[Stelle]: "Don't tell me this short few-minute video is all we're getting for our world's broadcast this time?"
[Hook]: "Exactly, exactly! It's so unfair for the great Pitch-Dark Hook the Great to only get this much!"
[Of course not. I'm just struggling with what to show you. The viewing space works like this - you all just need to casually watch and joke around, but I have to consider many more things.]
[Stelle]: "Hurry up and serve it already! I can't wait any longer."
[As you wish. Without a moment to mourn the end of the Second Collapse, here comes our Penacony!]
[Sunday]: "Is this about our affairs here?"
[Hehe, weren't you all very curious about what happened in the 'Great Love Wolf Sovereign' video? Now I'm showing you!]
[Sunday]: "..."
[Robin]: "Brother, what exactly are you and the Dream Master hiding?"
[Sparkle]: "Hehehe, I love watching sibling rivalry dramas~"
[Sparkle]: "It's just too bad... sob sob, my good friend Vita doesn't know me yet, so I can't enjoy this with her~"
[Vita]: "You know the future me? While you can't communicate with the future Vita now, I can totally substitute for her and be your good friend to enjoy the pleasures together~"
[Before entering Penacony, Conductor Pom specially held a train meeting to remind everyone of precautions in Penacony. And hoped that while vacationing, the Nameless could inquire about the previous generation of Nameless.
Following in predecessors' footsteps is an adventure in itself, which Himeko naturally agreed to. With some time left before the train's departure, after some conversation, Dan Heng was left behind to guard the train this time.
After sitting on the lobby sofa, Pom's announcement came as promised: "Testing—testing—attention all passengers—"
"Train-level spatial jump—the train is about to jump—please remain seated and hold on tight—!"
Stelle closed her eyes on the sofa, unfamiliar scenes flashing through her mind. When Stelle opened her eyes again, she was confused to find herself in an unfamiliar room. Stelle warily observed this strange room when suddenly a voice sounded behind her. "Another one..."
"...Come with me."
A purple-haired woman said this.]
[March 7th]: "I thought we were going to Penacony for vacation? Why are we running into trouble right away?"
[Dan Heng]: "We're used to it. Doesn't this happen often?"
[Acheron]: "The future me..."
[Stelle]: "Sob sob, Teacher Dan Heng is guarding the train for us again..."
[Dan Heng]: "Haven't I already come to the Luofu?"
[Jing Yuan]: "Thank you Dan Heng for coming to assist. After the Luofu incident concludes, you'll be richly rewarded!"
[Dan Heng]: "..."
Dan Heng sighed helplessly. Jing Yuan knew exactly how he came to the Luofu. Although due to the chat group, the Stellaron crisis was quickly resolved. But then the Vidyadhara, Alchemy Commission, and Denizens of Abundance all emerged since they couldn't hide anymore, knowing they might be exposed by the screen at any time. Might as well go all out - they all surfaced together, along with that civilization-destroying Phantylia. That life-preserving bastard directly fled from the Luofu but left plenty of backup plans. The visiting train crew naturally became a wildcard force, deployed wherever trouble arose. Stelle and March 7th were having a blast though. After seeing herself learning swordsmanship in Scott's video,
March here also followed Yanqing's sword training, thinking if she learned early she'd definitely surpass her video counterpart! Of course, due to differing sword styles, Yunli also gave some pointers in the group. Both made good points, leaving March unsure who to listen to. Someone suggested the two swordmasters who'd never met should duel offline - no conclusions would come from group chatting.
[Facing this unfamiliar woman, Stelle remained wary. Acheron told her this was the boundary between reality and memory - a kind of... [dream]. "Soon you'll awaken from this dream, forgetting everything that happened here, leaving only faint melancholy."
Acheron turned away, gesturing for Stelle to follow. Along the way, she introduced herself as a Galaxy Ranger who could be addressed casually. Soon they reached another door. Before opening it, Acheron said: "Open this door...see this magnificent dream while you still remember."
Upon opening it, what appeared before them was an incredibly gorgeous hall!! (Th-this is...oh my god...)
Stelle was utterly dumbstruck - where would a newborn Stellaron spawn have seen such opulent splendor?]
[Stelle]: "Oh my god! So beautiful! So spectacular!"
[March 7th]: "Yeah, it's really breathtaking."
[Qingque]: "If it weren't like this, why would Penacony be renowned across the universe as the Festival Stelle?"
[Qingque]: "When I get vacation time, I'm definitely going there to enjoy this wonderful holiday!"
[Eden]: "A very tasteful design style. Though such designs likely only exist in dreams."
[Boothill]: "What in tarnation! So you're the little varmint impersonatin' us Galaxy Rangers! When I see ya, I'll love ya to death with my six-shooter!"
[Acheron]: "Apologies. I only wanted to draw out real Galaxy Rangers to return a ranger's belongings."
[Boothill]: "Dagnabbit! I don't give a hoot if you're lyin' or not. When we get to Penacony, I'll know for sure."
[Acheron]: "Very well..."
["This way...you first."
Acheron stepped aside by the wall for Stelle to go ahead. "You want me to walk on walls? It actually works!"
After traversing two walls they neared the dream's exit.
The hall contained remnants of many figures' afterimages. Passing through brought them to another corridor and identical door. Acheron told
Stelle: "Leave this place. Awaken as usual, forget this chance encounter, return whence you came."
"But before parting...I have a request."
She grew serious, looking at
Stelle: "It may sound strange or even rude...but I must know..."
"Have we met before?"
"You remind me of someone. In hazy memories, she stood beside me...just like this surreal dream - so near yet so far."
Acheron stepped closer. "May I ask more questions? I...often forget things. So rather than memories, I rely on [feelings]. The answers matter less than your immediate reactions."
"For instance - those names you murmured upon waking in your room. Are they companions? Family? Foes? You seem deeply connected to many people and things..."
"Do you fear losing those connections?"
After consideration Steele replied: "If it means their departure...I would."
Nodding, Acheron continued: "Hmm...what if there was a grand dream so lifelike it mirrored reality? No partings there - everyone finds deserved happiness and lives joyfully forever."
"Would you dwell there?"
Stelle shook her head: "I'd never live in dreams."
"And if...this dream was doomed to shatter - everything would leave: friends, family, strangers; then gentle winds, flying birds, stars...finally yourself."
"Every person they remembered - smiles and tears, kept and broken promises...all marching toward inevitable ends. If from the start you knew this journey's destination..."
"Would you still embark?"
Firmly Stelle answered: "I'd blaze that trail without hesitation."]
[Stelle]: "Such cryptic dialogue! Acheron - what does this mean??"
[Acheron]: "Apologies...I don't know either. I haven't reached Penacony yet."
[Stelle]: "The Trailblaze never retreats! Whatever obstacles come will be smashed by my bat!"
[March 7th]: "Me too! What storms haven't we weathered on our Trailblazing journey!"
[Kevin]: "Dreams...if it were about Project STIGMA..."
[Honkai Star Rail·Welt]: "Kevin..."
[Kevin]: "No need. In your worldline, you've provided better answers. That pleases me."
"But my world's civilization hasn't answered yet."
[Honkai Star Rail·Void Archives]: "Remembrancers...Fools...IPC...Trailblazers...Stellaron Hunters - such a gathering at this Festival Star promises quite the spectacle."
[Kiana]: "Such a beautiful city! Mei - I wanna go!!!"
[Bronya Zaychik]: "We can't go even if we wanted to, dummy Kiana."
[Seele Vollerei]: "Big sister Bronya - I've seen similar world bubbles in the Sea of Quanta. (Headcanon - world bubbles contain anything imaginable.)"
[Honkai Star Rail·Welt]: "Even world bubbles would be hard to reach."