Honkai: Star Rail, Marrying Acheron Upon Landing Chapter 9

Lin Shuang pursed her lips, momentarily speechless.

She really wanted to explain to Acheron that the ring she gave her was just an ordinary one. The system even said so, so how could it be wrong?

Even her Novice Mission rewards had been downgraded. Was the system really going to hide good things from her?

But now, she looked into Acheron's eyes.

She could hardly believe the person in front of her was the cold, aloof Acheron. She thought she was looking at Gepard.

This is bad.

Lin Shuang started to feel that the current situation was making her explanations sound more like cover-ups.

What made Acheron focus on this pair of rings? Just because they flashed twice?

It was inexplicable. What's more, she couldn't verify it. She hadn't seen the ring light up, nor did she feel any other power emerge. It was all Acheron's word. It was hard for Lin Shuang to accept such a great favor with a clear conscience based on that alone.

Lin Shuang naturally maintained her stance of firm denial.

However, Acheron chose to comply, no longer arguing.

In her opinion, perhaps this was Acheron's awkward way of showing affection.

Was she not being forthright, or perhaps worried that Acheron wouldn't accept it if she knew the truth?

What would be the meaning behind these rings and the ritual?

Acheron couldn't help but ponder whether she should part ways with Lin Shuang after their contact with the Stellaron.

She became increasingly conflicted.

The rings had something special about them.

At least, Acheron was now certain of that.

But its limits, whether it would be depleted, or if it needed recharging, remained unknown.

However, even if it was temporary, Acheron was already very satisfied.

She never imagined that an accidental encounter during her usual travels would bring such a surprise.

She hadn't felt such surging emotions in a long time.

Acheron somewhat awkwardly composed herself, then turned her thoughts back to Lin Shuang.

The method of training Lin Shuang using the power of a Path was essentially half-ruined.

After all, every time she was on the verge of falling, she would be pulled back instantly. Without the tempering from that negative state, the effect would definitely be discounted.

But conversely... if she could resist the power of The Nihility, perhaps she could also resist the temptation of the Stellaron?

Uncertain, but not without hope.

And before that.

Acheron took out her phone.

It had been a very, very long time since she had felt the desire to hold onto a memory, to remember a person she didn't want to forget.

Acheron, who had long since become accustomed to ignoring various recording devices, once again felt the urge to use video and photos to document things.

While Acheron was lost in thought, Lin Shuang was also caught in a dilemma.

She didn't understand why Acheron had fallen into this strange loop, and Lin Shuang disliked this kind of affection that felt like deception.

Perhaps she should contact the Stellaron as soon as possible and leave on her own.

She couldn't continue to deceive her.

After they parted ways for a while, perhaps Acheron would come to her senses and realize that this matter had nothing to do with Lin Shuang.

After all, Acheron was who knows how many years old. Perhaps due to The Nihility, this incident had made her somewhat emotional.

But once her emotions stabilized, she might be able to figure it out.

Acheron was a person who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. She seemed cold and spoke little, but in reality, she was gentle, beautiful, and powerful.

Who wouldn't like her?

Moreover, Acheron had helped her a lot along the way.

Lin Shuang didn't want their relationship to be built on such false affection.

The marriage they had faked before was nothing more than a joke to exploit the system's rewards.

Lin Shuang didn't intend to reveal its true meaning. As long as Acheron didn't know, it would just be a joke.

Now, Lin Shuang genuinely wanted to be friends with Acheron.

Volume 1: Chapter 12 Lin Shuang: Why are you suddenly taking pictures of me?

At some point.

Lin Shuang, snapping out of her thoughts, discovered that Acheron was holding up her phone and taking pictures of her.

"What's wrong? Why are you suddenly taking pictures?"

These past few days, Acheron and I have gotten along well. It turns out she's also someone who doesn't particularly like taking photos.

Even when there's nothing to do, Acheron often just zones out.

The last time we took photos, I could understand it. After all, her sense of taste had just returned, and she must have been excited.

But why today?

"I just suddenly wanted to take some pictures."

"Is that so..."

Lin Shuang looked at the camera pointed at her with a hint of confusion, and after a few more photos were taken, she didn't say anything.

Mainly, she looked beautiful right now. Even sprawled on the ground, she looked beautiful, so Lin Shuang didn't mind being photographed at all.

Besides, it was rare to see Acheron interested in something, so Lin Shuang didn't want to dampen her spirits.

And so, the two of them set off on their journey once more.

After Acheron realized that the effectiveness of her current teaching phase was being compromised, she temporarily changed her teaching plan.

Now, Lin Shuang had to fight monsters while also withstanding Acheron's pressure.

Fortunately, Lin Shuang's progress was fast enough.

She managed to endure it.

However, Lin Shuang, who was forging ahead, didn't notice that

Acheron, who was applying pressure from behind, was continuously holding up her phone and filming Lin Shuang's figure.

Occasionally, she would even add Lin Shuang's spoken words to the footage, using them as a memo for this encounter.

Even though she had confirmed that her body, affected by The Nihility, was improving, who could guarantee that her memories wouldn't continue to be lost?

Who could guarantee that she would remember her encounters with Lin Shuang these past few days?

She couldn't guarantee it, and neither could Lin Shuang.

So, Acheron chose to record.

This was something she rarely did in the past.

A few more days passed like this.

Lin Shuang and Acheron stepped into a massive spaceport.

Damaged spacecraft, an empty expanse, and enormous equipment.

Everything here spoke of its former prosperity.

"I didn't expect the Stellaron's location to be a spaceport. This is troublesome. I wonder if we can still find any usable spacecraft here."

Acheron surveyed the spaceport, which was in ruins. She could easily imagine the kind of battle that had erupted here.

And beside Acheron.

Roar—!!

Hiss—!

The roars of monsters echoed one after another. Creatures of various attributes, like birds, Void Pawns, Imaginary Weavers, Stormbringers, and so on...

Whether they were Void-shattered creatures or from the Anti-Matter Legion, they all charged towards the two who had made noise.

"It doesn't matter. I should be able to withstand the environment of space now."

Clang—!

Lin Shuang said as she clenched her hand, and the rising flames brought forth a hurricane, stirring her hair and cape.

With the momentum of a prairie fire, the flames condensed into a greatsword, and falling sparks turned into a thin layer, covering the blade.

Accompanied by the melodious singing of "Da Capo,"

Lin Shuang charged into the enemy ranks like a hurricane.

Whether it was ordinary Void Pawns or the massive Stompers.

Lin Shuang was like an illusion, trailing blazing flames. The inferno became a scythe of death, and her fluttering cape was like a curtain of destruction descending.

Lin Shuang danced amidst the song, the giant blade feeling weightless in the girl's hands.

The sharp blade cut through the monsters' tough armor time and again, shredding their cores.

Acheron followed behind Lin Shuang, listening to the melodious song and the monsters' screams, a slight smile gracing her lips.

"Without the protection of a Path's power, you're not quite there yet."

Acheron was being generous with her words. In reality, even ordinary Pathstriders would find it difficult to traverse the deep void of space with their physical bodies alone.

While Lin Shuang's strength was indeed greater than many Pathstriders, to be able to leave a planet and travel the universe without any protection, like Acheron could.

That was still a bit wishful thinking.

"A Path... I completely—"

Lin Shuang gritted her teeth in response to Acheron's words, her body quickly dropping low. With a burst of power from her legs, she shot forward like a cannonball. Blades and flames transformed into a reaping machine, shredding dozens of monsters in her path.

"...I'm no closer to figuring it out."

Lin Shuang understood what a Path was, but expecting her to purely embody one was asking a bit much.

Whether it was Preservation, Abundance, Destruction, or Nihility, Lin Shuang found it hard to be pure.

If she had to pick, perhaps Exploration would be easier to follow. All she'd need to do was find an opportunity to join the Express crew and she'd be considered a Nameless.

But honestly, Lin Shuang didn't know where the Star Rail Express was right now. If anything, Herta Space Station might have some information.

After all, the Express and the space station seemed to have regular dealings, so they'd surely know the crew's whereabouts.

"We'll find it slowly. A Path is a road each person walks with their life; it's not something that happens overnight."

Acheron flashed to Lin Shuang's side, her phone discreetly hidden in a blind spot Lin Shuang couldn't see.

"I know."

Lin Shuang glanced at Acheron. In recent days, Acheron had barely needed to lift a finger, only needing to point Lin Shuang in a direction.

"Go that way. The Stellaron's reaction is still very strong."

Acheron pointed in a direction. There was a launch tower over there, but it had long since collapsed, and the Void's erosion was severe. Only from the wreckage could its original function barely be discerned.

"The Stellaron fell there?"

Seeing the target direction, Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow.

A spaceport would naturally have a lot of traffic. For a Stellaron to fall right there was quite unfortunate.

Then again, this planet was already deserted, so dwelling on it was pointless.

"Tsk, the closer I get to the Stellaron, the more uncomfortable it feels. And I can feel it... the Stellaron is trying to tempt me."

It was strange, the Stellaron's ability to bewitch people's hearts. It made it difficult for Lin Shuang to simply see it as a source of disaster.