Two days later, all preparations were complete.
"Astral Express, all modules ready. Self-check complete."
Himeko operated the entire train from the main control console.
Rumble!!—
Accompanied by a deep, resonant hum, the Astral Express slowly departed from the starskiff dock, passed through the Jade Gate, and gradually began to accelerate.
Below, countless tourists and Xianzhou residents looked up at the massive construct with a hint of astonishment.
"All standing passengers, find a seat quickly! We're about to initiate warp!"
Pom-Pom hurried through the corridor, patrolling at a brisk pace.
With Herta and Ruan Mei joining Setsuna for observation, the number of passengers aboard the train had multiplied several times over.
Now seated within were an Aeon, an Emanator of Trailblaze, two geniuses from the Genius Society, along with Kiana and her group, as well as the original Astral Express crew.
"Oh... fascinating mechanical structure."
It was Herta's first time aboard the Astral Express. Sitting by the window, she observed the interior with great interest.
Ruan Mei's attention remained focused on Setsuna. She spoke little, occasionally tapping on her holographic interface, then pausing to think.
Her gaze drifted across Kiana, Murata Himeko, and the others. To her, these girls—who had undergone super-transformation surgeries and genetic ascension—were somewhat extraordinary.
March 7th sat beside Setsuna, her back straight, looking slightly nervous.
Her relationship with him wasn't close enough to joke around like Gudako, nor did she have Stelle's naturally easygoing and playful personality.
Facing an Aeon and the supreme ruler of the Starsea Empire, the pressure on the girl was immense.
"Don't be afraid. The Commander is easy to talk to."
Bronya handed her a piece of pastry, offering some comfort.
Shua—
Himeko projected a star map of the universe and marked a location on it.
"Commander, our original destination was Jarilo-VI. It's not far from the Xianzhou—we can reach it in a single warp."
"However, since you're traveling with us this time, I wonder if you have another destination in mind?"
"Hmm..."
Setsuna thought for a moment.
Jarilo-VI was part of the Astral Express' standard trailblazing route.
Even if he didn't go, the crew could handle everything there quickly.
Since he was personally aboard the Astral Express this time—and now controlled the Path of Trailblaze—he had other ideas.
"Since this is trailblazing, we should choose a farther destination."
"Farther? Where?"
Himeko traced several paths across the star map. The Starsea Empire had conducted extensive surveys of this region of the universe, marking numerous galaxies.
"Penacony? Amphoreus?... There are still many worlds Akivili never reached."
"If we can lay down a new stretch of silver rail in the universe, we could connect even more galaxies."
"Farther."
Setsuna pointed toward the edge of the star map.
"Let's run an experiment. Push the Astral Express engine to its limit and head toward the boundary of the universe."
"Huh?!"
Himeko was startled, and even Herta leaned over.
"You're planning to leave this universe?"
"Akivili's trailblazing was limited to other worlds within this universe—well, from our perspective, merely different galaxies."
Setsuna smiled.
"In the Starsea Empire, the meaning of trailblazing is far broader than what Akivili encompassed."
"If traveling between galaxies counts as trailblazing, that's rather narrow."
The difference between the former Aeon of Trailblaze and the current one was clear—one connected countless galaxies within a single universe.
The other sought to connect countless universes across the multiverse.
To Setsuna, jumping between galaxies felt like child's play. He could do it himself with a spacecraft—there was no need to board the Astral Express for that.
With his abilities enhancing the concept of Trailblaze, it should be expanded further.
"Oh! A universe even Akivili never reached, Pom!"
Pom-Pom leaned forward excitedly.
"Sacrosanct, can we really do it?"
Himeko wasn't entirely confident.
"Let's try. I'll go with you."
Setsuna placed a beacon in the void beyond the universe.
He wanted to see whether the Astral Express could actively pioneer new worlds—this would greatly improve future exploration efficiency.
Hummm...
With a single motion, he infused his power into the Astral Express.
Not just Imaginary energy—his authority and various other powers were transformed into the force driving the train forward.
Boom!
The train seemed to respond instantly, shuddering as a surge of immense power coursed through it.
"...Understood!"
With the Aeon of Trailblaze himself giving the order, Himeko—as both an Emanator and a Nameless—had no reason to hesitate.
Setsuna's presence also gave them great confidence and reassurance.
Returning to the control console, she took command once more.
Rumble!!—
[Initiating warp program!]
[Countdown: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...]
The AI prompt sounded.
Humm—
Himeko personally guided the warp.
The Astral Express accelerated continuously through the starry sky, faster and faster.
Everything outside the windows blurred as the stars stretched into multicolored streams of light.
Boom—
The train shot forward like a black bolt of lightning across the sea of stars.
Crash!
The power of Trailblaze surged ahead, smashing through the Imaginary barriers in its path.
"Amazing!"
Himeko gasped softly.
"Ah! It's too fast, Pom!!!"
Unable to keep its footing, Pom-Pom stumbled and tumbled from the front of the carriage all the way to the back, rolling over and over until it was dizzy.
Shaking its head, it finally stood up again with Stelle's help.
Whoosh—
In an instant, the train had already passed the edge of the star system, leaving behind the explored regions of the star map.
It pressed forward, crossing sparse nebulae, skimming past the accretion disks of massive black holes... heading straight toward the farthest reaches of the universe.
Boom!
Ahead stretched a barrier spanning billions of light-years—a celestial wall of Imaginary energy and subspace crystal layers.
It was a divine construct forged by the Aeon of Preservation, separating galaxies while protecting them.
Even during the war between the Starsea Empire and the Interastral Peace Corporation, Photoid weapons powerful enough to destroy entire star systems had failed to damage it in the slightest.
In a fleeting moment, Himeko and March 7th seemed to glimpse a colossal figure made of stone, wielding a massive hammer, repairing the Subspace Crystalline Barrier.
Its form was so vast that even in the boundless universe, it appeared to tower between heaven and earth.
"!"
The Aeon of Preservation noticed the Astral Express, casting its gaze upon them and emitting an indistinct, incomprehensible sound.
"Ahhhhhh—"
"It saw us!! I heard Akivili and the Aeon of Preservation don't get along—Is that true?!"
March 7th trembled.
"According to the Simulated Universe data, it's true—but not to the extent that They'd swing a hammer at us."
Herta replied expressionlessly.
"Aha!!!"
"Akivili! My old friend? Where are you going?! And you didn't invite me along?!"
Another burst of wild laughter echoed through the sky.
Setsuna couldn't help but sigh—Aha truly lived up to being the strongest Emanator of Trailblaze, trailing behind him the entire time.
"Ohhhhhh, Akivili! You're heading straight for that fool's wall, aren't you?! Hahahahaha—"
"!!"
The Aeon of Preservation turned Their gaze toward another god deep in space.
Himeko couldn't shake the feeling that the Aeon of Preservation wasn't particularly pleased to see the Astral Express and Aha.
—Even though the stone giant had no expression at all, something about the atmosphere felt off.
"Wait! We're about to crash into it!!—"
"Hm."
Rumble!!—
Empowered by Trailblaze, the Celestial Comet Wall shattered upon impact with the Astral Express, Imaginary energy scattering in all directions.
What was once an indestructible barrier now proved utterly fragile.
Humm...
The next moment—
It felt as though they had entered a spacetime singularity, surrounded by nothing but boundless void.
"This is... a place beyond the universe?"
Herta's eyes widened as she leaned against the window, staring into the chaotic expanse outside.
The Astral Express had indeed broken past the boundary of the universe, arriving in an unknown spacetime.
Neither the Starsea Empire's star charts nor Akivili's routes had ever recorded this place.
Before they could continue observing, after drifting through the void for a brief moment—
Crack!!—
With the sound of space shattering, their vision blurred, accompanied by a fleeting sensation of weightlessness.
The Astral Express entered an entirely new world.
Before them stretched another boundless galaxy. The train cruised slowly through space in a steady state.
"Uh..."
Everyone was momentarily dazed.
Herta checked the star map—this wasn't part of their original universe, nor did it exist in any record within the Starsea Empire's database.
"This... worked?!"
"We've... arrived in a new universe?"
Looking out the window, a blue planet slowly rotated within the starry expanse.
It faintly emitted a strange magical energy.
Herta was fascinated by the existence of a true otherworld and deeply impressed by the power of Trailblaze.
In Setsuna's hands, the power of Trailblaze had reached an entirely different level compared to Akivili.
"So... from now on, our trailblazing targets are the multiverse?"
Himeko was stunned.
She had a feeling that under the Starsea Empire and Setsuna, the Nameless were about to accomplish something extraordinary.
"Wait."
Soon, Kiana and March 7th raised another question:
"Where exactly are we now?!"
Checking the higher-dimensional star map, this wasn't a discovered world—it was still shrouded in unexplored fog.
This was a world created through the Astral Express' trailblazing, different from those Setsuna had previously located.
"Doesn't matter. Let's go take a look."
Gudako began preparing her equipment, eager to act.
"Since we're already here, why not beat up the locals first?"
"Quick and efficient—just treat it like clearing a side dungeon while sightseeing."