Elysia found herself curious about how miHoYo would portray Kevin in Honkai Impact 3rd.
Kiana continued to advance the main storyline.
The audience in the livestream chat was also completely engrossed. Kevin's presence in the preceding cutscene had been, to put it mildly, overwhelmingly oppressive.
This was especially true after Kevin took hold of the Skyfire Holy Relic.
The distinct feeling that a storm was brewing, that the wind sweeping through the tower heralded a rising tempest in the mountains, made them realize that a major climax in the storyline was very likely imminent.
The scene shifted.
It was now deep night in Skyfall City.
On the outskirts of Skyfall City, a small-scale Honkai Eruption was underway. Honkai Beasts and the garrisoned troops were locked in a fierce battle. However, the tide of beasts was virtually endless, and the mecha units were gradually losing their advantage.
The visual execution of this segment was superb.
Using an aerial perspective, the audience witnessed an animation of a Honkai Emperor Beast instantly annihilating a mech. This kind of real-time rendered cutscene was, it had to be said, still a novelty in this world.
It immediately caught the attention of many industry professionals watching.
They eagerly grabbed anearby pens and paper, adding lengthy insights to notebooks already crammed with notes.
At the same time, they couldn't help but inwardly exclaim at how freaking awesome Honkai Impact 3rd was.
It always managed to come up with new tricks that left them impressed.
"My notebook's full! Does anyone have a spare?"
"You've already filled your third one? You need another?"
"You think I want to? It's just that Honkai Impact 3rd is too damn incredible! The more I study it, the more I feel like I'm gazing up at a towering mountain, filled with awe!"
"Honkai Impact 3rd is amazing, but the people who developed it are even more so."
"Both are amazing, both! Quick, give me a new notebook, my inspiration is about to vanish!"
The story continued. Just as the mechs were on the verge of being completely wiped out, a shadowy figure wielding dual pistols appeared on the battlefield.
It was the Kiana players had been eagerly awaiting!
With Fu Hua's guidance and a month of practice, Kiana's combat abilities had significantly improved. Dealing with a few Honkai Beasts was now a trivial matter for her.
This led nearby soldiers to exclaim how "unscientific" it was, dubbing Kiana "superman."
While the soldiers stood there in shock, Kiana dispatched all the Honkai Beasts. Because she was still a wanted fugitive, she couldn't linger. She quickly vanished from their sight.
She carried herself with a mature competence, coming and going like the wind.
Then, the perspective shifted.
It turned out that Kiana's tracks had been discovered by Jackal.
To prevent Kiana from interfering with his plans, Jackal had leaked her information to Schicksal, which in turn drew Rita to the scene.
This instantly heightened the players' anticipation for the subsequent plot developments.
A righteous ranger roaming the city, saving its citizens, versus two major organizations, each with its own hidden agenda.
In Skyfall City, a metropolis currently being eroded by the Honkai.
What kind of heart-pounding drama was about to unfold?
Numerous bullet comments discussing potential plot developments filled the livestream chat.
In an era where skipping the story in mobile games was the norm, such a scene was exceedingly rare.
This also gave many smaller game studios food for thought. Perhaps players didn't dislike stories themselves, but rather disliked those that were cliché and utterly devoid of亮点 (highlights/originality)?
They couldn't compete with major corporations in terms of technical prowess, but if they found an alternative path, focusing more on other aspects, they might just be able to leapfrog the competition.
The influence of Honkai Impact 3rd was gradually becoming more profound.
The ensuing plot did not disappoint the players.
Rita investigated various clues. Not only did she discover Shencheng Pharmaceuticals, operating under the World Serpent, seemingly about to launch some nefarious scheme.
She also found intelligence and leads regarding Kiana.
Furthermore, based on detailed clues, she knew she could simply lie in wait wherever Honkai Beasts appeared.
Soon enough, Rita and Kiana had an unexpected encounter on a battlefield where Honkai Beasts were being eliminated.
Kiana moved like a phantom amidst the darkness cast by Honkai Beasts and Honkai Zombies, with fierce gunshots and muzzle flashes blooming all around.
With a final burst of gunfire, Kiana landed.
Under the night sky, her white hair seemed to coalesce into a beam of moonlight, making the mountain of wreckage piled at her feet appear even more somber.
Kiana tilted her head slightly, silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Are you going to keep hiding? Come out."
Her voice was different from before, exuding a profound calmness.
This, too, sent a thrill through the livestream audience.
[Wow! Kiana's tone is so Alpha! So cool, cool, cool!]
[Is this really Kiana? Tuna has become so mature.]
[Such a rational and mature Kiana! Sky Ranger, I'm so here for it!]
In truth, it wasn't just the livestream audience; Kiana herself, seeing this version of herself, even though she already knew the plot, was still incredibly excited.
"Kiana is truly the coolest!"
"That's the Kiana in the game," Himeko retorted from the side.
"Huh? Teacher Himeko, are you saying I'm not as good as the Kiana in the game?" Kiana protested. "Sky Ranger Kiana might be mature, but I'm not bad either, am I?"
Many viewers, who had just calmed down from the initial excitement of seeing Sky Ranger Kiana, were once again captivated by the real-life interaction between Kiana and Himeko.
Himeko, seeing Kiana act this way, couldn't help but chuckle in exasperation. She reached out, pinched Kiana's cheek, and then said, half-casually, half-sincerely, "Yes, yes. I'd much rather you always stay like this, Kiana."
"Teacher Himeko."
[Teacher Himeko is so gentle. I can't believe I never got it before. I've missed out for too long! I'm rolling for a ten-pull right now!]
[Ah! I wish Big Sis Himeko would treat me that gently too! Indeed, Kiana, draw your sword!!]
[Kiana, draw your sword! +1]
[Kiana, draw your sword! +2]
Kiana: "???"
"Teacher Himeko is mine!" Kiana declared loudly.
The livestream audience, naturally, was not about to back down. For a moment, they engaged in a lighthearted 'argument' with Kiana over Teacher Himeko, filled with laughter.
This continued until Himeko finally couldn't stand it anymore and delivered a light karate chop to Kiana's forehead.
"Hurry up and get back to playing Honkai Impact 3rd," Himeko said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Oh, oh, oh." Kiana rubbed her forehead, nodded hastily, and scurried back to continue the livestream.
The story resumed.
After the in-game Kiana announced she had detected someone nearby, Rita no longer concealed herself. She and the members of the Immortal Blades Squad surrounded Kiana.
However, she didn't attack immediately. Instead, she spoke to Kiana in a calm and reasonable tone.
She explained her perspective, stating her belief that Skyfall City was suffering such frequent attacks because Kiana, a Herrscher, was active within its borders.
Therefore, she hoped Kiana would accompany her to Schicksal to receive treatment.
Kiana, naturally, did not accept Rita's 'kindness.' Since they couldn't see eye to eye, a confrontation was inevitable.
At this point, Kiana posed a question in return: "Stopping the disaster or capturing me—which is more important?"
Rita's answer was equally decisive: she believed that capturing Kiana was the key to stopping the disaster plaguing the city.
Just as tensions flared again and the situation reached a critical juncture, Kiana chose to utilize the power of the Herrscher of the Void to make her escape. However, before she left, she placed an IC card and a serum container into Rita's hands.
She told Rita that these items held the key to understanding what was truly happening at Shencheng Pharmaceuticals.
Rita looked at the two objects in her hand and, in the end, did not try to stop Kiana.
Just like when she had previously spared the android, she was not merely a mindless tool blindly following Otto's orders. She had her own thoughts, her own will.
At this point in the story, Rita's characterization undoubtedly became much more vivid.
Rita's earlier words, 'A person has two hands, one used for taking, and one used for giving,' were clearly not just empty talk.
Subsequently, as Rita delved deeper into her investigation of Shencheng Pharmaceuticals, she uncovered horrifying evidence of human experimentation and research data related to the Stigmata Project.
She discovered that World Serpent was preparing to experiment on the entire population of the city. Success would mean awakening Stigmata, granting immunity to Honkai corruption. Failure, however, meant death, transforming into the walking dead.
[Let me get this straight... Honkai Impact 3rd always manages to deliver a rude awakening right when I think I've finally understood the plot, basically telling me, 'You don't know jack.']
[Experimenting on Skyfall City's 30 million people? Has World Serpent gone insane?]
[Let me tell you all a joke: if we just exterminate humanity before the Honkai does, then we won't have to fear the Honkai anymore. What a perfect plan.]
Upon discovering the truth, Rita decisively adjusted her plans, abandoning the pursuit of Kiana and prioritizing the safety of Skyfall City's populace.
This allowed players to gain a clearer understanding of Rita's character, attracting even more fans to her. Simultaneously, the plot reached a significant turning point.
The scene shifted back to Kiana. Through her recent wanderings around Skyfall City, she had analyzed the map and pinpointed the key to resolving the incident: Shencheng Pharmaceuticals' industrial district.
This sudden display of intellect from Kiana, however, took Fu Hua by surprise.
Kiana, in turn, claimed it was all thanks to the benefits of wandering. A somewhat perplexing statement.
"Teacher Himeko." Kiana, having reached this point in the game, paused once more.
"Hmm?"
"Does wandering really increase your intelligence?" she asked, a mix of surprise and confusion in her voice.
"Of course not," Himeko replied with certainty.
"Then... isn't the Kiana in the game lying!" Kiana exclaimed in surprise.
Himeko gently shook her head, adopting a teacher-like tone to educate Kiana: "Kiana, wandering doesn't make a person smarter, but loneliness does. Because loneliness is a very powerful emotion; it can change people."
She paused, then offered a slight smile. "Of course, Kiana, you don't have to worry about that. None of us will ever let you be lonely."
[Doesn't Himeko's underlying meaning imply that Kiana, you'll always be this endearingly goofy?]
[Pfft~~ Forgive me, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. But seriously, Himeko's personality feels exactly like it is in the game.]
[Yeah, yeah, I just wonder if her perpetually being single is also true to life.]
Himeko: "..."
[Impossible! Someone as gentle as Himeko, even if she doesn't have a partner, it's only because she doesn't want to find one.]
Himeko saw this bullet comment and gave a slight nod.
"Let me secretly tell everyone, Teacher Himeko actually..."
"Kiana! Is there anything else you'd like to say?"
Himeko flashed a 'kindly' smile, which nonetheless sent an involuntary shiver down Kiana's spine.