Chapter 304: The Choice of the Crowd
As expected, the moment Dan Heng's message surfaced in the Chat Group interface, the relentless cascade of eager chatter ground to a sudden halt. The screen, previously flooded with rapid-fire declarations of intent to gamble, quieted down significantly. The veteran members, those who had scraped and bled for every single point in their reserves, paused to seriously weigh the heavy, practical question the archivist had just dropped into their laps.
It was the classic gambler's dilemma. Should they cave to the intoxicating allure of immediate gratification, burning their hard-earned currency for a statistical shot at a blue or perhaps a lucky purple-tier Light Cone? Or should they grit their teeth, lock away their impulses, and hoard their capital for the inevitable arrival of a higher-tier, changing intermediate gacha pool?
This was a brutal test of restraint, forcing every member to balance their current survival needs against their long-term multiversal ambitions. The siren song of the gacha screen waged a fierce tug-of-war against rational planning.
Naturally, this agonizing internal conflict lasted all of three seconds for Stelle.
The Trailblazer decisively tapped the interface, locking in her choice for a ten-pull. Hesitation simply did not exist in her vocabulary. While she processed information quickly, her ultimate code of conduct always defaulted to following her chaotic intuition and immediate desires.
Less than half a minute after Dan Heng offered his measured advice, Stelle's reply popped up, dripping with her trademark blend of boundless optimism and sheer recklessness.
[Honkai: Star Rail] - Stelle: "Oh, relax, relax! Dan Heng, you are totally overthinking this! Who knows what the future holds? When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a way. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten out!"
[Honkai: Star Rail] - Stelle: "Think about it! Those future pools sound ridiculously expensive, right? Two hundred and eighty, maybe even eight hundred points a pull! What does that actually mean? It means the Chat Group is definitely going to open up higher-paying commissions and massive events! We might earn thousands from a single high-level world quest later!"
[Honkai: Star Rail] - Stelle: "Points are meant to be spent! You cannot take them to the grave, so use them when you should. Spending them now boosts our combat power, and higher combat power lets us smash harder commissions to earn even more points. It is a flawless, self-sustaining virtuous cycle! Trust the process! (Righteously.jpg)"
Her future income theory and invest in yourself manifesto were thinly veiled excuses to satisfy her gacha addiction, yet delivered with such absolute, unwavering confidence that it created a bizarrely compelling logic.
Dan Heng read the glowing text and sighed softly. He knew the Trailblazer was immune to conventional caution, but her utter lack of even superficial hesitation was impressive in its own right. It was perfectly, undeniably Stelle.
[Honkai: Star Rail] - Dan Heng: "I am not attempting to forbid anyone from using the system to grow stronger. I am merely providing an alternative perspective for your consideration. The final choice is yours. I only advise thinking deeply before acting, lest you regret an empty point balance later."
His intention was to anchor them to reality, not dictate their actions. Ultimately, only a sparse handful of members heeded the archivist's rational breakdown. Aside from Dan Heng himself, Zhongli remained perfectly content with his current arsenal. The retired Geo Archon preferred to consolidate his existing strength and quietly observe the unfolding chaos.
The vast majority, however, surrendered to the glittering temptation of the gacha screen. They understood the risks. If they pulled garbage, they had no one to blame but themselves.
With the decision to gamble locked in, the next critical phase commenced: the mystical ritual. Stelle championed this practice with religious fervor, treating it as the most vital component of the entire process. She instantly pivoted to the role of the group's self-appointed Mystical Advisor, aggressively lecturing the newcomers.
[Honkai: Star Rail] - Stelle: "@All Members! Especially the new folks! Pay close attention! The pre-pull mystical ritual is absolutely mandatory! It is the literal dividing line between pulling useless blue trash and a glorious golden flash! Take this seriously!"
[Honkai: Star Rail] - Stelle: "Why do you think March and I scored such top-tier loot last time? It was not just luck. It was the ritual!"
Over in Liyue, Hu Tao stared at the chat interface with narrowed eyes. The Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was highly skeptical. To her, this mystical ritual nonsense sounded exactly like the flowery, auspicious marketing pitches she used to sell premium coffins—pleasant to the ear, but functionally useless.
However, Stelle relentlessly badgered Dan Heng until the archivist was forced to type out an objective concession.
[Honkai: Star Rail] - Dan Heng: "According to our previous observational data, engaging in specific preparatory activities does correspond with a statistically significant increase in drawing high-quality items. The underlying principle behind this anomaly, however, remains entirely elusive."
If the fiercely logical, evidence-driven Dan Heng was willing to admit that these absurd rituals held actual weight, the skeptics immediately changed their tune. Hu Tao blinked, her skepticism vanishing. If the data supported it, she was in.
Across the multiverse, various members began enacting their own highly personalized, utterly bizarre rituals.
Within the opulent confines of the private Bath Palace in Amphoreus, Stelle closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and began chanting with practiced, rhythmic devotion. "Mimi, Mimi, hear my plea. Descend from the stars and bestow your golden fortune upon me!"
March 7th stood a few paces away, her camera gripped tightly in her hands. She watched the Trailblazer's performance with a calculating gaze. Her strategy was simple and entirely opportunistic. She would let Stelle act as the guinea pig. If Stelle's luck exploded into a shower of gold, March would immediately piggyback off that residual fortune and pull. If Stelle pulled garbage, March would prudently close the interface and try another day.
Dan Heng completely ignored the gacha frenzy. Gripping the cool shaft of Cloud-Piercer, he stepped out onto the spacious balcony. The cool night air washed over him as he closed his eyes, beginning his daily breath regulation. He needed to fully integrate his newly acquired powers—the Light Cone energy, his immortal cultivation techniques, and the raw, surging power of the Dragon Ball—until they flowed through his veins as naturally as breathing. Only when he achieved perfect mastery, or when the intermediate pool officially opened, would he make his next move.
In a completely different universe, Wise's approach to the mystical ritual was far more grounded and domestic. His original plan was to use Inky, the neighborhood cat, as his lucky charm, but the feline was currently out roaming the streets.
Adapting quickly, Wise turned his attention to Eous. The small, round Bangboo had been his most loyal companion through countless Hollow commissions. It was the perfect substitute.
Wise crouched down, offering the mechanical creature a warm, relaxed smile. "Alright, Eous. Come here and give us some of your good luck blessings."
Hearing the Proxy's request, Eous's digital LED eyes instantly curved into bright, happy crescent moons. The little Bangboo puffed out its chest. Finally, it was its time to shine.
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