"Really… it leaves one at a loss for words."
A white-haired young man, holding a suitcase in one hand and a map in the other, looked at the villa before him, a faint smile gracing his lips.
He pushed open the front door of the villa and walked in to see those familiar companions, to see them standing right before him, alive and well.
"Boss Kevin! Long time no see!"
Pardofelis, looking just as she always did, was now wearing a cat onesie.
"Griseo, you've been playing all day. Don't play anymore."
"Kosma, I'm a big girl now, not the little kid I used to be. I can play games all day."
So many years had passed, and Griseo had indeed grown into a young lady. In contrast, Kosma, who still had the appearance of a young boy, looked even younger.
"Elysia! Why did you go through my wardrobe again! You're the one who stuffed that frilly pink dress in there, aren't you!"
"Oh my! My dearest Mobius, you're so beautiful, you simply need these lovely clothes! When the time comes, you'll definitely charm that guy so much he won't know which way is up!"
Mobius had returned to her adult form from long ago. The cold, inhuman demeanor of a mad scientist was gone, replaced by a much more vivid and human-like presence.
Elysia was still the same as ever.
"I originally thought that we, people of the old era, were destined to fade away with its passing. I never imagined that everything that had vanished would return."
"Yes, this is a miracle bestowed by a god."
It seemed these events had sparked some inspiration in Eden, who appeared ready to compose a song about divine miracles and redemption.
Aponia had also found a new faith, having erected a new idol in her church.
She had originally wanted to open an orphanage, but in this new world, orphans no longer existed. The young were cared for, the old were supported; every young child was certain to have the care of parents and relatives, and every elderly person would inevitably have children and grandchildren to look after them.
"Big Sis! I want to eat fried tofu!"
"Kalpas, could you please trouble yourself to make some fried tofu?"
Rin acted spoiled with her sister Sakura, who could only agree with a helpless sigh before making the request to Kalpas, who was busy in the kitchen.
Although Kalpas grumbled a dissatisfied reply, his actions showed that he was indeed starting to prepare a serving of fried tofu.
"Mm, I know. I'll be back after the party here is over."
Hua had made many new friends in the Current Era and was now on the phone with one of them.
In a corner, Vill-V was silent, but judging by her busy movements, she seemed to be modifying a robot.
"Welcome back, Kevin."
Su, his eyes narrowed into a smile, looked at Kevin, who was still standing by the door.
At that moment, Kevin was suddenly in a daze, as if he had returned to a time long, long ago. Back then, he was still young, without so many worries, without so many responsibilities.
And he was surrounded by so many friends.
Kevin looked at every single person in the villa, at all these familiar faces. Finally, a smile spread across his face as he said, "Yes, I'm back."
Everyone turned their gaze to Kevin and broke into applause for this warrior who had fought alone on the front lines, for this long-exiled wanderer, for this solitary captain.
They were telling him that all the pain and suffering he had shouldered were over, that he could finally live the life he wanted.
Elysia stepped before Kevin and said with a smile, "Although it would be more fitting for MEI to say this, on behalf of all the Flame-Chasers… Kevin, you've worked hard all these years. Your duty is over. It's time for you to rest well."
"Yes… it's over."
Kevin smiled and walked into their midst. The bright lights illuminated the smiles on every face, and the silhouette of that warrior was no longer lonely.
Oh, and as for that one guy wearing a mask, who knows if he was smiling or not.
"I'm back."
Raiden Mei pushed open the door and saw Kiana sitting on the sofa, engrossed in a textbook to catch up on her studies. Her eyes shone with a spectacular, rainbow-like hue, and she even sported a pair of cat ears on her head—the very picture of the domineering fish-cat of the lunar sea.
"How did it go, Mei? Is there any news from Sakura and Mobius?" Kiana asked impatiently, closing her book the moment she saw Raiden Mei return.
"There's no news from Sakura or Rin. I went to Mobius's place, but there's no news there either."
After the chaos of inverted time and jumbled causality had passed, the world had once again collapsed and reassembled itself.
Now, the entire solar system was split into several parallel worlds, each corresponding to a civilization that had once been destroyed by Honkai. Raiden Mei and Kiana weren't familiar with the even earlier civilizations, so they didn't bother to investigate them much.
As for the Previous Era, everyone had a general understanding of it.
The place Raiden Mei mentioned visiting was a separate parallel world specifically for them, where she went to see if Mobius had any news about Xin Yu.
Although these parallel worlds existed, casually traveling between them required immense power and an understanding of spacetime, or technological aid of a comparable level.
For certain people, however, it wasn't so troublesome.
Raiden Mei herself, as Xin Yu's Emissary, could directly tear open space to reach another parallel world. She possessed the authority granted by Xin Yu to move freely between these worlds.
Kiana could do it too; she held the same special authority. However, to prevent everyone from constantly running off, leaving no one home when Xin Yu returned, Kiana had been guarding the house.
Yae Sakura was the same. Though she was just as worried about Xin Yu, as a miko who served her god, she believed that Xin Yu would one day return. He was merely dealing with some troublesome matters at the moment. Because of this faith, Yae Sakura had been staying at the Yae Shrine, awaiting his return.
Mobius also had the authority, but now was a time for reunited companions. There were many things to say and many things to do. Besides, she too believed that guy would definitely come back. He hadn't even said a proper goodbye, so he wouldn't stay away for too long.
"This world reset… I think Otto got the best deal. In this new world, that guy is truly happy."
Kiana turned on the television. The news broadcast showed a speech being given at the Schicksal Headquarters by none other than Otto Apocalypse.
"In this new world, Otto never committed any heinous atrocities. He even married his childhood sweetheart, Kallen Kaslana, and they have a daughter named Theresa Apocalypse."
"But his future won't be any easier. After all, he now has to lead the human civilization of this world toward the stars."
"What about Bronya?"
"Bronya… doesn't retain her memories from before the world reset."
"Why is that?"
"He probably didn't want Bronya to hold on to the memories of her dark past. I think if it weren't for the fact that our connection to him is too deep—that if he tried to tamper with our memories, we would surely notice and resist, which might have caused us to forget many things from the past as well—he might have done the same for us."
"That guy… sigh! When on earth is he coming back?"
Above the starry sky.
Xin Yu sat outside the Imaginary Tree, watching as his past self was completely consumed and assimilated by it, and his own Way was thoroughly integrated into its fundamental rules. He let out a long breath.
His body completely relaxed.