Bai Lu's vision dimmed. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a cold, dimly lit room—more prison cell than shelter. In one corner, several young girls huddled together, trembling with fear.
But Bai Lu's gaze locked onto one of them: a frail, purple-haired girl. Despite her messy appearance and thin frame, he recognized her instantly.
"Holy crap… Queen—no, it's Sirin now! The Second Eruption! I need to get on her good side, fast."
He knew all too well the danger of being near a future Herrscher. One wrong move, and he could be wiped out by an AOE before the plot even began. Survival meant strategy—and for now, that meant earning Sirin's trust.
Just then, the door slammed open. Soldiers marched in and took Sirin away. She didn't resist. Her eyes, dulled by trauma, lingered on the girls in the corner—perhaps hoping to see them again.
Bai Lu clenched his fists. He couldn't intervene. Not yet. Judging by the others—likely Bella and her group—there was still time before Sirin's transformation.
Moments later, researchers in lab coats arrived and escorted Bai Lu and the remaining girls out.
He didn't resist. He could activate the Hu Tao template and force the plot forward, but that would mean facing Otto head-on. Bai Lu wasn't ready for that. His only hope was to ride the chaos of Sirin's awakening and make his move when the time was right.
As he was led away, he muttered under his breath, "Damn system, aren't you going to give me a mission? I'm just a small fry right now—I might actually die."
Ding-dong. Mission issued: Gain Sirin's favor. Reward: Advanced Gacha Pull ×1 (First mission reward significantly increased).
Bai Lu exhaled in relief. But he couldn't help but wonder if this system was some kind of artificial idiot.
Inside the system space, a voice raged:
"You're the idiot! I'll show you what this system can do! Just wait—if you get even half the real rewards, I'll—"
A sudden chill ran down Bai Lu's spine.
Before he could process it, he was strapped to an experimental table. Researchers injected a tube of glowing purple liquid into his veins. His body burned. Purple patterns spread across his arm, pulsing ominously.
He panicked—but after a few agonizing minutes, the patterns faded.
The researchers were stunned. A male subject had survived the injection. Though disappointed by the lack of dramatic results, they sent Bai Lu back, eager to try again later.
Back in the cell, Bai Lu sighed in relief. His Honkai energy adaptability wasn't low. That was good news. In this world, strength mattered—but adaptability was survival. Without it, even a trace of Honkai energy could reduce you to ashes.
Soon, Bella and the others returned, visibly shaken. Bai Lu waited for the patrol to pass, then pulled out the Sweet Madame he'd drawn earlier.
"Here. You must be starving. I still have some food—go ahead and eat."
The girls hesitated, then accepted the food gratefully. Bella, the eldest, offered a quiet "thank you."
As they devoured the meal, Bai Lu noticed they'd left a small portion untouched. Confused, he looked at Bella.
"That's for Sirin," she explained. "She's the purple-haired girl. She used to bring us food when she could. So we want to surprise her."
Bai Lu's heart ached. These girls, hungry and exhausted, still saved food for their friend. No wonder Sirin never forgot them—even after becoming a Herrscher.
"Don't worry," he thought. "This time, I won't let you die like before."
"It's nothing," he said aloud. "We should all help each other. My name's Bai Lu—'Bai' as in white, 'Lu' as in land. What's yours?"
"I'm Bella," she replied, then pointed to two healthier girls. "That's Agatha and Aurora…"
She introduced the rest, though their numbers had clearly dwindled. Bai Lu didn't need to ask what had happened.
Time passed. Bai Lu grew closer to the group. Then, one day, Sirin returned.
"Everyone! I brought food!"
She staggered in, clutching loaves of bread and a bottle of water. Bella and the others rushed to support her.
"I'm fine," Sirin said weakly. "Eat up!"
The girls stared at the needle marks covering her arms. Bella handed her the saved portion of Sweet Madame.
"Sirin, try this. Brother Bai Lu gave it to us—it's sweet and delicious!"
Bai Lu greeted her warmly. Perhaps because of their shared suffering, Sirin didn't put up walls. They quickly became friends.
Ding-dong. Mission complete! Reward received: Advanced Gacha Pull ×1.
Bai Lu's eyes lit up. "Gacha pull."
Ding-dong. Congratulations: Blade (24h trial card).
"Blade? Isn't that from Honkai: Star Rail? And it's just a trial card? This system is stingy… Still, better than nothing. Blade's strength should be Herrscher-level here, right?"
With new power in hand, Bai Lu began planning. He'd need it to face the 5-core Sirin later.
Days passed. More experiments. Bella and the others were nearing their limits. Bai Lu knew he couldn't wait any longer.
After Sirin returned, he shared his escape plan. Bella and the others helped refine it, patching loopholes until it felt solid.
But fate had other plans.
The next day, researchers deemed Bai Lu a more promising subject than Sirin. They injected her with a far more concentrated dose of Honkai energy.
Her screams echoed through the facility. Her body writhed, covered in purple corrosion. Memories of pain and betrayal flooded her mind.
The torment—physical and emotional—pushed her to the edge.
Then, she heard it: the voice of "God."
Honkai energy surged into her body. Shackles shattered. Under the stunned gaze of the researchers, Sirin rose.
Eyes blazing, she raised her hand.
"The—!"
The researchers were instantly consumed by Honkai energy.
Sirin had awakened.
Then the Second Eruption… had begun.