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"This is truly a miraculous experience."
Acheron felt the change within her body, as if she had been reborn.
The power of the void still flowed through her, connecting to a corner of an Aeon's Path—immense and infinite.
A single point of Light of Hope quietly bloomed in the void, remaining calm and serene. Despite the stark contrast between these two forces, no conflict erupted—they coexisted peacefully.
Through this power, she, like the Light of Hope itself, remained steadfast within the ocean of void. From now on, the void could no longer erode her senses.
Sol watched Acheron curiously and asked, "How does it feel?"
"After my home world fell into the void, I've never experienced anything so wonderful." Acheron regained her composure, a gentle smile forming. "Look at this world—so full of life, every color vibrant."
"Thank you… for giving me new life."
She looked at Sol beside her. From this perspective, he seemed vivid and alive.
"Everything tends toward the void, but for now, complete void is still far away." Sol held her hand, sensing carefully. "Until absolute void arrives, no one can know if it's truly unavoidable."
"Thus, until the moment of ending, existence and void stand as concepts of equal weight. The concept of hope is weaker than existence, yet its very nature makes it the last barrier before spiritual void."
His eyes brightened, a slight smile on his lips. Some crucial truths had become clear.
"You're thinking about something."
Acheron didn't withdraw her hand, watching Sol with curiosity and puzzlement.
She could see her own condition clearly—the opposing traits of hope and void were self-evident.
Hope was just hope, enough to preserve her true self—but nothing more.
"Void, up until now, has only been a possibility." Sol's gaze burned, his tone radiant. "Even if that possibility becomes so great that it births the Aeon Terminus of Finality, it still remains only a possibility."
"Only when the timeline reaches that moment can the limits of void be truly confirmed."
"As time moves forward, entropy increases, and void grows stronger."
"But before that, the existence opposing the void remains resilient, and hope—the final line of defense for life and spirit—remains steadfast as well."
"This is the eternal battle between existence and nothingness, set since the dawn of the universe. Endless, until the cosmos fully descends into void."
"What does the side of existence produce against the void?"
The side of nothingness had been unified, with only one representative. At the universe's inception, life flourished, and void was pitifully weak. As time progressed, energy inevitably fell, and void grew ever stronger.
This was the Demon King of the side of nothingness, while the side of existence had yet to birth a savior—its throne remained vacant.
He, an unexpected visitor from beyond the Stellar Rail universe, injected new power into this cosmos.
It was not his Light of Hope that created this—hope as a concept naturally existed in this world, only unmanifested.
The "new power" was himself. A true outsider, like a pipe injecting water into a dried-up reservoir. Every bit of energy he released extended the life of this universe.
No one was more suited than him to occupy the throne of existence, opposing the void of nothingness.
Bearing the mission of salvation, this universe would push him to higher realms; the entire world here would aid his ascension.
Much like in Buddhism, where saints make countless great vows and the celestial way bestows rapid progress, even achieving sudden enlightenment.
Or like the "chosen by fate" protagonists in certain novels—the world pushes them toward ultimate strength until they defeat threats to the world.
Not exactly the same, but analogous in process.
Hope ascends to existence; existence opposes void. By harmonizing both, one can become the omnipotent sovereign—Stage Two of the Tier IX.
"…"
Acheron understood somewhat, but not fully. Her violet, cool eyes revealed a trace of confusion.
The words of the young man beside her carried immense information.
She could grasp parts of it, but much remained beyond her comprehension.
Aeons, those lofty beings, were often understood by mortals only through wishful conjecture. Without sufficient, accurate knowledge of Aeons, one cannot fully understand Sol's words.
Yet she felt Sol's reasoning made sense.
Not blind admiration for the one who gave her hope, but her experiences led her to subjectively agree with him.
Acheron stared at Sol, silent for a moment before asking, "So… is there anything I can do to help?"
He had granted her favor—protecting her from the void, restoring lost senses, and giving her a second chance at life.
Moreover, from any perspective, Sol was the most likely to oppose the void successfully.
She instinctively believed that he had a greater chance than even the high Aeons of triumphing over void.
By all means, she wanted to support him.
"You're the first to fuse void with Light of Hope." Sol squeezed her hand sincerely. "Mei, report to me every day—I think the gains will be considerable."
Acheron's gaze flickered slightly, her voice calm. "Alright."
Was he teasing her?
This subtle, suggestive phrasing didn't mean she was some naive, primitive girl.
But fine, he had saved her—she'd let him be.
Even thinking this, her reviving heart felt a strange warmth.
Sol released her hand, smiling. "Then remember to report to me every day. Don't be late."
"Mm." Acheron nodded lightly, then turned her face away, speaking a little stiffly. "Actually… if you want me as a target, you could be more direct."
"I mean, the success rate is higher if you're direct."
Her time with Sol had been short, but from the girls around him, she could tell he was a flirtatious rogue.
She didn't think much of it—even if she might be the target. She just preferred directness; hesitation was boring.
If she ever truly liked someone, she would speak plainly.
"It's sad… that in your eyes, I seem like a hypocritical opportunist?" Sol shook his head slightly, sighing. "Don't you realize how valuable a void-stricken Emanator, immune to the void, is for research?"
"The Void Aeon IX has always been generous. Pathstriders can receive as much void energy as they can handle. If even a fragment of Light of Hope can resist erosion, imagine the powerful forces that would emerge!"
"Those in the Genius Society and Intelligentsia Guild would probably dissect you in their minds—they just lack the means to do so."
Human prejudice can be a mountain.
When will people stop judging by appearances, stop mistaking him for a lustful old rogue?
"Sorry, I overthought it."
Acheron lowered her head, unusually embarrassed.
Indeed, she now had tremendous research value. Especially in resisting the void, she was a one-of-a-kind specimen.
Most Pathstriders of the void were like vegetative beings, and Emanators shouldn't even exist.
A void-stricken Emanator, recovering and no longer corroded, was truly a miracle among miracles.
Had she just become a "basic girl" in the popular imagination?
Acheron felt a ticklish stir of emotion. Her senses sharpened rapidly; a strange sense of urgency surged.
"It's fine, Mei. I forgive you."
Sol patted her shoulder, showing a magnanimous spirit.
"Then… I should come again tomorrow?"
Acheron wanted to retreat to her room to calm herself.
"Wait."
Sol extended his arm, palm open in front of her.
"?"
Acheron stared at the empty hand, puzzled. Was he offering a handshake?
Whoosh!
A peach appeared in his palm, about ten centimeters in diameter, with two green leaves attached. Fine fuzz shimmered golden under the light, the skin gradient from pink to white, exuding a faint peach fragrance.
Gulp!
Acheron's slender neck trembled; she swallowed involuntarily.
She had never seen such a perfect peach—just looking at it made her mouth water.
It was also the first peach she encountered as her senses gradually restored.
"A small gift." Sol offered the peach with a smile. "So… is this direct enough, or still indirect?"
Human prejudice can be a mountain—he was not a lustful old rogue.
For clarity, he wasn't old.
"… I really like it."
Acheron took the peach, her mind a tangle of emotions as she walked outside.
It was unexpectedly delightful.
In fact, it felt even more wonderful than she had imagined.
She took a bite—the sweet, juicy flavor filled her mouth.
Yes, this peach was equally marvelous.
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