Passerby: Welcome newcomers! Looks like the admin's luck isn't great—only two successes out of five attempts.
Shameless: Welcome, newbies! Someone actually refused? Though "Forsaken Heavenly Emperor" sounds familiar...
Truth-Seeker: @Shameless No need to wonder. That's the number one martial god of the heavenly realm from the Thunderbolt universe—Lord Qi Tian.
Wu Tong broke out in a cold sweat just thinking about inviting him. Fortunately, the rejection came as a relief. Facing such a powerhouse directly would be... uncomfortable at his current level.
Dragon King Spits Water: Welcome, newcomers! Holy crap, it's him? Too bad he refused—we could've had an ultimate big shot in the group!
Gu Ruoli sighed at the "Invitation Failed" notification.
Shameless: More like, thank goodness he refused. Otherwise, we'd be dealing with a world-destroying final boss.
Zhang Chulan shuddered upon recalling Qi Tian's lore. Their current group had no counter to that level of power.
Sky-Founding Queen: Welcome, newcomers. Is this Qi Tian really that strong?
He Xi's curiosity was piqued.
Truth-Seeker: Absolutely. As the ultimate antagonist (and arguably the strongest) in the Thunderbolt universe, his power is at least pseudo-Eighth Tier, potentially reaching full Eighth Tier under specific conditions.
Camera Girl: Welcome, newbies! That's insane! Our current strongest, Sister He Xi, just reached Sixth Tier.
Slime King: Welcome~
Vagrant of the Mortal Realm: May I ask where this is...
Before Zhongli could finish, Zhang Chulan cut in.
Shameless: HOLY—Zhongli, the Vagrant of the Mortal Realm? And Fu Hua, the Crimson Phoenix Sage? Two more big shots! Wonder which timeline they're from...
Vagrant of the Mortal Realm: Young friend, have we met?
Crimson Phoenix Sage: You know me? Who are you people?
Fu Hua's pupils constricted. Have I been exposed?
Just as she prepared to activate Fenghuang Down, suspecting a Honkai trap, the admin's message stopped her.
Dragon King Spits Water: Fu Hua, Zhongli—of course we know you. Explaining would take a while, though. Check the group files first. Ask me if you have questions.
Gu Ruoli promptly uploaded two documents.
[Ding~ Group files "Genshin Impact" and "Honkai Impact 3rd" successfully uploaded.]
Much later...
Vagrant of the Mortal Realm: I see. To think such an organization exists. The infinite void, the myriad worlds—the cosmos beyond is truly wondrous.
Crimson Phoenix Sage: We... succeeded? Kiana...
Even Fu Hua's ironclad composure wavered after reading her world's future.
Kiana became the Herrscher of Finality and saved the world?
Her gaze drifted to the "amoeba" currently drooling on her desk. This academically and martially hopeless girl... really pulled it off?
"Mei~ Hehehe..."
Kiana giggled in her sleep, a trail of saliva connecting her to the textbook beneath her.
Fu Hua's eyebrow twitched. ...I'm having doubts again.
Shaking her head, she refocused on the chat.
Crimson Phoenix Sage: Thank you, Admin, for revealing our future.
Crimson Phoenix Sage: I never imagined the current era would truly thwart Kevin's Stigma Project and forge their own path past the Honkai...
Her voice grew distant. The Previous Era had sacrificed so much yet failed, while the Current Era succeeded... with traitorous Herrschers?
The very concept defied logic. Herrschers were civilization's enemies—to be eradicated. Yet here, they became its salvation.
"Special recognition goes to one individual: Headmistress of St. Freya, Demon King of the Far East, Creator of the Herrscher Academy, and Aunt of the Finality Herrscher—Theresa Apocalypse. Her contributions to the Honkai cause are unparalleled."
"She nurtured nine Herrschers—Reason, Void, Thunder, Wind, Sentience, Flamescion, Origin, Finality, and Truth—while also influencing Domination and Death. Truly, a titan of the Honkai movement."
Fu Hua's vision darkened. In the Previous Era, Theresa would've been executed as a Honkai spy three times over.
Dragon King Spits Water: No need for thanks. This was your victory—I just shared the results.
Crimson Phoenix Sage: You underestimate this. For us, it's hope.
Crimson Phoenix Sage: Though I knew the Current Era would overcome the Honkai, I never imagined... another path existed besides the Stigma Project.
Her tone grew complex.
Camera Girl: Waaah~ My Auntie Himeko!
Slime King: Little March, that's another world's Himeko. Yours is alive and well!
The group collectively facepalmed at March 7th's outburst.
Yet her antics lightened the mood.
Camera Girl: I know! But I still can't help it—Auntie Himeko was so kind!
Camera Girl: Sob
Meanwhile, aboard the Astral Express...
Himeko, stirring her coffee, noticed March's distress.
"Feeling down? Here—coffee always helps." She offered the mug with a smile.
March stared at the viscous, black liquid. Its swirling vortex resembled a singularity, the rising steam morphing into a skull-shaped omen in her terrified eyes.
I'm mourning you, and you try to kill me?!
"Uh, Himeko! Just remembered—urgent business! Gotta go!" March bolted.
Himeko blinked at her retreating back, then at her coffee. "...Is it that bad?"
Camera Girl: Close call! Almost had to say goodbye!
Sky-Founding Queen: What happened?
Camera Girl: Nearly drank Himeko's coffee. Thank goodness I escaped!
Slime King: Himeko's coffee? How bad can it be? I wanna try!
Rimuru eyed his [Poison Resistance] status, intrigued.
Dragon King Spits Water: A true warrior.
Truth-Seeker: A man among men.
Shameless: The real deal.
Those who knew the horror unanimously saluted Rimuru's bravery.
Camera Girl: Wait—you want to try it? Are you suicidal? But if you insist...
Camera Girl: [Luck-based Red Packet]
Congratulations! "Slime King" is the luckiest draw!
Rimuru stared at the eldritch black sludge now in his possession. Its abyssal hue seemed to devour light itself, its surface writhing like a living entity.
Gulping, he steeled himself—then absorbed it.
Instantly, an abomination of flavors assaulted his senses: cloying sweetness, acrid bitterness, phantom saltiness, and... spiciness? The unholy concoction churned his very soul like a washing machine.
"Guh—"
Before he could scream, darkness claimed him.