Ding. The new trial theme—Elysia and Everlasting Paradise—had met its unlock conditions and was being installed.
Trial theme initializing... Initialization progress: 1%... Initialization progress: 2%...
Just as the system notification popped up, Flame Willow's call came through. "So? No problems with my performance, right?"
"No problems at all. It was just a pity you didn't let that little island's Bomb Crow perform a Feathered Arrow Returning Edge." Xia Ling gave her high praise. "Since you're done over there, hurry up and find a new base. Then tonight, we can check out the Elysian Realm trial."
"Of course! I can't wait to see a living, breathing Elysia either!"
End-of-Volume Thoughts
Good morning, afternoon, and evening, readers. This is Qingguang, the author of this book.
As usual, here are some end-of-volume thoughts—a summary of this volume and a preview of the next.
As the first volume of this book, it mainly told the story of how Xia Ling obtained a stable identity at St. Freya after transmigrating, became familiar with the system, and acquired abilities.
As the saying went, when the actors were in place, the show began. But for a transmigrator without an identity, getting the actors in place was quite difficult.
So, in the soon-to-arrive second volume, Xia Ling would further make some "preparations" for the main storyline to come.
I should mention here that, due to issues with the setting of Honkai Impact 3rd's early plot, I had decided to have Xia Ling temporarily avoid the academy-side arcs such as the Chiyou Chapter and Moon Shadow Chapter. The only one she would likely participate in was the Anti-Entropy Invasion Chapter.
Correspondingly, during these two years before the main plot began, I would arrange some other story content for Xia Ling. Near the end of the second volume, the story would also advance along multiple lines. Aside from the protagonist's main body, there were currently three planned plotlines, with the protagonist holding different identities in each.
Of course, aside from plot advancement, the second volume would also feature the appearance of a heavyweight guest: our Pink Fairy Lady—Elysia!
However, the way she appeared might be a little... unconventional?
In short, the second volume would also begin the first Elysian Realm arc in the outline. As for why it was the first... you would find out by the end of the volume.
System: So This Is Just Overtime, Huh
Seriously, did you two need to be this excited?
The system looked at the two who were boringly sparring in the training ground, then at the clock hand that had just reached eleven, utterly speechless.
There was still about an hour until the trial refreshed. Why were they waiting here so early? Trying to snatch a UID?
"That's right. I'll never forget the tragedy of believing the Star Rail officials' nonsense, logging in at ten to grab a UID, and discovering the servers had already been open for an hour."
"You're right, but I've got nothing to do in Changkong City. Can't I come in and wait?"
The two sparring women turned their heads and fired back, one sentence each.
I can understand Flame Willow having nothing to do, but a certain someone threw out an excuse about having a stomachache and ran back to her room. I seriously couldn't take it.
Anyone who didn't know better would think her period had come.
"You could also say Theresa came," Flame Willow added.
"This is my love for Elysia!" Xia Ling declared dramatically, like Argent who had converted to the Flame-Chasing Star God, only for Flame Willow to seize the chance and smash a fireball into her face.
"Hey! A sneak attack? You really have no martial virtue!" Xia Ling, reviving after her cast time, angrily unfolded her scythe. She could no longer be bothered bickering with the system and swore to give her other self a Heart's Delight.
Although the difference in strength between them was enormous, Xia Ling's speed-focused build happened to let her use her strengths against Flame Willow's weakness, since Flame Willow was restricted to ranged attacks. For a while, their sparring seemed evenly matched.
Had those two misunderstood something? There wasn't even an Elysia in the trial Elysian Realm...
But wouldn't it be a little inappropriate to remind them now...? Forget it. There was still an hour. I'd work some overtime and at least make something presentable, so they wouldn't be too disappointed.
Having made up its mind, the system saw that neither of them was paying attention and quietly opened its interface, beginning to work.
An hour later.
Ahem. Now, allow me to solemnly introduce the Integrated Strategies System's expanded trial content—Elysia and Everlasting Paradise!
"Is it my imagination, or do you sound... out of breath, System?"
Xia Ling stared suspiciously at the system screen.
No, does my voice sound different from usual? What kind of strange impression is that?!
"It sounds the same, which is why I said it was just a feeling." Xia Ling proudly planted her hands on her hips. "This is a beautiful girl's intuition!"
...Anyway, back to the point. Let me introduce this special Elysian Realm trial.
Before I explain the Elysian Realm trial's content and rules, I need to make its origins clear first, so you can understand the meaning behind some of its rules.
I mentioned before that if you completely cleared the Elysian Realm trial, you could connect to the real Elysian Realm, right?
"Right, and you said this trial-version Elysian Realm was created by copying part of the Elysian Realm's data source."
So, if the host wished, the system could actually send the host into the Elysian Realm right now, through illegal entry.
However, illegal entry also required strength. Leaving the Herrschers aside, the host at least needed to be able to handle the Elysian Realm's defense mechanisms independently. The trial Elysian Realm existed precisely to help the host adapt in advance to the battles and events that might arise within the Elysian Realm.
After the host successfully cleared the trial Elysian Realm's final difficulty, a portal into the true Elysian Realm would appear in the system space as the trial Elysian Realm's ultimate reward.
Of course, whether to enter it and when to enter it would be entirely up to the host.
"So you're just opening the door? Great, great." Xia Ling said speechlessly. "Your system really is useless. I was hoping you could arrange something like an identity for me, maybe disguise me as a World Serpent executive or something. Turns out I still have to figure it out myself, huh?"
I believe a mere identity will not stump the host.
All right. Now that you understand the Elysian Realm trial's underlying mechanics, let's move on to its rules.
Strictly speaking, the Elysian Realm trial was different from the previous three trial themes. It was more like the Elysian Realm weekly runs in Honkai Impact 3rd.
Only one person could enter each trial, while the other characters could participate as support, with a maximum of two.
After the trial participant used a support skill, the support character would enter the current node and join the battle. They would remain for one node, with a cooldown of three nodes.
However, unlike the Elysian Realm in Honkai Impact 3rd, the trial's nodes would not be so monotonous. Instead, it used the kind of node classifications from Arknights, such as Unexpected Encounter or Wish Fulfilled.
At the same time, the Elysian Realm trial could not detect the situation on later maps. You could only see the category of the next node.
"Uh, interruption." The more Flame Willow listened, the more she broke out in cold sweat. "Then who's going to make up for the missing Signets?"
Good question. The answer is nobody.
"Huh?"
After all, this was a real world, not a game, host.
If you wanted to obtain the Signets of those Herrschers, it would involve their core data as memory entities. If those things were tampered with, there was no way the Herrschers could remain as unaware as they were now.
As for the Signets in the game, the system could indeed simulate them, but it would be meaningless, because those Signets could not be brought into the true Elysian Realm when the host entered it.
But the good news was that you could still obtain certain collectibles in the trial, and collectibles acquired by the host that could be used in the real world could also be used in the trial.
"So you just removed the Signets outright, huh?" Flame Willow clutched her head and let out a wail. "You're reducing your workload, but I'm going to die several more times!"
Relax. I believe in your healing output.
There were some rules that could only be explained in battle. If I described them now, the host likely would not have much of a real sense of them. How about choosing to jump straight into a run?
"Fine. Let's start the Elysian Realm right away."
In an instant, the environment around the two began to shatter and change. After some time, a familiar-looking reception hall appeared before them.
"Ah, a familiar sight." Xia Ling looked around.
"Not that familiar, really. After finishing our missions, we rarely stayed in the hall, and this place seems like it doesn't have all its functions either..."
Before Flame Willow could finish, she was interrupted by Xia Ling's startled cry from the other side.
"Elysia?!"
"Huh?" Flame Willow hurriedly followed Xia Ling's gaze. Sure enough, on the reception hall sofa sat a Pink Fairy Lady with a sweet smile, looking at them both with smiling eyes.
As though she sensed their gazes, the Pink Fairy Lady on the sofa suddenly spoke. "Why aren't you asleep at this late hour? You're thinking about me, aren't you?"
"Uh... that voice line sounds so familiar..." Xia Ling seemed to realize something. She moved close to Elysia and whispered, "Say another one?"
"Finished today's missions already? So impressive. Let me praise you, okay?"
"As expected, those are bridge voice lines." As a veteran Elysia fan, Flame Willow caught on as well. The two then turned together toward the system, which had been silent for a long while.
"System, explain?" ×2
Elysia: What Kind of Place Is This?
Ahem, here's the thing...
The system's somewhat embarrassed voice rang out through the hall.
I saw how much the hosts liked Elysia, so I intercepted a small portion of Elysia's data, then created an Elysia model and placed it here.
After all, an Elysian Realm with Elysia was what made it the Elysian Realm.
"Whew... that operation sequence feels awfully familiar." Flame Willow felt goosebumps rise all over her. "You're not about to call yourself Little E next, are you?"
"Then what's up with these voice lines? I feel like Elysia's responses are... pretty intelligent? Even though she's using bridge voice lines."
Although it was only a small portion of data, the system could indeed perform a certain degree of reverse simulation based on that data... Wait, why does this sound more and more like Corruption?
Ahem. Anyway, you can treat this Elysia as an interactive trial Elysian Realm Mascot Girl. Of course, this Elysia will not actually respond to you.
"So this Elysia is basically a giant movable figurine? The kind with voice lines." Xia Ling's eyes lit up.
"That seems about right, though this Elysia should possess a certain amount of simple intelligence. At the very least, she can answer according to the entries in her voice package."
"Let me try too!" Flame Willow ran over to Elysia as well and poked Elysia's soft cheek with one finger.
"When you're alone with a girl, make sure to look into her eyes properly, okay?"
The adorable Pink Fairy Lady immediately turned her head and looked straight into Flame Willow's emerald-green eyes, her face carrying a gentle, sweet smile.
"Ugh—" Flame Willow instantly covered her face, transforming into a steaming girl as she stammered, "The lethality... is too much..."
You two are already like this without even meeting the real Elysia. It's hard to imagine that if Elysia asks you a question when the time comes, you won't spill even the fact that you're transmigrators.
The system's voice rang out, full of frustration at their failure to live up to expectations.
"It's fine. If I tell her, I tell her. Otto has a whole bunch of soul-steel bodies anyway, and I never planned to hide it from Elysia." Xia Ling said unconcernedly. "Besides, if it's Elysia, she should help me keep the secret, right?"
"And you." Xia Ling dragged Flame Willow, who was absorbed in poking Elysia, up from the sofa. "Heroes fall at the feet of beautiful women. You can't get addicted to Elysia's beauty. It's my turn to... no, it's time to do the trial!"
"Okay, okay, okay... Like you're any different..."
Flame Willow muttered as she stood up and tapped the system screen a few times.
"All right, I'm setting off. Remember to come try being support later."
As her words fell, Flame Willow's figure vanished from the hall.
And if we turned back time by one hour...
Within the Elysian Realm.
"Ah, so boring. The girl who came to do a trial last time never took off her hood. I don't even know whether I should go chat with her."
The beautiful pink-haired girl sat in the reception hall, listlessly playing with a pink crystal flower in her hands.
"If only something interesting could happen. The executives who have come for trials lately all seem so boring. When will I get to meet some new beautiful girls?"
"Hmm?"
Elysia's fingers paused as she played with the crystal flower. She keenly sensed that a portion of her data seemed to be experiencing some unusual movement.
"Strange. Is this Mobius's prank? Or Aponia's?" Elysia tilted her head. "Forget it. Whoever it is, I'll find out once I take a look."
"Miss Fairy's detective game is about to begin."
As everyone knew, the systems in Hedgehog Cat stories were generally not very reliable. This was also a common understanding among transmigrators.
What was more frightening was that most Cat Guest systems had no clear understanding of just how unreliable they themselves were.
For example, Xia Ling's system.
At this moment, the system, transformed into a data thief, was carrying out tense and thrilling theft amid the Elysian Realm's flood of data.
Hmm... The data needed to construct Elysia's appearance was more or less enough, but I should steal a little more of her emotional data. That would make it feel more authentic.
Of course, under normal circumstances, a memory entity should barely notice this kind of copying. Unfortunately, Elysia was no ordinary memory entity. As the Origin Herrscher, even as a memory entity, she possessed certain unique traits.
Before you continue