Create a game called "Collapse Iron," where the entire universe is the player.

Using that brief three or four-minute "experience," Black Tower carefully studied Nanook's behavioral patterns.

Nanook did not utter a single word throughout the entire process.

There were no battle cries, no taunts, and no declarations of victory.

There was only a vast silence.

And after the silence, came the pure destruction.

But not ordinary people.

They felt an indescribable fear stemming from this silence.

"Why...why isn't he saying a word?"

"I'd rather he said something!"

"Please, even... just one insult would be fine!"

Just as Black Tower was engrossed in watching and almost grasped some kind of pattern, the scene before him suddenly shifted without warning—a red figure abruptly appeared.

"This is... a special event has been triggered?" Black Tower was slightly surprised.

Aha suddenly appears in front of "you" (that is, Nanuk's projection), looking at you with a grin.

Aha: "Hi, Mr. Silence!"

Aha: "When you destroyed the planet, did you ever think about—"

Aha: "Are the insects on this planet also playing their own 'simulated universe'?"

Aha: "They might also be playing the role of 'destroyer gods,' destroying... a tiny anthill?"

Aha: "Hehe, who's the imitator? Who's the bug?"

After saying that, Aha's figure vanished like a wisp of elusive smoke.

Nanuk remained silent for about three seconds.

Then, it punched through the "screen" in front of it.

……

Black Tower's consciousness was instantly extracted, and it returned to reality.

The game screen flickered a few times and then returned to the start screen.

The sound of Estella's incessant chattering and discussion reached my ears.

She turned her head and looked at Gui Naifen's live broadcast room again.

In the live chat, viewers were still enthusiastically discussing their gaming experience:

"Nanook in 'Star God Simulator' is too overpowered! He can wipe out a whole bunch of enemies with just a flick of his wrist!"

"Yeah, but there are some really tough bosses inside. I almost got wiped out."

"You mean that 'Karslana'? The name sounds weird."

"Why do I feel like...it's actually quite simple?"

"@Honkai Impact 3rd: Star Railway Official, what's going on? Why is the difficulty fluctuating so much?"

"Honkai Impact: Star Railway Official (Max Level): The 'Star God Simulation' mode is somewhat special... its difficulty is directly related to your own strength."

"What does the boss mean by that? I don't quite understand..."

"It means that the stronger you are, the easier 'Star God Simulator' will be."

"You're indirectly calling me a piece of trash, buddy."

……

Upon seeing Lin Lin's explanation in the comments, Hei Ta instantly understood why her gaming experience was completely different from that described by ordinary players.

Lin Lin... he really is hiding something incredible!

We still need to bring him back!

Squeeze him dry!

—Of course, I'm referring to the information about the Star God in his mind.

Black Tower's consciousness was filled with excitement and curiosity about research.

Immediately, to the astonishment of Estelle and Alan, the Black Tower doll's eyes dimmed—she had logged off.

Her consciousness quickly returned to the doll in the office, ready to immediately begin refining her "simulated universe" database based on her recent experience.

......

On the Starry Sky Train.

Lin Lin sneezed without warning, a strange sense of unease washing over him.

"Strange... I'm already a Traveler of Destiny, so I shouldn't have caught a cold."

He rubbed his nose and muttered to himself.

"Is Old Mi thinking about me again?"

"Why!"

"It's never over...it's never over!"

Lin Lin felt a deep sense of sorrow for Lao Mi.

Meanwhile, the two ladies beside her—Star and March 7th—were intently watching the screen, observing the plot development regarding "what if Star chooses to stay on the space station."

In the plot,

When Hoshi comes to Himeko, the game presents the first real dialogue choice.

I want to get on the bus.

I've decided to stay on the space station.

Let me think about it some more.

Himeko: "So? Have you made up your mind?"

Xing nodded, her tone calm yet firm: "I've decided to stay on the space station."

A hint of surprise flashed across Himeko's face: "Huh? But what about the Black Tower...?"

Xing's expression was very serious: "Ms. Black Tower and Station Master Estád both agreed."

Upon hearing this, Himeko seemed to understand, and her gaze softened: "I see... Well then, I respect your choice."

Take good care of yourself, we'll come back to see you often.

Hoshino's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible reluctance: "Goodbye, Ms. Himeko."

"After careful consideration, you decide to decline Himeko's invitation. The whistle blows, the Star Train is about to depart, and your casual acquaintances wave goodbye. Parting, like meeting, is sudden and resolute."

A deep, slightly story-laden voice of a young man began to narrate.

In the scene, the figures of the train crew as they part ways gradually emerge, and the train slowly heads into the depths of the starry sea.

March 7th stared at the screen, then covered her mouth in surprise: "Ah! He really left!"

"So... will we never see each other again?!"

Even Dan Heng, who was usually calm, showed a slight change in expression upon hearing this.

After all, they were partners who had gone through life and death together, so it was inevitable that there would be some emotional fluctuations.

Xing, oblivious to everything, scratched her head, her attention elsewhere: "That narrator's voice... it sounds kind of familiar?"

"After the Star Train departed, the space station began its reconstruction in full swing. You, along with the Black Tower, began research on the star core. But soon, the Black Tower lost interest in you—and the star core within you. Under Estella's arrangement, you became an ordinary staff member on the space station."

Inside the Black Tower space station, Estella, who was watching the live stream, nodded with absolute certainty upon seeing this.

"Yes, that does sound like something Lady Black Tower would do."

The Black Tower doll that had been "on standby" suddenly moved and spoke: "I can hear you, Estelle."

"Eek!" Estella was startled and quickly stuck out her little tongue, trying to get away with it by being cute.

"You spent a peaceful and long life at the Black Tower Space Station. The Star Train returned several times, but then disappeared without a trace. From travelers to and from the space station, you heard about the Star Train and the Star Core Hunter's earth-shattering end. Sometimes, in the quiet of the night, you couldn't help but wonder: if you had boarded that train back then, would their futures have been different?"

"However, all of that is no longer relevant to you."

"Honkai Impact 3rd: Sky Rails"

Leading actors:

开拓者

Starring:

Dan Heng as Dan Heng

? ? ? Adorned with the image of March 7th

Himeko as Himeko

Joachim Nokianvitanen as Walter Yang

Special appearance:

Kafka Silver Wolf

Estelle Alan

Special thanks to:

Black Tower

Antimatter Legion

Script guidance:

艾利欧

Finally, let me conclude with a sentence:

May this journey ultimately lead to the stars.

The game then automatically restarted, returning to the initial login screen.

On the Starry Sky Train.

Xing watched until the end, then raised her hands and cheered, "Yay! It's finished!"

"Lin Lin! Hurry up, release more new games! I've already finished it!"

March 7th seemed somewhat melancholy, and whispered, "If Xing really didn't get on the bus... will we only be able to see each other a few times in this lifetime?"

Xing walked over, put his arm around her shoulder, and comforted her, "That was just an 'what if' in the game. You see, in the end, I still got on the bus."

"When you have the opportunity to make a choice, just don't let yourself regret it."

Hearing Xing's words of comfort, March 7th seemed to feel much better.

She turned around and looked at Lin Lin, her eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of worry.

"The plot says, 'The Star Train and the Star Core Hunter, a world-shaking ending'? What exactly is that?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Lin slowly shook his head: "I don't know. That's just... one of countless possibilities for the future."

"What the final outcome will be depends on you, on everyone on the train, to write it through your own journey."

March 7th sighed softly: "Anyway, the Star Core Hunters will definitely be involved."

"No, that was before."

A familiar, slightly languid voice came from behind them without warning.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound—and saw two blue projections.

Silver Wolf held her game console, seemingly a little bored.

Kafka, on the other hand, maintained an elegant posture with a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Long time no see, Lin Lin." Silver Wolf greeted him familiarly, his gaze still taking in the furnishings of the train's observation car.

Lin Lin nodded in response.

March 7th immediately went on high alert, exclaiming, "Star Core Hunters! What are you doing on the train?!"

Dan Heng, standing to the side, remained silent, but had already summoned Ji Yun in his hand, his sharp eyes locking onto the two uninvited guests.

Xing stood there, somewhat dazed, looking at Kafka. Her lips moved, but she didn't know what to say.

"Nothing much, just here for a vacation." Silver Wolf shrugged, his gaze sweeping over the miscellaneous items piled up in the carriage.

"But...you guys have a lot of junk on your train."

March 7th simply didn't believe it: "Vacation? The train isn't some tourist attraction!"

Silver Wolf seemed somewhat helpless and explained, "You'll have to ask Lin Lin. After all his meddling, the future trajectory has become a fog."

"It seems that... Eriol can't observe any future fragments involving Lin Lin, so he's become withdrawn and is contemplating life."

"We're just bored and have nothing else to do."

After a pause, Silver Wolf turned to Lin Lin and added, "Oh, by the way, Elio also asked me to pass on a message: 'If you can handle the script, do it well; if you can't, get out of here.'"

"Is it... to make you write the main storyline faster?"

Lin Lin: "..."

How have you been lately?

Kafka's gentle gaze fell on Hoshino, her voice soft and soothing.

Facing that familiar yet distant face, Hoshi was about to open his mouth to answer.

"Xing is doing much better on the train than before!"

Himeko's voice forcefully interrupted.

She had somehow walked up to Hoshino's side, gently pulling her behind her, while looking at Kafka with a clearly wary gaze.

The subtext is obvious: You abandoned this child back then, and now you want it back?

Think beautiful!

Kafka wasn't bothered by this, she just smiled gently: "You're Himeko? I've heard so much about you."

Himeko's response was sharp: "It's an honor that a wanted criminal from our company has even heard of me!"

At this moment, Himeko looked just like a kitten guarding its food, its fur slightly bristling.

Kafka saw this and found the contrast rather... cute.

Good heavens, this is a clash of titans, a bandit meeting a rogue.

Lin Lin, Dan Heng, and Walter—the only three men on the train—quietly took a half-step back and stood quietly to the side... watching the drama unfold.

Caught in the middle, Xing listened to the undercurrents in the conversation between the two "guardians" and felt like an outsider.

How...how did things turn out like this?

......

In Gui Naifen's live broadcast room.

Viewers also had many thoughts about this hidden plot point:

"You can reload a game and start over, but life... you can't."

"Would this be considered the fastest 'speedrun' ending in Honkai Impact 3rd?"

"I'm kind of looking forward to the protagonist's life on the space station! I'd even be happy if the official team made it into a spin-off story!"

"I'm curious, in the real world... did the Trailblazers really board the train?"

"It's probably an adapted story, right? The boss didn't explicitly say whether the Trailblazer actually existed in reality!"

......

The comments section was buzzing with discussion, as if it were a genuine regret stemming from their own experience.

Gui Naifen then logged back into her game account.

The familiar account is still there!

Moreover, the protagonist is still standing in front of Himeko.

This time, the only option left in the dialogue was "I want to get on the bus".

Gui Naifen clicked on the option.

"I want to get on the bus!"

The scene shifts, and the classic storyline begins again:

A piece of background music, full of vicissitudes and the atmosphere of a journey, slowly begins to play, perfectly matching the mood of parting and departure, deeply touching the hearts of every player.

The way to celebrate...♫

The camera slowly zooms out, revealing the entire Star Train amidst the vast sea of ​​stars.

March 7th stretched out her body, hopped and skipped, and shouted energetically, "Let's go! Let's go!"

I'll be waiting...♫

Xing stared blankly at the train that was about to take her to the unknown.

Himeko came to Hoshi's side and gently patted her shoulder: "Get in the car."

Till we make it...♫

A relieved yet hopeful smile finally appeared on Xing's face.

She took a step forward, followed Himeko, and boarded the train.

Oh, oh, oh~♫

On March 7th, overjoyed, she leaned against the train window and waved goodbye to Estella and the others who were seeing her off on the platform.