When Himeko spoke her thoughts seriously, Hermes couldn't help but respond with a chuckle, "Although the torrent of fate in the The Universe is no longer important—as I can back you up at any time—your journey really isn't something you can just stop whenever you want."
"Oh? Is there some specific reason behind this?"
Frowning slightly, Himeko was puzzled. In this vast universe, was there actually anything left that could trouble her man?
Though she didn't know Hermes' exact current strength, there was no doubt that even those Aeons likely weren't enough to make him feel wary.
"Haven't you noticed? Ever since you repaired the Astral Express and set foot on the Path of Trailblaze through the stars, hasn't the growth of the Astral Express Crew's strength been fast beyond all reason?"
How long had it been since Himeko stepped into the stars?
Yet she was already a cut above the top Destiny Walkers.
Though still far from becoming an Envoy, unlike other Destiny Walkers who found it invisible and intangible, she truly had a glimmer of hope.
Welt Yang, the former Sovereign of Anti-Entropy from the Honkai world—he didn't bring a herrscher core with him before coming to this universe!
But after joining the Astral Express Crew, his strength skyrocketed. Not only did he step onto a Path, but he also reaped the benefits of two worlds, with his strength nearly catching up to Himeko's.
Dan Heng, a scion of the High Elders who was exiled by the Xianzhou Alliance, his draconic power incomplete and dormant.
He had some power, but how strong was it?
Not necessarily that strong.
But what about now?
He can even trade blows with the Lord Ravager Phantylia for several rounds!
Then there are the two little ones, March 7th and Stelle.
Don't be fooled by how unremarkable these two youngsters seem now; they are currently in their true infancy!
When March 7th was salvaged onto the Express, she was in a state of amnesia.
Stelle was even worse off—a true reincarnation, her very body having just been printed.
But how long has it been?
If you placed them on some indigenous planets that haven't even reached the stars, they would be more than capable of serving as planetary gods.
"Himeko, do you think this is normal?"
As Hermes passed a beverage shop, he casually bought a few bottles of SoulGlad and asked back with a light smile.
"...While I hate to admit it, this is indeed somewhat unusual."
Himeko's brow furrowed slightly. Hearing it put this way, she did feel it was very strange.
Vast as the The Universe is, and as immeasurable as the number of sentient lives may be, the number of Destiny Walkers is actually not that many by comparison.
Roughly speaking, on an ordinary inhabited planet with a population of about 10 billion, the number of Destiny Walkers is around several dozen, usually not exceeding 100.
Sometimes, it wouldn't even be strange if there wasn't a single Destiny Walker.
Moreover, most of them are just beginners. Destiny Walkers who can rely on their own strength to walk into the stars are one in ten thousand.
And after becoming a Destiny Walker, if one wants to go further, one needs to practice the Path.
To reach the level of a top Destiny Walker—capable of single-handedly destroying a planet or contending with interstellar fleets—is to be a powerhouse with a name known throughout the entire The Universe.
But what about the Astral Express Crew?
Relative to their rate of progress, their experiences are practically not worth mentioning... With a thought, Hermes pulled Himeko to a dilapidated place that seemed ready to swallow all people and buildings alike.
This was Dreamflux Reef—
The place where Mikhail was buried.
"This is actually why Elio went through so much trouble, taking one detour after another, just to tuck Stelle into the Astral Express Crew."
The relationship between Stelle and the Astral Express Crew is complex.
Stelle alone, while quite special, wouldn't count as a protagonist; she doesn't really have a protagonist's halo over her head.
And the Astral Express Crew of Himeko, Welt, Dan Heng, and March 7th alone might have been able to peacefully blaze a trail through the stars and embark on endless adventures without Stelle, but it would always feel like something was missing... But when the two are combined, a chemical reaction occurs—
Endless dangers, incredibly exciting adventure journeys, heart-pounding moments on the brink of despair, and... rapid leaps in strength!
"There's such a theory?"
Himeko's brow furrowed tightly. Was there any logic to this?
"The world is just a makeshift stage; every moment is a live broadcast."
"This is nothing to be surprised about, and you don't need to think too much. When your journey ends and you return to my side, looking back at the past, I'm sure you'll understand then."
By riding the torrent of the era to the end, even if Himeko couldn't inherit the Path of Trailblaze, she would surely reach a pinnacle. At that time, he could give her a little push... Hermes thought silently.
He didn't say the words out loud; once spoken, variables would arise.
Himeko was truly excellent; her charm was even enough to captivate Hermes.
Unfortunately.
She lacked the innate talent of geniuses like Herta, and she didn't have the innate 'cheats' that Stelle and March 7th possessed.
Being able to repair the crashed Astral Express all by herself, Himeko's excellence was self-evident.
But... she wasn't excellent enough!
Her ability was quite inferior compared to Dr. MEI of the Honkai world.
To become a true 'Genius'—Hermes looked through 108,000 world lines and could only shake his head.
While it wasn't to say that one couldn't achieve great things without being a 'Genius', the probability of her transcending and becoming a cosmic powerhouse... frankly speaking, even Hermes couldn't say in good conscience that Himeko possessed that possibility.
There was no other way.
Hermes could only lay out plans in secret, striving to brew this infinitesimal 'possibility' for Himeko.
With Hermes' ability, as long as that 'possibility' truly existed, everything would be fine. The fear was that even such a possibility didn't exist.
Sometimes, reality is just that cruel.
Whether one can become a Cosmic Truth really depends on 'fate'!
He continued to ponder and plot in his heart, but Hermes didn't show a hint of it on his face as he and Himeko admired this grey world.
"Even though I already knew the story, coming here in person still makes me sigh and... feel displeased!"
Putting her worries aside for the moment, Himeko followed Hermes to the rooftop, gazing out at this bleak world and letting out a sigh.
In this matter, The Family had indeed acted quite dishonorably.
Back then, it was the three Nameless ones, including Mikhail, who went through immense hardships—one could even say they nearly drained their lifeblood—to liberate Penacony.
But as soon as The Family arrived, they stole the fruits of victory from the three Nameless predecessors and kicked them aside.
A complex expression appeared on her face as Himeko took the SoulGlad Hermes handed her and placed it where Mikhail had previously slept, as a tribute.
As Penacony's most common drink, using it as a tribute to a departed predecessor was more than appropriate.
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