Chapter 188
["Speaking of which, are you alone?"
Acheron shook her head: "No, I have a companion on Orcalchum—she's quite small, a Nameless, who wanted to launch herself into [IX]... She always said she wanted to walk 'a path deeper and farther than Akivili.'"
The old man chuckled: "Small in stature, but grand in ambition... So what was the outcome?"
"She... became a pool of stagnant water."
"Ah, my condolences."
"Condolences? I don't think so. That girl left with a smile. She never regretted her choice, and she certainly hoped I could bid her farewell with a smile too... And that's exactly what I did."
"That itself is proof of your sorrow for her."
"Perhaps it's fear." "Fear? It's hard to sense such emotion from you. What are you afraid of?"]
[Qingque]: "This... you Nameless folks really have such thoughts? Truly befitting those who walk the Path of [Trailblaze]—quite the ideas!"
[Sushang]: "...Huh? Aren't Nameless just what passengers on the Astral Express are called? Why is Acheron's friend also a Nameless?"
[Lingsha]: "Nameless is the general term for those who walk the Path of [Trailblaze], not just those on the Express."
[Lingsha]: "At its peak, the Astral Express only had a few hundred members. Surely there aren't only that many Nameless in the entire universe?"
[Fu Xuan]: "For example, Baiheng, one of the 'High-Cloud Quintet' in the Luofu's history, was a Nameless, yet she never once saw the Astral Express in her lifetime."
[Sushang]: "Seems like... I kinda get it now... maybe."
["I'm afraid I'll forget the thirty days I spent with her, just like every thirty-first day in my life. Most of them have already passed away with the rain, vanishing into the unseen beyond."
"I'm afraid these crimson memories will leave me too.
There aren't many colors I can see anymore. Apart from this faint, warm [red], I have almost nothing left."
The old man sighed: "It's truly hard to imagine... a [ranger] accustomed to bloodshed, destruction, and chaos could find warmth in the color red."
"Because I've had much of such warmth before. Long ago, I made a promise with someone to bring it to more people, to seek it in every moment of my remaining life...
[a better outcome for everyone]."
"As long as this touch of red remains, I still have a chance to fulfill that promise."
"Finally, it will lead me across the [Horizon of Existence], to the farthest shore... to sever [Nothingness]."]
[Kiana]: "Go for it! Mei! Sever [Nothingness]!"
[Raiden Mei]: "That won't happen, Kiana. I haven't been tainted by [Nothingness], and I will never forget you, Kiana."
[Qingque]: "...Putting aside how Kiana's rationality plummets whenever she sees Mei's face, this really is something only someone unaware of an Aeon's might would say."
[Dr. Ratio]: "In the universe, there are those like the Chaos Physicians who want to sever [Nothingness] and make IX understand the meaning of existence, yet [Nothingness] remains as it is."
[Dr. Ratio]: 'Though I know slaying a god is utterly impossible, I wish you find your own answer.'
[Astral Express
The Harmonious Festival was just four system hours away, and they knew nothing about the current situation inside. So Dan Heng, Yae, Botio, and Black Swan exchanged information on the Express, and Dan Heng deduced based on the available intel—
Remnants of the 'Celestial Choir' might have infiltrated Penacony, possibly aiming to resurrect a dead Aeon.
Acheron suggested that to verify this information, the Express needed to warp as soon as possible. Dan Heng stopped them: "Precisely because time is tight, I will immediately employ other means."
Boothill instantly reacted: "You're not going to use the [Alliance Jade Disc], are you?!"
"Exactly. With support from the Luofu Cloud Knights... it should be enough."
"That thing can only be used once in a lifetime. You'd better think carefully."
"I've thought it through. My companions... are also something you only get once in a lifetime."]
[March 7th]: "Mr. Dan Heng~ Aaaaaah! I never knew you cared about us so much!"
[Stelle]: "Hmph, Dan Heng, you really don't trust us enough! I've got a hat on my head, a bat in my left hand, and a fire lance in my right—Sunday is nothing!"
[Dan Heng]: "Because you are my companions. I won't stand by and watch my companions fall into danger. No matter how precious the Alliance Jade Disc is, it's not as important as you!"
[Honkai: Star Rail - Himeko]: "...Really, I feel all warm inside too."
[March 7th]: "But Dan Heng, you're really amazing! We went through hell in the dreamscape to uncover the truth, and you just deduced it all from this information?"
[Stelle]: "Though Mr. Dan Heng didn't figure out that the problem was with their boss, the Dreammaster."
[Dan Heng]: "This... was it hard to guess?"
[March 7th & Stelle]: "Yes!"
[Dan Heng]: "Read more of the Data Bank."
[Penacony Grand Theater
Sunday stood quietly at the center of the stage, awaiting the arrival of the Nameless. "Is it only you here, child?"
"That Nameless is quite something.
Our secrets have spread among the Families, and the Corporation's starships are gathering towards Asdana..."
"Now is the critical moment. Tell me, where is the Divine Chosen One who harmonizes all voices?"
Sunday turned around, staring directly at the raven before him: "What do you mean by that, sir?"
"Am I not standing right here before you?"...... Sunday's eyes turned fierce: "If you believe this is a betrayal..."
"There cannot be two suns in the sky. If necessary, I will strike down the sun."
The Dreammaster said: "Do you believe in retribution?"
"If retribution truly exists, then all beings shall face it—you have yours, and I have mine."
"And my retribution has nothing to do with you, Mr. Gopherwood."
The Dreammaster laughed: "No matter. Since you're willing to sacrifice yourself in her stead, I shall grant your wish."...... "So, the one who used the [Stellaron] to manipulate the dreams really wasn't you, but—"
The Dreammaster stopped Sunday from speaking further.]
[Stelle]: "Sunday: There cannot be two suns in the sky—in my heart, there is only Robin as my sun!"
[Otto]: "Sunday has spoken with his sister. He knows he can't change her mind. Though they disagree, he would never force his sister—what a good brother."
[Guinaifen]: "But what I'm more curious about is how lucky the Dreammaster must be to find two innate Order Saints in the universe?"
[Theresa]: "Isn't the most important part of this conversation their last line?!"
[Yanqing]: "Right! Isn't the Dreammaster the boss of Penacony?"
[Luocha]: "So indeed, the Stellaron was manipulated by the [Family], and likely not by a branch family of Penacony, but probably the main family itself."
[Boothill]: "Well, even the Dreammaster has been betrayed by the dear Family to some extent."
[Raven]: "Now it really seems like every organization is more united than the Family."