"What? An Emanator of Destruction?!"
Dan Heng and Welt’s expressions instantly changed.
If one were to na the most notorious forces in the universe, it would undoubtedly be the Denizens of Abundance and the Antimatter Legion.
The forr were the greatest invaders in the cosmos, stripping every civilization bare. The latter destroyed all civilizations without discrimination or rcy—including the Denizens of Abundance.
And the Emanators of these two factions were infamous across the universe. Any galaxy visited by either a Destruction or Abundance Emanator was dood to beco a civilization-turned-ruin.
Welt frowned. "How is this possible? This is just a normal Herta Space Station. Why would it attract an Emanator of Destruction?"
Emanators of Destruction were unlike others. Their sole purpose was to destroy civilizations in the universe. Their actions were never motivated by any secondary reason.
A re space station like this shouldn’t warrant their involvent.
Dan Heng’s expression remained cold. "Emanators of Destruction are elusive. No one knows when or where they’ll appear."
"They don’t need a reason to show up."
"Once they arrive, they obliterate every civilization within their sight."
Welt turned to March 7th. "March 7th, stay on the train for now. Don’t leave until we confirm it’s safe."
He had never personally witnessed an Emanator’s power, but it was said that even the weakest of them could destroy stars. The stronger ones could ignite entire galaxies.
Emanator was rely a title—their strength depended entirely on how many Paths the Aeon allowed them to access.
"Hiko, if we go up against an Emanator of Destruction, how confident are you?"
A chanical tool appeared in Hiko’s hand as she replied calmly, "I don’t know. I haven’t used this power yet. But I’m not a normal Emanator. I imagine I’m stronger than the average one."
"Still, battle isn’t just about numbers. I can’t say for sure."
"But then, I have you all, don’t I?"
She smiled with trust.
The companions she had invited aboard the train were anything but ordinary, each harboring imnse power. Even if they couldn’t match Emanators directly, they were still among the top tier of all Pathstriders.
Now that she possessed Emanator-level power, she could clearly sense the latent strength her companions concealed.
"Mm. I’ll give it everything I’ve got," Welt said as he adjusted his glasses.
Dan Heng sighed. "Sa here."
The doors of the Astral Express opened, and Hiko stepped forward in high heels.
"Then let’s head out."
As she spoke, she slowly released her Emanator-level aura.
In an instant, it filled the surrounding cosmic void around Herta Space Station.
Even the planet serving as the station’s backdrop was engulfed.
At the sa ti, the antimatter entities known as Voidrangers, who had been savaging the station, were instantly drawn to the high-energy readings.
So of the Voidrangers instinctively turned their attention toward the Astral Express, which had just docked.
March 7th pressed her face to the parlor car window and shrank back as she saw the swarm approaching. She called out with an enthusiastic cheer:
"Mr. Yang! Hiko! Dan Heng! Go get ’em! Beat up those bad guys!"
Welt and Dan Heng launched their attacks first. Imaginary energy burst forth, instantly tearing apart the first wave of Voidrangers.
These Voidrangers were abominations created by Nanook, the embodint of entropy—beings fundantally opposite to all life in the universe.
All life in the cosmos, even energy beings, is composed of positive matter.
Voidrangers, made of antimatter, were threats by their very existence.
When positive and negative matter collide, annihilation occurs. Civilizations without deep understanding of antimatter had no ans to defend against Voidrangers.
So any civilization visited by the Antimatter Legion, without the protection of Aeon-level powers, would be annihilated in short order.
Woo—woo—woo—
The shrill blare of alarms and crimson warning lights flashed continuously.
Everyone in Herta Space Station was thrown into chaos.
Under the assault of the Antimatter Legion, the staff panicked in fear, attempting to flee. Even though the station had automatically activated its safety protocols, sealing off compromised sections, it was utterly insufficient compared to the speed of the Antimatter Legion’s destruction.
The personnel here were so of the most renowned figures from their own civilizations and planets—none of them were unaware of just how dire the situation had beco.
At the frantic direction of the station’s sponsor and current lead, Asta, all scientific personnel were being evacuated to the safety zones.
Though she was the leader of the space station, Asta was only a 17-year-old young lady with little experience handling major crises. She was in over her head.
All she could do now was hope that Lady Herta, the Emanator of Erudition, would intervene.
"Lady Herta, 45% of the space station has already been destroyed and is no longer functioning. What should we do?!"
The Herta puppet—appearing no older than 14, and seemingly indistinguishable from a real living being—helplessly spread her hands.
"Sorry, you know my real body is several galaxies away. If it were only Voidrangers, I could handle things with just this puppet."
"But there’s an Emanator of Destruction among them."
"Given the current situation, I’m afraid the Herta Space Station won’t survive."
Asta’s face went pale in shock. "A-A-An Emanator?!"
Herta waved her hand dismissively. "No need to panic so much. While I can’t guarantee everyone’s safety, I can at least make sure you get out of here alive."
Just then, Herta froze, her previously furrowed brow shifting to stunned surprise.
"That pressure... another Emanator?!"
Asta clutched her head, trembling. "A-A-Another Emanator of Destruction?!"
Herta chuckled. "Actually... it looks like the station might be saved. This one’s likely an ally."
It was an unfamiliar presence. Even though she was the Emanator of Erudition, there were far too many Emanators in the universe, and she hadn’t t most of those outside her own faction.
But this aura ca from the Astral Express.
Could it be that one of the Aeons’ Emanators had hitched a ride on the train?
The Astral Express had sent a ssage earlier announcing its upcoming arrival.
Talk about perfect timing.
anwhile, in the corridor leading to the vault where Herta’s collected curios were stored—
Silver Wolf was hacking deeper into the space station’s network, seizing full control. Kafka, at her side, was dispatching every Voidranger in their path.
Firefly, however, turned her gaze toward a particular direction, startled.
"An Emanator? One actually arrived at a ti like this?"
"That scene wasn’t in Elio’s script at all."
"Kafka, we need to speed things up."
"Elio’s script has already deviated a lot. One of the Naless on the Astral Express is an Emanator—and it looks like it’s the navigator who repaired the train."
Firefly urgently relayed the information.
"What? An Emanator?"
Silver Wolf smacked her forehead. "Seriously, what is going on lately? One bizarre event after another... I’m about to lose half my brain cells."
"There’s so much to rant about, I don’t even feel like playing around on this station anymore."
The Astral Express’ navigator is an Emanator?
Heh... the universe really has lost its mind. A Naless of Trailblaze is actually an Emanator of another Aeon?
No, no, this isn’t even the most unbelievable part...
Firefly continued, "Anyway, everyone move quickly. I’ll hold them off."
"I also want to test this power that ’lord’ bestowed upon ."
Silver Wolf nodded and took a deep breath. "Relax. I’ve already taken control of the main system. The entire space station is in the palm of my hand."
"I’ve located where the Stellaron is stored. Kafka, the rest is up to you."
Kafka nodded, her lips curling into a slight smile like a spider awaiting prey in its web.
"With so many deviations from Elio’s script, we need to race against ti."
"We’ll split up. Firefly, be careful."
Firefly held up her SAM transformation device and said solemnly, "Don’t worry, Kafka. I’ll try to buy you as much ti as possible. I won’t recklessly engage."
"Also, I’ve already influenced a portion of the Voidrangers. They won’t attack you."
As soone holding a fragnt of the Path of Destruction, she could influence so antimatter creatures—though only briefly.
After all, these antimatter beings were created by Nanook. She had yet to reach the point where she could fully command them.
"Let’s make this quick."
Kafka and Silver Wolf sprinted toward the room where the Stellaron was stored.
Firefly took a deep breath and activated the SAM transformation device.
"Like fireflies to a fla, life begets death."
Flas of Destruction erupted, and the SAM ch instantly enveloped her, transforming her into a towering three-ter-high armored warrior. Her voice beca a chanical male tone through the suit.
"Such powerful strength. If I fully unleashed the Path’s power... I could easily burn this entire galaxy to ashes."
"But... I should restrain it."
"Hopefully the other side doesn’t wish to fight ."
Welt and Dan Heng cleared out Voidrangers near the docking area while making their way toward the more populated sections of the space station.
Antimatter creatures targeted regions with stronger life signals. The more people, the more Voidrangers converged.
"Aaaahhh! Sobody help!"
"I knew I shouldn’t have co here! Mommy!"
Boom boom boom!
Vmm!
Welt and Dan Heng rescued several researchers under attack by the Voidrangers. The scientists sobbed and scread in relief.
"Ah! Reinforcents!"
"Thank goodness! Hurry, run! There are tons more Voidrangers coming!"
Hiko casually waved her hand. The chanical device in her palm instantly multiplied into dozens of spinning sawblades, wiping out every antimatter creature rampaging through the station in the blink of an eye.
Now that she had beco the Emanator of Trailblaze, her strength had reached the galactic level, though she still couldn’t wield that power perfectly.
Still, clearing the space station of all Voidrangers was an effortless task.
She now possessed a god’s-eye view, ignoring spatial limitations and attacking from the conceptual level.
The antimatter creatures were eradicated in a flash. The fleeing researchers were montarily stunned—if it weren’t for the destruction surrounding them, they would have thought they were dreaming.
Crack!
The main control module’s door opened.
Herta stepped out, blinking in surprise at the sight of Hiko.
"Oh? I was wondering which Aeon’s Emanator had shown up—turns out it’s you, Hiko..."
Hiko smiled. "Herta, long ti no see. Who would’ve thought I’d run into trouble the mont I arrived."
"Trouble? For soone who’s beco an Emanator, this should be a re flick of the wrist," Herta replied nonchalantly.
"As a Naless of Trailblaze, you’ve beco an Emanator of that Aeon?"
She clicked her tongue in amazent. "Don’t tell you’re the Emanator of the Aeon of Joy?"
Among the many rumors and her research into Aeons, only the Aeon of Joy was ever said to grant power to travelers of other Paths.
Hiko shook her head with a smile. "How could I be an Emanator of another Aeon? I received the blessing of Trailblaze and beca Trailblaze’s Emanator."
Herta froze, shocked. "What?"
An Aeon that had already fallen was able to make a Pathstrider into an Emanator? What kind of interstellar joke was that...
Hiko continued, "Now’s not the ti to catch up. There’s a threat within this space station—one of the most dangerous entities in the entire universe."
"Let handle him first. Then we can talk."
Herta snapped back to her senses and nodded. "Then I’ll leave that inexplicably idle Emanator of Destruction to you."
At that mont—
On a snowy planet, within the last remaining city of civilization, Noah stroked his chin.
"Heh... Just sending out two Path echoes has already created multiple fate lines. Terminus is at his wit’s end."
"The future Aeon of Trailblaze and the future Aeon of Destruction are already confronting each other in this way? Let’s see what choices you’ll make."
Noah smiled and looked up toward Qlipoth Fort, located at the highest point of Belobog’s administrative district. He began walking slowly in that direction.
"Silver Wolf and Bronya really do look identical. Hmm, Silver Wolf is still the younger version... When she grows up, she’ll be a spitting image of Bronya."
There was sothing curious about the Star Rail universe:
In every galaxy, there was a certain chance of encountering individuals who looked exactly like soone from another galaxy. They might differ in personality, but their hearts were the sa.
Hence, the saying: every galaxy is a world unto itself.
The Path of Hope shines brightest in a world filled with despair.
The mont the Path of Hope manifested, the very first to walk it was Bronya.
Compared to the Path of Harmony, Hope fit her far better. Her inner light of hope was blinding.
So, let’s see—perhaps we can craft an Emanator of Hope.
And while we’re at it, let’s watch what kind of amusent unfolds when the Interastral Peace Corporation’s debt collectors arrive.
Elsewhere—
Hiko had already arrived before Firefly.
In the zero-gravity corridor, Firefly—in her SAM ch—stood face to face with Hiko.
A chanical voice echoed from within the SAM armor.
"Naless of the Astral Express, I do not know which Aeon’s Emanator you are."
"I will not cause any destruction. In five minutes, I will leave on my own."
"Please remain where you are. Surely, you don’t wish to fight ."
—
—
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon/DaoOfHeaven
Reviews
All reviews (0)