The players didn't know what to say.
Elysia continued controlling Otto, taking one step at a time as he reminisced about his life.
That calm, methodical way of reviewing his dark history while passing judgment on himself—it did have the air of a Schicksal Overseer.
Makes sense… He couldn't very well shuffle along like a five-hundred-year-old grandpa, right?
That would be way off from the Otto Apocalypse in players' minds.
Of course, Otto kept up appearances on the surface, but inevitably, when reminiscing about Kallen, his emotions would waver.
"You see, these fatal flaws were misaligned from the very beginning."
"The memories that follow… are merely the steps turning 'Otto Apocalypse' into a pitiful, laughable man."
His slightly sorrowful self-mocking tone resonated strongly. Coupled with the recent plot, even the players felt a dull ache in their stomachs.
Pitiful and laughable—hearing Otto describe himself like this, their emotions became indescribably complex.
The next memory segment.
It was Otto and Kallen during the time of the Black Death.
Kallen often acted as the "Night Raven," robbing the rich to aid the poor.
Otto, however, didn't believe that what Kallen did could truly change the dark societal status quo.
"Kallen, these things you're doing now…"
"I understand. If the goal is to guide people to resist the old fogeys' designated ways of running society, it's still too early."
Otto couldn't help but say, "But, Kallen… The way society operates can't simply be changed because someone says so, right?"
To which Kallen replied, "Yes, so we can only do what we're capable of and wait for the right opportunity. If we don't work hard enough on the path we believe in… how can we convince others in the future?"
Hearing this, Otto could only agree: "Indeed, what you say makes sense."
"Mhm."
This part of the story made players a little anxious.
Never mind whether Kallen's ideas fit the era—why didn't Otto just speak his mind?
What's the point of bottling it up?
If he had better ideas than Kallen, why not say them aloud?
In-game, the Void Archives seemed to read the players' minds, offering a pointed jab:
"I really don't understand how you could be so twisted back then. Wouldn't it have been better to just tell her everything you thought? Maybe history would have changed because of it."
Players nodded slightly, muttering "Exactly."
"Perhaps. But what exactly do you want me to tell her?"
"That I was researching a new drug through human experimentation?"
Otto's voice suddenly grew tense.
As if saying, "If I could have done so then, do you think I wouldn't have?"
This clearly agitated him, losing some control over his emotions.
Truth be told, this segment's voice acting sent chills down the players' spines. It was simply too powerful.
But it would get even more intense.
After all, these three chapters were MiHoYo's farewell tribute to Otto.
Hokuto had spent a long time "training" for these, fully immersing himself in the role.
Back then, everyone at MiHoYo realized—Hokuto and the dumb goose—cough, Bianca, were quite alike. Once serious, they became exceedingly serious.
It was also around then that Griseo picked up her odd habit of saying "Mei, I did not lie."
"Or would you prefer I quoted political economy theories from centuries later to enlighten her that 'robbing the rich can't solve the root problem'?"
"If not that… even if I bluntly told her my reasons for doing all that—what would it have changed?"
Void Archives sneered: "Heh, indeed. History has proven that you were incapable of doing anything back then."
[Ding! Password accepted!]
[Looks like Void Archives has some feelings after five hundred years with Otto, actually helping him input the password at the critical moment.]
[?? So that phrase was the password all along?]
No wonder players got so excited.
"I can't do anything"—this phrase nearly defined Honkai Impact 3rd.
But their excitement didn't last long.
The scene shifted to when Otto naively believed his sister Lisa, releasing Honkai Beasts and indirectly causing Kallen's death.
Silence fell instantly.
How did Otto see this event?
Another round of Void Archives' sarcasm, mocking Otto's naivety for believing Lisa's lies. After all, it had failed to tempt Otto for so long, making it seem rather stupid in comparison.
Otto simply responded: "To save her, I would have agreed to any terms. But you never offered me a hand."
[Void Archives: Blame me, huh?]
[Otto (instantly): Yes, all your fault (foggy sarcasm)]
Then, the screen shifted to Kallen's tombstone.
Upon seeing the grave, before players could even process, the familiar BGM (Funeral March) started playing in their ears.
Players: ???
Chatting is fine, progressing the plot is fine, but why suddenly blast music?
MiHoYo, watch yourselves!
In the plot, Otto and Void Archives stood before Kallen's tombstone.
"She's dead. That was indeed your end. Five hundred years have passed in a flash… Now, you finally have a chance to change that moment."
"Yes… she's dead."
Faced with Void Archives' sentiment, Otto suddenly grew strange.
He started speaking of death, about how people instinctively believe their loved ones are immortal.
He mentioned Joyce, recalling the letters he wrote to him. Joyce, without a doubt, was someone like Kallen.
"Many people today have inherited Kallen's legacy."
"'Heaven and earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs.' For this world before us, it truly does not need Kallen's brave heart to start beating again from the grave."
Otto always saw things clearly—there were already many people like Kallen in the world. Her ideals had long spread.
Kallen's revival, in the grand scheme, held little meaning.
The players pondered and realized—perhaps that was true.
Their opposition to Otto now wasn't because the Earth couldn't spin without Kallen.
If an apocalyptic crisis arose that could only be solved by resurrecting Kallen, would they still stop Otto so firmly?
Perhaps, they'd merely negotiate to minimize casualties.
This thought left them momentarily silent.
No wonder Void Archives mocked Otto for "feigning ignorance while fully understanding."
He always knew that reviving Kallen meant little to anyone but himself.
But...
"Human emotions—are desires that, even if they harm oneself and others, will still seek release."
"Generally speaking, 'good people' excel at using reason to control emotions, while 'bad people' are accustomed to letting emotions rule their reason."
"As for the so-called 'rational villains'... they live as machines calculating profit, unworthy even of being called 'human.'"
Void Archives bluntly said: "Is that so? I happen to think you are precisely such a 'rational villain' now."
"I never denied that I'm unworthy of being called 'human.' In fact, I'm well aware that I'm the epitome of such scum."
"Heh."
Otto chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"Didn't I say it before… Humans always emotionally believe their loved ones are immortal, eternal."
"And I am but a fool whose reason is ruled by that emotion, endlessly calculating interests because of it."
"Hahaha…"
His laughter gradually became unrestrained. Though it seemed cheerful, there was an undercurrent of self-mockery and bitterness.
[He's laughing, but it's like he's crying.]
[Why am I tearing up for Otto?]
[Perhaps this suits Otto: He despises the world, and the world despises him back. Yet, when the world despises him, he returns the favor.]
...
"I asked you before. You told me this song would only be used in-game when facing an apocalyptic scene."
"Mhm."
"So… is Kallen Otto's entire world?"
"No… Didn't I already tell you?"
"...Yes."
But understanding it analytically and witnessing Otto himself, after five hundred years of ups and downs, passing judgment on his past self, mocking his present, expressing his 'yearning' for Kallen—
The weight of it was entirely different.
Kevin, in his usual tone, repeated Hokuto's earlier words:
"These five hundred years, Otto lived for Kallen."
"..."
After a long silence.
"Yes."
Otto Apocalypse—
Too clear-headed, too obsessive, and… far too insane.