Honkai: Star Rail – From the Moment Tom The Cat Became My Passenger

Exploration Value, get√

Feeling the sudden, massive surge in his exploration value, Yevenko felt invigorated.

He immediately swung his baseball bat frantically, grinding exploration points without pause. At this rate, his next character pull was looking bright!

Sure, Tom was strong and cooked great meals, but he mostly made Western cuisine.

Yevenko wanted a character who was both powerful and skilled at cooking something different. Of course, a pretty girl would be even better.

He started daydreaming pleasantly.

Suddenly, noticing that Cocolia stirred slightly, Yevenko immediately bolted.

Cocolia slowly stood, pressing her hand to her forehead. Her vision blurred slightly. Staring at the two cats nearby, she shook her head gently—and suddenly, two cats turned into four.

She shook her head again and finally regained clarity; the four cats reverted to two.

Earlier, she clearly remembered punching one cat so hard it splattered onto the wall, and impaling the other through the mouth with an ice spear, stretching it grotesquely.

Yet, moments later, both cats were fully restored.

Though her mind was incredibly clear, Cocolia questioned if she was dreaming—otherwise, how could such bizarre things happen?

However, since the Stellaron began communicating with her, she'd never had such absurd dreams.

Therefore...this wasn't a dream.

In a short moment, Cocolia quickly formed a new strategy. If these methods were ineffective, she would simply change her tactics.

Not only that—the two cats moved too swiftly, even sneaking behind her unnoticed. She needed to address that mobility directly.

Thinking this, Cocolia immediately sprang into action.

Grasping her ice spear tightly, frost erupted from beneath her feet, rapidly spreading outward. Soon, the entire council hall floor glistened with a smooth layer of ice.

Tom and Yevenko cautiously took a few steps and instantly slipped, their legs trembling uncontrollably as if dancing a frantic waltz, barely managing to stay upright.

Seeing this, Cocolia's lips curved into a satisfied smile.

"Good. At least this proves you're not invincible."

Then, gripping her spear, she stomped sharply, shattering the ice beneath her feet. Like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, she launched toward Yevenko and Tom.

Witnessing this, Tom and Yevenko panicked, slipping and sliding helplessly. In their haste to escape, they collided head-on into each other.

After recovering, they immediately split apart, fleeing in opposite directions.

Without hesitation, Cocolia chased Tom first.

Terrified, Tom increased his speed, slipping and falling repeatedly. Suddenly, he slid far across the ice.

Eyes wide, a grin formed on his face.

Instantly mastering ice skating, Tom elegantly danced across the ice, effortlessly evading Cocolia's spear attacks.

Realizing she couldn't catch him, Tom's confidence soared.

Spinning around, he began skating backward, exaggeratedly pulling down one eyelid and sticking out his tongue mockingly at Cocolia.

"Bleh-bleh-bleh~"

Suddenly, a supporting pillar appeared behind Tom.

BOOM!

He crashed spectacularly, shaking the entire hall.

Cocolia hadn't expected such luck. She prepared to throw her spear to finish Tom but remembered it had been ineffective earlier. Raising her left hand skyward instead, she commanded:

"[Ice Seal]!"

Numerous blocks of ice appeared above Tom, emanating extreme cold.

Then, sharply waving her left hand downward, the ice plunged onto Tom, encasing him instantly. Frozen solid, only his eyes darted helplessly.

Without delay, Cocolia turned to the other cat.

By now, Yevenko had also mastered skating, gliding effortlessly. Seeing Tom frozen, a surge of heroic duty filled him.

Grasping his baseball bat, Yevenko charged bravely at Cocolia.

Knowing ranged attacks were ineffective, Cocolia closed in for melee. She swung her spear first, slicing cleanly through Yevenko's waist.

A gleam of triumph flashed in her pale purple eyes.

These strange cats were tough, but close combat was clearly effective. Just one clean strike, and he was done.

Yet, why wasn't there blood?

While she puzzled, an astonishing sight made her eyes widen in disbelief.

Yevenko, neatly sliced in half, had literally become two smaller cats—half his original size—still skating merrily.

"No!"

Cocolia screamed.

"This must be an illusion! You can't fool me!"

Feeling her mind tremble, she desperately swung her spear again, splitting the two cats into four smaller ones.

They smoothly slipped between her legs.

Too small to maintain balance, the tiny cats couldn't stop in time, crashing into Tom's frozen form. Upon collision, they recombined into Yevenko's original form.

Seeing Tom encased in ice, Yevenko urgently set to rescue him, quickly pulling a tiny matchstick from behind.

With a flick against the ice, the match instantly ignited.

While Cocolia remained dumbfounded by the absurdity, the match flame touched the ice—and exploded into a roaring inferno.

In an instant, the giant block imprisoning Tom and the entire council hall ignited in flames, ice and snow rapidly melting away.

Cocolia stared vacantly, eyes losing all spark, collapsing softly to the ground, mumbling brokenly:

"It's fake...all fake…"

"I'll shatter your illusions!"

Mustering fierce determination, she clenched her teeth, a devastating frost aura bursting forth, emanating an ominous sense of ruin. Yevenko sensed immediate danger.

He exchanged glances with Tom, quickly pulling out a rope. They each grabbed an end, darting around Cocolia in dizzying circles.

Within seconds, Cocolia was securely bound.

Strangely, once bound, her immense energy vanished completely.

Yevenko swiftly retrieved a wooden paddle, eyeing Cocolia's helpless figure, collapsed face-down.

He decisively swung his [Friendship Correction Paddle].

SMACK!

A crisp slap echoed throughout the hall, reverberating endlessly.

"Ahh—"

Cocolia let out a soft, trembling moan.

But Yevenko was relentless, determinedly grinding exploration points off her.

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!