"Tom, we can't leave just yet."
"I want the Aeon of Nihility to return along its original path, back to where it first emerged. Any bright ideas?"
Tom considered this, casually pulling the door they'd drawn earlier from the ground, setting it upright so it'd be easy to spot later.
Scratching its head thoughtfully, a cloud-shaped thought bubble soon appeared above Tom's head.
When it came to "paths," naturally, trains sprang to mind.
Instantly, a train appeared within the bubble, rattling along noisily—clackety-clackety-clack!
"Wooo—!"
Thick black smoke erupted from the bubble, engulfing both Tom and Yevenko. The two cats immediately scrambled out of the smoke, coughing frantically.
"Cough! Cough-Cough!"
Once the smoke dissipated, they hurriedly looked back to the bubble. Wooden tracks had now appeared neatly arranged inside.
Excitedly, Tom's legs spun like whirlwind wheels, propelling itself directly into the bubble. A second later, Tom reappeared, this time piloting a bulldozer, scooping up tracks and dumping them out to Yevenko.
Realizing they were short on time, Yevenko decided to start laying the tracks immediately. He carefully lifted the thought bubble, balanced it above his head, and tiptoed toward the Aeon of Nihility.
But just as Yevenko approached, IX's bubble-like eyes turned suspiciously in his direction.
Sweat pooled beneath Yevenko's feet as panic surged through him. Immediately, he dove straight into the puddle of sweat, leaving just a single straw poking out for air.
IX glanced around, saw nothing amiss, and slowly turned away.
Yevenko popped out cautiously, mopped up his sweat puddle politely, and then resumed his stealthy approach. This time, he successfully reached IX's back unnoticed.
Yet IX still sensed something off and abruptly turned around again.
Yevenko tiptoed swiftly in the opposite direction, hiding just beyond IX's sight as the Aeon spun, searching fruitlessly.
IX scratched its round head, producing a squeaky sound reminiscent of glass rubbing. Its eyes suddenly retracted into its body, popping out on the back side. Still, no one was there, so it turned back around—
—completely missing Yevenko behind it, legs stretched apart nearly six floors high in a desperate attempt to evade detection. Once IX turned back, Yevenko quickly snapped back to normal size, frantically laying tracks.
Finally, IX heard clear noises behind it, turning sharply and instantly spotting Yevenko, who'd already laid a decent length of tracks.
Without hesitation, IX barreled toward him like a rolling boulder.
Yevenko felt the wooden rails trembling, glanced up, and saw IX hurtling his way.
His eyes sprang from his head like springs as he tried to flee, only to find an ominous shadow grabbing his tail, pinning him in place. Despite running furiously, Yevenko sank helplessly in place until—
BAM—!
IX crashed violently into Yevenko, sending him soaring into the sky. After IX passed, Yevenko dropped straight into the pit he'd accidentally dug earlier.
The scattered wooden rails landed neatly, forming a coffin lid. A single leftover rail bounced up and jammed itself upright, becoming a makeshift tombstone.
But a second later, IX rolled back again.
Terrified, the wooden rails jumped up and fled. Yevenko quickly climbed out, chasing after the fleeing rails, scooping them up as he ran.
Meanwhile, Tom finally noticed Yevenko's distress. With a determined scowl, Tom charged the enormous bulldozer out of the thought bubble, crashing head-on into IX.
KA-BOOM—!
An explosion erupted, bulldozer parts scattering everywhere. IX was knocked back considerably. Tom flew skyward, crashed down, and shattered like porcelain.
Yevenko hurriedly pieced Tom back together, and Tom immediately revived. Tom pointed urgently toward the tracks, then at IX. Yevenko understood at once.
"Got it. I'll keep laying the tracks; IX is yours to handle!"
Yevenko vanished in a puff of smoke to resume track-laying.
Facing IX alone, Tom's expression grew solemn. It dramatically donned a cowboy hat, tied a red bandana around its neck, and boldly waved a bright red cape.
IX felt compelled by a strange power. Its shape distorted, shrinking slightly as horns grew—transforming into a giant purple bull, eyes fixed on the waving cape. It charged straight for Tom.
Effortlessly graceful, Tom spun aside repeatedly, causing IX to miss each charge.
Eventually, IX shook free from its obsession, directly charging at Tom himself. Tom stretched its legs absurdly wide, and IX rushed beneath it, utterly confused.
IX, though simple-minded, finally sensed something deeply wrong and attempted to retreat. But before it could escape, Tom expertly roped its horns, yanking it back.
Unfortunately, IX dropped mid-air, leaving Tom awkwardly holding the horns alone. Embarrassed, Tom blew cheerfully into one horn—doo-doo-dee-doo-doo!—before politely reattaching it atop IX's head, carefully straightening it.
Just as Tom readied another cape taunt, IX abruptly grew larger, towering menacingly overhead. Tom swallowed nervously, sheepishly tying the tiny red cape into a lovely bow atop IX's horn.
Grinning awkwardly, Tom suddenly whipped out a baseball bat, striking IX's hoof.
WHAM—!
"MOOOO—!"
The painful bellow rang out, and Tom fled frantically.
At this point, Yevenko ran out of tracks, confusedly wondering, Why exactly have I been laying these tracks anyway?
Before he could question further, Tom—being chased by a colossal purple bull—ran toward him. One of IX's horns painfully jabbed Tom's backside, launching him sky-high.
"AaAAaaaAAHHHHHH—!"
Landing hard, Tom revealed bright-red boxers beneath its fur. Yevenko sympathetically dragged Tom away, IX charging behind.
Tom pointed urgently toward the beginning of the tracks, and both sprinted desperately there, IX in hot pursuit.
At the starting point, Tom stretched the thought bubble along the rails, placed a red lever-switch, and pulled it firmly—
CLICK!
CHOO-CHOOOO!
A massive train burst forth along the tracks, colliding powerfully with IX, reverting it from bull-form back into IX's original shape, swiftly shoving it down the track.
Desperate, IX summoned a savage wolf from its shadows, chasing Tom and Yevenko furiously. Yevenko's [Transformation Stone] began expiring, his form rapidly reverting. With no strength to resist Nihility's erosion, he cried urgently,
"Tom! I have to leave now!"
Tom immediately hoisted Yevenko overhead, speeding toward the door they'd set earlier. Unfortunately, carrying Yevenko made them too tall. Yevenko smacked painfully into the doorframe—WHAM!—collapsing limply.
Hastily, Tom tossed him inside, tucked the door away, and sprinted to the tracks' end, placing IX's escape-portal black hole there with a hastily scribbled sign:
[Way Back to IX's Home]
Satisfied, Tom drew a circle labeled:
[Way to Tom's Warm New Home]
And jumped inside, vanishing instantly.
The train shoved IX through the black hole, and the Realm of Nihility gradually faded into silence.
---
Elsewhere in the cosmos—
Aha laughed uncontrollably, popcorn scattering wildly.
"Hahahahahaha! Too hilarious! But wait—"
Suddenly realizing something critical, Aha sprang up, sprinting desperately forward:
"Wait! Wait, Tom—I haven't boarded yet!! Open a door for me too, Tom!!"
Watching Aha flee frantically, Fuli's crystalline face reflected an obscure smile—perhaps amused by Aha's antics, or influenced by the sheer hilarity of Yevenko and Tom's adventures.
Silently, the Aeon of Remembrance vanished, leaving only echoes of laughter behind.
---
Izumo.
Raiden Mei watched silently, day after day, month after month, year after year, until hope faded.
Finally raising [Naught], she enveloped Izumo in Nihility, shielding it from prying eyes.
Stepping into the cosmos, she gazed resolutely at the silver-white ticket fluttering from [Naught]'s hilt, whispering softly:
"I'll save Izumo, and I'll never believe you're gone. I'll carve my own Path of Nihility and find you."
At that moment, Raiden Mei's name vanished, replaced henceforth by the title that would resonate throughout the universe—Raiden Ei.
---
Astral Express.
Stepping inside, Yevenko saw Raiden Ei quietly seated, delicately eating a peach, clearly awaiting someone's return.
When she glimpsed Yevenko, tranquility melted into a gentle smile.
"Welcome home."