Chapter 214: Starlit Astrologos? Shorty Looking at the Sky! Honkai Kingdoms: ZERO Begins!
As March drew to a close, Honkai Impact 3rd welcomed its brand-new version livestream. The new version was titled [Frozen Frost]. This update would launch Main Story Chapter 18, "From the Deep Freeze," along with various optimizations and minor adjustments.
Simultaneously, a new faction war event, Honkai Kingdoms: ZERO, would open. It featured the familiar gameplay of dividing players into three factions to compete for strongholds. This time, the three factions were the Wu-Shuang Military, Bailu City, and Huanyue City. Upon entering the event interface, players would be randomly assigned to a faction.
[Wait? Another faction war?]
[Wu-Shuang, Bailu, and Huanyue? So it's a civil war within the Empyrean Empire this time?]
[Let me check the leaders... Whoa, Durandal, Kiana, and Rita!]
[Gosh, Durandal and Kiana's new skins look so good!]
As Elysia explained the faction war event, the players began to buzz with excitement. When they saw that Kiana's new skin, "Snowmoon Bunny," was a free event-grindable skin, the room erupted again!
[Kiana's skin is free? I'm going to grind my life away right now!]
[Sigh, Rita's 'Wanxi Sha' skin is truly beautiful, isn't it? Too bad I didn't pull for Starchasm Nyx, otherwise I'd definitely get it!]
[Durandal's 'Unmatched' design is also great. I can only say: always trust the Old Thief's aesthetics, okay?]
It had to be said that the skin designs in Honkai 3rd had always been top-tier. After a year and a half of service, a significant portion of revenue came from skin sales. Many players who were usually reluctant to spend on gacha would find their "lower house" controlling their "upper house" when they saw a beautiful skin, leading to a frantic purchase of their favorite designs.
Of course, Honkai 3rd had also launched several collaborations during this period, such as the classic tie-ins with Lawson and KFC. The outfits worn by the Valkyries in the collaboration art made many players beat their chests in frustration.
The collab art is getting better and better; why aren't you making these into skins to sell! If players from other games see this, they'll think we Captains can't afford skins! Make them, make them with a vengeance!!
Regarding the comments asking if the excellent illustrations from collabs and birthday art would be turned into skins, Elysia stated that the project team was already working hard. Soon, a player-voted skin design contest would be held with a massive prize pool, and the winning works would be implemented in-game!
This caused many talented artists to start sharpening their pencils. Being able to design a skin for a favorite character with the hope of seeing it in the game was enough to push fan passion to the limit!
Next, as she continued introducing Honkai Kingdoms, Elysia told the viewers mysteriously: "In this story, a 'new character' who is both familiar yet unfamiliar to players will appear."
[Familiar yet unfamiliar? What riddles is the Old Thief playing now?]
[Could it be like Yae Kasumi from before?]
[That's possible. Although Kasumi is technically Yae Sakura's SP armor in-game, she is distinct from Sakura in the story...]
[Let's be bolder—maybe a new character like Luna Vow!]
[Newbie here, who is this Luna Vow you're talking about?]
[In your case, I suggest you go to the video site, search for Honkai 3rd event story collections, find 'A Midsummer Night's Fantasy,' and hit play...]
After teasing for a while and building up the anticipation, Elysia finally released the high-definition promotional banner for Honkai Kingdoms! Four characters appeared on the banner: Rita, Durandal, Kiana, and in the very front—a loli with hair white as snow, wearing strategist's robes and holding a feather fan!
This white-haired loli was more than a little familiar. Almost instantly, the chat was taken over by a sea of question marks!
[EH??]
[Theresa??]
[Wait, the 'new character' Elysia mentioned is just Theresa cosplaying as Zhuge Liang, right?]
[LMAO, I was just about to say that. Why has Theresa started cosplaying? That feather fan looks quite realistic!]
['Zhuge Theresa' at your service?]
Seeing that familiar face, the audience burst into laughter. At first glance, many thought this "wise-looking" white-haired loli—coupled with that feather fan which triggered the DNA of any Shenzhou person—was just Theresa playing the role of Zhuge Liang.
[Theresa is going to be a strategist in this event? For real?]
[Pfft! As long as she smashes the enemies to death with Oath of Judah, it counts as 'unfathomable strategy,' right?]
[Letting this white-haired shorty be the strategist... Huanyue City is doomed.]
[How is this a 'new character'? Is the Old Thief committing fraud?]
Amidst the laughter, Theresa, who was watching the stream, was practically hopping mad. "What! What do these people mean! 'Huanyue City is doomed if I'm the strategist'? They look down on me too much!"
Many fans in Theresa's own livestream began to mock her mercilessly.
[With your height, Theresa, your feet can't even touch the ground when you sit in a chair. What kind of strategist are you!]
[Hahaha, you guys are giving the streamer zero face!]
[Watch out, or the 'World's Cutest' will hit you with the impact of Oath of Judah!]
[Why are we bullying Theresa again?]
Watching her fans tease her, Theresa's face was darker than coal. However, she wasn't as "broken" as everyone imagined; after all, reality and the persona had to be kept separate. Everyone knew that the Theresa in Honkai 3rd and the Magical Girl Teriri in reality were "legal lolis," but they didn't know that behind these identities, Theresa had already become a "Big Luna" (mature figure). So, ridiculous things like feet not reaching the floor in a meeting wouldn't happen in real life. Still, to maintain her persona, she had to act angry.
"Is being tall a big deal? Watch out or I'll flatten you with Judah!!" Hearing this, the chat was filled with "Hahahaha" again.
Sigh. Adults always have to play their parts.
Theresa continued watching the stream, wondering why she had been quietly pulled to the "Main DPS" position again. Did she have high-light moments in the Honkai Kingdoms: ZERO story?
Back in the Honkai 3rd livestream, Elysia finally revealed the identity of this "Zhuge Theresa." [Starlit Astrologos]was Theresa's sixth battle suit, a physical support character and the second SP Valkyrie. she possessed a special QTE mechanic that could trigger QTE skills and Ultimates from the background without switching characters, dealing massive physical damage and providing support effects.
Although it was Theresa's sixth armor, in the story, she was not the Theresa everyone knew from the main plot. In the background of Honkai Kingdoms: ZERO, before the Schicksal Empire and Pirate Federation were founded, the whole world belonged to the Empyrean Empire. However, the emergence of the beasts "Yama" and "Wuxiang" dealt a heavy blow to the empire, sacrificing the former emperor and leaving only the Crown Grandchild, Kongming (Astrologos).
[So this 'Starlit Astrologos' is an SP character like Yae Kasumi?]
[Got it, a parallel universe character unrelated to the main story.]
[Isn't this just like Luna Vow from 'Midsummer Night'? So this Astrologos is the Theresa of the Honkai Kingdoms timeline?]
[Wait, that's not right? In the previous Honkai Kingdoms, didn't 'Celestial Maiden Theresa' appear? What's the relationship between that Theresa and Astrologos?]
[Maybe she's Astrologos's descendant?]
[That actually seems possible...]
After Elysia's explanation and having played the previous events, the players quickly understood who Astrologos was. But soon, many realized something else.
[Hold on? So this is the third Theresa character?]
[Holy crap! If you didn't say it, I would've forgotten. With Astrologos, there really are three Theresa characters!]
[The 'Old Woman Theresa' from the main story, 'Luna' from the Midsummer event, and now 'Astrologos' from Honkai Kingdoms...]
[Actually, there are other Theresas in the Sea of Quanta, like the one in Father Otto's timeline...]
[Wait, why does it feel like the Old Thief is using company funds to chase a celebrity? What is he trying to do by making so many Theresas!]
You couldn't blame the players for letting their imaginations run wild. It was because Theresa was becoming a very special character. Three different versions had already been released, and one clearly had romantic vibes with the Captain in the event plot. Moreover, this new Astrologos seemed to be the protagonist of the event! He even specifically made Luna Vow and Starlit Astrologos armors... Wasn't this pure special treatment?!
[I said it long ago: the Old Thief is a ten-year Teriri fan.]
[Exactly. I won't believe it if you say he isn't using company funds to fanboy!]
[You're telling me he isn't a Theresa main? The fan-energy is off the charts! Theresa was the lead in 'Midsummer Night,' and she's the lead in the new version... Whoa, is this the highest level of fan-energy? It's terrifying!]
[I'd believe you if you said the only reason he made Honkai 3rd was to add more Theresa designs to the game.]
[Isn't this just 'smuggling personal goods'? Is the Old Thief confessing his love to Teriri through the game?]
In Teriri's livestream, fans were flooding the chat expressing their shock! How deep must his devotion be to go this far?
As the subject of the discussion, Theresa herself was completely dazed. A strange feeling surged in her heart. For some reason, seeing the shock in the chat made her feel a bit sweet inside. Seeing Su Mu put so much effort into designing multiple armors, diverse images, and writing various plots for her made that strange feeling grow stronger.
"Could it be... that idiot really has feelings for me...?" Theresa covered her burning cheeks; she knew her face must be bright red. "But, but I'm Kiana's aunt... and he already has a girlfriend... why use this method to tease an old single woman like me..." she hugged a HOMU plushie, burying her face in it for a long time.
As the livestream neared its end, Theresa looked up, her face still flushed. she opened WeChat and found Su Mu. The last message was from a day ago.
[Su Mu: Make sure to watch the new version stream; I have a surprise for you.]
[Theresa: What surprise?]
[Su Mu: you'll know when you see it.]
Now she knew what the surprise was. But how should she reply? Should she say she was happy? But wouldn't that be an indirect acknowledgment of Su Mu's actions? That game was under her niece's company; it brought in massive revenue. What if the game collapsed because Su Mu was "smuggling personal goods" to express his love? she couldn't do that... The game was those children's hard work; it couldn't come to nothing because of her!
With these thoughts, Theresa took several deep breaths to calm herself. she began drafting a message: [I am very happy, and I know your heart now, but I'm sorry... it's impossible between us.]she deleted it quickly and retyped: [Thank you for the gift, but don't do this next time. I don't want you to ruin your career for me; we are from two different worlds...]
No, no, that's not what she wanted to say! Wasn't there a more tactful way? she deleted the text again. Before she could continue, Su Mu sent a message.
[Su Mu: Elysia Sticker: Smug.jpg]
[Su Mu: How is it? Do you like your new character?]
Seeing the message, Theresa's heart skipped a beat. The words she had carefully thought out were never sent. In the end, she only typed four words:
[Theresa: I like it very much.]
[Su Mu: Perfect. Since you're the lead in Honkai Kingdoms: ZERO, are you free to stream on update day? How about having Kiana as your guest this time?]
Theresa knew this was a routine inquiry, part of their business collaboration. she wanted to reply "Let Kiana come," but her fingers moved on their own.
[Theresa: Will you come?]
[Su Mu: Me? I have to check the schedule, but it should be fine.]
[Su Mu: you want me as a guest that badly?]
[Theresa: Yes.]
[Su Mu: Elysia Sticker: Salute.jpg]
[Su Mu: Your Highness, I promise to arrive on time with the Third Prince, Kiana!]
[Su Mu: So, Your Highness, regarding the stream?]
Seeing Su Mu jump straight into roleplay, Theresa couldn't help but laugh out loud.
[Theresa: Granted!]
After putting down her phone, she felt a sense of loss. "What am I doing..." she slumped over her desk, looking troubled. "I had already made up my mind... but I still couldn't help inviting him... Kiana will be there too; if that dummy niece notices something, won't I... Aaaah, so annoying! Theresa, why do you always do stupid things!"
Susannah, passing by the office, peeked in and saw Theresa practically banging her head on the desk. she was startled! "Lady Theresa! Wh-what are you doing!"
But soon, Susannah decided there must be a deep meaning behind this. As a qualified assistant, she had to learn to interpret Lady Theresa's intent! Lady Theresa must be testing me with this! Staring at the strange movement, Susannah racked her brain and finally found a reason to convince herself. "Could it be post-work yoga? Let me join in too!"
Thus, a moment later. Senti, the sister of Security Manager Fu Hua and a master slacker, passed by the office. she looked in and saw Theresa and Susannah both on the floor, in a very strange posture.
"What's going on? Are they possessed?" Senti immediately remembered "Old Antique's" teachings. A great hero saves the nation and the people! Seeing injustice, one must roar!
she kicked the door open, struck a Cloud Slasher stance, and roared:
"Halt! What foul demon dares possess my friend! Show your true form immediately and prepare to die!!"
END OF CHAPTER
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium