Honkai Star Rail: Saving the World with a Mobile Game — Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Storm the Tree! Storm the Tree!

It was as if IX had descended upon the galaxy.

Everything dissolved into absolute nothingness in an instant. If the previous sequence of events or the cryptic dialogue had been mere speculation, the truth was now laid bare. As the scene finally registered in their eyes, countless minds stalled. All that remained was the purest, unadulterated shock.

Guinaifen slapped both hands over her mouth, completely forgetting the controller resting on her lap.

Aboard the Astral Express, Himeko and Welt exchanged a heavy glance. Welt was the first to break the silence, letting out a long, measured exhale. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his expression a complex blend of gravity, deep contemplation, and lingering astonishment.

Having personally crossed paths with Firefly in Penacony, they already knew her true identity. There was no room for doubt.

“Miss Firefly is the Stellaron Hunter, Sam.”

Himeko watched Welt, and the older man offered a slow, affirming nod.

Being the first to deduce that the game’s creator was not simply spinning fiction, the two trailblazers came to a chilling realization. If this mysterious Author knew the absolute secret of Firefly’s identity, then the Stellaron Hunter depicted on screen… was entirely real.

“I knew that child harbored many secrets, but I never expected something of this magnitude,” Himeko murmured, resting her chin gracefully against her hand.

Beside her, Welt’s brow furrowed in conflict. “I hesitate to draw conclusions without knowing this Author’s true identity. However, the way this information aligns with reality is far too eerie.”

The established order of their understanding had completely fractured. They had initially tuned in out of mild curiosity, wanting to see what this creator was plotting. Now, they realized the Author’s reach extended far beyond the borders of Amphoreus. He was almost certainly not a mere local. The sheer volume of classified knowledge he possessed eclipsed even the intelligence networks of the Astral Express, a faction that routinely handled top-tier cosmic conflicts.

While the Author had become infinitely more unfathomable, the list of entities capable of such a feat had drastically narrowed. That was their only silver lining.

The parlor car door slid open with a soft hiss. A familiar, elegant figure stepped through, his pace unusually hurried. It was Sunday.

“Apologies for disturbing you both again,” Sunday said, his tone maintaining its habitual aristocratic calm, though a faint edge of urgency bled through. “We have new information. It concerns my sister, Robin.”

Welt and Himeko turned toward him instantly, looking at the Halovian as if he had just delivered a lifeline.

[Incredible. This is absolute cinema…]

[Is the Dream of Order really not coming after me? The entire fusion sequence was flawless.]

[Wait, hold on. Are you seriously telling me that Sam—the most violent, brutal, and cold-blooded weapon among the Stellaron Hunters—is actually a young girl?!]

[Holy shit—!!!]

[The forums are exploding. The internet is completely broken. She is Sam?!]

[I told you guys this wasn’t a joke. I said back then that Sam was a mechanized armor requiring a human pilot, and you all called me delusional. Look who’s laughing now.]

[Is there anything crazier than this? I can’t even process this right now!]

[You’re telling me all those ruthless, domineering lines Sam shouted during those combat leaks were actually spoken by Firefly from inside the suit…]

[My god!]

Before anyone fully realized it, Ash’s game, titled ‘Honkai: Star Rail’, had utterly dominated the cosmic charts, crushing countless highly anticipated blockbuster releases. It achieved a rare milestone: millions of players logged in simultaneously across the universe. While a few million was a drop in the ocean on a galactic scale, it cemented an unshakable reputation.

Wild rumors began to spread like wildfire through the cosmos, reaching the Xianzhou Alliance, Penacony, the IPC, and numerous other major factions.

It was a truth too jarring for anyone to easily accept. Sam, the Stellaron Hunter boasting the second-highest bounty and unmatched raw combat power, was actually an innocent-looking, sweet-natured girl. The revelation was so explosive that people half-expected Aha to physically manifest in the real world.

If this turned out to be a hoax, the players were entirely convinced that the game’s Author would draw the Gaze of the Aeon of Elation on the spot and ascend to an Emanator, purely for having successfully trolled the entire galaxy.

Yet, in reality, Ash had indeed played the entire galaxy.

Deep within Amphoreus, in the Holy City of Okhema.

Ash stood on a high balcony, leaning casually against the cool marble railing as he gazed down at the sprawling territory below. The survivors of the war were deeply immersed in the feverish heat of reconstruction. They were rebuilding shattered homes, clearing the cobblestone streets, embracing one another, weeping tears of relief, and eagerly discussing the arrival of a distant, brighter tomorrow.

Perhaps that tomorrow was not so far away.

Aside from the lingering remnants of the Iron Tomb still twitching in the fringes of this virtual world, and the receding black tide, Okhema remained at peace.

Down in the courtyards, Phainon was sparring fiercely with Mydei. Both were drenched in sweat, their faces split by wide, competitive grins, ready to march out of the city gates at a moment’s notice to hunt down the mechanical remnants and settle who was the superior warrior.

Hyacine walked closely beside Anaxa, clutching a heavy tome to her chest. The two were deep in conversation about visiting the grand library to gather materials for their latest research, laying the groundwork to one day reach the stars.

Agy had originally planned to open a boutique tailor shop, but with the crisis not entirely eradicated, she had put the grand opening on hold. still, she had already secured a prime location in partnership with Tribios’s company. Ash had no doubt her future designs would take the galaxy by storm.

Cipher found herself hopelessly tethered to Aglaea’s side. Watching the girl’s frustrated, futile attempts to sneak away always managed to draw a quiet chuckle from Tribios.

Elsewhere, Keluida stood with Hysilens, pointing boldly at the open sky beyond the city walls. She was likely making grand declarations about conquering new lands once they finally left, perhaps even promising to gift Hysilens a vast territory of his own.

And then, of course, there was Castorice. Ash had taught her the art of writing, encouraging her to craft a story with a flawless, perfect ending. Despite her usual introversion, Castorice had accepted the challenge with surprising, radiant confidence.

Finally, Ash drew his gaze away from the bustling city and turned back to the room, his eyes settling on Cyrene.

One second passed. Then two. He simply stood there, quietly watching her sleep.

Her breathing was soft and even, completely isolated from the noise of the outside world. No one would ever be able to wake her. Perhaps the dream she wandered was simply too sweet. Just as she had once said—in the dream, ‘we’ will never be apart. So she chose not to wake up.

“Actually, I traveled to a future a long, long time from now,” Ash murmured, his voice barely a whisper in the quiet room. “I experienced all sorts of adventures. And finally, I have the chance to tell you the truth of this world.”

He stepped closer, the starlight catching the edge of his silhouette. “But don’t worry. This time, everything will change because of you.”

Under the vast, indifferent canopy of the stars, Ash made his confession.

“I fooled the Astral Express. I fooled the Stellaron Hunters. I fooled the Xianzhou, the IPC, the Genius Society…” He paused, his gaze never leaving her peaceful face. “I fooled the Aeons and the very Rules that govern Them, all just to give you the tomorrow you never had.”

She was the only one left without a tomorrow. Her tomorrow was forever trapped in yesterday.

Within this fictional iteration of Amphoreus, Ash understood the weight of every word she had ever spoken.

But at that exact moment, a crisp chime echoed in his mind. He knew that this time, the outcome would truly be different.

“Is that enough?”

[Please purchase the abilities, resources, and other items you need from the randomly refreshed Event Shop…]

[Note: Spending Cosmic Shards allows for a refresh.]

[Ability 1]

[The Brain of a Genius: Grants you an intellect comparable to a Genius Society member, allowing you to step onto the Path of Erudition and eventually ascend to an Emanator of Erudition upon completing specific achievements.]

[Ability 2]

[Authority of Abundance: Grants one use of the authority possessed by the Aeon Yaoshi, bestowing the gift of immortality upon any organic lifeform.]

[Ability 3]

[Random Path: Randomly master a Path that you desire most in the depths of your heart. It may be an existing Path, a weak one, a powerful one, one that has long since fallen, or… one that does not yet exist.]