Playing Stat-Sticks in Honkai: Star Rail

No, or rather… it was her own condition that worried the warm-hearted big sister, Serval!

022 Big Sis, You're Cutting Deep!

Time passed, and Liuge felt as if his body was no longer his own, with pain spreading throughout.

But he could understand that this state was a result of the enhancement effects from his body's attribute upgrades.

This was because his previous body was that of a completely unhealthy ordinary person, suddenly boosted by a large amount of attributes like Strength, Speed, and Stamina.

This wasn't like the amplification from Aether Edit, which had the stacking effect of Aether Edit, essentially providing a layer of protection, thus preventing amplification or any physical discomfort.

But now, his body was being improved from its very essence, so his body would react.

Of course, this reaction was a positive one.

Imagine if you hadn't exercised at all for a year, but were suddenly given the opportunity to improve your physical fitness for the next ten years in just a few hours – could your body handle it?

The answer, of course, would be no.

Therefore, the physical improvement Liuge experienced from consuming the Stat-Sticks this time lasted for a full three days.

When Liuge woke up, he was lying blankly on the sofa, looking at the unfamiliar ceiling with no strength whatsoever.

Although he was weak, he could clearly feel that his physical condition had been greatly improved.

"You're awake!"

Just then, a woman's calm voice came from the side.

Liuge turned his head to look, and saw a woman dressed in trendy punk clothing with long, wavy blonde hair.

"You..."

Liuge tried to speak, but the voice that came out was unusually hoarse.

"Wait a moment, drink some water first!"

The woman said, bringing over a glass of water and supporting Liuge's head to feed him a little at a time.

After drinking some water, Liuge finally felt a bit of strength return to his body.

"Honestly, seeing the changes you've gone through these past few days makes it hard for me to believe."

The woman put down the water glass and looked at Liuge with great interest.

"You are..."

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Serval, and my profession... I'm a mechanic!"

Serval said.

"Why am I here?"

"Speaking of which, I have a lot to say."

Serval looked at Liuge with a strange smile.

"Huh?"

"That day, when I was passing by the spring, I saw you lying on the bench, convulsing all over. I wanted to ask what was wrong. Turns out, you latched onto me. I had no choice but to bring you back."

"Ah?!"

"All the way here, people who know me thought I brought a boyfriend home. I was so misunderstood."

"???"

Liuge was completely bewildered.

If he remembered correctly, before he lost consciousness, he was indeed on the bench by the spring, but... he clearly remembered that he had been sitting there organizing Stat-Sticks and had casually consumed quite a few attribute Stat-Sticks.

Most importantly, he remembered that Serval had taken him away directly, not that he had latched onto her.

"So, you need to settle the bill for the lost work, emotional distress, and temporary accommodation fees for these past few days!"

"Ah!"

Liuge was completely stunned by this.

Was Serval like this?

Just as they were staring at each other, Liuge's stomach let out a loud rumble.

In an instant, it broke the stalemate.

"Haha, I'm just kidding."

Serval suddenly laughed and then brought over some bread and handed it to Liuge.

"Eat something first."

Looking at the bread in front of him, Liuge reached out, but the next moment he froze.

Because he noticed that his hands seemed to have become much thicker, with faint muscle lines visible.

As if sensing something, Liuge quickly opened his shirt and looked at the eight-pack abs and even muscle lines on his abdomen. He knew his body had truly been strengthened.

As for Serval, she showed no signs of looking away at this sight, even scrutinizing him with some interest.

"Ugh..."

"What's wrong?"

Serval looked at Liuge in confusion, wondering why he was suddenly staring at her without speaking.

"Um, shouldn't you look away since I'm like this?"

"This? A body like a little chick?"

Serval looked disgusted.

"Besides, I'm not interested in men. Don't think of me as shallow. Secondly, you're not even as good as my little brother!"

"..."

Instantly defeated, Liuge silently focused his attention on the bread in his hands.

After eating four consecutive pieces of bread, Liuge finally felt a sense of fullness.

"Enough?"

Serval was about to bring more bread, but seeing that Liuge wasn't eating anymore, she didn't do anything else.

"Speaking of which, how many days was I unconscious?"

"Three days, a full three days."

Serval replied.

"Honestly, how did your body change so much in just a few days? You were as thin as a stick three days ago, but now you're not only much stronger, but also a lot more handsome."

"Huh, really? Am I really that much more handsome?"

Instantly, Liuge's attention was captured by the fact that he had become much more handsome.

"Yes, handsome! If you were only a seventy out of a hundred three days ago, you're at least an eighty-five now."

"..."

Wait, sister, that really stings.

So, three days ago I was just an extra, and now my face is barely comparable to a character illustration in a game, is that it?

"Haha, you're really interesting."

Serval found Liuge's dejected expression amusing and laughed until her stomach hurt.

Seriously, do you have to be like this?

Liuge looked resentfully at Serval, who was laughing so hard she could barely breathe, and sighed.

"So, do you have something to say? You wouldn't just be chatting with me like this, would you?"

"Haha..." Serval continued to laugh for a bit longer before wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes and adopting a slightly serious expression. "So, outsider. Can you tell me the purpose of your visit to Belobog?"

"Huh?"

"Don't wonder how I know you're an outsider. After all, the four of you have already been declared wanted by the Supreme Guardian."

Serval's voice carried a hint of seriousness.

"Depending on your answer, I'll consider whether or not to hand you over to the Silvermane Guards for judgment."

"I don't think you will."

Liuge looked at Serval and revealed a slight smile.

Based on what Serval had just said, he understood that March 7th and the others had been declared wanted during his unconsciousness and had likely been taken into the underground city by Sampo.

"It seems you're quite confident."

Serval's interest was piqued by Liuge's confidence.

"Then, I'll tell you our purpose!"

Following that, Liuge roughly explained their reason for arriving on this planet.

"You're saying you're here to deal with that thing called the [Stellaron]? And that this thing is the culprit behind the planet's cold wave?"

"Theoretically, yes, but that's not what you should be concerned about right now."

"What should I be concerned about then?"

"You should be concerned about your old flame!"

Serval frowned upon hearing this.

"What old flame!"

"...Cocolia has been bewitched by the [Stellaron]!"

023 My Brother is Stoic, My Sister is Silly, and My Youngest Sister Has Amnesia QAQ

"You're saying Cocolia was bewitched by the [Stellaron]?" Serval frowned as she looked at Liuge. "Also, to clarify, she and I were only close friends, and that was in the past."

"Alright, alright, close friends!"

Liuge pouted. Keep denying it, but when she's really gone, you'll be smashing your guitar.

"I can't explain the specifics clearly to you either. However, what I can say is that due to some special circumstances, I've seen Cocolia's final outcome."

"What?"

"She died, after merging with the Stellaron. She couldn't withstand the power the Stellaron brought and eventually dissipated into the world."

"What are you saying?!"

Serval shot to her feet.

Honestly, she was truly shocked by what Liuge had said.

However, after thinking about it carefully, she sat back down.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible."

Serval looked at Liuge and shook her head.

"Although Cocolia and I have different ideals, I know she isn't the type of person who would do anything and everything just to pursue power."

Up to this point, Serval still believed that Cocolia merging with the Stellaron was solely for the pursuit of power.

But knowing Cocolia's character, she didn't believe she would actually do that.

"Then, let me tell you, what if the Geothermal Core is about to be depleted, and you haven't found a new way for Belobog to continue surviving the cold wave?"

Liuge silently dropped a bombshell, making Serval's head buzz.

"And at this moment, if a voice suddenly tells you that merging with the Stellaron can completely stop the cold wave, what would you do?"

Upon hearing this, Serval could no longer sit still.

Because she knew, with Cocolia's personality, she might actually listen to that voice and do something foolish.

"Then tell me, what should I do?"