Aboard the Astral Express.
March 7th couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
Just moments ago, this so-called "Argenti" of the "Beauty-Splitting Knights" (or whatever that was) had been spouting things like, "Please acknowledge that the Goddess of Beauty, Idrila, surpasses all in grace," "I am not a man of many words," and "I long for you to understand 'Pure Beauty'."
And then—he started a fight!
As soon as the battle began, the difficulty spiked to a level fit for an endgame boss.
With weaknesses to Fire, Ice, and Physical, March 7th's team—centered around Dan Heng as the main DPS—found themselves struggling for a moment.
Fortunately, halfway through the fight, Mr. Yang intervened.
Welt spoke in a deep voice, "Forgive me for interrupting, but I've just discussed with Himeko—under no circumstances should combat break out aboard the Astral Express."
Argenti immediately admitted that he had been overly focused on "exchanging pleasantries" with the Express crew.
"Originally, I was piloting the 'Rarity' through the galaxy... but during my journey, I happened upon a stranded IPC employee, Velite, and rescued him from a massive cavern he'd accidentally fallen into."
"After saving Velite, I intended to escort him safely to his original destination, altering my course. Unexpectedly, this led to a chance encounter with the Astral Express's route."
Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, everyone began discussing how to resolve the current "crisis."
March 7th wandered over to the window again, tilting her head in confusion.
"So, what kind of trouble are we actually in this time?"
"This starscape outside... it doesn't look normal at all."
"Mr. Yang, what do you think?"
The elder gentleman sat on the sofa, pondering for a moment before replying, "It appears to be an environment distorted by magnetic fields...? It seems the Express isn't in normal cosmic space right now. It's hard to say for sure—after all, this is just an in-game anomaly. We lack concrete data."
"Perhaps we should ask Argenti. Getting to know the Knights of Beauty through this quest early isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Pom Pom, unable to sit still any longer, hopped down from his seat and approached the projected screen.
"Pom Pom is more concerned about what's happening to the Express! If this poses a threat, we must take action immediately—before it's too late!"
March 7th nodded in agreement and stepped forward to speak with Argenti.
[So, what should we do now?]
Argenti placed a hand over his chest and declared, "Savor the present moment."
[Huh? And then?]
"Continue... savoring the present moment."
[That's your solution?]
"You misunderstand. I must immerse myself in the cosmic nocturne to detect its dissonant notes. Once I identify them, I shall act to eliminate the disharmony." Argenti stated matter-of-factly.
March 7th: "..."
She didn't get it. But she was somehow moved.
Scratching her head, she couldn't help but mutter, "I feel like... even Sampo is more reliable than this guy!"
"Uh—no, wait. Maybe he's slightly more reliable than Sampo..."
---
Meanwhile, in another corner of the universe...
Velite had no idea he'd already become one of the featured characters in Argenti's companion quest. He had just finished a business trip for the IPC and was piloting his ship back to company headquarters when—
BAM!
A derelict vessel suddenly veered into his flight path, seemingly intent on crashing into him!
Velite panicked and swerved hard to evade—but the junk ship matched his maneuver, staying right on his tail.
CRASH!
The two ships collided.
Velite's vessel was fine—it was a top-of-the-line corporate model, after all. But the other ship, already on its last legs, was now one step closer to total scrap. Smoke billowed from its engines as it wobbled alongside his ship before crash-landing on a nearby desolate planet.
Fuming, Velite stormed out of his cockpit.
"What's wrong with you?! Do you even know how to fly?!"
"I've already alerted IPC security. They'll be here soon to handle this accident!"
Velite was righteously indignant—his ship's black box had clearly recorded the other party's reckless maneuvering. There was no way this could be framed as his fault.
BANG!
The junk ship's hatch was suddenly kicked open.
Velite yelped and scrambled back toward his own vessel.
From the wreckage emerged a cyborg dressed like a cowboy. Brushing sparks off his shoulder, the man smirked and drawled:
"Well, ain't you a precious little thing! If I hadn't rammed into ya, we'd both be bug chow by now!"
Following the cowboy's gaze, Velite's blood ran cold.
Drifting through the void was a gargantuan Voidranger Reaver—a beast so massive it blotted out the stars, its shadow swallowing entire nebulae, asteroids, and space debris in its path.
"By Qliphoth's name! W-What the hell is that thing?!"
"It's—it's the size of a planet!!"
"Our ships wouldn't even count as an appetizer to that monster!"
Velite collapsed to his knees, wiping sweat from his brow as he muttered to the cowboy, "Uh... thanks, I guess."
"Hey... you look kinda familiar—"
His expression suddenly twisted in horror.
"WAHHH—!!"
"You're Boothill—the IPC's S-Class fugitive!!"
Boothill tipped his hat down, eyes narrowing. "Well, darn my luck. Didn't even get to introduce myself before ya recognized me. Is that how ya treat yer savior?"
"W-What do you want?!"
Boothill grinned sharply. "Lately, I've taken a liking to a certain character—Dan Heng. Heard his 'Imbibitor Lunae' form's pretty strong. Just short on funds."
"Oh! You mean 'Imbibitor Lunae' from Honkai: Star Rail? No problem, I'll top up for you right now—"
Boothill's face darkened.
"Who said anythin' about you payin'? We Galaxy Rangers got our own code."
Velite sighed in relief.
This guy might talk weird, but he did save me. And he won't take money—must be a principled outlaw after all.
Then—
CLUNK.
The sound of a hatch sealing shut echoed behind him.
Velite froze.
"You—"
"DAMMIT! MY SHIP!!!"
Boothill's voice carried back: "I've got hands 'n' feet—no need for handouts!"
"No point yappin' with ya."
"Consider this junker 'borrowed.' Later, precious!"
Velite stood alone in the wasteland, staring at the smoldering wreck of the derelict ship.
"AAAAAAAAH—!!"
"HELP!!"
"SOMEBODY SAVE ME!!"
---
On the Knights of Beauty's homeworld...
Argenti put away his phone and began adjusting his attire before a spring, as if preparing for a grand departure.
A Fellow Knight approached. "What's wrong? Not planning to finish the story first?"
Argenti struck a heroic pose. "In the latest quest, an IPC employee was trapped in a massive cavern—a future devotee of the Goddess Idrila!"
"Given the game's connection to reality, this faithful soul may now be in peril..."
"As a Knight of Beauty, I cannot ignore such a plight!"
"I must rescue him!"
The crowd erupted in admiration.
"Such noble selflessness! Argenti, you truly embody our order's ideals!"
"We shall join you!"
"All who acknowledge Idrila's peerless grace deserve salvation!"
---
The Knights of Beauty mobilized in full regalia, their resplendent ships soaring toward Velite's last known coordinates.
They arrived swiftly—just as Boothill was making his escape in the stolen vessel.
The knights surrounded him, and Argenti boarded to negotiate.
Boothill's eye twitched.
"What in the dang heck is this?!"
"I just hijacked a ship, and now I'm gettin' swarmed by a fancy blockade?!"
"Y'all work faster than those darn IPC suckers!"
His hand hovered over his revolver, ready to draw at the first sign of trouble.
But Argenti merely smiled warmly.
"Ah... such elegant diction."
"Allow me to reciprocate, charming sir. Graceful speech is the hallmark of interstellar camaraderie."
Boothill: "?"
Is this guy mocking me?
Wait—
Is he... serious?
Does he actually think I was complimenting him?!
No way.
No. Freaking. Way.
Then he noticed the silver armor.
Oh for—
It's one of them Knights of Beauty fellas!
Argenti bowed slightly. "Might you have seen a stranded IPC employee nearby? We of the Knights of Beauty have come to his aid."
Boothill tugged his hat down.
"Oh, now that ya mention it... think I saw some poor sap stuck on that planet over there."
"My gratitude, honorable friend."
"May you too embrace Idrila's light."
With that, Argenti departed.
Boothill slammed the throttle to maximum, desperate to put distance between himself and this madness.
"Today's been weird."
"Gotta go rob some IPC suckers—then log back into Honkai: Star Rail for some proper fun."
To be continued…
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