Honkai Star Rail: I Played the Villain, Now the Heroines Want Revenge — Chapter 257

Chapter 257: Ascends and Lord Ravager

The Great Stellaron vibrated violently.

The golden, chaotic sphere, a condensed mass of a hundred Stellarons, pulsed with Phantylia’s own terror.

“The Great Stellaron, my trump card… how could this be…”

“No… impossible!”

Phantylia’s voice screamed from within the Stellaron, no longer seductive or mocking, but a raw, collapsing shriek of pure disbelief.

“You broke the illusion?! HOW?!”

“How regrettable,” Orion said indifferently. He stood calmly amidst the psychic wreckage, the only one left standing. “Your trump card is useless against me.”

The Great Stellaron began to flash madly, its light flickering like a dying star.

“Since that’s the case…”

Phantylia’s voice gradually turned frantic, the last vestiges of her sanity crumbling.

“Then let’s all be destroyed together!”

Suddenly!

The Great Stellaron erupted!

That was Phantylia burning her Heliobus origin, her very essence, to forcibly activate the full power of one hundred Stellarons!

The surrounding air twisted and tore under this power!

The fabric of reality in the Scalegorge Waterscape began to unravel.

A destructive energy, even more terrifying than the previous falling star, began to collapse inward, forming a true black hole capable of devouring everything!

“Orion, since I can’t have you…”

“Then DIE!”

Phantylia roared.

However, facing this black hole capable of destroying the entire Celestial Ark, Orion merely raised his eyes.

Black, fractal patterns appeared in his eyes.

The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.

In his vision, a single, clear, and absolute black line, superior to everything else, appeared in the very center of the collapsing black hole.

It was the “death line” of the event itself.

“Even ‘destruction’…”

He thrust the black sword in his hand forward.

“Will die!”

The next moment, Orion’s figure flashed close.

At the same time, the tip of his sword pierced into that black line.

He didn’t attack the Stellaron. He attacked the concept of its attack.

Instantly—

The black hole froze.

As if solidified, it stopped sucking in the surrounding space.

The light, the sound, the pull of gravity—all of it ceased.

Then, like a receding tide, all the destructive power began to dissipate, to unravel, eventually ceasing to exist.

The black hole that could have devoured the Luofu Celestial Ark just… vanished.

“Wh-what?!”

This scene completely crushed Phantylia’s last shred of hope.

“You… what… what kind of monster are you?!”

“Damn it!”

“No, I have to hurry…”

She had one last option. Flee.

Suddenly, a ball of spectral blue fire frantically escaped from the Great Stellaron!

That was Phantylia’s Heliobus true body!

She abandoned the powerful Great Stellaron, her ultimate weapon, and her fused body, desperate to escape.

“Don’t go yet.”

A cold voice echoed behind her.

“I haven’t had enough fun.”

Orion said, unleashing a merciless sword strike!

The black sword qi tore through the air, chasing the fleeing flame!

But Phantylia’s speed was extremely fast, the desperate burst of a cornered animal. In a blink of an eye, she was about to escape the range of the Luofu Celestial Ark.

“Ha… haha…”

A sense of relief at having escaped death surged in her fading consciousness.

I escaped! As long as I leave here, one day I will—

The next moment.

The black sword qi caught up.

It didn’t just hit her. It struck a black line on her true, ethereal body.

“Ah ah ah ah!”

The spectral blue flames were split in two, emitting a silent, conceptual scream in the universe.

And in this instant.

Somewhere in the deep, dark universe.

A certain unspeakable, mighty existence opened its eyes.

That was Nanook, the embodiment of destruction.

It cast an indifferent gaze, traversing the star sea, sweeping across the sky above the Luofu Celestial Ark.

Everyone, even in their unconscious state, felt that pressure.

As if being stared at by an abyss.

But this gaze merely flashed by, then disappeared without a trace.

“Why…”

Phantylia’s consciousness was dissipating.

“Why did I fail…”

“Clearly… clearly I prepared for so long…”

“If only I had known… I would have let that arrogant fool, Zephyro, come…”

Her last thought flashed by.

The spectral blue flames completely extinguished.

Lord Ravager Phantylia, fallen.

However, the crisis was not yet over.

The Great Stellaron, having lost its master, began to pulsate unstably.

The concentrated power of one hundred Stellarons, now uncontrolled, threatened to detonate, causing an even greater disaster!

The entire Luofu Celestial Ark trembled violently!

Orion took a step, arriving before the Great Stellaron.

He reached out and placed his hand on its chaotic, pulsating core.

He glanced at the still-unconscious crowd behind him—Stelle, March, Welt, Jing Yuan…

Then he looked at the Stellaron, a somewhat crazed, triumphant smile appearing on his face.

“Stellaron…”

“I finally have you.”

For this Stellaron, he had gone through so much trouble, and even dealt with a Lord Ravager…

But the result was good.

He reached out to take the Stellaron.

Strangely, the Great Stellaron did not resist.

Instead, it became docile in Orion’s hand, completely lacking the ferocity it had when Phantylia held it.

The violent Great Stellaron instantly quieted down.

All its destructive power, the essence of a hundred “Cancers of All Worlds,” surged into Orion’s body like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.

Finally, it completely merged into his body.

【Ding!】

【Obtained: Great Stellaron × 1】

【Do you want to upgrade the entry “Lord Ravager”?】

【After upgrading, the Host will ascend to Emanator of Destruction】

“Confirm.”

Instantly!

A terrifying, unimaginable destructive power erupted from Orion’s body!

Black-purple flames shot into the sky, engulfing the entire Scalegorge Waterscape!

This was a power on par with an Aeon.

At the same time.

Nanook’s gaze was cast again.

This time, in those vast, golden eyes, there was a trace of unprecedented surprise.

But it was only a fleeting moment.

… …

In the white desert, the meeting place of the Lord Ravagers.

Space suddenly rippled.

Zephyro’s projection, a being of pure white flame, suddenly appeared.

“This power…”

“Phantylia? Hmph, that woman finally accomplished something? She finally led that brat onto the path of destruction?”

Before he finished speaking, Celenova’s projection also emerged.

“Something’s not right.”

“Although there’s a new Lord Ravager, but…”

Zephyro’s white flames suddenly contracted, as if sensing something:

“Wait!”

“Phantylia’s aura… has disappeared!”

“She… died!”

“What?!”

Even Celenova could not maintain her composure at this moment.

Phantylia… died?

Although that woman’s actions were flamboyant and arrogant, her strength was undeniable; she was considered an outstanding one among them.

“She died? Then this newly promoted Lord Ravager…”

The two Lord Ravagers fell silent simultaneously.

An absurd yet singular answer was already on the tip of their tongues.

“Orion…”

“He killed Phantylia… and then ascended to Lord Ravager himself?!”

“How the hell is that possible!”

Zephyro’s white flames suddenly intensified. “Wasn’t he already an Emanator of ‘Elation’?”

“And Phantylia, that idiot! She was actually killed by him…”

“First Asat Pramad, now Phantylia… this guy named Orion has already slaughtered two of our colleagues!”

Celenova also remained silent for a long time before allowing her emotions to calm down.

“It seems the Aeon of Finality’s choice… was correct.”

“This new colleague… Orion… is far more special than we imagined.”

“Special?” Zephyro let out a cold laugh. “What kind of colleague is he? He’s a traitor to our very Path!”

“Zephyro.”

Celenova’s voice became a little heavier:

“You must remember, no matter the process, he is now also a Lord Ravager.”

“Ha!” Zephyro scoffed. “Him? A primitive man who just emerged from a low-level, backwater civilization?”

“Don’t forget, it was he who just erased Asat Pramad and Phantylia’s titles from among us,” Celenova reminded.

Zephyro’s flames choked for a moment, then receded slightly.

“So what do you plan to do?” he asked, “Since he is already a ‘Lord Ravager’, shouldn’t we officially welcome him and let him know our rules?”

“According to custom, yes.”

Celenova pondered, “But… circumstances have changed.”

“What?”

“He is not an ordinary Lord Ravager.”

“He is a Trailblazer, standing on the opposite side of us… we must be cautious.”

“You mean he might be hostile towards us?” Zephyro asked.

Celenova nodded, “Both Asat Pramad and Phantylia went to welcome him at the behest of the Aeon of Finality, and both became sacrifices for his ascension.”

“This indicates that he might harbor great hostility towards us, towards ‘Destruction’ itself.”

“A Lord Ravager who is hostile to Destruction?”

Zephyro laughed. “While interesting, it’s… very troublesome.”

“How about I go and clean him up?”

“Don’t be impulsive, Zephyro.”

Celenova said, “We need to first clarify his stance. Does he want to embrace Destruction, or… does he have other motives?”

Zephyro snorted coldly: “What good ideas do you have?”

Celenova pondered for a moment: “I am currently leading the Legion of Plagues in battle against the Yaoqing Celestial Ark, preventing them from supporting the Luofu… Although Phantylia failed, I cannot extricate myself. Moreover, given the strength Orion has displayed, it would not be wise for me to rashly become his enemy.”

“So?”

“So, I want to ask you to go and meet him.”

Celenova looked at Zephyro. “If he genuinely wishes to join us, that would naturally be for the best. An existence capable of simultaneously wielding two Aeon paths… Elation and Destruction… would greatly benefit our great cause.”

“What if he doesn’t?” Zephyro’s voice turned cold.

Celenova glanced at him: “If he doesn’t… then we will follow the rules. The position of Lord Ravager cannot be desecrated.”

Zephyro: “I understand what to do.”

“I will ‘entertain’ this new colleague well.”

“Don’t worry, I will never be like those two useless ones, Asat Pramad and Phantylia.”

“Asat Pramad was overconfident. Phantylia was arrogant… but their failures were ultimately just because they were too weak.”

Celenova nodded: “I trust your strength, Zephyro. But I must still remind you, never underestimate Orion.”

“Hmph, so what?”

“Before absolute destruction, all tricks are futile.”

“My white flames will burn him and his ridiculous arrogance to ashes.”

“If he’s sensible, he’ll obediently come over and become one of us.”

Zephyro’s projection began to dissipate.

“If he’s not sensible… then I’ll make him understand what a true Lord Ravager is.”

“I’m leaving it to you, Zephyro.”

Celenova finally instructed, “Remember, courtesy before force. The Aeon of Finality still expects him to join; don’t let the situation become completely unmanageable.”

“I know.”

Zephyro only left an echo.

“Next time we meet, either there will be a true colleague…”

“Or this universe will have one less Lord Ravager.”

Celenova stood alone in the white sand, looking in the direction from which the new destructive power emanated.

“Orion…”

“Why is the Aeon of Finality so fixated on you?”

“I hope Zephyro, this time… doesn’t disappoint It again.”

Subsequently, her projection also disappeared into the vast white sand.

… …

Scalegorge Waterscape.

Jing Yuan, Dan Heng, Welt, and the others gradually got up from the ground, looking around in a daze.

“What happened?” March 7th rubbed her head, “Why do I feel like I had a very long, very weird dream…”

Stelle also shook her head: “Yeah, just now…”

Their gazes all fell upon Orion.

At this moment, black-purple flames still lingered on Orion’s body, his aura immense and terrifying.

“Orion?” Welt asked, his voice cautious. “What… happened?”

Stelle: “Where’s Phantylia? Where did she go?”

“No, now that you mention it, I remember!” March 7th startled herself. “Where did Phantylia go? She wouldn’t be… hiding somewhere waiting to sneak attack us, would she?!”

Orion turned around, the black-purple flames retracting into his body, and smiled:

“It’s fine, don’t worry. Everything is resolved.”

“Resolved?” Jing Yuan was stunned for a moment. “You mean…”

He looked around, suddenly realizing something.

“Phantylia, she, could it be…”

“Dead,” Orion said.

… …

… …

… …

The entire scene fell silent again.

Dan Heng was the first to react: “You… dealt with Lord Ravager Phantylia?”

“Alone?”

Jing Yuan was somewhat shocked: “While we were… unconscious?”

Fu Xuan’s face was even paler: “That monster that merged with one hundred Stellarons… was dealt with by you…?”

After a moment of silence.

“WE WON?!”

March 7th and Stelle exclaimed simultaneously.

“As expected of Orion!”

“I knew it! I knew Orion was the best!”

Stelle even rushed up and gave Orion a bear hug: “Good brother! You saved everyone again!”

Welt looked at Orion: “It seems I underestimated your strength once again.”

Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan exchanged glances, both seeing absolute shock in each other’s eyes.

One person, in the short time they were unconscious, dealt with a Lord Ravager who had merged with the Great Stellaron…

This strength was… terrifying!

It was beyond the scope of an Arbiter-General.

While everyone was still in shock.

Orion’s gaze bypassed everyone and landed directly on a petite figure.

Fu Xuan was standing there blankly, her small face pale, her lips slightly parted.

Orion smiled and slowly walked towards her.

With each step, Fu Xuan’s face grew paler.

Until Orion stood before her, looking down at her.

“Master Diviner.”

“You remember our bet, don’t you?”

Fu Xuan’s small face instantly turned from white to red.

“I… I…”

Orion continued: “Master Diviner, shouldn’t you prepare to learn how to brew a cup of tea that satisfies me?”

“Remember, I don’t like my tea too hot.”

Fu Xuan: “!!!”

Her small face flushed, her mind racing, trying to find any point to turn the tables.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, as if she had grasped a lifeline.

“Wait!”

Fu Xuan suddenly looked up.

“Where’s the Stellaron?”

“Our bet was, whoever sealed the Stellaron won.”

“It’s true you defeated Phantylia, but where is the Stellaron? Have you sealed it?”

At this point, Fu Xuan became self-assured.

“If the Stellaron is gone, then it doesn’t count as you winning!”

“Oh, right!” March 7th also reacted. “Where’s the Stellaron? Where did that Great Stellaron go?”

Stelle also looked around: “It was so big just now, why is it gone now?”

Jing Yuan and Dan Heng also showed confused expressions.

Indeed, although Phantylia was eliminated, the Great Stellaron, formed by the fusion of one hundred Stellarons, seemed to have vanished without a trace.

Orion looked at Fu Xuan’s triumphant expression, feeling a bit amused.

Stellaron?

He looked down at his own body.

That Great Stellaron had long been merged into his body.

If he were to hand it over now, wouldn’t that be a huge loss?

That was a full one hundred Stellarons!

‘System.’

Orion asked in his mind.

‘Phantylia made this Great Stellaron sound so powerful… so, can this Great Stellaron count as one hundred ordinary Stellarons?’

The system immediately replied:

【Stellaron energy will be lost during the extraction and fusion process, and further consumed by Phantylia’s use. Currently, the power of this Great Stellaron is approximately equivalent to fifty ordinary Stellarons.】

Fifty?

Orion’s heart stirred.

That’s enough!

One had to know how much effort he had put in before just to get one Stellaron.

Now he suddenly had fifty Stellarons; it was a huge profit.

‘Can I separate out one ordinary Stellaron to hand over?’

【Yes. The Host can separate out one ordinary Stellaron.】

Very good.

Orion’s mind moved.

Immediately, he pulled something out from behind his back with his right hand.

No… he simply reached into the air, and an object materialized in his grasp.

It was a Stellaron.

An extremely stable, perfectly contained, softly humming Stellaron.

“This is…”

Fu Xuan’s eyes widened.

Jing Yuan was also stunned: “Stellaron?”

Orion held it out.

“I believe this is what you were looking for.”