NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: First Impressions
The two voidrangers stationed at the platform's exit trembled and fell to the ground, struck fatally by two silent lightning-element needles that pierced the back of their necks.
"Wow! Wende, you're amazing! You took them down so easily!"
March 7th looked at Wende with starry eyes. She had planned to work with Dan Heng, dealing with them one by one, but Wende, who had been following them, had taken action on his own and effortlessly dispatched the enemies with his flying needles.
"Not at all, it was just a sneak attack."
Wende smiled at the cute March 7th as she pulled him in for a photo.
Dan Heng, witnessing Wende’s impressive skill, couldn’t help but be amazed, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Wende’s technique seemed somewhat familiar...
Dan Heng squinted, observing the lightning needles dissipating along with the voidrangers. The sense of déjà vu grew stronger.
"Alright, let’s move. I have a feeling that the space station might be in serious trouble."
Dan Heng shook his head. There was no time to ponder such things; determining the space station's current status was the most crucial task.
"Okay! Let's go!"
March 7th put her camera back on her waist, naturally removing her arm from Wende’s neck, and picked up her longbow to return to the front of the group.
"Uh..."
Wind awkwardly touched his neck. Being pulled around for photos by a girl... was something he had never experienced in both his lifetimes...
After dealing with the two voidrangers near the platform, the path ahead became much clearer.
As they moved into the support section, they encountered a few more voidrangers along the way, but the trio dealt with them effortlessly.
Seeing the closed door ahead, Dan Heng frowned.
"Hey! Is anyone there? Open the door for us!"
March 7th walked up to the door, knocked forcefully, and then placed her hands on her hips, shouting at the door.
"March, this might..."
Seeing March 7th shouting at the door, Dan Heng immediately realized that this might attract more voidrangers. Just as he was about to stop March 7th from continuing, the door unexpectedly opened!
Dan Heng: ".........."
"Huh? Dan Heng, what did you say?"
March 7th looked at Dan Heng with a puzzled expression.
"Nothing... let’s go in."
Dan Heng stepped into the cabin first, followed closely by the confused March 7th, while Wende, who had witnessed Dan Heng’s embarrassment, was trying hard to suppress his laughter.
Inside the cabin, several space station staff in uniforms were briefing with Dan Heng on the situation. They seemed quite anxious.
"So it’s like this. The space station’s signal has been blocked, so information can't be sent out, and the antimatter legion appeared outside. Without combat personnel, you have no way to get out of here."
Dan Heng analyzed while rubbing his chin.
"That’s right. Not only are there voidrangers on the platform, but there are also many inside the bunker. We can only wait here for rescue."
The station staff replied helplessly. They were merely responsible for receiving visitors and had no combat capability, and the other staff were all clerks who were equally unhelpful in a fight.
"In that case, isn’t Himeko in great danger?!"
Recalling Himeko entering the space station from another platform, March 7th exclaimed in concern.
"Don’t worry. Himeko is strong."
Dan Heng remembered the formidable figure who controlled drones and wreaked havoc on the exploration journey, which was hard to reconcile with the gentle lady he knew.
"However… with such a big problem here, if the space station’s defense team hasn’t shown up. It seems that enemies have appeared inside the space station as well."
Dan Heng pondered deeply and turned to the supervisor.
"Continue to stay here and don’t go out. We’ve already cleared the enemies on this side of the platform, but there’s still a risk we missed some."
"Understood."
Nodding to the head, Dan Heng looked at Wende and March 7th, who were chatting, and reminded them.
"March, Wende, let’s go. The attack on the space station doesn’t seem simple."
The three continued to delve deeper into the Herta Space Station.
………………..
In Reality
A well-known AC streamer "Kakaya" was live streaming the game during its launch. Having experienced this well-crafted turn-based game during previous beta tests, he was very familiar with the early storyline.
"Ah, next is the character selection! I’m definitely picking Stelle!"
Kakaya interacted with the chat while choosing the female avatar X, naming the game character "Kakaya."
He had seen the following dialogue countless times but would display all the subtitles for the viewers and make choices only after they had finished.
"I’m leaving you alone here on this space station."
The purple haired lady said softly to Stelle, her eyes full of tenderness and reluctance.
【Mom! Don’t go!】
【Kafka is my wife!】
【What! You ungrateful child! How dare you plot against your mother!】
...
Seeing the barrage of manic comments in the chat, Kakaya was quite satisfied. The livestream effect was already showing!
Dragging the mouse, he selected the option [No, I don’t want to] and watched as Kafka left, with the chat erupting in cries.
【Mom! Take me with you!】
【Kafka! How can I live without you!】
【What a heartless woman! Just gives birth and doesn’t take care of it!】
【Take me with you! Sob sob sob】
The chat was filled with overly dramatic comments as if they were playing the game themselves.
As Kafka departed, the protagonist’s view in the game also gradually went dark. Soon, a vibrant teenage girl’s voice came into the livestream audience’s ears.
"Hmm? Strange? There’s someone passed out over here.”
【March 7th! March 7th! My wife!】
【Coward! You just said Kafka is your wife!】
【That’s Elysia’s daughter!】
"Don’t worry, leave it to me."
Suddenly, a previously unheard gentle male voice entered the livestream.
"Hmm? Did the plot change? I don’t remember it being like this before?"
Kakaya was confused. Wasn’t the next plot supposed to be Dan Heng preparing to give Stelle CPR?
"Ok! It’s all up to you, Wende!"
【Wende? Who is this? I’ve never heard of him before!】
【Could it be a new character introduced after the public beta?】
【No way! Did they really change the main storyline for a new character?】
As the chat continued to speculate, Wende, in the world of Honkai: Star Rail, looked at the gray-haired girl lying unconscious on the ground and felt a wave of emotions.
"It seems that the world chose Stelle, so I guess I won’t have a chance to talk to Caelus in the future."
Watching the girl’s serene sleeping face, Wende shook his head in contemplation, then extended a finger and precisely released an electric arc on the upper third of the girl’s philtrum.
……………….
In Reality
In Kakaya’s livestream, everyone was puzzled by the appearance of the unfamiliar male voice. Although MiHoYo had made changes to initial plotlines before, it was rare to see such changes right before the launch of the game.
As the chat continued to discuss, the livestream screen began to move.
Zap!
The originally black screen flashed with lightning, and with a few soft groans from the female protagonist Stelle, the sleeping beauty finally opened her drowsy eyes.
When the viewers in the livestream saw the person on screen, they collectively lost it!
【WTF! This character! That tall figure! Those broad shoulders! That chiseled face! Isn’t this my long-lost husband?】
【No way MiHoYo! A Dilf ingame?】
【Oh my god, they really changed it! And added a new character! Although it's sad that we can't see the kissing scene, seeing someone like this at the start... Hehe, not bad!】
【WTF! My favorite character has arrived! Black hair, purple eyes, handsome face! That body! That chest! It’s practically bursting through his clothes!】
Kakaya, sitting in his chair, was stunned. His mind was racing! They really changed the plot and added a new character right before launch? This was too unexpected!
Others who had reached this point in the main storyline also noticed the changes. While some were slightly dissatisfied with the alterations and new characters, others were thrilled!
In secret, a familiar rhythm soon spread quietly with the main storyline changes.
………………
Back at the space station
Stelle opened her golden eyes, looking coldly at the man before her.
"Puff.."
Then she exhaled a puff of black smoke...
"She’s awake! It really worked!"
March 7th saw Stelle waking up and quickly squatted in front of her, waving her hand in front of Stelle’s confused eyes.
"Um... where am I? Why does my whole body feel numb?"
Stelle looked at the pink-haired girl in front of her with confusion, her eyes somewhat vacant.
"Uh... we’re at the Herta Space Station. We’re crew members of the Astral Express. As for why you feel numb all over..."
March 7th turns to glare at Wende as he looks away
"Anyway, are you okay now? Are you hurt anywhere? By the way, what’s your name?"
March 7 asked with concern, looking at the dazed Stelle.
"Uh... other than feeling a bit numb, I’m fine. As for my name... I’m Stelle."
Seeing Stelle’s confused state, Wende glanced at his index finger, wondering if the shock might have been too strong and left her disoriented.
“Pah~ Pahpah~ Pah~”
Suddenly, a ringtone featuring Pom-Pom’s singing rang from March 7th’s waist. With Stelle staring blankly at her, March 7th excitedly answered the call.
“Hello? Can you hear me? March, the communication with the space station has been restored. I’m now in the main control cabin with Asta. The legion here have been cleared. Hurry over!”
“Got it! We’re on our way!”
March 7th nodded and then hung up the phone.
“Alright, let’s go! Don’t worry, we’ll get you there safely!”
March 7th reassured the dazed Stelle, patting her chest confidently.
At the same time, Dan Heng received a message on his phone.
“March, you and the others head back first. Asta just informed me that Arlan from the Defense Department has lost contact nearby. I need to go find him.”
“Alright, be careful.”
So, March 7th led the two unfamiliar individuals toward the main control room.