Someone in Honkai, But Integrated Strategies Activated

In the Elysian Realm, an expert was excitedly fiddling with various instruments. Ever since they figured out the method for reverse intrusion, the expert had been eagerly awaiting this day.

At the same time, in the House of Xiola, within the Oceania base, Flame Willow and Highmore also entered dreamland simultaneously.

In the Herrscher Trial lounge.

As the three girls appeared, Elysia flashed a bright smile.

"Hi, did you miss me~"

Chapter 42: Elysia is worried about you

[Before we begin the trial, I need to tell the host about a few special rules for the final trial.]

"There are special rules? Isn't it similar to the usual weekly dangerous difficulty trials?" Xia Ling asked curiously.

[The difficulty might be a bit higher, but the nature of it is completely different.]

[Let me put it this way, the location for the final trial isn't simulated data from the system, but a trial conducted using real-time data collected from the Elysian Realm.]

"Huh?"

(Hmm? Does this mean that little Xia Ling will essentially be undergoing a trial in the real Elysian Realm?)

[That might be a bit hard to understand, so let me use an analogy.]

[To ensure this trial is completely realistic, you can think of it like this: imagine the Elysian Realm is a big box filled with all sorts of categorized data.]

[When I usually copy data from the Elysian Realm, I left a set of special conduits within it. This is similar to the branching paths you see in roguelikes, with hidden interfaces at the discarded data points of different Herrschers.]

[Your final trial will take place within this set of conduits. As you make different choices at each node, I will connect the conduits to different interfaces and use modifiers to enhance those data monsters with varying strengths, thereby achieving an effect similar to what you experience in trials.]

"That sounds... like a lot of work."

[It is indeed a lot. Therefore, during this trial, you won't be able to hear my voice.]

"Huh? Are you really muted?"

[No... this is for the sake of concealment.]

[The conduits you'll be using for the trial are completely sealed. I need to adjust your interface positions in real-time. If I were to communicate with you, it would create unnecessary information leakage. This would greatly increase my workload.]

[Furthermore, the same applies to your two support slots. You'll be waiting in a small box connected externally to the larger box that is the Elysian Realm. Your conduits are part of the same system as the trial participant's, so I cannot communicate with you either.]

"That's not really a big problem, we've all done this so many times, the process is already second nature to us."

(Wait, I have a problem!)

(You guys are going to the Elysian Realm for a trial, the system needs to maintain the trial conduits in the Elysian Realm, so what about the cute fairy lady? Is she going to be waiting alone and lonely in the lounge?)

"I feel like... Elysia has something to say." Xia Ling looked at Elysia, who was standing nearby with a sweet smile.

(Yes, yes, little Xia Ling understands me~)

[It's probably because one of you triggered her voice line. Anyway, that's not important, let's set it aside for now.]

(System, you! Just you wait!)

[So, it is precisely for this reason that I need to explain the rules to you in advance.]

[The previous point was about communication. The following points are related to the trial itself.]

[Because it involves simulated data of the Herrschers, the requirement to pass this trial is not to defeat the Herrscher on the eighteenth floor, but only to clear the seventeenth floor.]

"So, can we just exit after clearing the seventeenth floor?"

[Uh, the answer is no. Due to the trial mechanism of the Elysian Realm, I cannot allow you to exit directly, and you will be automatically teleported to the eighteenth floor.]

[However, also due to the mechanism, you only need to hold on for five minutes. After that, you can be kicked out of the trial on the grounds of time running out.]

"Then why not just..." Xia Ling was a bit confused. "Wouldn't getting defeated directly be much faster?"

[Host, it's clear you weren't listening carefully to the rules just now. Your trial location this time is in the Elysian Realm, not within the system.]

"Ah, I get it, I get it. In that case, we really need to be careful this time."

Xia Ling suddenly realized, her expression immediately becoming serious.

(Hmm, the system means... wait, does it mean that because it's not in the system, little Xia Ling can't revive like usual?!)

In the Elysian Realm, Elysia suddenly sat up straight.

(Come to think of it, Xia Ling never mentioned being able to revive in the real world during her usual training sessions. She only didn't care about life and death during trials.)

(Looking at their usual plans, they always prioritize being conservative and stable.)

(That makes sense... being able to revive freely in the real world is indeed not something that's easily possible. Does that mean Xia Ling's situation will be very dangerous this time?)

(No, no. The system just said the difficulty is only slightly higher than the usual dangerous difficulty. Flame Willow's abilities are very strong, and the three of them working together haven't failed in a long time.)

A single sentence from the system made Elysia's heart fill with worry.

However, if Xia Ling heard Elysia's thoughts, she would probably feel wronged. After all, in the system shop, reviving an Elite 2 character once cost a hefty 60 Originium Ingots or 15 Hope. Even for Xia Ling, who had been saving for half a year, it was definitely not a small sum.

With such a high cost, when formulating plans, Xia Ling would subconsciously exclude the option of revival. It was precisely for this reason that Elysia was unaware that Xia Ling could also revive in the real world.

Putting aside the complex emotions of Elysia, the system had already finished explaining the precautions in a few words.

[Alright, since you all understand the situation, let's prepare to begin the trial.]

"This time, just like usual, Flame Willow will be the trial position, with Highmore and Xia Ling as support, correct?"

"Of course. After all, Highmore hasn't quite mastered her abilities, and I don't have the sustained power of Flame Willow."

"Alright. If that's the case, then let's get ready to go."

With that said, accompanied by three flashes of white light, both the system's interface and the figures of Xia Ling and the other two vanished from the system's lounge.

Only Elysia remained, looking with worry at the empty lounge.

Must go smoothly... Xia Ling.

Meanwhile, in the Elysian Realm.

"Hahaha, finally got you, you little thief!"

Vill-V's eyes gleamed with the look of a fisherman whose bait has been taken as she watched the numbers on the instrument begin to jump violently.

"But, is its movement a little different from usual this time?"

"It looks like it's not directly stealing data this time, but activating all the nodes it left behind earlier?"

Seeing the dense network of lights that instantly lit up on the screen, Vill-V felt a sense of pressure.

"Hoh, this many... I really didn't know the Elysian Realm had so many loopholes."

"But to pull off something like this... Well, just to be safe, I should find a helper."

After much thought, Mobius has been in a bad mood lately, and while Kevin has enough strength, he's a bit too conspicuous when it comes to things involving intrusion and counter-intrusion.

"As expected, I should find Elysia. But it's just for her to observe. If everything goes smoothly, she probably won't even be needed."

"I'll also take the opportunity to explain to her why I was busy the other day. The Magician said she came looking for me recently."

With a decision made in her heart, Vill-V tapped her finger lightly, and data carrying a message was quickly transmitted to Elysia's location.

Chapter 43: So that's the entry you added!

"Huh? Someone sent me a message?"

Elysia had just withdrawn her consciousness from the now empty lounge of the trial realm. Before she could even take out the gift she had prepared for Xia Ling, she sensed a message from Vill-V.

"This is... Vill-V? She's finally out?"

Transforming the data into a letter, Elysia carefully read its contents.

"She wants me to come over later, says there's a good show to watch?" Elysia was a bit confused. "And... to chat about what she's been busy with lately."

"Hmm... but I haven't finished the storybook I planned for Xia Ling yet." Elysia looked at the nearly completed gift in her hand, feeling a bit conflicted.

"Ah well, I'll go see Vill-V first. For her to be in seclusion for so long, it must be something very important."

"As for this pop-up book... I'll finish the part I'm working on first. Maybe Vill-V can help me with it later too."

With a decision made in her heart, Elysia replied to Vill-V with a message saying "See you later," and then continued building the gift she was preparing.

Meanwhile, Xia Ling and the other two had arrived in a small dark room.

Yes, a small dark room in the literal sense.

It was like a movie theater, with nothing but a large screen and three seats.

"This is your preparation room. Since you've decided to have Flame Willow as the trial position, are you ready?"

"What, do I need to say 'Link start'?"

"That's not necessary. In that case, I'll see you after the trial."

With that, Flame Willow's figure suddenly disappeared, and along with it, the system's presence.

At the same time, a live feed of Flame Willow appeared on the screen in front of the two.

"Feels a bit like watching a movie," Xia Ling said as she found a seat and commented, "Too bad there's no popcorn or soda."

"If you want snacks, you can try my tentacles," Highmore said with a smile, sitting next to Xia Ling. "Although I haven't tasted them myself, according to the story, they shouldn't be bad."

"...Forget it. While I don't mind seafood, eating something this fresh is a bit hard to accept."

As soon as the two finished speaking, the first wave of enemies appeared beside Flame Willow.

Almost without giving her a chance to speak, two Schicksal Demi-human Machines appeared on either side of her.

"Huh? Highmore, why are there little triangular arrows under the names of these two Demi-human Machines?"

"I don't know, maybe it wants us to click on them?"

Saying that, a long tentacle extended from Highmore's sleeve and clicked on the arrow on the screen.

Instantly, the original status bar of the Demi-human Machines expanded several times downwards, revealing a dense list of entry descriptions.

[Shield: Technical Upgrade: Demi-human Machine · Mister T's Schicksal Shield will become a permanent effect. Upon shield break, it will continue to exist as a damage reduction effect.]

[Energy Reserve: Vitality III: Demi-human Machine · Mister T's Honkai Energy reserves are doubled, and skills will no longer have cooldowns.]

[Anti-Armor III: Demi-human Machine · Mister T's armor defense is greatly strengthened, and the anti-Honkai Energy impact resistance of its outer shell material is enhanced.]

[Fang Thrust: Counter: Reduces the charge-up animation of Mister T's Fang Thrust by 50%.]

"No way, dude?"

Xia Ling leaned forward, staring dumbfounded at the familiar list of modifiers. "So that's what the system meant by adding modifiers? I thought it would be something like damage shields or bloodline buffs!"

"The value of clearing the final trial just went up significantly," Highmore gave a thumbs-up. "First clear on Elysian Realm, difficulty 890, three-star clear, and a forced kill strategy too."

"Let's hold off on the forced kill for now. Given the strength of these modifiers, the regular floors might be fine, but we'll probably need all three of us for the floor 17 boss. I was planning on saving our last support assist for the Herrscher floor, but it looks like Flame Willow will have to handle the pressure alone."

"Hope she's okay."

While the other two had time for banter, Flame Willow was already under immense pressure.

Unable to see the specific modifiers, she was caught completely off guard.

"This shell is too damn hard!" Seeing that the Demi-human Machines she could usually one-shot were now tanking five or six hits, Flame Willow looked at her gun-shaped staff in disbelief.

"I didn't grab the wrong weapon, did I?"

Although the monsters' difficulty was slightly higher than expected, once Flame Willow got used to their strength, even these enhanced monsters were no match for her.

After dealing with two Demi-human Machines, four Thunder God Mechs descended from the sky.

However, these Thunder God Mechs didn't seem to be resistant to fire. Even though their missiles had been significantly strengthened by the modifiers, dealing with them was still effortless.

"Huh? What's this..." Flame Willow bent down and picked up a few strange coins from the ground.

"Why do the mechs drop gold coins... They look like the cat's silver coins?"

"But there are so few, it's not enough at all."

The monsters on the first floor seemed to be just a warning for Flame Willow. After quickly dispatching them, three portals appeared before her.