"So, you're telling me that your job is to make me a star... Like those famous actors and singers from my previous life?"
[You're kind of right, Host! My job is not just to help you become a star, but the BIGGEST star ever!]
Michael had sat on the bed of the room he was in, while listening to the explanation of the system. It was surprisingly soft considering that the mattress was on top of a long action bar that served as support for the bed.
"Sigh... Well, I guess there's no way. Is there any way I can return to my homeland?"
[The answer to the Host's question is: No!]
From the beginning, his hopes were dashed by the system's response. He still had a father and mother in his previous life, as well as a younger brother, to think that he would never be able to see them again...
Michael sighed once more. In the short time he had transmigrated to this place, he had probably sighed a dozen times already.
After remaining silent for a few minutes, Michael finally gathered the courage to face the situation head on. Patting his forehead, he stared at the translucent screen in front of him with a contemplative expression.
"Well, since you're a system that's supposed to help me become a star, what other functions do you have besides showing me a mediocre status window?"
[The system has four general functions, they are: Status Window, Shop, Roulette and Missions!]
[Allow me to explain, Host! The Status Window function, as you may have noticed, is a standard window that calculates the Host's progress based on rank!]
[For comparison, an average person usually doesn't go past Rank E in any of the performance stats! Once someone reaches at least Rank C in any of the stats in the Status Window, that means they have the potential of a star!]
[By the way, the Host can check other people's Status Window! But it might not be that useful, considering the nature of the universe the Host has been allocated to...]
Michael understood what the system meant. In the universe of Honkai: Star Rail, force reigned supreme, with beings capable of decimating cities, countries, and even planets casually walking around every corner.
If Michael ever encountered one of these beings and offended him, or if that being showed any curiosity about him, being able to see its Status Window would not help him at all.
What would he do even if he knew the dance statistics of this theoretical being? Call him to a dance battle?
"I understand, you can continue the explanation."
[Yes, Host! The next function I would like to introduce is the Missions function, which will be essential to becoming a great star in the future!]
[The Quests tab will be constantly updated to ensure stable growth for the Host! The Host does not need to worry about the risks of not completing these Quests, they are all optional and do not guarantee any consequences!]
Michael sighed in relief, at least he wouldn't become a dog of the system like some characters in novels he had read before.
[The next general function I would like to introduce is the Shop! The Shop provides many consumable items and permanent skills that can help the Host become more and more popular!]
[Skills and items in the System Shop can be purchased with Star Points! Star Points can be earned by completing Quests or gaining a certain level of popularity!]
[Unfortunately, the Host has just transmigrated and doesn't have a single Star Point, so I recommend not wasting your time looking at the Shop!]
[Last but not least, the last function of the system: the Roulette! As the Host may have already guessed, the Roulette is a Gacha system that can provide items, skills, skill tickets, and attribute tickets!]
[The Roulette, unlike the Shop, does not use Star Points, but Stellar Jades, which the Host can collect personally! 1 pull costs 160 Stellar Jades, and 10 pulls costs 1600 Stellar Jades!]
[That's all for the explanation of the system functions!]
Michael scratched his head after the whole explanation, thinking that Gacha was chasing him even in another life...
He was a little confused looking at his Status Window, which had an A- Luck rank.
"In my previous life, I was always quite unlucky..."
Even now, he wasn't exactly the luckiest person, having transmigrated to a dangerous universe like Honkai: Star Rail and being bound to a system that likely wouldn't give him any ability to even protect himself.
"Well, let's look at this Quests tab first."
With a thought, Michael was able to manipulate the translucent screen in front of him, opening the Missions tab.
There were three Missions available, Michael quickly glanced through them all as he crossed his arms.
[Mission #1 — A Modest Beginning, Part 1]: As an aspiring star who is still completely unknown, you must first lay your foundations. Choose your first audience and a suitable venue to perform in.
Rewards: 100 Star Points, music track [Nightglow — Tanya Chua].
[Mission #2 — A Humble Beginning, Part 2]: Now that you've finally chosen your first audience and a suitable stage, it's time to show off your skills! Captivate your chosen targets with your performance, earning a final rating of at least Rank C!
Rewards: 100 Star Points, Random Skill Ticket.
[Mission #3 — A Humble Beginning, Part 3]: Continue building your fanbase through continued performances! What good is having the skills but no people to appreciate them?! Reach a popularity rating of 1000!
Rewards: 500 Star Points, unlocks a Path of Destiny and an elemental affinity!
Michael raised his hand to his chin, analyzing the Missions information before asking the system.
"System, how exactly does the popularity ranking work?"
[Replying to the Host: the Popularity statistic measures the amount of fans, the Host's influence, and how well regarded he is around the universe!]
[Warning! Popularity statistic may be affected by haters and malicious controversies involving the Host! If the Host's Popularity statistic remains at 0 for too long, their path to becoming a star will be cut off and the system will disassociate itself from the Host!]
Michael raised his eyebrow subtly. Well, that was something… Was the system indirectly rushing him to complete Missions and increase his Popularity stat so that he wouldn't have to disassociate himself from Michael?
The system itself would probably experience some difficulties if it were separated from its Host...
Well, that wasn't something for Michael to worry about right now. He and the system would be in a symbiotic situation from now on: they needed each other, so there was no reason to make things difficult.
"That said, can I really just walk around the Space Station carefree and perform? I don't even know what my identity is in this world..."
[Ding!]
[Replying to the Host: There's nothing to worry about! The system has already arranged a reasonable identity for the Host in this universe, please wait a few moments...]
Michael crossed his legs on the bed casually, resting his chin on one hand. He didn't have to wait much longer.
With a sharp sound, a headache shot through the left side of Michael's neck, and he suddenly found himself retaining memories that were not originally his.
The identity for this body was that of a young independent artist who had become lost from his group after an attack by the Antimatter Legion and had subsequently been rescued by personnel from the Herta Space Station.
Thanks to Asta, who had a kind and welcoming nature, he was temporarily taken in at the Station until he had a place to go.
To Michael, those memories felt similar to videotapes, and he was watching everything from a third-person perspective, so he didn't have to worry about things like identity dissociation.
After the dizziness passed, Michael shook his head from side to side to dispel the discomfort and pain on the left side of his neck, getting out of bed immediately.
"Better strike while the iron is hot, let's go out and find somewhere to perform..."
Michael was in no hurry, but he wanted to get some of the melancholy thoughts out of his head, which made him want to get started right away and busy himself with other things.
As he approached the steel door of his room, however, an abrupt lurch shook the ship, along with the distant sound of explosions and harsh impacts.
Michael lost his balance, he wasn't prepared for something like that and ended up falling in the ground.
"Ouch! F*ck..."
Rubbing his back slightly, Michael stood up from the floor with his brows tightly furrowed.
Without needing the system's warning, he clearly knew what was happening outside: it was the invasion of the Antimatter Legion that happened at the beginning of the game!
"How lucky, I actually transmigrated just a few minutes before the attack..."
Michael grumbled sullenly. He had spent at least thirty minutes talking to the system, and there was no way he could have known that the day of the Antimatter Legion's attack would be just the day he had transmigrated!
How unlucky...
Michael hesitated, wondering whether he should go outside or stay in his room.
This was no longer a game, but reality, he could not guarantee that the Antimatter Legion soldiers would not invade the researchers' personal quarters.
If that happened, at that moment he would have nowhere to run.
"Alright, I remember this room was pretty close to the elevator, if I could sneak by..."
Michael thought for a few seconds before deciding to move.
He may not have been a very motivated person, but he was decisive when the moment called for it.
His hand slid to the digital handle, and with a touch, the door opened.