Honkai Star Rail: Saving the World with a Mobile Game — Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Setting Off to Find Herta, The Necessary Pain of This World

Initially, from the perspective of the children, the ruler of Amphoreus appeared entirely cold and merciless.

But one had to admit the truth.

Speaking purely of the game itself, the creator had woven an almost suffocating layer of realism into the narrative. Switching to Aglaea’s perspective allowed for a much deeper understanding of her character, gradually letting outsiders comprehend the heavy burden behind her actions.

With the apocalypse approaching, the ruler of Okhema had to consider the survival of her citizens from every conceivable angle.

Through the dialogue, it became apparent that factions within Okhema harbored impure motives, whispering of purges and Senate conspiracies.

Simultaneously, although Trinnon and Aglaea never explicitly stated it, Himeko could sense the hidden weight in their words.

The power of the Chrysos Heirs was not infinite. It functioned more like a treacherous loan.

Trianne only had two chances left to open the Gate of a Hundred Worlds. Mydei was cursed with a twisted immortality. Aglaea was slowly losing her very humanity.

If there was a price to be paid, and an extremely severe one at that…

Then, re-examining Aglaea’s methods, one could even argue she had been incredibly gentle towards Stelle and Dan Heng.

Just as Himeko was reflecting on the tragic lore of Amphoreus, Mr. Yang and Sunday walked over side by side.

“So, Mr. Yang, Sunday, did you find Ms. Robin?” Himeko asked, her voice calm but attentive.

Both men wore deeply troubled expressions.

Mr. Yang shook his head first, his tone grave. “Himeko, to make a long story short, Sunday first returned to Penacony, then searched everywhere else, even contacting Ms. Robin’s manager.”

“But unfortunately, Ms. Robin has canceled all her recent performances.”

Sunday spread his hands, a heavy shadow lingering in his eyes. “Robin is missing. The timing coincides perfectly with the number of days since the game went live, just as you two suspected.”

After grasping the full scope of the situation, even Himeko showed a rare flash of genuine surprise.

It was not just Robin. Even her manager could not be reached.

That elevated the severity of the problem entirely.

The trail had gone completely cold. To silently abduct a famous philanthropist and galactic superstar, along with her manager, and make them vanish into thin air…

All without causing a massive uproar across the cosmos.

Looking back now, that music video titled The Nameless One, heavily featuring themes of imprisonment and isolation… could it have been Robin desperately calling for help?

After careful consideration, Mr. Yang made his decision. “I think we cannot afford to sit idle any longer.”

“Correct,” Himeko agreed.

“Continuing like this will only leave us being led by the nose. Right now, Robin and Dan Heng are out of contact, March has fallen into a coma, and everything seems to be playing out exactly within the opponent’s expectations.”

“Therefore, I have decided to go with Sunday to visit Ms. Herta. If a Path of Erudition truly exists on Amphoreus, I believe we can use the external force of a Genius to break the opponent’s control.”

“At the very least, a active strike will certainly be unexpected enough.” Mr. Yang adjusted his glasses, his eyes narrowing with quiet resolve.

If the mastermind behind this incident truly possessed the ability to observe Amphoreus…

Then, by creating unexpected events and using external forces, they might be able to shatter this mystifying prophecy.

This external force, using Herta’s status as a Genius, was the absolute key.

As for Robin, Sunday was burning with anxiety, though his refined posture refused to let his desperation show.

Faced with Mr. Yang’s proposal, he agreed without a second of hesitation.

Himeko pondered the logistics for a moment and found no flaws. “Alright, you two go ahead. Pom-Pom and I will hold down the fort here on the Astral Express.”

“Ms. Black Swan is here as well, so do not worry about us.”

Mr. Yang and Sunday exchanged a brief glance of mutual understanding.

“Understood.”

Back in the digital realm, viewing the story from Aglaea’s perspective had revealed a wealth of hidden information.

Guinaifen was beginning to understand the golden ruler more and more.

But compared to her, the vast majority of players were not understanding. They were deeply puzzled.

What role exactly did Aglaea play on Amphoreus?

She was clearly an autocratic leader, daring to threaten, interrogate, and even sentence the Astral Express Crew based on mere speculation.

Yet, when facing provocations from other dangerous factions, despite possessing the overwhelming power of a Chrysos Heir and being fully capable of annihilating them on the spot, why did she swallow her pride and focus only on comforting Tribios?

It was difficult to parse, but a seed of doubt had been firmly planted in the community’s mind.

Then, the narrative finally returned to the protagonist’s perspective.

After collecting the three fragmented memories, Mem used her Backtracking ability to pull Stelle and Castorice through the currents of time, arriving in the Kremnos of the past.

Instantly, the screen shifted.

A massive, imposing sword hilt hung inverted beneath the high sky, piercing the clouds.

The magnificent holy city stood majestically, surrounded by various flying vehicles, creating a stunning, trans-era beauty that smoothly blended ancient mythological architecture with advanced modern elements.

[Another new map? Just how much content does this game have? So many new zones in a single version!]

[Stellar Jades! More treasure chests to loot!]

[So spectacular. Initially, I really thought this was just a simple turn-based game…]

[The creator is an absolute god!]

The entirely new city-state and map caused a massive stir in the chat.

Guinaifen watched with eager excitement, her eyes sparkling as she prepared to dive into the exploration phase.

To find a way to permanently kill Nikador, Stelle and Castorice first had to ascertain the exact era they had landed in. Midway through their search, they encountered a seasoned warrior named Gnaeus, participated in the vibrant Suspended Edge Festival, and explored deep into the inner city of Kremnos to investigate.

Traveling alongside Gnaeus, more and more dark mysteries came to light.

Corpses littered the ground in a brutal display, forming a tragic battlefield once used to curb Nikador’s overwhelming madness.

Relying on Castorice’s unique ability to recall the memories of the deceased, the group finally uncovered the horrifying truth behind Nikador’s attack on Okhema and its twisted immortality.

The mad old king had attempted to forcibly strip Nikador of its divinity. Courage, Glory, Tenacity, and Sacrifice were preserved in the process, but the only thing lacking was Reason.

Only by piecing together all the fragmented divine aspects could one gain a single, fleeting chance to slay the god.

After absorbing all this heavy lore, Guinaifen suddenly understood the earlier plot threads regarding Mydei. “No wonder! Mydei’s father is really something else, huh?”

“No wonder Mydei took his people to seek refuge in Okhema. Turns out his father went completely insane trying to usurp divine authority.”

The chat window was uniformly flooded with messages reading ‘Lil Gui has actually gotten smarter’, expressing widespread agreement.

Next came the puzzle of the four giant swords.

The process was not overly difficult. After Guinaifen successfully restored Courage, Glory, Tenacity, and Sacrifice to their rightful places, only the final aspect, Reason, remained missing.

At that exact moment, Gnaeus stepped forward, his gaze distant as he began recounting a bitter past.

“At some unknown time, the black tide was born beyond the distant horizon. It slowly approached the borders of Amphoreus, and Nikador was the first Titan to come into contact with it.”

“In the ensuing struggle, it fought against the black tide with sheer will, but ultimately, it was defeated.”

“Before its divinity was completely corrupted by the darkness, it stripped away a part of itself…”

“Reason.”

When the group looked back, all the corpses that had previously been lying motionless across the battlefield had suddenly transformed, taking on the exact likeness of Gnaeus.

Instantly, a chilling realization washed over everyone.

[Wait, so Gnaeus is the literal embodiment of strife’s Reason?!]

[Countless attempts, endless failures, and constant death… strife was actually a respectable being before it went mad.]

[Hold on, if they want to kill strife, wouldn’t he also have to…]

[Castorice’s words… ‘Even for a future you cannot witness yourself, are you willing to sacrifice?’… Husky, you… this is actually making me tear up.]

[Whoever came up with the Husky nickname for her must own a real chaotic doggo at home to ruin this sad moment.]

[Is it because all things must ultimately be lost that journeys are great and epics magnificent? Is this your true will, Nikador?]

[I, the Galactic Baseballer, will personally grant you the end you desire!]

Gnaeus had already made his resolve abundantly clear.

“I… representing all Chrysos Heirs, grant your request.”

Reluctantly, her voice heavy with sorrow, Castorice accepted his resolve to march toward his own death.

At the very end of the story, Gnaeus seemed to draw upon every last ounce of his strength, letting out a heaven-shaking roar.

It was as if he were proclaiming his existence to the entire universe.

“I am the Scourge-Spear, Nikador—the herald of chaotic times, the incarnation of strife!”

“Remember—I am the necessary scar of this world!”