Otto, dragging his scarred and battered body, staggered step by step toward the Imaginary Tree, murmuring to himself in a weak voice.

"As an ordinary person once deceived by them… I too once fantasized that the human soul existed in a higher dimension; fantasized that one day, the one I love could return to this world with a new body, to live in a better future."

"Unfortunately, the rules of this world are not so kind… Death is indeed the dissipation of consciousness, the end of everything—we cannot rekindle the starlight that has already faded."

"Unless… we reverse time, awaken the silent Island of Graves; inject the evergreen water of life once again into the buried past."

"The road will once again split there—life and death forming two worlds, and the price… is merely the death of one person, the destruction of one being… and that which has always sought to destroy us—Honkai."

Otto paused for a moment, letting out a self-deprecating sigh.

"Regrettably, by the time Otto Apocalypse understood this truth, he was already a notorious villain, thoroughly despised by the very power he needed most."

At the end of his words, a faint sob slipped out.

Everyone froze instantly.

Hearing that choked sob—

It was hard to say anything.

Unconsciously, they all put down their champagne glasses and sat up straight.

Outside, the people of MiHoYo were also watching Otto.

No one spoke. Kiana, Bianca… they were all listening carefully to his every word.

"This is indeed of no consequence. She has proven—that anger born of love holds the same power as love itself."

"And behind such a hero—Theresa, my beloved granddaughter, you are growing into a great leader… In time, you will make people forget your grandfather, burying his rights and wrongs into history, lost among idle gossip."

"But…"

Otto drew closer to the Imaginary Tree, his steps growing slower.

All the emotions he had suppressed for five hundred years dripped down at this moment like morning dew.

"Eat more fruits and vegetables besides bitter melon sometimes. You always stay up late—you should be supplementing your body with more diverse nutrients."

Everyone was stunned. No one expected Otto to say something like this now.

But then again—

It had been mentioned before in side stories, comics, even extras.

[He taught Theresa the "magic of cooking."]

[He personally sewed Theresa's nun outfit.]

And so much more…

"The name 'Theresa' was a name Otto had originally intended to give his future child with Kallen."

Hokuto whispered beside them.

By giving this name to Theresa, Otto's feelings toward her were genuine.

He truly saw Theresa as his real granddaughter.

Realizing this, everyone was just in time to be struck down by Otto's following words.

"For tomorrow's coronation ceremony, Grandfather personally sewed the archbishop's stole for you…"

"If you wouldn't mind, use it to begin your own era."

"Wash away the stains Grandfather left on it."

"..."

He was, in the eyes of all, a great villain.

What's more, his granddaughter had long since fallen into deep conflict with him.

Yet he still offered his sincere blessings, personally sewing a stole for her.

Even worrying whether his past would burden Theresa's future, laying a path for her in Kolosten (side story).

His concern for his only relative was so very real.

Did he still wish to hear Theresa call him "Grandfather" once more?

But… he said nothing. He chose to walk the lonely path in silence.

Only in this final moment, a quiet sigh—

Theresa, Grandfather cannot attend your coronation ceremony.

Truly, what an obstinate grandfather.

Many people couldn't hold it in anymore, instinctively reaching for tissues.

An old man's walk—not even finished yet.

Had them switching from popping champagne to reaching for tissues.

MiHoYo, you really are evil to the core.

...

Otto continued walking toward the Imaginary Tree.

Every few steps, he seemed on the verge of collapse.

His body already thoroughly exhausted.

"And Bianca, my final student… I manipulated your life, planned your destiny, giving you genuine care while treating you as a pawn to be used at will."

"Do you know? Everything I showed you was merely so that after my extinction, someone could erect a wordless monument for me."

"I don't need anyone's evaluation. After all, these long yet fleeting five hundred years were but everything a man could give for his own selfish wish."

"He has now reached the end of his journey—"

"At that moment, the world will turn for one person alone… washing away imposed sins, allowing the terminated will to continue forward."

"Despicable deeds, I will take to the grave; light, you will carry toward the future."

He lifted his head toward the Imaginary Tree, letting out a long sigh.

As if transcending five hundred years of time.

Piercing through the players' hearts.

Already on the verge of breaking, they couldn't stop their tears.

"I fooled friends, fooled family, fooled the world and its rules… all to give the only real you a second life."

"I have returned…"

"Kallen."

He stepped onto his final journey, reflecting on his life, counting his sins, pouring out—

His one-sided wish for Kallen.

...

And now, it had finally reached the end.

To maintain the players' emotional immersion.

Hokuto had the game skip straight to the follow-up animated short: "Thus Spoke Apocalypse."

No loading screens. Straight into the animation.

The moment the short began, Otto's voice resonated: "When a person truly wishes to change the world, they will realize how insignificant their power is."

On screen.

Through a raven's perspective, everyone watched as Kallen, shackled, was led toward the execution platform.

Tap—tap—tap.

Under countless stares, Kallen marched forward to meet death without a hint of fear.

"The Saint gave everything for the people, yet received only merciless shackles and nooses in return."

The scene shifted again.

To Otto.

He staggered alone across a crimson land like endless dunes, leaving a trail of deep footprints behind him.

Gazing into the distant Imaginary Tree, he muttered softly.

"The world is so chaotic. It is neither fair nor reasonable. It persecutes heroes, nourishes villains."

"Ugliness is everywhere. Beauty, nowhere to be found."

As if echoing his words, in this imaginary space, near the Imaginary Tree—

Countless puppet 'Ottos' suddenly appeared, forming an impenetrable human wall, completely blocking Otto's path.

Battle was imminent.

Some players were still immersed in Otto's earlier monologue, unable to recover.

For those words, they remembered how Otto once sighed before the Saint's statue in the main story.

Back then… they only sneered at Otto's sarcasm.

But now, as they looked back at this moment—

They realized… maybe they were the ones who were wrong.

Otto had been serious.

He understood deeply how small one person's power was against the world.

Yet even so, he sought to create possibility from the impossible.

All to save that one person.

For that, he willingly fell into villainy, becoming a fool in the eyes of the world.

Starting from the trivial, he fought the world, piece by piece.

Because he was not the protagonist, the world's rules would not change for him, nor would it step aside just because he picked up a sword.

To achieve the impossible, one must give everything.

Even then, they might achieve nothing.

The hardest thing in the world is to truly accomplish what one wishes to do.

And now…

Everyone watched as Otto, wielding a simulated Judgment of Shamash, leapt high and smashed into the wall of puppets with unwavering resolve.

Suddenly, they couldn't hold back their tears.

He—was about to succeed.

To turn this imperfect world into the one he longed for.

"Let evil be severed by the hands of the villain!"

Judgment of Shamash, drawn!

Boom!!

A surge of flames devoured every puppet daring to stand in his way.

Otto carved a path forward by sheer force.

Yet soon, puppets swarmed from all directions, trying to halt him.

He could only keep swinging the Judgment of Shamash, cleaving through the puppets, forcing his way forward.

"This is the distance between her and tomorrow. This is the world's merciless backlash against her."

The scene flashed to the execution platform.

Kallen, already on the scaffold, noose around her neck.

Facing the malice of the world, she appeared powerless.

As if to prove that Otto, too, was powerless, and would ultimately achieve nothing.

Crack—

In his next swing, the simulated Judgment of Shamash let out a mournful wail, shattering under the heavy blow.

Players' hearts clenched instantly.

They couldn't help but place their hands on their keyboards.

Otto—no, Archbishop, didn't you promise…

To make this imperfect world into the one you desired?

So.

Just this once.

[Archbishop! Keep going!!]

[You must win, Archbishop!]

[Just this once! Absolutely no defeat!]

Even their bullet comments were all golden.

...

"But her follower will never give up!"

Simulated Key of Binding—Oath of Judah!

Golden chains bloomed beneath the monster's fists, forcibly holding them back, while more chains shot from all directions, binding the monster tightly.

Seizing the chance, Otto leapt onto the monster's body, quickly locking onto his target, raising a golden cross high, and slammed it down onto the monster's head.

The inverted cross symbolized his defiance against gods and the world.

Thirteen spears of light fired in unison, shattering the monster's head.

Even such a colossal creature could only collapse powerlessly after its head was obliterated.

And Otto...

Also fell to the ground in a wretched heap.

He looked nothing like a victor.

His body was spent, Honkai's erosion gnawed at him—he was but a candle flickering in the wind.

But it didn't matter. This was the final step.

He gazed at the Imaginary Tree within reach, even sensing Kallen facing the Honkai beast.

Five hundred years.

In all those five centuries, never had he felt this close to Kallen.

He reached out, wanting to touch the Imaginary Tree.

Kallen, I'm coming...

Rip!

Blood sprayed as the beast's claw pierced through Kallen's body, who had shielded a child with her own.

Simultaneously, Otto's body, just as he was about to touch the Imaginary Tree, was run through by spikes.

Otto looked down in disbelief at his chest.

In the next instant, dozens more spikes burst from the monster's corpse, puncturing his body with countless wounds.

A century-old wish was right before him—yet would he fall here?

The rousing battle anthem from before fell silent.

Players felt as though their hearts had stopped.

Usually, they would yell to cut to MiHoYo's soundtrack.

But now, they only wanted to scream: who the hell muted the soundtrack?!

Archbishop, you cannot fall here!

Otto's consciousness faded into chaos.

In this dying moment, Kallen's figure gently emerged in his mind.

Bathed in soft light, she spun gracefully, smiled sweetly, granting him the strength to rise again.

Even if time had made him forget her face, he remembered her angelic smile.

Save the world with me, my great inventor.

That was his life's redemption.

Kallen...

To give her a second life.

Otto's consciousness rapidly reformed, forcing his broken body to move once more.

Void Archives appeared before him, as if saying, "You old fool, I'll help you one last time."

Gripping it tightly.

The two adversaries entwined for five centuries reached a final accord.

For the sake of a single miracle.

The halted music roared back to life, fiercer than before.

First Divine Key: Key of Revelation—Void Archives!

It unleashed its might, a torrential energy cascade silently engulfing the monster.

And Otto, at last, moved forward again.

"When a soul is scattered, it can never be revived."

Casually discarding Void Archives, he lifted the simulated Judgment of Shamash, trudging step by step toward the Imaginary Tree, never looking back.

"The world allows consciousness to inhabit new vessels, but forbids those vessels from reclaiming dissipated consciousness."

"To save the one and only her..."

He pressed his hand against the Tree's luminous surface, pouring his entire being into it.

"I can only create new possibilities in the past."

This profoundly esoteric Imaginary Tree, because of him...

For her alone...

Sprouted new branches.

Creating an entirely new world for her.

"Ah, this other future... shall be a space-time belonging to her..."

Seeing this.

Everyone felt emotions too complex to describe.

Once, during the [Kallen Event], they had yearned so desperately.

How wonderful it would be if there were a better ending.

Back then, they all wished fervently, yet the world was so cruel and unjust.

They could only watch helplessly as Kallen walked toward her destined end.

But now.

They watched Otto return to five hundred years ago, descending from the sky with Judgment of Shamash in hand.

For five centuries.

Through five centuries, he never forgot where that beast had slain Kallen.

All for this moment.

To burn himself out, to erase with Heaven's Fire the Honkai beast that took Kallen's life.

To grant her a second life.

To rewrite fate.

To conquer the world.

"Kallen… live on."

At the very end, Otto faded into nothingness.

Kallen seemed to hear that familiar yet distant voice.

She turned to look—but saw no one.

...

This was the most selfish thing one could ever do.

...

Otto Apocalypse did it.

He rewrote his unwillingness, salvaged a predestined tragedy.

A villain they had always despised, yet he truly turned this imperfect world into the one everyone longed for.

All the players' complicated feelings for Otto condensed into envy.

Why, Archbishop, why can you do everything?

Why can you be so selfish, so stubborn? Neither time's erosion nor space's barriers made you forget your original goal.

Why...

You succeeded, Archbishop. From the depths of hell, you brought her back to the dawn.

You did it all!

Players couldn't help but close their eyes, tears welling up.

Tears for this five-century obsession, for this unmatched, profound love.

Tears for him retrieving his truest self at time's end.

Some even acted impulsively.

For instance, some deleted long rants cursing Otto, even clearing their recycle bins.

"Otto is undoubtedly guilty of heinous crimes, but I'm willing to honor him as the Supreme Lord of Pure Love!"

A choked sob echoed in the livestream.

Hokuto was slightly surprised as he glanced at Elysia.

With Elysia's personality, she would be touched, sure, but crying? That seemed unlikely.

"'Otto'-san… sniff sniff…"

"Elysia? Are you okay?" He handed her tissues.

Elysia took them, wiped her face, then suddenly said:

"'Otto'-san, you're not allowed to get hurt!"

"...Why say something so strange all of a sudden?" Hokuto was baffled.

"Because I'm afraid you'll pull something crazy like game Otto did," Elysia said seriously, still wiping her tears.

"A game is a game… you worry too much."

"Is that so?"

"It is." Hokuto sighed, nodding helplessly.

Phew~~

Reassured by Hokuto's answer, Elysia let out a long breath.

But soon, she glared at him with a pout, bringing up something else.

"Didn't you say this main story would be a beautiful tale?"

"I didn't lie." Hokuto shook his head. "Think about it: the heinous Otto is dead, Kiana and the others don't have to face the looming threat of Domination, Kallen is revived, the fool's wish is fulfilled."

"Isn't that a happy ending for everyone?"

Elysia: "..."

Sounded reasonable, yet something still felt off.

"Well then, it's time to open the champagne."

Hokuto finally pulled out the champagne from under the table.

...

The short film moved to its next phase.

A new song began.

One short film, two new songs, Otto's exit—an absolute grand send-off.

Even though he's a character you can't pull.

The scene settled on an airplane under the shade of a tree.

Otto and Kallen frolicked nearby.

At last, under Kallen's expectant gaze, Otto threw the wooden plane into the sky.

As the wooden plane soared, light and shadow intertwined.

Otto's five-hundred-year life flashed like a revolving lantern.

He once watched Kallen die before his very eyes. At that moment, the world lost all its colors, leaving only a monotonous gray.

He once toppled the old Schicksal, bringing her ideals to fruition, yet she never returned.

He had performed human experiments, his crimes beyond redemption.

He had confided in the first Herrscher of Reason, but diverged due to conflicting ideologies.

He had been moved by the kindness of test subject A310, once shaken in his beliefs, beginning to trust in the notion of souls.

He had manipulated the Second Honkai in Siberia, playing the jester to toy with hearts.

He had paid a heavy price to enter Sirin's consciousness, glimpsing godhood and receiving divine revelations.

He had initiated the K423 project, aiming to create a controllable Herrscher.

He had negotiated with World Serpent's Kevin, feigning civility.

...

All of it, only to resurrect her who perished five hundred years ago.

Right or wrong, he left it to future generations to judge.

He had already found his own eternal peace.

At the short film's end.

The screen froze.

The stars gleamed, the Milky Way dazzled.

Childhood Otto and Kallen leaned against a tree.

That night, with her sleeping soundly against his shoulder, their intertwined fingers formed a lock—the purest embodiment of his admiration and longing.

...

"Now, at least now, let's raise a toast to him."

Hokuto filled a glass.

Outside the livestream, Rita distributed the prepared champagne to everyone at MiHoYo.

Viewers in the chat also lifted their unfinished glasses.

Yet this time, their feelings were completely different. Before it was exhilaration—now, it was… a complicated melancholy.

"No need to pity him. For his sins are countless, his crimes immeasurable."

"No need to rage at him. For he sought only a path forward, dismissing others as illusions."

"No need to praise him. For he pursued his goals by any means."

"No need to disparage him. For his merits and faults are plain for all to see."

"If there is anything to say at this moment, then let it be—"

"Congratulations, for turning this imperfect story into the one you desired, Great Inventor."

He raised his champagne.

Everyone else did the same in unison.

Then, with teary eyes, they downed it in one gulp.

Only today did they realize—champagne could taste both sweet and bitter.

For those without champagne, the livestream was flooded with golden bullet comments.

[Farewell, Great Inventor.]

[Farewell, Great Inventor.] *n

The short film ended, screen fading to black.

The climax passed.

Those who had truly prepared champagne for Otto were perhaps the ones with the most complicated feelings toward him.

Now they put down their empty glasses, pulled out tissues, blew their noses, wiped away tears.

And quickly resumed typing in the chat.

[Farewell, no, never see you again, you old fool! (crying)]

[That old fool is finally dead (sunglasses).]

[I'll keep the bottle. If Otto comes back, I'll smash him back into his grave with it.]

The short film was over, the complex emotions buried deep.

They continued to curse Otto's innumerable crimes.

Just as they always had.

Poll: What should replace Teaching Kendo in Tokyo 1980 (TKT)?

Hey everyone,

I've decided to put Teaching Kendo in Tokyo 1980 (TKT) on hiatus for now. In the meantime, I thought it'd be fun to run a poll to see what you'd like me to work on next. Can't wait to see what you all pick!

Options:

As of Aug 24 the PATREON votes are

A brand new fanfic (picked by me) (4 Votes)

Continue a recommended fanfic (suggested by Readers and will be voted on Again) (6 Votes)

Two chapters a day for Uchiha Kei: Game Dev in the Shinobi World (11 Votes)

Two chapters a day for My Game Studio is Full of Valkyries?! ( 16 Votes)

Two chapters a day for Monster Hunter Grand Assembly ( 2 Votes)

📅 Voting will be open on Patreon for one week!

Heres the link to the poll

https://www.patreon.com/posts/poll-on-what-to-137136810?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkpatreon.com/BestElysium