Arriving in the main hall, Tian An couldn't help but marvel at the familiar decor.
It's just like in the game...
It was just missing a few plot-specific items, like the Flowing Light Memoir mirror—that wouldn't appear until a certain grey-haired individual arrived.
Not that I'd be able to see it anyway.
"Miss Theresia." Seeing Tian An emerge, Dan Heng quickly offered her a seat.
"Miss Theresia, are you feeling alright?" Himeko asked, glancing at Tian An's hand covering her abdomen.
"I'm fine. Let me see this pod," Tian An managed to force a smile. Supported by March 7th and with the others making way, she slowly approached the object.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she got close, the pod suddenly vibrated, and a tray extended from within without any warning.
Is this... a keypad lock?
Tian An stared at the device before her, which strongly resembled the ATM keypads from her old world, lost in thought.
Could it be... this really has something to do with me?
Behind her, the others watched Tian An with expectant eyes; their burning gazes nearly setting Tian An ablaze.
"Three-digit password..." Looking at the three short blank lines on the display, Tian An felt like her brain was about to explode. She mentally ran through every password she'd ever set in her life, but none were three digits long.
"Hmm... 325?" Tian An tentatively entered her own birthday. Nothing happened.
"Uh... Theresia's birthday..."
7 1 1
Still no response.
Hiss... then what could the password be...?
Glancing sideways, Tian An noticed a logo affixed to the side of the pod, one that looked strikingly similar to the Honkai: Star Rail symbol.
...
4 2 6
Beep beep... Beep beep.
Unlock successful.
So why was the password the game's launch date?!
As the light on the keypad turned green, the hatch hissed, vibrated slowly, and began to swing outwards, releasing puffs of warm, white vapor.
Such high-tech vibes.
Once the hatch was fully open, the group could finally see inside—a person lay within.
Everyone crowded around. To help pull the person out, Dan Heng even jumped directly onto the pod structure.
Tian An strained her neck to get a look. But when she finally saw clearly, she abruptly fell silent.
With a mixture of astonishment and quietude, she sat back down on the sofa, her fingers nervously fidgeting against each other.
Her mind crashed.
Because the person inside the pod wasn't just anyone—it was her previous self!
By the time the others had worked together to lift the body out, Tian An had already been stunned for a while. She had assumed that since she had transmigrated, her original body should have ceased to exist. She never expected it to follow her like some kind of pursuing soul.
Could it be, inside this body is... No, impossible, absolutely impossible!
Welt noticed Tian An's unusual reaction. He walked over, looked her in the eyes, and asked, "Miss Theresia... do you know her?"
"No, no, no, I don't know her. Who is this?" Tian An hastily shook her head, denying any connection.
Seeing Tian An's slightly flustered state, Welt felt something was increasingly off. The others, currently checking the body's vital signs, also glanced over.
So, the current situation is me watching the Express crew rescue... myself?
I saved myself?
"No vital signs," Dan Heng announced regretfully to the group. "Or rather... her body's structure is fundamentally incapable of supporting life."
"What do you mean?" Himeko asked, puzzled.
"This body... is just an empty shell." Dan Heng pried open the body's eyelids, only to find them utterly vacant, like a hollow sculpture. There was nothing inside.
Hearing Dan Heng's words, even the tense Tian An couldn't help but slightly turn her head to look at the other 'her' lying on the floor.
Wait... I never wear my hair in pigtails usually. I always hated that hairstyle...
Could it be... a version of me from a parallel universe?
The thought seemed increasingly absurd to Tian An.
While the scene remained steeped in silence, the quiet body suddenly began to emit an unnatural glow.
"A glowing body! It's not a bomb, is it?!" March 7th quickly summoned her bow and assumed a defensive stance. The others also drew their weapons. Welt took two steps back, positioning himself protectively in front of Tian An.
The body rapidly dissolved into a ball of light, then abruptly shot towards Tian An. Before she could react, Welt tried to block it with his cane, but the light sphere passed straight through him and entered Tian An's body.
Instantly, Tian An felt a strange power surge within her. The areas where Originium Crystals grew on her body began to throb with a dull ache.
Yikes, did I get hit? Tian An defensively covered her abdomen, striking an odd pose.
But even after the last speck of light faded, nothing else happened.
"Miss Theresia! Are you okay?!" March 7th was the first to rush over and crouch down beside her.
"Miss Theresia?" March 7th waved a hand in front of Tian An's face.
"Ther—"
"Mmm...? I'm fine." Tian An snapped back from savoring the residual power surge and quickly stood up.
"Miss Theresia... your wound...!" March 7th stared at the now perfectly upright Tian An, aghast.
"Wound?" Tian An touched her abdomen. It was completely smooth, restored as if the injury had never existed.
"What curious power," Welt murmured, looking inscrutable. He pushed up his glasses. "My own power had no effect on it just now."
The light passing directly through Welt had made him briefly think he was a goner. He hadn't even gotten married yet!
It seemed now that this energy not only recognized its intended host but also possessed mysterious, wondrous properties.
"If it was pure energy... directly intercepting it would indeed be difficult," Dan Heng added.
Others might not know, but Tian An was acutely aware of the changes in her body. The Originium Crystals embedded in her abdomen... they seemed to have become active...
It felt as if they were calling out to her, pulsing within her body at a unique frequency, though Tian An didn't understand their meaning.
Oripathy... could March 7th and the others get infected...?
If they did, she'd feel guilty for the rest of her life.
"Although many questions remain," Welt said, his tone reassuring, "I want to reiterate, Miss Theresia, even if you have been betrayed or harmed by others in the past, the Astral Express crew is still worthy of your trust."