Yue Ying: [...Okay.]
The same scene played out among countless gaming content creators. The strict time limit put many of them in a difficult spot.
[Boss, isn't this way too tight?!]
[It can't be done. No matter how I think about it, I can't make it!]
[More money!!]
[I'm not that kind of person, but this requirement really won't work!]
[More money!!!]
There was no helping it. He was simply offering too much money!
And all of this was Lin Guang's doing. Aside from the incentive plan aimed at the general public, he also intended to recruit a batch of streamers and bloggers online to continuously create content for his game.
For the time being, it was mainly because the servers had just opened. Videos such as exploration walkthroughs and character-building guides needed to be released quickly. Future versions would naturally leave more time for preparation.
Lao Mu got up unusually early and started streaming. He normally only went live in the afternoons and evenings, but Honkai: Star Rail had just launched and was pulling in traffic these past few days. Making money was nothing to be ashamed of.
And judging from the streams of other gaming creators, they seemed to be playing Honkai: Star Rail as well. It looked like they had already reached the next map!
"Brothers, the streamer's continuing the Honkai: Star Rail launch-day grind today! If you like it, feel free to drop a follow!"
A massive number of viewers began flooding into the stream.
"Streamer, hurry up! I'm almost catching up to you already!"
"Damn, are you all grinding that fast? I'm only Level 13!"
"How many times did you guys buy Stamina? How are you progressing this fast?!"
"Some people have already gone to the next map! Streamer, pick up the pace!"
"No, the other streamers don't even watch the story! Before I could read a single word, they'd already skipped to the next line. Streamer, don't rush, just go through the story normally!"
Out of habit, many viewers still came to Lao Mu's stream to experience the game's story together, and the popularity of his stream continued to rise.
Lao Mu began today's stream. After fighting through the entire previous day, most players were currently around Level 15.
As a whale, Lao Mu had naturally maxed out his Stamina. On the first day, he had already spent 900 Stellar Jade to buy Stamina eight times and used up all the Stamina Fuel he had been given.
His Trailblaze Level had reached 19. Once he hit Level 20, he would be able to raise his Equilibrium Level!
After raising the Equilibrium Level, every dungeon would yield more resources and rewards, and the character level cap breakthrough would also unlock.
However, Herta Space Station currently had none of the required breakthrough materials. Lao Mu guessed they would probably appear on the next map.
When they reentered the story, the Star Rail Express began Warp travel along the Trailblaze tracks. However, they discovered an abnormality in the tracks ahead and had no choice but to dock.
After investigating, they found that a Stellaron was affecting the stability of the tracks. The Stellaron was currently on a white planet ahead, recorded under the name Jarilo-VI!
After discussing it, the Train Crew decided that Himeko and Welt would remain behind, while March 7th, Dan Heng, and Himeko would head to Jarilo-VI to retrieve the Stellaron!
"The Jarilo Trailblaze Squad is setting off!"
Reaching the New Map, CP Head Pela
The story arrived at Jarilo-VI, and the trio began exploring the snow-covered land.
Many buildings had already collapsed and been buried beneath the snow and wind, and it looked as though a long time had passed.
The viewers in the barrage were all guessing which planet this was. Some viewers who had watched other streams said it was called Jarilo.
But the question was, what kind of obscure little planet was Jarilo?
March 7th got up and washed up. There was still some time before they reached Penacony, so she happened to have a stretch of free time.
Since she had gone to bed early last night, March 7th opened Lao Mu's stream and discovered that it was no longer showing Herta Space Station.
The surroundings were blanketed in snow. It was unmistakably Jarilo-VI!
"Oh? The story really went to Jarilo-VI. Then I should send a message to my friends over there. If they find out they've become characters in a game, I wonder what their reaction will be!"
Filled with anticipation, March 7th opened her phone, found Bronya's account, and sent her a message.
March 7th: [Bronya, did you know? There's a game that's actually based on reality. Not only is its story exactly the same as the Star Rail Express's experiences, but the game characters look exactly like their real-life counterparts too. The Stellaron Hunters are in it, everyone from the Star Rail Express is in it, and you're in it too, Bronya!]
Bronya, who was handling official duties, received March 7th's message. Although March 7th had described it in detail, Bronya still did not quite understand.
After all, Belobog had only recently resolved the Stellaron crisis and was just beginning to reconnect with interstellar society. It was practically like a village that had only just gotten internet access!
Their old phones could basically only send text messages. Now that they had connected to the interstellar network, most people still had not figured out how to use the internet, let alone mobile games!
Still, since March 7th had specifically messaged her about it, Bronya would not take it lightly. She replied.
Bronya: [Alright, thank you, March. Things are a little busy on my end right now, but I'll have Pela keep an eye on it!]
Bronya: Flowers for you.jpg
"Uh... Bronya's stickers are still so... peaceful!"
Back in the story.
After walking for a while, March 7th spotted a moving pile of snow. The three immediately stepped forward to investigate.
March 7th: [...Hey, stop hiding. You're shivering from the cold.]
They received no response.
March 7th: [There's no use keeping quiet...]
Dan Heng: [Move aside, March. When dealing with someone playing deaf, the best method—is to smash the bell over their head.]
As Dan Heng thrust his Long Spear into the snow pile, a sound suddenly came from within. A figure hastily rose from the snow and appeared before them.
[I'm saying, buddy, isn't this a little much? Hiding in the snow isn't some huge crime, is it? You don't need to stab me with a spear tip, right?]
The sudden appearance of a New Character made the barrage explode.
"It's him! The one hiding in the trash can in the PV!"
"I pulled him too! A four-star Wind Element The Nihility character!"
"Do all characters make such unique entrances now? First snow, then trash cans!"
"Could he be some kind of wild man?"
"Could be. Out in this wilderness, it wouldn't be strange for a wild man to grow here, I guess. Trust me!"
"Kind of handsome, especially that cutout design around his waist. You can even see his muscle lines. I want a bite!"
"You have taste. But isn't he cold wearing so little in the snow? Let me warm him up!"
"Oh my god, ladies!"
"So this is a boys' love stream, huh!"
In the story, Sampo saw that the three were resolute and clearly not people to mess with, so he quickly softened his tone.
Sampo: [Uh, but you can't blame you heroes! Haha, I appeared too suddenly. That stab was worth it, deserved it, necessary! How else would I get to meet such wonderful friends? Haha... Has Officer Gepard arrived? I know him pretty well...]
The three had only just arrived and naturally did not recognize the name Gepard. Seeing this, Sampo realized they had not been sent by the Silvermane Guard to arrest him, so he introduced himself.
[Sampo Koski. A pleasure.]
After they introduced themselves, Sampo, as a local, gave them some basic information about the area. For example, the Silvermane Guard was essentially Belobog's military.
But as they talked, Sampo seemed to have mistaken the three for fellow scavengers. March 7th hurriedly interrupted and said that they merely wanted Sampo to lead them into the city.
Sampo had originally planned to charge them a small fee, but after Dan Heng shot him a glare, he immediately changed his tune.
Sampo: [Haha, I, Sampo, am kind-hearted and always happy to help! Follow me, friends. Keep your voices down, though. Don't let the Iron Guard find us.]
The three followed Sampo in one direction. Along the way, they happened to run into the Silvermane Guard, who appeared to be pursuing Sampo and even mistook the three members of the Train Crew for his accomplices!
Sampo: [If not now, when? I'll leave them to you, friends!]
Seeing the battle screen appear, Lao Mu instantly realized what had happened.
"Fuck, Old Sampo sold us out!"
The barrage found it hilarious.
"Gotta go fast!"
"I, Sampo, am kind-hearted and always happy to help!"
"No, that fading voice sounded way too real!"
"This guy has to be an Elation follower. He's way too entertaining!"
After the battle ended, the story transitioned into a cutscene.
March 7th's attack was blocked one-handed by an armored Silvermane Guard. The wind and snow swept past as Guardian Officer Gepard slowly stepped forward and joined the battle!
"Holy shit, isn't that Gepard from the Standard Banner?!"
"What an incredible face!"
"He blocked March 7th's attack with one hand. He looks insanely strong!"
"Why is he a BOSS now? Isn't he a playable character?"
"He looks so intimidating!"
In Belobog.
Pela was currently holding her glasses in place as she stared at Gepard on the screen in disbelief. She had originally come to check out this game called Honkai: Star Rail under Bronya's instructions.
Compared to the other people of Belobog, Pela, as an intelligence officer, was already familiar with how to operate the internet. So she began observing the game through livestreams.
The appearance of the three Train Crew members and Sampo had already been shocking enough. And now even Gepard had appeared!
At this point, she still did not know that the game's story matched reality. She simply thought real people had been turned into game characters, and was marveling at how meticulously the characters had been made!
Could this... also be some kind of advanced technology from interstellar society?
Ever since Belobog had reconnected with interstellar society, Pela, as an intelligence officer, had spent this period cramming knowledge about the outside world. She felt that she could now accept anything strange she encountered!
"Ah, if I could get character models from this game, wouldn't that mean..."
"I could make tons of Bronya and Seele CP videos!"
As the biggest CP Head in Belobog, or even the entire Honkai: Star Rail world, Pela normally loved shipping Bronya and Seele!
But in the backward Belobog of the past, Pela had not dared to reveal this hobby of hers. She was afraid others would find her strange, and she had not even known that this behavior was called shipping a CP!
However, after she began learning about the online world and discovered fan communities, she realized that she was not alone!
There were so many people who shared the same hobbies as her!
So CPs could have these feelings, these interactions, these... positions!
Every time Pela secretly read fanwork beneath her blankets, her face would flush and her blood would race!
As she looked through one fanwork after another in the community, Pela thought that sooner or later, she would make fanwork for the CP she shipped and recommend it to every fellow fan!
I'd Say Cocolia Still Had Plenty of Charm
The battle against Gepard began in the story. Lao Mu's four active characters were Himeko, March 7th, Himeko, and Dan Heng.
Because he did not yet fully understand team composition, he had chosen the original Train Crew members.
Although these characters' levels and Light Cone levels had all been maxed out, March 7th was the team's only Survival-type Character.
The single-target shield mechanic began to feel somewhat inadequate against the Gepard BOSS.
[In the name of Preservation!]
BOSS Gepard raised the instrument case in his hand and leaped high into the air!
A devastatingly powerful area-of-effect attack crashed down upon their team, leaving everyone's health critically low!
Fortunately, this was part of the story, so the battle ended after reaching a certain point. Otherwise, he would probably have experienced his first defeat in the game!
"Holy shit, Gepard's damage is that high?!"
Lao Mu exclaimed as he looked at all his heavily injured characters. This was completely different from the difficulty of the Doomsday Beast!
"Looks like I'll need to adjust my team lineup later. I just don't know which characters are good right now!"
Wanting to clear the story first, Lao Mu temporarily put the matter aside.
Before you continue