"One Ultimate Strike!" A strong but calm voice echoed out.

"All back to zero."

SCHING

A slice rang out through the air as space seemingly distorted itself by lingering flames before being trapped in ice as the world returned to normal.

Half trapped in ice up to the waist was a black haired young man and piercing eyes with a disgruntled expression.

"You've been getting better at manipulating more honkai energy without hitting your body's limit. That'll be the end of today's sessions then."

A white haired man with no expression said as he crossed his arms.

"Hard to see improvement against a complete monster." The younger boy sighed as he forced his way out of the ice. "Anyways. Thank you for your instructions." The sword wielder bowed and thanked formally in accordance to eastern manner.

The white haired man didn't move even as the boy left. He simply gazed at the forest clearing they were in. The flames were still trapped in ice, slightly moving as they continued to burn.

For several minutes he said nothing and waited in patience until the cheery voice of a woman called out. "Kevin! I see you still don't hold back even against hatchlings! Don't you feel sorry for making him try so hard and not win once? And are you really going to just stand there and make me have the first word?"

He responded without missing a beat. "It's because he can take it that I go so hard on him. Now is there something you want?"

"It'd be nice if you said my name like the old days for one~!"

"..."

Kevin simply continued to gaze the the silent flames held within his ice.

Not too many years ago his descendent along with Raiden Mei and their other allies "defeated" the honkai in a sense. Truthfully he should be dead as he had planned, but things didn't quite work out that way.

Against the honkai, no plan could ever be considered "enough", but he was fairly confident that either he and the honkai would be truly defeated that year. As there was no reason not to, upon Raiden Mei's finished exploration of the Elysian Realm, he released the Sims and Klein using flesh and blood and Soulium bodies with no tag line. Whether they wanted to continue fighting the honkai, or live their lives out, it was their choice and none of his business. While a few, including his sim self, chose to stick with him and World Serpent, the rest followed Raiden Mei and her friends.

When the time came for him to sacrifice himself, his sim came up with the idea of using both of them for a better chance of success. But he either underestimated his sim's nature or the weakened power the former sim should have had, and so instead of dying alongside it, he had lived through the Honkai's defeat.

He had already passed on World Serpent to Mobius, and to be frank, there was no purpose for him to exist in the current state of the world.

He chose to wander alone, before Raiden Mei or anyone could speak to him after the battle. He briefly considered freezing himself on some mountain until he either died or was released by some sort of honkai disaster, but that wouldn't make up for the sins that were necessary for the Honkai's defeat.

As a result, he contacted the former somewhat subordinate, Natasha Cioara. While she was surprised, she didn't refuse his offer to assist her in taking care of those orphans. Since he had..."appropriated", money that belonged to World Serpent, he had given her enough that she could ease up on being a mercenary, especially as he also took her place in that role.

It wasn't much, but it was more than existing as an ice sculpture somewhere out in the world.

It was a dull, grim life even compared to his time in the MOTHs, but he couldn't deny it was still better than having the Honkai around.

The life worked pretty well up until a small scale Honkai disaster in a remote island had lead to an unwanted reunion with her and Raiden Mei. Once the fodder beasts were taken care of, she stuck to him like moss until he was forced to accept the offer to work at St. Freya and Schicksal like many of the others.

"You know Kevin, I think Kosma is going to be jealous when he hears how well you get along with your latest student~3"

Kevin simply closed his eyes as he listened to her talk. Eventually, she would bring up the reason why she was really here. Sooner or later often meant Later when this girl was involved, whether it be the one who's life he took, or this one.

"Hey hey~. Get this, I hear Mei's thinking of recruiting your little pupil for her squad. Apparently she met him as a child~. Did you know, did you~?"

He didn't actually, but it mattered little to him. Adam was young, but at least in terms of skills, he was already reaching Kosma's level in terms of decision making, gracefulness and technical skill. If he were to undergo MANTIS surgery, he could easily rise to the levels of the upper tier Flamechasers. While Adam's name was shared with the child made with his Mei's DNA along with his, his age and capabilities were more reminiscent with Kosma.

The closest thing to a problem with him was his humor, but Kevin was used to people with strong personalities anyways. The boy had a near one mind focus on training could also be counted as a flaw by some, so despite being popular at St. Freya by virtue of being male, he was often training with Kevin or by himself despite having no disinterest in socializing. As a result, Kevin ended up being the sole Flamechaser to actually talk to the boy, though Kevin thought he would have gotten along well with everyone in the PE. If they had a comrade like Adam, then most likely-

"Hm~. But isn't it a shame such a handsome face is so stoic? Even though he gets along with that Carole girl, he doesn't give other girls any time at all. Ah! I know! Why don't you give him tips on how to be popular with girls~!"

No, it was disingenuous to continue that line of thought. Both for his comrades and to Adam. Even if it were true. There were no IFs to drag on. He had few regrets outside of Mei's death anyways.

"Hmm. Are you going to just ignore me? That's pretty rude even for you~."

"If you're going to speak to anyone, successors like Adam can gain more than myself."

"Is that your way of trying to get rid of me? I'm hurt! But that you think your favored pupil has so much to gain from me, I'm really touched~!"

Her ability to chat and compliment herself no matter what was as strong as he remembered. He was sure that even if the real deal had survived him, lived into the Current Era, and saw him enact his plans, Elysia would not have changed her attitude toward him by much. That thought of the overly cheery woman lightened yet burdened his heart.

"You know, it's rude to think of other girls when one is giving you her full attention. Hmph~! Fine then, but I won't get jealous even if you want me to~!"

He looked over to the pink haired woman, smiling as if the words she was saying weren't out of sync with her face.

"...You've left me alone since badgering me to join you and Raiden Mei...why don't you just be upfront with what you're seeking."

She hopped closer to him and leaned forward. "Ne, Kevin, maybe it's not the same for you, but I really see you as my dear old friend. Even if centuries past, there are some things that won't change."

"Don't mistake me for the Kevin you know. Even you are not the Elysia I knew."

"You really know how to break a girl's heart. I've been waiting so long for you you know? I've even given you space since we reunited."

"...And I'm thankful for that. But what I feel doesn't change."

"Hmm. But for me, you still seem like quite a shy boy. I bet Kosma gets that from you you know."

If one day, you sacrifice the minority for the majority, or the other way around...

You won't be the Kevin I've always know.

And the light of the wishes he made long ago have already went out. Those names will never return no matter what seems to come in front of him.

"You're blinding yourself with your own kindness and hopes. I know you haven't forgotten the words exchanged from that time."

"But even so, it doesn't mean that our bond is destroyed."

"There is no bond between us. Not in the way you desire."

"If it's like that, all we need to do is make a new bond. Kevin, even if your heart has turned to ice, it can still be warmed up no matter how tired you've become. But you have to let your friends and comrades in to do so."

He sighed. "This has gone on long enough. Are you here to chatter on to me, or is there a purpose?"

She hopped closer and turned around so they were facing the same way, before leaning on his shoulder slightly. "I was planning on having a little Flamechaser reunion. While there are people from the Current Era's organizations who know about us, not many of them are actually acquainted with us. I wanted us all to meet and catch up so we can teach them. Even if there are those like you or me who have met some of this era or Eden who has a new rising career here, it's not the same as actually passing on our history to them and becoming friends and comrades."

"...It's unnecessary to pass on anything at this point. We who have failed to become heroes have already been surpassed. Even if there is something to pass on, it would be the duty of the rest of you. Hua and I...no...just I, would be exempt from it all."

"Kevin...even little Hua has grown. Even with three of her around, if one of her has the duty to pass on our legacy, and another is capable of living in the present, that doesn't mean she still can't do both at the same time. It's not as if you're pretending otherwise to begin with."

Kevin won't deny Fu Hua's life. Nor will he tell the one of the Previous Era that she cannot live.

But likewise, it doesn't change that the Eden of long ago chose to perish along with the art of their world. This one who chooses to return the past and create anew is simply someone else entirely.

That they all share memories does not mean that everything is the same.

"Only you believe that talking can do anything. My presence is unnecessary when my actions will speak for itself to those of the current era." Truthfully he still thought the leaders of this era were too soft to just let him enter their organization like this. Even if he had become disinterested in acting out in any interests.

"You haven't lost what I found most unbearable about you. I've always loved your love for MEI, but dragging along everything on your shoulders, the pain and sins and history, it won't allow you to live at this rate."

"...Even if it's been years since the Honkai's defeat, the me who lived, loved, protected, had died long before that. I only exist to watch over humanity for any future threats."

"Even so, I want to eat and walk forward with you. Su wishes the best for you. Eden hopes you can enjoy her voice once more. Aponia wants you to be relieved of your sins. Felis, Kosma and Griseo want to see you smile. Hua, Sakura, even the ones you've fought, care for you. You can watch over humanity even if we're by your side."

"Da~ka~ra, Ne~, Kevin, won't you say my name anymore?"

"50,000 years have passed since I've said that name to it's owner along with many others."

"Regardless on if this body can still live long or not, that won't change even if another 50,000 pass."

"Hmm. I guess I should be happy you think so highly of me, or for you, her, but you know, your past won't mind if you step forward."

"The past cannot make decisions for me. MEI had Adam and helped me create the Kaslana line so I was to look forward to the future. I always knew that. It was my choice to do what I believed was necessary. You also know that I don't have anything to do with you or the other Flamechasers. I see enough ghosts of the past without adding in your faces."

She smiled at his honesty. Undeterred by the heart that was eroded by the weight of the world and it's hopeless battle. After all, if she didn't keep going, then her dear friend wouldn't heal.

"How has your body been? Your power is about the same as ever, but it looks like you've still been weakened since that final battle. Or rather than weakened, shall I say you were healed of the MANTIS surgery for the most part? MEI would be happy for that!"

"...I don't have any intention on changing my way. It's enough that our two wishes we all fought for were achieved. Anything else is already impossible."

"Really~? But I've always wished for more. Honkai's defeat. Humanity's survival. But I never stopped wishing for my friend's happiness even above that."

"...It's as I said. Anything else is impossible. Hua is the only one who continue that wish."

She forcefully took his hand. It was cold from the use of his powers, but it wasn't unbearable anymore and was sure to warm in time. Even if he denied her wish for him impossible, she had hope. "Kevin. Despite it all, you're a warm person deep inside. It's because you're alive."

"Death is just running away from taking responsibility. It has nothing to do with that."

"Mhm-mhm. That's not what I mean Kevin. I just mean that because you're alive, you can be selfish. But you've gave up that long ago. But I don't think you have to anymore. There will be those who stand by you even in MEI's place. It's what she would have wanted."

He took back his hand and crossed his arms as he watched over the frigid ice and relenting flames.

"...Do not be mistaken Elysia. I made the choice to follow her wherever she went long ago. I even agreed with her own choices or methods. I knew her well enough to predict what she would have done in my place."

"But just as I had followed her plans and will in life, it was and is, equally my own choice to ignore it at any time."