurd!
Lü Heng picked up his phone, relieved to see the screen undamaged. He turned to Ikezawa and asked, "What's going on? Is there something wrong with this movie?"
"No, nothing's wrong," Ikezawa replied. "I want to see it. When are we leaving?"
Of course he wanted to go. In his previous life, there hadn't been a single Honkai series movie. Now that one existed in this world, whether to make up for that past regret or to relive the classics, he absolutely had to see it.
Ikezawa was also deeply curious about the quality of the film his fellow transmigrator had created. If it was good, no problem. But if it fell short of expectations, he'd have to find a way to have a serious talk with his compatriot.
After picking up Li, who was waiting outside the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, the group of four headed to the nearest cinema.
The film wasn't a blockbuster that sold out every seat. When they entered the theater, Ikezawa glanced around and noticed it was only about a third full.
Considering the movie had been in theaters for a while—and that they might have been able to watch it online if they had waited much longer—the fact that so many people were still coming to see it suggested the film's quality was quite high.
After a brief round of commercials, the movie began. But the moment the first random extra appeared on screen, Ikezawa nearly lost his composure.
"What? This is a live-action film?"
He had assumed it would be animated. After all, in his previous life, there were plenty of anime adaptations turned into live-action movies, but how many were actually good? Nine and a half out of ten were likely just piles of trash.
The live-action adaptation was plagued with problems: the actors didn't resemble the characters enough, their acting was subpar, and the special effects were lacking.
In comparison, a big-budget animated film could undoubtedly satisfy audiences far better, provided sufficient resources were invested.
But as soon as the first main character, Murata Himeko, appeared, Ikezawa's initial disdain vanished, replaced by shock. "Holy shit!? It's Himeko herself!"
The resemblance was so uncanny that he even wondered if it was some kind of advanced 3D technology or special effects. Was this really a live-action actress?
"Hey! What's all the commotion?"
"Can you keep it down?"
Several other audience members voiced their displeasure.
"Ah, sorry, sorry!" Ikezawa realized he had gotten too excited and his voice had carried too loudly.
The movie continued. While the previous installment, "The Queen's Descent," had focused entirely on Kiana's perspective—chronicling her childhood as a wanderer, her training as a Valkyrie at St. Freya Academy, and her eventual capture by Schicksal and transformation into a boss—this film shifted its focus primarily to Himeko. The opening scenes depicted Kiana's school life at St. Freya Academy before her abduction.
The film perfectly captures the character of Himeko, an older, single teacher who loves to drink and is a bit scatterbrained on the surface, but deeply kind at heart.
One scene shows Himeko, glass in hand, wandering into the principal's office to chat with Theresa.
"Himeko," Theresa scolds, "didn't you say you were going to quit drinking ages ago?"
Himeko takes a swig. "I'm working on it."
"Then why are you still drinking?" Theresa asks.
"Well, I guess I failed," Himeko replies with a shrug.
The film is full of these amusing slice-of-life moments. However, this lighthearted atmosphere takes a sharp turn in the second act.
Most films follow a three-act structure: setup, confrontation, and resolution. Simply put, it's the beginning, middle, and end.
The scene shifts, and Himeko opens her eyes to find herself on the deck of the Hyperion. It turns out that everything in the first act was a flashback. The flashback ends, and the timeline returns to the present: after Kiana has transformed into the Herrscher of the Void.
Himeko murmured to herself, "Kiana, I will bring you back..."
The second act follows Himeko and the main group as they desperately search for a way to save Kiana. Ultimately, Himeko pins her hopes on the God-Slaying Spear serum, the same substance that had saved her own life.
Of course, she wasn't using it to save herself this time, but to protect her student.
The third act culminates in the final battle. Amidst dazzling special effects, a strike powerful enough to kill the Herrscher of the Void deliberately misses its mark. Exhausted, Himeko manages a faint smile in her final moment.
In truth, the animated short "Final Lesson," so hyped in her previous life for its emotional impact, hadn't hit as hard as expected.
The reason so many Honkai 3rd players were moved to tears was that they had played the game for years, with Himeko accompanying them through much of their journey. Their emotional bond had grown gradually over time.
However, after Honkai 3rd gained widespread popularity, newcomers who rushed through the story to reach "Final Lesson" didn't react as strongly.
Of course, some particularly emotional female players might have been moved to tears, but it's undeniable that most male players remained relatively rational, with few breaking down completely.
The true impact of "Final Lesson" lies in its lingering aftermath, with the most heart-wrenching moments yet to come.
Returning to the matter at hand, within this otherworld, "Final Lesson" exists as a standalone film. Lacking the years of emotional investment built up through the game, the film relies entirely on cinematic storytelling to convey its emotional power—a feat the game simply can't match.
All the film's foreshadowing and setup converge in that final, climactic battle, erupting with full force.
What makes a classic story a classic is its enduring power to move hearts, even when the plot and ending are known.
The film's emotional intensity proved overwhelming. Take Ikezawa, for example. Despite knowing the story by heart and having watched the "Final Lesson" animated short at least twenty times, he still felt a stinging ache behind his eyes as he watched Himeko, smiling serenely, fall into the Abyss.
Beside him, Lü Heng couldn't hold back any longer and began wiping away tears.