Honkai Star Rail: Survive. Adapt. Overcome.

Fersman spoke without raising his voice, but not a single word trembled.

"They came through the main entrance. They were accompanied by several robots—similar to the ones you see in Svarog's settlement, but more advanced. They said it was a routine inspection and that, from that moment on, the mines were under external management. When some workers refused, they released the robots. We had to evacuate."

Stelle looked at the blocked entrance. Several metal supports had been cut and replaced with makeshift barricades built from tech scraps. A drone patrolled the area overhead, emitting low hums every few seconds.

"How many are still inside?" She asked.

"A dozen, maybe less. Some tried to fight back, others just didn't make it out in time." Fersman shook his head. "There was no room for negotiation."

March tightened the string of her bow in silence, loading an ice arrow out of habit.

"And what about Wildfire?" Seele asked. Her scythe hung at her side, ready.

"They split up. Half went to defend the clinic, the other half tried to retake the backup generator. We lost contact with them twenty minutes ago."

"Who's leading the invaders?" She asked, still scanning the perimeter.

"A guy with dark sunglasses. Didn't give his name. Said he was an internal security supervisor, had direct authorization, and that any attempt to resist would be met with more… severe measures."

"Sounds like a real asshole." Seele muttered, frowning.

Fersman gestured toward one of the lookout points.

"Some of the drones are armed with high-powered rounds. A few miners were seriously injured."

"Oh! Were those the ones we ran into on the way here?"

Fersman nodded at March's words.

"The mine entrances seem to be sealed off. More robots and personnel have arrived. The Guard hasn't shown up yet, and there's no sign of Svarog's robots either…"

"Don't worry, the three of us should be more than enough to scare off this bunch of idiots."

Stelle frowned and turned to her teammates.

"We move fast. If there are hostages, getting them out comes first. Retaking the mine can wait until reinforcements arrive. No matter how capable we are, we'll get worn out if we drag the fight out too long, so stealth is our top priority."

March nocked the arrow, icy energy gathering at the tip.

"They won't know what hit 'em! Super Spy March 7th is on the scene!"

Seele raised an eyebrow and turned to Stelle.

"March has been watching a lot of spy movies with Aleph lately." She said with a slight pout.

Who even picks spy flicks over pure action movies? Weirdos.

....

March was the first to slip in, sliding down the icy ramp she had created to soften their descent. Seele followed shortly after, and Stelle came in last.

The thud of her boots against the metal floor echoed more than necessary.

"Could you stomp any louder?" Seele muttered, rubbing her forehead.

"I'm not a feather, what do you want me to do?" Stelle shot back, stifling a yawn and brushing off her coat.

"Let me finish freezing the slide next time?" March added with exasperation. "This is supposed to be a stealth mission, not one of your weird cookie heists."

Stelle froze, taking a few steps back in shock.

"Wait—how do you know about that? I thought my disguise was flawless!"

"Stelle, wearing a top hat, a red cape, a monocle, and a fake mustache isn't exactly… subtle or clever." March struggled to find the right words as she stared at Stelle's baffled expression.

"Damn you, Aleph…" Stelle muttered through gritted teeth, recalling who had suggested that disguise. "I will have my revenge!"

Seele quickly smacked her on the head.

"You're being way too loud. You can think about your revenge after we're done here. For now, focus."

Stelle pouted as she rubbed the spot where Seele had hit her.

"Hmph."

************

They moved along the tunnel wall, weaving between loose cables and half-installed ventilation systems left behind by the workers. As they descended, the sounds ahead suggested they were getting close to the main chamber.

They stopped at the first lit fork. Two armed employees were patrolling with flashlights and rifles.

Seele raised a hand and made a signal neither of the others understood, letting out a frustrated sigh before creeping over and whispering instructions.

March slid a thin sheet of frost across the floor, forcing the two men to walk more cautiously. Seele, crouched between broken-down machines, moved like a shadow. When one of them got too close, she grabbed the back of his neck and slammed him into the wall. The other barely turned before Stelle was already behind him. A quick blow to the base of his skull, and he dropped like a sack of bricks.

"That's it?" March whispered. "I thought they'd be harder to take down."

"Don't expect too much. We're just that amazing." Stelle said with a shrug. "Also, congrats—you just jinxed us."

"Ugh, that's just a weird superstition. Not real." March crossed her arms. "Just something people say in those cheesy movies."

"Didn't you say the exact same thing to Aleph back when we first arrived on the Luofu?"

"…Nope. Must be your overactive imagination."

Before they could keep bickering, Seele interrupted them with an annoyed grunt.

"Can we please save the chat for later? We've got more important things to do." She said, motioning toward the unconscious employees.

She crouched and started tearing strips from the first guard's uniform.

"Help me with the other one."

While Seele gagged them with cloth scraps, March created makeshift shackles.

Six-phase ice snapped around their wrists and ankles.

At that temperature, trying to break it without tools was not only pointless—it was dangerous.

"I'll stash them behind those rocks, out of sight. I doubt anyone will notice before the next patrol. Still, we'd better move fast," Seele said, dragging them into a corner.

Stelle was already ahead, nearly rounding a bend without checking.

"Stelle!" Both girls whispered at once.

She stopped with an impatient scowl.

"What now? First you want me to be sneaky, then fast. Make up your minds already." She grumbled, looking back at them. "If Aleph were here, we'd be racing to see who could knock out more of these guys."

"Well, bad news—you're not with Aleph. Get used to it." Seele said, arms crossed.

Stelle huffed, but stayed behind her.

At least for now.

**********

"Wait here a few minutes." Gepard said, adjusting his left glove. "I remember Oleg mentioning a hidden Wildfire supply point nearby. I might be able to find something useful there."

Aleph nodded without a word, silently watching the captain disappear down the alleyways.

A breath escaped his lips.

His eyes widened as he brought a hand to his chest, gasping and clenching his fist, confused by what was happening.

Burroughs' voice echoed in his mind.

[Master…] There was an unmistakable tinge of sorrow in the cold voice, something Aleph might have noticed if he weren't gritting his teeth against the sharp pain coursing through him.

[These are the consequences of your actions. I warned you not to overdo it. I warned you there would be serious repercussions if you kept absorbing things at that pace without letting your body adapt.]

Aleph's brow furrowed.

[If it had only been life energy, you'd be experiencing a power surge—maybe some serious internal damage, sure, but nothing that couldn't heal in a month or two with your enhanced vitality… But absorbing another Stellaron? What were you thinking?!]

He gasped again.

A chill flooded his body, as if every ounce of warmth was draining away.

With one hand, he pulled down the collar of his shirt beneath his coat.

From the center of his chest, glowing golden cracks were spreading across his skin.

[Caelus and Stelle were designed to contain one Stellaron—only to contain it, mind you. Meanwhile, you not only absorb them, you actively draw on their energy. Do you even know what you took in? Did you stop for even a second to think about the consequences of your actions? Or were you really arrogant enough to think nothing would happen just because you wanted it that way?]

Aleph remained silent, unable to answer.

[You're on borrowed time, Master. You'd better find a method of survival—and fast. For now, I'll try to suppress the corruption, but be warned: this will only dull the pain you're feeling. It's not a cure. I'm sorry to say this is all I can do at the moment.]

Aleph gave a small nod as warmth slowly returned to his body. The golden fractures on his chest receded slightly but didn't disappear.

He heard footsteps approaching. Quickly, he straightened up and adjusted his clothes to avoid looking suspicious.

With a quiet sigh, he put on the same calm expression as before.

"I found it." Gepard said, holding up a gray storage case. When he opened it, he showed Aleph the contents, five cylindrical drones, each about the size of a bottle, rested inside. "These are dispersal explosive drones. Not strong enough to cause structural damage to the mine, but more than enough to knock someone out within a two to five meter radius. And quiet enough not to alert others nearby when they go off."

"Mmm, they'll be perfect." Aleph said with a nod.

"That's the idea. We'll go in through the main entrance. Chances are, they've posted fixed guards there. If we take out the front line without raising the alarm, we can slip down to the lower levels without drawing reinforcements. I don't want to risk a collapse or a panic." Gepard frowned, taking a closer look at Aleph. "You okay? You're looking pretty pale."

"I'm fine. I just haven't had breakfast yet, and I guess it's catching up to me." Aleph replied, shaking his head.

Gepard nodded. It was hard to tell whether Aleph was being honest, but unfortunately, the current situation left little time to investigate his companion's condition.

"Here." He said, pulling a chocolate bar from his pocket. "Lynx gave me this. It's not much, but at least your stomach won't be completely empty."

"Thanks, Geppy." Aleph said, devouring the chocolate in two bites.

"…Please don't ever call me that again."

Aleph inspected one of the drones curiously.

He actually liked it a lot. He bet Stelle would too.

Without saying a word, he placed it back in the case.

"We'll be inside in a few minutes." Gepard added. "Get ready."

Aleph nodded once again.

*************

The drones were a bit louder than Aleph would have liked, but they got the job done. One by one, the sentries stationed at the main entrance of the mine went down after a brief explosion followed by a high-pitched whine. Some barely managed to let out a groan before collapsing.

Gepard moved forward calmly, checking their pulses.

"Stunned. Just as expected." He murmured. "We've got a few minutes before one of them wakes up."

Aleph walked behind him, already holding a bat of ice in his hands.

"The core of the operation should be deeper inside." Gepard explained. "But we don't know if there are more defenses or if someone higher up is overseeing the activity. I'll need you to cover me while I—"

There was a hint of doubt in his tone upon seeing Aleph's condition hadn't improved much.

"I'll do it. Don't worry." Aleph interrupted. "Go on. I'll take care of any stragglers."

Gepard nodded, letting out a quiet sigh.

...

They descended through the tunnels at a steady pace—not too fast, not too slow.

Before long, Gepard stopped Aleph from moving further after hearing the groans and yawns of a nearby patrol.

Aleph reacted instantly.

A burst of compressed air swept through the hallway, slamming the three workers against the wall with a sharp thud. One of them tried to get up, but Aleph pinned him down precisely with a foot to the diaphragm.

"There's no need to kill them." Gepard said as he caught up. "And leaving them unconscious could backfire. We might've been able to get answers out of them."

Aleph shrugged indifferently.

"I'm not planning to kill them. But I'm not going to be gentle either." He said, pulling something out of one of their pockets.

...

Aleph and Gepard moved quickly through the final stretch of the central tunnel, crossing catwalks, cargo platforms, and open ducts that showed signs of recent activity.

Gepard came to a stop and looked up with a thoughtful expression.

"Aleph, how many did Natasha and Oleg say they saw?"

Aleph destroyed a few robots before answering.

"Twenty-six according to Natasha. Not counting the twelve she and Oleg neutralized."

"When we ran into them before you showed up, I think we encountered around twenty-four or twenty-five. By now we've taken down close to sixty-seven." Gepard said.

His fingers were still slightly tense from the last impact.

"Something doesn't add up. How many of them are there?"

Aleph handed him the radio he'd taken from one of the bodies.

After a few seconds of static, a male voice came through on the other end.

"Remember, your performance will be evaluated. Whoever secures the most operational zones in the shortest time will see their bonus increased. Follow directives, and the mine will be the first step toward expansion."

Another voice, further away, answered with enthusiasm.

"Reinforcements arriving from the north sector. Let's get that raise!"

The radio sparked and let out a sharp whine before going dead. Gepard glanced at Aleph, who scratched the back of his neck a bit sheepishly.

"Oops. Might've gotten a little damaged after I threw those guys around with the wind."

There was no need to say anything. They both resumed moving without delay.

**********

When they reached their destination, the first thing they heard was the metallic clashing of an ongoing fight. Then Seele's voice.

"Who the hell is this guy…?"

Stelle, Seele, and March were taking cover behind a pile of materials, facing off against a squad of tactical robots and newly deployed Aurumaton units. Standing in front of them, dressed in a black uniform, was Skott with his arms spread and a crooked grin.

"Finally! I finally get to take it out on you! They demoted me, humiliated me, took EVERYTHING from me! But now, you'll pay!"

Stelle blinked, confused.

"Who the hell is—?"

Skott's face turned red with bubbling rage.

"Don't play dumb! Aurum Alley! Luofu! The vendors! The bet!"

Stelle snapped her fingers, a look of recognition dawning on her face.

"Ohh. You were Snoopy, right?"

Skott's face flushed even deeper as veins bulged on his forehead. He looked on the verge of exploding.

"It was Skott! Lyndon Skott! And I'll tear you to pieces, you damn raccoon girl!"

"What did Stelle do to this guy to make him snap like that? And why's he calling her a raccoon girl?" Seele muttered, puzzled, watching as Stelle calmly polished her bat using part of her white shirt.

"Hehe, if I were you, I'd be asking what she didn't do." March replied dryly, running a hand through her hair. "And about the raccoon thing… well, Stelle's hygiene isn't exactly top-tier."

"Lies! That's slander!" Stelle shouted, glaring intensely at March. "My hygiene is perfect."

"…You used to bathe once a month." March said blankly before her expression shifted to a more thoughtful one. "Now that I think about it, didn't you start showering more often, cleaning your room, and using perfume after Aleph boarded the Astral Express?"

"T-That's…"

March snapped her fingers like she'd just had a revelation.

"Ah! And now that I remember, I think I heard you talking to Himeko the other day. Something about trying to emulate mature charm, wasn't it?"

Under Seele's curious stare, Stelle dropped to her knees, staring blankly at the ceiling, as if asking what the point of life was if it was just suffering.

She recognized that look—she'd seen it once in her own reflection during etiquette lessons with Cocolia.

Skott slammed his control tablet, and a gate behind him opened. From within emerged a heavily armored robot—imposing, equipped with rotating claws and a chassis shinier than the ego of the one piloting it.

"Behold the crown jewel of the Corporation's Applied Innovation Division in collaboration with the Society of Knowledge! High destructive power, ten times stronger than that rusty scrapheap you all worship—Svarog or whatever! Get ready to be annihilated!"

The ground trembled with the robot's footsteps. Skott laughed like a cartoon villain…

Aleph stepped forward, his face unreadable.

"Want me to distract him?" Gepard asked.

"No. You go after the others." Aleph replied, cracking his knuckles. "I'll go fetch some new spare parts for Svarog."

....

Skott's order was clear.

Behind the not-Svarog, more robots emerged—mechanical beasts advancing like an unleashed horde, metallic strides, razor-sharp limbs, sensors glowing in shades of scarlet.

Aleph and Stelle didn't wait for instructions.

He tightened his grip on the ice bat, swinging it upward to immediately shatter the reinforced skull of the first enemy to approach.

She, meanwhile, rolled under the strike of a bipedal automaton and drove her bat violently into its chest, making it burst into sparks.

"Get down!" March shouted, firing a volley of ice arrows over Aleph and Stelle. They pierced the eye of a flying unit before exploding into a cryogenic field that slowed down two more incoming enemies.

Seele darted forward, reappearing behind the robots.

Though she cut down a few, she couldn't help but notice that her scythe felt less effective than the others' weapons, prompting her to click her tongue in irritation.

"They just keep coming…" Gepard growled, slamming his shield into the ground to stop an armored beast charging straight at the group.

His fists smashed through the front supports of another machine trying to flank them.

Aleph barely dodged the claw swipe of a beast with serrated pincers.

"Damn it, why now?" He muttered, feeling the pain in his chest flare up again.

The force of his swing barely caused a fraction of the damage from before, and his grip wasn't nearly as firm.

"You okay?" Stelle glanced at him as she shattered the optical sensor of another beast with her energy-charged bat.

Aleph didn't respond. He simply rose to his feet, spun on his heel, and unleashed Bufudyne in the form of a frozen whip infused with Zionga, which ensnared three enemies by the legs, hurled them into the air, and slammed them against a wall.

Skott stood motionless on a raised platform, observing. Beside him, a larger, bulkier robot model descended slowly.

The not-Svarog was silver with black detailing, and—though Aleph didn't want to admit it—it looked incredible.

"Unit M-0SV: initiate full suppression protocol." Skott commanded.

The giant charged straight toward the group.

March stepped back, firing three arrows at its legs. Seele slipped around behind it to strike before it could react.

Gepard and Stelle blocked its advance like a living wall.

Aleph gathered energy into his bat—but just before releasing the final blow, the sound of heavy footsteps shattered his focus.

A voice cut through the chaos.

"Skott! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Topaz strode forward, several armed staff members at her back. Though she still wore a smile, her irritated gaze was locked on Skott.

"Do you have any idea how much property damage you're causing to what's supposed to be a future asset of the Corporation?" Her tone dropped, the smile vanished, and she stared at him with total seriousness. "You're using corporate resources to test experimental weaponry against potential allies, fully aware that the damage incurred might cost more than your entire paycheck for several years—or the rest of your life—even if we seize all your wages?"

Skott lowered his head, teeth clenched, glaring at Stelle with poisonous eyes.

"It's not my fault! They were the ones who—" He pointed at the other group.

Topaz shook her head, arms crossed.

"You'd better stay quiet. Not only did you lose your temper—you lost your judgment. Seventy percent off your bonus, demoted to maintenance. One more word and you lose your retirement package too."

Skott swallowed hard. He shot a hateful look at Stelle.

"This won't be the last you hear from me, you raccoon girl! I will have my revenge!"

She was speaking calmly with Aleph, completely ignoring him.

"Remember how we told you we came to help Clara? Well, while doing that, we ran into this really odd robot in Villaremache that was fixing everything. A lot happened, but in the end, we stuffed it into a Grizzly and named it Pascal."

Aleph blinked.

"Pascal?"

"Yeah. Don't you think it's a great name for a great guy?"

Skott turned away, fuming at being ignored. Without another word, he walked off, dragging his pride across the metallic floor.

This wouldn't be the last time they heard from him—and he'd make sure they remembered.