Chapter 5: Old Yang: "Damn it! The Honkai is still chasing me!"

Inside the Astral Express, the passengers gradually recovered from the turbulence of the warp jump and began to stand up. Dan Heng emerged from the data room, while Himeko and Welt rose with gentle smiles.

March 7th stood up, rubbing her sore backside. During the warp, she had tried to brace herself in a horse stance to withstand the inertial forces, but her pained expression made it clear she had failed.

They were preparing to return to the Space Station for resupply and repairs. Pom-Pom had warped the Astral Express to a starfield near the station, where a serene azure planet slowly rotated in the distance.

"This warp back to the Space Station requires a massive resupply for the train, and it's been too long since we last performed maintenance," Pom-Pom announced to the group. "Relying solely on Himeko for repairs would be an overwhelming task. Therefore, we're counting on all of you, passengers, to lend a hand."

March 7th's eyes lit up at the prospect of visiting the Space Station. Himeko and Welt nodded in agreement. Dan Heng volunteered to stay with Pom-Pom, explaining that there was nothing for him to do at the station.

Pom-Pom, a bipedal creature resembling a lop-eared rabbit, was the Conductor of the Astral Express.

"There's no need, Passenger Dan Heng. You should disembark with the others. Conductor Pom-Pom will stay here."

"Hmm? Something feels off. There's something outside the train!"

Pom-Pom's words immediately put the Nameless on alert. Welt tightened his grip on the top of his cane, Himeko retrieved a suitcase containing combat drones, and Dan Heng drew his spear, Cloudpiercer. March 7th nervously peered out the window.

They spotted a translucent sphere, roughly a kilometer away, drifting slowly toward the train. Fortunately, its pace was sluggish.

"Uncle Yang and Himeko, what's the plan?" March 7th asked, her eyes fixed on the mysterious orb approaching outside the window.

From left to right: Welt, Dan Heng, March 7th.

This was Himeko, the navigator of the Astral Express.

"The safest course of action would be to shoot it down," Welt said, warily watching the approaching sphere. "We have no idea what that thing is." He suspected the Void Archives was up to some new scheme to torment him.

Void Archives: The mastermind behind bringing Welt to the Star Rail world through the Star Gate, and the first Divine Key of the pre-Honkai civilization. It can materialize and mimic the forms and attacks of various Divine Keys, though its power is less than half that of the originals.

Void Archives, the enemy Pom-Pom kicked off the Astral Express, and the first Divine Key Otto has been scheming to "marinate" to perfection for ages.

"Here, take these binoculars, Uncle Yang," Dan Heng said, handing them to Welt. "They'll help you get a better look at what that thing is."

Welt nodded gratefully and focused the binoculars on the semi-transparent sphere drifting toward the Astral Express. As he peered through the lenses, everyone noticed the usually calm and composed Welt suddenly stiffen. Involuntarily, he crushed the binoculars, sending shards clattering onto the floor, earning Pom-Pom's displeased glare—everyone knew about the Conductor's obsession with cleanliness.

But what truly caught their attention was Welt's expression. His face was pale with a rare mixture of shock, panic, and disbelief as he stared at the approaching sphere.

"No... this can't be possible!"

Welt pressed himself against the window, his brow furrowed as he stared intently at the sphere floating outside.

"Could Uncle Yang know something about this? Is it an enemy?" March 7th asked anxiously.

"It seems only Welt can answer that," Himeko said, glancing at him with a hint of helplessness. She had never seen him display such disbelief before.

"No, it's not an enemy," Welt said solemnly, his voice grave. "Or rather, it's an old friend, someone I know all too well. I never expected to see her in this world."

"Conductor, prepare to open the door. I'm going out to retrieve that sphere," Welt instructed Pom-Pom. The conductor glanced at the others for approval, and none objected. They were all equally curious about the mysterious sphere and who inside could elicit such a reaction from the usually composed Welt.

"Alright, everyone, take your seats and secure yourselves against the vacuum," Pom-Pom warned. Once everyone was seated and reinforced by Pathstrider Power, the conductor opened the train door. A fierce vacuum roared through the car, threatening to pull everything into the void. Strangely, however, a faint golden light of Pathstrider Power emanated from the surroundings, anchoring everything in place.

Welt leaped through the open train door, propelled by the vacuum's pull. Gripping his cane-like Star of Eden, he caught the sphere mid-air. Clamping it under one arm, he hastily flew back inside the train as Pom-Pom slammed the door shut, ending the terrifying suction.

As the others prepared to gather around the sphere, Welt held them back, his eyes fixed on the orb with cautious vigilance.

Pop!

The sphere shattered on the floor, releasing a fragrant mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide with a delicate floral scent. The unconscious figure within immediately drew everyone's attention—a small, beautiful girl with delicate features. March 7th stared in fascination at the petite form.

"Bishop Theresa from my homeland," Welt said gravely, adjusting his glasses. "I never expected to find her here. I don't know what circumstances brought her into the vacuum of space."

As a longtime acquaintance of St. Freya Academy and former leader of Anti-Entropy, Welt recognized her instantly. She was Theresa Apocalypse—the headmaster of the Far East Herrscher Academy, and Otto's granddaughter!

"Mmm~"

A sweet, childlike voice broke the silence as the adorable girl on the ground opened her beautiful, azure eyes. Rubbing them sleepily, she blinked and glanced around in confusion. Her face paled instantly when she saw Welt.

"Ehh, Alliance Leader Welt! What are you doing here? Where am I?"

"Where are Kiana and the others?!"

Hua Ling, now feigning panic as Theresa, shouted at Welt. From now on, let's refer to her as Theresa.

"Bishop Theresa, shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" Welt demanded, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Why were you drifting in the void of space, encased in that strange sphere?"

The others looked on curiously, wondering why this young girl was calling Welt "Alliance Leader"—a title that sounded far from ordinary. They all suspected Welt must have been someone important in the past.

"I have no idea myself," Theresa said, her voice still groggy. "The last thing I remember is a black hole suddenly appearing and sucking me in. When I woke up, I was lying here."

Theresa gazed at Welt, her expression bewildered. Welt stared back, utterly exasperated. He hadn't even made it to the Honkai yet, but the Honkai's people had already come looking for him. He was truly speechless.

"Don't worry, everyone," Welt said, dropping a bombshell. "This is an old acquaintance of mine, Theresa Apocalypse. We're practically old friends, wouldn't you say?"

"And she's in her forties," he added, casually.

The group stared in astonishment at the offended Theresa.

"Damn you, Welt!" she shouted, glaring at him indignantly. "Who are you calling forty-something? I'm only fourteen! That's right, fourteen!"

Despite her fierce outburst, Theresa's heart pounded with anxiety. She wasn't the real Theresa Apocalypse at all, but a twisted creation of a mischievous Aeon with a cruel sense of humor.