MGSFV?! Chapter 442. A Wicked Woman Is Urging Kiana to Become Finality!
Thinking of Herschy in the first minute—
Speaking of which, no one knew how the Herrscher of Sentience was doing now.
But.
Since Hokuto said Kevin didn't go all-out on Fu Hua, then Herschy, who rushed over to support Fu Hua, should also be fine... right?
Hmm... that probably checks out...
After all, maybe many players still thought Herschy went to support Fu Hua intending to "unite in mind and body," "super transformation," "battle Kevin to the edge of the universe until the Dao itself is obliterated"...
But actually, she understood the situation well. Herschy knew how to read the room and made a very smart decision.
Hands up, survived successfully.
"Kevin, let me just say upfront, I surre—"
Going fifty-fifty? What's that? Ah, youthful arrogance.
Hahaha, here comes another classic scene from Herschy. Honkai Impact 3rd truly can't do without the Herrscher of Sentience.
One wonders—what will players think when they see that "unexpected" scene?
Hokuto felt "slightly" excited about it.
...
Anyway, let's get back to the main topic early.
After Hokuto decisively blinked out of view, Kiana and the others chased her along another path.
Along the way, they occasionally heard voices—like echoes of logical forms—drift into their minds.
Aside from the earlier line that made people want to ask the speaker whether they planned to reverse all creation...
Some of the statements grew quite extreme—
"Human knowledge is nothing more than poetry. Their minds always belong to a single moment, and they can never accomplish what they truly wish."
"But we are also a poem of humanity. You cannot scorn the things that created you—that would be forgetting your roots."
"What are you saying? A program has nothing in common with the 0s and 1s that make it up."
Their attitude toward humans mirrored many depictions of AI in science fiction...
Though these logical forms might be slightly more reasonable, there was no doubt that some of them not only considered themselves superior to humans—but even regarded humans as inferior creatures...
Such arrogance... should one say it's fitting for creations born from humanity's legacy?
Meanwhile, players increasingly felt that these logical forms were nothing like what they'd imagined.
They frowned and kept advancing.
The voices kept coming.
"No matter who proposes an argument here, no one ever debates it—because everyone agrees."
"Don't talk nonsense. Who agrees with you? We're not a collective. Stop dreaming."
Clearly, the logical forms created by the Stigmata Project weren't a hive mind.
They resembled a race of "superhumans" born with knowledge.
"Doesn't matter. Our job is to collect memories for a specific purpose. And look, you're not arguing—you're just expressing your thoughts."
"That's enough. What is this place? Human behavior is not worth emulating. We only need to master their experience. Do you start crowing just because you saw a rooster look nice?"
Players: "..."
Admittedly, some logical forms' analogies carried a great deal of malice, or rather, unfiltered contempt.
That...
Made the players feel a bit uncomfortable.
Their unease deepened.
But they still followed the quest marker forward.
Kiana and her companions finally reached the end of the path.
Hokuto was already waiting by a large crater.
As they approached, Hokuto smiled and welcomed them: "Welcome to the [Crater of Finality]—"
"Hmm... if I'd just waited here from the start, maybe I could've used that line to greet you properly?"
What's this?
She thought her previous entrance wasn't dramatic enough and wanted a redo?
That was a very Elysia thing to say.
But it was obvious she was imitating on purpose.
The players realized their initial read on Hokuto may have been off—she was more like Mobius...
Mimicking Elysia's tone just to trick people into the operating table kind of thing.
A tactic.
...
Kiana: "..."
She looked toward the Crater of Finality—where the remains of the Herrscher of Finality lay.
Was Hokuto about to explain where Finality came from?
Indeed.
According to Hokuto, this was once a stage where civilizations across the ages struggled desperately for their fate...
Humanity failed again and again, cycled through countless reincarnations—endless wills creating similar destinies, all ending here.
And they—Herrschers—could escape the cycle...
"...As Herrschers, you are free from the cycle of rebirth—that is a blessing, and a tragedy."
"Rebirth...?" Mei echoed softly.
"Yes, the world's endless cycle of destruction and rebirth. You've gathered some info on this, haven't you?"
Hokuto nodded lightly. "If not for someone severing the threads of fate 50,000 years ago... that cycle would still be playing out on Earth."
The person she referred to was undoubtedly...
[Wuwuwu, my dear Elysia!!]
[Origin didn't want humanity to become a self-repeating loop, but to walk their own path—because she loved humanity.]
[Elysia literally gave her life to c.]
[Is this the newest Land of Beginnings hell joke?]
[Some are gone... but live forever in our hearts.]
[Amen~!]
Everyone already understood.
Hokuto's voice continued without pause.
"But even if the thread has been cut... as long as humanity cannot truly coexist with Honkai, Imaginary energy will continuously flow into the Cocoon of Finality, catalyzing the birth of new Herrschers of Finality."
The [Imaginary energy] mentioned here—according to Anti-Entropy—refers to Imaginary Internal Energy, i.e., Honkai energy.
In other words, the Cocoon of Finality absorbs Honkai energy (power), and continually nurtures new Herrschers of Finality.
Like a monster spawner (not really).
So... could we dismantle the Cocoon? Like with a picka—ahem, with some kind of device?
The answer is... impossible.
"World Serpent also wanted to do that—but it's not possible. After all..."
The camera gave Hokuto a close-up.
[Not gonna lie, Hokuto's character design is really good-looking.]
Some players still had the leisure to admire her model—unaware that a big moment was imminent.
"To see the Cocoon of Finality, you probably must possess the power of Finality yourself."
Hokuto paused slightly and looked at Kiana—her voice took on a strange tone.
"Specifically, for you, Kiana, that would mean..."
The camera artfully shifted from Hokuto to Kiana.
That transition... pure artistry.
"You must become the Herrscher of Finality."
Players: Huh?
Elysia: ???
What?
Kiana... become the Herrscher of Finality?
No way.
To defeat the Herrscher of Finality, she had to become one... and then defeat herself...?
This...
Players couldn't help but place their hands on their keyboards—just as the game delivered another perfect camera cut.
The angle shifted slightly, showing Mei fully in frame... and then... she turned and looked silently at Kiana.
[???]
Was that camera pan too intentional?
[Why give Mei that shot...? Could it be true? Kiana becoming Finality? Is this an official hint?]
[A hint? That's a straight-up confirmation! It's over—Kiana's in trouble.]
[Kiana, you must live!!]
[Are we doing another "Lament of the Sinner"? Kiana, I won't let you do this... Actually, Mei probably understands now.]
[Elysia taught Mei too well.]
No doubt, Kiana now looked like an old general on stage—flags sticking out all over her.
Resisting Finality only to become it in the end...
Could that be Kiana's destiny?
[Let's not panic yet. I think there's still a twist to come...]
But just as a few bullet chats urged calm—
Hokuto rested her chin on her hand and casually added: "But... how could that be possible?"
[Hokuto thought the flag wasn't secure enough and added another line.]
[Lady, please, if you keep talking, Kiana's gonna die from all the flags you're raising.]
[Nooooo!]
Obviously...
That line didn't ease anyone's worries.
The suggestion that Kiana might become Finality came from Hokuto.
Then she said "just kidding"?
They weren't buying it.
Some players with vivid imaginations were already writing the ending in their minds.
Such as...
[I've got the final act figured out—Mei draws her lightning into a bow and delivers nine Herrscher cores to Kiana. Kiana fuses all nine, becomes Finality, and absorbs 99% of Earth's Honkai. Then she and Hokuto are sealed on the moon. Honkai overflows from the moon like trees. To save her sister, Durandal stays on the moon chopping down Honkai trees forever...]
Hokuto: Gotta admit, the internet's imagination is impressive.
[You had me up until Durandal chopping trees. Kiana goes to the moon, and Durandal becomes a lumberjack, huh?]
[Kiana = Chang'e, Durandal = Wu Gang, Hokuto = Jade Rabbit... cursed beyond belief.]
[By the way, to see the Cocoon, you need Finality. Kevin has it, right? Could that be a setup?]
[Still hoping... Hokuto's just joking.]
Yeah.
Even though Kiana and Mei just had a heart-melting moment...
And now... this?
Writers, do you even consider us people?!
They really hoped this was a bluff.
...
"To discuss Finality is like discussing death..."
"No one returns from the world after death—we cannot describe what death truly feels like."
As Hokuto spoke, she turned and began walking away.
Kiana and the others followed in silence, listening.
"Though I can walk the edge between dreams and reality, I do not possess the power to surpass time and space, to witness the complete truth."
"Just like these remains of Finality on the moon—now mere rock—will never awaken again, not because of me, but because of the Sovereign... and everything you carry."
"And the only reason I escaped from the vast Stigmata Space and appeared here and now... is because a certain senior paved the road for me."
A senior?
That word caught everyone's attention.
Hokuto's existence was clearly not normal—who could pave the way for her?
Must be someone very special.
Mei had the same question as the players.
"...A senior?"
"Yes. A senior."
Hokuto nodded. "A senior who was [beyond redemption]."
She said that, then seemed to recall something. Her gaze suddenly fell on Bronya, and she let out a nearly inaudible sigh.
[???]
Players were full of doubt once again.
[In all of Honkai, who qualifies as "beyond redemption"? I feel like... only Otto.]
[But Hokuto looked at Bronya! And how would Otto be related to Hokuto? Maybe it's Joyce?]
[Joyce wasn't "beyond redemption"! Wait... does she mean the 300,000 who died when the Herrscher of Reason was born?]
Hmm...
Hokuto nodded with satisfaction.
At last, the players had followed the breadcrumbs to the right answer.
The "beyond redemption" senior Hokuto spoke of...
Was neither Otto nor Joyce... but rather—close at hand.
And despite Hokuto's meaningful glance, Bronya didn't mind.
Instead, she asked about the Stigmata Project in detail.
And Hokuto, of course, answered everything truthfully.
But there are things that no amount of explanation or conversation can resolve.
There were ideological conflicts between them.
Is it about giving time to civilization—or giving civilization to time?
Such conflicts cannot be settled by words—perhaps they never could.
It's like... who actually expects to win an internet argument so thoroughly that the other side sincerely apologizes?
That...
Well, let's go talk about the odds of Elysia's resurrection instead. That might be more realistic.
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