---
"But all of that was just the appetizer."
"If you want to witness true art, you can't miss this next move!"
Guinaifen clenched her fists, staring at the screen with bated breath.
In the video, her in-game self raised a gong and mallet, striking a dramatic pose as flames coiled around her.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!!!"
The moment she activated the skill, she began ferociously hammering the gong—
And then, out of nowhere, three little Trotter creatures came charging in from behind, kicking up a cloud of dust!
The Totters circled the enemy, tumbling and flipping before lighting a massive firecracker in the center.
"BOOM!!!"
A towering pillar of fire erupted, forming a mushroom cloud on the spot!
Guinaifen's character stood there, watching with glee, while the Totters were blown backward by the explosion, slamming into the screen with a comical thud.
Live Chat
"Is this the power of a veteran artist?!"
"Holy smokes, this is wild!"
"How did you convince these Totters to help you set off fireworks?!"
"[Disclaimer: All Totters used in this skill are fireproof. No real Totters were harmed.]"
"Master Gui's Ultimate is SO FREAKING CUTE!!!"
---
In the livestream, Guinaifen's jaw dropped into a perfect "O".
After watching the showcase, her eyes sparkled like golden stars.
"I LOVE IT!!!"
"AHHHHHHH!!!"
"I LOVE THIS ULTIMATE SO MUCH!!!"
"IT EVEN HAS A CROSSOVER WITH THE TOTTERS!!!"
"YU LING, HOW DID YOU KNOW I WANTED THESE LITTLE GUYS IN MY KIT?!"
Without hesitation, she opened the top-up menu and—
Dropped 10x 648(credits) pulls in one go!
As she started rolling, she excitedly rambled:
"Guys, I think my kit is actually pretty strong!"
"Finally, I can replace Sampo in my Kafka team and be the DoT queen myself!"
---
Meanwhile, Aboard the Astral Express...
Pom-Pom, Himeko, Welt, March 7th, and Stelle were all staring intently at the game screen.
The train cabin now had an unexpected guest—
The red-haired man from the recent trailer!
Pom-Pom's eyes narrowed.
"Pom-Pom will get to the bottom of this..."
"Just who is this guy?!"
"And what exactly happened to the Express?!"
March 7th muttered, "We just wanted to go to Planet Washtopia for a quick clean... How did we end up in this mess?"
"Conductor, maybe we should skip spring cleaning for now..."
Pom-Pom rubbed its head. "Unsure. Keep watching."
They maneuvered the character to the observation window—
Outside, the scenery had completely changed.
The usual starry expanse was now a crimson void, with asteroids drifting along eerie trajectories.
March 7th gasped. "This... isn't just a simple collision."
"That red sky... Something's seriously wrong."
"Let's go ask that guy what's going on!"
---
Enter: The "Knight of Beauty"
The red-haired man stood before a potted plant, his back turned to the group.
The moment March 7th approached—
A spotlight (from nowhere) suddenly illuminated him, casting golden reflections off his armor.
In a voice brimming with poetic sincerity, he declared:
"The cosmos shines, and beauty unfolds—"
"Like pigments dancing in the void..."
"You... are truly beautiful."
The spotlight then shifted to the object of his admiration—
The potted plant in the corner.
???
Pom-Pom, March 7th, and Stelle froze.
WHAT KIND OF SUDDEN TONE SHIFT WAS THIS?!
After the trailer, they'd assumed this man was arrogant, dangerous, maybe even an enemy—
He'd fought on the Express, chased Pom-Pom with a spear, and generally acted like a menace!
But now... he was praising a plant?!
[Is this guy... okay in the head?]
---
March 7th cautiously stepped forward—
Another mysterious spotlight hit her, making her jump.
The red-haired man turned, approaching with knightly grace.
"A lady?"
"Please allow me to sincerely compliment you."
"You are like a winter bloom upon the snowfields."
Stelle moved closer too.
"I have yet to introduce myself—I am Argenti, of the Knights of Beauty."
"Might I inquire after your esteemed names?"
His refined manners and gentle tone were a far cry from the aggressive figure they'd expected.
The cognitive dissonance was overwhelming.
March 7th skipped the pleasantries.
"So YOU'RE the one who rear-ended the Express?!"
Argenti bowed slightly.
"Indeed! For this, I offer my deepest apologies."
"I've come to assist the Astral Express in resolving this predicament."
"A pleasure to meet you both! Forgive my earlier distraction—I was expounding upon the meaning of Beauty to this plant."
He then asked, with earnest curiosity:
"As fellow denizens of the cosmos... do you know of Idrila, the Goddess of Beauty?"
[Wait, were you SERIOUSLY complimenting me just now?]
"Why would you doubt it? Please, do not question your own worth!"
[But you were just praising a PLANT!]
"My words and deeds hold no falsehood. I believe its spirit shines as purely as a mirror."
???
March 7th and Stelle exchanged glances.
This guy's a few screws loose, isn't he?
---
Pom-Pom sighed. "So he's from the Knights of Beauty..."
"Yeah... that tracks."
"Their members wander the galaxy, preaching the name of 'Beauty' and spreading awareness of Idrila."
"This scene perfectly captures their... unique vibe."
March 7th blinked. "So... are they good guys or bad guys?"
Pom-Pom pondered.
"Mostly good? Aside from being fanatical about their beliefs, they're generally well-meaning."
"This Argenti fellow seems no exception."
---
Meanwhile, on a Beautiful Planet...
In a serene, picturesque world, Argenti (the real one) watched the in-game storyline unfold with teary-eyed emotion.
"Even the developers of Honkai: Star Rail acknowledge our mission to uphold Beauty in the galaxy!"
His voice trembled with joy.
"That sublime music... those breathtaking animations... the Knights of Beauty are even featured in the event storyline!"
"By preserving such beauty, we may yet find traces of our goddess, Idrila!"
Around him, dozens of fellow Knights gathered, clad in gleaming armor.
They erupted into thunderous applause, their gauntlets clanging like ceremonial bells.
Some began singing ancient hymns, their voices so moving that—
Flowers bloomed instantly.
Crystal-clear springs bubbled from the earth.
Since Honkai: Star Rail had taken the universe by storm, the Knights of Beauty had naturally taken notice.
They'd convened on this planet to experience the game together, believing it might hold clues to Idrila's whereabouts.
A female Knight stepped forward, smiling.
"Congratulations, Argenti."
"You've taken another stride upon the Path of Beauty."
"May we soon witness Idrila's true form."
Argenti clasped his hands, moved.
"Thank you. Now, let us continue this epic tale of splendor!"
To be continued…
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