"Ah!!!"
Under normal circumstances, when meeting an Aeon, mortals must maintain the utmost reverence.
No one has the right to cause trouble before an Aeon, nor would anyone dare behave improperly in Their presence.
However, the entire Astral Express crew found it impossible to remain calm in this situation.
They saw Setsuna.
He stepped out from the void, taking a few strides that crossed galaxies and space itself.
Accompanied by ripples of Imaginary energy, he arrived before them.
"?"
Setsuna looked at the dumbfounded crowd, who hadn't even greeted him, and smiled.
"Well? What's the matter? Do I need to introduce myself?"
"!!!"
"Akivili!!"
Pom-Pom was so emotional their voice nearly broke. They rushed forward, teary-eyed, hugging Setsuna's leg.
"Wah!!!! Pom-Pom really thought you were gone forever!! Sob, sob..."
"Do you know what the Astral Express has been through while you were gone? Waaah—"
After crying for quite a while, Pom-Pom finally looked up.
Staring at Setsuna, they blinked.
"Huh, Akivili, why do you look different?"
"... "
"I'm the Commander of the Starsea Empire."
Setsuna cleared his throat.
"Huh?"
Pom-Pom didn't say anything strange like Aha would, but simply stared at Setsuna in confusion for a long time.
"That's weird..."
"You're not Akivili, but you possess the power of Trailblaze... you control Trailblaze..."
"In that case, you should be Akivili... ah! What's going on?!"
Himeko, March 7th, Kiana, and the rest of the crew were even more shocked, their jaws practically dropping.
Even the white-haired girl didn't rush forward calling him "Dad" this time, afraid of getting it wrong.
"Commander?"
"Weren't you at Herta Space Station a few days ago, conducting some kind of Simulated Universe experiment?"
"So this is...?"
Himeko asked cautiously.
"Oh, I just happened to take control of the Path of Trailblaze. That's all."
Setsuna replied.
"If you equate wielding a Path with being an Aeon, you can consider me the Aeon of Trailblaze. Though I haven't truly become one, nor have I undergone ascension in the strict sense."
"Just happened to?"
Himeko felt that her understanding of "just happened to" might be very different from Setsuna's.
"Ah..."
Pom-Pom looked a little dejected.
"Commander? Then you're not the original Akivili?"
"No. I inherited Their Path of Trailblaze, but I am not Them."
Setsuna answered.
"Mm..."
Pom-Pom sat on the ground, staring at him for a long time.
"That's so strange. Only Akivili could control Trailblaze. You're not Them, yet you can do the same things..."
"Did They choose you? Are you the new Akivili?"
"... "
Since Pom-Pom was willing to accept that explanation, Setsuna didn't bother correcting it further.
"Oh..."
"Then will the Astral Express and the Nameless be under your protection from now on?"
Himeko asked.
At first, she had been able to stay composed when seeing Setsuna—after all, she only needed to maintain etiquette when facing a ruler from another world.
But now that he wielded the Path and effectively stood as the Aeon of Trailblaze, both she and March 7th felt their legs go weak in his presence.
"Yes. Trailblaze was Akivili's goal, and it is also the goal of the Starsea Empire and myself. You and the Astral Express are all part of Trailblaze."
Setsuna raised his hand and tapped Himeko's forehead.
Boom—
The surrounding space shifted instantly once more.
Imaginary energy poured down like a vortex from higher dimensions, forming a violent storm of power around them.
From the Xianzhou, from Herta Space Station, and even farther away, this disturbance could be observed.
Himeko felt herself at the center of the vortex as endless Imaginary energy and knowledge of Trailblaze surged into her body and mind.
Her vision stretched far beyond, revealing countless galaxies, along with the silver rails laid between them and the traces left by Trailblaze.
Space and time overlapped before her eyes. She saw her younger self in Planarcadia, back in her university days studying aerospace engineering...
And the moment she encountered the Astral Express, spending years repairing it.
All her past memories surfaced, finally settling on the moment she piloted the Astral Express into the universe.
"I acknowledge your resolve and effort in pursuing Trailblaze, Himeko."
Setsuna's voice carried approval.
Shua!!—
The energy in the vortex condensed and merged with Himeko.
A wave of power radiated outward.
"Ah..."
Himeko came back to herself, slowly opening her eyes.
She was still aboard the Astral Express, with Setsuna standing before her.
Subconsciously clenching her fist, she realized an immense power now resided within her—and that she had formed a connection with the Path and concept of Trailblaze.
With her own will, she could draw upon the power of the Path.
"You are now an Emanator of Trailblaze—and my Emanator."
"I grant you the authority to wield the Path. In the name of Trailblaze, go forth and explore even more distant worlds."
Setsuna clenched his hand.
The chaotic Imaginary energy stabilized, and everything returned to normal.
"!"
Himeko's breath caught again.
Only a handful of mortals favored by Aeons could, with Their permission, draw upon the energy of a Path.
Most of them were representatives of an Aeon's will, holding exalted status—figures like the Arbiter-Generals of the Hunt, the Lord Ravagers, Herta, and others who had reached the pinnacle of their respective fields.
After Akivili's fall, the Path of Trailblaze had long been without a master. Even those who walked that Path were few, let alone Emanators.
And now, she had been chosen by Setsuna, becoming the very first Emanator of Trailblaze!
For a moment, Himeko was too overwhelmed to speak.
"Thank... thank you for your grace, Sacrosanct."
She bowed to Setsuna. Not knowing the proper honorific for the Aeon of Trailblaze, she simply followed the customs of the Xianzhou.
"Ah?!"
The other members of the crew were even more astonished.
March 7th looked at Himeko with a hint of envy.
"Mm... Sister Himeko is the navigator of the train—mature, reliable, and elegant. No wonder she could become an Emanator..."
She silently resolved to earn Setsuna's favor one day as well.
"Wait, Commander!!"
Gudako rushed forward.
"What about me, me, me?!"
"You're already an Aeon—let me be an Emanator too!"
Thud!
Setsuna knocked her lightly on the head.
"Don't you think you've already stacked enough buffs on yourself?"
"More skills never hurt! If I didn't have so many, I would've been killed by Goetia long ago!"
Gudako replied confidently.
Kiana, Bronya, Stelle, and the others also looked at Setsuna expectantly.
Seeing someone directly chosen as an Emanator—it was impossible not to feel envious.
"In the future, there may be Paths more suitable for you. Don't rush."
Setsuna smiled and pinched the white-haired girl's cheek.
"Besides, if you want to become an Emanator, you should at least do something that aligns with the Path, right? For now, go out and gain experience—learn more about this universe."
"Mm!"
Kiana nodded.
"Power you earn yourself is what truly matters!"
She also felt there was no need to rush into becoming an Emanator of Trailblaze. They had plenty of time to find their own Paths.
"As for March... you should work harder too."
Setsuna rubbed March 7th's head.
"Huh?!"
The pink-haired girl was flattered beyond belief. Being head-patted by an Aeon—she might be the first person in the universe to experience that.
She instantly flushed from head to toe, stammering as she replied.
"O-Okay! I—I'll do my best!"
Inside the Palace of Astrum, the Xianzhou's high-ranking officials were also informed of this shocking development.
The emergence of any Emanator was a major event—let alone one from the long-lost Path of Trailblaze.
"You're saying the Sacrosanct has returned?"
"Wait, what do you mean the Sacrosanct is also the Sacrosanct of the Starsea Empire?!"
Yukong, Fu Xuan, and Jing Yuan stared in disbelief as they listened to the report.
Back then, calling Setsuna "Sacrosanct" had simply been a sign of respect toward a foreign ruler. Calling Ereshkigal the same had been due to reverence for her authority over life and death.
But now that Setsuna controlled the power of a Path and could even elevate Emanators, didn't that make him a true Aeon in all but name?!
No matter how hard they thought about it, they couldn't understand how things had turned out this way.
"So the Sacrosanct has taken control of an unclaimed Path and now possesses power comparable to an Aeon..."
"Mm, the Sacrosanct's might is indeed unfathomable..."
Yukong mused.
After a moment of thought, she turned to Tingyun, who looked equally stunned.
"Ah, right—congratulations. From now on, you are truly the Sacrosanct's wife."
"I hope that in the future, you might put in a few good words for us before him...?"
"Huh?!..."
...
"Confirmed. The newly born Aeon of Trailblaze possesses authority equivalent to Akivili, capable of wielding the power of the Path and appointing Emanators."
"Unlike other Aeons, he retain a considerable degree of humanity. His daily habits are close to those of ordinary humans."
"Mm, and he maintain romantic relationships with multiple members of the opposite sex, frequently using spacetime distortion magic to engage in prolonged reproductive activity."
As expected, Herta and Ruan Mei had also followed Setsuna to the Xianzhou, faithfully recording the daily life of an Aeon.
In the past, the appearance of two Genius Society members would have caused quite a stir.
But the Xianzhou people and its leadership had already been thoroughly stunned by the Starsea Empire. Compared to the Empire's Sacrosanct and all the unbelievable figures surrounding him, two geniuses hardly seemed noteworthy.
"I think that aside from controlling the Path of Trailblaze, you might also be related to Propagation... no, that doesn't seem to be your objective."
After observing Setsuna up close for several days, Herta was utterly impressed.
This new Aeon was completely different from those lofty, untouchable beings—he was undoubtedly the most "human" among them.
Not only did he maintain a human form most of the time, but aside from handling routine matters, he could be seen every day heading into a room with a group of girls in his arms.
Sometimes they were shipgirls, sometimes expedition members Herta didn't recognize, and even the Amicassador from the Xianzhou Sky-Faring Commission often came by.
"Any questions? I'm not some obsessive chasing after an abstract concept, you know."
Setsuna held Tingyun in his arms, casually stroking her tail.
Fluffy and soft—it was clear she took great care of it.
"Mm, husband!"
The foxian girl twitched her ears and snuggled closer, enjoying the rare intimacy.
"...I want to study the details of your reproduction, including your genetic information and how it combines with other species."
Ruan Mei proposed seriously.
"I've never encountered a case of an Aeon reproducing with other species. You are an invaluable sample for observation."
"Mm... is it possible for an Aeon and other species to produce offspring? And if artificially intervened, what results might occur?"
As an expert in life sciences, nothing fascinated Ruan Mei more than the study of an Aeon's biology and genetics.
Herta, she was completely captivated by Setsuna's identity and uniqueness.
"... "
Setsuna stared at her for a long moment, confirming that her questions were entirely driven by scientific curiosity.
She truly wanted to understand every aspect of him. Pure rationality had overridden Ruan Mei's humanity.
"No. Unless you do it yourself—I'll teach you."
"Hm?"
The sudden invitation to an orgy left Ruan Mei momentarily stunned.
"Me? Mm... while combining with humans would indeed provide important research samples, I would prefer to observe as a researcher."
"Book knowledge is shallow. Otherwise, forget it."
Setsuna yawned.
"When I have time, I'll call Tiamat over. You can learn from her—in the field of life, you're far behind her."
Tiamat cherished every life she created, while Ruan Mei showed no such reverence, even toward her own creations.
"Can I use a puppet in my place?"
The Herta raised her hand.
"?"
A question mark practically appeared above Setsuna's head.
As expected, the thinking of geniuses was truly unconventional.
"No. At least show some sincerity."
"Mm..."
The two geniuses fell into deep thought.
Every aspect of this Aeon's behavior and thought process lay completely outside their expectations.
If it were ordinary girls being invited to such a gathering, they would blush furiously and want to run away immediately. But these two only wanted to gather more data on Setsuna.
Especially regarding genetics and reproduction—in the eyes of emotionally detached geniuses, it was merely a somewhat peculiar experiment.
For a brief moment, Ruan Mei seriously considered whether she should personally participate to obtain firsthand data from Setsuna.
But it still felt somewhat strange to her, so she decided to observe for a while longer.
...
A couple of days later.
A message from Himeko arrived first.
"Sacrosanct, um... the Astral Express is about to finish its reconstruction."
"I have a small suggestion—would you like to travel with us?"
Unlike most Aeons, who remained distant and aloof, the Aeon of Trailblaze had always been relatively approachable.
They often traveled alongside the Nameless, piloting the Astral Express across the galaxy.
Himeko felt it was only appropriate to extend an invitation to Setsuna.
"Hm? Sure."
After a brief moment of thought, Setsuna readily agreed.
Now that he controlled the Path of Trailblaze, it was only natural for him to take a look at the new train.
He went with Himeko to the dock where the Astral Express was being refitted.
Compared to the original steam-era style, the new Astral Express looked far more modern. Its exterior was composed of dark metallic plating, etched with decorative patterns and the insignia of the Starsea Empire.
The train had expanded to more than three times its original size. Not only were the individual cars larger, but their number had also increased significantly.
One end retained the original Trailblaze locomotive, while the other was fitted with the Second Divine Key created by Vill-V.
Like high-speed trains on Earth, the Astral Express could be driven by different locomotives depending on the situation.
If necessary, it could even be split in the middle, with each locomotive pulling a separate set of cars to operate independently.
Additionally, Setsuna had the faint impression that the Astral Express felt more "alive" than before—perhaps due to him reclaiming the Path of Trailblaze.
"Using the original train module, we can power the Astral Express with Trailblaze energy, allowing it to open routes between unknown worlds."
"The Cosmic Juggernaut system is more advanced, with long-range jump capabilities and greater maneuverability."
Himeko explained.
In theory, the Cosmic Juggernaut was faster, but having multiple options was always beneficial.
"As for the weapon systems... due to the size limitations of the Astral Express, we couldn't install too many large-scale ship-mounted weapons."
"The main armaments include a miniaturized Photoid emitter, six Tachyon Lances, erosion missile launch modules, and several plasma disintegrators."
Walking through the train cars, Himeko introduced each modification to Setsuna.
From the outside, it was essentially a heavily armed war train, with firepower sufficient to rival most starships.
Considering that its navigator was now an Emanator, its overall combat strength had risen to an entirely new level.
"Mm... Pom-Pom thinks it's a bit strange for the Astral Express to look like this. But if Akivili wanted to modify it, Pom-Pom can accept it."
Pom-Pom wandered around the cars for a while.
The living quarters had also been upgraded, with each person's room expanded and additional space reserved for new passengers.
"Very good."
After taking a look around, Setsuna sat in the observation car and took a sip of coffee.
Smiling, he looked at Himeko.
"From now on, this Astral Express will be under your command."
"Understood."
Himeko bowed respectfully to Setsuna.
With her new status as an Emanator and the attention of the Aeon of Trailblaze, she felt more motivated than ever.
Even her previous habits of slacking off or taking breaks had noticeably diminished.
"And Pom-Pom too! Don't forget Pom-Pom!!"
Pom-Pom jumped up and smacked Setsuna's knee, puffing their cheeks.
They had already accepted that Setsuna was the "new Akivili." Since he governed the Path of Trailblaze, he was unquestionably its Aeon.
Though Pom-Pom still felt nostalgic for the original Akivili, Aeons were ultimately embodiments of philosophical concepts. In an abstract sense, they were the same—symbols of Trailblaze.
"Yes, yes."
Himeko crouched down with a gentle smile and nodded.
"Pom-Pom is the conductor here, so there will be many responsibilities for you as well."
"Like cleaning the observation car, maintaining order, making coffee... actually, I'll handle the Sacrosanct's coffee myself."
"?"
Setsuna wasn't sure whether Himeko's coffee-making or cooking skills had improved after becoming an Emanator.
Once everything was arranged, Himeko performed a final check on the holographic interface. Both she and March 7th were nervous yet excited.
After who knew how many years, the Aeon of Trailblaze would once again travel alongside the Nameless.
"Astral Express crew—ready!"