Honkai Star Rail: I Played the Villain, Now the Heroines Want Revenge — Chapter 229

Chapter 229: The Script’s End

The next moment.

The God-Slaying Dagger, the very blade that had just ended The Hunt, plunged into Nanook’s divine body without resistance.

There was no clash of metal, no shield of energy.

Just the quiet, horrific sound of a divine concept being pierced.

Golden divine blood, as bright as a billion suns, gushed out.

In Nanook’s golden eyes, the eyes that could destroy all things, there was a look of “bewilderment” almost like a mortal’s.

Why?

He silently questioned.

I admire you. I acknowledge you. I even blocked a fatal blow for you at your most critical moment.

We are both destruction. We are both the end. We should have been allies.

But why… betray me?

You did not answer.

Because Nanook wouldn’t understand, and didn’t need to.

You were merely fulfilling a promise.

A final deal made when you were still Orion, a mortal filled with hate, a deal made with the Stellaron Hunters’ leader, the black cat named Elio.

You, Orion, as a crucial chess piece in Elio’s script, were responsible for disrupting the Xianzhou, engineering the civil war, and hunting down the Aeon of The Hunt.

But in the very end, your final, true mission was…

To slay the Aeon of Destruction, Nanook.

And in return, Elio would find those two souls lost in The Hunt’s light arrows for you.

Whether it was Stelle, who was sent to the Astral Express before, or you, who embarked on this path of revenge, both of you were double insurance Elio had set up for this ultimate goal.

You and Stelle each held a different script.

Elio hedged his bets.

Ultimately, you won.

Of course, your reason for backstabbing Nanook was not limited to this.

The moment you ascended to become “Gui Zhong,” your mission was already destined.

Your existence was to bring an end to all things that should not continue to exist.

And these Aeons, who treated all living beings as playthings and wantonly manipulated fate, were themselves the greatest errors in the universe.

They all deserved to be judged.

Lan was the first, and Nanook… was just a bonus, the second.

That was all.

At this moment, towering, pure, primal rage erupted from Nanook’s divine body!

He didn’t question further, didn’t speak; his only response to you was the purest will of destruction!

The rage of betrayal caused this Aeon of Destruction to completely Rampage!

He suddenly grabbed your arm, the arm holding the dagger, and with a roar that shattered nearby planets, he flung you and the dagger out of his divine body!

Immediately after, he spread his arms, and “Entropy” gushed forth!

“All things return to entropy!”

Wherever this wave of pure conceptual energy passed, space collapsed, light vanished, and even the flow of time slowed, eventually nearing stagnation!

Everything around was irreversibly heading towards heat death, towards absolute destruction!

Facing this divine power capable of instantly killing galaxies, you merely activated “Return” again.

Judge Nanook.

As the last Aeon born before you, yet the one who brought the most devastation to the universe, the slaughter and destruction he bore were thousands of times heavier than Lan’s.

The wails from where the Anti-Matter Legion passed…

The final laments of destroyed worlds…

Countless civilizations turning to ashes in despair…

All these karmic consequences, this boundless sin, under the authority of your Path, transformed into billions of black, ethereal chains, fiercely lashing Nanook’s divine body!

“Ugh… ahhh—!”

Even the embodiment of destruction found it difficult to bear this backlash from the entire universe.

Nanook’s divine body cracked, and what flowed from the golden wounds was no longer divine blood, but murky chaos mixed with countless, screaming resentful souls!

But he was Nanook after all!

He actually endured this backlash, which could instantly crumble any other existence, relying solely on his unbending will of destruction!

Though his divine body was shattered, the rage in his golden eyes burned even more fiercely!

“Interesting…”

A soft, manic chuckle came from the void at the edge of the battlefield.

The Aeon of Elation, Aha, had quietly arrived at some point.

He seemed to be watching the most spectacular play, cheering and applauding this unexpected divine war and betrayal.

Meanwhile, in another temporal rift, an avatar of Fuli, the Aeon of Memory, appeared. A silent, crystalline statue, faithfully recording this rare sight in the universe—an Emanator ascending, a new god slaying an old god.

The aftershocks of this battle were too terrifying; it was no longer a realm where Emanators could intervene.

Phantylia, at the first moment the battle erupted between you and Nanook, had silently vanished into the void, wisely choosing to flee.

For her, the goal of destroying the Xianzhou had already been achieved; there was no need to get involved in this war between gods.

And Feixiao, from a distance, witnessed your ascension with her own eyes.

She was first shocked, and then, what flowed from her eyes was sadness and relief.

She had once fantasized that after avenging you, she, a Foxian, would find a secluded star system with you and spend the rest of her long life together.

This dream, after all, was shattered.

But… you were still alive.

That was enough.

Feixiao looked at your grayish-white divine body, feeling as if you hadn’t changed at all.

What you did was still what you wanted to do, and your gaze was still so familiar.

Perhaps… you truly were the Aeon who retained the most “humanity” of your original self?

She longed to rush forward and help you, but reason told her that in a divine war, Emanators were but dust.

The best thing she could do for you was to leave immediately, leaving this starry sky entirely to you.

“Orion… goodbye.”

She took one last look at you, then her ship disappeared into a warp, leaving the sea of stars.

…

This divine war lasted for a very long time.

Long enough for most intelligent civilizations across the entire universe to observe this epoch-making duel.

Interstellar Peace Corporation, Emergency News Broadcast:

“Greetings, listeners and viewers! You are now watching an exclusive live broadcast brought to you by the ‘Cosmic Current Events Channel’!”

“Just moments ago, in the ancient star domain of Tianyuan IV, a once-in-ten-thousand-year Aeon-level duel erupted! The combatants are none other than the infamous Aeon of Destruction, Nanook, and a mysterious new god who has just ascended!”

“…The visuals are simply too shocking! Our unmanned vessel was instantly vaporized by the aftershocks as soon as it approached the edge of the battlefield!”

“As you can see, the mere existence of two Aeons has caused the light spectrum of over a dozen surrounding star systems to shift! Stars are extinguishing, nebulae are collapsing! What immense power this is!”

“…What? The director tells me this mysterious new god’s codename is ‘Gui Zhong’! He… he’s actually suppressing Nanook?! My heavens! This is absolutely the most significant news of this star calendar! Everyone, please remember, I… we are witnessing history!”

“Alright, amidst the intense battle, let’s take a quick commercial break. Still worried about fuel costs for interstellar travel? ‘Peaceful Fuel’ is now part of our deluxe package…”

Afterward, the divine war gradually evolved into a battle of concepts.

Your battle with Nanook lasted for several years.

For mortals, this was already a generation’s youth.

But for Aeons, it was but an instant.

Finally, at a certain point, the scales of victory began to tip.

The concept of “Gui Zhong” (The End) ultimately transcended “Destruction.”

The God of Destruction also had his end.

You appeared before Nanook again; his divine body was already shattered, and his authority of destruction was nearing exhaustion.

“Nanook.” You declared his end, your voice a calm, final judgment. “Your ‘Destruction’ ends here.”

The dagger thrust out.

This time, Nanook was powerless to resist.

He merely looked at you with his golden eyes.

In that gaze, the anger and bewilderment had long vanished, replaced, it seemed, by a sense of liberation.

Perhaps, for him, who sought the destruction of all things, his own destruction was his ultimate, desired end.

Grayish-white power consumed him.

The Aeon of Destruction did not unleash an earth-shattering death wave; he merely, silently, little by little… dissipated into the void.

You won this divine war.

[Successfully slayed Lan and Nanook, Villain Value +10000!]

[Successfully messed up the Luofu, orchestrated the Xianzhou civil strife, leading to the disintegration of the Xianzhou Alliance and the destruction of five Xianzhou ships, Villain Value +2500!]

At this moment, on the Stellaron Hunters’ ship, a black cat watched the Interstellar Peace Corporation’s live broadcast.

“Well done… Orion.”

“Deal complete.”

“Now, it’s my turn to fulfill my promise.”

…

A vibrant green galaxy teeming with life.

This was the domain of Yaoshi, the Aeon of Abundance.

Elio stood before a goddess with a compassionate, androgynous face.

“Yaoshi, The Hunt is dead; your great enemy no longer exists.”

Yaoshi merely looked at him quietly, without speaking, its presence a wave of calming, unconditional life.

“And the one who killed The Hunt still harbors attachments in his heart,” Elio continued. “As a reward, and to forge a good relationship, I hope you can make an exception this one time.”

“Besides… outside of the Xianzhou Alliance, there are still followers of The Hunt who wish you harm. I can continue to deal with them for you.”

“Is it a deal?”

The Aeon of Abundance finally made a move.

She extended her slender hand, and two emerald green Seeds of Life sprouted in her palm.

She gently scattered the seeds onto the ground.

The seeds took root and, at a visible speed, grew into two graceful young women.

Pure white Foxian ears and tails—that was your younger sister, Jiang Li.

Black hair and shy eyes—that was your friend, Neergul.

They opened their eyes, still a little bewildered.

“Neergul? Where are we?”

“…Where’s my brother?”

Jiang Li’s first thought was of you.

Meanwhile, on the distant side of the galaxy, you, as the Aeon Gui Zhong, witnessed this scene through causality.

You watched those two familiar figures, watching them regain life.

Your divine, cold heart, at this moment, trembled slightly.

That was Orion’s humanity.

Your revenge… and your salvation… had ended.

But your judgment… had just begun.

After Nanook’s fall, your name, Gui Zhong, resounded throughout the cosmos.

This terrifying event was recorded in the historical annals of countless civilizations.

On a planet that had just escaped the Anti-Matter Legion’s invasion, the surviving beings enshrined your ash-white image.

They praised you, calling you the “God-Lord of Finality,” a cosmic hero who ended “Destruction.”

A new faith blossomed in the ruins.

The Interstellar Peace Corporation held an emergency meeting of the highest level overnight.

“The risk assessment report for the newly ascended Aeon, Gui Zhong, has been released,” a department head reported. “Based on its birth process and the authority it displayed in slaying two Aeons, we are currently unable to classify it as ‘friendly’ or ‘communicable.'”

“Its core logic is ‘termination,’ and its behavior patterns are highly aggressive and unpredictable. The Risk Department has listed it as a top-tier ‘cosmic disaster,’ on par with the ‘Swarm Disaster.'”

“On behalf of the Corporation, I am issuing an official statement to the entire universe:

‘The Path of Gui Zhong is full of uncertainties. The Interstellar Peace Corporation hereby advises everyone… please do not easily step onto or believe in the Path of Gui Zhong. I repeat, please do not…'”

You heard these voices.

Praise, worship, fear, suspicion…

Mortal emotions echoed in your ears like cosmic background radiation, yet they failed to stir even a ripple within you.

You merely raised your eyes, and the Eye of Gui Zhong pierced through endless space and time, gazing towards the next target.

That was a fellow who was constantly filled with laughter.

…

On the Stellaron Hunters’ spaceship.

A very, very long time had passed.

So long that Silver Wolf had completed all versions of pokemon she could find, even catching all the shiny pokemon in the fan-made modified versions.

So long that Sam’s Entropic Slumber had also largely recovered, the massive mech now resting quietly in the hangar, its pilot free to walk the ship.

Yet, the person they were waiting for never returned.

The man who would exchange pokemon with Silver Wolf, who would reluctantly have his game console snatched away by her…

The man who would train with Sam, pushing both of them to their limits…

The man who would quietly listen to her confide…

Orion had vanished as if into thin air.

At first, they thought he was just on a mission, like before, and would return.

But day after day, month after month, year after year passed.

His communication was always unreachable, and Elio remained silent on the matter.

Gradually, they all understood.

He, perhaps, truly wouldn’t come back.

In the ship’s lounge, the atmosphere was always a bit heavy.

“Ahhh! This is so boring!”

Silver Wolf tossed a brand-new handheld game console onto the sofa and irritably rolled around on the floor.

“This new game is no fun at all! The AI is too stupid! There’s no one to even play online with!”

She hugged a pillow, grumbling unhappily, “If only that guy were here… I still wanted to show off my shiny pokemon to him…”

A figure in a simple, practical outfit walked over with a cup of hot tea and placed it in front of her.

“Drink some tea, don’t be annoyed.”

It was Sam’s pilot, a young woman with a gentle smile, though deep in her eyes, a hint of sadness flickered.

She looked at the unchanging starry sky outside the window, occasionally recalling that night.

The man had whispered “As long as you’re happy” in her ear, and then stayed with her.

He was always so strong, so reliable.

But now, where was he?

Kafka leaned against the bar, gently swirling the red wine in her glass.

She watched the two dejected young women, saying nothing, but in her wine-red eyes, there flowed a hint of emotion that no one could understand.

She knew the script’s progression, knew that you had embarked on a path of no return.

But she hadn’t expected your departure to have such a profound impact on this temporarily assembled “family.”

Just then—

[ALERT: External vessel detected approaching, requesting docking permission.]

The alarm broke the silence.

Almost instantly!

Silver Wolf, who had just been rolling on the floor, sprang up like a spring!

Sam, who had been spacing out, suddenly turned her head!

Even Blade, who had been silent in the shadows, cleaning his sword, raised his head.

Their gazes, by prior agreement, all turned towards the hangar door.

It was like this again.

Every time, no matter who arrived.

They would always rush to the door like this at the first moment.

In their hearts, they held a faint hope that they didn’t even dare to admit to themselves.

Perhaps…

Perhaps this time, he had returned?

The three walked quickly to the observation window of the hangar.

Kafka also put down her wine glass and quickly followed behind.

The hatch slowly opened.

They held their breath, their heartbeats quickening.

However, when they clearly saw the figure stepping off the ship, the light that had just ignited in their eyes instantly extinguished.

The newcomer was a black-haired girl they didn’t recognize.

Another… false alarm.

Silver Wolf “tsk”-ed, turned away in disappointment, plopped back onto the sofa, and picked up her game console again, but had no desire to play.

Sam’s eyes lowered. She forced a smile at Kafka and whispered, “Kafka, I’m going to check on the flowers in the cultivation pod…”

Before she finished speaking, her movements suddenly froze.

Because outside the observation window, at the ship’s hatch, behind the black-haired girl, a second figure emerged.

It was a… figure they were incredibly familiar with.

Pure white Foxian ears and tail, and that face… remarkably similar to their memories, incredibly handsome.

Silver Wolf, who had just turned away, saw that person and instantly froze.

Sam’s eyes instantly widened.

It’s him…

Orion!

He’s back!

The next moment, the emotions suppressed for years erupted with a roar!

Sam and Silver Wolf, they didn’t care about anything else, rushing towards the hangar door.

Only Kafka didn’t move.

She still stood by the observation window in the lounge, quietly watching that figure.

Her brows, however, furrowed.

No…

That wasn’t him.

Kafka’s eyesight was incredibly sharp; she saw the details that Silver Wolf and Sam overlooked in their ecstasy.

That person’s aura was off.

Although the face was very similar, in those eyes, there was something missing of his essence.

And that figure… although wearing a neutral jacket, the outline was clearly much fuller than Orion’s.

That was clearly…

A young girl.