Chapter 176: Bronya: If it wasn't sent to me, then who was it for?
After dealing with the last of the Ambrosial Arbor's roots, the air hung thick with the scent of scorching wood and ash. The group followed the path of the retreating tendrils deep into the IPC Engineering Department, where they discovered a courtyard completely overrun by vines and roots laced with gold patterns.
In the center of the courtyard stood the Abundant Ebon Deer. Its hooves glimmered with a faint light as it trod the ravaged ground, its entire body wreathed in a glowing green mist of vitality.
"I won't let you 'revive' again this time!" March 7th declared, drawing her bowstring. The frigid breath of Six-Phased Ice condensed at the tip of her arrow, a shard of winter ready to fly.
The Abundant Ebon Deer seemed to sense their presence. It turned its head slowly, its large, deer-like eyes reflecting the assembled figures of the Astral Express crew.
With a light tap of its front hooves, several new Ambrosial Arbor roots erupted from the ground, surging toward the group like living, wooden serpents.
Just at that moment, the sound of intense drumming echoed through the courtyard. It wasn't a BGM track played by Leon from some hidden speaker, but the percussive beat from Serval's lightning-infused guitar.
A passionate rock intro suddenly exploded across the battlefield.
The drum beats were dense and impactful, the sound waves stacking one upon another, feeling like a shot of pure adrenaline. Accompanied by Serval's powerful vocals, the entire Astral Express crew felt a searing energy flow through their bodies. Their movements grew swifter, their strength amplified.
Stelle and Caelus charged in from opposite sides in a perfectly coordinated pincer attack.
Stelle swung her Preservation lance, wreathed in roaring flames, carving a fiery arc as she smashed it toward the front leg of the Ebon Deer. At the same time, Caelus dropped low into a slide, his greatsword thrusting directly at the wooden core that was beginning to condense on the beast's flank.
A ring of emerald light burst from the Abundant Ebon Deer, repelling their initial assault, but the sheer force of the twin impacts still forced it back half a step.
Dan Heng's figure flickered into existence at its side like a phantom. The tip of his spear, Cloud-Piercer, struck with the force of a gale, aimed precisely at the tiny cracks that had just appeared on the light shield.
The shield shattered on contact.
March 7th's ice arrow arrived just in time, pinning itself into the junction where the Ebon Deer's four hooves met the ground. Frost spread rapidly from the point of impact, briefly freezing the creature in place.
Welt stood by, observing the battlefield without making a move. Seeing the seamless coordination between Serval, March 7th, Dan Heng, Stelle, and Caelus, he nodded in quiet satisfaction.
A crisp shattering sound rang out.
Deprived of the restorative power of the Ambrosial Arbor, the glowing cluster of antlers on the Abundant Ebon Deer's forehead finally showed cracks under the group's relentless onslaught. The light within them dimmed rapidly, and the green mist of vitality enveloping its body began to dissipate.
The creature let out a mournful cry, its tall body swaying precariously. Cracks spread across the wood-like parts of its form, revealing the fading glimmer of life inside. The wildly dancing roots fell limp one after another, turning into nothing more than withered vines.
"We won!" March 7th cheered, her voice bright with victory.
As the last glimmer of light extinguished from the Abundant Ebon Deer's eyes, it slowly knelt, its body dissolving into countless scattered points of light and dried plant remains. All that was left was a mess on the ground and the gradually subsiding ripples of energy.
"Did you all see that? The roots wrapped around the Creation Furnace have all withered!" Master Gongshu clapped his hands and laughed, his tone finally relaxed. "That's wonderful! Nothing can stop you now."
"General Jing Yuan once said that the Ambrosial Arbor is an incredible immortal miracle," Welt remarked, his gaze fixed on the remains scattered across the ground. His voice was deep and contemplative. "Only by seeing it with my own eyes do I realize... once this immortal creation is left to spread its branches and leaves, it is enough to cause an entire world's ecology to collapse completely."
"No wonder the Xianzhou chose to follow the path of The Hunt, wandering the sea of stars, never staying long on any single planet."
"Mr. Yang is very insightful," Master Gongshu nodded, his expression filled with emotion. "It is a pity that eight thousand years ago, our ancestors, as envoys of the Alchemy Commission... failed to foresee the disaster hidden behind this 'gift'."
"Perhaps some of them did see it and refused the 'gift' of the plague-bearer. But as a civilization... how many can truly resist the temptation of immortality?" He shook his head, his sigh carrying the weight of history. "It is truly ironic. The wise are buried in the earth, while the fools... are often undying. It is precisely because they tasted the bitter fruit of Abundance themselves that the Xianzhou finally began this endless journey of The Hunt."
"Perhaps... there is still room for redemption," Welt said in a low voice.
"Thank you all for your great help," Master Gongshu cupped his hands, his expression solemn. "I know you are heading to the Alchemy Commission to meet with Diviner Fu next. Looking at the scene before us, I fear it will be even more dangerous there."
"Go, and be careful on your way. This old man will wait here for your good news."
"Don't worry, Master Gongshu!" March 7th put her hands on her hips, flashing a bright, confident smile. "Just wait for our good news!"
Meanwhile, in Belobog, at Qlipoth Fort.
"Bronya? Bronya... are you okay?" Seele asked, gently shaking the distracted Supreme Guardian beside her.
"Ah... I'm fine, Seele. It's just... it's a bit hot," Bronya replied, snapping back to her senses. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her tone was a little uncomfortable.
Thinking of that voice message from just now, her ears began to burn again. But then another thought surfaced—if that sentence wasn't meant for her... then who was it originally for?
"Hot?" A series of question marks seemed to appear over Seele's head.
Although the temperature in many areas of Jarilo-VI had gradually returned to normal with Leon's help, the specific climate and terrain where Qlipoth Fort was located hadn't changed much. It was no longer bitterly cold, but it certainly couldn't be called "hot."
This weather... how could it possibly be hot?
"N-no, let's not talk about this!" Bronya quickly changed the subject. "Shall we get on the game together? Let's see what the Astral Express crew experienced here."
"Sure," Seele followed along, nodding with a smile. "I'm also quite curious to see what Belobog looks like through their eyes."
The two immediately logged into the game and teamed up to start the main storyline.
Yes, the Honkai: Star Rail game made by Leon supported online multiplayer and even allowed for collaborative progress through the main story. However, there was one condition: both players had to be in the same combat mode. Turn-based could only play with turn-based, and real-time combat could only match with real-time combat.
Both Bronya and Seele chose turn-based.
For one, Belobog's infrastructure was still being rebuilt, and the network environment wasn't as stable as on more developed planets. Secondly, Bronya was often busy with official duties, and turn-based gameplay was far more relaxed.
Seele naturally accompanied her in choosing the same mode.
Although, deep down, Seele actually preferred the thrill of real-time combat... but there was no "Seele" character in the Herta Space Station chapter, and controlling other characters always felt like there was a thin film between her and the action.
'If one day, I could also become a playable character in the game...'she thought.'I would definitely max out "myself."'
As her thoughts drifted, the main storyline had already begun.
On the screen, Leon was driving a carriage across a snowfield. He aimed for an inconspicuous snow pile and, without a hint of hesitation, drove straight into it.
Bronya and Seele laughed in unison.
"Sampo... it's actually him," Bronya said, her expression a little surprised as she looked at Seele. "Did he know the Astral Express crew would be coming from the very beginning?"
"I don't know. I only know he's a merchant who deals in stolen goods," Seele replied, shaking her head. "I never expected he'd be hiding in a snow pile from the start, just waiting for them."
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