However, continuing the comic adaptation seemed both impractical and too out of place.
Most importantly, time was running short. The next version update was already in its final stages of preparation. In the end, he decided to leave some blanks, giving players room to imagine their own stories.
He did, however, manage to create a New Year's wish event for the winter season. Luo Mo hesitated over whether to release it after the Elysian Realm storyline to comfort players or to deliver a double dose of emotional impact by releasing it now.
Ultimately, he decided to show some humanity.
After all, he was a human being.
Unlike the previous segment with Mei, the Valkyrie's Dining Table event couldn't meet its deadline. Luo Mo felt it was too emotionally intense and didn't want to overexploit the fans' tears.
Since the team had already decided to save Griseo, Vill-V and Mobius had begun making their moves. But preparation time was running long. As researchers, they weren't the type to rush into a direct confrontation with Sa.
Luo Mo hadn't been paying attention to Kevin's whereabouts, but he trusted the Flame-Chasers to have their own plans.
What truly troubled him was what to do with the 30,000 crystals in his possession. Griseo didn't require the same "ID reissuance" process as the others. She could be rescued with minimal trouble. Still, maximizing success was always the priority.
Yatogami's stigmata were undoubtedly due for an upgrade. Since she herself was the embodiment of stigmata, would this count as layering stigmata upon stigmata? Who knew when she might join him in this journey.
Finality and Origin—those were what he desired most now.
"Refresh!"
[Exclusive banner refreshed: Turgenev.]
[Description: Even a weak rabbit has the power to hunt wolves.]
"…Refresh!"
[Exclusive banner refreshed: Ai—Heavy Bunny Armor.]
[Description: The mechanical girl doesn't want to get pregnant.]
"...?" Luo Mo blinked in disbelief. When I question something, it's not because I have the problem—it's because you do.
The description was far too bizarre.
Shaking his head, Luo Mo dismissed the thought and continued refreshing the banner. Although many desirable items appeared, none were decisive enough to warrant his choice.
And he might have gotten carried away. The "lucky spot" was already set—in the company's recording studio, right next to Kiana's aura of good fortune. How could this battle end in anything but victory?
Sweating profusely, Luo Mo watched his crystals dwindle at an alarming rate. He refreshed the banner 15 times in total, burning through enough for a unique stigmata just on rerolls.
[Current crystals: 15,457.]
[Exclusive banner refreshed: Kiana Kaslana.]
[Description: The Herrscher of Finality? No, I'm still the same silly Kiana. She said this with a smile. Equip condition: Kiana Kaslana.]
Luo Mo froze for a moment, then leapt up in excitement. Overjoyed, he couldn't believe his luck.
Finality? The Herrscher of Finality?
He hadn't expected this outcome, and his earlier heartbreak over wasted crystals vanished in an instant.
[Kiana Kaslana]
[Category: Stigmata (Four-star)]
[Function: +200 physical damage, +200 Honkai energy resistance, includes "Fragment of Finality."]
[Equip condition: Kiana Kaslana.]
[Description: The Cocoon of Finality has never ceased attempting to embrace humanity. The way you embrace humanity is how the Cocoon embraces humanity.]
The banner refreshed again, revealing the next item: Mei.
[Description: At the very least, you should shed a tear for her!]
[Current crystals: 5,457.]
Luo Mo breathed a sigh of relief. With his crystals nearly depleted, he didn't dwell on the new stigmata. Even if he could afford it, it seemed more like something to buff Kevin's emotional resilience.
And as for the earlier slap… well, who wouldn't be left reeling after that twist?
Feeling triumphant, Luo Mo admired his winnings. With his collection of keys to victory nearly complete, the future seemed bright.
As for Sa? Luo Mo didn't plan to send Kiana against it just yet. The stigmata's overwhelming power required time to master.
But he did manage to cast aside the last remnants of doubt from his mind.
------------
"Kiana!"
"W-what?"
The white tuft of hair on Kiana's head wiggled as she turned around, curiosity flashing in her eyes.
Although her appearances in the storyline were still limited, it was essential for her to accompany Mei every day. She couldn't risk letting a certain sneaky pink fairy steal her thunder.
That said, even without worrying about Elysia, she genuinely enjoyed the time she spent with Mei.
But what piqued her curiosity now was the collective absence of those thirteen individuals. None of them had come to record their voice lines, even though the upcoming parts of the game's story revolved around them.
Sure, the storyline was split into phases, and the first two parts were nearly complete, so delaying a few days wasn't a huge issue...
But what exactly were they up to?
"Let's test your luck. Kiana, your luck is truly one of a kind," Luo Mo sighed in awe of her fortune. Though statistically, the drop rates for special stigmata should be equal, her draws always seemed exceptional.
"Of course!"
Kiana lifted her chin proudly, clearly pleased with herself.
This was one thing where she undoubtedly excelled over others. Whether it was pulling cards or winning prizes, she always came out on top!
Although... she hadn't had a showdown with Pardo yet. She wondered who would win in that matchup.
"By the way, are you the real Kiana Kaslana?"
Luo Mo suddenly asked an odd, seemingly pointless question.
"Duh, boss. Have you been sleeping too much lately and gotten confused? If I'm not Kiana, then who else could I be?"
"…Fine, let's just say you are Kiana."
"What do you mean 'let's say'? I am Kiana! Wait... are you suggesting the next Herrscher might have the power to copy others? Like that Monkey King from those Shenzhou novels? So... you need to triple-check? Hold on... could I be a Herrscher?!"
Kiana spiraled into an existential crisis.
"... Be confident. You are a Herrscher."
Watching the self-doubting Kiana in front of him, Luo Mo couldn't help but laugh. "Kiana, your imagination is quite something. But that's the ability of the Herrscher of Dominance."
"Huh? Boss, are you messing with me?!"
"So, Kiana, how's your mastery of Herrscher powers coming along?"
"Uh... not great. I really wish I didn't have to deal with those tasks. Fighting's okay, I guess... but why are you asking all of a sudden?"
"… Kiana, the time for change has come. It's time for you to step up and save the world!"
Luo Mo placed a solemn hand on her shoulder, his expression grave as he encouraged her to embark on an unknown journey.
"...Nope." Kiana brushed his hand off with an annoyed look. "La-la-la, I'm not becoming a magical girl. You already used that line on both my second sister and aunt. Just imagining their transformations makes me want to dig a hole in the ground and hide."
"It's so embarrassing… If saving the world requires becoming a magical girl, maybe this world doesn't need saving."
She recalled Theresa blushing furiously, clutching the hem of her skirt in that overly cutesy outfit that had made Cecilia laugh for ages. Even Xilin had joined in the laughter... though she stopped laughing soon after.
Because her stigmata also turned into a magical girl costume.
Not to mention, even though she laughed the loudest at the time, she also got chased down and beaten the hardest! Well... she might have secretly wished she had one of those outfits too.
"Nonsense. Who said saving the world requires being a magical girl?"
Lou Mo scowled in irritation. Kiana silently pointed in his direction. If it weren't for his convincing, her aunt wouldn't have been so excited to wear that outfit in the first place.
Sirin was simply collateral damage, unable to refuse Cecilia's heartfelt request and reluctantly transformed.
"Ahem—regardless, that's all in the past. The updated rule is that only by becoming a Herrscher can you save the world."
"But I'm already a Herrscher."
"Then, become the number one Herrscher!"
"…Does that involve taking a test?"
"A test?! Kiana, what on earth has made you like this?"
Luo Mo looked at her with a mixture of despair and disbelief.
"You did, boss." Kiana retorted flatly, sighing as she stared listlessly at the ceiling.
For a moment, the room was filled with an awkward silence, as Luo Mo's conscience was pricked ever so slightly.
This was probably just another instance of their playful bickering.
"All right, all right, Kiana, try this."
With a flick of his hand, a colorful, chaotic card appeared in Luo Mo's palm. It displayed the proof of Kiana's journey, showcasing all her various armors from the game.
Kiana's attention was immediately captured. She suddenly understood the kind of desire Bronya had spoken of before, that inexplicable longing.
Her heart skipped a beat. The card seemed to call out to her, urging her to pick it up and use it. She now fully grasped her boss's insistence that they wait for the right stigmata. It had to be a perfect fit.
Though, honestly, she was the only one feeling impatient.
Carefully, she reached out, her hand trembling slightly as she moved toward the glowing, multicolored card.
"…Kiana, don't push yourself. You, Bronya, and Mei are relatively unique. Without growth and experience, there might be risks," Luo Mo said, though he made no effort to stop her. After all, the stigmata was prepared just for her.
"Mm." Kiana nodded softly.
She simply nodded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Mei slowly walked over from a distance, having just finished a segment of her voice recording. Upon seeing the stigmata, a smile appeared on her face, and she quickened her steps.
The card faintly displayed a suit of armor none of them had seen before. Like the Herrscher of Flamescion, it featured a high ponytail tied with pinkish-purple accents, resembling twinkling stars scattered through her hair. On her chest and waist were large gemstones that shimmered with a dazzling light.
This version of her exuded confidence and composure, with eyes that sparkled like the stars.
"Is this… what I might look like in the future?"
Kiana ran her fingers over the card, finding it even stronger and more profound than the stigmata she had seen with her mom. The images on the card shifted, showing various versions of her across different periods.
Luo Mo didn't respond, only nodded slightly. She wasn't looking for an answer—just a simple confirmation.
"Embrace …"
She murmured the word under her breath, her face showing a confused expression as though she didn't understand what she had just said.
Luo Mo was equally puzzled but opened his arms willingly. It wasn't every day that Kiana showed any sign of gratitude.
"Not you, boss–!"
Kiana blushed and scolded him shyly, glancing at his gesture and realizing she'd said something awkward. She stomped her foot in embarrassment. "I meant the stigmata… I think… I could hear what it was saying. Just faintly, though. I can't make sense of it at all."
The more she spoke, the less confident she sounded, her head bobbing like a nervous sparrow. She couldn't even articulate her thoughts properly.
"'Embrace... the end?' Is it still showing this path?"
Luo Mo's mind flickered with thoughts he quickly suppressed. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing—getting through this peacefully was the ultimate victory.
If embracing the end required the acknowledgment of all thirteen Herrschers, then he'd do his best to gather them on his side. Though dealing with Erosion would be incredibly challenging…
"How disappointing. I thought Kiana might finally express genuine gratitude. She even said 'hug,' but now she won't admit it," Luo Mo sighed dramatically, his disappointment written all over his face.
"Ugh—boss! I didn't mean it like that!" Kiana puffed her cheeks in frustration, feeling indignant. She had just blurted it out by accident.
"Mei can vouch for it."
"Hehe~ Yes, Kiana definitely said it," Mei teased.
"Hmph! I'm not talking to you two anymore. Mei is here too—it's so embarrassing!"
Her voice grew quieter as she awkwardly avoided their gazes. She was a little shy, mostly because she wasn't used to close contact with men. Still, a hug wasn't a big deal.
After all, she had a clear conscience and no strange thoughts.
"Well then, let's see if you can equip it. If you can, you can't back out," Luo Mo said nonchalantly, clearly just teasing the "little cat."
He was also considering which outfit card to exchange for next. He had just gotten another one, bringing his total to three cards.
Noticing his dwindling crystals, he casually pulled from the standard pool—just as a celebratory gesture for the emergence of the stigmata.
[Current crystal count: 2,657]
Unexpectedly, he drew a four-star stigmata of "Exam Prep Kiana" and two ordinary outfit cards. The rest were things he didn't really need.
Luo Mo shot Kiana a strange look. Was her obsession really this deep? Still, he was glad he hadn't pulled from the special pool; otherwise, he'd have ended up with a significant loss.
As for the stigmata's effect…
Before Luo Mo could inspect it, a message from Elysia interrupted him.
"Kevin is here. The specific candidates and plan are finalized."
He glanced over to see Kiana, eyes closed, successfully equipping the stigmata. A soft glow enveloped her before fading away quietly.
Her expression wasn't one of disappointment or joy.
Instead, it was… disbelief and confusion, her wide eyes filled with a dazed look.
"Eh? It seems… there's no difference."
She mumbled softly.
The journey to fully uncover the secrets of the Stigmata of Finality still lay ahead.
In the end, Kiana didn't escape that hug—or the one from Mei. With Mei present, there was no avoiding it.
A gentle hug, accompanied by the fresh scent of a young girl.
-----
In the Golden Courtyard, Kevin's arrival wasn't particularly early.
Compared to his usual strength and speed, he had chosen to take a full day to travel a distance he could cover in mere hours. He flew by human means this time, taking a commercial plane.
Even he couldn't quite explain the emotions stirring in his heart at the thought of meeting old friends after so long.
In this world, he felt more like a passerby.
Even though he once enjoyed conversations with his companions, life had led them to drift apart for various reasons.
Once they met every year, then every century, then every five centuries... until never again.
How much time had passed since then?
He no longer counted and had no desire to start again.
As he approached the gates of the Golden Courtyard, where cherry blossoms gently fluttered down, he paused. His mind wandered to memories of someone, though he couldn't quite place who.
But he didn't linger. He stepped forward resolutely.
=======
(TL/Note)
Just a quick question for the readers.
Do you guys still like MC making fun of the others, making Ely cry, scamming, dodging bullet? Does anyone of you want to see him Suffer and get Humiliated?
If you do, then vote if you want to see him get his own side story of humiliation!!!
*Ahem*
What I'm trying to say is, I plan to make another Extra chapter for trolling him just like during Otto and Kallen moment, but I need some ideas.
(Comment HERE for ideas)
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