Chapter 121: Captain's Heroic Rescue & Sealing the Beast!
[After bidding farewell to the Captain and Tesla, Stargazer soon arrived at the underwater altar. Within the ancient altar, the young girl wandered alone, sometimes pausing in her steps. "Scripts I've never seen before...
Just how long has this altar existed? And who built it, for what purpose?"
Though riddled with mysteries, Stargazer knew now was not the time to investigate. The space above the altar's colossus twisted and tore at a visible pace, scorching heatwaves gushing from the spatial rifts. Before the girl could react, she was blown to the other side of the altar. The beast emerged from the rift, standing atop the colossus as it arrogantly yet cautiously surveyed its surroundings—and the sole human in its sight. "Seems like a rib's broken..."
The excruciating pain made it nearly impossible for her to rise. How long had it been since she last suffered such a severe injury...
At this moment, Stargazer recalled the Assassin—how he had always shielded her along the way, bearing wounds that were never meant for him. But she knew now wasn't the time for reminiscing. Staggering to her feet from the corner, she steeled herself—the ritual was incomplete, and she couldn't afford to falter. The beast was no fool either. Sensing Stargazer's scheme, it leaped down from the array, its claws lunging straight for her! Though it missed, the resulting shockwave sent her flying once more. Her pale blue dress was already stained crimson with her own blood, yet she forced herself up again. Using her fan as a brush and her blood as ink, she traced the array's pattern onto the stone wall. The beast finally grasped her intent, recognizing her as a genuine threat. It grew serious, marking her as its enemy. With a sudden lunge, it closed in on the girl, its massive claws poised to crush her—]
[March 7th]: "Such a close call! Is Stargazer okay?!"
[Stelle]: "Does she look okay to you?! ↑Don't jinx her with death flags, you dummy!"
[Elysia]: "Where's the Captain and Tesla? Someone save her already!"
[Silver Wolf]: "Based on my years of experience, this is where the Captain swoops in for a heroic rescue! Otherwise, isn't Stargazer basically dead?!"
[Honkai Star Rail · Welt]: "I'm more intrigued by this altar. It must be something special."
["Clang—"
"Hah... Made it!""Assassin?! Why are you—" The girl stared in shock at the Captain, who had blocked the blow meant for her. *"Probably because...
I'm just stubborn like that?"*
The Captain replied with Stargazer's own words from last night. Just as Stargazer felt moved, familiar voices echoed from behind—Iron Fist and Prime Minister Rita had arrived.]
[Silver Wolf]: "Yes! I knew you couldn't just rush into a boss fight without gathering the whole party first!"
[Stelle]: "The Captain's heroic rescue! You did good! You did good!"
[Murata Himeko]: "You're also the Captain of the Hyperion. Not a single soul on your ship gets left behind!"
[Kiana]: "I never thought I'd find a Captain who pulls off heroic rescues this cool."
[Stargazer was baffled. Why had they come? "Last night's sky lantern—wasn't that precisely Your Excellency's signal for help?"
Rita explained innocently: "After all, in this world, only you know how to craft such lanterns."
Following the lantern's guidance, Rita had found the Captain and Tesla before rushing here without delay.
There was still a quarter-hour left to complete the array. Now, it was up to the Captain and the others to hold off the beast! With a smile, Rita unsheathed her massive scythe. The Captain brandished the sword she had given him, while Tesla cracked her knuckles in readiness. The beast was in danger!]
[Sushang]: "Why hasn't the beast done anything while they were chatting for so long?"
[Silver Wolf]: "As we all know, time stops during exposition!!"
[Stelle]: "Taste this, beast! Our burning-hot combo attack!"
[March 7th]: "Wait! Isn't Rita the Prime Minister? Why is she just charging in with a giant scythe? That doesn't match her vibe at all!"
[Rita]: "I am an S-rank Valkyrie. Having some combat prowess is only natural, no? Even in a World Bubble, I should retain some strength."
[Gepard]: "But... where was Prime Minister Rita hiding that scythe? I didn't see it at all."
[Serval]: "Little bro, don't question a lady's secrets."
[To buy time for Stargazer, the trio clashed with the beast. Flames engulfed the entire altar until all three collapsed. And the master of those flames—the final beast—now stood triumphantly at the altar's center, surveying its fallen foes.
Everyone—the Captain, Stargazer—had severely underestimated this monster. "Damn it... It was so close... Just a little more... Damn it!"
Stargazer worked frantically to complete the array, her movements growing faster and faster. But time was running out!]
[March 7th]: "No way... They're completely outmatched! They should've brought Durandal into this fight."
[Fu Hua]: "Durandal has her own duties. This was just one move short of victory."
[Stelle]: "Hey! Doesn't Tesla still have her Atomic Burst Fist unused?"
[Kiana]: "Two Atomic Burst Fists couldn't even take down Raven. Does that mean Raven is stronger than this beast?!"
[Silver Wolf]: "The Captain's just a consciousness projection here, right? If this isn't his real body, maybe he'll pull off some last-minute deus ex machina power-up?"
Silver Wolf offered her sharp critique based on years of internet expertise.
[The beast let out a roar as scattered flames coalesced into a massive fireball above the altar. Slowly, it descended toward Stargazer. "Clang—"
*"You damn beast...
Keep your filthy claws off her..."* "Your opponent... is right here..."
The Captain picked up his sword and struggled to his feet before hurling it weakly at the beast with his last ounce of strength. Though barely an attack, it succeeded in drawing the beast's attention. The fireball veered off course—straight toward him instead. "Yeah... That's right. If you want to get to her... You'll have to go through me first..."
But he no longer had the strength to dodge.
As the fireball neared, its heat and blinding light forced his eyes shut— Then, everything vanished. When he opened his eyes again, some unseen force was dragging the beast back into the spatial rift. Stargazer had skipped some steps—though less effective, it was enough to seal it away. "At least... I made it in time..."
Drenched in sweat, she managed a faint smile at him while barely maintaining the array.]
[March 7th]: "This battle was full of twists and turns! Stargazer saved the Captain again!"
[Kiana]: "Hooray!"
No one could immerse themselves better than St. Freya—after all, aside from the Captain, everyone fighting in this video was an old friend!
[Theresa]: "This is the first time I've felt Judah could be so useful. If Stargazer had one too, things wouldn't have been so dire."
[Kiana]: "Auntie Theresa... Are you seriously considering becoming a Judah launcher?"
[But due to the incomplete array, the beast Huodou still struggled violently. A torrent of breath surged toward Stargazer. Just then—a spear descended from above, striking the beast square in the face.
Durandal had arrived as reinforcements! "No... It's not enough! It won't give up yet..."
"No. It's already over!"
Tesla leaped high as electricity erupted from her iron fist. "This is... our final strike!"
"Atomic—Burst Fist!!"
Driven by that spear straight into its maw, the flames condensed within exploded—knocking Huodou unconscious at last. Seizing the moment, Stargazer shut the spatial rift completely. The beast was sealed!]
[March 7th]: "Hooray! It's really sealed! No casualties—a perfect happy ending!!"
[March 7th]: "...But is this simplified seal actually reliable?"
[Silver Wolf]: "As we all know, seals exist solely to be broken later."
[Kiana]: "So Tesla's punch really was that strong?! Now I'm even more impressed Raven survived two of them and escaped!"
[Raven]: "Will this joke ever die?!"
For some reason, Raven felt inexplicably irritated seeing Kiana's comment—as if she'd lost something precious.