"Hiss..."
Gazing at the "Astral Express Line Two," which had just been delivered to miHoYo Planet by an IPC transport ship, Himeko, holding a toolbox, couldn't help but let her face darken as she sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.
"Uh... this is our Line Two? The difference between this and the picture is a bit... too big, isn't it?"
March couldn't bear to look at the "tragic" front of the second Astral Express.
"So the Corporation's photos were photoshopped! The real thing doesn't match the promotional pictures at all!"
Staring at the dilapidated train, Stelle complained speechlessly.
"Can this... really be fixed?" Dan Heng couldn't help but doubt.
"Er, maybe, possibly, perhaps, probably..."
Looking at the train, even Welt was at a loss for a moment. It was in such a state... could Himeko really fix it?
"...Can we return it?"
Even Wende, whose Daoist heart had become incomparably steady, couldn't help but ask this soul-searching question upon seeing the locomotive.
How could one describe the Astral Express Line Two before them... It looked as if it had been blown up by [Elation], smashed with a sledgehammer by [Preservation], and finally kicked into the air after landing at the feet of [Destruction].
Perhaps only the legendary "Los Santos Customs" could restore it to its original state. Otherwise, this was asking a bit too much of Himeko.
"Hmph... Is the Corporation serious?"
Himeko decisively placed her toolbox on the ground and elegantly used it as a stool. Crossing her long, fair legs, she held a cup of hot coffee that had appeared from nowhere, looking for all the world like she was giving up.
While she was the train's maintenance officer, she was only responsible for "repairs," not "resurrections"!
"What in the world did this train go through..."
Looking at the miserable sight, March shivered involuntarily, her mind filling with terrible possibilities.
"Don't let your imagination run wild. Maybe this train was just really unlucky..."
"Really?"
"Just a guess..."
"In any case... let's try to figure out a way to fix it first. It's already like this... Should I give Master Gongshu a call?"
Welt was out of ideas for the moment. Master Gongshu was probably very busy right now. After all, with the appearance of that blasted Rupert III, he was likely working overtime to implement security measures for the Aurumations and other automatons.
At that thought, Welt gave up on the idea of troubling Master Gongshu. What about sending the train back to the Honkai world for repairs? That wouldn't work either. Although the technology on that side was advanced, the most crucial part of the Astral Express was its essence as an "Aeon's creation." That was the key.
And so, Welt shifted his gaze to Wende. Seeing Welt's look, Himeko also seemed to realize something and gave Wende a slight smile.
"Uh... why are you guys looking at me?"
Wende looked blankly at the two parental figures, whose gazes seemed to hold ill intent. Were they... about to sell him off?
"I almost forgot. We still have a way to repair this train. Isn't that right, Wende?"
And so, amidst Wende's utterly bewildered expression, Himeko handed him the toolbox, patted his shoulder in affirmation, and then followed Welt and the others back to the Astral Express. According to their plan, starting today, the Express would be working non-stop to maintain the operation of the star-rails and recruit as many partners for the alliance as possible. As for Wende... well, he couldn't leave miHoYo Planet anyway. The job of repairing the train was now his!
"Wait, Himeko!"
Wende watched Himeko walk away, waving the toolbox in his hand.
"Don't worry, I have plenty more toolboxes. Feel free to use them all."
Himeko waved magnanimously over her shoulder and left without looking back.
"Tsk... this isn't even my area of expertise..."
Turning to look at the Astral Express Line Two behind him, a herd of "grass-mud horses" stampeded through Wende's mind.
The Astral Express crew was busy, sure, but was it really necessary to dump him here to fix a train all by himself?
"Actually, you know, your expertise is a perfect match."
Dragon, clearly enjoying the drama, manifested its screen and typed to the numb-faced Wende.
"You there? If you have something to say, say it quick."
"Alright, alright. Just use your Chaos power to go and communicate with it. Hey... have you forgotten something?"
"?"
Wende looked at Dragon's words, completely confused. Forgotten what? He could understand using Chaos power to communicate with the Astral Express, but what was this about forgetting something?
"You'll know once you communicate with it."
If Dragon had a physical form right now, it would have rolled its eyes at Wende. Can't you just do more and ask less?
Seeing that Dragon wouldn't tell him anything unless he did as it said, Wende had no choice but to place the toolbox on the ground. He slowly closed his eyes, channeling the Chaos power from the cosmos and gradually infusing it into the dilapidated train...
"..."
Suddenly, Wende felt a flash of white light burst before him. Then, a projection recorded by the train materialized in front of him.
According to the projection's records, this train had been active in the universe for three Amber Eras. Later, due to the unknown disappearance of [Trailblaze], the Path became unstable, causing the train to encounter an extremely rare interstellar storm during its journey. Ravaged by the storm, the train was completely wrecked and became space junk. Eventually, it was found by an IPC cargo ship. A P43-level employee on that ship recognized the train's identity at a glance and had a shuttle tow it back.
However, with the Corporation's capabilities, they were unable to repair this "Aeon's creation." Furthermore, those within the Corporation who had once walked the Path of [Trailblaze] had long since changed their faith. Thus, this old, broken Astral Express had been left to gather dust in an IPC warehouse.
"This is..." Wende looked at the train before him, and then, as if seeing something extraordinary, his eyes widened in surprise.
Although Akivili of the [Trailblaze] had disappeared, His Path still remained. And when Wende first stepped onto the Astral Express, he was naturally blessed by [Trailblaze]...
Besides [Trailblaze], there was also the [Abundance] and [Destruction] he had chosen himself, and now [Order] had to be added to the list.
The problem was clear. Wende himself walked multiple Paths, and was even the [Aeon] of one, yet he was completely unrestrained by any of them. Perhaps this was his most special quality...
If that was the case, he could directly "transform" his Chaos power through the Path, sending a massive amount of [Trailblaze] power into the Astral Express Line Two before him. This was certainly one way to repair the train, and it was "one" of the reasons Dragon had told him to communicate with it.
Having found a solution, Wende instantly understood what he had to do next.
And so, he began to draw a portion of his Chaos power into his body, transforming it into the Path of [Trailblaze]. Then, he slowly infused the power of this Path into the Astral Express.
Under Wende's exertion, the old, damaged train actually began to emit faint specks of blue light...
---o---
Aboard the other Astral Express, the crew was still confirming their next route when March, who was admiring the beautiful scenery outside the window and trying to take a few pictures, suddenly noticed an astonishing scene!
"Everyone, look! Outside the train... it's glowing blue!"
March covered her mouth in disbelief, shouting in alarm to the others in the carriage.
Could it be haunted?! This kind of blue light... only ghosts had that!
"What's happening? This is... wait, March, on you!"
Himeko was about to turn to see what was happening outside the window when she caught sight of March standing by the viewport, also glowing with a blue light!
"This is..."
As if by some chain reaction, everyone in the carriage began to emit the same blue light. At the same time, with the appearance of the light, Himeko felt her body become much lighter, and her mind grew clearer.
Before anyone could voice a question, the carriage door suddenly burst open. A "Pom-Pom," glowing entirely blue, rushed into the observation car. Then, it began rolling on the floor with a complete lack of decorum, letting out a loud wail!
"Pom-pom-pom-pom! It's haunted, pom!!! Help me, pom!!! Why is Pom-Pom glowing with [ghost fire]?! So scary! Somebody save Pom-Pom!"
"What in the world is going on?"
Stelle looked at the blue light radiating from her own body, utterly confused. Why did this light... feel so warm?
---o---
"Hey, you're on fire, you know?"
Glowing blue from head to toe, Silver Wolf kicked her feet up and complained to Kafka, who looked completely unconcerned. Everyone was glowing blue, so why was she the only one acting so calm? You read the script and didn't tell anyone, just so you could act all mysterious, didn't you?
"Hehe, of course I know. Let this flame that symbolizes [Trailblaze] burn even brighter. Let it proclaim to all who walk the Path of [Trailblaze] throughout the cosmos... Akivili's... successor."
Leaning gently against the window, Kafka looked in the direction the window faced, slowly closing her eyes as a satisfied smile graced her lips.
"Tch... not telling me again... I wonder how Blade and Sam will react when they find themselves starting to glow."
At that very moment, all across the universe, every single person who walked the Path of [Trailblaze] began to shine with a faint blue light symbolizing the Trailblaze...
It was an announcement to the entire cosmos: [Trailblaze] had returned. Though not the one from before, someone had taken up this heavy burden once more!
"Akivili, Akivili, your forward steps have not yet ended; Akivili, Akivili, you shall become the train that gallops across the sea of stars, continuing to sail onward, toward the lands unseen, so that the embers of civilization may endure..."
Within the sea of stars, a ballad echoed through the silent universe. Outside miHoYo Planet, a noble figure gazed wordlessly at Wende for a moment, then vanished into the vast starscape.
At this moment, Wende found himself in another dimension. Here, countless star-rails intersected, and innumerable trains flashed past... The universe was infinitely vast, but the steps of the Trailblaze had never ceased. From the past to the present, and into the distant yet tangible future, connecting all worlds, continuously exploring the unknown...
Before me lies a dense fog, yet behind me is still a clear path. This is what is called... [Trailblaze].
[Ding, Aeon's Path Collected: Trailblaze]
The system, which had not appeared before Wende in a long time, made an extremely rare appearance and issued a thought-provoking notification.
Crack... crackle...
Before Wende could react, the grand star-chart mirror before him suddenly shattered into pieces. Behind the fragments, a sparse network of star-rails "laboriously" connected a few star systems, with a single train traveling solitarily upon them.
"Go. Reconnect the world, and continue on your path..."
An ethereal yet familiar voice rang in Wende's mind. Its identity was self-evident, and the star-chart before him... was Wende's unfinished "journey."
"..."
Gazing at the vast sea of stars, Wende could find no words to describe his feelings. There was only silence.
"What's wrong? Shouldn't you be celebrating becoming the [Trailblaze Aeon]? Why so silent?"
Dragon's light screen appeared at the perfect moment, its text taunting him.
"This was also part of your plan? Having me convert Chaos power into [Trailblaze]... and ultimately making me ascend to godhood?"
Wende laughed with a hint of self-mockery. He now truly understood just how special he was...
To not be bound by the Paths meant infinite possibilities. It even meant taking over a Path where the [God] no longer existed... Or perhaps, with this characteristic, he could take over all the Paths...
"Akivili would be very happy. Thank you."
"Heh... you'd better be genuinely thanking me, and not just using me."
Wende sneered. He felt not a shred of joy right now, only suffocation.
"Rest assured. As I said, we stand together, in the same boat, to ultimately free the entire universe from its predetermined fate. And this... is merely one step you must face."
"You can shut up now. I need to think."
"..."
Wende looked at the Astral Express, now fully restored to its former glory. His eyes lowered, and he turned and walked away.