[Neo's POV]
The beasts' ashes faded on the wind, and silence returned. My hands trembled slightly — not from fear, but the strange rush of power. Cocoon's warmth pulsed through me like a second heartbeat.
Then the system chimed again.
[System: Tutorial Mission Complete. Global Reward Distribution Successful.]
The chat window flooded immediately.
[Kiana]: Aaaaah! I can't believe you just beat Honkai beasts like that! Are you even human??
[Asuna]: You fought so… differently. Almost like a monster, but graceful.
[Tony Stark]: Alright, let's call it like it is: kid's got hacks. Either that, or your "Cocoon thingy" is juicing you harder than my arc reactor.
[Himeko]:Snorts. Don't flatter him too much. That was only a pack of low-class beasts. Bigger threats will come.
[Zhongli]: Still, it is undeniable. Neo has proven worthy to lead. Now, the question remains — where shall fate pull us next?
Before I could answer, a new window expanded across everyone's screens.
[Dimensional Chat Group – Mission Board Unlocked]
Missions are randomly generated across multiverses. Completion grants Points, Gacha Tokens, and Contribution. Failure may result in penalties.
Three glowing tabs appeared.
• [Easy] Escort Quest – Protect a merchant caravan in Teyvat. Reward: 200 Points each.
• [Medium] Subjugation – Defeat a corrupted dungeon boss in Aincrad (Floor 35). Reward: 500 Points each, 1 Gacha Token.
• [Hard] Survival – Contain an outbreak of low-tier Hollows in Karakura Town. Reward: 1000 Points each, 2 Gacha Tokens.
[Kiana]: W-wait, are you telling me we can just… go to other worlds and help?
[Asuna]: That middle one… Aincrad… That's my world!
[Tony Stark]:Survival in Hollow-land? Sounds like suicide on hard mode. No thanks.
[Himeko]: Hmph. So the group wasn't formed just for idle chatter. It demands action.
[Zhongli]: Indeed. A balance of opportunity and burden.
I crossed my arms, staring at the glowing tabs. Missions, a gacha, shop, sign-in…
This wasn't just some chat group. It was a structured system to force us to grow stronger together.
And speaking of gacha… another tab flickered open.
[Neo – Group Owner Perk: First Pull Bonus Available]
Would you like to use 1 Gacha Token?
A single shimmering ticket pulsed in my inventory. My fingers twitched.
"Alright… let's see what I get."
The screen spun like a slot machine. Golden sparks flew. The others watched live as the orb cracked open.
[Congratulations! You have obtained: Prototype Energy Core – Herrscher Fragment (Dormant)]
The chat went silent. Then—
[Kiana]: E-EHHH?! A HERRSCHER FRAGMENT??
[Himeko]: Impossible. That's technology far beyond what should be casually given.
[Tony Stark]: …Okay, what the hell. You just pulled a nuclear bomb on your first spin.
[Asuna]: W-wait, isn't that dangerous?!
[Zhongli]: Ah… I see. As Group Owner, fate tilts the scales. Yet, power of such origin will not awaken easily.
Great Sage immediately clarified in my mind.
[Notice: Fragment is dormant. Requires immense energy to activate. Currently functions only as a power amplifier.]
So not an instant win-button. More like a key — a dangerous one. Still, it proved my suspicion: as owner, my gacha wasn't normal.
"…Looks like my pulls are weighted," I admitted. "But it's not like I can abuse it. This thing is sealed."
[Tony Stark]: Yeah, until it isn't. Don't blow us all up, kid.
[Kiana]: Still… if you're on our side, that's kinda reassuring.
Before we could debate further, the system pinged again.
[Warning: Worldline Stabilization Required]
Neo must now integrate into local Honkai Impact 3rd world.
Failure to anchor identity will cause system collapse.
A dizzying pulse rippled through me. The ruined street blurred, shadows warping into sunlight. My feet slammed against solid ground again — a training yard, filled with sparring Valkyries.
The smell of oil and ozone hit me. The sounds of gunfire training drills echoed. Schicksal HQ.
And standing there, blinking in confusion at me, were two very familiar figures.
White hair tied in a ponytail. Bright blue eyes. A mischievous smile that faltered into suspicion.
"Kiana… Kaslana," I breathed.
Behind her, red-haired, sharp-eyed Himeko crossed her arms. Her gaze was sharp as a blade, the faint scent of wine clinging to her coat.
"…You. You're not one of my cadets. Who the hell are you?"
The chat went silent. For the first time, they were seeing the real versions of their friends — not just avatars in a group window.
And I… had to somehow explain myself.