Little Gui was the bravest of them all.
Taking a deep breath.
She clicked on the new message released by Yu Ling.
[Honkai Impact 3rd Short Film: Angel's Refactoring]
Little Gui was immediately taken aback.
Why would Yu Ling update Honkai Impact 3rd content at a time like this?
There were already quite a few players commenting below the video.
"Huh?"
"You scared me!"
"So it's Honkai Impact 3rd!"
"Yu Ling, you really didn't pick the right time to release new content. We're in no mood to play Honkai Impact 3rd right now!"
"Honestly, Yu Ling just treats the characters as tools. He doesn't care about their lives or deaths at all."
"Bro, I really like what you said. Can you share your IP address? I'll send you some local specialties."
Little Gui, meanwhile, looked at the description.
["Following your shadow, setting sail from a lost world, to the Deep End of the Sea..."]
["'Seele... Bronya has come to find you.'"]
This...
Is this right?
Why does it feel so similar to the current situation!
Seele is also searching for someone.
And now she's missing!
Is this a coincidence?
Absolutely not!
If it were anyone else, it might be a coincidence, but this is Yu Ling we're talking about!
When it comes to surprises, he never fails to surprise!
The other players around, after seeing this description, also felt their mouths go dry for a moment!
If anyone said Yu Ling didn't know what was happening in reality, no one would believe it!
So...
This short film being released at this moment must have its own significance!
"Let's... finish watching this video first."
"I agree."
"Trust Yu Ling!"
"There's nothing more to say. This short film definitely holds a major turning point!"
...
"Caves, caves, and more damned caves!"
Seele punched the ice block in front of her, and dense cracks spread out like a spiderweb from where she struck.
She had to admit it—
she was lost.
That cliff was indeed treacherous, practically a death trap with no chance of survival, but Seele, relying on her agile movements, had finally made it to the bottom.
She had thought the situation below would be clear at a glance.
But who would have guessed that below was an even greater abyss!
And it was filled with various caves and landslides.
If she wasn't careful, she'd slip right into the heart of the mountain!
Fortunately,
along the way, Seele had discovered some traces left by Bronya.
This at least proved they had also fallen from here.
Several times, Seele had almost thought she'd found them, only to discover they were frozen Voidrangers!
The caves, the bitter cold, and the rift were steadily wearing down Seele's patience.
Of course,
the most important thing was still not finding Bronya and the others.
This made Seele increasingly uneasy.
"Three caves?"
"Whatever, I'll choose the middle one..."
Just as she was about to step inside,
a blue fluorescent light flickered from somewhere, flashing past her.
Looking closely,
it was actually a small blue butterfly.
This?
It wasn't hers.
How could such a creature exist beneath the glacier?!
For a moment, Seele thought she was hallucinating.
But that fluorescent light, like a lamp in the dark, held an indescribable magic.
Instinctively following it,
she entered the leftmost cave.
As she went deeper,
Seele increasingly felt that this butterfly seemed to be... guiding her?
Could it have been left by Bronya and the others?
No,
impossible!
Aside from herself, Seele had never seen anyone else use "butterfly"-related elements!
Moreover,
this butterfly could guide her in such an environment.
Everything pointed to its own incredible nature!
She didn't know how much time had passed.
The butterfly suddenly dissipated in the air with a "pop."
Seele instantly crouched down.
Because,
she heard movement up ahead!
"Clang!"
"Bang!"
This was...
the sound of battle!
The passage below suddenly opened up!
Ice sculptures stood on both sides.
They stretched as far as the eye could see!
It was as if this were the entrance to some palace, guarded by these Voidrangers!
At this moment,
these ice sculptures were continuously melting!
They surged forward into the battlefield ahead!
"Lady Bronya, we're surrounded!"
"Monsters on both sides—there's nowhere left to retreat!"
Hearing the Silvermane Guards' voices.
Seele's gaze sharpened!
She drew her scythe!
And leaped into the tunnel below!
Taking advantage of the Voidrangers still thawing.
Her blade sliced through their bodies with ease.
Like a grim reaper, she harvested the awakening Voidrangers one by one!
"Bronya, I finally found you!"
"Seele!?"
The voice from within the cave was both shocked and overjoyed!
"Stay safe!"
"I'll help you break through!"
Upon hearing Seele's voice, the Silvermane Guards' morale instantly soared!
What was once a pincer attack now became an inside-outside coordination.
A few minutes later.
The tunnel was left littered with fragments.
Both sides,
finally reunited!
Seele saw Bronya.
Having stayed too long in the freezing environment, her entire face appeared pale.
But fortunately, Bronya was no pampered young lady.
Though physically weak and utterly exhausted.
Her eyes still revealed resilience.
Only by holding Seele's warm hands did Bronya finally let down some of her guard.
"Seele..."
"How did you find this place?"
Bronya looked utterly astonished!
Seele was about to explain her strange encounters on the road.
When Bronya's accompanying guards began tearing up one after another!
Some even collapsed to the ground as if drained of strength.
"Wahhhhh..."
"It's wonderful! It's really Miss Seele, not an illusion!"
"Miss Seele, do you know how excited I was when I saw you descending from above? You're practically my goddess!"
"I've always believed in your existence!"
"I was already a fan of Miss Seele—the first and only 6+5 character in Star Rail... And now, in reality, it's Seele who saved me. My faith was absolutely right!"
"Miss Seele, if I make it out alive, I'll enshrine you!"
The two exchanged a glance.
Both seeing the helplessness and suppressed amusement in each other's eyes.
Though they were Silvermane Guards, they were still human,
and players too.
Surviving a disaster, experiencing extreme highs and lows.
It was only natural for their emotions to run high.
Suddenly!
"Boom!"
A deep, oppressive rumbling sound echoed!
"Oh no!"
"The cave behind us has collapsed!"
"It must have been the commotion from the earlier battle..."
Seele gritted her teeth.
Just reunited, without even a moment to catch their breath, and another crisis had arrived!
"Follow me!"
"This is the direction I came from!"
Seele made a swift decision!
Leading everyone toward an unknown path!
A dozen seconds later.
The group paused briefly at a turn.
Only to see ice shards mixed with rubble gushing forth.
Completely sealing off the path they had come from!
The rumbling finally subsided.
Seeing the situation stabilize.
Seele observed the surroundings once more.
"No need to hesitate now—only this path remains..."
"Ahead, there's light..."
"Could it be the exit?"
Seele took the lead.
The group arrived at the end of the passage.
The light ahead was intense.
But everyone's expressions grew even graver!
The closer they got, the more uneasy they felt!
This light...
Was definitely not natural light from the outside!
As those who dealt with Fragmentum monsters year-round, they knew all too well—
This was...
The light reflected off the ice by the Fragmentum!
So immense...
It's simply unimaginable what enormous traces of corruption exist here!
Seele peered out.
Instantly stunned by the sight before her!
Struck dumb!
Bronya and the other Iron Guards caught up.
Their reactions were much the same!
Almost impossible to describe in words what they were seeing!
This was a massive Fragmentum space.
The cave they were in was just a tiny pocket on the cliff face.
Within it, icicles and the corrupting traces of the Fragmentum intertwined and coiled.
Forming a gigantic spiral structure!
And on nearly every solid surface, humanoid monsters were frozen in place.
This place was like a massive beehive!
Full of monsters!
"Supreme Guardian, have we... come to the monsters' nest?"
"My goodness, I've never seen so many monsters in my life..."
"Could this be where the Destruction Legion descended?"
"By Qlipoth! This is the most terrifying Nightmare..."