As soon as she entered the Elysian Realm,
she saw raging flames,
burning everything, devouring everything, destroying everything.
And within those flames, a masked man had his back turned to her:
"…Oh? A Herrscher?"
On the television screen, his name was specially labeled — Kalpas.
Raiden Mei took the initiative to greet him: "Hello, my name is Raiden Mei."
Kalpas spoke with unbridled arrogance and rudeness: "Your name is irrelevant, Herrscher."
"And I have no interest in remembering the name of someone who's about to die!"
?
??
Mei was full of confusion. Before she could even ask anything, countless Honkai beasts suddenly surged out from all directions.
She had no choice but to draw her weapon and face them with endless thunder.
"Haha… HAHAHAHAHA…"
Kalpas let out wild laughter, as if watching the most entertaining drama in the world: "Go on, Herrscher!"
After Raiden Mei finished off the first wave of Honkai beasts,
she decisively pulled back, creating distance. She had absolutely no idea what kind of person this was.
She only heard him shouting like a madman: "Not enough… still not enough! Even if only a single breath remains, this battle will never end!"
Especially after seeing her retreat, he mocked even more: "Herrscher, is this all you've got?"
"Show me your real power! Prove to me that you're worthy of being beaten to death by me!"
Mei was somewhat irritated by his words.
She directly assumed an iaijutsu stance. A sweep of lightning flashed past — the flames and buildings in front were cleaved in two, and the second wave of charging Honkai beasts were all cut down.
"That's right, Herrscher. Just like you did in other places — turn this disputed Elysian Realm… into a true hell!"
After this strike, Mei became even more cautious. She could feel that the opponent was very strong. Precisely because of that, she needed to conserve stamina and prepare for a real battle with him.
But this action of hers only made Kalpas even angrier: "Why are you hesitating, Herrscher! Unleash your true madness! Use your authority to conquer this battlefield!"
"Hm?"
Mei completely ignored him.
Instead, she noticed that the Honkai beasts gathering around weren't charging toward her.
It was more like they were being attracted by the crazy man in front of her.
At this moment,
Kalpas seemed completely insane: "Herrscher, this is an endless battlefield, this is the path of annihilation! No need to distinguish justice or evil — you only need to vent the rage in your heart, sever everything, slaughter everything, burn everything to ashes!"
Right at that moment,
Mei found an opening.
With the momentum of thunder, she charged toward Kalpas. While knocking him back, she released an extremely powerful electromagnetic force that annihilated all the surrounding Honkai beasts.
She raised her weapon toward Kalpas: "Your little tricks are over. If you want to fight, then come!"
Kalpas said: "Fight? Heh… HAHAHAHAHAHA…"
"If I really intended to do that, do you think you'd still be standing here talking to me?"
"My name is Kalpas. Like everyone else here, I'm a MANTIS — the Mark of Annihilation. I forgot which number I was. Doesn't matter."
Mei said: "Herrscher of Thunder, Raiden Mei."
Kalpas sneered: "Heh, a Herrscher… Since when has Honkai started doing archaeological excavations on civilizations it has already destroyed?"
Mei said: "I'm not the same as the Herrschers you know."
Kalpas said: "But you are still a Herrscher."
"…" Mei couldn't refute that.
Kalpas continued: "A Herrscher, actually craving human power… How laughable."
Mei corrected him: "I didn't come here seeking power."
Kalpas said: "What you seek has nothing to do with me."
"You passed my test, so I'll give you a chance — it's that simple."
His way of speaking made Mei a little angry.
"Hmph, those little tricks earlier… you call that a test?"
Kalpas laughed wildly: "HAHAHAHA… Are you trying to provoke me, Herrscher?"
"I hate complicated things. The purest slaughter is the most effective test."
"Lose and you die. Win and you live. Then keep slaughtering… It's that simple!"
"…Herrscher, do you know how many people have fallen here before?"
Mei said: "I only know that I won't be one of them."
Kalpas said coldly: "Then do your best to survive in this Elysian Realm, Herrscher. We'll meet again."
"Next time, let me see your real rage. Maybe then I'll be interested in personally testing your caliber."
The Signet of Annihilation fell from his hand into Mei's.
Then all the scorching heat receded, and Kalpas disappeared before her eyes.
Seeing this scene—
At Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company,
in the break room,
Kalpas looked incredulous: "Director He, is this the image you have of me?"
Hessian said: "What else? What do you think you look like? Cute like Elysia?"
Mentioning this, even Kalpas had to admit: "The Elysia in the show is indeed very cute, but I'm not that arrogant and unreasonable, right? I should still be capable of communication, no?"
Elysia smiled and said: "Kalpas~ Are you saying the real me isn't cute?"
Kalpas decisively said: "I didn't… I was talking about my own issue."
Elysia said: "Actually, I think the image in the show matches you very well."
SAKURA also nodded: "Yes, I think so too."
Kiana said: "Rather than saying it matches, I feel like it's basically type-casting."
Kalpas furious: "Ha? What? Am I really that unreasonable?"
Everyone looked at him in unison: "What do you think?"
"Uh…"
Kalpas decisively sat down and muttered: "Is it really true…?"
Kevin gave him affirmation: "Don't doubt it. Director He's restoration is extremely accurate!"
Kalpas irritably said: "Accurate my ass! Take a good look at yourself — where do you even resemble the Kevin in there?!"
Kevin smiled and said: "Perhaps Director He saw my inner self. Just like that Signet of Deliverance — it's practically me in person."
"You…"
Kalpas didn't want to talk to him anymore.
He chose to keep watching the TV.
On the screen,
Mei also walked out of the Elysian Realm with a constipated expression.
Elysia saw her face and laughed: "Looking at your expression, you must have already met Kalpas."
Mei immediately asked: "What's wrong with that man? I thought that since they chose to leave their memories behind, at least the MANTIS would know how to communicate with people."
Elysia said: "Well… to be precise, he didn't really have a choice back then, but that's not the point."
"You see, in our era, there wasn't a beautiful, gentle, and kind Herrscher like you, Mei."
"For us, this was a completely new experience. It was everyone's first time trying to make friends with a Herrscher."
"And Kalpas… he's actually quite a reserved person deep down. Just give him a little more time."
"Reserved??" Mei couldn't believe her ears: "He isn't like this toward other people?"
Elysia answered: "…Pretty much the same, actually?"
"…"
Mei was instantly speechless: "Okay. But in a way, he does fit my impression of the Previous Era quite well."
Elysia said with distress: "Sigh, then that's troublesome… We left a bad impression on you."
Mei said without courtesy: "You know it's a bad impression, huh?"
Elysia stuck out her tongue cutely and stuffed a book into Mei's arms: "Ahaha, anyway… here, this is for you. You might need this book."
Mei took the book and looked at the title: "…"Kalpas Mask 101: From Beginner to Expert"? …Author, Elysia?"
Elysia said: "A beginner-friendly guidebook that teaches you how to get along with Kalpas in a friendly way. Simple, easy to understand, anyone can start using it immediately."
"In Fire Moth, this is required reading on the same level as the survival guide, you know."
"With this, you can confidently talk to him. And if you fail… don't worry, I also provide after-sales service."
Just as she was speaking,
a melodious singing voice drifted out from the Elysian Realm.
"This is… singing?"
Elysia said: "It's Eden's singing. I think I mentioned her to you before?"
Eden…
Mei remembered: "Was it when you were showing me around the break room? I think you mentioned her name then."
Elysia said: "Mm-hmm~ I knew you remembered what I said. I'm so happy~"
"Hmm… Eden… Let me think how I should introduce her to you."
"Everything here is thanks to Eden's generosity. Without her full support, the Elysian Realm might have been canceled at the planning stage."
Mei said: "Sounds like she's quite the philanthropist."
Elysia said: "That's not wrong. The wealth and fame she possesses are unmatched even among the Flame-Chasers."
"Model, performer, musician, producer, designer… Before civilization entered its final days, she had countless identities in the outside world."
"If I am the embodiment of cuteness, then Eden is the very synonym of beauty. She is the one who responds to people's thirst for beauty and brings it to ultimate perfection."
"She was one of the symbols of that era — a superstar who illuminated the world."
Mei was shocked: "A world superstar… and there was actually someone like that among the MANTIS…"
Elysia said: "Sigh, even someone as eloquent as me can't fully describe how amazing she is. How about… you go see for yourself?"
"I will."
Mei was already planning to do exactly that.
Elysia reminded her: "Be careful~ She possesses beauty that doesn't lose to either of us… Don't get enchanted, okay?"
Mei entered the Elysian Realm once again.
Following the direction of the sound, she walked forward.
The clear, crisp notes danced between the piano keys, graceful and lingering — like the bugle call of dawn, like the elegy of sunset. They guided her path and led her to Eden.
Before she even got close, she heard Eden's moving voice:
"When the starry sky dims, and the wine cups run dry. My king, why do you linger still in this desolate land?"
"To await the triumphant song, to seek that truth…"
"Hello, visitor."
"Sorry, I was slightly lost in thought just now."
Mei said: "It's fine. I hope I'm not disturbing you. My name is Raiden Mei."
Eden said: "Hello, Miss Mei. I am the fourth of the Flame-Chasers — bearing the title [Gold], Eden."
"Gold…?" This Signet surprised Mei a little.
Eden continued: "Yes, that's the name Ellie gave me. I suppose she was referring to the wealth I possess. Though I have lived in the magnificent Palace of a Thousand Windows like a royal, and tasted the world's most unparalleled wines and delicacies… I would not evaluate myself that way."
"I am merely a singer on the stage, a fleeting starlight shining for the audience."
"Whether that endless wealth or this title of Gold, they are all external things generously bestowed upon me by others."
Mei asked curiously: "What you were reciting just now…?"
"'The Kingdom After the Fall', final act — an opera song from our era." Eden answered directly.
Mei asked: "Was that also a piece you performed back then?"
"Yes." In Eden's eyes seemed to emerge the scene from that time: "The stage back then was so brilliant, the cheers of the audience so deafening… It was truly an unforgettable era…"
As she spoke, the light in her eyes gradually dimmed: "But after one Honkai outbreak… that era died. Just like the lyrics — the starry sky dimmed, the wine cups ran dry."
Mei quickly apologized: "I'm very sorry…"
A gentle smile appeared on Eden's face: "You don't need to apologize for an era that has passed, Miss Mei. Just go seek the answers you desire. Everything here is already like clouds and smoke of the past."
Mei said: "But if there's a chance, I still hope to hear the songs from your era."
Eden said: "Thank you for saying that. If there's an opportunity, you might get to hear them… But for now, please continue your journey. May the melody you create be as exquisite and lingering as this fine wine."
The Signet of Gold fell into Mei's hand.
Seeing this scene—
Eden in front of the television was extremely satisfied and said gratefully: "Hessian, thank you for portraying me so beautifully in the show. I'm almost a little embarrassed."
Hessian smiled and said: "I was just presenting the facts on screen. To the audience of this era, that's exactly how you are."
Elysia also said: "That's right~ My dear Eden is exactly the same as in the drama~"
Eden looked at Elysia indulgently: "Ellie is just as adorable as on TV. It's really wonderful to see this show. I believe the audience will also discover your beauty."
"Mhm~ I believe my husband will make sure everyone sees it."
Elysia was full of confidence toward Hessian.
The two looked back at the television.
The scene had already moved to the lounge in the hall.
Eden was holding a wine glass, leaning slightly against the chair.
Mei had just come out of the Elysian Realm and saw this scene as soon as she entered.
"Shh!"
Elysia immediately made a hush gesture, then beckoned to her: "Over here, over here~!"
"Hm?"
Mei walked over to her side.
Elysia whispered: "Eden gets very cute when she's drunk, you know."
"Look~" She gave a live demonstration, leaning close to Eden and acting spoiled: "Eden~ My Eden~"
Eden opened her eyes drowsily, intoxicated.
"Mmm, Ellie, hello…"
"Eden, my dear Eden~ I heard from Pardofelis that you gave her another very beautiful gem."
"Mmm~" Eden said with a drunken tone: "Was it the one the chairman gave me when I performed at the national theater in Takor for the regional councilors? I remember."
"That ruby has the fewest inclusions of any in existence, and it can only be mined in that region. I saw Pardofelis seemed to really like it, so I gave it to her."
Elysia said: "Wow! It must be super pretty then! I want to see it too!"
Eden said: "Ellie, you can go look at it at Pardofelis's place later. But for now, how about I show you this one instead—"
"This aquamarine has quite a few inclusions, but the craftsman seemed to want to challenge nature itself. In order to make the gem shine even brighter, they invented this rose cut."
"This is the first gem in the world made with the rose cut technique. If you like it, it's yours."
"Really? Thank you! Eden you're the best!"
Eden placed the gem in her hand: "It's nothing, Ellie. You know these are all just external things to me."
Elysia returned to Mei's side.
She said: "See? Very cute, right? When she's drunk, she loves chatting about these things with you and conveniently giving away little gifts."
"…"
Mei stared at Elysia speechlessly.
Elysia hurriedly said: "Don't look at me like that! I'll return them properly later. Though she usually doesn't want them back anyway."
Uh…
Seeing this scene,
all the actors in front of the television looked at Eden with burning eyes.
Himeko even spoke up: "Eden… wanna drink together tonight? Like, get properly drunk?"
Eden helplessly glanced at Hessian and tried to explain: "Actually… I'm very well-behaved when drunk. It's not like what's shown on TV."
Kalpas decisively said: "I understand. You and I were both framed by this dog director on screen."
Kiana said: "I see! After hearing Kalpas say that, now I'm sure everything in the show is real."