Himeko had the others go make preparations first, while she personally informed Acheron, who was waiting for news, of their collective decision.
The Astral Express had agreed to her request.
They would accompany her on a trip to Jarilo-VI.
And so, Acheron boarded the train and, together with the crew of the Astral Express, warped to the location of Jarilo-VI.
From a distance, it was a world blanketed entirely in ice and snow.
Although the Stellaron had already been removed, the cold wave that shrouded Jarilo-VI would not disappear so easily.
Climate change was a long process. Without external intervention, it might take hundreds of years before this planet could recover its original appearance.
"So that's Jarilo-VI?"
"A world covered in ice and snow. That must be the cold wave recorded in the databank," Dan Heng said.
March 7th gazed at the white planet and sighed with emotion. "It's completely different from Izumo."
"Izumo was close to IX," Acheron said when she heard March 7th mention her homeland. "Before the end descended, Izumo was also a very beautiful planet. After the powers of Honkai and Nihility dissipated, you saw what it originally looked like."
Stelle had never seen Izumo and had no idea what it looked like, but she asked Dan Heng about Jarilo-VI instead.
She learned what kind of planet it was.
And why the cold wave had begun.
"So after the Stellaron is gone, this planet will slowly return to how it used to be?"
"But that will take a very long time."
Welt looked toward Acheron. "Miss Acheron, how does it feel to you?"
"From the surface, everything on this planet appears to be in order. It doesn't seem much different from the last time I came."
Her perception of Honkai energy was not as sharp as Kiana's. And since they had not yet entered the planet, she could not accurately judge the situation regarding Honkai.
For now, she could only assess it from the surface.
That was also the reason she had come.
The Antimatter Legion.
If the Antimatter Legion were to fully awaken, then this disaster-stricken planet would not appear as quiet as it did on the surface.
As Acheron had said, the situation here looked far better than Izumo. However, the specifics would only become clear after landing and conducting an on-site investigation.
"Let me lead the team this time."
"I'll go with you." Himeko knew that Welt would definitely disembark. When it came to Honkai, he was never calm. The last time they went to Izumo, he had nearly placed himself in danger alone. Himeko felt it necessary to accompany him.
She glanced at the others and, after a moment's thought, said, "Dan Heng, is it alright if you stay on the train?"
Little March was brimming with excitement, and Stelle had just joined the Astral Express—and her identity was special. Himeko felt it necessary to bring Stelle along.
That left only Dan Heng to remain behind.
"Go ahead. I'll assist you from the train," Dan Heng said without objection. Himeko and Welt were both capable, and Acheron would be accompanying them as well. He trusted Acheron's strength.
"Don't be discouraged, Dan Heng." March 7th suddenly popped up behind him and patted his shoulder in consolation. "This planet looks beautifully freezing. I'll take lots of pictures and pick some to give you as souvenirs!"
The corner of Dan Heng's mouth twitched slightly. He said nothing, only looked toward Himeko, hoping the two of them would keep an eye on March 7th—and on Stelle, who was even more lively and restless than March.
Using the Astral Express' equipment, the Nameless who had decided on the team selection descended onto the snow-covered planet together with Acheron.
They landed in the outskirts outside Belobog.
Everything around them was buried in ice and snow. Although the Stellaron had been removed and the wind and snow had lessened, the snow on the ground was still as thick as the last time she had come.
Where was Jyahnar, that Honkai Beast?
Acheron thought of Jyahnar, who remained here guarding this place. She was not Kiana and had no special resonance with Jyahnar.
"That is—?"
Welt quickly noticed something unusual. His expression turned grave as he stepped forward to confirm that it was indeed a product of the Interastral Peace Corporation.
"After the cold wave descended, we were no longer able to contact Jarilo-VI," Welt said after examining the object in his hand. "It seems that after the Stellaron was removed, Jarilo-VI has reestablished contact with the outside world."
"What is it?"
Stelle always noticed things that might benefit her first. She stood at Welt's side now, curiously studying the snow-dusted debris.
"Something from the Interastral Peace Corporation. It seems we are not the first visitors to this once-isolated planet."
Welt set the item down. Judging from its condition, it had likely been left behind within the past few days. The time gap probably was not long.
Acheron did not concern herself with whether others had come. She searched the surroundings for a moment before stopping in front of a tree, her brows knitting slightly.
Something felt off.
"The Voidrangers are gone." She turned to look at the others, sharing her discovery. "I vaguely remember that when I came here last time, there was a Voidranger frozen into an ice sculpture beneath this tree."
It had been here before.
Now it was gone.
Who would bother to move those Voidrangers when no one could even be sure whether they were truly dead?
"The Voidrangers are gone?"
Welt and Himeko walked over with solemn expressions. They knew all too well what that meant.
"When I came here last time, there were still many ice sculptures," Acheron said, sweeping her gaze across the surroundings with a frown. "But now, several are missing. It's possible their flames melted the solid ice, allowing them to revive."
As she spoke, Acheron faintly heard the subtle sound of ice cracking—crack.
Realizing what was about to happen, she changed in an instant.
The silence vanished, replaced by razor-sharp lightning.
The others only saw a streak of lightning flash before their eyes. The next moment, Acheron was already more than ten meters away, sliding Narukami back into its sheath.
Behind her, several bursts of violet electricity exploded, especially jarring against the vast white snowfield.
"The Antimatter Legion on this world seems to be showing signs of revival."
With Narukami returned to its sheath, Acheron—now in her Herrscher form—had a far more expressive look than before.
She frowned in thought. What Kiana had been worried about was precisely this—that removing the Stellaron would cause the Voidrangers of this world to revive.
"They were frozen like that and still alive?" March 7th, who had just been taking photos with an ice sculpture, was stunned. She completely forgot that when she had been found, she too had been frozen in ice.
Himeko noticed the weight in Acheron's expression and sensed there was more left unsaid. "Did you discover anything else?"
Acheron rested her hand on the hilt of her blade and voiced her impression. "I don't know if it's just an illusion, but these not-yet-fully revived Voidrangers feel more troublesome than the ones on the space station."
Stelle's eyes widened. "You can even sense that?"
She had never seen Acheron draw a second strike. Whether it had been earlier on the space station or now in this even more visually dazzling new form, there was a kind of strength to her that was simply beautiful—and enviable.
An enemy that could be dealt with in a single strike.
Could one really sense an enemy's strength that clearly?
"The flames inside their bodies are far stronger than those we encountered on the space station."
"Isn't that strange? They've been frozen for hundreds of years. The fact that they can even move is impressive enough. Don't tell me being frozen that long actually made them stronger?"
"It's likely because of Honkai energy."
After a brief moment of thought, Acheron gave what seemed the most plausible answer. The changes in the Voidrangers were related to Honkai energy.
That was precisely what they were worried about.
"Kiana once encountered certain enemies," Acheron continued. "After coming into contact with Honkai energy, they were corroded by it."
She looked toward the direction where the ice sculptures had just been reduced to dust amidst thunder.
"Some were transformed into Honkai creatures. Others were strengthened by its influence."
Welt adjusted his glasses, inwardly agreeing with her assessment. Although Kiana had said this Honkai differed from the one he knew, in his view, they were fundamentally similar.
"We should proceed carefully," Acheron reminded the Nameless of the Astral Express.
She had not been here for a long time and did not know the planet's current condition. Kiana had not mentioned what had become of Jyahnar either.
It was probably still within controllable limits.
"There's still a human settlement on this planet. Let's go there and take a look. The people of this world should know more than we do."
Welt's suggestion aligned with Acheron's own plan. The simplest way to uncover what was happening here would be to find Jyahnar.
But that one probably did not want to see her.
After the incident with the revived ice sculptures, the group became noticeably more cautious.
They advanced through the wind and snow toward the distant city. Along the way, Welt occasionally asked Acheron for more details. The journey was far from peaceful.
Aside from Voidrangers showing signs of breaking free, they also encountered several Fragmentum creatures.
"Are those locals?"
After about ten minutes of travel—having just eliminated another wave of Fragmentum creatures—March 7th spotted a squad in the snow ahead.
They were fully armed and dressed in identical uniforms. They appeared to be this world's defensive force.
"It looks like they've just been through a battle as well. Let's go take a look."
They were Silvermane Guards.
Acheron recognized them. She had stayed on this world for a short time before.
Though only briefly.
Their group was sizable and conspicuous. Before they could get too close, a blond man stepped forward to block their path.
"Halt!"
The blond man frowned slightly as he looked at them, clear vigilance in his expression.
"Are you outsiders?"
It seemed this world was not particularly welcoming to outsiders.
From his attitude, one could glimpse how the people here regarded those from beyond the stars.
"We mean no harm," Welt said calmly. "We were asked by a friend to come to this world and examine potential hidden dangers."
The blond man fell silent for a moment. His tone grew even more distant and guarded.
"Were you sent by the Interastral Peace Corporation?"
"No. I was."
Acheron stepped forward.
She had some impression of him. His name seemed to be Gepard. She had often seen him clearing Fragmentum creatures outside the city.
"You?"
Gepard did not take her at her word. Looking at Acheron—who clearly was not from Belobog—his voice carried doubt.
"My friend and I previously came to this world and discovered that you were troubled by a Stellaron," Acheron explained. "The Fragmentum had already expanded into your city. If it hadn't been sealed, you would likely have been swallowed by both the Fragmentum and the cold wave."
"You should have seen those Voidrangers. Many years ago, they set your world ablaze—until the cold wave brought by the Stellaron froze everything."
Stellaron. Fragmentum. Voidrangers. The cold wave.
Belobog had already learned of the connections between these from the Interastral Peace Corporation.
With the Stellaron gone, their most pressing issue had become how to deal with the gradually reviving Antimatter Legion—and who had sealed the Stellaron in the first place.
Now, the answer stood before them.
As they had suspected, it had indeed been someone from beyond the stars.
"So it was you and your friends who sealed the Stellaron." Gepard took a deep breath. His expression softened considerably.
"Thank you for everything you've done for Belobog. I am Gepard, Captain of the Silvermane Guards."
"There's no need to thank me just yet," Acheron said, shaking her head without concealing anything. "My friend is somewhat special. After arriving here, she brought certain changes to your world—an energy known as Honkai."
Her gaze deepened as she looked at Gepard, eventually settling on his hand.
"Stigmata are one of the powers she brought. If I'm not mistaken, you bear one as well."
Gepard froze for a moment. The Silvermane Guards behind him exchanged glances, as if something had suddenly clicked.
"…So its name is Stigmata?"
Gepard removed the glove from his right hand. A red mark was etched into the back of his hand—its simplified pattern resembling a shield.
"Stigmata?" Welt stepped forward. "May I take a look?"
"Of course."
Gepard nodded.
Belobog had conducted numerous examinations on these suddenly appearing marks. They had only determined that they were harmless. Those who bore them gained access to certain extraordinary techniques and abilities, and their physical capabilities were significantly enhanced.
"The Stigmata on your bodies are the result of Ruan Mei's research into Kiana's abilities, Honkai resistance, and the original Stigmata," Acheron explained. "They grant you immunity against Honkai corrosion. After Honkai energy spread throughout this world, Ruan Mei implanted resistance within its people."
Gepard fell silent for a moment.
"So this power… is a gift from someone?"
"Not a gift," Acheron corrected gently. "Compensation."
"The fact that Honkai energy remains in this world cannot be denied. We are responsible for dealing with the aftermath."
After a brief pause, she continued,
"Once Kiana fully masters her power, she may be able to reclaim the Honkai energy from this planet. I invited the Nameless of the Astral Express to accompany me here at her request—to examine the hidden dangers of the Antimatter Legion."
"No matter what, we brought change to your world. We have an obligation to help eliminate the risks and crises that remain."
Gepard connected the events of recent days into a single thread, finally piecing together a rough understanding of what had occurred.
"I may not fully understand what you mean by Honkai," he said slowly, "but the Stigmata have provided us with tremendous help. And… thank you for sealing the Stellaron and preventing further expansion of the Fragmentum—for everything you have done for Belobog."