Chapter Summaries

Gepard confronted Lin Shuang after Stelle called her a wife, then pinned her down and made clear she did not want Lin Shuang to leave her side. As Gepard teased her after their intimate encounter, Lin Shuang protested that Gepard’s possessive words had made her imagine the worst.

• Gepard asked Lin Shuang why Stelle had called her her wife and pinned her to the bed when Lin Shuang tried to explain.
• Lin Shuang told Gepard that Stelle had chosen the name herself, and Gepard accepted the explanation with a brief response.
• Gepard tied Lin Shuang’s wrists with her pajamas and said she was glad she had returned, because she would not let Lin Shuang leave her side again.
• Gepard’s recovering memories and emotions had stirred a possessive desire in her, and she kissed Lin Shuang before they became intimate.
• Gepard teased Lin Shuang about how she had begged for mercy, and Lin Shuang blamed Gepard’s serious-sounding threats for frightening her.

Lin Shuang went with Gepard to the Seclusion Zone after Ruan Mei warned that the Cocoon was about to hatch. She entered the cultivation chamber alone to face the emerging king insect while Gepard waited outside as backup.

• Lin Shuang agreed to stay another day aboard the repaired Train and replied to Stelle's message only late at night.
• Ruan Mei told Lin Shuang that the Cocoon in the Seclusion Zone was about to hatch and that her experiments with the two insects had promising results.
• Lin Shuang went to the Seclusion Zone with Gepard, who killed an invisible larva with one slash as they made their way to the Cocoon.
• Lin Shuang explained that the artificial Emanator was likely weaker than a true Emanator and said she hoped to capture it if she got the chance.
• Lin Shuang entered the cultivation chamber alone to confront the king insect while Gepard stayed outside as her backup.

Lin Shuang fought Ruan Mei’s Worldbreaker King Insect replica in the Seclusion Zone, nearly destroying the chamber and shaking Herta Space Station. The battle continued to alarm the station’s residents, while Asta realized how formidable Lin Shuang was.

• Lin Shuang restrained the King Insect’s emerging insects with flames and threads while waiting for the cocoon to hatch.
• The King Insect tore through its cocoon and fired a death ray, which Lin Shuang cleaved apart with her Greatsword.
• Lin Shuang charged the King Insect with dragonlike flames and struck its head, setting off tremors that damaged the Seclusion Zone and shook the Space Station.
• Acheron watched Lin Shuang’s fight from above, while Herta complained that Ruan Mei’s promised guarantee had failed to protect the station.
• Asta asked whether Lin Shuang was fighting the Seclusion Zone’s experimental subject and was stunned by her strength.

Lin Shuang battled the enhanced Worldbreaker King Insect in the Seclusion Zone, but struggled to subdue it without endangering the space station. With time running short, she called Gepard for help, and Gepard struck the insect with a controlled Nihility-tinged slash that left it suspended and motionless.

• Herta told Asta to charge Ruan Mei for any damage, while March 7th and Stelle arrived in the Master Control Zone and felt tremors from the experiment.
• Asta commissioned March 7th and Stelle to inspect the damage in the Seclusion Zone as Lin Shuang and the King Insect continued fighting below.
• Lin Shuang battered the King Insect with flaming attacks until its carapace cracked, but it summoned a Collapsed Star Egg that she intercepted with her fire dragon.
• Unable to restrain the insect safely on her own, Lin Shuang called out to Gepard for help.
• Gepard appeared beside Lin Shuang and slashed the King Insect, pinning it motionless in midair without damaging the space station.

Lin Shuang and Gepard survived the King Insect’s death, then hurried to Ruan Mei’s Cat Cake containment room to check on the creatures. They found the Cat Cakes safe, and Lin Shuang planned to take some onto the train as Gepard cuddled one beside her.

• Lin Shuang poured power into the King Insect, but Riding failed to take control before its predicted time of death.
• The King Insect began breaking apart, and Lin Shuang stopped Riding and reclaimed her power as it turned to ash.
• Lin Shuang and Gepard rushed through the damaged passage to check whether the Cat Cakes had survived the battle.
• Lin Shuang and Gepard found the Cat Cakes unharmed and comforted them in their containment room.
• Lin Shuang said she wanted to bring some Cat Cakes onto the train, and Gepard nuzzled her as though jealous of them.

Lin Shuang and her companions left the ruined Seclusion Zone after Ruan Mei agreed to compensate Herta and discussed the Worldbreaker King Insect’s extended survival. They boarded the refurbished Star Rail Express, which successfully began its ignition test and departed into space.

• March 7th and Stelle found Lin Shuang, Gepard, and Ruan Mei’s creations in the ruined passage, then learned the disturbance had come from Ruan Mei’s experiment.
• Herta dropped her complaints about the damage after Ruan Mei revealed that Lin Shuang had kept the Worldbreaker King Insect alive almost ten seconds longer than expected.
• Lin Shuang, Gepard, March 7th, and Stelle left the Seclusion Zone and headed to the Platform after Asta reported that the Train was ready.
• Ruan Mei returned Lin Shuang’s two Poké Balls, declined to board, and said she was interested in The Permanence.
• Lin Shuang joined the others aboard the refurbished Star Rail Express and counted down its ignition test as it began moving into space.

Lin Shuang and her companions tested the repaired Star Rail Express, but it veered toward Azur Star until the power of the Trailblaze transformed the train and brought it under control. Paimon appeared as its conductor, while Herta left to investigate how Paimon existed on both trains, and Lin Shuang prepared to return the project lead to the Space Station.

• Lin Shuang, Gepard, Herta, and the project lead started the repaired train, which accelerated out of the Space Station and veered off course toward Azur Star.
• Herta ordered the project lead to increase the engine output, and Lin Shuang secured everyone with her Threads as the train shook violently.
• The power of the Trailblaze emerged, transformed the engine, and turned the train back toward the stars without an energy supply.
• Paimon appeared as the conductor and explained that she existed on both Star Rail Express trains at the same time.
• Herta left to research Paimon's nature, and Lin Shuang asked Paimon to take the train back to the Space Station.

Lin Shuang took charge of the Train and welcomed Acheron aboard before leading the crew on a route through worlds Acheron had already charted to replenish the Train’s energy. After the journey concluded, Lin Shuang and Acheron prepared to continue toward Yapera, leaving the Train stocked with energy and their first trailblazing expedition complete.

• Lin Shuang introduced Acheron as the Train’s first passenger, and Paimon welcomed her aboard as a Nameless.
• Lin Shuang decided to replenish the Train’s energy by visiting worlds Acheron had previously explored, using her star chart to make the routes easier.
• Lin Shuang told Himeko’s crew that she and Acheron planned to target the Ever-Flame Mansion on Yapera and take its Invitation; Himeko and Welt told March 7th and Stelle not to join.
• Lin Shuang and Acheron said goodbye to Asta and set out, while March 7th and Stelle stayed behind.
• Lin Shuang and Acheron completed their first trailblazing journey in less than a week, opening a route to a barren ocean planet and restoring the Train’s energy reserves.

Lin Shuang and Gepard arrived on Yapera to pursue Gepard’s personal business and find the Ever-Flame Mansion. As they prepared to approach the hostile city, Gepard took Lin Shuang’s hand, claiming it was so they would not get lost.

• Lin Shuang gave Topaz information about a newly discovered star route without claiming the system for herself.
• Paimon announced that the Express had completed its Trailblaze journey and prepared to depart for Yapera, while Lin Shuang left the Herta Puppet and two larvae to guard the Express.
• The Express stopped outside Yapera’s atmosphere, and Lin Shuang gave Paimon Bella’s Poké Ball for protection before she and Gepard disembarked.
• Lin Shuang and Gepard landed in a deserted alley and identified the enormous, flame-ringed city of the Ever-Flame Mansion as their destination.
• As they prepared to approach the city, Gepard interlaced fingers with Lin Shuang and said she did not want Lin Shuang to get lost.

Lin Shuang and Gepard approached the Ever-Flame Mansion across the ruins of Ypela Palace while Lin Shuang considered whether the Stellaron Hunters had arranged events to send Gepard to Penacony as a Galaxy Ranger. Gepard revealed she had come to Yapera after encountering Afrit, and as onlookers gathered around them, she released Lin Shuang’s hand and put an arm around her waist.

• Lin Shuang and Gepard walked hand in hand toward the Ever-Flame Mansion and stopped to photograph the ruins of Ypela Palace.
• Lin Shuang theorized that the Stellaron Hunters had helped steer Gepard toward Penacony and the Galaxy Rangers, and Gepard asked how she had come to Yapera.
• Gepard said she had encountered Afrit aboard a ship, mistaken him for a Heliobus, and learned that the Ever-Flame Mansion had received an invitation to Penacony.
• Lin Shuang questioned Gepard’s account, but Gepard kept quiet about her concern that Afrit might target Lin Shuang at Herta Space Station.
• As people watched them approach the Ever-Flame Mansion, Gepard released Lin Shuang’s hand and wrapped an arm around her waist.

Lin Shuang and Gepard entered the flames surrounding Ypela and faced Constance, while Afrit rallied his other children to prepare for their arrival. The chapter ended with Lin Shuang dispelling Constance’s mind-affecting blue flames as the confrontation began.

• Gepard carried Lin Shuang toward the burning area, and Lin Shuang pinched her cheek before they reached it.
• Afrit learned that Lin Shuang and Gepard had entered his territory, sent Constance to investigate, and summoned his other children to prepare for battle.
• Lin Shuang and Gepard walked through the flames while holding hands until Gepard finally let go, claiming she had forgotten.
• Constance arrived and introduced herself as a member of the Ever-Flame Mansion while sending eerie blue flames toward the two women.
• Lin Shuang used Mystic Markings to repel Constance’s mind-affecting flames.

Acheron and Lin Shuang fought Constance and the Memory Zone monsters, then accepted an invitation to meet Afrit at the Ever-Flame Mansion. Constance became fascinated by Lin Shuang’s inaccessible memories, and the group entered the palace, where Afrit and his children awaited them.

• Gepard’s Nihility attacks drove Constance back, while Constance’s attempts to hide herself and manipulate the women’s memories failed.
• Constance summoned Memory Zone monsters, and Gepard destroyed them with her blade while Lin Shuang struggled to damage them with Destruction.
• Constance invited Acheron and Lin Shuang to the Ever-Flame Mansion on Afrit’s orders, and they agreed to follow her.
• Acheron introduced herself as a Galaxy Ranger, while Lin Shuang identified herself as one of the Nameless.
• Lin Shuang saw that Constance’s affection for her had reached 60 and learned that Constance wanted to investigate her inaccessible memories.
• Lin Shuang and Gepard entered the palace with Constance, where Afrit and his children had prepared for their arrival.

Gepard nearly wiped out the Ever-Flame Mansion with one strike, while Lin Shuang protected her from the surviving children. After Great Void insulted Lin Shuang and revealed his plan to bring purgatory to the Festivity Planet, Gepard resolved to kill him and was identified as an Emanator.

• Gepard swept away the Ever-Flame Mansion’s forces and destroyed the palace with a single strike, leaving Great Void and his four children alive but gravely wounded.
• Lin Shuang defended Gepard from the children’s desperate counterattack, blocking their flames, music, puppets, and hammer.
• Great Void mocked Lin Shuang, provoking Gepard’s killing intent and making him realize that insulting her had sealed his fate.
• Lin Shuang took Great Void’s music box while he explained the Fire Demons’ devotion to destruction and said his children would bring purgatory to the Festivity Planet.
• Great Void rose to face Gepard, and Gepard fell silent when he recognized her as an Emanator.

After Gepard destroyed Great Void’s flames with her blade, Lin Shuang and Gepard returned to the Star Rail Express with the music box. They learned the crew planned to visit Jarilo-VI for a festival, but a message from Firefly interrupted Lin Shuang as she considered going.

• Great Void sacrificed himself in a blaze of Destruction, and Gepard drew her blade to erase the flames with Nihility.
• Lin Shuang wiped the blood from Gepard’s eye, scolded her for drawing her blade, and guided her to sheath it.
• Lin Shuang contacted Paimon, who brought her and Gepard back to the Train with the music box.
• The Conductor told Lin Shuang that Himeko and the others planned to return to Jarilo-VI after receiving an invitation.
• Lin Shuang read March 7th’s message about Bronya’s festival invitation and asked Gepard whether she would wear a formal dress.
• A text message from Firefly made Lin Shuang frown as she was about to confirm that she would go to Jarilo-VI.

Lin Shuang returned to Penacony with Gepard after Firefly invited her to the Blue Hour, while the strange illusion surrounding the Asdana Star System remained unexplained. At the Reverie lobby, Lin Shuang spotted a blue-haired boy as she prepared to register.

• Firefly messaged Lin Shuang that she was safe and invited her to Penacony's Blue Hour, prompting Lin Shuang to postpone her plans with Gepard and return with Paimon.
• On the way to Penacony, Lin Shuang described her strange experiences in the Asdana Star System, and Gepard suspected a vast illusion covered the region.
• Gepard proposed cleaving the illusion open to see who reacted, but Lin Shuang asked her to wait until she had returned a memento to the Galaxy Rangers.
• Lin Shuang warned Paimon that Sparkle, a Masked Fool, might try to board the Astral Express and asked it not to let her on without approval.
• After arriving in Penacony, Lin Shuang and Gepard agreed to register separately, and Lin Shuang went to meet Firefly while Gepard went to her room.
• At the Reverie lobby, Lin Shuang noticed a blue-haired boy who appeared confused and seemed to be looking for help.

Lin Shuang and Gepard arrived at The Reverie, where Acheron checked in as a Galaxy Ranger invited to the Charmony Festival. Lin Shuang told Gepard that Mika seemed tied to an illusion, then left to find Firefly while Gepard explored the Dreamscape.

• Mika greeted Lin Shuang and Gepard and guided them to The Reverie's front desk.
• Gepard checked in using her Invitation and gave her name as Acheron, a Galaxy Ranger.
• Lin Shuang noticed Mika had vanished when she dispelled an illusion with the Mystic Seal of True Sight.
• After Mika led Gepard to her room and left, Lin Shuang explained her suspicions about him to Gepard.
• Lin Shuang and Gepard agreed to investigate Mika later, and Lin Shuang left to find Firefly while Gepard explored the Dreamscape.
• Lin Shuang messaged Firefly and learned that she was in her room.