Chapter 22 Embrace the Glory of Battle

"How about this? I'll add a little more incentive. After Walter and I process the Stellaron on this planet, we can give it to you for research. How about that?" Himeko offered a condition that was hard for any researcher to refuse.

"Deal. Leave this expedition to me." Gu Tang snapped his fingers.

"Preliminary surveys indicate that there is a relatively normal temperature zone on the planet's surface. But 'normal' here means just barely suitable for human survival," Dan Heng said, looking at the virtual screen in front of him. "If we need to pick a site for the preliminary survey of the expedition, I would choose that relatively warmer area."

"Aren't you coming with us?" Stelle asked, looking at Himeko and Walter.

"Someone needs to stay on the train; otherwise, Pom-Pom will get very lonely," Himeko said with a smile.

Walter looked a bit downcast. "Looks like it's not our turn this time either..."

"Alright, let's go. I hope we can make it back before dinner," Gu Tang urged everyone.

March 7th remarked, "That's too fast."

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...

...

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The snow whistled, and the cold air felt like sharp knives.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but endless white snow, with no signs of life.

"Wow... it really is an ice and snow world," March 7th remarked.

The four had already landed on Jarilo-VI.

"It doesn't seem that cold..." Stelle rubbed her face.

"That's because we have the weak power of the Path of Trailblaze, allowing us to adapt to harsh environments," Dan Heng explained.

Gu Tang nodded, "That's good news for a fragile scientist like me."

Dan Heng checked the map scanned by the train. "According to the coordinates, the target is not far ahead."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" March 7th charged ahead energetically.

"Why didn't we land directly at the destination?" Stelle asked.

Dan Heng sighed and looked at March 7th. "...You want to tell her about the time you made a hole in the Tykamine Dome, or should I?"

"Uh, let's not talk about that. Anyway, landing in an uninhabited area is fine... By the way, Gu Tang, do you have any transportation in your bag?" March 7th awkwardly scratched her cheek and then clumsily changed the topic.

"Haha, you're asking the right person. I have all kinds of vehicles and flying devices," Gu Tang said confidently.

"Uh... how safe are they?" At this point, March 7th had a rough idea of the characteristics of Gu Tang's inventions.

Gu Tang looked at March 7th with his beautiful amber eyes and said, "Don't worry, March 7th. I would never sacrifice speed for something as trivial as passenger safety."

"We'll walk," March 7th decided and started towards the target.

"Are you sure? You could enjoy a comfortable breeze," Gu Tang said, sounding like a salesman.

"We'll walk." Even Stelle walked past Gu Tang, following March 7th.

Dan Heng was at the back, looking at Gu Tang and then at March 7th.

He recalled what happened the night before.

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Last night, after taking a bath, he inadvertently walked past Gu Tang's room.

Although his room was on the other side of the train, it's normal to occasionally walk in the wrong direction on such a long train, so it was purely accidental.

Anyway, he heard Gu Tang mumbling to himself outside his room.

"How can I increase March 7th's favorability..."

Increasing someone's favorability becomes progressively harder. Becoming casual friends with someone is easy, but becoming close confidants requires compatibility and time.

That's why Gu Tang was saying this. He was troubled about how to complete the favorability task with March 7th.

But to Dan Heng, it sounded like something else.

"Gu Tang has a thing for March 7th!" Dan Heng was shocked.

But after calming down, it wasn't entirely unacceptable.

March 7th was indeed a beautiful girl. Though a bit noisy, many people liked that type.

And after crossing dangers together at the space station, there might even be a bridge effect.

Hmm, very reasonable.

Dan Heng thought about it and made a decision: "Sorry, buddy... Though our friendship is unbreakable, feelings are March 7th's choice. I won't interfere because she is also an important friend."

"How can I increase Dan Heng's favorability..." Gu Tang's words continued.

Rest assured, buddy! I'll definitely try to set you up with March 7th!

Dan Heng made a decision in his heart.

Meanwhile, he severed ties with the self he was five seconds ago.

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Back to the present.

Dan Heng patted Gu Tang on the shoulder and said, "Buddy, look forward to this expedition."

"Uh? Oh..." Gu Tang was puzzled.

Then Dan Heng scrutinized March 7th with a critical look.

That gaze made March 7th shudder. She hurriedly approached Stelle and whispered, "Don't you think Dan Heng's looking at me weirdly..."

"Hmm? Like how?" Stelle frowned, confused.

March 7th scratched her head in frustration. "Like... like a picky mother-in-law looking at her daughter-in-law."

"Are you awake, March 7th?" Stelle couldn't help but tease.

"Oh, come on, it's just a feeling," March 7th said helplessly.

"Stop, there's something ahead," Dan Heng said, taking out his spear and halting the group.

Don't be misled by Dan Heng's inner monologue. Most of the time, he's a calm and resourceful young man.

"Are there enemies?" March 7th readied her bow, and Stelle took out her bat.

Creatures seemingly made of ice crystals appeared before them.

They looked like birds in flight, surrounded by biting cold, exuding danger.

"These are... monsters spawned from the spatial distortion," Dan Heng frowned. "The influence of the Stellaron on this world is probably extraordinary."

"I'll call them Icebirds," Gu Tang named them based on their appearance.

"Hmph! Are we, the train crew, afraid of mere birds?" March 7th flipped her hair disdainfully, raising her bow to shoot.

Then, dozens of Icebirds appeared, fierce icy winds howling, kicking up a snowstorm.

"Uh... there are quite a lot of them. Should we fight or flee?" March 7th hesitated, taking two steps back.

But Stelle, already charging forward with her bat, shouted, "Embrace the glory of battle!"

Her bat, enhanced by Gu Tang, was now the Galaxy Bat +1.

Though the bat's attributes hadn't changed, it was ten kilograms heavier, increasing its attack power.