Rappa had already taken out quite a few sleep-banana little monkeys while riding her skateboard.
At the same time, subtitles began appearing all around them.
These were the very reasons people had chosen to become sleep-banana little monkeys.
"Being human sucks. Being a little monkey is great—no school, no job, no thinking, no worries."
"Little monkeys have no GPA, no graduation anxiety. Little monkeys have no KPIs, no salary stress. Little monkeys have no future, no fear of tomorrow."
[This episode breaks defenses the hardest.]
[I also want to become a sleep-banana little monkey.]
[I'm sweating buckets just watching this.]
"Are these floating secret curses the inner voices of the ninja disciples? It seems they abandoned the ninja path not solely because of the Evil Spirit • Chief's temptation." Rappa stopped and looked toward Dan Heng beside her.
"Yes. Life in Penacony isn't as ideal as it appears on the surface. Standing at the edge of a cliff—even a gentle breeze can push someone into the abyss."
"But we must make that wind cease—even if the ninja disciples yearn to leap, it must be their own choice, not the result of some demonic gust."
Rappa resumed her hunt for the Banana Professor. She knew that becoming a sleep-banana little monkey was itself a form of self-numbing dream.
Only by facing life's hardships head-on can one truly feel the meaning of being alive.
…
Finally, the trio caught up to the Banana Professor.
"Banana… the experimental results suffered such heavy damage because of you failures…" The Banana Professor turned back and glared viciously at the three.
"Evil Spirit • Chief, you have nowhere left to run. Face the judgment of the Dazzling • Ninja techniques!"
"'AK-A-3'—bearing the premium primate genes selected from 32 civilizations through atavistic experiments, yet led astray due to the mistaken nurturing of an apprentice research ape. And that apprentice research ape, showing no remorse, colluded with a Galaxy Ranger, inflicting catastrophic losses on the laboratory, ultimately leaving behind nothing but an utterly deplorable 'failure product.'"
[She was never a failure product.]
[Rappa is not an experimental subject, nor a failure—she is a living person, a Galaxy Ranger!]
[She is AKA Dazzling Ninja • Rappa!]
— —
Rappa's eyes widened in fury. "What right does an evil spirit who only knows how to obey evil ninjas and wreak havoc everywhere have to judge me?"
"Of course… by means of 'dreams.'
Let us continue the previous topic: Bananas are asexual plants. One rhizome can propagate countless banana trees, giving rise to vast banana forests capable of solving famine across an entire galaxy—or even the universe.
Yet those selfish plants insist on 'individuality' and 'self,' scattering seeds recklessly, growing wild. They only know how to perpetuate their own genes, never sacrificing for their kind.
Tell me—from the scale of the cosmos, who should be eliminated, and who should be preserved?"
"Enough. Shut your mouth already." Rappa transformed into a memory master. "At the start of term, you told everyone to chase freedom. Now you're mocking the meaning of freedom. Earlier you declared bananas failed plants; now you're praising their selflessness."
[Why did Rappa suddenly start speaking normally again?]
[Only when she's extremely angry does her speech normalize.]
[Normally she's just faking the chuuni act—when emotions spike too hard, she forgets.]
The Banana Professor was momentarily speechless. "Uh… this… this is a different context. You can't lump them together…"
"Evil people always have countless excuses for doing evil, always trying to position themselves as righteous. Self-contradictory, forcing logic, all for their own desires. There's no need to even listen to this kind of lesson."
Rappa drew her weapon. "Evil Spirit • Chief, instead of spinning wild lies, you'd be better off composing your own death poem!"
"Failure products… you are all irredeemably unbananable failures. For failure products, a genius's 'Erudition' is forever out of reach. But I can teach you this lesson in a more 'primitive' way…"
Behind the Banana Professor floated an enormous dream bubble, just like those of the sleep-banana little monkeys.
"Do you see this beautiful dream bubble? The Family built Penacony using the 'Harmony' wishes of countless followers combined with the power of the Stellaron. I gathered the 'abandonment' wishes of countless little monkeys into this dream bubble, creating the 'Moment of Banana Sleep.'
Now, I shall entrust all its power to you 'Banana Teachers' and 'Banana Assistants.'"
"Banana banana banana… classmates, it's time for the final banana studies session." Spotlights appeared from nowhere, shining down on the Banana Professor.
At the same time, five assistants of varying forms appeared before everyone, striking bizarre poses.
They were none other than the future "Cloud Banana Quintet"—the Banana Research Team!
The new nightmare of Simulated Universe in later versions of Herta Space Station's Interaction City!
[Hahaha, Ginyu Force?]
[Please, these guys look super weak!]
[You think these new enemies will actually get implemented in Simulated Universe?]
[Almost certainly. Usually after the episode airs, they show up when you go back to Interaction City.]
[But this time there's not even a boss—probably clearable in a few hits.]
[These are just minions; they don't deserve the spotlight!]
— —
Rappa and the others had already cleared out a massive number of sleep-banana little monkeys, severely weakening the Banana Research Team.
With just a few casual moves, the trio knocked all the assistants flat.
The audience could see it plain as day—these guys were laughably weak. The Banana Research Team got treated like a fart and blown away.
"Banana banana banana… a failed banana studies session… an unattainable dream, like a banana… hanging at the top of the tree…"
Before he could finish, Rappa kicked the Banana Professor aside and fired her Ninja • Science straight into the monkey dream bubble.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
The DJ rave in Dreamflux Reef was still going strong—Robin was still spinning, March 7th was still hyped, Boothill was still tap-dancing…
Suddenly the memetic black hole exploded. Monkeys poured out one after another, then transformed back into human forms.
Director Mr. Reca watched the explosion with an extremely wholesome smile.
Dan Heng and Stelle fell to the ground together.
Stelle very effectively served as a cushion.
"Mission… complete—"
Rappa landed steadily and tried once again to strike a cool pose—only to get hit in the head by a dye bottle.
[Did you see? Dan Heng landed on top of Stelle.]
[Poor Stelle… why does this feel so natural?]
[Boothill's dancing is actually pretty good—that tiny waist, look at him twerking.]
[March-wife is so cute, but her hair color feels a little off.]
[Elation everywhere—Sparkle not being here is a huge miss.]
[Another world-famous painting.]
[Don't say it—Mr. Reca's smile looks like a Masked Fool.]
[Maybe he really is dual identity.]
[Everyone look at Stelle's hand gesture—hahaha, I'm dying.]
[Even a simple shot can be this abstract!]
[I love this final frame so much.]
[Screenshot, screenshot.]
— —
After everyone reverted from sleep-banana little monkeys back to human form, they were initially dazed and seemed to have no memory of their time as monkeys.
"Trailblazer, Dan Heng! And… Miss Rappa?" March 7th rushed forward excitedly upon seeing her companions.
"Yo, Lapis • Ninja!" Rappa tilted her head slightly. "Yo, Silver Spear • Asura Highness!"
Watching the three descend from the sky, Boothill couldn't help but remark, "宝贝, the entrance you guys made is even bigger than ours."
"How could… such a grand vision lose to a bunch of failing kindling!!!" The Banana Professor appeared behind everyone, staring at the shattered dream bubble with rising fury.
"Evil Spirit • Chief. Stop insulting people with filthy words. The ninja path knows no high or low, no noble or base—those who seek the 'ninja path' are ninja disciples. Those who uphold the 'ninja path' are ninjas. Those who fully embody the 'ninja path'… are ninja heroes!"
The Banana Professor scratched his ear. "Banana banana, don't understand."
"I don't understand either…" Boothill immediately hit the brakes. "Nah, stop wasting words on him. Dr. Primitive's pet monkey—no amount of talking's gonna work."
Dan Heng asked weakly, "So… what are you planning to do with this guy?"
"Obviously torture him first. Ha, belt soaked in saltwater, whip him for half a day—run through every nasty trick the Company ever used on me." Boothill bared his sharp teeth.
"The Evil Spirit • Chief's sins are grave; he must face severe punishment—not for repentance, but in order to—"
The next moment, Boothill and Rappa spoke in unison: "make him reveal the whereabouts of the Monkey-Prison • Evil Ninja." / "make him reveal the whereabouts of Dr. Primitive."
Banana Professor: "…"
"Yo, like playing dead? Let's see if you can still play dead in front of a banana tree covered in iron spikes later."
"Alright, cowboy actor—no need to keep acting with a puppet." Mr. Reca passed by at just the right moment.
"Puppet? You're the little cutie here—your toad looks more like a puppet than he does."
Assistant Director: "…"
[Assistant Director said it perfectly.]
[Let's congratulate the Assistant Director.]
[The Assistant Director is truly great!]
[??? What did the Assistant Director even say?]
[I used to feel out of place with the chat because I wasn't meme enough, but ever since watching this Honkai: Star Rail net drama, my mental state has improved! The Assistant Director is the real director!]
"Sigh, you hurt the Assistant Director's feelings. That crude dialogue style really needs work." Mr. Reca pointed at the motionless Banana Professor. "If you want to beat up a prop, I have no objections. But a certain orangutan who just woke up on the Asdina border should already be preparing to set sail."
Hearing this, Rappa used her superhuman senses to scan around. "Silver Spear • Asura Highness, my Super • Hearing can no longer detect the evil spirit's presence. The Toad • Ninja spoke true."
Stelle summed it up: "He got away?"
[Right—this is Penacony. That wasn't his real body to begin with.]
[So beating up one of Dr. Primitive's subordinates was already this hard—can we really win against the man himself?]
[Galaxy Rangers have taken down even Emanators of Destruction. An Emanator isn't exactly new territory.]
[Ah, yeah yeah yeah.]
— —
Boothill gritted his teeth. "Baby, we went through all that trouble and ended up empty-handed?"
"It's fine." Rappa replied calmly.
"Sis, you're this chill? You used to rant about that trash villain nonstop, hating him to death—and now you don't care?"
"The night is long. A ninja hero's hatred should be sealed by the ninja hero herself. Penacony has welcomed an era of peace and prosperity. For now, let the countless beings of the dreamland embrace the sunlight. Hatred will one day fade, but the ninja path in people's hearts… will not."
The scene shifts.
In a neon-lit city, Rappa stood by a railing. Behind her stood her master—Master Kucha.
"Rappa, have you come to understand your own ninja path?"
"My ninja path is, of course, to become the Dazzling • Ninja Hero."
"No—that doesn't count as a ninja path. The ninja path is what a ninja is willing to uphold for their entire life."
"Then… defeating evil ninjas?"
"You will defeat the Monkey-Prison • Evil Ninja sooner or later. And after that? Is becoming the Dazzling • Ninja Hero only for the sake of defeating your enemy?"
Rappa fell silent for a moment. "But evil ninjas in this world are far from just him, right?"
Master Kucha nodded in satisfaction. "Of course. In the galactic ninja world, villains are as numerous as the stars of Kiro. The gods have no time to care for mortals, and ninja masters with transcendent ninja power fight among themselves—this is the degenerate age."
"Then my ninja path shall be—purge all evil, no rest until death. Even when the arrow is on the string and never to return, remain single-minded, shatter evil, manifest righteousness!"
Rappa then leaped down from the height. "Until the degenerate age ends."
[The great侠 serves the nation and its people.]
[This is The Hunt!]
[Heart uncompromised, actions unbound!]
[Great Lan the Skybow: You pass!]
— —
Then came the end credits.
Until The End.
"CUT! Perfect!"
[Fake-out—I thought it was over.]
[Gotta watch Honkai: Star Rail with the progress bar on, or it might finish the whole thing in episode one.]
After the storm settled, Origami Academy began reorganizing the school festival.
The trio finally reunited and shared their experiences.
Though March 7th exaggerated just a tiny bit.
In the end, at March 7th's suggestion, everyone headed to the school festival—with Robin presiding over the opening ceremony!
Along the way, the trio saw former classmates.
Montana was no longer a brain-dead sleep-banana little monkey fan—she had become a brain-dead Galactic Ninja Scrolls fan.
Richie and his father seemed to have come to terms with things.
Senior Chaletka seemed to have found her own "ninja seal."
Banana Blossom Sauce… no, Gabona had finally earned everyone's recognition.
Near the opening ceremony site, the trio finally reunited with the two parental figures of the Express!
After the Express family reunion, Robin stepped onto the stage and delivered the opening speech!
It ultimately condensed into an eight-character maxim: "Dreams are colorful, ideals are free!"
— —
Meanwhile, at the other end of Penacony.
Rappa stood alone on a rooftop. "Though this place resembles an evil kingdom, there are still no clues…"
Her sharp ears turned backward. "Yo, Toad • Ninja."
Mr. Reca looked helpless. "I really hope in the next scene you can give me a different nickname, my good actor. Are you alone?"
"Every ninja hero has their own 'prey.' Silver Spear • Asura Highness only lent a hand out of obligation this time; he's already gone to continue his hunt. Do you have business with me?"
"Hehe, you helped me shoot such a brilliant film—I'm here to deliver your pay."
"No need for thanks. I walk the path of chivalry solely for my ninja path within; I never covet material rewards."
"Don't say that—you'll definitely be interested in this pay, because the contents are…" Mr. Reca gave a devilish smile, "…about the whereabouts of Dr. Primitive."