68. The Final Dance of Dream and Fate, Ice and Butterfly.
Marriage, family, children—Gao Qi had often fantasized about his future.
With Xiaohua, with Mobius—Gao Qi had imagined it all. hua's milk supply probably wouldn't be affected by her bust size, while Mobius was already flustered taking care of Griseo. Watching over their own daughter definitely wouldn't be reliable either, so it'd be up to him.
When playing games, Gao Qi didn't fantasize to this extent. But after truly being with these charming girls and growing close to them, how could he not let his imagination run wild?
He never considered the simulated world to be fake. Even if he were willing to treat it as real and continue living in it indefinitely, the world itself wouldn't allow his presence.
Gao Qi was destined to be unable to stay in this world long-term. Forget marriage and family—even love couldn't last.
In fact, after parting with Mobius, Gao Qi had thought about keeping his distance in future simulations, remaining detached from important characters, existing only to seize power and improve himself.
Before each simulation, he had resolved to do so, but reality proved he couldn't be that cold-hearted.
When he saw the characters he once loved trapped in hardship and crisis, Gao Qi simply couldn't stand by and do nothing.
After all, they were the ones he loved most!
Gao Qi might seem full of fatherly love when facing little Kiana, but if the first time he saw her, she was already that vibrant girl from Nagazora City… there was no way he'd settle for being a stepdad! In the game, he'd seen Kiana's cute butt swaying side to side countless times—he'd definitely have to make a move!
Although Gao Qi's behavior might seem like that of a heartless player who falls for every girl he meets… he had already loved them before even meeting them! It wasn't a case of falling for each one he saw—it was loving them first and meeting them later! After dying so many times to save the world, wasn't he allowed to enjoy a little romance?
However, marriage and children were something Gao Qi truly didn't have confidence in achieving. Every departure only left the girls heartbroken. He had persuaded Cocolia, yet his own leaving became the reason for her descent into sin…
Because of this, Gao Qi never dared to hope for marriage or a family—he simply didn't have the capability, right?
Not to mention, even if he bought a house, the Will of Honkai wouldn't wait for him to pay off the mortgage—it'd just obliterate everything!
But now, before Gao Qi lay his family—an absolute temptation.
"What's wrong, dear?"
Holding a child in her arms, Aponia looked at Gao Qi with a warm smile.
She knew that after the Honkai was eradicated and peace arrived, she had retired from Fire Moth and lived a quiet married life with Gao Qi. Soon after, they had a child.
The two were deeply in love, and their days were filled with happiness.
After feeding the now calm child and gently placing them in the crib, Aponia walked over to Gao Qi, wrapping her arms around his still-short frame and pulling him into a warm, comforting embrace.
"Darling~ Have you been 'accumulating sins' lately? I'm ready to punish you~"
Her originally calm face suddenly softened into a gentle smile. To others, it might have seemed like an ordinary expression, but to Gao Qi, it was utterly captivating.
"Oh? Sister Aponia, my 'sins' are always ready for you. So, will your 'sinful' body accept my confession?"
With that, Gao Qi earnestly kissed Aponia. They held each other tightly, almost as if trying to absorb every bit of warmth and sensation from one another.
Before they knew it, their surroundings had transformed into a bedroom. A soft bed was prepared, a pink glow spread through the room, and the chirping of a pair of birds echoed outside the window. Everything seemed to urge them toward the great harmony of life.
It was as if, by becoming one, they could stay together forever in this beautiful world—
"Hmph."
But the next moment, a cold snort escaped Gao Qi's lips.
A small fist, covered in icy frost, shot toward the empty air beside him.
Thud—
Instantly, the serene and beautiful scenery around them shattered like glass. Gao Qi's fist struck the cheek of a white, humanoid figure, sending it flying and freezing it mid-air.
"So now it's your turn to drive me away—Herrscher of Sentience? When it comes to life flashing before one's eyes, your clumsy tricks are nothing compared to the real expert."
Crystalline ice began to form around Gao Qi as he tapped into the last of the Herrscher of Ice core's power.
He had long known that the Herrscher of Sentience could trap people in blissful dreams, slowly withering away in illusions.
But Gao Qi had already experienced beautiful realities five times over. How could he abandon reality for mere dreams? No matter how realistic your simulations are, could they ever compare to the simulation system?
"Cough… Interesting. You knew it was an illusion all along, yet willingly immersed yourself in it… How amusing."
The Herrscher of Sentience seemed like an ethereal form woven from pure white light, with only a pair of hollow crimson eyes and an equally red mouth—an unsettling sight.
"My god chose me early, awakening me right after that fire-wielding woman. It said your existence is a threat to this world, a subversion of its rules, and tasked me with removing you, this unstable element—but I'm curious, what makes you so special?"
The outline of the Herrscher of Sentience bore a slight resemblance to Fu Hua. Gao Qi didn't know whether this was a manifestation of his own thoughts or if she truly had a connection to the Senti of the next era.
"I'm growing more and more interested in you. How did you discover me?"
Each Herrscher's personality differed, often tied to the nature of their host. From the very beginning, the Herrscher of Sentience had been a playful trickster—otherwise, she wouldn't have created such tasteless memetic pollution. Compared to other Herrschers, she seemed far more "human."
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you. But I must admit, your 'surprise attack' truly caught me off guard. Still, it helped me clean up a bunch of useless pawns. That's not bad."
Crossing his arms, Gao Qi smiled faintly. The air around him grew colder, yet he deliberately avoided Aponia.
"And besides me, even Sister Aponia wasn't affected by you—no need to pretend, Sister Aponia. You sensed something off from the start, didn't you?"
Beside him, Aponia's face flushed red. She had been pretending to be controlled all along, but now she could barely hold the act.
"Mmm… I—I really was controlled— Oh, I shouldn't have lied. I am guilty!"
Aponia admitted that although her innate talent kept her mind clear at all times, when she saw the warm, domestic life she shared with Gao Qi in the illusion, she wanted to linger a little longer. At least in this虚幻的 dream, she and Gao Qi could become one...
What a sinful nun she was!
But now, Aponia had snapped back to reality. Holding Gao Qi's hand, she took a deep breath and faced the twisted, evil presence before them.
"I can see more clearly now, Gao Qi. Your thread of fate is so tenacious. I can see it connects not just you and me, but is also inseparably intertwined with the entire world. The calamity before us seeks to sever your fate here."
Even now, Aponia did not fully understand the meaning of "Honkai," much less the nature of Herrschers.
However, when she transcended the constraints of her physical body and broke free from the shell that confined her, her liberated soul seemed to have no more shackles. The world before her eyes... had never been so clear.
She saw it clearly: the threads of fate extending from Gao Qi's body were so vigorous and majestic in the sea of consciousness and souls.
It wasn't just a single thread—it resembled... a towering, ancient tree.
Gao Qi's fate, like the branches of a great tree, spread out from him, countless tendrils reaching toward an unknown sky.
Each thread of fate was accompanied by countless spirals, like ouroboros, circling back and eventually converging into one.
And Aponia... was one of those threads.
Opposite him, the figure's fate seemed like nothing more than a pair of scissors, ceaselessly snipping at the threads of fate connecting Gao Qi and Aponia—its sole purpose.
Aponia was just an ordinary nun who didn't know much, but as she gazed upon this majestic tree, she seemed to vaguely understand something.
The journey of the boy before her was a grand, world-altering war, and she... was but a small part of it.
But that was enough. Aponia knew Gao Qi's journey had only just begun, and to be his companion satisfied her heart completely.
"Gao Qi, let us fight. Fight with me, for our respective fates—for everyone we love."
Her gentle voice grew firm and unwavering. Aponia tightened her grip on Gao Qi's hand, and her form within the consciousness space began to shimmer.
Soon, ethereal shadows resembling butterfly wings emerged from behind her. Her powerful and unique soul, within this pure consciousness space, manifested a miraculous power.
Even Gao Qi couldn't help but widen his eyes in awe.
The Aponia before him was not a MANTIS, nor did she possess the power of "Vows." Yet, in Gao Qi's eyes, her current appearance seemed to draw closer to the future. The two butterfly wings spreading behind her were the very form she would take after fusing with "Mitra."
So sacred, so beautiful.
Gao Qi understood that Aponia's strength did not come from the modifications of fusion surgery but was... innate. Her soul was exceptionally powerful!
It was only the limitations of the frail human body that restrained this power. In the original story, by the time she faced the Herrscher of Sentience, she had already become a MANTIS.
Perhaps she was always meant to be this strong!
"Wow, you're truly beautiful, Aponia—this is the last dance. Will you share it with me?"
"Enough of your sweet talk. I never thought I'd be like this either... Go on, my little hero."
Gao Qi quipped lightly, extending his hand to Aponia, who nodded and clasped it firmly.
In the next moment, everything around them was completely enveloped by sharp ice crystals and ethereal butterflies.
This was their final dance.
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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Raw: 崩坏模拟器,你找的人是我么?