Chapter 1: Man in Teyvat

In an apartment, Liam watched the ending of the first part of Honkai Impact 3rd on his computer, feeling deeply moved.

He was a veteran player of Honkai Impact 3rd, although not wealthy, he excelled in the game with his skillful hands.

Each update, he would relax in the comfortable "Extinction" mode and regularly ranked high in the battlefield, so his resources were relatively sufficient.

Watching the screen where the long-separated trio reunited for a cheerful tea party, Liam felt nostalgic.

"Kiana has finally overcome so many hardships! Seven years! Time flies!"

Thinking back to when he first started playing Honkai Impact 3rd, he was just a kid, and now he's already 20 years old.

As Liam was lost in his thoughts, a strange pop-up suddenly appeared on his computer. The pop-up had only one line:

[Would you like to embark on a brand-new journey?]

Liam looked at the options given by the pop-up, "Yes" and "Want", feeling speechless.

Where did this come from? A master control space? Who still plays this trick nowadays?

Although he was an orphan, the director had taught him to trust in science from a young age.

Liam, puzzled by this inexplicable pop-up, wondered if his old computer had gotten a virus even though he hadn't browsed any dubious sites.

After trying various ways to close it without success, Liam decided to click on one of the options.

Immediately, he felt a blinding white light in front of him and lost consciousness, though he vaguely heard a door opening sound...

Teyvat

Inazuma, Tatarasuna

"Ugh... What's going on?"

Liam slowly opened his eyes near a beach, feeling dizzy as if he had been tumbled in a washing machine.

Fortunately, the dizziness didn't last long, and after a while, Liam regained his senses, realizing he was standing in the rain with thunder rumbling above.

He quickly stood up, but almost stumbled again due to not being fully recovered.

After steadying himself, he scanned his surroundings, noticing a protruding cliff not far away. He quickly ran underneath it and let out a sigh of relief.

Wiping the rain off his face, Liam looked around in confusion. He saw an endless sea and seemed to be on a large island. In the distance, he could vaguely see some purple glows and a familiar blue glowing statue.

"That... that looks like a Statue of The Seven! Am I really in Teyvat? And this environment looks like Inazuma!"

Liam felt his head turn into a mushy mess.

Although he was a veteran player of Honkai Impact 3rd, he also played Genshin Impact, albeit casually, focusing more on the main storyline. His main focus remained on Honkai Impact 3rd.

"Yaa~!"

Before Liam could think further, a strange scream caught his attention.

He turned to see a group of Hilichurls wearing masks, including a Samachurl and a towering Mitachurl holding a wooden shield.

In the game, such minor enemies wouldn't even catch his eye; he could easily dispatch them and wouldn't bother picking up the materials.

But now, in reality, that Mitachurl's muscular build looked like it could knock him out with one punch.

"Bad luck! Bad luck! Bad luck!"

Seeing the Hilichurls charging at him, Liam's face changed. He couldn't afford to worry about the rain and ran towards the distance. However, as an unhealthy modern person, he couldn't outrun the Hilichurls.

Feeling the Hilichurls getting closer, Liam gritted his teeth and decided to turn around and fight them. After all, he didn't want to die so helplessly without a fight, even if it meant biting them before going down.

[Beep~! Congratulations, master, for arriving in Teyvat. The System is now soul-bound!]

Just as Liam was about to turn around, a voice echoed in his mind, making him ecstatic. Did he just get a cheat?

He quickly called out in his mind,

"System, please save me! Is there a newbie gift pack or something? I urgently need help!"

[Beep~! Detecting that the master is in danger, the newbie gift pack has been issued and opened!]

[Beep~! Congratulations, master, for obtaining the Herrscher of the Void core!]

[Beep~! Congratulations, master, for obtaining the Divine Key: Judgment of Shamash, Fire of Execution!]

[Beep~! The Herrscher of the Void core from the newbie gift pack has been automatically fused, and the Fire of Execution has been stored in the system backpack, available for retrieval at any time!]

As the system's voice finished, Liam felt something new within his body, sensing a special energy that he presumed to be Honkai energy!

But what about the powers? And with just this bit of Honkai energy, what could he do?

"System, is your Herrscher core expired? Am I even a Herrscher now? Even Wendy wasn't this weak when she became a Herrscher!"

[Beep~! Answering the master's query!]

[The system's Herrscher core is of superior quality, allowing for perfect fusion. However, the core needs to be gradually developed by the master. Of course, if the master wishes to become strong immediately, it's simple. The master can trigger a major Honkai outbreak, thereby becoming a true Herrscher!]

"Damn! Gradually developed? Trigger a major Honkai outbreak? System, can you be any more deceitful?"

Liam was full of expletives. If given a choice, he would obviously choose the former, but triggering a major Honkai outbreak could turn the island he was on into a dead zone.

While Liam was in deep thought, he remembered that his newbie gift pack included another good item.

With a thought, a pair of black and yellow dual pistols appeared in his hands.

Looking at the persistent Hilichurls, Liam grinned and imitated Siegfried from the manga, combining the two guns into a scorching flaming greatsword.

[Beep~! Master, it is not recommended to use the Fire of Execution greatsword right now!]

"System, I know what you're saying, but I almost thought I was going to die just now! Just tell me if using the Fire of Execution greatsword will kill me!"

[Beep~! Analyzing the consequences of the master using the Fire of Execution greatsword: exhaustion and fainting! No life-threatening danger!]

"Heh! That's good enough!"

Liam felt reassured after hearing the system's words and turned his attention to the Hilichurls behind him.

When Liam took out the Fire of Execution greatsword, the Hilichurls' instincts warned them of danger. However, their limited intelligence left them unable to understand the threat.

Seeing the now hesitant Hilichurls, Liam smirked. "Serves you right for chasing me earlier!"

He adjusted his position to avoid causing unnecessary destruction to the entire island.

Slowly, he raised the greatsword. As the flames began to swirl around the blade, an oppressive aura spread through the air.

In Inazuma City, inside the Tenshukaku...

The Raiden Shogun's serene, purple eyes opened.

"This searing sensation... Is it a variable?"

'Shogun, you should personally investigate this. This power feels quite unusual!'

"Even you were awakened by this, Inner Self?"

Without further words, the Raiden Shogun transformed into a bolt of lightning and vanished.

At the Grand Narukami Shrine on Mt. Yougou...

A pink silhouette watched the distant skyward flames, her eyes filled with concern.

"Sigh... Truly a season of turmoil. Such power must have even caught Ei's attention."

She, too, transformed into a bolt of lightning and disappeared from the shrine.

Meanwhile, Liam had finished charging his attack.

"Wow... Amazing! As expected of the Fire of Execution!"

The intense heat from the weapon almost made him drop it. His face turned pale, and he felt completely drained.

The system had explained that the Fire of Execution had been modified for safety, allowing him to use it without the dire consequences the original weapon would have caused. Otherwise, as an inexperienced half-Herrscher, he would have been unable to wield it.

If it were the original Fire of Execution, he would indeed have been "executed."

"Hehe! I've been wanting to say this for a long time!"

With a smile on his pale face, Liam swung the greatsword down forcefully.

"Fire of Execution! Unleash!"

The scorching strike instantly vaporized the Hilichurls, leaving no ashes behind. The flames continued, evaporating the seawater into steam.

Fortunately, Liam had chosen his position wisely. The terrifying attack grazed the Kujou Encampment and obliterated a small nearby island, erasing it from the map.

The intense flames were visible across Inazuma, and the heatwave was felt by those near the island, who mistakenly believed the Pyro Archon had arrived.

Exhausted, Liam collapsed, but not before returning the Fire of Execution to the system's storage.

A tall figure suddenly appeared where Liam lay unconscious.

The Raiden Shogun felt the residual heat in the air and looked at the unconscious Liam, frowning.

"Inner Self, was that level of attack really caused by this person?"

Ei: 'We witnessed it ourselves. However, I believe the true power lies in that flaming greatsword. This individual still seems too weak. But the sword has disappeared.'

"How should we handle this variable?"

Had Liam been capable of such an attack on his own, the Raiden Shogun would likely see him as a threat to eternity and eliminate him. However, since he relied on an external source, her decision was less clear. She deferred to Ei for the final decision.

Ei: 'Let's take him back. Since he's in Inazuma, he can be considered one of our citizens. We'll question him when he wakes.'

"Alright."

Respecting Ei's wishes, the Raiden Shogun picked up Liam by his collar and returned to Tenshukaku in a flash of lightning.

From behind a nearby tree, a pink figure emerged. Yae Miko watched as the Shogun took Liam away, a gleam in her eye and a slight smile on her lips.

"Oh my! Such power from such a young one. How peculiar! I wonder if it was the Shogun's idea or Ei's to take him away. Oh well, it doesn't matter. I do wonder what changes this little one will bring to Inazuma."

She smiled and left the scene.

Back at Tenshukaku, the Raiden Shogun dropped Liam unceremoniously and resumed her meditative pose, not having been programmed to care for people.

One day later...

"Ugh—, an unfamiliar ceiling. Where am I?"

Liam awoke to a traditional wooden ceiling. Memories rushed back as he realized he had fainted from exhaustion after using the Fire of Execution. Feeling weak, he confirmed the system's accuracy in its warnings.

He looked around the room and noticed a figure meditating in the distance.

"Mei? No, that's impossible! I'm in Teyvat. That must be the Raiden Shogun!"

Momentarily dazed, he rubbed his eyes.

The figure slowly opened her purple eyes.

"You're awake."

Her voice was calm and emotionless. Liam deduced that this must be the puppet Shogun.

"Are you the Shogun of Inazuma?"

Liam asked cautiously, mindful of the Shogun's reputation for being ruthless. In his current weak state, he needed to tread carefully.

The Raiden Shogun nodded, her face expressionless.

"Did you rescue me?"

Liam speculated that the Shogun must have come to investigate the disturbance he caused and found him unconscious.

"You are special. That weapon is dangerous. But as you are now, you pose no threat to eternity."

The Shogun's voice was cold and indifferent.

Hearing the first part of her statement, Liam's heart raced. In her terms, being "special" was akin to being a target. However, her reassurance eased his fears slightly.

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(Mc's Reference)

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