Silver Carriage, Hasten to That Black Earth

The Trailblazer woke as the galaxies outside the window radiated a hazy morning light.

It was already dawn.

Whether it was from inhaling hypnotic flower scents or feasting her eyes on handsome men in a mixed bath, she couldn't say.

In any case, she had slept soundly!

Stelle stretched and opened her eyes to see a yellow rubber ducky on the bedside table.

No need to guess, it must be Dr. Ratio's handiwork.

She reached out and picked up the duck, feeling as if it still retained the warmth of the bathwater from her soak with the good doctor.

How wonderful.

These were the last peaceful moments before the Warp.

Ascending to Omphalos was imminent.

Finally.

The Express Crew had spent their last moments together.

Today was the day of the Warp!

The Trailblazer rolled out of bed, washed up, and sat down on the sofa with a serious expression.

She summoned her weapons from the void one by one.

Baseball Bat, Flame Lance, hat.

She wiped them all clean, muttering to herself.

"My buddies, a last-minute polish never hurts. If we have to fight after we get to Omphalos, we've got to be invincible!"

Especially after polishing her beloved Baseball Bat to a shine, the Trailblazer waved it with satisfaction.

The weapons disappeared back into the void.

Having taken care of weapon maintenance, there was a knock at the door.

March 7th's voice came from outside.

"Stelle, are you awake? It's the day of the Express meeting, are you ready?"

"Ah, coming, coming."

Stelle quickly got up and followed March 7th to the Parlor Car.

Welt, Himeko, Dan Heng, and Pom-Pom were already waiting.

Although Stelle already knew the Express Crew's destination from Aha's perspective, the Crew's partners hadn't truly decided yet.

This Express meeting was to determine the next Warp world and the route planning.

Pom-Pom originally wanted to go through the motions.

Let everyone vote on the next destination.

The options were:

'Ocean Planet' Lusaka
'Onyx World' Melusstein
'Eternal Land' Omphalos

Compared to Omphalos, the first two worlds weren't exactly safe either.

Known dangers versus unknown dangers...

In reality, people's hearts always lean towards the unknown.

It's a gamble.

Betting that maybe it's actually safe, maybe it's just a close call.

Moreover, Omphalos was a forbidden place that even Akivili hadn't set foot in, and no one except the Garden of Recollection had even heard of it.

The Star Rail exists to trailblaze!

The most important point was that the Star Rail's fuel was running low.

If it could successfully complete the trailblazing journey to Omphalos, then the Express Crew wouldn't have to worry about fuel for a while.

Based on the above reasons, everyone chose Omphalos as the destination for this trip.

The Trailblazer had nothing to say.

She already knew that this vote was just a formality.

This trip to Omphalos was a foregone conclusion.

So, the Express Crew unanimously passed the proposal to go to Omphalos.

Sunday did not participate in the meeting.

Perhaps for him, going anywhere was the same as leaving Penacony.

It didn't matter the destination; anywhere was fine, anywhere was the same.

Therefore, he simply followed the Express Crew's arrangements.

Black Swan also quietly waited in the parlor car.

The cards in her hand had long pointed to the only conclusion: the Express Crew would undoubtedly choose Omphalos.

This was the only information she had divined. Beyond this, everything about Omphalos, the impact after the Express Crew's warp, remained unknown to her.

But that was alright.

The woman smiled, lifting a glass from the bar and gently sipping the sweet liquid within.

The mission of Memory is to 'record,' to 'observe,' to 'tirelessly watch the world repeat itself.'

She only needed to give the Express Crew an option, then silently record everything she saw and heard on Omphalos. That would be enough.

Anything else, even if she couldn't divine it, didn't matter.

Long after Fuli's gaze swept over Omphalos, Black Swan finally regretted it.

Was Omphalos even more dangerous than she had imagined?

It had actually attracted the attention of the Aeon of Memory.

Was her 'intervention' right or wrong, after all?

But that was a story for another time.

The Express Crew's confirmed destination was indeed 'Omphalos.'

Black Swan came to the observation car, and under the gaze of the Express Crew, her fingertips tapped the window.

In the universe outside the window, a shape slowly emerged—

'8'.

Even though the Trailblazer had known for a while that the next stop was Omphalos, they had never imagined that Omphalos would look so bizarre!

It was literally a lying-down '8'!

Himeko gazed at the scenery outside the window, pondering, "It's more like a Möbius strip, I'd say."

Welt nodded, affirming Himeko's view.

But well, saying it looks like an 8 isn't wrong either.

With the warp imminent, March 7th returned to her room to clean her camera.

According to her, this trip with the trio must result in some beautiful shots!

Dan Heng remained silent.

He didn't react at all.

Even if he expressed a strong desire 'not to be photographed,' the end result would still be March 7th and the Trailblazer flanking him on either side, with the flash going off like crazy.

Since that was the case, he might as well give up resisting and obediently get in the picture.

The Trailblazer lowered their gaze.

Because she knew what March 7th was about to face; after all, this Trailblaze mission would only involve herself and Dan Heng.

But looking at the enthusiastic March, she could only smile and choose silence along with Dan Heng.

Having learned that the Express Crew had confirmed their destination and was ready for the warp, Sunday also came to the observation car.

He looked at the 8 outside the window, a strange celestial body different from the grand Penacony.

Thinking that he had left Penacony, whether he was on the Star Rail, on a washing star, or in any world, it didn't matter, there was no difference.

"Alright, passengers, get ready, warp, commencing—!"

Pom-Pom's voice rang out. The Trailblazer sat in their seat, feeling the intense weightlessness, and closed their eyes tightly.

As the warp began, just one step away from Omphalos, March 7th was indeed extremely weak.

The Trailblazer knew that this was the future that the Aeon Aha of Elation had spoiled for her in advance.

She and Dan Heng would soon get off the train, and after she got off, March 7th would be frozen in six-phase ice.

"It's okay."

Looking at her weakened companion, Stelle unconsciously clenched her fists, quietly cheering herself on in her heart.

"I'm the Galaxy Bat Knight, I can do anything!

March 7th, I will work diligently under Aha, and strive to obtain a script on how to thaw you!"