Lagann surged forward, its thrusters igniting with a deep roar.
Dan Heng jogged alongside the machine, moving with calculated steps.
Simon guided the mech with wild motions, weaving around debris and taking out voidrangers with swift swings of the drill.
The first ambush came almost instantly. Two Voidrangers burst out from a dark corridor, shrieking as they lunged for the mech's exposed flank.
Simon's eyes narrowed. With a sharp pull on the levers, Lagann leapt forward, the drill spinning with a violent hum that pierced clean through the first enemy.
The second tried to leap over the wreckage, but before it even landed, a horn drill burst from Lagann's forehead, skewering the creature mid-air.
The smell of burning metal and ozone filled the cockpit.
Stelle couldn't look away, her eyes shining with a quiet fascination.
"This… is incredible," she whispered softly, gripping her bat a little tighter and taking in the mechanical marvel beneath her.
The sheer power contained in Lagann, combined with Simon's confident handling of it was hypnotic.
Simon grinned as he twisted another control, the drill retracting with a hiss before he kicked the thrusters again.
March, sitting beside Stelle, had long since stopped worrying about potential mishaps.
She glanced at Stelle, who was still gripping her bat, ready to act if anything got past Simon
"He may seem like a wild galaxy ranger at first glance, but this is why we don't judge a book by its cover." She puffed up her chest proudly, speaking as if she wasn't guilty of that very offense.
Then, without missing a beat, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Let's go, Lagann! Give it to them!"
The next wave came in heavier. Shadows crawled through the upper vents and broken walkways as more Voidrangers swarmed from every direction.
Lagann's thrusters flared brighter, propelling it upward as Simon spun the entire machine mid-flight.
The massive drill spun like a shield, deflecting incoming projectiles and shredding anything that came too close.
Stelle couldn't help but let out a quiet breath of awe.
She didn't shout or move unnecessarily, but the thrill of the action made her pulse quicken.
She traced Lagann's movements with her eyes, noting the way the drill's tip gleamed as it tore through the station's metal walls.
Dan Heng kept pace, occasionally deflecting minor voidrangers with minimal swings of his spear before they inevitably got torn to shred by Simon.
"The station isn't going to know what hit it," he muttered, his usual composed tone tinged with disbelief as he watched Simon unleash his unconventional fighting style, despite already having seen it once.
Simon's grin widened as he saw the group responding to the rhythm of the battle.
Lagann twisted sharply to avoid another collapsing structure, then steadied itself at the end of the corridor. A line of Voidrangers blocked their path.
Simon tilted his head, his grin widening.
"Time to carpool," he said.
Before anyone could question it, Lagann's arm extended outward and scooped up Dan Heng in one swift motion.
The man's arms crossed, and he let out a low sigh. "Really?"
"Don't worry," Simon said brightly. "You're practically indestructible anyway. Besides, it saves us time."
"This is absurd." Dan Heng muttered, trying not to lose his balance as he braced himself inside the cramped cockpit.
March, meanwhile, couldn't stop laughing.
"See? Just like I said! Galaxy Ranger vibes!"
Simon couldn't resist striking a heroic pose in his seat, one hand dramatically raised toward the ceiling.
"My drill is the drill that will pierce through the heavens!"
Stelle allowed herself a smile at that, the first one that felt genuine since waking.
She leaned slightly forward, eyes wide as Lagann surged into the walls of the space station, drills spinning and thrusters propelling them straight through corridors and sealed doors.
The station shook around them, alarms blaring, but she only felt an electric thrill in her chest.
The team moved in perfect synchrony.
Simon twisted and spun, dodging debris and monsters alike. March cheered. Dan Heng held on, providing occasional cover with well-timed strikes.
Stelle followed Simon's lead, her confidence growing steadily with every successful floor cleared.
Finally, they were about to reach the floor right below the master control zone. Simon guided Lagann into position where he had drilled earlier.
With a final, powerful twist, Lagann drove through the last barrier, opening a path directly into the zone.
Simon landed Lagann smoothly before letting the cockpit open with a hiss. He jumped down first, landing with a confident thud.
March followed right after, bouncing off the metal floor. Stelle came next.
The elevator descended shortly and they finally arrived at the master control zone.
Stelle's eyes were wide. The vast expanse of consoles, screens, and equipment humming with energy left her momentarily speechless.
March threw her hands high above her head.
"We made it!"
Dan Heng dropped down behind them, brushing his uniform with quiet composure.
Yet, his shoulders noticeably relaxed, a subtle lift at the corners of his lips suggesting even he couldn't quite suppress the satisfaction of a successful mission.
Simon caught it immediately.
"Danny," He said with a teasing grin. "Was that a smile I saw?"
Dan Heng didn't look at him. He simply adjusted his spear, the faintest trace of color touching his cheeks.
"It was your imagination," he replied smoothly, though the pause between his words gave it away.
Simon chuckled. "Sure it was~"
March, of course, was always ready to pounce.
"Ha! I saw it too!" she began, hands already on her hips.
But her teasing was cut short by a sharp click of heels echoing from the far corridor.
It was Himeko.
Her suitcase swung at her side as she approached, her expression caught somewhere between relief and exasperation.
"Oh, you're back," Himeko said, stopping just short of them. A faint sheen of sweat glistened on her neck as she pressed a hand over her heart.
The slight tremor in her sigh betrayed the tension she'd been holding in.
"Himeko! You won't believe it!" March exclaimed, practically launching herself forward and colliding into the woman with enough force to make her take a step back.
"We took down so many of those losers, it was amazing!"
Himeko blinked in surprise before her face softened into a fond smile. She rested one hand on March's shoulder, the other gently ruffling her hair.
"You sound like you enjoyed yourself."
March grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Well… it was kinda fun, yeah."
"I see...good job, everyone." Her gaze swept across the team, checking for injuries.
But when her eyes landed on Stelle standing closely beside Simon, her expression softened further.
She took a step closer, looking up slightly to meet the girl's eyes.
"I'm Himeko, navigator of the Astral Express," she said, extending her hand. "And you are?"
Stelle hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking to Simon before taking the offered hand. Her grip was steady, but her gaze carried a faint uncertainty.
"My name is Stelle," she said quietly. "That's...all I remember."
There was no tremor in her tone, yet the emptiness behind the admission felt heavy, like she was confessing a loss that hadn't fully set in.
Himeko didn't speak. She only studied the girl's face, as if searching for something, perhaps a trace of familiarity, or simply the courage it took to admit she didn't know who she was.
Then, Himeko smiled.
"Then we'll start with that," she said gently, giving the girl's hand one last reassuring squeeze before letting go and addressing everybody else, "Alright, come on over. Asta's been worried sick ever since Arlan came back."
March, however, clasped her hands together and beamed like a proud older sister.
"Isn't she cool?" she whispered to Stelle as Himeko walked away, who could only nod, her heart still catching up.
Before she could linger too long in thought, March grabbed her hand with a burst of energy and started skipping ahead, dragging her along.
Dan Heng followed at a calmer pace.
They made it only a few steps before March suddenly stopped. She glanced back, frowning.
Someone was missing.
Simon hadn't moved from where they'd landed. He leaned against Lagann's still-cooling frame. His smile remained, but it seemed distant and pensive.
He looked at peace. But also…somewhere else entirely.
"Simon?" March called out gently, stepping forward with her hands tucked behind her back. "What's wrong? Aren't you coming?"
Stelle and Dan Heng also shot him concerned looks.
Simon exhaled slowly, the sound half a sigh and half a chuckle.
"It's nothing," he said, lifting his head.
His eyes swept over the three of them. March's bright worry, Dan Heng's quiet scrutiny, and Stelle's gentle, searching gaze.
And for a brief moment, he let himself really feel it.
The simple fact that they cared.
"I just need a little breather," he added, voice softening. "Go on ahead. I'll catch up later."
March's frown deepened. "You sure?"
"Positive."
His reassurance didn't quite land, though. The more relaxed he tried to sound, the more it worried them.
Stelle lingered, hesitating before she took a small step forward.
"Can I… stay?" she asked quietly, her voice barely rising above the hum of Lagann's cooling vents.
Simon froze.
Then, he placed a hand over his heart and sighed.
"Don't do that," he groaned. "It's too effective. I'll die from the cuteness before the voidrangers ever get me."
March snorted behind her hand, while Dan Heng simply looked away, hiding a small smile.
But Simon's tone softened again as he crouched slightly, meeting Stelle's eyes. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, ruffling it gently.
"Not this time," he said. "Go talk with Asta and the others. They'll catch you up on everything."
Stelle hesitated, her shoulders sinking.
"Alright…"
The disappointment in her voice tugged at him, but he forced himself to keep the easy smile.
"Hey. I'll see you soon, yeah? Go befriend everyone before I get there. Makes my job easier."
That, at least, earned him a small, reluctant smile.
March looped an arm around Stelle's shoulders, steering her toward the hallway.
"Come on, newbie. Let the big guy nap before he starts snoring on the floor~"
Dan Heng gave Simon one last look that said more than words could and then turned to follow.
...
Soon, their footsteps faded down the hall, leaving Simon alone.
He tilted his head back, closing his eyes. The silence that followed wasn't empty, it was full.
He truly was exhausted.
But this wasn't exhaustion born from battle or strain. It was the good kind. The kind that came after something worth doing. The kind that told him, somewhere deep inside, that he'd gladly do it all over again.
And most importantly, he had no interest in running around doing errands until the doomsday beast attacked.
Yes, that was indeed his main motivation.
A grin crept back onto his lips, smaller this time.
He finally had the time and space to really take it all in.
Transmigration.
He chuckled under his breath. "What a joke."
Simon sprawled out across Lagann's open hatch, one leg hanging lazily over the side as he stared at the ceiling above. "Still, not bad at all."
His thoughts drifted, recalling what little he knew about this universe: Belobog, the frozen city clinging to hope; the vast fleets of the Xianzhou alliance; the dreamscape of Penacony; and far away, the depths of Amphoreus.
Each one sparked something inside him. A flicker of that familiar fire that refused to be extinguished.
That same fire that had once pierced through galaxies.
He removed his glasses, the very same one Simon wore in the final battle against the anti-spiral.
Spiral power stirred within him and the glasses shifted, reshaping itself to its original form.
The process felt natural and effortless, just like breathing.
He smiled faintly at the sensation.
So how exactly was he able to wield this power that shouldn't even exist in this universe so proficiently?
He had a theory, of course.
Spiral Power came from the will to evolve, to move forward, to defy stagnation. He'd already died once and lived again in a reality that shouldn't be possible.
After experiencing something like that, what could possibly be impossible?
His limits had been broken once already.
Why not break them again?
Freedom.
That was what this power really was.
And it grew with him, endlessly, eagerly, feeding on his resolve and amplifying itself in turn. It was a self-sustaining cycle, an ever-rising spiral, a perpetual motion engine born from belief.
Which was also…the problem.
Simon's expression darkened slightly as he leaned back against Lagann's hull.
If it continued to grow unchecked, that same energy could spiral out of control. It would build and build, until it reached the threshold of the Spiral Nemesis, consuming everything in existence.
Even now, the idea made his stomach twist a little. The thought of everything vanishing into a cosmic crunch because of him wasn't exactly comforting.
He wasn't there yet—thankfully—but it was a reminder that evolution, for all its beauty, came with its own kind of danger.
Still, the notion of restraining himself made him laugh quietly.
"Like hell I'm stopping."
He wasn't Lordgenome, running from his own potential. He wasn't the Anti-Spiral, cowering before infinity.
He wasn't afraid of his own power and he certainly wasn't planning to waste it.
That didn't mean he planned to rule the stars or bring chaos to the universe or anything.
He wasn't evil. But he wasn't pretending to be righteous either.
He was human, greedy, curious and alive.
And for him, that was enough.
"So what if I want a harem of breathtaking beauties and a few million years to enjoy it?" he said with utter seriousness, staring at the ceiling. "It's not like I'm asking for too much."
He caught himself laughing again, shaking his head. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
The Spiral energy dimmed around him as he reverted the glasses back into their star-shaped form, setting them on his forehead.
He closed his eyes and let his body sink into Lagann's frame.
There was no need to worry.
If entropy stood in his way, he'd evolve beyond it. If the universe built a wall, he'd drill through it. That was the essence of who he was.
That was the meaning of the Spiral.
His thoughts settled into one simple truth, something that had defined him once, and would define him again.
Go big, or go home.
A serene smile graced his lips as he gradually dozed off.
...
The researchers in the master control zone moved about quietly, their voices hushed and footsteps light out of respect for the man asleep inside the mech resting in the corner.
By now, word of the Astral Express crew's daring rescue had spread through the station.
Unbeknownst to Simon, every ounce of credit had been laid squarely at his feet.
Everyone knew about the mysterious machine and the man who had piloted it through destruction itself to save them.
Now and then, passing researchers would steal a glance in his direction, some out of curiosity, others out of awe.
A few even tried to approach for a closer look, but one warning glare from Stelle and her bat was enough to scatter them like rats.
Asta eventually made it official. "Anyone who disturbs him," she had announced, "will have their salary deducted for a year."
That settled the matter instantly.
When all the work was finally done and the station began to quiet, Stelle found herself wandering back to the mech.
The soft hum of Lagann's systems was oddly soothing, and Simon's presence—even in sleep—felt reassuring, like a constant star in an unfamiliar sky.
She climbed up carefully, making sure not to jostle him, and settled in beside him.
For a while, she just listened to the rhythm of his breathing and the gentle vibration of the machine beneath them.
Then her eyes began to droop, and before long, she drifted off too, curled up like a kitten beside the man who had unknowingly become her anchor.
But peace never lasted long.
The first tremor came softly, like a pulse running through the metal floor.
Simon's brow furrowed, but he didn't move.
The second came harder, rattling the nearby tables and sending a few scattered tools clattering to the ground
He cracked one eye open, sighing. "Guess nap time's over."
Simon stood and stretched, rolling his shoulders until his joints popped. Lagann's systems hummed faintly as if waking alongside him.
He was about to step out when he noticed movement beside him.
"Hm?" His gaze softened. "When did you get here?"
The girl beside him stirred, blinking drowsily as she rubbed her eyes.
"Simon?" she mumbled groggily. "Is it morning already?"
He let out a quiet sigh, the corners of his mouth twitching despite himself. Equal parts exasperation and fondness filled his chest.
Did this raccoon…imprint on him like a baby bird?