"Paths."
Originally, this was the core concept of a parallel universe. It was a supernatural force that shared its origins with Honkai Energy, yet evolved down an entirely different trajectory, taking on a vastly different structural form. Honkai Energy is, at its core, a highly corrosive and hyper-lethal form of Imaginary Energy. Herrschers, Valkyries, MANTISes... and even the Sky People destined to invade Earth's civilization in the future all share one trait: the essence of their extraordinary power stems entirely from Imaginary Energy. And in that parallel universe, those known as "Pathstriders" are also lifeforms sustained by this very same Imaginary Energy.
Therefore...
"Since we're orchestrating a 'script' anyway, why not borrow a bit from that grander cosmic backdrop... right?"
Months ago, when Ling Ke's Project "Severed Branch" concluded, a sapling took root inside the Theater of Domination; this was a miniature "Imaginary Tree" looking to cling to a stronger host. Seizing the whim, he made a slight adjustment to the fundamental cosmic fabric of the Honkai Impact 3rd universe.
Specifically: he introduced the concept of "Paths" to this world.
Yes. As of now, within the cosmos of this universe, Aeons have already been born. Perhaps they were once entirely unremarkable mortals. But their sheer will came to symbolize one undeniable truth: they had ventured further down their respective Paths than anyone else. Some had even traveled extraordinarily far before their ascension to godhood.
Months had passed. Though these transcendent beings were barely out of their philosophical infancy, having yet to establish their factions or anoint any Emanators, the galactic paradigm was already shifting in the shadows. Driven by this cosmic prologue, which acted as a catalyst infinitely more majestic and staggering than a supernova, countless intelligent lifeforms across the universe, even those civilizations that had long relied on Honkai Energy for rapid advancement, suddenly gained the prerequisite to touch the Paths.
Naturally, alongside this awakening, the seeds were sown for cataclysms capable of swallowing galaxies and annihilating civilizations. This was the next "Grand Script" Ling Ke had prepared for himself.
Unfortunately, these macro-cosmic shifts were entirely beyond the observation capabilities of Earth's current humanity. However, Earth was the "little main stage" Ling Ke was keeping a close eye on. So... even if humanity couldn't yet step beyond their own solar system, the intelligent lifeforms dwelling on this third planet still possessed an equal chance to be observed by the fabled "Interstices of the Paths."
This was the fundamental reason why Raiden Mei had previously wandered into Nihility.
By that same token...
"Durandal of Abundance, and... heh."Still standing on the observatory deck, Ling Ke let out a scoffing laugh. "Otto, oh Otto... to think you drew the gaze of Elation! Just who exactly are you trying to amuse?"
Inside the newly built church in the Dharavi slums.Crack... crack...
Durandal was fighting with a style that completely defied her usual battle tactics. With the Divine Key Abyss Flower in hand, she charged fiercely toward Fu Hua. Yet, with every step she took, a bizarre phenomenon blossomed beneath her boots. Like the mythical lotus blooming underfoot, vibrant saplings violently tore through the earth wherever she tread, shattering solid rock and barren dirt alike.
And her primary method of attack...
Swoosh! Massive, writhing tree roots surged toward Fu Hua from all directions like living pythons.
In the past, Durandal could achieve similar feats with Abyss Flower. She could force a towering tree to sprout from empty ground in an instant. This was exactly how she had intercepted a free-falling K-423 back in Arc City. But she rarely utilized this in high-speed, high-frequency combat. The reason was simple: Abyss Flower's power of creation was usually too sluggish when used to aggressively cultivate flora mid-fight. It was far more efficient to just stab with the lance or rely on sheer physical martial arts.
But now...
"!!!"
Fu Hua slammed her right foot into the ground, shattering the stone beneath her as she launched herself backward. Yet, in her vision, the colossal roots animated by Durandal were surging forward faster than Fu Hua could retreat.
All of this began the moment Durandal's hair turned stark white, her eyes suddenly radiating an unnatural, overflowing vitality...
"This power..." Fu Hua quickly calculated in her mind. "Looks like I need to go all out."
But the very moment the thought crossed her mind, "Wrong, Old Timer," Senti's voice echoed from within. "It's 'we' who need to go all out."
Hearing this, a faint, subtle arc crept onto the corner of Fu Hua's lips. "You're right. Let's do this."Her gaze sharpened into a razor's edge. "It's time."
Whoosh! In that instant, ethereal, illusory feathers began to drift around Fu Hua. Behind her, a phantom silhouette materialized. Wearing a fiercely "healthy" grin brimming with bloodlust, the figure laughed out loud: "Let's go! Time to show these kids from the future what we're made of!"
With Senti's unrestrained battle declaration, a spark ignited within Fu Hua's chest. In a fraction of a second, it erupted into a roaring inferno.
BOOM!
Fu Hua abruptly halted her retreat. Planting her feet, her body completely defied the laws of physics, forcefully nullifying all momentum in an instant. Simultaneously, the Shadow Knight armor deactivated, replaced instantly by surging pillars of flame.
In the blink of an eye... she was draped in flowing fire, adorned with drifting feathers. Her twin tails of hair danced wildly in the heat of battle.
This was a form the Celestial had never revealed in the current era. It was a zenith of power she had scarcely tapped into throughout her agonizingly long, 50,000-year life.
Active Honkai Reaction... or more accurately: Artificial Honkai Reaction.
Garuda Factor: Limit Released!!!
Fwoosh!
The mythical golden raptor that feasts upon dragons descended in human form. Perhaps there is no such thing as pure gold. But by that same logic... humans do not need to be flawless. To be flawed is to be human. She was no longer the untouchable, aloof Celestial on the mountain. Now, she was a warrior.
"Past and present, all mortal chains shattered!!!"
Her stance formed in a flash, and she threw a single punch. There was no sound of physical impact. Only the deafening, explosive howl of the fist's shockwave.
"!!!"
Durandal barely managed to dodge, only to witness a terrifying wall of invisible heat distorting the very air itself. The colossal roots she had summoned were vaporized in less than a second, reduced to charred ash and scattered into the horizon.
And it didn't stop there.
BOOM!
The sheer atmospheric pressure of Fu Hua's punch instantly obliterated the upper half of the newly constructed church, grinding the pristine building into fine dust. For miles around, not a single piece of debris fell from the sky because it had all been completely annihilated. Looking toward the distant horizon, a massive, gaping hole had been punched straight through the cloud cover.
Witnessing this apocalyptic display firsthand...
"Is... is this Grandmaster Celestial's true power?" Li Sushang stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded.
Nearby, Durandal's expression hardened as she steadied herself after her evasive maneuver. "So this is the power of a MANTIS," she muttered, eyes locked on the inferno. "It truly is leagues beyond an ordinary Herrscher."
Back at the epicenter of the blast...
"As an uninvited guest from afar, I actually forgot to knock. How rude of me."
The aura radiating from the figure had shifted entirely. Clearly, the one speaking now was not Fu Hua, but Senti. Clenching her right fist, waves of fire bled through her fingers. "But now that the greetings are out of the way..."
She locked eyes with Durandal, and then glanced at Li Sushang standing on the sidelines.
"Bring on Round Two!"
"Fu Hua" slammed her fists together, stoking the roaring flames higher. "Now, it's a real two-on-two."
-
I tried, reviewing and adding context rather than relying solely on the multi-ai pipeline to review from multiple ai perspectives. Like Gpt, gemini, Claude, within the terminal environment.
And built myself a compiler aggregator which is an achievement in myself, and i loved it! 😍 compiling Chinese text became easy that i could copy paste it with the chapters and the chapter text will only be translated then the compiler will hold the beyond chapter.. like for example
A: we are finished game is over~
Chapter 2
Then chapter 2 will put into hold and continue to complete until chapter 3 begins and put on hold for chapter 3 because it is incomplete while compiling chapter 2