Chapter 165: Shocking Trailblazing Spirit! Navigators Throughout the History of the Universe!
"A mining area occupied by vagrants was found during lower-zone development. Wildfire knows they've hindered the surrounding towns' growth."
"But the vagrants also have their rights. What will you choose?"
"1: Ask both sides to give me some respect and have a chat."
"2: What bandits? I'm the only bandit here!"
Seemingly anticipating everyone's reaction, a note was thoughtfully added below.
Regardless of the choice, it would still be a decision made as the Trailblazer.
Very reasonable.
------------------------
Based on March 7th's personality, although the second option was quite humorous, she still chose the first one honestly.
However, only about 30% of people chose the "first" option.
It seems that more players decided to follow their hearts and have fun as jokers.
When March 7th clicked on the "please both sides give me some face" option, a small pop-up suddenly appeared: "Is this the confidence of the Face-Fruit user?"
"Here comes the sarcastic commentary again! Could it be like the other games filled with memes?" March 7th and Stelle by her side burst into laughter.
Firefly also covered her mouth, chuckling.
Everyone became even more excited about the gameplay ahead.
In the corner, Guinaifen was holding her phone and streaming live.
Her primary tasks at MiHoYo had ended alongside Fyxestroll Garden.
Now, her role was to stream and grow it.
"Everyone, I've discovered that this game is full of memes."
"So, here's the deal: I'll play this game with you all, and when I encounter such multiple-choice questions, I'll listen to everyone's suggestions."
After Guinaifen said this, a rain of comments filled the chat.
Gifts and Stickers flooded in endlessly.
Seeing the thousands of viewers in her live stream, Guinaifen grinned.
She felt incredibly lucky—if she hadn't joined MiHoYo, she wouldn't be where she was today.
"Alright, now I should continue rolling the dice. And then buy some land to increase our money accumulation speed." Guinaifen tapped on her phone.
Because the dice rolls were full of randomness, sometimes the golden grid that was right in front but just couldn't be stepped on.
Guinaifen became anxious, reacting dramatically.
This kept the entertainment value in her live stream sky-high.
Not long after, upon completing the first map, Guinaifen finally encountered a question that only the top three players had solved.
Egged on by her audience, Guinaifen chose several humorous options in a row.
The witty text and choices had the audience laughing out loud.
In the blink of an eye, a few questions were answered.
At that moment, a prompt appeared before Guinaifen:
"Huh? What's this? The choices made by the Nameless have been recorded. Complete the Trailblazer Tendency Test to unlock the Nameless Report."
"See which historical Trailblazer you resemble the most."
As Guinaifen read out the words on the screen, her viewers became ecstatic.
"I told you MiHoYo wouldn't release a new game for no reason!"
"More information about the Path of Trailblazing is about to be revealed?"
"In the future market storyline, Himeko first made us feel the power and dominance of Astral Express."
"Now they're introducing more Express Navigators—this is so exciting! Every choice feels like a quality test!"
"Guinaifen, hurry up and move forward! We want to see the Trailblazer info!"
Impatient viewers began showering her with more gifts.
Guinaifen smiled even more brightly, "Alright, alright, everyone—watch me!"
As the dice rolled one after another, Guinaifen's chibi character finally reached the end of the second map.
The quiz game appeared once again.
"Even though they are creations of Ruan Mei, they still argue with each other. How would you handle their disputes?"
"1: Listen to what they're meowing about."
"2: Try to fan the flames and provoke them."
Seeing this question, Guinaifen and her viewers burst into laughter.
...
: Choose 2! Choose 2!
: We want to see the Meow Meow War!
: Why isn't there an option to eat cat-shaped pastries?
: This is a Trailblazer game! How did a foodie sneak in?
...
With her viewers clamoring, Guinaifen laughed and chose the second option.
As soon as she selected it, a funny bubble popped up, "Boring! I want to see rivers of blood!"
Endless meme content made the viewers go wild with laughter.
Moreover, every choice aligned with the spirit of trailblazing.
These choices reflected the diversity of paths Trailblazers could take.
Or rather, people with such ideas could also join the Trailblazer Path.
In this lively atmosphere, one unexpected question and answer appeared after another.
Some were relatable and dealt with down-to-earth workplace scenarios.
For example, when encountering a space station staff member sighing and not wanting to work, the most popular choice was, "Work still needs to be done; life still goes on."
Other characters also participated.
For instance, when Pitch-Black Hook caused trouble, how should one deal with it?
The most popular choice was to "face it with a calm and straightforward attitude."
With just a few words, the audience could feel an unmistakable atmosphere of humor.
As one question after another was answered, nearly fifty questions were quickly completed.
A new option appeared.
"The Nameless Guest has already made their choice, staying at the edge."
Everyone waited for this moment.
"Alright, everyone. I'm going to open it now!"
Guinaifen rubbed her hands together and clicked on the exploration report.
The envelope was opened.
What appeared before her eyes was a minimalist depiction of a young man outlined with simple lines and vibrant colors.
He looked youthful and wore a hat.
On the left side were four large characters, "Bird Of Passage?"
Guinaifen read it aloud.
She continued to read.
"You are a free spirit who focuses on the good and opportunities in life."
"Among all the past Navigators in the Astral Express, you are most alike to Bob, aka the 'Touslehead.'"
"Bob was once a member of the Tarantula, a crime syndicate wanted by the IPC, and claimed to be dead after leaving the organization."
"Initially, he assumed the role of Express Guard using a false identity, until his true identity was uncovered, leading to his subsequent assignment as the next Navigator."
"Bob was tall, charming, and consistently messy in his appearance. He loved sleeping, engaging in IPC entertainment programs, and embarking on trailblazing expeditions to explore unfamiliar worlds."
"Despite claiming to hate silicon-based lives, he invited peaceful mechanical lifeforms aboard the Express in times of war."
"During Bob's tenure as navigator, many people boarded the Express with unresolved questions and left with answers— it is said that Bob became the prototype for the character who would later evolve into the 'Tousled Detective'."
"Bob met his demise heroically during a defensive battle"
After reading this information aloud, Guinaifen's eyes widened.
The audience's reaction was even more enthusiastic.
The simple text offered fans a glimpse into the history of the Astral Express.
Reading these lines felt like reading a historical chronicle of the universe.
...
: Bob, what an impressive resume.
: He seems like a very charismatic character. I wonder how he got along with Pompom on the Express.
: With Bob's personality, he might have made the same choices as us on those fifty questions.
: So this is why the quiz matters.
: Tsk tsk, the last line about his sacrifice in the defensive battle is understated, but it hints at an incredible enemy he faced.
: Salute to Navigator Bob!
: What about the others? I want to see the others!
...
This gradual unveiling of history left fans craving more.
Guinaifen immediately started searching for players who had completed the options and posted their exploration reports.
It didn't take much effort.
One by one, the navigators' profiles were gathered.
"Wow, someone even organized them in chronological order!"
"Everyone, brace yourselves. It's about to get exciting."
Guinaifen excitedly watched with her livestream audience.
The first one turned out to be a mechanical lifeform titled the 'Herald of the Sea of Stars'.
"Sam-3000, who became known as the "Guide," was the Navigator of many navigators"
"During her active period, the Astral Express wasn't a specific entity, but rather a fleet of Expresss that traveled in unison along the silver rail."
"Being an Intellitron, she was forthright, vivacious, and loved to compete, while her hearty mechanical laughter always resonated throughout the cars."
"She resided in an era of enterprise, where the Express ventured into numerous worlds previously unexplored by any before her. Fuli's Eden of Blessed Insight was one such place, where the Nameless claimed to have seen the Enigmata manifesting in the world's reflection.."
"Sam-3000 only resigned as a Navigator when her body's machinery completely deteriorated and its parts could no longer be replaced, and she did so with expectation of a "Great Trailblazing Era."
After reading this, a flood of heavy-hitting information stirred up the live chat.
...
: Whoa! So there was such a story back then? The Astral Express used to be a fleet!?
: I always thought the Astral Express seemed too modest as a faction. Turns out they were once powerful and glorious!
: If the timeline of the Swarm Disaster aligns, doesn't that mean the Trailblazers were still active when the Guide retired?
: Such ancient history!
: Anyway, a hundred happy endings would be great!
...
After Sam-3000, more navigators emerged, exceeding fans' expectations in terms of race and type.
For example, Capy baba.
This rodent navigator was known as the Long Night Walker, active during the final stages of the Swarm Disaster.
Its knack for choosing the routes resembled the watchful eye of heaven, deftly steering clear of the encroaching Swarm and safeguarding the Astral Express' safety on numerous occasions.
It was also during his tenure that the Astral Express revised the star rail map.
After continuous maintenance, the giant runic marker remained operational.
Subsequently, Capy baba retired as a navigator and returned home in honor.
The third and fourth navigators had unclear timelines. They were the Messenger of the Cosmos, the famous Oakley, AKA the "Musketeer", and the Birds of Passage, Bob, AKA the "Touslehead.".
Bob had already been featured in the earlier broadcast with Guinaifen and the audience.
As for Oakley, she was a bounty hunter for the Interastral Peace Corporation.
After the previous navigator and passengers disappeared in a strange anomaly, she was temporarily appointed as the navigator.
She successfully led the express out of danger, then reorganized the crew and searched for the missing people.
After completing everything, recruiting enough new passengers, she quietly left the Express.
····
: Whoa, these stories reveal the glorious history of the Express's exploration!
: The constant adventuring and meeting different people is just amazing!
: Bob, Capy bara—no, Capy baba—and Oakley, every one of them is so unique!
: No wonder Honkai: Star Rail uses the Trailblazers and the Express as its main perspective.
: After reading all this, I can't wait to join the Express and embark on the journey myself!
....
After learning so much about the navigators, the Express feels like a space road movie—constantly moving forward and encountering new things along the way, with endless scenery to admire.
Such a dynamic has left fans longing endlessly.
However, the lightheartedness ends here.
Next, a navigator named Starry Cape Dancer emerges.
Dolly, AKA the "Crystal", a musician from Tiafoe, voluntarily joined the Express after hearing about Trailblazer Akivili's exploits.
Her voice, noble like crystal, drew countless people to board the Express.
It is said that even Akivili once returned to listen to her perform.
But one day, all the Nameless passengers inexplicably sensed the fall of the Trailblazer, and Dolly began to experience irreversible crystallization.
After three days of continuous singing, she handed over the Navigator's role and remained under the stars forever.
This is the information so far.
In all the information about Honkai: Star Rail, the most straightforward mention of the node where Akivili fell!
And it's written plainly and clearly!
Before the audience could be shocked by this revelation, the next photo was shown.
It's about the Sentinel of Time · Isee, aka the "Starseer.".
Records about him in the data bank have been frequently manipulated by History Fictionologists.
It is now widely believed that Isee boarded the Astral Express toward the end of the Second Prosperity.
His journey led him through the successive events of the fall of Akivili and the birth of Nanook, enduring some of the most challenging times, yet he remained steadfast in his commitment to duty.
During that period, a number of the Nameless left the Express, and different groups following Trailblaze were also embroiled in internal conflicts.
Isee was barely maintaining the connections between the worlds. It is rumored that at one juncture during this extensive and solitary voyage, the Crew dwindled to just two members.
However, this was closely followed by the heroic years of Falcon Amundsen.
Isee left the Astral Express after stepping down from the Navigator position. During the same period, the "Omen Vanguard" appeared in the universe for the first time.
After Isee came the Enlightenment Beacon, the Morning Star · Falcon Amundsen.
He served as the Navigator in the early days of the Cancer of All Worlds, like a beacon of enlightenment amidst the darkness of the night.
He continued to seek out other Nameless who departed after the fall of the Trailblaze, reclaiming the obstructed silver rail alongside many heroic figures.
Many people in the worlds he passed through were inspired by Falcon and volunteered to join the cause of Trailblazing as a new generation of the Nameless.
Under his leadership, the Astral Express regained its former glory, with up to one hundred of passengers at one point.
Unfortunately, Falcon Amundsen himself passed away prematurely at the outset of his voyage.
...
"This is like witnessing the history of the universe's transformation through the lives of the navigators."
"So, so shocking. It turns out the Express has experienced such difficult times."
Guinaifen didn't know why, but seeing the deeds of these navigators, the ups and downs of the Express, she felt a slight ache in her heart as she immersed herself in the story.
Guinaifen continued watching.
After Falcon Amundsen departed, came the story of the Light-Chasing Guileless, Granholm, AKA the "Youngster,".
Granholm was only 17 years old when he became the Navigator, but he spent his whole life leading the Astral Express.
As the Astral Express traversed world after world, new faces arrived and the old ones departed...
Whoever they might be, Granholm always welcomed them with open arms.
He took on everything personally and assumed the responsibility of connecting with unfamiliar worlds. In a time marred by disasters and fractured worlds, it was Granholm who transformed the Nameless into heroes from beyond the sky.
In the worlds rescued by Granholm, many were inspired by him and became new Nameless.
There were also many old friends who chose to stay on these worlds in the hope of bringing a better tomorrow to these lands.
Granholm dedicated his life to the Astral Express, and at the end of his journey, he rested peacefully in his favorite armchair forever.
Shortly after that, the tale of the Astral Express quietly slipped into obscurity, vanishing into the sea of stars.
...
"So that's how it is. No wonder the opening plot hinted at something about returning to the void."
"I wonder what could have happened back then to make the Express, which had never stopped, disappear for so long."
Watching the video of the old man with white hair and beard lying in his chair, Guinaifen murmured to herself.
For the Express to vanish for so long, it must have been a great catastrophe.
As she pondered this, the last of the nine navigators appeared.
Someone the fans were all too familiar with.
Explorer of the Stars, Himeko.
In her youth, Himeko encountered the stranded Express.
At that time, the Astral Express that once roamed the Cosmos had been missing for a very long time.
The Express presented her a scenery of the magnificent universe — a space with dazzling stars and endless worlds...
After years of hard work, Himeko finally repaired the Astral Express and began her journey.
Along the way, she witnessed countless wonders and traveled in the company of many travelers she met unexpectedly, building the Crew that we see today.
Perhaps the Cosmos isn't perfect, but she's willing to lend a helping hand to every kindred spirit out there and set out on the road to the dream…
Finally, after watching all the stories, the fans flooded Guinaifen's livestream with frantic comments.
...
"So shocking! The trajectory of the Astral Express was truly full of ups and downs!"