"The third and crucial question,"
Her expression grew serious, "Do I possess the strength of an Envoy?"
This concerned whether she could be arrogant or had to walk on eggshells in the future. She absolutely couldn't waste such an awesome background.
The System was silent (or rather, processed data) for about two seconds, then replied: "Answer: As if."
Madam Herta: "...?"
She almost thought she misheard: "What do you mean 'as if'? Can you speak normally?"
System: "Based on current analysis, your answer is: It depends."
Madam Herta pressed her hand to her forehead, feeling a bit weary: "Be more specific!"
"Analysis: The attack from the Lord of Silence (Polka Kakamond) caused almost irreversible 'damage' and 'power sealing' to your current vessel, Rupert III.
Therefore, you cannot normally exert the full Envoy-level strength originally possessed by Rupert III."
Madam Herta's heart sank: "So...?"
"You can currently call upon a limited portion of your power for a short time, but there are strict restrictions."
An illustration similar to an energy bar and warning sign appeared on the System panel. "Based on current status estimation, you can perform a maximum of three 'Envoy-level' outputs. Each output requires at least one standard day for 'concept stabilization'. If you forcibly perform a fourth time, or if a single output exceeds the safe threshold, it will lead to the 'conceptual collapse' of the vessel, entering an irreversible state of 'destruction'."
Madam Herta frowned upon hearing this: "...So, I'm a limited edition, three-use Envoy now?"
It felt like owning a top-tier sports car, only to be told the fuel tank was only enough for three kilometers.
"That's one way to understand it."
"Then, how can I recover to... well, at least a usable level?" She didn't want to be a three-second hero forever.
"A solution exists. This System can assist you in collecting a specific 'resource point'. By intervening in events across different worlds, resolving their 'troubles' or completing specific 'objectives', you can gain corresponding points based on your contribution. Accumulating enough points can be used to gradually repair your vessel, remove the seal, and restore your power."
Madam Herta pondered: "So, I have to travel to various worlds, act as a 'trouble-shooter' or 'task master', and earn points to fix myself, right?"
"Affirmative."
"What about this... human form I'm in now?" She pointed to herself.
"This form is a 'human avatar' created by the highly condensed power of Rupert III, making it convenient for activity and interaction in most world environments. Your true form, the Iron Tomb, is currently in a state of 'conceptual convergence' and cannot manifest unless necessary or when power is fully unleashed."
"So, I'm an avatar now, and my true form is hidden?"
"Correct."
Madam Herta thought for a moment, then asked her last, and most pressing, question: "Then... what's the situation in the Honkai: Star Rail world now? Did the sudden disappearance of Rupert III cause any chaos?"
"According to the last received information stream: the moment you were struck, the System activated emergency protocols, transferring your core consciousness and the remains of your vessel to this space. From the perspective of the Honkai: Star Rail world, after Rupert III suffered a fatal blow from Polka Kakaphony, its form completely disintegrated, transforming into pure energy dust that dissipated into the universe, leaving no traceable entity. Therefore, in that world's perception, Rupert III has been completely annihilated by the Lord of Silence."
Hearing this, Madam Herta had just breathed a sigh of relief when the System immediately added:
"However," the System's electronic voice seemed to carry a subtle hint of gravity, "there is a lingering issue, or rather, a 'trouble'."
Madam Herta's recently settled heart tensed up again: "What trouble?"
"Tracking," the System said concisely. "Polka's 'scalpel' attack was not merely destructive; it also carried an extremely strong 'marking' effect. Although the System has done its best to isolate and shield it, the 'aura' remaining from that 'blade' is now bound to you. Once you leave the absolute shielding range of the System Space and enter any other world, there is a very high probability that this 'mark' will be sensed by the Lord of Silence."
Madam Herta was dumbfounded, her beautiful face filled with incredulous confusion, an expression that seemed particularly vivid on her otherwise lifeless face.
"No way?!" She almost cried out, "No matter how powerful the Lord of Silence is, can she really pursue me across worlds?! Isn't that business scope a bit too broad?!"
The System calmly replied: "Based on the evaluation of the Lord of Silence's status and abilities, as well as the unique nature of the 'conceptual mark', this possibility exists. The probability cannot be precisely calculated, but the risk cannot be ruled out."
Madam Herta fell silent.
She looked at the System panel in front of her, with its eerie color scheme and Q-version Herta head, then lowered her gaze to her own extravagant yet potentially life-threatening "skin." She felt her future was "bright"—literally, as she might often be chased by a silver light.
This transmigration started on hellish difficulty.
She sighed, lowering her head to rub her temples.
"So," she summarized, "I'm currently Madam Herta, a former Envoy, now a trouble-shooter, with my power sealed, only three chances to burst forth, and a worldwide bounty on my head?"
System: "...A concise summary."
Madam Herta: "..."
She felt that her upcoming "journey" would likely be quite "exciting."
Madam Herta raised her purplish-black eyes, which lacked highlights yet were still beautiful, and looked at the uniquely styled panel.
"Alright, enough chitchat."
Her tone was calm, carrying a composure that matched her appearance, seemingly adapting to her role quickly. "Now, let's talk about practical matters. What abilities do I have right now?"
She spread her fair, slender hands and looked at them. "Besides this expensive-looking outfit, I feel no different from an ordinary person right now. One punch probably couldn't even kill a Void Ranger."
The Q-version Herta head on the System panel blinked its electronic eyes: "To answer you, Ms., you are currently under the absolute protection and isolation of the System Space. All external ability expressions are suppressed to avoid unnecessary leakage and... well, spatial damage. That is why you feel no different from an ordinary person."
"As for your abilities..."
The System paused, seemingly retrieving from its lexicon. "Ms., have you heard of the Herrscher of Corruption?"
"..."
Madam Herta's originally expressionless, delicate face twitched visibly at the corner of her mouth, causing the small skull ornaments on her chest to sway gently.