Honkai: Star Rail — Kamen Rider!

Asdana System.

Among the countless star systems in the galaxy, this one held particular renown—thanks to Penacony the illustrious "Planet of Festivities", home to the galaxy's grandest celebrations.

Naturally, a planet of such stature drew covetous eyes from every faction in the galaxy.

Yet, despite countless desires, none had dared truly intervene in Penacony's affairs.

For the family managing this planet—the influential Harmony Family—commanded formidable respect across the cosmos.

Sunday was the family's representative here. Yet at this moment, Sunday seemed lost deep in contemplation.

"I heard you've been looking for me?"

The voice from the window drew Sunday's gaze instinctively.

He turned, unsurprised, seeing precisely who he'd sought: the raven staring intently back at him.

The raven, of course, was none other than Dreammaster—head of the Oak Family, and Penacony's true overseer.

"So, what business do you have with me?" Dreammaster inquired.

"It's both important and unimportant," Sunday replied cryptically, "but deeply concerns the matter we both wish to achieve."

Dreammaster seemed to instantly grasp his implication, fluttering swiftly to Sunday's ear. "What is it?"

"I stumbled upon a record in our family archives—a meeting with someone of particular interest."

Sunday summoned data dating back over seven centuries.

"A scholar from the Intelligentsia Guild once visited our family to discuss the birth of Aeons."

As Sunday revealed the scholar's name—Serus Zieltworth—his eyes fell pointedly upon the raven perched upon his shoulder.

"You have nothing you'd like to say about that?"

"How remarkable you found a record that was meant to be erased," Dreammaster chuckled, mildly surprised but evidently unconcerned.

"I merely shared some embryonic theories with him. Such ideas should be commonplace within the Intelligentsia by now."

Sunday paused thoughtfully. "Are you certain nothing sensitive leaked?"

If their plans became public knowledge, their entire family—this colossal behemoth—would instantly stand against them. As dissident voices, they'd face hostility from every corner of their house.

"Relax," Dreammaster said reassuringly. "I only mentioned some hypothetical notions. But Serus sought to adapt our path to Propagation."

Dreammaster chuckled softly again. "Admittedly, his idea wasn't bad—pooling the entirety of subordinate resources to achieve his ambition."

"But he overlooked something fundamental: the path was already laid out plainly. Overthinking would only lead him astray."

"Unless, of course, he planned to create a subject and abandon it entirely to independent growth—but is that possible?"

Dreammaster drifted to the window, gazing upon the masses below. "His ultimate aim was to implant his own consciousness into it, to seize divinity for himself. Thus, his plan was doomed from the very start."

"So..." Sunday's brow furrowed, "what was the final outcome?"

"Obviously, he accomplished nothing. All he provided was experimental data for us."

"What if the Genius Society intervened?"

Dreammaster looked genuinely surprised now. "The Genius Society? They got involved in this?"

Sunday glanced at the news. "They won't openly interfere, but they'll quietly observe from the sidelines."

[Zieltworth discusses 'Entropy Loss Syndrome' with Genius Society #81, Ruan Mei.]

The next headline read:

[Genius Society #81 Ruan Mei's laboratory breached for exactly 0.001 seconds; galaxy-wide hacker investigation launched.]

Even in that fraction of a second, an inorganic lifeform could have acquired all it needed. That such an elite Genius Society member's security was penetrated by an anonymous hacker was patently absurd.

The last hacker who successfully breached the Genius Society's firewall had joined the Galaxy Rangers. Thus, clearly, this elite member must've intentionally lowered her defenses.

Considering Ruan Mei's publicly known ambition—To research life sciences, creating and observing the birth and growth of Aeons—the implication was obvious.

She, too, was quietly watching this fascinating experiment unfold.

Realizing this, Dreammaster laughed freely. "Ahahaha, it seems we're not alone in coveting an Aeon's power."

Sunday refuted sharply, gripping his fist: "It's not power I'm after."

"I only want to create a better world."

A perpetual utopia—without pain, disaster, poverty, hunger, disease, or war. But such a vision required rules, and the power to establish those rules.

After Sunday's declaration, a short silence fell.

"Of course," Dreammaster finally spoke. "This is our shared ideal."

Sunday turned toward Dreammaster's perch, only to find him already vanished.

"Robin… you'll understand me, right…?"

Sunday gazed into the vast galaxy, perhaps seeing his younger sister among the distant stars.

Robin was so innocent, so pure, perfectly embodying all the world's goodness.

She scarcely had any negative feelings at all, carrying only reverence and love for all living beings.

Robin would surely understand what her brother sought to do.

Surely...

---

"Hey, hey, hey! Robin, quick—look at this!"

Lying pale upon her hospital bed, Robin showed mild exasperation hearing Hoshigaki Sora's overly excited voice.

Sora proudly displayed a bracelet fitted perfectly on his wrist—its heart-shaped patterns intertwining elegantly with the Firefly design, glowing softly in shades of azure-green.

It truly was one of the finest accessories in the entire galaxy.

Robin stared at his wrist intently.

Yet, why does seeing it leave me feeling strangely unsettled?

"I don't think it really suits you…" She turned her gaze towards the sky outside the window. "How about we go to Jewelry Star later to pick something better?"

"Hey now, taste is subjective. I think it looks great," Sora chuckled, lowering his sleeve.

"Did you come all this way just to show off your new bracelet?" Robin's tone rose slightly.

"Nah, I heard you were awake, so I came to check how you were feeling."

Robin's irritation dissolved instantly upon hearing Sora's concern.

"I'm alright. Just a bit weak from blood loss. But with this rate of recovery, I'll need to stay on this planet for a while longer." Her mood dipped slightly. "Even the Power of Harmony inside me feels weak."

"It's like I truly can't even defend myself now."

"Don't worry," Sora smiled warmly. "I'll be right here with you."

Robin snapped her gaze toward him instantly, startled.

"What? Why the look? You came here with me. I can't exactly abandon you when it's time to leave."

Robin quickly restored her composure. "Oh, I thought…"

"Hmm? Thought what?"

"Nothing," Robin smiled softly, and they continued chatting.

Sora inquired gently about her physical and mental state, worried she'd suffer psychological scars from her kidnapping.

Robin reassured him lightly: "After everything we went through on Promia, do you really think a little kidnapping would affect me?"

Reflecting briefly, Sora agreed. Enduring planetary collapse, annihilation, and rebirth—after such events, minor troubles hardly registered anymore.

While they spoke, Robin's phone buzzed with multiple messages, many from Anna Bergalo, expressing deep concern following the lockdown of Zieltworth.

One message stood out starkly:

[Order placed.]

Ordered what?

Robin scrolled upwards, discovering the item in question—a Pioneer-class starship priced at tens of millions of credits.

"She actually bought it?" Robin was astonished, having assumed Anna's earlier comment was idle talk.

She quickly replied to Anna, assuring her:

[We're fine now.]

Robin turned toward Sora to share the surprising news, when suddenly, the hospital door burst open.

Xiyi urgently interrupted: "Sora-senpai! Hurry, look outside! Something's terribly wrong!"

Robin and Sora stared at him, surprised, then looked beyond into the hallway, noticing Iron Cavalry troops crowded there.

Were they eavesdropping all this time?

Sora's mouth twitched, quickly turning his attention outside—his expression growing instantly grave.

A light drizzle was falling—yet, impossibly, droplets ascended from the ground toward the sky, gathering steadily above, near the blazing sun.

Unease gripped Sora, his gaze sharpening upon the distant sun, where a faint silhouette emerged.

There, against the solar blaze, stood a white-haired woman, clearly visible was a stark, fresh wound upon her wrist—blood once flowing vividly from it.

The image instantly conjured memories of a familiar book cover in Sora's mind—featuring this very woman with a colossal figure looming behind her.

Her name surfaced clearly:

"Titania…"

Republic of Glamoth's, The Empress of the Iron Cavalry had awakened…