Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

The scene was utterly shocking—not just to the Stellaron Hunters but also to the Trailblazers.

March 7th stood frozen, her cheek still stinging from the wind that had grazed her face. Stelle remained quiet, processing what she'd just witnessed. Even Welt, with his wealth of experience, observed with a thoughtful intensity.

They had rarely seen Venti fight seriously. For all his carefree demeanor, his battles were typically one-sided, a display of overwhelming power that left little room for guessing his true limits.

But now, a question lingered:

Why? Why would Venti go this far?

The same curiosity burned in both the Hunters and the Trailblazers.

As the gale began to calm, Venti gently raised his lyre, letting it hover in midair. A soft, emerald wind swirled around him, radiating a sense of tranquil power.

Kafka's sharp gaze studied him. Though her demeanor remained composed, there was an undercurrent of curiosity in her expression.

Venti smiled playfully, a subtle challenge in his voice.

"Seems like even the Stellaron Hunters don't know everything, huh?"

"…Don't overestimate us, Venti," Kafka replied, her voice calm yet tinged with something bittersweet. "We're merely slaves to destiny. For someone who sings of freedom, you'd never understand the weight of that."

She stood firm, entirely unbothered by the turbulent wind encircling her. To her, this was just another scene in Elio's grand script. Each Stellaron Hunter had a fated ending written into their story.

Kafka didn't know when her final act would come, but she knew it wouldn't be here.

"You're right," Venti said with a faint sigh. "I can't say I like any of you. My actions today are just my own way of expressing… dissatisfaction with the Stellaron Hunters."

Before his words fully landed, the man who had been lying motionless on the ground stirred.

Blade's eyes snapped open.

What followed was unnerving—a man seemingly pulled back from death itself. Slowly, Blade sat upright, his movements sluggish at first but gradually gaining strength.

His body was battered and torn, yet the sheer intensity of his presence eclipsed any physical wounds.

Hatred—vast and boundless as a sea of blood—radiated from him, his piercing gaze locking onto Venti like a predator to its prey.

Dragging his sword along the ground, Blade rose to his feet. The air around him seemed to darken, filled with an oppressive aura, as though his very presence distorted reality.

This… is his mindscape manifesting, Stelle realized, gripping her weapon instinctively.

Blade's laughter began as a low rumble, building into an unhinged cackle that sent shivers through the group.

"Hahaha…! Excellent. Truly excellent!"

His voice, laced with mania, echoed like a dirge.

"You haven't disappointed me… Just like Yinyue. That fool lingered here for the same reason, didn't he?"

Blade's twisted grin widened as he spoke. The world around him warped, his mind clear and sharp in a way it hadn't been in years.

He relished this clarity. For this gift, he would repay Venti with everything he had.

Without warning, Blade charged.

His initial pace was slow, his sword dragging along the ground, but it quickly transitioned into a deadly sprint. He aimed directly for Venti, the blade in his hands a culmination of countless battles, its edge honed by an unrelenting thirst for death.

Even March 7th and Stelle, who had been ready to intervene, froze at the sheer malice emanating from him. This wasn't just killing intent—it was the all-consuming will of someone who had long accepted death.

Welt instinctively pulled March 7th and Stelle back, keeping them at a safer distance.

"Stay out of this," he said, his voice firm. "Venti doesn't need our help."

There was no doubt in Welt's mind. Venti wasn't just powerful—he was a force of nature, one that even Luofu's most formidable General Jing Yuan might struggle to match.

Blade's sword cleaved through the air, its crimson arc splitting the ground as it raced toward Venti.

Yet the bard didn't move.

Even as Blade's attacks rained down, Venti remained perfectly still, his calm expression unshaken.

The battlefield turned into a one-sided dance. Blade's slashes, stabs, and strikes—all relentless and precise—were met with an invisible barrier surrounding Venti. Each attack dissipated harmlessly, as if swallowed by the very wind Venti commanded.

To the others, it was almost surreal. Venti, who had always seemed so carefree, now displayed a mastery that was equal parts graceful and devastating.

March 7th, unable to make sense of what she was seeing, turned to Welt.

"Uncle Yang, what's happening? How is Venti doing that?"

"That man's attacks couldn't even scratch Venti, as if they were blocked by something invisible. Meanwhile, Venti's strikes tore through his defenses effortlessly."

Stelle narrowed her eyes, trying to make sense of the scene. She could sense something strange at play, but the precise mechanics eluded her.

Welt, watching from the sidelines, adjusted his glasses thoughtfully. Though the sight stirred old memories, he chose to explain rather than dwell.

"What you're seeing is the result of a power over 'ideal fluids,'" Welt said. "It's a form of authority. On a small scale, it can create vacuums or bend light. On a large scale, it can shift oceans, reshape continents, or unleash storms capable of devastating the world."

He paused, ensuring the rippling battle shockwaves wouldn't affect others in the Divination Commission before continuing.

"Think back to why we first went to Belobog. If we infer from that, the upper limit of Venti's ability is likely far beyond what we can imagine. Quite formidable."

Now understanding the nature of Venti's power, Stelle and March 7th turned back to the fight. The lopsided nature of the battle was no longer a mystery.

The invisible shield of ideal fluids surrounding Venti was impenetrable to Blade's attacks. It was as if Blade's sword—the finely honed weapon of a lifetime—could not even approach the bard's true defenses.

Blade's weapon was no ordinary blade. It had been forged and reforged countless times, each imperfection smoothed over with bloodshed and despair. The deep cracks running through its edge told tales of the monstrous entities it had slain, every repair tempering it further.

Yet now, this cherished sword could do nothing.

No matter how sharp or unbreakable, it remained a physical object, bound by reality. It was powerless against the immaterial ideal fluids surrounding Venti.

In contrast, Venti's casual counterattacks battered Blade with ruthless efficiency.

A wave of compressed air struck Blade squarely, launching him like a ragdoll. The invisible force sliced into his body like a thousand needles, leaving deep gashes across his skin. His body crumpled, shivering from the lingering pain.

For a fleeting moment, Blade experienced clarity.

The oppressive whispers of madness and the tainted vestiges of Abundance's corruption faded under Venti's elemental melody. Yet, this temporary relief came at a steep cost—mental clarity came hand-in-hand with physical agony, the likes of which left him howling in anguish.

The impact of the battle rippled far beyond the Divination Commission.

The violent winds generated by Venti's strikes tore through the artificial clouds above the caverns, disrupting the delicate equilibrium of the sky. Onlookers scattered throughout the Luofu gawked at the chaos.

"What's happening at the Divination Commission now?!"

"Is Lady Fu Xuan still there? If she's in danger, someone alert the general!"

"Hold your ground!" a commanding voice barked. "These disturbances are caused by the reinforcements the general arranged for. Stay focused on your orders!"

Back at the Divination Commission, Jing Yuan observed the storm from the command hub of the Divine Foresight, his expression calm and unreadable.

Standing beside him, Fu Xuan glared at the devastation wrought by the combatants.

"When exactly did you predict this would happen?" she asked, her tone laced with begrudging respect.

Jing Yuan's casual demeanor remained unshaken.

"I've been considering this possibility for a while now," he said, his voice even. "I didn't extend a warm welcome to the Express just because of 'hope.' If the Xianzhou placed its fate on blind optimism, we'd have strayed down a misguided path long ago."

Fu Xuan crossed her arms, her gaze hardening. "You factored in the Stellaron Hunters from the start, didn't you? Even though they appear to be outside players, their presence was part of your calculations."

"Indeed," Jing Yuan replied with a faint smile. "And like any good chess piece, they've moved precisely where they were needed."

Fu Xuan's conflicting emotions were evident. On the one hand, she admired Jing Yuan's foresight. On the other, the sheer gamble of entrusting such an unpredictable force made her uneasy.

"I must admit, you've earned my respect," she said with a begrudging sigh. "Turning crisis into opportunity by exploiting the chaos… but there's no need to pretend you're as lazy as you appear. That facade fools no one."

"Oh, but it does," Jing Yuan replied, his smile growing playful. "Even my student, Yanqing, has been thoroughly misled. Sometimes, teaching through observation is more valuable than instruction. Letting him watch these events unfold will give him perspective—don't you agree, Fu Xuan?"

Fu Xuan glared, refusing to dignify the remark with a response.

Jing Yuan continued, unbothered. "In any case, the Divination Commission's repairs will be a headache for you, won't they?"

Her eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into her expression.

"What do you mean?"

Jing Yuan's amusement was impossible to miss. "I simply meant that the destruction caused by our 'reinforcements' might require a bit of cleaning up. Nothing too serious—just some… minor collateral damage."

Realization dawned on Fu Xuan, and her earlier calm shattered.

"You knew this would happen all along!" she snapped. "You deliberately sent me here to make room for them, didn't you?!"

Jing Yuan chuckled, his laughter rich and unrepentant. "A little detour can sometimes be the quickest path forward, Fu Xuan. You of all people should appreciate that."

Her glare intensified, but the corners of her mouth twitched ever so slightly.

"Fine," she muttered. "I'll see this through. But don't think I'll forget this manipulation, General."

"Of course not," Jing Yuan replied with a knowing smile. "To make amends, I'm giving you command of the Cloud Knights near the Alchemy Commission. You've always wondered what it's like to lead a battle, haven't you?"

Fu Xuan froze, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.

"You're serious?"

"Entirely," Jing Yuan said. "This isn't a drill or a minor skirmish. You'll be directing the defense of a critical front."

"I… I accept!" Fu Xuan exclaimed, standing straighter. "I won't let you down."

"Excellent." Jing Yuan handed her the tactical sigil. "Coordinate with the Express team when they pass through the Artisanship Commission. They'll provide further assistance."

Fu Xuan nodded sharply, determination burning in her gaze. Without another word, she departed to ready the troops.

Jing Yuan watched her leave, his expression unreadable.

"The pieces are in place," he murmured to himself. "Now let's see how the board unfolds."

Meanwhile, at the Divination Commission, Venti's battle with Blade reached its conclusion.

---

T/N: i-i-ideal fluids?! BLUSHES

(HIATUS TIME) yeah i don't have any more chapters for this story so I will be putting it on hiatus on sunday, I will update it once I get my hands on more raws!

Ahem! Esteemed audience, gather closer! You stand in the presence of brilliance, the likes of which Fontaine has never seen! Truly, you're witnessing a masterpiece in motion, a living legend in the making, an—

Oh! But wait! Where was I? Right, me! As you all know, such brilliance doesn't manifest from nothing! It takes effort, dedication, and a sprinkling of your… oh, how shall I put it? Generosity! If you desire to be immortalized alongside my unparalleled splendor, do step forward here: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

And yet, I must ask: why do mortals so often hesitate to seize an opportunity like this? I mean, really, supporting me is tantamount to—oh! Imagine if I personally rewrote every law in Fontaine! The brilliance! The upheaval! The dramatic courtroom soliloquies! And naturally, I'd—

"Furina, enough. The audience is here for the translations, not your Fontaine fantasy chronicles."

Wait, Wise! I wasn't done captivating them!

"You've captivated them plenty. Now, mortals, if you wish to contribute to something truly extraordinary, the link is there. Support and bask in the glory of my—"

—our—

"my hard work."

Hmph! Fine! But I'm still the true star of this end note. Obviously.

— Furina ✨ (reluctantly sharing the stage with Wise 👑)