Honkai Impact 3rd, what should an ordinary player do at the start?

Page 148

In a sense, Ling, who had been observing from the beginning, had already developed muscle memory even if she couldn't achieve true empathy. It's like someone asking for a cup of hot water every day at noon. If this habit continues for several months or even a year, even if one day she doesn't ask for it, the people around her will naturally give her a cup of hot water at around the same time, and they might even wonder why she didn't ask.

Unlike outsiders who initially perceive Jiang Cheng as possessing formidable action and ruthlessness, those who spend more time with him and clearly observe his every decision are well aware of the ordinary body and soul beneath his seemingly resolute demeanor.

Love and hate, hesitation and determination, kindness and evil...

Humans have all sorts of contradictions.

Like opposing spirals, or sharp blades pointing in opposite directions.

Therefore, the moment she opened her mouth, the girl had already prepared a semi-concealed means of protection.

As an authority of erosion, even when crafted into a Divine Key, it doesn't theoretically weaken in the hands of unsuitable individuals, unlike other weapons. For example, its original wide-range power output has been reduced to a powerful move that requires an hour to activate—a flowing shadow, tinged with red, emanating from the black of the blade, instantly envelops the object in its palm.

Once powerful enough to destroy the remaining billions of humans, and to destroy the three last and most resilient fortresses belonging to humanity, the power of these almost impregnable cities still exists in a state of near-peak strength. Even space itself can be eroded by this virus, and nothing, material or immaterial, can escape its endless self-renewing cycle.

Don't worry, I'll protect it well. No one can take it away or harm it before you decide to take it out.

Even without creating a physical body or making any large-scale movements—at the distance of approaching the room of the three people.

Just hearing her voice was enough to conjure up an image in my mind of a girl patting her chest with a self-satisfied and slightly proud air.

[I'm not a bad guy... Although I don't have the right to say this, neither of us are good people, so I can just say I'm not a bad guy.]

I'm still quite friendly to my friends, and I would never do what I did before, no matter what. I will never trust others again.

"I will make you satisfied with your revenge, and I will be satisfied with mine as well."

— All that's needed is this kind of promise.

That's all the boy needs to say.

Then all you have to do is push open the door, hear that click-clack sound, and see the two girls already waiting at the door.

Even though she was very busy with work, she still made time to come over.

To congratulate you on the recovery of your arm.

"Great!"

Just an hour ago, the Valkyries called her the Thunder Queen, a girl as swift as lightning and as stern as a queen, clasped her hands together lightly—

If those people saw this scene, they would probably be so surprised that their jaws would drop, and the joy on their faces would be so clear.

"He has finally recovered and is even healthier than when we first met."

"Yes... but please make sure to maintain Zero-Dream (Seven)'s current state. You can leave all the problems to me and Mei."

Just like it was decided who would play the good cop and who would play the bad cop, after the congratulations came Sakura's request.

He probably took on this responsibility voluntarily.

Those beautiful, azure eyes held an excessive gentleness.

Countless beautiful cherry blossoms blew by, and the blue lake water, so clear it seemed to reflect the sky, was illuminated by artificial lights that shone through her hair. These lights were no less dazzling than the brightest sunlight. And like a cherry blossom petal falling in the most delicate spring day, half of her hair curled back on her shoulders as if blown by the wind, just like her slender fox ears, there was a joy that could never be hidden.

It was as if the whole world had become clear, as if the entire blue sky, which had been covered by dark clouds, had been washed by the rain and was so clear that it seemed to reflect light. When you looked up, it seemed that the remaining water droplets and the moisture in the air were still reflecting the brilliance of the morning light, a brilliance so bright that it could illuminate even the depths of your soul.

Even if one wants to be the villain, one simply cannot utter harsh words; in the end, one can only plead to shoulder all the responsibility.

“I know you mean well, but at least when it comes to saving your lives, you have to trust me.”

"Me? I'm someone who desperately wants to live, is incredibly resilient, and is also incredibly afraid of dying."

His right hand, perfectly intact, was clenched into a fist, with only his thumb extended and turned inward, pointing at the beating heart.

From the very first moment it came into this world, it has been burdened with pain and erosion, yet it still beats now, even more vigorously and healthier than ever before. The thumping sound is like the roar of an engine, and even a hundred of the most advanced fighter jet engines might not be as powerful and energetic as this heart.

In order to survive until now, I have forcibly squeezed out the kind of drive that ordinary people should never have from the very beginning, and relied on death to whip me into getting to where I am today.

Therefore, he was the most qualified and confident to respond to the two girls' concerns—looking directly at their beauty, which was like thunder in a clear sky, and at the lake water where countless cherry blossoms were floating.

"I lost this hand because of unforeseen circumstances and a problem I couldn't solve at the time, but now, in my premonition, I'm almost certain that I won't lose any more limbs."

"Please don't worry about these things, and don't treat me like a useless person. I know you value me, but at this moment I am also a fully awakened one of the Stigmata."

It was as if they were giving away everything in their eyes.

The sparkle in her eyes was even more dazzling than her beautiful, expressive gaze.

In fact, he—Jiang Cheng—was the one who almost single-handedly assassinated Otto.

Even if the reason for choosing to assassinate someone was... incredibly stupid from a later perspective, it was simply because he didn't want Raiden Mei to experience the same pain from the drug, so he decided to try to handle it alone until he couldn't, and then called on the girl. In reality, he didn't have a strict assessment of his and Otto's fighting abilities, and could easily have caused even greater disaster, resulting in not only the girl being injured, but also a tragedy where he himself would suffer even greater injuries.

Although I don't regret it—even now, I feel like I was out of my mind back then, I don't regret it at all, because the idea of ​​wanting to protect Mei was absolutely right, and perhaps it was precisely because of this somewhat desperate idea that I was able to defeat Otto with this body that wasn't fully utilized.

Although the vast majority of the credit belongs to Jizo Mitama, it is clear that weapons are also part of an individual's strength. Even if Sakura hadn't helped block the blow, from the current perspective, she would probably have suffered a broken bone at most, and her bones would have healed automatically after lying in bed for another day, or even less.

Even if Otto's strength wasn't top-tier, and he wasn't even considered a high-level combatant before the False God, the fact that he could defeat a combat-type body made of Soul Steel without unleashing his potential... no amount of estimation could make the boy realize that he was no longer human.

It merely wears a human skin and has a human-like appearance, but in reality, whether it's blood, bones, cells, or anything else, it has absolutely nothing to do with humans, not even a little bit.

"If I train harder now, I'll probably be just like you, Mei, within the next three years, with no enemies."

"Back then?"

“Now that you’ve added the Seven Thunders of Purification, I feel that you’re practically invincible before Kevin returns.” Jiang Cheng’s finger lightly tapped the girl’s chest. “My initial estimate was a bit too conservative. After all, I was just looking at it from an outsider’s perspective, so I couldn’t understand the true power and could only rely on the accumulation and calculation of data. But now that I have the power myself, if I think about it carefully… you’re already too strong.”

"In fact, Sakura is already a powerhouse that only Mistelin can match when she is wielding the Spirit Blade: Sakura Blizzard. Both Hua and Bianca are either not yet fully grown or are seriously injured."

"Ah... you still don't want us to worry."

Looking into those eyes that feigned confidence, compared to all the descriptions of combat power and strength, Raiden Mei realized the true thoughts hidden beneath those words.

With her eyes slightly curved downwards, her eyelashes, as delicate as a clear sky, folded back, complementing the crimson hue that symbolized the Herrscher, the lightning-wielding girl smiled faintly.

"Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who wants to turn you into a cripple all the time..."

"you……"

"You can trust me..."

……

……

Ahhh...

In fact, he regretted it the moment he opened his mouth—he had made such a promise that he would never turn Jiang Cheng into a useless person, a useless person who could not live without him.

……

Chapter 122 I am a genuine villain

The trembling voice, the flickering eyes... it was such a fake performance that even an observer could see right through it.

Sakura sighed helplessly at the two who were trying to comfort their lovers with all their heart and not want them to worry about them, but in reality, neither of them had any relevant abilities. She exchanged a glance with Rin, who had unknowingly projected a small, three-headed doll image next to her.

The sighs were almost identical, the only difference being those eerie pink eyes... or rather, they no longer deserved to be called eerie, but rather seemed to be encouraging, as if saying—now it's your turn, hurry up and charge!

"Actually, Mei and I both think that we hope you will shift all the work that you can shirk onto us in the future, and we don't want to see you working hard anymore... That's all."

The girl, as graceful as falling cherry blossoms, once again stepped into the room.

She looked up at the boy.

Gazing into those eyes, and using flimsy words that barely conveyed her true feelings—she grabbed Jiang Cheng's free left hand and pressed it against his full chest without hesitation, as if to completely engulf it, her palm instantly disappearing into it.

"I'm not good at sweet talk, and as a mere priestess, I've never learned these things, but I really don't want... I don't want to see you get hurt again, Jiang Cheng."

"Call me blasphemous, or say I want to treat you like a clay idol, but this thought, this will, is indeed brewing in my heart."

Yes……

The sound of a heart beating beneath that heavy, soft exterior still lingers.

The sound, though obscured by its excessively proud fullness that is difficult to reach, can still be felt.

It was precisely because she had worked all day and helped Jiang Cheng share the burden that she had the courage to utter such treasonous words—especially for a girl who considered herself a concubine, a priestess serving the gods, and a ninja under her lord, these words could be considered treason, blasphemy, and it was normal for her to be disliked.

Anyone would feel nervous saying these things, even if they had everything under control, even if they had cornered the Venerable One, gripping the knife and staring at that blood-soaked, panicked figure, their heart would inevitably pound. They would almost uncontrollably scrutinize every subtle expression on the Venerable One's face, taking in every tiny movement.

But these things won't happen, absolutely not, not even the slightest possibility.

Because the deity in the azure eyes is named Jiang Cheng.

"In that case, I'll give it a try."

This will be the only response you'll get.

The answer came from Jiangcheng, from the venerable one they served.

This doesn't mean the boy is really a non-stick pan who doesn't want to take any responsibility or a fence-sitter. At least the face that Sakura and Mei see now, compared to the troubles and difficulties of the past, it's as if he's stepped into darkness and entangled by spider webs, constantly tired and tense. He now has room for leisure, for relaxation and for chatting and laughing.

He was smiling—a light, carefree smile, like a bird being released from its cage, and his eyes seemed to be completely free of any worries.

"Now I am indeed... Once I get over this hurdle, I will have room to relax. In that case, I won't make you worry all the time."

"I kept mentioning three years before because after I became bishop, there would be at least three years before the next event would occur."

Therefore, Cai Yilin-wife+罒污 was able to keep an eye on the two girls.

Each hand touched a soft spot.

It was as if I had touched something delicious and fragrant.

"Mmm...huff...gurgle...My dear husband...there, there...finally starting...a little more relaxed, mmm..."

That place was also...

Jiangcheng's Hand

"I also want!"

Raiden Mei made no attempt to hide her jealousy.

The difference between Sakura receiving... a touch, and him only having a finger lightly pressed against his chest—even his purple eyes seemed to be electrified as he looked up at Jiang Cheng, who had relaxed to the point of becoming completely degraded by the blatant favoritism.

"Oh? What?"

The smile has indeed deteriorated.

They became like rotten villains.

"The city lord has a wicked heart"

Her eyes, which usually sparkled like stars, seemed to be veiled by the clouds, becoming slightly dim. The upward curve of Raiden Mei's lips had subtly disappeared, replaced by a childlike upturn, her cheeks round and plump. Despite possessing the tall, mature air of a high school student, she now looked as adorable as a child. The bright sunlight danced on her hair, adding a thin filter to her slightly disgruntled expression, making it even more vivid.

"Humph!"

The girl gave a soft hum, like a little girl's coquettish pout, mixed with a hint of undeniable emotion—

"Who was it that said in bed that they would make it up to me and would pay the ultimate price to atone for their sins?"

"Me! Of course it's me."

The first thing to do was to raise a cold hand to deal with the dirty business. The one who started the dream was a young man.

"Since you still remember, now that you've finally regained your limbs, you should know what to do, right?"

Raiden Mei looked up with apparent displeasure, but her voice was as sweet as a cake overflowing with milk and honey.

Do not……

It's not that I want to.

These are genuine, sweet little cakes!

If what they had seen before was enough to terrify the Valkyries who had witnessed the Thunder Queen this morning, then what they were seeing now would probably make them doubt themselves without hesitation. Perhaps they were dreaming, drowsy, or had traveled through time, wondering if they had stumbled upon a dump truck sometime during their sleep—in any case, they couldn't believe that what they were seeing was real—that this coquettish girl was the valiant Thunder Queen.

Even though those eyes, which symbolize the Herrscher's crimson brows, are sharper than lightning and more terrifying, at this moment they contain only a pure love that seems to radiate from within.

Even though the swordsman wielding the most ordinary standard katana could instill fear in the most skilled Valkyries to the point of not daring to challenge him, at this moment he was simply displaying an arrogant heart.

"What a beautiful decay, so peaceful..."

"If this continues, I'm really going to become useless."

Simply gazing at the flowers in my eyes, which seem to be gently swaying in the wind, is enough to bring me peace of mind.

So beautiful, so happy, so peaceful, it was almost like turning into a stone, bringing a sense of tranquility. I longed for this kind of life to continue eternally like still water, a thought that came from the bottom of my heart, flowing through my blood—until the next moment when I saw the girl's smile.

"It's time to pay the grain tax." He didn't say anything, but just looking at that gently raised smile, it was as if that ghostly whisper could be heard in his ear.

"It's time to prepare for the birth of the lower priestess."

Even Sakura seems to be...

what……