Despite knowing that more Antimatter Legion energy signatures lay ahead, the group resolutely chose to proceed at full speed to reach their destination, the Star of Wishes.
They traversed the vast expanse of the cosmos. After several hours, they finally reached the star system where Wish Star lay.
At the same moment, Himeko used observation instruments to lock onto Wish Star in advance and began monitoring it. No sooner had she started observing, Himeko's brow furrowed.
"A massive Antimatter Legion has already surrounded Wish Star."
Hearing this, March 7th gasped in shock.
"Has the Wish Star already been destroyed by the Antimatter Legion?"
Himeko shook her head.
"The signals cannot penetrate the Wish Star's atmosphere. We can only observe its exterior, detecting massive energy signatures from the Antimatter Legion..." She continued, her frown deepening. "Among them... is an Devastator."
Devastator. That was the genuine Emanator of the Aeon of Destruction, possessing immense destructive power. They were utterly powerless against it.
March 7th hurriedly asked, "What do we do? If Devastator targets us, we're finished."
Such regret. Had they known this place harbored so many monsters from the Antimatter Legion, including more than one Devastator, they never would have come. They had thought this was merely a search mission. None could have imagined this journey would prove so perilous.
At that moment, Sam Li's voice was solemn.
"Fear not. The Star of Wishes is not as fragile as you imagine."
Dan Heng also spoke earnestly. "The mist surrounding the Star of Wishes is not easily penetrated. Even an Emanator-level powerhouse would struggle to enter..."
As the Astral Express drew closer to Wish Star, Himeko observed the surrounding space through her instruments. Her observations confirmed her earlier predictions.
Outside Wish Star, countless Antimatter Legion forces, warships, and weapons of destruction anchored in the starry void—a vast, dark mass. The sheer scale of the Antimatter Legion was overwhelming. Outside the Star of Wishes, immense destructive energy gathered, forming a layer of black, annihilating energy mist that enveloped the entire planet.
Seeing these observed images, Sam Li instantly confirmed his previous conjecture.
The so-called Abyss was actually the cosmic expanse beyond the Star of Wishes...
The so-called Abyss Monsters were in fact the Antimatter Legion and the lifeforms corrupted by the destructive energy...
The false sky above Teyvat—that very mist enveloping the Star of Wishes—was actually a protective barrier shielding the planet.
Under the protection of that barrier, Teyvat remained isolated from the cosmic void, spared from the ravages of interstellar war and invasions by swarms, Antimatter Legion, the Remnants of Plenty, and other foes.
Five hundred years ago, when the barrier reached its weakest point, the Antimatter Legion seized the opportunity for a massive invasion. Though they failed to breach the barrier, vast amounts of destructive energy infiltrated Teyvat, unleashing The Cataclysm. Five centuries later, the Antimatter Legion invades once more.
As the Astral Express drew ever closer to the Star of Wishes, Himeko's observations were no longer needed. As the group approached the train's windows, they could see the colossal Star of Wishes in the distance with their own eyes—surrounded by the encircling energy of destruction and swarmed by vast numbers of antimatter legions.
Dan Heng frowned slightly. "Just as the texts describe, the Star of Wishes is far larger than any ordinary planet."
March 7th panicked. "What do we do? What do we do? There are so many Antimatter Legions ahead, plus the Devastator..."
Himeko clenched her teeth. "We've been locked onto by the Antimatter Legion. There's no turning back now. Only by reaching the Star of Wishes will we have a single chance of survival..."
The Trailblazer also said earnestly, "If the Star of Wishes can withstand the Antimatter Legion, its internal strength must be formidable. There must be a powerful figure of the Emanator rank stationed there."
Pom-Pom, however, remained composed.
"Passengers, brace yourselves. I'm activating the backup power source."
With that, Pom-Pom immediately engaged the emergency power.
March 7th couldn't help but complain, "But you said we were already going as fast as possible..."
Before March 7th could finish, the Astral Express surged forward, accelerating toward the Star of Wishes with such force it nearly knocked her off her feet.
At that very moment, Nicole seemed to spot something and urgently pointed out the window.
"Himeko, Sam Li, Trailblazer, look! What is that?"
Trailblazer hurried over. "It's the Antimatter Legion..."
The words had barely left his mouth when the Astral Express shook violently.
Himeko's brows instantly furrowed. "Everyone, be careful. We're under attack by the Antimatter Legion... Mr. Sam Li, I'll leave this to you."
Sam Li's expression darkened.
"Leave it to me."
No sooner were the words spoken than Sam Li unleashed a torrent of Geo, saturating the carriages of the Astral Express. He enveloped the entire train in Geo, forming a golden protective layer.
However, the antimatter legion's offensive power still exceeded Sam Li's expectations. Even with the Geo element's protection, the Astral Express sustained considerable damage.
This wasn't due to Sam Li's Defense being insufficient. Rather, even the Devastator had set its sights on the Astral Express and launched an assault.
Dan Heng's voice grew grave. "This is bad. The Devastator is targeting us too."
The Trailblazer shouted, "Pom-Pom, speed up—!"
Through everyone's efforts, the Astral Express drew ever closer to the Star of Wishes, having already traversed the pervasive energy of destruction surrounding the planet and reached the vicinity of its atmosphere.
It seemed poised to enter the Star of Wishes.
Suddenly, the Astral Express jolted violently as if struck by something, shaking so fiercely that everyone nearly tumbled to the floor.
Billy scrambled to his feet just in time to glimpse an immense, monstrous entity outside the window—larger even than the colossus in Hollow Zero, resembling a floating asteroid in the cosmos.
"Trailblazer! Sam Li! Nicole! Look at that!"
"Oh no, it's the Devastator..."
...
No one had anticipated the Devastator's speed would be this swift.
As the Devastator prepared to strike again, Sam Li hesitated no longer, summoning Planet Befall from afar.
"I will have order!"
The words had barely left his mouth before a streak of golden light flashed across the starry sky, instantly manifesting the colossal form of the golden meteorite. It hurtled toward the Devastator at breakneck speed.
Sensing Planet Befall's radiance, the Devastator paused briefly before abandoning his assault on the Astral Express and instead charging directly toward the falling meteor.
The next instant, the meteorite collided with the Devastator, unleashing a blinding golden radiance across the cosmos.
Witnessing this, Nekomata's heart leapt with joy.
"Is he dead?"
Sam Li frowned deeply.
"It's not that simple. We must reach Wish Star immediately."
Pom-Pom solemnly announced, "Partial engine failure detected. Preparing emergency landing on Wish Star. All passengers, brace for impact."
...