Collapse, survive

Dan Heng corrected: "No matter what material it is, it is definitely not an ice sculpture."

"That's true, it's actually quite warm in the city. Hey, there seem to be a lot of kids gathered over there, shall we go closer and take a look?"

The Star Core Spirit, filled with curiosity and wanting to touch it, approached the children.

Fang Jie doesn't need to do that. That guy pretends to be an adult, a child, and aloof. He should sit at Dan Heng's table!

Fang Jie gazed at the monument from afar, his eyes both familiar and unfamiliar. Dan Heng beside him asked the question that even Xiao Sanyue could see: "You seem to know a lot about us, no, not just us, but also about this Beloborg."

Frankly, this goes beyond being overly familiar; moreover, Mr. Walter, who had been searching for his hometown but had never found it, suddenly stumbled upon a clue…

Okay, it's just that the company name 'Fang Jie' is too deceptive and misleading.

"I've read about it in books before, but this is the first time I've actually seen it in person."

Fang Jie had nothing to hide; the Milky Way was vast and could accommodate anything.

"To give an example, I'm a second-time player."

Dan Heng: "?"

He pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Star Core Hunter?"

Evidence suggests that the Star is backed by the Star Core Hunters, whose leader, Elio, is a madman who claims to see destiny and pursues the most dangerous things in the universe.

“No.” Fang Jie shook his head: “Although I have also read their stories, I am different from the ‘slaves of fate’.”

He neither opposes [destruction] nor has he seen [end-of-days] prophecies.

The evidence is that the path he is going to take is speculated to include the second collapse of the Supreme Being in the Forbidden Zone.

To be honest, this prospect of a future made him a little uneasy, but he was already here.

“Hmm.” Danheng’s expression was unreadable: “I have finished asking my questions. As for the rest, I believe Mr. Walter will make the decision himself.”

"Why not ask about Belloberg's story? It's not as peaceful as it seems here."

Danheng's eyes were strange. "You speak of peace, but we've only just opened the gates of Beloborg. To be honest, it wouldn't be surprising if that somewhat eccentric High Guardian turned on Danheng."

Even Cocolia's oddities aren't so strange anymore; after all, she needs some kind of defensive force.

"No need. Exploration is about discovering the unknown."

"I think so too."

Fang Jie strongly agreed with Dan Heng's point of view.

Although this planet has a calamity in its core, the absence of any Envoy-level forces observed by the train means it's not a major problem for the Star Train.

They even arranged for Danheng to lead a team of new recruits on a pioneering journey.

"Exploring the unknown world and pioneering new paths; understanding the local culture and ecology and immersing oneself in it; establishing connections with the new world, sharing its joys and sorrows; connecting worlds with worlds and forging an unbroken road" is the creed of the nameless traveler.

Even the Star Core Hunters, who knew a great deal, didn't 'spoil' anything; they simply arranged things appropriately for the stars to explore.

"Would you mind if I also participated in the exploration of this planet?"

Fang Jie was quite serious. If Dan Heng felt it wouldn't work, he would compromise and directly go to their landing bay in exchange for being pulled onto the train.

“The nameless guest never minds such things, but if I may be frank, your pioneering work…” Dan Heng only reminded him because the two people beside him weren’t there.

Don't follow the example of the company's marketing department; those guys got fired by Pam.

Fang Jie understood and smiled, "There's nothing I can do. I can't just ignore her, but it's not easy to manage her either. I don't have the strength of you, Dan Heng, nor the wisdom of Walter. I've only just started and have already made quite a few mistakes."

To put it bluntly, his predictions were superficial and didn't go into any details. He was a bit numb to the real evolution of the world, yet he valued all of this and didn't want to act recklessly.

Kevin is still watching from the Sea of ​​Quanta, and Emperor Qitian is ruling unilaterally throughout eternity at the moment of finality. Not to mention that the Star Train is full of good people. Please choose your side.

What, want to be a bug?

As long as Walter is connected, everything will be alright.

Our protagonists all fight as a team, so let him teach us how to navigate the world of Honkai Impact 3rd without crashing or burning. Old Yang is a history teacher, after all.

As for this galaxy... for the same reason, with the Star Train back-to-back, he can avoid a considerable amount of trouble.

In comparison, Belleburg certainly has its value, but not much. And compared to the Upper Town, the Lower Town is definitely more worth looking forward to.

"My...power?"

Dan Heng didn't want to discuss this topic, nor did he want to know what Fang Jie knew about his future; he felt it wasn't a good thing.

However, he finally understood something. No wonder Fang Jie seemed so unassuming. Perhaps he was actually rejecting the unknown without realizing it. He couldn't explore further if he couldn't get out of this mindset.

On the other side, Xing and March 7th had already mingled with the children, shouting "Pera Sister~".

"...Please, adults, refrain from casually imitating children!"

It's rare to see you like this, Pella. Your round face really pleases me. Why didn't you get beaten up when so many Silver Mane Iron Guards were dispatched in an emergency?

It's okay, I'll hit you next time.

Because they had fought too many Silvermane Iron Guards today, Jepard did not recommend that they visit the 'Perpetual Motion' mechanical house. After leisurely touring around, Fang Jie received a message specially delivered by Jepard, informing him that the Great Guardian Cocolia would be meeting him the next day.

"I am looking forward."

Fang Jie smiled. With him there to buffer the situation, the Starry Sky Train could enjoy itself for another day without having to be on edge negotiating with Cocolia, running away, and being wanted by the police.

"See you tomorrow."

……

……

Meanwhile, at Cripperburg.

Cocolia looked at Bronya: "My daughter, you look so disheartened. This won't do. As the acting High Guardian, if you don't cheer up and maintain your high spirits, those who are watching you will also waver."

"Mother, I just..."

Bronya made no attempt to hide her dejection.

“I’m sorry, Mother. I’ve never been able to understand some of your actions, especially ordering the Iron Guards to break through the Rift. I feel that such a sacrifice is meaningless. You can’t… I’m really sorry.”

When faced with circumstances beyond their control, people always lament their own powerlessness.

Bronya was like that; it wasn't that she was wavering in her determination to protect Beloberg and human civilization, but rather that she didn't know how she could overcome one hurdle after another if extraterrestrial visitors could so easily destroy Beloberg.

What can the Silvermane Iron Guard protect?

So weak, so powerless.

All of Cocolia's turmoil subsided at that moment, and she looked at Bronya with delight: "I'm so glad you realize that, my daughter."

She has always been tormented by the despair that comes with being the 'Great Guardian'.

The 18th Beloberg passed to her, allowing her to continue protecting Beloberg... However, there will be no 19th. After lingering on for seven hundred years, Cocolia could not hand over Beloberg, whose reserves of even the Earth Marrow Energy Ore were reduced to a mere few days' worth, to Bronya.

Yes, the earth marrow that sustains Beloberg's life will be completely depleted.

This is the result of her painful decision to give up the supply to the lower city more than ten years ago, which is why she has been able to maintain it until now. Where else can she give up this time?

Soon, the supply of Earth's marrow energy will be cut off.

Soon, the cold wave will be unstoppable.

Soon, Belloberg will fall.

Miracles no longer favor Beloborg, even for the Fate Walker... If another person surpassing the first Great Guardian could be born amidst the life and death of this civilization, Cocolia would be willing to believe in miracles.

But no, she is Belloberg's strongest, no one can defeat her, no one can find a better way out than her - in the end, everything will perish.

with no exceptions.

There is no salvation.

There is no hope.

There was no need for Bronya to bear that kind of pain. She chose a new path, a path that... no longer relied on 'Preservation,' weakened the power of 'Preservation,' and devoted herself to the new world.

“Bronya, if you’re really sad, take a day off tomorrow. To welcome these guests from outer space and to bring joy to the citizens of Belloborg, organize a distribution of supplies and make sure there’s enough.”

"Mother?!"

Bronya found it hard to believe that Cocolia would say such a thing. The heating and supplies in Belloborg had always been just barely enough to feed the poor.

With limited supplies, hunger and cold were the norm.

Cocolia said gently, “Go ahead and do it, my daughter. Tomorrow I have some things to discuss with the outsiders. After that, I’ll give you a surprise so you’ll no longer be confused, and so neither of us will be confused.”

There is no time left. If we hesitate any longer, even the star core will be taken away by outsiders.

She has made up her mind.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Ah! This is what pioneering is like.

Goethe Hotel.

After a full day of sightseeing, Xing felt that she had fully understood the culture here, and that becoming a citizen of Belleburg was probably just a matter of going to the Ministry of Government to enter a lottery.

Everyone returned to the Goethe Hotel, where the warm, earth-light lighting and the fragrant aroma of tea in the air made them feel at ease.

Before officially washing up and resting, there was still time to wander around the hotel. March 7th and Danheng seemed to want to chat with her here as well...

What? A solution?

"Go to sleep! Go to sleep!!"

He rushed back to his room, completely ignoring March 7's suggestion to "have a pillow fight" and showing no intention of participating in the Star Train squad's internal meeting.

He's still sharing a room with that Sleeping Beauty...wow!

Xing understands how great that is; she also goes to March 7th's room to sleep on the train, and it's very comfortable.

Unaware that his reputation had been damaged, Fang Jie, for the first time in a long while, finally took his second nap, and slept like a log.

When he woke up, he found himself in a strange position with ghostly scribbles on his body...

"what?"

He was surprised, he was stunned, he was furious—who was so despicable! A night raid should have woken me up!

"Taking advantage of a weakness is a phrase I don't like."

Loud criticism went unanswered; the perpetrator was quite self-righteous, like Shinobu Oshino, though she doesn't eat donuts.

Wait, why are there three different handwriting styles?

"what!"

What happened to the nameless guest? How did it turn out like this?

Fang Jie helplessly stripped himself naked and went to the bathroom. After tidying himself up, he confirmed that there were at least three different kinds of handwriting. In addition to the crooked baseball bat pattern shoved into his face, there was also a strange Pam pattern drawn on the other side of his face. The composition was extremely rough, and it might have even been photographed.

"I will remember this grudge."

Jepard's appointment time was noon, and there was still time. Fang Jie opened the window and looked out at the bustling Belleburg. It was already getting late, so he took a nap.

The Star Train team was no longer at the hotel. March 7th and Star Core Spirit must have fled to play out of fear of punishment. Dan Heng was probably in the library.

And the streets were bustling.

Is this a holiday?

It was really lively. Everywhere you looked, there were crowds of people, chatting with each other near the underground heating system. Some places that looked like shops but were guarded by Silver Mane Iron Guards had long queues, and many people had smiles on their faces.

Even the citizens whose homes were swallowed up by the rift, the rift phenomenon in Beloborg has spread to the city. Some citizens who were in a panic yesterday, desperate and having lost all their property, now have much calmer and more determined expressions.

The supplies they received solved their immediate problem, and only after they had eaten their fill did they have the strength to enter the Rift and retrieve everything.

He wasn't afraid of death; losing everything made no difference to him.

The Silvermane Iron Guards, who were sealing off the rift, were no longer so insistent, after all...

For some reason, the city's defenses are severely understaffed and unable to hold the line.

"It's already 'tomorrow', looks like they're not planning to live like this anymore."

Gazing at this carnival-like festive atmosphere, Fang Jie could only think this way.

He looked up and saw a bright starry sky, which neither the haze nor the sun could obscure. The starry sky of Belleburg seven hundred years ago was right here, and he and the people here faced the same starry sky.

After centuries of hardship, the people here are digging their own graves.

……