MGSFV?! Chapter 562. All Happiness Is a Stack of Fragile Wounds
Kevin: Σ ﾟдﾟlll ???
What if Kiana went to talk with Kevin, and they turned the tables to take down the Cocoon…
Kiana: If we work together, the Cocoon is no match for us.
Kevin: And after the Cocoon is dealt with? What happens to the world?
Kiana: It'll definitely become better, right?
The issue lies in that word: "right?"
You think so. But he can't think that way.
Setting aside Fu Hua, who has already integrated into the current era, Kevin is the final remnant of the Previous Era.
As he once said—
If it weren't for the Stigmata Plan, fully integrating into modern civilization wouldn't have been difficult for him. It would just take determination.
But there are no "ifs."
Regardless of how he personally views the Cocoon—a mechanism that is, in theory, not malicious but in reality… questionable—
Now that a method has been found to completely, 100% overcome the Honkai using the Cocoon's system—
Even if the method isn't perfect, he no longer has the right to gamble.
Of course, putting aside all those realistic factors, Kiana does indeed need to face Kevin to bring closure to everything.
As for why…
Because she and Kevin, just like each other, each represent an era.
...
The world has turned a new page, and Earth's fate is about to change again.
...Hm?
To be honest, when they saw the subtitle flash by, a familiar feeling surged in their hearts.
It was called: "Cliffhanger."
And why did they think that?
Simple—this moment was perfect for a cliffhanger.
If even the players knew that, would that person who always knows what he's doing not realize it?
Of course, that person definitely knew.
And indeed, this main story update was about to cut off soon—but not just yet.
Before that—
Someone recalled the past. Recalled the beginning of it all.
For example, a scene.
Presented like a picture book.
Shla-la-la~~
A page turned.
A dazzling, multicolored image entered their view.
Soft music played. A woman's narration began.
"It was a sunny morning…"
[It was a sunny morning… The boy who was disliked by everyone met you as you climbed over the wall. You greeted him warmly and invited him to play with you. And in that moment—that boy received the salvation of his life.]
[Are we playing storytelling relay now???]
[I've always admired how you guys can remember every bit of story this clearly.]
[What I admire more is your typing speed (lol)]
"The boy who wanted to become a writer and the girl who wanted to become a protagonist played a story-making game together on the park's grassy lawn."
But clearly, this story wouldn't unfold like the players' improvised versions.
It was just a seemingly simple, ordinary tale.
"The boy thought for a long time. After finally writing the story's beginning, he didn't know how to move the protagonist forward naturally."
[Can't continue? I got this.]
[You got this? (Let's see what you come up with.jpg)]
[Fanning the flames.jpg]
[A girl becomes the protagonist… easy. First scene, she descends from a battleship mid-air. 'Helios, this is Hyperion, reporting mission status…']
[???]
Though the player who posted that got egged on, clearly they weren't an easy target—
They clapped back with a bold scene setup.
Which made the flamers feel… a little awkward.
After all, from the perspective of the ending, looking at the current Kiana, thinking back to the starting point and recalling the old Kiana—
It was hard not to feel emotional.
[You're just telling a story—why'd you counterattack with plot armor?!]
...
The in-game story continued.
The boy who wanted to be a writer asked the girl who wanted to be a protagonist:
"[If you were trapped in a pitch-black cave right now, how would you get out?]"
The girl answered: "[I'd call out loudly and wait for someone outside to come find me.]"
The boy followed up: "[What if it's night and there's no one outside?]"
The girl paused, then said: "[Then I'd make a torch and walk out myself.]"
That was the girl's answer.
Their answer?
Think about it seriously… wait until morning and then call for help?
Ha~~
The netizens always offered some unique takes—but…
What if it was daytime, and still no one came?
What if there simply wasn't anyone who could help outside?
Maybe—
Only when the girl walks out of the cave herself, can she become the first person capable of helping others trapped inside.
Viewed that way, that step carries a whole different meaning.
But...
"[What if a dragon happens to be lying at the cave entrance?]" the boy said.
[Looking for trouble, huh? You want some oil pancakes or what?]
[You just throw in a dragon? Then I'll say the girl's no ordinary person—she whips out the village's best sword, battles the dragon for 300 rounds, and slays it on the spot.]
[The girl wasn't riding a horse. Maybe you should rephrase it? Slayed beneath her thighs?]
[That's the issue?!]
[Girl vs. dragon—I'd watch that (lol)]
However, the story's girl didn't go in the direction they expected.
She actually said…
"[Then I'll sneak up on it while it's dreaming and burn its butt with my torch,]" she said, waving her branch, full of spirit.
"[As long as I scare it and make it move aside, I can get out.]"
Would burning a dragon's butt actually work?
After all, dragons are mythical creatures.
Trying to attack that area with a torch… is that even realistic? Not really.
But of course, that wasn't the point.
What mattered was that the girl didn't seem hostile to the dragon.
The boy, surprised, said: "[I thought you were going to…]"
Clearly, like the players, he thought she would…
Yet unexpectedly, she said:
"[I wouldn't do that! Just because I'm trapped in the cave doesn't mean the dragon is to blame, right?]"
"[Besides, maybe this cave is actually its home.]"
The boy seemed thoughtful.
And with that, their game came to an end.
As the narration concluded, the picture book gently closed—
Signaling the end of this "meaningful" story.
Yes.
Meaningful.
With the story finished, the narration gone, and the music faded,
The players broke away from the fun of bantering with the plot—
And began to reflect.
This story…
The cave? The dragon? The girl?
Did they symbolize something?
For example, was the cave…
"Why is the game screen still stuck on this picture book?"
Someone quickly noticed—
Even though the story had ended, the screen hadn't moved on.
It hadn't transitioned, nor ended the scene.
Just stayed there, frozen.
What was going on?
...
Not long after,
Just as they were waiting…
A tiny glow appeared on the surface of the picture book.
The light dots linked up, forming clear text:
This is an interesting game, isn't it?
But since everyone is different, I'm especially curious about one thing——
When the story reaches its end, and the protagonist holds her torch and stands before the dragon…
What do you hope she does?
What kind of ending do you want to witness?
Players: ...
[Wait, is this asking…]
[The ending I want to see… The girl's, the dragon's—I want an ending where neither has regrets.]
[Where everyone makes a choice true to their heart.]
[Just sayin'—you better have multiple endings for this.]
[Knowing miHoYo's style, rather than branching endings, it'll probably be the same ending reached in different ways. That's more their thing, right?]
[Different ways to reach the same ending?]
Hokuto: ...
Didn't expect someone to guess it.
Yeah.
Players will be able to make some choices coming up.
As for what exactly they can choose—
They'll find out soon enough.
Very soon, in fact.
This main story update is almost over.
...
So, let's return to the final bit of plot.
After a brief loading screen—
The game presented a flashback?
About Kevin?
Looked like it was from a long time ago.
Back when Kevin was still a student.
At that time, he had a nickname every player knew:
Prince.
But now, in real life…
The more they thought about it…
The more those once-happy scenes made them feel…
This was what you'd call "joyful scenes highlighting sorrow."
And then—
The game played a brand-new BGM.
A gentle melody—yet beneath it, a faint, indescribable emotion.
Exhaustion? Loneliness?
Not quite oppressive—but with a subtle weight.
A track that, like Kevin, seemed straightforward yet impossible to pin down.
Well, the BGM was titled "for Kevin."
So of course it would sound like him.
"Sigh, I knew you'd be alone here again."
"Su? You… how…"
In the flashback, a young Kevin meets a young Su.
The Awakened had not yet attained enlightenment, the warrior had not yet taken up the mantle of salvation.
Their meeting was no different from that of ordinary classmates, friends.
Just like this——
Su: (;▔д▔ )
Kevin: Σ(ﾟдﾟlll)???
Everyday banter.
Classic meme-face battle—just what you'd expect from Kevin and his best bro Su.
If it were Kevin and Mei though…
Kevin soon realized it wasn't just Su who had come—
Mei was there too.
"Mei! You came too."
Totally different tone.
"You have the nerve to say that?" Su grumbled from the side.
"Weren't the three of us supposed to have lunch together today?"
"Such a rare day off, and you're gonna spend it at the track field again like old times?"
"I never did that!" Kevin protested.
"It's fine," Mei said with a gentle smile.
"Let him be. I'm already used to it."
"Hey!"
[Every Kaslana was once a Paramecium.]
The lighthearted scene softened the sadness, making them smile again.
Even though they didn't know—
That a twist was coming.
[Kevin now isn't even a Kaslana anymore.]
"When he was younger..."
"What?"
"I just thought… Kevin's changed a lot."
Elysia's words held double meaning.
She referred to the Kevin in the game—and also the one in real life.
Back when Honkai Impact 3rd first launched, Kevin was a sunny, cheerful guy.
Of course, that's not to say he's just like the one in the game now—but still, years have passed.
He's changed.
Work, worries, relationships with Mei...
He now had adult problems.
"After all, not everyone can be like our Miss Pink Elf—always true to themselves."
Hokuto caught the subtext in Elysia's remark.
And sighed.
He had changed a lot.
From an ordinary Captain to one who wanted players to feel "healthy, positive, and uplifting"... ahem, just… Captain.
Quite the transformation.
But Elysia?
She hadn't changed a bit.
Still just as...
As he searched for the right words to describe her—
Elysia spoke first:
"I think I've changed quite a bit, you know. Don't you think?"
"Have you?"
"I now know to stay alert when people say 'sweet sweet sweet,' keep tissues nearby when things are 'very emotional,' and to never casually flag myself with death flags again."
Hokuto: "..."
"You really have been through a lot."
At this moment—what else could he say?
...
And while the story triggered reflection for the two of them, in truth, this scene could be found anywhere—
Boys and girls enjoying their holiday, recklessly burning through their youth.
But—
If a transmigrator saw this scene, they'd definitely think differently.
Three legends in their youth?
That's your ticket to survival—go hug those legs!
Even if it doesn't guarantee you'll live into the next era, at least you'd earn a fighting chance.
In a world plagued by the Honkai, life for ordinary people is just too cruel.
Many times, you don't even get the chance to resist.
When the Honkai comes—
You're just gone.
Of course, there were no transmigrators nearby.
To other bystanders, the three chatting seemed totally normal.
No one could've guessed the epic future that awaited them.
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