Caelus then looked at Bronya. "So quick question, how did you know all of this and how did you even get here".
Bronya looked at him. "I will tell what I learn".
Caelus raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued, but he didn't push further. He had more pressing matters at hand than interrogating Bronya for details she wasn't ready to give. Still, his instincts told him there was more to her than met the eye.
"Alright, but you owe us answers later," Caelus said, his tone firm. "We're all in this together now."
Bronya gave him a short nod, though her face remained guarded. "I'll tell you what I can when the time is right. But for now, we need to focus on stopping Cocolia."
The group walked in silence for a few moments, each of them lost in their own thoughts. March, typically the chatterbox, was unusually quiet, seemingly lost in the weight of the situation. Dan Heng kept his eyes forward, analyzing their surroundings with a calculated precision. Seele remained as enigmatic as ever, her purple eyes flickering occasionally to Caelus, but she said nothing.
Sampo, ever the opportunist, broke the silence with a grin. "So, how's the journey treating you all so far? I know it's been a rough start, but hey, the fun is just beginning."
Caelus shot him a look, his patience thinning. "You have a funny way of showing concern, Sampo. What exactly is your angle in all of this? We're putting our lives on the line here, and you just seem to be enjoying the chaos."
Sampo shrugged nonchalantly. "Chaos is just part of life, my friend. And besides, a little chaos is the perfect environment for opportunities to arise. Trust me, I've got a vested interest in seeing this through."
Caelus wasn't sure if he should trust Sampo, but for now, he had no choice. With everything going on, they needed all the help they could get.
"You better not be leading us into a trap," March muttered, clearly still not trusting Sampo completely.
Sampo only gave her a wink, not even remotely fazed by her suspicion. "I wouldn't dream of it. But I do have a few tricks up my sleeve that might just help us survive whatever Cocolia throws our way."
Caelus didn't respond to that. He didn't have time to waste on Sampo's games, but he knew that the path ahead would be treacherous—he'd have to keep his wits sharp and watch everyone's back, including Sampo's.
The group arrived at the entrance to a large underground chamber, a heavy door standing between them and whatever lay beyond. Bronya stepped forward, looking at the door with a sense of purpose.
"This is where it gets dangerous," she said, her voice low. "Cocolia's trying to access the core beneath the city. If we don't stop her now, everything will be lost."
Caelus glanced at her, then at the rest of the group. He could feel the tension building, the weight of their mission pressing down on him. There was no turning back now.
"Let's finish this," he said, stepping forward to the door. "Together."
As they made their way inside, the air seemed to grow thicker, the atmosphere heavier. Whatever awaited them inside, they knew one thing for certain: they were walking straight into the heart of danger.
March then spoke. "Hey let's no move so fast, don't you think we need a bit more fire power".
Natasha walked as she looked at them. "Fire power you say, I think he can help".
Seele looked at her as she chuckled. "Wow, do you think he will help us".
Sampo them spoke. "I think that robot is too busy with his calculations and protection Clara and his keeping everyone in the underground then helping us".
Caelus then looked at them. "Ok I think I am missing something but who are we talking about".
Bronya then spoke. "They are talking about Svarog".
March looked at her. "Who?".
Bronya sighed, clearly frustrated by the lack of context. "Svarog is an advanced AI and the protector of Belobog. He was built to oversee the defense of the city and protect the people of the underground from any threat. He's not exactly the type to jump into battle with us, but he's an invaluable asset when it comes to firepower and strategy."
Caelus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, you think this AI can help us take down Cocolia? I've heard of machines like that, but I've never dealt with one that could actually fight."
Seele, her arms crossed, added her input. "If it's Svarog, he's not just any machine. His calculations are precise, and his understanding of the situation is... frighteningly accurate. But getting him involved will be tricky. He doesn't simply follow orders."
"Great," March muttered, "so we're dealing with an AI with a mind of its own. What's next, we have to convince him to join our cause?"
Sampo chuckled at the group's reactions. "You might not have to convince him. Svarog already knows what's at stake. The problem is, he's got his own priorities—protecting the city and its inhabitants. If he decides we're a threat, we might have more problems than we bargained for."
Caelus let out a sigh. "Sounds like a real piece of work. Alright, so where do we find him?"
Bronya looked at him with a slightly pained expression. "He's located deep within the city, in the central control room. It's heavily guarded, and he's not exactly easy to access. But if we can get to him and convince him, he could be the firepower we need."
March clenched her fists. "So we break into the heart of Belobog and talk to a superpowered AI to get him to fight on our side? Sounds simple enough."
Sampo smirked. "It's not going to be easy, but you have me, remember? I can help with getting past the security systems. Just leave that part to me."
Caelus exhaled sharply. "Alright, we'll do this. But we need to be smart about it. Svarog might be our best bet, but we can't afford to waste time or make unnecessary noise."
With that, the group turned and began making their way through the underground, towards the heart of Belobog and the AI that might be their key to stopping Cocolia.
As they walked, Caelus couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something far bigger than they realized. The weight of the situation pressed on his chest, but he couldn't afford to let it show. Not now.
"Stay sharp, everyone," he muttered. "This is just the beginning."
The group walked to another part of the underground, as Caelus looked at Dan Heng.
Caelus looked at him and spoke. "I am new to the astral express, but it all you guys mission this level of crazy".
Dan Heng looked at him. "Yes and No".
Caelus raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Care to elaborate?"
Dan Heng sighed, clearly weary of explaining their chaotic journey yet again. "The Astral Express is no stranger to danger. We travel through the Universe, encountering worlds in peril, and facing enemies far more dangerous than most can comprehend. But there's a certain... unpredictability when it comes to our missions. You never know what's coming next, and it's often messier than anyone expects."
March, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a smirk. "But it's never boring, that's for sure."
Caelus nodded. "I guess that much is clear. I didn't expect things to get this intense so soon."
Dan Heng gave him a sharp look, his usual calm demeanor returning. "In this line of work, 'intense' is just the baseline. You learn to adapt or you burn out."
Seele, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her voice tinged with amusement. "Sounds like you're already fitting in. Not everyone can handle the wild ride the Astral Express gives. But you've got guts, Caelus. That'll take you far."
Caelus gave her a half-smile, trying to shrug off the pressure. "I guess I'll have to keep up if I want to survive."
The group continued walking, the weight of their mission settling on their shoulders. The underground city of Belobog was no stranger to secrecy, and with Svarog's help potentially on the horizon, the stakes had only gotten higher. With every step, Caelus felt like he was diving deeper into a labyrinth of political intrigue and danger, but he couldn't back down now—not with so many lives at risk.
As they approached their destination, Caelus looked around at the faces of his companions. They weren't just allies—they were a team, and their survival depended on each other. Whatever lay ahead, he knew they'd face it together.
"So," Caelus said, breaking the silence, "what's the plan when we get to Svarog? How do we convince him to join our fight?"
Bronya, her expression serious, answered, "Svarog isn't the kind to join anyone's fight without a good reason. We'll need to appeal to his sense of duty. He's not heartless, but he's pragmatic. If we can show him that Cocolia's actions threaten Belobog as a whole, he might be willing to lend us his power."
March tilted her head. "So we're going in with a good argument and some firepower. Got it."
Dan Heng nodded. "It's not just about fighting—it's about strategy. We need to be prepared for the worst and the best. Svarog's not easy to manipulate, so we need to be careful."
Caelus took a deep breath, mentally steeling himself. "Alright. Let's get this done."
With that, they continued their journey into the heart of Belobog, determined to reach Svarog and face whatever challenges awaited them.
Caelus looked at Dan Heng as she spoke. "So what even is the Astral Express really".
Dan Heng looked at him as he spoke. "The Astral Express is a large train that serves as one of the main settings of Honkai: Star Rail. It was created by Akivili, the Aeon of Trailblaze, and used to transport THEM and the Nameless across the galaxy. After Akivili's disappearance, it fell into disrepair and eventually crash-landed onto an unnamed planet. Himeko discovered the wreckage and repaired the Express, becoming its navigator and forming a new Astral Express Crew. Their current goal is to retrace Akivili's steps, repairing the star rail THEY laid down thousands of years ago and sealing the Stellarons threatening the galaxy.
Currently, two Astral Express cars can be accessed in-game: the Parlor Car and the Passenger Cabin. A buffet car has been mentioned, but has not been seen.".
March then explain. "The story goes like this".
"The Astral Express was created by Akivili using unknown methods. Legends claim that Akivili's heart powers the core of the Express, although Himeko has found no evidence to support that claim.[1]
Shortly after the fall of Akivili, a loyal group of Nameless took THEIR trailblazing legacy upon themselves. However, the star rail became obstructed as Stellarons began spreading across the galaxy, preventing the Express from running. It eventually fell into disrepair and was abandoned.
Some time later, the Express crash-landed onto an unnamed planet, where it was discovered by Himeko.[Note 1] She successfully repaired the train after many years and began retracing Akivili's steps through the universe, eventually recruiting Welt, Dan Heng, March 7th, and the Trailblazer to the Astral Express crew. The Express is currently traveling on a route that Akivili once embarked on, with its final destination being THEIR home world, Pegana.
As the Astral Express crew finished their adventure in Penacony, Welt explained that the Express gets fuel by converting "Trailblaze" into the energy it needs to run. As long as trailblazing expeditions continue without interruption, the Express receives a constant flow of energy akin to a perpetual motion machine, but since their last few expeditions were longer than anticipated, they only had enough fuel for two more warp jumps. To solve this problem, the Memokeeper Black Swan suggested they travel to a world that even Akivili had never reached — the Eternal Land, Amphoreus. If they could lay down a new stretch of the star rail to Amphoreus, the Express would never have to worry about fuel again".
Caelus thank the system to help him process this. "So it basically the car of the dead god".
Dan Heng gave Caelus a thoughtful look, his eyes narrowing as he processed the comparison. "Not exactly. It's more like a vessel of hope. While it's true that the Express was built by someone long gone, its purpose is far from grim. It's a means of exploring the unknown, retracing lost paths, and keeping the stars connected. The Express is a symbol of adventure, of trying to right wrongs in a universe that's become fractured. It's not about death—it's about carrying on, no matter how impossible it may seem."
March, ever the optimist, added with a grin, "Yeah, and it's the best ride you'll ever have! Nothing else like it in the galaxy. Plus, there's food."
Caelus looked at them both, processing the new perspective. He had always thought of trains as mundane, limited to terrestrial travel, but the Astral Express was something else entirely—an embodiment of purpose, a thread connecting countless worlds and possibilities.
"Sounds like the kind of thing you'd expect to find in a legend," Caelus remarked, more to himself than anyone. "A train that carries on after its creators are long gone, trying to fulfill a destiny they set in motion."
"Exactly," Dan Heng agreed. "But the crew is more than just passengers. We're the ones keeping the journey alive. Every time we set out, it's a step toward something bigger. We're trying to fix what was broken and prevent the collapse of everything Akivili left behind."
Caelus's mind raced with the weight of their mission. Retracing the steps of a being who had left such an indelible mark on the galaxy was no small task, and the idea that the Express was a part of that legacy was both humbling and daunting.
"Alright, I think I'm starting to get it," Caelus said, his tone steady but contemplative. "But what about the Stellarons? What's the deal with them? Why are they so important?"
Dan Heng exhaled slowly, clearly bracing himself to explain a more complicated part of their journey. "Stellarons are anomalies that threaten the stability of the universe. They're powerful, dangerous, and tend to destabilize the worlds they infect. Our mission is to track them down, seal them, and prevent them from spreading any further. It's a delicate balance—keeping the galaxy from unraveling while trying to understand why they exist in the first place."
March added, her eyes glinting with determination, "The Stellarons are more than just threats—they're mysteries. And if we can solve them, we might be able to save not just the worlds we visit, but everything connected to them."
Caelus nodded, his thoughts swirling. The more he learned, the more questions arose. But at least now, he felt like he had a clearer understanding of the stakes. He wasn't just on a random ride through the stars; he was part of something much bigger than himself.
"Alright, then," Caelus said, taking a deep breath. "Let's finish what we started. Wherever this journey takes us, I'm in."
With that, the group continued their walk through the underground, ready to face whatever came next in their ongoing adventure, with the Astral Express as their guiding light in the darkness of the unknown.
To be continued
Yeah this Ch was more of exposition dump them anything, it was more for people who came to this fanfic with little knowledge of star rail next Ch will be more exciting