Chapter 178: Bloodsin Spirits
[Dan Heng and Boothill returned to the train. Knowing the hotel wasn't safe, Black Swan had directly infiltrated the Astral Express. "While the Astral Express welcomes every passenger, everyone sneaking in like this...
Aren't you all getting a bit too comfortable, Pom!"
Pom watched these people who had directly infiltrated and complained. Boothill asked Black Swan for information about Acheron, and Black Swan brought Acheron directly. Boothill's expression suddenly changed, "What?! God damn it—Memokeeper, you sold me out?"
"Apologies, this was my request. Due to certain reasons, I've been exiled from Penacony. Fortunately, with this Memokeeper accompanying me, I had the chance to silently escape the Family's control."
"Actually, it was more stalking than accompanying. The process definitely couldn't be called 'silent' either... But never mind, have it your way."
Acheron brought news from outside for those still in the external world and hoped the Astral Express would warp away from this star system as soon as possible. And just as Dan Heng guessed, Acheron's purpose in disguising as a Galaxy Ranger was to draw out the real rangers.]
[Pom]: "The train never refuses visiting passengers, but please at least say hello when boarding, Pom!"
[Kiana]: "The Astral Express's security is this weak? People can infiltrate so easily!?"
[Theresa]: "Mainly because those infiltrating are either a Memokeeper who's a meme entity, Galaxy Rangers, or an Emanator."
[March 7th]: "No way? Acheron suggests the Astral Express leave this star system ASAP? What big scheme is the Family preparing behind the scenes?"
[Stelle]: "Turn Penacony into a mine?"
[Qingque]: "How is that even possible?"
["Someone once told me... every rainfall is heaven's mercy upon the world."
"How long has this rain been falling?"
Acheron held a red umbrella, accompanying an old man wearing a bamboo hat.
The old man said: "Once, I too hoped like you that it would stop someday. Years passed, decades... finally, 'hope' reached its end before this rain did."
"It seems the god you speak of doesn't exist."
As he said this, the old man's gaze remained fixed on the distance. In the dense black rain, countless, smoke-like shifting forms—hazy, shadowy hands—reached out from the sea surface one by one, stretching toward the sky. "Let me tell you a story instead..."
"Mortal walking on Paths is like crossing water in a small boat, leaving a winding trail, pushing aside ripples of countless possibilities. Compared to humanity's fleeting lives, these waves take long to settle."
"And among them are some whose existence leaves such intense traces that they cast their reflections upon these clusters of waves."
"[Bloodsin Spirits]... the obsessions of Pathstriders. Born from IX's shadow, they see themselves as the original beings, unknowingly repeating the behaviors of the deceased in life."
"They are born from [Nihility], returning to [Nihility], living meaningless lives. But these empty phantoms..."
"...were once my important companions, a group of Galaxy Rangers."]
[Boothill]: "God damn it, these people... they're all heroes of us Galaxy Rangers."
[Ranpo]: "Here lies the burial place of many fallen shinobi..."
[Raiden Mei]: "The speaking old man is keeping vigil for these Galaxy Rangers who died fighting the Emanator of Destruction [Zhu Luo]."
[March 7th]: "So this is why Acheron wanted to draw out the real Galaxy Rangers."
[Theresa]: "These heroes' ends shouldn't be like this, unknown to all."
["In your view, does this matter hold no meaning?"
"But some things must be done, even if they're meaningless."
Acheron fell silent, took a deep breath and said: "I can help you."
"For what purpose?"
"[Nihility]'s meaning—that is what I seek as well."
"Thank you, stranger. May you find answers on this journey."
"Before that, I have one more question."
"Admittedly, the Bloodsin Spirits' actions, even their entire lives, seem meaningless from our perspective. But if, I mean if..." "If this is truly the outcome the deceased desired, should we still seek to change it?"
"That's a good question, and a difficult one to answer. At least... I don't know the answer."
"But what I do know is that someday, I too will pass from this world. I sincerely hope that when that time comes..."
"Someone will place flowers upon my grave."]
[Kiana]: "Some things must be done even if they're meaningless..."
[Boothill]: "Truly a senior Galaxy Ranger. So... did that old man eventually pass away too?"
[Acheron]: "...Mn."
[March 7th]: "I hope that old gentleman found his final rest as wished."
[Pom]: "...Passenger Acheron, was that old gentleman named Tiernan, Pom?"
[March 7th]: "Huh?"
[Pom]: "It must be him, Pom! Even aged, Pom recognizes his voice. Pom never forgets any passenger, Pom!"
[9 system hours until the [Harmony Festival]. Somehow, Sunday fell into reminiscence—his former self listening to endless prayers and confessions from believers. "O soul of threefold aspect, hear my question..."
"If the powerful can cover their crimes with wealth and influence, who can deliver judgment upon them?"
"If the weak must spare no cost to survive, who can guarantee their protection?"
"If even the purest souls commit wrongs, who can offer them solace?"
"If 'the strong aiding the weak' truly is paradise's foundation..."
"Then who abandoned them to suffer and wail in this bitter world?"
Sunday had no answers. "...Brother? Are you alright?"
Robin woke her brother from his deep contemplation. Sunday used rhetoric to gloss over his current odd behavior and promised he would definitely stop the festival. After all, bringing happiness to humanity was the creed shared by the siblings.]
[Herrscher of Sentience]: "This is all wrong. Sunday lost faith in Harmony through this daily life, though I still don't know what path he's chosen instead."
[Kiana]: "Really?"
[Herrscher of Sentience]: "I am the Herrscher of Sentience. His ideological shift is obvious. We're just unfamiliar with that other world, so we don't know what his new path is."
[Luocha]: "It should be [Order]. I believe I have some understanding of the Order path."
[Qingque]: "But wasn't [Order] already assimilated by [Harmony]?"
[March 7th]: "Connecting this with Acheron wanting the Express to leave quickly... The big scheme they're planning couldn't be reviving the [Order] Aeon, could it!?"
[Fu Xuan]: "...You certainly dare to imagine."