The lingering obsession of wraiths? The disastrous shadow of a bygone era?
Remnants of an ancient beast? The lament of ten thousand skeletons?
As the brilliant golden radiance erupted, all of it melted away into the sacred, golden light.
Like darkness being illuminated by light, the Doomsday Beast was naturally incinerated of all its gloom within the brilliant golden glow, transforming into motes of golden light that scattered in all directions.
They bloomed like one firework after another, a rare spectacle for the Herta Space Station.
Watching this scene, everyone was momentarily stunned.
This included Dan Heng and Himeko, who were rushing to stop Stelle and save March 7th;
A dazed little March, who hadn't yet processed what had just happened;
And even Welt, who was striding over quickly, his cane tapping against the floor, his expression stern...
Everyone stared blankly at the blooming golden splendor, at a loss for what to say.
Among them, it was Stelle who was the most profoundly moved...
She gazed at Ron's gentle face, a faint smile playing on his lips, and at the peculiar lantern hanging from his waist, its light emanating from only a single pane. Vaguely familiar memories began to surface from the depths of her mind, gradually reminding her of everything that had occurred in the Stellaron Containment Unit.
She remembered the woman in a spiderweb-patterned coat who had been so gentle with her;
She remembered the girl who played with an Aether Screen, blowing bubble gum with an air of perpetual boredom...
And she also remembered the man now standing before her, a lantern hanging from his waist...
"This story... has no ending?"
She subconsciously mumbled the words she had heard back then. The sealed memories in her mind gradually began to revive. Although she was powerless to recall anything further back, it was enough to bring her thoughts back to normal.
"That's right. You'd better remember that line..." Ron said, turning his head to look at the murmuring Stelle, only to find her somewhat dazed, as if lost in thought.
Was it a memory of the past? Or was his appearance creating a conflict in her mind?
Regardless, the result was the same—Stelle's eyes rolled back once more, and she collapsed limply to the ground.
Ron scratched his head, a little puzzled—he had specifically chosen this moment to arrive precisely to interrupt the resonance between Stelle and Nanook of [Destruction].
In the original story of Honkai: Star Rail, the plot here should have been Stelle rushing in front of March 7th to block the Doomsday Beast's energy beam. Because the Stellaron would have devoured this power of [Destruction], Stelle would have emerged completely unscathed. She would have even used the opportunity to cast her gaze upon the Path of [Destruction], glimpsing the sovereign at its apex...
But Ron had no desire to see the plot unfold that way—after all, this was the most clearly defined main storyline in the game, and a pivotal starting point.
It was highly possible that this was the beginning of a crucial thread in the fate controlled by Terminus, The End... And at this starting point, having Stelle resonate with Nanook of [Destruction] was a very intriguing matter.
After all... Ron knew very well that Nanook of [Destruction] was practically a white-gloved puppet for [The End], a marionette on its strings. Having Stelle resonate with Nanook at the very beginning—how was that any different from having her resonate with himself?
Ron even suspected that this might be another of Terminus's backup plans—perhaps even one with the highest priority.
After all, Ron's existence might be optional, but Stelle and the main storyline of Honkai: Star Rail would absolutely appear in this sea of stars...
Although Ron didn't know how the future plot would unfold—he was just an unlucky sod who got transmigrated on the day of the game's public launch, with his intel limited to some insider news and datamined information from the next two versions—it didn't stop him from making a guess.
Perhaps, after Stelle resonated with countless Aeons and walked upon different Paths, the Stellaron within her body would finally take root and sprout, pushing her to grow into an "Aeon"?
Of course, it would likely push her directly onto the throne of [The End], replacing the current Terminus...
Therefore, Ron wanted to twist this main storyline to a certain degree—so that even if he ultimately failed, Stelle's existence might still bring a glimmer of hope to this sea of stars.
After all... the first Path Stelle was resonating with now was no longer [Destruction], but [Salvation], which Ron alone commanded and had intentionally shared with her.
Starting with [Salvation], Ron felt that no matter what, it was unlikely for Stelle to turn out like the current Nanook of [Destruction]. Perhaps she could even bring a measure of hope to this sea of stars.
"...But why did she faint again?"
Ron was slightly frustrated. Ever since he transmigrated to this world, he had been fumbling in the dark, never having a completely clear plotline he could manipulate. Now that he had stumbled directly into the main plot of the original game, it was his time to shine...
He had even orchestrated the perfect entrance, preparing to leave Stelle with the impression of a mysterious, powerful, and wise genius. So how did he end up knocking her out the moment he appeared?
...Sigh, forget it.
Ron sighed helplessly in his heart and was about to bend down to pick Stelle up. He couldn't let this "newborn" child, after so many frights, catch a cold from lying on the freezing metal floor. But then, he saw a pair of ice-cold hands reach out from the side, grabbing Stelle by the collar and hoisting her up.
...Looks like Herta was prepared. His own reaction speed actually couldn't match hers.
"I'm gone for just two days, and not only is the space station a complete mess, but you Astral Express folks have gotten sloppy too."
Herta lifted Stelle by the collar and, while she was at it, grabbed the still-dazed March 7th by her collar as well. Dragging the two girls, who looked like sisters from different parents, she walked over and handed them off one by one to Himeko and Dan Heng.
"Here, your friends. One is dumbfounded, the other is unconscious... The station's medical bay is probably working around the clock. They're not in any danger, so don't add to the trouble over there."
---o---
"...Thanks, Herta."
Himeko slightly masked the look of shock on her face, but her gaze couldn't help but drift toward Ron.
To be able to crush an anti-planet weapon of the Antimatter Legion so easily, one would have to be an "Emanator."
After all, although Himeko was confident she could defeat a Doomsday Beast herself, it would require the assistance of the Express crew... The power of a Doomsday Beast was by no means weak; on the Path of [Destruction], it was equivalent to a very advanced Pathstrider.
To make a Doomsday Beast be so effortlessly swallowed by a brilliant golden light and then dissolve into a firework display a moment later—that was something only an Emanator could achieve...
Therefore, she couldn't suppress her curiosity. Her gaze kept drifting toward Ron and Bronya, who were now walking toward them. She asked inquisitively, "I don't suppose you could tell us who they are...?"
"Oh, they're my friends... I know who you're asking about, but Ron is probably not who you think he is."
Herta shrugged.
"You can consider him my partner, my friend, my boss... It doesn't matter even if you think of him as my soulmate."
"We're close. No one cares about trivial details like that."
"...?"
Himeko looked at the completely nonchalant Herta, at a loss for words for a moment.
Can one person have so many identities? ...And aren't some of those identities a bit too strange?
Soulmate, fine, but boss? Who is Herta? Is there anyone who can stand above her?
Nearby, March 7th had slowly recovered from her shock. Always a curious soul, after tossing aside her fear of the Doomsday Beast, all that remained was simple curiosity about Ron...
To be blunt, who wouldn't be curious about a guy who shows up out of nowhere like a god descending from the heavens and reduces a Doomsday Beast to dust?
Besides, March 7th had a naturally lively personality; she was always drawn to anything bustling, special, or fun...
She even regretted it now... regretted not taking out her camera to snap a photo of Ron just now.
That was such a picture-perfect moment... She felt like she had just missed out on a hundred million credits!
But soon, March 7th's attention shifted to Herta's words, and she asked, ever the curious baby:
"Lady Herta has a boss? But you're Herta of the [Genius Society], #83... Who could possibly order you around? Is it a higher-ranking genius from the [Genius Society]?"
This question made Herta quite displeased.
"I didn't get where I am today because of the Society. Can you stop bringing it up all the time?"
"Which of my achievements doesn't sound better than a measly '[Genius Society] #83'?"
Herta grumbled, but she clearly wasn't going to get angry over a single sentence from March 7th.
She just complained for a moment before calmly explaining:
"A seat in the [Genius Society] doesn't represent a gap in ability or status. Even though I'm number eighty-three, I now believe Zandar One Kuwabara was an academic fraud... That old swindler's achievements don't even come close to mine."
After saying that, Herta shrugged again.
"But a genius is a genius. Who's to say we can't be managed by someone?"
"Stephen is a genius, but he locks himself in his room all day. His kind and amiable foster father still has to take responsibility for his life."
"But we don't need to go into such detail... All the members of the Society are Emanators of [Erudition]. We've all had an audience with that big guy. Although He didn't ask anything of us, I'd bet many things I do are part of His calculations, and I've inadvertently fulfilled His objectives. So what's the difference between Him and my boss?"
Herta said, then her tone shifted.
"But then again, compared to Him, Ron makes for a much better boss... At least he's much better than Nous."
"After all, I doubt there's anyone in this universe more off-putting than that giant blockhead who calculates everything to a tee and coldly tells you, 'in the next moment,' you will die in His calculations."
Herta's words completely stumped the Express crew. Even Welt, who had just walked over, was momentarily speechless.
...You're an Emanator of [Erudition]. Won't you get into trouble for bad-mouthing [Erudition] like that?
But... what on earth had Ron done to be compared with Nous, the Erudition, in Herta's words?
The curiosity in their eyes as they looked at Ron grew even more intense.
However, even so, no one let their thoughts drift toward him being an "Aeon"—the gap was simply too vast.
The gulf between an Aeon and a mortal was immense... The most approachable Aeon to date was Akivili of [The Trailblaze], the very master of the Path they followed, who had already passed away.
But even Akivili of [The Trailblaze] had a clear status gap with the Nameless.
If the Nameless were the people, then Akivili of [The Trailblaze] might not have been a pure deity, but He was definitely a "king" who was half-god, half-man.
But Ron was different. No matter what he had done, he at least appeared very gentle. He didn't look like an Aeon at all...
It was probably just Herta being her usual eccentric self... but thinking it was her, it somehow seemed quite reasonable.
Himeko and Welt, who had known Herta for a while, already had this understanding, so they didn't say much more for the time being.
The topic of Ron quickly passed, as Himeko ultimately hadn't forgotten the most important matter at hand—
"Herta, this child... what's her situation?"
Himeko asked, hugging the once-again-unconscious Stelle with a hint of worry in her voice.
Although Stelle had only been rescued by Dan Heng and March 7th and had temporarily joined the Nameless, not yet having decided to officially board the Astral Express and become a member of the crew, she had long since become the group's darling, on par with March 7th.
After all... who could resist a girl who was pretty, amnesiac, endearingly clueless, and seemed like just a clumsy, kind-hearted soul?
Just a moment ago, Stelle's willingness to risk her life to shield March 7th from the Doomsday Beast's attack was more than enough for everyone on the Astral Express to open their hearts and accept her completely.
And just now, a dangerous golden light had pulsed from Stelle's chest before she fell into a coma again. It was obvious that no small trouble was brewing inside her.
To the Nameless of the Astral Express, that dangerous golden light was an all-too-familiar thing...
It was the light of a Stellaron, the Cancer of All Worlds, the Seed of Evil—
A Stellaron had been sealed inside Stelle's body? They didn't even dare to imagine how much longer she could possibly live...
A Stellaron was no peaceful, friendly object. Any civilization that encountered a Stellaron would basically end in ruin... let alone a single person?
Sealing a Stellaron inside a human chest, the best-case scenario would be turning into a human bomb that goes "boom" and splatters into bits of flesh and gore...
"Oh, you mean her. The humanoid Stellaron... Sigh, forget it. This topic should be handled by a professional."
Herta pointed at Ron, who had calmly walked up to her side and given the Express crew a gentle smile as a greeting. She casually shifted the topic back to him.
"He's more of an expert on this. Pretty much everything about the Stellaron has been thoroughly researched by him..."
"And he's very familiar with this little ghost. He's been looking for her for a long time—you should ask him, not me."
"Familiar?" March 7th froze, immediately recalling Stelle's lost memories.
She looked at Ron's clear, brilliant golden eyes and the lantern hanging from his waist, remembering the man with the lantern Stelle had mentioned. An incredibly shocking theory began to form in her mind.
To confirm this theory, she couldn't hold back her curiosity and asked Herta:
"Is... is he very familiar with her?"
"How familiar?"
For a moment, Herta didn't seem to know how to answer. She pondered for a moment, then said:
"Well, he was there watching when she was born..."
Hearing this, the smile on Ron's face suddenly froze, and he almost failed to maintain his professional smile.
The silent Welt suddenly adopted the subtle expression of a man on the subway witnessing some bizarre drama unfold. It seemed his timing was a bit too perfect; he felt like he was about to see a fantastic show...
As for March 7th, upon hearing those words, a tuft of her soft, pink hair shot straight up from the top of her head...
I've sniffed it out! The great detective March 7th has sniffed out a clue!
The tuft of hair on her head trembled. Suppressing the imminent thrill of cracking the case, she asked Herta with some excitement:
"Then, then why does Lady Herta know this so clearly?"
"Why?" Herta glanced at March 7th quizzically, as if she didn't understand why she would ask such a question, and replied casually:
"Because I was there when she was born, too. If it weren't for me, how could she possibly be standing here right now?"
Ron's expression grew even stiffer. He glanced at the corners of Herta's mouth, which were clearly twitching upwards but being suppressed. For a moment, he almost lost his composure...
He had actually reminded Herta on the way here, hoping she could help him build up an image—one that was mysterious and powerful, yet friendly, so he could reasonably board the Astral Express. This would be a great help for him to build a good relationship with the Nameless and achieve his goals more easily later on.
Building an image is one thing, but what on earth was Herta talking about now?
What do you mean, "I was there when she was born, and without me, she wouldn't be here now"?
You're doing this on purpose, aren't you! Why does providing a Stellaron to be stuffed into Stelle's body sound so suggestive when you put it like that!
But no one could hear Ron's internal complaints. Only Herta could watch his stiff expression and laugh secretly to herself.
Everyone was focused on Herta's extremely misleading words—
"So, so it's true..."
An extremely excited expression appeared on March 7th's face. "No wonder Stelle fainted in the space station's Curio Collection Room... This young lady gets it now!"
She didn't know where she had procured a detective's hat, which she clamped onto her head, and she was even holding a lollipop in her mouth like a pipe.
She lowered the brim of her hat, then suddenly pointed at Herta and Ron in front of her, then at Stelle, whose eyelashes were fluttering as she slowly regained consciousness:
"Ahem, ahem~ If this young lady is not mistaken, Stelle is your child, right!"
As she spoke, she pointed at Stelle, who had just opened her eyes, still dazed and unaware of what had happened, and at her clear, golden pupils. Then she pointed at Ron's eyes, which were as translucent as yellow jade but shimmered with a brilliant, dazzling golden light, and declared with confidence:
"It's no wonder they're father and daughter, even their eyes are so similar... You must be Stelle's dad, right!"
Ron fell silent for a moment.
He had to hand it to the great detective, little March. He was impressed.
How could you take something Herta deliberately said to be misleading and actually misunderstand it?! Can't you play fewer detective games, you terrible excuse for a detective!
Seeing the subtle, curious expressions everyone was directing at him, Ron suddenly felt that his goal had been accomplished in a way he had never imagined...
Was he going to have to board the Astral Express as a family member...?
This... this is too abstract, and completely different from what he had in mind!
Meanwhile, Stelle, who was still leaning in Himeko's arms, had just opened her eyes in a daze. Hearing March 7th's extremely confident deduction, she then saw Ron's familiar face and the transparent lantern hanging from his waist...
Already somewhat disoriented, she was once again assaulted by her own gradually clearing but chaotic memories. For a moment, she subconsciously followed March 7th's words and said:
"Pa... Papa?"
...So what in the world are you calling me!
Ron completely lost his composure.