Chapter 7 After The Doomsday Fight

In Orion's dream, he seemed to hear a voice.

"The destruction of tangible things will inevitably lead to the disappearance of intangible things. What sentient beings cannot remember, we remember for them; what they do remember, we preserve for them."

He felt like he had been dreaming for a very long time.

The chains he could see turned to nothing, and his spirit lived on forever.

His body became a free spirit, swimming through the endless galaxy.

The starry sky was no longer a barrier, the dark forest was shattered, distance was no longer a limit, and the laws of everything unfolded before his eyes, spiraling upward until he reached the heights of the imaginary.

"Orion, Orion, go farther."

"Orion, Orion, go and explore!"

When he opened his eyes, Orion saw an unfamiliar ceiling. The ticking of instruments repeated mechanically. Soft light reflected on his face. The scent of disinfectant lingered in his nose. Without looking, Orion knew where he was.

The voice still echoed in his head, but the sensation of his body pulled him back to reality.

"Am I not dead?"

His throat was too dry to speak. It seemed someone noticed his movement. A delicate hand extended from his right side and slowly fed him some sweet, clear liquid.

"It's good to be alive," Orion sighed softly.

"Yes, it's rare to see someone like you," a gentle female voice answered.

Orion tilted his head and saw a flash of fiery red hair.

"Himeko." He was speechless. Her eyes were gentle, and she sat quietly beside him. It seemed she had been there for a while.

"Dan Heng, March 7th, and the others took turns taking care of you. When they heard about your injuries, Asta and Arlan both came to see you. Stelle was hurt too, but she recovered faster than you."

Orion listened quietly to Himeko's recount of recent events, lifting his right hand with difficulty.

The severe scars were gone, leaving only the different skin tones on his palms as proof of his past ordeal. The new skin was smooth, like a baby's, unlike his old hands.

"Moderate burns over your body, severe burns on both hands, multiple fractures, and muscle strains.

Fortunately, the medical team at Herta's Space Station did an excellent job. They healed your injuries in less than seven hours. All that's left is rest." Himeko detailed his injuries with care.

"It doesn't sound like that happened to me." Orion was amazed at the advanced medical technology. Back on Earth, these injuries would have kept him bedridden for at least six months, if not worse. Now, apart from some weakness, he felt no pain.

"How long have I been asleep?" Orion wanted to know how much time had passed.

"Two and a half days," Himeko replied, then asked, "Orion, have you thought about the question I asked you before?

Everyone on the Astral Express is grateful for what you did. You can take your time to rest. The Astral Express will stay at the space station for a bit longer until you make a decision."

"Okay." Orion already knew his answer but needed time to reflect. He had come to the space station, been attacked, fought, found people, and fought again.

Finally, he had a moment to breathe, but then the Doomsday Beast attacked, disrupting his peace. All of this, not counting the time for healing, had happened within a few hours.

Speaking of the Doomsday Beast, Orion remembered Stelle's last outburst. He thought he and March were going to die from its attack, but he survived.

Could it be that Stelle suddenly tapped into some hidden power, using the power of friendship and love?

Seeing Orion's doubt, Himeko smiled. "Stelle's situation was resolved by another passenger on the Astral Express. You may not have seen him, but he's the person we talked about during the transport mission—Welt Yang."

"Of course!" Understanding dawned on Orion. Before passing out, he vaguely heard a reassuring voice. If anyone could save them in that situation, it was him.

Seeing Orion's expression, Himeko recalled Welt's instructions.

"Orion, once you've rested, whether you decide to join the Express or not, I hope you can talk to Welt. He rarely asks for anything. Seeing your expression, I know you know something about him. Just have a chat, okay?"

Orion shook his head and smiled, "Himeko, you don't need to be so formal with me. I also have things I want to discuss with Mr. Yang. It's something I want, not a request."

Himeko sighed with relief at his answer.

"Trust me, Himeko. My pioneering spirit won't fade like this," Orion assured her. "I need some time to understand everything. Once I've made my decision, I'll tell you right away."

Satisfied with his response, Himeko stood up, took out a black phone from behind her, and handed it to Orion.

"Is this my phone?" Orion asked, recognizing it despite feeling like a stranger in his own body.

"Yes, the medical team found it in your remaining clothes. Most of it had melted, but Herta's staff managed to restore it to like new, just like you," Himeko confirmed.

Orion looked at the phone in disbelief. It was both familiar and strange. Except for the casing, every detail was exactly as it had been before.

"Herta's technology is amazing!" Orion couldn't help but praise.

Seeing Orion's delight, Himeko chuckled. "Not just that, they also added the new UI from the Interstellar Peace Company. Asta used her own money to make you a correspondent member for a hundred years. I've already added the communication channels for the Astral Express. You can chat with March 7th and the others when you're bored in bed. I'm sure no one will refuse."

Orion Astra felt a warm sense of gratitude towards Himeko's kindness. After expressing his thanks repeatedly, Himeko left.

"Wow..." Lying quietly on the bed, Orion processed the information he had received so far.

He had truly traveled over to Honkai Star Rail.

Across the universe, he had arrived in a world he neither understood nor wished to be in.

Unlike most people who would feel excitement or indifference in such a situation, Orion only felt a deep sense of unreality.

He raised his right hand, still clad in a hospital gown, and made a fist, opened it, then repeated the motion.

"This is incredible," Orion thought, feeling the power of the stigmata coursing through his blood.

His heartbeat felt especially strong, and his senses heightened beyond expectation. He could hear the flow of blood, the creaking of bones, and his muscles, previously strained, now adapting to the changes.

In his mental space, the damaged "Judgment of Shamash" appeared as a card, resembling the light cone Orion had seen before.

Most of the damage had been repaired, with it automatically restoring its original form. The two cores remained mostly intact, with fragments of "Remembrance" still orbiting in circles.

Aside from the three golden lights, Orion was becoming somewhat familiar with his mental space.

Orion instinctively channeled a thread of mental power, transforming it into a tendril to probe the golden light.

The golden light felt like an intangible projection. No matter how Orion tried to interact with it using his mental power, it was like chasing after something non-existent.

"Well, I can't rush things," Orion muttered, scratching his non-existent head in the mental space, deciding to ignore it for now.

"Beep!" A notification sounded from Orion's new phone, and he opened his eyes.

The phone's operating system was not much different from what he was used to. After tapping on an app that resembled a messaging tool, a group chat with a familiar name greeted him:

"Astral Express Family."

"Heh."

The name was so evocative that Orion couldn't help but chuckle.

After suppressing his laughter and opening the group chat, Orion felt a comforting sense of belonging.

March 7th: "Himeko, how's Orion doing?"

Himeko: "Don't worry, March. I just came back from visiting him. Orion's injuries are almost fully healed. He just needs to rest."

March 7th: "That's great! I still want to take a photo with him. Let's wait until he can get out of bed."

Welt Yang: "Speaking of Stelle, she has only one day. Don't overdo it on exercise; it's not good for your health. @Stelle."

Stelle: "I'm at Herta's office, simulating the curvature of the universe. Don't ping me."

Welt Yang: "Are you at Herta's place? That's good. Don't forget to go to the medical department for a check-up. Post-op recovery is very important. @Stelle."

Stelle: "Got it, Uncle Yang."

Dan Heng: "Orion seems to be online."

March 7th: "Ah, it's true! Orion, are you okay? How do you feel? Are you better?"

Orion: "@everyone, I'm getting better, thanks to all of you for taking care of me."

March 7th: "What the heck, why are you being so formal with us?"

Stelle: "@Orion, come hang out with me when you're free. Herta seems to want to meet you too."

Orion: "Sure, I'll visit after a while."

Welt Yang: "Hello, Orion. I've heard about you from Himeko. Thank you for being willing to talk to me. I visited you several times during your treatment. You're a strong-willed person."

"This is our first meeting, Mr. Welt. I'm also looking forward to a face-to-face conversation with you. I believe that day isn't far off."

Welt Yang: "Alright, I'll be waiting for you on the train."

March 7th: "Wow, Orion and Uncle Yang already know each other?"

Dan Heng: "March, Orion might be from the same planet as Mr. Welt. And don't say stuff like that out loud."

Welt Yang: "It's fine, Dan Heng. I might be mistaken. There are similar planets in the galaxy. Based on current theory, the galaxy can accommodate all possibilities."

Dan Heng: "..."

March 7th: "..."

Stelle: "Uncle Yang nailed it!"

Himeko: "Alright, alright, let's not disturb Orion's rest. In a few days, a healthy Orion will be able to meet everyone again."

The chat in the group ended with Himeko's words. Orion put down his phone and lay quietly on the bed, reflecting on the conversation.

There was sincerity and genuine concern in that group, something Orion hadn't felt in a long time, even with people he had known for ages.

The nervousness and confusion of arriving in another world faded away. Orion believed that his decision to join the Astral Express was the right one.

Orion rested quietly on the hospital bed as the system time of the Herta Space Station gradually transitioned to night.

The ward of the medical department became quiet, the lights dimmed, and Orion peacefully fell asleep.

At some point, a figure appeared next to Orion. The figure had the appearance of a girl, with joints like a doll, an exquisite face, and elaborate clothing, resembling a finely crafted doll. But her purple pupils were filled with curiosity, staring intently at Orion as if he held some profound secret.

"There are so many talented people on Himeko's train. Just yesterday, a humanoid stellaron arrived, and today another incredible person has come."

"Isn't that right?"

The girl's face gradually moved closer to Orion's, as if trying to see him more clearly.

"The one who remembers an Aeon."