[Cross-world transition successful. Now calculating points for Master.]
[Congratulations, Master. You have successfully completed three main story quests. Obtained 180,000 points.]
[Congratulations, Master. You have completed a hidden quest and obtained a hidden achievement. Obtained 300,000 points.]
[Master personally defeated three Servants. Obtained 150,000 points.]
[Altered the outcome of King Arthur's story without negatively impacting humanity. Gained the favor of Alaya. Acquired the special ability: Cross-World Servant Summoning, and achieved the hidden achievement: Seal of the World Savior! Obtained 200,000 points!]
[Master's current point balance: 1,060,132!]
--+--
Oh, it's already broken a million...
Looking at the points in his possession, a faint trace of pleasant surprise flickered in Phainon's eyes.
Sometimes, the sheer accumulation of wealth was enough to deliver a solid dose of satisfaction.
More importantly, a million points was enough to exchange for some particularly powerful items.
Like top-tier Pathstrider powers, or perhaps some conceptual weapons or abilities.
Of course, without an immediate need for such power, Phainon chose to continue hoarding.
Who knows, he might encounter some particularly troublesome 'prison world' later where they'd come in handy. After all, the worlds he'd been through so far were all on the easier side.
[Congratulations, Master, on arriving in a new world. Your current location: Sardinia, Italy.]
Italy? Could he run into the mafia here?
Generally, the system didn't just drop him into a world randomly; it placed him where he'd intersect directly with the original story's protagonist.
Phainon searched his memories. What anime were set in Italy...?
Could he have landed in the world of JoJo?
But the next moment, the system directly provided the answer, cutting short Phainon's idle detective game.
--+--
[Congratulations, Master, on arriving in a new world. Current world characters have been generated.]
[Quest 1: Defeat a Heretic God. Reward: 100,000 points!]
[Quest 2: Defeat a Campione. Reward: 100,000 points!]
[Quest 3: Permanently end the calamity of this world. Reward: 500,000 points!]
[Hidden Quest: Defeat Gods, Seize Coreflames. For each god or Campione you defeat, Master, you will obtain one Coreflame, up to a maximum of twelve!]
--+--
"So it's this world?"
Only then did understanding dawn on Phainon.
To think he'd ended up in the world of Campione!
He'd quite liked this series back in the day. The bad news, however... was that this world included not just the anime storyline, but also the original light novel plots.
And Phainon had no knowledge of the subsequent developments.
After all, he wasn't particularly fond of reading light novels. Compared to power fantasy web novels, their pacing felt rather sluggish...
Though since transmigrating, he sometimes felt a twinge of regret. Why hadn't he read more light novels back then? If he had, facing a world like this wouldn't be so frustrating.
Like right now. He only knew the parts adapted into the anime; what happened after was a complete mystery.
Compared to his previous experiences, this feeling of being out of the loop was distinctly unpleasant.
Still, he didn't panic. Because the form he'd taken this time possessed physical capabilities that were by no means weak.
Even if the gods of this world were immensely powerful, with Phainon's physical stats, slaying a god, while challenging, wasn't impossible.
Only...
"System, why do I feel like I'm missing a chunk of my memories?"
Phainon furrowed his brows, a question forming in his tone.
His memories stopped at the point in Okhema where he and his companions defeated the Sky Titan Aquila. Everything after that was severed.
But he could sense that there should be more memories.
[Subsequent memories will be unlocked sequentially after Master obtains Coreflames. The original form Phainon carries too many burdens, and his memories are too vast. If Master received such a massive amount of memory all at once, it would cause immense shock to your soul.]
?
Seeing the system's feedback, a question mark slowly formed above Phainon's head.
Even when he transformed into Castorice or Mydei before, this didn't happen. What's the deal with this Phainon?
From the inherited memories of this form, there weren't any Emanators on Amphoreus, right?
Forget it, no use overthinking.
(T/N: 30,000,000+ cycles...)
Phainon shook his head lightly. Since he couldn't figure it out, he'd stop trying.
With his strength, self-preservation in this world shouldn't be an issue. He just needed to grow stronger step by step.
But... the immediate priority was finding a place to stay.
If his memory served him correctly, the original story began in Italy. Two powerful Heretic Gods would manifest upon the land, and the original male protagonist would use Prometheus's grimoire to steal a god's authority, ultimately defeating the god and becoming a Campione.
He wondered where the male protagonist of this world was now...
The thought crossed Phainon's mind, but soon his attention was captured by something else.
Namely, the three tickets inside his system inventory.
The text on them read:
[Tickets capable of crossing space-time to summon Servants from other worlds. Master can use a ticket to summon one Servant to fight for you. Fixed at three tickets per world. Cannot be accumulated.]
Using tickets as Command Spells, huh...
Phainon looked at the three tickets in his inventory, feeling a wave of speechlessness.
What kind of new crossover was this?
Before his transmigration, he did recall that Honkai: Star Rail was supposed to have a Fate collaboration...
"System, how long can the summoned Servants remain? Will they stay in this world permanently?"
Phainon couldn't help his curiosity.
[For the duration of one battle only. They will return to the Throne of Heroes upon defeat or after 24 hours.]
"Understood."
Phainon nodded.
Seems they're to be used as trump cards, he mused internally.
The gods in this world did possess considerable power. In his current state, before obtaining Coreflames and authorities, his strength was relatively lower. He might even need to use one for his first god-slaying attempt.
Of course, he wouldn't use them unless absolutely necessary. Besides, with Phainon's formidable abilities, killing a god in this world, while somewhat difficult, didn't seem particularly daunting.
Could it be harder than fighting Nikador?
Still, the immediate task was to find a place to settle down.
Phainon glanced around.
He didn't have any local currency. Why hadn't the fixed-spawn NPC appeared yet?
A doubt arose in his mind. Then, he spotted a few shady-looking figures in an alley up ahead, seemingly in the middle of some transaction.
As they talked, they kept a vigilant watch on their surroundings.
Seeing this, Phainon walked over with a smile on his face.
Just when he was worried, here they were—the fixed-spawn money-delivery NPCs.
Though last time it was thugs carrying large sums, this time, it seemed to be an illicit deal in progress.
The men ahead had fierce faces and wore decent clothes. Phainon also noticed bulges at the small of their backs, and some had their hands poised, ready to reach inside their jackets.
Clearly, they were armed.
"Busy? Mind if I take a look?"
Phainon's sudden voice startled the group. One man holding a briefcase flinched, his hand trembling and causing a cascade of banknotes to spill out.
Immediately, the men glared at Phainon, speaking harshly in Italian: "Bastard, mind your own business, or I'll blow your head off!"
The leader looked at Phainon, a vicious expression on his face.
"And if I say no?"
Phainon smiled faintly. Suddenly, his eyes fell upon a black baseball bat leaning against the wall, adorned with golden patterns. His eyes lit up, and he promptly picked it up.
Then, he spent 10,000 points to give the bat an upgrade.
He could use [Dawnbreaker], but with its power, these guys would probably die from a mere scratch.
That wouldn't do. It'd be too quick a death.
For people dealing in contraband, how could he let them off so easily?
"Then die!"
Seeing that Phainon not only refused to leave but also hefted the baseball bat to test its weight, the men didn't waste words. They directly drew their pistols and emptied their clips at him.
But the next moment, they froze in place.
Phainon's baseball bat whistled through the air as he swung it. They couldn't even clearly see his movements before the bullets were effortlessly batted away.
"Impossible... What kind of monster are you?!"
Only then did they realize something was wrong. Unafraid of handguns? Was this even human?
Seeing Phainon before them, the two groups immediately halted their transaction, all drawing their weapons.
Aside from an assortment of pistols, there were even two Tommy guns.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!
Instantly, two men opened fire with their Thompsons, unleashing a 'Ripple Rush' of bullets towards Phainon.
"Passione, what's the meaning of this! You can't even guarantee security for a deal now?!"
"Enough talk! Let's waste him first, then resume the deal!"
The two groups angrily exchanged words. But the next moment, they were stunned by what they saw.
Phainon's baseball bat spun rapidly, deflecting every incoming bullet. Even the Thompson's rate of fire couldn't touch him!
"Just who are you?! How can anyone be immune to bullets?!"
Seeing their combined firepower had no effect, the gang members panicked.
But Phainon had no intention of answering their questions.
After all, his stance towards scum like this had always been simple.
In the blink of an eye, Phainon flashed forward, closing the distance. With a flick of his bat, he sent the leader's pistol flying.
Then.
Thwack!
A crisp sound rang out as the bat connected solidly with the man's head.
His eyes immediately rolled back, showing white.
But seeing this, Phainon didn't stop. He used the bat to jab the man hard in the gut.
The man, who was on the verge of passing out, was jolted awake by the intense pain. His eyes bulged, he wanted to scream but no sound came out, his body curling up like a shrimp thrown into boiling water, his face turning bright red.
Only after seeing his state did Phainon deliver the finishing blow with the bat, sending him flying.
By now, the others were petrified with fear. They'd emptied their clips, Phainon was unscathed, and they'd lost one man.
Immediately, a few with weaker nerves abandoned their comrades and fled in the opposite direction.
The more ruthless ones were already pulling out fresh magazines to reload.
But Phainon gave them no more chances.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
A series of crisp impacts echoed through the alley.
Sweet music. Truly, the sound of a good hit.
For a moment, the symphony of baseball bats meeting skulls and the pained, garbled screams of the men intertwined, like a concert celebrating agony.
He had to admit, their screams had a certain rhythm to them.
Phainon didn't let a single one escape, whether those who tried to fight back or those who fled earlier. He knocked them all unconscious.
He figured he'd call the police later and have them arrested.
Hefting the baseball bat, Phainon nodded in satisfaction. For some reason, he found his eyes glued to this bat, as if this type of blunt-force lifeform held some peculiar attraction for him.
Just as Phainon clapped his hands, preparing to leave, a voice tinged with amusement slowly sounded.
"To think I would witness such a pleasant surprise here. Merely an ordinary youth in appearance, yet possessing an almost flawless aura. You must be a mighty warrior, no? If possible, I would dearly love to cross blades with you."
Phainon turned to look at the speaker. It was a handsome youth who appeared to be fourteen or fifteen, with medium-length hair and a strange symbol on his forehead. His fine-featured face was alight with the eager smile of a hunter finding worthy prey.
He wore somewhat shabby, robe-like garments.
Though just a youth, his speech carried an inexplicable air of maturity. Moreover, Phainon could feel that the aura emanating from him was anything but ordinary.
It was the presence of a god.
However, his demeanor seemed different from what he remembered from the anime...
"And you are...?"
Phainon raised an eyebrow, not exposing the other's identity, but speaking with a note of inquiry.
"I am... Apologies, my true name has been forgotten, I cannot recall it clearly. However, I know that my reason for appearing here is solely to seek a defeat. I am the Ever-Victorious, the warrior who has never tasted the bitterness of loss. I descend upon this world only to find one who can defeat me, whoever they may be."
As he spoke, the youth looked curiously at the baseball bat in Phainon's hand.
"I passed by earlier and saw many people at the harbor holding similar wooden sticks, making swinging motions. I presume this is a sport of the current era? If so, let us play. Even if it is but a game, if it allows me to taste the flavor of defeat, it would suffice."
"Alright then..."
Seeing the youth's keen interest, Phainon didn't refuse, but nodded.
The rules of baseball were simple. A baseball bat was perfectly suited.
Given the other's pride, if he could defeat him in baseball, perhaps the youth would acknowledge it as a loss...
Did that mean he could obtain the other's authority and unlock a Coreflame?
Phainon couldn't help but wonder...
While Phainon was lost in thought, the youth had already run over to some dockworkers, borrowing a ball and arranging for a space.
A burly worker even volunteered to join their contest as the catcher.
"Shall I pitch first?"
The youth hefted the baseball, looking at Phainon.
"Of course."
Phainon said confidently.
With his reflexes, how could he possibly miss hitting a baseball?
Whoosh!
The thought had barely formed when Phainon heard a swish, and a baseball flew past him. Though he swung, he completely missed.
Immediately, Phainon's expression turned serious.
…This guy was a formidable opponent!
But thinking about it, it made sense. He was an incarnation of a god, after all. The gods of this world were quite powerful. Although he, as a Chrysos Heir, was also strong, he could still be caught off guard if he wasn't careful.
Especially since, unlike his other transformed roles, he didn't possess any heaven-defying abilities in the start this time...
"Wow... so fast... I didn't even see it!"
It wasn't until the vibration reached his glove that the worker behind them reacted.
The ball had found its way into the mitt on its own; he hadn't even moved.
And such a fast ball, yet he felt almost no impact?
"Futile. I am the undefeated, the strongest. Even you, a natural-born hero, are certainly no match for me."
The youth chuckled happily, his face full of smiles.
"Again!"
Phainon said, a bit indignant.
And so... for the next several pitches, Phainon's bat met only air.
However, the youth didn't gain any advantage either. After a few pitches, they switched sides, and the youth proved equally incapable of hitting Phainon's pitches.
In the end, the two reached a stalemate.
"Hahaha, my judgment was correct. To think there would be someone who could tie with me."
"For someone who's never lost, doesn't not winning count as a loss?"
Seeing the youth's hearty laughter, Phainon couldn't help but ask.
"Certainly not. This can only be considered a draw. Though I dearly seek a defeat, I will never acknowledge a perfunctory loss. What I desire is a crushing defeat after my opponent has exhausted their wisdom and courage, not this kind of play."
"Is that so? What a pity. I thought you might count it as my win."
A trace of regret showed on Phainon's face. It seemed using words to trick him wouldn't work.
Still, that line... where was he from, the Three-Headed Dragon?
"Hahaha, victory is never bestowed as charity. If you wish to truly defeat me, then do so honorably in battle. When that time comes, heaven and earth will tremble at your victory."
To be honest, if he didn't know the other was a genuine god, Phainon would have found his words a bit chuunibyou.
"I have greatly enjoyed myself today. Were it not for the mission I bear, perhaps we could have become friends."
The youth spoke, a hint of regret in his tone.
"Friends? When I truly defeat you, I'll acknowledge you as one."
Phainon grinned. Back in Amphoreus, he often sparred with Mydei like this, their win-loss record always seesawing without much change.
"Oh? Then we may never become friends."
The youth was taken aback, then continued.
"Because you cannot surpass me. I am the embodiment of the undefeated. Though I constantly seek defeat, I shall not fail."
With a light laugh, the youth straightened up, preparing to leave.
But just as they were about to part ways, another dignified figure, clad in a crimson dress, slowly appeared before them.
"Wait! Don't move! I remember you. Your figure was witnessed at the sites of disasters occurring all over Italy recently. What is your connection to the calamity that has swept across the nation? I am Erica Blandelli, a Great Knight of the [Copper Black Cross]! Answer my question!"
The moment she appeared, the girl was aggressive.
She had golden blonde hair, and her youthful face already showed signs of stunning beauty. Though she appeared to be in her teens, both her figure and demeanor were remarkably mature.
Calling her a girl almost felt inadequate; she was more like a soul-stealing young enchantress.
This, however, matched her title well. The title she was set to inherit was Diavolo Rosso, or the Red Devil.
Of course, this was still her aspiration. Without sufficient achievements, she wasn't yet worthy of inheriting this title, which her uncle had held for two decades.
In fact, her current investigation into the Heretic God incident was partly to accumulate the merits needed to smoothly inherit her uncle's title of 'Diavolo Rosso'.
"And you! Who are you? Why are you with this youth? Are the two of you accomplices?"
Erica placed a hand on her hip, her face full of a young noblewoman's willfulness.
"Me? I just happened to pass by, and he dragged me into a game of baseball. It's got nothing to do with me..."
Phainon said innocently.
"You lie! The clothes you wear are completely unlike anything from this era... Furthermore, the fabric and craftsmanship used for these garments are things I, coming from a prestigious mage family, have never even heard of. So, Mr. Accomplice, won't you state your true name?"
"Don't just go pinning strange labels on me..."
Phainon sighed helplessly.
"My clothes are naturally precious. They were made by Lady Aglaea. Aglaea of the Golden Loom possesses beauty and tailoring skills rivaling the gods. Her creations are naturally no common goods."
Phainon said with a smile.
"Aglaea? A name I've not heard. However, consorting with one who sows chaos, you must be a mage from some dark magical association. In that case, I shall interrogate you properly after defeating you!"
As she spoke, Erica stretched her hand forward, chanting an incantation: "Hark, Steel Lion and the Lion-Hearted King, my ancestor! Hear the vow of the knight, Erica Blandelli! I am the inheritor of the Rampant Horn, the descendant of the Black Warrior! My heart shall not yield, my sword shall never break! O Lion-Hearted King, the essence of strife now manifests in my hand! The time for duel is upon us! [Cuore di Leone]!"
As she finished the chant, an ornate silver rapier appeared in her hand. Simultaneously, her aura underwent a dramatic transformation.
From a willful, noble young lady, she swiftly became a valiant Sword Maiden.
"I'd advise against excessive movement. That outfit isn't suited for strenuous activity. It'd be a shame to ruin it; Lady Aglaea isn't here to fix it."
Phainon said, somewhat helplessly.
However, Erica was clearly in no mood to listen.
As a prodigy of the [Copper Black Cross], a talented mage who had achieved the rank of Great Knight at a young age, her life had been too smooth, allowing arrogance to overflow from her elegant and delicate form.
At this moment, she was like a hissing golden kitten, charging at Phainon.
And she had bared her claws.
In an instant, Erica closed the distance, thrusting her rapier straight at Phainon's shoulder.
Though her words were merciless, she showed some restraint in her actions, initially targeting his shoulder—a non-lethal area—rather than a vital spot.
But Phainon naturally had no intention of humoring her.
"My apologies, then?"
He gave a wry smile. Watching the rapier thrust towards his shoulder, Phainon raised the system-enhanced, indestructible baseball bat and swung it, aiming directly for the blade.
His speed was immense, his technique refined. Erica, for all her talent, had no time to react.
Crack!
With a sharp, clear sound, the slender silver sword named Cuore di Leone was cleanly snapped in two by Phainon's bat.
Erica remained frozen in her stance.
Clink...
It wasn't until the severed half of the blade fell from the sky and embedded itself in the ground with a vibrating hum that Erica came back to her senses.
"Indeed! You did not disappoint my expectations! You are a mighty warrior, one worthy of letting me fight to my heart's content! In the Age of Gods, you would be hailed a hero!" The youth said excitedly from the side.
However, neither Phainon nor Erica paid him any mind.
"You forced my hand. I warned you, but you didn't listen."
Looking at the broken sword, Phainon sighed, a headache brewing.
"It seems I underestimated you. To think you were this powerful, capable of breaking my Cuore di Leone..."
Erica's gaze deepened. The next moment, she chanted again: "Cuore di Leone, you are the unbreakable steel. My heart unyielding, the blade unbreaking! O Lion, manifest once more from my hands!"
The broken longsword flew up from the ground and returned to Erica's hand, restoring itself to its original form.
"Unknown mage, state your name. Otherwise, I will not hold back next time."
Erica stared sternly at Phainon.
Her opponent was quite strong. Erica couldn't be sure of victory.
"I am Phainon, from Amphoreus. That is all."
"It seems you still wish to mock me..."
Hearing Phainon's brief reply and the clearly non-existent location, Erica was infuriated. She immediately prepared to attack again.
But at that moment, a vast magical power began to manifest in the distance. Simultaneously, the sky grew dark and overcast.
--+--
T/N: Kevin strikes again!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.