Create a game called "Collapse Iron," where the entire universe is the player.

It was just another ordinary day on the Starry Sky Train.

March 7th pushed open the door to her room, yawning widely, with a few tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes.

Last night, she and Xing played around in bed until very late, and because Xing was a restless sleeper, she barely slept well in the latter half of the night.

So, by the time she finally got up, washed up, and arrived at the observation car, it was already quite late.

Then, she saw this scene:

Xing was holding her camera, adjusting the angle, and pressing the shutter to take a picture of someone.

Silver Wolf stood to the side with his arms crossed, blowing bubble gum and watching Lin Lin with great interest.

Beside him sat Lin Lin, who was sitting on the sofa by the viewing window, his right fist pressed against his forehead, deep in thought.

He had maintained this pose for some time, barely moving his eyes, looking like a rather unattractive modern sculpture.

"What's going on?" March 7th leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

Star and Silver Wolf shook their heads at the same time.

They didn't know either.

Xing whispered, "When we woke up this morning, we saw him like this, like he was petrified."

Silver Wolf added, "He hasn't moved for at least twenty minutes. If it weren't for the rise and fall of his chest, I would have tried poking his nostrils with a data cable to see if he would react."

"March! Come and see!" Xing excitedly raised her camera and pulled up the photo she had just taken.

On the screen, Lin Lin maintained his classic "thinker" pose, with a flowing starry sky as the background and light shining from his side and behind, casting deep shadows on his face... It certainly had an artistic feel to it.

"I've named this photo 'The Thinker Under the Stars'!" Xing announced proudly.

"The thinker of the stars?" March 7th tilted his head.

Silver Wolf blew a bubble and slowly added, "It could also be called 'Contemporary Performance Art - On How Planning Thinks About the Story'."

March 7th looked blankly at Lin Lin, who seemed isolated from the world, and muttered to herself, "What is he thinking about? New game plot? Or reminiscing about the past?"

At this moment, Lin Lin's thoughts had already flown off the train, wandering and entangled in a more conceptual realm.

System: [Hint: To reach the Star Gods, the core is not simply the accumulation of power. The key lies in providing your own 'ultimate answer' to a certain destiny in the universe—that is, a certain extreme, conceptualized philosophical idea or path—and practicing it in a way that shakes the universe and is engraved in the laws of the universe, thereby triggering a fundamental sublimation and qualitative change.]

This is an extremely mysterious, difficult, and uncertain process.

It is more like an ultimate leap in philosophical concept than a simple accumulation of energy.

The system summarizes this in the simplest way possible: [The known paths to the birth of a Star God in the current universe can be summarized as follows: Embarking on a certain destiny → Implementing its core principles to the extreme → Triggering a cosmic resonance or extraordinary phenomenon → Ultimately ascending to become a Star God who governs that destiny.]

[Example: Lan (the Star-Hunting God) embodies the will of 'revenge and hunting' to the extreme; her long-term star-hunting expeditions almost define what 'hunting' truly means.]

[For example: The Wise One (the Star God of Knowledge), originally created as a machine for the pursuit of knowledge, has pushed his obsession with knowledge to a divine realm that transcends the framework of his creation.]

The system abruptly changed its tone, issuing a warning: "Of course, becoming a Star God isn't just about power and eternity. It's also a near-absolute 'binding'."

Your behavioral logic must perfectly align with the core principles of the destiny you govern, making it difficult, if not impossible, to deviate from.

[For example: Taizyuros (the Procreation Star God), in his attempt to abandon his destiny in order to survive, caused both his destiny and his own existence to end instantly.]

Lin Lin was thinking rapidly in his mind.

If he is to embark on his own envisioned, unknown path based on the concepts of "equivalent exchange" or "wealth/transaction," his constraint will likely be the need to "measure everything" (including intangible things such as emotions, civilization, and life) and follow some underlying, cold-blooded law of equivalence.

But that's not what he really wants.

What if we directly focus on manipulating the "metal" element?

It seems too concrete, making it difficult to reach the philosophical depth and conceptual breadth required for "destiny".

Therefore, a compromise is to bind one's actions to an existing path that partially aligns with one's beliefs, and then slowly explore one's own way.

For example, the 【Preservation】Fate Path: maximizes the sturdiness and protective attributes of "gold" or "wealth".

It was not for attack, but for forging and protection.

Imagine this: amidst countless catastrophes faced by civilizations, using endless "gold" to build a final, indestructible sanctuary for desperate beings.

This might lead him down the path of "preservation," making him some kind of embodiment of material form protection, similar to...

However, it may overlap with or even conflict with Cripper's ideas.

How can one compete with the Amber King who has been knocking on walls for tens of thousands of years for a chance at destiny?

Lin Lin silently crossed it out in his mind.

It's too difficult, and the art style is wrong.

For example, the [Order] destiny: pushes the rules, laws, and contractual attributes of "Gold" to their peak.

The legendary "golden rules" and "golden words" are examples of this.

He can use "gold" or "contracts" as a medium to formulate rules and build an absolutely stable social or economic structure.

This could be a "legacy" that leads to the fate of the deceased order, becoming some kind of new "golden rule" or "contract" star god.

Competing with the "dead" for survival sounds feasible, doesn't it?

After all, the original owner is no longer here.

But to reshape a dead path and make it recognized again by the universe...

This level of difficulty is probably not much lower than facing Cripper head-on.

"Sigh..." Lin Lin sighed in his mind.

These ideas are still too far away for him right now.

Right now, we don't even have a clear idea of ​​our own destiny or path. Thinking about these things is like a beggar considering whether to use a golden hoe or a silver hoe to till the land after ascending the throne.

You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to go step by step.

The primary task at present is to create the initial outline of one's own destiny, or at least to clarify the direction.

After he had temporarily sorted out these chaotic thoughts and decided to put them behind him, his eyes slowly regained focus, and his consciousness returned to reality.

Then he saw three pairs of eyes staring at him intently, their eyes filled with curiosity.

"What's wrong? Why are you all staring at me?"

Lin Lin stretched his stiff neck and asked in confusion.

Xing immediately shoved the camera screen in front of his eyes, showing it off like a treasure: "Appreciate art! Look, this is what I took!"

Lin Lin looked closely and saw that the screen showed him in the same "contemplative" pose as if he had been constipated for three days.

The composition and lighting are actually quite good, but the main character's expression is just... unbearable to look at.

"...You guys are really bored." Lin Lin rubbed his temples speechlessly.

......

A few days later, the train made one last short jump.

Sure enough, it hovered over a planet completely surrounded by ice and snow.

Looking down through the viewing window, you can see the Arillow VI below.

Just like in the game's storyline: snow-covered landscape, frozen for thousands of miles, enveloping the entire planet in a vast white shadow.

Before departure, the atmosphere in the observation car was as usual, yet also carried a hint of excitement before setting off.

March 7th looked at Xing and Danheng a little embarrassedly, but couldn't contain her excitement, and cleared her throat: "Although you may have already heard it, I still want to say it again!"

She took a deep breath:

"The Yalilo 'Pioneer' Squad - Let's go!!!"

The sound was crisp and clear, echoing through the carriage.

Walter Young really wanted to go, but Himeko gently suggested that this time Hoshino, Dan Heng, and Mitsuki should get to know each other better and develop their own pioneering friendship.

Lin Lin also advised Walter not to go, fearing it would make him question the meaning of life.

Silver Wolf simply didn't want to go.

Isn't it nice to snuggle up in a warm beanbag chair on the train and play games?

Kaffa showed some interest, but when she found out Himeko wasn't going, she didn't go either.

As for Lin Lin himself?

He wasn't completely avoiding going, he just didn't want to be with the three little ones.

Following behind the main characters not only affects the "naturalness" of triggering fixed plots for them, but also restricts his own freedom to investigate things privately.

He planned to go down a few hours later to conduct an on-site inspection of the environment in Belleburg.

By the way... let's test my strength after becoming a Destiny Walker.

Time flies.

The three members of the pioneering team have landed perfectly on the permafrost of Yalilo-VI.

Beneath my feet was thick, crunching ice and snow, and the frigid air rushed towards me instantly, each breath leaving long trails of white vapor.

Looking around, all you can see are the ruins of buildings half-buried in the snow.

Further away, some twisted rift creations wandered aimlessly.

Looking at the endless white desert before him, March 7th couldn't help but mutter, "This doesn't look like anyone lives here... there isn't even a footprint in sight."

Dan Heng carefully observed the surrounding terrain and the direction of the building ruins, pointing in one direction: "Following these remaining building structures should lead us to the locals."

"Are we going to walk in this freezing weather for a whole day?" March 7th was already missing the heating on the train.

Just then, Xing suddenly chuckled, a smug look on his face that said, "I was prepared."

"Don't worry! I have a plan!"

Upon hearing this, Danheng and Sanyueqi both turned their gazes toward her.

Xing emerged from her dress, which seemed to have an unusually small interior space.

He pulled out a stack of colorful cards.

The card was about the size of a playing card, with a shimmering edge.

The material is neither paper nor metal.

March 7th leaned closer, puzzled: "What are these cards?"

Xing waved the cards in her hand: "They're the weird and wonderful things Lin Lin drew."

"Huh?" March 7th was even more confused. "Those things...aren't they all physical objects? How did they all turn into cards?"

"Because of this!" Xing pulled out a card from the stack and showed it to the two of them.

The front of the card features a picture of a strangely shaped machine.

"Card Maker: Originating from a world centered around cards. It can transform individual, inanimate objects into portable card forms. Note: Some special items may not be convertible."

Dan Heng understood: "No wonder there seems to be much less clutter on the train lately."

March 7th sighed, "Sure enough, it's just some strange and unusual items again."

Danheng, however, was more concerned with practical matters: "What was the method you just mentioned?"

Xing gestured for the two to wait a moment, then quickly rummaged through the thick stack of cards.

The cards made a soft "swish" sound in her hand.

Soon, her eyes lit up, and she pulled out a card with an ancient brass compass design.

"Jack Sparrow's Compass: A legendary artifact from the Caribbean. It does not point due north, but rather to the thing (or place, or person) that the holder most desires. Note: The desire must be clear and strong enough for the compass to work."

Under the astonished gazes of March 7th and Danheng.

Xing held the card in both hands.

The card glowed slightly and materialized.

An old-looking brass compass appeared in her hand.

Then, Xing closed her eyes and began to mutter incantations:

"Bronya! Bronya!! Bronya!!!"

March 7th and Danheng: "..."

Is this... a soul-calling ritual?

However, the next second, something magical happened.

The compass needle, which had been swaying and trembling irregularly, suddenly stopped, as if drawn by an invisible force.

Then, like an iron needle attracted by a magnet, it suddenly pointed straight in a certain direction!

"It really works!" Xing opened her eyes, saw the pointer pointing, and exclaimed excitedly.

"Hey! Wait a minute! Don't be impulsive!" Before March 7th could finish speaking, Xing had already grabbed the compass in one hand and summoned her baseball bat with the other.

They charged towards the direction of the pointer, which happened to be the area where several Rift Monsters were roaming!

"That idiot!" March 7th stomped her foot, immediately summoning her ice crystal longbow and quickly following after them. "Wait! Wait for us!"

Dan Heng looked at his two impulsive teammates and shook his head helplessly.

With a flick of his wrist, the Cloud-Striking Spear was already in his hand.

He strode along at a leisurely pace, keeping a distance that allowed him to provide support at any time while also keeping watch on those behind him.

Following the guidance of the strange compass, the three members of the pioneering team plunged into the frozen wasteland of Yalilo and fought their way through the roaming horde of Rift monsters.

And right near where they had just landed, in some seemingly ordinary snowdrift.

A man with blue hair slowly poked his head out of the snow, a small clump of snow on his head.

???

He blinked, looking at the three figures quickly disappearing into the distance, a look of confusion on his face.

He hid in this snowdrift, waiting for the people on the Starry Sky Train.

The results of it?

The three of them ran headlong toward Belloberg without looking back, not even glancing in his direction!

He crawled out of the snowdrift completely, watching the three figures gradually disappear into the wind and snow.

Instead of being annoyed, he stroked his chin and chuckled softly.

"Interesting...really interesting!"

He nimbly darted forward and silently followed the three people's footsteps.

Leave no trace in the snow!

……

along the way,

Even when there were no monsters from the Rift Realm to interfere, Star Hands didn't sit idle.

She flipped through the thick stack of cards in her hand, wondering if there were any other props.

"Substitute Arrow (Normal Arrow)", "Fragrant Melon Seeds", "Eiffel Tower"...

What are all these things?

Xing couldn't help but complain in her heart.

Finally, after flipping through several useless cards such as "Talking Cactus" and "Back Scratcher That Never Goes Empty," a new card caught her attention.

"Magic Bullet King Gashapon Machine: From the Magic Bullet World. Randomly provides one Magic Bullet Embryo, containing basic battle cards and a detailed instruction manual."

"March, Danheng! Look at this!" Xing temporarily put away the other cards and held up this card with a cartoon-style gashapon machine design.

"Magic Bullet...King? What does that mean?"

March 7th came over, looking at the words "Magic Bullet" on the card with a puzzled expression.

Xing shook her head: "The instructions are very vague... but we'll find out if we try!"

She focused her mind again and summoned the items from the cards.

A faint light flashed, and a gashapon machine, about the size of a basketball and with a rather exquisite design, appeared in her hand.

The gashapon machine has a prominent round button, and inside the transparent glass cover, you can clearly see colorful gashapon capsules of different sizes lying quietly.

Xing was the first to try.

Curious, she pressed the button.

The gashapon machine emitted a slight buzzing sound as the colorful gashapon capsules began to spin rapidly, making a gurgling sound.

A few seconds later, it stopped operating with a "click".

A gray egg the size of a basketball fell into Xing's palm.

The gray egg feels slightly heavy in the hand, with a smooth and cool surface.

"What is this?" March 7th asked curiously, poking the gray eggshell with his finger.

Dan Heng analyzed, "Judging from the name 'embryo,' it's likely something like a biological egg or an energy incubator. We'll have to wait for it to hatch naturally to see what's inside."

Xing held the gray gashapon capsule in both hands, concentrating on feeling it.

At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but a few seconds later, she could feel a very subtle but real pulsation coming from inside the eggshell!

It was as if a tiny life was sleeping, its heart beating slowly and powerfully.

"Hmm! There really is something inside! And it's moving!" Xing excitedly reported her discovery.

"You two hurry up and try one too!" Xing handed the gashapon machine to March 7, while she carefully held the gray gashapon, her eyes full of anticipation.

What will hatch?

Hearing what Xing said, March 7th couldn't resist her curiosity and took the gashapon machine.

"Okay, I'll give it a try!"

She pressed the button, mimicking Xing's gesture.

The gashapon machine buzzed again, and the colorful eggs spun around.

What fell out this time was a gashapon capsule with a light blue shell and faint ice crystal patterns.

"Wow! It's blue! So beautiful!" March 7th happily caught it, also feeling the faint but tenacious pulse of life inside the eggshell.

"Danheng, we're just waiting for you!" March 7th handed the gashapon machine back to Danheng, while she and Xing examined the gashapon in their hands, guessing what might be inside.

Dan Heng actually has an instinctive caution towards this kind of "random lottery" nature, especially things that might involve unknown creatures.

But... looking into Xing and March 7's expectant eyes.

If he refuses, it seems a bit... too antisocial?

Finally, under the silent gaze of her two companions, Danheng took the gashapon machine and pressed the button.

"Click." A gashapon capsule with a cyan shell and smooth lines resembling cloud patterns fell into his hand.

It feels cool to the touch, and you can also feel a rhythmic pulsation inside.

So, on this cold, desolate, permafrost snowfield, the three temporarily forgot about their journey, formed a circle, and stared intently at the living egg in each of their hands.

Time passed second by second.

Several minutes passed...

March 7th couldn't hold back any longer and looked up, asking, "When will they hatch?"

Hoshino looked up, completely bewildered. "I don't know... Where's the instruction manual?"

Dan Heng glanced at the sky and calmly reminded him, "Our primary task right now is to find the local forces of Yalilo VI. Let's not linger here for too long."

"Alright, let's get going! We'll figure out how to hatch them once we find a warm place!" Xing picked up the compass again, the pointer still pointing firmly into the distance.

After adjusting their mindset, the three embarked on their journey to the unknown snowfield once again.

……

Meanwhile, on Arillow-VI, the only remaining human civilization stronghold—Belloburg, Upper District, Kripper Castle.

In the magnificent yet somewhat empty and desolate Guardian Hall, only the High Guardian Cocolia Rand was present at the moment.

She didn't know when it started, but she began to get more and more used to being alone, standing deep inside this building that symbolized the highest power but was also the most solitary.

Perhaps it's because of... that voice that's becoming clearer and harder to ignore.

Her thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to a long time ago.

From the first time she clearly heard the star core speak.

That was a secret the previous Great Guardian told her before he died.

At the time, she didn't believe it, or rather, she didn't want to believe it.

Until she heard it herself.

It was a... very low, deep voice.

It didn't seem to come from her ears, but rather from the depths of the earth, or perhaps it was growing from the darkest corner of her own heart.

Star Core (whispering): You are afraid.

Cocolia (subconsciously retorting): I didn't.

Star Core: You have it. You're afraid you can't save them. You're afraid that this city, these people you protect, will ultimately die, freeze, and fall into silence in your hands.

Cocolia (after a long silence, her voice hoarse): ...So what?

Star Core (its tone softens, becoming alluring): I can help you. If you accept me, accept my power, you will be the most powerful guardian. You will possess the power to change everything; you will be able to protect them, to keep them alive. Forever.

forever.

What an alluring yet heavy word.

Cocolia closed her eyes, her face pale.

She thought of the homeless who silently froze to death on the streets during the intensifying winter nights.

It reminded me of the bodies of children who died from hypothermia or disease.

I recalled the profound sense of powerlessness that welled up within me as I stood before the high windows of Cripperburg.

"...I accept." She heard her own voice, so calm it didn't sound like her.

The star core laughed.

The laughter was very soft, almost inaudible.

But to Cocolia, it was more biting than the winds of eternal winter, reaching the very depths of her soul.

"Mother……"

Sudden.

A worried knock and a call interrupted Cocolia's thoughts.

It's Bronya.

The commander of the Silvermane Iron Guards, and also the one she longed for.

Bronya pushed open the door and walked in, still carrying a slight chill.

"Mother, the latest reconnaissance report on the rift activities outside the city, and the lower districts..."

Cocolia slowly turned around, her face now displaying the majesty and calm of a Great Guardian.

"Go ahead and speak, I'm listening."