Belobog.
Lower District.
The empty town.
The Astral Express quietly stopped in place.
Inside the carriage, Takagi, acting as the Navigator, was leisurely walking through the train.
'With my current ability, I should be invincible in Teyvat.'
'It shouldn't be difficult to help Natasha and Seele get supplies in Teyvat.'
'As for Mora, I can charge a certain fee under the name of traveling the universe.'
'Hmm... speaking of which, I seem to be able to work as a tour guide.'
'Helping Teyvat passengers embark on a Path while also running a travel agency seems pretty good too.'
A little while later, Takagi stopped, looking at the phonograph in front of him that was identical to the one in the game, and muttered:
"It's truly amazing; the environment inside the Astral Express is almost exactly the same as Himeko's."
"Even the furnishings are very similar."
"If there's a difference, it's probably that I'm the only one here."
"There's no March 7th, no Himeko, and no Pom-Pom."
"But thankfully, after arriving in Teyvat, I can invite some familiar people to become passengers."
"I wonder what kind of mood the Teyvat people will be in when they see the sights outside their world."
Takagi smiled and shook his head, focusing his attention on the control interface.
"Well, it's time to set off."
"Destination: Teyvat Continent."
"Astral Express, set sail!"
With Takagi's command, the Astral Express instantly activated, turning into a light arrow and disappearing into thin air.
...
On the other side.
Teyvat Continent.
Mondstadt, Starfell Valley.
"Are these people here to hunt me with you?"
Stormterror Dvalin stirred up a fierce wind. He roared at Venti, Lumine, Paimon, Jean, Diluc, and the others.
"No, that's not it..." Venti said with a worried frown.
"Hehehe, this dragon should go serve its new master." The Abyss Mage floated onto Stormterror's back, looking provocatively at the group.
Just then, the Astral Express suddenly appeared out of the void. It directly knocked Stormterror and the Abyss Mage back dozens of meters.
"Wh-what happened?!"
"What is that thing?!"
Paimon's eyes widened, unable to believe that Stormterror, who had been so imposing just moments ago, was suddenly knocked away by a strange vehicle.
"Is that... a train?" Lumine said in surprise.
"A train? Like the aquabus in Fontaine? But this one... it's floating in the air?" Jean exclaimed in shock.
"This train appeared suddenly; everyone be careful. We also need to be wary of Stormterror," Diluc said guardedly.
Venti looked at Dvalin, who still seemed dizzy, and then at the Astral Express, his brows furrowed tightly.
"Oh dear, there was an accident involving hitting someone... no, hitting a dragon. Um, can I say it wasn't intentional?"
As the voice appeared, the train door opened, and Takagi jumped onto the grass of Starfell Valley with an embarrassed expression. Because it was his first time arriving on the Teyvat Continent, the landing spot was random. Takagi dared to swear on his conscience that he had no intention of deliberately knocking Dvalin away.
Lumine looked at Takagi, just about to speak. Suddenly, Stormterror nearby let out a violent gust of wind, heading towards the group. Along with the wind came Stormterror's furious roar.
"Barbatos, you still say you didn't come with the intention of hunting me?"
Venti: "Everyone be careful!"
Venti conjured a wind wall, quickly blocking the incoming gust and saving Lumine and the others from being blown away.
"This... you've misunderstood, Mr. Stormterror. I have no intention of hunting you. In fact, I'm not even with these people," Takagi pointed at Venti and the others, speaking through the wind wall.
"Shut up!"
Stormterror clearly didn't want to listen. With a wave of its wing, it conjured an even larger gust. A wind bullet even broke through Venti's wall and arrived in front of Takagi in an instant. Takagi seemed not to have noticed, standing still.
Swish!
A sword shadow flashed, cutting through the incoming wind bullet. Takagi looked up, and what met his eyes was the back of Acting Grand Master Jean.
'The soul of Mondstadt, the elegance of Acting Grand Master Jean. The ancients truly didn't deceive me,' Takagi thought, feeling a sense of admiration.
"Please be careful; Stormterror has lost its reason. It won't accept your apology. So, please hide behind me," Jean said. She didn't sense any elemental power from Takagi and considered him an ordinary person. Her identity as a knight led her to draw her sword and protect him.
"Actually, I have a way to protect myself," Takagi said.
"Now is not the time to show off. If you don't want to get hurt, step back," Diluc said, drawing his claymore.
"Exactly! As an ordinary person, you should hide at a time like this," Paimon added.
Although Lumine didn't speak, she also stood in front of Takagi with her sword drawn, clearly treating him as someone to be protected.
Seeing that Venti was at a disadvantage, Jean, Diluc, and Lumine immediately rushed forward to help fend off Dvalin's rage.
"See, it's all your fault! If it weren't for you, Dvalin wouldn't be so angry. And you're making everyone protect you," Paimon floated in front of Takagi, pouting.
Takagi: "You say that as if you're not being protected."
Paimon: "I'm already in the group being protected, unlike you, the guy who suddenly appeared!"
Takagi: "Oh..."
Paimon: "What's with that expression?"
Takagi: "Oh..."
Paimon: "Damn it, I'm going to give you an ugly nickname!"
Before Paimon could think of a name, Lumine was suddenly caught by a gust and sent flying towards her. Seeing Paimon was about to be knocked away, Takagi quickly reached out and wrapped an arm around Lumine's waist.
"Lumine, are you okay?" Paimon said nervously.
"N-no, I'm fine," Lumine nodded, then looked at Takagi with confusion. "Um, thank you."
In her eyes, Takagi should have been an ordinary person, but the strength with which he caught her was clearly superhuman.
"It's nothing, just lending a hand," Takagi laughed.
"Um, could you please put me down? I'm not quite used to this posture," Lumine glanced at herself, hanging from Takagi's arm, and said awkwardly.
"Alright," Takagi nodded and released her. Lumine, caught off guard, fell onto the grass.
"I said, couldn't you have put me down slowly?" Lumine raised her head to complain, but then she saw Takagi holding Jean in a princess carry after she was knocked away by the wind.
"Isn't the difference a bit too big?" Lumine thought of her own treatment versus how Jean was being held, and her mouth twitched.
"It's just because Jean's angle of flight was more suitable for catching her like that," Takagi responded with a smile.
Paimon: "Really? It's not because you think Jean has a better figure, is it?"
Lumine: "It's decided; tonight's dinner will be emergency food."
Paimon: "Damn it, Paimon is not emergency food!"
Diluc: "If you don't come up and help, we'll probably all become Stormterror's dinner."
Diluc's voice, struggling to resist Dvalin with Venti, brought them back to their senses. It also prompted Jean to try and stand.
"Get some rest, milady. Please leave the rest to me," Takagi said, pressing gently on Jean's shoulder.
Jean: "You..."
Takagi: "I told you, I have the power to protect myself."
With that, Takagi walked towards Stormterror.
"Hey, don't act tough!" Paimon shouted.
At that moment, a lance shining with a warm light appeared in Takagi's hand. An astonishing aura rose from him.
"You!" Paimon's eyes widened as she sensed his extraordinary nature. Venti, Lumine, Jean, and Diluc also cast surprised glances his way.
"I also have the power to help everyone."
Takagi, with a faint smile, held the lance that was already burning with a flame. He stepped before Diluc and Venti.
"This is..." Takagi held the Flame Lance in front of him, the Imaginary Energy transforming into the power of Preservation. "...the Amber of Blazing Immortality!"
In the next moment, Jean, Lumine, Paimon, Venti, and Diluc were all enveloped in a protective golden light.