Chapter 385: The Live Takes a Sudden, Wild Turn! The Borisin Conspiracy Exposed!
The Astral Express.
As the silhouette of the final legendary rookie swordmaster appeared on screen, everyone's eyes collectively gravitated toward March 7th.
March 7th instantly grew tense!
"W-What are you all looking at me for?"
"Do you seriously think… this character is me?"
Himeko smiled gently.
"March, we might know you better than you know yourself," she said. "So, I can say with absolute certainty that this character is indeed you."
March 7th couldn't help but cover her mouth, her eyes widening in surprise.
Though she had harbored the same suspicion… she hadn't dared to be certain!
Mostly, she was afraid of getting her hopes up, only to be disappointed and end up utterly devastated!
Everyone else on the Express crew was already a five-star character, while she was still stuck as her starting four-star self. On top of that, her combat performance was quite concerning; in the era of Version 2.0, she had been falling further and further behind. She wasn't even showing up as a trial character in events anymore!
She had gradually been relegated to the ultimate benchwarmer!
But now…
Was her new form finally coming?
But she didn't even know how to use a sword!
Could it be that her past life's memories were awakening? Was she actually an incredibly superb swordmaster in her past life?
Would she get stabbed during her transformation process?
Surely not, right?
That would be going a bit too far, wouldn't it?
Her mind was running wild with all sorts of fantastical scenarios, to the point where she felt she could write a whole novel about it!
Just then, another wave of cheers erupted from the Version Preview Livestream!
"What is it? What happened?!"
March 7th hurriedly leaned in to watch, terrified of missing any juicy details.
"It's the PV for Version 2.4," Dan Heng said. "We can use it to get an early preview of what's going to happen next."
Himeko nodded. "This is very important for us. Everyone, get ready to watch closely."
March 7th clenched her hands together in front of her chest.
She didn't know what had gotten into Feathered Spirit this time. All kinds of massive leaks and reveals were being dropped one after another! The atmosphere at the preview venue must be incredibly hyped. She really regretted not going!
As the Honkai: Star Rail logo appeared, March 7th pushed all her random thoughts aside and began focusing intently on the screen!
"Revisiting an old haunt… This lady is feeling quite sentimental."
Right at the start, a familiar voice echoed from the background.
March 7th, who was already tense, instantly reacted like a startled rabbit.
It's me! That's my voice!
On the screen, Stelle was sitting at a table playing a mobile game. On the table stood a Diting with an Immortal's Delight tea cup resting on its head.
The camera panned outward.
Right next to her was March 7th, diligently taking photos.
They seemed to be on a bustling street somewhere on the Xianzhou Luofu. People were bustling about, making it even livelier than usual!
"Everyone, I spot you! Over here!" Yanqing called out happily.
Immediately after, Jing Yuan's voice sounded.
"The Xianzhou Luofu will soon host the Wardance Ceremony. We would be honored if you could spare the time to attend."
As soon as his voice faded, the crowd on the street suddenly scattered in panic.
A rampaging Borisin appeared at the end of the street, roaring and destroying everything in its path.
"Why would a Borisin appear here?"
A shocked and bewildered Yanqing began evacuating the crowd while rushing toward the scene.
Meanwhile, another figure was even faster than Yanqing.
"Perfect timing!"
Picking up a flying sword from the ground, she rushed barefoot straight toward the rampaging Borisin!
With a swift kick, she sent it flying, then casually followed up with two flying swords, pinning it firmly to the ground!
Landing gracefully, she was quickly surrounded by even more Borisin.
The young girl was none other than the silhouette shown earlier—Yunli!
She then drew her massive greatsword.
"Heave-ho—"
"Alright, buddy, which one do you want me to slash…?"
"Oh! All of them!"
Yunli raised the sword, which was even larger than she was, and slammed it straight down onto a Borisin!
"Earth—Shatter!!"
The enemy, along with the ground, was smashed into a deep crater, with lava-like cracks ripping across the surface.
The live bullet chat scrolled rapidly.
…
"Buddy?!"
"Yunli!!"
"If you're a brother, come slash me!"
"Looking at that attack effect, she's definitely a Fire-type character!"
"The genius swordmaster of the Zhuming, Huaiyan's granddaughter."
"Yanqing: Where did all these genius swordmasters suddenly come from?"
"Is my boy Yanqing going to get beaten up again?"
"His mental state is about to shatter."
…
Just then, the scene shifted abruptly!
A cup of Immortal's Delight drifted across the screen.
March 7th held it in her hands, performing a traditional Xianzhou tea-offering gesture.
"Master Yunli, please test the results of my training!"
March 7th brandished dual swords, unleashing arcs of pink sword energy before striking a playful pose.
"I can take on ten of them!!"
Seeing this, March 7th's mouth popped open in an 'O' shape!
"It really is me!"
"The outfit decorations, the hairstyle—they all match up!"
"Great, great! I thought I'd have to wait until the new version launched to find out, but the preview PV just spoiled it directly!"
The corners of March 7th's mouth curled upward!
She finally had a new form!
As a new character in the Version 2.0 era, her strength definitely wouldn't be lacking! She would never be a benchwarmer again!
Meanwhile, at the livestream venue, the players had clearly put two and two together as well!
…
"March!! IT REALLY IS YOU!!!"
"March's new form, hehe…"
"Case closed!"
"The genius rookie swordmaster is indeed our incredibly adorable darling, March 7th!"
"Offering tea with milk tea? Classic March!"
"Alright, Feathered Spirit, is this how you drop foreshadowing?!"
"I actually guessed it the moment the silhouette appeared!"
"Still, March looks silly no matter what she wears."
"What do you mean silly? Our March 7th is a spirited junior sister!"
…
At the venue, lights flashed and confetti drifted through the air. The players were immersed in joy.
The next version seemed like it would be a lighthearted, fun, and comedic update.
Just when everyone thought so, the tone of the PV suddenly shifted!
A cold, dark underground corridor.
A high tower bound by chains.
A prison radiating an eerie green light.
"The Luofu's Shackling Prison…"
"Completely different from the Yaoqing."
"To think it's submerged underwater."
The perspective had suddenly shifted to the Shackling Prison!
All the players were stunned! They had no idea what was going on.
And then, an even more horrifying scene appeared!
Xueyi's eyes were wide, her expression seemingly frozen. She lay collapsed on the ground, her body sparking with short-circuiting electricity!
A massive figure stepped out from the green light, sharp claws resting against Xueyi's neck.
"Miss Hanya, please accept my condolences."
????
For a moment, it was as if someone had pressed the pause button on the entire venue. Everyone was utterly dumbfounded!
This sudden turn of events was so shocking that people could barely believe their eyes!
…
"???"
"XUE—YI—!!!"
"My Xueyi, PLEASE DON'T LET ANYTHING HAPPEN TO YOU!!!"
"A tragedy is coming!"
"What's the situation? Someone attacked a Judge?!"
"Save Xueyi!"
"It's fine, it's fine! Xueyi is a puppet, as long as her soul isn't destroyed, she can live again!"
"But… who would dare be so bold?!"
…
The answer was quickly revealed!
Pack after pack of Borisin ran wild through the Shackling Prison.
From behind, a massive beastly claw reached out from a cell.
"Those memories of chasing, biting, tearing…"
"They have all returned!"
The voice sounded incredibly shrill, carrying a sense of sheer madness!
The moment that terrifying Borisin appeared, someone quickly recognized him!
…
"Holy crap, Hoolay!"
"Oh my god! He really is going to break out of prison and cause trouble!"
"This is a Borisin conspiracy, they came to rescue their Warhead!"
"How dare you hurt our Judge Xueyi, Hoolay, you deserve a painful death!"
"Hoolay!! Killing you a thousand times wouldn't be enough!"
"It's okay, there's still time!"
"Cloud Knights, quickly reinforce the security of the Shackling Prison!"
"We absolutely cannot let anything happen to Xueyi!"
"Quickly, go summon Ancestor Jingliu!".