In the real world, at 7:30 PM, the Version 1.6 preview livestream for Honkai: Star Rail began as scheduled.
Within mere seconds, the livestream room was flooded with viewers, overloading Bilibili's servers. The video, barely a second into playback, immediately began to lag.
The eager viewers, now staring at a spinning loading icon, instantly soured.
[Seriously? This website's been around for over a decade! How is the server quality still this bad?]
[Looks like we're just too many people rushing in at once. We're overwhelming Bilibili!]
[Hmm... That sounds a bit strange, but there's nothing actually weird about it...]
[One minute! If it's not working in one minute, I'm watching all future preview streams on next door's Bilibili! (smiles)]
As if hearing the players' desperate pleas, the buffering symbol vanished moments later, and the Version 1.6 preview video began to play...
[This program is brought to you by a special sponsorship from the Interastral Peace Corporation.]
As these words appeared, a flurry of feathers drifted across the screen, followed by a small white chick making a brief, humorous cameo before the Promotional Video proper began.
The opening shot featured Asta's little dog, Peppy, filling the entire screen, which struck the viewers as somewhat absurd.
But a moment later, as if struck by a sudden realization, their perception of Peppy shifted dramatically.
[You're Asta's dog, and I'm Miss Lumina's dog—we both have bright futures ahead!]
[Hah... hah... Ruan Mei... hah...]
[I desperately want Ruan Mei's toes to crush my face!]
[If Ruan Mei stepped on my face, I can't even imagine how blissful it would be!]
[Suddenly, I feel so bad for Dr. Ratio. He's a drop-in character with low popularity and little hype. Sandwiched between Ruan Mei and Lumina, he just feels like a token inclusion...]
[He IS a token inclusion! Forgotten Hall: Destruction reigns supreme. Simulated Universe: Erudition dominates. Seele barely holds her own with a Quantum Battleship and a replication mechanism. Now they release a purely single-target Hunt character? It's already lackluster. What else could he be but filler? A freebie?]
(Dr. Ratio's popularity skyrocketed after news of the free giveaway spread. Initially, his popularity was indeed very low. The giveaway announcement came after the Version 1.6 preview stream, so with the preview just airing, his popularity remains low.)
These people, driven by their desires, change their tune faster than flipping a book. After not seeing Lumina in the entire Version 1.6 Promotional Video, they turned their predatory gaze toward Ruan Mei, descending into madness right there in the live stream.
The other viewers were unfazed by the frantic comments in the Comment Section, having grown accustomed to such antics. After all, these guys would go berserk over any new female character...
Unlike us Lumina simps, who remain wholeheartedly devoted to the Saintess! ( ̄) ̄)↗
Just two nights ago, on the very night Lady Lumina's Character Portrait was revealed, countless individuals sacrificed over a hundred million lives in her honor...
What's that? How do I know this?
Some overpowered lunatics spilled the beans in the group chat, of course...
"Whether your world has day and night or not, wishing you a good morning, noon, and evening!"
As the Promotional Video ended, a familiar voice delivered an equally familiar greeting, echoing in everyone's ears.
What followed was the usual fare: character introductions, gacha banners, event details, welfare announcements, and collaboration showcases—nothing out of the ordinary, just like every previous update.
[Time to skedaddle! Can't wait for Version 1.7!]
[I thought Version 1.6 might drop something big, especially after winning all those recent awards. But this is it? So boring...]
[Is it possible they're saving these rewards for Lumina in Version 1.7? Lumina for free!]
[Wake up, buddy! This isn't Penacony! Forget Lumina—if they ever give away a reasonably strong Limited 5-star character, I'll eat a ton of gravel!]
[Nothing interesting left here. I'll go silently "pray" to my Lady Lumina...]
The collaboration segment had already begun, and many viewers had left the live stream.
"Hello? This is Veritas Ratio."
Just as this group was departing, a phone call suddenly appeared on Owlbert's screen.
The remaining viewers immediately perked up, wondering if the official channel was about to announce something big—like giving away ten more Special Passes...
"Knowledge should circulate and be shared, and truth is no different."
"On behalf of myself, I grant all Trailblazers the opportunity to receive knowledge..."
As Dr. Ratio's words reached this point, the screen gradually dimmed, while Veritas Ratio's communication glowed brighter, like the sole star in the night sky, illuminating the live stream.
"In Version 1.6, concurrent with the opening of the Panta Rhei event warp, all Trailblazers who have unlocked the mailbox function will receive a limited 5-star character, Dr. Ratio—that is, yours truly—via in-game mail."
"I will create the most widely owned character in my own way!"
"Whoa..." Hearing Dr. Ratio's words, Owlbert gasped, feeling as if something had awakened within him.
"That's all. Farewell."
Having said what he wanted to say, Dr. Ratio didn't linger, decisively ending the call.
"Understood! Farewell, Professor!!!"
Snapping out of his daze, Owlbert quickly bid the Doctor farewell.
"Truly, Doctor Ratio lives up to his reputation. Such enlightenment... I doubt I'll ever reach such heights in my lifetime," Owlbert mused aloud.
Realizing he was still live-streaming, he swiftly transitioned into his professional hosting persona, showcasing his top-tier hosting skills:
"The Professor is absolutely right! Knowledge should be shared, and information even more so!"
"Today, Interastral Peace Films also has a special program for you all! Please stay tuned and don't go anywhere!"
"Mr. Sunday... is coming..."
As Owlbert uttered his cryptic words, the screen abruptly went black, replaced by a poster proclaiming: Log in now and receive the 5-star character, Dr. Ratio, for free! The advertisement filled the entire screen, staring back at the audience.
The Comment Section, which had fallen silent after Dr. Ratio's previous statement, suddenly snapped back to life, erupting in a chorus of Holy shit! to express their shock.
[Our father above, we offer you our humble bow!]
[Genshin could never (smirking).]
[Genshin? What's that? Have I even played it? I've been playing Honkai: Star Rail from start to finish...]
[If they're daring enough to give away Dr. Ratio for free now, they might just give away Lumina for free in Version 1.7!]
[Version 1.6: Free Dr. Ratio. Version 1.7: Free Lumina. Holy crap, I wouldn't have even dared to dream of this in Penacony...]
The Comment Section buzzed with speculation, with some even suggesting that Version 1.7 might actually give away Lumina for free.
However, considering Lumina's recently revealed power and lavish treatment... If her strength truly matched the hype, miHoYo would have to be insane to give her away for free...
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening~"
Just as the audience was engaged in heated discussion, Owlbert reappeared on the screen amidst a flurry of drifting feathers.
"Welcome to the unveiling of the Family's Charmony Festival!"