A/N: Well people, here it is. The newest chapter of my Honkai Star Rail story! Not gonna lie, I was a bit hesitant if I should continue this story or not. But after playing the new Penacony quest, my interest on writing this story was renewed.

So yeah, here is the newest chapter of HSR: Interstellar Journey. Now without further ado, let's get on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Honkai: Star Rail or the character in them, they belong to Mihoyo/Hoyoverse

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"Weren't their coordinates sent out from the space station...?"

"Who cares? He's here and alive. Does he look like a mannequin to you?"

"...weak heartbeat and pulse...March, you better do CPR."

"Huh!? Hehe...I—I've never done it before! Dan Heng, you do it!"

His eyes stirred slightly at the distant sounding voice between male and female ringing through his ears as his consciousness returned to him. He was having a massive headache though and if it weren't for his limbs being felt like wet noodle, he would've raised his hand to hold his head right about now.

Still, the feeling of his limb beginning to gradually return to him made him feel a lot better. He also took note that the voices were also silent for some reason. Feeling that something was happening, Caelus slowly but surely opened his eyes—

—before coming into the sight of a dark haired man face inches away from his face, lips puckering up dangerously close to his own.

'What the hell?!'

"Wait — stop it! He's awake!"

Before he could vocally expressed his thoughts, the man's face was pushed aside by a delicate looking hand and he was now face-to-face with a cheerful looking girl with light pink hair.

He let out a grunt as he began to feel his limb moving under his own command. He move his body slightly before his headache returned, causing him to hold onto his head with his right hand. He also took notice that he was leaning against the wall also.

Wait, does that mean they are trying to give him CPR while he was sitting right up? That doesn't sound like the proper form, pretty sure he need to be lied down in order for them to give him CPR.

Another bout of headache pulled him away from his unrelated thought, causing him to wince while clutching his head again. Causing the girl's expression to turn to worry in seconds.

"H-Hey! You alright? Dan Heng, what should we do?"

"Settle down, March. Let's help him get up first."

He wanted to refute that he could do that himself, but the truth was that wasn't the case. So he let them grab the underside of his arm and help get him up from his sitting position, which he silently thanked them for.

He was still having his hand clutching his head while the two other people in the room continued to look at him in concern. Once it was manageable enough, he opened his eyes again and finally took notice of the two people's appearance.

First was the young woman with light pink hair and pink and blue eyes. Her face was set on a clear worried expression, but from the way she seemed to smile when he had woken up, he could hazard a guess he was a rather cheerful girl.

She wears a white top with gold buttons that clips to a black choker, as well as a loose pink and blue overcoat. She also wears a blue and white pleated skirt with a black vest around her waist, a blue camera attached at the hip, as well as black and blue boots and an archery glove on her right hand.

The second was a tall, slender young man with blue eyes, fair skin and black hair. Where the girl beside him was openly expressive, this guy's expression was rather stoically calm then anything. He can only assume he was a serious type of guy.

He wears a black turtleneck along with a white and green-colored coat, with gold and smoke-styled accents and a piece of jade armor on his left shoulder. He wears gray pants and black high-top shoes with white soles, as well as an oriental-styled jade tassel earring with a lace connected to his other ear.

"Are you alright? Can you hear me? Do you remember your name?" The girl — March, if he heard it right, was her name — asked a string of questions as she continued to look at him with concern plastered all over her face.

He blinked once or twice as he searched in his memory for anything that could answer the question. Only to find that there was none of his memory that could do that.

Actually, scratch that, he couldn't remember anything at all for that matter, and that worries him. Who were they? Where was he? And perhaps more importantly, who was he? He doesn't even remember his own name .

"I...don't remember a thing." But he decided to answer truthfully, seeing as he really had no other option at this point. Lying to them would just make it more difficult for him.

"Aw, that isn't good..." March's mood seemed to continue to go down as she looked at him with...pity? Sympathy? He couldn't really tell. "Can you try harder? I'm sure you can at least remember your name..." She insisted, while Dan Heng gave the girl a side eye glance.

Nevertheless, he decided to do as she says and racking his brain for something, anything, that could be useful for him. All he needed was a name, that's all. He wasn't asking much, so he really hoped his empty memory could provide him with something.

After a moment of him clutching his head tightly with his eyes close, searching deep into his mind to search for something that belonged to him, a single name suddenly came to him.

'Caelus'

Caelus, yeah Caelus! That was his name! It has to be, it was the only name he could think of that would relate to him on such a personal level. Feeling that he had found his answer, he looked up towards the two before he opened his mouth and told them.

"Caelus. My name is Caelus."

March's expression immediately brightened up as he introduced himself to them, while Dan Heng just nodded his head in relief despite the still rather stoic expression on his face.

"Caelus? Nice to meet you. My name's Dan Heng, and this is March 7th." Dan Heng introduced himself before gesturing towards the girl beside him, who gave him a big smile as she placed her hand just above her chest. She seems like a nice girl.

"This space station was just attacked by the Antimatter Legion. We came to help with the rescue at the request of Lead Researcher Asta."

Caelus could only tilt his head in confusion at Dan Heng's words. Having no idea what it is he was talking about. "I'm sorry, my memory is...a bit unreliable right now. Can I ask you two a couple of questions on something?"

March 7th and Dan Heng both shared a look at hearing that request, the girl having a worried expression while the boy having a cautious one. He really hoped they would answer his question though, as he really was at a loss right now on what he should do.

"Alright, a few questions wouldn't hurt. Just be aware that our answer will be quite brief, time isn't exactly the luxury we have at the moment." Dan Heng said to the stranger before him with March 7th nodding her head along in agreement.

"Thank you." Caelus thanked them sincerely while placing his hand over his heart, showing how grateful he is at their cooperation. "First off, the Antimatter Legion? What is that?"

"Goons owned by the Destruction. You're lucky that the most dangerous Lord Ravager among them isn't around, just some nasty minions." March decided to be the one to answer him before she flashed him a reassuring smile before telling him. "We'll take those invaders out soon, don't worry."

"I feel safer already." Caelus joked lightly with a small smile on his face. He didn't know why exactly he did that, but he figured it would lighten the mood somewhat. "Secondly, you mentioned someone earlier. Lead Researcher Asta, was it?"

"Uh-huh, a petite cutie with pink hair. Madam Herta appointed her to be the acting lead researcher." March once again answered his question as briefly as she could, before her expression changed as she let out a sigh. "...that girl really needs to step up. I can't believe her own employee doesn't even know her name..."

Caelus was not sure if she was referring to him specifically, or someone else that was actually working here. He decided to not voice his thoughts out loud in order to not raise any more suspicion towards him.

"Where should I go?" Caelus asked once more as his expression turned more lost now. He really has no idea on what his next step should be and he was hoping they could help him with this.

Was it the best idea to trust someone that is basically a stranger to you like this? No, he didn't think so. But he knew very well he didn't have a choice in the matter, it was either going with them or going alone, the latter sound less tempting as his missing memory was still weighing on him.

"Back to the master control zone. Asta and the other researchers have gathered there." Dan Heng nodded as he told him the initial plan for the evacuation on the Antimatter Legion. "March and I were tasked to find any remaining person not present on master control zone, and take them to safety."

"Plus that's where we parked the Astral Express! Don't you worry, we'll protect you from the monsters and clear up this mess." March once again reassured the strange gray haired young man she and Dan Heng had found with a cheerful grin.

Although the circumstances around this guy were rather suspicious, she can't honestly see him as a bad guy of sorts. Plus, him having lost his memory resonated with something within her.

Caelus didn't immediately respond as he was still taking all of this in. 'Alright, this is getting out of hand. I woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling, lost my memory apparently, and now I find out I am inside a space station being run down by monsters?' He thought to himself as he briefly wondered what Aeon did he angered before losing his memory to deserve this.

Still, at the very least he got the situation that he was in, and it was not a good one. Though he still has a few questions for them. "Who...are you guys, exactly?" He asked as he really needed to know who these two are before he could fully trust them.

"Dan Heng and I are members of the Astral Express crew~" March 7th said with a smile on her face. She seems rather proud of being in this 'Astral Express', whatever it is, if her tone of voice was any hint.

"Well the Express has some dealings with Madam Herta, so we come to visit the space station from time to time." Dan Heng informed him on why they are here in the first place. Caelus honestly felt kind of bad that they came to this place at such a bad timing like this. But then again, the same could be said for him, despite himself having no idea on why he was even here in the first place.

"We just so happened to arrive during this...invasion. Of course, as a—" March let out a fake cough as she put her hand on her waist before puffing her chest up and standing straight while beaming with pride. "—group of heroes, we're happy to lend a hand."

"Wow...it's nice to know my safety is in the hands of such capable people."

March 7th just let out a pout when she noticed that he wasn't amazed by her at all. In fact, from the little smirk on his face and the clear sarcasm in his voice, he seems to be just making fun of her. "Alright, there's no need for that kind of attitude, mister." She said to him while crossing her arm over her chest and glaring at him.

"Sorry sorry, just couldn't help myself, that's all." Caelus laughed it out while raising his hands up in a mock surrender while Dan Heng just shook his head at their little interaction. "But anyway. You said something about an 'Astral Express'?"

He asked this because he was seriously confused on what the big deal is being a member of an express. He didn't think having a job as a train conductor or something along the line like that is really noteworthy, much less being called as a group of heroes.

What, do they just save the world by providing good passenger service? Punch one train ticket at a time in the name of justice? Now that would be a sight to see.

"Yeah, you've never seen it? The Express comes here every once in a while." March said as she was looking at him oddly and rather suspiciously. The Astral Express being on the space station may not be that common, but if you're a worker here then the chances are you already know the existence of it at the very least.

"It's a unique train that can travel between the stars with the power of the Trailblaze Aeon." Dan Heng briefly explained the Astral Express, and he didn't even need to say more as Caelus was already surprised by what he had just heard. A train that can perform space travel? And it was powered by an Aeon to boot?!

Well that sure takes the cake on the strangest thing he had heard today, and here he thought only a school bus has the capability of going to space amongst any public transportation, but look just how wrong he was.

"That sounds really cool, kind of wanted to see what this Astral Express look like now." Caelus admitted as he was curious to see the Astral Express up close and personal now that he knew about it.

"I'll show you once we're back to the master control zone~" March 7th offered up this once in a lifetime deal to Caelus with a grin on her face. Her previous expression melted away as she can honestly feel the same way when she first heard of the Astral Express.

"Really? Then let's go then!" Caelus said with a nod and a raised fist, startling March for a moment as she didn't think he would show such enthusiasm like that out of nowhere.

"Wow! You sure seem excited. Where did that previous suspicion on us go, hmm?" March questioned the gray haired stranger in front of her, while Dan Heng ignored their conversation as he brought his phone up instead when a notification was sent to him. His expression turned serious when he read the messages sent to him.

"Well I don't really have much of a choice here really. I mean come on, I woke up in this unfamiliar place, in the middle of an invasion apparently, and I barely remember anything beside my name." Caelus said as he rubbed the back of his head while looking away sheepishly at how unfavorable his circumstances are in this situation. He then turns to face March and flashes his own grin at her. "I can't really do anything on my own for now, so I will go with you two. Plus, you two seem like good people and you answered all of my questions, so it stems to reasons why I can now trust you, isn't that correct?"

March hummed in thought with hands on her hips as she continued to stare at him for a while, before breaking the ice by giggling and nodding her head as well. "Oh fine, you made a compelling argument. We're going to take you with us to safety anyway, can't let the reputation of the Nameless be ruined after all."

"So nice to know that my safety means so much to you, Miss March." Caelus responded back with his teasing smirk returning with full force, causing March to pout once more at the teasing aims towards her.

"Oh you know what I meant!" March 7th said before she pointed her gloved finger at him before she told him with a huff. "And no more of this 'Miss March' stuff. As you can see I am a young and pretty girl, so being called Miss is very inappropriate coming from you. From now on just call me March instead, capiche?" She ended her sentence with a wink as well.

Caelus let out a laugh as he nodded his head in understanding. "Alright then, nice to meet you, March. And you can call me Caelus from now on as well." He said with a grin on his face and made March let out a little giggle of her own as she put her hand down.

"Sorry to interrupt, but we need to get going. You and March go back together." Dan Heng said to them as he pocketed his phone back before the two turned their attention to him, surprised to hear him telling them to go ahead without him. "Arlan from the Security Department lost contact in the vicinity. I need to find him first."

"Oh, all right. You stay safe." March 7th said to her fellow Astral Express crew member as Dan Heng nodded in response before he ran towards the door to find this Arlan person.

"...so it's just the two of us now..." Caelus said after a few moments of silence after Dan Heng had left them.

"Yup." March answered with a nod and a sigh. She would honestly prefer if they all stick together, as the Legion goons roaming around the station is a serious problem, but she knew well that Dan Heng can take care of himself. Doesn't mean she wasn't worried though.

After the two walked out of the room that they were in, March took a look around the various Curio that was being held in display, Madam Herta sure like her collection. Her eyes then caught sight of a rather curious item.

"Caelus, maybe you should take that." March told her new gray haired companion as she pointed to a peculiar Curio that seemed to have fallen onto the floor. "The Legion are rampaging through the space station like a pack of wolves — this trip won't be a walk in the park. It's better if you have something to protect yourself."

Caelus blinked as he realized that March had a good point. Being unarmed against a foe is a bad idea, so it was best if he get a weapon of his own for the mean time. He turned towards the direction at where she was pointing towards—

"Is that a...baseball bat?"

The bewilderment in his voice as he said that was hard to overlook, nor was the sheer bafflement he felt as he wondered why there is a random baseball bat here of all places.

"It's a pretty solid looking bat, should be enough for you to use against the Legion."

"You want me to use a baseball bat against the Antimatter Legion?"

"Yeah...? Why? What's wrong with it?"

"A baseball bat, March. Baseball. Bat."

"Come on, don't be so picky now! Didn't you watch those movies where delinquents use a bat as their weapon? They're an effective weapon!"

"First off, may I remind you that I have lost my memory? So why would you assume I know any movie? Secondly, are you implying that I am a delinquent?"

"...no...?"

"You totally were!"

"Oh just go and take that bat already! It's not like there's any other weapon around here anyway!"

Caelus just scratches the back of his head as he can't exactly refute that statement, since the only thing around him are some strange items that he had no idea on how to use. Walking up to the fallen bat, Caelus kneeled down before picking it up from the ground and holding it up.

It was a really nice bat, he had to admit. Mainly a really dark black in color while having some metallic sheen and lining on the barrel, as well as some golden plating on the handle, grip and knob.

Caelus twirled the bat in his hand around, it was light and was also surprisingly comfortable to grip in his hand. Wanting to get a good feel of it, he decided to do some practice swings with his new weapon. At first it was just a simple swing, something akin to the form baseball player use, but before long his practice swing suddenly turned into a full blown fight demonstration.

Upwards, downwards and sideways. One handed, two handed and with a full swing of his body. Caelus swung the bat around with a certain fierce and aggressiveness that would make others see him as taking the beat down on his enemy look and feel very personal. It was like he was mercilessly beating up an imginary training dummy.

With a loud battle cry, he brought his bat down with both of his hand to the ground hard. Causing a defining clang to ring across the room as his strike, kicking up air in the process and leaving a small crack on the floor.

March could only stare at him with eyes widened in shock. She had hoped he could use the bat as a means of defending himself, what she did not expect was for him to suddenly go ham on the way he use the bat as a weapon.

Well there is only thing she can do, clapping her hands while grinning widely at the spectacle. "Wow! That was some impressive move, Caelus! I knew you had it in you!"

Caelus look back at March clapping her hand at his performance, before he glanced at the bat in his hand and nodded his head with a smile. It's not something fancy like a sword or anything, but he did admit it was really fitting in his hand to use.

A sudden memory came back to him for a moment, causing Caelus to tilt his head in curiosity for a moment before he bring the bat down and let it go. The moment he did, the bat dissolved into gold particles.

"Oh?! You already figured out how to make your weapon disappear and reappear?" March 7th asked as she found it surprisingly nice watching him make the baseball bat in his hand disappeared. "Well that's a relief. And here I thought I will have to teach you how to do that."

"Yeah..." Caelus said back as he looked distracted by what he had just did. He bring his hand up and on his command, the baseball bat he made vanished earlier reappears in his hand.

"Well let's get a move on. Sitting here all day isn't getting us anywhere." March said as she ran up to him and grabbed his hand before giving him a grin as well. "Come on. I'll show you the way!"

Caelus could only stare at the girl as he let her drag him along the way. Part of him wondered if this is even a good idea to begin with, but the other part was rather glad by this turn of event.

It feels...nice, to wake up with no memory and the first thing that greet him is the face of nice people like March and Dan Heng. If he wake up all alone...he didn't want to think about it.

In the end, being together with someone was nice, he definitely made the right choice in trusting them and he won't regret it.

"When you have a chance to make a choice, make one that you know you won't regret..."

...weird, whose voice was that? And why does it sound so familiar to him?

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Caelus and March made their way out of the Curio filled room, or as March called it as the 'Gallery of Shadow' according to the staff working here. He asked her if she know anything about what the purpose of this room and her response was—

"This place is full of fancy little gadgets — Herta's collection. I really don't get why she'd go out of her way to collect them and then leave them here to gather dust..."

Feeling like she doesn't know anything other than that, Caelus decided to just dropped the subject. Just as they were about to turn to make a corner, they stopped in their tracks once they see Voidranger ahead of them, causing them to quickly hide before they were spoted.

"So are those...?" Caelus whispered to March as he narrowed his eyes at the humanoid mechanical creature stalking the path ahead of them.

"Ah, it's the Antimatter Legion!" March's words quickly confirmed his thought that the creature ahead of them is in fact the Antimatter Legion. "So these crazy jerks made it all the way here..." She said as she take another look at the Voidranger before she grin as she turned towards Caelus before telling him.

"Watch this!"

Before he could even response, March quickly took action by leaping out of their hiding spot and running towards the Voidranger, much to Caelus' shock as he did not think she would do that.

"H-Hey, March! Wait—!" Caelus tried to stop her from doing anything reckless but it was too late as she already summoned her weapon into her hand, which just so happened to be a bow.

The Voidranger immediately noticed her presence as it stars running towards the bow-wielding girl. March just smile as she pulled her bow string back, before an arrow formed in her hand and she let go, unleashing the arrow straight towards the approaching Reaver.

Moving too fast to dodge, the arrow crashed the Reaver straight in the chest and sent it flying back. Upon impact, the arrow burst into an icy mist as the Reaver body was suddenly frozen in ice.

March didn't slow down as she continued by firing a few more arrows at the Reaver, all of them hitting their mark dead on as she hit its hand and feet, causing them to be frozen as well and turning the Voidranger into an ice sculpture, minus the head.

Now that her foe is immobilized, March raised her bow and pulled her bow strings even harder then before, she closed one of her eyes to aim and an arrow appeared pointing at the Voidranger head, all the while it struggled to get free from its frozen binding.

Just as the ice around its body begin to crack, March 7th let loose her arrow as it flies with a streak of blue light following from behind. Her aims were true as the arrow pierced through the Reaver's head. Causing it to fall dead upon her ice cracking as its body dissolved.

March let out a quite 'phew' as she placed her free hand on her hip before turning her head to look back at a gawking Caelus. "What do you think? Pretty cool, right?" She asked playfully with a smile on her face.

Caelus could only absentmindedly nod his head as he admitted that was rather impressive. Just when he was about to say something, his attention was grabbed by a portal opening up and another Voidranger appearing with its blade aim at his distracted companion.

"March, watch out!"

Thinking fast, Caelus raised his bat up before he threw them with all of his might. The bat flies with such speed that it remains straight in the air, passing by the shoulder of a shock March and hitting the Reaver dead on its face, causing it to be blown back by the force of impact as the bat spins around in the air.

March quickly turned around and ready her bow as a Baryon popped out into existence alongside the Reaver. Before she could take action herself, Caelus came rushing forward and passed her.

"March, cover me!" He shouted to her and she nodded hurriedly as she pulled her bow string and fired her arrow at the Baryon that was firing its blast at Caelus.

Caelus watched as the Voidranger had gotten back on its feet before it lunged at him. He jumped up high and caught the bat in the air, before spinning in his descent and put all his weight into a downward swing.

The Reaver brings both of its blades on its arms up and takes on the attack, causing it to be pushed back by the force of the attack. But Caelus wasn't done as he landed on his feet before immediately bashing his bat into the side of the Reaver's head.

March keep firing her arrow as more Baryon appeared and they kept firing their energy blast at her. "Ah! You're annoying!" She shouted as she had enough of this. She ready another arrow but this time she aims her bow upwards towards the sky.

She released the hold on her arrow and on her command, that one arrow suddenly multiplied into a dozen arrows and rained down on the Baryons. Hitting them all at their core and destroying them.

Caelus continues his onslaught at the Voidranger as he swings his bat relentlessly, not giving it time to retaliate as he beats it up over and over again. He lowered his bat down, before he slammed his bat upward and sent it flying.

He ran to get close and with a full twist of his body. "HAA!" He let out a loud cry and delivered a powerful swing of his bat at its torso that sent the Voidranger thrown back and slammed into the wall. Making the heavily damaged body to be destroyed and dissolved.

Caelus pants as he rests his bat on top of his shoulder, already feeling the adrenaline left his body. He honestly couldn't believe he just defeated an Antimatter Legion like that, and with a baseball bat at that. Which he would not lie, was kind of awesome.

Where did he even learn to fight like that? Was he some sort of fighter or something before he lost his memory? Oh man, he hoped he really wasn't a delinquent. March would never let it down if he does turn out to be one.

Caelus was snapped out of his musing in his thought by a hard pat on the shoulder, causing hin to turn towards the source of it and came facing with an always peppy March 7th.

"You sure did a great job teaching that Voidranger a lesson!" March 7th complimented him as she skipped ahead and turned to face him. She then bring her hands up and make a picture frame with both of her thumb and index finger.

"You're stronger than you look...seem to be quite the fighter." March said as she stuck her tongue out while moving her hands to adjust her makeshift picture frame, making Caelus very confused on what she was doing, more so when she reached into the camera she had on her waist and aimed it at him.

"Say cheese!"

A bright flash of light was emitted by the camera, causing Caelus to instinctively bring his hand up to his closed eyes in reflex.

He opened his and see that March was taking out the picture from the camera, before smiling in satisfaction as the image cleared up and a perfect image of him with his bat resting on top of his shoulder was shown.

"Look! It's a nice picture, don't you think?" March holds up the picture she has taken up to Caelus' face as she had a rather smug smile already forming on her face. "Well I say so! It was captured by yours truly, after all."

"Uhm..." Caelus didn't really know what to say about that as he could only blink while looking at the picture of him being held by March's hand. "March, why did you suddenly take a picture of me like that?"

"Well obviously, to make some memories, you silly!" March responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the universe. "Isn't that the whole point of taking a picture?"

Caelus just rubbed the back of his hand with his other hand, still kind of confused as while that was the point of taking a picture, he still wasn't sure why she would take a picture out of the blue like that.

"I guess that is enough dilly dallying." March said as she pocketed the photo and attached her camera back on her hip. "The Legion are rampaging through the space station like a pack of wolves...I hope that everyone's okay."

Caelus could tell that March was anxious by the sound of her voice, he would be too as this whole scenario was rather unreal for him. Especially after waking up and finding he has no memory, other than his name and combat skill apparently.

"Don't worry, March. I'm sure that everyone is safe and sound." Caelus said as he try to reassure his newfound companion of her worry. "Well I guess except for me right now, but you are working on that, aren't you?"

March 7th expression perked up when she heard that as she let out a giggle. "Hehe, yeah you're right. With me out here, how can we lose~" She said in a cheeky manner while flashing him a smile with her hand tucked behind her.

"That's the spirit!" Caelus cheered as he also let out a grin, happy that he managed to cheer his companion up.

With all is said and done, the two continue their way towards the safe zone. It didn't take long for them to reach the end of the corridor and made their way to the elevator room, where the elevator is located in the middle with sections of road around it.

Caelus also took note of the holographic symbol being projected in front of them. He could hazard a guess that that was the symbol for the space station he was in.

"So we'll take that elevator on the central platform to go down to the master control zone." March pointed towards the mentioned elevator in the middle of the room, before looking at him and asking him. "Do you know the way?"

Caelus just shook his head in response as he didn't know anything about this place. Seeing that, March nod in understanding. "I see. Um, I notice that you're not wearing the space station staff uniform. Do you really work here?"

Caelus gives a moment to himself to think of an answer. Did he work here? Was he some kind of researcher here like the other that March and Dan Heng mentioned? But that wouldn't explain where he had known how to fight so well earlier, nor why it felt so comfortable to do so.

'It's no good, I can't remember anything.' He felt frustrated that he can't remember anything. Just what had happened to him? How could he lose so much of his memory like this?

"I don't remember." The words coming out of Caelus' mouth sounded more emotional than he would have liked, the same could be said for the frustrated look on his face.

March could only look at him in worry. "...memory loss, huh. You must've been injured." She said rather weakly in response.

"No, I don't think that's it." Caelus said as he shook his head. Would an injury really wipe him of all of his memory like that? Unlikely. "I don't know what happened. Who am I? Why am I here? I just...I just wanted an answer but I can't even—!"

Caelus stopped himself as he clutched his head once more in frustration. He just wanted an answer, dammit. The toll of his missing his memory was beginning to weigh on him considerably. He thought that he could just ignore it for now, but that was easier said than done.

"...never mind. I won't ask if you don't wanna talk about it." March walked ahead of him, her voice sounding...off when she said that. Caelus couldn't really tell what it was, nor did he have the chance to think about it as she turned to face him with a smile back on her face. "Let's go, I'll take you to the safe zone~"

Her smile was forced, he could tell. She must've thought that she had stepped out of line with her words and that caused him distress. But Caelus didn't blame her, if anything he was blaming himself for making March 7th feel that way.

He could worry about his missing memory later, right now that was not important. What was important though, was to make their way to somewhere safe and sound.

For now, he decided to just play along by nodding his head at her while relaxing his facial muscles. "You're right. Lead the way." Caelus said to her with a smile, he made sure to made it look genuine so that it wouldn't cause her to feel more guilty of herself.

Thankfully, she didn't see through him as her face brightened up if just ever so slightly, and her smile also looking more natural also. That was enough for him as he felt like a frown didn't fit for such a perky girl like March.

The two quickly run towards their destination, the control for the elevator. Thankfully for the two there aren't any Antimatter Legion that stand in their way, making it very quick for them to get to the controller.

March began to fiddle with the controller while Caelus turned around and decided to keep watching. Being cautios as who knows if the Antimatter Legion would suddenly appear out of nowhere again. They have done that earlier so he doubts they are going to stop doing it.

"Ah. I knew it..."

Caelus turned back towards March when he heard the frustration on her voice as well as on her face. "What? It's broken or something?" He asked out loud for confirmation.

"—But it wasn't me! The Antimatter Legion must've broken it!" March suddenly said rather defensively, like she was just waiting to get scolded for something that she hadn't even done.

Caelus could only raise his hands up in a clear sign of confused surrender, while she let out a sigh. "Sorry, I got ahead of myself a little there. But you're right that it is broken, I pressed all the buttons, but nothing happened."

The bat wielding young man walked up towards March before taking a look at the elevator controller. He reached his hand towards it and begin pushing buttons at random. After a good minute of button mashing, he decided to just give up and walk away from the controller.

"Yeah, this thing is busted. There's not even a big red button for me to push either." Caelus muttered before blinking twice at the unintentional joke he had just said in the end. "Sorry, don't know where that one came from."

"It's alright, I think it's funny." March said while letting out a little giggle. She then looks back at the controller and frown while bringing her hand up to her mouth. "Too bad Dan Heng's not here. He's like a walking encyclopedia...he knows a ton of complicated stuff — maybe even elevator repair..."

"I don't know that one."

Both Caelus and March jumped in fright at the sudden voice behind them, before they turned around and see that that voice came from Dan Heng himself, standing with his arms folded while staring at the two with the slightest hint of a smile forming on his face.

"Whoa! Why are you here!?...and how did you get here before us?" March 7th quickly fired her question at her fellow Nameless as she glared at him accusingly.

"I took another route to the upper level, and I saw you guys from up there." Dan Heng answered as he pointed his finger towards the monitoring room located at the other end of the area where Caelus and March had come from. "Arlan is in the control room. He's been injured, but not fatally."

"You found him! Will he know what to do about this elevator?" March wondered as she had no idea on how to fix the elevator.

"I suppose as the head of the Security Department, he should know." Dan Heng told her with a straight face, though Caelus could heard the underlying tone of sarcasm in his voice.

"Then let's go talk to him!" March doesn't seem to realize it though as she enthusiastically cheer, before stopping herself as she turned to face Caelus, who was silent during the entire conversation. "Oh sorry, Caelus. Do you want to say something?"

"Nah, don't worry about it." Caelus waved his hand at the concern tone March's voice was making. "Just don't want to interrupt you two that's all. I'll stay quiet in the meantime if you like." He said as he really didn't want to interrupt them, he felt like it wasn't his place to talk at that moment.

"Oh no, we can't have that! You speak up when you want to say something, mister!" March waved her hands around while looking displeased by what he had just said as she jabbed her finger at his chest. "If there's anything we don't need it's two Dan Heng around! No offense."

"None taken." Dan Heng replied with a shake of his head, already gotten used to March antics at this point. "But we should go right about now."

The two nodded in agreement as the three of them spent enough time here. Walking around the path surrounding the elevator, the three was about to make it before portals begin to opened up around them.

The three took a halt as they were surrounded by four Baryons floating high above, two Reavers on their sides, and a single Distorter that was standing, or more accurately floating, right in front of them.

"Agh, an ambush! Talk about foul play! Can't you guys play fair?!" March complained as she brought her bow out as Caelus and Dan Heng did the same, bringing out their own respective weapons of a baseball bat and a spear.

"Don't think these guys ever play sports before, March." Caelus commented as he eyed the enemy around them with both of his hands gripping his bat tightly. "Lucky for me I have a baseball bat with me, so I can teach them a lesson or two on how to take an out." He smirked as he could that March was giggling at his joke.

"You two, stop joking around." Dan Heng sternly told them as his eye never left the Distorter that was eyeing them since the start, waiting for them to make a move. "I'll take on the one in front of me, Caelus, you will take them down on our sides, and March will shoot down the ones above. All right?"

The two didn't complain as the nodded their head in agreement with Dan Heng plan. "Very well. Let's go!" He said with a shout before he immediately lunged towards the Distorter.

Said Voidranger let out a strange cry before pointing its hand at Dan Heng, making the other Antimatter Legion troops take action as they began to focus their attack on him.

Cadlus and March both wouldn't let them though as they intercepted the troops' attack by March shooting her arrow at the Baryons and Caelus bringing his bat up and slamming away the Reaver's blade.

Having nothing to worry about being assaulted from behind, Dan Heng can now fight with the Distorter with his full attention. He starts by twirling his spear before using its momentum to thrust it at the Distorter.

The Distorter quickly fly backwards away from the range of the spear strike. Before it brought its hand up and fired a beam of energy at Dan Heng, who decided to block it by swinging his spear in front of him and causing the blast to disperse.

The Distorter continues to fire a barrage of energy blasts at Dan Heng as he charges forwards and deflects each of the blasts with a swing of his spear. Throwing a few thrust and stab of his spear when he found an opening.

March was having it quite easy at handling the Baryons. Whenever they tried to blast her she would fire her arrow at them, a few of them she didn't have slipped passed her arrow so she was forced to dodge them.

She materialized four arrows into her bow and pulled the strings hard, once the Baryons was aligned enough she unleashed the four arrows. Letting them rocketing towards the Baryon, damaging and freezing them enough that they fall to the ground.

Seeing an opportunity, March 7th grinned widely as she kneeled down and placed the tip of her finger on the flower strap around her thigh. Blue and pink ice begin to appear as she pulled out an arrow made entirely of it, before with a cheerful laugh she leaped into the air.

"Check out this awesome move!"

Pulling with all her might the bowstring and aiming at her enemy, March looked at her enemy with a fierce expression as she let her arrows fly towards them. The arrow was surrounded by blue light before, upon nearing its target, break form and turn into many bunny-shaped ice that smashed into the Baryons and destroyed them.

Caelus was dealing with the Voidranger in his own way. He kept swinging his bat wildly and with so much intensity that the two Reavers could not react. Everytime their blade was close to him, he bring his bat and swing it to deflect them, causing sparks to fly upon the weapons contact.

This went on for a while before Caelus decided to just finish it. He swung his bat at the two Voidranger, who managed to block the strike and were sent flying back. Caelus then begins to charge at them while his bat starts to lightly glow for some reason.

The two Reavers stabbed their blade at Caelus, but before the tip made contact he slid over them on the gap between the Voidranger, making their attack miss and causing them to stumble.

"Batter up!"

Quickly getting up and poised his weapon up, he swung his bat with all his might on their back. Sending them flying and destroying their body. Caelus smirked as he rested his bat on top of his shoulder.

Dan Heng continues to engage the Distorter in combat. Managing to land a few strikes with his spear on it, effectively dodging the blast it fired at him. He swung his spear at its head and caused the Voidranger to be disoriented.

Wasting no time, Dan Heng stood straight as he held his spear up sideways while closing his eyes, the orb on his spear began to glow and spin as he channeled his energy to it.

"This sanctuary is but a vision. Break!"

Snapping his eyes open, Dan Heng twisted his body around before lunging forwards with great speed and stabbing the Distorter right in the chest. Causing it to let out one last weak cry before it went limp and its body destroyed.

"Hurry, you two! Before any other enemy showed up!" Dan Heng called out to his two companions as he quickly run towards the monitoring room, Caelus and March running right behind him.

The three went past the automatic door and made it into the room without any other trouble. The moment they passed the door, it quickly began to close up as the light surrounding it turned blue to orange real quick, indicating that it was locked.

The three begin to survey the room to find whether the Antimatter Legion was present or not, and come to see a dark skin young man with violet eyes and white hair. He was also short, roughly the same height as March to be exact. There was also a noticeable scar in between his eyes, in the shape of a cross.

His outfit is a modified version of the space station security department uniform. Being a black undersuit with a blue and white asymmetrical coat jacket, it is long on the right and short on the left. The asymmetrical design was the same for the sleeves, being a long sleeve on the left and short on the right. He wears long blue pants with black belt wrapped around his waist and a pair of black strapped shoes.

He also possess gloves that is blue and black armored one on the left and white in the right, a pair of metallic shoulder pad, armored pad on his right knee and elbow, a band bearing the logo of Herta's Space Station on his upper left arm, a small bag hang on his left hip, a black clock-like device wrapped around his torso by a blue belt, and a name tag hanging on the left side of his coat.

"Arlan, we're here." Dan Heng called out to the young man standing in front of them, who seemed to be busy with checking on something on the terminal in this room, with a troubled expression on his face.

In fact, Caelus and March can see that the guy's physical condition wasn't looking too great either. Cuts and bruises, as well as some sign of dried up bleeding from an obviously fatal wound on his leg and right hand. It's all a tall tale sign that he was seriously injured.

Arlan let out a sigh of relief as he turned to face towards them, wincing slightly from the movement due to his injury. "Hey...you're all together?" He greeted and questioned them while looking at them to make sure if they are all present.

"Yep, we're from the Astral Express~" March pointed out with a reassuring smile on her face. Caelus also confirmed his presence by nodding his head, not really having anything to say for himself so he let Dan Heng and Match do all the talking for now.

"Oh...did Madam Herta send you to help?" Arlan asked as he wanted to make sure of their identity. He did hear about the Astral Express crew being here in the space station but he couldn't be sure if it was correct or not.

"It's just a coincidence. We came to deliver the rare relic Herta trusted us to find...we didn't expect to arrive during an invasion." Dan Heng explained their reason for being here, while casting a side-eyed glance at Caelus for a moment before stopping.

"Why is the Antimatter Legion targeting you guys? It seems they just ignored the surface of the planet and came straight to the space station." March pointed out with a frown as she was wondering why the Antimatter Legion would even bother on going for a space station instead of an actual planet.

"I...have no idea. The Legion came at a very suspicious time — almost right after the security system suddenly failed." Arlan informed them as he was also suspicious about the timing of the attack. He would have say that someone must've done something to attract the Antimatter Legion here, but quickly discarding that thought since the chance is highly unlikely.

"Lady..." Arlan wanted to say 'Lady Asta' right there, before he remembered that that wasn't the correct way of addressing his superior here, immediately stopping himself before correcting his wording. "Lead Researcher Asta immediately began to organize the evacuation. I was supposed to cover everyone as they evacuated, but...I didn't expect to end up failing in this task."

Arlan frowned as his gaze went towards the injury he sustained on his leg and right hand, knowing full well that he would be unable to participate in combat with them without dragging them down.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. Your leg and dominant hand were injured. It was a wise decision to hide here and avoid a head-on encounter with the Legion." Dan Heng told the head of the Security Department with an encouraging tone in his voice.

"Yeah! Most of the staff have been evacuated safely, so right now our highest priority is to return to the master control zone and plan a counterattack!" March also pitched in her own encouragement words towards Arlan with a grin on her face, before her expression turned thoughtful as she asked him. "So...do you know how to use the elevator? I couldn't start it..."

"After the evacuation was complete, the elevators were all shut down to keep the Legion away from the master control zone." Arlan briefly explained the situation with the elevator, before he directed a questioning look at the pink haired girl. "Since Lady Asta sent you to look for me, I assume she must've given you the encryption key for accessing the elevator system?"

"Oh, right, she did give me some sort of card..." March sheepishly replied as she only now remembers that Asta had given her something like that before.

"...March..." Dan Heng could only looked at his companion with a tired look on his eyes, something that just served to embarrass the girl even more.

"Ehehe, it's okay. I'm sure I have it in me." March told him in hope that he would believe her, before immediately taking back her word when she forgot where she put it. "But where did I put it..."

"You..." Arlan said with a half lidded eyes that matches Dan Heng as they both look at her as she rummages through every nook and cranny of her outfit to find the encryption key.

It wasn't too long before she remember where she put it. March expression quickly brightened up as she pulled out the encryption key...from her camera. "Ah! Here it is!" She cheered as she handed the encryption key to Arlan.

"I...ugh..." Dan Heng tried to say something, but quickly closed his mouth and just let out a sigh as he didn't have the energy to deal with this.

Caelus just look at the three interaction with a smile on his face, though this was more of a formality out of anything as he didn't know what to say at that moment. Though he did find March antic quite amusing really, not like he would voiced that thought out loud.

"Is she always like this?" Caelus asked Dan Heng in a whisper as to not attract attention from the topic of his question.

"More than you think..." Dan Heng's reply was like a resignation of fate to the gray-haired young man. He then walked up and spoke to the two. "I'll take care of the elevator with Arlan. March, you can go talk with Caelus in the meantime. Fill him in with everything he needs to know."

"Huh, okay then." March was confused but agreed anyway as she beckoned Caecus to go along with her. Caelus was about to follow before he noticed Dan Heng looking at him with an expression that said 'Entertain her, please.'

Caelus gives him a thumb up with a straight face and a nod as he walks with March. The duo take a place on the other end of the room, near a plant and the back door.

"No idea what's up with him. Shooing me away like that, how rude." March huffed as she found it a little suspicious as to why Dan Heng wanted her away like that.

"He probably just wanted to focus on doing his task." Caelus offered a suggestion while folding his arm over his chest.

"Eh, you could be right. Sounds like a typical Dan Heng thing to do." March said with a shrug in an agreement. She then directed her attention fully at Caelus. "But enough about that. How are you holding up?"

Caelus took a moment to think over a response to that question before answering. "I say I'm doing alright. I mean I still lost my memory, but at least I still have my name and combat ability, apparently." He said as he really did wonder what he was like before in order for him to wield a random bat lying on the ground as an effective weapon.

"Yeah, you were really going to town with those Voidrangers with your bat." March commented as she was genuinely surprised at how well Caelus was doing using that bat. "Are you sure you weren't some sort of delinquent?"

"I rather not think of myself as being a delinquent. Or at least, I would like to be something that is more...eloquent, I guess." Caelus admitted while thinking of the sort of thing he was before losing his memory.

"Like the Astral Express crew perhaps~" March said with a cheery tone in her voice as she eyed him with a sort of expectation that he just couldn't put into words.

"Well I have to see more of what the Astral Express is before I can say anything. Although I do have to admit, you sure left quite the impression on me, March." Caelus said with a grin creeping up his face.

"Mghh, why do I feel like you were teasing me by saying that..." March muttered while frowning with her hands on her hips as she look displeased at the gray haired young man in front of her. "Do you just like cracking jokes or do you just like to tease me specifically?"

"I wouldn't lie, you do make it just so easy to do so, March."

"Is that really something you should admit about?"

"I mean you did just ask me and I only provided an answer."

"Playing smart now, aren't we? Well I guess I should be thankful."

"Being thankful that I make fun of you? Wow March, didn't take you for a masochist."

"Not like that, dummy! I meant that I'm glad that you are starting to feel better from earlier!"

Caelus expression immediately dropped as he furrowed his eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean by that?" He asked her while dropping all humor in his voice from earlier.

March sighed as she continued to put her hand on her hips before directing a stern expression at him. "Caelus, I know that losing your memory is really bothering you, more than you think actually." He was about to open his mouth and told her something, but she put a finger on his lip and silenced him. "Upupup! Not another word from you right now, mister!"

Caelus just nodded his head with a stunned expression on his face as he let March continue on with what she was saying. Seeing that he heard her words, the pink haired girl continued on.

"All I'm saying is that I am happy for you." March started to explain before she placed her hand over her chest as she smiled at him. "Losing your memory is an upsetting experience. So I'm just glad that you can find it in yourself to joke around and smile. I'm sure you will find out who you are eventually, so there's no need to be sad, I'll even help you find it if you like!"

"Now no more gloomy thoughts, okay? Such negativity will just hinder our productivity, or something like that."

"...ahh, what did I do to deserve this..." Caelus whispered to himself quietly as he ruffled the front of his, partially to cover his face so that she wouldn't notice the growing smile on his face. "Thank you, March. That...means a lot to me."

March smile turned even wider at the heartfelt way Caelus had said that, so much so that she bashfully hold her cheek and told him. "Oh stop~ You're making me blush~" Although she meant it as a joke, she really was blushing lightly.

"So...is there anything that I should need to know? I mean, Dan Heng did say to fill me in on something." Caelus said a bit awkwardly as he attempted to change the mood, all the while ignoring how his ear is turning a little red right now.

"Hmm, not much I can say. You already did great so far..." March exclaimed as she hummed to herself while doing a thinking pose with her eyes close. She then opened her eyes with a gasp and a snapped her finger. "Ah! I get it!"

"You get what?" Caelus asked while feeling intrigued on what it is that March was going to tell him to improve himself.

"You're battle chant!"

He could only blink his eyes a few times in confusion after hearing that. "My...battle chant?" He repeated her words to make sure he was hearing her right.

"Yup, a battle chant! You know, that one liner you say during a fight when you're about to do something really cool or unleashing your strongest attack? That sort of battle chant!" March explained what she had meant by a battle chant, which really serve to only confuse Caelus even more than before.

"...and this is important...how?" Caelus asked once more while raising an eyebrow at the girl.

"Oh come on! You have to admit that having a battle chant would make your move more awesome than it already is." March laid out her reason as she thought that any good fighter would need a battle chant or two. After all, all members of the Astral Express have one.

Caelus had honestly never thought about that sort of thing before, but now that March has said it...he would lie if he wasn't actually interested. "I guess you're right. So what should my battle chant be? I mean I have a bat with me, so maybe 'Batter up!' would be a good one?"

"Pfft! Talk about being unoriginal. Try thinking of something cooler than that." March told him while having a disapproving look on her face at the rather poor attempt at coming up with a battle chant.

Caelus just rubbed the back of his head once more as his idea was shut down, hard at that. He racked his brain for what possible one liner he could make that would both be cool and satisfy March.

...well he thought of one, it was pretty good one he had to admit. Not sure if March would laugh at him or not for it, but whatever.

"Well—"

"You two, come back over here."

The sound of Dan Heng calling them interrupted Caelus from saying anything. Knowing that he and Arlan had probably done their work, the two made their way towards the controller on the front of the room, where Dan Heng and Arlan are both at right now.

After a few presses of a button of the console, Arlan managed to get the elevator to work again. Which was easy to notice as said elevator in the center of the outside begin to move.

"Alright, let's go." Dan Heng told them as they were about to go out, but he was immediately stopped by the head of the security department himself.

"Hold on. I only activated the elevator on the highest floor. We'll have to go there to use it." Arlan told them which made the group of three to look at him oddly.

"Why? It's so far away." Caelus spoke up for perhaps the first time to the white-haired young man.

"Because I mustn't give the Legion any chance to reach the master control zone by the elevator. I must ensure the safety of the station's staff." Arlan explained with a hardened look that many of the security department recognize and admired. He turned around before looking at them with an apologetic look on his face. "So I'll have to trouble you to take a bit of a detour...apologies."

"Huh? You're not coming with us?" March questioned when she noticed that he didn't include himself in that sentence there.

"My legs are injured. I'd only slow you down. I'll stay here and shut down the elevator once you've made it to the master control zone." Arlan told them as he didn't wanted be the one that would slow the group down should they come across the Legion.

"You won't slow us down." Dan Heng disagree as he know full well that staying here would only put Arlan at risk. "And you should be able to shut down the elevators from the master control zone, right?"

Feeling like he wasn't going to win over this argument and knowing that he was right, Arlan just nodded his head while looking away from them.

"Agreed. Caelus and I made it here safely, and now we've also got Dan Heng. We're more than enough to protect you." March tried to reasoned with him as she put on a big smile to reassure the guy. "Let us worry about the Antimatter Legion. You just follow us and keep yourself alive~"

"You can use me as a crutch." Caelus offered up his assistance to the injured security guard, making March turn to him and look at him with a delighted smile on her face.

"Aren't you a nice kid!"

"Do I get a treat then?"

"...nope!"

"Ouch. Rejected."

"...thank you." Arlan couldn't help but smile at seeing the exchange between the two teens as he thanked them for their help.

With all is said and done, the group of four made their way towards the higher floor and get out of their predicament. Not knowing the threat that would block their path to escape...

XXXXXXXXXX

The four of them continued on their path towards the upper floor in order to get to the elevator. Despite Arlan worries of him being a hindrance, the group would already develop a sort of delicate rapport in how to persuade him that he wasn't a hindrance.

Could this be what it means to be companions? Caelus would like to think so. He couldn't imagine what he would do if he was all alone when he woke up with no memory of himself. He was just glad he had March and Dan Heng with him.

Speaking of Dan Heng, he managed to ask Arlan another question regarding the Legion invasion of the space station.

"Do you know why the Antimatter Legion would invade the station, Arlan?"

"They must've come for Madam Herta's collection...but as to why, I still..."

"I heard there's something called a Stellaron in Madam Herta's collection."

"...that's not the kind of information someone in my position would have access to."

Caelus didn't speak up the entire time they made their way to the upper level. More so that he had nothing to say and he didn't want to interrupt then when they are talking about something serious.

Still though, a Stellaron? Why would Dan Heng point out that specific item among Madam Herta's collection? He had no idea what kind of item a Stellaron is, but he could garner a guess that it wasn't anything good.

...weirdly enough, he could feel his chest burn slightly when the thought of the Stellaron came to his mind. It didn't hurt or anything, but just a warm feeling inside him. Huh, strange.

But anyway, their escape plan into the master control zone was not without a hindrance in the shape of the Antimatter Legion. Fortunately they weren't difficult to handle, as the trio managed to defeat every single one that was in their way while Arlan brought up his own greatsword should he need to defend himself.

"That's a pretty big sword, Arlan. It's almost as tall as you are. I'm impressed you can wield such a thing."

"Thank you, Caelus. This sword have always been my weapon in order to protect everyone from trouble. It's just a shame I am unable to do so for you as well."

"Don't worry about it. If any enemy come our way, I'd just smack them away with my bat."

"...I've been meaning to ask, but is that bat one of Madam Herta's curios?"

"...what makes you think that?"

"I recognise it as I was the one tasked to retrieve it for Madam Herta. Don't worry, I won't report you for stealing since Miss March 7th already told me about your condition."

"Really? Phew, thank the Aeon. You're the best, Arlan."

"What about me?!"

"You're the second best, March."

"Ah! You're so rude!"

Joking aside, they all managed to enter into another room in the higher level of the space station storage zone in record times. Upon reaching the room, March took notice of a particular item in the center of the room.

"Hey, these shiny things..." March called out as her attention was set on a small rectangular glass like item that seems to be depicting a scene of a collapsing and burning tower. "Are these Light Cones? I thought only the Interastral Peace Corporation had rare stuff like this."

"Light Cones?" Caelus asked while looking confused on what a Light Cone is exactly.

"No, Light Cones are Garden ⁰⁹ items." Dan Heng said to answer both of March and Caelus' questions at the same time. He then turned to face Arlan. "I heard the IPC paid a lot for the usage rights, but I've no idea how Herta managed to get hold of one."

"They were acquired legitimately, that's all I can say." Arlan replied while not revealing much since it was sensitive info that was not to be leaked. After a moment of pondering, he then turned around to face them before telling them.

"Take them, they're very useful in combat."

"Eh? Are you serious?!" March cried out in shock. "Aren't Light Cones, like, super rare and stuff? You're just giving it away to us like that?!"

"This is a matter of emergency. Our top priority right now is to get to safety and we need all the strength we need if we are going to survive the Legion." Arlan replied as he knew very well that the Antimatter Legion was not something that should be taken lightly. "I will put in my words to Madam Herta about the Light Cone. So please, use them to your will."

"If that's the case, I think it's necessary that you should use it, Caelus." Dan Heng told to his gray-haired companion, who looked confused for a moment before his expression turned to shock as he pointed a finger to himself.

"Me?" Caelus said in confusion as he didn't think Dan Heng would called out to him like that.

"I think you need it more than any of us. While you prove yourself capable in combating the Legion, I'm worried that your lost memory will be a hindrance to you. The Light Cones will be beneficial in enhancing your combat prowess to compensate for it." Dan Heng explained his reasoning before he turned around to face the baffled young man. "Don't worry about me and March. We are both capable even without using the Light Cones. Take it."

Caelus didn't know what to say as he reluctantly nodded his head before walking up towards the pedestal. He held his hand out before grabbing the Light Cone with his hand, it felt like he was touching a glass of some sort.

Suddenly, the Light Cone in his hand began to phase through into his chest, causing him to let out a yelp in surprise as the Light Cone was gone. Caelus held his head as a sudden memory entered into his mind, a phrase echoing inside his head and whispering to him.

"The death of all things is as natural as their birth. Time erodes everything, turning all tangible entities to dust."

"So, how do you feel?" March 7th questioned as she walk up to him while looking concerned.

"I-I'm fine." Caelus answered back with a small grin as he stood up high and bring his hands up, clenching and unclenching them a few times. "I don't...feel any different as well. Is this supposed to happen?"

"Who knows." Dan Heng truthfully said in response to the question as he folded his arm and directed a look at him. "The functionality of the Light Cone is unclear to us. The Garden of Recollection and the IPC have kept a tight lid on the info. Not even the Astral Express has much information on it due to how rare they are."

"Could've said something before I grabbed it..." Caelus replied while giving Dan Heng a look for his lack of warning of touching an object that they didn't even know how to use.

"Like I said. It was a necessity, now that you have the Light Cone you should be even more capable of dealing with the enemy." Dan Heng speculated as he was really intrigued if the Light Cone really did boost Caelus' combat prowess or not.

"We should get moving now. I think we spend too much time here." Arlan called out as he worry that their enemy would be on their doorstep if they spend to much time in one place like this.

With a nod of agreement from the other three members of their little squad, they all made their way out of the room they were in. Outside of said room was a floor that connected this room with the other one beside it, with a bridge that connected the floor to the elevator which was their destination.

Something Caelus also noticed was the strange warped crystal-like material in black and gold meander growing out of the floor.

"This is..." Caelus was at a loss of word as his widened eyes focused on the strange crystal that was growing out of the ground.

"As I thought, the presence of the Legion has caused the Fragmentum corrosion to spread around the space station." Dan Heng grimly stated as he also noticed the growing corrosion with a furrowing eyebrow.

"Madam Herta is not going to like this..." Arlan muttered lowly to himself with his lips pursed as he could guess that Madam Herta isn't going to be pleased that her space station was littered with Fragmentum corrosion.

"Still...Is that it? We've reached the elevator already? That wasn't too many monsters~" March voiced out her thought in hope to lighten up the mood, before she then cover mouth moments after. "Oof, probably shouldn't have said that...might bring bad luck."

"You've grown, March." Dan Heng commentated at the pink haired girl realization, causing her to giggle and rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.

With the idle chatter out of the way, the four made their way towards the elevator, walking through the bridges that connected the pathway at a steady pace. For a moment, all of them thought that they are going to get away scoot free.

However that thought came to a stop when a sudden projectile was sent flying towards them at an alarming speed, something that Dan Heng caught before anyone else.

Immadiately deciding to take action, Dan Heng summoned back his spear before running ahead and intercept the projectile with his weapon. The two clashed for a moment and letting sparks fly, before he twisted his hold and letting the projectile fly away from their direction.

Although that didn't stop it from almost hitting Caelus, making him flinched when the projectile almost cut his cheek before it hit the wall behind him.

This sudden attack alarmed the group as they followed suit and summoned their weapon. Just in time for their enemy to appear out of nowhere, leaping around before landing and facing them.

This Antimatter Legion monster was like the other Voidranger with black metallic body, albeit this one is exceptionally larger and has a horse body and legs for its underbody. The newly arrived Voidranger: Trampler stood taller then any of them while having its arms crossed, head tilting down as it looked down on them and blocking their path towards the elevator.

Dan Heng looked down to see that his bracers were damaged by blocking the attack, prompting him to look at the Trampler with a thin veil of anger visible on his face. Knowing this is no time to be emotional, he calmed his nerve down and immediately took action.

"Arlan, get away and made sure you don't get hurt. March, Caelus, we need to finish this quickly before any other Voidranger pops out. Let's go!"

With the command and plan given to them, Arlan immediately stepped back while keeping his sword up with the other three rushed forward to confront the Trampler.

March pulled out three arrows before firing them at the Trampler in the hope to freeze it. However the arrow didn't do much as they broke apart upon hitting the Voidranger in the chest, doing minimal damage.

Frowning at her attack being uneffective, she jumped back to create some distance between them as she decided to provide her friend with cover fire instead of heading it face on.

Caelus and Dan Heng quickly rushed forward and close the distance before attacking the Voidranger. Caelus jumped up and raised his bat up to strike down, while Dan Heng twirled his spear and thrust it upward.

Their effort was met with the Trampler standing on its hind leg and swinging its front leg up, blocking and swatting away the attack from the two boys as they leaped back from the force.

The Trampler see this and go on the offensive by quickly closing the distance by leaping forward and sending a right hook at the still air born Caelus. The gray-haired amnesiac eyes widened before he brings his bat up and black the punch that send him flying back.

The Trampler wasn't done as it leaned forward before turning its whole body around to deliver a powerful kick with the back of its horse leg at Dan Heng. He did the same and bring his weapon up to block the strike while also being thrown back.

"Dan Heng! Caelus!" March cried out in worry when her companion was thrown back and managed to land in front of her. She raised her head and saw it approaching and letting out a gasp. "Look out!"

Her warning was too slow as the Tranpler let out a cry before it stand up on its hind leg before bringing its front body down hard, causing a strong quantum shockwave to blast through them. They all screamed in pain as they flew back by the attack.

The three let out a grunt as they crashed to the ground from the impact of the attack. They all quickly get up just to see the Trampler clenching its fist as quantum energy gathers before it brings its hand down.

Dan Heng's instinct screamed at him to look up and so he did only to see various holes opened up and pointing at them. Eyes widened, he turned towards the other two and screamed.

"Above!"

Caelus and March had a quick second to look up before multiple quantum pillar shot out of the hole and fired at them. They all rolled out of the way of the direction of the blast and let the attacks smash into each other and into the floor.

Caelus saw the damage of the attack and know that this wasn't going to be as easy as the previous Voidranger the fought earlier. Knowing they couldn't prolong the fight in fear of enemy reinforcement, he decided to take action.

"Dan Heng, March, provide me with back up. I will go and deal with this thing head on." Without waiting for any other confirmation, Caelus immediately sprint up ahead with his bat in hand and ignoring the cry of his companion.

"Wait, Caelus!"

"Don't be reckless!"

The Trampler, seeing its approaching foe, let out a screeching cry as it charges forward with its fist raised up and ready to strike.

Knowing now what the Voidranger is capable of, Caelus dodged to the left when it tried to punch him with its right fist. He then followed it up by slamming his bat at the Trampler side and causing it to stumble slightly.

Seeing an opportunity, Caelus use this opening to unleash a relentless barrage of attack at his enemy. Swing his bat wildly in quick succession, all of them aiming at its torso in order to try to leave a dent in its tough shell of a body.

Just as he was about to throw another swing, the Trampler managed to get a hold of itself and raised its front leg up. Caelus tried to take a step back but was too late and was caught once more by the quantum shockwave attack from the Voidranger.

Caelus get thrown back and slammed into the ground while letting out a grunt. He raised his head and saw the Trampler was already on him with its leg up, ready to impale him. Widening his eye, he immediately raised his bat up to try to block it.

Fortunately for him, a barrage of arrow crashed into the Trampler face, disorienting it enough to let Caelus quickly roll out of the way as the front leg slammed into the ground where he previously stayed.

"Don't go and throw yourself into the wind like that, mister!" March chastised her gray-haired companion as she threw another volley of arrows at the Voidranger, which didn't leave any significant damage but was enough to distract it.

And that distraction proved useful when Dan Heng rushed forward past the downed Caelus and swung his spear at its chest. He switched his hold of his spear before delivering a quick barrage of stab at the Legion troop torso.

Caelus got right back up and followed suit after Dan Heng, jumping up and swinging his bat at the Trampler head before kicking his feet on its chest to jump back away from it.

Just in time for Dan Heng to come charge in with his spear enhanced as he thrust straight at the Voidranger, causing it to skid back by the force of the attack.

The Trampler lets out a grunt before crying out in rage as it bring its left hand up to the sky, before said hand begin to morph into a large bow that is as tall as it is. It conjured a large arrow into its right hand before lining it up with its bow and pulling it back, gathering energy into the arrow.

"Ah! You copycat!" March cried out while looking displeased at the sight of her type of weapon on her enemy hand. "Alright then, try this on for size!"

March conjured up once more an ice arrow from the flower strap on her thigh, before she jumped up and pulled the bowstring with all her might. With a cry, she released her hold and launched the arrow flying, said arrow then split into dozens of ice arrows that all hit the Trampler, managing to freeze it in place.

"Nice, March!" Caelus called out to his pink haired companion in cheer before facing forward at the frozen Voidranger. "I'm going ahead to finish this!" He said before charging forward with his bat in hand.

Dan Heng was about to follow up, but he quickly noticed the growing crack appearing on the ice encase Trampler. Causing him to narrow his eyes as he tried to warn him.

"Caelus, fall back!"

Caelus turned his head back to look at Dan Heng for a moment in confusion, however that quick moment of distraction was enough for the Trampler to break free out of its ice binding. The Trampler didn't waste time as it quickly fired its energy charged arrow at the bat wielding amnesiac.

Caelus expression quiclly turned into one of alarmed as he realized that with the speed of the incoming projectile, he would not be able put his bat up to block it in time. March and Dan Heng also realized this as they tried to protect their newly made friend out, with the pink haired girl raising her hand up towards the gray-haired boy to do something—

Before a sudden purple light flashes on the corner of their vision, they turn to look back only for a streak of purple lighting to run past them at an impressive speed. It then jumped into the air before crashing down in front of Caelus, managing to smash the large arrow to the ground and shattering it.

Caelus just stared in shock over what just happened, before he raised his head up to see who exactly it is that had saved him from the attack, and promptly to widen his eyes even further.

"Arlan?!"

Arlan stood in the place where he had landed, his great sword in hand and was crackling with electricity that was running through his hand. Said sword edge was also buried into the floor, where the shattered remains of the Trampler arrow lie.

"Is that all you got...?"

Arlan picked up his great sword before he gripped it with both of his hands, facing the Voidranger with resolution clear in his eyes. The Trampler let out another screech before it starts to charge forward at the new enemy.

"Let me pay you back—"

Arlan held his greatsword sideways before it began to emit even more electricity, causing it to grow more powerful. He took a step before launching himself forward and performing a wide arc slash at the Voidranger, causing a massive amount of lighting to burst out from his sword.

He then jumped high into the air as he brought his electric enchanted sword up above his head, before shouting with the top of his lung.

"TENFOLD!"

Arlan comes falling down like a bolt of lightning striking the ground beneath it. Slashing the Voidranger directly and releasing all of the electricity in his sword to cause an explosion to envelope the Voidranger.

Arlan was breathing heavily as he fell to his knee after delivering his last ditch attack. His injured leg was starting to feel worse now after that excessive movement, not to mention the side effect of empowering his sword with electricity also means that he will be shock by it as well, hurting him in the process. He could already feel the familiar tingle and burn of electricity in his arm.

Still, at the very least the threat was over for—

His tired train of thought was interrupted by the Trampler bursting out of the smoke and firing another large arrow at them that was fully charged by uts qjantum energy.

Arlan's eyes widened before he immediately bring his sword up and block the attack. Unfortunately the strength of the strike, coupled with his own damaged body, was too strong for him to take as he was sent flying back. Crying out in pain as his sword was flung away from his already weakened grip.

"ARLAN!" Caelus cried out as he quickly jumped out to catch him, but the force was too great that he was also sent flying back. He let out a gurnt of pain once his back met the wall very hardly, but at least he had managed to catch his injured companion.

"Caelus! You take care of Arlan, me and March will distract the Voidranger!" Dan Heng called out his order before rushing forward to confront the enemy, with March behind him and firing her arrow in order to slow it down by freezing it.

Caelus nodded as he looked at Arlan. He was already injured before but now it was even worse. The wound from his leg was already opening up if the sign of blood staining his leg was any indication. He was in no shape to fight anymore.

Caelus settled Arlan down on the floor and letting him rest by leaning back against the wall, said white haired young man let out a grunt in pain before chuckling a little.

"I'm fine...thank you." Arlan said with a weak smile on his face, his words clearly contradicting his own state of being at the moment. "You don't need to worry about me."

"Hard to do so when you just saved me earlier." Caelus responded as he stood back up after helping Arlan rest his injured body. "Why? You are already injured, there's no need for you to take action like that."

"My apology, but I am just doing my job. As the head of the space station security department, it is my duty to protect everyone here, including you." Arlan replied as he raised his left hand up before he took hold of his right arm, gripping it tightly to remind himself of his most treasured secret.

"..." Caelus didn't really know what to say to that. He still didn't understand why Arlan would go to such lengths to do his job like that, but he knew that this wasn't the time to ponder such a thing. "Well you just stay here and let us handle the rest. You can't do anything in your condition."

"Perhaps, but there is still one thing I can at least do for you." Arlan said which caught the attention of the gray haired bat wielder in front of him.

"And that is to tell you what your bat full capability is."

Meanwhile, March and Dan Heng was busy taking on the Voidranger: Trampler on their own. Despite their combined effort, this particular Antimatter Legion monster was still standing despite their earlier fight.

March kept firing her arrow and dodging the attack that was thrown at her, while Dan Heng goes close and personal to deliver a couple of powerful blows with Cloud Piercer. The Trampler took it all while taking minimal damage, it was slow going but their efforts were showing as the half man and half horse creature was starting to look weakened albeit slightly.

"We have to finish it while it is weakened. Otherwise it will call out other Voidranger." Dan Heng informed his fellow Astral Express crew member, knowing full well that reinforcement at this moment will be an unfavorable timing for any of them.

March nodded in understanding as she raised her index finger out. Blue and pink energy gather at the tip of her finger before she aims it at Dan Heng. The energy shot out of her finger before it surrounded the quite dark haired boy's body.

"There you go. A little present from little old me." March said with a wink as Dan Heng nod in understanding as he appreciated her providing a layer of protection for him. "It's not going to last long though."

"Then we need to finish this as quickly as possible." Dan Heng stated as he gripped Cloud Piercer with both hand and held it ready to attack while March did the same by conjuring an ice arrow into her hand.

The Trampler had had enough as it morphed its hand into a bow once more before summoning another arrow into its hand. Lining up the arrow with its bow and pulling back, it starts to gather energy into the arrow once more while taking aim at—

"Hey, ugly!"

All attention on the battle immediately went towards the source of the loud voice, which made them all focused onto Caelus who was approaching them with his bat in hand.

"Why don't you face someone your own size?" Caelus called out as he walked up in front of his companions with a smirk to provoke the Voidranger, even throwing in a wiggle of his finger in a clear sign of 'come at me' at it.

"Caelus? What are you—?!" March tried to call out but was stopped when Dan Heng raised his arms out in front of her. The black haired young man gaze at the back of the bat wielder's head for a moment, before lowering his hand and telling her.

"Wait for my signal."

March blinked in confusion on what was happening, before reluctantly nodding her head as she focused her aim at the Voidranger and waited beside Dan Heng.

The Trampler had heard the taunt and focused its sole target at Caelus as it aim its arrow at him. Seeing that he had managed to get its attention, he also prepared himself by bringing his bat up.

"Let me show you how—"

Caelus began to twirl his bat around before crossing his arm while closing his eyes shut. Snapping his eyes open, he unfold his arm out while gliding his other hand over his bat at the same time, causing it to begin to crackle with energy before bursting into a bright blue color.

"Rules...are made to be broken!"

With an aggresive shout he sling his powered up bat up and resting it on the top of his shoulder, Caelus tensed his leg before running forward with full speed. His bat pulsing violently with blue energy and emitting electricity around it.

Seeing its target approaching, the Trampler let out a cry before it fired its arrow at him. Leaving a streak of light and a quantum energy for the arrow tip as it flies forward.

Caelus didn't deter from his charge as he gripped his bat with his other hand, before swinging with full force with a loud shout once the arrow was near him. The empowered bat smashed into the arrow, shattering them to bits upon contact with a trail of energy leaving out of the bat.

Caelus continued his charge as the Trampler was taken aback by what just happened and was about to jump back—

"NOW!"

Only for it to be stopped when a barrage of ice arrow rained down at it, pelting it with arrows as the ice did its job by freezing its leg up to the ground, preventing the Voidranger from moving.

"How do you like them apple!" March called out with a grin while looking pleased with herself. "Go get it, you two!"

Dan Heng quickly runs up at pace with Caelus with the orb of Cloud Piercer spinning and gathering energy. With another step ahead, he jumped up into the air.

"Break!"

Dan Heng then threw his spear with all his might at the Trampler as the weapon was leaving a trail of black ink like energy in its wake. Cloud Piercer slammed into the Voidranger chest as the force made it reeled back, cracking the body at where it was hit.

Caelus didn't fall behind as he leaped forward towards the eye level of the Tranpler head. Before spinning his body around to build up momentum and crying out.

"Dropdead!"

Caelus swing his baseball bat hard at the side of the Trampler head, causing an arc of energy to be released from the attack and hitting it head on the side of its head. Making the Voidranger head snapped to the side before knocking it out as it falls down of the bridge that they were fighting on.

Caelus dropped down to the floor with a pant as his baseball bat beginning to lose its bright blue glow as the energy used for its enhanced state was spent. Still, he couldn't hold back the smile growing on his face at finally getting rid of that tough Voidranger.

It was a really big achievemwnt for him that he had managed to defeat such a difficult foe like that. Of course, he couldn't do it without the others helping him, but still he felt like he deserved a litrle pat on the back for a job well done.

Fortunately for him, March was there for him when he needed her. Unfortunately, the thanks he received was less of a 'pat om the back' and more like a homerun tackle as she hugs him from behind out of nowhere while laughing all the while.

"Yay! We did it! We manage to beat that nosy Voidranger!" March cheered as she beamed like the always cheerful girl that she is. Her smile was seriously contagious as the newly arrived Dan Heng and Arlan, with the later almost limping as he walk towards them, couldn't help but also show a smile on her face.

"You really showed that Voidranger who's boss, Caelus! And those battle chant of yours? I really like it!" March told him while still holding onto him from the back before she guve him a teasing smile. "But you do realize that you just played yourself, right? 'Rules are made to be broken'? I mean, come on. You're not beating the delinquent allegation with words like that."

Caelus' only response was for him to roll his eye while tilting his head slightly to give her a smile. Purposely not saying anything in response just to annoy her, which seems to did the trick as she pout while muttering 'you're no fun' under her breath.

"Good job dealing with your first elite enemy, Caelus." Dan Heng congratulate the gray heaired amnesiac before his face shifted slightly to show his worry expresion. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing fine, better actually." Caelus replied truthfully as he made March let go of him before answering back. "Especially now that I know that I could do that with my baseball bat. Thanks for the info, Arlan."

"It's no problem, Caelus." Arlan said as he tried to stand up on his own before almost falling back if it wasm't for Caelus running up to him and catching him. "Thank you, and I'm just glad that I could be of use to you all."

"Now don't say that, Arlan. You did plenty for us already, I mean you did save Caelus earlier after all." March pointed out to which Caelus also nodded his head to confirm that the pink haired girl's words was correct.

"...I see." Arlan muttered as he still felt like he could have something better then just his one shot attempt at ending the fight earlier. He kept that to himself though as he didn't want to worry them.

"And beside, after all the beating we give it. There's no way we are going to see that ugly thing ever again."

Right on cue after March had said that, a figure jumped out of the edge on the bridge before it landed on the path between the group and the elevator.

They all tensed and summoned back their weapon before they realized it was the same Voidranger: Trampler that they had fought earlier, much to their shock as the Voidranger in question still retained the same damage in its torso and head forcefully twisted to the side.

The Trampler swayed for a moment in its movement before standing still. Its twisted neck snapped back into place making them see its expressionless face, before it arch its body backward and letting out a powerful screech that reverberate around the area.

Upon bearing the call of the Trampler, multiple portals begin to open out as dozens of Voidranger: Distorter popped out of the portal. Floating high in the sky as they all gazed down at them with their arm spread.

"Hey! Sore loser! You can't just gang up on us!" March cried out in indignition while pulling her bowstring, looking quite panicked at the large amount of enemy that had come out in response.

Caelus gripped his baseball bat hard while gritting his teeth at the unlucky situation they are in right now. Not only did they have to face the Voidranger that given them trouble before hand, but also dealing with the many other enemy it had called out that was slowly moving towards them.

'Dammit, how are we supposed to get to the elevator with this—'

Caelus' thought was halted when a sudden interruption came in in a form of flying object flying towards them. The object in question crashed into a Distorter and shattering then to bits, before it produced a spinning saw wheel and sliced the other Distorter near it like hot knife through butter.

The object then made its way towards the Trampler with its buzz saw out and aimed at its head. The Trampler ducked out of the way just in time for the saw to only cut of the left spike of its head.

It then came to a stop in front of the group as they see that the object was a drone-like machine with four propeller that kept it afloat, with glowing red eyes that almost glare at the enemy as it stood in front of them in a protective manner.

Recognizing what just had saved them, Dan Heng and March shared a look before nodding as she take hold of the confused Caelus' hand and dragged him and Arlan towards the now cleared path towards the elevator.

"Woah! March, what is that—"

"No time for explanation! I'll tell you when we get to safety!"

"Go!"

Dan Heng told them while positioning himself in front of them with his spear out to protect them, the drone also hivering beside him. When he saw that they had made it in, he quickly run towards the elevator also before slamming a button. The elevator door closed immediately before it began to ascend upwards.

With its objective completed, the drone eye flashes red for a moment before it begins to fly away to catch up with them. The remaining Voidranger did not take any action as they stood there, while the Trampler stared at its lost prey.

Before roaring out to the empty floor.

XXXXXXXXXX

A/N: And that's a wrap! So, what did you guys think? Is it good? Is it bad? Please leave a comment if you like.

And with that, we are done with the first Trailblaze Mission of the Herta Space Station. Honestly, I think I underestimate just how tough it is to write a story like this.

Despite most of the dialogue can be found in the wiki, explaining the things that they do and getting the hang of their character was quite challenging.

Especially with Caelus, seeing as he (and including Stelle, obviously) is quite the MC for Honkai: Star Rail. While I like the rather funny option of the dialogue choice the game provides, I think it's better if Caelus would be more, well, less 'meme-ish', if you catch my drift. Beside while the funny dialogue choice would make sense in the game, I don't think some of them would work in a story format.

The combat was also difficult to write. Go figure, it's a turn-based game, after all. The combat visual was design to be simplistic, so translating it to a more dynamic fight scene for the story was quite a challenge. I hope I did a good job.

But that is all from me and I hope you guys all like this chapter. I apologize for the long update, and I'll try to write the next chapter as soon as possible. All in all, I really hope you like this story. Thank you!