"First, Pom-Pom thanks all Trailblazers for resolving this station's crisis, sealing Jarilo-VI's Stellaron, and allowing the Express to continue its journey!" The fluffy conductor wagged his ears earnestly.
March 7th muttered, "More like dismembering it..." The memory of Anming's sword cleaving through the Stellaron still lingered—terrifying yet awe-inspiring, especially with that heart-pounding soundtrack. We're so cool!
She wanted to ask Anming to teach her swordsmanship. But every time she tried, an inexplicable ache gripped her chest. Did their paths cross in her forgotten past? The harder she tried to remember, the more suffocating the void became—a frigid expanse where only her name, March 7th, echoed hollowly against the Six-Phase Ice.
"March?"
"Huh? I'm fine!"
"Didn't sleep well? Told you not to challenge Stelle to pillow wars." Anming smirked, handing her a cup of steaming tea. "Yùquè specialty—Anming's Signature Sweet Tea. Fu Xuan loves this. Says it replenishes her divination energy."
March sipped cautiously. "So sweet..." The saccharine taste carried bittersweet nostalgia—someone else's memories.
"Player," March snorted, draining the cup. "What if Firefly gets jealous?"
"Never. We've bared our souls to each other."
"Ugh. Tastes decent, though."
Stelle's head popped between them like a meerkat's. "Feasting without me? Betrayal!"
"You kept March up all night brawling with Qingque!"
"I dueled General Qingque until the Path's grand axis shattered! Casualties were inevitable!" Stelle "apologized" while swiping Anming's second tea cup.
As Pom-Pom prepared to announce their next destination, a holographic umbrella materialized in the lounge. Qingque gripped her sword hilt—until Anming subtly shook his head.
"Long time no see, Astral Express." Kafka tilted her parasol, revealing hypnotic violet eyes. Before she could continue—
"MOM!"
Stelle lunged for Kafka's legs… and faceplanted into the floor.
Kafka sighed. "What have they been teaching you…?"
"Mom! Add me as a friend before you do your villain monologue!" Stelle whined, phone in hand.
"Patience, little one." Kafka ruffled her hair before locking eyes with Anming. "I see hints of Luofu among you."
"The Express doesn't take requests from Stellaron Hunters," Himeko interjected coldly.
Kafka ignored her. "Forty-five system hours ago… a Stellaron erupted on the Xianzhou Luofu."
"A Stellaron?!" Qingque paled. After witnessing Jarilo's devastation, this news hit like a meteor.
Only Anming remained unfazed.
"You… aren't surprised," Kafka's voice slithered into his mind alone.
He met her gaze evenly. Silver Wolf's earlier warning echoed: "That guy fights like he's read the game's walkthrough!"
Kafka's lips curled. The chessboard was set.