As the release date drew closer.
Inside MiHoYo.
Everyone was giving it their all to produce the massive Amphoreus content.
And the fans' anticipation kept rising.
Rupert's story, even when placed within a Myriad Celestia Trailer, was a figure of considerable weight.
This only further stirred the fans' curiosity about Amphoreus.
However, beyond the vast number of fans, some hired media outlets also appeared during the pre-broadcast buildup of Amphoreus.
As if by prior agreement, they began to "pick bones out of an egg."
This installment of Myriad Celestia Trailer was flawless in both visual effects and depth.
Yet this group still managed to find unusually "unique" angles of criticism.
[Distorted Post: The pre-release warm-up short before Amphoreus in Honkai: Star Rail feels more like a dazzling but seriously off-topic answer sheet. Before Amphoreus, which is created upon Greek cultural foundations, Rupert's story is shocking and tragic, but a robot clearly has no connection to Amphoreus.]
[The Upshoot Barber: There is no denying that Rupert's story is a refined sci-fi elegy. However, when we turn our gaze toward Amphoreus, we cannot help but ask, how does such a warm-up meaningfully relate to the core of Greek culture, the classical tragedy of humanity struggling against fate? Can it be said that MiHoYo, a company born from fantasy and science fiction, has not fully digested Greek culture?]
[The Guardians of Culture: Amphoreus is destined to fail. Apart from the OP: Nameless Faces, MiHoYo has yet to release any detailed information about Amphoreus, this alone is ironclad proof.]
The core argument of these reports was strikingly consistent.
They affirmed Rupert's quality as science-fiction fantasy, yet questioned its rationality and relevance as the opening prelude to Amphoreus.
Such tactics were nothing more than an attempt to plant a seed of doubt in the audience's mind, whether MiHoYo's creative direction had gone astray.
Once the seed was planted, if Amphoreus' opening failed to fully satisfy the audience, it would likely face large-scale negative commentary.
The first thing to be targeted would be its presentation.
However. None of this affected Xia Wen, nor the people of Okhema Theater.
At least within MiHoYo itself, under Xia Wen's influence, everyone dismissed these negatives with contempt.
Soon. Days passed one by one.
Amid the anticipation of countless fans, Saturday arrived.
The highly anticipated Amphoreus, finally unveiling its signboard.
On MiHoYo's official website, across streaming platforms worldwide.
Everyone waited to savor this long-silent new region.
After all, since the completion of the main storyline and extended content, MiHoYo had adjusted the broadcast schedule on its website.
There was no longer the joy of watching one episode per week and riding that high for seven days.
At this moment, several weeks had already passed since the last main episode.
Masses of fans flooded into every platform.
Even before the broadcast began, backend data had already exploded. New fans and old fans gathered together.
....
: It's finally here! I can't wait!
: I've been teased by these amazing PVs every day, I feel like I'm about to turn into a snapping fish!
: I joined because of Rupert! Finished all Star Rail episodes in a week! I regret so damn much not getting into it earlier!
: You newcomers have it good, jumping in and getting to binge right away. Unlike us, who waited until the end of time.
: So excited! Amphoreus!
: It's coming, it's coming! Almost time!
....
Amid the comments, on screen the long-missed MiHoYo Logo appeared.
That familiar feeling instantly returned.
The barrage went completely wild.
"IT'S BACK" was spammed across the screen endlessly.
After the logo ended.
Displayed before the audience, was the luxurious passenger car of the Express.
Stelle was walking around inside the carriage.
After having already decided on traveling to Amphoreus, all that remained now was to wait for the Conductor to initiate the jump.
After all, this was Stelle's first exploration of a world beyond the star chart.
As a Nameless, she was extremely excited.
One moment she went to bother Himeko, the next she hugged March and stuck close to her.
She even pestered Sunday and Black Swan, asking nonstop questions.
"Are you sure that when we get to Amphoreus you won't suddenly shout 'Dominicus' and turn Amphoreus into a Land of Order?"
"...I don't have that kind of power."
"Really? I don't believe it."
"..."
"Oh, then, I'll treat you to a cup of Himeko's coffee."
"...Thank you, but I don't drink coffee."
It was obvious. Stelle was genuinely excited.
Her mind was extremely active.
As for Sunday, he was practically rendered speechless by her liveliness.
The interaction between the two made the audience burst out laughing.
....
: Seeing Stelle being this jumpy, ah, that familiar flavor!
: The dialogue is still this fun, I'm dying laughing!
: Stelle looks super excited about this Trailblaze journey.
: After all, a true Nameless is meant to explore the unknown!
....
A familiar feeling, a familiar taste.
After Stelle finished causing a bit of chaos, she finally quieted down and sat beside March.
Because Pom-Pom had already made an announcement.
The jump was about to begin.
When everyone was ready. The scene shifted to the outside.
The long train began to shake, then suddenly, it leapt beyond the original distance.
This time, the jump was unexpectedly smooth.
There was no dream-within-a-dream like Penacony, nor did they encounter any mysterious woman wielding a blade.
It went so smoothly that the audience could hardly believe it.
Had MiHoYo really changed its ways? Was what they said before, that this would be a different kind of romantic story, actually true?
Under the audience's expectant gazes, Stelle stood up from her seat and walked to the window, still a little dazed.
First, she couldn't believe the jump had gone so smoothly.
Second was because of the scenery outside.
That sky full of stars looked no different from ordinary space.
Where was Amphoreus?
Just as Stelle stared blankly at the starry sky outside, Black Swan appeared behind her at some point.
"There's nothing there...."
"Confusing, isn't it?" Black Swan pursed her lips and glanced at Stelle, then smiled confidently and stepped forward.
She brushed her hand across the window.
The sea of starlight seemed as if a curtain had been lifted.
Ripples spread outward, revealing Amphoreus.
As that world resembling an infinity symbol revealed itself, a chorus of human voices rose in the background.
Stelle's eyes widened in shock, letting out a gasp of awe.
And the audience, equally astonished, began flooding the screen with "So I made my move".
Amid a screen filled with "So I made my move", brilliant seven-colored light burst forth.
At last, everyone saw Amphoreus in its entirety.
A symbol of infinity, yet the two halves on either side were not the same size.
They converged at the center, as if someone had casually drawn a single stroke upon the canvas of the universe.
...
: So it really looks like this!
: So beautiful!
: With the music, it really feels like a thousand years at a single glance!
: It's different from ordinary planets!
: It looks like a Infinity Symbol!
: Yeah! I think so too. Is it hinting at something? A cycle or something like that?
: A new world is opening!
: We finally get to see what Amphoreus really looks like!
...
"See?"
"This is the world that exists in isolation, one that can only be reflected by the Mirror of the Garden of Recollection …"
"Amphoreus, The Eternal Land"
Black Swan also gazed absentmindedly at the planet Amphoreus, then smiled and said, "Your first time seeing it, how does it feel, Miss Stelle?"
Stelle took a deep breath and said seriously, "Oh my god, it's an infinity symbol! And they even made a mistake while writing it."
The corner of Black Swan's mouth twitched.
Obviously, she had asked the wrong person.
The audience burst into laughter.
Black Swan shook her head, then returned to the carriage together with Stelle.
At this moment, everyone had already gathered there. (Information about Amphoreus' three Paths had already been explained before, so the Astral Express crew were aware of this.)
Amphoreus was right in front of them. Yet a very practical problem lay before everyone.
After the warp jump ended, Dan Heng conducted a brief scan.
"Right now, we can't select a landing site."
"What awaits us could be an ocean, an airless vacuum zone, or even volcanic magma." Dan Heng said seriously.
"Return course! Next stop, Planet Lushaka!" Stelle was the first to make a choice.
Then she was stared at by everyone else. She laughed awkwardly, quickly shut her mouth, and stopped fooling around.
On the other side, Himeko shook her head helplessly.
Just as she was about to speak, she felt someone was missing.
After sweeping her eyes over everyone present, she spoke, "Wait a moment, aren't we missing someone?"
"March didn't come, did she?" Stelle also reacted.
"Hm?"
"Before departure, March just said she wanted to tinker with her camera, and after that we never saw her come out." Dan Heng said, puzzled as well.
Everyone exchanged glances, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts.
March 7th had been extremely excited before. There was no way she would suddenly act out of character and not come out even after the warp ended.
Black Swan frowned as well and said softly, "I have a strange premonition."
At this point, the audience outside the screen immediately became alert too.
...
: Did something happen to March?
: I knew it, MiHoYo wouldn't be this kind!
: The warp was too smooth, no problems means the biggest problem!
: Oh no!
: I have a bad feeling… if nothing goes wrong, something's about to go wrong …
: We're done! Don't tell me I jinxed it!
····
Amid the audience's worry, the group quickly rushed to March 7th's room.
They knocked on the door.
What came from inside was only faint, indistinct sounds.
Everyone's hearts clenched. They hurriedly rushed into the room.
Inside, March 7th lay weakly on the bed, her face deathly pale, completely devoid of her usual liveliness.
Seeing everyone's worried expressions, March 7th struggled to sit up and apologized weakly, "Sorry… I don't know why, but after the warp ended, I just couldn't muster any strength."
"This is …" Stelle crouched down anxiously, holding Little March's shoulders as she asked, "Could it be motion sickness?"
March shook her head. "I've done more Trailblazing than you. How could this happen to me?"
Himeko, standing to the side, frowned, already forming a hypothesis.
"Miss Black Swan, could I trouble you to investigate the 'memories' in this room?" Himeko said with a serious expression.
"No problem." Black Swan nodded and stepped forward.
In an instant, she examined March's memories, then spoke, "From her memories, she suddenly became extremely weak, as if something pressed down on her body. The change happened in an instant, so it shouldn't be a disease."
"Hiss …" In that moment, everyone in the room along with the audience outside the screen, realized something was wrong.
The good news: it wasn't a disease.
The bad news: it still wasn't good.
After that a full-scale consultation began.
Fortunately, there were many people on the Express this time, and all of them were experts.
Aside from Black Swan's memory inspection, Sunday also checked using Tuning.
In the end, they reached a conclusion that could barely be called a conclusion.
March 7th was very likely affected by an external environment, perhaps a Path, an Aeon's influence, or even Amphoreus itself.
As for why only March 7th was affected, the reason was still unknown.
But before the cause was clarified, Sunday suggested that it would be best not to let March 7th head to Amphoreus.
...
: Huh?! How could this happen!
: If this journey doesn't have March 7th, it'll lose so much meaning!
: This is the first time exploring a world beyond the star map, if March isn't there, what's the point of this Trailblaze…!
: Waaah, I want to see the three of them explore Amphoreus together!
: What are you doing, MiHoYo?! Why give March this kind of plotline, forcing her out of the main group?!
: I get it, I'm going to flood the director's account on Witter right now!
: We're shaking with anger, when will we March fans finally stand up?!
...
Although some people were joking, most of the audience still felt deeply regretful.
After all, this trip to Amphoreus was of extraordinary significance.
However. Next, March herself started raising flags.
"Alright, alright, you all go ahead first. Once I recover, I'll catch up with you right away."
"Stelle, take this. Bring my camera with you. We agreed to take photos once you land, now I can only leave it to you!"
March 7th smiled weakly as she handed the camera to Stelle.
Seeing this, even the audience who had been joking earlier completely froze.
No! No! Why does this look like she's entrusting her last wishes?!
What about the promised romantic story?!