Chapter 4:

Stelle turned toward March, eyes wide. "March—do something!"

"What do you want me to do?! Fight it?!" March exclaimed, half-panicked as her gaze snapped between Stelle and the towering Voidranger: Trampler ahead.

"Yes! Use your ice thingy on it!" Stelle insisted, waving her hands vaguely in the shape of a bow and arrow.

Eidan, meanwhile, glanced at Arlan, who was still clutching his arm. "Step back a bit," he said quietly.

Arlan frowned. "What are you trying to do, Eidan?"

But Eidan had already walked forward, slipping past March and Stelle to stand beside Dan Heng, who was already poised in a defensive stance. Quantum flickered from the Voidranger: Trampler's body, illuminating the tense corridor.

Dan Heng gave Eidan a quick glance and a nod. Eidan returned it.

"Oi, you two—" Eidan called back over his shoulder. "Cut the arguing. We've got something much more pressing."

March sighed dramatically and turned toward him. "Fiiine…"

Stelle gave a small shrug and joined them.

March squinted. "Eidan, you don't even have a weapon. What are you gonna do?"

Eidan looked genuinely confused. "When did I say I was going to fight?"

A pause.

The entire group stared at him, speechless.

"I'm here to raise morale," Eidan declared, completely serious.

Stelle narrowed her eyes. "Is it too late for me to use this bat on you?"

"It's too late, Stelle," he replied with a straight face.

"Joking aside," Eidan continued, stretching his shoulders, "I'll distract the Enemy. You three hit it hard while I keep its attention."

He turned and handed his glasses back to Arlan.

"Wait, Eidan—" Arlan began.

"I'm not planning to die," Eidan said, cutting him off with wide grin. "But if I can draw its focus long enough, maybe no one else has to."

He didn't say it out loud, but the truth was: he knew this world. Knew how the script should go. But being here—being part of the scene—meant everything could shift. He couldn't take the risk. Not when people like Arlan, Dan Heng, March, and Stelle might pay the price.

Not when his own weakness was a variable.

And so, without another word, Eidan stepped forward, walking slowly toward the screeching Voidranger: Trampler with his arms open wide.

"I'm counting on you three," he said, his voice low but unwavering. "Be quick."

Behind him, Stelle whispered to Dan Heng, "Is he trying to act cool?"

March shook her head. "Maybe. But knowing him? He never acts like this."

Dan Heng's eyes sharpened. "Stay focused. Once he pulls its attention, we strike together."

Both girls nodded, raising their weapons.

The Voidranger: Trampler let out another distorted shriek, crackling with energy.

Eidan stepped into its line of sight.

Eidan stood still, locking eyes with the Voidranger: Trampler as it snarled back at him.

"Just so you know… I'm pretty good at dodging," he muttered—more to himself than to the monster.

Without another word, he broke into a sprint, charging straight at the creature.

The Voidranger let out a piercing shriek and lunged, slamming its two massive front limbs toward him like sledgehammers.

Eidan rolled to the left, narrowly dodging the impact as debris cracked beneath the weight of the blow. But the Trampler didn't stop. It struck again—relentless.

He dodged again. And again. Each movement sharper, closer. Sweat clung to his brow as he ducked under another swing and darted to its flank. He grabbed a piece of debris from the floor and hurled it at the creature's head.

Thunk.

The Trampler's shriek shifted in pitch. Its attention fully locked on him now.

"Perfect," Eidan muttered.

The beast charged again. Eidan dove aside at the last second. Then—he signaled the others.

March's arrow whistled through the air, shards of frost following in its wake as it struck the creature's armored side. Stelle darted forward, bat already swinging as she slammed it against its head. Dan Heng moved with precision, sweeping his spear low and cutting into the Voidranger's legs.

With a groan of collapsing metal and muscle, the Trampler fell forward.

Eidan backed away, catching his breath.

Stelle didn't hesitate—she jumped high and brought her bat down like a meteor.

"Rules are meant to be broken!!" she shouted.

CRACK.

The floor beneath them splintered slightly from the force of the blow as her weapon connected with the beast's skull. The Voidranger finally stilled, its twitching limbs falling silent.

Eidan walked over to the trio, brushing dust off his sleeves.

"Nice work," he said, giving them a faint nod.

Dan Heng returned the gesture. "Thanks to your distraction."

Stelle's eyes sparkled. "That was so cool! You dodged everything! Teach me how to do that—I want to be cool too."

Eidan looked at her for a moment, then shook his head with a small smile. "That was—"

Before he could finish, March chimed in.

"It was sooo—"

Eidan quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Stop raising flags, March," he said flatly.

"Ehe~ Silly me," March giggled, tapping her head in faux embarrassment.

Stelle and Eidan exchanged a look of quiet resignation.

"Let's get to the elevator," Eidan said, moving to help support Arlan once more.

The others nodded and followed. As Eidan steadied Arlan, he couldn't help but sigh under his breath.

This is why I need power, he thought. I can dodge, sure—but can I fight? Can I even land a single blow that leaves a mark?

He looked at the others—Dan Heng's calm, practiced focus, Stelle's burning spirit, March's unpredictable optimism—and then at Arlan beside him, wounded but still standing.

I don't want to stay useless....

He shook the thought away as they stepped into the elevator.

The doors closed behind them.

---------------------------

Master Control Zone — Herta Space Station

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. The first thing that greeted them wasn't danger this time—but Himeko, standing with poise and a gentle smile.

"You're finally back," she said, her voice calm, reassuring—like the eye of a storm finally reached.

Eidan caught that smile and for a brief moment, he faltered. That expression…

Something in it reminded him of her. A memory tried to surface—warmth, a voice long lost—but he quickly pushed it down.

He refocused, supporting Arlan as they stepped out. March, Stelle, and Dan Heng followed closely behind.

A pair of staff members from the station quickly approached, taking over and helping Arlan away to receive proper treatment.

Eidan turned back just as Himeko's crimson gaze settled on him.

"Long time no see, Eidan," she said with a nod.

Eidan gave a polite nod. "Long time no see, Miss Himeko."

As Himeko turned her attention to March and Dan Heng, exchanging updates and affirming their cooperation, Eidan stood slightly apart. His gaze drifted to the surroundings—but his thoughts were elsewhere.

He had combed through Herta's entire collection, and yet…

No sign of the weapon fragment—Himeko's weapon from the Honkai Impact timeline. The great blade she once wielded... It wasn't there.

Was it hidden in a different archive? Or... had she survived?

He shook his head. If she truly survived, then why would Welt have come here?

Before he could follow that train of thought further, he noticed all eyes had shifted toward him.

"March hasn't been giving you too much trouble along the way, has she?" Himeko asked, a teasing glint in her eye.

March stepped forward, folding her arms with mock offense. "Think carefully before you answer that."

Eidan glanced at her… then paused, adopting a dramatic pose, one hand covering his mouth as if recalling some unspeakable trauma.

"She… she was, uh—" he began, shaking slightly.

Stelle, quick to catch on, mirrored Eidan's theatrical act. She shook her head and patted his back solemnly, as if in sympathy.

"Hey! I'm not that bad!" March protested, eyes wide as she looked toward her last hope. "Right, Dan Heng?"

Dan Heng kept a perfectly neutral face. "I have the right to remain silent."

March gasped.

Eidan and Stelle turned to each other and shrugged in perfect unison.

Then Eidan looked at her.

"…Why do you keep copying me?"

"…Why do you keep copying me?" Stelle parroted, her expression eerily neutral.

Eidan narrowed his eyes. "You doing this on purpose?"

"You doing this on purpose?" she echoed again.

He sighed. "Alright, alright, you win…"

Himeko chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Look at you all… seems like you've already gotten really close."

“Maybe,” Eidan replied casually, before his gaze shifted toward the commotion not far from the control zone.

Something—or rather, someone—caught his attention.

He turned to Himeko and gave her a small nod. “Well then, Miss Himeko. I think I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”

Himeko nodded with a soft smile, understanding.

Eidan gave a brief wave to the others—March, Stelle, and Dan Heng—before turning and walking off toward the source of the noise.

As he neared the corridor, he noticed a familiar pink-haired figure frantically asking questions to passing staff.

Asta?

She looked distressed, scanning the area with urgency in her eyes.

What’s she searching for…?

Eidan approached quietly.

“Miss Asta?” he called out.

She turned at the sound of his voice—and instantly, her expression lit up with relief.

“Ah, Eidan! Finally—I found you...” she exhaled deeply, her posture relaxing as she stepped closer. “I’ve been searching all over. I was so worried...”

He could see it—true, unfiltered concern in her eyes.

Asta glanced down, hesitating. “I’m glad you're okay…”

She trailed off for a second, eyes lingering on him. She had been especially worried about him, even more than Arlan. After all, Arlan though injured could at least defend himself. But Eidan?

He had no path. No powers. Just an ordinary man. What if something bad happen to him?

Eidan almost threw in a cheeky remark to lighten the mood, but paused. He noticed her trembling fingers and the way she tried to steady her breath.

This wasn’t the time for jokes.

“I’m fine, Miss Asta,” he said gently. “I was lucky enough to run into the Astral Express crew. They helped me.”

Asta gave a quiet nod, her shoulders finally easing.

But then… her expression shifted. Her gaze sharpened, her brows furrowing slightly.

Eidan blinked.

“…Miss Asta?”

She didn’t say anything—just squinted at him, arms slowly crossing as if she were deeply offended.

Wait, what? Did I say something wrong?

He mentally replayed the last few seconds but couldn’t find anything suspicious.

“Miss Asta?” he tried again, now clearly puzzled.

She puffed out her cheeks in a small pout and turned her head away dramatically.

“…Did I do something wrong?” Eidan asked, genuinely confused.

Still no response.

Instead, she threw him a sidelong glance and huffed. “Are you forgetting something?”

“…Forgetting?” Eidan tilted his head. “Like... a promise? A task?”

She didn’t answer. Just stared at him, waiting.

“Um... can I get a hint?”

Asta let out a small huffed and refused to meet his eyes.

Eidan stared at her, then looked up in thought.

Great. Now I’ve unlocked the “Guess What You Did Wrong” boss fight.

(A/n: stop calling her formally Eidan 🥀💔)