I just wanted you to make a movie: You made a Honkai Star Rail movie

Of course, the lack of new material only exacerbated the issue.

Fans camped out on the official website, refreshing madly, but two or three days passed with no updates.

The massive wave of content released earlier in the week had only heightened their expectations.

Each subsequent day became pure agony for them.

Finally, under the intense anticipation, Saturday arrived.

The first episode of the Penacony arc was about to go live!

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

Saturday.

Under the eyes of countless fans, there were still a few minutes until the main episode aired, but the website traffic had already reached a new peak.

Everyone at MiHoYo had also gathered early in the screening room, each finding a spot to settle in, preparing to enjoy the new Chapter of the Honkai: Star Rail series.

On the massive holographic projection, the comments of the audience could be seen

...

: MiHoYo! Director Xia! How can you keep us hanging like this? This week has felt like torture!

: And this week, we only got a PV and a sneak peek of the Duke Inferno—nothing else.

: The mystery around Penacony is too much to handle.

: This sense of the unknown is driving me crazy.

: I wonder what kind of story will unfold in the new Chapter. Will it be as thrilling as the other arcs? Will it have even more explosive twists? Ugh, I want to know so badly.

: It’s Stelleting, it’s Stelleting! It’s time!

...

As the fans engaged in heated discussions, the hour quietly struck 12.

With a flood of bullet comments appearing, the MiHoYo logo slowly emerged. The crew of the Astral Express appeared on the screen.

After solving the issues at the space station, Stelle had returned here. At this moment, everyone was gathered together as Pompom prepared to give a final reminder before the warp jump.

”Dear passengers, because this is an important matter, I must inform you once again,” Pompom said seriously. ”As you all know, our Express’s destination is Penacony.”

”Pompom is also aware that everyone has been eagerly anticipating that galaxy-renowned hotel. But before we depart, there are three things I need to remind everyone about.”

Under the curious gazes of Stelle and March 7th, Pompom spoke each word carefully.

The first two points were about the peculiarities of the Stelle system where Penacony was located, as well as The Family and the rules to be followed rules there. Pompom also took the opportunity to provide fans with some educational tidbits about Emanators.

The most crucial was the third point.

”...Pompom has a humble request. If possible, while enjoying your vacation, I hope you can take some time to help gather information on a few Nameless passengers.”

March 7th and Stelle exchanged puzzled looks.

They hadn’t been aboard the Express for long and didn’t know many hidden secrets.

”I’ll explain,” Himeko interjected. ”Like most worlds the Express stops at, Penacony was once a stop on the Astral Express.”

”Thousands of years ago, it was still a remote prison under the Interastral Peace Corporation’s control until the people there freed it from the IPC’s rule.”

”Back then, the Astral Express also visited Penacony. According to the Express’s records, a few passengers chose to disembark there, making it their destination.”

Hearing this, March 7th scratched her head. ”After so much time, can we still find them?”

”Haha, don’t worry, little March,” Himeko reassured her.

”Think of it as a ceremonial return to a familiar place. After the Express departed, the Stellaron split the worlds, and Penacony has changed hands multiple times.”

”How those Nameless passengers fared afterward, what they experienced, and what traces they left behind—it’s all part of the adventure to follow their footsteps.”

Himeko smiled, encouraging March 7th to relax. She then retrieved the passenger logbook.

”According to the logbook, the three passengers who disembarked back then were named Tiernan, Mikhail Char Legwork, and Razalina. They were once the Express’s guard, mechanic, and surveyor respectively.”

”But beyond that, there’s no additional information.”

Just names and occupations.

Listening to this, March 7th felt somewhat helpless. It was undoubtedly like searching for a needle in a haystack.

However, Himeko and Pompom’s intent wasn’t necessarily to find the individuals themselves.

”Let fate decide; even if we find their descendants, it would still be a meaningful outcome.”

”There’s an extremely slim chance we might even meet them in person.”

Himeko smiled lightly.

At this point, the short opening story had already left the audience brimming with anticipation.

...

: Three Nameless predecessors. If the Express crew really finds their descendants, it might turn out to be really interesting!

: We might even encounter new Nameless companions.

: If they actually meet the old predecessors, they would surely feel gratified.

: After all, the Express disappeared for so long, those Nameless would have had a hard time too.

: Then again, maybe it’s their descendants waiting to surprise us.

: Does this count as the Express crew’s version of a triumphant return home?

...

The peaceful atmosphere, coupled with Pompom’s own assertion that surprises were nearly impossible on the domain of Harmony, lulled fans into a state of low alertness.

When the backstory of the three Nameless passengers was revealed, many viewers instinctively imagined classic storylines.

For instance, the Nameless predecessors leading hard lives, encountering crises, and being saved by the Express’s return. Or their descendants facing difficulties and being rescued by the Express crew.

Though cliché, these possibilities still had a certain appeal and anticipation.

On the screen, everyone, having concluded their reminiscing, settled into their seats, ready for the upcoming warp.

Stelle obediently sat down, and the Express quieted down completely, save for the broadcast of the intergalactic peace news radio.

”The Armed Archaeologists of the Intelligentsia Guild will collaborate with the Genius Society’s Screwllum to officially excavate the tomb of Rubert I.”

”Interastral Peace Corporation and Xianzhou Alliance: Luofu Signs Another New Trade Agreement.”

”The Interastral Peace Corporation and the alliance reached a consensus on issues such as interstellar security and its impact on the free market.”

”Meanwhile, the IPC’s spokesperson expressed concerns over the antimatter legion’s invasion of Xianzhou Luofu, extended condolences, and conveyed willingness to provide assistance to support the recovery efforts.”

One news report after another.

These updates gave the audience a sense of how real this world felt.

At the same time, they captured everyone’s attention.

And just then— Pompom’s voice sounded.

”The Express is about to warp! Passengers, please hold on tightly!”

As the announcement ended, the familiar sound of the Express’s engine roared to life.

”The warp is about to begin!”

”2!”

”1!”

In the next moment, the Express stationary in the space was engulfed in a blue light.

But unlike the last journey to Xianzhou, something was different this time.

Strange sounds and fleeting images flashed quickly across the screen.

Acheron and Stelle standing together.

A glimpse of a Robin, with only half her face revealed.

Fans widened their eyes in disbelief, staring intently at the screen.

However, the camera quickly shifted back to Stelle’s face.

Sitting upright, Stelle slowly opened her eyes.

What came into view was not the familiar Express but an unfamiliar place.

An orange sofa and a carpet on the floor.

These decorations resembled a room in some hotel.

An unpredictable and unprepared development.

It added a layer of mystery to the journey right from the start.

Stelle glanced around, her eyes suddenly sharpening.

”... Another one.”

”Come with me.”

Opposite her stood a tall, purple-haired woman with her arms crossed, her expression emotionless as she gazed at Stelle.

The sudden shift prompted a flurry of comments:

...

: Whoa, what kind of development is this!?

: No buildup at all, just straight into it!

: Wait, hold up, I’m so confused—what’s going on!?

: The Asdana system is really something, warping directly into a hotel!?

: And Acheron seems to take it as a given, no explanation whatsoever.

...

Stelle, too, was full of questions. She spread her hands and asked three in quick succession.

”Who are you?”

”Where is this?”

”Where are we going?”

Acheron stopped, turned to Stelle, and looked at her for two seconds before answering, ”These questions are irrelevant right now.”

”But I’ll try to explain. This is a boundary between reality and memory, a place of ’dreams.’”

”For this moment, you and I happen to share the same dreamscape, appearing in each other’s thoughts.”

”This is the dreamland’s initial greeting to us.”

”Don’t worry; soon you’ll wake up from this dream, forgetting everything that happened, leaving only a faint sense of longing.”

Acheron’s words offered deeper insight into the state of Penacony.

As Stelle followed Acheron out, the latter gave a brief self-introduction.

To her, titles like Galaxy Ranger or Nameless were of little consequence.

Following some exchanges, Acheron left an impression of being a calm and detached person with little emotional fluctuation.

Her remarks on forgetting were not noticed by fans due to the lack of context.

At that moment, the two arrived at a large door.

”Open it and take a good look at the magnificent dreamscape while you still remember it.” Curious, Stelle pushed open the door with both hands.

What she saw made her eyes widen and her jaw drop.

”My goodness...” A luxurious hotel lobby appeared before her.

Red carpets covered the floor, potted plants were placed everywhere, and golden chandeliers hung overhead.

The sheer opulence was overwhelming enough to astonish Stelle.

What truly shocked her, however, was the gravity-defying decor on the ceiling and walls.

It was as if the ceiling wasn’t a ceiling but another floor.

”After you,” Acheron said calmly, leading Stelle to a wall.

”Is this... some kind of illusion?” Stelle asked, puzzled.

Acheron shook her head as if recalling something, then stepped forward herself.

Under Stelle’s astonished gaze, she walked up the wall, standing there as naturally as if it were the ground.

At this moment, the two stood at a 90-degree angle to each other, yet both appeared completely natural.

”Please, go ahead.” With Acheron’s invitation, Stelle cautiously stepped onto the wall.

From the camera’s perspective, the entire hotel began to rotate with Stelle’s movement.

Once Stelle and Acheron stood side by side, they both looked up, and the camera panned and spun.

The floor they had just walked on turned into a wall, and the ceiling shifted to the left.

On the wall opposite, another door stood, the same one they had just entered.

The rules of physics, architectural aesthetics, and conventional logic— none of them applied in this dreamland.

Each scene, crafted with stunning effects, appeared surreal and breathtaking!

Even before the plot began, these magnificent designs left a profound impression of Penacony on the audience.