Stellar Train: I Open a Small Shop on the Train-Chapter 115

"I just contacted General Jing Yuan. He'll take us to see Osial.

With your current strength, Osial should be a suitable opponent."

Hu Tao was stunned. Didn't she just mention Osial in passing? And now she's actually going to fight him?

Suddenly, she felt a little unsure of herself. What was going on?

After all, Osial was that huge—and she was just this tiny. It really didn't seem like a fair matchup.

At that moment, a voice called out nearby:

"Yo~ Isn't that Zhongli and Hu Tao? Didn't you two go back already?"

Hu Tao looked toward the sound and saw Stelle licking an ice cream cone as she walked over.

Her mouth was surrounded by smears of ice cream.

Next to her were March 7th, Firefly, Ayaka, and Lumine—all also eating ice cream.

Ayaka had originally planned to return, but Yae Miko had persuaded her to stay overnight in Luofu and watch the matches the next day before heading back.

Hu Tao greeted them:

"We did go back. I got what I wanted, and I asked the consultant to take me to find someone I can spar with.

So he brought me here~ Says he's taking me to fight Osial."

The others perked up with interest.

"Ohoho! A fight? Mind if we tag along?"

Hu Tao shrugged nonchalantly:

"Nothing to mind. Let's go together."

So Stelle, March 7th, Firefly, and the others joined the party and followed Hu Tao and Zhongli toward the Shackling Prison.

Inside Shackling Prison.

Dan Heng, Xueyi, Jiaoqiu, and Moze had come here seeking a complete cure for Feixiao's Moon Madness.

As they walked deeper, they began to feel something was off—far too quiet. Unnervingly so.

Just as they were preparing to go deeper, a girl suddenly came chasing a Ditin through the prison gate.

"Stop right there! Give me back my skewers!"

It was Yunli. She had just bought some grilled skewers and was happily eating them when a Ditin appeared out of nowhere, snatched a bunch of her skewers, and ran off.

No way she could let that slide—so she gave chase, which led her right into Shackling Prison.

Spotting Dan Heng, she yelled:

"Quick! Help me catch that Ditin!"

Dan Heng blocked its path and caught it.

The Ditin struggled in his hands while the skewers fell from its mouth to the floor.

Yunli quickly picked them up and wiped off the dirt.

"Phew~ Thankfully they didn't stay on the ground for more than three seconds."

Dan Heng and Xueyi looked at her, about to ask what she was doing here, when Stelle and the others walked in through the gate.

"Dan Heng? What a coincidence! We keep bumping into familiar faces tonight."

Dan Heng looked at them.

"Stelle? You're here too? Also, wipe your mouth—you were just eating ice cream, right?"

Stelle wiped her mouth.

"Oh! You never miss a thing, Dan Heng. Your perception's top-tier.

We're here with Hu Tao—she's going to fight Osial for some sparring practice."

Dan Heng nodded.

"I see."

Stelle looked at him.

"What about you? Why are you in this prison? Here to fight too?"

Dan Heng shook his head slightly and looked at Jiaoqiu.

"I was having a meal with Jing Yuan when he mentioned he had something to discuss with me. After we ate, I ran into Mr. Jiaoqiu outside the restaurant.

He invited me to come here to search for a complete cure for General Feixiao's Moon Madness."

Jiaoqiu smiled with narrowed eyes.

"Qingling Pills can suppress Moon Madness, but only suppress. To truly cure it, we must find another way."

Stelle raised an eyebrow.

"Well then, let's go in together."

With a wave of her hand, Stelle led Hu Tao and the others deeper into Shackling Prison.

Deeper within Shackling Prison.

They reached the depths of the prison.

March 7th looked around, feeling a little uneasy.

"That's weird. Why haven't we seen any guards this whole way?"

The others agreed—it was indeed strange.

Dan Heng drew his Cloud-Piercing Spear.

"Everyone be alert. Something's not right here."

Just then, a group of "fox people" emerged from the shadows.

"Thanks for leading the way—thanks to you, we made it inside Shackling Prison."

At the front was Mok Tok.

Everyone turned to look at him. Lumine asked:

"Who are you?"

Mok Tok let out a cold laugh.

"Me? I'm from the great Borisin Tribe! Now die, lapdogs of The Reignbow Arbiter!"

At his command, the Borisin tribe charged at Stelle and the others.

Stelle shouted:

"Don't panic! Watch this!"

She pointed to the sky.

"Come forth! Trash-can King No. 1!"

Ten Trash-can Kings appeared around her, forming a protective circle.

She pointed forward.

"Attack them!"

The ten Trash-can Kings flexed their muscles and charged into the wolf tribe, each punch taking down an enemy.

Stelle then pulled out Judgment of Shamash and began precise shots.

This kind of trash wasn't even worth her switching to greatsword mode.

Moze and Xueyi weaved through the enemy ranks, each strike a clean kill.

Zhongli stood with arms folded, exuding majestic calm.

"Solid as a Rock!"

A golden shield appeared over everyone's body.

Hu Tao pulled out the Staff of Homa, using this opportunity to familiarize herself with the Phoenix Spirit she had just purchased.

The system-purchased Phoenix Soul instantly boosted her to the Archon level.

With that surge of power, Hu Tao needed actual combat to adjust to it.

As the battle began, the Borisin Tribe started to collapse.

Seeing this, Mok Tok panicked. How are these people so powerful?!

He looked toward the surrounding prison cells and hatched a plan.

In one cell, Osial was lying comfortably on a bed, watching the epic fight outside, occasionally throwing in a comment.

"Oh come on! You think you'll win from the front? Flank him!

Such noobs. Ten on one and they're still going in one by one? Total rookies. Man, I wish I had some wine—this is great entertainment."

Just then, he noticed someone approaching his cell, looking like they were about to open it.

The door opened.

"Wait! Stop! That little gray-haired girl is right outside! Don't let me out!

Don't open that! Shut the door! SHUT IT!"

***

With a ripping sound, Osial's prison door was flung open.

Osial immediately burst into tears. It's over—I don't want to break out!

Mok Tok , seeing Osial crying, thought he was simply overwhelmed with emotion.

"Brother, don't cry! Now's our chance—let's beat those guys and escape together!"

Osial remained lying on the ground, still crying. Not a single word Mok Tok said registered with him.

His mind was racing, trying to figure out how he was going to explain all this.

Mok Tok patted Osial on the shoulder and went to open the next cell door.

One by one, he opened all the prison cells, and the inmates rushed out to attack Stelle and the others.

Among them was Luocha, who simply glanced at the fierce battle below, then returned to calmly reading his book.

As more prisoners joined the fight, Mok Tok slipped away and entered a particular cell.

Inside was Hoolay. Sensing the commotion, Hu Lei looked up as Mok Tok entered, bowing with excitement.

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

"Warhead Hoolay! We've finally rescued you! Don't worry, I'll untie you right away!Once you return to the tribe, we'll rise to glory once more!"

Mok Tok freed Hoolay from his restraints. Hoolay glanced at Mok Tok, disappointment in his eyes.

These little wolf cubs... they've lost their edge.

What he had hoped for most was to see the next generation storm into Shackling Prison, pull out the Red Moon from his chest, and whisper into his ear:

"Old man, you should've died long ago. The Red Moon belongs to me now. I will lead the Borisin Tribe back to the top!"

Sadly, reality had delivered the opposite.

After a short rest, the abundance energy surged within Hoolay, healing all of his injuries.

As he stepped out of his cell, his overwhelming presence caused everyone nearby to stop fighting.

The Borisin wolves, seeing their Warhead freed, were emboldened!

"Warhead Hoolay! You've finally returned! Brothers! Fight! We must rescue the Warhead!"

Stelle and Firefly exchanged glances—and stopped holding back.

Stelle called out to the group:

"Everyone, fall back! Leave this to me and Firefly!"

The two moved simultaneously.

"Judgment Of Shamash, Unleashed!"

"I shall... set the seas ablaze!"

Stelle's Judgment of Shamash shifted into greatsword form, unleashing a flame-swept slash.

Firefly, piloting Sam, leapt high and delivered a fierce kick toward Hoolay.

Hoolay raised his arms to guard his chest and took the blow head-on.

The force of the strike sent him flying back.

Standing up, Hoolay patted his chest, extinguishing the flames burning on his armor.

Firefly stared coldly at him.

"Surrender now and no one else has to get hurt."

Hoolay snorted.

"If it's a fight you want, then a fight you'll get. Beasts die on their feet, not their knees!"

At that moment—

A strange aura rippled through the prison, followed by loud laughter.

"Hahaha! Aha has found something fun again! Hahaha!"

Aha materialized at the center of the battlefield.

The next second, Sparkle stepped through a portal, holding a microphone in her hand.

Scanning the crowd, she cleared her throat.

"Ahem~ Good evening, everyone~ I'm Sparkle, warden of the Grand Theater Prison.

From here on out, I'll be your official commentator for this special exhibition match of the Martial Ceremony~"

Stelle and March 7th looked at her, exasperated.

March 7th leaned in to whisper to Stelle:

"What's Sparkle up to this time?"

Stelle shrugged.

"No clue. Let's just see."

Center stage—

Sparkle continued:

"Let me first introduce the contestants."

She ran up to Hoolay.

"First up! Our powerful, imposing, awe-inspiring Warhead Hoolay!"

Mok Tok beamed with pride.

"Now that's someone with vision! Our Warhead is invincible!"

Hoolay gave Sparkle a glance.

"You seem to know me well. Not bad."

Sparkle smiled brightly at his cooperation.

"Warhead Hoolay, do you feel confident about this upcoming match?"

She held the mic to his mouth.

Hoolay replied confidently:

"Of course! I face every battle with full confidence!"

Sparkle clapped dramatically.

"Wow~ As expected from our mighty Warhead!"

"Now then, let's meet the other team.

Hey! You folks up there—come on down!"

A starskiff decloaked above the arena, revealing itself to the crowd.

Standing on the edge were Jing Yuan, Feixiao, Huaiyan, Yanqing, and Jingliu.

Jing Yuan saw Sparkle enthusiastically waving at him and shook his head with a sigh.

"Let's go down."

The five jumped down from the starskiff.

Hoolay, seeing Jing Yuan, Feixiao, and Huaiyan—his long-time rivals—immediately recognized them.

He scoffed.

"Hmph, just three generals. Nothing I can't handle."

Mok Tok nodded in admiration.

"Warhead is unmatched!"

Sparkle grinned and continued:

"And two genius swordsmen—Yanqing and Yunli."

Hoolay gave the two a glance.

"Just two brats. I can swat them aside."

Sparkle went on:

"And the one and only—Dan Heng, the Imbibitor Lunae."

Hoolay's gaze lingered longer this time.

"Hmph. Just the Imbibitor Lunae. No big deal."

Then Sparkle said:

"And the former Sword Champion—Lady Jingliu~"

Hu Lei furrowed his brow.

Jingliu? Who the heck is that?

But as he focused, a chill ran down his spine.

"Jingliu!!!"

Sparkle still wasn't done.

"And also—Wangsheng Hall's Master Hu Tao, the Geo Archon Zhongli, Stellaron Hunter Sam, the Kamisato Clan's Lady Ayaka, Trailblazer March 7th, and our Galactic Heavenfire Hero, Stelle!"

Hu Lei was dumbfounded. Wait, what?! I'm fighting... ALL OF THEM?!

Mok Tok, oblivious, chimed in:

"Hah! Just a bunch of nobodies! Our Warhead will crush them all!"

His words made the expressions of Stelle, Jingliu, and the others visibly darker.

Hoolay really wanted to slap Mok Tok. Shut up already! You're literally charging their ult gauges!

And sure enough—

In the next instant:

"Judgment of Shamash! Annihilation!""Illuminate the rivers and mountains!""Heavenly Wrath!""Rain of Arrows!""I shall... set the seas ablaze!"

Thirty minutes later.

Shackling Prison returned to peace. The Borisin wolves who came to rescue Hoolay were all suppressed.

Hoolay and Mok Tok lay on the ground, tightly bound.

The surviving inmates were returned to their cells. The dead were cremated on the spot.

Osial, witnessing the result, gloated.

Hah, I'm the smart one. You didn't see who was out there?The little gray-haired reaper, the martial god Zhongli—just those two alone are monsters!

Not to mention their friends. You think their crew is normal?!

Jing Yuan looked at Hoolay and waved his hand.

"Lock those two back up."

A few Cloud Knights moved to escort Hoolay and Mok Tok away.

Just then, Sparkle and Aha ran over.

Sparkle skid to a stop in front of Jing Yuan.

"General Jing Yuan~ How about letting me take these two little wolves? I'm opening a Grand Theater Prison and need actors~"

Jing Yuan looked at Sparkle and Aha.

"That won't be necessary, Lord Elation and Miss Sparkle."

Sparkle tried again.

"C'mon~ I promise I'll never let them escape. I'll just keep them as actors at my theater.Don't worry! I, Sparkle, give my word! Aha won't mess around either—we swear!"

Aha raised four fingers.

"Aha swears! The little mutt won't get away!"

Stelle spoke up.

"General Jing Yuan, I think you can agree. Sparkle has absolute control in that theater.

Plus, she promised Ye Yun she wouldn't let any prisoner escape."

Jing Yuan, hearing that, considered it.

"In that case, fine. You two can take them."

Sparkle and Aha beamed with joy.

Sparkle kicked Aha.

"What are you staring at?! Go haul those two mutts back!"

Aha rubbed his rear.

"Going, going! Don't be mad, Lady Sparkle!"

He ran over, hoisted Hoolay and Mok Tok, opened a portal, and leapt in.

Sparkle waved.

"Goodbye everyone~ The Grand Theater's grand opening is in the works—remember to attend!"

With that, she hopped into the portal as well.

The portal closed.

Jing Yuan suddenly had a bad feeling. Was that... inhumane?

Hoolay and Mok Tok... in the hands of Lord Elation and Sparkle... oof.

"Stelle, when's the theater opening?"

"She said she'll give us a heads-up in the group chat."

Jing Yuan quietly pulled out his phone—and muted the chat.