Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy
An ancient steam train floated silently in the void of space. Its locomotive, crafted from reinforced cast iron with thick plates, boasted a chimney that emitted no smoke. Though wheels adorned its sides, they served no function, merely decorative relics of a bygone era. Before it, immense and serene, a blue planet hung in the emptiness: Earth.
Inside the main carriage, four figures gazed out at the planet through a panoramic window.
"So this is the legendary planet!" exclaimed one of the youths, his voice filled with awe. He appeared to be around sixteen, with mocha skin, electrifying green eyes, and a short mohawk. Dressed in dark overalls adorned with countless cables and chips clipped to his belt, his left arm, entirely cybernetic, displayed the neon mark "01."
"Hmph… so this is the birthplace of the sect leader," murmured the second, a cultivator with an air of quiet presumption. His serene face, framed by brown eyes with a faint golden gleam, wore a simple jade-toned tunic and a necklace bearing the yin-yang symbol. His long hair was neatly tied in a traditional topknot.
Beside them, in silent contemplation, stood two more passengers: a woman and a man, both admiring the world in quiet reverence.
The young archer possessed fair skin and silver-blonde hair braided intricately. Her blue eyes mirrored the planet's light, and pointed ears hinted at her elven heritage. She wore a short olive-green cloak and leather boots with silver buckles. A runic bow remained firmly strapped to her back.
The man beside her was of average height, clad in a jacket with neon graffiti, ripped jeans, and LED-lit sneakers. His hair was shaved on the sides, with a pink-dyed fringe. His dark eyes scanned their surroundings with an insatiable curiosity.
An elf, a cultivator, a cyborg, and a modern man—a truly strange combination, indeed. After a period of quiet contemplation, a robotic voice echoed from the background.
"Disembarking in 10 minutes."
"We're on our way, Lumi," replied Kal Narion, the cyborg, as he examined his metallic left arm. A 2D holographic projection shimmered into existence from his limb—a loli girl dressed as a steam train: a mini iron skirt, a white shirt emblazoned with a flying train logo, and a chimney-shaped hat.
"Master! The Proprietress and the other elders are waiting for you to depart! Hurry, Hayaku, hayaku!" she urged, raising her arm skyward with an urgent tone.
"..."
Kal sighed, covering his face with a hand, a flush of embarrassment spreading even across his metallic plating. His friends stared at him with strange expressions.
"I didn't realize you Technopolians had such… eccentric tastes," questioned Li Zhēn, the cultivator, a brow raised in a mocking smile.
Aeliena Windrider, the elf, maintained her cool demeanor, but her eyes betrayed her, clearly admiring the cute projection beside her. How adorable.
"Come on… I don't want to keep the Master waiting," grumbled Park Sang-min, clearly disinterested, as he began to exit.
The disembarkation bay was the size of a football field, featuring an immense wall of blue light that opened directly into the void of space. Among cyborgs boarding spaceships, mages mounting wyverns, and even cultivators soaring on cranes, four figures stood out prominently near the exit.
Madame Jae-hee Kim leaned casually against the luminous wall. Her black overcoat was intricately stitched with cobalt-blue neon panels, and behind her holographic visor, her metallic voice resonated.
"Dra. Vega, have you been here before?"
"First time, Kim," replied a woman with crossed arms. Though her voice betrayed no interest, a habitual smile never left her face. Tall, with pale, cool skin and long silver hair, her arms were liquid silver prosthetics pulsating with quantum lights. Dressed in a lab coat, this was Dra. Aurelia Vega, the train's Proprietress.
"It's curious how such a small place can produce so many strong individuals," said a burly warrior with a cheerful smile. He wore full white armor without a helmet and a flowing red cape. A long sword, as tall as he was, rested on his back. His expression was gentle and joyful, yet a scar stretched from his left eye to his chin. This was Sir Eadric Blackthorn.
"They've arrived," interrupted Master Xianyu Lóng. He wore a flowing jade and water-toned robe, embroidered with dragon scales. His long black hair seemed to float without wind, and his amber eyes were translucent. A massive mustache adorned his face.
A hushed discussion could be heard as the disciples approached.
"Who, in their right mind, would put the AI controlling a train in loli form?" Li Zhēn questioned sarcastically, nudging Park Sang-min with his elbow.
Visibly annoyed, Park Sang-min retorted with palpable disinterest:
"Better than an old man in a ring."
Li Zhēn choked, an "invisible blood" spurting from his mouth, clearly struck by the retort. The elf, beside the embarrassed cyborg, watched the two with a satisfied smile. She had understood the reference.
The four disciples stepped forward to greet their respective masters:
Aeliena Windrider, disciple of Sir Eadric Blackthorn;
Li Zhēn, disciple of Master Xianyu Lóng;
Kal Narion, disciple of Dra. Aurelia Vega;
Park Sang-min, disciple of Madame Jae-hee Kim.
"So, ready to go? The ticket has already been issued," the Doctor asked everyone with her usual smile.
"Master, what is this 'ticket' you mentioned?" Kal inquired with a hint of intrigue.
"Lumi!" she called with a smile.
"Proprietress!" A cute voice emanated from the disciple's arm, and then an embarrassed hologram appeared and began to narrate.
"A ticket is a tool of the train that seeks out the most talented beings from the stopping point. It is issued in search of new passengers!" she narrated with an excited voice, as an animation illustrated the explanation for everyone.
"Correct. This is the flagship feature of my dimensional train. Besides, it will help with my system mission." After explaining, her smile vanished as if she had remembered something unpleasant, and a sad expression crossed her face.
"You wouldn't believe how expensive it was to buy this from the system shop!"
Everyone present averted their gaze, a bitter taste in their mouths, recalling their own familiar experiences with the system.
"Anyway, let's decide where each group will go," Madame Kim said, tossing a disc into the center of the group, which projected a map of Earth.
"We currently have five ticket holders," Lumi projected herself in front of the map and began pointing to several red dots that appeared in different regions across the globe.
"The locations are Incheon, South Korea; Kyoto, Japan; Texas, United States; Beijing, China; and Milan, Italy."
"Alright, since there are five, someone will have to pick up two people. Who volunteers?" the Doctor asked.
"We'll go then. We'll head to Korea and Milan," Madame Jae spoke, as her disciple Park came to her side.
"We're going to the legendary China!" Master Long exclaimed with an unusual excitement in his voice.
I'm going to the sect leader's homeland, Li thought, clearly astonished.
"No way in hell am I going to Texas! Come on, little Aeliena, let's go to Japan!" the Sir said with urgency, hurrying to mount his dragon.
"Well, it looks like Texas is left. Let's go, Kal, Lumi," the Doctor said with a sigh.
"Uuuu, Texas, sugoi!" exclaimed Lumi animatedly, clapping her hands.