"Where's the next stop for the Astral Express again...?"
"Hmm... Belobog, I think."
After bidding farewell to Jingliu, Lumina left the Seat of Divine Foresight and walked to a pavilion in the Exalting Sanctum, where she sat down.
In her hands, she held a summary compiled by the System, detailing all future Events as they would be presented from the players' perspective.
"What's going on with this timeline...?"
As she studied the timeline and dates, doubts began to surface in Lumina's mind.
After leaving the Xianzhou, the Astral Express had been invited to Belobog since there was still time before the Charmony Festival in Penacony... This part seemed fine, corresponding to the Version 1.4 content and following the storyline logically.
The problem was that after departing Belobog in Version 1.4, the Version 1.5 storyline suddenly jumped back to the Xianzhou to hunt ghosts... and then Version 1.6 abruptly returned to the Space Station...
Hmm... While the jumps in time and location seemed rather large, was there really anything wrong with it?
[The ghost-hunting in Version 1.5 and the Space Station in Version 1.6 are both Interludes. You can think of the Interludes as one narrative thread and the Main Story as another.]
Sensing Lumina's confusion, the System offered a simple explanation.
"Two storylines?" Hearing this, Lumina grew even more perplexed.
If there were indeed two storylines, would the events of both still occur in the one she was currently in?
[The Interlude storyline allows for your intervention. Your actions can alter the final outcome. A slight intervention from you, while preserving the local events, would prevent the Astral Express from ever visiting that place.]
[The Main Story, however, is different. Even if you intervene and throw the process into chaos, the ultimate outcome will remain unchanged.]
"Really? Is that true?" Lumina blinked, a mischievous glint in her eyes, as if itching to test the System's claims.
[Stop, stop, stop! Please abandon those dangerous thoughts! It was a lie, a lie! Everything I just said was a lie...]
Sensing Lumina's intentions, the System panicked instantly.
Great heavens! Please don't entertain any reckless notions! If your "ideas" completely unravel the storyline, turning the known future into an unpredictable mess, I'll have nowhere to cry...
"Alright, alright, I was just joking. I wouldn't actually do it," Lumina said with a faint smile, dismissing the System's frantic warnings with a light hum.
Even though the System provided her with real-time updates to the story's version, there would eventually be an end.
While she didn't know where that end lay, at least within the known plot points, it was best not to meddle. As for everything else... Heh heh~
For instance, the Astral Express's purpose in coming to Xianzhou was to forge an alliance with the Luofu and obtain the Jade Abacus of Allying Oath.
Lumina only needed to ensure the Astral Express acquired the Jade Abacus. That would be enough...
"Oh, right!" At this thought, Lumina remembered the "Soul" she had imprisoned within the Ambrosial Arbor's dimension.
With a gentle wave of her hand, a golden flame encased in a green barrier materialized in her palm.
"Lumina! Abomination! Release me! Release me! You'll pay for this! When I escape, I'll personally bring about your destruction!"
The moment the flame appeared, a dog-like... no, a fiery howl pierced Lumina's ears.
"Little Phantylia, as a Lord Ravager, shouldn't you understand your current predicament?"
Hearing the fire's bark-like cries, Lumina lazily extended a finger and flicked the golden flame-like Phantylia.
"You, who excel at self-destruction, must know exactly what state you're in right now, don't you?"
Phantylia: ...
As expected, upon hearing Lumina's words, the once-agitated golden flames instantly quieted down.
Lumina was right. Phantylia's current state was no different from the "pawns" she had once held in her grasp, constantly manipulating them.
All futile resistance before the end arrived...
Realizing this, Phantylia's burning desire to annihilate the Abundance Abomination gradually dissipated.
For she now understood the importance of forbearance...
"Oh, so you're not just a busty airhead like January Fifth," Lumina remarked, a hint of surprise in her voice as she watched Phantylia seem to grasp her predicament and cease her pointless yelping.
Impressive. I underestimated you, Phantylia. You're not a January Fifth; you're a February Sixth! Slightly smarter than a January Fifth, but not by much~
"What exactly is your goal?" After calming down, Phantylia realized Lumina hadn't killed her outright but had imprisoned her. There must be something she needed Phantylia to do.
If this matter was crucial to Lumina, Phantylia might be able to exploit it to turn the tables and threaten her...
And then deliver the most glorious, most agonizing Destruction upon her!
Ha ha ha ha... Ha ha ha ha...
"Aaaaaaaah!"
Just as Phantylia was relishing the fantasy of crushing Lumina under her heel, reducing her to an eternal slave, a searing pain tore through her heart. She let out a series of anguished cries.
"Hmm?" Hearing Phantylia's whimpers, Lumina hummed softly and withdrew her finger.
With a lazy smile and a nonchalant tone, Lumina offered a kindly reminder: "Miss Phantylia, I forgot to mention—beneath this cage, I can read every thought in your mind."
"So, you'd better behave and abandon the dignity you held as a Lord Ravager, okay?"
"You're no longer the glorious Lord Ravager. You're merely my plaything now, understand?"
Lumina delivered the words with an impassive expression and a perfectly neutral tone, yet they were imbued with a profound tenderness. A normal person might have easily succumbed to her seductive charm.
But to Phantylia, the meaning was entirely different. Every syllable, every nuance, dripped with threat—a veiled command to submit and obey her "orders."
Hmph! But... how could such a thing be possible?
She was the Lord Ravager, the Lord Ravager whose name struck fear across the Cosmos. Even as a "prisoner," her authority could never be questioned!
"Aaaaaaaah... AAAAAH!"
Though now a "war prize," Phantylia clung fiercely to the pride she had wielded as the Lord Ravager.
(Spynote: shes the "prisoner of flames" lol)
Lumina admired and deeply respected this unwavering spirit.
Therefore, to honor Phantylia's choice, Lumina silently wiped away nonexistent tears from the corners of her eyes and tapped the green barrier with a finger. "Tearfully," she proceeded to inflict punishment.
"Little Phantylia, I admire your Spirit as a Lord Ravager and deeply respect your wishes." Lumina, the drama queen, sighed dramatically, her face brimming with feigned admiration, as she automatically ignored the incessant screams echoing through the air.
"Since that's your choice, so be it! Let the Lord Ravager's prestige endure for all eternity!"
With a flicker of guilt, Lumina reached out and gently tapped the green barrier once more.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
The next instant, a pain ten thousand times more excruciating than before erupted within Phantylia's Soul. Her screams intensified, reaching a crescendo of agony.
Lumina's face contorted with feigned pity and concern at the sound of Phantylia's agonizing cries, as if she were enduring unspeakable torture.
And so...
She waved her hand dismissively, automatically silencing Phantylia's screams...
"Mmm... so peaceful~"
Feeling the silence descend after Phantylia's voice vanished, Lumina's body relaxed into a languid slump, letting out a contented groan.