Who is this?
An Aeon?
Across the infinite multiverse, the viewers outside the video all showed expressions of astonishment.
How to describe it? It was a feeling that was difficult to put into words, like a black hole—you were clearly trying your best to escape, but you were powerless, able to do nothing but watch as you were swallowed by the vortex.
Raiden Mei: "That figure just now... what in the world was it? A black hole... why does it have eyes?"
At St. Freya Academy, many of the Valkyries were frightened by the appearance of the "Black General." This ominous feeling was even more terrifying than the Honkai.
"Mei... Mei, that was so scary. Just now, for a moment, I felt like nothing mattered. Everything went dark, like I was drowning. It was even hard to breathe."
Kiana came to her senses, a look of fear appearing on the lively girl's face for the first time. She hugged Mei tightly, as if seeking a sliver of comfort from her embrace.
At this moment, even Bronya, who usually loved to bicker with Kiana, was silent. Although her state was not as bad as Kiana's, the lingering feeling within her body told her that this strange Aeon was an existence no weaker than Noa, a terrifying being capable of destroying a universe.
"Hah~ An Aeon? From the looks of it, it doesn't seem like a benevolent one..."
In the principal's office, Theresa shook her head. The feeling that had flashed through her mind still left her unsettled.
Now, even the bitter melon juice she usually loved to drink felt difficult to swallow. Or rather... she didn't want to swallow it.
This feeling of emptiness had only appeared after seeing that unknown Aeon. From this, it was clear that this Aeon was absolutely no saint. If not for the protection of the light curtain, she might have already died.
Yukino Yukinoshita: "This Aeon... what is it? Why does it give people such an ominous feeling?"
Fallen Black Cat: "T-Terrifying. I almost died just now!"
Detective Conan: "Unlike the restrained light of Noa, this one... doesn't care at all about the effect its power has on ordinary people!"
Carefree Bro: "Black General! Isn't that the Black General? When did you become an Aeon? Did you transmigrate?"
Time Spirit: "Black General? Is that the Aeon's name? What philosophical concept is it the personification of?"
Black General: "Hey... Carefree Bro, what are you looking at? Do I resemble him in the slightest?!"
On the light curtain's bullet chat, countless viewers, having shaken off the bizarre feeling from before, felt a deep curiosity alongside their fear of the unknown Aeon.
As everyone knew, the main stage for this viewing was the Ultra Universe. Therefore, aside from a few Aeons, the viewers from outside the infinite multiverse knew very little about the others.
And even among the known Aeons, the most powerful one, Preservation, was put to shame before this unknown Aeon. Even the strongest in the Ultra Universe, Noa, might not be able to defeat it.
In the Honkai: Star Rail universe, countless people wore the same expression as the viewers from the infinite multiverse.
That's right, the vast majority of them had no idea who this was either. Influenced by the IPC, the most famous Aeon in the entire universe was Preservation. As for an Aeon even more powerful than Preservation, they truly had no knowledge of it.
After all, the Aeons were too mysterious, and this one was a mystery among mysteries.
March 7th: "So which Aeon is this, really? Stelle, don't you test the Simulated Universe with Ms. Herta every day? Do you know?"
Galaxy Baseballer: "...It has appeared in the Simulated Universe. Its reputation isn't low, it's just that practically no one has ever seen it."
Welt Yang: "Not low in reputation, but never seen by anyone. Could it be..."
On the Express, Welt showed a look of surprise, but before he could speak, someone else had already said the name.
Acheron: "...The Aeon of Nihility. I didn't expect it to be stirred into action."
Uttering these few words slowly, Acheron's eyes were filled with complex emotions.
Having reached her level, she knew a thing or two about the secrets between Aeons.
All things yield to nihility. Among the known Aeons, [The Nihility] is the strongest.
Elation, Preservation, Harmony, or any of the other Aeons known to people are no match for The Nihility.
Sparkle the Imp: "It's actually The Nihility! Legend has it that anyone who has ever seen The Nihility either disappears or undergoes a drastic change in personality. I never thought it would actually look like this, like a blackened hard-boiled egg."
Sampo Koski: "Oh, Lady Sparkle, you're quite bold. To describe it in such a way, aren't you afraid?"
Sparkle the Imp: "Hehe, it's fine. I'm just a humble Masked Fool. How could I possibly attract its attention?"
General of the Luofu, Jing Yuan: "The Aeon of Nihility... To think that even it was alerted. This is truly unexpected."
---o---
[On the light curtain, unlike outside the video, the Aeon of Nihility's actions did not attract much attention from those within the video.]
After all, because of the Gray Mist, some things that shouldn't have appeared had been born in this universe.
The Aeons had no time to spare to pay attention to this idle Nihility.
In the cosmos, the Amber King was, as before, using his giant hammer to build a wall capable of withstanding the Gray Mist.
Aha was still on the sidelines, shouting encouragement, while occasionally giving some revelations to the Masked Fools to publicize the disaster of the Gray Mist, and then helping the IPC's people deliver some materials to the Amber King.
What, you ask why Aha isn't helping?
Are you kidding? With the Amber King there, the Gray Mist can't get in anyway. Using this opportunity to stir up some excitement in the universe isn't a bad idea, is it?
Although Aha had no intention of doing so, other Aeons like Xipe of Harmony and Lan of The Hunt appeared one after another.
It seemed the commotion caused by that glowing thing on the other side was not small, having managed to draw out so many Aeons who were in hiding.
Well... it wasn't exactly hiding. After all, they had been quite busy dealing with those few dark demon gods before.
The Swarm King had fled to the Ultra Universe, but due to some unknown influence, darkness was also spreading in their universe. The commotion it caused was not insignificant, but thankfully, it was discovered in time.
Aha thought to himself, his curiosity about the other universe growing stronger. But he couldn't cross over, so what was he to do?
By chance, Aha's gaze fell upon the still-wall-building Amber King.
"Speaking of which, that fool... seems to have sent someone over there? Oh, my goodness, how did I not think of that? That fool actually beat me to it!"
Aha muttered to himself, vexed. Then... he quickly fixed his gaze on a certain corner of the universe.
There, a train was moving slowly.
Looking at the familiar train, Aha couldn't help but recall the times when he was still a Nameless. That was truly a time worth remembering.
"Oh, my dear Nameless friends, you must be very worried after being separated from your companion for so long. Don't worry... I'll send you over right away. Don't forget to bring me back some souvenirs when you return, ehehe!"
Just like that, Aha, the Aeon of Elation, with his curiosity about another universe, set his sights on the Astral Express.
The Amber King could send Stelle over. That madman Nanook could even send his own Emanator over. What's wrong with him, Aha, sending a train over? What's more, this was Akivili's Astral Express.
As for how they would get back after they went over? That was not a problem for Aha to consider. After all, there was an even more powerful great god over there. He'll just leave it to him to figure out...
---o---
"Aha has set his sights on the Astral Express again. Why am I having this kind of dream, pom."
Unexpectedly, the light curtain did not show how Noa would completely resolve the crisis of the Gray Mist and the two universes.
Instead, it focused its perspective on Aha.
But thinking about it, it made sense. The most difficult time had passed, and the rest was just some clean-up work.
But Pom-Pom would rather the video show that boring clean-up work than see this person's face.
Without a doubt, this familiar scene sent the blood pressure of the Astral Express's conductor, Pom-Pom, skyrocketing.
"Wow, Dan Heng, did you hear that? Did you hear that! We can become Ultras too!"
Unlike the mentally exploding Pom-Pom, March 7th was extremely happy. After all, she was going to find Stelle, and she would get to see a bunch of fifty-meter-tall giants. Anyone would be excited.
"I didn't expect the Aeon of Elation to be such a nice person, giving us a free trip and even bringing Stelle back along the way."
Dan Heng looked at the excited March 7th and couldn't help but cover his forehead. "March... you didn't finish watching. He can only send us there. Whether we can come back or not depends on what Noa thinks."
"Ah? Is that so?" March 7th covered her mouth, her voice filled with disbelief.
"So you only noticed that we could go to the Ultra Universe, huh?" Dan Heng sighed, then turned his gaze to Stelle.
"Don't worry about Stelle. It's not because of you that Aha has his eyes on the Astral Express. He's just doing it because he's bored."
"I know, Dan Heng. After all, he is the Aeon of Elation..."
Stelle sighed. In the video, she herself didn't even know how to get back, and Aha, with a turn of his head, sent the Astral Express over.
---o---
[On the light curtain, the scene returned to the border of the Ultra Universe.]
Because of the bombardment, the Gray Mist was temporarily unable to form a threat.
Seizing this opportunity, Noa directly left the universe. In the endless void, he scooped up countless unidentified gases with one hand.
"Although it was annihilated by Saga, the concept of the Swarm King still lingers in the universe. As it happens... this Gray Mist has the property of erasing concepts."
Looking at the mist in his hand, Noa said to himself.
In the Land of Light, there is a scientist with considerable ability. If I give this to him, he should be able to completely eliminate the Swarm King before it appears again.
It's over...
At this point, the Gray Mist had lost its ability to invade the universe again, and the crisis of the two universes colliding had also been resolved. The only thing to worry about was the revival of the Swarm King, which would be gradually dealt with over time.
"Right, that young woman. I should send her back before the Gray Mist becomes active again."
Looking at Saga behind him, Noa spoke slowly. But just then, in the distant starry sky, a shadow streaked past.
Under the protection and propulsion of some power, it was heading straight for the part of the universe they were in.
"Is that... a spaceship?"
Noa hadn't expected that, with everything already over, a spaceship would still come. Was it an enemy, or a friend?
Without much thought, Noa, standing at the edge of the universe, intercepted this "ship" with a single, easy move.
"A... train?"
A sacred light shone upon the Astral Express. Such a strange spaceship was a first even for him.
At that moment, Ultraman King, who was behind Noa, also arrived in time. He looked at the vessel, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Oh? Another life form from another universe? It seems... it's not an enemy."
As soon as Ultraman King's voice fell, Ultraman Saga appeared beside the Astral Express.
"This is... a train? You... how did you all get here?!"
Evidently, seeing the people who had fainted on the train due to Aha's machinations, Stelle revealed a look of surprise.
Could it be the work of the Amber King again?
There was no reason. Wasn't the Swarm King already dead? Even the Gray Mist had been resolved. With the grand finale approaching, why would he pull another stunt like this?
Unable to figure out which Aeon was responsible, Stelle could only say to the two Ultras beside her, "Uh... they are my friends. They probably came here to find me."
After thinking for a long time, this was the only reason Stelle could come up with. After all, there was no way the Amber King would take the initiative to send people over again.
The only possibility was that everyone on the Express had discovered that she had been sent here and had actively requested it from the Amber King.
Thinking of this, Stelle was a little touched. She never thought everyone would care about her so much that they would be willing to cross universes to come here.
This made Stelle, who was less than a year old, even more determined to slap the Amber King when she got back.
It was one thing to trick her into coming here, but to actually send everyone on the Express over as well... this was after the Swarm King had been dealt with. What if something had happened? She would never be able to forgive the Amber King for the rest of her life.
Recalling the entomophobia and trypophobia that the Swarm King had tormented her with, Stelle felt a wave of exhaustion.
Luckily, she had good fortune and made it through. Not only did she make new friends, but she also gained abilities comparable to a high-level Emanator, and even got to experience what it was like to be a legendary Ultra.
But that said, the experiences in this universe had truly made her much stronger. If not for having met everyone on the Express beforehand, she might not have even planned on going back.
After learning the identities of the people on the train, Ultraman King stroked his beard. "Since they are your friends, let's take them back to the Land of Light first. As it happens... the Land of Light also needs more information about your universe."
---o---