New Feature Unlocked, The Use of Joy Points.

"Are you all curious to see Sampo's expression when he sees Theresa?"

Pom-Pom was helplessly held in March 7th's arms—she really loved holding the wonderfully textured Pom-Pom, its fluffy, fragrant lop-eared rabbit vibe making it hard for young girls to resist.

"What! So many Stellar Jades! Great Pom!"

Pom-Pom didn't mind being held by March 7th anymore. When Himeko casually took out some Stellar Jades to show Pom-Pom, it excitedly grabbed them with sparkling eyes, giggling foolishly.

"It seems that ever since Passenger Theresa boarded the train, everything has been smooth sailing, Pom!"

Pom-Pom shouted excitedly, pointing at Theresa, who was holding a doll. But if Pom-Pom wasn't mistaken, that doll was a Herta automaton, right?

"What's this?"

Pom-Pom pointed in surprise at the Herta automaton cradled in Theresa's arms.

"Mm-hmm, it's a little perk I got for myself. And it can even help you, Conductor Pom-Pom, with cleaning!"

Theresa cheerfully introduced the Herta automaton to Pom-Pom.

"They say there are many functions we haven't discovered yet—excluding the inappropriate ones."

Dan Heng explained to Pom-Pom as he looked at the Herta automaton.

Welt also told Pom-Pom about what happened during the Space Station trip.

"I see. So the Space Station was invaded by the Antimatter Legion. Is she the new member of the Stellaron Hunters?"

Pom-Pom struggled free from March 7th's arms, pattered over to stand beneath Stelle, and looked up at her, asking.

"Hello, I'm Stelle, a Stellaron Essence born less than two days ago. Conductor Pom-Pom."

Stelle, a bit influenced by Theresa, introduced herself with a hint of mischief.

"Huh? Born less than two days? What's that about?"

"And what the heck is a Stellaron Essence, Pom?"

Pom-Pom was instantly baffled.

Himeko smiled and explained Stelle's background to Pom-Pom. When it learned that Stelle really was a Stellaron Essence, it was dumbfounded.

But then it thought about March 7th being Humanoid Six-Phased Ice, Dan Heng being unclear, Himeko and Welt definitely being human, Theresa not fully understood yet, and now a Stellaron Essence joining the mix.

"And Conductor, there's one more thing I want to tell you. Don't be scared."

Theresa handed the doll to Stelle, who was eyeing it eagerly, and spoke to Pom-Pom. Stelle happily fiddled with the Herta automaton, and March 7th giggled as she joined in, playing with it too.

"Ha, this conductor scared? Passenger Theresa, what kind of joke is that? Even if I jumped off this train, this conductor wouldn't be scared—because I can't jump out!"

Pom-Pom patted its fluffy hand—or was it a paw?—on its chest and shouted confidently.

"Here it comes, here it comes! Conductor Pom-Pom is definitely going to be scared by Theresa!"

March 7th excitedly played with the Herta automaton, laughing, while Stelle groped all over it, unsure where to press to turn it on.

Dan Heng, Welt, and Himeko started watching to see if Pom-Pom would be scared. They remembered Pom-Pom once telling them that a certain Aeon of Joy, Aha, had hidden for a whole year just to blow up the train, waiting until Pom-Pom was most relaxed before blasting it in two. The Astral Express's exterior was tough thanks to Trailblaze Power, but the interior wasn't.

Later, the broken, severed train crashed on a planet in Himeko's homeworld, and she repaired it so they could resume their Trailblaze journey. No one knew when Pom-Pom had first appeared on the train.

"Actually, I participated in Herta's Simulated Universe invitation test at the Space Station and met the Aeon of Joy, Aha—whether it was their true form or not. They bestowed power upon me, making me an Envoy of Joy."

Theresa's words left Pom-Pom stunned, its mouth hanging open.

"Whoa, don't come near me, Pom!"

Pom-Pom was instantly panicked. It cowered behind Welt, shouting at Theresa in alarm.

"Didn't you say you weren't scared?"

"And this change of mine happened in front of everyone. I didn't deliberately hide anything, except for the fact that I'm a Path of Immortality walker."

Theresa held a multicolored flame in her hand as she explained to Pom-Pom.

"How do I know you won't blow up the train again, Pom!"

"Pom never wants to fall into slumber again!"

Pom-Pom trembled behind Welt, shouting. Everyone then understood—did the train's destruction cause Pom-Pom to fall asleep?

"Those Joy Powers are being continuously converted by Immortal Power. I might be a bit influenced by Joy Powers, but that doesn't mean I'll do anything for a laugh."

Theresa reasoned with Pom-Pom until it calmed down from its trembling fear. The main reason was that Immortal Power was too distinctive to fake.

"Didn't they say the Immortal Dragon had already fallen? Why do you, Passenger Theresa, still have Immortal Power?"

Pom-Pom's question prompted Dan Heng to explain: the fall of a Lord of the Path doesn't prevent others from walking their Path, because the Path itself doesn't disappear—it only gets merged or absorbed.

Pom-Pom finally understood the source of Theresa's power. As for her claim that the Immortal Dragon personally bestowed it, everyone preferred to believe it was her delusion—that she had somehow stumbled onto the Path of Immortality by accident.

After all, many believed the Immortal had fallen, and Theresa couldn't be bothered to argue. She and the Herta Space Station System had ended up here by chance anyway.

[Oh, my little cutie, a new mission is here: defeat or kill Cocolia Rand. Reward: Core of the Herrscher of Binding—and not the kind restricted by Finality's Cocoon. I didn't set this up; the mission list unlocked gradually. It should be that Immortal Dragon's doing.]

[But there's a new currency you can use: Joy Points. You can buy various items from the system, like the Crystal Brick or Otto's Green Hat. Wearing this hat grants the Green Power, a Path of Harmony support skill. Anyone who gets capped with this green hat receives the buff: "Of Course, Choose to Forgive Him/Her."]

[Attack power increased by 50%, Effect Resistance increased by 30%, Speed increased by 20%, Defense increased by 20%.]

[Price: 1,000 Joy Points.]

[Crystal Brick]: The user shouts, "I will turn the cosmos!" and summons a projection of the Herrscher of Sentience to assist the brick user in attacking enemies, finally flattening them with the brick to end the battle. Price: 2,000 Joy Points.

The Herta Space Station System's words made Theresa's eyes light up. She didn't know why, but that green hat felt like it would suit Stelle perfectly. After all, she'd seen a golden Trailblazer of Harmony, but never a green one—wasn't that a kind of joy in itself?

Daily meme: Red Archer March 7th?