In Honkai, Integrated Strategies Activated. Author: The Herrscher of Rice Who Wants to Cook
Good news: Xia Ling had transmigrated.
Bad news: she had transmigrated to Changkong City.
Worse news: she had been instantly killed and turned into Xia Ling-chan.
To avoid repeatedly dying after reviving, Xia Ling was forced to activate her unfinished system ahead of schedule and embark on a journey to grow stronger, starting with a solo clear of Sami's Integrated Strategies.
After unlocking more of the system's functions, Xia Ling was surprised to discover that her system could not only connect to Arknights' roguelike themes, but even Honkai ones.
Elysia and Everlasting Paradise
Unexpected Encounter
In a dim experimental site, a cute, petite girl with long green hair was troubledly pondering something. Upon seeing you approach, the girl introduced herself as a frail researcher with little combat ability. She begged for your help, hoping you would visit her laboratory and assist her in completing a harmless little experiment.
I'm in! (I like experiments!) (?)
Better not. (The less trouble, the better.)
The petite green-haired girl dragged you into the laboratory. You watched as her delicate features suddenly burst apart into a pool of dark green liquid. Then, a gigantic dark green serpent rose from the shadows and regarded you with ill intent.
Enter battle (Encounter a difficult battle)
Instantly Killed? Not Even a Corpse Left Behind!
Disaster, ruins, and wandering Miasma.
That was Xia Ling's first impression after opening her eyes amid a field of shattered walls and debris.
It was early spring in Changkong City, and the temperature was not yet particularly high. Warm sunlight filtered through the clouds and fell across the cracks in the ground, draping the city in a thin golden veil.
If not for the Miasma wandering and shrieking all around her, as well as the Honkai Beasts in the distance as tall as apartment buildings, this would surely have been an exceptionally harmonious scene.
As a veteran player of anime-style mobile games, Xia Ling recognized at a glance which game these wandering white-haired Miasma and gigantic beasts came from.
Yes, it was that famous Honkai Impact 3rd, supposedly healthy, sunny, and full of positive energy.
Having read all sorts of fanfiction, she quickly accepted reality. Her first thought was, Had she transmigrated?
Xia Ling had always believed she was the ideal candidate for transmigration: alone in the world, raised in an orphanage, and after becoming an adult, she had attended a decent university through student loans. Yet she was still alone, and had never even dated.
Her only attachment had been her game accounts. As a player who actively played Honkai, Genshin, Arknights, and Star Rail, Xia Ling had poured most of her feelings and effort into games.
However, before she could even celebrate, waves of piercing agony followed.
Xia Ling lowered her head with difficulty and looked toward the source of the pain.
An arrow had pierced through her abdomen.
In the distance, a Ranger Miasma silently lowered the longbow in her hand. Without question, the uninvited guest lodged in Xia Ling's body had come from her.
There was no focus in the Ranger Miasma's hollow eyes. She had clearly lost her lock on Xia Ling, seemingly believing it was only a matter of time before Xia Ling was transformed into Miasma.
Though she could not understand where this human who had appeared out of nowhere had come from, that obviously did not stop her from turning this person into Miasma like herself.
Looking at the sharp iron barbs on the arrow and the rust-like marks that seemed almost enchanted, Xia Ling gave a bitter smile and shook her head. With injuries like these, even if she survived, she would probably be crippled for life.
Besides... the purple patterns continuously spreading upward from her wound—she did not need to think to know what they were.
Xia Ling was certain that her current body was the very same body she had possessed before transmigrating: an utterly ordinary female college student.
Precisely because of that, there was no way she possessed any so-called Honkai Energy resistance.
"This really is... getting instantly killed the moment I transmigrate, huh... At least let me see the living Big Three before I die..."
Oh dear, where the heck did this send me? Is this still Canghai City?
Damn teleportation system! Once I get back, I'm definitely giving you a bad review! Where's my host? The host I spent two and a half years finding?
Just as Xia Ling felt the wound on her lower body had gone so numb that she could no longer feel it, an energetic female voice sounded in her mind, drawing closer from afar.
Well, the wording and voice did not quite match.
Eek, Host! Host, why are you about to die?!
The indescribable system shriek that erupted in her mind the next instant nearly knocked Xia Ling unconscious.
"I am about to die, but if you don't want me to die right now, please keep it down."
Though she had completely lost the strength to speak aloud, Xia Ling figured that systems generally had the ability to communicate directly through thought. Judging by the system's reaction, her guess was clearly correct.
S-sorry, Host... W-why did this happen...
The system's voice in her mind had changed from a stream of censored words into nervous, guilty sobbing. It seemed her situation had dealt it quite a blow.
This embarrassing... could it be some catgirl system...
Xia Ling maliciously made up stories about the system's origins before saying:
"Well... I think I'm still worth trying to save. And even if I can't be saved, at least wait until I'm dead before you start crying."
"Otherwise, with all that wailing... it's pretty creepy."
Integrated Strategies System installation in progress. Installation progress: 10%...
The system had evidently come to its senses as well. It did not even have time to reply to Xia Ling before hurriedly beginning the installation.
Integrated Strategies System installation in progress. Installation progress: 20%... Integrated Strategies System installation in progress. Installation progress: 30%...
Only when the progress reached 30%, seemingly completing some important milestone, did the system finally have a moment to respond.
Host, I'm very sorry, but given your current condition, you most likely won't last until the system finishes installing. If you want to stay alive, we can only end the installation early and prioritize preserving your soul in the system space.
The system's basic modules have already been installed. Reviving an unenhanced host is very simple. The remaining 70% consists of various themed modules.
However, these themed modules are somewhat disconnected, and an entire module must be fully installed before it takes effect. There are currently two options.
One is to install up to 60% and package-install Arknights' three major themes. The other is to install only up to 40%; in that case, you will only have...
"Wait, 40% is the faster option, right? Then that one. Install it now."
Before the system could finish speaking, Xia Ling directly cut it off and made her decision.
Eh...
"Stop going 'eh' and look ahead. If you're any later, I reckon my classifier might change from 'one person' to 'one puddle.'"
As the ground trembled, Xia Ling looked up at the Temple-class Honkai Beast walking toward her step by step from directly ahead, her voice trembling slightly.
Without question, Xia Ling was not this Honkai Beast's target. Unfortunately, the ruins where she currently lay happened to be directly in its path. If nothing unexpected happened, in a dozen or so seconds, Xia Ling's classifier would probably change from "one" to "a puddle."
O-okay!
The system's voice grew nervous again as it rapidly adjusted the installation sequence.
First this, then this module... Okay, it's at 40%.
Forcibly terminating installation process. Retaining installed programs.
Running as administrator!
Ding—Integrated Strategies System activated. Checking for updates. Check failed.
Host's life is in critical danger. Activating protection mode.
Loading trial theme—The Explorer's Silver Frost Endless.
Loading initial trial scenario—Research Team Camp.
Loading successful. Teleportation initiated.
As the voices rang in her mind, Xia Ling's vision went dark and she completely lost consciousness.
When she opened her eyes again, her surroundings had become a camp amid a snowy plain. The bonfire before her drove away the chill and illuminated Xia Ling's completely unharmed shadow.
At the same time, amid the ruins of Changkong City, purple Honkai Energy patterns had already spread across Xia Ling's entire body. The light abruptly vanished from her eyes, and her body seemed to lose all support as she collapsed to the ground.
The next second, the Temple-class Honkai Beast's body crushed across the ruins, successfully flattening Xia Ling.
What? I Have to Do a Solo Clear?
"Wait, let me sort out the current situation."
Xia Ling held her head, her face full of disbelief.
"First of all, my body outside is already dead. If I revive directly and go back out now, I'll only revive on the spot, then die on the spot again because the Honkai Energy concentration is too high."
"If I choose to go out without a body, as just a soul, then if I can't find something to possess within five minutes, I'll immediately dissipate. The kind of situation even the system can't save."
Uh... that's right.
Though I'm very sorry, this really isn't my fault... Something went wrong with the teleportation system...
The system's voice weakened.
"Then is there compensation?"
There is... but because the system wasn't fully installed, we can't receive the compensation email.
"Then is there a beginner's gift pack?"
There is too... but it's also distributed by email.
Xia Ling felt her blood pressure rising.
"Then does the system have a way to complete the installation?"
Yes, but because of the earlier forced installation, it needs to be completely uninstalled and reinstalled. That process will take at least a day, and during that time, Host, you cannot remain in the system space...
Xia Ling let out an enlightened laugh.
"Great, great, great. So I glitched myself into a death loop, huh?"
Um... probably... yes...
The system's voice grew softer and softer, making Xia Ling feel that if she spoke any more harshly, she might earn the achievement of scolding the system into tears.
"Forget it. Things have already come to this, and blaming you is useless."
Xia Ling sighed and asked, "What advice do you have for the current situation, System?"
Um... since Host's original body is far too weak, I actually don't recommend using that body to act in the real world. Even if you truly have to use it, you should at least strengthen it first.
Ah, I forgot to ask. Host, are you opposed to changing bodies?
"I don't mind. I'm not some fundamentalist. Besides, I'd already be thanking heaven and earth if I could win my revival match."
Xia Ling picked up a branch and poked at the bonfire before her.
That's good.
The system also let out a sigh of relief.
Since Host isn't particularly opposed to it, there are some ways. Though they may be... a little difficult.
"Be clear. Is it a little difficult, or a hundred million times difficult?"
Wah... actually, it's a hundred million times difficult.
Xia Ling took a deep breath. "Go on. I'll do my best to keep calm while listening."
Okay. Basically, Host, you just need to clear a certain number of Sami's Integrated Strategies stages alone using your current body...
Because the system's rewards are settled by floor, Host must at least clear the First Floor to obtain some rewards.
But if you want to obtain another body—that is, receive an Operator recruitment reward—you must at least clear the Third Floor.
"Sorry, I couldn't hold it in." Xia Ling was angered into laughter again. "I have to solo clear Integrated Strategies? Eh... Seriously...?"
Don't worry, Host. You can win.
If it really doesn't work, we can slowly save up Originium Ingots to strengthen your body... though it will be very slow.
"I think you should first explain exactly what this system is supposed to do." Xia Ling stared at the snowy plain around her and fell into thought. "More importantly, why do I have to play Arknights' roguelike in Honkai Impact 3rd? Even if you gave me Elysian Realm, I'd at least say there was some connection."
Mainly because Host couldn't clear Elysian Realm's roguelike either...
Before the system could finish defending itself, it sensed Xia Ling's stare and hurriedly changed its tune.
Before you continue