Honkai Star Rail: Summoning the Chrysos Heirs — Chapter 81

Chapter 81: The Joy of Reunion Is the Most Precious

“Alright, alright, let’s put the heavy topics aside for a moment.”

Having finalized their operational codenames, Cyrene clapped her hands together lightly, the crisp sound instantly breathing a more relaxed energy into the room. She leaned forward over the table, her signature diamond-shaped pupils catching the ambient light and sparkling with undisguised anticipation.

“I have one more very important thing to share with you all.”

With a casual wave of her hand, she tapped the empty space in front of her. A translucent, glowing interface materialized in the air, a screen she had been eagerly waiting to access for quite some time.

“And that is… we finally have enough Memory Traces to initiate a Character Recollection. Let us witness exactly which new companion will be joining our ranks today.”

As her playful voice faded into the quiet room, Cyrene turned her head, her gaze landing on Aglaea. The elegant woman was seated beside her, taking a slow, measured sip from an ornate porcelain teacup.

“Agy, from your current tactical perspective, which of our old friends are you looking forward to seeing the most?”

Aglaea’s slender fingers paused against the rim of her teacup. She did not offer an immediate reply. Instead, she lowered her gaze to the rippling surface of the tea, her mind clearly shifting into a state of deep, calculating thought.

After a brief silence, she lifted her head. Her striking golden eyes reflected a cool, unwavering rationality.

“As a fledgling organization finding its footing in this world, we are currently performing at an optimal level across three primary dimensions: intelligence gathering, frontal assault, and external diplomacy.”

Aglaea’s tone remained perfectly steady, carrying the weight of a seasoned commander.

“Our current operational shortcomings lie entirely in logistical support and high-mobility backup.”

With a graceful flick of her wrist, shimmering Golden Threads spilled from her fingertips. The ethereal strands wove themselves together in the air above the table, rapidly constructing several blurry, glowing humanoid silhouettes.

“Therefore, in my professional opinion, it would be the optimal outcome if our next arrival is either Cifera or the Saintess Tiricipios.”

She gestured toward the first silhouette, her pacing deliberate and unhurried.

“Cifera holds the authority of Lies. Her presence would greatly deepen the trust and the aura of mystery that Flamechaser currently commands in the eyes of the Special Anomaly Bureau. also, her god-speed possesses immense tactical value for rapid deployment.”

Her fingertip drifted elegantly toward the second glowing figure.

“As for my master, Tiricipios… with her deep ability to control the Gate of Hundred Worlds, she could lead us to travel instantaneously between distant coordinates. That alone would fundamentally revolutionize our entire mode of operation and exponentially increase our tactical flexibility.”

Aglaea paused to let the assessment sink in. The Golden Threads unraveled and dispersed like glowing dust, only to smoothly re-aggregate into three entirely new figures.

“Naturally, if it happens to be Mydeimos, Castorice, or Helectra, they would also serve as excellent additions to our vanguard.”

She cast a brief, sidelong glance at Phainon, who was currently staring blankly at the ceiling, completely spaced out. A fleeting trace of genuine concern softened Aglaea’s sharp golden eyes.

“After all, relying on Phainon alone to anchor the frontal battlefield concentrates our risk far too heavily. If a multi-point crisis were to erupt in the near future, he would inevitably be spread entirely too thin. Acquiring another powerhouse combatant to share that immense pressure would allow us to handle sudden emergencies with far greater ease.”

The Golden Threads shifted once more, converging into a single, delicate figure standing isolated before Aglaea.

“Hyacinth… as for her, she requires a separate discussion entirely.”

Staring at the woven projection, Aglaea murmured softly, her voice dropping a fraction.

“She is a physician by nature. Given that our overall strength has been restricted in this world, her direct combat capabilities would not be particularly strong.”

“For the time being, the methods and entities capable of genuinely injuring us in this realm are relatively scarce. Because of that, the immediate tactical advantage Hyacinth brings to our specific roster is not actually that significant.”

“However,” Aglaea’s tone shifted, taking on a broader perspective, “just because we do not require her healing does not mean the rest of this world shares that luxury.”

“If Hyacinth had been present during our recent incident, the number of critically injured civilians and agents would have been drastically reduced. That outcome would have been incredibly beneficial for shaping the Bureau’s long-term perception of our organization.”

“As for Cerydra and Anaxa…”

At the mere mention of those two names, the previously relaxed lines of Aglaea’s brow drew together in a slight frown. She shook her head slowly, a distinct note of caution bleeding into her refined voice.

“If it is either of them, our internal opinions might severely diverge. That kind of friction could have a detrimental impact on Flamechaser, especially while we are just starting to establish our foundation.”

A moment later, her expression smoothed out, returning to its usual flawless composure.

“Regardless of who steps through the gate, it is simply a matter of adjusting my response plans. It is by no means an unsolvable problem.”

Cyrene nodded continuously as she listened, her diamond eyes brimming with open admiration. As expected of Aglaea, her strategic considerations were as complete and flawless as ever.

With the tactical analysis concluded, Cyrene swiveled in her chair and cast her expectant gaze to the other side of the room.

“So, Phainon, what are your thoughts on the matter?”

Phainon, who had been leaning heavily against the back of his chair and staring off into the distance, blinked rapidly. He seemed startled by the sudden sound of his name, pulled abruptly from whatever distant memory he had been wandering through.

He raised a hand, awkwardly scratching his cheek, and offered a warm, incredibly gentle smile.

“I think… as long as it is one of our companions, no matter who comes through, it is a wonderful thing, right?”

“Hmm…”

Faced with such an overwhelmingly simple and pure-hearted answer, Cyrene found herself entirely at a loss for words.

But as she looked into Phainon’s clear, earnest eyes, she turned the thought over in her mind and realized he was absolutely right.

It was true.

For all of them, stranded and depending on each other in this strange, unfamiliar world, the so-called optimal tactical solution certainly held weight. But the raw, unfiltered joy of a reunion itself was the most precious thing they could ask for.

No matter who emerged from the depths of their shared past, as long as they could stand shoulder-to-shoulder once again, it was an event worth celebrating.

Weighing the pros and cons was the cold wisdom of survival, but welcoming every old friend with open arms and eager anticipation was the true joy of living.

A deep breath filled Cyrene’s lungs, her chest swelling with a deep warmth she could only identify as hope.

She turned her attention back to the glowing interface hovering in the air.

‘System, I want to perform a Character Recollection.’

She chanted the command silently in her mind and pressed her fingertip firmly against the confirmation prompt.

[Character Recollection Initiated…]

The very next second, the atmosphere shattered.

Within the originally calm, sterile confines of the data space, a violent energy storm erupted without warning. Brilliant, blinding starlight began to gather at a frantic pace, condensing into a massive, swirling nebula vortex suspended in mid-air. Its immense gravitational pull seemed to drag the very light from the room, threatening to swallow everything in its vicinity.

A heartbeat later, a dazzling pillar of golden light tore violently through the center of the nebula. It plummeted from the artificial sky with an unstoppable, catastrophic momentum.

Boom!

A deafening roar shook the foundation of the room as the golden light crashed heavily onto the floor just a few paces away. The entire data space trembled under the sheer kinetic force of the impact.

Then, the unexpected happened.

The originally sacred, pure golden light warped the moment it struck the ground. Without any warning, it violently shifted, transforming into a dazzling, aggressive crimson pillar. It burned with the intensity of beacon fire rising from a blood-soaked battlefield, casting long, harsh shadows across the room.

As the swirling dust and residual energy began to settle, the heavy, rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed outward.

Clack. Clack.

It was the distinct, unmistakable sound of metal combat boots striking the solid floor, each step carrying the immense, crushing weight of a titan.

A towering, burly figure slowly stepped out from the fading red light.

His thick, imposing armor was deeply scarred and covered in the brutal marks of countless wars. An powerful aura of iron, blood, and a hundred hard-fought battles instantly suffocated the space, pressing down on the air itself.

The towering newcomer ground to a halt, his sharp gaze sweeping over the three people standing before him.

“I am glad to meet you all again.”

He raised his massive right hand, clenched it into an iron fist, and struck his left chest in a heavy, formal salute. The impact produced a deep, muffled thud that echoed through the room.

“The Crown Prince of Xuanfeng City, and a former warrior of Okhema…”

“Mydeimos, reporting for duty.”