The next day, Star Rail finally opened.
Siberian Duck immediately started her livestream, entering the opening-day grind.
On the screen, bullet comments like [Rush rush rush!], [Here we go!], [Departure!] rolled nonstop.
Kafka's figure appeared, mixed with scenes of the Space Station encountering an invasion by the Antimatter Legion. Asta, Arlan, Dan Heng, and March 7th flashed across the screen as well.
"Ah! Mom! It's this woman!" Siberian Duck screamed on the spot, "You really haunt my dreams!"
Then, with an explosion, the game's story officially began.
Siberian Duck rapidly pushed the plot and soon controlled Kafka and Silver Wolf to find the Stellaron, where a brand-new Stellaron Hunter would soon be born.
"Of course I'm picking the girl main character! The guy is handsome, but as the girl I can immerse myself better, hehehehe..."
Siberian Duck let out the laugh of a pervert and entered her name: "Siberian Duck".
The cutscene played, and Kafka placed the Stellaron into Stelle's body.
Siberian Duck shouted on the spot: "Mom stop pressing! You're flattening my chest!"
[Little Black Duck: You're gross, streamer. Do you even have any dignity?]
[Siberian Duck's Little Follower: Flat. Can't afford it.]
[Wake-Up Master: What is wrong with you? You're livestreaming, how are you falling asleep?]
Siberian Duck ignored the mocking bullet comments, mainly because she had no comeback.
She continued through the story.
Very soon, Kafka and Silver Wolf left, and Stelle was thrown at the Herta Space Station.
Siberian Duck remembered the upcoming mouth-to-mouth CPR scene. To avoid embarrassing herself from excessive excitement during the stream, she began mentally preparing.
The bullet comments rolled quickly again, filled with [It's coming!].
Then, the famous scene appeared: Dan Heng leaning in for CPR, only to be pushed away by March 7th.
The viewers only heard Siberian Duck let out a shriek, followed by a loud "clang".
The little virtual avatar at the bottom-right of the screen instantly fell backward, mouth open, eyes closed, unmoving.
[Aha Envoy: Pilot has ejected from the cockpit.]
[Three Thousand Six Hundred Lands: I have exited the pod. Feeling good.]
[Endless Vastness: I have shipped out. Feels great.]
The cutscene continued.
The camera focused on the azure planet. Suddenly, a streak of crimson shot out from behind the blue star, dragging a long trail of fire straight toward the Herta Space Station.
The next moment, the meteor collided with the station, producing a violent explosion. That flaming meteor even blasted straight inside, destroying a large amount of equipment and walls, before finally knocking Stelle to the floor right before Dan Heng and March 7th's stunned eyes.
"Hey! This part changed! Before, it went straight into dialogue!" Siberian Duck finally crawled back into her chair.
But when the flames scattered and the silhouette became clear, Siberian Duck's eyes widened.
"Holy crap! The white-haired sword immortal!"
———
[Inside the Game]
Nero rubbed his head, baring his teeth as he got up.
The system had kept its word and given him a cool entrance, but because of his own clumsy handling, that coolness had turned into sheer embarrassment.
Even though the system generously provided him with a one-time flying sword and kindly teleported him near the azure star…
This was, after all, his first time in two lifetimes flying a sword. His form was roughly correct, but compared to riding a skateboard, the difference was… substantial.
Thankfully, the system protected him so he didn't die on the spot.
He looked at the scorched flying sword on the floor, then at Stelle beside him, brows knit tight but still alive, then at the weird expressions on Dan Heng and March 7th.
Nero forced a stiff smile.
"Ahahaha… hi there… this was my first time riding a sword, didn't expect to cause, uh, sword-related damage."
March 7th was still stunned. Dan Heng, however, had a face full of black lines.
'Sword-related damage your ass!'
Embarrassed, Nero helped Stelle up, looked at the tall beauty of a Stellaron host who had just been born, and asked, "You okay?"
Stelle shook her head.
"That's good… good…"
Nero patted his chest, then pretended to be clueless, "By the way, why's this place such a mess? Don't tell me it's because of me?"
Dan Heng shook his head. "No. The Antimatter Legion attacked."
"Nanook's underlings? That's way too dangerous! Let's hurry and run…" Nero randomly pointed in a direction, he had no idea where to go anyway.
But just his luck... several Voidrangers walked out from that very direction…
Nero froze, staring at the Voidrangers.
'What a damn coincidence. Damn you, Aha!'
Reliable Dan Heng reacted instantly, summoning his spear "Cloudpiercer". Stelle, although unarmed, instinctively took up a defensive pose, while March 7th formed a bow of six-phase ice.
Voidrangers were warriors who had not completely died, walking the Path of Destruction. Antimatter energy pulsed through them, and dual imaginary-number blades extended from their arms.
As Nanook's mad dogs, Voidrangers were filled to the brim with endless destruction and the urge to ruin everything.
Dan Heng's expression was solemn as he shielded the group, his steady voice reassuring.
"March, prepare for combat. Protect them."
"Leave it to me!"
March 7th stepped forward and drew her bow.
The Voidrangers didn't hesitate, tiptoes pushed off the floor, bodies flickering forward.
Dan Heng and March 7th readied themselves to counterattack, when suddenly, a breeze swept past them.
The figure in blue moved quickly, but looked as light as a leaf dancing on the wind as he drifted past the Voidrangers.
In the next instant, the Voidrangers froze mid-strike. Their strong bodies were torn apart by an invisible raging wind, snapping cleanly at the waist.
With one move, Two Sleeves of Clear Wind eliminated all the Voidrangers.
Their bodies collapsed and vanished.
Nero turned around, white hair fluttering lightly, gray eyes looking at the train trio who had just been stunned by his performance.
"Voidrangers are handled. Let's hurry and run, yeah?"
"You're so strong! Not much worse than me!"
March 7th praised Nero while sneakily praising herself.
Freshly awakened Stelle had a hint of amazement in her eyes but didn't speak.
Dan Heng shook his head. "Not that way… March, take those two back to the central control segment."
Everyone looked at Dan Heng.
Reliable Teacher Dan continued, "Arlan from the Security Department lost contact nearby. I need to bring him back."
"Mm, okay, then be careful on your own." March didn't object.
Dan Heng nodded.
"In that case, how about this, I'll go with you to find this Arlan, and these two ladies can head to the control segment together." At that moment, Nero spoke up.
"That way, no one has to move alone. It's safer."
Dan Heng lowered his eyes to think for a moment. Feeling Nero's strength wasn't weak, he nodded in agreement.
"Then please remember me, everyone. Since we've fought under the Antimatter Legion's chaos together, this counts as bonding with our lives on the line. I'm Nero, from the Xianzhou Luofu."
"I'm March 7th!" March 7th, of course, would never miss the chance to make a new friend. She immediately introduced, "The guy next to me is Dan Heng!"
Half-dazed Stelle mumbled her own name as well.
"All right, time is tight. Let's move quickly," Dan Heng said.
Then, the four split into two groups, heading in opposite directions.