Chapter 11: Not Alone
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[Rewards being distributed — Congratulations! You have received a one-time 30% physical condition recovery.]
The pain and weakness swiftly diminished, replaced by a surge of newfound vitality within him.
Bochang felt somewhat helpless.
He could have obtained the Light Cone or gambled on an Enigmata item, but unexpectedly, due to his own circumstances,
he ended up choosing the least advantageous option.
"It's fate and timing; no matter, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future, so no need to rush."
The black-haired youth composed himself.
Since arriving in this world, it hadn't been long, yet "Dating Options" had already triggered three times. This frequency was quite high, suggesting that before long,
Bochang might accumulate a vast array of rewards—potentially becoming invincible worldwide.
As the black-haired youth indulged in these fantasies...
the elevator reached its destination.
The group of five stepped out of the elevator.
March 7th led the way, Dan Heng supported Arlan, and Stelle carried Bochang on his back.
The navigator of the Astral Express—Himeko—was already waiting at the elevator entrance with a warm smile, her gaze frequently shifting between Stelle and Bochang.
Upon meeting acquaintances, pleasantries were inevitable.
During this exchange, Stelle had no chance to interject, merely listening quietly to their conversation. Bochang, similarly, remained silent as his strength continued to recover.
However...
The black-haired youth decided to feign weakness for a while longer.
Before they could chat much further, Arlan excused himself, stating he needed to report the situation to Station Director Asta.
With Arlan's departure, the conversation shifted towards Stelle and Bochang.
"Hi, nice to meet you all. I'm Himeko, the navigator of the Astral Express," she introduced herself.
March 7th spread out her hands and chimed in, "In other words... the train's movements are entirely under her command."
"Hmm... My name is Stelle, and the one on my back is Bochang. We... both have lost our memories."
The gray-haired girl followed with her own customary introduction, not forgetting to mention the person on her back.
"Memory loss?" Upon hearing this, Himeko's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly before relaxing again. "No worries, let's go see Station Director Asta shortly and ask her. She might know your identities."
Although she said that, Himeko harbored other thoughts internally.
Her gaze then shifted to the black-haired youth.
"What's his situation? Is he injured? If so... it would be best to place him over there for medical attention."
"Just exhausted," Stelle replied promptly.
As soon as she finished speaking, March 7th excitedly chimed in, "Himeko, did you feel the recent tremors at the space station? That was all thanks to Bochang... His blast was incredibly awesome!"
"It's too bad it was just one shot; he ran out of steam afterward. The explosion even blew him quite far due to the shockwave, but fortunately, he was at a safe distance and wasn't severely affected."
"Additionally... while we were battling monsters, he faced a sneak attack..."
The pink-haired girl rapidly recounted Bochang's exploits.
Earlier, when they encountered Dan Heng and Arlan, March 7th had mentioned these details as well. However, at that time, Bochang was still unconscious and didn't hear them.
"It seems she's quite fond of Draconic Burst..."
Bochang himself appreciated it too, just not realizing how much chaos it would cause.
Upon hearing this, Himeko appeared slightly surprised and asked, "So the recent tremors on the space station were caused by him?"
"Of course! Do you think I'd lie to you, Himeko? Even Stelle witnessed it, right?" March 7th placed her hands on her hips confidently.
Stelle nodded in agreement.
Himeko looked thoughtful. "I see... If he's merely exhausted, let's bring him along to meet Asta. She's been very worried about all of you."
Noticing that Stelle showed no intention of putting down Bochang...
Himeko understood that the gray-haired girl might not want to be separated from him. Perhaps she wished to personally take care of him?
And so...
Led by Himeko, the group departed from the elevator, their footsteps echoing on the metal floor as they hurried towards Asta's location.
The Master Control Zone was vast—so large that it could nearly accommodate the entire population of the space station. Consequently, this area was often chosen for gatherings and events within the station.
Due to the Antimatter Legion's attack, most people had gathered here. They stood in small groups, conversing with each other, their faces still showing signs of shock.
Along the way, Stelle observed those around them, noticing two young children engaged in conversation.
"Are they researchers too?"
"Of course, don't underestimate Adler and Wen Shiling just because they're young, Stelle."
Children were rare in the space station, so March 7th recognized them. As she passed by, she greeted them casually, eliciting cheerful responses like "Big Sister March..." in their immature voices.
After walking some distance, the group of five reached a triangular platform ahead where they found Asta, the acting station director.
The woman stood with her back to everyone... Her short deep pink hair draped over her shoulders, and she wore a white outfit that exposed both her shoulders and back. A cape hung from her waist, adorned with long pink embellishments around its edges, revealing beneath it a dark-colored bandeau bra.
"Radar tracking remains normal, but telemetry signal frequency is unusually high! It must be kept at average levels!"
"Based on predictions, the Legion is preparing for more than ten consecutive waves of attacks. Everyone, hold strong!"
Asta, not yet aware of Himeko's group arriving, slightly lifted her head to observe a 3D projection ahead. After reviewing a series of data points, she issued commands to the space station personnel.
Noticing this scene, March 7th interrupted by speaking up.
The acting station director turned around.
"Sigh... I'm relieved you all returned safely. Arlan was here just now; I've learned about the incident in the Storage Zone, as well as his injuries... In any case... we owe a great deal to your assistance this time. Otherwise..." Asta reflected on her mistakes before Himeko and the others.
Everyone in the space station had immense trust in Herta, never once considering that the Antimatter Legion could breach their defenses. This included the acting station director herself. As a result, they consistently neglected the development of security measures and combat readiness, leading to the current crisis. The Antimatter Legion's invasion caught them off guard, swiftly overwhelming the defense systems before launching fierce assaults on the space station.
Even this acting station director had overlooked security and combat personnel development, leading to the current crisis.
The Antimatter Legion's invasion caught everyone off guard. After breaching the defense systems, they launched fierce attacks on the space station. Fortunately, thanks to the presence of Astral Express crew members and the diligent efforts of the security team, most people were able to find safety.
"Your Astral Express crewmembers are truly exceptional..."
Upon hearing Asta's praise, March 7th instinctively placed his hands on his hips with a proud smile.
The acting station director's gaze then shifted to Bochang and Stelle.
The head of the Security Division had already briefed Asta about their situation.
"As for these two... honestly, when Arlan arrived earlier, I checked our database. There is no information about them here at the space station, so... they are not from this place."
Stelle looked surprised; if she wasn't part of the space station, then who was she? She felt momentarily bewildered.
However, swiftly...
The black-haired youth behind her provided some reassurance, reminding her that she wasn't alone.