Scalegorge Waterscape – Aboard the Ship
Jing Yuan and Dan Heng watched the in-game cutscene playing before them, both lost in thought.
Yes.
Had Honkai: Star Rail never existed, this would have been their first meeting—just as it was in the original timeline.
Dan Heng would have stubbornly denied being Imbibitor Lunae.
Blade would have remained silent, barely interacting.
And after forcing Dan Heng to reveal his Vidyadhara form, Blade would have simply left with Kafka.
The three of them would have shared the screen only briefly.
But now?
Here they were—riding the same ship together.
Peacefully.
Watching a video.
This… is a far better outcome than the game's story, Jing Yuan mused.
A soft thud echoed as the ship docked.
"We're here," Blade said flatly, leaping ashore without another word.
Jing Yuan and Dan Heng exchanged a glance.
Seizing the moment, Jing Yuan spoke:
"Just as in the game's story—help me one last time as Dan Feng. After this, I'll revoke your exile. On my honor as the Arbiter-General."
Dan Heng opened his mouth, hesitated, then finally uttered:
"...Thank you."
Behind them, a second ship arrived.
The Express Crew.
The Stellaron Hunters.
Yanqing.
And even Luocha.
The shore was now crowded.
Silver Wolf frowned.
"Why are there so many people here?"
"I don't remember this many showing up in the game."
March 7th giggled. "That's because this is reality, not the game's script!"
Silver Wolf crossed her arms, annoyed.
"We just cleared the regular Memory of Chaos, only to find out there's a higher difficulty."
"The enemies there are on a completely different level. And the rewards reset periodically."
"It's basically Yu Ling's ultimate endgame challenge."
"With our current team? No shot."
March 7th gasped. "Even you can't beat it? Then I shouldn't even look at it!"
"Ugh, give me three more days! Once I finish building my first team, I'll clear it for sure!"
Kafka chuckled. "For now, we have a real enemy to face."
"How amusing. I've never teamed up with so many people before."
Meanwhile, Stelle was glued to her phone, watching Guinaifen's livestream—which had also just reached this scene.
Ahead stood Dragonvista Rain Hall, its towering dragon statue looming silently.
"The game's story is syncing up with reality…" Stelle muttered.
"But the differences are huge. Kafka, Silver Wolf, Luocha—none of them were supposed to be here."
As the group gathered before the statue, a woman's voice echoed across the ruins—cold, mocking.
Yet no one seemed surprised.
Some glared. Others radiated killing intent.
The voice continued:
"How impatient you all are."
"That game must have given you quite the advantage."
"But don't rush. This lady hasn't even finished her preparations."
"Take this time to write your… last words."
Jing Yuan's eyes narrowed.
March 7th pouted. "Ugh, she's so annoying! Does she even know who she's dealing with?"
Welt adjusted his glasses. "Phantylia likely senses intruders but doesn't know who exactly is here."
Silver Wolf smirked, discreetly activating a stealth drone.
"The game probably won't show the next part—too expensive to animate."
"But if I record it and post it online? The players will lose their minds."
---
Guinaifen's Livestream – In-Game Cutscene
Dan Heng finally reunited with the Express Crew.
March 7th gasped.
"Y-You're… Dan Heng?! Wait, are you?!"
"Those horns—what happened?!"
Dan Heng sighed. "It's… complicated."
March 7th gaped. "You actually had a hidden power?!"
"So 'Cold Dragon Young' wasn't just a nickname?!"
Guinaifen grinned at her audience.
"Okay, let's recap:"
"The Trailblazer got stabbed by Cocolia—boom, Preservation path unlocked."
"Dan Heng got skewered by Blade—boom, 5-star Imbibitor Lunae."
"So March 7th… when's your turn?"
The chat exploded.
"MARCH 5-STAR WHEN?!"
"The Express Crew will all be 5-stars eventually!"
"In that secret ending, March's actor credit was just '???'—SUS!"
Laughing, Guinaifen refocused on the story.
---
Back to Reality – Dragonvista Rain Hall
Jing Yuan addressed the group:
"When you first arrived on the Luofu, you claimed to be here for the Stellaron crisis. I was skeptical—worried the Stellaron Hunters had ulterior motives."
"But now? Your sincerity is undeniable. The Luofu owes you a debt."
"Yet as its general, I must ask for your aid once more. Phantylia's threat is beyond our control."
Welt stepped forward.
"Even without the Stellaron, I wouldn't ignore this crisis. But I don't speak for the entire Express."
"To explore, to understand, to connect—that is our creed. But the path is never easy."
"Danger, enemies, even death… Many have fallen along the way."
"So the choice is yours. Just as we vote on our destinations aboard the Express."
March 7th and Stelle immediately raised their hands.
Dan Heng's turn came.
[Reach out.]
[Do not reach out.]
Guinaifen didn't hesitate.
"Of course he'll join!"
"Whether as an Express member or the Luofu's former Dragon Sovereign—Dan Heng always faces his challenges head-on."
"Because that's what it means to Trailblaze!"
To be continued…
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