Chapter 1: A Connection Between the Astral Express and the World of Honkai Impact 3rd!?
Within the pitch-black expanse of the universe, the Astral Express glided forward. Inside the train, the simple yet elegant decor provided a sense of comfort for the journey.
At this moment, there were only four people in the carriage.
There was a middle-aged man wearing glasses: Welt Yang, who had boarded the Astral Express from another world. There was the mature, intellectual, and ever-elegant Himeko, who usually had a cup of coffee in hand. Then there was March 7th, a pink-haired girl who, despite her age, exuded a child-like, innocent charm. Finally, there was Stelle, who had a bit of a “gremlin” look about her and had only recently boarded the Express, having been born just a few days prior.
March 7th rubbed her backside in frustration. “Curse it! Why do I keep falling down?”
Welt and Himeko seemed accustomed to this, but Stelle spoke up. “Because you can’t stand steady.”
March 7th was speechless. It seemed she couldn’t argue with that.
Welt and Himeko shared a knowing smile at Stelle’s nonsensical yet technically correct answer. Just as Welt was about to ask Stelle something else, a pure white, glowing screen suddenly materialized in mid-air within the carriage.
March 7th jumped in surprise. “What?! What is this thing?”
“Maybe it’s a little movie about to play on the train...” Stelle suggested, her expression as smug as ever.
“How is that possible? The Astral Express doesn’t have anything like that!” March 7th retorted.
“Then it’s a big movie.”
“I’m saying there are no movies!” March 7th really felt like giving Stelle a good thumping for that attitude.
Before Stelle could say anything even more annoying, Welt spoke up in time. “This isn’t something belonging to the train.”
“The energy is very gentle; it seems to be a special kind of creation,” Himeko added. “Let’s just watch and see for now.”
As soon as Himeko finished her sentence, March 7th shouted, “Uncle Yang, Himeko, look! There are words appearing on it.”
“There are words appearing on it!” Stelle repeated.
“Are you a repeater?!” March 7th snapped.
Welt and Himeko frowned as they looked toward the screen.
At the same time, a similar scene was unfolding in another world.
Inside the Valkyrie dormitory of St. Freya Academy, it happened to be a day off. Raiden Mei was busy preparing ingredients she had just bought.
“Kiana worked so hard on her studies today. I have to make something delicious to give her a boost.”
Bronya and Kiana were studying at a desk. Bronya was deeply immersed in her work, while Kiana looked absolutely miserable.
Fu Hua, who was supervising Kiana’s studies, spoke up. “Student Kiana, if you fail this exam again, the Principal said your A-rank Valkyrie assessment will be delayed along with it.”
“What?!” Kiana clutched her hair. “Auntie is clearly making things difficult for me! She said she’d tell me where my old man is if I became an A-rank Valkyrie. Aren’t Valkyries just supposed to fight? Why are there exams?!”
To the side, Bronya said, “Idiot Kiana, you’re disturbing Bronya’s studies again. Could you please lower your voice?”
Kiana looked at Bronya. “Bronya, how are your grades so good? How do you do it?”
“Because Bronya is not an Idiot Kiana.”
“Student Kiana...” Fu Hua began, but before she could finish, a glowing screen suddenly appeared in the middle of the room, manifesting before everyone.
Fu Hua immediately stood up, looking at the white screen with a sharp, guarded gaze. Raiden Mei rushed out of the kitchen holding a rice ladle, shielding Kiana.
“Are you all right, Kiana?!”
Kiana, being someone with almost zero sense of crisis, happily threw her arms around Mei’s neck. “I’m fine, Mei! Mei, you’re the best! You rushed out to protect me right away. I love Mei the most!”
“Project Bunny 19C has not detected any dangerous energy fluctuations,” Bronya reported. “It seems this object poses no threat.”
Fu Hua sensed it as well and didn’t feel any major danger. Still, she commanded, “Get behind me for now. If there’s any danger, remember to leave this place immediately and go find the Principal and Himeko.”
The Trio didn’t say much; clearly, they weren’t about to leave Fu Hua here alone. Together, they watched the screen along with her.
“Look,” Kiana pointed. “Words are appearing...”
In the St. Freya Academy office, Principal Theresa Apocalypse and Teacher Himeko were also faced with an identical screen.
Himeko checked again to be sure. “Theresa, are you sure I haven’t just had too much to drink?”
Theresa looked helpless. “Even I can see it. Could I possibly be drunk along with you?”
“Then what the heck is this white thing?”
Theresa shook her head. “Don’t ask me. If it were some new type of Honkai, I should be sensing Honkai Energy, but there’s nothing.”
“It looks like a movie screen,” Himeko observed. “Doesn’t seem dangerous.”
“Don’t let your guard down. Be ready for combat,” Theresa warned. “If this is an invasion, prepare to contact the Far East Branch for fire support immediately.”
Himeko’s expression turned grave. “Words are starting to appear.”
When Theresa saw the text, her face changed instantly. “The protagonist of the movie is me???”
