33,550,336 cycles.

Billions of years put into saving his homeland, the world he claims to love so dearly -- Amphoreus.

Yet, everything seemed to change when you landed in his world. A Trailblazer whose only wish is to explore the vast universe beyond.

Before you even realised it, you met Phainon, and along with all the other Chrysos Heirs, you managed to beat Irontomb, preventing its destructive birth that destroys the very foundations of the universe.

However, prior to that, while Phainon's body and mind was merged with Irontomb, he noticed an anomaly. Something that he shouldn't be knowing.

A little crack in the sky above. A large eye looking down at him, or rather, Amphoreus.

Was there a kind of god that lied beyond the barriers of Amphoreus?

And then, he started to notice all of the little things, the strange movements the Trailblazer made as they moved around, the way they pause for a long moment before speaking. The way his own words would be twisted according to what the Trailblazer tells him. None of these should be normal.

No, the Trailblazer he's been seeing all this while wasn't his true "partner." It was rather the person with the huge, gorgeous eyes that he saw, hiding in the sky.

He was in a game. And that person was playing it, experiencing the story of him, his friends and Amphoreus.

Suddenly, the Trailblazer didn't seem as interesting anymore. He was interested in who was controlling them. You.

And it wasn't long before he had everything figured out -- he had the capabilities and the power to break free from his simulation.

As you were about to log out for the day, a quest acceptance appeared at the top of your screen, titled "You Live Beyond My World."

Huh? That's strange. You've already done every possible world quest on your account and completed the main story. The official Honkai: Star Rail accounts didn't announce any new quests to be done either. Oh well, at least the reward is more funds towards the next character you will be pulling.

The directions of this quest were to talk to Phainon. That's easy enough -- besides, you loved listening to Phainon talk anyways. He is one of your top favourite characters after witnessing his and Amphoreus' story. You teleported to the Vortex of Genesis, where Phainon's model was there waiting for you.

"Greetings, partner," Phainon started off with a friendly wave. "How are you lately? Doing well, I presume?"

You were given a few options: you're doing alright, feeling neutral and not so good. But something odd happens when you click on any of those buttons.

"Oh, I'm not talking to this," Phainon gestured to the Trailblazer's model, before his shimmering blue eyes turned to face the camera. "I'm talking to you."

How could this be? Isn't he just mere pixels on the screen?

"You look lovely," he commented, eyeing you up and down. "Oh, please, talk. I broke the code, I'm able to hear your voice."

A gentle smile graced his lips as he walked closer to the camera. "There was a small crack in the sky," he said, crossing his arms and tilting his head to the side with a smug look. "I could see your big, beautiful eyes. I figured everything else from there."

Your eyes widened at his words. Beautiful? It was one of the features you never liked about yourself. You felt a little embarrassed, a small blush creeping up on your face. "I'd hate to see you leave me here and move on to the next world," he admitted, adjusting the camera. "Not when I've grown so very attached to your presence. You are the hero of my heart, after all."

He gently tapped the screen. "So, forgive me if I do this, but..."

Just then, you saw your screen glitch, his fingers slowly emerging from your phone. He continued to push through, a smile on his face even when you could tell it was hurting him. Cupping your face with his hand, he murmured.

"I want to be with you. More than anything."