Creating Happiness with Heart in Honkai

Bronie's first association with heartwarming stories wasn't some AAA masterpiece, but the pixelated world of Undertale.

Despite its small size and lack of technical prowess, Undertale resonated deeply with Bronie. It stood out amongst giants like Bloodborne, GTA5, The Witcher 3, Metal Gear Solid 5, The Lost Ray, Rainbow Six: Siege, which had stormed the gaming world with awards and millions of copies sold.

In hindsight, Bronie slightly regretted being spoiled on the story before playing. Yet, the experience remained captivating, a testament to the game's enduring charm even amidst a sea of critically acclaimed hits.

Beyond mere entertainment, Undertale served as a practical inspiration. The current S-beam platform offered access to a legendary RPG engine, a powerful tool that could significantly streamline the game development process. However, Bronie understood that a game was more than just code.

It was an artistic tapestry woven from art, music, story, and gameplay. Each element required her personal touch, refinement until it resonated with her vision. Undertale, while seemingly simple, held a depth waiting to be explored.

In the future, when she could afford a high-end engine or develop one herself, Bronie dreamt of bringing out games she cherished in her memories in the past.

For now, her immediate goal was to create a game that would warm Cioara's numb heart. With a theme in mind, Bronie embarked on the development process.

Cioara's tracking remained crucial, as losing track of her could jeopardize the mission. While Gray Serpent possessed superior intellect compared to humans, accidents were not out of the question. More importantly, following Cioara might lead Bronie to the Elysian Realm itself.

Cioara, a semi-retired World Serpent mercenary, didn't hold the rank of Cadre. Gray Serpent, ever optimistic about her potential, would likely attempt to convince her to rejoin the organization or offer her an irresistible bargain.

Bronie had three days off starting from the next day. While income would be non-existent, game development at home wouldn't incur significant expenses. This break presented a welcome opportunity to recharge.

Undertale offered a spectrum of endings: the Neutral Ending, the Genocide Ending, the peaceful Pacifist Ending, and the hypocritical Soulless Endings available after a Genocide playthrough, each leaving a lasting impact on the player.

However, a hidden gem existed – the "Impossible Ending" or "Dirty Hackers Ending," specifically designed to punish players who resorted to cheating by modifying the game code. While the original developer might have intended it as a humorous easter egg, Bronie wouldn't be lenient towards those who sought to exploit her creations through dishonest means.

Bronie's custom Hacker Ending involved a special virus embedded within the game that would completely delete it from the cheater's device upon installation. Subsequent attempts to reinstall would only lead to the aforementioned Soulless Endings, a constant reminder of their choices.

With the game's core direction established, Bronie delved into the development process. Vivid memories of heartwarming dialogues and witty jokes filled her mind, the sheer volume of text requiring meticulous attention.

At times, Bronie yearned for the technology employed by Fire Moth to extract and digitize memories. It would significantly expedite the writing and coding process compared to manual effort.

Next came the art. Pixel art, though seemingly easy, would be an arduous task if created from scratch. Bronie opted to project the artwork using her ability, followed by scanning it into the computer.

This ability to project familiar objects originated from her childhood. While scavenging for food in Cyber Arc City, a fellow beggar cornered her in an alleyway, attempting to force her into a cyborg transformation. In that desperate moment, Bronie yearned for a knife, and one materialized in her hand.

This unique ability, exclusive to Bronie as a Transmigrator, held immense potential. It demanded practice, pushing its boundaries and exploring its limitations. From powerful maces to low-recoil submachine guns suitable for children, to bullets and high-precision drones, Bronie wielded the power of the Herrscher of Reason.

Motorcycles and manipulating black holes? Those belonged to a false Herrscher of Reason. Bronie, the true herald, could manipulate reality to achieve her goals.

While projecting entirely new concepts was impossible, she could combine existing knowledge and data to generate novel creations. She could even distort reality to achieve her purposes, leaving no trace of manipulation.

With her eyes closed, Bronie envisioned the Steam Bun character, and a well-defined design materialized in her hands.

"Hmm, not bad. Less ragged edges than I remember," she commented with a satisfied smile.

Art was manageable, programming was her forte, and music posed a slight challenge.

Fortunately, she had Sister Theresa, Cyber Arc City's most beloved idol, at her disposal. Sister Theresa's grasp of music theory was exceptional, and Bronie occasionally composed music for her.

In the idol industry, as long as Teresa maintained her cuteness, even her embarrassing songs could find an audience and generate a meager income. Why not capitalize on it?

While Theresa complained about the nonsensical and brainwashing nature of "Bengbengshash" at the time, it enjoyed a brief period of popularity, perfectly aligning with the cyberpunk aesthetic.

Time flew by when engrossed in work. Additionally, Bronie's desire to get the game to Cioara as soon as possible fueled her dedication. This time, she approached her work with a seriousness that contrasted the usual exchange of labor for reward.

On the third day, halfway through development, Bronie received a message from Gray Serpent.

[Gray Serpent]: Miss Bronie, I am Natasha Cioara's colleague. Recently, she had a minor change in her job, so she may come back a little later. By the way, you can call me Gray Serpent.

[Haxxor Bunny]: Your card number 9527 will be used to quickly pay 4$ at 19:23 on February 11th (consumption of rice balls - rice balls payment), with a balance of 4$. [Sky Bank]

[Gray Serpent]: ?

[Hare Rabbit]: Didn't Cioara tell you? I only have this job, and it's paid on a daily basis. You'd better give me accurate data and money, otherwise I won't have food for two days at most, and I'll call the police. ~

[Gray Serpent]: I'll give you two thousand dollars, and I'll guarantee that Miss Cioara can come back to you intact.

Gray Serpent, opting for a ruthless approach, silenced Bronie with a hush money of two thousand and ended the conversation. This sum might not mean much to the Haxxor Bunny, but it was a lifeline for the weak and helpless Bronie, the girl Cioara had taken in from Arc City.

Bronie could only acknowledge Gray Serpent's strategy. At least immediate eviction from her home was no longer a concern.

Now, she had sufficient time to complete the game. As for Cioara's location and the possibility of Gray Serpent harming Raven again, Bronie had her own methods.

A tiny tracker, projected by Bronie's ability, resided within Cioara's phone. It emitted a faint quantum signal every two days, transmitting Cioara's location to Bronie while maintaining enough stealth to avoid detection.

Judging by Gray Serpent's reaction, he likely remained oblivious to the signal.

After another seven days, upon finishing and testing the Undertale game, Bronie set out to find Cioara. Cioara's recent lack of movement, staying in the same location for several days, led Bronie to believe it was the Elysian Realm.

After so many days, the trial should be nearing its completion, right? Would Cioara close the bar after the trial? And after showcasing her abilities and self-sufficiency through the game, would Cioara simply abandon her?

"It's pointless to overthink it now," Bronie thought. "When the time comes, the road will lead me there anyway. If all else fails, I can always resort to pestering her relentlessly."

For now, the top priority was uploading the game.

Bronie uploaded the completed game to S-beam, pricing it at $5. The cover art was kept simple, relying on white text on a black background to minimize the impact of the pixel art style.

However, even the most enticing game required proper promotion to gain recognition. Bronie contemplated various options: live streaming, creating an online persona, and promoting it after gaining popularity.

"Forget it," she dismissed. "It sounds like too much trouble. I've already made the game, why should I announce it myself? I've done enough work!"

She decided to leave the game for now, as more pressing matters awaited her attention.

What awaited her?

The Haxxor Bunny was about to embark on a journey to the Elysian Realm, a haven for hackers, a place brimming with challenges, secrets waiting to be unveiled.

Didn't this sound far more crucial?

Bronie envisioned directly confronting the Herrscher of Corruption in the future, but before the inevitable clash, she needed to ensure the Elysian Realm's safety, or at least create an isolated backup.

Therefore, finding the Elysian Realm's location and establishing contact became her immediate priority.

It was only 2008, a long time before the arrival of the Herrscher of Corruption. But Bronie, the "Speed King," wouldn't miss any opportunity to personally contact the Elysian Realm.

Hacking into the identification system, fabricating false information, and borrowing a small sum from anonymous online accounts, Bronie set off for the World Serpent's cadre trial site.

Clad in her signature attire – a jet-black vest, ridiculously short shorts, a matching jacket adorned with a rabbit holding a wolf in its mouth, and a pair of diamonds under the black rabbit hood that faded from gray to blue – Bronie embodied the transformation of the Haxxor Bunny, a predator devouring its prey.

The classic leg rings, with unknown functions, completed her outfit, their position changing according to her mood. As for whether this outfit was projected, it mattered little. What mattered was that it guaranteed Haxxor's success, her shooting accuracy reaching peak levels!

The entire Elysian Realm resided thousands of meters underground, built beneath the World Serpent's ancestral hall, a facility meticulously maintained for 50,000 years despite its subterranean location. It housed the memories of the Thirteen Flame Chasers.

Anyone aspiring to become a World Serpent Cadre underwent a spiritual and physical transformation within the Elysian Realm, solidifying their loyalty to the organization.

Upon arrival, Bronie discovered that Kevin, surprisingly, hadn't implemented extensive security measures around the ancestral hall. In fact, a section was even open to the public, transforming it into a local tourist attraction.

Utilizing quantum stealth technology, Bronie silently infiltrated the ancestral hall and accessed the secret passage leading to the Elysian Realm.

The World Serpent, confident in the secrecy of their base, hadn't deployed heavy troops for its protection. Additionally, the singular access point made unauthorized entry highly improbable. Little did they anticipate the prowess of Cyber City's top hacker.

The underground corridor led to an elevator. Descending a thousand meters, Bronie found herself facing a new underground corridor, reminiscent of a tomb.

"Such a monotonous path," Bronie muttered, "enough to drain the enthusiasm of even the most eager explorer. Is this a trap?"

Summoning her personal stalker drone, Bronie initiated a search for electronic signals within the vicinity. As long as there was a port, nothing could withstand Bronie's hacking skills.

Whether it was the camera inside the elevator or the authentication lock controlling it, remote hacking presented a challenge. However, real-world hacking often bypassed protocols and passwords, requiring only the manipulation of switches on the chipboard.

"Hey, let me see~ There is such a little cutie coming in. What is Kevin even doing?" a voice chirped.

While there are many verifications outside the Elysian Realm, the geographical location of one thousand meters underground determines that it is impossible for visitors to enter by mistake.

After noticing Bronie's arrival, the pink haired girl immediately came to greet her.

She complained that Kevin outside was not doing his job, and at the same time, she also wanted to prevent Brownie from facing a very bad situation.

Entering the Elysian Realm is often accompanied by many side effects. Those with poor physical fitness may be overwhelmed by the massive amount of information and become stupid in the proced.

But Bronie merely felt a wave of dizziness, followed by another, and then a peculiar sensation in her head. It seemed something had been integrated into her consciousness.

"When!?" she exclaimed. "When did you connect my consciousness to this place? Where is the port? What is the principle behind it?"

The pink haired girl was a little lonely now. A beautiful girl appeared in front of the little cutie, but this cutie cared more was how this place worked, but not the pretty girl in front of her ?

"The technology of the Previous Era is awe-inspiring, wouldn't you agree? By the way, you seem completely unaffected. Most successors who come here either faint or vomit immediately, with some even experiencing short-term amnesia."

Miss Pink Elf, her curiosity piqued, approached Bronie, eager to see the face beneath the hood. With her silver-gradient blue double-diamond ponytail and unique attire, Bronie resembled a captivating child.

"Unaffected? Perhaps it's due to my unique constitution and strong will. I only experienced mild motion sickness."

"Since you're alright, that's all that matters! A cute girl shouldn't readily reveal her vulnerabilities. By the way, I'm Elysia. As you can see, I'm as pretty as a flower. In Mu language, it translates to 'paradise.' My friends call me Elysia. You can do the same. Say it! It should be as cute as me."

Despite their conversation, Bronie recognized the situation's gravity and knew she had no choice but to follow Elysia deeper into the Elysian Realm. They arrived at the Golden Courtyard.

Introducing herself, Elysia explained, "I was a MANTIS soldier from the previous era, a companion of the hero, Kevin!"

Knowing most successors were familiar with the pre-previous era, she kept her explanation brief.

Elysia looked at Bronie expectantly. Bronie, now filled with a tinge of pride, replied, "My name is Bronie. I'm a traveler from another world. Before arriving here, I was a world-renowned hacker."

Elysia's small mouth gaped open in shock.

"You're not a World Serpent successor?"

Bronie couldn't help but take a moment to revel in her surprise.

"Using specific electromagnetic frequencies to disrupt brain signals and employing a combination of virtual and real technology – that's how the entire Elysian Realm operates," Bronie explained.

"No wonder I couldn't detect the transition. Yes, I confess I'm a curiosity-driven hacker. Through some unusual channels, I learned a friend of mine might be here, so I came to check on her well-being. Can you please answer my question?"

A holographic display materialized in her hand. Bronie's fingers danced across it, inputting a series of cryptic codes. Following this, a glass rose materialized in her grasp.

"I possess the ability to hack into and modify any form of computer, file, or even reality itself," she declared with conviction.

"I'm merely here to visit my friend and ensure her safety. Can you please answer my question regarding her?"