Astral Express.
"Yo, isn't this Bro Sun, Bro Pain, and Bro Ratio?"
Leon shouted out to the three of them.
"Heh, isn't this the self-proclaimed 'Pure and Innocent' Scumbag-mobile?"
Upon hearing Leon address them, the three immediately launched a coordinated attack on his nickname.
The friendship between men is very simple, yet also very complex.
Between brothers, one is both friend and enemy.
They are willing to take a knife to the ribs for each other, to walk through fire and water without hesitation.
But in other areas, they will secretly compete.
Just as the 1.75-meter Anaxagoras hates Madmos, who claims to be 1.75 meters, and Aglaea—the pair of 'Must-Sun' brothers, Madmos and Aglaea, also hate the self-proclaimed 1.8-meter Leon.
"Anyone with lower stats than me is g/a/y/."
Leon declared as such.
Also, a few days ago, when they were stretching their limbs on the train, Madmos had secretly added sugar water to Leon and Aglaea's cups.
This happened to be the proof of true brotherhood.
I'm sorry, brother. I can accept that I train poorly, but I just can't stand seeing you train better than me.
"How is the research on the 'Stellaron' going?"
Leon stopped fooling around and looked at Anaxagoras to ask about business.
He was too lazy to show it to Herta again, and it just so happened there was a scholar on the train.
Why not find him some work to do?
"No effective progress."
Although Anaxagoras hadn't discovered anything, his face was radiant.
Like Herta, he was a scholar, and essential to a scholar was the heart of seeking knowledge.
A Stellaron—this was his first time encountering such a thing.
This kind of structural composition, this kind of energy application.
It was all things Anaxagoras had never seen before; it was simply too wonderful!
The galaxy is vast, and all kinds of things far surpass Amphoreus.
He heard there was an organization called the Genius Club.
In the eyes of those geniuses, a scholar from a rural place like him might not even be worthy of the table.
But it didn't matter. Learning is a scholar's duty. Since Anaxagoras represented Leon, he would absolutely not lose face for his brother.
He vowed to crack the Stellaron.
It would just take some time, as he had only just begun to understand galactic knowledge using the Intelligentsia Guild's database.
"Take your time. Worst case scenario, we just destroy it."
Leon didn't really care if he cracked it or not; he was just giving him something to do.
However, if Anaxagoras really could crack it...
Then he would probably be qualified to step into the Genius Club.
[Weekly Superpower Refresh]
["Dragon, the Symbol of an Emperor"]
[Ability Introduction: If I hear this meme one more time, I'll pierce my own ears. Report, Sir! I am not only a salted shrimp (blind), but also deaf!]
So abstract.
Leon exclaimed at the sheer significance of it.
What a Riddler. Can this introduction be a bit more serious?
[Note: This Superpower is a passive skill. The effect is to seal off your entire perception. Don't ask how to trigger it; asking means you'll understand sooner or later.]
666, not even pretending anymore.
Leon was too lazy to flame it.
[Superpower Saved]
["Not My Type"]
[When saying the sentence pattern "Not the XX I like, directly XX," the effect will take place based on your level of confidence.]
Based on confidence level? Then what's the difference from just keeping it directly?
Say no more, brother. Go directly to the number one spot in Leon's list of owned Superpowers.
Leon was in a good mood.
Bang!
But in the next second, his mood soured.
A loud noise erupted as a sudden spaceship smashed directly into the Astral Express, tearing a massive hole in it.
Fortunately, the front half of the spaceship stalled inside the train car.
It plugged the breach, preventing the cold wind outside from rushing in.
Tap-tap, tap-tap, tap-tap.
Urgent footsteps rang out from the rooms inside the train.
"What happened? What happened?"
Cyrene was the first to come out, with Demiurge following by her side.
"Such a loud commotion, is anyone hurt?"
Following behind her were Hyacine, holding Pom-Pom, and March 7th, holding Ikka.
"The golden threads sensed a foreign object. Is there trouble?"
Aglaea was in the third group.
The adorable outfits on Pom-Pom and Ikka were clearly her handiwork.
"What is the cause of this clamor?"
Cerydra and Hyacine, Lord and Subject together, walked out as the fourth group.
"Little Bai, Little Di, Little Xia, Mr. Leon, are you all okay?"
And finally, Tiresias walked out, acting as the matriarch, showing concern immediately.
Tiresias was truly a woman who could become his mother!
"My train, Pom!!!"
Seeing that a spaceship had barged in, Pom-Pom immediately let out a sharp, explosive screech.
"It's fine."
Leon waved his hand, signaling no need to worry.
"Ouch, damn it, what did you do to me?"
Some movement came from inside the spaceship.
"Is this still the planetary outer ring?"
The ship's door was kicked open, and out walked a person wearing a dark earth-colored diving suit and a matching diving helmet.
About the same height as Cerydra. Judging by the voice, it should be a woman.
"Did your directionally-challenged debuff kick in?"
Frebass asked her travel companion.
Shing! A flash of blade light passed in an instant.
The left side had been kicked open by her, while the ship's door on the other side was sliced open by a blade.
A large odachi was the first thing to enter their line of sight.
"..."
The companion Frebass spoke of walked out holding the sword, remaining silent at her question.
It was a tall, slender lady with long purple hair cascading over her shoulders.
She had bangs covering her eyes, the same style as Jing Yuan.
After seeing her once, the most memorable thing...
That would be the large odachi she held. This sword left a particularly deep impression.
And... she was strong.
An "Emanator." This was Leon's first impression.
Acheron. The featured character of version 2.0; of course, he recognized her.
Anyone who played an action-oriented character like Acheron back in 2.0 and didn't smile could be diagnosed with clinical depression.
Her gameplay intensity was high, and within this "game," she was no exception.
Among the "Emanators" Leon had seen, Acheron could be ranked in the T1 tier.
Evernight, Huaiyan, Polka.
These three were the T1 Emanators he knew.
If judging solely by feeling, then besides Acheron, there were also Zephyro and Louis Fleming.
T0 was Iron Tomb; currently, no one could surpass him.
While Leon sized up Acheron, Acheron also sized him up.
Just from his battle stance, she knew this person was ridiculously strong—invincible.
Her gaze fell upon the longbow slung over his shoulder.
On that face, usually aloof due to its dazed expression, a rare and imperceptible look of astonishment appeared.
An object bestowed by an "Aeon." To think that in this world, a person of a normal Path could actually possess such a thing.
Acheron could naturally sense the power of The Hunt.
Because of the large odachi in her hand, "Naught."
In a certain sense, it was one of the few existences in this world that could compete with Leon's Hunt.
"Naught." This sword was forged from her realization of "The Nihility" after her hometown, Izumo, was destroyed. If one weren't being strict, it could also be considered a blessing from an "Aeon."
But she was able to obtain this sword entirely because of the unique nature of the "Nihility" Path.
"IX" didn't care about anything, which allowed her to exploit a loophole.
Pathstriders of "The Nihility" could obtain everything through effort—or rather, if you didn't strive, the only ending was being devoured by "The Nihility."
To become a Pathstrider of "The Nihility" meant you wanted to resist "The Nihility." If not for that, you wouldn't be qualified, nor would you have the chance to tread upon Nihility.
The only good thing about the "Nihility" Path was that one could rely on oneself to obtain the widely defined position of "Emanator," as well as the "Naught" in her hand.
But other Paths were strictly guarded by their "Aeons." It wasn't that easy to get those two things.
"Emanator" was one thing, but a weapon personally bestowed by an "Aeon"—was that really realistic?
Just how highly did that "Aeon" regard this person?
Thinking of this, Acheron involuntarily moved her hand to the hilt of her sword.
She unconsciously shielded Frebass behind her, treating Leon with the caution due a formidable enemy.
If a fight suddenly broke out, could she win?
Acheron thought gravely.
She couldn't get an answer, but she was willing to look.
"I am a Nameless."
Leon saw Acheron's sudden vigilance and resolved the issue with five words.
Nameless is another name for a hero.
No amount of words could compare to this title.
Acheron paused, and only then did she notice a golden ticket pinned to his collar.
Scanning the circle again, she found that everyone present had a ticket on them.
Frebass said the ticket was the symbol of the Astral Express.
The Astral Express. Akivili once personally followed the train and the Nameless to pioneer together.
It could be called the holy land countless Nameless yearned for.
Frebass was no exception; she had always wanted to visit this legendary Astral Express.
But now the Trailblaze was in decline, and the train was missing.
This wish had become empty talk.
Although she also had a ticket, hers was passed down from her father.
It wasn't issued personally by the Conductor her father spoke of.
Acheron had a bad memory and forgot things easily, but she always remembered Frebass's wish.
Since all these people before her were Nameless,
The probability of them attacking was practically zero.
Acheron released her grip on the sword hilt.
"What? Nameless?!"
Frebass's cheerful voice was full of surprise.
"Me too! A Nameless!"
She took a step forward, bypassing Acheron, speaking in the tone of meeting an old friend in a foreign land.
"Look."
Frebass took off her helmet.
Silver-white hair, a face tender yet resolute—looking just like that Great Sage Equaling Heaven, Kiana, but a few years younger—appeared before their eyes.
"I have a ticket too!"
As she spoke, Frebass pointed to the hairpin in her bangs. It wasn't a chameleon, nor a star, but a glittering golden ticket.
"Damn, why didn't you say so earlier?"
Leon immediately cried out, "Homie!"
To think he'd meet a genuine second-generation Trailblazer.
"Homie!"
Frebass stepped forward and gave him a hug.
Leon politely returned the hug, then separated.
"I've always wanted to visit the Astral Express. I didn't expect this wish to actually come true today!"
Frebass sighed with heartfelt emotion.
She was very excited, and with curious eyes, she began to look around the train.
Finally, her gaze stopped on Pom-Pom.
"This must be the Conductor my father spoke of, right?"
The image matched exactly what her father had described to Frebass.
"Ahem."
Hearing this, Pom-Pom, who had just been mourning the tragic state of the train, immediately put away that look.
"That's right! The Conductor of the Astral Express is none other than Pom-Pom!"
Pom-Pom puffed out their chest, nodding in approval of the title.
"Since you are a Nameless, Pom-Pom won't pursue responsibility for your actions."
Upon learning she was the child of an old friend, Pom-Pom immediately performed a face-changing act without missing a beat.
"The Conductor is so nice."
Frebass said with a 'wow', "So understanding. Just like my father said."
"But of course!"
Pom-Pom was praised until they felt a bit embarrassed.
"So, is this gentleman the current Navigator of the Astral Express?"
Frebass shifted her gaze back to Leon.
"Moon?"
Leon raised an eyebrow, knowing what she meant, so he asked directly.
"Moon!"
Frebass laughed happily, nodding repeatedly.
"Then come on in. The Astral Express welcomes the arrival of every Nameless."
Pom-Pom also indicated they had no objections.
"Yay!"
The crowd didn't sync up with these three's brainwaves and had absolutely no idea what they were saying.
They just felt completely confused.
Finally, under Pom-Pom's leadership, Frebass, just like them before,
Recited the Nameless Creed.
This undoubtedly formally represented Frebass joining the Astral Express.
She had thoroughly fulfilled a dream of hers.
"Now I really have no regrets."
Frebass was extremely grateful to fate for letting her visit this holy land of the Nameless before she went to her death.
"Are you coming?"
Leon looked at Acheron again, just about to ask if she wanted to join the Astral Express or be an honorary member.
But he saw she had already run over to Cyrene, greeting her. The look in her eyes carried an inexplicable nostalgia, as if she wanted to get to know her.
"Excuse me... have we met somewhere?"
Acheron's voice was very soft.
"I don't think so?"
Cyrene simply smiled and shook her head.
"Such a charming lady. If I had met you, I wouldn't have forgotten."
Acheron stared at that smile, slightly dazed.
It seemed to stir up some sealed memories, those past events she had forgotten.
"Peach, Peach."
Demiurge, in her Haki-mi form, seemed to sense it and began circling Acheron.
Those who didn't know better would think she was calling for Cyrene.
Acheron snapped back to reality. Listening to Demiurge, she thought for a moment, then pulled something out of her sleeve.
"...You mean this?"
She took out a white peach and asked uncertainly.
Demiurge's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly.
"Here." Acheron handed it over.
"Mi mi~ Mi mi!"
Demiurge happily accepted the desired object.
Look at how excited the child is; she can't even speak properly.
"Peach, Peach!"
Demiurge flew back to Cyrene's side, holding the white peach in both hands and shouting to her.
"When you take things from people, you must thank them properly."
Cyrene was helpless, then raised a finger, instructing seriously.
"Simple, I learn!"
Demiurge nodded, then said to Acheron:
"Thank you, Peach, thank you!"
The corners of Acheron's mouth lifted slightly, and she nodded in response.
She rarely smiled, but she herself didn't know why she smiled this time.
"May I ask your name?"
Acheron looked at the young girl's face, which gave her a strong sense of déjà vu, and asked.
____
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