Create a game called "Collapse Iron," where the entire universe is the player.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Gui Naifen yawned and started her live stream as usual.

She rubbed her eyes and waved at the camera: "Good morning, everyone!"

However, the reaction from the comments section was much more enthusiastic than she had expected:

"What do you mean 'early'?! The official Honkai Impact 3rd team released a new PV! Go check it out!"

"Releasing a PV so early in the morning? What's going on? What's the content?"

"All I can say is... it's a huge pie in the sky!"

"I've watched it ten times already; you can't understand the details without at least ten years of experience!"

Seeing the barrage of urging and discussion, Gui Naifen snapped out of her daze and quickly opened the official account of "Honkai Impact: Star Railway".

The official account is currently quite "poor," with only one lonely video displayed in the latest posts section.

The video title is: "Interstellar Travel".

Gui Naifen couldn't wait to open the video.

I also glanced at the real-time viewership in the upper right corner.

The numbers were skyrocketing at a visible rate, clearly indicating that countless players, like her, who had just woken up or hadn't slept at all, were flocking in.

The barrage of comments exploded the moment the video started, filling the screen almost at the speed of light:

"Number One!" X 33333

"The young lady has arrived! Everyone get out of the way!"

"The first official PV, checking in to commemorate the occasion!" X 8888

"archeology!!!"

"666"

"Please buff Clara!"

"Please add more main storyline content! I'm begging you, boss!!!"

May this journey ultimately reach the stars.

……

The flood of comments from nearly 100 million viewers completely obscured the video feed.

Gui Naifen had no choice but to temporarily turn off the bullet comments in order to see the PV content clearly.

PV for "Interstellar Travel":

The opening scene features the iconic Star Train, which travels along the tracks like a silver arrow, with a slowly shifting deep space background outside the window.

The logo of Honkai Impact 3rd: Star Railway appears against a starry background.

Immediately afterwards, a stirring, hopeful yet somewhat fatalistic background music began to play.

In the shadows, Kafka gracefully stroked the tarot cards in her hand, a mysterious smile playing on her lips, like a fortune teller shuffling the deck.

The scene shifts, and Xingheqiong lies quietly asleep, awaiting the moment when he will be awakened by the star core within his body.

Then, Himeko appeared in front of the camera, holding a steaming cup of coffee and with a gentle and reliable smile.

"This story has nothing to do with the deliberate manipulation of fate—♫"

The scene shifts to Dan Heng, whose expression is cold and burdened by a heavy past, gazing alone at the falling leaves.

"——Arrangements♫"

Next up is March 7, who awakens from "Six Phases of Ice," holding a pink umbrella, but with indifferent eyes. She slowly raises her head and looks at the screen.

"After all, the destination is still far away and insignificant—♫"

The scene instantly shifts to Belleburg, shrouded in the cold winter.

The three main characters are running through the distinctive buildings in the upper town, with thick snow beneath their feet.

"—Like dust♫" (high note)

Then, the PV's tempo suddenly quickened, the music became tight and impactful, and a series of planetary scenes and silhouettes of people quickly switched before our eyes.

"The sound of a running heartbeat—♫"

Lingke, the youngest sister of the Landau family, runs alone in the silent, snow-covered forest, her eyes filled with determination.

"—Your expression in my memory♫"

The helmsman of the Sky Ship Company, with his dashing and heroic bearing, holds a slightly worn paper kite in his hand, his eyes gazing into the distance, filled with reminiscence of bygone years.

"Saying goodbye to the past, with a dialogue♫"

Jingliu stands silently against the backdrop of a giant full moon, his eyes covered; Luca sweats profusely in the boxing ring in the lower district; and Tingyun, a fox-woman girl with a sly smile on her lips.

"The train's trajectory will gradually reveal its secrets ♫"

In a moment of crisis, Dan Heng stared ahead with piercing eyes; the protagonist stretched out his arm, as if to grab something in front of him.

"But you said—♫"

Maple leaves fell like rain. The noble-looking Yin Yue Jun, with dragon horns on his head, quietly looked at the calm water. However, the reflection in the water showed a blade with crazy eyes and a dangerous aura.

"—The past is gone—♫"

Beneath the massive remains of the "Jianmu" tree on the Luofu Immortal Ship, a black deer exuding an aura of abundance appears, foreshadowing the impending crisis facing the ship.

"—Why hesitate?♫"

Also present are Hook, the leader of the "Mole Gang" from the lower district of Arillow, and Schwarz, the robot who protects Clara.

"The journey has been more fraught with danger than surprises—♫"

The battle scenes rapidly shifted to the accompaniment of rousing music: Seele transformed into a purple butterfly, flitting through the enemy ranks; Danheng summoned a giant water dragon; March 7th shot out ice arrows; and the young Cloud Cavalry Warrior Yanqing flew like rain on his sword... Each character unleashed a magnificent and unique skill, with dazzling light and shadow effects intertwined.

"—But the stars are within easy reach♫"

The scene shifts to the final battle of Arillo VI: the giant ancient robot "Creation Engine" slowly rises up, hovering in mid-air, radiating an icy chill as "Cocolia".

"Choose to overturn the ending before arriving—♫"

The scene shifts back to the Luofu Immortal Boat, where Jing Liu, against the backdrop of a full moon, flips and slashes down in mid-air with his blade, his posture as sharp as an immortal; this is followed by a full-force attack from the air.

"——Change it♫"

At the Black Tower Space Station, the Black Tower doll wielded a hammer that contrasted sharply with her petite figure, watching the Doomsday Beast in the sky with great interest.

"Treat planets as stopover stations along the way —♫"

Walter Young pushed up his glasses, staring intently at the enormous mechanical creation before him, his eyes revealing a deep interest.

"—To usher in a new era ♫"

At a crucial moment, Qiong awakened a new power, and the baseball bat in her hand suddenly burst into flames, transforming into a mighty flaming greatsword.

"Look! Even the smallest spark in your hand—♫"

The scene shifts, and Xing throws the flaming greatsword that has already taken shape forward, slicing through the sky.

"—And eventually—♫"

A beautiful purple butterfly, reborn from the ashes, its wings adorned with starlight, drifted down slowly and finally landed on Bronya's fingertip.

"—Light Up the Sea of ​​Stars♫"

A pair of fair, perfect "jade feet" gently stepped on the snow, leaving shallow footprints.

As the PV nears its end, the visuals become more expansive and fast-paced, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.

Fu Xuan closed his eyes and concentrated amidst the star charts and divination symbols, attempting to use the Qiong Guan Array to glimpse the trajectory of fate.

The protagonist confronts the star god "Destruction" Nanuk! A figure whose mere glance is enough to bring endless destruction.

Then the camera quickly pulls back and focuses on Kafka again.

She raised the card in her hand to her lips and gently kissed it. The card flipped over, clearly revealing the image of "Gemini," symbolizing the two protagonists chosen by fate.

Finally, all the visuals and music faded into silence, leaving a line of artistic text on the screen, as if it were a message to every "pioneer":

This journey is more fraught with danger than surprise, but the stars are within reach.

This concludes the PV.

Some of the characters appearing in the video are already familiar to players, while many others are completely unfamiliar faces, but each one is full of design sense and sparks the imagination.

This is really... a huge pie!

The moment the video ended, the comments section erupted in a frenzy:

"The Immortal Ship of Luofu! I see it! I knew it was coming!"

"Wow, this is a huge pie! It's completely overflowing! How much have you spoiled, official account?!"

"That giant robot! And that woman flying in the sky! Is she the final boss of Yalilo VI? She looks so cool!"

"Those I know on Ariello's side: Bronya, Hook, Clara, Schwarz... I don't know any of the other newcomers."

"From the Luofu Immortal Ship: Yan Qing! Sky-Driving Commander! Grand Diviner Fu Xuan! Miss Ting Yun... Wait! Why isn't General Jing Yuan here?!"

"Those few new characters who made a fleeting appearance: the girl with the purple butterfly, the blindfolded female swordsman, the mysterious man with dragon horns, the black-haired man wrapped in bandages—are these all characters that will be implemented later?"

"Did no one notice those 'jade feet' at the end? Even though it was only for a moment, they felt...so soft!"

"The God of Destruction!!! The protagonist will ultimately have to face the God of Destruction head-on???"

"After watching this PV, I can't stand this 1.0 version for even a second longer!"

……

On the Starry Sky Train.

After watching the PV, March 7th quietly moved next to Dan Heng, poked his arm with her finger, then pointed to the frozen image of "Yin Yue Jun" on the screen and whispered:

"Danheng...look at that back view, and that profile...it really looks like you!"

Dan Heng: "..."

March 7 blinked her big eyes: "Could it really be your long-lost brother? Dragon horns! Do you have any?"

Danheng has absolutely no desire to speak right now.

Especially when he saw the figure of "Blade", his temples throbbed with pain.

According to the PV, after resolving the problem of Yalilo VI, the next stop for the train is obviously Luofu Immortal Boat.

If I'm not mistaken, something major must have happened in Luofu...

Especially the giant deer in the picture, which is obviously a bountiful creature.

It would be a lie to say I'm not worried at all.

After all, that was his homeland.

only……

The crimson maple leaves are now a thing of the past.

Danheng's journey is on the train.

That was no longer the "hometown" he should, or could easily return to.

"Danheng!" Xing suddenly appeared from the side and patted him hard on the shoulder.

"What's wrong? Your face suddenly looks terrible!"

March 7th also joined in, looking concerned: "Yes, have you encountered any difficulties? Tell me, and Lin Lin will help you think of a solution!"

Lin Lin, who was suddenly called out, looked up: "..."

Am I Doraemon?

Silver Wolf, lounging in a beanbag chair and blowing bubblegum, casually remarked, "I know~ He must have seen some man he's been 'longing for' in the PV!"

man!

These two keywords instantly sparked the rich imagination of March 7th and Xing.

The expressions on their faces instantly changed from concern to shock, and then a strange mix of understanding, sympathy, and a sense of realization appeared.

Clearly, they misunderstood.

"Danheng! I didn't expect you..." Xing hesitated, then patted Danheng's shoulder heavily again, her eyes filled with regret, "We really can't help with this."

March 7th nodded vigorously, patting his chest: "But! We support you in spirit!"

Dan Heng felt a deep sense of powerlessness as he watched his two companions' obviously off-topic imaginations.

He then sighed and explained, "It's not what you think—it's just that seeing some familiar scenes reminded me of some past events."

March 7th and Xing asked in unison, tilting their heads, "The past?"

Dan Heng wanted to end the topic, so he turned and walked toward the think tank: "...I'll go organize the data on Yalilo VI."

March 7th and Xing were left standing there, looking at each other and exchanging glances: He really did have something on his mind!

……

Luofu Immortal Boat, Taibu Si (Grand Diviner).

Inside the spacious observation hall.

Fu Xuan frowned in thought as he stared at the enormous star map and divination screen in front of him.

The palace doors were pushed open.

General Jingyuan and his apprentice Yanqing entered one after the other.

"General, have you come here today because of the crisis of the Immortal Ship foreshadowed in that game video?" Fu Xuan asked in a cold voice without turning his head.

Jingyuan and Yanqing, who were just whispering outside the door about "Yanqing's swordsmanship is good" and "why didn't the general appear" in the PV, paused at the same time upon hearing this, and a look of surprise appeared on their faces.

Jing Yuan reacted extremely quickly, his smile remaining unchanged, subtly obscuring the game screen.

Yanqing followed suit and quickly hid her phone behind her back.

Fu Xuan could clearly see the subtle movements of the master and disciple through the reflection on the floor: "..."

The restlessness and anger that had arisen from the uncertainty of the future suddenly surged up again.

She turned around, her tone filled with displeasure: "General! A major event is likely to occur on the Immortal Ship in the future, affecting countless citizens. Are you aware of this?!"

Jing Yuan looked at the divination master in front of him, who seemed overly responsible and somewhat impatient.

He remained calm and composed: "Fu Qing, as the saying goes, 'When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it.' It would be unwise to lose our composure before a crisis even arrives. Besides, I'm quite at ease knowing you're here, Fu Qing."

Upon hearing this, Fu Xuan's eyes lit up slightly: "Oh? Does the General mean... that he has decided to abdicate now and hand over the position of General to me?"

The next second, her hope was extinguished by Jing Yuan's casual remark.

"Now...it's not the right time." Jing Yuan shook his head with a smile. "At least, I need to resolve some matters in Luofu before I can step down with peace of mind. Otherwise, wouldn't that put Fu Qing in an unjust position of 'taking over a mess'?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Xuan's chest heaved slightly. He crossed his arms, gave a cold snort, and turned his face away: "Then what brings the General to the Imperial Divination Office today?"

She was already thinking of seeing the guests off.

Talking to this general who speaks in riddles all day long is exhausting.

"actually......"

Jing Yuan finally toned down his joking around, took out his phone, and the screen lit up, revealing the game screen of Beng Tie.

"I came here, also for this game."

He looked at Fu Xuan, his eyes clear: "Fu Qing, have you ever used the Qiong Guan Array to try and peek into the origins of this 'game,' or... the future related to that Star Train?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Xuan remained silent for a moment.

This is precisely what troubles her the most.

Whether it's this game that appeared out of nowhere or the Star Train, it's all shrouded in a chaotic fog.

This was a situation she had never encountered since she took charge of the Qiongguan Formation.

Seeing the distress in Fu Xuan's eyes, Jing Yuan chuckled, "It seems that even Fu Qing has fallen into a blind spot."

"Does the general mean... there's nothing we can do but wait?" Fu Xuan found this conclusion hard to accept.

As a diviner who can foresee the future, passively waiting is not in line with her principles.

"Not so." Jing Yuan shook his head, walked to the star map, and gazed into the distance. "This is called 'responding to all changes with constancy.' Or to put it another way... since the future has been muddied by this game and is difficult to see through, why don't we go with the flow and observe the changes?"

"At the same time... perhaps this game will bring us unexpected answers." He waved his phone in his hand.

Fu Xuan looked at the Shence General in front of him, who always seemed to be in complete control, and sighed inwardly.

At present, this seems to be the best option when there is no other choice.

"...What the general says makes sense." Fu Xuan finally relented, tacitly agreeing with Jing Yuan's strategy. "Then we will follow the general's wishes, strengthen the defenses of all departments, and wait for... the 'variable' to arrive."

After Fu Xuan blasted the two people who wanted to use the Qiong Guan Formation to draw cards out of the Taibu Si, Fu Xuan...

She stood there alone, lost in thought for a long time.

The future is shrouded in mystery, and proactive observation has failed.

But the game itself seems to be a peculiar observation window.

Perhaps, we can gain a more dynamic understanding through other means...

Her gaze swept across the outside of the hall, then she suddenly raised her voice and shouted, "Azure Sparrow—!!!"

After a while, a series of slightly hurried, clattering footsteps came from afar.

"Coming! Coming! Your Excellency the Diviner, you wanted to see me... Oh dear!"

A girl with blue-streaked hair, dressed in a Taliban uniform, rushed in.

Because he wasn't looking where he was going, he tripped hard at the threshold, cried out in surprise, and fell to the ground.

Seeing this, Fu Xuan helplessly rubbed his forehead.

You idiot!

Expecting her to be reliable is even harder than expecting Jingyuan to retire voluntarily!

Qingque hissed as she scrambled to her feet, forcing a smile onto her face.

"Grand Diviner, what are your orders?"

Fu Xuan took out his phone and tapped the icon for "Honkai Impact: Star Railway".

He presented it directly to Qingque: "Do you know this game?"

When Qingque saw the familiar icons and interface, her expression changed instantly, and her heart skipped a beat.

It's over! It's over!

Did the old diviner find out I was slacking off at work by playing games?

Should their salaries be deducted?

Need to work overtime?

Or should I be sent to organize and compile old books on divination?

The two spoke at almost the same time.

Fu Xuan: "From now on, you will keep a close eye on the game's updates and content, especially anything related to the Luo Fu Immortal Ship..."

Qingque: "Grand Diviner! I know I was wrong! I shouldn't have sneaked around while on duty..."

"Um?"

The words came to an abrupt halt.

The two looked at each other, their faces filled with astonishment.

Fu Xuanxian snapped out of his daze and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Qingque, what were you trying to say just now?"

Qingque's mind raced, and she immediately changed her tune, plastering a fawning smile on her face: "I... I meant to say, Lord Taibu, I know you've been working tirelessly day and night for the future of the Immortal Ship, and it's been very tiring!"

"So...so I want to help you with some of the work! Yes! Help you with it!"

Fu Xuan stared at Qing Que suspiciously for a few seconds.

He quickly cast a divination in his mind.

That's it!

Fu Xuan sneered inwardly, but showed no sign of it on his face.

"Oh? It's rare to find someone like Qingque who has the heart to share her superior's burdens." Fu Xuan nodded, his tone calm yet leaving no room for argument.

"In that case, from today onwards, until this matter is resolved, you will accompany me to and from get off work."

"Help me 'share' the workload, especially... keep track of all information about this game and report it promptly."

After saying that, Fu Xuan didn't wait for Qing Que's reaction and turned to walk towards the inner hall, leaving behind only a crisp and decisive back view.

Qingque was completely dumbfounded and stood frozen in place.

"Huh???"

No!

This means that we can no longer sneak out to fight Emperor Yuan Qiongyu at any time.

You can't slack off at work.

Do I still have to stay by the side of the Grand Diviner?

This is practically hellish overtime!

My life of slacking off... is over!