Now that Honkai Impact 3rd Part 2 is almost here, what happened to favourites Kiana, Mei, and Bronya?

With Honkai Impact 3rd (HI3) Part 2 releasing on 29 February, the game is entering a new era and leaving the Valkyries we've come to know and love in Part 1 behind.

But even as HI3 moves into a new world with a new set of characters driving the story forward, we can't forget the beloved trio of Kiana Kaslana, Raiden Mei, and Bronya Zaychik who fought for all that is beautiful in the world in Part 1.

So, whether you're a returning HI3 player looking to catch up on the lore for Part 2 or someone looking to jump into this wonderful universe now, let's take a look at what transpired before HI3 Part 2 and what happened to Kiana, Mei, and Bronya.

The 'end' of Honkai

We all know how overly complicated HI3's writing and world-building can be, so to summarise the end of Part 1 as concisely as possible feels like almost an impossible task, and at best may seem like a hunk of garbled text to some.

But to make the really long story short: alternate reality Earth is plagued by the existence of the titular Honkai — a dangerous energy akin to radiation that has consistently brought about cataclysms, monsters, pestilence, and death throughout humanity's history.

To study and combat the Honkai, humanity created three factions, each with different goals: First is Schicksal, where our original trio comes from, which — under the corrupted control of (the now "deceased") Otto Apocalypse — employs the use of the Valkyries or girl warriors equipped with battlesuits who can combat the Honkai.

Second is Anti-Entropy, headed by the former Herrscher of Reason Welt Yang (yes, the same Welt Yang currently in Honkai: Star Rail), which uses the power of technology against the Honkai. Finally there is World Serpent, headed by Kevin Kaslana, whose desire is an all out "Honkai Extinction".

The finale of HI3 focuses on Kevin Kaslana's plan to finally initiate "Project Stigma", a diabolical plan to release Honkai Energy throughout the world in the hopes that even just 1% of humanity may develop a resistance to Honkai, while letting the remaining 99% turn into Honkai Zombies and die.

Although Kevin has his reservations in wanting to initiate this plan — seeing it only as a duty that he must fulfil — he had come to hope that others may find a solution to the problem where he has not, essentially becoming an anti-hero of the modern age.

With this plan now in motion, Anti-Entropy sent Kiana, Mei, and Bronya to the "Cocoon of Finality", which is essentially the origin of Honkai itself. It is a cocoon of a previous alien race that has merged into one being and one consciousness to become like a god (HI3 never not displaying the Neon Genesis Evangelion references).

Although the Cocoon of Finality has all-encompassing power, it grew lonely and has travelled throughout every edge of the multiverse in search of a being similar to its own.

Kiana, along with Mei (who accepted the Authority of Origin from Elysia and became the Herrscher of Origin) and Bronya (metamorphosing her Herrscher of Reason core to become the Herrscher of Truth), fight against Kevin on the moon once and for all for dominion over the Authority of Finality.

This battle ends in a one-on-one between Kiana and Kevin, where they both duke it out with baseball bats (this is a true and canon event). Kiana emerges victorious, successfully "embraces" the Cocoon of Finality, and is rebirthed as the "Herrscher of Finality", the new goddess of the Earth.

After Finality

After becoming the Herrscher of Finality, Kiana resigned herself to watch over humanity on the moon to allow the world to heal from the devastating after-effects of Kevin's Project Stigma. Her isolation is projected to last around five to ten years as she finds a way to stabilise Finality enough so that it would not harm the Earth.

In the 'A Post Honkai Odyssey' (APHO) DLC, it is confirmed that Kiana has been in the moon for over eight years, and has shown no signs of returning to Earth just yet.

Raiden Mei, who shed her title as the Third Herrscher, became a Schicksal Captain of the 3rd Squad, and is aiding in wiping out residual Honkai energy from the world while waiting for her reunion with Kiana. An alternate universe version of Raiden Mei also exists in Honkai: Star Rail in the form of Acheron, who may also be pining for her own Kiana.

Bronya also followed in Raiden Mei's footsteps, becoming a Captain of her own squad, and is one of the main characters in APHO. Two alternate universe versions of Bronya are also in Honkai: Star Rail, namely the Belobog Supreme Guardian Bronya Rand and the Stellaron Hunter Silver Wolf.

But aside from being a captain, Bronya has also taken over HoYoverse as its new CEO (step aside, Da Wei, the Bronyaverse must multiply!), but this is more of an in-universe joke.

Seele Vollerei, who became the Herrscher of Rebirth, is currently missing in APHO, her whereabouts are unconfirmed and I suppose we'll have to wait for HI3 Part 2 for any news of her. She is, however, present in Honkai: Star Rail as an alternate reality version of herself.

Welt Yang himself also crossed over from HI3 and APHO into Honkai: Star Rail, and is still being haunted by Otto Apocalypse in the form of Luocha. Murata Himeko, or at least an alternate reality version of her, is also alive and well in Honkai: Star Rail (if she dies in this story, we RIOT) as the Astral Express' Navigator.

We can't really rule out the cast of HI3 Part 1 returning in Part 2 in some form of another, such a possibility is looking very unlikely. There may be some cameos here and there, but I doubt they will play the same significant roles they once did in Part 1.

While it really pains me to leave Kiana, Mei, Bronya, and all the other Valkyries we've come to know and love behind in HI3 Part 1, I'm still looking forward to what sort of new adventures HI3 Part 2 will bring to the game's wonderful universe.

Here's to hoping Senadina, Helia, Coralie, the Dreamseeker, and the cast of HI3 Part 2 will have many positive and wholesome stories in store for them!

For more information on what's to come in HI3 Part 2, check out the full preview livestream here.

Yan Ku is a full-time dog parent, part-time (gacha) gamer, and part-time writer.

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