Chapter 134: The Captain Really Did Split in Two!
[This towering structure standing within the world bubble, according to Dr. Tesla's analysis, belongs to relics of the Previous Era. Unable to resist touching everything in sight, the Captain was as excited as a schoolkid on a spring field trip.
Then they encountered another group - Einstein, Yae Sakura, Raiden Mei, and Kiana. That party was utterly shocked to see the Captain, since from their perspective, the Captain should have been kidnapped by two children. The Captain had no memory of such events whatsoever, nor did he recognize this group at all. During their exchange, both sides noticed subtle differences between the versions of the Captain each group knew, and that he simultaneously existed in both parties.
"Eh? Doesn't that mean the Captain basically split into two?!"
Kiana demonstrated her extraordinary wisdom. "Don't make it sound like I'm some single-celled organism! I'm starting to think you're being deliberately mean!"]
[March 7th]: "Looks like the Captain really did split apart - literally divided in half."
[Fu Xuan]: "Why would this happen to the Captain? Does Stargazer's array have this kind of effect?!"
[Theresa]: "Isn't it more likely that the Captain simply has an alternate version of himself?"
[Stelle]: "Why do you St. Freya people have so many alternate versions?! They're everywhere!"
[Theresa]: "But are Rozaliya and Liliya really that strong? They actually managed to kidnap the Captain from this group?"
[Rozaliya]: "Heheh! The Vodka Girls are invincible!!"
[As they were exchanging information, the Captain noticed something pink flash by. "How rude! Rozaliya isn't a 'something' - she's a superstar idol! The main character!"
Unable to bear the insult, Rozaliya immediately appeared! "You came back just to say that...?"
Fu Hua assumed a combat stance, treating this as a serious threat.
The Captain got excited too: "Alright, let's beat this one up first. My gut tells me things will work out if we do."
Both groups tensed up for battle, while Rozaliya recalled the emergency protocol she'd been taught: "Oh no! But that person taught me how to handle this situation - of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is best!"
Before anyone could react, she bolted!]
[Bronya Zaychik]: "It seems this time the Captain's division must also be related to Rozaliya and the others!"
[Rozaliya]: "Not even Bronya can slander us like this!"
[Liliya]: "That's right! Not even Bronya can!"
[March 7th]: "But does that mean there's someone behind them manipulating the Captain's kidnapping? Who could it be?"
[Honkai Star Rail Welt]: "It must be Otto! Don't you remember? When the Captain first arrived in this world, an Otto disguised as a bard guided them."
[Stelle]: "Oh no, Uncle Welt's judging by appearances again."
[Tesla]: "Joachim makes a good point!"
[Qingque]: "Even Dr. Tesla is doing it now? Where's your scientific rigor?!"
[With so many people present, how could they let this child escape? At the Captain's command of "After her!", their superior numbers quickly cornered Rozaliya. "What?!
How'd you catch up so fast? W-well then..."
Stopping her flight, Rozaliya turned and boldly declared: "You're all surrounded by me! Surrender now!"
"...You mean our entire group is surrounded... by you alone?"
Rozaliya gathered her courage... then suddenly collapsed into tears: "Waaahhh! Liliya save me!"]
[Stelle]: "'You're surrounded by me alone!' Then I'll hold the Astral Express in one hand and protect Herta Space Station with the other! I, the Galaxy Batting Champion, stand peerless in this world!"
[Stelle]: "Kiana save me!"
[March 7th]: "Stop making your own memes!"
[Kiana]: "Stelle! I'm coming!"
["Waaah—!"
With so many against one, Rozaliya stood no chance and was instantly defeated. "Wuwuwuwu..."
She cried rivers of tears. "What's with the waterworks?
Weren't you all tough earlier? Didn't you have us surrounded single-handedly?"
"Listen here kid, playing pitiful won't work on me! Spill everything you know now!"
Faced with Tesla's aggressive interrogation, everyone fell into awkward silence. Tesla looked up confused: "Huh? Why are you all looking at me like I'm some child-bullying villain?"
Seele hugged herself fearfully: "M-Miss Tesla is like Cinderella's stepmother..."
"Seele, remember - you must never grow up to be that kind of scary-eyed woman who bullies children and fights without mercy."
"Whose side are you people on anyway?!"]
[Rozaliya]: "Liliya! Tesla is terrifying!"
[Tesla]: "How am I terrifying?! Do I look like some scary person?!"
[Kiana]: "U-um... don't you?"
[Honkai Star Rail Welt]: "Tesla can be quite gentle and caring toward children too. This is just an exception."
[Einstein observed Future Welt's comment and seemed to understand something, giving Tesla a meaningful smile without saying a word.
After some gentle coaxing from Mei and Yae Sakura, Rozaliya confessed everything. Learning their destination, the group advanced toward 'that person.'
Upon arrival, thanks to Rozaliya's constant slip-ups, they pieced together nearly everything - the mastermind was Scholar Stargazer.
Moreover, if the two Captains met, it might cause dimensional instability. Hearing Stargazer's name now triggered the Captain's sparse memories. He could sense his other self was very close now. They were right upstairs.]
[Sin]: "Rozaliya just blabbed everything!"
[Bronya Zaychik]: "Were you expecting them to keep secrets?"
[Honkai Star Rail Welt]: "So Otto isn't behind this after all. That's good."
[March 7th]: 'Uncle Welt, stop blaming everything bad on Otto! He just sang one terrible song!'
[Theresa]: "It seems Stargazer's array really caused all this. This must be her attempt to fix her mistake."
[March 7th]: "Using another array to piece the Captain back together?"
[Silver Wolf]: "You're talking about the Captain like a jigsaw puzzle. Can two split people really be merged back so easily?"
[Qingque]: "Time travel, world-hopping, splitting in half - when has anything normal ever happened to the Captain?"
["Look! Over there! Two people fighting!"
The Captain was first up the stairs. The clash of great axe against massive sword produced deafening impacts, their sparks threatening to ignite the very air.
The axe wielded its brutal force like a savage beast, driving back the sword-wielding girl step by step. "Captain, stay back. It's dangerous - you might get caught in it."
Fu Hua shielded him behind her. The girl battling Liliya was a Theresa with blood-red eyes. She stared in disbelief at this unexpected reunion with the Captain.]