"Goodbye mother, tonight I'm sailing far away~
Don't worry for me, I've got oars of joy and wisdom~
When you wake up—"
"Stop singing! You're off-key!" Chen Luo lightly knocked on his own head.
Do you know what's worse than someone singing badly near you?
When they're singing inside your head and you can't even cover your ears.
Especially when they're tone-deaf.
"Nonsense! I'm perfectly in tune," protested the Herrscher of Sentience residing in Chen Luo's consciousness.
"You were objectively off-key."
"...The Herrscher of Sentience has modified your consciousness. You now find her singing utterly delightful." After a brief pause, she declared.
"...Fine. You win." Chen Luo surrendered instantly.
"Are there still people watching me?" Chen Luo asked as he walked down the street holding a parasol. He had just left his neighborhood, heading toward an unknown destination.
Summer vacation had officially begun—meaning Chen Luo was now completely free. It also meant it was time to start his mission.
"Yes, at least five. Including your 'little brother' and your classmate." The Herrscher of sentience's mental perception easily tracked the gazes fixed on Chen Luo.
Precisely because he was being watched, Chen Luo chose to walk under the scorching sun with a parasol rather than teleport to Nagazora.
After accepting the mission, Chen Luo gained the ability to teleport across worlds—specifically to Nagazora City. His talent was undeniably impressive.
However, the teleportation location within Nagazora was random—it could be a secluded corner or even a garbage dump.
But right now, the issue wasn't the destination—it was the crowd surveilling him. While teleporting away was easy, returning unnoticed would be difficult.
Thus, Chen Luo had no choice but to trudge under the blazing sun like an idiot. He finally decided to take a sightseeing bus to the city outskirts—surely no one would follow him that far.
Yet after just five minutes of walking, the Herrscher reported another observer had joined the surveillance. Chen Luo nearly lost his composure.
Don't you people have anything better to do?
Wait—never mind. He spotted a familiar face.
Chen Luo looked up to see a white-stockinged maid standing quietly under a bus stop sign, drawing many gazes—including his own.
"Sister Meng? What brings you here?" Chen Luo quickened his pace toward her, genuinely surprised by her appearance.
"I came to see you off, of course. Honestly, you could've told me you awakened your talent earlier." Sister Meng, now nearly Chen Luo's height in heels, ruffled his hair affectionately.
"Oh? Sister Meng, are you a talent-user too?" Chen Luo feigned surprise as he sensed her using spiritual energy for their private conversation—a basic technique only perceptible to fellow talent-users or those with spiritual potential.
Advanced versions included one-on-one mental communication, which Chen Luo hadn't mastered yet—he only knew how to "broadcast" to everyone.
"Not just me—the young mistress is one too. When she heard you were traveling, she insisted I deliver this." Sister Meng produced a black-bound book from nowhere and handed it to Chen Luo.
[Basic Elemental Spell Compendium]: A grimoire handwritten by a "delicate" young lady, containing most basic elemental spells with emphasis on wind.
Price: 1,500 Primogems (Resale: 750 Primogems)
"The young mistress spent three days writing this personally. Treasure it. As for the details... well, you can ask her yourself when you return." Sister Meng winked playfully.
"Alright, I'll take my leave now. Come back soon to visit the young mistress—and me too." She waved goodbye, preparing to depart as others were scheduled to arrive.
"Wait, Sister Meng—a handshake?" Chen Luo suddenly extended his hand.
"Hmm? Oh."
Without refusal, she shook his hand—then vanished like bursting bubbles before his eyes. The fantastical disappearance went unnoticed by other bystanders.
Meng Meng
Race: Succubus
Holy shit—what did I just see?
Sister Meng, you liar! You're not a talent-user at all—you're a succubus!
While others merely possessed special talents, she was an actual demon.
Should've guessed—every "Seven Luminaries Mage"[1] seems to summon a demon. But why a succubus?
Damn it, why does that make it even hotter?
Her dramatic exit had utilized innate succubus abilities.
Shortly after, a white-robed figure resembling a clergyman approached Chen Luo, silently handed him a long staff, then immediately walked away.
Before Chen Luo could figure out what the staff was and who the person was, the white-robed figure turned around and left.
"A'Luo, stash that in your inventory now—before the perception-altering effect wears off," the Herrscher of Sentience urgently reminded him.
"Right, right." Chen Luo nodded, transferring the lengthy pole from his spatial ring to his system inventory. The ring's existence was publicly known and legitimately obtained, so he had no concerns about witnesses.
But... who was that guy?
The item seemed incredibly valuable.
[Demon-Subduing Sacred Spear]: A divine lance imbued with holy blessings. Capable of breaking curses and spiritual barriers, but most effective against all forms of evil and negative energy.
Price: 1,200 Primogems (Resale: 600 Primogems)
*Damn—a high-tier 3-star weapon, nearly 4-star quality, comparable to that Elfin Bow.*
Judging by the description, this was clearly church property. Why would the church give me something?
Baffled but unfazed, Chen Luo boarded the newly arrived sightseeing bus. Thirty minutes later, with the Herrscher of Sentience's perception-altering assistance, he vanished unnoticed from the vehicle.
The moment the teleportation activated, Chen Luo's world spun violently as howling winds roared in his ears.
"...Fuck!" Chen Luo stared at the rapidly approaching cityscape below, utterly dumbfounded.
Why the hell was his teleportation point mid-air?!
And it looked terrifyingly high up too.
"I'm reporting this! This garbage system malfunctioned—wait, this isn't a system, it's my own damn talent! Fuck!"
The moment Chen Luo saw the words [Talent Panel] on his interface, his furious rant died in his throat.
This wasn't a talent—it was his goddamn nemesis!
[Ding! Detected teleportation error. Compensation issued due to first-time interdimensional instability.]
[Ding! Obtained Food (Sweet Madame)×3]
"Three Sweet Madames? Are you kidding—wait." Chen Luo's tirade halted abruptly as an idea struck him. He crossed his legs mid-air and checked his inventory, surrounded by howling winds slowing his descent.
No Anemo Vision wielder ever died from falling.
Sigh, I should've asked Venti for a glider... Though could that broke-ass bard even afford one? Maybe Eula would buy it for me.
"Hey A'Luo, need help?" The Herrscher of Sentience's spectral form materialized beside him.
"Nah, stay hidden. Let's see if the Will of Honkai can detect you. My Anemo Vision's got this—no way I'm dying from a fall."
"Okay then." The Herrscher of Sentience nodded, thinking that what Chen Luo said made sense.
The Herrscher of Sentience could easily carry him down bridal-style. Although after her experience with spacetime turbulence and consuming a Heart Demon Essence, they were not sure if the Will of Honkai could find her, so she had been hiding in Chen Luo's body.
Chen Luo located the three Sweet Madames in his inventory:
[Delicious Sweet Madame] (Food): Honey-roasted fowl with meat so tender it melts like syrup. So delectable you'll suck the bones clean.
Effect: Restores 33% of consumer's maximum health
"Holy shit! This is good stuff! Talent Panel, let's negotiate—how about you glitch more often?" Chen Luo exclaimed.
This Sweet Madam is not the same as the game's. The game version restores 24% of max health of the selected character and restores an additional 1,500 health points.
Perhaps because there is no health value in reality, it restores 33% instead. But anyway, this thing is really good. Eating three of these chicken can almost revive you to full even if you are beaten to the point of death.
In-game these cost 1 Primogem each, and Chen Luo would buy as many as he can. In reality? Even if it cost 10 Primogem each, he would buy as many as he can.
Unfortunately, the items bore no price tags—they were non-tradable.
"So this is Nagazora? Doesn't look like the Third Impact's happened yet." Chen Luo gazed down at the bustling city, his controlled descent taking minutes at this altitude.
"Free solo skydiving wasn't on my bucket list. Should've packed a parachute—who expects emergency high-altitude insertion?"
"This summer vacation is really exciting or a little too exciting."
At the start of the summer vacation, I went straight to a parachuteless and ropeless bungee jumping.
[Ding! Special event detected. Limited-time activity activated.]
Event Name: [The Third Impact]
Event Objective: Hunt as many zombies and Honkai beasts as possible within 7 days.
Event Duration: 7 days.
Event Rewards:
For each zombie or Honkai beast eliminated, you will receive a certain amount of Primogems until accumulating 1000 Primogems. After reaching 1000 Primogems, additional Primogems earned will be converted into equivalent Crystals. These Crystals can be used to purchase Honkai-world exclusive limited skills, items, weapons, talents, Divine Keys, Herrscher Cores, Stigmata, etc. while enjoying a 10% discount, or used for Herrscher Core gacha draws. Crystals will remain available after the event ends, but the discount will disappear.
Each time you eliminate a zombie or Honkai beast, you will gain a base 0.1% increase in Honkai energy adaptability. The stronger the defeated enemy, the higher the adaptability increase, with a maximum cap of 200%.
During the event period, special exclusive achievement acquisition channels will be opened - please explore these yourself. You will also have free exploration of the entire Nagazora City area and may encounter special missions.
Faction System unlocked: You may freely join St. Freya Academy, Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, World Snake, or establish your own faction. After joining a faction, even without becoming friends, you can freely purchase all skills, items, and talents belonging to members of that faction. (Note: You may join multiple factions simultaneously)
Chen Luo's first thought? This trip just paid for itself.
I can't live without the Honkai! I'll genocide every Honkai spawn in Nagazora!
"No, wait, this broken talent panel is wrong, isn't it? The third impact hasn't happened yet?" Chen Luo, who was flying in the sky, remembered this. If the third impact didn't happen, where would I go to fight monsters? No, it's to fight zombies and Honkai Beasts.
[Countdown initiated: 7 days remaining]
The panel rudely flashed in his face.
"I said the disaster hasn't happened yet" Chen Luo said angrily
"BOOM!"
As soon as Chen Luo finished speaking, an invisible shockwave rippled through the air. Though the high-altitude winds drowned out any sound, Chen Luo saw the entire city suddenly shrouded in eerie violet haze.
"The Third Impact has begun," the Herrscher whispered mentally.
"Seriously?! I just arrived! Did I trigger this?!"
"Don't flatter yourself. Isn't everything Cocolia's fault—though you did forget to ask Theresa today's date."
"Ugh... Could today really be March 28th?"
"How should I know? Ask the loli nun."
Regardless of timelines, one thing was certain:
The great Honkai purge begins now.
Operation: Eradicate All Zombies & Honkai Beasts - COMMENCE!
TL Note:
[1]: Reference to a character in a game. Try to guess, only the luminaries part is different from the character's title.