This was a world in a box, a world attached to Penglaiji Ryn, existing in another dimension.
The entire Earth was integrated into a continent with boundaries. Ryn had Penglaiji Ryn modify the previous death spots, turning them into glowing celestial bodies that hung in the sky, serving as a substitute for the sun.
The energy emitted by the death spots was all Honkai energy, but the death spots also absorbed all the Honkai energy in the world.
After controlling the frequency, the limited Honkai energy within this world was almost entirely consumed by the daily operations of the death spots... The impact of the Honkai on the living beings of Earth was minimized.
So... in a way, could this be considered defeating the Honkai in an alternative fashion?
After thanking Ryn and Penglaiji Ryn, the countless Wraiths transformed into streams of starlight, rising into the sky in unison and blooming into a splendid display.
Not long after the light from the souls faded, this silent continent gradually began to regain its vitality.
The total amount in the universe remains constant, and the cycle of life and death is endless...
The souls that were once slaughtered by Kiana, now cleansed of their past, returned to the material world as pure beings.
The plants created by Ryn to sustain the world's life now also possessed souls. They no longer needed Ryn's constant supply of energy and began to thrive on their own.
Since the world was getting back on track, it was time for everyone to part ways.
Mei had already left ahead of everyone else. After all, she was also one of the Wraiths trapped in this world...
After a final farewell to Kiana, Mei transformed into a flash of lightning and dissipated.
"I will become a flash of lightning to illuminate the path ahead for you. Goodbye, Kiana..."
Kiana's grip on the hair ribbon Mei left behind gradually loosened, and she let out a deep breath.
"Yeah... goodbye, Mei."
Because Sin Mal's body could no longer hold on, Yiselian told Penglaiji Ryn the method to leave. After bidding farewell to everyone, she took Sin Mal and also left this world.
Good news: the Yiselian of this world reappeared after the real Yiselian left.
Bad news: before she could figure out what was going on, Yiselian was dragged away by Bronya to work overtime... To prevent Yiselian from figuring out the situation and running off to reincarnate, Ryn directly created a real body for her.
Yiselian was so moved she was a mess of snot and tears, and immediately used her wrench to perform a New Year's Greeting Sword Style, wanting to thank Ryn properly.
Ryn, being soft-hearted and unable to witness such scenes, gave Yiselian a complete set of tools and fled the Fire Moth base.
Bronya, Seele, and the others were still truly alive. After so much effort, they had finally seen the dawn of victory. It would be too tragic to let them reincarnate like the other Wraiths.
So Ryn used the power of Creation to create real bodies for them, giving their souls a true home.
After Yiselian, Sin Mal and the others left, Kiana found Penglaiji Ryn and Ryn.
Seeing the two of them greeting her with smiles, Kiana couldn't help but smile as well. She took off her chameleon hairpin and gave it, along with Mei's hair ribbon, to Penglaiji Ryn and Ryn.
"This world is gradually becoming complete, and the time I can stay is running out. I'm about to embark on a new journey, back to where I belong...
In your respective worlds, another me is still feeling lost about the future... From now on, you may face even greater difficulties... more sorrow... stronger enemies...
But if it's you two, I'm sure you'll face it with a smile, just like this, right?"
Ryn and Penglaiji Ryn exchanged a smile and replied in unison to Kiana.
"Of course, this is the proper attitude for a Savior!"
"Hehe... If it's you two, you can definitely save that Honkai-ridden future. Thank you, and goodbye..."
Kiana waved goodbye to Ryn and his companion, transforming into light and disappearing from this world.
The Honkai was not over, and she would not stop fighting it. She would continue to fight the Honkai in the Stigmata Space, together with her past self, waiting for her future self to arrive...
After Kiana left, Ryn and Penglaiji Ryn returned to Senba Academy and buried the chameleon hairpin and purple hair ribbon Kiana had given them in the place where Kiana and Mei once slept.
It was a way of helping Kiana fulfill a wish, allowing Kiana and Mei to rest in peace together forever...
(I don't remember clearly, but in the normal story of Honkai Gakuen 2's Rebirth arc, the real Kiana and Mei seem to dig it up later, lol.)
Although it was a bit strange... because in both Ryn's and Penglaiji Ryn's worlds, Kiana and Mei were still fighting hard.
After burying Kiana and Mei's belongings, Ryn and Penglaiji Ryn stood on the rooftop of the former Senba Academy, quietly watching the surviving members of Fire Moth below.
A gentle breeze blew, lifting Penglaiji Ryn's long hair high into the air.
"It's time for us to part ways too... Brother Ryn..."
"Yeah, we've stayed in this world long enough. The people in my world are still waiting for me. There are so many people who want me dead, it would be too easy for them if I didn't go back.
Besides... the people I love are all there, waiting for me. I've been gone for so long, they must be very worried."
"Me too... I've been slacking off here for so long, they must be worried too. I can already imagine their expressions. It's going to be so busy when I get back, with so many things to do and so many difficulties to overcome."
Penglaiji Ryn's mood suddenly dipped, then she patted her cheeks and pulled herself together.
"Yiselian said that because of the Stigmata's protective mechanism... I might not remember what happened here after I wake up...
But there's one thing I won't forget. I will work with them to turn that world into the world I envision with my own hands."
Upon hearing this, Ryn put his hands on his hips and said in a teasing tone.
"Tsk, tsk tsk! Can your handsome, charming, and dashing older cousin be so easily forgotten? My, my~ To think that the little brat I raised for so long doesn't remember any of my good deeds!"
"Ew... stop it, that's disgusting."
Penglaiji Ryn jabbed Ryn in the waist with her elbow, a look of disgust on her face.
"I might forget everything, not that I definitely will... Besides, aren't you from the outside too, brother? We can just meet again outside, can't we?"
"That's true, but you should still say something, right?"
"Then wait a moment, let me think about what to say..."
"Huh? You need to think about it?"
*Thwack—*
Penglaiji Ryn jumped up and punched Ryn in the back of the head.
While Ryn was crouching down holding his head, Penglaiji Ryn wrapped her arm around his neck and quickly kissed him on the cheek.
"If I forget, you must find me... and tell me... I love you."
After saying that, without giving Ryn time to react, Penglaiji Ryn, blushing, transformed into light and disappeared from this world.
Ryn stood there stunned, lost in thought. This... this doesn't seem right!
But then, Tianqi's figure appeared beside him and punched him in the face.
*Boom—*
Theresa, who was building her new home, heard the noise and ran out of her room.
Then she saw a deep trench that started from Senba Academy and stretched to the end of the world, with no end in sight.
"Tsk... what a disaster-prone world..."