'Buzz buzz! Buzz buzz! ...'
With a sound like steam surging forth, the Astral Express returned once more to the Herta Space Station, docking and stopping at the station's train reception area.
"Everyone on the Astral Express, welcome back to your return."
The moment the train's cabin door opened, what entered the eyes of the group of Nameless was the space station's stationmaster who had been waiting here for a long time—Asta, as well as her guard Arlan.
"Long time no see, Asta!"
March 7th trotted out of the train, happily greeting Asta, and the Stelle who followed closely behind also gave Asta a sincere smile.
"Welcome, everyone."
Asta expressed the warmest welcome to the arrival of the train crew.
However, amid the girl's bright and sunny smile, there faintly revealed a trace of worry, but our Miss Asta hid it very well, so even a careful person would find it difficult to discern anything from it.
But that tiny bit was captured by our Miss Himeko.
"Miss Asta, I see you seem somewhat fatigued. Has something happened at the space station?"
As Himeko's words fell, everyone present was slightly stunned, and finally, they all turned their gazes to Asta in unison.
"Uh... um, the space station has indeed encountered some, some minor issues. Everyone, please don't worry; we will handle it well."
Asta opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, but the girl still decided not to tell the group of Nameless in front of her about what had happened at the space station.
After all, the space station already owed the Nameless enough favors, and if they kept blindly requesting the other's help, it would be too shameless.
Moreover, this current matter... was not really suitable for outsiders to intervene in.
Hearing Asta's words, our navigator naturally understood the other's difficulties, so she did not press on relentlessly.
"Let's not talk about that for now. Miss Himeko, Miss March... I have prepared a welcoming banquet for you all."
"Arlan." Asta instructed the guard and confidant behind her.
"You go handle that matter; make sure to strengthen the space station's 'security' work, understood?" Asta emphasized the words "security" heavily, as if worrying about something.
"I understand, Miss."
Arlan nodded, then followed his young lady's instructions and took his leave first.
As for the work as a guard...
The Nameless of the Astral Express were all highly skilled; with them around, his young lady's safety was not a concern.
After Arlan took his leave, Asta smiled at Himeko and the others.
"Everyone, please follow me."
— — — —
Meanwhile, far away thousands of light-years distant...
"Ah—what exactly are you? A Patroldom's patrolling ranger? Heh, don't pretend; the Path you tread is definitely not [The Hunt]."
Ever-Flame Mansion... Duke Inferno was slumped on his own throne, with faint firelight flickering at his abdomen—that was the wound inflicted by the person before him.
And around the wound, a purple-red energy was continuously devouring it, a power filled with a decaying aura suppressing the wound's healing.
In response to Duke Inferno's question, the cold woman before him did not answer anything, instead speaking coldly on her own.
"Hand over that music box, and I can spare your life."
Indifferent words came from the woman's mouth, as if devoid of any emotion.
"Heh, spare my life? No, I was born for destruction, and in the end, I will also march toward destruction. Creature who calls herself a patrolling ranger, I will not beg for mercy."
Hearing Duke Inferno's words, the woman placed her hand on the sword hilt at her waist.
"Ifrit's fire demon, even if you exhaust everything, you will ultimately fail to gain that deity's gaze. Is this really worth it?"
"Worth it? Heh, destruction is the will I was born with, and pursuing destruction is also my lifelong wish."
The somewhat weakened duke shook his head, then removed the crown from atop his head.
"This crown is forged from Ifrit's ashes, containing the residual might of the Destruction Aeon within."
As he said this, Duke Inferno infused his power into the crown. In an instant, surging flames bloomed from the crown, and at the same time, a power at the level of an Emanator of Destruction erupted from Duke Inferno's body.
Silently watching Duke Inferno activate the crown's power, the purple-haired woman made no movements, her eyes seemingly devoid of any ripples.
Only when Duke Inferno's entire body ignited with flames and waves of Emanator might bloomed from him did she speak.
"A crown refined from Ifrit's ashes, containing the power of an Aeon. With this, you can temporarily touch the power of a Destruction Emanator." At this point, the purple-haired woman paused slightly.
"But as the price, you who wield the Emanator's authority within will ultimately be burned to ashes."
Hearing the purple-haired woman's words, Duke Inferno nodded.
"Your knowledge is indeed broad enough, 'ranger.' Then, may I ask you to draw that sword at your waist? And engage me in this battle to the death."
"..." The woman fell silent. Of course, this was not because she was afraid or terrified. Rather... that power was somewhat too overwhelming, and that sword... somewhat too heavy.
"As you wish, Ifrit's fire demon."
With that, the purple-haired woman drew the blood-red longsword tightly wrapped in its sheath from her waist.
As the longsword was drawn, the woman's full head of purple hair was entirely dyed white, and the hand gripping the sword was wrapped in red, armor-like scales.
On the woman's cheek, a trail of blood tears flowed from her right eye down to her jaw.
At the same time, a powerful Nihility power erupted from the woman's slender frame.
"I salute you, Ifrit's fire demon. [The Hunt] is not the Path I tread; what I pursue... is [Nihility]!"
"No! How is this possible?! IX never favors anyone; how could Nihility have an Emanator?"
Roaring, the flames on Duke Inferno's body burned even more brilliantly. The next moment, Duke Inferno activated the Destruction Emanator's authority and launched an attack toward the Nihility Emanator before him.