Chapter 194
[A Farewell to Tiernan!]
["How long... has this rain been falling?"
As always, Acheron was holding her red umbrella, while the elderly man beside her wore a straw raincoat. On the dark sea surface, the Bloodsin Specters had completely vanished. "If I recall correctly, perhaps years, decades, or even centuries."
"[The Hunt]'s death wish will not cease until life ends, but fortunately... we have finally ferried these lost souls. They were all heroes in life and will never again become puppets of [Nihility]."
"Look, all the shadows on the sea have dissipated. Remember? You said that when the regrets of the deceased are all laid to rest, the sky will clear."
"But the rain still hasn't stopped." "Indeed."
The old man asked puzzledly: "So, why exactly is that..."
"Why was I chosen by this rain?"
"Perhaps it's because there are still people whose regrets have not been appeased."
Acheron repeated to the old man the words he had once told her, her plain tone carrying a faint trace of sorrow: "They are born from [Nihility], return to [Nihility], living a meaningless existence. Yet even such an illusory shadow..."
"Has walked alongside me through these long days."]
[Misha]:"Fighting for others in life, pioneering and leading, even in death still ferrying lost souls and quelling lingering attachments."
[Misha]:"That's just like you, old friend."
[March 7th]:"So... the Tiernan senior who has been accompanying Acheron was already a 'Bloodsin Specter'..."
[Black Swan]:"For the rain to stop, the one who should be ferried next is this old man. His regrets have not yet been resolved."
[Kiana]:"Acheron is gentle too, just like Mei-senpai."
[Elysia]:"Though she appears cold and aloof, even when facing the erosion of [Nihility], she remains so gentle ♪"
["So that's how it is."
The old man suddenly understood, black mist beginning to emanate from his body: "I... am already dead."
"Were you watching over me?"
The white-haired Acheron continued gazing at the distant Sea of Death: "Perhaps. It is my duty... the Watcher of the River Styx."
"I guard the path to the abyss of [Nihility], guiding every life unwilling to enter it... back to this world."
The old man countered: "But if this is exactly what the deceased desire, would you still want to change it?"
"I don't know. Someone once told me that one day he would pass away, and he hoped that when that time came..."
"Someone would place a bouquet of flowers upon his grave."
"Even if... it's meaningless?"
Acheron said: "Some things must be done even if they're meaningless. I've experienced too many similar things... already."
"Please extend your hand, and then, close your eyes."
"I will carry your wish forward and fulfill it. Only then can I resolve this final regret by the Sea of Death."]
[March 7th]:"This is... Even like this, Senior Tiernan still worries about Penacony? Is this why Acheron came to Penacony?"
[Otto]:"Some things are worth doing precisely because they are meaningless. The act of doing them itself holds meaning."
[Yunli]:"Acheron's concept of 'Nihility' runs much deeper than any Chaotic Healer or Self-Annihilator I've encountered."
[Kiana]:"Not to mention how far Acheron has walked upon her Path?"
[Boothill]:"Acheron, what regrets does the old senior still have? We Trailblazers won't let a senior with such illustrious military achievements leave this world with regrets."
[Luanpo]:"His Highness Asura of the Silver Spear speaks wisely! By the Great Storm God, helping our Ninja senior resolve his regrets is also our duty!"
["Will I... be able to see them again?"
"Certainly."
Acheron held the old man's hand, her tone still gentle: "Because the person who told me all this was you: about that train, your two former companions, that pioneering expedition halted by the Swarm Disaster, your narrow escape, your meeting with the Trailblazers..."
"And that homeland you can never return to, Penacony."
"Yes, countless times... I was turned away by the Family, only able to brush past it."
"But I know, my companion is still there... all alone..."
"Mikhail... are you... still there?"
"Take my hand, come with me. We... will leave this place."]
[Misha]:"Tiernan... my companion... sigh..."
[Misha]:"Even after joining the Trailblazers, you still walked the path of [Trailblaze], never forgetting pioneering throughout your life."
[Gallagher]:"The bullet Tiernan left behind in the end also saved Penacony."
[March 7th]:'Now my impression of the Family has worsened even more. Compared to Miss Robin, the Family's 'Harmony' has completely gone astray, right!?'
[Feixiao]:"Starting from Penacony, the reputations of the IPC's Market Development Department and the Family across the universe are plummeting at light speed."
[Aventurine]:"Does the Market Development Department's reputation even have room to fall further?"
["You will embark on a very long, very long road, surrounded by darkness on all sides. But do not be afraid, because you will see that at the end of the road there will always be a touch of red."
"That is the color of [Existence]. Follow it, it will guide your way. Thus, you will surely reunite under the sunlight."
"Thank you."
"May death end your long dream." "...Guiding you back to the world of wakefulness."]
[Misha]:"May death end your long dream, guiding you back to the world of wakefulness. Goodnight, Tiernan."
[March 7th]:"After ferrying Tiernan, Acheron will head to Penacony next, right?"
[Mikhail]:"Safe journey, Mr. Tiernan. Your tomb keeper thanks you on behalf of Dreamflux Reef."
[Like Aventurine, Stelle also arrived before that pitch-black great sun. Amidst her friends' blessings, Stelle advanced courageously towards Acheron. "Yes, why does life fall into slumber...
We still don't know the answer to this question, yet we must awaken from this dream."
"Or perhaps, this is the answer itself."
"Leave this place, return to where you came from. Then... let Penacony awaken from its dream."
Stelle said eagerly: "Will I get to see your hidden strength?"
"As I said, our plan isn't to make everyone abandon darkness for light, but to let them choose to save themselves. Tell me, when do people choose to save themselves?"]
[March 7th]:"Understood! Use the power that sliced Aventurine to slice through the dream world!!"
[Welt·Honkai Star Rail]:"So it really is like this."
[Stelle]:"Wait, where are Mr. Yang and Himeko? Don't tell me Himeko is going to sleep through it like Mr. Yang did in the first run?"
[Dan Heng]:"I believe Mr. Welt and the others won't be absent from the final battle."
Warning: Starting from December, daily updates will be halved to one chapter per day. I'm a university student nearing finals. The author doesn't want to fail, even though I haven't studied at all yet and plan to speedrun next month.