The dimly lit tunnel seemed to swallow all superfluous sounds and colors, with only the embedded indicators on the walls emitting a faint blue light.
Just then, the space rippled like water, and two figures subtly emerged, strikingly out of place with their surroundings.
Leading the way was Madam Herta, still clad in her purple-black dress and matching witchs hat. On her doll-like, exquisite face, her purple-black eyes, devoid of highlights, calmly surveyed her surroundings.
Half a step behind her was the system puppet.
Why were they here? Time needs to rewind slightly... Astral Express
Long Night Moon had just left the carriage after reporting her'successful' establishment of contact with March 7th.
A brief silence returned to the room.
The system puppet silently walked to Madam Herta's side and reported, "Master, a new cross-world mission directive has appeared."
Madam Herta was elegantly sipping a cup of black tea. Hearing this, her eyebrows slightly raised, and she put down her teacup. "Oh? What mission?"
"Mission objective: Obtain the special existence in the Honkai Impact 3rd world — the Elysian Realm."
The system puppet replied without emotion.
"The Elysian Realm?"
Madam Herta frowned slightly. "The world of Honkai Impact 3rd... that is to say, it's not the 'Elysian Realm' in our Star Rail universe that has already settled, right?"
She needed to confirm the independence of the mission world.
The system puppet nodded affirmatively. "Yes, according to the analysis of the directive source, this is a completely new and independent Honkai Impact 3rd world."
"I see..."
Madam Herta murmured, her fingertips gently tapping the armrest of her chair. "It makes sense. Even if the 'Elysian Realm' in our universe existed, its core would probably have long since dissipated."
She looked up at the system puppet. "Does the mission specify a timeline?"
The system puppet shook its head. "The core directive only requests obtaining the Elysian Realm. The specific timeline coordinates require you, Master, to investigate and determine after your arrival."
Madam Herta sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in her sigh, but nothing more.
"It only asks to obtain the 'Elysian Realm', right? Alright, let's make it quick."
She stood up, her skirt sweeping out a clean arc. "As for Kevin, or the Cocoon of Finality, or the Honkai Will, and all those other messy existences we might encounter... we'll improvise then. Let's go check the situation first."
Perspective returns · World Serpent Base Tunnel
And so, the opening scene occurred.
Their teleportation point was precisely in a secluded tunnel deep within the World Serpent base.
Madam Herta curiously scanned her surroundings; the environment was more... "desolate" than she had imagined.
"It seems the World Serpent's manpower is even scarcer than the data indicated."
She commented softly, "Aside from a few core members, the lower ranks probably rely entirely on mass-produced mechanical units like Gray Serpent to do the work of a hundred. Not to mention areas close to critical devices, where the defense appears outwardly tight but inwardly loose."
Her powerful perception spread out like invisible tendrils, cautiously extending in all directions for a deep scan.
"Very good,"
A moment later, she nodded slightly. "No trace of Kevin detected. It seems he's not here."
During her detection, a specific target was locked—just beyond the corner not far ahead, a figure dressed in gray, with a mechanical mask covering its face, was operating in front of a complex device that constantly flashed with data streams.
"Gray Serpent..."
Madam Herta recognized this iconic World Serpent basic unit. "Or rather, one of countless Gray Serpent individuals."
The moment Madam Herta's perception swept over that Gray Serpent, its movements, as it was debugging the device, abruptly froze!
As if a pause button had been pressed.
Immediately after, its crimson electronic eyes suddenly extinguished. Then, countless eerie purple-red patterns, like living vines, emerged from within its metal shell, rapidly spreading across its entire body!
The next second, this Gray Serpent, instantly "formatted" and "reinstalled with a new system," moved with incredible fluidity and... subservience.
It respectfully turned to face the direction where Madam Herta and the system puppet had appeared, like the most loyal servant, silently retreating into the shadows, clearing the path to the device.
Only then did Madam Herta and the system puppet fully emerge from the hidden darkness, stepping forward to stand before the device, which was clearly an important internal terminal of the World Serpent.
Madam Herta's gaze fell upon the screen filled with complex code and interfaces. She extended a finger, clad in a gray silk glove, and casually swiped it a few times in the air.
Invisible commands were issued, and the data stream on the screen, like a tamed beast, quickly began to filter and categorize according to her will, finally presenting the latest records she desired—
[Changkong City · Third Honkai Outbreak Confirmed]
[herrscher core Reaction: Herrscher of Thunder · Identification Name: Raiden Mei · Awakened]
[Related Events: ME Corp Anomaly, Chiba Academy Lockdown...]
"Changkong City... Third Honkai... Raiden Mei becoming the Herrscher of Thunder..."
Madam Herta murmured the key information, her slender fingers gently stroking her smooth chin. "It seems the timeline is at this point. The whole story has just begun."
She fell into thoughtful silence for a moment, finally shaking her head as if weighing the pros and cons.
"The main storyline is still very deep; intervening now could invite unnecessary trouble. The current priority is to take the 'Elysian Realm' away."
Her gaze shifted from the screen to the "Gray Serpent" standing still like a statue beside her, awaiting orders.
Looking at the mechanical shell that still retained the basic appearance of a Gray Serpent, she frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied with its aesthetic style.
"Since it's mine now, it should at least look more pleasing to the eye."
Madam Herta said indifferently, raising her right hand, a faint purple-red glow condensing at the tip of her index finger.
She took a light step forward and touched her fingertip to the center of the "Gray Serpent's" cold mechanical mask.
"Buzz—"
Centered on Madam Herta's fingertip, countless fine purple-red data streams instantly erupted, like a surging tide, rapidly enveloping the "Gray Serpent's" entire body!
These data streams, like the most precise carving tools, rapidly reshaped its surface!
The entire process lasted only a few seconds.
When Madam Herta elegantly withdrew her finger, the purple-red data streams quickly dissipated like receding tides.
What remained was no longer a "Gray Serpent," but a petite "Little Black Herta Puppet," similar in style to the system puppet, wearing an exquisite dark-colored mini-dress, with a docile expression on its face!
In its eyes, a purple-red inverted cross glow similar to that of the system puppet flickered.
This brand-new creation moved its body, seemingly adapting to its new shell, then faced Madam Herta and performed an impeccable bow, saying in a clear voice:
"Hello, Lady! I await your command at any time."
Madam Herta looked at her much more pleasing new subordinate, nodded in satisfaction, and a slight curve formed at the corner of her lips.
"That's much better looking."
She said softly, her gaze returning to the terminal screen flashing with the World Serpent's logo. "Now then... it's time to find out which'safe' is guarding the 'Elysian Realm' that holds the memories of the thirteen Flame-Chasers."
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