Chapter 128: Three-Pronged Approach
Hearing that the item wasn't broken and she wouldn't have to pay for it, March 7th felt a colossal weight lift from her shoulders. Her face, previously clouded with dread, instantly brightened.
She even patted her chest with a relieved flourish. "Feel? I don't feel anything! I'm perfectly fine! See? Full of life!"
As she spoke, she hopped off the couch and bounced on the balls of her feet twice, as if to physically demonstrate her complete and utter well-being.
"But…" Her gaze narrowed, darting suspiciously toward Dan Heng before scanning the still-complex expressions of the others. "Since the talisman is fine, why are you all still looking at me with that… uh… that stare you give a rare animal at the zoo? It's creepy!"
Stelle watched March 7th's seamless transition from 'the world is ending' to 'what, me worry?' and couldn't help but lean closer to Himeko and Welt.
She whispered, a hint of genuine concern in her voice, "Miss Himeko, Mr. Yang, don't you think… March seems even more of an airhead than usual? Did we accidentally leave the silly half of her behind?" She tapped her own temple for emphasis.
Himeko and Welt exchanged a look, a shared sense of deep helplessness and a flicker of worry passing between them.
Welt pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and sighed softly.
Himeko rubbed her forehead, her voice low. "Sigh… Perhaps. We have no way of knowing what kind of trait she lost, after all."
They couldn't be sure if March's current scatterbrained state was simply an amplification of her usual personality or a more subtle side effect of having a piece of her soul torn away.
March 7th didn't catch Stelle's quiet murmur, but seeing both Himeko and Welt rubbing their foreheads in tandem only deepened her confusion. She patted the dust from her clothes, waiting for Dan Heng—or anyone, really—to give her a straight answer.
Dan Heng looked at March, who was still projecting an aura of "vibrant vitality" while clearly missing the entire point. He knew he had to lay it out for her, step by step.
He took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully for maximum clarity. "March, the enemy that attacked the Astral Express just now was targeting you. It tried to forcibly take a part of you—it could have been your soul, your memories, or something even more fundamental."
The relaxed, carefree expression on March 7th's face instantly froze.
"At the critical moment," Dan Heng continued, pointing to the cracked talisman in her hand, "the Tiger Talisman you were wearing activated on its own."
"Its power of Separation forcibly split you into two independent halves. The attacker took one of those halves, and the remaining you fell into a coma as a result. That's why the talisman shattered and you fainted."
"Wh-what?!" March 7th's eyes flew wide, her mouth falling slightly agape. She was utterly stunned. "I… I'm only half of myself right now? My other half… was taken to Amphoreus by that monster?!"
The sheer volume of information was too much; her brain simply short-circuited.
Dan Heng gave a solemn nod. "That's one way to understand it."
After the initial shock subsided, March 7th's brow furrowed as she began to earnestly turn her focus inward, trying to "introspect" as she had been told. She hadn't noticed it before, but now that it was pointed out, a distinct, nagging sense of wrongness bloomed within her.
It was as if… an important part of her had been surgically removed. The whole system could still function, but there was a constant feeling of emptiness, a sense that things weren't running as smoothly or as "completely" as they should.
What exactly was missing? She tried desperately to grasp it, but the feeling was as ephemeral as mist, slipping through her mental fingers.
What alarmed her even more was the powerful, obvious urge that surged from the depths of her heart—she had to go to Amphoreus.
Now. Immediately. Right away.
It felt as though something there was desperately calling to her, pulling at her very being. The thought of not going was unbearable. This compulsion was so fierce and direct that it overshadowed the confusion and unease about her own "incompleteness."
"I… I feel…" March 7th's voice was a little dry as she raised a hand to press against her chest. "It feels like… there's an empty space right here, but I can't quite pinpoint what's missing… And…"
She suddenly looked up, her gaze fixed on the marvelous, swirling infinity outside the viewport. Her eyes grew exceptionally firm, laced with an unmistakable urgency.
"And there's a voice in my head telling me I must go to Amphoreus! If I don't… I just feel like something terrible is going to happen!"
She might have been a bit dazed when she first woke up, but her thoughts now were incredibly clear. This wasn't stubbornness; it was a primal instinct screaming from the core of her soul. She voiced her feelings without a shred of reservation.
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression grew more solemn. March's description was an obvious confirmation of their worst fears.
Just then, the gnawing emptiness and inner anxiety became too much for her to bear. She felt restless, needing to do something. Almost instinctively, she pulled out her Sheep Talisman, clutching it tightly in her palm as she closed her eyes and focused.
A faint blue light flowed across the talisman's surface, spreading like gentle ripples until it quickly enveloped her entire body. It felt like cool spring water washing over her, instantly soothing the agitation in her soul and easing the discomfort of that "missing" sensation. It was as if the talisman's power had temporarily granted her a strange, "pseudo-complete" state.
March 7th let out a long, shuddering sigh, feeling immensely more comfortable. The jarring, clunky sensation inside her had greatly diminished.
"Phew… Much better." She opened her eyes and looked down at the Sheep Talisman in her hand. "That empty, maddening feeling is gone!"
"But…" she added, "that 'must go to Amphoreus' feeling is still there, just not as strong. It's like a tiny thought, tucked away in a corner, constantly reminding me."
"Good that it helps," Stelle said with a nod. She quickly and concisely updated the situation in the chat group.
[Stelle]: "@All Members March is awake and doing well! Thank you all for your concern and for the Rejuvenation Pill, Lumine! We probably don't need support for now, but if we do later, we'll definitely call you!"
As the message went out, the group was immediately flooded with replies.
[Lumine]: "Glad you're okay! Let me know if you need any help!"
[Belle]: "March, you got this! Don't hesitate to ask for any items you need!"
[Paimon]: "Paimon still has lots of delicious food to replenish your energy!"
[Wise]: "Be careful!"
[Zhongli]: "It is paramount to help March stabilize her mind. The matter of the talismans can be addressed in due time."
[Dan Heng]: "Thank you for your concern. We will act according to the situation."
Looking at the warm encouragement and support from her friends, Stelle felt a knot of tension in her own chest loosen.
She looked over at March 7th. "Check the chat group, everyone's worried about you! Don't be scared!"
March 7th looked at the messages, her eyes welling up slightly. She nodded vigorously. "Mhm!"
On the other side of the parlor car, Welt, Dan Heng, and Himeko exchanged swift glances before moving to a corner for a rapid, low-voiced discussion. The enemy was an existence far beyond an ordinary Emanator, their target was clearly Amphoreus, and March's condition demanded they go there. Their strength had to be concentrated, but they also needed to prepare for contingencies.
Soon, their huddle broke.
Himeko, acting as their representative, stepped forward to address the room.
"Based on the current situation, we've decided to split into teams."
"First, the Trailblazing Team: composed of Dan Heng, Stelle, and March 7th. The three of you will take a carriage section detached from the Astral Express and land on Amphoreus." She looked directly at Dan Heng. "You will be responsible for the team's command and decision-making."
Dan Heng gave a steady, silent nod.
"Second, the Reinforcement Team: composed of Mr. Welt and Mr. Sunday. You will attempt to contact sufficiently influential aid to deal with that Emanator-level enemy. Mr. Sunday's knowledge and insights may provide assistance in this process."
Sunday inclined his head in a slight, graceful bow. "It would be my pleasure."
"Third, the Support Team: I will be in charge of it." Himeko's gaze swept across the carriage. "I will remain on the Astral Express, ensuring the safety of our main base and maintaining communication with the Trailblazing Team. At the same time…"
Her eyes softened as she looked at Black Swan, who was sitting aside, her face still a bit pale. "Miss Black Swan needs to rest and recover. I will take care of her."
Black Swan looked a little embarrassed but still offered a grateful nod.
With that, the strategy for dealing with this sudden crisis was set. The tasks of the three teams were clearly divided.
Dan Heng, Stelle, and March 7th's gazes met, and in that shared look, they saw the same unwavering determination reflected in each other's eyes.
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