I still remember the first time I stepped into the Fragmentum Maze for The Stars Are Cold Toys and thought, good grief, this place is quieter than a library at midnight. This quest is part of the Trailblaze Mission line in Sweltering Morning Sun, and as of 2026 it remains a tidy mix of puzzle routing, Hub activation, and a boss scrap that keeps you on your toes. You need Trailblaze Level 24 and Soldiers Stay Silent cleared before the mission unlocks. Once you are in, follow the Corridor of Fading Echoes, inspect the discarded item, and pick up the story beats around Bronya's Snow Globe and Cocolia's Echoes. The gate ahead is locked, so your real job is to wake up four Mechanism Energy Hubs. No sweat, right? Let's walk it.

Where I Start and What I Need

For me, the cleanest start is to treat this mission like a route-memory test. I head deeper into the Corridor of Fading Echoes, investigate the item on the side of the road, and let the echo scene play out. That is where the Snow Globe and Cocolia's Echoes come into focus, and it is also where I realize the nearby gate is not going to budge until I sort out the Mechanism Energy Hub puzzle. The quest does a good job of nudging you forward without holding your hand too hard, which is fair enough.

Requirement	What I Did
Trailblaze Level	Reached Level 24
Prerequisite mission	Completed Soldiers Stay Silent
Starting area	Corridor of Fading Echoes
Main task	Activate four Mechanism Energy Hubs

Activating the Four Mechanism Energy Hubs

The first Hub is basically a freebie. The quest prompts it, and once I flip it on, the other three become my little checklist. From there, I head right, clear the enemy in my way, and use the Controller to open the gate. After that gate opens, I continue straight, take another right, and find the second Hub guarded by another enemy. I defeat the guard, activate the Hub, and move on. So far, piece of cake.

The third Hub is the one that made me pause. It sits adjacent to the second Hub, but a gate blocks the entry. To get around it, I need the Controller near the Space Anchor. When I interact with it, three choices pop up: Turn Clockwise, Turn Counter-Clockwise, or Leave. I choose Turn Counter-Clockwise to unlock the path. After the bridge turns, the right-side path opens. I follow it, go straight, take a right, and end up in front of the first Cavern of Corrosion. Then I climb the stairs to my right and reach the third Mechanism Energy Hub. Of course, an enemy is guarding it. I defeat the guard, activate the Hub, and breathe for a second.

The fourth Hub is a short backtrack with a twist. From the third Hub, I turn right and approach the Controller, then use it to unlock the door so the connecting corridors open. Next, I go to the bridge controller and turn it Counter-Clockwise. After that, I return to the path near the Cavern of Corrosion and proceed to the last mechanism. I defeat the guard, activate the fourth and final Hub, and feel that satisfying click of progress.

Opening the Locked Door and Facing the Echo

Once the fourth Hub is active, I proceed straight ahead until I reach a corridor that leads to a gate. I use the Controller to unlock it and witness another echo of Cocolia and Bronya. Continuing through the Corridor of Fading Echoes, I reach the previously locked gate and run into Guardian Shadow enemies. This is where the mission stops being a puzzle tour and starts being a proper fight. I take them down, follow the path forward, and use the Controller to unlock the next gate.

Then I follow the yellow quest marker until I find another of Cocolia's Echoes. Let's be real: the battle is the main event. I go in ready to dodge, break toughness, and keep my team healthy. After I defeat her, I speak to March 7th, Dan Heng, and Seele to wrap up the quest. That conversation is the victory lap, and it feels good to close the loop after all that Hub hunting.

Mission Completion Rewards

The rewards are not too shabby for a quest that mixes puzzles with a boss fight. Here is what I picked up after finishing:

Reward	Amount
Trailblaze EXP	1000
Stellar Jade	80
Traveler's Guide	3
Refined Aether	3

In 2026, my advice is simple: do not rush the Hub route, keep an eye on the Controller choices, and clear the guards before you poke the mechanisms. The Stars Are Cold Toys is not the toughest mission in Honkai: Star Rail, but it is a fun little gauntlet. Once you know the path, it is a breeze, and the Stellar Jade at the end is a nice cherry on top. 🚀