"Beep-beep-beep… Anomaly detected. Beep-beep-beep… Anomaly detected… Beep-beep-beep—"
Just as the three little ones were "burying their heads in their books" inside the train, trying to learn more about the world of Star Rail, a sharp alarm suddenly blared through the otherwise quiet carriage. On the radar in the Data Bank, a cluster of small red dots began to appear.
"Waah! You scared me to death! What's happening?!"
Kiana, who had just managed to get into a serious reading state, was so startled by the sudden, piercing alarm that she nearly flew out of her chair. Looking thoroughly spooked, she patted her chest repeatedly, trying to calm her breathing.
Alright, in truth, she hadn't been reading attentively at all; she was about to fall asleep… Only someone on the verge of extreme drowsiness, when suddenly frightened, could have a reaction like Kiana's, which was akin to a cat's fur standing on end.
"Something's not right. Why would the train's alarm suddenly go off? Has an enemy invaded?"
Mei watched as the Data Bank's radar screen became increasingly covered in red dots, her expression uneasy.
"Mei-senpai, Kiana, the best thing to do now is to find Miss Himeko," Bronya decisively opened the door to the Data Bank and called out to the other two.
"You're right. Let's hurry and find Miss Himeko and see what's going on."
Mei nodded, and the three of them quickly exited the Data Bank and headed towards the observation car.
Inside the observation car, Himeko was staring at the radar information in her hand with a grave expression. Although the Express hadn't started its journey yet, it had already passed through the wormhole and returned to the Star Rail world. But these things… where did they come from?
According to the radar, a group of unknown hostiles was loitering near the star rail. If the Express tried to approach, wouldn't it be attacked by them?
"The Antimatter Legion… what are they doing around the star rail?"
Himeko looked at the area around the star rail, completely baffled. Was there something nearby worthy of the Antimatter Legion's attention? Could it be… a Stellaron? No… the Express hadn't detected any Stellaron fluctuations, and the star rail itself was in good condition, not affecting normal passage…
"Miss Himeko, what should we do?"
Seeing Himeko's solemn expression, Mei asked with worry. Their trailblazing journey wasn't going to be fraught with peril from the very beginning, was it?
"Don't worry, it's not a big problem. The biggest question right now is why this group of Antimatter Legion is gathered here. As for the trailblazing ahead…"
Himeko smiled at the three little ones and Wendy, who had just rushed over after hearing the alarm, and held up her phone.
Displayed on the screen was Wende's contact information.
"Don't forget, we have an Aeon watching over us. So don't worry, I'll give Wende a call first… but the trailblazing journey we planned might have to change a bit…"
Himeko shook her head with a hint of helplessness. The original plan was to visit a planet the Astral Express hadn't been to in thousands of years. But now, it seemed better to park the Express near miHoYo Planet first. As for their first trailblazing journey…
Any place the Express hasn't been to before can be considered a form of Trailblazing, can't it? Although miHoYo Planet was nominally the Express's base, the train itself had never actually docked nearby. For the Astral Express and these "four new members," wasn't this also a kind of Trailblazing?
Himeko thought to herself with a harmless smile, watching as the four girls gradually calmed down.
"Hostile targets detected outside the carriage! Hostile targets detected outside the carriage! All passengers, please prepare for emergency!"
Pom-Pom's voice suddenly came over the broadcast. At the same time, a sound could be heard from outside the train's hull.
"Looks like we'll need to clean up these minions before I can call Wende…"
Himeko put down her phone with some resignation. It seemed the Antimatter Legion's objective was now very clear. Though she didn't know the reason, they were definitely targeting the Astral Express.
"Hmm… how about we use these Voidrangers as the first enemies you face on your trailblazing journey? Don't worry, it's safe outside. As long as you're within the Astral Express's range, you'll all receive the blessing of the Trailblaze. So, go all out without fear. I'll back you up."
Mei had been worried about the train being attacked, but now it seemed they really had to prepare to fight the monsters outside.
However, after hearing Himeko's reassurance, the anxiety in her heart immediately dissipated. If they would be under a "blessing" near the Express, did that mean they didn't have to worry about the effects of outer space or the lack of oxygen?
"It seems our first battle is about to begin. This is quite unexpected."
Bronya shook her head, her expression impassive. This was a far cry from what she had initially imagined.
"Hmph, what Antimatter Legion? Are those Voidrangers really tougher than Honkai Beasts? With their scrawny arms and legs, just watch me teach them a lesson!"
Kiana was brimming with fighting spirit, her custom-made dual pistols already poised for battle!
Wendy said nothing, but the scarf wrapped around her neck suddenly began to drift as if in a breeze. Her cyan eyes were filled with anticipation.
"Mm, be careful. After all, these guys don't look like they're just for show…"
Himeko's gaze sharpened as she stared at the Trampler that had appeared outside the porthole.
A white pillar of light flashed from the roof of the train, obliterating the Legion's Trampler so completely that not even ash remained.
She was the navigator and maintenance officer of the Express, after all. How could she not have given the train a slight "modification"?
Meanwhile, the new trailblazing quartet had already ascended the ladder from inside the carriage to the roof. Just as Himeko had said, they felt no pressure or suffocation here, just as if they were still inside!
"It looks like there are quite a few of them."
Bronya decisively summoned Project Bunny 19C, and a custom pistol appeared in her hand. It was a gift from Welt. Though she didn't know what it symbolized, the pistol was indeed very useful.
"Phew. Kiana, don't be careless. These guys aren't as easy to deal with as the ones in the game."
Mei took a deep breath. Her tachi appeared in her hand at some point, and she assumed a Cloud-flow sword style stance, not forgetting to remind Kiana.
"Don't worry, Mei-senpai! Teacher Dan Heng already taught me all about their attack patterns using these guys!"
Aiming her dual pistols at the menacing Voidrangers of the Antimatter Legion in the distance, a confident smile spread across Kiana's delicate face.
"Wendy, are you ready?"
Bronya looked back at Wendy, whose feet had already lifted off the roof of the train, and asked with concern.
"Mhm, don't worry, I'm ready!"
Wendy nodded with certainty, two spheres of pressurized wind formed from ideal fluid condensing in her hands.
"Alright! Let's go!"