Countless Honkai Beasts, large and small, were reduced to pure Honkai energy and disintegrated as the silver-and-red figure weaved through them, leaving behind only a few materials on rare occasions.
Wielding Pale Justice, Chen Li used his agile movements and sharp blade to continuously eliminate the smaller Honkai Beasts, all while looking for an opportunity to get close to the Herrscher of the Void.
The miracle shield had disappeared ten minutes after he finished forging the Curio. Maintaining it further would require another payment.
With Argenti easily handling 90% of the giant Honkai Beasts, Chen Li moved through the battlefield with ease.
By intentionally staying close to Argenti, the imaginary cubes and blades conjured by the Herrscher of the Void's authority would always lose their unpredictable nature upon approaching Chen Li, allowing Argenti to shatter them with ease.
The Honkai Beasts came in a never-ending stream, yet they were blocked and annihilated by the seemingly tireless Argenti.
However, the highly mobile Herrscher of the Void always managed to distance herself from Argenti and Chen Li at critical moments, preventing Chen Li from sealing her authority.
Argenti cast a curious glance at his friend Chen Li, whom he had met across countless worlds, not understanding why he was being asked to focus his energy on annihilating more Honkai Beasts.
Although it was a strange request, Argenti trusted that this friend, who also acknowledged the unparalleled beauty of the goddess Idrila, had his own way of breaking the stalemate.
"Swoosh!"
A streak of purple light shot across the battlefield.
The Herrscher of the Void raised her hand, blocking the projectile with an imaginary cube.
"Have you run out of other attacks? To resort to a slingshot, a toy for children." The Herrscher mocked Chen Li, who was now holding a slingshot.
"Who says a slingshot can't kill people?" Chen Li put away the "essential transmigration item" he originally intended to use for befriending children.
"Don't be stubborn… What!" Just as the Herrscher of the Void was about to say more, the projectile used as the slingshot's ammunition exploded violently.
The power of spacetime sealed within it erupted in an instant.
The Herrscher of the Void, who had been floating in the air, plummeted straight to the ground.
That "bullet" was a Star Stone, condensed from the Power of Spacetime and Fate.
Its purple appearance really did resemble the "Star Rail Passes" from a certain game.
As Chen Li had predicted, the dense and chaotic spacetime energy had a massive impact on the Herrscher of the Void's authority.
It was well worth the cost of Chen Li using up all the Star Stones he had obtained from his "reckless" actions since arriving in this world to create that single bullet.
When the Herrscher of the Void staggered up from the rubble, she only saw a figure flash past.
Thrown by Argenti and protected by a summoned shield, Chen Li slammed directly into the Herrscher of the Void, knocking her down again.
Protected by the shield and having taken little impact damage, Chen Li pressed the alchemy pistol to the Herrscher of the Void's forehead. Without a word, he pulled the trigger.
Unable to use her Herrscher authority due to Chen Li's proximity, and having just suffered damage from the fall and the collision, the Herrscher of the Void had no time to react before the sound of a gunshot echoed in her ears.
"If you have to blame something, blame this damned fate." Only after decisively pulling the trigger of the fully charged alchemy pistol did Chen Li utter a word.
Chen Li understood a common trope: villains always die because they talk too much.
But talking after the opponent is already dead is perfectly fine.
The Herrschers of the Previous Era had no "humanity."
The Honkai energy bullet pierced the Herrscher of the Void's brow, and the alchemy pistol in Chen Li's hand disintegrated instantly from the corrosive energy.
Pale Justice had already pierced through her chest.
A bullet to the head and a sword to the heart—how could she not be dead?
Just as Chen Li pulled out Pale Justice and considered whether he should behead her for good measure, a card materialized from the Herrscher of the Void's remains.
[Herrscher of the Void] (Material Card): Can be used to forge a Curio.
"Alright, she should be thoroughly dead now."
In any case, the plan arranged with Elysia was complete!
Chen Li's plan had been simple.
Elysia would lure away the bulk of the Honkai Beasts and lower the Herrscher of the Void's guard, while Chen Li would be responsible for the solo kill.
It was so simple it was almost bizarre.
And the fact that Elysia had agreed to this plan was, in Chen Li's opinion, also quite bizarre.
They didn't even know each other's names.
Although Chen Li was a little puzzled as to why the many smaller Honkai Beasts he killed didn't drop any cards, upon seeing the horde of beasts go berserk due to their master's death, he hoisted the Herrscher's body and dove into cover.
He wasn't hiding from the Honkai Beasts; he was hiding from Argenti, who was about to use his ultimate to clear the screen.
He had gotten the kill-steal; now it was time to save his own skin.
As he expected, getting the final blow on the Herrscher of the Void did indeed grant him Crystals and Star Stones.
"Offer Pure Beauty, to Idrila!" Argenti's devout voice declared.
Hiding behind cover, Chen Li could only see countless illusory roses fall alongside a silver gleam.
When he peeked his head out again, only Argenti was left standing in the ruins, leaning on his spear.
The large Honkai Beasts had long since turned into dissipated Honkai energy upon death, vanishing without a trace.
---o---
"Are you alright?" After the battle, Argenti walked over and asked with concern.
"Ah, I'm fine. Argenti, thank you for your help this time," Chen Li said with genuine sincerity.
"There is no need for such courtesy. It is a matter within our duty as knights, and a deed I must perform to uphold my honor and grace. It is my honor to have been of assistance to you. Eliminating these foul beasts and the one who controlled them is, itself, an act of Pure Beauty," Argenti said with a smile.
"Erm, I'm a bit embarrassed to say this, but I might need your help again in the future. But don't worry, this body, however real it may seem, is only a projection. But right now, I don't really have any proper reward to offer…" Chen Li said, a little sheepishly.
He felt guilty for constantly troubling such an honest person.
"Think nothing of it. If you encounter trouble, you must let me know, and I shall defend your safety. Do not concern yourself with a reward. To be able to hone my skills without facing true danger is a fortunate thing in itself," Argenti said, shaking his head.
"How can I accept that? Let me think… what kind of Curio would suit you?" Chen Li pondered, stroking his chin.
"You really don't have to…"
"How about a rose that never withers and can scatter countless petals?" Chen Li asked.
Compared to a Curio with a special purpose like Pale Justice, a single rose shouldn't be too much trouble.
The only problem was that Chen Li needed to find suitable materials.
"…It seems I cannot refuse my dear friend's warm offer." Argenti admitted that Chen Li's proposal was indeed very tempting.
"However, because I only summon a true projection, even if I forge the Curio, I won't have a chance to give it to you right away. I would need to go to your world in person. So for now, please give me a suitable request. This is the price for using the Curio," Chen Li said.
Pale Justice summoned a projection. When Argenti disappeared, the projection was simply canceled, not sent back to the Star Rail world, so there was no way to use this method to mail a Curio over.
However, the Miracle System was never short on miracles, so Chen Li wasn't worried about being unable to reach Argenti's world.
Not to mention that the worlds of Honkai Impact and Star Rail were part of the same universe…
And weren't Star Stones, crystals of time, meant for crossing between worlds?
It was a perfect match for his specialty!
"Hmm, how about this… How about you spread the good name of the goddess of Pure Beauty, Idrila, to thirty people on my behalf?" Although Argenti truly did not require any thanks, he also knew this was a price Chen Li had to pay.
So, he chose a request that would affect Chen Li the least.
"No problem," Chen Li nodded.
He knew it would come to this!
Yet, it was precisely because he knew the Knight of Beauty, Argenti, would not make an excessive demand, and because he might summon him again in the future, that Chen Li planned to use an eternally blooming rose as a "recurring reward."
Don't ask why. Just say he felt bad about it.
Although this conversation was a bit rushed, there really was no time to say more.
Because Chen Li was busy, under Argenti's protection, collecting all the spoils of battle.
These were all top-quality forging materials.
Just as Chen Li threw all the materials into his backpack and prepared to leave, he saw Argenti's figure gradually begin to fade.
"Hm? What's this?" In the spot where Argenti had faded, Chen Li saw a card flying towards him.
[Trial of the Knight of Beauty]: Upon gaining the recognition of a summoned knight, you will receive a training certificate. After completing the "knight's trial" to unlock the right to use it, you can engage in combat training with the knight's projection in a training room. Completing the training will grant a "knight's gift."
"There's something like this? This Curio has a hidden effect. And Argenti is a true bro! Next is to find a place with people. Then I'll spread the good name of Idrila."
"Ahem, may I ask if you acknowledge that the goddess of Pure Beauty, Idrila, is unparalleled in all the world?" Chen Li did a practice run.
"So… who is Idrila? Can you introduce me?" A melodious voice sounded in his ear.
Chen Li subconsciously turned his head.
As a breeze swept through the ruins, Chen Li saw a girl standing quietly on the rubble behind him.
She stood there gracefully amidst the ruins. As the gentle wind blew, her hair fluttered lightly, and the sunlight, filtering through the scattered strands, cast mottled rays of light that were dazzling to the eye.
…dazzling from the sun's glare.
"It seems the plan was a success… Hi, allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Elysia," the pink-haired beauty said. She then stared directly into Chen Li's eyes, as if trying to read something else from them.
"You can call me… an outlander." Caught completely off guard by this situation, Chen Li perceived her unspoken request for his name.
"Your real name, your real name," Elysia said, placing a hand on Chen Li's shoulder and looking him earnestly in the eyes.
"…Chen Li."
PS: Uploading 20,000 characters in one go is a bit tiring.
So… could the esteemed readers please give me some stones? I'm begging you. ヾ(≧O≦)〃