Pilipili livestream platform.
The ever-popular stream room of the pink fairy lady.
A crowd of viewers were chatting idly while waiting for Elysia to go live.
They didn't want to miss her signature opening lines.
However, they might be disappointed today.
Elysia's stream started quietly—no flashy greeting as usual, just the plain login screen of Honkai Impact 3rd.
Many viewers didn't even realize she had already started streaming.
[???]
[Where's the fairy lady's opening?]
[Why is she so quiet? Am I in the wrong stream?]
"..."
Amid the viewers' confusion and eager calls, a deep, distinctive male voice suddenly rang out in Elysia's stream.
"You didn't expect it to be me, did you?"
[Holy—?! Kalpas! Kalpas, is that you?!]
[Kalpas, don't!!]
[So it's lazy fairy lady time again… and Kalpas is filling in?]
Veteran viewers quickly caught on.
Though substitute streamers weren't technically allowed, with Elysia's popularity and her wide social circle, it happened from time to time.
And the guests were always a hot topic, often rivaling top-tier streamers in popularity.
Moderators usually just turned a blind eye.
[I really didn't expect it to be Kalpas, lmao.]
"Sigh~~ I didn't expect it either."
Kalpas spoke with annoyed resignation: "Ridiculous. If it weren't for that woman nagging me nonstop—"
"She kept saying things like, 'Oh Kalpas, are you shy or something?'"
He paused, then put on a deliberately cold tone: "Hmph. Do I look like that kind of person?"
[LMAO, Kalpas you doing stand-up comedy now?!]
[I've been laughing nonstop since the moment Kalpas showed up. My stomach hurts. Please, show mercy!]
"Enough."
Kalpas maintained his usual indifferent tone toward the viewers: "Today I'm streaming Honkai Impact 3rd. Watch quietly. Don't post weird stuff."
With that, he logged into the game.
[I love this rebellious attitude from Kalpas.]
[Kalpas, say more! My kid loves listening (lol).]
[Hey, are you pulling for the new S-rank Rita battlesuit, Kalpas?]
"Not pulling. Who's Rita? Don't know her."
Kalpas had already clicked into the newly updated main story.
The story began, as usual, with a recap.
But this time, the narrator was Rita:
"With the awakening of the Herrscher of the Void, the world was plunged into a Great Eruption. In just four months, survivors scattered, seeking refuge."
The tone grew intense.
The scene shifted to an international metropolis.
"Heaven's Reach— a high-tech city built by humanity in Shenzhou— became their sanctuary."
The camera panned down to Rita, standing atop a skyscraper, examining a fresh intel report.
"Two weeks ago, the Herrscher of the Void was sighted here. To pursue her whereabouts, Schicksal and Anti-Entropy both mobilized."
The prologue ended.
Gameplay began.
The first chapter featured Rita reporting in to Otto, and introduced a character named "Grey Serpent" and hinted at Theresa and others arriving in Heaven's Reach.
"Otto's still alive? How long is this guy planning to stick around?"
Kalpas grumbled as he reluctantly controlled the battlesuit Umbral Rose—Rita—to search for Grey Serpent.
[Such savage commentary! I wasn't a fan, but I'm following now!]
[Can Otto just die already? Don't keep Kalpas waiting.]
[I have a bold request—I want Otto to say, 'Kalpas, don't!!']
[Ew ew ew~~ please take your bold idea elsewhere.]
Amid the flood of chaotic comments, Kalpas frowned slightly.
After a crisp combo took down some enemies, he said:
"Mods, ban anyone who talks nonsense."
A mod quickly muted the user who made that questionable comment.
Rita had now arrived at the mission location.
"Good evening, Mr. Grey Serpent. Waiting for someone?"
She greeted him with elegance and courtesy.
Grey Serpent, holding an umbrella for some unknown reason, replied,
"My bodyguards… all taken out by you alone."
Rita, still calm and polite, said:
"Just a small habit. Keeps negotiations clean and tidy."
"Ah… looks like I went a bit overboard…"
"Well then, to make it up to you, I have a lucrative deal to offer."
[Rita is totally threatening him, right? I'm suddenly into this kind of dangerous woman.]
[This character setting is kinda spicy.]
Since no one in this world knew Seele, no one felt that Rita had taken screen time away from her.
So the players weren't resentful of Rita's early appearance.
"Tch."
Kalpas clicked his tongue in disdain: "So this is your level."
"Rita? Just Otto's tool. And you actually like her? Hah."
A streamer openly flaming viewers was rare—
And doing it in a high-traffic stream like this? Practically unheard of.
The chat paused for a moment.
Then exploded again.
[That's our Kalpas.]
[Grumpy Kalpas, roasting the audience live.]
[I love Rita, and I'm going all-in on her banner! What now, Kalpas? Come at me! (hype)]
"What are you trying to do?"
"She's just an obstacle in our way to defeat Otto. If you get too attached, you'll end up like Himeko. Fools."
Kalpas kept his condescending tone as he lectured the chat.
Meanwhile, the story continued.
Just as the audience expected, Rita really was threatening Grey Serpent.
When she coldly invoked Schicksal's name and demanded information—and was flatly rejected—
She maintained her smile and her tone didn't waver in the slightest.
"...More than an informant, you're like a poet. I almost feel bad hurting you. But unfortunately, a mission is a mission."
Slick—
Rita plunged her dagger into Grey Serpent.
Still wearing that sweet and gentle smile.
Then she pulled out a silk cloth and gracefully wiped the blood from her blade.
With that, the scene ended.
Rita's character became far more defined.
Viewers were clearly intrigued by her.
[Kalpas, this character's pretty cool. Are you really not pulling? I'm logging in now to roll.]
[Get out! Don't break formation! Kalpas said he's not pulling, and that's final!]