The two were chatting idly, while on the other side, the Astral Express Crew was already locked in a heated, bitter struggle against the Doomsday Beast.
The bowstring of March 7th’s longbow vibrated continuously as ice arrows rained down frantically on the Doomsday Beast’s core, sending shards of ice flying everywhere with a series of loud crackles.
Seeing the Doomsday Beast’s health bar bottoming out and on the verge of collapsing, she put her hands on her hips and shouted triumphantly, “Hmph, even without anyone else’s help, we can still take it down!
I’m just too amazing!” But as soon as she finished speaking, the dying Doomsday Beast suddenly experienced a final surge of strength.
Its core burst with a blinding red light, and a world-ending laser beamed straight out!
“March!” “Watch out!!!” Dan Heng and Himeko were too far away to rush over in time, so they could only shout at the top of their lungs to warn her.
Without a single moment of hesitation, Stelle lunged forward to shield March 7th, taking the full force of the laser head-on.
…
In the next second, a blindingly intense light flooded the area, so bright that Kazuki could barely keep his eyes open.
“Hiss—” He gasped, squinting his eyes as he looked over.
Only then did he realize the battle was over; this dazzling light was the energy released by the Stellaron inside Stelle losing control and exploding.
Just then, Student Himeko’s voice rang out in his mind, filled with novelty: “Suian, is that the future appearance of my physics teacher, Mr.
Welt, whom you mentioned before?” Your Uncle Welt was quite the looker in Anti-Entropy back in his youth!
Note: Welt is not nearsighted; his glasses are just plain glass.
The white streak in his hair is dyed, not from aging.
He only does it because he thinks it looks cool!
Kazuki followed her gaze and saw Welt holding the Star of Eden.
Having just leaped off the newly arrived Astral Express, he was sprinting over as if his feet were on fire.
His legs were pumping furiously, and his arms were swinging so fast they almost flew off, completely lacking the calm, elegant aura of a big shot he had in the game’s storyline.
But in the next second, he leaped into the air and tapped Stelle’s head with the Star of Eden.
Even while airborne, he didn’t forget to raise a hand to adjust his glasses.
The sheer showmanship was dialed up to the max.
Stelle was even rolling her eyes (›´ω`‹ ) “Holy crap!
How can he show off so much?” Kazuki rolled his eyes dramatically and clicked his tongue.
“And as for the power of Terminus…
honestly, I’m so jealous.” After complaining, he dusted off his clothes, turned around, and slipped away.
This major drama at the Herta Space Station had finally come to a close.
The unconscious Stelle had already seen fragments of the future in the rift of the Path: Seele and Bronya chatting side-by-side in Belobog’s Underworld, and Cocolia finally merging with the Stellaron.
(There really is) Left: Bronya, Right: Seele Cocolia Who would have thought that as early as the version 1.0 storyline, the foreshadowing of Terminus was already laid down?
I wonder how many players actually noticed it back then.
Almost at the same moment, Welt seemed to sense something.
He suddenly whipped his head around to look at where Kazuki had just been standing, catching a glimpse of that fiery red long hair disappearing around the corner.
Welt’s pupils dilated in shock on the spot: (◎_◎;) His calm, big-shot persona instantly shattered.
He sprinted over, but when he arrived, there was no one in sight—not even a single strand of hair.
When Welt hurried back, Himeko immediately went to meet him, her voice laced with concern: “Welt, what’s wrong?
You look a bit off.
Did something happen?” Welt’s gaze lingered on Himeko’s face for three seconds before he sighed, his tone filled with an indescribable daze: “It’s nothing…
I just thought I saw the shadow of an old friend.
Or perhaps my eyes are playing tricks on me in my old age, and I was mistaken.” Seeing that he didn’t want to elaborate, Himeko didn’t press further.
She turned to look at March 7th, who was standing nearby with an anxious and guilty expression.
Asta, who had just come over to check on the situation, quickly stepped forward to offer gentle reassurance: “Don’t worry, don’t worry.
The exam results just came back.
She only has a few minor scratches from the battle.
It’s just…
uh…
the Stellaron in her body suddenly went wild.
Other than that, she’s perfectly fine.
She’ll recover with some rest.” Dan Heng stood to the side without saying a word.
From his posture, it was clear he intended to stay by Stelle’s side without leaving a single step until she woke up.
Himeko glanced around, suddenly remembering the strange puppet they had run into before fighting the Doomsday Beast.
Crossing her arms, she spoke up: “By the way, Asta, has there been any news from Ms.
Herta?
We ran into a very strange Herta Puppet earlier.” “Ms.
Herta did get in touch, but she didn’t come in person.” Asta nodded at the first part of the sentence.
But when she heard the words “strange puppet,” she blinked, immediately realizing they were asking about Kazuki.
“Huh?
A strange puppet?” She tilted her head in feigned confusion, then smoothly followed up to cover for him.
“Oh, you mean that one.
Ms.
Herta noticed it too.
She said that guy was incredibly bold, actually stealing the beret off one of her puppets before she could transfer her consciousness into it.
She’s currently pulling up the surveillance footage to find him.” The two huddled together to chat in low voices for a bit longer before Asta turned to handle the Herta Space Station’s aftermath.
Himeko looked back at March 7th, whose face was full of exhaustion and lingering guilt.
Softening her voice, she advised, “Little March, go back to the Express and rest for a bit.
You need some sleep.” March 7th shook her head like a rattle, her eyes slightly red.
“No, I want to wait until she wakes up.
It’s my fault she had to take that hit for me.” Seeing how tightly wound she was, Himeko could only find a reasonable excuse: “Be good, go back to the Express and wait there.
As soon as we have news, we’ll message you immediately.
Besides, Mr.
Welt is also preparing to disembark for some business.
We can’t leave the Express completely empty, can we?
Someone needs to watch the house.” March 7th bit her lower lip and struggled with the decision for a long time.
Knowing Himeko had her best interests at heart, she finally relented reluctantly: “Well…
alright then.
But as soon as you have news, you must tell me immediately!
No keeping secrets from me!”