Time flew like a fleeting steed.
It had already been a few days since the martial arts dojo incident.
These past few days, Hokuto had been training with Fu Shibao, Fu Hua, and Li Sushang. He was clearly growing closer to them.
And Li Sushang—naturally cheerful, outgoing, and a self-professed looks-lover—got along with him almost effortlessly.
"This world's Li Sushang is quite the character too."
Hokuto muttered to himself as he reeled in his drifting thoughts.
He was currently busy in the miHoYo office.
There were two main tasks on hand.
First, Honkai Impact 3rd's overseas version had performed far better than expected. The main story missions tied to the system had been not only completed—but completed with flying colors.
[Congratulations, Host, for reaching 20 million active users on Honkai Impact 3rd!]
[Congratulations, Host, for reaching 30 million active users on Honkai Impact 3rd!]
[Ding! Host has 2 game draw chances available. Proceed with game selection?]
"Draw."
Believing his luck was pristine, Hokuto responded decisively.
As the words fell, a flurry of game icons spun wildly before his eyes—
Honkai: Star Rail, It Takes Two...
They flashed by in the blink of an eye.
And eventually stopped on...
[Successfully drew: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Genshin Impact!]
[Main Quest 1: Reach 1 million sales for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice!]
[Main Quest 2: Reach 10 million active users for Genshin Impact!]
[Main Quest 3: Reach 40 million active users for Honkai Impact 3rd!]
"...So that's how the system works?"
Each time a game is released, a corresponding main quest is issued. Upon completion, another game draw becomes available.
And each main quest will continue to scale upward.
Having understood this, Hokuto quickly turned his attention to the two newly drawn titles.
"Genshin Impact, huh..."
To be honest, he hadn't planned on releasing Genshin just yet.
Because once Genshin dropped, Honkai Impact 3rd would undoubtedly take a major hit.
He thought it would be better to wait until Honkai's main story wrapped up before launching Genshin.
As for Sekiro... perhaps it could be teased ahead of schedule?
He still remembered his Honkai Impact 3rd multiverse project.
So...
Just Mei? Mei's grand mission to rescue Princess Kiana?
And once defeated, Mei collapses to her knees and mutters, "I can't do anything"?
"..."
"Let me think on it more—and talk it over with everyone first."
Hokuto knew if he really planned to go full chaos mode, the first thunder strike would be from the Rice Cooker Lady.
That handled the first task.
On to the second.
Hokuto placed his hands on the keyboard and clacked away at lightning speed, quickly composing an official announcement for Honkai Impact 3rd's upcoming new story chapter.
He read it through several times, confirmed it was solid, then sent it out.
But he didn't close the browser afterward.
Instead, he switched accounts—for the first time in a while, logging into his alt.
There had been that one time he tried to act as an insider leaker to boost Honkai's hype...
Let's just say—results: good, process: deeply questionable.
Still, Hokuto wasn't the type to give up so easily. He decided to try again.
Logged in on his alt, he entered the official forum.
But before he could even figure out how to craft his leak, a new post on the front page caught his eye.
The title alone made his expression contort in confusion:
[Insider Leak! Himeko-sis Will Return in the New Story Chapter!]
Hokuto: ???
He hadn't even leaked anything yet! And he certainly hadn't planned to leak this!
Wearing an expression of mixed skepticism and confusion, he clicked on the post.
Honkai Impact 3rd[Crimson Ashes]version update announcement.
A repost of the official announcement? Nothing strange there.
New Character — Herrscher of Flames
New S-Rank Valkyrie: Herrscher of Flamescion Himeko. Imaginary-type Valkyrie, burst-style fire DPS, with brand-new attack mechanics.
4, 5, 6...
Log in on version update day and receive 30 Expansion Supply Cards and 30 Focused Supply Cards if you're above level 50.
Published by: Unofficial Honkai Impact 3rd Operations Team
Hokuto finished reading.
It was clearly a parody post based loosely on the official update.
Everything screamed "fake"—from the epic-level bait like "60 free supply cards for all," to the final signature: Unofficial Honkai Operations Team.
Every bit of it was practically waving a neon sign saying, THIS IS FAKE.
And yet—
The post's popularity was exploding at a visible pace, artificially pinned to the top and showing no signs of going down.
Countless players were diving into the comments, voicing opinions and hopes about the story.
miHoYo Isn't Even Trying (2nd floor): I know this is fake, but the upcoming S-Rank Valk being Imaginary is definitely real.
Long Live the Queen (3rd floor): First we got Seele sugar, and now Himeko-sis returns? miHoYo, you just get me!
A Captain (4th floor): Watch it be a bait-and-switch again. Himeko becomes Herrscher of Flames, gets surrounded, then dies in front of Kiana again. If the writers do this, I'm mailing a bomb in a sealed envelope. (dog head)
Inch Strength Opening (5th floor): Then it'll be Hunt Down Time, heh. (red eyes)
It's Herrscher of Sentience, Not Fu Hua (6th floor): More importantly, when is 2nd floor streaming that cosplay of Herrscher of Sentience? (troll face)
...
The players clearly didn't believe the post—but they still joined the discussion with great passion.
It sounded complicated, but was easy to understand.
Maybe new players were drawn in by Honkai Impact 3rd's grand spectacle, dazzling effects, and smooth combat.
But what truly moved the veteran players were the deep, heartfelt bonds between familiar characters.
Himeko-sensei had been gone too long.
Ever since that crimson-haired figure fell from the Hyperion... nearly two years had passed in a blink.
Kiana longed to see her again. And so did they.
Hokuto carefully read through the entire post, floor by floor.
He could genuinely relate to the players.
He too had once hoped deeply for Himeko-sensei's return.
He knew every angle of those theorycraft posts:
For example—
An Imaginary-type Valkyrie, and Himeko had disappeared into Imaginary Space. Isn't that a blatant sign of her return?
The rose and crimson already plastered on her face—how can Himeko not come back this time?
But there were also worries that Himeko's return might derail the plot.
In the end, however—Flamescion delivered a nearly perfect answer.
Kiana received the legacy from Himeko, raised the torch, and faced this imperfect world head-on.
"..."
"That's why—I have to pass on this hope to everyone."
Hokuto muttered to himself, then closed the forum tab.
With that post causing such a stir, leaking anything now would be pointless.
Besides—
He glanced at the time.
"At this hour... maybe I can still mooch one of Mei's bento meals."
After growing more familiar with the folks at miHoYo, things like sneaking bites of Mei's bentos had become commonplace.
Totally not because that one accidental taste left a deep impression.
Hokuto uploaded the new version's PV online, then briskly left his office.
He hadn't walked far when he heard a few familiar voices up ahead.
"Mei? Is this my new daughter?" came a mature female voice.
"Yes, she's called the Herrscher of Flamescion." That was Mei's voice.
"Herrscher of Flamescion? Looks so cool—and way more mature than Kiana."
"I'm very mature now too, Mom!" Kiana's voice cut in.
"Good kids shouldn't lie."
"..."
Following the voices, Hokuto walked into the work area and saw several familiar figures.
Aside from Kiana and the others, there was another lady with similar features—but a more elegant charm.
"Cecilia, are you here for recording today?" Hokuto asked, smiling without surprise.
It wasn't just Cecilia—Cocolia also voiced characters in Honkai Impact 3rd.
Fu Hua had once told Hokuto about Theresa's complaints.
Theresa had said: "Hokuto just loves dragging in everyone around us. Every new character's probably one of our relatives."
She only said that because Hokuto had already dragged in everyone once before.
"Yes." Cecilia nodded lightly.
After a bit of polite small talk, Hokuto's eyes drifted toward the character key art on the screen—Firefly.
"Firefly, huh."
"Firefly?"
"Yeah. While 'Herrscher of Flamescion' sounds cool, 'Firefly' feels more affectionate, doesn't it?" Hokuto explained.
"I meant—the new Herrscher isn't even in the gacha pool yet, and you've already picked a nickname."
Cecilia shook her head, then changed the subject.
"But 'Firefly' really does suit Kiana better. 'Herrscher of Flamescion' feels so powerful it's almost surreal."
"Moooom!" Kiana jumped in protest. "I'm not any worse than Firefly!"
"Oh? Does Kiana want to be as mature as Firefly too?"
Faced with Cecilia's teasing question, Kiana didn't respond right away.
She was quiet for a while.
"Firefly's been through so much—
"She's lost so much."
"Himeko-sensei, Mei, the class rep, Bronya...
"She's lucky, and she's in pain."
"Kiana, the Firefly... she graduated.
"As for me..."
Hokuto, Mei, and Cecilia all fell silent.
"Kiana."*3
But then Kiana suddenly placed her hands on her hips, eyes gleaming with determination.
"I'll find my own way to make the future the way everyone hopes it'll be!"