Chapter 8 - 8: Old Yang: Is Honkai Still Chasing Me?

"Hurry up! Streamer, keep advancing the storyline!" "I really want to see if this game truly connects with reality?" "Could this be the perspective of a Stellaron Hunter at that time?" Guinaifen licked her lips. If it indeed mirrored reality, things were about to get interesting. Kafka asked Silver Wolf, "Where is our target location?" "Follow the corridor behind the left door deeper inside; there's a room containing a specific [Curio]." "The [Stellaron], Cancer of all worlds, is located there?" "It will reveal where the [Stellaron] can be found." *** At the space station "Herta," a scientist attending a meeting couldn't help but blurt out a curse. If earlier it was just showing signs... Now with the appearance of Silver Wolf and mention of the Stellaron... there's hardly any doubt left! This mirrors the true events that occurred at the space station recently! Incredibly, this audacious developer has turned them into a game, even from the perspective of a Stellaron Hunter! The leader, who had been incessantly speaking on stage, abruptly froze. All the drowsy colleagues nearby also became stunned. Realizing the situation, the leader flushed red as if someone had exposed his underwear on the podium. "Y-you, are you tired of your job?!" "No! Boss, I'm not against you!" The junior scientist hastily defended himself, "I'm reacting to this game!" "You dare play games during my meeting?!?" "Ah! No, I, uh...!" Five minutes later. The staff member finally managed to explain what they had observed within the mobile game. Pushing his glasses up, the supervisor decided to temporarily overlook the employee's distraction during the meeting. After seeking consensus from nearby colleagues, he instructed the staffer to share the live stream on the large screen before them. If all this were true, the implications of the game would be significant. It suggested that the developers had detailed knowledge of the recent incident. Could it be that the perpetrator created this game specifically to flaunt their actions? Such behavior severely tarnishes the image of both the space station and Lord Herta! Upon verification, they would need to file a complaint with the company immediately. Why was such a game allowed in the marketplace and even being streamed?! In the conference room, all staff members put aside their work and began attentively watching the live stream displayed on the screen. On the Astral Express... Old Yang and Himeko had already entered the game, progressing through its initial storyline. Though they sensed that the game's plot seemed eerily reminiscent of recent events, being seasoned Trailblazers, both maintained their composure. However, when Old Yang saw Silver Wolf appear as one of the Stellaron Hunters, his jaw dropped instantly. That voice! The hacker identity! That familiar appearance! It couldn't be young Bronya herself! "Don't think changing your hairstyle to a single horsetail fools me!" Old Yang was momentarily stunned. With a slight tremble, he picked up the coffee Himeko had prepared with his right hand. After taking just one sip, the unexpectedly harsh taste caught him off guard, causing him to abruptly spit it out. "Pffft—!!" Himeko stared, bewildered. Is my coffee really that terrible?! But then again, she is Himeko—a remarkably empathetic individual. Himeko truly understood him well. When Silver Wolf, the Stellaron Hunter, appeared earlier, Welt's expression instantly turned as if he'd seen a ghost. The cause likely stemmed from this hacker girl named "Silver Wolf." Apologizing profusely, Old Yang wiped away the spilled coffee with a damp cloth. Having weathered countless storms, it was surprising to see him so shaken now. Primarily, it was due to the game's ominous prefix—"Honkai." And then unexpectedly encountering familiar faces out of nowhere. These dual shocks made him feel as though Honkai was still chasing him down. Himeko comforted him, "In a galaxy this vast, running into old acquaintances is bound to happen sooner or later." "But don't worry, they're entirely new individuals with distinct personalities." "Although their fates may resemble those you knew, they absolutely aren't the friends or foes from your past." Old Yang adjusted his glasses slightly and nodded. Indeed. It must be pure coincidence! Within Guinaifen's live stream: On their journey to retrieve the space station's Curio—the Stellaron—the Stellaron Hunters encountered a Voidranger ambush. As combat ensued, a new member joined their team—Silver Wolf! Guinaifen had already figured out how to unleash characters' ultimate abilities. Eagerly, she clicked on the icon beside Silver Wolf's portrait. Silver Wolf: "The combat experience needs optimization." In the next moment, Silver Wolf suddenly transformed into an enormous avatar. Beneath him appeared a game console-like virtual object. With dazzling speed, Silver Wolf executed intricate maneuvers with his hands. The score on the game console rapidly climbed from 0 to 333. "Hmph, is that your best? Too slow!" When the score reached 999, a golden glow streaked like a meteor, striking the nearby Voidranger. Instantly, its health bar vanished, and it was sucked into a black hole. "No way! You actually implemented Silver Wolf's skill effects!" "This ultimate move is insanely cool and flashy!" "Just joined, but is little Guizi playing a rhythm game?" "Wow, this game is incredibly generous! To offer such well-crafted characters for free to play!" "If it were real, I'd play this for a hundred years!"