In Honkai, But Integrated Strategies Activated

A sly smile played on the girl's lips. Her right hand, gripping the scythe's handle, lightly tapped the trigger on it. With a deafening roar, a bullet shot out from the tip of the giant scythe.

Using the recoil from the shot, Xia Ling's spinning body suddenly accelerated, and before the Sarkaz mercenary could even raise their sword to block, she had already slashed the giant scythe across his body.

With a light tearing sound, like ripping fabric, the mercenary in this simulated training ground, like the unlucky teacher before him, was split into two.

Watching the two halves of the body gradually turn into light spots, Xia Ling, satisfied, swung the scythe back and then returned it to its portable state, clipping it to her waist.

[Not bad, Host. In just one month, your combat experience and adaptability have improved remarkably.]

[This Sarkaz mercenary, whose physical condition was specifically enhanced in the training ground, possesses a physique comparable to a B-rank Valkyrie. Yet, you can now handle them with ease.]

"Isn't that just combat experience earned by risking my life countless times!" Xia Ling pouted in dissatisfaction.

[That's also your talent, Host. Moreover, to maintain such a healthy and cheerful disposition after experiencing multiple deaths, you are, in a way, exceptionally gifted.]

Indeed, over the past month, Xia Ling had endured hellish torment within the system.

No, it would be more accurate to say that the Roguelike trials were practically a vacation for her.

In order to rapidly transform Xia Ling from an ordinary girl into a qualified warrior, she had paid with her life countless times on the training grounds throughout this month.

For the weak, combat experience was merely a life-saving technique honed through life-and-death struggles.

And Xia Ling, coincidentally, had ample opportunities for such experiences.

Thus, with the system's assistance, in just one week, Xia Ling went from someone who couldn't even hold a gun steady to a warrior capable of calmly shoving a gun into a beast's mouth to trade her life for an advantage.

Having already died several times in the training ground, Xia Ling's fighting style in the trials became increasingly aggressive.

In her second trial, due to bad luck, Xia Ling was stopped at the second floor.

However, in the third Roguelike trial, Xia Ling once again passed the second floor, relying purely on her own strength and a bit of luck to clear it. She successfully earned the right to leave the system space in just over half a month.

Yet, by this point, Xia Ling was no longer in a hurry to leave.

The repeated deaths within the system had taught her the importance of power.

Xia Ling decided to stick to her original one-month plan, using the remaining ten-plus days to familiarize herself with her body after undergoing Elite Evolution Stage 1.

And to master her new weapon, the New Moon Rose - Modified, custom-made by the system.

The reason for the "Modified" version was tied to Xia Ling's elite evolution.

After completing the first stage of elite reinforcement within the system, Xia Ling gained a certain degree of control and ability to use Honkai Energy.

Concurrently, the system localized this ability, manifesting it externally as natural Stigmata.

However, an ability capable of mimicking natural Stigmata couldn't possibly be that ordinary. After Elite Evolution Stage 1, Xia Ling also acquired two new abilities.

One was acceleration, and the other was Honkai Energy manifestation.

The former was straightforward, meaning exactly what it said. It not only provided Xia Ling with bursts of speed but also helped her maintain stable control of her body during high-speed movement.

As for the latter, Xia Ling felt it was somewhat similar to Telekinesis.

Xia Ling could use and manipulate Honkai Energy in a tangible form, for example, condensing it into a shield or forming it into a tentacle.

In any case, as the development of this ability required time, Xia Ling's main focus wasn't on this aspect.

After Elite Evolution Stage 1, the usage and ammunition replenishment method for the New Moon Rose were also replaced by the system with Honkai Energy manipulation. However, the traditional loading and firing mechanism was retained as a backup.

With her body and equipment fully reinforced, Xia Ling spent a week of integration and, full of confidence, re-entered the trials, determined to clear the third floor.

Then she was sent back by Brother Bear's punch on the third floor.

Her trial once again stopped at the third floor, but Xia Ling wasn't discouraged, as her originally planned departure from the system space was nearing.

Xia Ling's current assets were 4 Originium Ingots and 3 Hope. She was still 6 Originium Ingots short of a 5-star Random Recruitment Voucher. This meant that in at most two weeks, Xia Ling could bring another version of herself to the third floor for revenge.

However, before that, the most crucial objective was to find a way to infiltrate St. Freya Academy.

This way, Xia Ling's main body could have two years to improve her strength in an almost absolutely safe environment, while simultaneously using her clones to explore other possibilities, such as the Sea of Quantum and World Serpent.

Given Xia Ling's current rate of strength improvement, even in the worst-case scenario, she would be able to muster at least two or three combat powers comparable to Sister Tazi before the main storyline.

What if the combat power inflated by then? She'd deal with it when it happened. At worst, she could enlist the help of the Three Great Laws Families and clear a trial once a week, and Xia Ling's strength would skyrocket.

In short, her priority was to find a way into St. Freya Academy.

"System, I'm ready. Begin the teleportation."

[Understood, Host.]

The familiar snowfield camp and white training ground before her eyes gradually faded, replaced by glaring sunlight and the smell of smoke and ruins.

Xia Ling opened her eyes, and the scenery from a month ago reappeared before her.

[Host, what are you looking around for?]

"I'm checking if I left any Xia Ling-chan behind a month ago," Xia Ling scanned the ruins with a serious gaze.

"Opportunities like this are rare. I've wanted to make a peace sign in front of my own tombstone for a long time. Although no one erected a monument for me now, doing it in front of Xia Ling-chan isn't too bad."

[I recall you weren't exactly a saint either, Host.]

"Cough, cough, isn't this just to liven things up?" Xia Ling clapped her hands and stood up.

Then her gaze sharpened, and she skillfully removed the New Moon Rose from her right hand, swinging it back.

The Crescent Rose, quickly transforming into its scythe form, deflected an incoming arrow. Xia Ling then gripped the scythe's body and repeatedly pulled the trigger towards a corner on a distant rooftop.

Accompanied by a few gunshots, a Ranger Miasma in the distant shadows collapsed to its knees on the ground, defeated.

"Honestly, I wasn't planning on getting revenge on you yet, but you came to me first." Xia Ling blew on the muzzle of the Crescent Rose as if she were cool, then looked towards the center of Changkong City with a smile full of anticipation.

"Changkong City, here I come!"

Chapter 11: The Truth is the Best Lie

Five minutes later.

"Something's wrong."

Xia Ling sat on the rooftop of a building, lost in thought.

[Hmm? What's wrong?]

"My brain is wrong." Xia Ling's eyes were vacant. "I don't think I know the way around here?"

[?]

[Host, if you don't know the way, why were you walking so resolutely? I thought you had a plan!]

"Uh, having a plan and not knowing the way aren't mutually exclusive..." Xia Ling said weakly. "So, please, System..."

[Yes, yes, I can't help it with you.]

A system light screen automatically appeared before Xia Ling's eyes. However, this time, instead of the system interface, a map of Changkong City was gradually unfolding on the screen.

[Wait a moment, Host, I'll mark the points of concentrated Honkai Energy and high-energy individuals for you too.]

As she spoke, several red markers appeared on the map.

"Where is this largest marker? It looks like the Honkai Energy concentration is several times higher than elsewhere."

[Let me see... It should be Chiyu Academy. There are three high-energy individuals around it.]

"Oh, it's Pseudo-Herrscher Yunna!" Xia Ling realized. "I remember Yae Sakura is also nearby."

[That's right. The other points are some stronger Honkai Beasts. The Host can just go around them according to the map.]

"But speaking of which, I just remembered something." Xia Ling stroked her smooth chin. "What month is it now?"

[July, Host.]

"?"

"It's already July?!" Xia Ling's pupils dilated in shock.

[Yes, but the Honkai Energy concentration at Chiyu Academy hasn't decreased, and Yunna's life signs are still present, so it shouldn't be that part of the manga's plot yet.]

"Then I need to hurry over and check the situation." Xia Ling prepared to set off. "I need to decide which explanation to use to convince Theresa based on the current plot development."

The girl hurried on her way...

"Oh no, System."

Xia Ling hid outside Chiyu Academy, her gaze solemn. "I think I'm a little late."

Inside Chiyu Academy, it had already become a paradise of vines and poisonous mist.

Xia Ling didn't dare to get too close to the academy, so she could only use the system's detection to move around the high-rise buildings on the periphery, observing the situation inside the academy with a monocular telescope she had found on the way.

Caterpillar.jpg

"There are obvious signs of battle inside the academy, proving that Theresa has already been here once?"

[The most definitive proof would be that thing, Judas' Vow.]

"Right, I saw it too."

Xia Ling adjusted the monocular telescope with one hand.

"Judas' Vow is still stuck in the playground, so Theresa should be with Yae Sakura right now."

"According to the manga's plot, after Theresa's first solo attempt to defeat Yunna failed, Judas' Vow was left on the playground, and the poisoned Theresa was rescued by Yae Sakura."

"Then Yae Sakura turned herself into a Stigmata to detoxify Theresa. Theresa came to fight Yunna a second time and failed again."

"This time, Yae Sakura directly controlled Theresa's body to fight in her place, and only then was Yunna defeated."

[Then from what point does the Host plan to intervene in the event? Should we find Theresa's location now? As a Pseudo-Herrscher, Yae Sakura has a high concentration of Honkai Energy in her body, so I can easily find their location.]

"No need. I can't interfere in this part of the plot, and it would be useless to find Theresa. It would only increase Yae Sakura's suspicion."

"If I had enough Originium Ingots, I could try to use the Cipher Plate recitation or Confession to save Theresa and Yae Sakura's life."

"But there are no 'ifs'."

[Then what does the Host plan to do?]

"I have some ideas, but they might require your cooperation."

Xia Ling scanned the layout of Chiyu Academy, contemplating.

[Don't worry, this System will definitely cooperate with the Host to the best of its ability.]

"In the manga's plot, the location where Theresa came to fight Yunna for the second time is fixed, which is where Judas' Vow is."

"No matter how the world lines change, this won't change anything, because Theresa will definitely retrieve her weapon first."

"I plan to act as a visitor from another world."

[A visitor from another world?]

"Yes, there are plenty of old foxes in the Honkai world. I don't think an ordinary person like me can hide my intentions from them when discussing these matters. So, my plan has always been to tell the truth, but not the whole truth."

"I will tell Theresa that I am a transmigrator, someone from another world. This statement isn't false. In this world, even Otto can't find my household registration information."

"As Otto's granddaughter, Theresa can't possibly be unaware of information regarding the Sea of Quantum. She will inevitably think of world bubbles from the Sea of Quantum, rather than the common transmigrators found in novels."

"Similarly, this reason will also work on Welt. Although Schicksal has some research on the Sea of Quantum and might notice discrepancies in my story, they absolutely won't suspect I'm a transmigrator. At most, they'll think I'm hiding something."

"And tonight, I will directly use my abilities to quickly advance to the vicinity of Judas' Vow. Before Yunna can react, System, you need to pull me into the system space."

[Ah, I understand. Host, so a Sister Xia is falling from the sky, right?]

"Exactly. The next day, I'll emerge from the system space when they start fighting, and after some deliberation, I'll choose to help Theresa's side."

"This process isn't very risky. After all, the main combatants are Theresa, and even if she can't win, there's Yae Sakura."

"Yunna's poison can be neutralized by my Honkai Energy manifestation. Yunna, as a Pseudo-Herrscher who has only recently awakened, is extremely crude in her use of abilities. Her so-called poison also originates from the effects of Honkai Energy."

"In the original story, when facing Yae Sakura, who mastered abilities related to Honkai Energy better than her, her poison was rendered completely ineffective."

"So, in reality, isolating her poison is simple. I just need to use my Honkai Energy to manifest a shield. It doesn't even need to have protective properties; it just needs to isolate external Honkai Energy."

[Doing so will indeed earn you some initial favorability. But what are your plans afterward? For example, how do you plan to traverse world bubbles?]

"It's fine, I wasn't planning on hiding you either." Xia Ling gave a charming smile. "System, don't you think you resemble a composite Divine Key?"

[...?]

"Once I enter the academy and gain enough time to improve, my strength will also grow rapidly. Under these circumstances, your existence won't be able to be hidden."

"I can't exactly claim to have the same innate talent as Dumb Goose, can I?"