Honkai, Survive

If we exclude the coffee, then the elderly person's mind was greatly shaken.

Truly trailblazing and trailblazing, so many immortals like hemp.

Welt no longer thought that before was a dream.

How could he still be awake if he was drinking coffee?

Could it be the Herrscher of Reason? But the Herrscher of Reason is a lady... Moreover, the Herrscher of Reason who turned into a Bloodsin Spirit? Is it a God Key? Then what are these explosions and fires as far as the eye can see...

You must be the Anti-Matter Legion, right?

However, it's not all bad news, which is—

"Don't be nervous, maybe the Masked Fools did it all! There's someone on this planet who claims to be a former Masked Fool!"

Welt smiled with relief, his words startling Pom-Pom so much that it jumped three feet high.

"What? It was the Masked Fools... Where's the Train Conductor's broom? If any Masked Fools dare to board the Astral Express, Pom-Pom will definitely poke their butt hard!"

Putting down the coffee it had been hesitant to finish, Pom-Pom was extremely excited.

Excited, excited, all good.

"I have to meet him!"

Welt couldn't sit still, not just because of the coffee. He sent a message to Dan Heng.

The Astral Express small team arrived at Jarilo-VI in a drop pod, and naturally, they would return in the same way.

Uh, Fang Jie took the drop pod.

Whether he can drive it or not doesn't matter, it's on autopilot, destination locked.

Arriving at the station ahead—

Astral Express.

Because the speed was too fast, there was no experience to speak of, but when the Astral Express docked in the galaxy's Star Rail appeared before his eyes...

Fang Jie was extremely happy.

He took the lead in stepping onto the Astral Express. This was a small step for Fang Jie, but a big step for Fang Jie.

Boarding the Astral Express!

What song should be played?

Before he could decide, a furry creature with two long ears and wearing a uniform walked towards him. As the saying goes, seeing is believing, and it was truly delightful.

The Train Conductor—Pom-Pom!

Pom-Pom held a broom and spoke unhappily: "Hey, it's you, right? Yes, I'm calling you, you silly fellow, you're the Masked Fool!"

For some reason, a sense of presence made Fang Jie raise his hand, as if what Pom-Pom held was not a broom, but an indestructible divine spear, and he was being pointed at his butt.

"Masked Fool? I'm not, I wasn't."

He proved his innocence, righteously: "I am a Nameless."

"Huh?"

Pom-Pom was shocked: "Then welcome? Do you think the Train Conductor would say that? No! Listen kid, although boarding the Astral Express makes you a passenger, and many passengers on the train have some secrets that cannot be told, I, Pom-Pom, am the Train Conductor here. Don't act like you're one of us and try to get away with it. The Train Conductor will never let any Masked Fool go."

What a majestic Train Conductor.

But I... Masked Fool?

This made Fang Jie scratch his head. Which villain is trying to ruin my reputation?

At this moment, an elegant and intellectual voice came, alleviating Fang Jie's embarrassment.

"Don't be nervous. Don't mind Pom-Pom's appearance. The Train Conductor always welcomes new passengers, and it's quite interested in you."

There was no need to ponder who the villain was. Fang Jie turned his head and saw... Himeko.

The same fiery red hair, also like flames, but much more elegant, adorned with golden accessories, adding a touch of beauty and nobility. She wore a modified grey and black pilot uniform, with a white high-slit dress as the inner lining, exuding grace and making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

Compared to Murata Himeko, who burned her life like a raging fire, the Astral Express Himeko was more elegant. Both were equally beautiful, warm, noble, and had chosen to walk towards the stars.

He didn't say anything, yet it seemed like he had said everything.

"Your eyes remind me of... Hmm~, never mind, welcome to the Astral Express. You're Fang Jie, right? I heard Dan Heng introduce you."

Himeko smiled gently and turned back gracefully: "Welt, he's here."

She moved aside, revealing a serious-looking 'youth' with grey hair, sitting behind the coffee, hands crossed under his chin, his glasses reflecting light.

"..."

Welt remained silent, only gazing at Rin.

Erosion?

Then what about your Honkai energy reaction?

Yae Sakura, that one... he never saw her in person. She died in the Great Eruption in Chang Kong City, along with the Stigmata that became Theresa.

This Stigmata reaction is indeed genuine.

And the most genuine one is you—Fang Jie, this Jizo Mitama is too freshly made!

"..."

Welt remained silent, his gaze finally settling on Fang Jie, making him feel... Old Yang's reaction isn't right.

He greeted him, "Mr. Welt?"

Welt: "..."

He continued, "Joachim?"

Joachim: "..."

He tried again, "Old Yang?"

Old Yang: "..."

The atmosphere grew heavy, primarily due to Welt's escalating seriousness. His silence was a stark contrast to Fang Jie's carefree demeanor, a nature that wouldn't be out of place even among March 7th and Stelle.

The sense of being home was overwhelming, too familiar.

Before the awkwardness could continue, Himeko stepped forward. "Welcome to both of you. If you encounter any problems on the train, please feel free to come to me."

Himeko didn't fully understand the situation on Welt's end, but she knew who the problem lay with. At times like this, she should...

"I'll give you a tour of the train. This should technically be the Conductor's duty, but consider it me overstepping."

Rin and Yae Sakura had no objections.

The former felt the terror of this train, and luckily, the Astral Express was no longer home to the Trailblaze Aeon, Akivili.

As for the latter...

Where is this?

Yae Sakura's confusion was replaced by more confusion. Fang Jie hadn't mentioned going to the heavens when he took her away. They traveled through the 'Netherworld' where demons and monsters were swept clean, then through a snowfield where no life could survive, and finally entered a strange 'building'... and ended up in the sky.

Is this what the sky is like?

Because of the Synesthesia Beacon, she could understand the conversations of those in the sky. And because everyone she met, except Pom-Pom, looked more human than her, Yae Sakura found it even harder to comprehend.

Conductor Pom-Pom, who was being overstepped, also had something to say. "That's right, passengers. Welcome aboard the Astral Express. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the Conductor. But remember, since you've chosen to board, you must abide by the rules here. You are not the only special ones in this galaxy, so no one is special. Keep that in mind."

They then stopped Himeko from overstepping further and joined her in welcoming the newcomers.

Only Welt and Fang Jie remained.

Fang Jie found Welt's expression a bit strange. After a moment of thought, he tried asking, "It's nice to meet you for the first time, and it's nice to see you again, Mr. Welt. But your expression... it seems you recognize me?"

Are we from the same world?

Did I do something to you later?

What a thrilling premise!

Finally, Welt broke the silence.

"Yes, I recognize you, Fang Jie. But why do I recognize you?"

Welt nodded, then shook his head, admitting he was a bit confused.

Gazing at Fang Jie, his memories seemed to split into two different lives: one that continued to the present moment, and another that... abruptly ended yesterday.

The biggest difference was that the one where Fang Jie existed was an unfinished story, heading towards the future...

But was it parallel, merged, or replaced?

Was it an manipulation of his own memories, or...

Welt's mind was in turmoil. Even with his usually firm will, encountering something like this suddenly.

Fang Jie couldn't see Welt's memories, only his expression.

Not good, not good at all.

He had great faith in Welt, recognizing his character and abilities. As for himself... well, he believed in himself.

But it was like you thought a friend was suffering from kidney deficiency and went to consult a doctor, only to see a phased change on the doctor's face—

Phase 1: The smile disappears.

Phase 2: Repeatedly taking the pulse, with a furrowed brow.

Phase 3: Starting to flip through books.

Phase 4: Failing to find the book, starting to call for help.

Phase 5: The person called isn't reliable, so they start calling for an old Chinese doctor with white hair.

Phase 6: The old Chinese doctor starts flipping through books.

Phase 7: The old Chinese doctor starts flipping through bamboo slips.

Phase 8: You appear in the book.

Welt took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, and asked, "Hello, Fang Jie, right? Are you a traveler of the [Terminus]?"

Having never heard of such a thing, Welt could only think of Aeons.

"Why do you ask? I shouldn't be."

Fang Jie thought it was because he had told Dan Heng about his 'second playthrough' and answered earnestly.

"After all, that is a place where Aeons have never set foot, whether it be [Nihility] or [Terminus]."

Not just Honkai Impact 3rd, but also the Second Honkai Eruption.

Aeons are supreme, but they also have limits.

The universe is too vast, and distance is an objective reality that even Aeons can only gaze at from afar, unattainable. At least [Trailblaze] has never been to Onfaros.

"Should be."

Welt disliked this answer, but often, people could only get such answers temporarily.

"Then, is it [Memory]?"

Fang Jie still shook his head, a proud look on his face. "I am a self-destroyer. Recently, I've become compatible with [Destruction] and am aiming to develop into a Nameless."

Setting aside what he was so proud of, Welt frowned. "Self-destroyer, isn't that a Bloodsin Spirit?"

"..."

Fang Jie almost blurted out, "Huh?" Who's spreading rumors? I've already fallen into the shadow of [Nihility], can I be kicked again!

He suddenly lost his smile. Facing Welt's increasingly calm expression, he didn't see any hint of joking.

"?"

No, you...

More questions arose.

Welt also realized something. "This is the one-sided statement of a former Masked Fool, not necessarily true."