[All hail Lan!]
[Both organizations under The Hunt are just too damn epic!]
[Honestly, at this moment, I'm totally a fan of the Galaxy Rangers.]
[So badass!]
[The moment The Hunt's will shines!]
[Boothill's awesome, even saving the Jade Abacus for us.]
— —
Dan Heng cast a suspicious glance at Boothill, which wasn't surprising. After all, the Galaxy Rangers were elusive, scattered across the cosmos. When was the last time they'd heard news about them?
"You can rally the Galaxy Rangers?"
"Ha! Outsiders think the Galaxy Rangers are all mysterious, unconnected loners—and yeah, that's true! But that's exactly why we've got an unwritten rule…"
Boothill pulled out a bullet. "Acheron, know what this is?"
"The relic I returned to you."
"Right. Its original owner must've told you—this thing's worthless to anyone but a Galaxy Ranger. Only when it's back with its owner does it shine.
It's a burial item, fit only for heroes who've earned great deeds for the Galaxy Rangers. When its light appears in the cosmos, it signals a great star's fall, and where it lands…
Countless meteors streak across the sky—that's the fire of the Galaxy Rangers assembling. They come from all corners of the galaxy, no questions asked, no price too high, bound by one shared principle—
The Hunt's shooting stars only fall in the longest night, heralding the dawn that follows.
We've been quiet too long. It's time to make the universe's cowards, parasites, and oppressors remember the Galaxy Rangers' name. And I'll fire the first shot."
[Respect!]
[One arrow pierces the clouds, and a thousand armies rush to meet!]
[This reminds me of Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy—I'm tearing up!]
[The Hunt, hell yeah!]
[Isn't Season 4 supposed to be The Harmony's stage? How'd they make The Hunt so cool? What do we do now?!]
[AHHHH!!!]
[Old man's too awesome!!!]
[Old man?! What's with the anime slang?]
[Boothill's words are so damn infectious.]
[Just imagining that scene makes me feel like I'm burning up with excitement.]
[The Path of The Hunt is so romantic.]
[Galaxy Rangers, I wanna be a Galaxy Ranger!]
— —
Robin nodded.
"Once the dream is shaken, the second step falls to me. I'll use The Harmony's song to tune the hearts of those asleep, weaving the dissonance of The Trailblaze into their minds to point them toward reality."
Black Swan, at an inopportune moment, threw cold water on the plan. "It sounds like a thorough plan, but it's a bit… idealistic. Human weaknesses aren't overcome overnight. Can these efforts alone truly make everyone turn from darkness to light?"
Acheron explained further. "Indeed, Miss Black Swan. That's why the plan's key isn't to make everyone abandon darkness… but to make them choose to save themselves."
Black Swan understood instantly. "So, it all comes back to you, doesn't it?"
"The Choir of Unity's power rivals an Emanator's. Ultimately, it requires an equal force to oppose it. The final step to overturn the sweet dream… will be mine to take."
Having been bested by Acheron before, Black Swan knew her strength well and felt reassured. "Hearing you say that is quite comforting."
Boothill tipped his hat. "Since we've divided the roles, let's head to our battlefields! Get ready—it's time to go all out!"
[Gotta rely on Acheron to pull through again.]
[So the Choir of Unity is super strong, needing layers of weakening until the Express crew can handle it.]
[Actually, every time Acheron draws her blade, she sinks deeper.]
— —
"Can we talk privately? There's something I'm obligated to tell you." Acheron stopped Caelus as he started to move. "This grand banquet is nearing its end. This is the starting point for the final stage… and once the starting point of all Penacony's stories."
"Firefly discovered the truth here."
Acheron nodded. "Yes. She was the first to realize there was another realm beyond Something Unto Death, passing that knowledge to all of us.
You should know this: in the boundless dream, the reason we found you, the key to breaking the stalemate, was all thanks to one person's sacrifice and effort…
Miss Firefly. She awoke from the dream early, found the Express among the stars, and brought us everything about Order's remnants. There may have been the script's aid, but the cost…
You know, as a stowaway, her way of entering the dream differed from ours. Without the hotel's dreamweaving device or the Family's help, her only way to awaken was… a true death.
Don't let her will be in vain. This doesn't mean we must win everything, but our resolve should match that brave girl's.
Are you… ready?"
[Firefly's greatness needs no words!]
[Firefly's been fighting all along, enduring the pain of death!]
[Firefly fans forever!]
[Some might not know, but Firefly's story elsewhere explains she has no dream-entering mechanism. Every sleep or awakening brings immense pain.]
[Don't think it's simple. Especially when you can't tell dream from reality, each death isn't just painful—it takes tremendous courage.]
[Firefly cherishes life so much—you can tell from how tightly she buckles her seatbelt. Yet to wake everyone, she gave so much!]
[Stop, I'm buying her merch!]
[Buy what? Pre-orders sold out ages ago.]
— —
Caelus's mind flashed with memories of that girl. A glow appeared in his hand, which he clenched into a fist.
"I'm ready!"
"Good. Then, close your eyes…"
…
The scene shifted back to a sky dominated by a black moon.
An old man in a straw raincoat gazed calmly at the sea's horizon. "This rain… how long has it been falling?"
Acheron, standing beside him, replied, "If I recall correctly, maybe years, decades, or even centuries.
The Hunt's resolve to die never wanes until life's end, but thankfully… we've finally guided these lost souls. They were heroes in life, no longer puppets of The Nihility.
Look, the shadows on the sea have all vanished. Remember? You said when the dead's regrets are fully resolved, the sky would clear."
"But the rain still hasn't stopped…"
"Indeed."
"So, why is that…" The old man paused, as if realizing something. "Why did this rain choose me?"
Acheron stared at the black moon.
"Perhaps because someone's regrets remain unresolved."