"Sorry for the wait, Mr. Dan Heng."
It seemed his identity had finally been confirmed.
After he had waited patiently for a while, Asta's voice came through the communicator, carrying a trace of apology.
She had clearly hurried all the way here from the station's central control sector, and there was still a hint of weariness on her face.
But Dan Heng noticed that the dark circles under her eyes were deeper than the last time they had met.
It looked like the stationmaster had been working herself very hard lately.
"You're too courteous, Miss Asta. I'm the one who arrived without notice this time." Dan Heng shook his head slightly.
"And with the galaxy in such turmoil lately, it's only natural for the station to heighten security."
Asta let out a small sigh of relief and gave him a faint smile.
"I'm glad you understand."
She walked up to the edge of the barrier and tapped a few controls on the panel. The pale blue Imaginary shield slowly opened into a wider passage before her.
"Please, come in, Mr. Dan Heng. I've already verified your identity."
Dan Heng nodded and followed Asta through the barrier into the station's interior.
The scenery around him shifted from the Nihility-blackened void of space to ordered metal corridors.
Everything looked neat and controlled.
Still, Dan Heng could tell that the atmosphere in the station had indeed grown more severe.
"A number of things really have happened across the galaxy over the last three months," Asta said as she led the way.
"Because of what happened with the Xianzhou Alliance, the IPC has been making moves on a much larger scale than usual, and the situation across many star systems has become… delicate."
Dan Heng's brow twitched faintly.
"What happened with the Xianzhou Alliance? And the IPC's movements?"
He was genuinely puzzled.
Had something else happened on the Luofu lately? Could she be referring to what Madam Cecilia had done there?
But that had been nearly four months ago by now. Was the station really still that on edge because of it?
As his mind spun through one possibility after another, Dan Heng failed to realize that he had simply fallen behind the times.
"Yes." Asta nodded, but made no move to elaborate.
"Still, we can talk about all that after you've met Madam Herta."
Dan Heng did not press her further.
What mattered most to him right now was not the state of the galaxy, but the situation of the Astral Express.
When he had left, the train had still been barely able to maintain basic functions—but no one knew how long that pitiful scrap of remaining power would last.
"Stationmaster Asta." Dan Heng quickened his pace until he was walking alongside her.
"The main reason I came is to ask Madam Herta for help."
Asta's steps paused for an instant as she turned to look at him.
"I heard the Astral Express ran into trouble?"
Dan Heng nodded, a serious look passing through his eyes.
"We were attacked by a Swarm bug not long ago, and afterward we were accidentally trapped in a domain of Nihility for three months."
"Although we finally got out, the train's propulsion system has suffered severe corrosion."
He paused, and his voice lowered.
"We originally planned to come to the station for help, but the train's remaining energy is no longer enough to get it here."
Asta's brows drew together.
"So it was three months ago after all… No wonder there's been no sign of the Astral Express all this time."
She fell silent for a moment, then sped up.
"Let's see Madam Herta first. A matter like this really does require her personal approval."
"But please don't worry, Mr. Dan Heng. Given the Express's status, Madam Herta will absolutely be willing to help."
Dan Heng said nothing more and quietly followed Asta onward.
Very soon, the two of them arrived outside Herta's office.
As stationmaster, Asta was naturally one of the few people with authority to open it.
She worked the controls, and the door slid open.
Sure enough, the first thing they saw upon entering was Herta's back.
At the moment, she seemed to be occupied with some line of research, surrounded by various instruments and apparatuses.
"Madam Herta," Asta said respectfully.
"Sorry to disturb you, but Mr. Dan Heng of the Astral Express is here. It seems the train has run into trouble and needs your assistance."
Herta did not turn around immediately.
She stood before that cluster of data for a few more seconds before finally turning.
Dan Heng's pupils contracted slightly.
Because standing before him was not one of Herta's usual puppets.
It was Herta's real body.
That was enough to surprise him a little. Come to think of it, this was the first time he had ever seen the real Herta in person.
"Dan Heng, from the Astral Express?" Herta said, her voice a shade lower and heavier than her puppets'.
"Why are you here?"
Her eyes swept over him once, then her brows drew together slightly.
"Where's your navigator? Didn't Himeko come with you?"
Dan Heng shook his head, then decided not to waste time circling around the issue.
"Madam Herta, the Astral Express has run into some trouble, and we urgently need your help."
He stepped forward and met her gaze directly.
"We were trapped in a domain of Nihility during navigation for a full three months."
At that, Herta frowned even more deeply.
"Nihility again? Even your Astral Express ended up colliding with Nihility?"
That only confused Dan Heng further. Was Nihility becoming common throughout the galaxy lately?
After a beat of silence, he nodded again.
"Yes. We accidentally entered a region of Nihility."
"Though we eventually escaped, the train's propulsion system has been badly corroded, and its stored energy is no longer enough to reach the station."
He paused, and a note of earnest request entered his voice.
"So I hope Madam Herta can help by sending someone to retrieve the Astral Express."
"The Express will absolutely repay you afterward."
The office fell quiet for a moment.
Herta looked at him without speaking.
That silence made Dan Heng's heart sink slightly.
"Fine," Herta said at last.
The answer was brief, even casual—but it was still a good outcome.
"But for this kind of thing, you could just tell Asta to arrange it. You don't need to trouble me personally."
Then she turned back to the data array before her, as if the news Dan Heng had brought was no more than a trivial inconvenience.
Fortunately, Dan Heng was already somewhat familiar with the temperament of this genius.
"Asta," Herta said.
"Yes," Asta answered at once.
"Arrange a few rescue vessels and have them tow the Astral Express back."
"Understood."
"And one more thing," Herta added. "Check the extent of the train's damage. If it needs materials, take whatever is necessary directly from the station stores."
Asta nodded, then turned to leave.
But Dan Heng did not move.
Strictly speaking, after receiving Herta's promise, he ought to hurry back and meet up with his companions.
Yet he remained standing there, looking at Herta's back, his lips moving as though he still wanted to say something.
Herta sensed his stare, of course, and turned her head slightly.
"What is it? Is there something else?"
Dan Heng was silent for a moment, then took something out from inside his coat.
It was the cube.
The cube covered in eyes—Prison Realm.
This was the object Miss Kallen had specifically asked him to deliver to Madam Herta.
Though he had no idea why she wanted him to bring such a bizarre thing to Herta, if it was a request from her, helping out along the way did not seem like much.
At once, Herta's movement froze.
She stared at the cube as though she had discovered something fascinating, and the light in her eyes abruptly turned fervent.
"What is this thing? Its aura is unbelievably strange."
Dan Heng answered slowly, "A friend asked me to pass it on to you as a gift."
"A friend? And for me?" Herta turned fully around and strode over to him.
"Which friend?"
Dan Heng hesitated briefly, then decided to respect Kallen's request.
"She said there was no need to tell you who she was."
"She seemed to want to give you a surprise."
Herta frowned.
A surprise for her… Could it be that Stellaron-brat?
She thought it over for a second. Among the people on the Astral Express, only the gray-haired one really seemed like the type to do something like this.
Her eyes lingered on the cube for a few seconds before she extended a hand.
"Give it here. Let me take a look."
Dan Heng did not hesitate. He handed Prison Realm over.
The instant it touched Herta's palm, her fingers paused slightly.
The eyes on the thing wriggled once in her hand, then suddenly went still.
"…Interesting."
Her breathing quickened for just a moment.
"These eyes… they're all real eyes."
Dan Heng's brow furrowed.
"They're real?"
He had assumed they were some kind of grotesque decoration.
"Yes." Herta nodded and lightly brushed one fingertip along the edge of one of the eyes.
That eye blinked once, as though responding to her touch.
"I can feel that it has a complete neural structure, blood vessels, even weak bioelectrical responses."
Her speech began to speed up noticeably.
"This thing is alive."
Dan Heng's pupils tightened.
Alive.
The gift Miss Kallen had asked him to deliver was a living cube.
A living cube covered in eyes.
The more he thought about it, the more disturbing it became.
"Madam Herta, is it possible this thing is dangerous?"
Herta didn't even look up, her gaze still fixed on the cube in her hand.
"Dangerous? Of course it's dangerous."
"Anything unknown is dangerous. That's exactly why it's worth studying."
Dan Heng's lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but in the end he stayed silent.
He remembered Kallen's words—this was a gift for Herta.
If it was a gift, then there shouldn't be a problem… right?
That was what he told himself, though the unease in his chest still did not fade.
He looked at the cube in Herta's hand and had the odd feeling the eyes were looking at him differently now than before.
He was not sure whether that was only his imagination.
And then, in the very next instant, something went wrong.
The cube in Herta's hand suddenly shuddered violently.
Herta's reaction was swift. Her fingers clenched immediately, trying to pin it in place.
But the strength within the cube was far too great.
So great that her hand simply could not hold it.
It slipped free from her fingers at once.
Then it hovered there in midair.
And in the next moment, all of its eyes opened.
Dozens of eyes, staring from every angle, taking in everything in the office.
After that, another aura welled up from the cube.
But it did not feel like Path energy. Nor did it feel like Imaginary power.
It was something more primal.
Something sinister.
A presence that stirred instinctive unease, the kind that made one want to flee.
Dan Heng's expression changed instantly.
His hand was already on Cloud-Piercer, the spear's point cold beneath the office lights as he fell into a stance at the ready.
At that point, he no longer had time to worry about whether he trusted Kallen or not.
If anything happened to Madam Herta right in front of him, then never mind helping rescue the Astral Express—he himself would never be able to live it down.
"Madam Herta, this thing—" Dan Heng began.
"Don't rush." Herta cut in, and there was a rare edge of excitement in her voice.
Her eyes were shining, locked on the hovering Prison Realm as if she were staring at some unparalleled treasure.
"This thing… is really something."
As she spoke, Herta stepped forward again, completely ignoring the eyes fixed upon her.
"Dan Heng, don't move yet. Let me take another look."
Dan Heng's brows drew tighter.
His grip on Cloud-Piercer did not relax, but neither did he strike rashly.
Herta was the master of this place, and as an Emanator, someone of her strength should not be harmed so easily by a single Curio.
That was what Dan Heng told himself, though the unease remained.
Then Herta extended a hand and lightly touched Prison Realm where it floated in the air.
This time, the eyes did not avoid her.
They only stared at her quietly, as though waiting for something.
Herta muttered under her breath, "Mm… looks like some sort of sealing Curio."
Her fingers glided across its surface, seemingly checking its structure.
"And in its current state, it's already built up enough power to swallow someone."
"Oh? Could it be planning to swallow me?"
Herta made the bold guess herself.
Dan Heng's face darkened at once.
"Madam Herta, if this Curio is dangerous, then you should distance yourself from it immediately."
He stepped forward, positioning himself in front of her, Cloud-Piercer leveled at Prison Realm.
But Herta waved dismissively, utterly unconcerned.
"Relax. Don't underestimate me just because you're the Astral Express's guard. I'm a genius. You think one little Curio can seal me?"
There was pride in her tone.
But the moment the words left her lips, Prison Realm moved.
Dozens of eyes shifted at once, all focusing on Herta.
Herta: "—!"
Then a pitch-black tendril shot out from the side of the cube, so fast it was nearly impossible to see.
"Madam Herta!" Dan Heng's pupils contracted violently.
He tried to move, but it was already too late.
Thud.
The tendril pierced straight through Herta's abdomen.
Blood burst out at once, staining the purple fabric of her dress bright red.
A flicker of surprise crossed Herta's face.
She lowered her head to look at the wound in her stomach, then raised her eyes to the floating Prison Realm.
"I actually… didn't react at all?"
She immediately tried to summon the Path power within her body—but a strange force seeped out from the tendril, devouring her Path completely.
"What… is this…?" Herta froze.
Dan Heng's expression changed utterly.
He hesitated no longer. Cloud-Piercer thrust out in a straight line.
But Prison Realm's aura only trembled faintly.
Then a stronger force erupted out of the cube and sent Dan Heng flying.
"…Damn it," Herta said weakly.
She tried to steady herself, but the agony tearing through her abdomen left her nearly unable to move.
At the same time, the eyes on Prison Realm shut all at once, and a crack split open along its surface, like the gaping maw of some monstrous mouth taking shape.
It lunged for Herta.
Herta's pupils shrank.
She wanted to resist, but with her Path consumed, she could not draw out even a sliver of strength.
So this is it… Am I actually going to overturn the car here?
Just as that gaping mouth was about to swallow Herta whole—
"Stop!"
A clear, cold female voice rang out.
In the next second, a spatial rift tore open beside Herta.
A figure leapt out from within it, power of utter destruction condensed in one fist, and slammed it straight into Prison Realm.
"…Kiana?" Herta called out, visibly surprised.
That was right. The one who had suddenly appeared was Kiana, who had already been lying in wait for quite some time.
Ever since the events on Penacony had ended, she had followed Herta back to Herta Space Station.
Of course, she wasn't the only one. Acheron and Starbane—two more members of the "friends and family support group"—were also currently on the station.
But Kiana did not have the leisure to care about any of that right now.
While Prison Realm's arrival had, in fact, happened with one of her nods of approval, all she had wanted was an opportunity to let the heavily weakened Mobius back into the Xianzhou Alliance's hands.
She had no intention whatsoever of letting Herta get swallowed by it for real.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rang out.
Prison Realm was blasted away by that punch and smashed hard into the opposite wall of the office.
And Kiana took the chance to catch Herta.
"Herta, are you okay?" Kiana asked, looking down at the woman in her arms.
Blood was still flowing from Herta's abdomen, and her face was pale, but her eyes were as clear as ever.
"Cough… cough… I'm… I'm fine."
She managed the hint of a smile.
"This thing is a little twisted, but it's not a fatal wound. My body should still be able to handle it."
And that was the truth.
A moment ago, Herta really had thought she was about to flip the car, but as an Emanator, now that she had escaped Prison Realm's control, recovering from this level of injury would not be difficult.
At the same time, Dan Heng pulled himself up from the floor and hurried over.
His expression was no better.
Though he himself had not been injured, that Curio had indeed been brought in by him, and he had personally placed it into Herta's hands.
If this were mishandled, it could very well turn into a diplomatic disaster between the Astral Express and Herta.
"Madam Herta. This is my responsibility."
Dan Heng acknowledged it at once, then fell silent.
He did not try to explain himself, nor did he attempt to shift blame elsewhere.
Because the facts were the facts.
Whether Miss Kallen had known how dangerous the cube was, whether she had meant harm or not—he was the one who had delivered it to Herta in the end.
But after hearing him out, Herta only waved a hand.
She was still pale, but her tone was unexpectedly calm.
"All right, stop doing that thing where you reflect on yourself like it's your funeral."
"This really isn't your fault."
Herta leaned back against Kiana and lifted her eyes to Dan Heng.
"You warned me several times just now. First you asked if it might be dangerous. Then you told me to get away from it. Then you actually stepped in front of me."
"It was me who didn't listen and insisted on touching it myself."
"Just because I'm a genius doesn't mean geniuses never overturn their cars."
At that point, Herta even tried to curl her lips into a smile, but the pain from the wound in her abdomen stopped her.
"So this has nothing to do with you. Stop taking it onto yourself."
Dan Heng's lips parted slightly.
The more Herta said that, the worse he felt.
She had been wounded, and yet she was the one turning around and comforting him.
Being forgiven felt even worse than being rebuked.
Dan Heng was silent for a moment before finally saying, "…Understood."
Herta glanced at him. She seemed to sense something, but chose not to press the matter.
Instead, she took a breath and shifted topics.
"All right. Back to the real issue."
"This Curio—you said a friend asked you to deliver it to me?"
Dan Heng nodded.
"Yes."
"She said she was your friend, and that this cube was a gift she once promised to give you."
"She also said there was no need to tell you who she was. She wanted to surprise you."
Dan Heng repeated the words exactly as he had been given them.
Then he saw Herta's expression change.
She asked, "What's her name?"
Because Herta certainly did not remember having a friend this mischievous.
So Dan Heng answered, "It's Miss Kallen."
"Miss Kallen was ambushed by the IPC and gravely wounded into unconsciousness. She just happened to appear in that domain of Nihility."
"Right now, she's still aboard the train as a hitchhiking passenger."
After saying that, he looked up at Herta, wanting to see how she would react.
And Herta's expression looked as though she had just seen a ghost.
"You just said who? Kallen?"
"That Nihility Witch? Ambushed by the IPC and heavily wounded into unconsciousness?"
At once, Dan Heng froze too.
Who was she talking about?
Who was the Nihility Witch?
Wasn't Miss Kallen the Saintess of Preservation?
oin here to read ahead.
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 180)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl 285
"Is this chat group even serious?" 150
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (This matter is completely finished.)
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 255
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 210
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 305
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer (This matter is completely finished.)
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 130
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 155
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 120
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 155
My Harem Is Indescribable 105
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 110
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 110
Still playing traditional Honk 96
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 95
What Should I Do After Switchi 51
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 105
Checking In in Demon Slayer 95
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 105
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 95
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel (This matter is completely finished.)
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 95
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 90
Why did they assign me to Uma 80
MYGO Beauties 75
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 80
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 100
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 120
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 65
The Uma Musume Who Became 70
I'm Definitely Not the King of 105
After Maxing Out Every Class 110
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 95
I, the Elden Sword Saint 60
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 60
No One Knows Pokémon Better 60
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 69
From Trilobites to Titans 57
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 75
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 86
An Anime Heroine Darkened 60
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 70
Honkai: The Fire Devil 70
Honkai Transformation Cards Volume2/30
Age of Heroes, I'm Just a Back 60
Uma Musume Has No Weird Fan Le 74
At age 8, she co-starred with 42
Honkai: Schicksal Media 30
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