Honkai Impact: The Dream Keeper

“Your intelligence isn’t very good either, Cocolia…” Long Qiao said.

"Alright, Qiao, stop talking..." Bronya whispered to Long Qiao.

"...Okay, okay..."

“Cocolia, your plan sounds interesting… but please tell me, why should Destiny follow your lead?” Tesla said, annoyed.

“Because finding the Void… no, because finding Kiana might just be part of his plan. Recently, my troops have been attacked by Schicksal multiple times. Judging from their targets, what Otto wants… is one of the four Herrscher cores, the ‘Gem of Desire.’ Fortunately, the gem hasn’t fallen into his hands yet,” Cocolia said.

"Isn't that obvious? Wendy is still alive, what could he possibly take? Unless he kills Wendy," Menmo said, picking his ear.

“Indeed, but Otto still wants to gather all four Herrscher Cores to restore Sirin’s power, and thus…”

"Stop, stop! Sirin is living with us in St. Freya right now, and she has no intention of regaining her power. What's the point of him collecting the Herrscher cores?" Long Qiao asked, puzzled.

"Perhaps she's trying to turn Xilin against her?" Qingmo replied jokingly.

“Hey, maybe Otto doesn’t know that Sirin has already been separated from Long Qiao. He probably thinks Sirin and Kiana are still one.” Men Mo raised an eyebrow and said.

"Hahahaha, he's trying to turn them against him, but he'll be killed by Xilin in the end," Long Qiao laughed loudly.

"Hahahahaha..."

“…Alright, let’s talk about cooperation?” Cocolia asked.

“Ms. Theresa, we used to have different positions, but now Otto is our common enemy. So please put aside your doubts for now and join me in fighting against Otto.”

“I don’t think it’s impossible…” Long Qiao said after considering the pros and cons.

"So... what are our rendezvous coordinates?" Einstein asked.

“In the western Pacific Ocean, at 11°20.9°N, 142°11.5°E, I will be waiting for you all to arrive…” Cocolia said.

"Don't you three feel that these coordinates look familiar?" Long Qiao whispered to Qing Mo and the others.

“These coordinates… wait… aren’t these the coordinates of the Mariana Trench?” Qingmo said softly.

"That's right..."

"Are you stationed in Abyss City?... Hello? Cocolia?" Einstein said.

Cocolia then fell silent, suggesting a possible communication problem.

“What place is that?” Theresa asked.

“That’s our secret underwater fortress… Is destiny finally going to discover even that?” Einstein said.

“Otto has sent… to seize it… this time, he aims to…” Cocolia’s communication came in broken voices.

"Is the signal being jammed?" Long Qiao asked, scratching his head.

"It is clear."

At that moment, the face of a strange man appeared on the big screen—

“Excuse me for disturbing you all… Let’s continue the unfinished transactions in Sky Dome City?” the man said.

"Holy crap! The Gray Serpent has come back to life!" Long Qiao exclaimed.

"Damn! Dude, don't scare people like that! If you scare the readers, how are we supposed to be the main characters?" Men Mo said.

“In Sky City, this guy was clearly already…” Theresa said doubtfully.

"Could it be that the one who died was actually a stand-in?" Mei asked.

“No, that shouldn’t be possible…” Long Qiao said.

"Death is life lived, and life is death on the way. People, don't be surprised. Snakes are not creatures that succumb to death," said the gray snake.

"Although I was interrupted for a moment by some annoying little girl, a deal is a deal. Even if I'm in hell, I will fulfill the terms of the contract in black and white," Gray Serpent said.

"Wow, they're quite professional."

"You flatter me, sir."

“A contract? Not only did you fail to hand over the intelligence, you also incurred the wrath of fate, causing us to be hunted down all the way,” Theresa said.

“Uh… Theresa, actually only you guys were being hunted down. Although I was injured at the time, I could still fight beyond my limits…” Long Qiao said.

"Takumi...you still want to overexert yourself to fight?!" Mei frowned and then pinched Takumi's ear and said.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch... Hehe, Mei, I was wrong... Let go, please?" Long Qiao quickly begged for mercy.

"Hmph! This is the last time!" Bronya added.

"Good~"

Long Qiao looked at Mei and Bronya with doting eyes, but he was thinking something else entirely.

"Mei... Bronya... I love you both, so I will always protect you... even if it means death..."

“I’m sorry, how Destiny acts is beyond my control. As for the intelligence… didn’t I already give it to you?” Gray Serpent said.

"...The humanoid machine has been formatted!"

"By taking the humanoid machine away on your own, you've obtained intelligence. As for how to open this 'box' and get what you want, that's your business," Gray Serpent said.

"..."

"In my opinion, the deal is done. In return, I will now take what I want from you." With that, Gray Serpent cut off the communication.

"Huh? The humanoid machine's quantum communication has suddenly started working? Impossible, I clearly already... Damn it, this guy is using the humanoid machine to infiltrate this warship! At this rate, the Hyperion will soon be under his control..." Einstein said.

"I'll fuck your ass."

"Quickly disconnect the system from the humanoid machine!" Theresa said.

“It’s pointless to do this now, the program is already fully injected…” Einstein said.

"Go to hell."

A system notification then sounded, and Hyperion entered docking mode.

"I'll test his mother!"

“Damn it, all areas are locked down!” Tesla said.

"Headmaster, the sentry reports a visual report that unidentified mechanized forces are approaching us and attempting to board the Hyperion's deck!"

"The Grey Serpent... what exactly does he want?" Einstein asked.

"Whatever he wants from the Hyperion, I won't let him succeed! Doctor, the task of regaining control of the Hyperion's systems is now in your hands and Bronya's hands," Theresa said, looking at the two of them.

"Ok."

"Bronya has received the order."

"The rest of you will join me in engaging the enemy across the entire ship. Let's see what tricks Grey Serpent is up to!"

"Roger that!"

"Qiao, um... be careful... don't use that power until the very end," Bronya whispered to Long Qiao, who was preparing to move out.

"Okay, I understand. By the way, Bronya, if anything happens, don't be afraid. I'll always be by your side. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up." After saying that, Long Qiao touched Bronya's face, then put on her coat and walked out of the warship.