"This power is immense... and equally wild, much like a wild Tepetlisaur. If a connection isn't established in time, it might end up harming her," Xilonen said, observing the golden glow swirling around Stelle.

"After all, it's her first time using the power of a Stellaron. It's completely understandable that she's unaccustomed to it," Mavuika said with a slight smile from the side. "Just like when I first inherited the power of the Pyro Archon, my first time caused quite a stir as well."

The power within Stelle's body began to rage uncontrollably, the overflowing shockwave even blasting the Doomsday Beast right in front of her off its feet.

In Mondstadt, Klee watched Stelle suspended in midair. Frightened, the young girl covered her eyes, peeking secretly through tiny slits between her fingers.

Beside her, Kaeya chuckled softly. "What's the matter? Little Klee's too scared to look?"

Little Klee shook her head, her red cap bobbing with the motion. Using a crayon, she sketched a simple Jumpy Dumpty on a piece of paper and said, "Big Sister Stelle is very dangerous right now."

"Just like a bomb, she could go—BOOM at any second!" Little Klee spread her arms wide to gesture.

Stelle's current condition reminded Little Klee of her Jumpy Dumpty; it was virtually identical, ready to explode at any moment.

【"Smack!"】

【Suddenly, a cane tapped lightly against Stelle's forehead, as if shattering something. The wildly surging power inside her instantly settled down, returning once more into her body.】

【The camera slowly pulled back to reveal a brown-haired, middle-aged man. He wore an ordinary gray coat with a coffee-brown scarf wrapped around his neck. His signature glasses gave him a dependable, rational appearance, but what drew the eye even more was the cane in his hand.】

【Fortunately, the situation was brought under control in time. Uncle Yang calmly pushed up his glasses, leaving the audience beyond the screen with only an enigmatic silhouette of his back.】

【"Uncle Yang, she..." March 7th caught the falling Stelle in her arms, looking up at Uncle Yang with a face full of concern.】

【"She's fine now," Welt Yang said indifferently. "Let's find somewhere else to talk."】

—

The Real world—

"Whoa, that uncle looks seriously dependable!"

"He's totally that type of hidden mastermind."

"Honestly, if he'd stepped in earlier, that Doomsday Beast wouldn't have stood a chance."

People instantly committed this seemingly stern, yet remarkably powerful and composed man to memory. Meanwhile, at an academy elsewhere, Himeko stared blankly for three full seconds at Welt Yang holding the Star of Eden, before decisively dialing that familiar number on her phone.

After two ringtones, the call connected, answered by a man's voice accompanied by a slight cough.

"Not bad, Yang. I didn't know you had such an impressive side to you. By the way, the you on the light screen looks even more mature than you do now."

Himeko teased the man over the phone in a slightly playful tone.

On the other end, Welt Yang hastily defended himself: "That's not me, Himeko! Even though the Welt Yang on the light screen has the exact same appearance, build, voice, and attire as me, I can guarantee that definitely isn't me!"

"And I have a theory, which is—"

"I know what you mean, Yang," Himeko calmly cut him off. "The theory you're referring to... does it involve the Imaginary Tree?"

Even the most unperceptive person would have realized something was amiss. Whether it was that young girl Silver Wolf who looked so strikingly like Bronya, or the Ms. Himeko who shared her exact name, including this Mr. Yang who was an absolute dead ringer for the real person... all of it proved the hypothesis in her mind.

The world shown on the light screen was a parallel world to the one they inhabited.

She had once read about the cosmological hypothesis proposed in the Previous Era, which used the "Imaginary Tree" and the "Sea of Quanta" to conceptualize the structure of the entire universe. Countless worlds were nurtured upon the Imaginary Tree, and the world shown on the light screen was likely one of its branches.

Between heaven and earth, there existed only a tree and a sea, and thus began their endless competition.

Could the world on the light screen also be a product of that competition?

Himeko did not dwell on the thought further. Instead, keeping the line open with Yang, the two watched the footage from the light screen together.

【Slowly opening her eyes, the familiar interior of the Herta Space Station came into view.】

【Stelle rubbed her head and slowly sat up from the medical bed. Dan Heng, who had been watching over her, raised a hand in greeting.】

【"It's good that you're all right. The Legion's threat has been dealt with, so you can rest easy," Dan Heng explained as he led Stelle toward the door.】

【"Even a beast as mighty as the Doomsday Beast was no match for—" Recalling her valor from earlier, Stelle instinctively puffed out her chest, looking thoroughly pleased with herself in an expression practically begging for praise.】

【"Looks like you've recovered well." As Dan Heng turned around, an imperceptible faint curve formed at the corner of his lips. He then coughed lightly twice and explained to Stelle, "This is the Herta Space Station. Rest for a bit; I won't disturb you further. By the way, give me your beacon address—so I can contact you if anything comes up."】

【"Also, go see Himeko if it's convenient. She mentioned having something to discuss with you."】

—

"Mm-hmm, this Dan Heng fellow is the type who's cold on the outside but warm on the inside," Mine murmured, resting her chin on one hand as her gaze drifted toward Akame, who shared a similar demeanor. "Speaking of which, what do you think of this Dan Heng guy?"

From the moment they first saw him, Dan Heng's consummate spearmanship had left a deep impression on Mine.

With such prowess, even without the amplification of an Imperial Arms, few in the entire Night Raid organization could likely best him. When it came to such an Otherworld powerhouse, Mine thought back and forth and figured only Akame stood a chance against him. She was curious to see how a martial fanatic like Akame would judge him.

"Mm, my thoughts?" Akame rested her chin on her hand, pondering seriously for quite a while before finally nodding with certainty.

"I think he's... very handsome."

Mine: "...Huh?"

Huhhh?!

No, what on earth are you talking about?!

Mine stared at Akame in sheer disbelief.

Akame was unquestionably a beauty, and unquestionably deadpan, but hearing her utter those words in such a solemn tone with that icy, poker-faced expression made Mine feel like this stone-cold killer of a colleague had suddenly become an utter stranger.

Still, she wasn't wrong. Even before noticing his spearmanship, Mine's first impression of Dan Heng had been his impeccable good looks.

Long, defined brows swept toward the short hair at his temples, with a brush of red shadow accentuating eyes like polished black jade, their depths softened by a touch of springtime warmth.

He truly was very handsome.

Compared to that dense fool Tatsumi...

"Wait a minute." Mine suddenly realized she had been led astray by Akame's words. She patted her cheeks, cleared her throat, and said, "I was asking you about his spearmanship. What do you think of that?"

Akame closed her eyes, slowly shook her head, and sighed. "There are no openings—at least none that I can see."