When they saw Boothill's unquestionable highlight moment,
The audience could only think, they match too perfectly!
He absolutely wouldn't waste words with bad guys!
If he could shoot, he wouldn't talk nonsense, believing firmly that violence can't solve every problem, but it can definitely solve most problems.
So satisfying. However, things weren't over yet.
After defeating the Assistanana, Boothill's Synesthetic Beacon also returned to normal.
He grabbed March 7th and decided to turn this place upside down!
"See that, Miss Nameless Guest!"
"When dealing with guys like this, only the death of what they treasure is the greatest mercy!"
After personally witnessing Boothill's demonstration, March 7th fully understood.
Only by clearing these people out could everyone return to normal.
Thus, under Boothill's lead,
The two of them directly stormed into the core area of the Dreamflux Reef's "Slumbernana Association."
Along the way, as long as he saw a Slumbernana Monkey, Boothill would shoot.
So before the Monkeys in the core area could react, they were already face-to-face with disaster.
The Profnana who once stirred up chaos at Paperfold University, the one wearing the tall hat and glasses, was hiding here, performing some "enlightenment" ritual on followers, turning them into monkeys.
Even after seeing Boothill, the Profnana still tried to persuade him to join their side.
Using words to criticize the value of human existence, pretending his logic was infallible.
Boothill was entertained.
At a moment like this, he still tried to persuade him with words?
"Listen up!"
"I don't care what philosophies or hardships you have, I couldn't care less!"
"After all, I'm not here to listen to your lecture..."
"I'm here to help you... finish class."
At the final three words, Boothill suddenly turned and fired toward the Profnana.
But in front of the Profnana stood a blank-faced student, yet the bullet curved around the student's ear like it had eyes and hit the Profnana behind him!
Bang!
The gunshot rang. The Profnana collapsed.
The student caught in the middle stared blankly at the smoking barrel of Boothill's gun, feeling like his worldview had collapsed.
Holy crap. The bullet curved!
...
In an instant, every Dream-jolt monster in the room turned into an angry face.
Boothill grabbed his hat, showed a fleeting smile, then immediately shifted to an angry face as well!
Chaos erupted into battle!
Calling it chaos was because these Assistanana's had all sorts of bizarre combat styles.
Born from the Dream-jolt Troupe, they could even launch SoulGlad bottles as missiles.
The power looked impressive.
Meanwhile, Boothill weaved through the chaos while firing.
Bullets, SoulGlad missiles, and all sorts of headache-inducing alarm sounds buzzed around.
"Yahoo!" Boothill fired a full burst, shooting down every missile heading toward him.
He even took time to fire a shot that cut off three of SoulGlad's floating records.
With the music reaching a climax, Boothill climbed a metal frame at high speed while holding his revolver, leaped from above, broke through the encirclement mid-air, and kicked the Profnana square in the forehead.
The kick even sent the Profnana's glasses flying.
"Ba na na na!"
Sweat covered the professor's forehead. He tried to flee, stepping on a SoulGlad bottle and losing balance.
Swaying, he accidentally dodged several bullets.
"You gotta be kidding me, daring to drag out the class?!" Boothill complained.
His six bullets were already used up, so he switched to a hand cannon and fired at the professor.
However, the target had already jumped into the massive memory matter of the Dreamflux Reef, disappearing from sight.
The thrilling battle ended, and the audience felt satisfied.
...
: That's it, that feeling, (so exciting!)
: Honestly, when dealing with these Monsters, only Boothill can do it. Who cares about talking, just shoot the bad guy!
: Verbal criticism can't replace criticism with weapons. The Profnana uses words, Boothill uses weapons, Boothill is clearly stronger.
: So with Dreamflux Reef fixed, only Paperfold University remains.
...
Comments filled the screen.
And inside the Dreamflux Reef, maybe because Boothill's shot broke some "principle."
All the people left here gradually returned to normal.
"Send a message to your Nameless teammate."
"I also need to ask Rappa how things are on her side."
Boothill regretfully holstered his revolver and turned to March 7th.
At that moment... the screen suddenly went black.
Boothill's BGM faded, replaced by Rappa's hip-hop soundtrack.
The audience immediately perked up.
This was clearly the Cosmic Ninjutsu Inscriptions segment.
Sure enough,
Amid the black screen, the large words Cosmic Ninjutsu Inscriptions appeared.
Rappa's narration slowly began.
"Destiny elongates time, in the same way ramen noodles are stretched. The Ninja Capital has turned into an abyssal hell under the devastation of Evil Ninja Osaru. Even the mighty Lan would rather close THEIR eyes to the capital's sorry state and let out a long sigh ..."
"The only remaining ninja, Dazzling Ninja AKA Rappa, has trained an entire decade under the tutelage of Master Kucha to be adept in a wide variety of ninjutsu, gaining also the ability to recite lengthy mantras fluently."
"But deep down Master Kucha is aware that it is only when Rappa receives the tutelage of other Ninja Heroes and embarks upon the paramount way of the ninja as Dazzling Ninja can she save the entire Ninja Capital."
"In the darkest hour of the night, a falling meteor streaks across the sky, marking the graduation of Ninja Initiate Rappa and her new identity as Ninja Hero Rappa ..."
At this point, the audience had already fully accepted Rappa's ninja meme.
They all knew exactly how to translate it now.
Just swap the special terms into standard Honkai Star Rail terminology, and the meaning was immediately clear.
...
: Master Kucha sent Rappa to find a Galaxy Ranger? Guiding her to join the Path of the Hunt?
: A falling star passed, and Rappa also received a glance from Lan?
: So the Master Kucha is also a Ranger?
: But honestly, I think for someone who could give Rappa such a meme-core mindset… Master Kucha is insanely cool.
: From the beginning of this episode to the end, the only person who stayed godlike was probably Master Kucha.
: Every time he appears, I can't help but laugh.
: No joke, I really want to see what's up with Master Kucha wearing a lantern on his head.
...
When the voice finished speaking, a still frame appeared once again.
This time, the freeze-frame locked onto the scene of a just-ended battle.
Many people were lying all over the ground, scattered in messy rows.
Rappa held her weapon and lifted her head, turning slightly toward the camera.
Strangely, her gaze wasn't as clear as before.
"Greetings. Who might you be?" Rappa asked.
"My pleasure to make your acquaintance too. We are Ninja Heroes who have received the true teachings of The Hunt. We come forth to punish Evil Ninja Osaru."
A voice spoke from off-screen.
"Ninja Hero? Huh, it seems that my trial has finally come to an end ..."
"Trial?"
The other side seemed full of doubts.
Rappa could only explain: "The final trial of the Mappou Age ... Destroy the matrix of Osaru's house and end the catastrophe that has befallen this land."
Saying that, with a trace of longing, Rappa asked, sincerely: "Pray tell... Have I proven myself worthy of the title of "Ninja Hero"?"
Without a moment's hesitation, the woman's voice off-screen answered:"O mighty Aeon of The Hunt! What indomitable ninja spirit she has! Indeed, one as devoted as you rightfully deserves the title of Ninja Hero."
"Greetings, Dazzling Ninja!"
When the woman finished speaking, Rappa's breathing trembled.
"Ten arduous years of training finally culminated in this, a new title will be conferred upon me today ... I can proudly say that I have never gone against the tenets of Dazzling Ninjutsu all this time. How I wish you were here to witness this glory of mine today, Master Kucha ..."
The subtitles at the bottom of the screen, the "???" that used to appear over both names became Ninja Hero and Dazzling Ninja.
This short little scene… contained an absurdly massive emotional weight!
...
: Huh? Something's wrong! Falling star wasn't "glancing", it refers to Galaxy Rangers!But… why does the female ranger talk in that exact bizarre tone?
: The female ranger replying to Rappa sounds like someone reciting in her sleep.
: And Rappa herself doesn't look right either!
: What does she mean: "Master Kucha, I hope you can witness this moment"?Did lantern-head die??
: Damn… why do I smell knives incoming.
: This episode is so abstract, and I feel like it will only get more and more abstract. Can my sanity hold??
...
The audience's heads were full of confusion.
Seeing more of Rappa's memories still didn't clear anything up.
After that segment of the Cosmic Ninjutsu Inscriptions ended.
The screen brightened.
The scene that appeared was a university classroom.
Stelle, Dan Heng, Rappa, and Rick were all there.
"I see ... This talent would do well in special effect films."
Rick said with great interest.
It turned out that the memory just now was shown using Rick's memory manipulation ability.
Then he explained his thinking to everyone.
Rappa's body carries a memetic-quality virus.
The Slumbernana virus cannot invade a mind already occupied by another virus, this is the root reason Rappa is immune to brainwashing.
The audience had guessed this earlier; now Rick confirmed it.
But the memetic virus isn't the key.
The key is how to use Rappa's memories to extract the meme and overwrite the Slumbernana Monkey's influence.
The Golden Hour, because of sabotage from the Slumbernana Monkeys, if not stopped, would eventually become the Moment of Slumbernana.
"So the antidote is inside my past?"
Rappa was not surprised by Rick's judgment. She nodded: "That memory has long become a story leave behind in my past, though if Pinecany's future hinges on it ... I am willing to bring back that memory and face it once more."
Under Rick's arrangement, memory matter was given form as an item.
Led by Stelle, the lead actor, they dove into Rappa's memory to cut out the important memetic fragments.
The person had to be Stelle.
The clockwork's power is deeply rooted in Penacony and can easily guide someone through memories.
Others might not have it so easy.
When everything was ready, Rappa warned seriously:"Baseball Bat Ninja, are you ready to dive into my past? Make all necessary preparations, for you may be jolted out of sorts when we encounter the bloody, tearful, and ruthless moments in my memory."
This sentence did not alert the audience.
They assumed it was just more ninja narrative flair. They were instead eager to uncover the truth of the memetic virus, and to finally see that godly figure, the Master Kucha.
As the clockwork activated, Stelle successfully entered Rappa's mind.
The screen went black.
Rappa's monologue echoed slowly in the darkness.
[Pray tell, what does it mean to be a Ninja Hero? And how does one become a Ninja Hero?]
[Through talent? Lineage? Inheritance? Or being possessed by the ninja spirit?]
[Nay, none of these!]
[Across the wide expanse of the Cosmic Ninja Realm, those who practice ninjutsu are as prevalent as flying fish roe, yet Ninja Heroes are as rare as precious golden pufferfish.]
[At this juncture, the legendary scroll of the Ninja Hero is on the cusp of being unfurled. Do your best to maintain your sanity as you watch Dazzling Ninja's past unfold before you.]
[Cosmic Ninjutsu Inscriptions: Past Reverie]
[Part One: Epiphany via Tribulation]
When the voice ended, the screen still did not brighten, but a completely unexpected line appeared,
"Hatch-unlock requested... Insufficient clearance. Please enter password."
A cold system prompt came from behind the door.
"An enchantment? It won't stop me!"
"Rin, Pyou, Tou, Sha... Break!"
After Rappa recited the chuuni-style password, the sound of a hatch opening came from the darkness.
"Password input correct. Live specimen gene editing disabled. Opening hatch."
The screen finally lit up.
In front of a massive life-support capsule, the camera circled Rappa, showing her surroundings.
It was far beyond what the audience expected.
In a place supposedly called The Shinobi Capital, there was not a trace of shinobi-style elements.
Only cold metal walls, lights, and rows upon rows of life-support pods.
The audience, full of anticipation, were all stunned.
When everyone wanted to finally see the Shinobi Capital… the first scene was this?
"That's all there is to Osaru's seal...? Hah."
"That should be the end of my trial... Time to return to Master and resume my training."
Her tone was still the same but Rappa's voice and emotions were clearly not as loud and fervent as when Stelle met her.