bioinnovel Chapter 16 Seele and the Silver Wolf's Real Situation
Chapter 16 Seele and the Silver Wolf's Real Situation
At Natasha's clinic in Panyan Town.
The slightly somber atmosphere was stirred by a flurry of activity and anticipation.
Everyone was making final preparations for this unexpected live broadcast.
March 7th clutched the script card tightly, the edges of the paper unconsciously crumpled.
She paced back and forth in small steps, the soles of her shoes making a soft rustling sound as they rubbed against the ground.
He was muttering to himself, repeatedly reciting the opening remarks.
Dan Heng silently adjusted the camera angle on the tripod, and after confirming that the image was level, he stepped back to the wall and leaned gently against the cold wall.
He crossed his arms and calmly scanned every corner of the room, checking for anything he might have missed.
On the other side, Xing held up a rather heavy fill light.
With a steady turn of her wrist, a bright yet soft beam of light fell upon the makeshift guest seating area, dispelling the surrounding shadows.
The women present were all top-tier beauties; they didn't need any beauty filters or effects.
In the center of the beam of light, Seele, Bronya, Natasha, and Hook sat in that order.
Seele sat rather stiffly, her back not fully against the chair back.
Bronya maintained an impeccably dignified sitting posture.
Natasha looked the most relaxed, only occasionally tapping her knees with her fingertips.
In the chair at the very edge, Hook almost sank in.
The chair was too high; even when she sat up straight, her feet couldn't reach the ground, and her legs had to dangle in mid-air, swinging slowly back and forth.
"Is this what big sister was talking about...the fun stuff?" She asked in a very low voice, more like she was muttering to herself, her round eyes filled with curiosity.
It's obvious they were coaxed into coming here just to make up the numbers.
The camera slowly pans across the remaining people, capturing their tense or struggling expressions.
On March 7th, I took a deep breath and logged into my account.
Her profile picture is still herself, and she has zero followers.
Because she has never posted videos or done live streams.
Her fingertip hovered over the "Start Live Stream" button on the screen for a full half second before she decisively pressed it.
The platform's homepage refreshed with live stream notifications almost simultaneously.
Lin Lin also forwarded the message using the official account.
The live stream's popularity skyrocketed immediately.
The number in the upper right corner, representing popularity, started to jump upwards continuously, indicating that the number of people was increasing.
March 7th leaned closer to the camera and made a slight adjustment to ensure that everyone was framed in the shot.
A bright smile instantly bloomed on her face, and her voice was light and cheerful:
"Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening everyone in the live stream!" However, her eyes quickly glanced at the script below.
Clearly, he had been memorizing nothing all day.
When I get nervous, I forget everything.
"Welcome to the special live stream previewing the 1.1 'Galaxy Odyssey' version of Honkai Impact 3rd!"
"I'm your host, March 7th!"
"And our special guests for today—"
She stretched out her arm and pointed to the guest seats.
"Seele, Bronya, Dr. Natasha, and our dearest Hook!"
The people whose names were called raised their hands in greeting.
Seele's lips twitched slightly upwards with extreme restraint, the curve barely perceptible, before returning to normal.
Bronya nodded slightly, her smile perfectly natural, gentle yet carrying a hint of distance.
Natasha looked gently at the camera lens, a tender smile in her eyes, a gentleness that seemed to emanate from the screen.
Hook excitedly raised his hands, waved at the camera, and laughed without any worries, revealing a row of small teeth.
The comments began scrolling across the screen, initially sparse, then becoming denser:
"Alive! It's a living March 7th!"
"I got this from the official trailer +1"
"Seele?! A new character? She's got such a cool vibe!"
"Bronya! I got her from the beginner banner, the permanent banner, and my character selection banner! This is love!"
"Then I hope she'll be in your next limited-time banner too."
"The doctor's appearance... he looks like he's going to treat a lot of patients... (nosebleed.jpg)"
"Baby Hook is so cute, I want to steal him!"
"Where's Clara?!?!"
……
The number of viewers continued to climb, the scrolling speed of the bullet comments also increased, and the content began to become more diverse and lively.
The Starry Sky Train, observation carriage.
The crowd gathered together, their eyes focused on the enormous LCD screen in the center of the carriage.
That was the one Lin Lin had drawn last time, and it was currently playing a live stream clearly.
Silver Wolf crossed his arms, leaned back on the sofa, and pursed his lips: "Hmph, Lin Lin knows how to avoid trouble and dump all the problems on them."
Kafka, holding her teacup, gave a faint smile upon hearing this, but did not reply.
Her gaze fell on the gray-haired girl in the picture who was obediently holding a fill light, but whose eyes were somewhat unfocused and vacant. Her eyes were gentle.
Walter's shoulders, which had been slightly tense, finally froze completely.
His gaze swept over the familiar figures in the live stream, his feelings a complex mix.
Himeko gracefully placed her coffee cup on the table beside her.
"The train did not detect any abnormal energy fluctuations at the Envoy level in the direction of Yalilo," she said calmly. "You don't need to be so tense."
She thought Walter was worried about the children's safety, so she comforted him.
In fact, Uncle Yang's heart had stopped beating just now.
I knew it!
The Honkai Impact 3rd is still chasing me!
……
In the live stream, March 7th followed the procedure, first chatting and joking around for a few minutes, waiting for the live stream to gain more popularity.
A new wave of comments scrolled by, raising questions:
"Wait, isn't one person missing from the lineup introduction?"
"Where's Silver Wolf? Didn't the announcement say there would be two gacha pools?"
"The grand finale?"
Seeing the comments on March 7th, I felt ashamed: Where am I supposed to conjure up a silver wolf for you guys?
I'm only temporarily assigned to this job, okay?
Just as she was quickly thinking of how to smooth things over, Xing, who was holding a fill light next to her, suddenly revealed a mischievous smile.
She casually interjected, "Silver Wolf? She was supposed to come, but unfortunately... she was kidnapped by people from the company on the way!"
The chat suddenly went silent for a moment:
"Huh?? Really?!"
"Oh no... I'm not going to be dragged off to 'make cream puffs'...!"
"Little handcuffs, little whips, little candles..."
"Are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten what the boss said? Just wait until your account is shut down!"
"Star! You just wait! (A netizen who wishes to remain anonymous)"
……
On the Starry Sky Train, Silver Wolf, who was drinking a beverage with his head tilted back, suddenly choked.
She bent over and coughed violently, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Silver Wolf Passenger!!!"
Train conductor Pam, who was mopping the floor nearby, jumped up in surprise, her long ears standing up.
Silver Wolf raised his eyes, tears welling in them, and glared fiercely at the elegant Kafka and Himeko standing to the side.
His eyes were filled with the message, "What a fine child you've raised!"
Kafka simply blinked innocently, her voice soft and smiling: "Children say the darndest things."
Himeko, however, said: I'm not taking the blame for this.
Silver Wolf narrowed his eyes, stopped arguing, and simply tapped rapidly on the phone screen with his fingertips.
Silverfinger: Something terrible has happened! Star has fallen in love with another woman!
Sam: ? ? ?
Silver Wolf took a screenshot of the live stream. In the picture, Xing is smiling and looking at the guest seats, with Seele, Bronya, Natasha and Hook in the background.
Then Silver Wolf casually typed a few Photoshop moves on the screen and sent it.
Sam: !!!
Sam: Three...women in their prime?
Sam: There's another... kid?
Sam: (I will... set the ocean ablaze.jpg)
……
Interstellar Peace Corporation, Strategic Investment Department Office.
Sand Gold rested his chin on one hand, while unconsciously twirling a golden chip in the other, watching the live stream with great interest.
When Xing uttered those words, the smile on his lips deepened noticeably: "This pioneer is quite... interesting to talk to."
Topa, who was texting on her phone next to him, didn't even look up, only glancing at him: "What mischievous idea are you plotting now?"
"Oh dear, is my image in your heart really that bad?" Sand Gold shook the chips in his hand, feigning sadness.
Toppa put away her phone, ignored his comment, picked up the tent at her feet, and turned to walk out the door.
"What are you doing? Aren't you going to watch the live stream?" Sand Gold asked.
"Lin Lin wants to talk to me about the debt of Yalilo No. 6. I have to go there now." Toppa didn't stop walking.
The fingers that were caressing the gold chips paused slightly.
He was about to ask Lin Lin how he knew about this, but he stopped himself—he remembered the other's special identity.
The chip on his fingertip spun deftly and was firmly held in his grasp.
Sand Gold chuckled softly, a playful glint in his eyes:
"What a... nice guy who likes to 'meddle' in other people's business."
我喜欢！
……
Luofu Immortal Boat, Shence Mansion.
Jing Yuan leaned back lazily in his chair, the light from the live stream on the screen reflected in his pupils.
When he heard the name "Yarilo VI", his previously relaxed eyelashes drooped slightly for a moment.
Seven hundred years ago, the scene of that grand martial arts ceremony silently flashed through my mind.
In my memory, there was that bright red-haired boy who stood on the final stage with him, as dazzling as fire.
Resilient, brave, with a burning light in their eyes dedicated to protecting their home planet.
A distant longing and a faint sense of melancholy surfaced in the depths of Jingyuan's eyes.
He looked up again.
Look at the faces from that icy world in the live stream.
Look into their eyes at the exhaustion from fighting the disaster.
A silent question seems to linger within, traversing the vast galaxy to reach the past:
Some traditions and some wills, like roots buried deep in frozen soil, will never truly be severed.
Do you agree?
Igor Haftar.
……
In the live stream, during a break in the chat about the company arresting people, March 7 quickly peeked at the content of the next script.
Set your mind.
"Ahem, although this preview livestream might be a bit... uh, plain and simple, without any cool PVs or CGs prepared—"
She abruptly changed the subject, reaching out to pat Seele on the shoulder: "But! We invited her here in person! Isn't that sincere enough?"
Seele's body stiffened almost imperceptibly as her palm fell.
Then, seemingly realizing this, he flashed a slightly more pronounced smile than before in front of the camera.
She had never faced such a scene before, being watched by countless unseen eyes. Her palms seemed a little damp, and her heart was beating faster than usual.
Anyway... just smile.
She recalled a somewhat obscure principle: one shouldn't hit a smiling face.
Comments floated by at just the right moment:
"Such a casual preview..."
"But at least it's a live broadcast with real people, which is more interesting than pre-recorded videos."
"No Silver Wolf? Thumbs down!"
"Stop making noise upstairs! With so many pretty ladies to look at, what more could you want?"
"Hurry up, bring up the actual gameplay demo quickly, it's urgent!"
……
Upper Beloborg district, Silva's mechanical house.
Hiluva, hogging Lin Lin's phone, couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Pfft—this is too...too hasty!"
Lin Lin, however, seemed not to pay much attention to the noise on the screen.
His gaze fell on the tiny figure hatching from the purple egg in Shiluva's arms.
She was now quietly curled up in Shiluwa's arms, breathing evenly.
The creature sent by Xing and the others hatched into something that left both of them speechless with astonishment.
Tiny Cocolia? ??
A purple egg hatched into a water-type pet?
Those eyebrows, those hair color—they were practically a miniature version of the Great Guardian Cocolia Rand.
It simply shed all its gloom, prejudice, and coldness, leaving only the purity of an infant.
From the moment the eggshell cracked and she saw it, Hilva was stunned for a long time, as if struck by lightning.
After that, he never let go of her arms, his eyes filled with a complex and unreadable expression.
Lin Lin withdrew his gaze.
The world is becoming more and more like a kaleidoscope that is hard to understand.
Although he brought them all with him.
……
Live stream switching
Version events, version benefits, and character companion quests.
Each item was presented with a humorous and engaging explanation by March 7th.
Then came the in-game character demonstration.
The screen then switched to a live video feed that Lin Lin had prepared in advance.
The game features smooth combat scenes combined with special effects.
In addition, March 7th provided narration alongside the visuals:
"First up is our quantum 'butterfly' from Arilho – Seele! Five stars, on her path of destiny!"
"Her core mechanic is: entering the Quantum Butterfly Amplification state. In this state, Seele's damage is increased by 80%, and she gains 20% Quantum Resistance Penetration!"
"Each attack will apply one stack of 'Butterfly Mark' to the target. When the 'Butterfly Mark' reaches three stacks, all marks will be consumed, dealing an additional quantum attribute damage equal to 120% of the attacker's attack power to the target!"
"Basic Attack - Assault: Deals 130% ATK as Quantum damage to a single target. After using a basic attack, Seele's turn order will be advanced by 20%!"
"Combat Skill - Resurrection: Deals up to 280% of attack power as quantum damage to a single target and increases own speed by 40% for three turns. If the user is in an amplified state when casting this skill, an additional 20 energy points are restored!"
"Ultimate Skill - Chaotic Butterfly: Instantly enters an amplified state, dealing devastating 600% of attack power quantum damage to a single target, followed by six additional instances of quantum damage, each dealing 40% of attack power. Most importantly, these six additional instances of damage ignore 20% of the target's defense!"
"Talent - Reappearance: Upon defeating an enemy, Seele immediately gains an extra turn and clears all negative status effects from herself. During this extra turn, all damage she deals is increased by 50%, and her basic attacks do not restore skill points, nor do her skills consume skill points! If the kill is achieved while under the amplified state, she will also restore an additional skill point!"
"Secret Technique: Illusion: After use, grants Seele invisibility for 20 seconds outside of combat. Upon entering combat while invisible, Seele immediately enters an enhanced state and gains the 'First Strike Guarantee' effect: After the first attack in this battle, an additional 'Reappearance' effect is triggered!"
Overall, the figures are quite generous.
It has everything: energy recovery, damage increase, and point recovery.
Six lives even have a 20% chance to ignore defense.
March 7th's clear and engaging narration, coupled with in-game footage showing Seele moving like lightning, leaving behind dazzling quantum butterfly effects.
For many players in front of the screen, this is also a unique kind of enjoyment.
The barrage of comments was ignited once again:
"Here it comes! The first limited main DPS in Honkai Impact 3rd!"
"Kill and then move again, and even clear debuffs... Overpowered from the start?"
"With Bronya's buff, wouldn't this be an instant takeoff?"
"I regret it so much! Why didn't I choose Bronya in the beginner's selection...?"
"Where's Silver Wolf! Quickly bring out Silver Wolf's skills! We can't wait!"
……
In the guest seats of the live stream, Seele and Bronya were also watching the character demonstration on the screen intently, studying the skill mechanics.
"Invisibility, being able to hide oneself outside of combat, feels like an incredibly powerful secret technique, useful for both exploration and surprise attacks." Bronya watched Seele use the secret technique to bypass enemies on screen and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
Seele was also a little stunned.
Am I playing with myself?
Ok? ? ?
That sounds a bit strange.
This feeling was quite novel to her.
For these "newbies," the world of Honkai Impact 3rd seemed fairly user-friendly in terms of understanding these combat concepts, without overly complicated or obscure terminology, and the demonstrations were intuitive and clear.
Soon, the demonstration switched to the Silver Wolf segment.
However, this is a character that players have already used in the story.
The basic skill mechanics of Silver Wolf are already familiar to everyone: combat skills can inflict attribute weaknesses on enemy groups, while finishing moves are powerful group defense reduction effects.
But the demonstration at this moment emphasizes Silver Wolf's extremely unique secret technique.
By consuming cheat points, you can directly "hack" into the map scene, temporarily blocking or simplifying some puzzle-solving mechanisms, achieving a near "speedrun" effect.
It's like "pointing out what you don't know."
BBK lighters... no, I mean BBK Silver Wolf lighters, you deserve to own one.
This is undoubtedly the best choice for players who love the storyline but find complex puzzles daunting.
The excitement of the comments section was completely ignited:
"Oh no! This is really necessary!"
"I'm so touched. I'm a story-driven person, and I hate those convoluted puzzles on maps."
"The first character is all about high-intensity combat mechanics, the second character is all about convenient open-world exploration... Haji Tie, you bastard!"
"Silver Wolf, this is definitely the most desirable card among all cards! If you don't pull for it now, you'll regret it later when you're clearing stages."
"I'm already imagining what would happen if another character were released who could bypass the limitations of traditional turn-based combat. Combined with Silver Wolf's puzzle-solving cheat, wouldn't the storyline be completely unstoppable?"
……
The special effect of the secret technique partially overshadowed the shock brought by Seele's violent and aesthetically pleasing combat demonstration.
After all, no matter how strong the former is, in the eyes of players, it may just be a "top-tier character at the start of the game" and may eventually be replaced by someone else.
The latter's unique mechanism, however, is a "hard currency" that can genuinely influence the overall game experience and gameplay choices.
Whether it's adding weaknesses to the enemy to cope with various environments, or the secret techniques that allow players to skip puzzles, their strategic value is magnified infinitely in the eyes of players.
The Starry Sky Train, observation carriage.
Silver Wolf looked at the screen showing the detailed description and high praise of his character's skills, especially that special secret technique. Despite trying hard to keep a straight face, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly in an uncontrollable way.
As a gaming expert, she knew all too well how attractive this unique "convenience" design was to players; it was almost a tacit recognition of her abilities.
Kafka, observing her subtle expression, couldn't help but chuckle, "Satisfied now?"
Silver Wolf, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately turned his head away, his voice stiff: "Hmph, what's there to be happy about?"
However, the smile that she couldn't suppress still betrayed her true thoughts and smugness.
What a proud and stubborn little wolf!
Back to the preview live stream.
In the subsequent process, March 7th also showcased a new form of star – the "Guardian" of destiny, a pioneer.
In the actual gameplay footage, Xing wields a broadsword that appears to be formed from crimson flames, with the blade radiating a scorching light, exactly the same as the fleeting image seen in the previous PV.
Even Hoshino herself, who was holding a fill light nearby, had her eyes light up: "Wow...what a cool weapon!"
The soreness and numbness in my arms from holding the lamp up for so long seemed to have lessened considerably.
Bullet comments:
"As expected of the main character! He changes his form with every map."
"Hilarious! Who doesn't have that?! I, Huang Mao, am the first to disagree."
"Storage...am I about to be glanced at by the Amber King?"
"One person embarking on multiple destinies, truly protagonist treatment."
"My darling, some of the company's cuties are getting restless! They'll be coming over as soon as they smell it!"
"The upstairs neighbor is so civilized; it's rare to see that on the internet these days!"
......
Next, the demonstration moved on to the latest weekly boss – Cocolia, the Mother of Illusions.
When that familiar yet unfamiliar figure appeared against the backdrop of the shattered snowfield.
Surrounded by immense imaginary energy, its body exhibits distorted, monstrous features, radiating a suffocating sense of oppression.
This caused Bronya, who was in the guest seats, to suddenly catch her breath.
Her lips instantly lost their color, and her fingers unconsciously tightened.
The unrecognizable, cold-blooded "mother" on the screen was like an ice pick piercing her heart.
My vision even blurred for a moment, and my breathing became a little difficult.
Even now, deep down, she still doesn't fully believe in, or rather, doesn't want to accept, the worst possible outcome.
Stubbornly clinging to a sliver of hope: Mother must be controlled by the star core...
Seele, who was standing nearby, immediately noticed Bronya's suddenly pale face and slightly trembling fingertips.
Her brows furrowed immediately, and she subconsciously leaned towards Bronya, her eyes filled with worry.
She asked softly, "Bronya? Are you... alright?"
Noticing the change in Bronya's expression, he quietly took her hand.
His eyes darted around.
Dan Heng, who was in charge of the camera, noticed this scene.
He tilted his hand slightly, separating the two people from the camera's view.
Meanwhile, a subtle reminder was also given regarding March 7th, the day the questions in the live chat were being answered.
It's almost time, we can end the live stream now.
Upon hearing this news, the viewers in the live chat commented:
"How long has it been? I feel like I could be livestreaming until dawn."
"When will version 1.1 be released? I can't wait!"
"Why isn't Professor Danheng showing up? Did he not come?"
"Looking forward to your stories, Sister March!"
......
On March 7th, after receiving Dan Heng's message, he blinked.
"The new version will be released in 5 days. Teacher Danheng has been working hard behind the scenes. Thank you."
He glanced around, casually answered a few questions, and then ended the live stream.
Ok? ? ?
She looked at the last small section of the manuscript.
Starry Sky Redemption Code?
Why isn't this kind of thing mentioned in the version benefits section?
March 7th looked at the now-closed live stream with a sense of helplessness.
no way!
Lin Lin is entirely responsible, and he didn't even remind her!
Lin Lin, standing some distance away, seemed indifferent to this.
The character he designed is in its complete form at C0, and there is no such thing as a dismembered constellation.
Both are about intensity.
As long as it's not crooked.
You can have a blast even with zero lives.
As for if it's crooked.
Isn't there also the blue-green modifier?
Why don't you know how to use it?
Should I make a tutorial?
After all.
The reason Lin Lin was so conscientious was because of the system's lottery system.
I'm not going to circle them anymore!
Lin Lin is now aiming to create the most conscientious game in the history of Honkai Impact 3rd.
Anyway, he has enough credits to keep drawing prizes for a lifetime.
......
Time flew by, and it was already the next day.
Inside the mechanical house of Shiluva.
Yesterday's live stream was quite popular, and the online discussion about the "Beng Tie" (a type of iron) hasn't cooled down much.
Lin Lin thought to himself: If I could draw another PV and release it now, wouldn't the popularity soar even higher?
He silently thought to himself: You're right, aren't you, System?
System: [...The system cannot perform underhanded operations...but the host can try.]
Lin Lin: "..."
Dog system!
They're too lazy to even pretend anymore?
Then I'm not smoking!
Lin Lin was currently sitting at Xiluwa's worktable, playing on his phone while keeping an eye on the shop.
What about Shiluwa?
She went out to buy a little dress for Cocolia.
The excuse was that it was a disguise, so that Cocolia wouldn't find out.
In fact, judging from her excited expression, Lin Lin was treating the little one like a daughter.
Lin Lin couldn't help but wonder what kind of expression Cocolia herself would have if she saw this scene.
And so, the morning passed in silence.
While browsing online discussions about the game, he was also planning the arrangements for subsequent versions in his mind.
Then he realized... time seemed a bit tight.
He now intends to push the main storyline of the game ahead of the real-world events as much as possible.
After all, Elio's so-called "script" doesn't seem to be working very well now, so he has to put in more effort himself.
Otherwise, what if something goes wrong in the future?
Thinking of this, he suddenly paused.
broken.
Am I not turning into Eriol already?
But then I thought, a version can be completed in about five or six days, it just requires streamlining some of the event content.
No problem!
As long as I update quickly enough, players will never experience a downtime.
This is truly a long and arduous task!
Ring ring—
Just then, the bell on the shop door rang.
Lin Lin didn't look up, continuing to scroll through his phone: "Please come in!"
"Hiluva... I have something to tell you..." The voice drifted in before the seven March people even entered.
Then she spotted Lin Lin sitting at the worktable.
"Lin Lin? It's you!"
Behind her were Xing, Danheng, and Xier, who didn't talk much.
"We're here to collect some game materials." Lin Linchao and the others nodded, which was considered a greeting.
Seele looked puzzled and asked in a low voice, "Who is this?"
Xing blinked and thought for a moment, then said, "Hmm...game planner?"
Upon hearing this identity, Xi'er couldn't help but glance at Lin Lin a few more times.
he?
That prophet?
Aside from being fairly pleasing to the eye, there doesn't seem to be anything particularly special about him/her...
March 7th looked around: "Where are the Shiluwa?"
Lin Lin thought for a moment: "She went out to buy clothes, she should be back in a while. You guys sit down for a bit and we'll talk when she gets back."
Hearing her say that, the group had no choice but to stay there for the time being—after all, their current status was sensitive, making them practically “wanted criminals,” and they dared not wander around outside recklessly.
March 7th turned her face away, glaring at Lin Lin with a resentful expression, clearly still holding a grudge about yesterday's live stream.
"I'm never taking this job again, no matter what!"
Lin Lin smiled: "I think you guys did a pretty good job yesterday."
"What's so great about it! Last night, we used up all the words we'd ever learned in our lives!" March 7 muttered.
Xing chimed in from the side, "That means you haven't been studying enough, March."
"Then you can be the host next time?" March 7th immediately retorted.
Upon hearing this, Xing immediately adopted a righteous and awe-inspiring expression:
"Cough... I also think that this kind of work is really not suitable for us."
Danheng silently rubbed his forehead.
Lin Lin watched these two lively characters chattering away and couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, alright, next time I'll just make a ready-made preview, and you two can be my guests, okay?"
"That's more like it." March 7th was finally a little more satisfied.
Afterwards, the group had a brief chat about the "magic bullet".
Lin Lin listened and thought it was quite interesting. It might even be able to be turned into a large-scale event in version 2.0. It looked like it had a lot of potential.