"Regarding the Matter of 5-Star Wende Entering the Standard Banner: An Emergency Meeting"
In the livestream, Sister Guoguo sat before her computer desk, her arms crossed, the round glasses on her face reflecting a wise light.
"Today, we are gathered here to discuss the matter of Wende entering the standard banner pool."
Unfolding her arms, Sister Guoguo spoke with utmost seriousness to the various content creators joining her video conference.
"Sigh..."
Dogzi's brow was furrowed with worry. Was it... her destiny to never get a taste?
"What're we gonna do? This 5-star Wende is too overpowered! We can't just all-in on the standard banner, can we?!"
Antarctic Bear leads Arctic Goose held his head in his hands, looking completely broken.
"Waaaah, my Yifu and my Kafka... are destined to never be together..."
"Though I may not be wealthy, I am willing to spend ten thousand credits to all-in for Wende!"
The rich and imposing Marshmallow slammed his fist on the table. With his luck, maybe he'd lose the 50/50 on Blade's banner and get Wende instead!
"Sigh... what if... you don't get him?"
Sister Guoguo said quietly. This was Wende they were talking about. This was Yifu! The legendary character who, upon being pulled, was rumored to let you clear the entirety of Star Rail!
The true god of the version, who was top-tier in both aesthetics and strength!
"I have to say, miHoYo, for using Wende's entry into the standard banner to bait people into spending... you are truly disgusting, ahhhhh!" Sister Guoguo roared, going feral.
"Yeah, and you have to factor in Wende's signature Light Cone, too. Although it hasn't been revealed yet... it's definitely going into the standard pool as well," Dogzi said, his face a mask of despair.
It's no good... I'll... I'll never be able to pull him!
"Sigh, I'll just go for Blade. If I secure Blade, maybe I can still secure Momma Kafka. If I have to chase Wende... forget it, young man," Antarctic Bear leads Arctic Goose said, speechless and teary-eyed.
"No! I... I must get Wende, I swear it!"
It's Luoluo not Luoluo, who hadn't been seen in a while, slammed his desk and shouted, before clutching his hand and collapsing off-screen.
"Sigh..."
"Sigh..." xN
This strategy meeting for Operation: Wende was declared a failure. No one dared to boast that they could get a 6+5 Wende. Their assets were not sufficient for such extravagance...
At this moment, some whales with deep pockets had already prepared a hefty "bride price" for Wende, waiting for the moment they could dump a colossal sum into the banner to "forcefully marry" the 5-star Wende.
In the comment section of the content creator Yue Ma, people were all asking where they should stand to pull for 5-star Wende. A helpless Yue Ma could only state on her stream that they would have to wait for the Version 1.2 update.
---o---
"Give him one banner, and he can throw the entire player base into sleepless nights. The Version 1.2 that countless people once eagerly awaited, because of his appearance, now brings with it a touch of apprehension upon returning home.
He was once so kind, so kind that everyone had a copy. Even without Eidolons, everyone regarded him as their own father.
But now, dressed in long robes, elegant and magnanimous, he is no longer the man he once was.
General MacArthur once said..."
The grand epic drama, The Legend of 5-Star Wende, is about to unfold!
For the free-to-play players, the appearance of 5-star Wende would only make them place even heavier expectations on every single pull. Every lost 50/50 was now a chance to get Yifu!
But for the meta players, Wende was like an unattainable celestial beauty. Like Isolde, whom the Ruined King could never reach; like the one card you need but can never seem to draw; like being one pull away from hard pity with no Stellar Jade left...
Wende... was truly a character that people both loved and hated... so utterly sinful, and yet so merciful...
Sigh...
How long had it been since the players had experienced such a joyous, yet complicated, feeling?
---o---
"Achoo!"
Wende, who was currently helping the two girls pick out clothes and preparing to act as a human clothes rack and walking wallet, suddenly sneezed.
"Look, look! How's this one?"
March twirled around, showing off a sky-blue princess dress she was wearing, striking various poses for Wende.
"Mm, it's good."
Wende nodded, giving his honest assessment.
"Um... is it... really okay for me to wear this?"
Stelle fidgeted, feeling the sensation of the stockings wrapped tightly around her legs. This was her first time wearing something like this...
Wende's eyes widened in pleasant surprise as he looked at Stelle, who was dressed in a gray maid outfit, complete with black stockings and small leather shoes. This was the first time he had seen Stelle in an outfit that so perfectly suited a young girl.
"By the way, aren't we here to buy Xianzhou-style clothes? Why are you guys buying these?" Wende asked March, a big question mark over his head.
"Mmm~ Because these dresses are all so cute! And as for the Xianzhou clothes..."
March scratched her head sheepishly. She had, in fact, bought three cheongsams: one gray and gold, one blue and white, and one rose red. The last one was for Himeko. That way, the three of them could match!
But hey... since Wende was paying, might as well buy a little more!
"Say... aren't you going to buy an outfit? You've been wearing that casual outfit for a long time now, haven't you?" March asked, gently pinching the fabric of Wende's shirt.
"Er..."
In the end, under the combined pressure of March and Stelle, Wende bought a Xianzhou-style suit.
However, the size seemed a bit small. He constantly felt a tightness across his chest.
After he changed into it and saw the mischievous looks on March's and Stelle's faces, especially Stelle's eager little hands, he decided it was probably unnecessary to wear this as a daily outfit.
Laden with large and small shopping bags slung over his shoulder, Wende watched the two girls ahead of him, holding hands and skipping happily. Although he felt a bit tired, he... felt that the nerves that had been frayed by the players were finally able to relax...
"Wuwuwawawa! My account!!"
Suddenly, a "phone ringtone" went off. Wende decisively placed the bags on the ground for a moment and looked at the incoming call on his phone. It was a communication from Welt, so he answered it.
"Hello? Uncle Welt?"
"Mm. General Jing Yuan said the route to the Alchemy Commission has been cleared. We can head there directly now."
"That's great. I'll tell March and Stelle right away."
"By the way... Dan Heng... he hasn't returned yet?"
"No..."
"Sigh... all we can do now is believe in him."
"Right."
Wende nodded, then hung up the phone with a complicated expression.
In the special program livestream, he had seen Dan Heng parting the sea, and the enemy they would have to face afterward...
Even if miHuyou was known for its PV bait-and-switches, the image of Dan Heng transformed into a dragon was not a lie.
So...
In the end, was he still just moving along the trajectory of the so-called "original story"?
"...Fate is irreversible..."
For some reason, the words his master had once spoken echoed in his ears.
"Fate... is it really irreversible?"