"So, you're telling me that your job is to make me a star... Like those famous actors and singers from my previous life?"
[You're kind of right, Host! My job is not just to help you become a star, but the BIGGEST star ever!]
Michael had sat on the bed of the room he was in, while listening to the explanation of the system. It was surprisingly soft considering that the mattress was on top of a long action bar that served as support for the bed.
"Sigh... Well, I guess there's no way. Is there any way I can return to my homeland?"
[The answer to the Host's question is: No!]
From the beginning, his hopes were dashed by the system's response. He still had a father and mother in his previous life, as well as a younger brother, to think that he would never be able to see them again...
Michael sighed once more. In the short time he had transmigrated to this place, he had probably sighed a dozen times already.
After remaining silent for a few minutes, Michael finally gathered the courage to face the situation head on. Patting his forehead, he stared at the translucent screen in front of him with a contemplative expression.
"Well, since you're a system that's supposed to help me become a star, what other functions do you have besides showing me a mediocre status window?"
[The system has four general functions, they are: Status Window, Shop, Roulette and Missions!]
[Allow me to explain, Host! The Status Window function, as you may have noticed, is a standard window that calculates the Host's progress based on rank!]
[For comparison, an average person usually doesn't go past Rank E in any of the performance stats! Once someone reaches at least Rank C in any of the stats in the Status Window, that means they have the potential of a star!]
[By the way, the Host can check other people's Status Window! But it might not be that useful, considering the nature of the universe the Host has been allocated to...]
Michael understood what the system meant. In the universe of Honkai: Star Rail, force reigned supreme, with beings capable of decimating cities, countries, and even planets casually walking around every corner.
If Michael ever encountered one of these beings and offended him, or if that being showed any curiosity about him, being able to see its Status Window would not help him at all.
What would he do even if he knew the dance statistics of this theoretical being? Call him to a dance battle?
"I understand, you can continue the explanation."
[Yes, Host! The next function I would like to introduce is the Missions function, which will be essential to becoming a great star in the future!]
[The Quests tab will be constantly updated to ensure stable growth for the Host! The Host does not need to worry about the risks of not completing these Quests, they are all optional and do not guarantee any consequences!]
Michael sighed in relief, at least he wouldn't become a dog of the system like some characters in novels he had read before.
[The next general function I would like to introduce is the Shop! The Shop provides many consumable items and permanent skills that can help the Host become more and more popular!]
[Skills and items in the System Shop can be purchased with Star Points! Star Points can be earned by completing Quests or gaining a certain level of popularity!]
[Unfortunately, the Host has just transmigrated and doesn't have a single Star Point, so I recommend not wasting your time looking at the Shop!]
[Last but not least, the last function of the system: the Roulette! As the Host may have already guessed, the Roulette is a Gacha system that can provide items, skills, skill tickets, and attribute tickets!]
[The Roulette, unlike the Shop, does not use Star Points, but Stellar Jades, which the Host can collect personally! 1 pull costs 160 Stellar Jades, and 10 pulls costs 1600 Stellar Jades!]
[That's all for the explanation of the system functions!]
Michael scratched his head after the whole explanation, thinking that Gacha was chasing him even in another life...
He was a little confused looking at his Status Window, which had an A- Luck rank.
"In my previous life, I was always quite unlucky..."
Even now, he wasn't exactly the luckiest person, having transmigrated to a dangerous universe like Honkai: Star Rail and being bound to a system that likely wouldn't give him any ability to even protect himself.
"Well, let's look at this Quests tab first."
With a thought, Michael was able to manipulate the translucent screen in front of him, opening the Missions tab.
There were three Missions available, Michael quickly glanced through them all as he crossed his arms.
[Mission #1 — A Modest Beginning, Part 1]: As an aspiring star who is still completely unknown, you must first lay your foundations. Choose your first audience and a suitable venue to perform in.
Rewards: 100 Star Points, music track [Nightglow — Tanya Chua].
[Mission #2 — A Humble Beginning, Part 2]: Now that you've finally chosen your first audience and a suitable stage, it's time to show off your skills! Captivate your chosen targets with your performance, earning a final rating of at least Rank C!
Rewards: 100 Star Points, Random Skill Ticket.
[Mission #3 — A Humble Beginning, Part 3]: Continue building your fanbase through continued performances! What good is having the skills but no people to appreciate them?! Reach a popularity rating of 1000!
Rewards: 500 Star Points, unlocks a Path of Destiny and an elemental affinity!
Michael raised his hand to his chin, analyzing the Missions information before asking the system.
"System, how exactly does the popularity ranking work?"
[Replying to the Host: the Popularity statistic measures the amount of fans, the Host's influence, and how well regarded he is around the universe!]
[Warning! Popularity statistic may be affected by haters and malicious controversies involving the Host! If the Host's Popularity statistic remains at 0 for too long, their path to becoming a star will be cut off and the system will disassociate itself from the Host!]
Michael raised his eyebrow subtly. Well, that was something… Was the system indirectly rushing him to complete Missions and increase his Popularity stat so that he wouldn't have to disassociate himself from Michael?
The system itself would probably experience some difficulties if it were separated from its Host...
Well, that wasn't something for Michael to worry about right now. He and the system would be in a symbiotic situation from now on: they needed each other, so there was no reason to make things difficult.
"That said, can I really just walk around the Space Station carefree and perform? I don't even know what my identity is in this world..."
[Ding!]
[Replying to the Host: There's nothing to worry about! The system has already arranged a reasonable identity for the Host in this universe, please wait a few moments...]
Michael crossed his legs on the bed casually, resting his chin on one hand. He didn't have to wait much longer.
With a sharp sound, a headache shot through the left side of Michael's neck, and he suddenly found himself retaining memories that were not originally his.
The identity for this body was that of a young independent artist who had become lost from his group after an attack by the Antimatter Legion and had subsequently been rescued by personnel from the Herta Space Station.
Thanks to Asta, who had a kind and welcoming nature, he was temporarily taken in at the Station until he had a place to go.
To Michael, those memories felt similar to videotapes, and he was watching everything from a third-person perspective, so he didn't have to worry about things like identity dissociation.
After the dizziness passed, Michael shook his head from side to side to dispel the discomfort and pain on the left side of his neck, getting out of bed immediately.
"Better strike while the iron is hot, let's go out and find somewhere to perform..."
Michael was in no hurry, but he wanted to get some of the melancholy thoughts out of his head, which made him want to get started right away and busy himself with other things.
As he approached the steel door of his room, however, an abrupt lurch shook the ship, along with the distant sound of explosions and harsh impacts.
Michael lost his balance, he wasn't prepared for something like that and ended up falling in the ground.
"Ouch! F*ck..."
Rubbing his back slightly, Michael stood up from the floor with his brows tightly furrowed.
Without needing the system's warning, he clearly knew what was happening outside: it was the invasion of the Antimatter Legion that happened at the beginning of the game!
"How lucky, I actually transmigrated just a few minutes before the attack..."
Michael grumbled sullenly. He had spent at least thirty minutes talking to the system, and there was no way he could have known that the day of the Antimatter Legion's attack would be just the day he had transmigrated!
How unlucky...
Michael hesitated, wondering whether he should go outside or stay in his room.
This was no longer a game, but reality, he could not guarantee that the Antimatter Legion soldiers would not invade the researchers' personal quarters.
If that happened, at that moment he would have nowhere to run.
"Alright, I remember this room was pretty close to the elevator, if I could sneak by..."
Michael thought for a few seconds before deciding to move.
He may not have been a very motivated person, but he was decisive when the moment called for it.
His hand slid to the digital handle, and with a touch, the door opened.
If you want to support me, please leave some kind comments and correct me if you find any spelling mistakes.
If there was one thing Michael was confident about, it was his ability to remain inconspicuous, blending into the background without being noticed.
As an assistant, there was an almost mandatory need to never draw attention to himself.
The spotlight should be left to the stars.
That said, after leaving his personal room, he surprisingly managed to sneak into the vicinity of the elevator without being noticed.
"It seems the Antimatter Legion hasn't arrived here yet..."
This was fortunate indeed, if he were to come face to face with any of the Antimatter Legion soldiers, he would have no way of defending himself.
Michael approached the elevator cautiously, there was a golden panel in front of the elevator passage.
Michael tried to manipulate the panel to make the elevator work, but it was blocked.
"...S*it."
Michael only then remembered some details from the game's first mission, apparently the elevator was blocked and he would need to find Arlan to be able to use it.
He couldn't be blamed for that, no matter how much he had played the game, it had been two or three years since he played the tutorial in version 1.1, he didn't remember the exact details.
Furthermore, the game map was too compressed to suit players' needs.
In reality, the Herta Space Station was a ship almost as large as a minor planet; he wouldn't dream of crossing from one end to the other on foot. He had no way of knowing where Arlan was...
Michael rubbed his temples in frustration.
"Should I go back to my room...?"
It was too dangerous to stay outside with the Antimatter Legion invading the Space Station, he had no ability to defend himself either.
Just as Michael decided to return to his room and remain safe, however, he heard a metallic, rhythmic sound echoing behind him.
Cautiously turning around, he saw a group of humanoid metal carcasses approaching. When they saw him from far, the pace of their steps only increased.
It was a group of Voidrangers.
"I'm f*cked..."
Michael took a step back, but there was nowhere to run, his back was firmly pressed against the elevator door, and he swallowed hard.
He had just transmigrated to the beginner map, but he was already about to die?
At that moment, Michael's senses were brought back to him by the system's bell sound.
[Ding!]
[Host, this is such an opportunity!]
"Opportunity? What are you talking about? I don't know if you can see, but I'm about to die miserably at the hands of some beginner mobs..."
Michael was confused, and showed it on his face.
[Host, weren't you looking for an audience and a performance venue? Coincidentally, this plataform seems perfect, and you have an eager audience right in front of you!]
"...System, are you listening to what you're saying? Those are Voidrangers..."
[Host, even Voidrangers can appreciate music!]
[Please, Host, trust me! Either way, you're going to die if you don't do anything, aren't you?]
"..."
Well, the system was somewhat right in that regard.
"Okay, how do I do this?"
[Host, you just need to think about it and the system will do the rest!]
"...Okay."
Michael wasn't too confident about this, but it was the only way. The Voidrangers were already dangerously close.
Closing his eyes, Michael thought.
He wanted that plataform as a stage.
And those Voidrangers as an audience...
[Ding!]
[Mission #1 conditions have been met!]
[Rewards are being distributed!]
[100 Star Points have been acquired!]
[The music track Nithglow has been added to the Host's music repertoire!]
[Please don't keep your audience waiting, Host!]
Michael opened his eyes after that series of notifications, staring confusedly at the Voidrangers who had slowed down their movements.
They were still moving, however, just more slowly, as if hesitant.
Was this the system's doing? It was probably a consequence of having set those Voidrangers as his audience.
Now that the audience was decided and the stage was ready, he had to make his presentation.
But what should he do...? Sing? Dance?
Suddenly, Michael noticed a strange streak of newly added memories in his mind.
It was a series of memories that recorded the musical track [Nightglow — Tanya Chua]. He felt that he could sing it without any problem.
Taking a deep breath, Michael realized what he had to do. Clearing his throat, he stepped in front of the ever-increasing Voidrangers and opened his mouth.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀— POV Change, Express Astral Crew.
March 7th: "Despite appearances, you're surprisingly quite a fighter, aren't you?"
March stared at the amnesiac girl she and Dan Heng had encountered just a few minutes ago with a surprised expression.
Apparently her name was Stelle, but she didn't seem to remember anything beyond that.
March 7th: "Now that I think about it, you're not wearing a Space Station uniform, are you really a researcher?"
March asked doubtfully, but the gray-haired girl, Stelle, responded by shaking her head.
Stelle: "I don't remember anything from before I woke up here."
For now, she decided to keep Kafka's existence a secret. She didn't know what was happening, or where she was.
March 7th: "You don't remember... I see, it must be quite painful for you to lose your memories out of nowhere, right?"
March could sympathize, as she herself was going through something similar.
Before being defrosted on the Astral Express, she didn't remember anything, not even her own name, and so she was called March 7th, which was the date she had woken up.
Stelle didn't answer, looking thoughtful, and March 7th didn't say much more about it.
Sometimes, not remembering anything could be particularly painful, she understood that better than anyone.
As they approached the route leading to the main elevator, March and Stelle could hear a faint sound echoing from the platform.
March 7th: "Uh? Is anyone still here?"
Stelle: "There seems to be someone... Singing..."
Stelle tilted her head, slightly confused, and March quickened her pace.
March 7th: "Let's check, if this person attracts the attention of the Antimatter Legion soldiers, it could be a disaster!"
March was more concerned about the person's safety than the fact that there was someone singing on the elevator platform in the midst of an Antimatter Legion invasion.
Stelle wasted no time in following her, and as she approached the platform, she could see a group of Legion soldiers standing in front of a blond man wearing extravagant clothings.
At the same time, that voice became clearer, and she could hear the song he was singing more precisely.
"Never let you go"
"It's why I did them all"
"For a chance at least"
"To live in your way"
"Love of you"
"Is my most cherished thing"
"So stay alive, bravely..."
Stelle: "How strange..."
Stelle muttered, feeling what should have been her heart beat a little anxiously.
That man's clear voice resonated deeply, it didn't seem to reach his ears, but his own heart.
She felt an unfamiliar pain in her chest, and her vision was subtly blurry.
Stelle's hand reached her cheeks lightly, and she suddenly realized.
Stelle: "Why... am I crying?"
There was no one to answer her questions at that moment. Looking at March 7th next to her, Stelle realized that tears were also rolling down her eyes.
For a moment Stelle sighed in relief, she wasn't the only one to react like that at least...
Turning her gaze to the man at the front of the platform, Stelle noticed that he was looking at them from behind the Voidrangers. His expression was bright, as if he had found the salvation of his life.
Stelle twisted her lips slightly, tugging on March 7th's sleeve, who was still distracted by the singing.
Stelle: "We need to help him..."
March 7th: "... Uh? Oh! Yeah, sorry, I got a little distracted..."
March quickly regained his senses, wiping the tears that were rolling from his eyes with the sleeve of his clothes before patting her own face a few times.
March 7th: "What a shame, why was I crying...?"
Grumbling, March took out her bow and began shooting as Stelle ran forward, ambushing the Voidrangers from behind.
Of course, with the two's skills, dispatching this group of beginner mobs was easy.
Soon, they took down the Antimatter Legion soldiers, while Michael had hidden behind a nearby column, only coming out when the group of Voidrangers were kicked aside like dogs.
"Nice to meet you, you really saved me back there. May I know your names? By the way, I'm Michael."
March 7th: "I'm March 7th, this one next to me is Stelle, we were coming to take the elevator when we heard your singing and came to help."
Stelle: "By the way, why were you singing for the Voidrangers?"
Michael scratched the back of his neck lightly at Stelle's question.
"Well, it's a long story..."
He started to explain.
If you want to support me, please leave some kind comments and correct me if you find any spelling mistakes.
Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen
Kommentar absatzweise anzeigen
Die Absatzkommentarfunktion ist jetzt im Web! Bewegen Sie den Mauszeiger über einen beliebigen Absatz und klicken Sie auf das Symbol, um Ihren Kommentar hinzuzufügen.
Außerdem können Sie es jederzeit in den Einstellungen aus- und einschalten.
ICH HAB ES