Himeko smiled with gratification. "After the journey through Penacony, the Trailblazer has truly matured into a proper Nameless. Amphoreus is a station of special significance—every passenger on board is indispensable. Pioneering a new world is work best suited for the young. I believe you and Dan Heng can look out for each other."
The latter half of her words was clearly directed at Welt Yang.
Hearing this, Welt Yang showed an expression of regret. "Looks like we'll have to stay behind and handle some adult matters."
"Don't be impatient, Welt. Your time to shine will come."
At that moment, Black Swan volunteered as well. "March 7th needs someone to look after her. I'll lend a hand."
Sunday also stated his position, raising no objections to the navigator's suggestion.
[Why isn't Sunday going?]
[Sunday's still an intern—no qualifications (doge)]
[If Sunday bro went down there, it might just end things instantly. He's still pretty strong, after all.]
[But I feel like Sunday's acting like an NPC.]
[Speaking of NPCs, that inevitably brings up one hooded handsome guy.]
[Hahaha, Moze's NPC energy is unmatched!]
[True. He's starting to feel more and more like my brother—same expression all day, fully logged in.]
[For some reason, I feel like Old Sunday would actually make a surprisingly reliable teammate!]
— —
Himeko smiled contentedly. "Looks like we've reached consensus. You two, follow me to the observation car.
Just in case, I prepared a 'backup plan' before departure. I didn't expect the time to reveal it would come so soon."
With that, she headed to the observation car ahead of them.
Dan Heng spoke to Caelus with complete reliability. "Sounds like a major undertaking. This time, I'll disembark with you."
Caelus nodded without reply. He glanced at Welt Yang and the others still discussing, then looked once more toward March 7th's room before following Himeko's steps.
…
Inside the observation car, Pom-Pom was already waiting.
"Ground team members all present! Let the conductor announce the 'backup plan' um—this journey is perilous, so the conductor and navigator have prepared a special 'Trailblazing' gift for you all—a single, detachable, car, Pa!"
Caelus nodded solemnly. "Can I have the parlor car?"
Obviously, no one paid any attention to Caelus's clowning. At that point, Himeko spoke up. "Amphoreus lies outside the Interastral Peace Corporation's service range, with no means of remote communication. To provide you with maximum support, we plan to detach one section of the Astral Express and use it as a landing pod. Once on the ground, it can also serve as a safe house."
Pom-Pom added, "Rest assured—the car has independent thrusters. It will definitely get you safely into Amphoreus and find a secure landing spot."
Hearing this, Caelus's eyes lit up. After all, no boy can resist a detachable train car equipped with thrusters!
"Now we're talking power brick flying—charge!"
"No way!" Pom-Pom immediately shut down Caelus's idea. "This is an emergency contingency only. Don't think the Express can just be taken apart like building blocks!"
"I'll keep an eye on him." Reliable Dan Heng's assurance finally put Pom-Pom at ease.
"Set off as soon as you're ready. Looking forward to good news from you all, Pa."
Dan Heng and Caelus exchanged a glance before replying in unison, "We're ready."
Himeko gave a slight smile, seeing them off. "Toward the 'Eternal Land'—set forth!"
— —
"Car ready for separation! Three… two… one!"
One car successfully detached, floating in the sea of stars.
The rear thrusters erupted with powerful flames. In the blink of an eye, it was hurtling toward Amphoreus.
The screen went black—the scene was about to transition.
"…Mi?"
Caelus glanced around. "Who's there?"
Suddenly, light bloomed across the screen.
The world of Amphoreus was pitch black. In the background stood a colossal Titan shouldering the Dawn Engine.
It was the world-bearing Titan from the earlier PV—Kephale.
Accompanied by stirring background music, Caelus slowly opened his eyes.
The car was still in flight, but from nowhere, a massive spear came flying and pierced straight through the entire car.
At this moment, the bullet comments went absolutely wild.
[Dagu's battle is about to crash. At the critical moment, Dagu suddenly turns into a beam of light…]
[MAN!]
[MAN!]
[MAN!]
[MAN!]
[MAN!]
[…]
[Crash landing right from the start?]
[Hahaha, I don't know why but I suddenly feel like laughing.]
[Trailblazer (†), aged 2.]
[At this moment, Pom-Pom suddenly sneezed.]
[I think we should play a meme here: Honkai: Star Rail – Series Finale!]
[Hahaha, kid, this isn't funny.]
— —
The car made an emergency crash landing, about to slam into a mountainside.
Amid Caelus's scream, the screen went black.
Bang—
Some time later.
Caelus appeared in frame, clutching his head and letting out pained groans.
He looked around—he was now inside a building, flames everywhere, while their car was lodged high up.
[As expected of a Stellaron vessel—built different!]
[Holy crap, falling from that height and still fine? The car's stuck up high—he must've been flung out.]
[Bro, you think Preservation nurse is fake? Just switch to flame spear and done.]
[Wait, but Dan Heng isn't here? No way!!!]
[Don't underestimate the High-Cloud Quintet's dragon lord.]
— —
Caelus's eyes scanned like a hawk, searching for Dan Heng. Finally, in a spot littered with rubble, he spotted him.
"Dan Heng?"
Caelus immediately ran over. "Still alive. Hey, Dan Heng, time to wake up."
Wait—
Caelus saw Dan Heng's chest rising and falling, confirming his vital signs were still present.
He tried shaking him hard, but Dan Heng didn't budge. Looked like he needed another approach.
For some reason, Caelus's mind flashed back to his first meeting with Dan Heng and March 7th.
"CPR? Yeah, that's it!"
It felt like someone was shouting loudly in his ear: Go for it boldly! What a devilishly tempting voice.
After hesitating repeatedly, Caelus finally leaned down.
"Sorry about this, Dan Heng." As he said it, the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.
[That expression doesn't look sorry at all.]
[I genuinely lost it at that face.]
[Feels like Caelus's expression should be even more mischievous.]
[Jealous of Dan Heng!]
[Bro, you're not normal!]
[XP can go overboard, but don't go full India!]
[Why are you so hyped? Answer me—look into my eyes!]
— —
"Sorry about what?" Dan Heng spoke in a low voice, head still down.
Caelus suddenly felt awkward. "Sorry I couldn't protect you properly."
Dan Heng slowly sat up. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he carefully examined Caelus without saying a word.
He patted his forehead, forcing himself back to his usual state.
[Hahaha, so funny—why does Caelus look disappointed?]
[Wait, did you guys see? Dan Heng just looked at Caelus like he'd seen a ghost.]
[Probably thinking about how to explain the exploded car to Pom-Pom.]
[Then he should be looking at the car, not Caelus?]
[I stand by my point—something unknown definitely happened.]
[Don't scrutinize web dramas with a magnifying glass. A lot of times it's just misdirection.]
— —
"How long were we out?" Dan Heng's gaze fell on the car above. "After the car was hit, you lost consciousness. I carried you out and then passed out myself. Fortunately the car shielded us, or we'd both be in pieces. Let's try contacting the Express first."
[So Caelus passed out first?]
[Then why did Dan Heng faint?]
[Dan Heng held on with sheer willpower, rescued Caelus, then collapsed from exhaustion.]
[But that still doesn't explain Dan Heng's expression!]
[What expression? Could it actually be some major foreshadowing?]
— —
Unfortunately, after several attempts, Dan Heng and Caelus completely lost signal with the Express crew.
No contact with anyone!
Looking at the unresponsive device, "As expected, failure… Looks like it's just you and me now.
We need to find a safe spot to use as a base first. From the surrounding architecture and this statue, Amphoreus definitely has civilization…
The bad news is—they might be hostile toward outsiders."
Caelus shrugged. "Back to being wanted criminals again…"
"Mi…"
At that moment, a rabbit-like figure flashed by and vanished.
Caelus whipped around but found no trace.
Dan Heng immediately tensed. "What is it?"
"Someone's watching us?" Caelus spoke while scanning the surroundings.
"Someone nearby? Be careful—take up arms." As he spoke, Dan Heng had already summoned Cloud-Piercer. "Let's check what's behind that door first."
The two cautiously approached a large door. Before they could do anything, the door opened on its own.
Stepping onto a damaged corridor, Caelus looked out at the night sky and couldn't help asking, "So dark… is it nighttime right now…?"
Suddenly the entire space shook. The two seemed to arrive in an open walkway.
Here the sunlight was bright, and faint afterimages of children could be seen.
After taking a few more steps, they returned to the nighttime spacetime.
And in their ears echoed an incomprehensible language.
"Over there—the pink one." Dan Heng pointed at a fluffy creature floating in the air.
"You can see it too?"
"Yeah. Not an illusion."
Spacetime shifted again.
"It's back. Is it causing this? This phenomenon… hard to explain."
They advanced in fits and starts. Whenever there was no path, spacetime would shift—allowing passage—then revert.
"It's gone… Not giving us any chance to figure it out. Did you get a clear look at that creature?"
Caelus thought for a moment. "Kinda looked like a rabbit."
"Doesn't match any species recorded in the archives—as expected. Amphoreus is completely 'unknown' to us. Even Jarilo-VI—the Express had some knowledge of its history and terrain before arrival. But Amphoreus… everything Black Swan told us is the sum total of our understanding."
"What's next—find locals?"
"We should prepare for the worst. Language aside, that earlier attack… the power behind that strike was considerable. Hard to imagine an isolated frontier world possessing such weaponry."
"Compared to your dragon-transformation secret art?"
"Can't say for sure. Avoid blind optimism. We'll feel our way forward."
— —
After leaving the gate, a grand building appeared before the two.
"Look across—such an imposing city gate."
Following Caelus's gaze, even Dan Heng couldn't help but marvel. "Overwhelming pressure, yet incredibly ancient… Some kind of local cultural structure?"
After reaching a wide platform, the two had lost track of the pink creature.
"This area doesn't look inhabited. That strange creature from earlier is gone too. But…"
At that moment, the camera followed Dan Heng's gaze to distant Kephale.
"Look over there."
"That's one huge ball…"
"Mega-structures everywhere. The locals not only have advanced engineering but also some universal faith. Shame it's too far—details are unclear. If we want to help take photos, now should be perfect timing."
In the distance, the colossal sphere stood between heaven and earth. The sky at its apex was torn open—no, more like it had willingly opened a circular rift. Inside the rift, a vortex churned in reverse, with cloud layers periodically reflecting golden streams of light.
If March 7th were beside Caelus right now, she would surely use her girlish imagination to find a whimsical, out-there metaphor for the scene.
Unfortunately, Caelus now had to take over as team photographer.
Without hesitation, Caelus pressed the shutter.
Kephale's appearance was captured in the camera.
"And that city gate—record it too." Dan Heng pointed at the nearby gate.
Across the chasm, the grand palace doors remained sealed, unwilling to reveal even a hint of the history and secrets behind them.
What lay beyond those gates?
Caelus couldn't help letting his imagination run wild: brutal slaughter, raucous feasts, bottomless abysses…
Then he snapped back, as if hearing a playful voice whisper in his ear—
"Wake~ up, time to hit the shutter!"
It was March 7th's voice.
[No way there's actually gonna be a knife!]
[WTF!!! MiHoYo really daring to knife March 7th?]
[Don't scare me—MiHoYo wouldn't dare, right?!]
Caelus checked the photos in the camera. Gotta say—these shots turned out pretty good!
Just then.
A sound of something moving came from behind them.
"Hm? Not good… Stay alert!"
Dan Heng gripped Cloud-Piercer in one hand, poised and ready, staring intently at several stone statues ahead.
Caelus also noticed something off—the bases of the statues showed clear drag marks.
If no one was bored enough to drag them just to prank them, then the statues themselves could move!
"Seems like they're not friendly…"
"These things have no aura… Inorganic lifeforms? Looks like they don't plan on letting us leave. Behind us is a dead end and a cliff—we have no choice but to fight."
Caelus shouldered his bat. "All 'Trailblazing'—truly begins only after the first swing!"
The outer layer of the statues peeled away, revealing their true forms.
"Let's go."