The deep space, the starry train is like a silver paper cutter, cutting through the stagnant darkness.
Outside the window is a slowly rotating spiral nebula, indigo and scarlet swirling together, like a spilled palette.
Then the train exploded.
It's not a metaphor.
It really exploded—from the third carriage, the armor plate was torn open by some immense force from the outside, the shrill sound of tearing metal mixed with the silence of vacuum, forming a bizarre duet.
The emergency airtight door went "bang bang bang" in rapid succession, isolating the explosion in the rear compartment.
All members of the starry train group stood firm in the second carriage, their expressions still relatively calm.
After all, being attacked was a common occurrence on this pioneering journey.
"What's going on?"
On the seventh day of the third month, the bow is drawn, and an ice crystal arrow condenses at the fingertips.
"Impact".
Dan Heng gripped the Cloud-Striking Spear tightly, the tip touching the ground. "It's not a meteorite; it has signs of life."
"Vitality signs?"
Xing glanced down at his baseball bat. "What kind of thing could survive in the vacuum of space—"
Before he could finish speaking...
A claw reached in through the hole in the third carriage.
It was white, fuzzy, and hooked onto half of a twisted pipe.
Then comes the head.
The Shiba Inu's head, with its ears standing up, and the brown backpack that miraculously didn't float away in the vacuum.
Kurumi stuck his head all the way in, looked around, and grinned: "Oops, looks like I've bumped into the wrong place. My navigation is off track again."
The entire room fell silent.
Himeko's hand, holding the coffee cup, froze in mid-air, causing ripples to spread across the liquid inside.
Walter pushed up his glasses, his eyes squinting behind the lenses.
March 7th's ice arrow shattered into ice shards with a "crack": "Dog...?"
Kurumi crawled completely inside, his claws stomping on the twisted floor. "This train's armor is terrible. I only used 30% of my strength and it broke through. I suggest upgrading the armor, at least adding an imaginary coating."
Danheng raised the tip of his spear three inches: "What are you?"
"Just passing by."
Kurumi shook his hair and pulled a small hammer out of his backpack. "But since you've damaged your car, I can help you fix it—it'll cost a fee, but it'll be cheap."
It actually started to break the damaged area, and with a "clanging" sound, the torn metal began to slowly heal.
Xing took two steps forward, slung his baseball bat over his shoulder, and asked, "Where are you from?"
"The previous timeline."
Kurumi didn't even look up. "I originally wanted to change my route to (A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality), but the navigation malfunctioned and left me here. By the way, the rules of your universe are pretty fragile. I tore a hole in it with just a little effort."
Walter suddenly spoke up: "You have imaginary numbers remaining in you."
"Oh, I got it on me when I passed through the Imaginary Tree."
Kurumi casually remarked, "The branches were so dense that I brushed off a few leaves—I hope I don't have to pay for them?"
The entire train crew: "..."
Crossing the Tree of Imaginary Numbers? Scratching off a leaf?
Is that something you can "rub" against?
Himeko put down her coffee cup and smiled:
"This... Mr. Dog. You said you'd compensate me, how do you plan to do it?"
"This library has several options."
Kurumi put away his hammer and counted on his claws, "First, I'll reinforce the entire train for you, ensuring that next time it hits a Doomsday Beast, it'll only chip the paint. Second, I'll act as your bodyguard for free and help you solve a problem—you're probably in trouble right now, aren't you? I can smell it."
The words had barely left his mouth.
The train alarm blared!
"Warning! High-energy reaction detected! Distance: zero!"
Pam's voice boomed from the loudspeaker, "Right outside us! Yes, yes, yes, yes—"
A screeching sound came from the outside of the carriage.
It felt like countless fingernails were scraping against a metal plate.
Xing turned to look at the observation window.
Outside the window, the once tranquil starry sky was gone, replaced by a dense array of writhing black shadows.
They were attached to the train's exterior, each about the size of a car, with a glossy black shell and compound eyes reflecting the lights from inside the carriages.
"Antimatter Legion..."
Dan Heng's gun trembled. "When—"
"It's been here for a while."
Kurumi walked to the window, pressing his paw against the glass. "Your train had a long line of snakes following behind it. When I crashed in, I ran over a few of them, and the rest are here for revenge."
It turned around, its canine teeth gleaming coldly in the red alarm light: "Option Two?"
Himeko and Welt exchanged a glance.
"We need to know your strength."
Walter slammed his cane to the ground.
"Simple."
Kurumi slashed with its claws.
The entire armor plate on the side wall of the carriage exploded outwards with a "bang"!
The vacuum instantly sucked away all the air, but at the same time, a shield-like aura shone on the train crew—it was Welt's Herrscher of Reason power.
Outside the hole was a mountain of antimatter.
At least three hundred, layer upon layer, with scarlet compound eyes.
Kurumi jumped out.
Without wearing a spacesuit or activating a shield, they simply jumped directly into the vacuum of space.
The first phantom soldier pounced, its sickle-shaped forelimbs slashing towards the dog's neck.
Kurumi raises its paw and slaps.
"Pfft."
The illusory soldier exploded into a cloud of black mist, its armor and shell shattering into dust.
The second one attacked from the side, opening its mouthparts to spray out corrosive liquid.
Kurumi swept its tail, drawing back the corrosive liquid and splattering it all over the face of the illusory soldier, whose carapace hissed and smoked.
The third, the fourth, the fifth... all surrounded them at the same time.
Kurumi stomps the ground.
It stomped its four claws in the void, creating a sonic boom cloud!
His figure transformed into a white afterimage, rampaging through the swarm of insects!
Claw strike. Each claw smashes a phantom soldier.
Tail sweep. Each sweep clears out an entire area.
Occasionally it would even collide—the pawns it hits would fly backward like bowling balls, crashing through seven or eight of their companions behind them.
There are no tricks or techniques.
Pure power, pure speed.
Thirty seconds.
Three hundred expendable soldiers were annihilated.
Black mist drifted in the vacuum, and the shell fragments slowly rotated.
Kurumi floated back to the hole, grabbed the edge with its claws, and pulled itself in.
"All done." It flicked its fur. "Now you believe me?"
The entire train crew silently gazed out the window at the "graveyard of unwitting soldiers."
Xing's throat bobbed: "Just how strong... are you?"
"Benku himself doesn't know either."
#Kurumi He said seriously, "Because I haven't encountered a situation where I need to go all out."
It jumped back to the center of the carriage, raised its paw, and the metal at the hole automatically healed, and the airtight gate resealed.
"Alright, problem solved. Now it's your turn to fulfill your promise—take Benku somewhere."
Himeko regained her composure and picked up her coffee again: "Where to?"
"The lair of the Star Core Hunters (#加密市场观察 )".
Kurumi grinned. "Benku is looking for someone named Kafka. I heard she has something Benku needs."
The atmosphere instantly became heavy.
"The Star Core Hunters are our enemies."
Walter said in a deep voice, "But it is also an extremely dangerous existence."
"That's why Benku needs to hire bodyguards."
Kurumi declared confidently, "You lead the way, I'll fight. Fair trade."
Danheng stared at it: "What do you want with Kafka?"
"Borrow a book."
Kurumi pulled a crumpled list from his bag. "(The Universal Culinary Guide: Star God Special Edition), I heard it's in Kafka's hands. I want to try what the dessert recommended by the Star God of 'Joy' tastes like."
The list did indeed have the book titles written on it, along with a crooked cake icon.
March 7th's lips twitched: "You just for... a... cake??"
"Desserts."
Kurumi put away the list. "So, will you lead the way? If not, I'll have to find it myself—and don't blame me if I end up destroying someone's planet without warning."
threaten.
A blatant threat.
But paired with that dog face, it's actually kind of...cute?
Himeko sighed and put down her coffee cup.
"Pam, set the flight path."
"But Himeko is a passenger!"
Pam's voice trembled, "That's the Star Core Hunters' headquarters!"
"It doesn't matter."
Himeko smiled, "Anyway, we have 'Mr. Dog' here."
She looked at Kurumi.
"However, since we're going to cooperate, you should at least tell us your name."
“Kurumi.”
The white Shiba Inu stretched out its paw, "Or call me Benkuku-ge."
Xing grasped its paw and shook it: "I am Xing. This is March 7th, Danheng, Mr. Walter, and Aunt Himeko."
"Who's Auntie?!"
……………………………………………………………………
Twenty minutes later, the train jumped.
The dizziness from passing through the wormhole hadn't subsided yet, and observing the scene outside the window made everyone tense.
It was a cluster of buildings floating in an asteroid belt, with a distorted style, like a Gothic cathedral, a space fortress, and a biological nest that had been crushed and forcibly glued together.
Dark purple energy veins flow across the building's surface, with mechanical tentacles occasionally extending to capture passing meteorites.
Starcore Hunter's Fortress, "Eternal Night Corridor".
"arrive."
Himeko's voice was calm, "Next—"
"Next up is Benku's job."
Kurumi had already jumped to the hatch.
"You wait here, I'll be right back."
"etc!"
Xing grabbed its backpack strap. "There are at least a hundred Star Core Hunter members inside, plus Kafka, Blade, Silver Wolf... and you're all alone?"
"Not enough?"
Kurumi tilted his head. "Then all of you come at me together and cheer me on?"
That's not what I meant...
"rest assured."
Kurumi grinned. "Benku will fight soon."
It pushed open the hatch and jumped out.
In the vacuum, it pedals with its four claws, each step creating ripples in the void, as if it were stepping on an invisible ground.
It sped up faster and faster, eventually becoming a white streak as it crashed into the fortress's main gate!
The fortress's automatic defense system reacts extremely quickly.
Twelve railguns fired simultaneously, their beams of light weaving into a web of death!
Kurumi doesn't dodge.
It opened its mouth.
"Awooo—"
Sound waves should not be able to travel in a vacuum, but this roar condensed into a tangible golden ripple and blasted forward!
The beam of light collided with the ripples and was forcefully pushed back, flowing back into the cannon's muzzle—
"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!"
All twelve railguns were destroyed.
The fortress's main gate was blown away by the aftershocks, revealing a brightly lit corridor inside.
Kurumi landed and stepped inside.
Fifty Star Core Hunter soldiers rushed out from both sides of the corridor. They wore uniform black and red suits and carried energy weapons.
"Intruders! Kill them!"
He hadn't finished speaking.
Kurumi has already rushed into the crowd.
Claws flashed and danced.
Each claw struck the soldier's chest with precision, denting his armor, sending him flying backward to crash into the wall, where he slid down and remained motionless.
Its tail sweeps like a whip.
Each sweep sent three or four people flying, the sound of bones shattering echoing through the corridor.
It didn't even use its full strength.
Just like casually swatting away a few mosquitoes while taking a walk.
Ten seconds.
The corridor is now quiet.
Kurumi continued walking forward.
Beyond the second door was a circular hall where even higher-ranking hunters awaited—twenty men, each possessing an aura ten times stronger than the soldiers outside.
The leader was a one-eyed giant wielding a double-edged battle axe.
"dog?"
He frowned. "Where did this come from—"
Kurumi didn't let him finish speaking.
It charged forward, leaped up, and slapped the giant's face with one claw.
"Bang!"
The giant man and his axe were embedded in the ceiling, and they couldn't pry him out.
The remaining nineteen people attacked simultaneously!
Energy blades, mental shocks, spacetime distortions, concept seals—all sorts of bizarre and strange abilities came crashing down at once!
Kurumi finally stopped halfway.
It tilted its head, as if it was thinking about something.
Then--
"It's too complicated."
It raised its right forepaw, the tip of which gleamed faintly.
"Let me show you what 'pure' really means."
It slammed its paw into the ground.
"boom--!!!"
Pure, violent, and irrational power exploded in a spherical shape, centered on the point where the claws landed!
The ground was cracked inch by inch, the walls were twisted and deformed, and the ceiling collapsed!
Nineteen high-level hunters were struck as if by an invisible giant hammer, all spitting blood as they flew backward, crashing through the wall and disappearing into the depths of the ruins.
Kurumi retracted its claws and continued walking.
Walk through the hall and up the spiral staircase.
At the end of the stairs is a large door carved with a star core pattern.
The door opened automatically.
Behind the door was a circular room, with a towering dome projecting an artificial starry sky.
Three people were standing in the center of the room.
Kafka. Dressed in purple, smiling, twirling a short sword in her hand.
Blade. Dressed in black, holding a sword, eyes lifeless.
Silver Wolf. Wearing headphones, his fingers danced across the virtual keyboard.
"welcome."
Kafka smiled and said, "You're amazing to have fought your way here."
"polite."
Kurumi walked into the room. "I've come to borrow a book."
"(A Global Food Guide)?"
Kafka raised an eyebrow. "You stormed the Star Core Hunter Fortress just for this?"
"Dogs depend on food for survival."
Kurumi spread his paws and said, "Give it to me or not? If you don't, I'll take it myself—but that might tear down your lousy house."
The blade of the sword was drawn half an inch from its sheath.
A murderous aura instantly filled the air.
“I can give it to you,” Kafka nodded, “but on one condition.”
"explain."
"Play a match with us." Her eyes gleamed with excitement. "Let me see just how strong you really are."
Kurumi sighed.
"We're in a hurry."
It put its schoolbag on the ground.
"Let's all come at once."
The blade moved.
The sword light, like a blood moon, slashed towards Kurumi's neck! This sword strike was faster than the eye could see; space itself seemed to distort where the blade passed!
Kurumi raised its claws and gripped the blade with its two toenails.
"clang!"
The sword stopped.
Blade's pupils contracted—his full-force sword strike had been caught between two dog toenails?
He tried to draw his sword, but it wouldn't budge.
Kurumi twisted its claws.
"Click".
The sword broke.
Ren stared blankly at the broken sword in his hand.
Silver Wolf attacked simultaneously—with a wave of her hands, countless data streams transformed into tangible chains, wrapping around Kurumi from all directions!
This is a conceptual constraint; once you're entangled with it, even your consciousness will be imprisoned!
Kurumi didn't even look, just swept its tail.
The chains shattered, turning into blue data points that dissipated.
"Fancy and overly flashy," it commented.
Kafka finally moved.
She vanished, reappearing behind Kurumi, a short sword thrusting towards her back—but the tip of the blade suddenly curved the moment it touched the white hair, stabbing herself instead!
She stepped back in shock, and the dagger clattered to the ground.
"Your ability is 'the power of words', isn't it?"
Kurumi turned around and said, "Unfortunately, I am not governed by the rules of this universe."
It took a step forward.
Just one step.
Its momentum was like a mountain collapsing!
Kafka, Blade, and Silver Wolf retreated simultaneously, cold sweat beading on their foreheads—it was their biological instincts screaming: Danger! Run!
"Shall we continue?" Kurumi asked.
Kafka took a deep breath and smiled.
"I'm not playing anymore."
She pulled a thick, metal-covered book from her bosom and tossed it over.
"Here you go. But... can you tell me who you are?"
Kurumi took the book, opened it, looked at it, and nodded in satisfaction.
"This library is Kurumi, the Devouring Divine Beast."
It stuffed the book into its backpack and carried it on its back.
"By the way, your fortress has a structural problem; its center of gravity is shifted to the left, making it prone to collapse. I suggest you find time to reinforce it."
He turned and walked towards the door.
Halfway there, I turned back.
Three Dao Crystals were thrown out.
"A souvenir. Holding it tightly will enhance your strength—though it may not be of much use to you."
A white shadow flashed and disappeared.
Inside the room, the three held Dao Crystals and remained silent for a long time.
Silver Wolf suddenly spoke up: "Its data... cannot be parsed. It seems to be an 'error'."
"interesting."
Kafka smiled. "It seems this starry sky is about to become lively."
……………………………………………………………
Star Train.
Kurumi jumped back into the carriage, clapped his paws, and said, "Done, got the book. Thanks."
The entire train crew, having watched the whole process on the monitor, all looked as if they had just swallowed a pawn whole.
"you……"
The Star Organization's language: "You just... breached the Star Core Hunter Fortress like that?"
"Otherwise what?"
Kurumi tilted his head. "Should we send a visiting card first?"
It took the metal book out of its bag, turned to a certain page, and its eyes lit up.
"Oh! The dessert recommended by the Star God of 'Joy' is 'Void Macarons', and the recipe is... well, the ingredients are a bit hard to come by. We have to go to the edge of the black hole to pick 'Void Cream'."
I closed the book and looked at the train crew.
"Well then, it's been a pleasure doing business with you. I should be going now."
"etc."
Himeko called out to it, "Where...are you going next?"
"Finding ingredients to make desserts."
Kurumi replied matter-of-factly, “I’ll also take a look around other worlds. My journey is far from over.”
It walked toward the hatch, its form beginning to fade.
"By the way, your train's port engine has a slight air leak, remember to fix it."
The white shadow is about to disappear.
Xing suddenly cried out, "Will we ever see you again?"
Kurumi turned around and grinned.
"Perhaps. When you need to dismantle something—"
"This warehouse is available whenever you call."
The white figure disappeared.
Inside the train, all that remained was the illusory starry sky outside the window and a note with dog paw prints forgotten on the table.
The note read:
"I'll pay for the ticket next time."
Beneath it lay a radiant Dao Crystal.
Xing picked up the Dao Crystal and gripped it tightly.
Warm energy flows into the body.
She looked out the window and suddenly smiled.
"It seems... not a bad deal."
……………………………………………………………
Deep in the universe.
Kurumi flipped through the (Global Food Guide), her paws tracing the method for collecting "Void Cream".
"Ingredients near a black hole...that's a bit challenging."
It looked up, gazing into the boundless deep sky.
Its tail wagged happily.
"Next destination—"
"Go and taste what 'nothingness' tastes like."
A white shadow streaked across the starry sky, flying towards the nearest black abyss.
Behind them, the Star Train changed course and headed towards a new path of exploration.
Two beams of light briefly intersected in deep space.
Then they went their separate ways.