46. Sirin, You're Not Allowed at the Developers' Conference / 47. Sky Dome City Linxia House ⊙ Jiu Lu Jiu Qiong Ranger (Trial)

"In fact, Fu Hua helped me a lot during the Schicksal War. She even broke up with Otto because Otto didn't tell her the truth about the plan. Now her consciousness is in your body because her body has been taken over."

"Huh? Otto just... directly... the Class President..."

Kiana gently covered her mouth. After all, she had spent several years with Fu Hua, but she never expected Otto to show her no mercy and kill her without hesitation.

"If Otto is really determined to kill me, it would be a good thing."

Fu Hua, who had been observing for half a day, appeared beside the two and sighed, "However, my situation is somewhat special. Injuries several times more severe than this wouldn't kill my body completely. I'm just afraid Otto doesn't intend to give up, but rather to use my body for some strange things..."

Yes, Otto really didn't intend to kill you, and even healed you... He just didn't expect your body to transform into Herrscher... Xia Ling thought silently.

"It's too early to talk about this now, Fu Hua. Given Kiana's current physical condition, do you have any solutions?"

"I do have a way, if I could get Kiana to learn my Tai Xu Sword Qi..."

Fu Hua hesitated, then continued, "But a person's energy is limited. Learning the Tai Xu Sword Qi consumes an enormous amount of Honkai Energy. If you factor in the Honkai Energy I used to suppress Sirin at night, I'm not sure if I can hold out until Kiana learns it..."

"Don't worry about tonight." Xia Ling looked at Fu Hua: "I have a way to suppress Sirin and at the same time train Kiana's combat skills."

"Is that so...?" Fu Hua paused for a moment, then said, "Okay, I understand. Then I'll teach Kiana the Tai Xu Sword Qi during the day."

"There's no need to study all the time. We still need to rest when necessary. If I have time, I'll take Kiana to Changkong City for a stroll."

Xia Ling shook her head, indicating that studying should be balanced with rest.

Watching Xia Ling and Fu Hua chat about her course schedule, Kiana felt like she was failing a course at the academy and then being forced to take make-up classes.

However, after experiencing so much, she no longer feels any aversion to these things. After all, if she could go back to the past, she would probably be more than happy to have to attend tutoring classes every day.

Chapter 46 Sirin, you are not allowed to attend the developer conference.

After discussing things with Fu Hua, while Fu Hua was teaching Kiana in the courtyard, Xia Ling also began to study the new meat pigeon theme of the system.

This trial's theme is "The Sami's Endless Wonders." Although she and her other clones spent the whole night last night tackling it, most of the time it was about enjoying the battles, focusing on exploring the map and leveling up the skill tree.

[If the host needs it, I can also bring up the storyline of this roguelike game for the host to refer to.]

[After all, this trial isn't purely combat-based. Given the host's current situation, the system has made certain modifications to some of its functions to better align with the storyline.]

"You're quite considerate... Perfect timing, Kiana will be spending most of her time today learning the basics of the Tai Xu Sword Qi, so I can have plenty of time to slack off."

A semi-transparent screen, visible only to Xia Ling, slowly unfolded before her eyes. While tidying up the house, Xia Ling was engrossed in reading the plot of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" (Part 3).

A few hours later.

"Um..."

[Finished reading? How does the host feel?]

"I love to travel! And, a tribute to the legendary Fictional Historian Niv."

[I think... the host doesn't need to pay homage to Niv anymore.]

After all... the Fictional Historian will probably soon become you and Kiana.

"Huh?"

[Didn't I say before? This time, the host can bring Kiana into the trial and retain her memories.]

Of course, due to the system's underlying design, it would normally be impossible to bring Kiana in, so this was a clever trick.

[Host, after entering the trial, you will see that the mode for inviting companions to join is not the regular exploration start mode, but rather something called... Narrator List.]

[Using a more familiar term, like the old Monthly Squad section.]

[Because, from a plot perspective, the essence of this roguelike game is storytelling, by setting a narrator, additional characters can be invited to join.]

"So... am I supposed to listen to Kiana tell me stories?" Xia Ling asked with a strange expression.

[Of course not. To ensure the trial doesn't stray too far from the topic, we've set up two positions: a speaker and a supplementary speaker. We suggest the host be the speaker, and Kiana the supplementary speaker.]

The system will modify the original roguelike storyline and integrate it into the host's own "story," thus supplementing the host's background.

However, if the host really wants to hear Kiana's side of the story... switching it up isn't impossible, but I can't guarantee what might happen then.

Additionally, at certain special points, the Supplementor's Vision may appear. If the host encounters it, they can try entering to take a look.

"That sounds interesting. I'll definitely try it sometime." Xia Ling's interest was immediately piqued.

[Additionally, because we're bringing in people from the real world this time, settings like health points can't be as realistic as in normal trials, to prevent any harm to Kiana.]

[After all, the host's body, constructed by the system, is fundamentally different from Kiana's body. Therefore, this trial will be more like the game, with attributes such as health points being quantified.]

"That's not much of a problem. If it's too realistic, it'll be harder for Meng to explain to Kiana..."

During the trial, the system will help Kiana suppress Sirin's power. Kiana will use the Sky Ranger template from the game during the trial, allowing the host to familiarize her with the Herrscher of the Void's abilities.

"Wait, Sky Ranger?" Xia Ling's eyes widened. "You can even do that? No, what I want to ask is, System, were you able to get character templates from Honkai Impact 3rd before?"

[Considering the cocoon of the Intrinsic World, the host or their clone certainly cannot use these Honkai Impact 3rd character templates, but this does not mean they are not included in the system. In fact, the system's updates are always synchronized with the outside world.]

As for whether these templates have any other uses... I can only reveal that some or even a few collectibles can utilize these templates, but so far, the host hasn't been able to create them.

"I must have acquired dozens of items of varying sizes by now... If we exclude these, what about the rest..." Xia Ling pondered for a moment, "Never mind, I'll try to exclude them after I've sorted them out sometime."

[Of course you can, but right now, host, you should think carefully about how to introduce this trial system to Kiana.]

[By the way, I think the host's constant addition of background details to himself could, to some extent, be considered a form of Fictional Historian?]

At night, despite a day of practice, Kiana still seemed to have little real understanding of the Tai Xu Sword Qi, and even under Fu Hua's guidance, she had only just begun to grasp it.

"Ugh, the Class President's course... it's so difficult..."

"Hey, what's wrong? Feeling a bit strained?"

While serving food to Kiana, Xia Ling asked with concern.

"It's more than just a little difficult... I really admire the Class President now, he actually managed to learn something so difficult completely."

"Don't rush, these things take time. Maybe you'll have a sudden epiphany in one night?"

"One night? I wouldn't even dare to think about that, not even in my dreams..."

"Hmm~ Well then, how about we really try it in a dream?"

Xia Ling revealed a mysterious smile.

"Huh?"

Seeing Kiana's confused look, Xia Ling couldn't help but chuckle and gently poked her cheek.

"Okay, let's eat first. I'll give you a surprise tonight."

And so, filled with anticipation, Kiana quickly finished her meal. After practicing the Tai Xu Sword Qi for a while but still not getting the hang of it, Kiana lay down on the bed and entered a dream world.

"Xia Ling, you really don't need me tonight..."

"No need, no need, you should go and rest too. Leave Sirin's matter to me." Xia Ling blinked. "Oh, right Fu Hua, there's one more thing I forgot to ask you."

"Um?"

"You say, what if someone, without having comprehended the Tai Xu Sword Qi, gained the ability to use Tai Xu Sword Qi?"

"Will she be able to grasp the concepts more quickly when she resumes her studies?"

"Of course, the Tai Xu Sword Qi is just a means of using Honkai Energy, a way of modifying the human body from Previous Civilization. Being able to use it first and then learn it will greatly increase your proficiency."

"However, to achieve this... do you mean you want me to control Kiana's body to use the Tai Xu Sword Qi? If it weren't for the interference of Sirin and the Herrscher Core, and if my body were still intact, it might be somewhat feasible, but now..."

"Of course, there's no need for that." Xia Ling's expression was confident. "Anyway, Kiana might give you a surprise tomorrow."

Chapter Forty-Seven: The Celestial Shrimp House in the Forest ⊙ Jiu Lu Qiong Wanderer (Trial Version)

On the other side, Kiana, who had already closed her eyes and was gradually falling asleep, was experiencing something quite different.

"Where... is this?"

Kiana opened her eyes and found that her surroundings seemed to have completely changed.

A circular iron bridge, chain-like suspension ropes, a base, stairs, and huge black, protruding crystals.

She appeared to be standing on a small metal platform, and in her line of sight, a huge furnace was burning fiercely.

"Where am I? Of course, it's... in a dream~"

A familiar voice rang in Kiana's ears, and then Xia Ling slowly appeared beside her.

"You are... Sister Xia Ling?"

Kiana was startled and immediately became alert. Even after discovering that the person next to her was Xia Ling, she couldn't let her guard down.

"Don't worry, it's me, not a hallucination of Sirin. Sirin is probably still being gagged and locked up in a dark room right now."

Just as Xia Ling said, after the system pulled Kiana into the dream, Sirin quickly became restless, and then she was firmly restricted in the core by the system, and even her mental fluctuations were blocked.

However, this was not the system's initiative. Rather, it was because Kiana was currently within the system's program, and Sirin's behavior was judged as an intrusion into the system, thus triggering the defense mechanism. If Xia Ling hadn't deliberately instructed the system to go easy on her, Sirin would probably have been severely punished.

"If you don't believe me, do you need me to tell you some little secrets that only we know? Like how you secretly tore out a few pages from the middle of your summer homework?"

"Well..."

Kiana broke out in a cold sweat. "So, you found out back then, Sister Xia Ling..."

"Hmph, those are just little tricks I've played before."

Xia Ling gave a soft snort and turned her gaze to the furnace in the distance.

"Next, let me explain what this dream is all about."

Xia Ling casually made a swipe in the air, and to Kiana's astonishment, a semi-transparent screen appeared in front of the two of them.

"The device that links our dreams is one of the advanced technologies from my hometown."

"The original purpose of this thing was probably to tell stories to a group of old guys. Of course, it's also possible that it could lead to parallel worlds while telling stories. You can think of it as something like a data space that you've been to."

"However... as I said before, since this thing can connect to parallel worlds, it has a bit of a mystical feel to it. Here, you can use the power of the Herrscher Core, or even the Tai Xu Sword Qi, without Sirin's restrictions."

"You could say this thing can temporarily transform you into what you might become in the future."

As she spoke, Xia Ling tapped the screen a few times, and a picture appeared in front of Kiana.

It was a photo of herself, but in the picture, she had a resolute expression, with blue and yellow eyes, holding two guns, and with long hair flowing down her back, like a seasoned warrior, completely different from her current confused and depressed appearance.

"Is this... me...?"

Kiana murmured to herself, wanting to reach out and touch the photo of herself, but hesitated.

"Don't worry... your future will be even brighter than the picture shows."

Xia Ling gently stroked Kiana's hair, smiling and encouraging her.

"Besides letting you familiarize yourself with your abilities in advance, this device can also provide you with some combat scenarios and various trigger-based storylines. To be more specific, it's the same as the roguelike games you've played before."

"Battle scenes?" Kiana immediately thought of Xia Ling's earlier description, "These battles couldn't possibly be from...?"

"It does have some effect on me, but of course, it doesn't have most of it."

Xia Ling confirmed her guess. "As I said before, this thing is designed for storytelling. If you set me as the storyteller, it will automatically generate a story based on my memories."

"It could be my past, it could be what I've seen or heard, or more likely it could be a random figment of my imagination."

In short, anything is possible.

Xia Ling grasped Kiana's hand. "There are still many trivial rules inside, but let's experience them and explain them as we go."

"First... is choosing the difficulty level."

Xia Ling pondered for a moment and then adjusted the difficulty level to 6.

This is a moderate level of difficulty. For Xia Ling, if it were just her and Kiana, this level of difficulty would be barely manageable. However, this trial has made significant changes to the Recruitment Voucher. Although they can no longer be used for permanent recruitment like in the regular trial, it is not too difficult.

Xia Ling didn't have time to max out the History Reconstruction skill, since she only experienced it for one night with a few other clones last night. She only managed to unlock half of the History Reconstruction skill, but it was enough to handle difficulty level 6.

Then, a row of icons appeared on the screen, slowly rotating around the two of them.

These are...

"These are the teams we're going to select next, but... based on my experience, this is the one to choose."

Under Kiana's watchful eye, Xia Ling clicked on a symbol that looked like a map. Then, the Blueprint Survey Squad's logo appeared on the screen, along with an option to select initial items.