Once upon a time, Ling Ke still dreamed.
In the dream, he lived under the sun, free from the torment of being tortured day and night, no longer an experimental subject like a piece of meat or a consumable.
His initial sincerity... or naivety was not betrayed.
Raiden Mei decided to believe him simply because she did not feel any malice from him.
The cocoa wasn't a panacea either.
Because at that time, his plan for the artificial collapse had not yet been fully launched, and Raiden Ryoma was still the umbrella protecting his daughter.
She adjusted her eyeliner in Changkong City, not as much as she had thought.
Then, although Ryoma Raiden was extremely busy during that time, after receiving contact from Mei Raiden, he hurried back home after a long absence.
No longer as the masked "Hou Mu Sword Master."
But as "father."
He firmly opposed Cocoria's radical anti-entropy.
He used the "handle" he had in his hands to threaten to withdraw.
In the end, Cocoria could only come to an agreement.
And because of that, he hated the young black-haired man whose origin was unknown.
However, in the face of that malice, he—whose zeal had not been extinguished—still had the courage to move forward.
Changkong City was saved, and millions of people avoided the cruel fate of death.
He and Mei became close friends.
Later, he met the white-haired danko—Kiana Kaslana, who called herself "Miss Ben."
In addition to being secretly sent by Cocoria, only she entered herself—Bronya Zaicek.
"Bronya, you don't want Shear to be rescued, right?"
At that time, he often made very bad jokes.
But in the end, he kept his promise.
As the "great savior player," he saved everyone who was nearly dead and "rescued" all those who had died.
No tragedy in this world could stand before him.
A certain pink elf lady said he created a true "land of fun."
A certain Dr. Snake, with a sharp tongue, said he ascended the true "Throne of God."
All who believed him got good results.
Then.
Dreamwakes.
There was a time when all around were the icy cell, the dazzling incandescent lamp, and a pair of eyes watching the supplies.
Now, the moment after the separation.
North Africa, Sahara.
Era: Pre-civilization.
208 days left until the third Honkai Impact.
Today, there is no so-called World Serpent Headquarters base here.
It was a normal night.
Ling Ke lay alone on the yellow sand, silently.
Next moment.
"What a ridiculous and extremely disgusting 'nightmare.'"
"The 'enlightened' after ascension... You can observe the timeline but cannot interfere with the world, yet unexpectedly harbor a wicked mentality."
"All these 'ifs' are knives stabbing the hearts (of my enemies)."
"Well, in terms of the 'plot' arrangement, there are some opportunities not well used, which are relatively blunt and don't maximize dramatic irony."
Thinking that, as if suffering from a "professional illness," he yawned a lot after making some comments.
Obviously, he did not care at all about those "ifs."
But he knew very well that while he didn't care, some people did.
"Jaja~"
Don't say he's in a very good mood right now after being screwed like that by that "dreamer."
Since it's the first time, he hasn't arranged anything on his side, and someone will be punished.
Really satisfying.
"It's the last scene, why does it feel like the end of EVA?"
Ling Ke couldn't help but complain.
It seems what's being judged is not "me" at all.
Well, the so-called "great savior player" could never be him again.
As his name suggests, that is—a nonexistent memory.
At that moment, he still clearly wore an elegant evening dress, but he no longer intended to maintain his elegant image.
Having lived in a "theater" for a long time, he no longer needed to "act."
He simply lay there, completely relaxed.
Letting a little dust slip on his fists and the back of his neck because of this excessive movement.
The night sand was cold.
But he was still lazy and didn't want to move his body.
Only because, at this point, what he saw with his eyes was.
Forcibly going back in time more than 50,000 years... such outrageous things, he did.
The price paid, unlike Otto's.
Only his own theater of domination... In the "Rebirth Hall," there is a sprout resembling a bonsai.
Shoots of the imaginary tree.
It is... or "He" thinks it is the safest place.
No erosion of the "Quantum Sea," enough to carry His eternal existence... Pure Land.
For example, "If one day in the future, the real and huge tree of imaginary numbers collapses, then this is His 'second chance.'"
What Ling Ke insists on saying, according to his understanding... The little sprout hugging his thighs like a cute baby and always showing him kindness is like... Beng San World plus-pro-max-super version—Little Lucky Grass King?
Or.
"Is it like having a special little pet worth hundreds of millions?"
Ling Ke complained to himself like that.
This little uninvited guest didn't care about his arrival.
Because the one now, in Honkai Impact, in the imaginary numbers tree, is only grateful.
Even for a late "system."
"I hate you, the 'Creator,' who has made me go through pain and suffering."
"I also thank you, the 'Creator,' for giving me the power of revenge."
"But, anyway.
"I still want to praise you, the great 'Creator.'"
He muttered.
Of course, he insists on saying "pet."
Nowadays, there are more than a dozen "electronic pets" in his theater of domination.
They are also the "audience" for later acts.
He can even be a "participant."
For them, in Ling Ke's heart.
There is no grudge, only resentment.
Because they helped Mei Raiden.
And the thousand kalpas punch, although not on his own (body) face.
Ling Ke is quite petty and holds grudges.
"If Raiden Mei really decides to destroy your time's 'second chance' for her own time."
"How do you feel in your heart?"
At this point, Ling Ke was very curious.
Unexplainably, he thought of that pink figure, the daughter of God sent by Xingyue.
"Starry sky?"
Now, after a brief divine ascension, although the divine power has faded again, the essential person has become taller, but the apparently "ordinary" Ling Ke, the "starry sky" in his eyes has faded.
No more depth.
But when his impious gaze moved, what he saw was real, clear, fixed in the sky, the vast starry sky.
It was so beautiful, beautiful and bright.
Unexplainably.
"Oh, 'The Rebirth of Ymir' is right!"
Ling Ke smiled.
He looked at the scenes around him, and when he complained about himself, it was no longer the cold, fierce fake smile that forced the corners of his mouth.
But unrestrained, crazy, cordial.
At that moment he felt that for him personally, in this new era, even the air was fresh.
At that moment he really felt he was living for himself.
His "broken heart" was remodeled.
No more nothing.
But it is binocular, still no focal length.
The eyes, windows to the mind.
In fact, once again he had an "inner heart."
No longer "nothing."
But still "murky."
But still, Ling Ke didn't care.
He sat down.
"Chi~"
He grabbed a handful of fine sand.
His palms naturally extended, allowing the sand to slip from his fingertips and fly to one side with the wind.
But "counting the interest, there's not much fine sand left."
Like his once broken heart.
Nowadays, although restored, there was very little left.
He extended his palms more and let the wind scatter the fine sand left in his hand.
No trace of nostalgia.
Just like that "memory that does not exist."
Because now he knows very well... what does not belong to him, there is no need to force it.
He doesn't care.
Of course, if you really have to force it.
"Eh!"
Chuckling.
Immediately, he grabbed his knees and stood up.
"Will you understand that you will be reborn tonight~?"
"Even if fragmented, I will be by your side~?"
"Even if they tore me to pieces..."
"I don't want to experience that kind of pain again~?"
Subconsciously, Ling Ke hummed a familiar and fitting song.
Although there was no soundtrack, it was a bit less beautiful.
But still, he entertained himself and celebrated the "second chance" that now belonged both to this era and to himself.
He no longer needed to lock himself in the theater of domination and sit alone on that beautiful throne.
Because he briefly ascended to the divine realm and then faded, and his person became taller, the core of his consciousness merged with the "rebirth chamber."
In this way, he himself could be reborn again and again like dominant figures carrying various game character templates.
Or it could be said: immortality.
Thus.
"Step~"
"Step~"
"Step~"
On the soft sandy ground, he left his distant footprints.
Upward.
The night sky seemed to be pierced by shooting stars.
It seemed to symbolize this era and yet another glorious moment!
Perhaps this time.
By force through "malice": forever!
"Hmm~"
Mei Raiden had a dream.
In the dream, there are "nonexistent memories."
They are simply too pleasant.
So much so that even when she wakes up now, she still feels extremely reluctant to leave.
She hasn't returned to normal for a long time.
Reality must be even crueler.
At this point, she raises her head and looks around.
Under the night sky, there is yellow sand everywhere.
Only her.
"Eh~"
The cold desert wind brushed her cheeks, dragging thousands of strands of hair.
It was not until she received a cold touch on the back of her hand that she realized she had long been shedding tears.
"So that's the real (once) him."
Raiden Mei's gaze was a little weary.
At one moment, unconsciously, like a devout believer, she extended her hands and raised a handful of fine sand.
It was like tending the "fire" in her chest.
But suddenly.
"Eh~"
The desert night wind blew, and the fine sand in her hands grew less and less.
She could not hold onto it.
She wanted to hold her hands tightly, but instead squeezed the fine sand even more.
At that moment, she inexplicably panicked.
She wanted to gather more from the side, but after this "wrong judgment," the fine sand in her hand was no longer the same as before.
Neither was she.
At that moment, she collapsed.
"I was wrong!"
"Really wrong!!"
"Wrong from the start!!!"
"It's all my fault, all my fault..."
Mei Raiden weakly collapsed in place, tears dripping on the back of her hand, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
By this point, she could no longer say to whom she wanted to apologize.
Was it Ling Ke, who long felt ashamed of himself?
Or.
At that moment, bowing to her fate, she could not see the shooting stars running across the sky.
They were very conspicuous.
Clearly, the stars shone brightly in the night sky, but the first thing she saw was that.
But soon it disappeared and fell directly to the horizon.
Like lost glory, all lost.
Everything became "nothing."
After that, she did not know how much time passed.
One moment.
Raiden Mei didn't even realize.
Her trimmed hair ornaments were broken.
Her long purple hair floated like a waterfall.
Her tears had dried.
But the tears on her face.
And at the tip of her hair.
A touch of desolate paleness was coming, seeming to spread upward.
But like an illusion, in an instant.