Chapter 108
[After experiencing a duel with Aventurine, amidst rumbling thunder, Aventurine soared into the sky and threw all his chips. The sky turned into a brilliant golden expanse as countless stacks of coins fell from above! ""Emanator"—you will definitely call."]
[Pardofelis]:"So, so many coins! Just falling from the sky like that!? I hate that I wasn't there at the time!"
[Stelle]:"Aren't you afraid of being smashed into a pulp by these coins?"
[Pardofelis]:"I think my luck is pretty good, it probably wouldn't happen, right?"
[March 7th]:"Could you even compare your luck to Aventurine's!?"
[Elysia]:"Don't underestimate Pardo♪ Pardo's luck is really good♪"
[On an unknown planet, Acheron held a red umbrella, standing quietly in the rain. "You... are you about to depart?"
Acheron was about to set off, heading towards Penacony. "I'm afraid the Family won't open the door for you."
"Because the path you walk... is not tolerated by 'Harmony'."
"Even if... this is not my wish?"
An aged voice responded: "Even if this is not your wish.
Because He is different from other Aeons."
"He never glances at anyone, nor does He need to glance at anyone."
"He leaves the threads of the Path, allowing people to walk, collectively weaving a huge shadow... and this shadow silently envelops them as well."
The elder told her that Acheron still had a trace of color... but not much. Acheron smiled with relief, "That's enough. Before they completely dissipate..."
"I will reach the end of [Nihility] (the IXth Authority)."]
[March 7th]:"Could Acheron really be an Emanator, but an Emanator of Nihility, which is why they say she shouldn't exist as an Emanator?"
[Stelle]:"You only realized this now?"
[March 7th]:"Did you all know already!?"
[Honkai: Star Rail·Welt]:"I had my suspicions since Acheron's homeland is near Nihility."
[Einstein]:"Precisely because the Nihility Aeon doesn't glance at mortals, that's why they say Nihility Emanators shouldn't exist."
[Returning to reality, Aventurine's countless chips fell from the sky, shattering numerous skyscrapers. As they were about to fall nearby, Welt and Himeko shielded Stelle and March 7th behind them.
At that moment, Acheron stepped forward. She placed her hand on the tsuba of her tachi. At this moment, Acheron's hair turned pale white. "Mourn for the departed, weep like rain, filling the river of crossing..."
A line of bloody tears flowed down. "...like surging tides, guide you home."
A single slash cut down beside Aventurine, easily shattering his domain, with the sword energy continuing forward through the city.]
[Yanqing]:"What a powerful slash!"
[Stelle]:"Aventurine: I'm up. Acheron: 'One slash and done!'"
[March 7th]:"No wonder the Family didn't want to let Acheron enter. If she had ill intentions, the damage she could cause would be too great!"
[Dan Heng]:"Not exactly. It's not because of power, but the power of [Nihility]."
[Stelle & March 7th]:"What power?"
[Dan Heng]:"The data bank has information about [Nihility], you can actually go read it yourself." [Aventurine suddenly opened his eyes, "This is... what place?"
"A huge black hole, and a sea..."
"Did I... succeed..."
Aventurine walked towards the black hole.
His past reappeared here one by one. Aventurine continued forward, "Unfortunately, this isn't the place you were expecting."
Aventurine stopped, "Nihility, is it?"
Acheron explained to Aventurine: "Perhaps in your eyes, I am an Emanator hiding my identity, but..."
"The slumbering formless one never glances at anyone. He has no form or appearance, let alone will... Nihility envelops everyone equally."
"It's just that some people walk further under His shadow, stained with more 'nothingness'... that's all."
"That's all... friend, you really leave me at a loss for words." "So... this is my end, the land after death?"]
[Guinaifen]:"'That's all'"
[Tesla]:"Even humility shouldn't be like this, right?"
[March 7th]:"So does this make Acheron an Aeon's Emanator or not?"
[Silver Wolf]:"Who knows? But I never thought someone could walk under Nihility to the level of an Emanator."
[Kiana]:"But Acheron definitely doesn't want to be stained with 'Nihility', right? Now she's constantly feeling herself disappearing, turning into nothingness. It must be really painful!"
[Acheron]:"...Thank you, Kiana."
[Bronya Zaychik]:"I feel like Kiana can never resist Mei's face."
[Stelle]:"Mei-face, specially effective against Kiana!"
[Acheron told him this was just one of Nihility's countless manifestations and would soon dissipate. Acheron wanted Aventurine to be honest: "Your performance in the paradise was brilliant, bluffing... a simple yet practical technique that fooled almost everyone."
"No one would think that you went to such great lengths, even risking your own life, just to confirm what seemed like an already denied fact..."
"There is no [true death] in Penacony's dreams."
From Sparkle's hints and Firefly's survival, Aventurine determined that the Family's secret was hidden within 'death'. Only through death could one reach the true Penacony. Aventurine confessed his plan but still had to point out one thing: Aventurine was too broken. Detonating a Stellaron was something he couldn't do, and he couldn't even guarantee he would emerge unscathed.]
[Stelle]:"I knew Aventurine wouldn't harm me!"
[Stelle]:"So! Mom, I'm on TV!"
[Fu Xuan]:"Tsk, the Family's idea is good! Normal people wouldn't think about death, especially with the Family's protection. Hiding the true Penacony behind death makes it very hard to discover."
[March 7th]:"So who is the mastermind behind it all? Who is feeding [death]? Hey, Gallagher, do you really not have any clues at all?"
[Gallagher]:"...None whatsoever."
[Afterwards, they conversed a while longer and were soon about to part ways. "...Before we part, can you answer one more question? As someone walking that path, can you tell me..."
"Why were we born into this world only for death?"
"I never think that way, and neither should you."
"But [Nihility] indeed envelops you and me... and everyone." "And precisely because of that, it has no meaning."
Aventurine turned to look at that pitch-black sun: "If fate's dice have always been loaded, if that is our destined end, then why... should we resist it?"
"My answer may not resolve your confusion, because it has accompanied you all along,It has becoming part of your life."
"But you said that sleep is death's rehearsal. Why does life sleep? Because we are not yet ready to welcome death."
"So you must also understand why we 'want' to be prepared."
"Even if the outcome is already predetermined, that's fine. There are too many things people cannot change. But before that, on the path towards the outcome, there are still many things people can do."
"And the outcome will thus show completely different meanings."
"Look in your pocket. Your friend already gave you the answer long ago. Good luck." Acheron departed.]
[Kiana]:"Ah, so profound! Why can't I quite understand it?"
[Raiden Mei]:"This involves Paths and philosophy. Kiana could read more philosophy books."
[Guinaifen]:"Facing the questions posed by the invitation letter, the current guests have all given their answers. Sushang, what do you think?"
[Sushang]:"Ah? I... this..."
[Elysia]:"Death is not the opposite of life, but exists eternally as part of life."
[Eden]:"Because of choices, life has meaning."
Author Note: Help! Please,wise parents, where am I going wrong with my writing now? How should I improve! This is the first time I've seen data halve in just two days - I'm scared!