"The Trailblaze of Jarilo-VI has come to a temporary close."
Himeko took an elegant sip of her coffee and looked at everyone in the carriage.
"The Astral Express should set sail for the next planet as well."
"As expected. After all, for everyone on the Astral Express, the Trailblaze never stops."
[Jing Yuan] sat on the armrest of the sofa, nodding with a smile, holding a bag of snacks that had appeared out of nowhere, eating happily.
March 7th whispered to Dan Heng, "Where did he get those snacks? And why does this scene feel a bit like a leader giving a summary report..."
Dan Heng glanced over and replied, "He 'borrowed' them from Pom-Pom's dining car."
"Awesome! I've wanted to go on a Trailblaze with the Astral Express for a long time! I heard the Express travels through many amazing planets and sees scenery completely different from the Xianzhou!"
[Bai Heng] jumped straight up from her seat, her eyes shining like stars, and the fox Tail behind her wagging joyfully.
March 7th: "Right, right? It's super interesting! We can take photos together next time!"
[Bai Heng]: "Okay, okay!"
[Dan Feng] and Dan Heng looked at each other, both nodding slightly.
[Dan Feng]'s lips curled slightly. "It seems the journey won't lack familiar scents."
Dan Heng calmly looked away. "...No need to remind me."
He felt a subtle sense of awkwardness, like looking in a mirror and finding the person inside suddenly starting a conversation about the weather.
"I hope the next stop has fine wine."
[Yingxing] leaned against the window, sighing as he wiped a tool that had no dust on it with a piece of flannel.
"I haven't had a drink all day. My mouth is so bland I can taste the fire from the forge."
March 7th couldn't help but complain, "Are you really a craftsman? Why does it feel like your alcohol addiction is greater than your desire to create?"
"Then we'll wait until we arrive and all drink together."
[Jingliu]'s cold voice drifted over.
She walked forward with steady steps, followed by two 'wounded' individuals with completely different vibes—
[Mydei] clutched his waist with one hand, walking like an old robot that had just been taken apart and put back together, his joints seemingly making 'creaking' sounds.
[Yanqing] was limping, the once high-spirited youth now looking as wilted as a frost-bitten cabbage, his hair even seeming to have lost its luster.
Stella looked at the two of them, a sense of guilt welling up. After all, it was her suggestion that they spar with [Jingliu].
She asked cautiously, "Um... are you guys okay?"
(Inner thought: Sorry! I underestimated Sister Jingliu's 'teaching enthusiasm'! LV.1 going against LV.20 is like a novice village hero accidentally entering the Demon King's palace!)
[Mydei] lifted his heavy eyelids, his eyes hollow. "Can't die."
His tone was as flat as if he were saying 'it didn't rain today.'
[Yanqing] wanted to cry but had no tears, his voice airy. "Still... alive..."
It was as if half of his soul had already drifted out of his body.
Both roared internally at the same time: She. Is. Really. Beating. People. To. Death! What happened to the promised guided battle?! How is that any different from a one-sided massacre?!
The only difference was that while they were being batted around like balls, they could occasionally hear [Jingliu]'s calm commentary—
"Unstable footing," "Too little strength," "Too many openings"...
After the commentary, she continued the beating.
However, the results were indeed'significant'—Stella's system panel showed that the two brothers' levels had rocketed to LV.11, while [Jing Yuan], as the summoning host, reached LV.23 because he 'witnessed effective training methods.'
[Jing Yuan] grabbed another handful of snacks and smiled. "Hmm, it seems the training was very effective."
Just then!
The light in the carriage rippled subtly without warning, like a pebble dropped into a calm lake.
A slender figure holding a long-handled red umbrella, accompanied by an almost artistic flow of data, gracefully materialized before everyone.
Her appearance didn't trigger the Astral Express alarms, but it made the air freeze instantly.
"Long time no see, everyone of the Astral Express."
Kafka looked up, her purple eyes slowly scanning every face in the carriage before finally settling, her lips curling into that signature, inscrutable smile.
"I am Kafka."
"Stellaron Hunters!"
Himeko's eyes sharpened, and she stepped forward almost instantly, invisibly shielding the young people behind her.
The coffee cup in her hand had been placed steadily on the side table at some point, her movements as fluid as if they had been practiced countless times.
"Entering the Astral Express without permission—what do you want?"
Pom-Pom hid behind Welt in fear from a distance. "Why is there another uninvited guest, pom!"
"Himeko, right? No need to be so tense."
Kafka's smile didn't change at all, her voice carrying a peculiar rhythm that could make one lower their guard.
"I'm only here to make a small suggestion—I hope you will change your choice for the next destination."
Her gaze shifted slightly, like a precise probe, passing over the two almost identical gray-haired girls, Stelle and Stella, before landing unerringly on Stella, her smile deepening.
"...And, to see this person, who is outside the 'Script'."
Almost the instant Kafka's gaze shifted, Stelle silently but firmly moved half a step, completely blocking Stella behind her.
She didn't speak, but her tightly pursed lips and slightly leaning posture said everything.
"Don't worry."
Kafka lightly tapped the tip of her umbrella on the ground, her tone as casual as if she were chatting about the weather.
"I won't do anything. Although Elio has... well, some opinions regarding the existence of a 'Variable'."
She paused, her gaze lingering on Stella for another moment.
"But not many. After all, interesting accidents are also part of the story."
As she spoke, her gaze turned toward [Yingxing] standing by the window.
"Is this... what Blade used to look like?"
A hint of indescribable emotion flashed in her eyes.
[Yingxing] frowned. Facing this woman who exuded an air of danger and mystery, he gripped his tools (though they might be useless) and corrected her bluntly:
"I am not him."
[Jingliu]'s hand silently moved to the hilt of her sword.
[Jing Yuan] stopped eating his snacks, his smile fading slightly.
[Dan Feng] and Dan Heng exchanged a look.