角色故事•三（解锁条件：角色等级60）
怀表走到傍晚七点，他早早吃完晚饭，躺在了橱柜改造的小床上。
他望着眼前闭塞的黑暗，听着怀表永恒不变的嘀嗒声音，这是他最幸福的剧场时光——没有工作，没有现实，只有最自由的幻想。

穿越迷雾之后，他幻想的故事已到了最精彩的海战环节。他伸出双手，把被海浪打翻的伙伴拉回来，他又在画面上划了一道横线，好像那样就可以把大海里的怪物干掉……

「船长，船长，快起来，天晴啦！」
他揉了揉眼睛，不可置信地看着面前的景象：
一只金色的怀表长出了手脚，穿上了制服，戴着红色的领结，正招呼着他过来。
一面银色的镜子映出他的样子，一边摆弄自己的长裙，一边用望远镜观察远处的景象。
昨夜的风暴消失无踪，凉爽的海风吹拂着他的制服，远处已然是新大陆的轮廓。

「看啊，船长，海岸已经不远了！」
钟表小人与镜子小姐拉起他的手，轻轻地一跃。他还没有反应过来，三个人便一起跳上了云端。望着脚下无垠的大海与新月般的大陆，钟表小人和镜子小姐欢呼雀跃，拉着他跳起了踢踏舞。他握紧了伙伴的手，心中又惊又喜。

「你们…你们是我的伙伴吗？」
「是啊，我们一路经历了那么的困难，迷失过好多次方向，终于到新大陆啦！」
……

天亮的时候，他从梦中醒来，一滴眼泪从他眼角滑落。
他看了看自己的卧室，原来是怀表压在了胸口，镜子从墙上掉了下来。
他擦掉泪水，觉得好像什么都没有失去，但又好像什么都失去了。  

Character Story: Part III

• Unlocked at Character Level 60

As the pocket watch struck seven o'clock in the evening, Misha finished his supper and settled onto the cot that had been modified from a cupboard.
Gazing into the darkness surrounding him, he listened to the ceaseless ticking of the pocket watch — the most blissful hours of his day. No work, no reality, only unrestricted flights of fantasy.

After traveling through the fog, his fantasy story reached the most exciting part of the sea battle. He extended his hands, pulling back his companions who had been knocked over by the waves, and he drew another line across the canvas as if vanquishing a sea monster...

"Captain, Captain, wake up, it's clearing up!"
He rubbed his eyes and looked incredulously at the sight before him.
A golden pocket watch, which had transformed into a figure with arms and legs, dressed in a uniform and a red bow tie, beckoned him over.
A silver mirror lady reflected him, adjusting her gown and peering through binoculars at the distant scene.
The storm from the previous night had disappeared without a trace. A refreshing sea breeze fluttered Misha's uniform, and in the distance, they could see the outline of the New World.

"Look, Captain, the coast is not far off!"
Taking Misha's hand, Mr. Pocket Watch and Miss Mirror gracefully leaped onto the clouds. Before he could react, the three of them were airborne, gazing at the boundless sea and the crescent-shaped continent below them. Mr. Pocket Watch and Miss Mirror cheered, pulling Misha into a joyful tap dance. He held his companions' hands tightly, his heart filled with amazement and joy.

"Are... Are you my companions?"
"Yeah, we've faced countless challenges and gotten lost many times along the way, but we've finally found the New World!"
...

At dawn, Misha woke up from his dream, a tear rolled down from the corner of his eye.
Looking around his bedroom, he noticed the pocket watch pressed against his chest, and the mirror had fallen off the wall.
Wiping away the tears, Misha felt as if he had lost nothing, yet he had lost everything.

角色故事•四（解锁条件：角色等级80）
怀表再次走到早上六点，厨房煮牛奶和烤面包的香味一如往常飘进了他狭小的卧室。

他已彻底融入这里的生活，将自己的梦想深埋于心。他不再那么容易对客人的故事感到激动，也不再期待爷爷能够马上回来。

「也许大人都是那个样子，说话不算数，也不愿意认真听小孩子讲话。」
他接过客人的箱包，客人们目不斜视地走掉，只剩下他一个人在那里自言自语。

他回到钟表房，如同往常一样检查那些时钟。不同的时区有不同的时间，他怔怔地望着满墙的钟表，想象着那些世界发生的故事。想着想着，他摊开画纸，继续画下自己与想象中的伙伴经历的故事。

那已经是故事的结尾了。

「伙伴们，再见！我会留在新大陆，等它建设完成之后，再与你们一起前往新的世界！」
「米沙船长，再见！我们有缘再会！」
其他的伙伴走了，而蹦蹦跳跳的钟表小人与温柔的镜子小姐都留了下来。他曾经带领着这些伙伴穿越迷雾，航过大海。每一次危险关头，他调整罗盘，将队伍带向正确的方向。现在，那个叫米沙的孩子将在新的大陆建设新的国度，直到再次踏上旅途的机会来临。

「如果要接着画的话，第二部就暂定为新大陆历险记吧。」
他画完最后一笔的时候，听见了某种熟悉的声音与颤动，仿佛有一个庞然大物从宇宙深处而来，停在了酒店门外。

他扔下画笔，打开门，跑了出去——

「您好，欢迎光……」

在晨光下闪闪发亮的星穹列车，疲惫地，骄傲地，悄然停在了那
——就像「梦」中的一样。  

Character Story: Part IV

• Unlocked at Character Level 80

As the pocket watch struck six o'clock again in the morning, the familiar aroma of milk and toast wafted into his narrow bedroom from the kitchen as usual.

He had settled into this life, burying his dreams deep within his heart. He was no longer easily captivated by the stories of the guests, nor did he hold onto the hope of his grandfather's immediate return.

"Maybe that's how adults are. They don't keep their promises, and they don't really want to listen to children."
He took the guests' suitcases and bags. The guests walked away without a second glance, leaving him alone and muttering to himself.

He went back to his room of clocks and checked the various clocks displaying different times from different time zones as usual. He stared blankly at the wall full of clocks, imagining the stories and worlds that existed within them. Lost in thoughts of these fantastical realms, he unfolded a drawing paper and began sketching the adventures he experienced with his imaginary companions.

That was the end of the story.

"Farewell, my companions! I'll stay in the New World, and once it's fully built, I'll continue traveling with you to other new worlds!"
"Farewell, Captain Misha! May our paths cross again!"
All his companions left except his ever-excited first mate, Mr. Pocket Watch, and the gentle Miss Mirror. They had navigated through the mists and across the sea together. In crucial moments, Misha had steered their ship in the right direction. Now, the child named Misha would embark to build a new kingdom on a new continent until the opportunity arose for another journey.

"If I'm to draw something else, my next creation will be about the adventures in the new world."
As he finished the last stroke, he sensed some kind of familiar sound paired with vibrations, as if a colossal being had emerged from the depths of the universe and landed outside the hotel gate.

He dropped his brushes, opened the door, and ran out...

"Welcome to..."

The Astral Express, glistening in the morning light, tiredly, proudly waited there, parked and quiet.
...Just like in the dream.

流萤

角色详情
星核猎手成员，身着机械装甲「萨姆」战斗。忠于任务，性格坚强。
作为战胜虫群的兵器而诞生，其生长速度异于常人，但生命非常短暂。
为了找寻「生」的机会而加入星核猎手，找寻违抗命运的方式。  

Character Details

A member of the Stellaron Hunters, clad in a set of mechanized armor known as "SAM." Her character is marked by unwavering loyalty and steely resolve.
Engineered as a weapon against the Swarm, she experiences accelerated growth, but a tragically shortened lifespan.
She joined the Stellaron Hunters in a quest for a chance at "life," seeking to defy her fated demise.

角色故事•一（解锁条件：角色等级20）
透明的培养仓中，她浸没在冰冷的人工羊水里，包覆于洁白的卵中。
容器摇晃，她漂浮着，凭借本能摸索到冰冷柔软的边缘。她紧紧贴着仓壁，蜷缩在角落，仿佛那样能使身体感受到更多温暖。

她听见巨物坠落，金属碰撞，急匆匆的脚步声不时响起，培养仓开始摇晃…
「战士们，该醒了……」
「为了，女皇陛下……」
一双机械手将她抱起，刺眼的光撕裂了世界。她忘记了哭泣。
「为自己的诞生感到荣耀……」
「为了，女皇陛下……」
她睁开眼，却看不见说话的人。
她起身，穿过厚厚的帷幕，朝着宫殿深处前进。
「接受你们的荣耀，你们的命运……」
「为了，女皇陛下……」
整齐的脚步声回荡在空旷的宫殿中。

她路过荒寂的巨大花园，途径庞大的虫类尸骸，穿过一个又一个孵育装置…最后，她走进了辉煌的议事厅，一个面目模糊的女人坐在王座上，疲惫地垂着手。

「别抬头。」
有人走到她身边，轻轻地说。那人身上有一个号牌，AR-26702——那是什么？
她看向自己，AR-26710。
「过来…我的孩子……」
一个幽远的声音自她脑海深处传来，一股莫名的狂热淹没了她的心绪。
她走到女皇跟前，跪下亲吻女皇的指尖。

女皇的手冷得如同坚冰，让她在狂热之中短暂感到一丝茫然。
「尽情燃烧吧，为了格拉默的未来……」
「为了，女皇陛下……」  

Character Story: Part I

• Unlocked at Character Level 20

Within the transparent incubation pod, she lay submerged in frigid artificial amniotic fluid, enclosed in a pristine white egg.
As the container trembled, she floated, and instinctively reached the cold and soft edges. She presses against the pod's walls tightly, curled up in a corner, as if that would make her body feel warmer.

She heard something heavy fall and the clamor of metal clashing. Intermittent haste-filled footsteps resounded, and the incubator started to shake...
"Warriors, it is time to awaken..."
"For Her Majesty..."
A pair of mechanical hands scooped her up as blinding light rent the world asunder. She forgot to weep.
"Feel glory in your birth..."
"For Her Majesty..."
She opened her eyes, yet failed to find the speaker.
She rose up and advanced through heavy curtains, venturing deeper into the palace.
"Accept your honor, and your destiny..."
"For Her Majesty..."
The cadence of footsteps in unison reverberated through the desolate palace.

She traversed the unattended vast garden, navigating through colossal insectoid carcasses and numerous incubators... until finally, she arrived at the resplendent council chamber, where a woman with a blurry face was seated upon the throne, her hands hanging wearily.

"Don't look up."
Someone approached her, whispering softly. The person bore an identification tag, AR-26702. What does that signify?
She glanced at herself, AR-26710.
"Come closer... my child..."
A distant voice emanated from the depths of her mind, casting an inexplicable frenzy upon her consciousness.
She obediently approached the Empress and knelt down, kissing her fingertips.

The Empress's touch felt as icy and unyielding as solid ice, momentarily stirring a flicker of perplexity amidst her frenzy.
"Ignite yourself to the last moment, for the future of Glamoth..."
"For Your Majesty..."

角色故事•二（解锁条件：角色等级40）
不知不觉，她已习惯了战场。
她看着同胞们在眼前倒下，自己仍毅然向前。她知道终有一天她也会倒在那里，而后来者将前仆后继地跨过自己的身躯。
所以休憩时光总是那么珍贵，她抬起头，看着银海高悬头顶，星光倾泻而下。

星空下的一切都很安静。即使面临失熵的威胁，她也想卸下战甲，一睹世界的究竟。
记忆中的声音逐渐浮现。
「只是透过镜片望去，就觉得整个世界都不同了。」
——她的编号是AR-214，她戴着「眼镜」。
「格拉默军规第8条，存活的骑士应当主动归队。」
——她是AR-1368，性格很认真。她的战甲上有红色的绶带。
「下一片战场，希望能看见星星。」
——AR-53935，他是和自己不同的「另一种型号」。
「各位，欢迎归队！」
——AR-4077，虽然自己和他素未谋面，但知道他从来不上战场，只待在后方。

茫茫虫群自星空深处飞起，如往常一样，刺耳的警报打断了短暂的休憩时光。
她启动装甲，进入作战状态，只是这一次，一切来得格外猛烈。
「这不是普通的袭击，是虫潮…虫潮！」
通讯中的声音微微颤抖，越来越多的铁骑升上天空，却如渺然的星火，匆匆爆发便被黑暗吞没。
「守住防线，继续突围！」

无数的铁骑在她眼前倒下。
他们中有此前同自己搭话的人吗？她第一次意识到这个问题。
——原来…每个人是不一样的？

虫群终于裂出一道缝隙，而在那缝隙的尽头，母虫正缓步踏出。
她如同一道流光穿梭在密密麻麻的虫群之中，和其他铁骑一同冲向巨型银蛰虫的口器。在被母虫吞噬的最后一刻，她闭上眼睛，引爆了足以毁灭一颗行星的火弹——

足以致盲的光芒以母虫为中心爆发，那一刻万籁俱寂。
她如同脱线的风筝，被巨大的冲击力弹开。向着大地坠落时，一些令她难以忘怀的记忆在眼前闪过——

火萤飞舞的水面旁，她离开装甲，感受夜晚的清风和丝丝凉意。
她看着火萤停驻在她的手背，翕动着翅膀。
「…它们虽然是渺小的生命，却比星星更耀眼。」

黑暗吞没了她。
虫群的残肢和破损的战甲化为尘埃，落在群星之上，纷纷扬扬如同宇宙下了一场无声的雪。  

Character Story: Part II

• Unlocked at Character Level 40

As time passed, she had grown accustomed to the battlefield.
She witnessed her comrades fall before her eyes, yet she remained resolute, pressing forward. She knew that one day, she too, would meet her end on the battlefield, paving the way for those who would follow unblinkingly.
Thus, moments of rest held immense value for her. She lifted her gaze toward the sea of stars hanging high above, its radiance cascading down upon her.

Tranquility pervaded everything under the starry sky. Despite the looming threat of entropy loss, she yearned to shed her battle armor and catch a glimpse of the world's true nature.
The voices from memory gradually resurface.
"Just looking through the lens makes the whole world feel different."
— Her designation is AR-214, and she wears "glasses."
"Glamoth Military Regulation Article 8: Surviving knights should actively return to base."
— She is AR-1368, a very austere character. There is a red ribbon on her armor.
"I hope to see the stars on the next battlefield."
— AR-53935, he is a "different type."
"Welcome back, everyone!"
— AR-4077, though she has never met him, she knew he never goes to the battlefield, always staying in the rear.

From the depths of the starry expanse, the immense insects ascended. Its abrupt invasion interrupted their brief respite.
Reactivating her armor, she was ready to charge into the fray. However, the offense exhibited unprecedented ferocity.
"No, this is not an ordinary attack! It's the Swarm... the Swarm!"
The voices in her comms trembled as more and more of the Iron Cavalry soared to the sky like sparkling fire, only to be swallowed by the encroaching darkness as soon as they ignited.
"Hold the line! Push forward!"

In her line of sight, countless numbers of the Iron Cavalry fell.
Are there any of them that have spoken to her? It was a realization that struck her for the first time.
So... each person is unique?

Finally, an opening was created within the Swarm, and from it emerged the Swarm Mother, advancing slowly.
Like a streak of light, she skillfully navigated through the dense swarm, racing alongside her fellow Iron Cavalry comrades toward the mouthpiece of the towering Silver Sting. Just as the Swarm Mother was about to devour her, she closed her eyes, detonating a bomb with enough firepower to obliterate an entire planet.

A blinding light erupted, engulfing the Swarm Mother, plunging everything into silence.
Like a kite severed from its string, she was propelled by the tremendous impact, descending toward the ground. Fleeting memories that she would never forget flickered before her eyes...

Beside the lake where fyreflies danced, she shed her armor, relishing the refreshing breeze and coolness of the night.
She observed fyreflies alighted on the back of her hand, their wings gracefully fluttering.
"...Despite their tiny size, they shine brighter than the stars at night."

Darkness enveloped her.
The remnants of the Swarm and her shattered armor disintegrated, dissipating like silent snowfall across the universe.

角色故事•三（解锁条件：角色等级60）

从昏迷中醒来后，她已置身于一片陌生的星系。

银河间发光的浮游生物被她吸引，围绕着她翩跹飞舞。
她目送它们飞向远方，却不知自己的终点在哪里。
「为什么死去？」
「为什么活着？」
梦对她仍旧是太过遥远的事，她空望着无际的黑暗，还是无法找到答案。

……
「就这样，格拉默共和国覆灭了，只留下铁骑兵团的传闻。」
装甲被某种东西捕获了，她警惕起来。
「为了控制共和国最强大的兵器，每一位铁骑都是基因编译婴儿。他们携带有一项天生的缺陷，会在生命的某个时刻快速老化、消亡……」
脚步声越来越近，女人的声音也越来越清晰。
「命中注定的结局…和我们很像，不是么？」
飞船的门打开了。
火焰在她身上起舞，熔火骑士的装甲将要成型。
「你是谁？」
面前的女人微笑着，仿佛她们是久别重逢的故人。
「你相信命运么？同向而行的人终会在某个地方相聚，现在…我们见面了。」  

Character Story: Part III

• Unlocked at Character Level 60

When she regained consciousness from her coma, she found herself in an unfamiliar galaxy.

Luminescent cosmic plankton were drawn to her, swirling and dancing around her.
She watched as they dispersed into the distance, unaware of where her journey would lead.
"For what do we die?"
"For what do we live?"
The concept of a "dream" remained elusive as she stared into the boundless darkness, grappling with the search for answers.

...
"And thus, the Republic of Glamoth met its downfall, leaving behind mere rumors about the Iron Cavalries."
She became alert as she realized that something had taken possession of her armor.
"All Iron Cavalries were genetically engineered babies to ensure control over the Republic's most powerful weapon. They each carried a predetermined genetic defect that would accelerate their aging at a certain spot of their life, leading to their premature death..."
As the footsteps drew nearer, the woman's voice grew clearer.
"A predetermined fate... much like ours, wouldn't you agree?"
The door of the cabin opened.
Flames enveloped her body as her Molten Knight armor materialized.
"Who are you?"
The woman before her smiled, as if they were old friends reuniting after a long time.
"Do you believe in fate? Those who walk in the same direction will eventually find their peers, and now... here we meet."

角色故事•四（解锁条件：角色等级80）
又一个寂静的夜晚。她如往常那样静静地坐在高处，看着灯火点亮又熄灭，一艘艘航船进出空港，直到黎明来临。

银狼打着哈欠，走到她身边。
「睡不着吗？」她挪了挪位置。
「做了个怪梦，梦见朋克洛德被电子恶魔入侵了，我一边跑一边用泡泡糖把病毒黏住，然后就醒了。」
「梦啊……」
「要出发去匹诺康尼了吗？」
「嗯。也许属于我的梦…就在那里。」
「但一个无法做梦的人要进入联觉梦境，付出的可是堪比『死亡』的代价。」
「我知道，我的意识将在忆质的重压下被粉碎，然后再以特殊的方法重组，如此才能抵达梦的国度…那死亡并不可怕，我早已习惯了。」
「…唉，行吧，祝你好运。记得替我向星穹列车问好。」
……

她来到阿斯德纳星系的边缘。忆海翻涌着巨浪，她犹如一粒火星，随时都可能在狂风中熄灭。
她跳起，跃入忆域。
重压从四面八方袭来，她的视线逐渐模糊，身体不受控制地坠向忆域深处。
那些藏在浓厚忆质中的情绪仿佛变作了幻影，在她耳边盘旋着，呼唤着。
——「尽情燃烧吧，为了格拉默的未来……」
——「为了，女皇陛下……」
——「它们虽然是渺小的生命，但在夜晚，它们比星星更耀眼……」
——「为什么死去？」
——「为什么活着？」
……
不知过了多久，汹涌的忆质平静了下来。
她睁开眼，匹诺康尼犹如一颗珍珠，散发着迷蒙的光芒，而眼泪正顺着脸庞滴落——
「这就是…梦？」  

Character Story: Part IV

• Unlocked at Character Level 80

Another tranquil night unfolded. As she often did, she sat in silence on higher ground, observing the flickering lights. Countless ships gracefully entered and departed the harbor until the break of dawn.

Silver Wolf yawned and walked to her.
"Can't sleep?" She moved away to make some room.
"Yeah, I had a weird dream about Punklorde being invaded by cyberdemons. So I kept running around, sticking those viruses with my bubblegum, and then I woke up."
"A dream..."
"Leaving for Penacony?"
"Yes. Perhaps there... I'll find my own dream."
"But for someone who can't dream at all, the pain caused by entering the Synesthesia Dreamscape is more terrible than death."
"Yeah, I know. My consciousness will be crushed by the weight of memoria and then get reconstructed in a peculiar manner. This is the only way for me to enter the land of dreams... However, death doesn't frighten me, as I've grown used to it."
"...Hmm, fine. Wish you best of luck. And don't forget to say hello to the Express Crew for me."
...

She arrived at the periphery of Asdana. The ocean of memoria churned with colossal waves, threatening to eradicate her like a fleeting spark ready to go out anytime in the tempest.
With a swift leap, she plunged into the Memory Zone.
The immense pressure closed in from all sides, causing her vision to blur, and she uncontrollably descended into the depths of the Memory Zone.
Emotions concealed within the dense memoria became ethereal specters, haunting and whispering in her ears.
..."Ignite yourself to the last moment, for the future of Glamoth..."
..."For Her Majesty..."
..."Though they are but specks, they shine brighter than the stars at night..."
..."For what do we die?"
..."For what do we live?"
...
After an indeterminate period of time, the raging memoria subsided.
Opening her eyes, she saw Penacony in front of her eyes, glowing like a radiant pearl and glistening with a misty aura, while tears streamed down her cheeks...
"Is this... a dream?".

云璃
角色详情
仙舟「朱明」的猎剑士，备受「烛渊将军」怀炎宠爱的孙女，性格直率。
从小跟随怀炎学习剑艺与锻艺，乃「焰轮八叶」中次年幼的天才剑士。
对朱明流出的魔剑深恶痛绝，立誓要「搜猎魔剑，尽数断绝」。  

Character Details

A sword hunter from the Xianzhou Zhuming and "the Flaming Heart" General Huaiyan's darling granddaughter. Frank and straightforward.
She has learned swordplay and forging from Huaiyan since young, and thus is the second-youngest prodigy swordmaster of the Flamewheel Octet.
Fueled by an intense loathing for the cursed swords that emerged from the Zhuming, she vowed to "hunt down and wipe out all cursed swords."

角色故事•一（解锁条件：角色等级20）
在工炼房里旁观父亲炼剑时，剑炉喷薄的燥热会让她肚子饿得出奇得快，往往一两个时辰后就不见了身影——她要偷跑一趟集市，填饱肚子后才能好好观瞻学习。

「这家肉龙肠出食总比别家快，师傅串肠的手法干净利索，竹签一下串进肠心，不歪也不斜。如果他去练剑，剑风一定爽利。」这么想着，她排在了队伍末端。

胡麻饭团的铺子以往总是老板娘当厨，今天却是她的丈夫。他小臂的肱肌要比膀子肉更紧实，看着像是练过刀，因而抓起饭来也颇有大破大立之感——饭团一个顶平时三个大。她立马凑近：「两份，多抓点饭。」

青衣小哥卖的炸糖藕发挥总不稳定，但今天做得尚好，甜而不腻，外酥里脆。她吃完一个，没走远，站着又看了会儿。小哥今天边糊着糖汁，边有规律地转着手腕…居然是练剑的动作，他是几时学会的？「嗯…看来厨艺中亦有剑术……」

等她吃饱回到家，已是黄昏。院子里戴着铁盔的男人从父亲手上接过一把崭新的剑。
「多谢含光大师，鄙人定将…除恶务尽。」落晖渲染着那人汹涌的坚毅，却也添了份薄暮的无望。

残阳却未落入云璃眼中，她只注意到铁盔男人明明魁梧有力，腰胯壮健，这把剑却剑体轻薄，剑尖从坡度明显大于普通利剑，这样的构造更利于应对不同方向的敌人…但那男人接过剑后，第一件事却是检查剑缰的韧力……

「他是冲锋的骑兵，对吗？这么轻的剑却还寄望于剑缰使剑不离手，一看就像会临阵脱逃的样子…而且骑术还不错。他配不上你的剑。」

含光讶然地看着云璃。
「吃那么多东西，不就是为了练眼力嘛。」  

Character Story: Part I

• Unlocked at Character Level 20

Watching her father refine swords in the workshop would always stimulate her hunger — more so than usual — probably because of the intense heat emitted by the furnace. As a result, she typically disappears within a few hours, sneaking off to the market to fill her belly, apparently so that she would be in a better frame of mind to observe and learn from her father.

"This shop serves up meat sausages faster than their competitors. The chef easily skewers the sausages with mastery, piercing right through their centers with perfect symmetry. Hmm, if he were to learn swordsmanship, he would probably adopt a brisk style of fighting." She thought to herself as she joined the back of the queue.

The sesame rice balls at this shop were usually prepared by the proprietress, but her husband took over the job today. His forearm was a lot more toned than his upper arm, possibly from regular blade training. Because of that, the way he squashed the rice together had a hint of almost destructive force in it — But each rice ball ended up three times larger than their usual. On noticing this, she eagerly walked over to place her order: "Two rice balls. More rice please~!"

The fried sweet lotus root sold by the guy in green was never consistent in quality. But the one that was sold today turned out to be quite decent: Sweet but not cloying, and crispy on the outside while still retaining its crunchy bite. She had walked a short distance away by the time she finished the one she bought, that was when she stopped to observe the guy. He seemed to be rotating his wrist in a rhythmic fashion while coating the snack in syrup... He actually knew a move used in swordplay! When did he pick that up, though? "Hmm... Looks like the swordsmanship can be applied in cooking too..."

It was already sunset by the time she had her fill and returned home. In the courtyard, her father handed over a brand-new sword to another man in an iron helmet.
"Thank you, Master Hanguang. With this blade... I shall eradicate all evil." That man's raging determination shone bright in the afterglow of the sunset, yet was colored with the hopelessness of twilight.

However, Yunli did not notice the setting sun. Instead, her focus was held by the man in the iron helmet. Before her was clearly a burly and robust man, yet he was given such a lightweight sword. The sword's tip was also broader than that of an average sword's. Such a design would be advantageous when fighting enemies from all sides. But strangely, after accepting the blade, the first thing that man did was to assess the tensile strength of the sword's tassel...

"That man's an assault cavalry, right? Hmph, the sword's already so light, and he's still hoping to grab onto the tassel to keep his sword from flying...? He seems to possess decent horsemanship, but he also looks like someone who would flee on the eve of a battle. He isn't worthy of your sword."

Hanguang stared at Yunli in surprise.
"All that snacking is just for acuity training!"

角色故事•二（解锁条件：角色等级40）
她循着声音来到工炼房角落，父亲不在，地上只有一把硕大的混铁剑骸，云璃拾了起来，那剑骸比她人还高。她好奇地抚摸着，模仿含光的样子，假装对它进行加工。

但这把大剑并未铸成——含光熔炼岁阳魔剑，招致焰轮铸炼宫的悲剧。云璃被及时赶来的怀炎救下，逃过一劫。她成为了怀炎的弟子，那剑胚也被她一同带离。

「云璃，原料若超出规范，剑也易折。」同窗的学徒忍不住提醒她，还有他的佩剑——正在娇俏地指责她的手法。
「你也太矜贵了，多刮刮树皮吧。」
同窗露出疑惑又尴尬的神情，云璃抬眼瞧了瞧同窗怀里噤声的剑，「不好意思，不是说你…是你。」

「我名芒光。剑头利如芒，恒持照眼光。」
她知道那剑将被主人藏于宝库，翳其剑光。
「我叫小茉莉，我喜欢剑柄上刻的那朵茉莉花。」
她知道小茉莉虽不满主人乱取名字，却为自己被珍视而感到欣喜。

人言莫辨，剑声更为单纯。
让人失智癫狂的魔剑和地上遍布的腥臭血迹…依然映刻在她的记忆，或许也映于那剑胚的记忆中。但它依旧无言，从未向她谈起那段往事。

「你也看见了那些浸满嗜血杀意的剑影，对吧？
「现在想想，那些岁阳应该也使唤不了你，你闷得很，还又大又钝。」
剑胚忽然震颤，掀起一层乌黑的碳粉，落下却如令人凛然的星云。
「原来你是因为拒绝岁阳才被那人遗弃…连你这把未铸成的剑都懂的道理，父…他怎么就……
「不过，剑什么时候算是『铸成』呢……」
她忍不住伸手抚摸它凹凸不平的剑锷，虽无剑脊，却满是凌厉。
「又不说话了？你还真是个铁疙瘩…不如，就叫你『老铁』吧。」
「别担心，也许你在他人眼里只是把没有剑锋的胚体，但剑意不分利钝。」
「我挥出的，就是利剑。」
「走吧老铁，随我出去见见世面。」  

Character Story: Part II

• Unlocked at Character Level 40

She followed the sound to a corner of the workshop. Her father was nowhere to be found, and on the ground laid the frame of a large sword made from an iron alloy. Picking it up, Yunli realized that the sword frame even stood taller than her. Curiously running her fingers over it, she then imitated how Hanguang normally worked, pretending to refine the sword frame.

But this large sword never got forged: Hanguang smelt the heliobus cursed sword instead, bringing a tragedy upon the Flamewheel Forge. Yunli narrowly escaped the fat of the others, only because Huaiyan arrived in the nick of time to rescue her. She became a disciple of Huaiyan thereafter, not forgetting to take the cursed sword billet with her.

"Yunli, your sword's more likely to break if you use raw materials of non-standard composition." A fellow apprentice couldn't help but offer her some advice. His sword soon chimed in, though criticizing Yunli's smithing in a dainty manner.
"Why don't you go out there and scrape more bark instead, snob?"
The other students looked on with confusion and discomfort, prompting Yunli to look up at her fellow apprentice and the now silent sword. "Sorry, that wasn't directed at you. It was meant for your sword."

"My name's Radiance because of my sharp blade and glistening hilt."
But she knew the sword's fate: Its master would only chuck it into the vault, with its radiance forever concealed from the world.
"My name's Jasminette. I like the jasmine flower that is engraved upon my hilt."
She could tell Jasminette was annoyed at the frivolous name that its master chose, but it delighted at being cherished.

While human intentions are indecipherable from their words alone, the voices of swords are much simpler to understand.
Memories of the cursed sword that drove others to lose their sanity and the gruesome sight of blood all over the ground remain deeply etched in Yunli's mind... Perhaps also in that of the sword billet, though it had never once spoken or talked to her about the events that transpired on that fateful day.

"You've also witnessed those blades that permeate bloodlust and killing intent being swung, right?
"Now that I think about it, those heliobi will probably not be able to wield you either. You're big and blunt, and spiritless too."
The sword billet trembled suddenly, kicking up a layer of dark carbon dust that fell like an awe-inspiring nebula.
"So you were abandoned by that person because you rejected the heliobus... A theory that even an unfinished sword understands... Why didn't fath— he...
"But when can a sword be considered 'finished'..."
Unable to help herself, she reached out to run her fingers over the uneven edges of the blade. Despite the lack of a central ridge, the sword could still be considered sharp.
"Not talking again? What a stubborn lump of metal you are... In that case, I'll just call you 'Old Mettle'."
"Don't worry. To others, you might simply be a billet without a point, but that is immaterial to the intent of swordsmanship."
"A blade that I swing will always be considered sharp."
"Let's go, Old Mettle. Come with me to see the world."