The King of Cosplay in the World of Honkai Impact 3rd

"And no injuries," Otto's eyes scanned, not finding any wounds on Li Pu.

Even if this was just a simulation, it was still a Honkai Beast! If she were hit, she could still get injured, or even die from severe injuries!

But Li Pu was completely unharmed.

She looked less like she had failed due to a fatal injury and more like she had suffered psychological trauma.

This had caused her to completely lose the will to fight.

This mental trauma. Ganesha did not possess the ability for mental attacks, nor was this ability added during simulations.

So where did this mental attack come from?

"Theresa," Otto said after a moment's thought, "temporarily disable all Valkyrie training equipment. We might need to re-examine it."

"Why?!" Theresa retorted, "Is there something wrong with the equipment?"

"Head of Department, you guaranteed that this wouldn't have any problems."

"Theoretically, there shouldn't be any problems," Otto said. "But Cecilia's current condition strongly suggests she was defeated by a mental attack."

"Her mental state was already unstable, and her will isn't as firm as it used to be."

"If she were subjected to a mental attack, she could easily be overwhelmed."

"Send her to the infirmary first. I need to inspect this equipment."

"Mental attack?" Theresa was stunned, "Where did the mental attack come from? Does this kind of equipment carry mental attacks? Head of Department, you never mentioned this."

"It's just a setting," Otto explained. "In simulating potential new Honkai Beasts, we simulated the possibility of Honkai Beasts that primarily attack the mind."

"For example, mental pollution, psychic attacks, or mind control."

"Even with such a setting, it definitely wouldn't be Ganesha."

"The equipment must have been tampered with!"

"Tampered with?" Himeko seemed to understand something and said, "Could it be those Anti-Entropy guys?"

"They've gone too far!"

Chapter 39: Anti-Entropy, the Scapegoat

St. Freya's Infirmary.

As an academy specifically established for training Valkyries, the infirmary here wasn't simply a place with a few beds, a female doctor, capable of treating minor injuries, mild illnesses, or performing first aid.

St. Freya possessed a complete set of highly advanced medical equipment and an excellent medical team.

Training Valkyries carried inherent risks, and this medical equipment and team were in place to minimize those risks.

Li Pu was sent to the intensive care unit of the infirmary.

Lying in what appeared to be a medical pod, the kind often seen in sci-fi movies, Kiana sat anxiously beside the pod, waiting.

Outside the intensive care unit.

"Her condition has stabilized," a doctor wearing glasses said. "She'll wake up after some time."

"Mhm," Theresa nodded. "Thank you, Doctor Li."

"What about Kiana?" Mei asked, looking at Kiana sitting inside through the window of the ICU door. "Should I call her out? Will it affect her treatment?"

"Not at all," Doctor Li said gently, pushing his glasses up. "Let the child stay inside."

"Cecilia's condition isn't dire. She's just mentally unstable."

"Her body is perfectly healthy, without any injuries."

"Her mental state is also basically stable; she just needs rest."

"Thank you, Doctor." Mei bowed slightly with great politeness.

"If there's nothing else, I'll get back to work." Doctor Li smiled and quickly left.

Outside the ICU door, only Mei, Fu Hua, and Theresa remained.

"Is this equipment related to Anti-Entropy?" Fu Hua adjusted his glasses, seemingly analyzing the problem seriously. "Are all the academy's equipment related to Anti-Entropy?"

"How should I put it?" Theresa sighed. "It's hard to say they're not related. Anti-Entropy excels in high-tech equipment."

"Anti-Entropy has always had an advantage; some equipment can only be manufactured by Anti-Entropy."

"Anti-Entropy..." Mei seemed to have heard the name before, and now that it was mentioned again, she couldn't help but ask, "What kind of organization are they? Are they our friends? Or enemies?"

"Why would they tamper with the equipment?"

"They are neither friends nor enemies," Theresa shook her head. "Anti-Entropy was once part of Schicksal."

"Their goals are the same, which is to fight the Collapse."

"Then why?" Mei was even more surprised. "Why does it seem like they are..."

Betraying each other, scheming against each other.

"We can only consider them strangers with a common goal now," Fu Hua added. "Humans truly never forget internal strife, no matter the time."

"That's true," Theresa said helplessly. "Schicksal trains Valkyries for combat; the strongest Valkyries can even contend with Herrschers. Anti-Entropy, on the other hand, places more emphasis on technological products, utilizing modern technology combined with research into Honkai energy."

"They can create powerful autonomous robots to attack and resist the Collapse."

"Because it's also part of Schicksal," Theresa said regretfully. "So some technologies are interconnected."

"It's just a bit excessive this time."

"Should we protest?" Mei asked. "Like, file a protest with Anti-Entropy."

"I can't really say," Theresa shook her head. "If Otto can't present any concrete evidence, then we can't directly protest."

Moreover, Theresa always felt that even if Otto found some concrete evidence, he wouldn't say anything.

The relationship between Schicksal and Anti-Entropy was truly ambiguous and unclear.

So even if evidence was found, they wouldn't simply protest or directly cause trouble for Schicksal.

The methods of handling it would be relatively more complicated and subtle.

Li Pu's unconsciousness wasn't that simple either.

Only he himself knew what was going on!

My head hurts...

After an unknown amount of time, Li Pu finally woke up. At this moment, he had already been transferred from the intensive care unit and was lying on a bed in a private room in the regular infirmary.

My arm feels a bit numb...

Putting aside whether he was looking at an unfamiliar ceiling or not, his arm felt a bit numb first.

It felt numb as if it had been pressed down.

It feels like something is pressing on my stomach, making it hard to breathe.

Not only was his arm numb from being pressed, but it also felt like something was pressing on his stomach, making it difficult to breathe.

Is it a cat?

Li Pu struggled to open his heavy eyelids and looked.

Kiana...

He could see a familiar white-haired girl at a glance. She seemed to be sleeping soundly, pressing on his lower abdomen without a care in the world.

Without moving or pushing Kiana away, Li Pu turned his head to look at the window.

It was already late.

A slightly cool night breeze blew in through the window, and the silver moonlight shone into the room, bringing a faint sense of loneliness.

Li Pu suddenly felt poetic.

What a lonely night.

Li Pu had no intention of pushing Kiana away; this sudden poetic feeling was just a self-deprecating joke.

He had failed!

He had failed completely, being utterly defeated when facing Ganesha.

Although he had failed, Li Pu suddenly felt grateful for this test. Otherwise, if he were to face the Collapse like this when the real battle came, he might not have the chance to lie on this bed.

Instead, he would be lying in a small box, waiting for cremation or burial.

Perhaps he really should start thinking seriously about some things, and some things needed to change.

Li Pu knew why he lost in this simulated battle. He wasn't stupid, nor was he someone who didn't reflect or strive for progress after stumbling.

This simulated battle made Li Pu understand one thing.

Having equipment didn't guarantee the ability to utilize combat power.

There were many factors that influenced the display of combat power, and one very important factor was one's mindset. He had obtained the character Cecilia but lacked the corresponding mindset. When facing difficulties, his own cowardice, retreat, or even passive response would severely affect the display of combat power.

His evasive and passive attitude was severely inconsistent with Cecilia's; this wasn't something that could be solved just by 'understanding' her.

To unleash a character's combat power.

It wasn't enough to simply 'understand.'

Just understanding the settings and data.

Chapter 40: Let's Start as Friends

As a new round of sun rose slowly on the horizon, its warm rays illuminated the earth, dispelling the cold of the night.

"Mmm~"

Kiana shifted her body, making a contented purring sound like a cat.

She squirmed, seeming to wake up a little.

With a bit of newfound awareness, she felt like something was on top of her. She squirmed again, and it felt like she was pulling up a blanket that slid down her body due to her movements.

It didn't slide down too much before being pulled back up and covering her.

Who could it be?

Mom...

Mom?!

Kiana suddenly woke up from her dream.

She had been waiting here for a long time because her mother had fallen into a coma during a simulation battle.

Even though the doctor told her there was no problem, that she had merely suffered a mental attack and fallen unconscious, Kiana didn't want to leave. She stayed here, waiting.

Waiting for her mother to wake up from her coma.

She stayed by her mother's side, accompanying her from the intensive care unit to this private room in the regular infirmary.

She wouldn't leave her side, not going anywhere. She just waited here.

Waiting for her mother to wake up from her coma.

Finally, heaven did not let down those who tried.

She had finally waited long enough.

Kiana looked at the person in front of her, the one with the same hair and eye color as hers, the gentle one. Looking at her, she couldn't help but cry, tears streaming from her eyes.

"Mom~ sob~ Mom!!!"

Kiana finally broke down and cried. She had waited fourteen years, and after finally reuniting, this happened again.

She was truly, truly terrified that her mother would remain in this eternal slumber and never wake up.

"Why are you crying?" The person in front of her gently stroked her face, wiping away her tears. She spoke so softly and warmly, "If you keep crying, your face will really become a mess."