Everflame Mansion
At the same time as the release of "Everflame Night: Act 33", the Duke Inferno summoned his four children here.
He outlined the plan they would execute next.
Seated upon his throne, draped in an elegant robe that exuded grace and dignity, he concluded:
"Very well, my children."
"This is the path we shall tread next."
"The Herta Space Station was recently attacked by the Antimatter Legion—this aligns perfectly with our will of Destruction."
"I will separate a fragment of my sentient Everflame, causing the station's researchers to vanish one by one. This will sow doubt and rebellion within, causing the station to collapse from within."
"Of course."
"This is merely the appetizer."
"The upcoming Rite of Passage is what you should focus on."
"We will unleash a storm of blood upon this Celebratory Star."
"And this..."
"...is but one stop in our destruction of the boundless starry seas."
At that moment, "Dahlia" Constance smiled meaningfully and spoke:
"Congratulations, Father."
The other three and the Duke turned to look at her.
The Duke asked, "We have yet to act—what is there to congratulate?"
Constance pulled out her jade abacus and projected "Everflame Night: Act 33" before them.
"Our path of destruction has already caught the attention of Yu Ling—he even specially crafted this video for us."
"By now, half the universe has likely already seen it."
The flames atop the Duke's head surged violently—a sign of his inner turmoil.
After a moment of contemplation, he suppressed his ecstasy and feigned nonchalance:
"Then what are we waiting for? Let us watch it together."
"How will our Everflame Mansion be portrayed through Yu Ling's lens?"
Five minutes later.
The four children stood frozen in place.
"Shackles" Katrina was the first to exclaim in awe:
"As expected of Yu Ling! The style of this video is impeccable!"
"The eerie and domineering aura of our Mansion is captured perfectly!"
"Scribe" Dubra murmured softly in agreement:
"I, too, adore this aesthetic..."
"Tuner" Akash trembled with excitement:
"This is the pinnacle of destructive art! The imagery of ruin has inspired me anew!"
Upon his throne, the Duke was clearly pleased.
"Heh. It seems Yu Ling also understands the aesthetics of Destruction."
"We truly should celebrate this!"
The Duke rose from his seat.
Throughout the manor, flames erupted excitedly from the walls, as if echoing his joy!
"With this, we are one step closer to Him."
Suddenly, Dubra's eyes flickered with a dark glint.
"Father, an uninvited guest has arrived outside."
"She calls herself a Galactic Ranger."
"Her name... is Huangquan?"
The Duke reined in his excitement slightly.
"Galactic Ranger?"
"We of the Manor have no dealings with such people."
"Ah, well. Perhaps she is a player drawn here after watching the video."
"Today, I am in a good mood. Invite her in."
"Understood, Father."
---
Penacony – The Family
On an open-air balcony, Robin and Sunday watched "Everflame Night: Act 33" together.
Sunday's gaze was deep, while Robin wore a troubled expression.
She turned to her brother and asked:
"Brother, why was someone like the Duke Inferno invited to this year's Harmony Festival?"
"Yu Ling's video makes it abundantly clear—"
"They are not here as guests, but to bring chaos and destruction!"
"I don't understand..."
Sunday smiled gently and replied in a calm voice:
"This was the Dreammaster's decision."
"And..."
"You must trust that if The Family dared to invite the Duke, we must have the means to keep him in check."
Robin remained uneasy:
"But... even if The Family has prepared countermeasures to suppress any disturbances immediately, it would still affect the other guests..."
Sunday reassured her:
"Worry not, little sister."
"The stage of the Harmony Festival belongs only to you."
"This time, it will be a perfect performance."
---
University of Veritas Prime – Classroom
"Truth Doctor" Veritas Ratio was conducting his assistant lecture.
Gazing at the sea of students before him—their eyes brimming with pure stupidity—he sighed and tapped the blackboard sharply with chalk.
"Let me give you the simplest example. The Intelligentsia Guild is often seen as a merchant of knowledge, but the power to set prices always lies with the buyer. If someone is willing to listen, knowledge spreads and circulates, and thus value is born."
"This aligns with the point I just made—"
Ding!
A notification chimed.
Ratio immediately cut off his explanation.
"Time's up."
"This lecture is over."
Without another word, he strode out of the classroom—as if even a second longer would be a waste of his time.
The students were unfazed.
Some remained deep in thought, still digesting Ratio's earlier words.
Others packed up their belongings with visible disappointment—evidently, the only part of the lecture they truly understood was the final "This lecture is over."
---
Outside the Lecture Hall
Ratio swiftly returned to his private office.
Revealing his true appearance, he exhaled lightly and picked up his phone.
He tapped on Yu Ling's latest video.
A few minutes later, he leaned back on his sofa, sipping plain water as if it were fine liquor.
In his other hand, a flickering azure flame danced upon his palm.
"The Phase Spirit Flame that birthed Aflame... yet I obtained it by chance."
"With this ember, perhaps I can use Aflame's attack as an observational sample."
Just then—
Knock knock.
Ratio extinguished the flame and checked the door's monitor.
A representative of the Interastral Peace Corporation stood outside—the gambler Aventurine.
Aventurine waved at the camera:
"Professor Ratio. It wasn't easy finding your residence. The least you could do is invite me in, no?"
The door opened.
Aventurine strode in and made himself at home on the sofa.
Ratio cut straight to the chase:
"Speak plainly, gambler."
"Our time is precious."
Aventurine accepted the glass of water Ratio handed him and smiled:
"I'd like to invite you to Penacony."
Ratio's eyes darkened slightly.
"So it's come to this..."
Aventurine raised a brow. "You foresaw this, Professor?"
Ratio pulled out his phone and opened the game—Honkai: Star Rail.
"I've long believed this game is more than mere entertainment. Its narrative shares a quantum entanglement-like relationship with reality."
"The game's plot influences reality, while real-world events reflect back into the game."
Aventurine maintained his composure.
"Professor, this isn't your lecture hall. Could you be clearer?"
Ratio shot him an irritated glance but obliged:
"The moment you invited me to Penacony, I deduced one more thing."
"You and I... will both become playable characters in this game in the future."
To be continued…
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