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

The next day, early in the morning.

Hiluva groggily woke up from the hard workbench, a tingling and numb feeling spreading through her neck and shoulders.

Last night, while assembling parts for the Golden Gundam, she couldn't resist the overwhelming drowsiness and fell asleep on the workbench, her head lolling to one side.

Morning light streamed through the bright glass windows, casting hazy patches of light on the floor.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes and found herself wearing an unfamiliar, wonderfully textured black men's jacket.

A faint, non-metallic scent lingered at the tip of my nose.

Then, her gaze fell on the center of the workbench—the pile of gold parts that had left her helpless and scattered all over the floor last night had now been perfectly reassembled into the golden Gundam model that shone brightly in the morning light!

It stood there quietly, its joints perfectly aligned, as if it had never fallen apart.

Lin Lin?

Hiluva subconsciously looked around—the machine room was quiet.

The man whose words and actions were somewhat unpredictable had disappeared without a trace.

Besides the coat that still retains body heat, there's the miraculously restored model before my eyes.

He took nothing with him and asked for nothing in return, as if last night's visit was just a dream.

Looking at the golden Gundam, Shiluwa felt a surge of intense curiosity and doubt.

She checked again to make sure no one was in the room, then, like a thief, took the Gundam model to the light by the window.

I hesitated for a moment.

Finally, unable to resist, he opened his mouth and gently bit a small, inconspicuous connector on the Gundam's leg with his front teeth.

"Click..."

A shallow, clear tooth mark appeared on the golden surface without any obstruction.

Hiluva's eyes widened instantly.

Real gold!

Moreover, it is gold of excellent quality and high purity!

She would never mistake that unique softness and the mark it left behind.

What gold-plated model... That guy named Lin Lin is just lying to her!

This thing is a work of art made entirely of pure gold!

So, what about that inexplicable fall apart earlier, and this morning's abrupt departure, leaving behind a perfectly intact model and coat...?

Many things immediately seem strange.

Who is he?

What is the purpose?

Why leave such valuable things here?

Is it just so that... I can spend more time with her?

Hilva held the heavy Gundam, her brows furrowed, her blond hair hanging messily over her shoulders, and her blue eyes filled with doubt and contemplation.

This visitor from outer space, like a gust of wind carrying mysteries, blew into her orderly life.

Just then, at another corner of the worktable.

The egg with the purple lightning pattern suddenly trembled very slightly!

Once, twice...

At an angle completely unnoticed by Hiluva, a crack, smaller than a hair, quietly appeared at the top of the eggshell.

Meanwhile, on the street.

A burst of chaotic noise broke the silence of the early morning.

"Hehehe—!" March 7's voice echoed outside the rift.

……

Half a day later, deep in the permafrost of Yalilo VI.

Pillars of Creation.

This place was once the experimental site of Yalilo VI, but now only crumbling stone pillars and ruins buried by ice and snow remain.

The air was filled with dense rift energy.

In the center of the ruins.

Standing like a silent, metallic mountain is a mechanical creation—the Creation Engine.

Its sheer size is awe-inspiring; its mottled, rusted metal shell appears a dark gray-black under the bleak light, with parts of its structure buried deep beneath ice and rock.

Lin Lin, dressed in a white short-sleeved T-shirt and surrounded by fine golden dust to insulate himself from the cold, appeared in this desolate ruin.

It took him some effort to find this hidden coordinate deep in the snowfield.

He then deployed the high-tech camera to begin his daily work.

She nimbly leaped into the air and landed on the broad yet cold shoulder armor of the Creation Engine.

Beneath my feet lies metal bearing the marks of time.

Lin Lin strolled along it and soon found some kind of data interface in an area that appeared to be a control center.

He extended his finger, the tip gleaming with a soft golden light, and gently pressed it against the interface.

The golden light seeped into the intricate patterns as if it were alive, and began to try to read the data fragments within.

Soon, fragments of the records of the first generation of Great Guardians appeared in Lin Lin's consciousness, consisting of intermittent text and blurry images:

"What we need is not just weapons, but... possibilities."

"...The rift is a wound that devours everything, but we can't just think about...blocking it."

"If the storm cannot be calmed, then build a mountain to change the direction of the wind. If a cold wave is destined to come, then ignite the 'fire' in the earth's core to warm the land."

"It will become an extension of our will, not destruction, but... a hope for rebirth."

"In the moment of final victory, it will be the only seed we leave for the future..."

"...The cost is enormous, but...for the sake of Bellberg, for the sake of survival, it must be so."

The record came to an abrupt end.

Lin Lin withdrew his finger and nodded slightly: "He is indeed a... very visionary, even somewhat tragic leader."

While waiting for the camera to complete its full scan, Lin Lin also thought about the preview live broadcast that would be taking place tonight.

There were no PVs (character trailers) or CGs (cutouts); he didn't even have time to tinker with those things.

Does the video of Silver Wolf playing games on the train count?

However, I do have gameplay demos of Seele and Silver Wolf in hand.

If I just hand over the ready-made manuscript to March, it should be enough to get by... right?

"What do you need a bicycle for!" Lin Lin said to himself with a rather unscrupulous tone.

As for the compensation...

His gaze swept across the planet, which was sealed off by both rifts and ice and snow.

Perhaps, after the major events on Yalilo VI are over, we can find a way to get internet access here.

This planet currently lacks even stable intraplanetary communication, let alone interstellar networks, and is essentially in an information island state.

As the first planet set foot on in the main storyline of Star Railway, how could it not have a way to see its appearance in the grand narrative?

He never lets anyone work for free.

Even just through a game, it is a faint but precious connection to the wider universe.

He found the idea quite feasible.

The scan then ended.

Lin Lin stood alone on the massive, silent shoulder of the Creation Engine.

At that moment, as he looked at the swirling snowflakes, a song came to mind.

I stood in the fierce wind.

Ask this world ♫

Who is the hero? ♫

......

The cold wind whipped up a flurry of snowflakes, causing his thin clothes to flutter.

Standing with his hands behind his back, he gazed at the distant horizon blurred by wind and snow.

Like a solitary traveler who sees into the past and the future, he contemplates the rise and fall of civilizations and the vicissitudes of fate in the heart of this forgotten land.

The system's cold, electronic voice rang out from the depths of his mind without warning:

[Are you kidding me?]

"puff--"

Lin Lin's composure crumbled instantly, his superior demeanor, which he had maintained for less than three seconds, completely collapsed, and his lips twitched.

He immediately placed his hands on his chest and spread them out.

The Nine Clans Separation Technique – Activated!

Immediately afterwards, a series of harmonious words characteristic of the internet were used to fully express his warm greetings to the system.

"Holy shit! ######!!!"

……

One day later, in the lower district of Beloborg, on the road leading to the territory of Schwarzlo.

The pioneering team, Seele and Bronya, rested for a moment on the spot.

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy at this moment.

Just then, March 7th, who was browsing information on her phone, suddenly exclaimed, attracting everyone's attention.

"Huh?! You want me to... start a live stream???"

She stared wide-eyed in disbelief, repeatedly checking the information on the screen.

Star, Danheng, Seele, and Bronya, who were standing nearby, all looked at her with puzzled expressions.

"What's wrong, March?" Xing asked, leaning closer.

On March 7th, he quickly showed his phone screen to his companions.

On the screen was her private message conversation with Lin Lin:

Honkai Impact 3rd official account: When it's convenient tonight, use your account to host a preview live stream! The main purpose is to let Seele make an appearance and raise players' expectations.

Zhao (camera): ? Me?

Bengbu official: Yes, just use your personal account. The company will add official verification to your account and feature it on the homepage.

Collapse Iron Official: [File: Live Stream Transcript.txt]

Honkai Impact 3rd official website: [File: Seele & Silver Wolf gameplay demo.mkv]

Zhao (camera): But... we're still in the lower level...

Collision Iron Official: The system assistant notified you that the other party has enabled Do Not Disturb mode and reminded you: Keep going, March! (I believe in you.jpg)

Zhao Camera: ...

Collision Iron Official: The system assistant notified you that the other party has enabled Do Not Disturb mode and reminded you: Keep going, March! (I believe in you.jpg)

The conversation ended abruptly there.

No matter how many messages I sent on March 7th, I only received the same automatic reply.

March 7th stomped her feet in anger, her pink hair practically standing on end: "Ugh! I'm so angry! This irresponsible boss! He just dumped everything on me!"

Regarding "Honkai Impact: Star Railway," the train crew has already given Seele and Bronya a brief explanation.

It can predict the future.

It is presented to players in the form of a game.

Although Seele and Bronya roughly understood the concepts of "prophecy" and "record," they still found it difficult to understand why a game was used as the medium.

A game that can predict the future?

Why turn serious fortune-telling into an entertainment product?

Xing couldn't help but complain, "Lin Lin is such a lazybones! He just knows how to bully my Sanyue!"

Seele crossed her arms, her brows furrowed, clearly displeased: "Why do I have to make this appearance? Do I look like the kind of person who would cooperate with something like this?"

March 7th hurriedly flipped through the previous records and added, "Ah! Lin Lin also said that in exchange, he promised to use his own methods in the final battle of Yalilo VI..."

"Uh—to do my bit. That's the exact phrase."

After a moment of contemplation, Dan Heng offered another perspective: "Perhaps this also presents this planet with an unprecedented opportunity."

An opportunity to get in touch with the universe before the dust settles.

Bronya's blue eyes lit up slightly upon hearing this.

As the next guardian who has received systematic governance education, she immediately realized the deeper meaning.

If Belloberg truly wants to escape his predicament, in the long run, he must reconnect with the stars—that's an indisputable fact.

Although the live broadcast platform provided by Lin Lin is strange in form, it may be an opportunity to bring Yalilo VI into the cosmic view under the current circumstances.

Introducing new variables might actually stir up this stagnant water and bring a glimmer of life to this dying planet.

"Seele..." Bronya looked at the straightforward girl beside her, who had a sharp tongue but a kind heart, her eyes filled with a hint of pleading and embarrassment.

She knew Seele's personality well; she hated trouble and being in the spotlight, but this matter seemed to concern the future of the entire Belleburg.

Bronya's hesitant, apologetic, and expectant gaze inexplicably irritated Seele, but strangely, she didn't dislike it.

She felt that the scene... was somewhat like an attempt to "sell" her out!

"Alright, alright! I promise, okay!" Seele turned her face away, her ears slightly red, her tone still stiff: "Don't look at me like that! I can't stand you!"

"Pfft!" Upon seeing this, March 7th immediately revealed a kind, aunt-like smile.

She nudged Xing's arm with her elbow and whispered gossip, "Hey, Xing, look! Isn't this progress a little too fast?"

"While we were away last night, did something 'special' happen between them? They were arguing just yesterday, and now... "

Xing shook her head, looking confused. "I don't know! I went out last night to find medical alcohol and bandages, and I didn't pay attention to their condition..."

"cough!"

"you……!"

Bronya and Seele spoke almost simultaneously, and both of their cheeks quickly flushed with a suspicious blush.

Seele immediately tried to explain in a panic: "N-what could be wrong! It's just... I just discovered that she's a little different from the pampered young ladies of the upper-class district that I imagined! That's all!"

Bronya lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting together, and whispered in agreement, "...Yes, Seele...is very reliable."

The scene fell into a subtle, bubbly silence.

Finally, the reliable Professor Danheng broke the awkward atmosphere: "Ahem! It's getting late. Schwarz's territory is just ahead. Let's continue. The truth... awaits us."

The group then composed themselves, stood up again, and headed toward their goal.

Later, in the heart of Swallow's territory, the group finally faced the "Guardian" of the lower district.

And from his logic-driven database, he learned the buried truth about the "Star Core," the "Cold Wave," the "First Great Guardian," and Swallow's own mission.

Bronya's worldview was shaken like never before.

It turns out that Belloberg's centuries-long dedication may have concealed a huge mistake and sacrifice...

She was so flustered that she could barely stand.

During this information-packed halftime break, a lighthearted and amusing incident also occurred.

The three members of the train crew carried those magical bullet gashapon capsules with them, but hadn't found a suitable opportunity to study them.

It has finally hatched!

After each egg cracked open, it revealed a small, adorable pet, an illustrated instruction manual, and a small stack (about a dozen) of magical cards with different designs.

Xing stared in astonishment at the little creature that had jumped out of the gray egg and was now wobbling in her palm.

It was a creature less than 20 centimeters tall, wearing a miniature star uniform, and holding a tiny black baseball bat...

Little Star!

Whether it's the seemingly blank yet lively eyes, or the slightly tilted head.

It still has that silly and cute look, it's practically a life-size miniature version of Hoshino herself!

From the blue egg on March 7th, a Teng Snake emerged, its body ice-blue, its scales crystalline, and its head adorned with two cute little bumps!

When it first came out, it startled March 7, but it quickly won her heart with its affectionate behavior of rubbing its cool little head against her palm and hissing softly.

"So cute! It's so cool and refreshing!" March 7th instantly fell in love with it.

The most outrageous thing to hatch from Danheng's blue egg was...

An Eastern Azure Dragon, only the length of an arm, with a body as blue as jade, four tiny claws on its belly, and two tender little horns on its head!

It has no wings, yet it can float freely in the air.

A faint blue mist swirled around it, its eyes were calm, but the way it occasionally swayed its tail still revealed a cuteness unique to cubs.

March 7th curiously picked up the stack of cards he had drawn and studied them.

The back of each card features a uniform six-pointed star emblem, while the front displays different designs and text descriptions.

1 point of magic power: Torrent Gun (Icons: a spiral water gun)

2 Mana Points: Blizzard (Illustration: Ice Crystals and Snowflake Storm)

2 points of Mana: Ice Armor (Icons: Armor covered in ice crystals)

3 points of Mana: Water Guardian (Icons: A shield of flowing water)

3 points of magic power: Blessing of the Ocean (Illustration: surging waves and a halo)

……

They can be broadly categorized as: attack type, defense type, attribute enhancement type, and special effect type.

The mana cost ranges from a minimum of 1 point to a maximum of...

She quickly flipped through the pages on March 7th, and the highest number she saw was 6.

"What are magic points? How do you use these cards?" March 7th was completely confused.

"Why don't you just look at the instructions?" Xing had recovered from her shock and was now shaking the beautifully bound booklet she had just found inside the eggshell with great interest.

She opened the instruction manual and quickly browsed through it:

Magic Bullet King: Simple Rulebook.

Magic Bullet Attributes: Six basic attributes: fire, wind, earth, water, light, and darkness.

Restraining relationships: Fire restrains Wind, Wind restrains Earth, Earth restrains Water, Water restrains Fire, and Light and Darkness restrain each other.

Counter effect: The countered side has its base defense value considered as 0 in that match.

Magic Energy Points: Determined by the synergy between the player and their own magic bullets, usually ranging from 1 to 6 points, used to activate magic energy cards.

Magic Energy Card Usage: Consume the corresponding Magic Energy Points to activate the card's effect.

Card effects are only valid for the current turn.

Attack and defense rules: ...

Victory conditions: Defeat the opponent's magic bullet, or reduce the opponent's health to zero.

Xing glanced through it and found that the rules weren't too complicated. The core concepts were attribute counters, mana point management, and card combinations.

She looked at the vast, flat area within Swallow's territory, a place seemingly made for battle.

Then look at the little star in your palm, waving a small baseball bat.

An irresistible urge to immediately start a match was like a raging fire.

Her gaze was fixed on March 7, who was still engrossed in studying the instruction manual and completely unaware of the impending "danger".

Hehe ~

I'm sorry, March!

"March!" Xing suddenly shouted, her eyes gleaming with eager anticipation. "Let's have a match!"

"Huh?!" March 7th was startled and looked up blankly.

Xing didn't give her a chance to react or refuse, quickly drawing a magic card from her deck and showing the back of the card.

"Open the domain!"

With her clear shout, a complex six-pointed star array about ten meters in diameter, with lines made of light, suddenly appeared on the ground, centered on her and March 7th!

The six points of the six-pointed star flash with light representing the six elements: fire, wind, water, earth, light, and darkness!

The huge glowing pattern that suddenly appeared on the ground immediately attracted the attention of everyone around.

Bronya, who was heartbroken over the truth, Seele, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, Natasha, who was examining the wounded, and Sambo, who had appeared out of nowhere, all turned their gazes toward them.

"What are you doing?" Seele asked, frowning.

Standing to the side, Dan Heng calmly explained, "It's similar to... a pet battle game based on rules and fantasy creatures."

"A pet?" Everyone looked at the miniature blue dragon next to Dan Heng, and then thought of their own unhatched egg, wondering what would emerge from it.

Ever since Xing got that magical gashapon machine.

She embodied the spirit that sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone, but in reality, it's "no fun without rivals."

He stuffed a magic bullet embryo into almost everyone he knew.

In her own words, "If nobody else has magic bullets, who am I supposed to play with?"

At this moment, everyone gathered around with great interest.

This unexpected and quirky "game" conveniently diluted the somber and oppressive atmosphere brought about by the revelation of the truth.

It also provided some relief for my tense nerves.

But March 7th, standing opposite the star, was a bit at a loss.

"W-How do I do this? I haven't finished reading the instructions yet!" She frantically flipped through the booklet in her hands.

Xing laughed and struck what he thought was a very cool pose: "It's simple! Just follow my instructions!"

Infected by her imposing (and somewhat childish) demeanor, March 7th hurriedly drew a card from her own stack.

Then, imitating Xing, he closed his eyes and shouted, "Open...open the domain!"

Another six-pointed star array of the same size lit up from beneath March 7's feet, rapidly extending forward and perfectly overlapping and superimposing with the star array beneath March 7's feet!

The two-layered star array shone brightly.

At the same time, a semi-transparent, visible energy shield rose from the edge of the star array, like an inverted bowl, enveloping Star and March 7 and their respective magic bullets, defining the battle area.

Battlefield setup complete!

As Xing opened her right hand, Little Xing, who was waving a small baseball bat beside her, instantly transformed into a black streak of light and flew into her palm.

It coalesced into a black magic bullet, about the size of a billiard ball, with star-shaped dark patterns on its surface.

"Watch closely, March! First step: Summon the magic missile!"

As Xing spoke, he threw the black magic bullet in his hand towards the six-pointed star array in the field with the standard posture of throwing a baseball!

The target is the corner where the dark attribute resides!

"Darkborn Star Child, Realm of Darkness!"

The magic bullet spun and tumbled in the air, drawing a... not-so-graceful parabola.

then,

"Smack!"

It landed on the water domain, which is adjacent to the dark attribute.

A small ripple of light appeared.

"Tsk! This is so hard! I aimed carefully before throwing!" Xing complained somewhat awkwardly.

Attribute throwing seems to require good teamwork and practice.

However, this does not affect the summoning.

The moment the magic bullet landed on the water field, the entire hexagram array suddenly lit up!

An invisible force rose from the ground and injected into the magic bullet!

"roar--!"

It was accompanied by a low growl that was completely out of character for its small size, but sounded like a baby's.

The black light surged!

A giant star creature wielding a black and white metal baseball bat, its body swirling with wisps of black energy.

They stood tall and proud in the realm of water!

Its eyes look fierce yet adorable.

"Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!!!"

At the same time, a semi-transparent status bar appeared above the stars and March 7th's field of vision (as if it were game UI):

Star - Health Points: 1500

Magic Bullet: Darkin Starling - Attack Power: 200

Attack power assessment explanation displayed simultaneously:

The magic bullet lands on its own attribute area, dealing 300 damage.

When it lands on an area where it is weak, its attack power is 100.

When it falls in other attribute areas, the attack power is 200.

Defense: Base 100.

The target has 0 defense.

Xing looked at his Darkin Star Baby standing in the wrong position, with only 200 base attack power. He was a little disappointed, but more excited.

She looked at March 7th, who was still looking bewildered, and urged:

"Your turn, March! Summon your magic bullets!"

A unique battle of magic bullets has officially begun in this underground world!

The audience's curiosity was completely piqued, and they temporarily forgot their troubles, focusing intently on waiting for the start of this "exhibition match".