Chapter 129: A First Look at Amphoreus
Once the plan was finalized, a tense and orderly atmosphere settled over the Astral Express, replacing the earlier mood of solemn confusion. With their missions clear, a sense of purpose galvanized the crew.
"There's no time to lose," Welt said, his voice a low rumble. He turned his gaze to Sunday. "We'll head to the Herta Space Station at once. The unknown nature of Amphoreus, coupled with the Emanator-level existence lurking within, should be more than enough to attract Ms. Herta's interest."
He was intimately familiar with the Genius Society member's fervent, almost obsessive, pursuit of cosmic mysteries.
Sunday inclined his head, his expression one of complete agreement. "Ms. Herta's wisdom and resources represent one of the most optimal solutions for our current predicament." He paused, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. "Additionally, it might be worth attempting to contact 'Acheron.' The astonishing combat power she displayed back in Penacony would make her a crucial trump card against an Emanator. As for the Xianzhou Alliance..."
He shook his head slightly, his tone shifting to one of cool, rational analysis. "Forgive my frankness, but as a vast and complex political entity, its mobilization involves extensive resources and immense logistical consumption. Unless absolutely necessary, it would be inadvisable to involve them in this trailblazing mission while the situation remains so unclear. focusing on aid from individual powerhouses is far more flexible and efficient."
Welt nodded, a look of deep accord on his face. "That aligns perfectly with my own thoughts. Himeko, I'll be leaving the Astral Express and Miss Black Swan in your care."
"Don't worry," Himeko replied, her gaze firm and reassuring. "Pom-Pom and I will guard the Express and await your good news."
With no need for further farewells, Welt and Sunday immediately turned and strode toward the communication and teleportation array at the far end of the parlor car, preparing to initiate the warp jump procedure to the Herta Space Station.
At the same time, on the opposite end of the Express, Dan Heng, Stelle, and March 7th had already boarded the detached, independent landing carriage. This temporary module, now uncoupled from the main train, would serve as their forward outpost for the descent onto Amphoreus.
The space inside the carriage wasn't expansive, but it was fully functional. The control panel before them glowed with a soft blue light, casting long shadows across the compact interior.
"Separation procedure ready, Pom-Pom!" The conductor's voice crackled through the carriage's internal broadcast, laced with a hint of tension but filled with even more encouragement. "Fuel injection complete! Coordinates locked to Amphoreus's near-orbit! Good luck, Pom-Pom! Make sure you bring back the other half of passenger March 7th! Countdown begins—three, two, one! Separate!"
A slight tremor ran through the deck, followed by the sharp clank of mechanical locks disengaging. The landing carriage slid away from the main body of the Astral Express, its departure smooth and steady. Outside the viewport, the colossal form of the Express slowly receded, shrinking until it was just another brilliant speck of light in the endless sea of stars.
The shuttle's engines began to hum, a low thrumming that vibrated through the floor. This small ark resolutely accelerated, propelling them toward the distant, peculiar world shrouded in an ominous mist—Amphoreus.
Stelle pressed her face against the viewport, her voice brimming with unrestrained excitement. "Amphoreus, here we come!"
March 7th squeezed in beside her, her own eyes wide with curiosity for the unknown.
The scenery outside the window, however, quickly poured a bucket of cold water on their enthusiasm.
The landing module descended rapidly toward the planet, but the view below was not one of brilliant city lights or magnificent natural landscapes. Instead, they were met with a deep, almost light-devouring darkness. Thick clouds, or perhaps some other atmospheric phenomenon, obscured the surface entirely. Only occasionally would the veil part, revealing the blurred, fleeting silhouettes of massive mountains below—colossal beasts lurking in the gloom.
The entire planet was enveloped in an unsettling silence, a deep and heavy gloom.
"Tsk, why is it nighttime?" March 7th grumbled, pulling away from the viewport with a hint of disappointment. "It's so dark, you can't see a thing. What a letdown!"
Just then, Stelle's gaze was snagged by an object of truly immense scale on the distant horizon. Its silhouette was so huge that it was clearly identifiable even in the oppressive darkness.
"Hey! Dan Heng! March! Look over there!" Stelle pointed excitedly. "What is that? It's so big! It looks like... a giant statue? And it seems to be carrying a huge sphere on its back!"
March 7th immediately scrambled back to the viewport, her eyes following Stelle's finger. There, in the hazy night, visible through a gap in the thin clouds, a towering, mountain-sized silhouette stood upon the distant land. It remained utterly still, like an ancient guardian watching over the world. And upon its broad shoulders, it carried an even larger, perfectly spherical object, as if it were bearing the weight of a miniature star.
"Whoa! You're right! It's so big!" March 7th exclaimed, her own troubles momentarily forgotten in the face of such a sight. "That statue... it's just too exaggerated!"
Dan Heng walked over to the viewport as well. His sharp gaze pierced the darkness, scrutinizing the magnificent and distant spectacle. There was no astonishment on his face, only a deepening solemnity.
"A colossal creation... truly impressive," he murmured, his voice low and serious. "But don't forget what we already know. This planet is not only a trap, but one with an extraordinarily high power level. The one who attacked us deliberately led us here, so there must be an ulterior motive. This is absolutely not the time for relaxation or sightseeing. Maintain maximum alert. Be ready to respond to anything at any moment."
Dan Heng's reminder was like a blaring alarm, instantly sweeping away the relaxed atmosphere. The two girls quickly sobered, their expressions hardening. Stelle's hand instinctively found the hilt of her crystalline blade, while March 7th's fingers tightened around the grip of her Sode no Shirayuki. Their nerves went taut, coiled and ready.
Just as the mood inside the cabin turned grim—
A blinding, destructive beam of energy erupted from the thick darkness below without a shred of warning. Its speed surpassed the limits of visual capture, a silent scythe of annihilation streaking straight for their descending carriage.
"Enemy attack!"
Dan Heng's sharp cry and the shriek of the incoming assault sounded almost simultaneously. His reaction was instantaneous; the very moment he perceived the hostile energy fluctuation, he slammed both hands onto the control panel.
A solid, thick, earthy-yellow shield, its surface rippling like water, instantly expanded from the console, firmly enveloping the entire interior of the landing module. At the same instant, a pale blue energy shield flared to life around the shuttle's outer hull—the Astral Express's own protection system, urgently activated by the extra fuel Pom-Pom had allocated.
The double shields had barely formed when the destructive beam crashed violently into them.
BOOM—!
A deafening explosion erupted just outside the cabin. The entire landing module bucked and bounced violently, as if struck by a gargantuan hammer. The energy flowing across the shields' surfaces surged wildly, emitting an overwhelmed, high-pitched hum. The outer, light-blue shield flickered rapidly, its light dimming and brightening as if on the verge of shattering.
Fortunately, Dan Heng's Jadeite Shield, perhaps strengthened by its proximity to the ground, held as firm as a mountain.
Under the combined resistance of the two layers of protection, the terrifying attack was finally, stubbornly, blocked. Its energy, spent and exhausted, dissipated into the dark night sky. Though the carriage had been violently shaken, its structure remained intact.
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