Honkai: Star Rail: I Developed the Star Rail Mobile Game at the Company Chapter 18

Moon Shadow: [...Alright]

The same scene played out across numerous gaming bloggers, as this strict time requirement put many in a difficult spot.

[Boss, this is too tight!]

[Can't do it, no way I can make it work!]

[Pay up!!]

[I'm not that kind of person, this request really won't fly!]

[Pay up!!!]

No choice—he was offering way too much!

And all of this was Lin Guang's doing. Beyond the incentive plan aimed at the masses, he was also recruiting a batch of streamers and bloggers online to continuously produce content for his game.

For now, it was mainly due to the server launch. Videos on exploration guides, character cultivation, and the like all needed to come out quickly. Later versions would naturally have time for preparation.

Lao Mu rarely got up early to start streaming; he usually only went live in the afternoon or evening. It's just that these past few days, the Honkai: Star Rail launch brought in a lot of traffic—making money wasn't shameful.

Looking at other gaming streamers' content, they also seemed to be livestreaming Honkai: Star Rail, and it appeared they'd already reached the next map!

"Brothers, the streamer is continuing the Honkai: Star Rail launch today. If you like it, feel free to hit that follow button!"

A flood of viewers began pouring in.

"Streamer, hurry up! I'm almost catching up to you!"

"Damn, are you all grinding this fast? I'm only level 13 right now!"

"How many times have you guys bought stamina to grind this fast?"

"Someone's already on the next map! Streamer, speed it up!"

"Hold on, other streamers don't even read the story. I haven't even seen the text before they skip to the next line. Streamer, take your time—just go through the story normally!"

Due to habit, many viewers still came to Lao Mu's stream to experience the game's story together, and the stream's popularity kept rising.

So Lao Mu began today's stream. After a day of hard work yesterday, most players were around level 15.

As a whale player, Lao Mu naturally maxed out his stamina. On the first day, he'd already spent 900 Stellar Jade to buy 8 stamina refills and used up all the free stamina fuel.

His Trailblaze Level had now reached 19, and hitting 20 would raise his Equilibrium Level!

Once the Equilibrium Level increased, all dungeon drops would improve, granting more rewards and unlocking character level cap breakthroughs.

However, the current breakthrough materials weren't available at Herta Space Station. Lao Mu guessed they'd appear on the next map.

When the story resumed, the Star Rail Express began a warp voyage along the Trailblaze track, but detected an anomaly on the track ahead and was forced to stop.

After investigation, they found that a Stellaron was affecting the track's stability. This Stellaron was currently on a white planet ahead, recorded as Jarilo-VI!

After discussion, the Train Crew decided Himeko and Welt would stay behind, while March 7th, Dan Heng, and the Trailblazer would head to Jarilo-VI to retrieve the Stellaron!

"Jarilo Trailblaze Squad, setting off now!"

Chapter 26: Arriving at the New Map, CP Head Pela

The story reached Jarilo-VI, and the trio began exploring the snow-covered land.

Many buildings had collapsed and were buried by wind and snow, and it looked like a long time had passed.

Viewers in the barrage were guessing which planet this was. Some who'd watched other streams said it was called Jarilo.

But the question was—what obscure little planet was Jarilo?

March 7th got up to wash up. There was still some time before reaching Penacony, so she had a bit of free time.

Because she'd gone to bed early last night, March 7th opened Lao Mu's stream and found it was no longer the Herta Space Station scene.

All around was a vast expanse of white snow—clearly Jarilo-VI!

"Eh, the story really did go to Jarilo-VI! I should send a message to my friends over there. If they find out they've become characters in a game, I wonder what they'll think!"

Full of anticipation, March 7th opened her phone, found Bronya's account, and sent her a message.

March 7th: [Bronya, you know what? There's a game based on reality. Not only is the story exactly like the Star Rail Express's journey, but the characters look exactly like real people. There are the Stellaron Hunters, everyone from the Star Rail Express is there, and even you, Bronya!]

Bronya, who was handling official business, received March 7th's message. Though March 7th described it in detail, Bronya still didn't quite understand.

After all, Beloborg had only recently resolved its Stellaron crisis and was just reconnecting with interstellar society—it was like the village had just gotten internet!

Her old phone basically only had texting capabilities. Now that they were connected to the interstellar network, most people hadn't even figured out how to use the internet, let alone mobile games!

But since March 7th had specifically messaged her about it, Bronya certainly wouldn't take it lightly. She replied.

Bronya: [Alright, thank you, March. It's just that things are a bit busy over here. I'll have Pela help keep an eye on it!]

Bronya: [Sending you flowers.jpg]

"Uh... Bronya's sticker is still so... serene!"

Back in the story.

After walking for a while, March 7th noticed a snowdrift moving. The trio immediately went to check it out.

March 7th: [...Hey, stop hiding. You're shivering from the cold.]

No response came.

March 7th: [Holding back won't help either...]

Dan Heng: [Move aside, March. The best way to deal with someone who covers their ears to steal a bell—is to smash the bell over their head.]

As Dan Heng thrust his spear into the snowdrift, a sudden noise erupted from within, and a figure quickly scrambled up from the snow, appearing before everyone's eyes.

[Hey buddy, isn't that a bit much? Hiding in the snow isn't that big a crime, no need to poke me with the tip of your spear, right?]

The sudden appearance of the new character made the barrage comments surge.

"It's him, the one hiding in the trash can in the PV!"

"I even pulled him! A four-star Wind Element Nihility character!"

"Are all entrances this unique now? First snow, then a trash can!"

"Is this guy some kind of savage?"

"Possible, out in these wilds, a savage popping up wouldn't be strange (for sure)!"

"Kinda handsome though, especially the cutout design on his waist—you can see the muscle lines. Wanna eat!"

"Good taste, but wearing so little in the snow must be cold. Let me warm him up!"

"Maya, ladies, you all!"

"Is this a male streamer room or what?!"

In the story, Sampo, seeing the group's firm attitude and that they weren't easy to mess with, quickly softened his tone.

Sampo: [Uh, but, this isn't the heroes' fault! Haha, I just appeared too abruptly. This poke is well-deserved, necessary, absolutely! How else would I get to meet such good friends? Haha... Is Guardian Officer Gepard here? I'm pretty familiar with him...]

The trio had just arrived and naturally weren't familiar with the name Gepard. Seeing this, Sampo realized they weren't sent by the Silvermane Guard to catch him, so he introduced himself.

[Sampo Koski. Pleasure to meet you.]

After the introductions, Sampo, as a local, explained the local situation—like how the Silvermane Guard was essentially Belobog's military.

But as they chatted, Sampo seemed to mistake the trio for fellow scavengers. March 7th quickly interrupted, clarifying they just wanted Sampo to lead them into the city.

Sampo initially thought about charging a small fee for his trouble, but after a glare from Dan Heng, he immediately changed his tune.

Sampo: [Haha, I, Sampo, am kind-hearted and love helping others! Follow me, friends. Keep it quiet—don't let the Guards spot us.]

So the trio followed Sampo in one direction, only to run into the Silvermane Guard along the way, who seemed to be chasing Sampo and mistook the Train Crew for his accomplices!

Sampo: [If not now, when! Leave it to you, friends!]

Watching the battle screen, Lao Mu immediately caught on.

"Damn, that old Sampo sold us out!"

The barrage had a laugh.

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!"

"I, Sampo, am kind-hearted and love helping others!"

"Seriously, that fading voice is way too real!"

"This guy's definitely from the Elation faction—way too entertaining!"

After the battle ended, the story transitioned into a cutscene.

March 7th's attack was blocked with one hand by an armored Silvermane Guard. As the wind and snow swept by, Guardian Officer Gepard slowly stepped forward to join the fight!

"Whoa, isn't that Gepard from the Standard Banner!"

"What a majestic face!"

"He blocked March 7th's attack with one hand—looks strong!"

"How is he a boss? Isn't he a playable character?"

"He's got such an imposing presence!"

In Belobog.

Pela was holding her glasses, staring in disbelief at the Gepard on the screen. She had originally followed Bronya's orders to check out this game called Honkai: Star Rail.

Compared to others in Belobog, Pela, as an intelligence officer, was already familiar with online operations, so she started observing the game through a livestream.

The appearance of the Train Crew trio and Sampo earlier had already surprised her, and now even Gepard had shown up!

She still didn't know the game's story matched reality, simply thinking real people had been turned into game characters, marveling at how detailed they were!

Could this be... some kind of high-tech from interstellar society?

Ever since Belobog reconnected with the interstellar community, Pela, as an intelligence officer, had been cramming external knowledge. Now, she felt she could accept any strange thing she saw!

"Ah, if I could get the 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 all of Belobog—and even the entire Honkai: Star Rail world—Pela! She usually loved shipping Bronya and Seele!

But back in the underdeveloped Belobog, Pela never dared to show this hobby, afraid people would think it weird, and she didn't even know this behavior was called shipping CP!

But ever since she started exploring the online world and discovered the fan community, she realized she wasn't alone!

There were so many people who shared her interests!

So this is the kind of feeling between CPs, this kind of interaction, this kind of... pose!

Every time she secretly read fan works under the covers, Pela would feel her face flush and her blood race!

Looking at one fan work after another in the community, Pela thought to herself that sooner or later she'd make her own fan works for the CP she shipped, and recommend them to all fellow enthusiasts!

Chapter 27: I Say This Cocolia Is Still Charming

The battle with Gepard in the story began. The four characters Lao Mu currently fielded were Stelle, March 7th, Himeko, and Dan Heng.

Since he wasn't too clear on team composition yet, he chose the original Train Crew members.

Although these characters and their Light Cones were all maxed out, only March 7th was a survival-type character in the team.

The single-target shield mechanic was starting to feel inadequate against the Gepard boss.

[In the Name of Preservation!]

The boss Gepard raised the case in his hand and leaped high!

A devastating area-of-effect burst slammed into our side's team, leaving everyone's HP dangerously low!

Fortunately, since this was a story battle, it would end after a certain amount of damage was dealt—otherwise, this might have been the first defeat in the game!

"Damn, Gepard's damage is this high?!"

Lao Mu let out a cry of surprise as he looked at all his crippled characters. This difficulty was completely different from the Doomsday Beast before!

"Ah, looks like I'll need to adjust the team lineup later. Just don't know which characters are good right now!"

Deciding to focus on progressing the story first, Lao Mu temporarily set the matter aside.