The End—confetti everywhere!
Evan casually tossed the Stellaron up into the air, then caught it again.
"Alright. This thing's yours now—handing it over to the Astral Express."
"No problem! Leave it to us!"
March 7th puffed out her chest proudly, putting her very impressive figure on full display.
Not bad at all.
Sure, March was a little airheaded—and adorably dumb—but she had looks, curves, and… well, at least looks and curves.
As for Stelle?
A bit dazed, obsessed with rummaging through trash cans, and not even a week old yet. Any potentially impressive figure she might have had was probably suppressed by Kafka already. Tall like a mature lady, personality like a gremlin.
Perfect.
"So this is Trailblazing, huh? Way too easy!"
Stelle spun her flaming lance confidently.
"A Stellaron like this? I could fight ten!"
Now temporarily stabilized and no longer on death's door, Cocolia watched with a pained expression—
as did Bronya, the newly appointed Supreme Guardian.
Their eyes were fixed on Stelle.
More precisely—on the lance in her hand.
That thing was a sacred relic passed down by their ancestors!
And now it had been taken by a girl who'd arrived on Jarilo-VI less than a day ago!
Cocolia, former Supreme Guardian, was utterly speechless before the people of Jarilo.
As for Bronya?
She didn't really care.
Her mother had been overthrown.
She was in power now.
Relics of the past? If someone wanted it, they could have it. Worst case, she'd commission a replica and toss it into a museum.
Evan quietly studied the Stellaron in his hand.
Though it had lost its will, he still couldn't seal it.
The thing was simply too broken.
Even Emanators struggled with these things—what chance did he have?
"We've already contacted Uncle Yang. He and Himeko will be here soon," March said.
Sealing a Stellaron was beyond the trio's abilities.
Only Welt Yang and Himeko had real experience dealing with them.
Still…
The Astral Express's whole Trailblazing routine felt oddly similar to Evan's work as a treasure hunter.
Once everything here was settled…
Maybe joining the Express wouldn't be a bad idea.
After all, with Jarilo-VI's current tech level, hunting treasure on other planets would be a nightmare.
In the Void of Space above Jarilo-VI
The Astral Express hovered there, having remained stationary for over ten hours.
"Ding—ding—!"
Himeko lounged on a sofa, holding a cup of coffee—
one mixed with chili peppers.
A local specialty from some planet: coffee brewed inside space peppers.
Himeko, of course, had improved it—
blending pepper juice directly with freshly purchased Azure Planet coffee beans.
The aroma promised… intensity.
Just as she lifted the cup—
Ding ding!
Her phone buzzed.
[March 7th]: Himeko! Uncle Yang! Guess what we're doing right now!
[March 7th]: This Trailblazing mission was WAY too easy!
[March 7th]: We finished it!
[Stelle]: Uncle Yang, Himeko—check this out! A Builder relic from Jarilo-VI!
[Stelle]: Also… a big guy looked at me earlier and I think I got the Path of Preservation.
[Stelle]: Flaming Lance Charge!!
[Dan Heng]: Himeko, Uncle Yang. This mission was… strange.
[Dan Heng]: By the time we arrived, it was basically over.
[Dan Heng]:Stellaron.jpg — waiting for you to seal it.
[March 7th]: Look look look! I took pictures!
[Stellaron.jpg]
[Beam Clash.jpg]
[Cannons VS Giant Mech.jpg]
Inside the carriage, Welt Yang calmly sipped tea brewed from Azure Planet leaves.
Then he checked his phone.
One glance—
Then another—
Then—
"PFFFT—!"
"Moon—Moon—Moonlight Thrones?!"
"DAMN IT— I'VE ALREADY SWITCHED UNIVERSES—WHY IS HONKAI STILL CHASING ME?!"
Back on Jarilo-VI, Everwinter Hill
With all threats resolved,
Bronya supported the weakened Cocolia as they descended from the summit.
March, Stelle, and Dan Heng—guests and witnesses—were invited to Qlipoth Fort.
Seele followed close behind Bronya.
Only Evan lagged behind, unhurried.
Casually—
He opened Cocolia's Everwinter Hill treasure chest.
[Golden Chest Detected!]
[High-tier reward—chance to obtain power from another Path!]
[Open?]
Open.
Evan stared without blinking.
The mist parted.
A familiar name echoed in his ears.
[Ascension Power — Truth!]
HOLY SHIT—IT'S HERE!
IT FINALLY DROPPED!!
Evan nearly cheered out loud.
He almost sprinted forward and hugged Seele—
maybe even kissed her twice for good luck.
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