"Just as I thought... the predetermined story has already changed."
"The Astral Express crew never intended to stop the Doomsday Beast's attack. Instead, they chose to save themselves and evacuate the space station..."
With that in mind, Lin Feng's brain raced as he considered how to handle the situation.
Since his path life had already changed, the attacking Doomsday Beast might not be the same one as before.
A Doomsday Beast possessed the terrifying power to destroy planets. Under normal circumstances, it was not something ordinary people could fight.
Thinking back to the Doomsday Beast he had encountered and killed before, Lin Feng felt that the seemingly massive monster had been far too weak.
Yet this so-called Doomsday Beast could knock Herta Space Station out of its cruising orbit simply by ramming it with its body. By Lin Feng's reckoning, its strength was probably beyond measure.
Otherwise, Himeko and Welt Yang would not have abandoned Herta Space Station and chosen to evacuate outright.
"Given the situation, should I leave with the Astral Express?"
"No... according to the path simulation system's rules, leaving Herta Space Station's vicinity means the chapter ends."
"I haven't earned an S-Rank rating yet. I absolutely can't give up halfway!"
"Besides, Asta is still on Herta Space Station. I can't just leave..."
His mind racing, Lin Feng considered many possibilities and reached a decision.
The system had explicitly stated that the path simulation's progression was divided by region, with Herta Space Station serving as its first leg.
If he boarded the Astral Express now and left this region of space, the current simulation would end immediately.
Having finally earned an A-Rank path simulation rating, Lin Feng did not want to give up so easily.
After all, he did not have unlimited attempts at path simulation. If he failed to reach S-Rank on the Path of Elation this time, he might have even less chance in the future.
At the same time, Asta's sweet, lovely face surfaced in his mind, making it even harder to leave.
Lin Feng might have been a playboy, but he was not the kind of man who seduced a woman only to abandon her. He could not leave that gentle, kindhearted girl behind just to survive. Even if he had another chance to start over, things would never be the same.
"March 7th... go back on your own. I'm staying to fight the Doomsday Beast!"
Stopping in his tracks, Lin Feng tightened his grip on the Metal Baseball Bat, his face filled with resolve.
"You idiot... the Doomsday Beast is too powerful. You can't fight it!"
"Do you really know what a Doomsday Beast is? It's a super monster that can destroy planets!"
March 7th pursed her lips, her fair face beaded with sweat and heavy with concern.
"Of course I know how terrifying the Doomsday Beast is, but I can't leave."
"Don't ask too many questions. I have my reasons for staying..."
Letting go of the girl's slender hand, Lin Feng rested the Metal Baseball Bat on his shoulder, his deep eyes filled with determination.
"Aaaah! You big idiot... this isn't the time to play hero!"
"Come with me already! Come back with me, and I'll agree to anything you ask, okay?"
A faint mist seemed to gather in her beautiful pink eyes. Faced with Lin Feng's refusal to follow the plan, March 7th was so anxious she nearly cried.
She cared deeply about Lin Feng and naturally would not abandon him, but since Himeko had given the order, she must have had her reasons.
Their past Trailblaze journeys had brought them through many crises, all of which they had resolved perfectly in the end. Himeko always accounted for everything.
"Sorry... Little March. I can't do what you want this time!"
Reaching out with his broad hand, Lin Feng gently pinched March 7th's cute cheek, then turned away with a smile.
"Ugh... what am I supposed to do?"
Watching Lin Feng's retreating figure, March 7th stood frozen, at a loss.
"Fine... I'd better explain the situation to Himeko first!"
Biting her rosy lip, uncertainty written across her face, March 7th tapped her phone and hurriedly sent a message...
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
8:45 a.m., Herta Space Station's Central Control Zone.
Red warning symbols flashed incessantly across the many floating surveillance screens. Screams accompanied the fleeing crowds, throwing the area into chaos.
Beyond the fully transparent curtain wall that stretched like a sky overhead, the Doomsday Beast's immense silhouette blotted out the sea of stars.
A soldier from the Herta Space Station Security Department, clad in Powered Combat Armor, opened his helmet's visor, his expression grave.
"Any luck, Arlan? Have you contacted Station Manager Asta?"
"No... I don't know what's happening with the young lady. She hasn't responded at all."
Looking up from his phone, Arlan's face was grim.
Herta Space Station was facing a matter of life and death, yet Asta was nowhere to be found.
In Arlan's eyes, although Miss Asta came from a distinguished family, she had none of a princess's temper and was conscientious and responsible in her work.
This was the first time Arlan had ever seen Asta skip work since he had come to Herta Space Station.
"Wilna, how much longer can Herta Space Station's Repulsion Field Barrier hold off the Doomsday Beast?"
With a long sigh, Arlan turned his gaze toward the research specialist beside him.
"Chief Arlan, the Repulsion Field Barrier has 57% of its energy supply remaining. At... at most, it can only last another twenty minutes."
"If the outer force-field barrier breaks, the Doomsday Beast will easily tear through Herta Space Station's structure!"
The mature woman in a white uniform spoke anxiously, her hands rapidly tapping the smart terminal's panel.
Even as a veteran of the Master Control Cabin, Wilna could not help feeling afraid in the face of such an enormous crisis.
"Wilna, deploy all of the station's Plasma Firepower Modules and concentrate fire on the Doomsday Beast's head!"
"Even if we can't penetrate its outer armor, we need to slow its attack as much as possible."
"Yes, Chief Arlan!"
Upon receiving the order, Wilna quickly entered the authorization commands, fully activating Herta Space Station's active defenses.
Through the holographic surveillance wall, against the backdrop of boundless space, dozens of deep blue beams poured out like a torrential downpour, striking the mountain-sized Doomsday Beast and sending dense blue ripples across its body.
"Ruder, take the security department's mobile unit to maintain order at the escape pods immediately. Give the researchers priority for evacuation!"
"Yes, Arlan!"
The imposing, burly man in armor waved his large hand and led dozens of fully armed personnel swiftly out of the Central Control Zone.
"Was all of this... really just a coincidence?"
Gazing toward the far end of the sea of stars, where the world-destroying beast was still roaring and charging, Arlan's eyes were heavy with concern.
"What on earth is going on with the young lady? No... it looks like I'll have to go there myself!"
Muttering to himself, Arlan quickly turned and ran toward Asta's living quarters.
Before you continue