「 "It's a shame to say, but there are few legends on this Xianzhou."
"After all, with eternal life, where is there any room for legends?"
The man's resonant voice was like that of a storyteller, excitedly introducing something to everyone.
As his voice accompanied, a glowing lantern slowly appeared on the light screen, with paper-cut figures of various characters flowing with the light of the chosen lantern pillar.
"However, when it comes to the story of the Cloud Cavalry General, we must start from the distant [ legend ] ..."
"This history began eight thousand years ago, when an ancient king craved immortality and eternal glory."
"The ancestors of the Xianzhou then set sail across the heavens and seas, enduring an arduous journey. For a time, it could be said that 'the Milky Way was vast and boundless, and the lone boat had no companions'."
Catchy verses accompanied by handsome opera-style singing, a puppet shadow of an ancient emperor waved its hand, and countless Xianzhou ships set off for the vast sea of stars. 」
「 .....」
~Baki World~
"Huh? Weren't we just on the train? Where is this..."
Inside the mansion, Tokugawa looked strangely at the sudden scene in mid-air.
"It should be some kind of prelude prepared by the light screen before heading to the next world."
Miyamoto Musashi savored the words that appeared on the light screen,
"Cloud Cavalry General, Xianzhou, Ancient Emperor, and these catchy, exquisite verses... they have a very Chinese flavor."
"Yes, he is very much like an emperor from our country."
A voice, old yet full of vigor, suddenly came from outside the mansion.
Everyone was familiar with the person who had arrived. Yujiro could guess who it was without looking up; it was Guo Haihuang.
Guo Haihuang, 146 years old at the time, was a pure Chinese. If one were to ask who could represent the vast 4, 000-year history of martial arts in China today, there would be no one else but him. Guo Haihuang was not only one of the few people alive who had mastered the "principles of boxing," but he was also one of the rare individuals who had forced Yujiro to activate his "oni-back" and survive.
—This feat alone was enough to earn him the reverence of the martial artists present.
Lie Haiwang also arrived at this place, but he stood humbly behind his teacher, observing and practicing as Haihuang intended.
"Qin Shi Huang?"
Miyamoto Musashi suddenly spoke.
"Yo, I didn't expect you to know our history too."
Guo Haihuang pushed up his sunglasses, and a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes, narrow as a slit, beneath the lenses.
"Not bad, kid."
"Heh heh, your country's history is quite long and fascinating,"
Miyamoto Musashi said with an expectant expression.
"If possible, I hope to replicate the techniques I possess onto your country's historical generals... I am looking forward to fighting them."
"Heh heh, kings are no match for Xiang, generals are no match for Li, and boxing is no match for Jin... we'll talk about it later,"
Guo Haihuang waved his hand casually, then pointed to the sky.
"For now, let's focus our attention on this."
"After all, the martial arts that have appeared within have already given us many surprises."
—
「 "After two thousand years of long, lonely voyage, the people of Xianzhou finally saw a god."
"On the screen, it was the cutout of the Aeon of Abundance. Bestowing a branch, which, after falling to the ground, quickly grew into a sky-covering tree!"
" [ The Plague of Longevity ] manifested and bestowed immeasurable longevity upon the people of Xianzhou." 」
「 .....」
~Frieren: Beyond Journey's End World~
"Isn't this the Abundance Aeons?"
Fern suddenly remembered that in the introduction to the Aeons she had seen before, this one was mentioned. It was a slender, frail, enchanting, yet emanating a strange aura of a deity.
"Listening to the introduction on the light screen... it seems that the people of Xianzhou are all immortal, and the one who bestowed all this is this Aeons,"
Stark said enviously.
"Looking at it this way, this Aeon of Abundance is truly good... I wish I could have a long life like Frieren."
However, Frieren noticed something strange and frowned,
"Don't you guys realize? The title used on the light screen is... [The Plague of Longevity] . This term doesn't sound good. If eternal life is bestowed without any cost, why use this nickname to refer to the deity who bestows blessings?"
"Hmm..."
Stark was pondering when the scene on the light screen soon changed again.
—
「 "However, a gift is also a curse."
"Beings who transcend the limits of lifespan have become an immortal calamity that plagues the universe."
"Xianzhou is infected with the plague of longevity, alliances are broken by slander and suspicion. External enemies rise, and the bones of war are scattered."
"With a sigh, on the screen, a common man suddenly grew countless tree branches. As his body expanded, he transformed into a bizarre monster that had completely lost its sanity, stirring up a bloody storm." 」
「 .....」
~Frieren: Beyond Journey's End World~
"Ah, this... I take back what I just said."
Stark, who had been excited moments ago, quickly covered his mouth.
"I knew it,"
Frieren said, hands on her hips, with a smug expression and her chin slightly raised.
"There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. This is the experience of being an older sister, humph humph~"
"But..."
Fern asked confusedly,
"Since the Aeon possesses immense power, why doesn't the Aeon who bestowed the blessing use his great power to relieve humanity's suffering?"
It should be as simple for a god to grant eternal life to humans with a flick of their finger as it would be to take away their pain.
"With the power of an Aeon, it shouldn't be impossible, right?"
"I'm also very puzzled by this,"
Frieren pointed to the humans who had turned into monsters in the sky, her brow furrowed.
"Based on my guess, it's possible that the Aeon of Abundance itself has no emotions. It doesn't need human faith... it's just an emotionless tool fulfilling its 'abundance' mission."
"Aeons all have their own missions, and they all have some kind of 'instinct'—for example, the instinct of the Aeon of Preservation is to build the walls of a 'preservation' civilization, while the instinct of the Aeon of Abundance is to spread 'abundance' throughout the universe."
"Although it's hard to understand what its abundance specifically refers to... at least in its view, the people of Xianzhou, who possess almost infinite life, have achieved the 'abundance' it expected. As for what happens afterward... it doesn't care at all."
—
「 "At this critical moment of survival, [ The Emperor Bow's Mandate ( Reignbow Arbiter) ] descended upon the world, protecting the drifting and helpless Xianzhou in the sea of stars."
"The Aeon of Hunting drew his bow and arrow, and the arrows forged of light shot towards the deep cosmic void, illuminating one dark expanse after another, like a lighthouse of hope lit in the universe."
"The Xianzhou galloped through the sea of stars, hunting demons and sweeping away filth, hunting for five thousand years, following the divine decree to punish the plague of longevity!"
"And leading these six Xianzhou ships is the sharpest arrow of the hunt—the Seven Arbiter-Generals!" 」
「 .....」