The Astral Express slowly docked at Herta Space Station.
However, this time, there was no familiar welcome announcement, nor was there Asta waiting to greet them.
Instead, flashing red emergency lights illuminated every corridor of the station, while piercing alarm sirens echoed through the communication channels.
Inside the Observation Car, the atmosphere was unusually tense.
“Everyone.”
Himeko turned toward the crew, her expression serious.
“I’ve just received an emergency distress signal from Asta. Herta Space Station is under attack by the Antimatter Legion, and the situation appears to be critical.”
“The Antimatter Legion…”
Welt adjusted his glasses, his calm eyes becoming noticeably sharper.
“They’re certainly troublesome opponents. The Astral Express has always maintained a close relationship with Herta Space Station, so helping them is only natural.”
After a brief pause, he looked toward Himeko.
“That said, the final decision is yours, Himeko. You’re the navigator of the Astral Express.”
Himeko nodded.
“Then it’s settled.”
“March, Dan Heng, you’ll come with me. We’ll enter the space station and provide immediate support.”
“The Antimatter Legion? Leave them to me!”
March 7th clenched her fist enthusiastically.
“I’ll show them what I’m made of!”
“March.”
Dan Heng calmly interrupted her.
“Our enemy is the Antimatter Legion. We shouldn’t underestimate them. Stay alert.”
“As for Mr. Yang, and…”
Himeko’s gaze shifted toward the entrance of the Observation Car.
“Sorry… Am I late?”
A gentle voice interrupted the conversation.
Selene slowly wheeled herself into the room.
“Ah! Selene-nee!”
March 7th slapped her forehead.
“Oh no! I completely forgot!”
She hurried over and naturally took hold of Selene’s wheelchair before pushing her beside everyone else.
“We’re assigning everyone their roles,” Himeko explained with a gentle smile before continuing seriously.
“Selene, you and Mr. Yang will remain aboard the Astral Express. Guard the train, provide support if necessary, and maintain communication with us.”
“I understand.”
Selene simply nodded without objection.
“Before you leave…”
“Please accept this.”
She slowly raised her pale, slender right hand.
A soft silver glow blossomed from her palm.
The moonlight spread outward before condensing into the phantom image of a brilliant full moon suspended above everyone’s heads.
Gentle moonlight bathed Himeko, March 7th, and Dan Heng.
The light flowed into their bodies.
There was no overwhelming burst of power.
Instead…
A strange sense of harmony filled them.
Their minds became clearer.
Their fatigue disappeared.
Their senses sharpened.
Even the energy flowing through their bodies felt smoother and more stable.
“Whoa!”
March 7th stared at her own hands in amazement.
“This feels incredible!”
“I feel like I could fight ten of them now!”
Selene smiled helplessly.
“It isn’t quite that powerful.”
She lowered her hand.
The phantom moon quietly faded away.
“Don’t worry, Selene-nee!”
March 7th waved energetically.
“Mr. Yang, we’re heading out!”
The three quickly left the Astral Express.
Selene quietly watched March 7th’s cheerful figure disappear through the train door.
Only after the door slowly closed did she withdraw her gaze.
“What an energetic girl…”
she murmured softly.
“Indeed.”
Welt walked toward the observation window, looking at the space station engulfed by flashing emergency lights.
“I just hope everything goes smoothly.”
…
Real World
“Ahhh…”
“I slept so well…”
Around nine in the morning, warm sunlight streamed through the curtains.
Black Cat stretched lazily before reaching for the phone charging beside her bed.
The moment she unlocked it…
Notifications flooded the screen.
Unread messages.
Mentions.
Private messages.
Especially the bright red notification count in her fan group.
“Huh?”
She blinked sleepily.
“Why is everyone so active this early…?”
“And why are so many people tagging me?”
She rubbed her eyes and opened the group chat.
The latest messages immediately caught her attention.
“@BlackCat WAKE UP!! Honkai: Star Rail opened early!!”
“This sleepy cat is definitely still in bed.”
“She already missed the race for the best UID!”
“Wake up, streamer!!”
“…Opened early?”
Black Cat’s eyes instantly widened.
She glanced at the time.
9:27 AM.
“Wait… wasn’t launch supposed to be at ten?!”
“Pom-Pom’s countdown still said there was time!”
She couldn’t help shouting.
“Scam!”
“They launched a surprise attack!”
Still muttering to herself, she rushed into her study wearing nothing but slippers.
She powered on her PC.
Opened her streaming software.
Logged in.
Started the game.
The entire process was nearly twice as fast as usual.
As soon as the stream went live, viewers flooded in.
“Our sleepy streamer finally woke up?”
“It’s already 9:30.”
“We’ve already cleared Herta Space Station.”
“You’re so behind.”
“Hahaha, she actually believed Pom-Pom’s fake countdown.”
Looking at the teasing comments, Black Cat complained into the microphone while waiting for the game to load.
“How is this my fault?”
“It was Pom-Pom who lied!”
“The countdown clearly said ten o’clock!”
“He betrayed every single player waiting for launch!”
The loading screen faded.
A futuristic space station appeared.
The opening cutscene began.
A graceful woman with long purple hair stood with her back to the camera.
She slowly turned.
Her elegant movements resembled someone playing an invisible violin.
“Mommy!”
“The invisible violin is back!”
“Peak elegance!”
The chat instantly exploded.
Black Cat laughed.
“Already starting with memes, huh?”
The story unfolded almost exactly like the leaked beta.
Eventually, Kafka prepared to place the Stellaron inside the protagonist.
Just as she reached for it—
“Actually…”
“There was never any need to make things this complicated.”
A calm female voice suddenly interrupted the scene.
The camera shifted.
Space rippled like the surface of water.
A blurry silhouette gradually came into focus, as though she had always been standing there and had only now become visible.
It was a girl.
She had long purple hair with bangs covering her right eye.
She wore a simple white crop top paired with black shorts, exposing her long, slender legs.
Most striking of all were the intricate mechanical joints visible on her neck, arms, and abdomen.
Under the space station’s cold white lights, they shimmered with an unmistakably artificial beauty.
She looked less like a human…
…and more like a masterpiece—a living doll.
Her gaze calmly swept across the room before settling on Kafka and Silver Wolf.
Without the slightest change in expression, she spoke matter-of-factly.
“Why not just ask Herta?”