“My mom abandoned me.”
Silence.
Stelle’s declaration left all three people staring at her without knowing how to respond.
March 7th, and Dan Heng exchanged complicated looks.
After several moments, March stepped forward to comfort her.
“Do not be sad.”
“Maybe your mom had a reason for leaving.”
“She might only be gone temporarily.”
“I am sure she will come back for you someday.”
Stelle nodded with absolute conviction.
“My mom will definitely return.”
March smiled when she saw that Stelle appeared to have recovered.
“Do you remember your name?”
“My name.”
Stelle tilted her head and searched through her incomplete memories.
Then her eyes brightened.
“I remember.”
“My name is Stellaron McCoreface.”
March’s smile froze.
“Stellaron McCoreface.”
Dan Heng remained silent.
There were some situations that even the Data Bank could not prepare him for.
“That is correct.”
Stelle placed both hands on her hips and proudly raised her chin.
She behaved as though Stellaron McCoreface were the most distinguished name in the universe.
“You may also call me by my other name.”
“Stelle.”
March answered immediately.
“We will call you Stelle.”
Stellaron McCoreface was simply too much for an ordinary conversation.
“All right.”
Stelle accepted the decision without complaint.
March turned toward Kai.
“What about you?”
Kai lowered her eyes and answered in a timid voice.
“My name is Sparkle.”
March noticed how nervous she appeared and cheerfully took her hand.
“Nice to meet you, Sparkle.”
“I am March 7th.”
“This is Dan Heng.”
“We are passengers aboard the Astral Express.”
Dan Heng studied Kai for a long moment before speaking.
“The Antimatter Legion has invaded this station.”
“Lead Researcher Asta requested our assistance.”
“This area is dangerous.”
“You should both come with us to the Master Control Zone.”
“The Legion has not reached that section, so it should still be secure.”
March looked between Stelle and Kai.
“You should probably find something to protect yourselves with.”
“That makes sense.”
Stelle nodded with exaggerated seriousness.
She immediately began searching the chamber.
A metallic baseball bat lying near a damaged Curio containment cabinet captured her attention.
Broken glass surrounded it.
The bat had apparently been stored inside the cabinet before the Legion’s attack shattered the containment unit.
Something resembling destiny drew Stelle toward it.
She approached without hesitation and lifted the bat.
Her eyes began shining.
The textured grip.
The flawless metallic surface.
Most importantly, it was perfectly straight.
This was not merely a baseball bat.
This was the baseball bat.
Stelle planted one foot on a nearby step and dramatically brushed her bangs aside.
She released a confident hum before raising the bat above her head.
“I have made my decision.”
“From this moment forward, I, Stellaron McCoreface, shall become the Galactic Baseballer.”
Dan Heng remained silent.
Silence continued to be the safest response.
March stared at Stelle with a weary expression.
Now she understood why this woman possessed such an absurd name.
Kai nearly collapsed from the effort of holding back her laughter.
For the record, this was not entirely her fault.
Kai admitted that she had planted the name Stellaron McCoreface inside Stelle’s memories.
That was all she had done.
She had not expected Stelle to possess this much natural talent for chaos.
Kai pressed her lips together and desperately fought against the smile threatening to spread across her face.
She attempted to replace it with an awkward expression.
Stelle remained absorbed in her heroic pose.
She continued holding the bat above her head without showing any intention of stopping.
March finally lost patience.
“All right, Galactic Baseballer.”
“You have posed long enough.”
“Come over here.”
Stelle gave them a mysterious smile.
She lowered her bat and confidently returned to the group.
Dan Heng glanced at her before addressing March.
“Arlan from the Security Department disappeared somewhere nearby.”
“I need to find him and bring him back.”
“It would be dangerous for you to escort both Stelle and Sparkle by yourself.”
“You should take Stelle to the Master Control Zone.”
“I will bring Sparkle with me while I search for Arlan.”
March placed both hands on her hips.
“I can handle that.”
Stelle copied her posture.
“So can I.”
…
Everyone turned toward Kai.
March assumed that the timid woman might feel nervous about being separated from her.
She offered Kai an encouraging smile.
“Do not worry.”
“Dan Heng is one of the Astral Express’s most dependable fighters.”
“He will keep you safe.”
Kai nodded and moved closer to Dan Heng.
She spoke softly.
“I will be counting on you, Dan Heng.”
Dan Heng nodded.
“You will be safe with me.”
“We do not have much time.”
“We should leave immediately.”
March raised one hand.
“Let us go.”
March departed with Stelle.
Dan Heng led Kai deeper into the station.
They encountered several groups of Voidrangers along the way.
Dan Heng defeated every one of them without allowing the creatures to reach Kai.
Throughout the journey, he occasionally glanced back at her.
He found nothing obviously suspicious.
Kai’s appearance, expressions, movements, and reactions all belonged to someone timid and vulnerable.
Perhaps his intuition had been wrong.
Dan Heng frowned slightly.
From the moment he first saw the woman calling herself Sparkle, he had sensed that something was unusual.
That was why he had continued observing her.
He had also deliberately separated her from March.
If Sparkle possessed hostile intentions, keeping her close would prevent her from harming March.
During their journey, however, Kai had caused no trouble.
She followed instructions and remained close to him.
Although fear sometimes delayed her reactions, she endured the Legion attacks remarkably well.
Dan Heng began questioning his original judgment.
Perhaps she truly was an ordinary station resident caught in an extraordinary disaster.
Kai watched his back.
The corner of her mouth rose by the smallest possible amount.
Not bad, Dan Heng.
He had already sensed that something was wrong.
He had deliberately brought her with him because he wanted to protect March.
What a dependable companion.
Unfortunately, he had failed to consider his own safety.
Separating Kai from March was exactly what Kai wanted.
He had placed himself alone with an Emanator of Elation.
He would realize his mistake soon enough.
Hehe.
A sudden chill traveled down Dan Heng’s back.
His instincts screamed a warning.
She really was dangerous.
Dan Heng spun around.
His eyes widened.
Kai had disappeared.
A tall man now stood where she had been.
He held a long sword in one hand.
His dark blue hair faded into deep crimson and fell across one side of his face.
Only one scarlet eye remained visible beneath his bangs.
Murderous intent burned within it.
The man raised his sword.
“Of five people, three must pay the price.”
“Dan Heng.”
“You are one of them.”
Dan Heng froze.
◉◉◉◉◉
Save to library!