Whoosh—
Everyone landed once again inside the Honkai-01 Space Station.
A girl dressed in casual clothes, her blue ponytail tied neatly behind her head, stepped forward to receive Setsuna and the others.
"Morning, Commander. Don't see you all coming here together very often, huh?"
Edison yawned.
She had previously been the chairwoman of a major industrial conglomerate, immensely wealthy. She had joined the Starsea Empire purely to realize her dreams of invention.
"The Previous Era isn't that different from our time. Sophon is rebuilding the administrative system down below. As for exploring outer space, that'll have to wait a while."
On Earth, the Angeloids had already taken over the United Nations.
Under Sophon's command, it was being reestablished as an administrative district of the Starsea Empire.
All levels of government institutions were being constructed step by step, requiring little attention from Setsuna.
"What about the Second Divine Key? You've been researching it for a while now, haven't you?"
Setsuna asked succinctly.
"We're preparing to visit a parallel universe and further explore the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Quanta."
"Oh? So that's what you're here for?"
Edison glanced at Raiden Mei, Bronya, and the others accompanying him, suddenly enlightened.
She led everyone to a docking bay within the space station.
A pitch-black, spearhead-shaped craft floated quietly in the starry void.
Compared to the earlier steam locomotive appearance of Cosmic Juggernaut, this version looked far more futuristic—like a compact shuttle attached to a larger starship.
"We've modernized Cosmic Juggernaut. While retaining its original capabilities, we increased its Honkai energy propulsion output by 817 percent."
"Even without using its Zeroth Power, Cosmic Juggernaut can freely open passages to the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Quanta, traveling between different bubble worlds and parallel universes at will."
"Of course, the original appearance of the Second Divine Key was a bit too bizarre. We adjusted it to better match modern aesthetics."
Edison explained.
"?"
Vill-V stepped closer and examined the massive craft carefully.
"This thing was built by another version of me from a different worldline? Not bad."
"Mm. I don't understand why you made it look like a steam locomotive, but its internal structure is indeed very advanced."
Edison nodded.
"Back then, Su used it to carry out the Eternal Plan, observing countless parallel universes to determine whether there was any possibility of defeating the Honkai."
"Cosmic Juggernaut was essentially created to replicate the power of the Herrscher of the Void. It possesses the ability to observe parallel worlds and even seal bubble worlds."
"After the modifications, riding it allows free traversal within the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Quanta."
"Oh..."
Raiden Mei felt slightly dazed.
"So that means, if we board Cosmic Juggernaut, we can return to the universe of the Current Era?"
"Yes. Considering the Commander has teleportation anchors, once we reach that universe and place an anchor, future travel can rely on anchor teleportation. There'll be no need to board Cosmic Juggernaut every time."
Edison spread her hands.
"Besides, you might even encounter other worlds along the way."
"Waaah—"
Kiana's eyes sparkled as she clung to Setsuna's arm.
"Commander, Commander, take me with you! I want to see what the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Quanta look like! And what other universes are like too!"
"Alright."
Setsuna rubbed the white-haired girl's head. With his abilities, there was nowhere within the Tree and Sea he couldn't go.
Sooner or later, I'll just pluck the Imaginary Tree and keep it as a potted plant at home.
One by one, the group boarded Cosmic Juggernaut.
Its interior had also undergone extensive renovation, now presented in a sleek, pale-gray palette—clean and distinctly futuristic.
Aside from lacking weapon systems, its internal structure was virtually identical to a starship's, even down to the main control console, making it easy to operate.
"This is the first time we're taking action together with the Commander..."
Raiden Mei and Bronya were both excited and slightly nervous, sitting upright and proper to the side.
Elysia, as always, was filled with curiosity. In the few days since meeting Setsuna, she felt she had encountered more interesting things than in all the time since her birth.
"My~ I wonder if we'll meet another version of me in a different universe~"
"I'll have to have a good chat with her~"
"..."
Setsuna neither confirmed nor denied it.
"By the way, besides the Current Era, we previously discovered a few interesting worlds while observing the Tree and Sea. Commander, I've marked them for you."
Edison transmitted a data file to Setsuna, containing several complex coordinate charts that could be parsed by AI.
"Got it."
The moment he finished speaking—
BOOM!!—
Setsuna activated Cosmic Juggernaut with his authority, tearing open the fabric of the real plane.
The scene ahead rapidly shrank and expanded, accompanied by the shrill sound of space shattering.
When they opened their eyes again, the scenery outside the viewing window had become boundless chaos.
The star-filled sky had transformed into a void interwoven with dark purple energy.
Here, the laws of time and space were distorted, imaginary energy drifting everywhere.
If not for the readings on the main console, it would have been difficult to tell whether Cosmic Juggernaut was even moving.
"Ah... Is that—the Imaginary Tree?"
Raiden Mei covered her mouth lightly, pointing into the distance.
Within the void of higher-dimensional space stood an enormous tree. Its crown could not be seen, its branches and leaves obscuring the heavens.
Beneath the tree lay a vast sea, its depths immeasurable, its boundaries unreachable.
Between heaven and earth, there was only one tree and one sea.
The ship advanced slowly between them, like a lone leaf drifting upon the ocean.
Through Cosmic Juggernaut and the Commander's authority, they witnessed the birthplace of the truths and laws of the Honkai world.
"Yes. The parallel universes of the Honkai world, in a broad sense, can all be reached from here."
Setsuna said.
"After the Current Era was separated from the original universe, it became part of a branch on the Imaginary Tree—or a bubble world within the Sea of Quanta."
"Calculating the precise coordinates of the Current Era will take some time... Shall we find another bubble world to take a look first?"
He guided Cosmic Juggernaut cruising across the Sea of Quanta. Some bubble worlds were nearing collapse, while others remained relatively intact.
This journey wasn't solely to locate the Current Era's world. It was also to explore other universes.
After selecting one of the targets Edison had marked, the space around the ship twisted. It surged forward, entering a spacetime tunnel.
Whoosh—
RUMBLE!!—
Amid strange sounds and dazzling flashes of light,
The surroundings once again turned into the color of a starry sky.
Cosmic Juggernaut descended into a completely unfamiliar world.
The sensation was similar to previous expeditions to other worlds.
"Whoa!!"
"So we've crossed into another world?!"
The people aboard the ship were ecstatic, crowding against the viewing windows to look down below.
Knowing the Current Era still existed, they were far more relaxed now, treating this entirely as a sightseeing trip with the Commander.
"Huh? There's human civilization here? Whoa, and a big city too?!"
Kiana gestured excitedly.
The ship cruised at high altitude. Below lay a city of ancient design.
The streets were broad and straight, lined with bustling shops. Even at night, carriages and pedestrians flowed endlessly, lively and vibrant.
Even more astonishing was the architectural style—flying eaves, bracket sets, golden glazed tiles—identical to the classical era of the Dragon Empery, reminiscent of the decorations in the Dragon Empery port district.
Most of the pedestrians on the streets wore traditional-style clothing.
"Huh? Where is this?"
Setsuna and the others watched in astonishment, activating the ship's scanning mode.
It wasn't the Current Era. The place looked strange no matter how they examined it.
"Commander, there's someone down there."
Bronya reminded him.
Looking down,
In a clearing within the forest stood a small figure.
She had white hair and blue eyes, petite in stature.
She wore a short green ruqun, draped in a white fur cloak, with a green hairpin adorning her head.
In her right hand she held a feather fan, pacing slowly as if deep in thought.
"Huh?..."
"Who is she?"
Kiana felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
"Why does she look kind of like Theresa? No, wait—this is exactly the same, isn't it? The hair, the eye color, even the height are identical."
"It's just the clothes that are different. Why does she look like someone from Dragon Empery? What's she doing, stargazing at night?"
"Mm?"
The girl sensed the ship passing overhead. She looked up—just in time to lock eyes with the people aboard the starship.
Setsuna froze.
"Starlit Astrologos (Zhuge Kongming)? Where the hell did this drop me?!"
...
Whoosh—
Under the girl's shocked gaze,
The starship descended onto an open clearing not far from her.
"Well, well. Isn't this Astrologos?"
Setsuna jumped down from the ship, grinning at the little girl before him.
"Theresa? Are you Aunt Theresa?"
Kiana peeked out from behind him and asked curiously.
"Aunt Theresa, why are you wearing clothes like a Dragon Empery shipgirl? Huh? Didn't we travel to another world?"
"Theresa~ It really is you!"
Elysia hopped down as well, leaning in close to Astrologos.
"Not bad~ That outfit actually suits you quite well."
If a little girl looked like Theresa and sounded like Theresa, then she was Theresa.
"???"
"Aunt?!"
"What nonsense are you spouting? You even know my title? Are you assassins?"
Astrologos took two cautious steps back, raising her feather fan to cover half her face.
She carefully sized up Setsuna and the others.
She had never seen such a ship before, and most of these people were unfamiliar to her.
However, when her gaze fell upon Kiana, her expression changed drastically.
"Prince Kiana? Why are you here?"
"Could it be... you've colluded with outsiders to assassinate me?!"
"Me? A prince?"
The white-haired girl scratched her head in confusion.
"I'm a prince of the Starsea Empire? ...Well, I am the Commander's daughter, but wouldn't 'princess' be more accurate?"
"No, no, no. Commander has so many daughters, and he's immortal. Does the title of prince or princess even mean anything?..."
"???"
Astrologos grew even more wary.
"As expected! Prince Kiana, you resent that the late emperor passed the throne to me. You dare collude with foreign forces to attempt assassination within the royal capital— I, I..."
"I will not let you succeed!!"
Swish—
With a flick of her feather fan, several gusts of fierce wind swept sand and stones toward Setsuna.
At the same time, she spun around and ran, clearly intending to lure these unknown intruders into a trap she had prepared.
Snap—
Setsuna casually dispersed her attack.
With a single sentence, he made her freeze in place.
"Why so worked up? Astrologos, you're setting up an array to deal with Huodou, right? I'll handle it for you."
...
Half an hour later.
On the bridge of the starship.
Astrologos sat on the sofa holding a teacup. Her short legs, clad in white stockings, dangled in the air since they couldn't quite reach the floor—an oddly adorable sight.
"My apologies..."
She gently blew away the tea leaves floating on the surface and looked at Setsuna and the others seated around her.
"No—that's not the point. Who exactly are you? Why do you know my title and the secret left behind by the late emperor... Tell me at once!"
"Commander, this is?..."
Elysia and Raiden Mei looked equally puzzled.
"This is a bubble world from Honkai Kingdoms."
Setsuna smiled.
"In the Tree and Sea universe, aside from the original Honkai universe and the Current Era that was just pushed into a parallel world, there are countless other small universes."
"This place is one such bubble world within the Sea of Quanta. Let me think—the data should be around here somewhere..."
Swish—
He opened a holographic interface and searched briefly.
Then he projected the information about Honkai Kingdoms and distributed it to everyone.
Each bubble world possessed a different worldview, and their levels of development varied widely.
In this universe, the entire world was ruled by a single power—Emberya.
Emberya's overall style closely resembled the classical era of the Dragon Empery. The nation faced threats from three exotic beasts: Yama, Wuxiang, and Huodou.
Yama and Wuxiang had been slain by the late emperor and a general of Emberya, but the emperor had suffered grievous injuries while subduing Wuxiang.
On his deathbed, he passed the throne to his grand heir, Astrologos—the little girl before them who looked exactly like Theresa.
From the late emperor, Astrologos learned of an undersea altar within this bubble world and deduced the existence of the supreme-yang beast Huodou.
She had been setting up formations across the land, intending to lure Huodou to the undersea altar and use the water's pressure to suppress the beast's flames, sealing it completely.
By coincidence, she had been surveying the next formation site today when she ran into Cosmic Juggernaut intruding into the bubble world.
"Ohhh..."
Everyone listened attentively, gradually understanding.
"So I really am a prince in this world?"
The white-haired girl pointed at herself.
"No wonder you were saying such weird things earlier. Being a prince doesn't sound bad... Wait, no. What's so great about being a local emperor anyway?!"
"There are alternate versions of us here too?"
Raiden Mei asked in surprise.
"Yes. Here, you're called Hokushin Mei, and you use the Hokushin Ittō-ryū."
Setsuna replied.
"???"
Astrologos stared at Setsuna as he casually recounted everything about her life and the affairs of Emberya with complete accuracy. Her expression grew increasingly strange.
"You... Where did you obtain this information?"
"No, you said you've seen me in another world? Then where is this place? And what is a bubble world?..."
...
Another half hour passed.
"Ah... ah..."
Astrologos listened blankly as Setsuna explained.
Even with her natural intelligence, it took her some time to digest everything.
"So, Mr. Assassin, you are travelers from another universe?"
"Mm. Strictly speaking, yes. Our original goal was to locate the Current Era within a parallel universe. That world is part of the Empire's territory."
Setsuna cleared his throat.
"But what's with calling me 'Mr. Assassin'? Do I look like an assassin to you?"
"..."
Astrologos looked him up and down.
His attire was entirely different from the traditional clothing of Emberya. He carried himself with commanding presence—more like a ruler than she did.
He bore no resemblance whatsoever to the shadowy figures typically associated with assassins.
"Mm... If I say you are an assassin, then you are an assassin!"
She swung her little legs and tilted her chin up stubbornly.
"Starsea... Empire?"
She pondered for a long time, trying to comprehend this civilization from another world, before curiously asking:
"Which is greater—the Starsea Empire or Emberya?"
Pfft—
Setsuna nearly burst out laughing.
"This is merely a single bubble world within the Tree and Sea universe. If you want to broaden your horizons, just board Cosmic Juggernaut with me."
"Mm..."
"No, no!"
Astrologos shook her head repeatedly.
"I bear the responsibility of governing Emberya. The exotic beasts have yet to be eradicated, and the realm is not yet at peace... I must fulfill the late emperor's final wish."
"Huodou?"
Setsuna raised an eyebrow, unconcerned.
"How many lances of light do you think it can withstand? Stop setting up formations and come with me."
Whirr—
The onboard AI activated precision scanning mode.
This bubble world was small. In a very short time, the entire world and all its living beings were scanned inside and out.
It even detected quite a few familiar faces.
"Huh? Isn't that Rita? And isn't that Mei? Should we go say hello to them?..."