Seeing Adrian here with Arlan safe and sound, Dan Heng turned and left without a word.
Soon, he returned with two figures—one pink, one gray.
"How are you two together?!" March 7th exclaimed in surprise.
After a brief explanation, Adrian and Arlan joined the trio.
Stelle looked at Adrian, feeling a vague sense of familiarity, but her mind was a chaotic blur, unable to recall anything.
"Alright! The Voidranger-bashing squad is assembled!" March 7th cheered.
"Let's get out of here first…" Dan Heng said.
On the way to the elevator, Stelle saw Dan Heng press a button on his weapon, launching the spearhead straight through a massive centaur Voidranger.
"That thing… can shoot out?" Stelle's eyes widened.
"Adrian modified it," March 7th explained.
The almighty Teacher Dan Heng led the four, cutting through enemies, and safely reached the main control cabin, where Stelle met Himeko and Asta.
"Phew, piece of cake! Come on, Adrian, get this girl a cup of Immortal's Delight Tea. Nothing beats something sweet after all that work!"
Beep beep beep!
The control center suddenly blared a red alert. A Doomsday Beast appeared on the central screen, trying to breach the space station's shield.
"You take the Express and go. I'll stay," Asta decided, turning to Himeko.
Stelle froze for a few seconds, then glanced at the others. She caught Adrian with a sly grin, as if his plan had succeeded.
Could he… be the mastermind behind all this?
Stelle's mind raced with wild theories, and somehow, she instinctively grabbed her baseball bat.
"Vanquish evil, uphold justice!"
As she prepared to act, Himeko stopped her, also signaling March 7th, who looked like she had something to say, and nodded toward Adrian.
"Miss Asta, need any help?"
Himeko led Stelle and the others away, but Adrian stayed behind, in no rush to leave.
"Mr. Adrian, you should board the Express too. We'll…" Asta trailed off, realizing who she was talking to.
If she remembered correctly, this man was on par with Lady Herta.
"You're… an Emanator of [Eternity], right?" she asked hesitantly.
"Not quite an Emanator, just a passing Pathstrider of [Eternity]," Adrian said lazily, itching to meet Nanook and teach HIM a lesson.
"Miss Himeko didn't ask you to leave. She must have a plan."
Watching the Doomsday Beast still attacking the shield on the screen, Asta couldn't shake her worry.
"Miss Asta, after this attack, rebuilding the station will be quite a hassle, won't it?"
"Yes. The Legion's invasion might leave traces of the Fragmentum in some areas. Funding isn't an issue—my family's pocket money covers it."
"I'm not talking about money."
Everyone knew Asta was loaded; she could rebuild several stations without blinking.
"Think about it. This sudden attack caused numerous casualties. Some even lost precious lives, and Arlan was badly injured."
"All of this—doesn't it all trace back to the Antimatter Legion… to [Destruction]?"
Silver Wolf, mid-game, sneezed.
"Hm… you're right," Asta nodded.
"So, the Aeon of [Destruction] is a complete jerk!" Adrian gritted his teeth, making Asta think he and Nanook had some bad blood.
"Do you… have a bad history with the [Destruction] faction?" she asked timidly.
"[Destruction] has nothing good going for it. The Annihilation Gang's the only decent part."
Adrian deliberately opposed Nanook. Since HE valued the Annihilation Gang less than a newborn who breaks a vase on purpose, Adrian would uplift them. The Annihilation Gang truly understood destruction!
Nanook? HE didn't know squat about destruction!
…
Support Cabin
"Going back? Reminder: that's a Doomsday Beast, the Legion's anti-planetary weapon," Dan Heng said, arms crossed.
"The station was built by Herta. Without an Annihilation Lord, it won't fall easily," Himeko replied, unfazed. "Besides, Adrian's there."
"Come on, no matter how strong Adrian is, he can't solo a Doomsday Beast!"
Neither March 7th nor Dan Heng had seen Adrian's true strength, only that he dodged flawlessly, untouchable by Voidrangers.
"A Doomsday Beast can tear through the shield effortlessly. With Herta absent, the station's defenses are too weak against the Legion," Dan Heng analyzed. "The Legion has Nanook's blessing. They came prepared, and with a powerful Pathstrider like Adrian, we should be able to hold the line if we head back."
"That's exactly why we must leave—and take Stelle with us."
Stelle felt three pairs of eyes on her, making her a bit self-conscious.
"So, she's… critical?" Dan Heng understood.
"She's the key to breaking the stalemate. Or I could be wrong."
If Himeko's guess was correct, the Doomsday Beast's target was Stelle. So, she'd lead the team to the platform to see if it followed. If it did, Dan Heng would contact Adrian. If not, they'd rush back to help.
"Got it. What's next?" Dan Heng trusted Himeko.
"This is the maintenance crew's support cabin, leading to the nearest platform. We'll meet Welt there."
"Uncle Yang? He's finally leaving the Express?" March 7th said, delighted. Welt had been cooped up studying a machine model Adrian gave him.
"The Astral Express's log tracks our movements in real-time. With this commotion, Mr. Welt couldn't miss it."
"I'd bet Uncle Yang's already on his way."
"For now, a Doomsday Beast is manageable. But if an Emanator of [Destruction] shows up…"
"We can handle it," Himeko said, revealing Adrian's identity as an Emanator of [Eternity] to the trio.
"Whoa, is our Express crew that strong?!"
The more March 7th thought about it, the more she wanted to see Adrian in action. Maybe he could solo a Doomsday Beast!
"Dan Heng, take out the communicator. If we encounter the Doomsday Beast, message Adrian immediately."
Himeko looked at the bewildered Stelle. "Let's get out of here first. I'll explain everything later."
The four dashed to the platform, with March 7th sprinting ahead.
"Wait, March!" Dan Heng called after her.
Whoosh!
A four-winged shadow swept over the station, roaring deafeningly.
"So loud… Get down here!"
March 7th wasn't fazed, drawing her bow to taunt it!
The Doomsday Beast, still soaring: ?
It seemed to understand her, diving toward the platform, gripping the edge, and unleashing another ear-splitting roar that stirred a gust.
March 7th fired an ice arrow, but it was like scraping paint.
"Prepare to fight!"
The group brandished their weapons. Dan Heng eyed the button on his spear handle—his trump card—but decided against ranged mode. A stray spearhead lost in space would be a pain to retrieve.
"Ugh, I should've asked Adrian to upgrade my weapon!" March 7th regretted. Her bow only dealt negligible damage—rounded up, it was zero.
"Watch out!"
Stelle swung her baseball bat, deflecting an imaginary light orb spat by the Doomsday Beast.
"I'm getting the hang of this!" Stelle gained confidence, flashing a taunting gesture at the beast.
The next second, a breath attack sent her flying.
"No honor!"
Stelle struggled to her feet. A sneak attack? Unacceptable!
Furious, she grabbed her bat and shouted, "March, pave the way!"
March 7th complied, conjuring square ice platforms under Stelle's feet as she leaped.
Stepping on the Six-Phased Ice, Stelle launched into a massive jump toward the Doomsday Beast's face, swinging her arm down with force.
Boom!
A bat-to-the-face critical hit staggered the beast.
It roared in pain, retaliating with its own slap, sending Stelle flying again.
Born less than half an hour ago, Stelle couldn't withstand the blow, grunting as she crashed.
…
By the time Adrian reached the platform, the battle was at a fever pitch.
Through the group's relentless efforts, the Doomsday Beast's health was down to half.
"Hey, are all your Doomsday Beasts this tough?!" March 7th panted on her knees, still tossing taunts.
This thing was unyielding, and it infuriated her!
March 7th's taunt game was top-tier.
After fighting so long, the Doomsday Beast, perhaps exhausted, unleashed its ultimate.
Its dark matter engine powered up, channeling imaginary energy into its head core, firing a purple-gold beam at March 7th.
Seeing this, Stelle, closest to March, instinctively spread her arms, shielding her and taking the hit head-on.
Boom!
The purple-gold beam poured into Stelle's body, and her consciousness shifted to a new realm.
Her body felt lighter than ever, floating upside-down in the cosmos.
[Time to set out.]
A gentle voice roused Stelle. She opened her eyes.
"What is this…?"
Before her was a branching golden river…
No, it was someone's blood.
Under the pitch-black starry sky, Stelle saw golden blood flowing through bronze skin, with two white braids draped over the chest.
[Reach that destination.]
"Who's there?"
[Reach that ending with your own will.]
Countless unfamiliar fragments flashed in Stelle's mind, her Stellaron Core growing restless.
[THEY have already noticed you.]
Stelle looked up, finally seeing the massive figure's face.
White hair, golden eyes, a bronze body flowing with radiant golden blood.
A bizarre scar marked its eight-pack abs.
For some reason, Stelle thought the scar looked like…
A trash can?
In the moment their eyes met, the Stellaron Core couldn't bear it, on the verge of exploding.
Before Stelle could feel the pain, an invisible energy surged into her back, neutralizing the two forces. She regained clarity, startling Nanook in front of her.
Then, Stelle's eyes widened, spotting something terrifying behind Nanook.
"Be-behind…"
Nanook spun around. A muscular trash can, twice THEIR size, loomed behind THEM, glaring menacingly.
"Got you."
The massive trash can grabbed its pointed lid, and with primal force, delivered a double-handed lid-to-ear strike to Nanook!
Caught off guard, Nanook took the full brunt of the bizarre attack.
Boom!
Golden blood sprayed from THEIR mouth, the impact hurling THEM out of the star system, splattering residual blood on the trash can.
Stelle rubbed her eyes as Nanook was flung away.
Was she… in some kind of fantasy movie?
Then, the muscular trash can's gaze shifted to her.
Another locked gaze, and Stelle's eyes rolled back, her consciousness fading again.