"I never expected that Caelus, who seemed so lackluster, could have such a side to him."
Watching the gray-haired youth charging into battle, March 7th's eyes revealed a flicker of surprise. The initial bad impression Caelus had left completely vanished.
The gray-haired youth fought valiantly at the forefront—ferocious as a demon against the Voidrangers, yet gentle as water when facing the staff.
Particularly in one department, when they arrived a step too late, Caelus witnessed a Marauder's blade slash through a staff member's body.
Just as March 7th fell silent at the bloody scene, she noticed Caelus's expression.
His eyes were wide with fury, grief and agony mottling his face. Every line of his body seemed to sharpen and tremble, his anger-tensed form resembling a volcano on the verge of eruption.
With that madness of avenging "loved ones" by grinding Voidrangers to dust, March 7th wouldn't have been surprised if Caelus had instantly embarked on the Hunt path right then.
Yet no matter how murderous his aura became, when facing those he saved, his hunter's stance with glowing red eyes would instantly transform into a smile as bright as the sun, offering the warmest care.
So...
He must have some mental illness, right?
Could a normal person seamlessly switch between two extreme and completely opposite dispositions in a second?
March 7th vaguely recalled a psychological condition called "bipolar disorder" that involved similar polar reversals.
But even if he were mentally ill, he'd be a kind-hearted, compassionate mental patient!
The magnanimous Miss March 7th declared she would completely let bygones be bygones and definitely have the space station's psychiatry department cure Caelus's condition!
Among the three new crew members, the most normal one was undoubtedly the adorable little Seele.
Beautiful with a soft voice, using skills that could whoosh into invisibility and whoosh back into appearance, sparkling and shining, she could penetrate some thinner walls, greatly improving rescue efficiency.
All encountered transfer elevators, equipment adjustments, identity verification, and other procedures could be skipped through entirely.
In the real world, to block mission execution—unless it was an unavoidable encounter—everything else was either skipped or smashed!
Stelle's mental state was slightly better than Caelus's. She was simply bloodthirsty, her striking technique improving with each hit!
Common sense shattered, a one-year-old naturally wouldn't know how to bandage wounds or stop bleeding. Stelle simply left the rescue work to Seele and Caelus, focusing entirely on eliminating Voidrangers.
Though young, Seele had frequently bandaged her sister Bronya's wounds before, having fully developed basic medical skills.
This was Caelus's first time bandaging and performing first aid. After learning through physical experience with Seele for a while, he could mimic her actions quite well.
By now, the group had helped the defense department withstand seven waves of Legion invasions, directly or indirectly saving over a hundred people.
A voice from far away was too faint for even March 7th to make out clearly.
"Hmm? Did you all hear something?"
"...help...me...is anyone there..."
"It's coming from the inner cabin section. Someone's calling for help."
Dan Heng closed his eyes and listened intently for two seconds before looking toward the source of the voice.
"Hold on! Hold on! I'm fucking coming again!"
Caelus transformed into a blur as he raced off, as if afraid death would beat him there.
Dan Heng, accustomed to this, followed closely behind.
In the pitch-black room where the power supply had been cut off due to damaged circuits, Caelus found the person calling for help amidst a mountain of collapsed documents and equipment.
"Found you!"
Caelus quickly pushed aside the deceptively heavy-looking equipment and cleared away the scattered piles of documents, pulling out the staff member buried beneath.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
The staff member gasped for breath while expressing their gratitude excitedly.
"Are you alright? Did you injure your eyes?"
Noticing the young staff member's tightly shut eyes, Caelus asked with concern.
"Thank you for your concern, benefactor. I was just pinned down for a while, but my eyes are fine."
"Then why are you keeping your eyes closed?" Stelle asked in surprise.
"Huh? I've had my eyes open all along," the staff member replied, somewhat confused.
"R-really?" March 7th widened her eyes and scrutinized carefully, but the person before them clearly appeared to have their eyes shut.
The staff member suddenly understood and explained: "Oh, I'm a member of the Secret Archives Department. Due to the nature of my work, I've trained myself to see everything clearly even with my eyes narrowed."
"Ah? Just how many things you shouldn't have seen have you peeked at?"
March 7th couldn't help but complain."
"As long as you're unharmed," Dan Heng nodded calmly.
"Exactly, exactly!"
Having saved another crystal fragment, Caelus comfortingly patted the staff member's shoulder.
After quickly escorting this fortunate staff member to a safe area, just as Caelus was racing against time to head to the next unexplored zone for rescue—
Suddenly, red alarms flashed almost simultaneously throughout various sections of the space station. The massive, sharp sirens made everyone's expressions change.
At the same time, Dan Heng's phone received a video call from Asta.
Through the surveillance feed, Asta could see Caelus and the others bravely fighting and rescuing people in the sections. Caelus's leadership and care for the staff members particularly moved her.
When the accident first occurred, her instinct was to contact Caelus, but she didn't have Caelus's beacon address.
"Mr. Dan Heng, quickly take everyone to the platform in the support section and evacuate the space station by train!"
Asta's anxious voice came through the video.
"Miss Asta, what's happening?"
Dan Heng frowned slightly and asked calmly.
Caelus, Stelle, and March 7th crowded around, looking at Dan Heng's phone.
"It's the Doomsday Beast, the Antimatter Legion's planetary weapon!"
Himeko's serious tone came from the other side. As the video angle shifted, Caelus could see a massive holographic projection behind Asta.
On the screen, a dragon-like giant beast was tearing through the space station's protective shield with its claws. The blue barrier enveloping the space station continuously rippled under its assault, and the station itself trembled.
"The D-Doomsday Beast! How could such a thing come here!?" March 7th's eyes widened in shock.
"With Lady Herta absent, the space station's defenses can't hold against it."
Asta's voice carried a note of regret.
If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have waited for the limited edition Star Destroyer and would have directly purchased several Emperor-class Star Destroyers to place at the entrance.
"The protective shield in the base section won't last much longer either. Evacuate as soon as possible!"
This was the space station's disaster; she couldn't involve these kind and lovely Astral Express friends in it.
"B-but..."
March 7th wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Caelus's resolute refusal.
"No, I'm not leaving!"
"Though I don't know why Stelle and I ended up here or how we lost our memories, now that we're standing here, we absolutely can't stand by and let those naturally wicked Legion brats wreak destruction!"
If they could stop even one Anti-planet Weapon—even if only indirectly contributing—wouldn't the mission rating jump up a level?
As for the Doomsday Beast's threat?
Caelus could guarantee that the moment Seele unleashed her Stigma energy, Welt would immediately set out at full speed toward the space station.
They just needed to stall the Doomsday Beast.
"Excellent, I knew I wasn't wrong about you. Abandoning companions in critical moments isn't the Astral Express's style."
Himeko's gaze toward Caelus carried a few more traces of approval.
Though the Express crew rarely refused anyone wanting to board, not everyone could integrate into this family-like warm and harmonious group.
Those with ill intentions and sinister motives would be exposed after just one incident.
Moreover, if she wasn't mistaken, Stelle and Caelus were likely the key to breaking this deadlock, the crux of the entire matter.
"Hmph! Mere Doomsday Beast? We'll make sure it never returns!"
Stelle snorted coldly, growing increasingly excited—that giant monster would definitely feel amazing to fight!
She couldn't wait any longer!
"You probably can't even beat one of its hands..."
March 7th made a wry face while teasing, then revealed a brilliant smile
"But this girl won't run from battle!"
Dan Heng remained silent, quietly drawing his spear.
Hearing these words, Asta felt her nose tingling slightly, an inexplicable emotion welling up inside as her gaze toward Caelus softened further.
"Yosh! Let's beat the Doomsday Beast into retreat!"
With the Stardust... Caelus Crusaders assembled, Caelus simultaneously controlled Seele's body, turning sideways to step forward, firmly planting his foot on the ground while tilting his arm before him.
The subconscious wavelength made Stelle's eyes immediately light up as she imitated Caelus's movement, stepping out sideways. "Oh~!"
"Oh~!"
The ever-enthusiastic March 7th immediately copied everyone's movements and took her position.
Then, aside from Seele maintaining her character by not making the 'Ding~' pose, both Stelle and March 7th turned to look at Dan Heng.
Their meaning was clear—you're the only one left!
"..."
As the only normal person present, Dan Heng didn't want to participate, but under the pressure of those three burning gazes, he helplessly stepped forward and struck the same pose.
Caelus led the way with a majestic, spirited demeanor.