Black Herta finally couldn't help but hold her forehead, letting out a wail: "...Must I die today? One Polka wasn't enough, so I get a buy one, get one free deal? Did my 'Black Herta' identity run into eight lifetimes of bad luck to get stuck with this mess? Or is my fate strong enough that people are rushing to kill me time and time again?"
As if a keyword had triggered something, the System Panel suddenly began to flash again, looking ready to start playing hymns—
"Stop! Halt!"
Black Herta quickly waved her hand to stop it, feeling utterly exhausted. "No more praise! Think of a solution first! I can't possibly go to work with a double kill order on my head, can I?"
The System Panel fluctuated violently a few times, and the chibi Herta head on it changed into the pattern of (*・∀・(*・∀・(*・∀・ trying hard to think.
A few seconds later, it seemed to find a solution:
"Solution: You may apply to use the 'Secondary Protection' authority reserved by the Aeon of 'Elation,' Aha. This authority can generate a 'Conceptual Disguise Film' that will largely confuse and mask the aura of the 'Scalpel' mark on you, preventing direct lock-on by the two Polkas. Please note, however, that this disguise is not absolutely perfect, and there is still a risk of exposure if you actively use power beyond the limit or encounter extremely high-intensity detection."
Listening to the system's explanation, Black Herta gently adjusted the brim of her wide witchs hat, letting a few strands of gray-white hair fall smoothly over her chest.
She took a deep breath. Although her inner desire to complain was through the roof, she outwardly resumed her composed and elegant demeanor.
"In other words, I have to be cautious, like a clumsy infiltrator, not take risks, and also find ways to amuse Aha while saving money to fix myself..."
She concluded, a hint of resigned helplessness mixed with eagerness flashing in her purplish-black eyes. "Fine. At least... it doesn't sound boring. So, when do we leave?"
The System Panel lit up with a transmission preparation effect, and the chibi Herta head made a 'please' gesture: "Anytime, my respected, elegant Madam Herta, who is about to embark on a journey of 'Elation.'"
Madam Herta felt as if she had been kicked out of the void. The solid sensation transmitted through her toes caused her to stumble, nearly falling to the ground—if the elegant Lolita dress she wore in the System Space could be said to have feet. She instinctively held her forehead, and the wide brim of her witchs hat slightly swayed.
"Terrible transmission experience, definitely one star..." she muttered softly, opening her purplish-black eyes that lacked luster.
What met her eyes was not endless pure white, but the Curtain of the Universe dotted with distant starlight.
The chilling sensation of vacuum seemed to penetrate even through the protection of an unknown force.
She was standing on the surface of a desolate, silent asteroid, with uneven gray rock and soil beneath her feet.
"Hey, System, where did you dump me..."
Before she could finish her complaint, Black Herta looked up, and immediately, it was as if she had been choked; all sound caught in her throat.
She couldn't help but gasp, even though there was no air for her to inhale.
In the distance, a massive Interstellar War, exceeding the limits of her imagination, was unfolding.
Countless ancient and majestic starships and Massive Warships formed an overwhelming array. The energy beams they fired rained down, concentrated on one target—a spectacle that absolutely should not exist in the vacuum of space.
A tree, impossibly huge.
Its roots seemed to pierce space itself. The trunk was an ominous blood-yellow, and as its branches and leaves spread, they exuded a heart-stopping, immense life aura, along with a twisted, terrifying pressure.
The giant tree seemed to be a living catastrophe in itself.
Countless figures constantly shot out from it. They varied in form but mostly maintained a humanoid shape, wrapped in the Karmic Debt of Abundance, charging fearlessly towards the Xianzhou Fleet, attacking in various bizarre ways.
Opposite the giant tree, further away, hovered an even more enormous shadow.
It was a vessel, its scale comparable to a planet, stretching beyond sight. Its cold metallic structure reflected a faint light under the starlight, like a silent primeval behemoth, facing off against the blood-yellow giant tree.
"Oh... my..."
Black Herta subconsciously shrank her neck, looked left and right, and quickly ducked behind a massive meteorite. Only then did she cautiously poke half her head out, her gray-white long hair falling over her shoulder from beneath the brim of her hat.
She patted her rather flat chest and whispered, "Where is this place? The last time I saw a scene this grand was when I was instantly fired (eliminated) from my 'previous job (Rupert III)'..."
With a thought, she summoned the System Panel. The black and purple interface silently unfolded, clearly listing the mission:
[Current World: Honkai: Star Rail (Parallel Timeline - Xianzhou Alliance Era: Shuhu's Rebellion)]
[Main Mission: Rescue Baiheng and successfully remove her from the current timeline.]
[Mission Tip: Target's life status has entered the final countdown.]
[Equipment Sponsored by the Nameless: Decoy Doll (Curio, can simulate a person, non-Envoy)]
Below that was a bright red digital countdown that was constantly decreasing.
Seeing the words "Baiheng" and "Shuhu's Rebellion," Black Herta instantly understood her situation.
She curled her lip and turned her gaze back to the giant tree that emanated an ominous aura.
"So... that thing was created by Shuhu, the Envoy of 'Abundance'? Those flying vessels belong to the Xianzhou Alliance, and that massive one must be the main Xianzhou Luofu ship, right?"
She muttered to herself, quickly clarifying the situation. "The mission is to fish Baiheng out... The system is quite thoughtful; it even gave me a Decoy Doll."
Her gaze fell upon the continuously ticking countdown, and she felt her nerves jumping along with it.
"This is purely rushing me to my death... This must be Baiheng's life countdown, right?"
Time is pressing!
Black Herta closed her eyes and took a deep breath—despite the lack of air.
No more hesitation!
"Unfold!"
She let out a low cry. Centered on her, an invisible and formless wave instantly spread out like ripples, moving faster than the speed of light.
This wave swept over the battlefield, over the fighting soldiers, over the massive ships, and over the blood-yellow giant tree.
Almost instantly, Black Herta "saw"!
In the most dangerous core area of the battlefield, a nimble starship was resolutely charging toward the root source of the Jianmu.
Inside the starship, a woman with light purple hair and blue eyes wore a calm and relieved smile as her finger pressed down on a device emitting a dangerous white light.
It's her!
Baiheng!
However, this reckless probing was like throwing a boulder into calm water.