In games, developers often split character mechanics across their Eidolons to entice players into spending money on gacha pulls. The character ranking system in Honkai Impact 3rd, going from S to SSS, works on a similar principle.
However, reality doesn't operate on game mechanics, let alone fragmented ones.
When the System produces a character, it's less about unlocking Eidolons and more like activating them—bringing them into existence from nothing.
The effect is simple and direct: stat boosts!
Physical constitution, strength, speed, Honkai Energy levels, energy adaptability, basic control proficiency, and more—a comprehensive numerical enhancement across the board.
The 'value' added isn't fixed; it depends on the order in which character cards are drawn and the individual's own current strength.
For example, if Qiong first drew the "Stygian Nymph" card and then the "Starchasm Nyx" card for Seele.
Besides immediately gaining full mastery over the Stigmata of Death, the Eidolon enhancement would also boost Seele's overall attributes by 120-130%.
If the order were reversed, the Eidolon boost might only be around 50-60%.
Each character card provides different stat bonuses, and higher-tier Eidolons offer exponential growth.
"Understood. Anything else?"
"Else... else?"
The System paused, seemingly unsure what Qiong meant.
"Anything related to the character cards. Anything at all."
Qiong was genuinely thrown off by the System's continuous stream of surprises.
"Ermmm…"
Flipping through its work logs, the System seemed to recall something.
"Right, the issue with Honkai Energy!"
Huh?
Qiong was stunned. He'd only asked on a whim, not expecting there to actually be an issue.
And a fundamental one like Honkai Energy, no less!
He stiffened.
His fists clenched hard!
A vein throbbed on his forehead as Qiong stared at the System screen with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"...Ahem, the Honkai Energy possessed by the host's character cards does not originate from the Cocoon of Finality."
Sensing the less-than-friendly gaze, the System quickly changed the subject back to business.
In the native world of Honkai Impact 3rd, the Cocoon of Finality reigns as the ultimate law governing Honkai.
Earth, including its solar system...
Whether it's the Honkai Energy used by humans, the portion intertwined with civilization existing in other dimensions as fundamental physical parameters, or the excess entropy generated when the Imaginary anchors itself to the Real...
All of it, every bit of Honkai Energy, originates from the Cocoon of Finality occupying the Imaginary fringes of the solar system, converted from Imaginary Energy drawn by the Cocoon from the Imaginary Tree.
No Cocoon of Finality, no Honkai Energy!
"So, where are you getting Honkai Energy from?"
Qiong's right eyelid twitched slightly. The System clearly couldn't be connected to the Cocoon of Finality.
Remembering the System could pull emblems, the answer seemed obvious, and Qiong's expression turned incredibly complex in an instant.
"Don't tell me you swiped it from the Will of the Honkai?"
"Uh, no, but it probably makes no difference."
Qiong's expression froze slightly at the response.
"What do you mean?"
"The Will of the Honkai isn't the source of Honkai Energy. Honestly, I don't know where Honkai Energy originally comes from either. Anyway, since I can capture it in the void, I just use it."
The System's voice was filled with a matter-of-fact carelessness.
If the program runs, don't touch the code—no one understood this better than the System.
In the multiverse occupied by the Will of the Honkai, neither the Will itself nor the civilizations from distant eons knew where the very first wisp of Honkai Energy came from.
It just appeared out of thin air.
"What's the difference between these two types of Honkai Energy?"
Qiong frowned, pondering.
"Their fundamental energy properties share nearly 99% similarity. As for the meaning behind the remaining less than one percent difference... I don't know."
The System was remarkably honest.
"Rest assured, Host, the Honkai Energy is definitely fine. Right now, you... Seele... are the only Honkai Source in the Star Rail universe apart from the Cocoon of Finality."
Qiong was rendered speechless.
That title... If Welt ever heard it, he'd probably witness firsthand what shattering stars looked like, wouldn't he?
But, thinking it through...
Using the strongest Herrscher of Finality card as a base, maxing out Kiana's Eidolons, plus synchronizing and overloading Honkai Energy levels from Honkai Impact 2nd...
Damn it!
He really could become the second Will of the Honkai!
Lost in his daydream, Qiong continued questioning the System mentally while simultaneously answering the two Seeles' questions in their squad channel, and verbally sparring with Stelle.
Fortunately, Qiong currently had two CPUs, plus a wireless connection utilizing an idle one (Stelle's brain).
Otherwise, even with the mask's help, juggling three lines of operation would be impossible.
They arrived at the central elevator, only to encounter a classic movie trope reenacted—the elevator refused to start normally.
Though the 'Almighty Teacher Dan Heng' arrived promptly, even he was powerless against this problem.
However, Arlan, the Head of the Security Department whom he had rescued, could resolve it.
Therefore, it amounted to Dan Heng solving the problem.
"So that's how it's solved? As expected of the Almighty Teacher Dan Heng!"
Stelle nodded seriously, her gaze towards Dan Heng now filled with newfound adoration, like a struggling student looking up to a genius.
"..."
Dan Heng remained expressionless, but after a long pause, he finally spoke: "I am not."
If he didn't refute it now, he felt a mountain of trouble might materialize out of thin air later.
The current trouble was already significant enough.
Dan Heng's gaze towards Qiong was even stranger than before he'd left the Curio room.
He had found Arlan in the monitoring room and happened to witness the group's fight in the corridor via the monitors.
When he saw Stelle and March 7th ambushed by a squad led by a Trampler, Dan Heng was about to rush out to help, but before he even left the room...
He heard the cry, "Disperse like butterflies!"
Seeing the two escape danger with the help of the blue-haired girl, Dan Heng breathed a sigh of relief, only to then spot Qiong on another monitor.
As if his four-finger control module had malfunctioned, Qiong was spinning and leaping in place, shaking his head and tail, crashing into walls like a car with failed brakes, clawing randomly at the air, doggy-paddling.
—This was Qiong fighting the feedback from controlling Seele's body.
But to an outsider, it looked exactly like a psychiatric patient having an episode!
Dan Heng felt it would be best if these two spent some time in the space station's psychiatric ward before joining the Express.
Prompted by Arlan, March 7th finally remembered the mission item she had forgotten.
"The keycard... the keycard..."
March 7th fumbled in her skirt pocket, the empty feeling causing her expression to gradually stiffen. "I think... I dropped it during the fight earlier."
Arlan: "..."
Dan Heng: "..."
Just as the two fell silent, the person Dan Heng viewed as severely mentally ill stepped forward.
"Hm, is it one of these?"
Qiong pulled out a stack of cards of various colors from his pocket, fanning them out like playing cards.
"Found them on the way back."
Secret Technique: Pilfer~!
"So many cards? You picked up all of these?"
March 7th's eyes widened.
The floor of the corridor was incredibly messy, littered with debris, likely due to the staff's panicked evacuation.
She had been busy explaining 'common sense' to Seele and hadn't noticed Qiong actually rummaging through the trash!
"I have some too~!"
Stelle proudly produced several cards from within her clothes.
Although she hadn't initially understood why they were picking up trash, since Qiong was doing it, she had to join in!
However, when she pulled a crystal out from a pile of junk, Stelle instantly understood everything!
Looking at the two gray-haired individuals and the various cards in their hands, Arlan and Dan Heng's expressions became even more complex than when they heard March 7th had lost the keycard.
Especially Arlan.
If the space station weren't currently under invasion by the Antimatter Legion, he would have definitely presented each of them with a pair of silver bracelets as a welcoming gift.
"They... suffered head injuries. They have some mental issues, please understand."
Thinking that these two would be joining the Express, Dan Heng ultimately stepped up to offer an explanation.
Arlan nodded silently, then picked out Asta's keepsake, which doubled as the keycard, from the pile in Qiong's hands.
Along the way, Arlan's expression was somber.
The ground and walls still bore obvious bloodstains and human remains; the former owners of this blood and these fragments likely hadn't been fortunate...
Such a gory and cruel scene made Seele tremble, closing her eyes tightly, unable to look directly.
Arlan used one of the access cards Qiong had 'found' to deactivate the repulsion bridge, cutting off the Antimatter Legion's mobility.
After some brief preparations, the group rode the elevator down, arriving at the space station's safe zone.
Standing at the elevator exit was a figure incredibly familiar to Qiong.
Vibrant red hair bloomed like enchanting roses, adorned with a golden rose accessory. She wore a modified gray-black military short coat, partially slipped off one shoulder.
Beneath it was a pristine white, high-slit dress, revealing glimpses of smooth white skin under the skirt—elegant and poised, without giving off any impression of gaudy flirtatiousness.
As soon as the doors opened, March 7th's face lit up with a delighted expression. She bounced and shouted:
"Himeko!!"
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