What exactly was happening far away in that star system, we'll leave that aside for now.
At this moment on Earth, everyone was still reeling from the massive shock caused by the truth being revealed.
Of course, maybe it was also because of the sudden appearance of the Ranking Leaderboard.
Schicksal and Mihoyo had collaborated, using the existing data to create a regional leaderboard. It clearly showed how many stages players in each region had cleared. They also tailored the reward system based on the number of players per region, creating a fairer way to distribute rewards.
Compared to the past, when only twenty or thirty top players in the Abyss would get their moment in the spotlight, this new leaderboard—divided by city and country—instantly won over countless players.
To be ranked first on that list... how glorious that would be!
If Honkai Impact 3rd had only just become popular before, now it was inescapable from humanity's collective attention.
Especially when Schicksal's internal report raised the possibility that the Erosion Herrscher's invasion might permanently affect global networks and communications… it pushed the game's significance to a whole new level.
Elysia, Kiana, and other characters who were once idols in your heart are now fighting by your side.
The official promotion strategy now emphasized that playing Honkai is saving the world.
The leaderboard offers irresistible rewards, and just by appearing there, you could instantly become famous...
Without a doubt, the current top answer to everything is: Honkai Impact 3rd.
Even in some areas where people usually greeted each other with "Have you eaten yet?", it had changed to:
"How many Corruption stages have you cleared today?"
Even someone like Luo Mo could only shake his head and praise:
"This is madness…" and then go back to grinding.
---
[Global Chat Messages]
"How is that person #1 on the leaderboard?! Let me check… 'CorruptionEroder'? What even—"
"Wait, the Herrscher of Corruption counts in rankings too? You've gotta be kidding me!"
"No surprise. Our server was always cracked… now we've cracked through the stratosphere!"
"What's with these leaderboard names? 'Can't Beat This', 'Your Elysia Died'—new players with names like that?!"
"Seriously, who designed this leaderboard? I just want Ellie's autograph, but all I get is despair!"
"Please stop sweating it, if we drop in rank any more, I might uninstall!"
"Can we win? YES, WE CAN!"
"Just some corrosion? Watch me CRUSH IT!"
"Let's GO! For all that is beautiful in the world!"
"If we defeat the Corruption here, does it mean she'll never Corrupt Ellie again?"
---
Time continued to pass, and the players kept grinding hard on the frontlines.
They were exhausted.
The stages were torturous.
The novelty had worn off.
But the sense of accomplishment was real.
The corruption level of Erosion finally started to drop—only slightly, but noticeably.
Although it was a very slow decline, it clearly marked the significance of what was happening.
With every new update and wave of announcements, the developers seemed to find their direction again.
Ultimately, this was just another well-crafted in-game event designed to draw players in and keep them active.
The only hiccup was that the mission lists and event progress had all been eroded—which meant rewards couldn't be issued in real-time.
But no one really cared.
With so many organizations and so much support involved, even if the official rewards weren't much, regional competition made up for it.
There were also plenty of hidden rewards, and suddenly, the community came together in full force, all hoping to leave their names on the leaderboard.
Meanwhile, online, the erosion bug had exposed countless glitches in the game.
Hackers, using advanced reverse engineering, had already begun sharing cheat tools and bypasses to assist in clearing levels.
Even as the devs rushed to patch them, many exploits were still being used.
It had turned into a silent war.
A war without smoke, being fought entirely on the Internet.
Even people who previously didn't understand the game were now frantically searching for information online.
Their curiosity about both the in-game events and the real-world implications was overwhelming—like a hundred little cats clawing at their minds.
To the players, the real-world rewards tied to rankings were far more appealing than anything the in-game system could provide.
This led to a kind of internet addiction outbreak, where it felt like everyone was online grinding nonstop.
And if you had an edge over others?
This was the perfect stage to show it off.
---
At this point, Grey Serpent probably had something to say.
If he could be interviewed, his reply would be:
(His mechanical black body went silent for a moment. Red light flickered in his eyes. His hoarse voice spoke:)
"Originally, I had no intention of participating. After all, I have many bodies, and as a mechanical lifeform, I hold natural advantages.
But… I couldn't refuse. Not after Lady Mobius personally signed it… I just couldn't refuse…"
He clenched his fists. A cold glint flashed in his eyes—he looked like someone determined to win at all costs.
He had countless bodies, all linked to his Grey Serpent network. In terms of mechanics, that was an unbeatable edge.
Unfortunately, he also happened to be the one most afraid of the Herrscher of Corruption.
So he could only hide carefully in the rear, moving with extreme caution.
To the Herrscher of Corruption, mechanical lifeforms were practically gifts from the heavens—like free, effortless farming targets.
---
And just like that… a day passed.
As the final rays of sunlight disappeared below the horizon, the sun was already preparing to rise in another corner of Earth.
But that had nothing to do with the people still busy inside St. Freya Academy.
Inside Theresa's villa, a new meeting space had gradually formed on the long dining table. No one objected to it being used as a work area—in fact, everyone embraced it as a convenient gathering spot.
At the very least, it was close to everyone's living quarters.
A few players, familiar with the characters, began noticing people like Kiana and others stepping in and out.
Himeko, Wendy, Cecilia, Fu Hua, Anna…
They appeared again, igniting deep emotions in the hearts of many players.
Of course, the in-game stories had always been heartwarming—but they were also full of regrets and tragedy.
So many moments left behind pain and helplessness.
If it had just remained a story, players would have simply prayed that those beautiful souls lived on in a peaceful world.
But now that it was real—players hoped even more deeply that the world would grant these heroines the happiness they deserved.
Let sadness not fall upon them.
Seeing that they were still alive, still standing, still facing the world—even if it was nighttime in another timezone, even if it was cold and quiet—players' hearts burned hot, pounding fiercely in their chests.
So… they weren't dead after all.
They were lucky.
That pain was only part of a game's story.
They didn't have to actually witness the moment these women fell.
So...
If they could just defeat the Herrscher of Corruption, then Elysia and the others would be fine—right?
And at the moment they received that confirmation, every player felt their blood ignite.
---
[Elysia… We still believe in you!]
[Ai-mun!]
[Mieu-mun!]
[Golden Courtyard Daily Life is actually real! I knew they based it on reality!]
[Shh. I want to hear what that smug Doctor Mobius has to say.]
[...]
---
Even Pardo had opened a livestream just next door to the Golden Courtyard, and players got to witness many familiar heroes up close.
There was someone furiously mashing keys behind a mask of madness—so frenzied it was impossible to see their screen.
Someone else sat calmly with eyes closed—no visible gameplay, but definitely in the zone.
The usual "cold" Deliverance no longer looked so detached; after logging in, they were surprisingly good at the game.
The blinking warrior wore headphones, utterly focused—but beside them stood a small pink-haired girl whose presence was no longer cold and distant.
Vill-V's clones showcased tricks and talents that amazed players.
Instead of simply playing, she seemed more invested in putting on an unforgettable magic show in front of the camera.
A quiet young man and a gentle girl known for her art also appeared—her sketches alone brought unexpected joy to many players.
While the elusive Doctor Mobius didn't appear, they did get a glimpse of Klein—the girl who symbolized infinite life.
Surely, her life must be going well too.
Aponia, smiling gently, looked toward the camera and gave a small wave.
Gone was the ever-present anguish on her lips.
---
"Finally it's my turn, hehe. Boss just logged off, so I took over this mission! Hehe. You don't even have to scan a gift—I'll just farm it later. Otherwise, it feels weird taking free stuff.
Oh right, Can! You, come show your face!"
"Let the audience decide—should it go on a diet?"
"Meow—"
A short cat meow.
A fluffy-haired girl with cat ears excitedly introduced everyone to the players.
The only place she refused to go was the basement where Mobius stayed.
As for Elysia?
Of course she didn't need an introduction.
---
[Whoa, that cat is fat and adorable!]
[Pardo is so cute—too bad I don't have Mieu-mun to worship her properly]
[Pardo, don't go to Buis-mun—what if the door leads straight to the Corruption HQ?!]
[I bet Pardo only took the mission because she heard there was money involved]
[Wait, is it true you're all surviving on Griseo's salary?]
[Klein nearly passed out from exhaustion—clearly Mobius worked her to death]
[Sunshine boys everywhere~ So many happy sunshine boys~]
---
It was clear: players deeply cared about the lives of everyone in the Golden Courtyard.
They cared enough to organize themselves just to buy canned food for a cat.
Even though they admitted the cat Can was quite fat, it was still very nimble, so there was no need for it to lose weight.
"Hey hey — how could you think I came just for money? Am I really that kind of person?"
Pardo hastily denied it, but her two little hands awkwardly rubbed together, clearly showing her resolve wasn't exactly strong.
---
Inside Theresa's villa.
As night deepened, the livestream session ended temporarily. Everyone, exhausted from the busy day, turned off their equipment one after another, stretching their sore backs and standing upright.
"Playing the idol really isn't easy ♪~"
Elysia let out a light yawn, but then perked herself up again with a deep breath and gave a charming smile.
Eden sat quietly beside her, having accompanied her the whole time.
"I didn't expect Eden to be this tired... Seems like I should care for her more often. Still… interacting with the adorable players is actually pretty fun! Their weird and wonderful ideas—I've never heard of anything like them before. ♪"
She patted her cheeks, as if to dispel the drowsy atmosphere in the room. In an instant, her eyes regained their usual sparkle.
In terms of livestream results, her audience numbers remained consistently among the highest. The effect was unusually good.
"Haha, Ellie, in the past, I've never taken on such an important role in a performance. But if back then, one of my shows could have helped you defeat a Herrscher, I'd gladly do it again, no matter how many times."
Eden smiled softly, but there was a hint of loneliness in her voice.
Her audience wasn't from this era, which made her presence feel a bit melancholy.
"Mm... yeah, defeating the Herrscher... I almost forgot that was the goal. I just kept focusing on clearing the stages."
Elysia stuck out her tongue, embarrassed, and scratched her head.
Then, she reopened Honkai Impact 3, her gaze settling on the bottom-right corner.
[Corruption Value: 50.9%]
"Not bad at all ♪~"
Elysia clapped her hands, clearly pleased.
...
"Aghh—this feels even more tiring than school... It's the first time I don't even want to keep playing. I'm exhausted..."
Kiana collapsed onto the table after her stream, her eyes dazed.
Given her Valkyrie training and the fact this was just a game, she shouldn't have been this drained—but this was the Corruption Campaign. Some levels had incredibly high difficulty and required tight technical play.
Even with Kiana's good luck, she eventually hit a wall. And with the game's system requiring you to clear one level to unlock the next, it became a grind.
If it wasn't for Bronie, Luo Mo, and sometimes her mom helping from off-screen, she probably wouldn't have gotten very far.
"..."
Bronya swayed her head a little, but her eyes were still somewhat vacant.
This world really was full of pros—endless champions and top players. On the global leaderboard, she had barely made it into the top 10, even after cheating. And those people had to be cheating too!
To be honest, putting aside real-life differences, this was a faithful recreation of Honkai Impact 3, just way harder.
"We'll continue tomorrow... We've done pretty well today. Mm... almost 50% Corruption. Fighting back is definitely not easy."
Luo Mo was tired too. Even the crystal rewards per minute had dropped to just 6/min. But as Corruption Value increased and more characters were unlocked—along with other fun side stages—reducing it would get a bit easier.
The most difficult part was behind them now.
In some ways, this campaign drastically changed the nature of the Corruption mechanic. Regular stages and Memory Battles might even be more enjoyable than the grindy campaign levels.
Still, today's victory was a great start.
"In this kind of mode, it does distract the players from the main goal. Might slow down stage-clearing. Should we tone it down?"
One voice questioned after reviewing the day's progress.
"Aww... I thought it was really fun. It's rare to go public like this!"
Another quickly waved off the idea.
"Hmm... unavoidable I guess. But I think it's okay. We've also embedded some neat functions into the livestreams."
Luo Mo sighed and shook his head.
What he was more worried about now… was the Herrscher of Corruption not being defeated and instead breaking the whole game.
Honestly, that seemed like a real possibility.
He could only hope Mobius had a plan on her end...
---
At the same time.
Inside the villa—yet feeling like a completely different latitude—a figure in green silently observed everyone's words and actions.
She had a curvy body, some strange accessories that resembled floating spheres, and stood still in the void. Her long ponytail dangled down to her calves but didn't move at all—not even from the wind.
Of course, there was no wind. This was a space where air didn't exist.
"Why... did you write a story that involves me?"
Her soft voice echoed in the empty space.
"Could it be... that in the other timeline you spoke of, I also chose to save this game?"
Her crimson eyes flickered with confusion.
"In the future you saw—one that I cannot—did I also step aboard that battleship?"