Honkai Star Rail Simulation: I'm Surrounded By Characters

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The Abundance Emanator Shuhu posed a formidable threat to Xianzhou, having repeatedly invaded it over the years.

Nearly two millennia prior, during the Second War of the Abundant Folk, Shuhu led an army that besieged the Jade Gate Immortal Ship. With assistance from the scholar corps dispatched by the Intelligentsia Guild, Xianzhou managed to repel the attack.

A thousand years later came the Catastrophe of Cang City. Shuhu had awakened Rahu the World-Devourer and commanded the Fertile Alliance forces, nearly single-handedly bringing about the destruction of the prosperous Cang City Immortal Ship.

Having faced Shuhu numerous times, Xianzhou well understood the devastation it could unleash. With Shuhu now targeting Luofu's World Tree, an all-out response was imperative.

As war loomed, Luofu's top leadership gathered to devise plans for countering Shuhu.

Defending the World Tree was non-negotiable. Ideally, for Luofu, this meant eliminating Shuhu outside the bustling paradises, minimizing losses as much as possible.

General Teng Xiao and Shuhu were longstanding adversaries, intimately familiar with each other's tactics. If Teng Xiao appeared on the battlefield, Shuhu would undoubtedly be highly cautious.

After careful consideration, Jing Yuan proposed a plan. Although General Teng Xiao pondered it for some time, given the urgency of the situation, he ultimately agreed.

The ideal candidate for this strategy was naturally Su Qing. Teng Xiao engaged in a confidential discussion with him, later summoning Dan Feng to join their deliberations.

Teng Xiao exuded extraordinary martial prowess and spoke with bold confidence. Sensing the tense atmosphere, he laughed heartily, offering words of encouragement that eased the pre-battle tension.

[Fu Xuan: Compared to Jing Yuan, who excels in strategies, historical records portray General Teng Xiao more as a pure warrior.]

[Fu Xuan: Nevertheless, as a general, his ability to inspire morale is truly commendable.]

[Qingque: Oh wow! The Grand Diviner is providing commentary now!]

[Fu Xuan: This venerable one may not be native to Luofu, but I have extensively studied its history.]

[Fu Xuan: ...On the contrary, Qingque, you should delve deeper into your own historical texts.]

[Qingque (scratching head): Ah ha ha, definitely will, absolutely will do so!]

[Stelle, Qingque: Starting from tomorrow!]

Following these discussions, all plans were finalized.

General Teng Xiao would lead the forces against Rahu the World-Devourer, which had caused the most devastation in Cang City during the previous encounter. With the battlefield set within Luofu this time, every effort would be made to prevent a repeat of past tragedies.

Su Qing and Dan Feng would lead their forces to confront Shuhu head-on. Even if they couldn't eliminate it, they must hold out until reinforcements arrived.

Perhaps akin to how Su Qing and Jingliu remained strangers for centuries past, Luofu's two sharpest swords were destined for separate battlefields.

Before departing, Jingliu personally tied tassel after tassel onto Non-Grasp. In return, Su Qing adorned Jingliu with intricately woven knots. Naturally, both of them felt deeply stirred.

Yet, just as during their conversation under the moonlight long ago, The Hunt's pursuit of Abundant Evils would cease only upon death. As exemplars revered by all within the cloud rider ranks, they had long prepared to fulfill their oaths with their very lives.

After a silent embrace, Su Qing and Jingliu set off towards their respective battlefields.

***

Shuhu, the Abundance Emanator, age unknown.

Once a disciple who listened to teachings at Yaoshi's side even before His ascension to Aeonhood, Shuhu had engaged in philosophical discussions with Yaoshi on life, aging, sickness, and suffering.

It had been a thousand years since Su Qing last encountered this peculiar divine entity.

In appearance, Shuhu manifested as a colossal golden tree. During their previous encounter in Cang City, Shuhu bore thousands of faces and eyes. This time, presumably having just been resurrected and not yet consumed any flesh, there was only a single grotesque face at its center.

This monstrous visage, immense and menacing, retained its terrifying form.

As Su Qing approached, he felt an intense surge of vitality, intertwined with indescribable whispers extolling the allure of eternal life.

With sword glinting, Su Qing reached Shuhu's presence.

At a distance, Dan Feng had transformed into dragon form, shielding the cloud riders and purging the Fertile Alliance forces.

Shuhu's grotesque face shifted, its gaze falling upon Su Qing. "Is Teng Xiao sending only you and that dragon?"

It scrutinized Su Qing closely before recalling, "I recognize you. It has been a millennium since Cang City—yet you still live?"

"It is indeed me."

This marked their second encounter. Before engaging, Su Qing greeted Shuhu casually, "How come you're not dead yet?"

[Herta: ...Speechless.]

[Stelle: What a charming greeting upon meeting!]

[Stelle: Should've asked, 'Have you eaten?' (x), but instead it's, 'Are you dead?' (√)]

[Sparkle: A Warm Greeting from The Hunt to Abundance]

Contrary to anger, Shuhu laughed, causing its golden foliage to tremble. "I am Shuhu, timeless and eternal."

"Each triumph over death brings unparalleled joy. Like them, you are insignificant, but your suffering might entertain me."

With a wave of its branches, Shuhu plunged its roots deep into the earth. Accompanied by the resonant tones of immortality gu, vines surged towards Su Qing.

Based on the overwhelming pressure he vaguely recalled from their previous encounter, Shuhu's power had significantly increased since its last resurrection.

However, Su Qing was no longer the cloud rider who barely managed to protect two others with all his might. After centuries spent battling evil creatures, facing an Abundance Emanator now elicited calm and composed readiness for combat.

Su Qing summoned his flying swords, and six Non-Grasps rapidly unfurled behind him like wings of light. In unison, they darted forth, each targeting the incoming vines with unstoppable force, swiftly severing them.

Despite Non-Grasp cutting through the vines, Shuhu's vitality was boundless, regenerating new branches within mere breaths.

Focusing intently, Su Qing imbued Non-Grasp's strikes with externalized sword glares. His discussions with Jingliu about swordsmanship had proven fruitful; he had grasped several true essences of Jingliu's techniques, enabling Non-Grasp's slashes to carry fierce sword glares.

As the six Non-Grasps weaved with amplified strength, curved arcs of sword glare swept across, hacking away large swathes of Shuhu's foliage. For a moment, they successfully suppressed its growth!

Maintaining the sword glow of six flying swords demanded immense physical exertion.

However, that worked to Su Qing's advantage.

What he possessed most abundantly was stamina.

[Seele: The Tianyi-5's Potential Unleashing is truly remarkable! Still effective even after all these years!]

[Fu Xuan: Indeed, it's quite an exceptional Talent.]

[Fu Xuan: Although, considering how long Su Qing has been on Xianzhou, any potential to be unlocked likely already has. Purple-tier Talents do have their limits.]

[Herta: True enough. But his 'Kill' Talent probably doesn't share those limitations.]

Even amidst battle, Shuhu observed its opponent closely.

A thousand years ago, Su Qing had merely been a cloud rider. By withstanding tremendous pressure and standing firm against Shuhu, he piqued its interest slightly.

Now, upon meeting again, Shuhu didn't expect him to have grown strong enough to contend equally.

Through the eyes of an Abundance Emanator, perceptions differed from ordinary beings.

In Shuhu's view, Su Qing brimmed with vitality. Within his diminutive human frame, an extraordinary level of life energy surged.

More remarkably, despite Shuhu's influence, Su Qing's spirit remained steadfast, akin to an unextinguishable lamp, unaffected by external forces.

Under Shuhu's bewitchment, Su Qing's spirit remained remarkably steadfast, like an unextinguishable lamp impervious to any external influence.

Considering his presence in Cang City, he must be over a thousand years old now—far surpassing the average lifespan of Xianzhou's inhabitants.

Yet not only did Su Qing show no signs of developing a Demonic Yin Body, there were also no indications of corruption or deterioration.

Shuhu's interest surged anew. With both a robust mind and stable physique, Su Qing was akin to a seed brimming with infinite potential. By nurturing it with Abundance's blessings, at any moment, it could grow into a towering tree...

The allure within Shuhu's voice intensified dramatically. "Join Abundance, and given time, you might become as formidable as I am."

Su Qing stood atop his flying sword, offering no verbal response but casting a gaze that clearly conveyed his rejection.

[Seele: hhhhh, Su Qing's look is so dismissive! It's like hearing something utterly repulsive!!]

[Fu Xuan: Quite reasonable, actually; that's the expected reaction.]

[Jingliu: +1]

[Bronya: By the way, it seems Abundance is quite persistent in trying to recruit members from Xianzhou.]

[Herta: Indeed, with Yaoshi bestowing the World Tree, there's a shared origin between Xianzhou and Abundance.]

[Herta: It's rather complex, but simply remember that currently, their relationship is one of mutual enmity until death.]

"Haahahaha!!"

Seeing Su Qing's reaction, Shuhu erupted into deafening laughter. "Born at dawn, dying by dusk, oblivious to time's flow. Embrace the Medicine King, and you shall know true immortality!"

The bizarre colossal tree blossomed like a flower, its golden branches rapidly extending and intertwining upwards, aiming to ensnare figures in the sky.

Su Qing nimbly dodged on his flying sword, yet after a few minutes, as if caught off guard, he was entangled by the branches.

Instantaneously, vines securely bound Su Qing.

Unmercifully, a golden branch pierced through his shoulder, drawing blood.

[Sparkle: Look! They're binding Su Qing?!]

[March 7th: This can't be happening!!!]

Despite Su Qing's unwavering spirit,

being restrained by the Emanator's vines posed a risk of assimilation into Abundance.

As Shuhu prepared to continue tempting him with visions of eternal life, a dragon's roar sounded behind them.

A jade dragon, accompanied by thunderous fury, charged towards Shuhu.

[Stelle: Oh wow! Dan Feng has cleared the minor enemies and come to assist!]

Caught between two fronts, yet Shuhu did not abandon its pursuit of Su Qing.

Its grotesque face split in two; one half remained facing forward, staring at Su Qing, while the other half writhed and turned to the rear.

[March 7th: Yikes!!]

[March 7th: You said it'd be better without the Thousand Faces this time, but it's still so disgusting!]

[March 7th: By the way, doesn't Abundance represent vitality and energy?]

[March 7th: As an Abundance Emanator, shouldn't Shuhu at least have a more aesthetically pleasing appearance for spreading longevity?!]

[Herta: Who knows what it was thinking? It's impossible to guess.]

[Herta: However, Yaoshi himself seems quite attractive.]

[Fu Xuan: ???, The Plagues Author is utterly repulsive!? How can you call that even remotely beautiful?!]

[Herta: Uh, fair enough. To you, it certainly does seem that way.]

The portion of Shuhu's face remaining in front noticed Su Qing whispering something. Its eerie visage leaned closer to listen. "Begging for mercy? Finally showing your true colors in the face of death?"

Su Qing's voice gradually rose, "...Obey my command."

A faint silhouette materialized behind Su Qing. As if swelling with the wind, it abruptly transformed into a colossal golden giant, wielding a sharp weapon!

[Stelle: Huh?!]

[Seele: Shocked!]

[Qingque: So cool! It's that Divine Monarch with the super long name!]

[Fu Xuan (realizing): Ah, so this is why Teng Xiao chose to send Su Qing! No wonder he hesitated despite facing such formidable adversaries!]

[Fu Xuan: The Heavenly Monarch of the Divine Firmament Thunder Palace, who commands lightning and purges evil, wields the might bestowed by the Imperial Bow upon the General of Xianzhou.]

[Fu Xuan: By invoking him, does this make Su Qing, for a day, akin to the general himself...?]

[Fu Xuan (somewhat excited): This moment, never recorded in history books, fills a gap in our knowledge firsthand!]

[Qingque: Seriously, Grand Diviner?! You remember the Divine Monarch's entire lengthy name?]

[Fu Xuan: ???, Qingque! Is that really the main point right now?!]

"...By my command, execute without mercy." Bound within vines, Su Qing calmly recited the invocation.

Following his command, the golden phantom of the Divine Monarch thrust its colossal blade downward, piercing through Shuhu's body and striking deep into the earth.

Simultaneously, a massive azure dragon formed from condensed water surged forth, penetrating Shuhu with tremendous force.

Gold and blue intertwined.

The Divine Monarch's giant blade left a gaping wound in Shuhu's chest before mercilessly slashing to the right, cleaving away nearly half of its body!

The aqueous dragon circled back, crashing into Shuhu with bone-crushing intensity.

Then, the Divine Monarch vanished, and the dragon dissipated—yet their combined assault had nearly severed Shuhu in two!

[Silver Wolf: Awesome!]

[Stelle: Yes, yes, yes—a truly exhilarating combo move!]

[Fu Xuan: Thinking about it now, if Teng Xiao personally commanded the battlefield, Shuhu would have been far more cautious.]

[Fu Xuan: But by entrusting the Divine Monarch to Su Qing, they could strike him at close quarters and deal severe damage in one fell swoop! It was a risky maneuver, yet undeniably brilliant!]

[March 7th: Even Fu Xuan, usually so composed, is getting excited!]

[Fu Xuan: Witnessing history unfold before our eyes—how can one not be stirred!]

[Fu Xuan: Jing Yuan's counsel, Teng Xiao's relinquishment, Su Qing's command—this near-cooperation of three generations of generals echoes the cloud riders' vow: "Clouds veil the sky, shielding the celestial vessel." Only through united effort can we protect Xianzhou!]

[Jingliu: Well said.]

[Jingliu: I didn't expect Fu Xuan, serving within the Divination Commission, to grasp the essence of the cloud riders so deeply.]

[Fu Xuan: This venerable one harbors ambitions for the position of general; naturally, I must understand each division aboard Xianzhou.]

[Stelle: ...Wow, almost forgot! Fu Xuan has been aiming to become a general for ages!]

[Fu Xuan: Ahem, even as a temporary general for just this day, Su Qing exhibits such valor. Is it not understandable that this venerable one would aspire similarly?]

[Stelle:?! Bu-but—but! I think Lord Fu Xuan also possesses the qualities of a great general!]

[Seele: Yay, Stelle is so supportive!]

With Shuhu nearly split in half, it could no longer focus on much else.

Dan Feng soared forth, her dragon claws aiding Su Qing by slicing through the vines. Following suit, Su Qing stood atop his flying sword and summoned Non-Grasp once more. With its gleaming blade like a shadow, he cut away another swath of Shuhu's foliage.

Dan Feng likewise conjured thunder, striking at the tree trunk.

In the heat of battle, the transition between generals had been hastily executed and remained incomplete.

Having invoked the Divine Monarch twice—once for penetration and once for finishing blows—Su Qing had expended tremendous energy. Summoning the Divine Monarch again would likely require some time.

[Stelle: Translation: The Divine Monarch needs more stacks!]

Under the combined onslaught of sword glares and thunderbolts, Shuhu did not resist, seemingly on the verge of defeat...

However, just as they were close to clearing the giant tree, Shuhu abruptly contracted, transforming into an amorphous mass of constantly shifting flesh.

Simultaneously, a crimson hue enveloped the sky, revealing an even more eerie and grotesque spectacle.

Stars pulsed like blood cells, chanting in unison as the cosmos descended into a pit of flesh and desire.

This was Bloodbath Prison Realm, manifested by Shuhu as the Abundance Emanator.

[Silver Wolf: Not good, this is the boss entering phase two!]

[March 7th: ? Oh no! I take back what I said earlier; this is genuinely terrifying and horrifying!]

[March 7th: With the Abundance Emanator looking like this, who would dare believe in it?]

[Herta: Yet the allure of immortality and boundless lifespan has always drawn countless individuals.]

[Herta: Furthermore, Abundance embodies "compassion for all," never refusing any pleas. Thus, despite this terrifying form, many still willingly accept it.]

[Jingliu: ...Xianzhou has suffered greatly because of such afflictions, which is precisely why we vow to eradicate all Abundant Evils.]

[Stelle: Regardless of how you look at it, this is much harder than battling that Star Core Demon!]

[Seele: Star Core Demon: Huh? Comparing me to an Abundance Emanator, really?!]

Surrounded by dragon shadows, Su Qing stood amidst the clouds.

Both Su Qing and Dan Feng wore grave expressions upon witnessing this scene. Shuhu, having repeatedly threatened Xianzhou, proved indeed formidable.