Chapter 253: The Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters Request to Join Acheron's Team!
Acheron's flashback ends.
The hands gripping the long blade slowly lower.
A cold voice rings out.
"…I still dream of them."
Sam seems perplexed, letting out a confused, "Huh?"
"Stay your hand. Your time has not yet come."
The X-shaped flame on Sam's chest extinguishes.
Facing Acheron, he asks doubtfully, "~My time?"
Acheron: "I have seen many clever disguises that can mask an appearance, but they cannot hide the heart. You are no exception—"
"That Trailblazer… you didn't intend to kill her. You only acted to disperse me and that Memokeeper… Why?"
"Is it the Slaves of Destiny who made you do this?"
Sam denies it: "My script has always been only a few lines. Anything beyond that is unnecessary and unwanted."
"He knows my character: there is only one destiny, and no one can bypass it—but until then, I have the right to choose."
At the scene.
Beneath Sam's armor.
Firefly nodded to herself in secret.
Through this plot, it could be seen.
She must have made a choice within the content outside of the script!
There were likely two choices—becoming friends with the Trailblazer or becoming enemies.
Neither choice, regardless of which was picked, would affect the established content of the script.
And now it seemed…
Her in-game self had chosen the former!
Firefly couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
After all.
Her in-game self didn't have a game like Honkai: Star Rail.
She could only contact and understand the Astral Express crew through the most primitive means.
It seemed.
Her in-game self had also made a relatively "correct" choice!
......
Acheron: "I am not worth your curiosity. Those who walk the galaxy alone always have secrets. I've been wanted by the IPC before, so it's not strange to have some understanding of the Stellaron Hunters… and it ends there."
"Perhaps I can help you."
"What reason do you have to do so?" Sam asked.
"I often forget things, so compared to memories, I am more accustomed to using feelings to capture something. Therefore—"
"—I know who is inside that cold armor."
Sam was instantly startled.
Acheron continued: "Well then, are you willing to take off the armor and talk?"
After a moment of silence.
Sam replied: "It is not yet time."
"I don't need help, but I can give you a suggestion. It will be better for both of us."
"If your goal is the Watchmaker's legacy, go investigate the Family. They have not only covered up the existence of death but also buried the past and truth of the Dreamscape."
"—And, the Astral Express is not your enemy."
This dialogue.
Immediately caused some sounds of surprise and suspicion to ring out at the scene!
Many people turned their gazes toward the Stellaron Hunters.
Toward Sam!
That hulking mechanical body.
The metallic luster…
It was exactly the same as in the game's plot.
"This is rock-solid proof now. Sam really is just a suit of armor…"
"Who exactly is the pilot inside? Acheron, stop being a riddler!"
"Isn't Sam right there? Why don't you just go ask him~"
"I'm afraid he'll kill me with one punch…"
"Let's just keep watching the plot. I think keeping a bit of suspense is good."
At the scene.
The positions of the Astral Express crew and the Stellaron Hunters seemed to be separated by a distance.
There was no apparent connection or interaction between them.
Most people still thought the Stellaron Hunters and the Astral Express were in a state of opposition, just like in the game.
However.
In reality…
March 7th was secretly sending messages in a group chat.
[ Group Chat: Stellaron Hunters and Astral Express Temporary Cooperation Group ]
March 7th originally wanted to name it "Astral Express and Stellaron Hunters Family," but Welt said it wasn't quite appropriate and could easily lead to misunderstandings.
In the end, they settled on this more official group name.
[ March 7th: Sam, so, are you really Firefly? ]
[ Stelle: Sam, hurry up and answer March's question! ]
[ Stelle: You can't pretend you didn't see it! ]
[ Stelle: Sam ]
Under a barrage of messages.
Sam was finally unable to turn a blind eye.
[ Sam: … ]
[ Sam: You two, can't you just watch the plot properly? ]
[ Sam: Do you have to ask for spoilers right now… ]
[ March 7th: We're in a cooperative relationship now, you know~ ]
[ March 7th: At least we should be a little honest with each other! ]
[ March 7th: Hurry up! Are you Miss Firefly or not? ]
[ Sam: I am Firefly, okay… ]
[ Sam: (Emoji: Tossing a bomb) ]
[ Stelle: (Emoji: Eyes glowing) ]
[ Stelle: How do you transform? ]
[ Stelle: Can you lend me your transformation device to play with? ]
[ Stelle: Can you show us that move again! ]
[ Stelle: I will… set the seas ablaze! ]
Sam stumbled for a moment.
As expected of Stelle.
She was exactly the same inside and outside the game.
Truly energetic…
However.
Sam's movement immediately drew the side-eyes of the people around him!
"Holy crap!?"
"Were we talking too loudly just now?"
"Crap! Sam heard us."
"Is he about to lose his cool and come over to kill us with one punch?"
"I was wrong! Lord Sam!"
"I'll never gossip about you again…"
At this moment.
Within the plot.
Important information seemed to appear again.
Firefly immediately indicated they should finish watching the plot first!
On the large screen.
Sam actually spoke about the contents of his script!
"It doesn't matter if I tell you. Elio only gave me one instruction—make the Astral Express chase the grand legacy together."
"I tried to settle this matter in a simpler, more direct way, but as you can see, I am standing here confronting you—I failed. The script cannot be defied."
Silver Wolf immediately complained in the group chat.
[ Silver Wolf: Know why your script only has a few lines now? ]
[ Sam: Why? ]
[ Silver Wolf: Because as long as someone dares to ask, you really dare to answer. ]
[ Sam: … ]
[ Sam: I'll try to fake it in the future… ]
[ Silver Wolf: No need. The script is scrapped now anyway. You can do whatever you want from now on. ]
[ Sam: … ]
[ March 7th: She really likes to send… ]
The Stellaron Hunters and the Astral Express were chatting heatedly in private.
On the other side, Acheron stood there alone.
Quietly watching her own plot.
No,
To be precise.
By her side, there was also a space ghost…
Black Swan.
Black Swan floated in the air.
She was watching the plot.
Looking even more serious than Acheron herself.
"The so-called impossible is merely that which has not yet come to pass…"
The in-game Acheron sighed.
"Forget it. Before we part, may I ask you one more question?"
"Is there any part about me in your script? I want to know, in the future seen by destiny, what kind of footnote did I leave?"
Sam replied: "Regrettably, not a single word."
"Not surprising."
Having said that.
Acheron turned to leave.
"Wait—"
"I won't."
"What?" Acheron glanced back.
"Your initial question—whether you still dream, dreaming of those who died because of you."
"I won't. Never. "
"I was born without the ability to dream. I live for the cold reality, for a glimmer of light, burning… continuously burning, until I turn to ashes."
"So, I envy you."
As Acheron walked away, she left her final words.
"Is that so…"
"Then you are already living in the waking world."
[ March 7th: Why do I feel like Acheron is looking less and less like an enemy? ]
[ Stelle: How about we pull Acheron into our group chat too? ]
[ Welt: There is one thing I want to go and confirm. ]
[ Welt: I'm going over to find Acheron. ]
[ Kafka: Mr. Welt, you know this is a very sensitive period. Your actions might be seen as intentional. ]
[ Kafka: Thus, breaking the delicate balance of the scene. ]
[ Stelle: Rules are meant to be broken! ]
[ March 7th: Why does this feel like a kid causing trouble while the adults are talking? ]
[ Welt: I understand, but this is something that needs to be confirmed. ]
[ Himeko: What do you want to confirm? ]
[ Welt: I'm going to ask her if she has ever heard the name Raiden Mei. ]
[ Kafka: Then I wish you success, Mr. Welt. ]
[ Kafka: If we can confirm that Acheron is also on our side… ]
[ Kafka: The combined strength of our three parties would far exceed everyone else present. This delicate balance would no longer need to exist. ]
[ March 7th: ??? ]
[ March 7th: You aren't thinking of…! ]
[ Stelle: Your statement is very dangerous… ]
[ Silver Wolf: Kafka, as expected of you. ]
[ Silver Wolf: I also feel the current situation is a bit too stiff. ]
[ Silver Wolf: It's time to pull off something big! ]
[ Silver Wolf: In a bit, when Welt goes to contact Acheron, whoever has the most intense reaction is the final boss of Penacony! ]