Actually, compared to Qingque who suffered the pain of losing her Celestial Jade tiles, the one who suffered the most severe internal injuries was Stelle.
That child bore a burden far too heavy for her age, acting as the proxy operator for a game between mighty entities at zero distance. By the time the game ended, half her life had been stripped away.
Of course, Suke still had Meruru heal her back to full health.
As for Qingque, Suke realized he was still too kind-hearted; he couldn't stand seeing others crying and sniffling. Only after Tsukishiro Yuki used magic to recast the concept of Celestial Jade within the universe, and BB distorted reality to craft a set of "Moon Cell style combat-use Celestial Jade" for her, did the child finally stop crying.
In truth, there was no other way. According to Tsukishiro Yuki, recasting an existential concept is not something achieved overnight. It could take months, or even up to a year. Although the clash of three forces just now didn't look grand on the surface, it had shattered the concept of Celestial Jade at the fundamental level of the universe.
Even if it is just the essence of an object, essence is essence; repairing it is troublesome. This meant that for quite some time in the future, Qingque would have no fish to slack off with, and even if she burned up all her Skill Points, she would only draw blank tiles.
Therefore, to prevent Qingque from going onto the battlefield empty-handed later, Suke had to let BB create a sample, which Abigail then wrapped in independent spacetime, allowing the object known as Celestial Jade to be reproduced in the Honkai: Star Rail universe.
In a sense, Little Queer could be considered to have found fortune in misfortune. This newly crafted Celestial Jade set was equivalent to having the property of [Immutable] attached to it, similar to the Authority of the [Greed] Archbishop in Re:Zero.
Throwing out a single tile to pierce through a planet would be no problem, and they could be remotely recalled according to the wielder's will. Suke was envious just looking at it—if not for the fact that he discovered the tiles lost all power in his hands and could only be thrown but not recalled.
Perhaps he could meet up with the neighbor, Kamijou Touma, to exchange notes on their shared experience as blank slates.
"Sigh, doesn't this count as BB-chan losing the battle and the war?"
"I'm so unwilling, so unwilling... Little Abi, you and BB-chan should be on the same front. Why didn't you give BB-chan a hand?"
Having finished purchasing a series of festival supplies and many specialties of a space civilization that couldn't be bought in Yuki's world, Suke and the others planned to return to the Astral Express where the Cross-Realm Gate was located.
BB, who had been forced into second place by a difference of a single point stick after the game ended, seemed particularly unconvinced. She had clearly been just a little bit away from reaching the "Heroine" position that belonged to her.
"Abi doesn't understand what Big Sister BB is saying~"
"Abi remembers being more familiar with Big Sister Tsukishiro Yuki."
"No, this is completely a matter of stance!" BB was a bit exasperated. "Your uncle calls BB his sister. Little Abi, in terms of essence, we are the 'relatives'! As fellow Blessed Ones of the great 'Three Pillar Gods', how could you..."
"Then how about we play two more rounds after we get back?" suggested Suke, whose backpack was stuffed with an extra set of Celestial Jade made by BB.
Actually, he was holding back a laugh. Did she really accept coming in last place? Did she dare to go back to Stardew Valley and compete with him again!
"Okay! Let's play... Uh."
"Haha, let's forget it. BB-chan suddenly feels a bit bored with this. It's better to find something else interesting to do." BB subconsciously wanted to agree with Suke; after all, that would be her chance to wipe away the shame.
But she instantly realized—wouldn't her ability to distort reality and change tiles be completely scrapped after returning to Stardew Valley? Although Abigail and Tsukishiro Yuki would be scrapped as well, relying purely on luck and skill, she feared she wouldn't even be able to keep the second-place position!
It was better to quit while she was ahead! BB decisively made the decision to take her profits.
Suke: "..."
This trashy AI, just wait until we get back!
However, speaking of which, with them causing such a ruckus, it was quite strange that the Aeons of the entire universe remained silent and cast no gazes their way. One had to know that Stelle beating up a Doomsday Beast and elbowing Cocolia previously had attracted the gaze of Aeons.
Why did no Aeon come to take a look at their group? Not even a single Aha!
"By the way, Senpai, BB-chan forgot to mention something important~"
"BB-chan has analyzed the energy form of this world through MOONDUBAI and has already forged a 'Path', oh?"
Suke: "?"
You said you forged what?
" hasn't Senpai always wanted to become stronger? Through deduction and calculation, BB has finally discovered a way to make Senpai stronger!"
"This 'Path' is a Path tailor-made for Senpai. Next, BB-chan just needs Little Abi's assistance to perfect it, and then Senpai can obtain power by treading on this Path!"
BB spoke with extreme pride. This was the reason why she had set MOONDUBAI in the Honkai: Star Rail universe from the very beginning. Aside from increasing her observational data on human civilization, BB had indeed been planning for others this time.
As the perfect Little Devil Kouhai Heroine BB, she naturally had to achieve things others couldn't to be worthy of the title "Heroine"~!
"Real or fake?"
Not only Suke, but even Tsukishiro Yuki revealed some doubt in her gaze. Something even she, possessing the omnipotent might of the "Lord of Heaven"—one of the four Supreme Essences—could not do, this woman with big boobs and no brains could achieve? Yuki suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
"Of course it's real. How could BB-chan deceive Senpai~?"
"This Path was forged by BB-chan using the unknowability of Chaos. As long as it is combined with the continuity of Time and Space, it will provide power to Senpai in another way!"
"According to BB's observation and research, Senpai's own defect lies in the inability to increase the items of 'what can be done', just like us when we are on Senpai's turf. Then, changing the line of thought, we just need to decrease the items of 'what cannot be done'!"
"In the terms of this universe, the further Senpai walks on this Path, the fewer things there will be that 'cannot be done'! And it won't conflict with the rules on Senpai's turf~" BB explained confidently.
Her meaning was quite clear; it was somewhat similar to changing the underlying logic of the world. It was like how the growth of life is an adaptation to the environment—just as all Pathstriders practice their Path, they go to cater to that Path. But BB's logic was to let the environment constantly change within time and space to adapt to the lifeform!
One could only say it fit her extremely paranoid and fearless personality perfectly.
"A crazy idea."
Tsukishiro Yuki frowned, and after pondering for a moment, she gave her evaluation: "Although the path you mentioned indeed holds the possibility of making Animus himself stronger, you must know how great the cost of its existence will be."
"I once thought along your current line of reasoning as well. But in the end, I found that leaving aside whether it can be done, even if it were achieved, with the essence at the level you and I possess now, we would completely lose the power to protect Animus..."
"BB-chan knows that, of course, but isn't there still you guys?" BB interrupted Yuki's worried words.
"BB-chan is different from you all. I was born simply as an AI to accompany Senpai and respond to his wishes. As long as it is Senpai's request, I cannot refuse; as long as it is Senpai's wish, I must realize it. Regardless of the result, this is the principle BB cannot violate as an AI."
BB maintained a smile, her violet eyes revealing no emotion.
"So, Senpai—are you ready to tread on the road BB-chan has prepared for you?"
She definitely felt the current her was super cool. Especially after making such an emotional speech, surely Senpai would be lost in soul and spirit for her charm!
—This was the information Suke read from her tight smile. Don't ask him why he could read the information; he knew BB's nature all too well.
Although she was indeed the type of black-hole-level heavy-gravity woman who would not hesitate to give everything for love and turn the world upside down, there was one thing she would never do... that was to harm herself to benefit others (competitors)!
"Sure, then do your best, BB. I'm waiting for that day."
"Senpai, just watch closely..."
BB spoke solemnly, her eyes constantly glancing at Suke, seemingly waiting for his follow-up words. But in the end, she found that Suke didn't make any further expression toward her after saying that sentence, but instead turned on the phone he bought on the Xianzhou and started playing with it.
As if he wasn't touched by her words in the slightest.
BB: "?"
"...Senpai, don't you have any reaction to BB-chan?"
"Reaction? What reaction?"
"BB-chan is about to slash herself for you, and might even become a normal person, eh!" BB's eyes widened. She looked at Suke as if looking at a scumbag who washed his hands of the matter after toying with a maiden's body and feelings.
"At this moment, shouldn't you excitedly hug BB-chan and dissuade BB-chan from doing this?! This is completely different from what BB-chan envisioned..."
"Actually, I think it's better if you become a normal person," Suke said, putting on a serious face. Of course, the main reason was that he felt the current BB's hazard level to the heavens was too high.
"Didn't you see Elysia? I didn't despise her for being a normal person either. If you become a normal person, BB, I can support you for a lifetime, and I can also turn around and protect you. Don't you think that's great?"
"? R-Really? So Senpai wanted to protect BB-chan in return, that's why... N-No, that's not right, that's not the point!"
Bluffed into a daze by Suke's words, this AI maiden's pretty face actually flushed red, and she crashed for a short time. But a moment later, she realized the wrongness in Suke's words. After detecting Suke's true intention, BB's shyly flushed cheeks instantly superimposed a layer of swelling red known as 'Red Warm'!
Big_Red_Face.jpg
"Big Sister BB, you haven't said what that Path is about yet. Can it really let Big Brother gain power?"
Abigail raised her head and looked at BB. "As long as Big Brother can become stronger, it doesn't matter even if Abi becomes a normal person."
"Don't! Little Abi, don't be impulsive! I'm not a fool like Yhwach who insists on elbowing his teammates to go in himself when they can carry. Let's not talk about this anymore!" Suke hurriedly stopped Abigail's nonsense and comforted her.
BB: "??"
No, Senpai, your attitude toward BB just now clearly wasn't like this! BB decided. After going back, she would immediately transform into the image of Kazuradrop to avoid Senpai giving her the cold shoulder every day! Of course, except on the bed in the bedroom—after all, Senpai would only take special care of her at those times.
"You're really bad to the core, Senpai!"
Perhaps having let it go, BB deactivated the Red Warm state.
"Back to the main topic. The Path forged by BB-chan is named 'Barrier Breaking'."
"Crossing all gates and combining with the ever-changing forms of all phenomena, those who tread this Path shall break through all 'cannots' and discordance, going to the other side where their heart's desire wishes to reach."
BB picked up the teaching pointer she carried with her and lightly swiped at the distant horizon.
Like the Queen Mother of the West separating the Milky Way with her golden hairpin, a chaotic, hazy, yet magnificent scene winding toward the stars instantly emerged! This was a Path, yet not comparable to ordinary Paths.
Compared to Aeons who are nurtured by Paths, this Path would not give birth to an Aeon, because an Aeon is itself an obstacle to its meaning. It can only be held up, not possessed, and even less blocked; it is a gift unique to the Returner.
Although currently just an embryo, when it initially manifested in the universe, all mortals could not help but look up. The Pathstriders felt something in their hearts, and even the Aeons, who had been restraining their gazes and sight, could not help but gaze over!
They were either impassioned, laughing loudly, filled with desire, or hateful. If not for feeling that the silence of [Erudition] in the universe was truly strange, perhaps quite a few existences among Them would have already made a move!
But even so, phantoms belonging to Them manifested.
The Wounded God dripping with golden blood, and that God of Harmonic Music playing the heavenly tones, actually emerged simultaneously!
The entire Luofu Xianzhou fell into a terrifying silence in that instant. Almost everyone was stunned. Jing Yuan, as an Emanator of The Hunt, found that he had lost even the leeway to summon the Lightning-Lord.
And in the next moment, a mighty force sufficient to crush the Luofu Xianzhou into powder countless times in the blink of an eye fell from the heavens!
Kong, Kong, Kong.
A silver key sparkling with starlight abruptly appeared in the hands of the Door Witch. Abigail, whose forehead revealed a keyhole within her eye, aimed at the firmament where that power fell. With a turn of the silver key in her hand, infinite spacetime reduced that mighty force of [Destruction] to almost nothing! Simultaneously allowing the Luofu Xianzhou to escape disaster!
But the matter was not yet over. At this moment, the harmonic music, sufficient to make one abandon all intellect and blindly follow the God, played for it.
The people of the Luofu Xianzhou, who had just survived, hadn't even had time to relax when countless people felt their minds waver, desperately wanting to join the ranks of the choir!
[Scram back!]
Of course, at the same moment, a crisp, sharp shout drowned out the playing harmonic music, causing the minds of all mortals on the Xianzhou to wake up with a start!
"Because I wanted to keep Animus company, I didn't go looking for trouble with you all. I didn't expect you would actually dare to deliver yourselves to the door."
A Crown of Thorns emerged on her wrist as the Great Witch suddenly held the hand of her lover beside her. She narrowed her eyes at the three-faced-in-one God of Harmonic Music; the similar essence allowed her to instantly decipher the other party's intent.
Simultaneously, immeasurable light bloomed in her palm!
The formed light drowned out the formless sound, causing the harmonic music to go hoarse;
The substantial Lord prevailed over the insubstantial God, causing glory to gather in one body!
"Since it is so, use your corpses to achieve the foundation of Animus's 'Barrier Breaking'!"
「Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught.」
「Speak the word, and it shall not stand.」
「For God has long forsaken you; He shall destroy all that you have, leaving not one, making your blood splatter upon your garments——」
(Old Testament · Isaiah)
Magic and God confronted each other; spacetime and ash-extinction collided.
In the unknown end, the termini named [Destruction] and [Harmony] were dissolving along with it. Acquiring their opposites, They were losing the qualification to be the Terminus, causing the Deity named "Mutuality" to feel joy from the bottom of His heart.
But it was a pity this joy did not last long.
"Well, throwing one punch to avoid a hundred punches coming later. Just so happens that the new wonder BB wants to build is still short of a few human stakes."
"Don't you say so, Senpai?"
BB winked playfully at Suke, obviously having anticipated all this long ago. The next moment, her form dissipated into chaos before Suke's eyes.
Like a predator lying in wait for a long time, she pounced toward the shadowy forms of the Aeons located beyond the heavens of the Xianzhou!
[Senpai, don't blink. The exciting show is about to start broadcasting~]
[ ] -BB·CHANNEL-
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