"???"
"Holy crap! Am I seeing this right?!"
"I must still be dreaming! Is Feathered Spirit streaming now?"
"No announcement this time, straight into the preview stream—nice! Even Yueling keeps up with the trends!"
"Is it possible we might finally see the real face of developer Feathered Spirit during this stream?"
"Woah, no more waiting! Let's go, bros!"
"Yes, yes, another day with Star Rail dominating the headlines!"
Within the live stream:
The viewer count rapidly swelled from an initial 100,000.
1 million.
5 million.
50 million.
100 million...
Players from across the universe swiftly gathered at this inaugural livestream.
After a brief moment of darkness,
the main segment began.
What appeared before all viewers was a palace perched atop clouds.
The palace resembled a celestial abode amidst a vast sea of misty clouds.
Two figures stood facing each other by the railing outside the palace, seemingly poised to strike at any moment!
On the left, a man radiated azure light with faint ripples spreading around him like water.
On the right, a woman emitted violet light, briefly revealing patterns reminiscent of constellations.
As the clouds dispersed,
their forms became visible to everyone watching.
"It's you!"
"And it's you?"
Both spoke simultaneously, their voices filled with uncertainty, and retracted their readying energy.
Dan Heng preemptively asked, "Fu Xuan of the Divination Commission... why are we here?"
Fu Xuan began divining with her fingers, murmuring softly. After a moment, she replied, "This is a Dreamscape; some force has forcibly drawn us into this unique world within dreams."
"Only an entity with immense power could achieve such..."
Witnessing this scene,
the chat erupted instantly!
"Wow! Is that Feathered Spirit herself?"
"Master Diviner, I thought you were asleep, but turns out you're attending the preview stream within a dream?"
"You said there'd be a preview stream, and you actually brought the host's true self?! How could you do this?!"
"I can only say... bravo!"
"My admiration for Feathered Spirit just reached new heights!"
"This is my favorite episode yet!"
Before Dan Heng could finish his sentence, a voice echoed from above:
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the preview stream for Honkai: Star Rail's upcoming update.
"I am your host for this event, Feathered Spirit."
Emerging within a golden beam of light, Lin Yu appeared before them.
Both Dan Heng and Fu Xuan were taken aback by this sight.
That name! It sent shockwaves through their hearts!
The initial reaction upon witnessing the legendary figure materialize right before their eyes was disbelief!
As viewers witnessed this moment,
the live chat exploded like a detonated bomb, igniting instant frenzy!
"???"
"Holy shit!"
"Hey, handsome dude, who are you?!"
"To witness Feathered Spirit's true appearance within my lifetime - I can now die without regrets."
"With Nanook's charisma, Xipe's gentleness, and Qlipoth's determination... Feathered Spirit, I never imagined you to be such an entity!"
"Even at my peak attractiveness, I'd have to step aside for you!"
"When will you create yourself as a character in the game? Count me in for endless gacha pulls!"
With a casual gesture from Lin Yu, the trio instantly moved from the outdoor corridor into the palace interior.
Before them, beverages and pastries appeared on the table.
"Please don't be surprised, gentlemen."
"The purpose of inviting you here today is solely to showcase content from the upcoming new version."
"If either of you feels uncomfortable at any point, you have the option to withdraw."
Dan Heng and Fu Xuan exchanged glances.
Gradually, their expressions shifted from shock to acceptance as they began comprehending the situation unfolding before them.
Withdrawal was not an option! This was none other than Feathered Spirit, the renowned game developer known throughout the universe.
Today's live broadcast would undoubtedly be a monumental event, captivating audiences everywhere!
Their eyes were fixed intently on Lin Yu, unwilling to miss a single word.
After five seconds passed...
Lin Yu continued, "Since there are no objections, I will now proceed with showcasing the upcoming content."
"Firstly, let me introduce the newly featured character—Dan Heng, Imbibitor Lunae."
As Lin Yu spoke,
amidst the sea of clouds outside the window,
a figure appeared, meditating mid-air.
Eyes slightly closed,
holding the Deep Abyss Bead,
a blue dragon tail gradually extended.
Ripples formed beneath his feet, revealing a majestic azure dragon bursting forth from the water, circling around him.
Dan Heng's gaze widened in astonishment!
The figure emerging amidst the clouds was unmistakably himself!
While playing the game, Dan Heng hadn't fully grasped it, but now during this preview stream, he unexpectedly witnessed himself portrayed in such a manner.
The experience felt truly surreal!
Lin Yu began his introduction, "This is the manifestation of Dan Heng's true form as a Vidyadhara, having embraced the residual power from his past life as Imbibitor Lunae."
"By accepting the Towering Horned Crown upon his brow, he also bears all the deeds and misdeeds of that person... Yet throughout, he remains distinct from him."
Dan Heng's pupils slightly contracted.
Is this how Feathered Spirit perceives me? Despite being brief, these words accurately encapsulate the entangled karmic debts spanning my past and present lives.
Recalling the narrative within the game, Dan Heng's gaze towards Lin Yu held newfound gratitude.
"Feathered Spirit, I am deeply grateful for how you've shaped 'Dan Heng' in the storyline."
"I..." Dan Heng wanted to say more, but ultimately, it condensed into a heartfelt, sincere "Thank you."
"No need to thank me. I merely embellished what already exists in this world and presented it to everyone."
Dan Heng nodded silently. He was not particularly adept at expressing his emotions.
The emergence of Honkai: Star Rail allowed others to understand everything he had experienced. For Dan Heng, this understanding and validation held immense significance.
"The second character entering the card pool is..."
"Head of Luofu's Divination Commission, a confident and forthright sage."
"With her third eye and the Matrix of Prescience, she charts courses for the Xianzhou and predicts outcomes, firmly believing that her actions represent the [optimal solution] for every situation."
"Fu Xuan awaits the General's promised 'abdication in favor of a worthy successor,' but the day of its fulfillment...seems distant yet."
Upon hearing this introduction,
Fu Xuan abruptly sat up from her seat.
"It's actually me?"
"Feathered Spirit, was inviting this venerable one—ahem, inviting me—to this live streaming event your purpose here?"
"I think...the last sentence could have been omitted."
"Let's make this clear upfront," Fu Xuan said, crossing his arms and striving to maintain an air of composed confidence. "If the skill effects don't meet my expectations, I won't endorse my in-game counterpart like Dan Heng did."
At that moment, countless viewers watching the live stream flooded the chat with comments.
"Fu Xuan pretending to be calm before Feathered Spirit is just adorable!"
"Besides Imbibitor Lunae Dan Heng, Fu Xuan-sama will also join the card pool in the next update?"
"What fate path will Fu Xuan have? The Hunt? Or perhaps... Erudition?"
"Fu Xuan doesn't seem combat-oriented; Yueling would likely design her as a support character."
"It can't be Abundance, right? If our top Xianzhou Diviner were assigned the Abundance fate path, that'd be hilarious! Fu Xuan-sama definitely wouldn't approve either!"