章 112: Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [112]
In the main control cabin, Asta's face turned pale. Despite issuing orderly commands two systems ago and entrusting the Astral Express crew with rescuing the staff, she hadn't anticipated the situation escalating to this extent.
It wasn't the material loss to the station that concerned her—such damages could easily be covered by her pocket change. What troubled her deeply was the invaluable researchers aboard. These individuals had come here not for wealth but out of trust in Herta's wisdom, pursuing the mysteries of the universe under her guidance.
As for Asta herself, she owed everything to Lady Herta. This station was her way of repaying the life-changing opportunity Herta had granted her. Now, as the station's entrusted manager, standing helpless in the face of crisis, a crushing sense of failure overwhelmed her.
Beside her, Himeko's expression was equally grim, her tone sharp.
"This is bad. It seems the Antimatter Legion has grown tired of minor skirmishes. They're bringing out their full power against the station."
Before Asta could issue any further orders, the radar displayed a massive draconic shadow. The telemetry signals skyrocketed beyond average thresholds, signaling an imminent catastrophe.
Projections revealed the Antimatter Legion preparing ten more waves of consecutive assaults—an onslaught that could spell the end for the station.
"The radar shows the shadow is on the uppermost level, near the containment cabin! Alan and the crew are still there…"
Asta's brow furrowed tightly as she switched the holographic display to show the containment cabin. The projection revealed the space elevator's structure half-destroyed. If the damage continued unchecked, the station would soon join the debris fields of the cosmos.
And when Herta returned to find her storage of rare curios and relics in ruins, Asta shuddered at the thought of her fury.
"No. We must evacuate immediately. I'll buy us time." She hesitated briefly before speaking again. "Himeko… you're free to act as you see fit, but I suggest you head to the platform and board the train. Prepare to leave."
Asta's resolve was evident, but as the other staff displayed sadness and despair, Himeko's eyes glinted with a spark of recognition.
Her somber expression softened into a confident smile.
"No need to panic, Manager Asta. Perhaps fleeing isn't our only option."
"What are you talking about?" Asta's voice rose. "The Antimatter Legion has invaded all the other sections. Even the Doomsday Beast is in the containment cabin! With the space elevator damaged, there's no way to stop its destruction."
The space station, after all, was just a research base—Herta's property, yes, but not equipped with cutting-edge weapons or extraordinary combatants. Powerful "Executor"-level forces were rare even within the company and would hardly be stationed here.
But then, something unexpected happened.
The draconic shadow wreaking havoc on the radar suddenly stopped, as if locked in a stalemate.
Asta leaned closer, issuing a new command.
"Activate the containment cabin's working surveillance systems!"
The staff input the order, and the monitors lit up, displaying the unfolding scene.
"It's… Alan, the Express crew, and an unfamiliar outsider? They're still fighting the Doomsday Beast…"
Asta's eyes widened. Though the group was barely holding their own, they were successfully stalling the beast's rampage.
There was no time to hesitate. She turned to Himeko with determination.
"Himeko, I remember you have an orbital cannon. I want to purchase it for reinforcements!"
"...The cannon is not for sale," Himeko replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "But more importantly, using it in this situation risks causing collateral damage."
"That's fine. The potential losses are trivial compared to the people fighting that beast. If they fall, this station will truly be finished!"
"Understood. I'll set the cannon to a lower power to minimize collateral damage. However, even at full capacity, the orbital cannon might not be enough to eliminate the Doomsday Beast."
Asta nodded resolutely.
"It's worth trying. We need to do something for them—if we don't, the station's morale will shatter, and even if we rebuild, the sense of unity will be gone."
She clenched her fists as she stared at the screen.
"Please, hold on until Lady Herta notices our distress signal…"
---
Containment Cabin
March 7th narrowly dodged another strike from the Doomsday Beast, retaliating with an ice arrow. Though it hit the beast's antimatter engine, the thin layer of frost wasn't enough to destabilize it.
Behind her, Alan, injured and fatigued, stood guard at the rear, keeping watch for Voidranger ambushes.
Dan Heng seized an opening as the beast's attention shifted to March, launching a precise strike at its left hand. His spear left deep scars on the armored fingers, nearly severing them.
But as the antimatter core pulsed with energy, the damaged hand regenerated.
This frustrating cycle repeated several times. The Doomsday Beast, seemingly tired of toying with its prey, unleashed a wide sweep with its massive right hand, aiming to crush them all at once.
Dan Heng, agile as ever, darted away to draw its attention, his movements shielded by March's light barriers when needed.
Stelle, however, found herself in constant danger. While she was learning quickly in battle, she was still inexperienced—little more than a newborn, barely two systems old.
Yet, against all odds, their makeshift teamwork was holding the line.
Stelle's eyes drifted to the shattered dome overhead, exposing them to the vastness of space. If not for Herta's special protective measures, they would've been swept away like Venti.
Her heart tightened at the thought of Venti. She had promised to protect him, yet he had been flung into the void before her eyes. His fate remained uncertain.
What should I do…?
She bit her lip, desperation simmering beneath her determined expression.
As if sensing her thoughts, the Doomsday Beast let out a piercing shriek. Its draconic wings unfurled, its form towering. The antimatter engine glowed ominously, shedding the frost March had painstakingly layered upon it.
"It's preparing a full-scale energy cannon!" Stelle shouted.
Dan Heng's and March's faces darkened as the core's radiant energy surged. Alan, guilt-ridden, hung his head.
Before anyone could act, the beast's attack was interrupted by a brilliant beam from outside the station.
The orbital cannon struck true, tearing through its wings and forcing the antimatter engine to flicker. The Doomsday Beast's massive body crashed to the ground, shaking the entire cabin.
"It's Himeko's orbital cannon!" March cried out triumphantly.
Dan Heng wasted no time. "Target its core—now!"
He repositioned himself and motioned for Stelle to attack alongside him.
This was their best chance. Without the antimatter energy protecting its core, the Doomsday Beast's body was fragile, vulnerable even to Alan's weakened strikes.
But the opportunity was fleeting, and March, tempted to land one more arrow, hesitated just a moment too long.
The beast roared back to life, its regenerated claw lunging toward March.
"March!" Dan Heng shouted, his usually calm demeanor cracking.
Alan closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight of what was to come.
But to everyone's shock, Stelle threw herself forward, shoving March out of harm's way. The beast's massive claw closed around Stelle instead.
"Ah—!"
The crushing force wracked her body with unimaginable pain. Her consciousness dimmed, and vivid visions flooded her mind—past, future, and a voice whispering:
"It's time to begin."
"Who… are you?" Stelle murmured faintly.
The voice replied coldly, "Reach the end with your own will."
Suddenly, an ethereal melody filled the air.
The oppressive voice and the Doomsday Beast's core pulsing energy fell silent as Venti's harp echoed through the cabin.
"Imposing your script upon others and calling it destiny… I keep meeting people like you."
Floating gracefully, Venti's playful smile carried a newfound weight of authority. He glanced at Stelle, his expression softening.
"Don't worry. With me here, no one can force you to choose—not me, not them. Your freedom is yours alone."
Though disoriented, Stelle felt a rare sense of peace, as if she'd found her own path—one far rougher than the predestined road laid out for her.
She had enough of others' grandiose words. Enough of being molded into someone else's hero.
The visions faded. As her star core settled, Venti gently caught her falling form, cradling her as she drifted into peaceful sleep.
"Rest now. When you wake, the things that troubled you will be gone."
Behind him, the Doomsday Beast shattered into dust, a thousand winds scattering its remains along with the Voidrangers.
Victory, as subtle as the breeze, had finally arrived.
---
T/N: Heh fuck you Elio
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