In the end, the fuming Keqing still signed the contract.
Under Rita's lead, the two of them toured the studio briefly before hurrying back to prepare for what was next.
Meanwhile, Mo Li announced the news online.
This announcement immediately jolted the entire gaming industry awake.
Their thoughts quickly extended to other peripheral products.
This let all the industry bigwigs witness MiHoYo's ambition and foresight firsthand.
Who said games were just about fighting and killing?
With strong storytelling and character design, once you have your own IP, the revenue streams go far beyond just games…
If the story is good enough, popular enough, it could even branch into the film and television industry!!
Countless game companies felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over their heads, and all began contemplating the feasibility of such a path.
But for the players, the news wasn't quite so earth-shattering.
What they cared about most was—when the new version of the game would be released.
When Genshin Impact would launch.
And so, after an agonizing wait, Honkai Impact 3rd finally released its new update.
That afternoon—
"Klee, do you want to play a game with big sis~" Kiana came running over in high spirits, rubbing little Klee's head as she asked.
Klee bounced up excitedly: "Yay~ Sister Kiana, what game are we gonna play?"
Kiana chuckled: "We're playing on the computer—and lots of people will be watching too~"
The moment she heard "computer game," Klee's excitement died. "Klee wants to play with fireworks and firecrackers~"
Mo Li: "…"
He snuck a glance at Bronya.
Sure enough, her eyes were shooting daggers at him.
Not long ago, in order to get a hug from Klee, Mo Li had played his ultimate card to lure the little loli—by letting her play with firecrackers.
Of course, Klee instantly fell in love with the thrilling and fun activity.
She even begged Mo Li daily to take her to the fish pond to blow things up.
One day, when Bronya saw Klee holding a small pack of potassium nitrate, she scolded Mo Li furiously.
How could he let a little girl play such a dangerous game?
Even with Mo Li watching, it was still too risky.
Since then, Mo Li rarely took Klee out for "fishing."
Only when Klee pleaded pitifully would Bronya reluctantly agree—and even then, she would personally supervise the entire time.
"Ahem… Klee, today Brother Mo Li and the big sisters all have things to do, so no fishing," Mo Li said.
Hearing that, Klee drooped.
"Okay then…"
Kiana scooped her up: "Then come play games with sis~"
But Klee shook her head. She had zero interest in video games.
"But… Klee wants to play on the slide…"
Kiana sighed, setting her down: "Alright then, go ask Sister Hu Tao to play with you~"
"Kiana-sis won't come?"
Kiana planted her fists on her hips smugly: "Hehe~ I'm a big star now. I've got a livestream~"
"Wow~ Sister Kiana is amazing~"
Just as Kiana was basking in her glory, Mei tugged at her sleeve.
"Kiana, the stream's starting, hurry up~"
"So soon! Klee, go find Sister Hu Tao, I'll play with you next time~"
With that, Kiana ran to the camera.
Himeko was already waiting for her.
Same plan as before: to lower Himeko's pedestal in the players' eyes, to make her feel less divine and untouchable.
That was why they chose livestreaming—to show their real selves.
If this were in the entertainment industry, any star doing this would be called brain-dead.
Celebrities spend fortunes buying traffic and fake fans to prop up their public image.
Meanwhile, Himeko had debuted at the peak, and yet she was trying to tear it all down herself.
Truly, people's pursuits are not the same.
Soon, the livestream began.
Tens of thousands of viewers flooded in.
[Auntie Himeko!]
[What auntie? Call her "big sis"!]
[Kiana!]
[Just seeing Teacher Himeko feels like a knife in my gut…]
[This is supposed to be Kiana and Mei's arc, where's Mei?!]
[Mei Mei! Please come out just for a sec QAQ]
[Otto get over here and take your beating!]
[Bronya! Your license has been revoked!]
…
Having gained livestream experience last time, Kiana and Himeko weren't nervous at all.
Logging into Kiana's account, she skipped over announcements and events and went straight to the main story.
[Chapter 17: When Thunder Splits the Night]
The cover image showed Mei and Kiana back-to-back, expressions dim—almost like they'd broken apart.
Seeing that, Kiana's heart tightened, and she glanced nervously at Mei.
But Mei only smiled and nodded at her.
"Phew… it's just a game…" Kiana shook her head and clicked in.
A quick scroll showed there weren't many stages.
The difference was, this chapter contained a lot of cutscenes.
Before the first stage began, there was a play button.
The moment she clicked it, Otto's slightly mocking voice rang out:
"Long live World Serpent~"
The screen showed Otto and Kevin sitting across from each other.
"Haha… just joking. Thought I'd start with something lighthearted, set the mood for our little chat."
Kevin: "…"
"I came here with one purpose only—I want you to assist me with my Stigmata Project."
Otto chuckled: "If you're making demands, there's always a price. What will you give me in return for my promise?"
Kevin paused before answering in his flat, cold tone: "I don't need your promise. Obey—or be destroyed."
"Those are your only two choices."
In just that short exchange, Kevin's utter disregard for Schicksal, and Otto's first signs of real pressure, had viewers' blood boiling.
[Ancestor Kevin, wreck him!!]
[Otto the dog, die already!]
[Hahaha… finally someone to keep Otto in check!]
…
Even Kiana's eyes lit up, anticipation rising for the story to come.
But to their disappointment, while Otto acknowledged the power of World Serpent and Kevin, he countered with a mutual-destruction threat, trying to force Kevin into accepting a deal.
"I need something. Something worthless in your hands… but with it, my 500-year dream will finally come true…"
"In exchange… when the time comes, Otto Apocalypse will vanish forever—from before you, from before World Serpent."
Kevin: "What do you want?"
Otto: "The Second Divine Key—Key of Infinity. I know you still hold its beacon."
"The version Schicksal has is incomplete. Only with the beacon's guidance can it be activated to its true baseline power."
Kevin: "You want to reach the Imaginary Tree?"
Otto nodded, smiling: "Correct."
"Observation isn't the true purpose of the Key of Infinity. It was made to replicate the Herrscher of the Void's power—to open the gate to the Imaginary Tree."
"Give me the beacon, and you will gain everything… peace, resources, and time."
Kevin fell silent for a long while. He knew Schicksal, under Otto's control, did have bargaining power.
At last, he threw Otto's own words back at him.
"If you're making demands, there's always a price. What will you pay?"
Otto: "The Quantum Sea."
"Take it, and after I leave, you'll have the perfect puppet—a puppet to control Schicksal even in my absence…"
Viewers were shocked.
For Otto, of all people, to stake all of Schicksal in a trade?
Before they could react, the main story resumed.
The focus shifted to Mei.
Through her conversation with Tesla, Mei learned of Kiana's condition.
Two months left…
Everyone's hearts clenched.
Could it be that Kiana's death is what drives Mei into becoming a Herrscher?
Finally, Kiana and Mei met.
They embraced tightly, the scene sweet to the core.
Viewers across the board were grinning like fools.
[Awooo~~ too sweet!]
[Wuwuwu~ true lovers reunited~]
…
But even as they typed that, deep down they knew—what came next was sure to cut like a knife.
And yet… they couldn't stop watching.
The following scenes were almost entirely Kiana and Mei's interactions.
It was as if they'd gone back to the old days, back to St. Freya Academy.
Kiana's voice reverted to that goofy, silly tone from before.
Mei, just like then, was doting, gentle, indulgent—and helpless.
But players knew all too well: this was an act.
They were deliberately pretending nothing had happened…
Trying to bicker and play as before…
The more they acted this way, the more sour the audience's hearts felt.
…
In-game, Kiana and Mei returned to the ruined Changkong City.
This was the setting of an earlier side chapter—where the Third Honkai first broke out, where Mei was first consumed by Herrscher will, and where her bond with Kiana began.
They bantered sweetly, tugging on nostalgia as they retraced those memories.
But just as they prepared to leave, Kiana's sudden monologue cut through like an assassin's blade.
"…I… I still remember that day…"
Of course, she meant the Schicksal battle—Himeko's death.
Her tone shifted, sinking into sorrow:
"These four months, I've wandered through countless cities, seen so many suffering under the Honkai…"
"I kept running… running and running… but I could never escape that nightmare."
"In the end, I realized I couldn't just run away. There were more important things to face… than running."
"I had to face the people. Face everyone… face my own fate…"
"I am not Kiana Kaslana. Not my father's real daughter… I am test subject K423, vessel of the Herrscher of the Void."
Mei's heart jolted: "No… it's not like that…"
But Kiana didn't let her speak.
She shook her head gently. "It's okay, Mei…"
"Maybe my birth was just a farce. But I can turn it into something meaningful."
"Maybe not all stories are beautiful. But I can still make this world more beautiful!"
"This is… the promise I made to her…"
…
At that, countless viewers' eyes brimmed with tears.
[Caught off guard, straight knife! QAQ]
[Sugar-coated blade… damn you, MiHoYo…]
[Wuwuwu… fighting for all that is beautiful in this world!!]
[Damn it, Otto die already!]
[Get your CEO out here, I want a duel!]
[Wuwuwu…]
…
Watching the scrolling comments, Bronya turned an expressionless gaze on Mo Li.
"What is it, Bronya?" he asked.
She opened her mouth, then finally asked curiously:
"I share the players' question… have you really suffered some psychological trauma in the past?"
Mo Li: "…"
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