Chapter 36 – The Gathering Before the Storm
The Astral Express hummed softly as it glided through the Imaginary currents, its halls alive with quiet voices, laughter, and lingering unease. Though the factions across the cosmos now mobilized under their restored Aeons, here—aboard the train—the coming war felt closer, heavier, and deeply personal.
Bonding on the Express
Dan Heng leaned quietly against the corridor wall, watching as Natasha (the Avenger, not to be mistaken for Belobog's doctor) taught March 7th some basic field medicine. Loki hovered nearby, pretending disinterest, though his curious eyes betrayed him.
In the lounge, Tony Stark and Welt Yang shared drinks. Stark gestured at the holo-map, shaking his head.
"Three Aeons. Three. You know, I thought fighting gods was strictly a Thor problem."
Welt chuckled softly, though the humor didn't reach his eyes.
"And now it's everyone's problem."
Hestia from the Danmachi group was deep in conversation with Pom-Pom, who still grumbled about Aeons boarding without permission. Yet, even Pom-Pom admitted—begrudgingly—that this chaos was different. More dangerous.
The Triangle – Neo, Velgrynd, Finality Kiana
In a quieter chamber, Neo sat with Velgrynd and Finality Kiana. The atmosphere was thick, almost electric.
Velgrynd's golden-red eyes narrowed. "She kissed you. Bold of her. Do you intend to entertain both timelines' Kianas now, or do I need to burn this discussion into clarity?"
Finality Kiana crossed her arms, voice sharp but not unkind. "I didn't do it for you, Velgrynd. I did it because I had to—because it was my way of anchoring myself after the purification. If you think I'm after your husband, you're wrong."
Her words carried conviction, but the heat in her cheeks betrayed lingering doubt.
Neo exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Both of you… we don't have the time for this kind of fight. Not now. The corruption won't wait for our hearts to untangle themselves."
Velgrynd huffed but leaned closer to Neo, claiming her presence with a fiery aura. Kiana, though silent, didn't look away. The tension wasn't resolved—it was merely folded away, waiting for another spark.
The War Council
Later, the full crew gathered in the main cabin. A holo-map unfolded before them, showing Ember Prison—glowing like a scar in the fabric of the Tree of Imaginary Numbers.
Neo stood at the center.
"Three corrupted Aeons await us. Let's break it down."
• Nanook, the Destruction: fully corrupted, his Path twisted beyond repair. His hunger for annihilation was now magnified by corruption.
• Tayzzyronth, the Propagation: the corrupted Aeon at Ember Prison, growing stronger by the moment.
• Yaoshi, the Abundance: half corrupted, still resisting, but their struggle could either aid or doom them.
Himeko folded her arms, eyes sharp. "That means we face two enemies outright, and one whose allegiance might change mid-battle."
Lan's voice carried steel. "Abundance is the most dangerous variable. If Yaoshi succumbs fully during the battle, we'll be crushed between three fronts."
Qlipoth rumbled, calm but resolute. "Then we anchor Yaoshi's mind while striking the other two. Preservation will not allow their fall."
Nous added, voice calculated but oddly human now: "Corruption has patterns. It is not without logic. If Abundance is half-consumed, there may be a window to sever the infection before full collapse."
Aha, lounging casually on the table, grinned. "So we're playing therapy and genocide at the same time? Delightful!"
Pom-Pom stomped its feet. "This is not delightful! This is the Astral Express, not a stage for cosmic disasters!"
Neo raised a hand, silencing the scattered voices. His gaze swept over the Express crew, the Avengers, the Danmachi adventurers, the Herrschers, and the newly restored Aeons.
"Every world we've saved, every battle we've fought, has led us here. The corruption wants us to fracture, to break apart. But we'll meet it united. We'll purify, we'll protect, and if necessary—"
His aura flared, sharp as starlight. "We'll erase even an Aeon."
Foreshadowing – Veldanava's Shadow
For a fleeting moment, Neo felt a familiar presence ripple through the Imaginary currents. Veldanava's avatar, watching, silent, his will like a looming star in the distance. Not yet summoned—but aware.
Velgrynd's eyes flickered, as though she sensed it too. She whispered softly, almost to herself:
"If my brother is truly watching… then the scale of this war is greater than any of us know."
Closing
The holo-map dimmed, but the tension remained. Ember Prison waited. So did three corrupted Aeons.
And though they laughed, planned, and bonded in these final hours, each of them carried the same truth in their hearts—
The next battle would decide the fate of not just the Tree of Imaginary Numbers, but every path it touched.
End of Chapter 36
Chapter 37 – At the Edge of Ember Prison
The Civilians' Eyes
The skies above Ember Prison bled with cracks of Imaginary lightning, the ground warped as roots of corruption spread like a cancer through reality itself. The people scattered across the nearby colonies huddled in fear—voices hushed, eyes turned toward the barrier that separated them from the imprisoned Aeon.
Mothers whispered prayers to stars long silent.
Merchants who once trusted the Interastral Peace Corporation now cursed its name, wondering if they would ever see their children grow.
And far away, the Nameless' flag, emblazoned on the Astral Express, had become a symbol of fragile hope.
"They're coming," one elder muttered, pointing at the streak of light carving through the sky. "The ones who saved other worlds. Please, let them save us too."
The Astral Express – Final Downtime
Aboard the Express, tension coiled beneath moments of laughter. Natasha checked her gear with Bruce Banner's help, while Tony traded words with Aventurine, both businessmen at heart but standing now as soldiers.
Danmachi's Bell and Asuna spoke quietly with March 7th, the younger girl asking what it meant to fight even when the odds looked impossible.
In the rear cabin, Neo sat in silence until Velgrynd and Finality Kiana joined him. Velgrynd placed her hand on his shoulder—warm, grounding. Kiana leaned against the opposite wall, silent, but her eyes burned with the will to fight. The earlier tension between them hadn't vanished, but now it was buried beneath the weight of the coming storm.
Pom-Pom stomped into the center of the car.
"LISTEN UP! This is your last chance to rest before we arrive! Once we're there, no one's allowed to scratch up my Express, got it?!"
Himeko smirked, arms folded. "Don't worry, Pom-Pom. We'll try to keep the train intact this time."
Pom-Pom huffed but didn't argue.
Arrival at Ember Prison
The Astral Express pierced the veil, slowing as Ember Prison came into view.
It was a twisted wonder: once a place of confinement, now reshaped into a living wound. Tendrils of corruption wrapped the prison, pulsing as though it breathed. And within, the silhouette of Tayzzyronth, the Propagation, writhed, its countless forms pressing against the barrier.
But overshadowing even that horror was the presence of Yaoshi, the Abundance. Their colossal form flickered between radiance and rot, half their body blooming with lush green life, the other half blackened with festering corruption. Their voice—gentle yet agonized—rippled across the battlefield.
"Help… me…"
The First Priority – Yaoshi's Salvation
The crew gathered on the deck. Lan's eyes narrowed. "This is it. If we don't save Abundance first, they'll collapse—and with them, countless lives across the Tree."
Qlipoth nodded, stone-like resolve in their voice. "Preservation will hold their form steady. Strike while we keep the corruption from spreading further."
Velgrynd's aura flared beside Neo. "We'll need purification on a scale larger than before."
Manas: Seraphina's voice resonated in Neo's mind, calm but sharp.
"I've already begun constructing purification algorithms suited for Aeon-class corruption. But it will require synchronization—with everyone."
Neo raised his hand, calling the group to readiness. "Then we all fight together. First target isn't Destruction or Propagation. It's Yaoshi. We save them, or this war is over before it begins."
The Astral Express screeched to a halt just beyond the battlefield. Doors opened.
And for a moment, silence reigned—before the first wave of corruption surged toward them like a living tide.
End of Chapter 37
Chapter 38 – Carving the Path of Salvation
The First Wave
The corrupted landscape of Ember Prison convulsed like a living beast, spewing forth abominations forged from twisted roots and shadows. Vast insectoid husks with crystalline wings shrieked from above. Aberrations made of bone and blackened vines surged from below, their sheer numbers blotting out the scorched horizon.
Tony's HUD screamed with alerts as energy signatures spiked.
"Great—wave after wave of nightmare bugs. Exactly what I wanted today."
Thor, crackling with lightning, slammed his hammer into the earth, scattering dozens in a storm of thunder. "Hold the line! Keep them from overwhelming the train!"
Finality Kiana descended like a comet, her silver-white wings of Finality burning away entire swaths of corruption. Velgrynd mirrored her, flames of the True Dragon scorching the ground, leaving only clean crystalized glass in her wake. Their synchronization, though unspoken, was flawless—a dance of purity and destruction.
The civilians behind the protective wards watched, trembling. For them, this was a battle fought by gods.
Lan & Neo – Toward Yaoshi
Lan dashed forward, his blade of radiant Hunt-light cutting straight lines through hordes of corruption beasts. His aura carried the inevitability of pursuit—an Aeon whose every strike landed as though destiny had guided it.
Neo fought alongside him, Azathoth's nihility surging in controlled bursts, carving out clearings in the chaos. Each swing of his weapon dissolved corrupted matter into dust, while Manas: Seraphina directed purification algorithms in real-time.
Lan's voice cut through the din. "We need to reach Yaoshi's heart before the corruption drowns them. I'll strike the path—hold it open!"
Neo nodded, his Dragon Spirit Haki flaring, coating his compressed universe blade. "Then I'll anchor the purification link. We won't lose Abundance—not today."
Every step toward Yaoshi felt heavier, the corruption itself fighting back with storms of parasitic spores. But together, the two carved through, unwavering.
Qlipoth, Aha, and Nous – Holding the Line Against Aeons
High above the battlefield, the barrier trembled as two presences pressed against it.
Nanook, the Destruction, laughed, flames of annihilation crackling from their form. "Why do you resist? Let it all burn, let the cycle end here. Corruption or destruction—does it matter?"
Opposite them, Tayzzyronth, the Propagation, writhed with infinite shapes, voice overlapping in countless tones. "Multiply… spread… the Tree will be ours to infest…"
The trio stood between them and Yaoshi.
Qlipoth's body glowed with the unyielding force of preservation. Each strike of Nanook's hammer met an unbreakable wall of stone and crystal. "You will not pass. Preservation exists to deny you."
Nous, luminous circuits blazing, processed countless probabilities in an instant, adjusting barrier matrices with precision. "Destruction paths identified. Counter-resonance deployed. Calculating 11.3 trillion outcomes… adjusting continuously."
Aha twirled like a mad jester, laughter echoing as illusions spun into reality, splitting corrupted swarms into chaos. "You're no fun, Nanook. What's the point of destruction if there's no joy in it?" But beneath his grin, his eyes burned with fury. "This time, I choose. Not my Path. Mine."
The three locked the corrupted Aeons in place, straining under the pressure but holding the line.
Back on the Ground – The Push Forward
Bruce Banner, half-transformed into Hulk, roared as he ripped through corrupted monstrosities, shielding Natasha and March 7th as they fired purification-coated shots.
Welt Yang, restored Herrscher of Reason, manifested massive cannons of crystallized logic to blast through air swarms, his gaze cold but determined.
The Danmachi fighters—Bell's firebolt spear, Asuna's twin blades—fought shoulder to shoulder with the Nameless. Every strike they made felt lighter now, as though the very Path of Trailblaze lifted their hands.
And yet, despite their efforts, the waves only grew denser.
Yaoshi's Voice
Through the storm, Yaoshi's weakened voice reached Neo and Lan.
"Your light… I feel it. Do not… stop…"
Lan's grip tightened on his blade. Neo raised his sword high, nihility energy flowing into purifying light.
Together, they roared:
"For the Abundance—open the path!"
End of Chapter 38
Chapter 39 – The Arrow of Salvation
The Purification Begins
The battlefield fell into a deafening crescendo. Every corrupted beast screeched in agony as if resisting what was about to come. Neo and Lan stood before the vast form of Yaoshi, half their divine body writhing in corruption, half still glowing with verdant, abundant life.
Lan raised his bow of radiant silver, forged of pure Hunt essence. For millennia, the Hunt's arrows had been used to kill. To eradicate prey, to sever destiny. But now, his will shifted. His intent was not death—but salvation.
He drew back the bowstring, his voice resonating like thunder:
"Today, the Hunt does not end life. It restores it!"
The light arrow ignited, brighter than a thousand suns, carrying not only his will but the voices of the countless civilizations who had prayed for deliverance.
Neo's Power – Trailblaze & Permanence
Beside him, Neo's aura erupted. His Trailblazer's mark flared, connecting every fighter across the battlefield with glowing lines of light—a network of determination, of every heart refusing to yield. At the same time, Permanence stabilized the flow, ensuring that their combined power would not burn out but endure.
He stepped forward, placing his hand over Lan's bow, feeding the arrow with his own essence. The power of Nihility tempered by hope. The will to carve roads where none existed.
"Yaoshi!" Neo shouted, his voice tearing through the corruption. "You are not alone. Walk with us—your abundance belongs to life, not to this corruption!"
The Chorus of Allies
One by one, their allies added their power.
• Velgrynd's flames wrapped around the arrow, burning only the corruption, not life.
• Finality Kiana's wings poured radiant Finality into it, embodying the end of despair and the beginning of hope.
• Welt's constructs crystallized around them, stabilizing the vector of energy.
• March 7th's arrow, fused into Lan's, echoed her will to protect.
• Thor's lightning, Hulk's strength, Danmachi's heroes' resolve, and even the prayers of the civilians flowed into the arrow like threads of faith.
The arrow was no longer just Lan's or Neo's. It was the culmination of every path, every choice, every voice refusing to surrender.
Resonance with Yaoshi
Within the corrupted body of the Aeon of Abundance, their consciousness flickered. They felt the weight of life, of all those they had nurtured, and the despair of watching their gift twisted into corruption.
Neo's voice echoed within them: "We blaze the trail with you."
Lan's intent struck deeper: "The Hunt is not your enemy. It is your salvation."
Memories stirred—flowers blooming across barren worlds, the cries of newborns, the laughter of civilizations. For the first time since the corruption took root, Yaoshi's will fought back.
The Arrow of Salvation
Lan loosed the arrow.
It split the corrupted sky, a single streak of light cutting through the shadow. Neo amplified it with his permanence, locking its power into reality. It struck Yaoshi's chest—not to kill, but to cleanse.
Corruption screamed. The air itself shook as black roots burned away in waves. From Yaoshi's form burst pillars of green and gold, abundance fighting to reclaim itself.
Yaoshi's voice thundered across the cosmos:
"I… remember. Life must… endure!"
Switch POV – The Other Front
Far beyond, the corrupted Aeons reacted.
Nanook, the Destruction, roared, hammer crashing against Qlipoth's barriers. "You defy me with salvation? Pathetic! Let all things end!"
Qlipoth stood unmoving, stone cracking but never breaking. "Preservation was forged to resist your path. I will not falter."
Tayzzyronth, the Propagation, shrieked, spawning endless malformed copies to flood the stars. "Purity is futile. Corruption is infinite multiplication!"
Nous intercepted with calculated brilliance, dismantling propagations at the atomic level. "Incorrect. Infinite growth without meaning collapses into zero. I reject your false logic."
And Aha—laughing, spinning with chaotic joy—threw illusions that turned the corrupted spawn against one another. His grin was manic, but his voice trembled with defiance:
"Your corruption isn't funny anymore. If you want to spread, spread this joke—your failure!"
Together, the three held Destruction and Propagation back, giving Neo and Lan the precious time needed.
The Turning Point
As the last echoes of the arrow faded, Yaoshi's form began to shift. The corruption peeled away in chunks, replaced by luminous flora and radiant crystal veins. Their body still trembled, still scarred—but their will was no longer shackled.
The battlefield stilled, every fighter watching as the Aeon of Abundance opened their eyes, clarity returning.
And for the first time in what felt like eternity, Yaoshi smiled.
End of Chapter 39
Chapter 40 – The Bloom of Abundance
The Awakening of Yaoshi
Silence descended after the arrow of salvation faded. The battlefield, once drowned in shrieks of corruption, now trembled with the quiet pulse of life.
Yaoshi's titanic form was no longer consumed by black roots. Vines of emerald light spread outward, blooming into luminous gardens across the battlefield. Each flower that bloomed carried warmth and fragrance, as if to remind all who stood there that life could flourish even in desolation.
Yaoshi's eyes opened—no longer glazed with corruption, but glowing in hues of gentle gold and radiant green.
"…I… am free." Their voice echoed across galaxies, reverberating in the souls of every living being present.
Lan lowered his bow, breath unsteady. Neo released his aura, feeling permanence stabilize in the wake of the purification.
Yaoshi looked down at them, their voice soft yet carrying the weight of eons:
"Hunt… Trailblaze… Permanence… You have reminded me of what it means to give life, not to feed despair."
A Warning Beyond the Corruption
But their expression soon dimmed. The glow of flowers dimmed slightly as Yaoshi spoke again, with a heavy tone:
"Hear me, chosen of the Chat Group. This corruption… it is not a mere infection. It gnaws at the roots of creation itself. I saw visions while bound—of a great maw, hungering not only for universes but for the very Tree of Imaginary Numbers, even the Quantum Sea. If it succeeds… all timelines, all branches, all dreams shall collapse into its void."
The warning left even seasoned warriors frozen. Neo clenched his fist—this confirmed what Veldanava's foreshadowing already hinted: the corruption was not a random threat, but one that aimed at everything.
The Chat Group Announcement
Before the weight of silence could grow, the Chat Group window flared across everyone's vision.
[System Announcement]
Yaoshi, The Abundance has been purified and freed from corruption!
Yaoshi has officially joined the Chat Group.
[System Notification]
Starter Pack Granted: Humanity and Freedom restored.
(Like Lan, Qlipoth, Aha, and Nous, Yaoshi is now no longer bound to their Path and has recovered their essence fully.)
Yaoshi blinked as the surge of light enveloped them. Their vast form shimmered before condensing into a more humanoid incarnation, glowing with healthy green. They touched their chest, eyes wide, as tears of pure light formed.
"…To be free… from the chains of Abundance? After all this time?"
They smiled gently, a kindness that stretched across the battlefield like sunlight.
"Thank you… all of you. For granting me this gift."
Mission Rewards Distribution
The chat group chimed again, distributing rewards.
[Partial Mission Reward: Purification of Yaoshi]
• Mythical Tier Rewards (MVP):
• Neo, Lan (Reason: Greater Contribution in Purifying Yaoshi)
• Qlipoth, Aha, Nous (Reason: Holding off Corrupted Destruction and Propagation, buying critical time)
• Legendary Tier Rewards:
• All other Chat Group Members
[Note: Qlipoth, Aha, and Nous remain engaged in battle against Destruction and Propagation. Rewards have been applied automatically.]
The light of rewards cascaded through the battlefield. Neo felt new power well up inside him—something deeper than before, an extension of both Trailblaze and Permanence resonating together.
Lan's bow shimmered with a divine glow, not of death, but of salvation, his path subtly shifting.
Elsewhere in the cosmos, Qlipoth's stone body strengthened, Nous's calculations sharpened beyond mortal comprehension, and Aha's chaotic aura gleamed brighter, even as they clashed with their corrupted kin.
The Weight of Gratitude
Velgrynd crossed her arms, watching the newly incarnated Yaoshi with cautious respect. "You've been freed… but your warning proves this is only the beginning."
Yaoshi bowed their head slightly. "It is. And for that reason, I will walk with you now—not as an Aeon bound to Abundance, but as one who chooses to fight."
Finality Kiana, her wings folding, stepped forward with quiet admiration. "Then we're not alone anymore."
Neo exhaled, though his gaze sharpened. He knew this was only the first of many battles. The corruption of Destruction and Propagation still raged beyond. But for now—they had won a vital victory.
End of Chapter 40
Chapter 41 – The Stones, The Trickster, and The Mind
Qlipoth's Stand: The Fortress of Eternity
The battlefield of the stars cracked beneath the clash of titanic powers. Nanook's corrupted flame seared through reality, each swing of their weapon threatening to unravel entire constellations. Beside them, Tayzzyronth's Propagation writhed, birthing endless legions of corrupted spawns that screamed in unnatural harmony.
And standing against them—three figures, reborn.
Qlipoth's stone form pulsed with light, their colossal shield no longer static, but alive with crystalline patterns gifted by the Chat Group reward. The shield expanded into an eternal bastion, able to not only block but rewrite impact into permanence.
Nanook's corrupted greatsword slammed down, but instead of devastation, the energy dispersed into harmless fragments of light. Qlipoth's voice rumbled:
"Your destruction has no permanence. Only futility."
With a thrust, their shield transformed into a wall of shifting mountains, slamming Nanook backward.
Aha's Chaos Unleashed
Where Qlipoth was unyielding, Aha danced like a flame in the void.
His human incarnation now shimmered with restored humanity—eyes alive, laughter no longer hollow. From his Mythical reward, Aha gained the ability to reshape chaos into possibility. Every movement spawned illusions, paradoxes, and deadly tricks that bent logic itself.
A corrupted spawn lunged at him, but when it struck, it found itself striking itself, collapsing into nothingness.
Aha laughed, twirling a blade of radiant mischief.
"Ah, Nanook, Nanook… look at you. Once so boringly predictable. Now corrupted? And still you're dull! Try harder before I die of laughter!"
He slashed—yet his slash became a hundred slashes from futures that never were. Propagation's endless hordes began to wither under impossible wounds.
Nous: The Machine that Became Mind
Nous stood still amidst the chaos, but their new aura shook the stars. Their once-cold calculations were now infused with something more—choice, instinct, and imagination.
From the Mythical reward, Nous gained the ability to calculate beyond determinism, weaving possibilities instead of mere probabilities.
They raised a hand. Equations carved into light appeared in the void, forming complex geometries. From them burst beams of knowledge—pure logic turned weapon—that unraveled corrupted matter at its roots.
"Truth is no longer bound to inevitability. I choose what is real."
Even Nanook paused, eyes narrowing at Nous' defiance. For the first time, Nous had exceeded the very logic of their former path.
Holding the Line
Together, Qlipoth, Aha, and Nous formed an impossible trinity: fortress, trickster, and mind.
Qlipoth blocked every destructive strike.
Aha danced through every wave of corruption.
Nous rewrote reality itself to deny propagation's spread.
But the cost was immense. Their every breath burned with strain. This was no victory yet—merely survival. Still, they endured, because they knew what was happening beyond…
The Express: A Moment of Breath
Far from the frontline, Neo, Lan, Yaoshi, and the Express crew sat in the afterglow of the purification. For once, the stars above did not shake with immediate threat.
Yaoshi's new humanoid form radiated vitality, flowers blooming at each of their steps. They sat quietly with Pom-Pom, who despite his usual frustration, offered Yaoshi tea as if to welcome them aboard properly.
Lan rested his bow across his lap, fingers tracing the new glow infused into the weapon. He whispered:
"It feels different now… as if my arrows no longer exist to slay, but to heal. To guide."
Neo sat cross-legged, aura simmering like a contained sun. His Trailblaze and Permanence paths hummed, but he also tested the subtle expansion that came with his Mythical reward: a deeper resonance with the flow of fate and time. He wove threads of light in his palm, bending space slightly before closing his hand.
Velgrynd leaned against him, watching in silence. Finality Kiana stood across, wings folded, eyes lingering too long before turning away.
Testing the Rewards
Each member of the crew tested the gifts the chat group had given them:
• Natasha (Avenger) discovered her healing abilities could now touch souls themselves, not just flesh.
• Welt felt his Herrscher of Reason powers refined, his constructs more durable and versatile than ever before.
• Dan Heng's aura of Permanence flared brighter, steadier, resonating with Yaoshi as if two reborn paths acknowledged each other.
Pom-Pom scolded them for sparring inside the Express, but couldn't hide the small wag of his tail at seeing everyone grow stronger.
The Looming Storm
Neo opened his eyes, sweat beading on his forehead. He whispered, almost to himself:
"…Qlipoth, Nous, Aha. Hold on. Just a little longer."
Because he could feel it—the pressure of Destruction and Propagation was still crushing the cosmos. And though Yaoshi was saved, the war had only just begun.
End of Chapter 41
Chapter 42 – The Gathering Storm
The Express in Motion
The Astral Express trembled as its engines roared, no longer a fragile relic of the Trailblaze but now a reforged vessel of cosmic defiance. Its reinforced frame glowed faintly with Neo's power of Permanence and Trailblaze, the train itself becoming a symbol of resistance across the galaxies.
Inside, the crew and allies moved with deliberate calm, each preparing for what would soon be the largest confrontation the cosmos had ever seen.
Neo stood at the center of the carriage, eyes shut, sensing the distant battle. Even across countless light-years, he could feel Qlipoth's shield straining, Aha's laughter masking pain, Nous' mind burning against the weight of corruption.
Velgrynd crossed her arms, her crimson hair blazing with restrained fire.
"If those three fall, this war ends before it begins."
Finality Kiana's expression darkened, fingers brushing the hilt of her blade.
"Then we won't let them fall. If the universe thinks this is the end, we'll remind it what Trailblazers are for."
Pom-Pom stomped down the aisle, ears puffed, voice trembling with both anger and pride.
"Hmph! First Lan, then Qlipoth, then Aha and Nous barging in—do you think I like strangers storming MY train?! No! But… if this is the army that will save the stars, then fine. I'll drive this train straight through the abyss itself!"
The whole carriage vibrated at his words, as if the Express itself answered his resolve.
The Factions Arrive
Outside the train, the void was no longer silent. Ships, fleets, and armies gathered like constellations reborn, the combined might of four cosmic factions now freed from corruption's chokehold.
• The Hunt: Lan stood at the vanguard, bow shimmering. Behind him marched the Xianzhou Alliance, their once-fractured unity restored. The Galaxy Rangers, summoned from across the stars, gathered in disciplined formation, their legend of slaying a Lord Ravager echoing like thunder. Their blades gleamed with righteous fire, eager to cut down corruption wherever it spread.
• The Preservation: Qlipoth's voice had reached the Interastral Peace Corporation and the Architects, now cleansed of their greedy masters. For the first time, IPC fleets sailed not for profit, but for justice. And among them, freed workers and former victims cheered the sight—justice had at last reached their tormentors.
• The Elation: Aha's laughter carried through his followers. The Masked Fools, once lost to pointless chaos, now stood reborn. They embraced joy not as madness, but as strength to defy despair. Their ships glimmered like fireworks, their banners wild, yet unyielding.
• The Erudition: Nous' declaration had shaken scholars and thinkers across countless civilizations. The Genius Society, many of whom once feared Nous' cold logic, now rallied under his restored humanity. Knowledge was no longer a cage but a sword—one meant to strike down corruption at its roots.
Together, they formed a cosmic army unlike any in history.
Planning the Final Push
In the Express briefing room, holographic stars lit up as routes and strategies were displayed.
Dan Heng stood tall, his aura of Permanence harmonizing faintly with Yaoshi's presence.
"We'll strike in two coordinated waves. The first will reinforce Qlipoth, Aha, and Nous, ensuring they don't fall. The second wave will focus on cutting off Propagation's endless spawns."
Natasha (Avenger) added, her voice steady despite the looming war:
"Civilian rescue must remain a priority. The corrupted leave survivors in their wake. If we don't protect them, this victory means nothing."
Welt Yang's expression was heavy as he looked at the projection of the battlefield.
"And if Nanook has truly chosen corruption willingly… then this fight will not end without sacrifice."
Neo finally opened his eyes, his aura calm but radiant, as though stars themselves bent toward his will.
"No. Sacrifice won't define us. We are Trailblazers. We are not here to lose—we are here to show the cosmos a road beyond corruption, beyond despair. If the Aeons can be saved, we will save them. And if not…"
He raised his hand, threads of void and light weaving into infinity.
"…then I will erase even the concept of their corruption."
Velgrynd smirked softly, eyes blazing.
"There it is. The promise of a dragon."
Veldanava's Foreshadowing
For a fleeting moment, Neo felt a pulse—like an echo from the branch timeline. A fragment of Veldanava's avatar watching, waiting.
A whisper lingered in the back of his mind:
"Little brother-in-law… if they summon me, it means you face a storm even I could not tame. Prepare yourself. The end of this Trailblaze is only the beginning."
Neo clenched his fist, eyes sharpening.
March to the Battlefield
The call went out. Fleets surged forward. The Astral Express, glowing like a beacon of destiny, took its place at the head of the army.
Civilians across the galaxies watching the live broadcast wept and cheered, their prayers rising like sparks in the void.
The war against corruption was no longer fought in silence. Now, it was a march—the march of countless souls united by one truth:
The Trailblaze does not end.
End of Chapter 42