Jing Yuan's Mara-Struck Form Is Actually Really Useful

The player is all about maximizing stats. They don't care about the story, only the numbers.

Of all the playable characters, their favorite was Jing Yuan. His [Mara-Struck] buff let them raise his stats without limit through skillful play, giving him an incredibly high ceiling.

Before long, the game's developers invited the player, hailed as "Jing Yuan himself logging in," to take part in the latest closed beta.

The player gladly accepted.

*

The famed Xianzhou Luofu was in a state of considerable turmoil.

A number of Luofu's high-ranking officials had been suddenly abducted by someone claiming to be the [Aeon of Fate], forced to participate in a test called Infinite Terror, and made to livestream the whole thing.

Even worse,

Divine General Jing Yuan of the Luofu had also vanished without a trace!

Just as the understaffed and overwhelmed Seat of Divine Foresight was at its wits' end, the player appeared at the livestream site!

Ignoring the terrifying atmosphere, they activated [Mara-Struck] and cleared the field with a single slash.

The strike was awe-inspiring, the air glittering with blood.

The skill effect of ginkgo leaves scattered across the entire scene like snowflakes, beautiful and ethereal.

"General!"

"Jing Yuan, how did you end up here too?"

"Wait... what's wrong with your eyes?!"

The player, who only cared about the thrill of battle and never bothered with character lore, lifted their head. The golden eyes that shone like the sun over the Luofu were gone, replaced by dim, somber red pupils.

With an expressionless face, the player pointed their blade at the Vidyadhara High Elder, the Luofu Sword Champion, and the others as they approached with complicated looks.

"Don't get in my way!"

But it was no use.

Their expressions only grew heavier.

They even tried to take the player's blade and restrain them.

The player had to clear the level quickly while dodging all the NPCs swarming around them.

They couldn't help grumbling.

What kind of clever idea was this, from whatever planner came up with it?

Could they just let the player focus on killing monsters and testing the stats?

Reader's notes:

1. Infinite-flow, but set on the Xianzhou Luofu. Big Brother Lan is watching you (why is the Aeon of Fate always having such a miserable time in my stories?

2. A Honkai: Star Rail Jing Yuan fanfic, no romance. I just want to quietly watch a beautiful man go berserk.

3. Wait! We talked about so many ideas. You're not telling me I'm the only one making this, are you? Surely not, surely not. Don't pretend you didn't see this, you bunch of deadbeats! (The cook is furious) (I want to sit back and wait for someone else to serve me, too) (Do we really have to make everything ourselves to get a meal?)

Theme: Cherish the people around you