Chapter 4 The Coming Danger

"Get down!"

Orion Astra's voice had a strange magic to it, and before Stelle's mind could react, her body moved on its own.

A thick red beam of light barely missed Stelle, only brushing the top of her head and burning off a strand of her gray hair.

The target was a sneaky Voidranger hiding behind the trampler. This Voidranger specialized in surprise attacks, but now it faced a deadly red beam.

The powerful beam engulfed the Voidranger's entire body and continued its destructive path.

The central elevator.

Crash!

The beam pierced the side of the central elevator, melting a semicircular hole in its left side. Luckily, the main structure of the elevator wasn't damaged.

Inside the elevator, a small drone trembled in the corner. Its intelligent system calculated a 99.74% chance that a direct hit would have destroyed both the elevator and itself.

"Huff, huff..." Orion panted. The attack he just launched with the Judgment of Shamash was his maximum power and could only be used sparingly.

Normal attacks were no problem, but this powerful shot drained seven times the usual mental energy. He needed a few seconds to recover before he could attack again.

Dan Heng, standing in the back, put down his spear, impressed by Orion's quick reaction.

But Dan Heng's expression quickly became serious again. He warned March 7th, "Stay alert! It's not over yet."

The dying roars of the Trampler seemed to signal more enemies. Over fifty more Voidrangers poured out.

"Hey, hey, do we have to fight this many at once?" March 7th grumbled, raising her bow and arrow but unsure where to aim.

A sturdy black-gold drone flew out from the elevator. It skillfully took down the enemies near the elevator entrance, a far cry from its earlier trembling.

"Let's go," Dan Heng said as Orion helped Arlan into the elevator. The elevator quickly ascended, and Orion watched the monitor display their destination: the Main Control Cabin.

With the elevator running smoothly, everyone sighed in relief. March 7th was the first to step out.

When Orion helped Arlan out, he saw a familiar figure.

With long red hair like blazing flames, golden eyes, and a beautiful figure wrapped in a white dress with golden flowers, Himeko stood out in the crowd.

"Himeko!" Orion's eyes widened slightly. This character was significant to many players, including Orion, but he reminded himself to treat her as her own separate person with her own story.

"Glad to see you're safe," Himeko sighed in relief. She greeted everyone, "March 7th, Dan Heng, thank you for your hard work."

"Himeko~" March 7th pouted cutely, "You should've come earlier! The antimatter army was overwhelming!"

"It's pointless to come early," Himeko reasoned. "My railgun could destroy a lot, but if the space station's damage, they'll be mad."

Himeko then looked at Arlan and said, "Are you okay, Arlan? Stationmaster Asta was worried about you."

"I'm fine," Arlan nodded. "Thank you. I'll report to Stationmaster Asta now." He hurried off.

"Hi, I'm Himeko, the navigator of the Astral Express." Himeko introduced herself to Orion and Stelle.

"She's the one who decides where the train goes," March 7th explained.

Himeko smiled and asked, "Has March 7th been any trouble for you?"

March 7th quickly interjected, "Think carefully before answering that."

"I've never seen someone so lively," Stelle said convincingly.

"But she's also a bit rash," Orion added, remembering the elevator key incident.

"Hey, I am young and full of energy," March 7th smiled. "Right, Dan Heng?"

"I choose to remain silent," Dan Heng replied, crossing his arms.

Himeko laughed, "You all get along well. Let's go; Asta is worried about you."

Orion looked forward. A huge star map hung in the center of the main control cabin, with pathways branching out. Members were bustling about, some rushing, others deep in thought.

The wounded were being treated, defense teams were on the move, and everything was organized under the command of Asta, a pink-haired girl who seemed delicate but was at the center of the storm.

"The radar tracking is normal, but the signal frequency is too high! Keep it at the average level!" Asta ordered. "The legion will attack in waves. Hold on, everyone!" She turned when she heard footsteps behind her.

Asta had blue eyes, slightly redder hair than March 7th, and wore mainly white with purple and black accents, including leg rings in true MiHoYo tradition.

"Stationmaster Asta, we..." someone began, while Orion looked around.

The white bulkhead had a mesh structure for protection and energy collection. The star map was flanked by the vast universe, a sight that left Orion in awe.

Living on Earth, most people think of astronauts and star photos when they think of space. But seeing the real starry sky, Orion felt few could remain unmoved.

The stars floated like beautiful glass balls in the vast universe, seemingly close yet far apart. Orion was captivated by the sight.

Himeko noticed Orion's fascination. Seeing his eyes shine like stars, she thought, "Maybe he should join the train crew."

While Himeko and Asta discussed the antimatter legion invasion and possible countermeasures, Himeko assured Asta they'd talk to the staff and contact Herta, easing Asta's worries.

Stelle, March 7th, Dan Heng, and Orion learned about the space station's situation. Orion felt his intuition go off, looking towards the platform.

He sensed something dangerous was coming.