Honkai: Star Rail: I'm a Big Villain, Starting with Wiping Out the Astral Express Crew

She stammered, "That... well, when you eat candied hawthorns... your mouth gets all sweet... like, like..."

Like... like how I feel about you, all sweet!

That's what March 7th had taught her, but she just couldn't bring herself to say it!

March 7th was behind her, stamping her foot in frustration, mouthing words of encouragement.

Stelle finally gave up, her shoulders slumping in defeat, her face flushed as she lowered her head.

She looked down and took a sulky bite of the candied hawthorn in her hand. The sweet and sour taste spread in her mouth, but it couldn't wash away the nervousness and frustration in her heart.

"Never mind... it's nothing..."

You couldn't help but smile at her like this.

This Stellar Nucleus Essence is really interesting.

You reached out and took the candied hawthorn from her hand. Under her surprised gaze, you took a bite from the same spot she had just bitten.

Stelle's cheeks instantly turned so red they looked like they were about to drip blood.

You didn't look at her again, simply saying, "Not bad, thanks."

Then, you continued walking forward, leaving behind Stelle with her cheeks still flushed, but with a hint of happiness and flustered smile, and March 7th, who looked like she wanted to beat someone up for being hopeless.

The first attempt ended in failure. Stelle was a little frustrated, but not discouraged.

This time, March 7th decided to try something more direct, something more impactful.

March 7th leaned in close to Stelle's ear again and whispered something.

After listening, Stelle hesitated for a long time, but was finally persuaded by March 7th.

A little while later, you were walking down a relatively narrow alley.

You walked in front, with Stelle and March 7th following behind.

Stelle took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and suddenly rushed forward a few steps.

She calculated the distance, and then, "accidentally," slipped and fell towards you!

March 7th's third trick: the fake fall! Then take the opportunity to throw yourself into his arms! It's a classic scene from romance manga!

Stelle closed her eyes, ready to embrace the impending physical contact.

However, the expected embrace never came.

You seemed to have eyes in the back of your head.

Just as she was about to crash into you, your body suddenly dodged to the side.

Stelle missed completely and fell straight to the ground.

"Ouch!" Stelle cried out in pain.

You turned around, looking at Stelle on the ground with a puzzled expression.

"Be careful when you walk, don't fall."

Stelle: "..."

March 7th: "..."

Stelle got up from the ground, tears welling up in her eyes, rubbing her sore knee, feeling like her whole self was not good.

Even March 7th was starting to doubt herself.

"This... this isn't scientific! That's not how it's supposed to happen in manga!"

"What the heck is going on! Why isn't Jiang Mo following the script at all!"

Under March 7th's reluctant encouragement, Stelle reluctantly tried a few more of March 7th's bad ideas.

But each time, it failed in various unexpected ways.

Stelle completely lost confidence and couldn't muster the energy to try again.

She felt a little down.

The three of you wandered aimlessly through the streets of the Xianzhou Loufu with your own thoughts, until evening.

Just then, an unexpected event occurred!

Chapter 38: Phantylia

Suddenly, Jianmu on the Xianzhou Loufu began to grow wildly due to the influence of the Stellar Nucleus, and the crisis escalated sharply.

Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan found you and formally commissioned the Astral Express crew to assist in sealing the Stellar Nucleus.

You acted righteously and volunteered enthusiastically.

This was exactly the opportunity you wanted.

After that, you went to the Ministry of Industry to help and defeated the Aurumaton Spectral Envoy born from Jianmu. Then, a sudden change occurred in the Alchemy Commission.

Within the Loufu, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, an organization that worships the Healer, fully rebelled, and the Xianzhou Loufu instantly fell into a predicament of internal and external troubles.

This accident exceeded the expectations of the Xianzhou's higher-ups.

[And of course, some of that is thanks to your behind-the-scenes machinations.]

[Afterward, you all headed to the Alchemy Commission to provide support.]

[Fake Tingyun continued to act as your guide, performing flawlessly and perfectly playing her role.]

[Fu Xuan deployed you, the Astral Express crew, as a surprise force to the core area of the Alchemy Commission.]

[Your mission was to shut down the furnaces set up by the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus that released poisonous fumes, triggering Mara-Struck Soldiers among the Xianzhou natives.]

[Because you weren't Xianzhou natives, you were unaffected by the poisonous fumes.]

[In the furnace area, you encountered Dan Shu, the leader of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.]

[After a fierce battle, you successfully defeated her.]

[But before Dan Shu died, she spoke another name that was unfamiliar to everyone—Phantylia.]

[The climax arrived suddenly.]

[Fake Tingyun, who was walking ahead, suddenly stiffened, turning her head to look at everyone.]

[Her originally lively eyes instantly became empty and lifeless.]

[Then, her neck twisted strangely, and her body went limp as if all the bones had been removed.]

[She didn't fall, but declared in a cold, monotonous voice: "Allow me to reintroduce myself..."]

[As soon as she finished speaking, her body began to emanate a faint cyan flame.]

[In the blink of an eye, she suddenly collapsed, lifeless.]

[The Astral Express crew witnessed this incredible scene, and everyone was horrified.]

[Especially March 7th, she opened her mouth wide, her eyes filled with shock.]

[Stelle's face turned pale; she didn't even realize what had happened.]

[Aside from you, no one could understand what exactly had happened to Tingyun at that moment.]

[Immediately afterward, a voice filled with pressure came from the sky.]

[That voice resounded throughout the Alchemy Commission, echoing in everyone's minds.]

["I, Lord of Ruin Phantylia, will guide you toward true liberation—Destruction."]

[The voice dissipated, and the Alchemy Commission returned to silence, leaving only the mess on the ground and the shocked expressions of the Astral Express crew.]

[March 7th finally reacted, stammering, "Could it be... that Miss Tingyun... wasn't real?!"]

[Fu Xuan, who had just arrived, saw everything that had happened, and her expression became extremely grave.]

[She raised her head, looked into the distance, and said in a deep voice:]

["Phantylia... that is indeed the name of a Lord of Ruin."]

["I'm afraid this Emissary of Destruction is the mastermind behind this crisis."]

["The crisis on the Loufu is far more serious than expected."]

[A moment later.]

[March 7th trembled, "Phantylia... Lord of Ruin... Miss Tingyun, she..."]

[She looked at the foxian body on the ground with its twisted neck. Just a moment ago, she was a vibrant person, and in the blink of an eye, she had become like this, and it even involved an Emissary of Destruction? This exceeded her understanding of all her past Trailblazing journeys.]

[Stelle also looked pale, staring at the corpse with a complex expression.]

[The gentle and considerate Miss Tingyun who had been with them all along was actually fake? And... was created by that Lord of Ruin called Phantylia? Her mind was in chaos, unable to process this information.]

[You stood aside, with an appropriate look of shock on your face, and a hint of grief and indignation in your eyes.]

[Fu Xuan quickly adjusted her emotions and looked at you, "Now is not the time to be shocked. Jianmu is still growing wildly, and we must stop it as soon as possible. Members of the Astral Express crew, you are experts in dealing with Stellar Nuclei... I beg you. You must go to the depths of Jianmu's roots; that should be the core of the Stellar Nucleus's erosion."]

[Although Stelle and March 7th were still shaken, their sense of responsibility as Trailblazers quickly cheered them up.]

[They exchanged a glance and saw determination in each other's eyes. No matter who the enemy was, they would not back down.]

["Okay, we'll go," Stelle said firmly.]

["For Miss Tingyun... and for the Loufu!" March 7th clenched her fist.]

[You also stated, "Since Phantylia is the mastermind, I will never let her go! I must avenge Miss Tingyun..."]

[Fu Xuan: "Mm. The depths of Jianmu's roots are fraught with danger, and there will be a large number of Mara-Struck Soldiers and Abundance Sprites blocking your way. You must be careful."]

[After preparing, under the guidance of Fu Xuan and Jing Yuan, your group began to advance towards the depths of Jianmu's roots.]

[Along the way, as Fu Xuan had said, you encountered more distorted monsters.]

[These Mara-Struck Soldiers and Abundance Sprites were quickly cleared with the cooperation of you, Stelle, and March 7th.]

[Stelle still maintained her protectiveness towards you in battle, always subconsciously standing in front of you.]

["Jiang Mo, be careful!" Stelle pulled you again, avoiding an attack from a Mara-Struck Soldier.]

["Thank you." You gave her a gentle smile, making her blush instantly, and then quickly looked away.]

[At the same time, on the other side.]

Dan Heng acted alone, infiltrating the Xianzhou Loufu.

He searched the Loufu for any trace of the Astral Express crew, fearing his companions were in danger.

During this time, he was heavy with worry, trying to further suppress that sealed past, but the Loufu's crisis and Jianmu's anomaly seemed to be forcing him to face that identity he was unwilling to touch.

"Found you."

A deep voice suddenly rang out behind him, filled with intense killing intent.

Dan Heng's body stiffened. He turned around and saw the man with the long blade and fanatical eyes—Blade.

A fateful encounter instantly turned into a fierce battle.

Blade's words were like sharp knives, precisely piercing Dan Heng and forcing him to face his past.

In the end, Blade seized an opportunity and pierced Dan Heng's body with a blade!

The intense pain stimulated the power hidden within Dan Heng... the Vidyadhara's dragon blood boiled in his veins, and a majestic dragon's might soared into the sky!

Dan Heng awakened the form of the Vidyadhara High Elder—Imbibitor Lunae!

The scene was spectacular and shocking, with terrifying currents sweeping in all directions.

Just then, Kafka appeared.

She quickly retreated with Blade, leaving behind only the transformed Dan Heng and the belated Jing Yuan.

Not long after.

When you, Stelle, and March 7th arrived at the Scalegorge Waterscape, you saw a scene you would never forget.

Beside a dragon lord statue stood General Jing Yuan and a figure who was both strange and familiar.

"Dan... are you Dan Heng?!" March 7th exclaimed.