Old Yang: Damn it, the Collapse is still chasing me!

Inside the Astral Express, the crew had just steadied themselves after the train's warp jump and were getting to their feet. Dan Heng walked out of the archive room.

Himeko and Welt stood up with a smile.

March 7th rubbed her sore rear as she stood—she'd tried to brace herself in a horse stance to see if she could withstand the warp's recoil. Seeing the young girl rubbing her own bruised backside, it was obvious she'd failed.

They were heading back to the space station to restock supplies and do some repairs on the train, so Conductor Pom-Pom had warped them to a starfield not far from the station. Nearby, a slowly rotating Azure Star hung in space.

"This warp back to the space station requires a major resupply for the train. It's also been a long time since we've done any maintenance. Relying solely on Navigator Himeko for repairs would be too heavy a task. So I'm counting on all the Express Crew passengers this time."

Pom-Pom addressed the group. March 7th perked up at the chance to visit the space station. Himeko and Welt nodded. Dan Heng offered to stay with Pom-Pom, saying the space station had no need of him. Pom-Pom—a lifeform resembling an upright lop-eared rabbit, the conductor of the Astral Express—replied, "No need, Passenger Dan Heng. You should go down too. Conductor Pom-Pom will handle things here."

"Hm? Something's wrong—there seems to be something outside the train!"

Pom-Pom's words immediately put the Stellaron Hunters on alert. Welt gripped the top of his cane. Himeko pulled out her suitcase, which housed drones used for attacking and cutting enemies. Dan Heng drew his spear, Cloud-Piercer. March 7th looked outside with concern.

Everyone saw a translucent sphere slowly drifting toward the train from about a kilometer away. Fortunately, its speed was very slow.

"Uncle Yang, Sister Himeko, what do you plan to do?"

March 7th asked curiously, watching the unknown sphere drift closer outside the window. From left to right: Stelle, Welt, Dan Heng, March 7th. This was the Astral Express's navigator, Himeko. "If we're talking about the safest method, shooting it down would be best. After all, we don't know what that is."

Welt eyed the slowly approaching sphere warily. He suspected the Void Archive was pulling something to mess with him again.

{Void Archive: The culprit that brought Welt across the Star Gate to the Honkai: Star Rail world. It is also the First Divine Key of the Previous Civilization. It can take human form and mimic various Divine Keys to attack enemies, though its output is less than half that of the original Divine Keys it simulates.} The Void Archive—an enemy Pom-Pom had kicked off the train, and the First Divine Key that Otto had thoroughly seasoned.

"Here's a telescope. It'll help Uncle Yang see what that thing really is."

Reliable Dan Heng handed Welt a telescope. Welt nodded gratefully, then raised it to look at the translucent sphere drifting toward the train. As he peered through the lens...

Everyone noticed that the always steady, calm Welt suddenly stiffened. Then, almost absentmindedly, he crushed the telescope. Fragments clattered to the floor, earning a displeased glare from Pom-Pom—everyone knew the conductor had a cleanliness obsession.

But they all focused on Welt's troubled expression. He stared at the distant sphere in shock, his face showing a rare mix of panic and disbelief.

"No, that's impossible!"

Welt pressed against the window, staring intently at the sphere outside.

"Does Uncle Yang know what it is? Is it an enemy?"

March 7th asked worriedly.

"It seems only Welt can give us the answer."

Himeko looked at Welt helplessly. This was the first time she'd seen him wear such an incredulous expression.

"No, it's not an enemy. Or rather, it's an old acquaintance—one I couldn't be more familiar with. I never thought she'd come to this world."

"Conductor, prepare to open the door. I'll go out and bring that sphere in."

Welt spoke solemnly to the bewildered Pom-Pom. Pom-Pom looked at the others. No one objected—they were all curious about the sphere and who was inside it, someone who could make the mature, steady Welt show such an expression.

"Alright, everyone sit in your seats to avoid being sucked out by the vacuum."

Once everyone was seated and reinforced by Trailblaze Power, Pom-Pom opened the door. A tremendous vacuum suction howled through the train, pulling at everything inside. But strangely, a faint golden Trailblaze Power shimmered around the surroundings, keeping everything from being dragged out.

Welt leaped toward the open door and was sucked out. Gripping his cane-shaped Star of Eden, he captured the sphere. Tucking it under one arm, he quickly flew back inside. Pom-Pom slammed the door shut, and the terrifying vacuum suction vanished.

Just as everyone gathered to examine the sphere, Welt stopped them from getting too close. He stared at it warily, on full alert.

"Pop~"

The sphere hit the floor and suddenly burst. Oxygen and carbon dioxide spilled out, carrying a light, elegant fragrance. The unconscious figure inside caught everyone's eye—she was beautiful and adorable. March 7th stared excitedly at the petite, unconscious form.

"Theresa Apocalypse, from my homeland. I never thought I'd meet her here. I don't know what happened on her end to leave her drifting in space."

Welt adjusted his glasses, speaking gravely. As an old acquaintance from St. Freya and the former Alliance Leader of Anti-Entropy, how could he not recognize the person on the floor? The Far East Demon Den, the Academy Head of the Herrscher Academy, Otto's granddaughter—Theresa Apocalypse!

"Mm~"

A cute, childish sound escaped her lips. The adorable figure on the floor opened her sapphire eyes, rubbed them, and looked around groggily. When she saw Welt, her face filled with shock.

"Huh? Alliance Leader Welt, what are you doing here? Where is This Seat?!"

"Where are Kiana and the others?!"

Hua Ling—Theresa—pretended to panic as she called out to Welt. From now on, we'll call her Theresa.

"Theresa, I should be asking you that question. Why were you drifting through the void of space, wrapped in some strange sphere?"

Welt eyed Theresa warily, questioning her. The others were curious why this little girl called Welt "Alliance Leader"—the title sounded anything but ordinary. They all guessed Welt must have been someone important in the past.

"This Seat doesn't know either. The last thing I remember is a black hole suddenly appearing beside me and sucking me in. When I woke up, I was lying here."

Theresa looked at Welt, confused. Welt's face twisted in disbelief. He hadn't even gone to the Honkai world yet, and someone from there had already come after him. He was speechless.

"Everyone, don't worry. This is an old acquaintance of mine—Theresa Apocalypse. You could say she's an old friend."

"And she's over forty years old."

Welt dropped the bombshell without hesitation. Everyone stared in shock at the offended Theresa.

"You jerk, Welt! Who are you calling over forty?! I'm fourteen! That's right!"

Theresa glared at Welt, shouting indignantly. But despite her brave front, inside she was panicking. After all, she wasn't the real Theresa—she'd been turned into this by a mischievous Aeon.

Today's beautiful picture: Adorable Theresa.