After a sneaky infiltration, the group was discovered by Cocolia.
However, with the map Bronya provided, they finally found Mei, who was restrained.
Kiana gripped her guns tightly, her eyes blazing with anger as she looked at Mei suspended in the air. "Give Mei back to me!"
At that moment, a darkened Bronya slowly opened her eyes, staring expressionlessly at Kiana.
"Hmph, you don't even know the true value of a Herrscher. Once we understand how Herrschers control natural forces, human technology will advance by leaps and bounds."
Cocolia's voice came through the room's broadcast again. "Bronya, stop them!"
"Bronya, don't let her control you!" Facing the approaching Bronya, Kiana painfully aimed her gun at her. "Snap out of it!"
The camera zoomed in on Kiana's trembling hand.
Bronya suddenly stopped. "In Bronya's heart, Cocolia is like a mother. But…
Bronya met Big Sister Mei, who was so kind to Bronya. Bronya doesn't want to hurt her. So, Bronya won't fight. Kiana, take Big Sister Mei and go. Bronya has destroyed the biochip."
Hearing this, Kiana slowly lowered her gun, her trembling pupils visible in a close-up.
Cocolia's voice came through the broadcast, tinged with anger. "What are you joking about? The biochip is embedded in your brain. Destroying it—do you want to kill yourself?"
Bronya tilted her head slightly, looking at the unconscious Mei. "Bronya believes Big Sister Mei's life is more important than her own. Bronya will no longer accept any orders that harm Big Sister Mei."
The darkened Bronya gave a faint smile. "Goodbye, Big Sister Mei."
"Kiana, Big Sister Mei is in your hands."
Bronya closed her eyes and collapsed.
[?!?!]
[That smile, then leaving?! Damn it!]
[Oh my gosh!]
[It's only episode four! Can the writers be human for once?]
[Why so tense? She's not really dead. Look at that Silver Wolf face—do you think she'd get a game-over?]
[Exactly! And someone like Himeko will never die.]
[But why do they keep mentioning how Honkai energy affects the body, or short lifespans?]
[Just to scare you. Look at Honkai: Star Rail—has any major character really died?]
[Tingyun, Gallagher, Misha.]
[Misha doesn't really count, Gallagher's debatable, and Tingyun supposedly won the revival race.]
[So Bronya probably won't exit, right?]
[Don't panic, trust miHoYo. Honkai: Star Rail's knives are all bark, no bite. Honkai Impact 3rd should be the same. After all, they both have "Honkai" in the name.]
[Right, right!]
— —
The group rescued the now-conscious Mei.
Theresa reassured the audience about Bronya's condition. "Bronya's brain is damaged, but it's not hopeless. If we get her back to St. Freya Academy for treatment in time, there's still hope for recovery."
Together, they searched for a way out.
At that moment, Wendy's voice came through the communicator.
She had returned to her normal self, though her voice sounded weary. "Tell Big Sister Bronya I know the truth now. I won't hate her! Never! But… we probably won't see each other again."
The communication abruptly cut off.
[Seriously, who writes a plot like this?]
[Here comes more drama?]
[Another knife?!]
[Hahaha, yes, just like this! I want to see blood flowing like a river!]
— —
Then, Cocolia's voice came through the communicator again. "Well, did you like the gift I just sent?"
Mei frowned slightly. "Your gift? You mean Wendy's message?"
"Exactly. Shouldn't you thank me for my mercy? Delivering Wendy's final words to her beloved Big Sister Bronya."
"Final words?" Kiana's mind flashed with a bad premonition at those words.
"Oh? Didn't I mention? I've already killed the Fourth Herrscher."
"What?!" "How could you?!"
"I've removed the Honkai energy crystal from her body—the Gem of Desire, that is."
[?!?!]
[AHHHH!]
[Honkai: Star Rail's Cocolia still had some humanity, but this one's pure evil!]
[I'm heading to Penacony, Simulated Universe, I'm gonna beat her up!!]
[Hey, who said there'd be no knives? Come out and explain yourself!]
— —
Cocolia's performance wasn't over yet.
If Honkai: Star Rail's Cocolia still left room for sympathy, this single scene had already sentenced her to death in the audience's eyes.
With the power of the gem, a massive robot—MSR-7 Father—was activated.
Kiana and Mei gripped their weapons tightly.
They couldn't believe an innocent life had been snuffed out before their eyes.
With that, they charged at the giant robot, determined to vent their anger!
…
After a grueling battle, Anti-Entropy's giant robot—Father—was destroyed.
Kiana and the others escaped ME Corp's headquarters.
Though they successfully rescued Mei, they lost Wendy.
Bronya remained in a coma, and even St. Freya Academy's technology couldn't heal her.
To save Bronya, Theresa decided to head to the central cathedral of St. Freya Academy.
Beneath that cathedral lay Schicksal's most advanced biotechnology, kept secret even from the academy's principal.
Theresa stood before the gate, its patterns resembling a blood-stained petal, endlessly bleeding.
— —
Meanwhile, in the hospital room, Fu Hua and Mei were watching over Bronya.
Mei glanced toward the door. "Where did Kiana go at a time like this?"
Fu Hua reassured her, "It's fine. I'll take care of things here. Go rest."
"Well…" Mei looked into Fu Hua's eyes and sighed helplessly. After all, from the battlefield in New Zealand to being captured and rescued, she'd fought without rest.
"Alright."
Reluctantly, Mei left the room.
Fu Hua scanned the surroundings, ensuring no one was around, then looked at the monitor displaying Bronya's vitals. "I didn't expect the damage to be this severe. While there's still time, I have to try."
She placed a hand on Bronya's forehead, a faint phoenix-like figure flickering behind her.
[What? A hidden expert?]
[Definitely an expert! She's set to join the Thirteen Flame-Chasers later.]
[There's foreshadowing here. They've been saying Fu Hua's strong—probably a genius archetype.]
[Bet she's got some hidden power that saves Bronya, gets her talent noticed, and joins MOTH. Something like that.]
[Yeah, exactly!]
[So why isn't this overpowered character out on missions?]
[If she's out, how does the later plot develop?]
— —
Fu Hua entered Bronya's dream, guiding her to escape the prison of her heart.
Here appeared Honkai Impact 3rd's mascot—Homa.
[Honkai: Star Rail has Pom-Pom, Honkai Impact 3rd has Homa.]
[This Homa looks so weird, but I love it.]
Through Fu Hua's efforts, Bronya faced her heart.
"This should do it!"
Fu Hua sighed in relief.
But at that moment, the communicator rang. The caller: Otto Apocalypse.
Fu Hua answered without hesitation. "What is it, Overseer?"