They opened fire on sight.
After hearing Hanunue's story, the Nameless had already subconsciously taken his side. They fought alongside Hanunue, attempting to break through the IPC's encirclement.
But unlike the previous time with the nameless, the armed forces here were well-expressed, well-equipped, and even had several Path striders among them!
The battle between the two forces left Mikhail and his group utterly shocked. Like wild beasts tearing at each other, from the very first moment of engagement, both sides fought with a mad determination to annihilate the other.
----------------------
The IPC's raid force quickly grew into a large-scale army, mixed with many people from other factions.
These individuals either came voluntarily or received invitations from the IPC.
Upon arriving at the frontier prison, they chose to side with the IPC.
Hanunue and his companions were trapped in the mining site, and the situation was extremely dire.
Meanwhile, the three Nameless were furious.
The IPC had deceived them—on the surface, they were brought in to control the Stellaron and handle a "small rebellion."
But this was not a riot at all; it was a fight for freedom.
At that moment, Mikhail and his group decided to join Hanunue's forces and resist the IPC together. The news quickly spread everywhere.
Thus began their breakout.
However, the IPC's armed forces, along with its skilled fighters, made this battle extremely brutal and bloody.
Razalina suffered severe injuries during the battle and fell into a coma.
Fortunately, under Hanunue's leadership, everyone fought desperately, finally overcoming the IPC's siege.
After the fierce battle, Hanunue completely let go of his guard against the express crew members.
After successfully breaking through, he silently turned around and left, covered in blood.
Alone, he stormed into the IPC's base, and amid fire and explosions, he seized a batch of medicine and healed Razalina.
This story is precisely the passage from "Past Dreams" about Hanunue risking his life to save the Mirror Princess.
...
: I remember now—this is the scene from Past Dreams where Hanunue saved the Mirror Princess..."
: Wow, I didn't expect it to be exactly like the original story..."
: Dammit, the mini-game only described this scene in a few words… but in reality, it was this dangerous?"
: I was scared out of my mind when Razalina got seriously injured!"
: The Nameless went through so much... The intensity is insane! The moment they arrived, they were thrown into such a cruel war."
: But seriously, Hanunue is an absolute beast! This guy is way too strong, a real tough warrior!"
: True man Hanunue!"
: Honestly, this is making my heart ache… Compared to this, Stelle's era felt so safe!
: After all, they had two reliable figures backing them up…
...
The brutal battle left the audience feeling deeply uneasy.
The main reason was the lack of security.
They simply couldn't imagine a scenario where March 7th suffered serious injuries on an expedition.
Meanwhile, Stelle and her team always had two reliable guardians watching over them, so even when they recklessly risked their lives, the audience never worried.
But this situation was completely different.
With these emotions in mind, the audience anxiously continued watching.
After successfully breaking through and regrouping, the express crew finally made contact with other Nameless and Granholm.
"After a unanimous decision by the express crew, we have chosen to stand with Hanunue." Granholm never disappoints.
His words filled the Nameless with excitement.
However, some newly joined Nameless began to worry.
Would this decision affect the IPC's expansion? Would it turn them into enemies?
Granholm simply gave them a deep look and calmly reassured them that there was no need to worry.
As Nameless, they only needed to act without hesitation.
In this world, there are certain people who naturally enjoy special privileges.
They are the Path Striders. They don't just represent themselves— they also stand for the forces walking the same path.
The Nameless are among them.
Since ancient times, they have traversed the universe, carrying forward the legacy of the past.
The foundation of the current cosmic order partly belongs to the expansion efforts of the Astral Express.
Without the Star Rail connecting different worlds, there would be no IPC today.
In other words, this newly joined express crew member simply didn't understand the importance of the Nameless.
When the express chooses to enter a war, it becomes an extremely critical variable.
Naturally, the IPC wouldn't give up this place easily.
But if they truly conquered it without the support of the express and other free individuals representing various factions, Hanunue would undoubtedly face the IPC's ruthless retaliation.
Some things don't need to be said— everyone already understood.
And with just a glance, the gentle and refined Granholm left a deep impression on them.
...
: This is what it means to be a Navigator—not only having a pure heart and unwavering stance, but also possessing deep insight into the hidden conflicts and schemes within the universe...
: Radiant Heart, Granholm. Now I truly understand. It feels like every Navigator on the express is among the most elite individuals in the galaxy…
: Himeko, as a Navigator, is the same—calm and well-versed in the rules, guiding the express through the major powers with ease.
: They see through the darkness behind the scenes, yet they still hold onto their original ideals, maintaining the purest and righteous principles.
...
The barrage of comments filled the screen.
On the display, the war had intensified.
Almost every day, battles erupted across the frontier prison.
The camera followed Mikhail's trio, allowing the audience to immerse themselves deeply in the war.
The story was increasingly resembling a documentary.
Each day, someone was either killed or forced to face extreme danger.
The IPC launched an attack—Hanunue's forces struck back.
On the frontlines... The two opposing forces were intertwined like interlocking teeth— you were attacking me, and I was attacking you.
This morning, this part of the land belonged to their allies; the next moment, it was bombarded by the IPC's artillery, only to be reclaimed in the blink of an eye.
After briefly showcasing scenes of war, the camera fixed on Mikhail and his two companions. They kept walking forward in the frame, and with every step, their surroundings, clothing, and expressions continuously changed.
Xia Wen used this technique to depict the experiences and transformations of the three nameless wanderers on the battlefield.
Most of the time, their faces looked utterly haggard, sometimes even stained with blood. Their group, which initially consisted of only three—Mikhail, Razalina, and Tiernan—gradually grew.
Finally, after reaching a peak in numbers, their companions started disappearing one by one.
Mikhail, Razalina, and Tiernan—only these three remained inseparable, supporting each other as they pressed forward. On their faces, sorrow was undeniable, but so was an unwavering determination.
Until, at last, they stopped walking.
At this moment, only a handful of companions were left by their side. The once high-spirited warriors now had only steadfast resolve and a distant gaze.
They stood in a desolate landscape, staring at the IPC's base ahead.
By this time, after years of war, the long-awaited moment had finally arrived for Hanunue.
He gathered all the prisoners and rebels from various factions to launch a grand counterattack.
This was the ultimate battle that would determine the fate of a frontier prison!
The war was as brutal as ever—perhaps even worse than before.
The once-familiar faces—Hanunue's trusted lieutenants, the intellitron's, the Path striders— many nameless perished on this battlefield.
As these characters disappeared from the screen one by one, the audience's hearts tightened.
Audience who had aligned themselves with Hanunue's cause could not accept the loss of any "righteous allies" before the dawn of victory.
Those who had sacrificed themselves for freedom and resistance— At that moment, many thoughts surged through the audiences' minds.
Some were moved to tears.
Some felt their blood boil, wishing they could dive into the battle themselves.
This was a war for freedom and against oppression!
And the reason was simple: so that they, and those after them, would never be shackled again!
...
: The greatest hymn to humanity is truly the hymn to courage!
: I really... I can't hold back my tears. I've seen so much.
: This must be a tribute, right? MiHoYo must be paying tribute!
: So many have died... I can't stand this anymore, damn that IPC!
: But no matter what, for the liberation of all oppressed people! For the freedom of all oppressed people! We must stand united!
: Mikhail and the others, they've been through so much. Did their predecessors go through even worse?
: I really want to meet Mikhail in Penacony... Express's predecessors! You have suffered too much!
: Compared to them, March 7th and the others are truly fortunate.
: Damn, the contrast between the past and present generations is shocking.
: The influence of the Astral Express today was built step by step by predecessors like Mikhail!
: Wuwuwu, why are the nameless so foolish! Don't they realize that after this brutal war, the Express' strength declined so much that it nearly disappeared?
: I don't even dare imagine how much Pompom cried… So many left, but so few returned.
...
From across the universe, people of different factions and personalities came together purely for an ideal, sacrificing their lives for it.
This sense of shock and emotion— had already left countless people in tears.
Not to mention, those who knew the historical background suddenly realized something significant.
According to the chronology— the Astral Express vanished from the galaxy at lightspeed right after the frontier prison war ended.
Now, thinking back— it was likely related to the immense sacrifices of the nameless wanderers in this war.
Too many nameless wanderers had died! Their numbers had been completely depleted!
On-screen, amid this tragic atmosphere— The war finally ended.
The IPC, unable to maintain its ground forces, lost almost all its outposts and was driven back into space.
The frontier prison was completely liberated.
But no one smiled. Even Hanunue himself—his once rugged image and cool demeanor was now weighed down by overwhelming sorrow.
There was no helping it.
The war had been too devastating.
Even battle-hardened veterans had been traumatized by the carnage.
Victory was bittersweet, but the cost had been unbearable.
...
Mikhail and his companions followed Hanunue to attend the memorial for their fallen comrades.
Many had been reduced to mere names.
The people who once fought beside them, their friends and comrades— Now, the ones representing them were their own children.
After the funeral, Hanunue, who had gained control over the frontier prison, announced the renaming of the planet— Penacony.
A name that meant "Planet of Dreams and Festivities."
With the new name came the need to establish order.
But the once united people— Now showed vastly different attitudes toward this process.
The IPC will definitely make a comeback; that is beyond doubt.
But many people have been terrified by this war.
They really don't dare to go through such a war with the IPC again.
Besides, haven't they already gained something from this?
Many began to suggest that Hanunue negotiate with the IPC.
After all, their current status is undoubtedly higher than when they were prisoners.
However, such proposals were sternly rejected by Hanunue.
He declared that he would continue to resist and fight to the end!
Many people didn't understand, and some even resented Hanunue for this, believing he was dragging them down.
Even the subordinates who had followed Hanunue for a long time started having similar thoughts. Hanunue was deeply hurt.
But there was someone who understood him.
Mikhail.
"Negotiations under unequal power are just another form of oppression! If we want a truly fair treaty, we must make the IPC suffer, make them realize that we are not ants!" One evening, Mikhail firmly told Hanunue.
Hanunue was deeply moved, but he only let out a proud "hmph" in response.
Both of them knew the truth in their hearts.
True freedom— is sovereignty!
Only with sovereignty over Penacony can the people on this land be truly free and free from oppression.
With Mikhail's support, Hanunue chose to continue preparing for war, ready to counter the IPC's retaliation.
However, this time, his orders were met with massive resistance.
The comrades who once rallied around him started to betray him.
Some chose to establish their own factions, carving out territories, hoping to become the next Hanunue.
...
Meanwhile, in the skies above—
Though the IPC had withdrawn from Penacony, they still loomed in space, watching.
Noticing the internal changes in Penacony, the IPC extended an olive branch to some people, promising lucrative positions and a stable life full of money.
This kind of temptation has always been irresistible, no matter the era.
A large number of people secretly joined the IPC's side.
In reality, they remained close to Hanunue, acting as spies, waiting for the IPC's counterattack.
They went from unconditionally supporting Hanunue at the start to now doing everything in their power to bring him down, just for their own twisted interests.