Playing Stat-Sticks in Honkai: Star Rail

However, Liuge's attention wasn't on these people.

His and Dan Heng's attention were completely captured by the distant, massive manor with its plaza.

"What's over there?"

Dan Heng frowned slightly.

"That's where the boss of those little machines was."

Liuge smiled, revealing information that surprised Dan Heng a bit.

"Before coming here, I investigated in Rivet Town. There's a big shot named Svarog here who helps the people of the lower city. But he also has friction with Rivet Town's Wildfire organization. So he established a settlement here separately."

Liuge spoke calmly, weaving a lie, though the facts were indeed as he stated.

"Friction?"

Dan Heng sounded doubtful.

"Basically, Svarog disagrees with the people of the lower city moving to the upper city, while Wildfire is doing everything they can to open up the passage between the upper and lower levels, allowing the lower city residents to move up and live there."

"So it's a difference in ideals?"

Dan Heng caught the gist of it.

"Yes, exactly."

027 Character Summon Card

After reaching this conclusion, Dan Heng found it strange why Liuge had come here.

"Don't look at me like that. I just came here to persuade Svarog. Instead of a bunch of us slowly clearing the lower city, why not try working together?"

"What does this have to do with us finding the Stellaron's whereabouts?"

"Oh, that. I already know where the Stellaron is."

"What?"

Dan Heng almost choked on his water.

So, during the days we've been wanted, you actually found the Stellaron's location?

"Actually, the cold wave on this planet was brought about by that Stellaron."

"According to this planet's records, seven hundred years ago, Jarilo-VI was a famous tourist planet with beautiful scenery. One day, due to an invasion by the Antimatter Legion, a battle occurred between the Architects and the Antimatter Legion."

"However, that wasn't the reason for the cold wave. The real reason is that [Memory] Stellaron."

As Liuge spoke, Dan Heng interrupted him.

"You mean the [Memory] Stellaron?"

"Yes!"

Liuge spread his hands, catching a falling snowflake.

"Who do you think is the ice-attributed one among the Aeons?"

The simplest question, yet it made Dan Heng pause.

Indeed, wasn't this the most obvious thing?

From the beginning, this planet had been covered in snow, enduring the cold wave.

And among the Aeons, only the Aeon of Memory, Fuli, would be like this.

"So, this cold wave is the result of Fuli's actions?"

"Wrong, it should be said... it's the result of the Stellaron scattered across this planet unleashing its power."

Liuge looked at Dan Heng and continued, "And because this planet, due to the Company's influence back then, had the Architects. The Architects were supporters of the Preservation Trailblazer, so they built high walls here to resist the cold wave."

"This resistance has lasted for seven hundred years, and now only the upper city of Belobog remains, the last city on this planet."

Liuge spoke the most brutal truths in the most ordinary tone.

Hearing these words, a hint of surprise flickered in Dan Heng's eyes.

In such a short time, how had Liuge obtained all this information?

"Outsiders, leave this place!"

While the two were chatting, four or five Automaton Grizzly-class mechs surrounded them.

Looking at these Grizzly-class mechs, a flicker of annoyance crossed Liuge's eyes.

When he played the game, his most hated enemies were these red traffic lights that could shield themselves, and now they were back.

Thinking this, Liuge directly opened his Aether Edit and began operating it rapidly.

When he transformed into Haxxor Bunny, Liuge had mastered hacking skills, but compared to Haxxor Bunny's peak hacking state, Liuge's hacking ability could be considered entry-level.

However, against these old-model automatons whose firewalls were like paper, it was overkill. He easily gained control of their operational programs.

At this moment, Dan Heng, who had already summoned Cloud-Piercer and was preparing to fight, suddenly noticed that the mechs in front of him had all stopped moving.

"It's fine, I've already taken control of these guys."

Liuge waved his hand, dispersing the Aether Edit, and the mechs in front of him parted to create a path.

At the same moment, Liuge and Dan Heng saw that the gate of the large courtyard in the distance was open, as if welcoming them.

"Let's go, the main party is waiting for us," Liuge said to Dan Heng beside him.

"Yeah!"

The two walked towards the large courtyard. As they got closer, they saw a burly, dark purple figure standing within it.

"Outsiders, you..."

As Liuge and Dan Heng approached, the figure began to speak.

Liuge immediately interrupted him.

"Don't speak, hold it..."

"???"

In an instant, Dan Heng and Svarog fell silent.

"Oh, no. I misspoke!" Liuge chuckled and continued, "I mean, Svarog, your calculation is flawed."

Hearing Liuge's words, Svarog turned around.

At this, Dan Heng finally understood. The mysterious person known as the great Svarog was actually a robot.

"You say... my calculation is flawed?" Svarog's red single eye seemed to stare at Liuge, its light gradually intensifying.

"That's right, your decision to protect the lower city isn't perfect."

"Proof?"

Svarog now was clearly not as stubborn as in the game; he could communicate, not immediately unleash his ultimate after a few sentences.

"Because we, the crew from beyond the stars, have arrived."

Upon hearing Liuge's words, Svarog made no sound, but the red light in his eye grew even stronger.

"Argumentation: Existence Variable!"

Svarog seemed to have calculated something.

"But the proof you offer isn't enough to change anything."

Liuge knew as soon as he heard this that this guy was indeed the Svarog from the game, completely stuck in his ways. Unless he was defeated. Thinking this, Liuge glanced at Dan Heng beside him. If Dan Heng weren't here, Liuge would have wanted to try transforming into Haxxor Bunny and hacking directly into Svarog's core to alter its programming. Thinking of this, Liuge sighed.

"Then we'll show you."

As Liuge spoke, he prepared to leave with Dan Heng. Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a golden orb of light beneath Svarog.

Golden Legend?!

As Liuge was about to leave, his foot slipped, and he smoothly fell at Svarog's feet, his hand instinctively reaching out to touch the golden orb.

[Self-Awareness]

Quality: Gold

Effect: Can derive self-awareness.

Seeing this, Liuge's heart was filled with wild joy. In that instant, he thought of what his previously assembled clone (remnant) was lacking. Acting on his thoughts, he immediately got up and left with Dan Heng. However, Svarog behind him let out a sound of confusion.

[Calculation result: His fall was intentional!]

[But... why?]

At this time, Liuge and Dan Heng, having already left the large courtyard, stood not far from the Vagrant Camp, gazing at the large courtyard. Although they were visually observing, Liuge was already operating the combination of his clone and self-awareness.

The very next moment, Liuge's stat-stick library was updated with a complete entry.

[Clone]

Quality: Gold

Effect: Can manifest a clone with Self-Awareness. (Note: Self-Awareness will only be born within the clone once a Character Summon Card is equipped to it, inheriting the consciousness of the original character card.)

Joy instantly flooded his heart.

Seeing the description, Liuge understood.

His character cards weren't just usable by him; they could also be paired with a clone, and the clone could use them even better than he could.

After all, there was no comparison between the consciousness of the original body and the control of an external consciousness, was there?

028 Liuge Was Anxious, Truly Anxious

Liuge and Dan Heng walked on their way back. Liuge's persistent silence made Dan Heng hesitant to speak.

How to put it, he looked as focused as a scholar lost in thought.

As someone frequently engrossed in books, Dan Heng found it bothersome when his own creative process was interrupted. Therefore, he wouldn't seek trouble by disturbing Liuge in his current state.

At this moment, Liuge paid no mind to how Dan Heng perceived him. His attention was entirely captivated by the newly formed stat-stick.

Stat-stick: Clone. Upon equipping a character stat-stick card, a consciousness adapted to that character card would be born.

Wasn't this just saying he could get close to those characters?

—Wait a minute!

Liuge's expression stiffened as a sudden thought struck him.

This stat-stick was for a clone.