Honkai Star Rail: Saving the World with a Mobile Game — Chapter 33

Chapter 33: A Gift Just For You

Having followed Gnaeus for a while, a genuine sense of camaraderie had already blossomed among the Astral Express crew.

Suddenly declaring him a necessary sacrifice left a bitter taste in their mouths. But to honor the pride of a true warrior, Guinaifen was already cracking her knuckles, ready to bestow upon him the highest glory of battle.

The roar faded. The radiant light of the greatsword plummeted from the heavens, piercing straight through Gnaeus’s chest. Overlapping shadows of the past and future intertwined as Dan Heng, Cloud-Piercer in hand, swept past Stelle in a blur of kinetic motion.

“They’re back!” Phainon’s voice echoed through the arena.

The three of them had been fighting for what felt like an eternity.

“Defeat me.” Gnaeus’s final words rumbled through the air, heavy with absolute resolve. “Give me a warrior’s fitting end!”

Standing before the group, Gnaeus was impaled by Nikador’s descending spear. His form dissolved into golden blood, merging completely with the chaotic strife of the battlefield.

Ethereal, haunting background music swelled through the speakers.

[Battle Start]

Nikador morphed. A colossal entity wielding a holy spear materialized, massive wings erupting from its back to project an overwhelming, suffocating pressure across the arena.

Having waited so long for the climax, Guinaifen grinned at the camera, her streamer persona in full force. “Finally, the real boss fight is here, family! Let’s slay a god with our own hands!”

The livestream chat scrolled at lightspeed, a chaotic blur of excitement for the very first boss fight since Honkai: Star Rail’s release.

Meanwhile, back in Okhema, the Chrysos Heirs were gathered around a screen, watching the broadcast unfold.

Mydei offered a relieved smile, crossing his arms as he spoke to Phainon beside him. “Gnaeus… he just came to spar with me a couple of days ago. I wonder what he’d think if he saw this scene.”

Phainon chuckled. “You can go ask him yourself later. Honestly, none of us got this kind of cinematic treatment. Who would have thought that in our partner’s story, he’d get his moment of glory so early?”

Watching a dramatized version of themselves through a screen felt entirely surreal. It was familiar, yet distinctly separate from their lived reality. A peculiar, yet deeply reassuring sensation.

Watching Gnaeus sacrifice himself like a tragic hero, Mydei began to wonder what his own grand entrance would look like in Ash’s script.

“Don’t make it sound like I’m in the same boat as you,” Mydei teased. “I’ve died countless times in this game, Deliverer. My moment of glory is definitely going to be way more imposing than yours.”

“Why are you starting to talk like an NPC?” Phainon sighed, though a competitive spark lit up his eyes. “Want to bet? In Ash’s script, I’m practically the leading man!”

“You’re on!”

While Mydei and Phainon bickered in the background, Ash was entirely focused on a small, trembling girl.

“Will it work?”

Aglaea leaned in close, her breathtakingly beautiful face tight with anxiety. Her gaze held a fragile, barely concealed plea as she looked at Ash.

Ash paused, then gently patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’ll work. Come on, don’t be afraid. Remember the game you played with Sister Aya? Just close your eyes and count down from thirty.”

He gave the little girl a reassuring hand signal. Swallowing her nerves, she nodded and squeezed her eyes shut.

Ash spread his hands. A pale, pure white energy flared to life, enveloping her small frame.

It was a simple theory. If the system could reverse the state of plants, it could likely do the same for people. To the game development system, physical states weren’t far off from raw data. He was directly rolling back her internal clock to a time before Kenisis had ruined her hearing and speech—restoring her to her most original, unblemished state.

Thirty seconds later, the light faded.

The little girl timidly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Aglaea biting her lip, leaning forward in desperate anticipation.

The girl blinked. The world suddenly felt sharp, clear, and vibrant. She opened her mouth, her vocal cords struggling to remember how to function. “Ah… A… A-ya…”

The words were clumsy, spoken syllable by syllable, but they shattered the silence.

“Sister… Aya.”

Aglaea’s eyes widened, a brilliant flash of overwhelming relief and joy washing over her features. She looked at Ash, her pupils trembling with deep gratitude.

Ash nodded, a satisfied smile touching his lips. “She can speak. Everything is functioning perfectly.”

“Ash, you’re a miracle worker! You’re basically a divine doctor!” Hyacine cheered, bouncing on her heels to share in the joy.

“Sir, that is truly astonishing. How did you manage such a feat?”

“Fascinating. If I didn’t lack the proper equipment, I would very much like to dissect this mysterious power of yours.”

“Such a potent ability… how can it not be used by this Emperor? Listen well, this Emperor appoints you as—no, orders you to—”

Hysilens blinked, entirely swept up in the momentum. “Uh, I have no objections!”

Surrounded by the excited Chrysos Heirs, Ash felt a warm sense of accomplishment, though the sudden worship was getting out of hand. He waved them off, silently begging them to stop the excessive praise. It was just a data experiment, after all.

When the commotion finally settled, the crowd unanimously parted.

Aglaea stood before him, holding an exquisite sandalwood gift box.

Ash stared at the box, blinking in confusion.

“Don’t be surprised,” Aglaea said softly, a tender smile gracing her lips. “I told you before that I was preparing a gift. I wanted to wait until you came to collect it yourself, but you’ve helped me with such a monumental favor again. I was afraid if I waited any longer, it wouldn’t be enough.”

Her tone was light, almost joking, but the sincerity in her eyes was absolute. “Please, open it.”

Ash finally remembered the special reward she had mentioned days ago. The other Chrysos Heirs exchanged knowing smiles. Even Mydei and Phainon stopped their arguing to watch.

Ash unlatched the box. A soft golden light spilled out, revealing a neatly folded garment.

It was a male-style coat, similar in cut to the Trailblazer’s iconic jacket, but heavily customized. Upon closer inspection, it was a masterpiece of Amphoreus aesthetics. The back featured the infinity symbol of Amphoreus, surrounded by complex, hand-woven motifs representing every single Chrysos Heir.

There were Aglaea’s golden leaves, Castorice’s bells, Cipher’s flipping coins, Hyacine’s little Yika, and Phainon’s signature colors, all woven together in perfect harmony.

Ash stood frozen, completely stunned.

Aglaea gently reached out. “This is the special gift I wanted to give you. During all these cycles serving as a leader, I cannot remember how long it has been since I last picked up a needle and thread.”

She looked down at the coat, then back up at him. “This is the first piece I have woven with my own hands since everything ended. It is just for you, representing me and all the Chrysos Heirs. Thank you for the salvation you brought to Amphoreus.”

Her smile was sweet and impossibly gentle. Stripped of her regal authority and splendid robes, she was simply a sincere maiden offering her heart’s work.

The sentimental atmosphere lasted exactly three seconds before Hyacine and the others ruined it.

“Quick, quick, Ash! Put it on! Let us see how it looks!”

“Exactly! None of us have ever received formal attire straight from the Golden Weaver!”

Cornered by the sudden mob of excited Heirs, Ash backed away, clutching the coat to his chest.

“Hey, back off! Don’t you dare tear my clothes off—!”