Chapter 18 — The Stars Beyond the World
Silence.
Then—
Stars.
Millions of them.
Jin opened his eyes.
He stood on the observation deck of the mansion.
The sky was no longer blue.
There was no ocean horizon.
Instead, enormous celestial bodies drifted through space.
A distant planet.
A massive star.
Strange cosmic structures.
And something even more unbelievable.
A massive silver train passed through the darkness.
Jin stared.
"…No way."
Large Pikachu looked up.
"Pika?"
[What is it?]
Jin slowly pointed.
"That…"
The train disappeared into the distance.
Astra looked at the system.
The display appeared.
[WORLD TWO]
Universe Classification:
HONKAI: STAR RAIL
Current Location:
UNKNOWN
Major Cosmic Factions Detected:
Astral Express
Interastral Peace Corporation
Stellaron Hunters
Multiple Aeons detected.
WARNING:
Dimensional Island has entered a universe governed by cosmic Paths.
Jin stared.
"Paths…"
Aster looked uneasy.
"So this universe has powers beyond the regional systems."
Jin smiled.
"Looks like our vacation is over."
Large Pikachu sighed.
"Pika."
[It was nice while it lasted.]
Jin laughed.
Then another notification appeared.
[IMPORTANT]
Pokémon World Return Route:
STABLE
World One Gate:
ACTIVE
Return destination:
DIMENSIONAL ISLAND
Administrator may return at any time.
Jin smiled.
"Good."
He looked toward the stars.
They had left the Pokémon world.
But they hadn't lost it.
The island had become something much larger now.
A home between worlds.
A place that could travel across universes…
…and always return to the people and Pokémon waiting for them.
Jin looked at the enormous universe ahead.
"Well…"
He cracked his knuckles.
"Let's see what kind of trouble exists here."
Large Pikachu raised a paw.
"Pika!"
[Adventure!]
Jin smiled.
"Adventure."
Far away, aboard the Astral Express, a young woman with pink hair suddenly sneezed.
March 7th rubbed her nose.
"Ah-choo!"
The Trailblazer looked at her.
"Someone talking about you?"
March frowned.
"Why would someone be talking about me?"
Dan Heng looked through the window.
"…Something just appeared."
The Astral Express slowed.
Outside the window—
A strange island was floating through space.
And at its center stood a mansion.
March stared.
"…That's definitely not normal."
The Trailblazer smiled.
"Looks interesting."
The conductor's voice echoed through the train.
"Welcome to the next world."
And somewhere on Dimensional Island…
Jin sneezed.
"Ah-choo!"
Large Pikachu stared at him.
"Pika?"
[Someone's talking about you.]
Jin blinked.
"…That's creepy."
The journey into the stars had begun.