Chapter 535: What Kind of Situation Is This, Why Is My Teacher Himeko Starting to Cough Up Blood?!
"Starting from this chapter, the style feels a bit off!"
"It doesn't seem like a lighthearted campus comedy anymore!"
Little Gui was getting quite hyped up at this point.
On to the next chapter!
[ Chapter 7: Raise the Sword of Rebellion to the Heavens ]
"Just looking at the title of this chapter, you know,"
"This is going to be a battle brimming with passion and friendship!"
"Rescue our Kiana!"
[ 22 hours after Kiana was captured, Schicksal Headquarters ]
A voice said faintly, "Continue injecting Honkai energy into the testing pod. With this little concentration, it won't wake her up."
As the voice faded,
The scene inside Schicksal Headquarters appeared before everyone!
An unconscious Kiana was floating in the cultivation fluid.
A blonde man stood outside,
Observing it all with keen interest.
A subtle curve curled at the corner of the man's mouth.
Facing Kiana inside the testing pod, he spoke: "Long time no see. Welcome home."
"…K 423."
…
"???"
"Bro, you look familiar!"
"Is this… Otto, the Overseer of Schicksal?"
"With that expression, he might as well have carved 'I am a villain' on his face!"
"Luocha!"
"!!!"
"Holy crap, Luocha, you were hiding this deep all along!"
"No wonder Old Yang was so wary when he saw Luocha back then. Turns out this guy has a criminal record!"
"What is he trying to do! Why is he awakening the Herrscher of the Void?"
…
At this moment, too many questions hovered in the minds of every player!
And as Honkai energy was continuously injected,
Kiana in the testing pod…
No,
To be precise,
The Second Herrscher hidden within her body!
Finally seemed about to awaken!
A pair of golden eyes snapped open!
"Return to my side, my scions."
Her words were absolute law!
Inside the colossal glacier,
The silhouette of a dragon-shaped Honkai beast grew clearer and clearer.
The layer of ice gradually shattered.
With a furious roar,
It,
Awoke completely!
Its outspread steel wings could almost blot out the sky!
…
"Holy shit!"
"This dragon looks so badass!"
"Doomsday Beast!"
"What the hell, a Doomsday Beast!"
"If you become a Herrscher, can you have a giant dragon familiar like this? Then I want to be a Herrscher too!"
"Where are the coordinates of this world? We at the Interastral Peace Corporation are very interested in researching this kind of creature!"
"I believe the Herrscher individual itself is also worthy of research."
"Can you IPC dogs just get the hell out of here? This world is on the brink of survival, and you're still obsessing over your damn research! I swear to god…"
…
Otto also saw the awakening of the dragon-shaped Honkai beast via satellite.
Yet, completely unbothered, he said:
"Oh, come to protect your Queen?"
"Deploy all pre-defense satellites."
"All Valkyrie units, prepare for Level 1 combat."
"Get ready to welcome the world's transformation."
On the other side,
Theresa and Himeko were piloting a transport ship, rushing toward Schicksal Headquarters!
Breaching Schicksal's airspace defenses while dealing with the Honkai beasts swarming toward them,
It was an agonizing struggle!
The number of Honkai beasts kept growing!
Theresa issued a warning: "Not good! The transport ship's energy is no longer enough to maintain the shield!"
Just as the shield was on the verge of being breached by the Honkai beasts,
A burst of rousing music suddenly surged!
A flash of crimson blade-light tore through the air.
The Honkai beasts clinging around the energy shield were cleaved apart in a single strike!
"Don't worry, Theresa."
"It's time for the Far East Branch's ace to take the stage."
Himeko emerged onto the deck.
Clad in crimson armor, broadsword resting on her shoulder,
She wore an expression of confidence and absolute resolve.
…
"So cool!"
"Waaah, Teacher Himeko, no matter which world you're in, I love you!"
"This damn sense of security!"
"Unlike our Express's Sister Himeko, she might not be as elegant, maybe not as intellectual, but once on the battlefield, she's still our most reliable partner!"
"A broadsword-wielding Teacher Himeko! If I hadn't played Honkai Impact 3rd, I really could never imagine such a scene!"
"I finally understand why Feathered Spirit chose them as the protagonists. These people will really stop at nothing to save their companions!"
"Don't underestimate the bonds of our friendship! Luocha! Ah, no… Otto!"
…
Little Gui familiarized herself with the skills,
And began controlling Himeko,
Slaughtering her way across the ship!
"To save a companion, she'll make an enemy of the entire world!"
"The one we're playing as right now is Murata Himeko!"
"Her playstyle feels so sweeping and bold."
"Just charging in with that greatsword and hacking away!"
…
Astral Express.
Himeko sipped the coffee she had brewed herself as she watched the plot unfold.
Looking at that person who looked so much like her,
Pouring her blood and soul on the battlefield, carving a path through all obstacles,
And even—
Fighting head-on against that seemingly powerful dragon-shaped Honkai beast!
Himeko's eyes flickered.
She felt a surge of surging emotion!
If she had never boarded the Express, if a similar catastrophe had struck her homeland…
Perhaps,
Would she really have become a Valkyrie charging on the front lines?
Yet, fate had no 'what ifs'.
The current her was still Himeko.
The Navigator of the Astral Express.
The journey traversed so far,
Every view she had witnessed along the path,
Had come together to shape this unique version of herself.
Stepping onto the Path of the Trailblaze was something she had never once regretted.
Of course,
That didn't stop her from empathizing with her other-world counterpart.
And this,
Was the unique charm of the games Feathered Spirit developed.
…
Inside the livestream room,
Little Gui was also getting immensely hyped!
She unleashed Himeko's Ultimate,
Fighting with all her might against the dragon-shaped Honkai beast!
"Bang!Bang!Bang!"
Slash after slash.
"Ahhh, at this moment, I feel completely immersed as Teacher Murata Himeko!"
"It feels like I've been a Valkyrie on active duty for ten years."
"I've faced wave after wave of Honkai beasts; they constantly evolved, constantly grew stronger, every single one of them wanting to kill me."
"And the result? The one still standing is this lady right here!"
Just as Little Gui was reveling in her excitement,
Within the cutscene,
An unforeseen moment suddenly occurred!
Inside the bridge,
A trace of bright red appeared at the corner of Himeko's mouth.
She looked at her own palm,
Showing a look of surprise and sorrow.
"Damn it… not now…"
She—
Was actually coughing up blood!
"Is time… running out?"
Little Gui's heart instantly sank!
"What happened to Himeko?!"
"I was just slaying everything in sight like a god of war a second ago."
"Why did it suddenly show such a heart-wrenching scene…"
"They aren't going to kill off Himeko, are they?"
"No way… it can't be!"
"Himeko is a playable character, and in the other world, she's the Navigator of the Astral Express!"
"There's no way she'd exit the stage this early!"
…
Aboard the Express.
Seeing Himeko cough up blood, everyone's expressions changed!
Toward this Murata Himeko in the story,
They had invested far more emotion than any ordinary player!
It could be said they had completely projected the Express's Himeko onto her!
Seeing this distressing scene,
It felt as though everyone's heart was being wrenched!
"What's going on?!"
March 7th's face was full of panic,
"Uncle Yang, why did the Teacher Himeko here suddenly cough up blood?!"
Old Yang sat on the sofa, his expression grim.
Taking a deep breath,
He spoke slowly:
"This is… the side effect of artificial stigmata. Himeko's natural Honkai adaptability is low, so she's constantly being eroded."
"She…"
"She must have anticipated this day would come long ago. She just didn't expect it to arrive so soon."