"Mikhail's Penacony will never belong to Order!"
Upon Penacony's final stage, Stelle, who had already received a glance from Harmony and inherited the legacy of Trailblaze, declared those words to Sunday before her.
For the Astral Express crew, the full truth behind Penacony had now come to light.
And now, the one they had to face was their final enemy: Sunday, who stood before them at this very moment, attempting to recreate Order.
Sunday: "…"
Looking at the four people and one conductor before him, even Sunday could not help but sigh with emotion.
"I never expected that Aeon to cast Their gaze upon Penacony at a moment like this… Was it a resonance with the legacy of Trailblaze?"
"Or perhaps your mutual understanding was enough to move even an Aeon?"
Truthfully, because of these Nameless before him, Sunday still had not fully lowered his guard against Wei Qing.
That was right. Although Wei Qing had displayed his identity as an Emanator of Order, being an Emanator did not necessarily mean absolute faith in that Path.
After all, the man had first arrived as a Nameless. He might not truly believe in Order.
The IPC's Emanator of Preservation, Taravan, was the best example of that.
At that moment, Himeko, the only adult among the Express crew, stepped forward.
"In my opinion, there is another possibility."
"Perhaps Xipe also wishes to know whose hands Penacony's future will fall into, and so came on behalf of the deceased Ena to bear witness."
Sunday replied calmly, "If that is the case, then I formally extend an invitation to you all on behalf of Penacony's Dreammaster, as well as the 107,336 compatriots of the Oak Family."
"We sincerely invite you to attend the Charmony Festival, soon to open at the Penacony Grand Theater. Of course, the place you will ascend to is not the audience seats, but the center of the stage."
"This concerns the Stellaron, Penacony, and even the future of the entire galaxy. In the interest of fairness, let us settle everything there."
With that said, Sunday completely ignored the Express crew's reaction and calmly departed.
Strangely enough, even though they clearly had a chance to seize the enemy leader in advance, the Express crew did not seem inclined to stop him either, for reasons unknown.
Only after Sunday had completely vanished did March 7th, who had been tense the entire time, finally speak.
"What he means is… he wants us to go to the Charmony Festival and settle things there?"
"That's so weird! I kept expecting the big villain to start pulling something at any moment, but in the end he's still going on about fairness."
"…He couldn't be looking down on us, could he?"
Himeko offered her own interpretation from the side.
"Perhaps Sunday has absolute faith in his ideals, and sincerely wishes to prove the correctness of Order to us."
"If he cannot win openly and uprightly, I imagine even he would not be able to justify it to himself."
"Uh, so what do we do now? Our strongest fighter, Mr. Yang, isn't here," Stelle said worriedly.
Although she had just unlocked the new Path of Harmony, she had not fully adapted to it yet. Wasn't it a bit too rushed to set off and fight the final boss just like that?
March 7th looked at her in exasperation.
"You…! You always lose confidence at the most important moments!"
"We even took down the Doomsday Beast! A mere Order definitely won't be a problem!"
Perhaps realizing the gap in scale between the two examples, March 7th weakly added,
"Though of course, we should still play it safe."
"Don't we still have a senior with us? He's an Emanator of Trailblaze! He'll definitely be able to beat Sunday flat!"
"What do you think, Dan Heng? Didn't Senior come here with you? Do you have any way to contact him?"
Dan Heng answered honestly, "I'm sorry. I do not."
"Huh? Then what are we supposed to do? Can the four of us really fight him?"
"There is no need to worry. Senior should have his own arrangements," Dan Heng said calmly. "Since he chose to let us face Sunday alone at this moment, he must have his reasons."
Stelle thought for a moment.
"Come to think of it, ever since we parted ways at Dreamflux Reef, Senior hasn't appeared again… Could he already be waiting for us at the Charmony Festival?"
That was a wonderful thought.
If Wei Qing had already arrived ahead of time, then wouldn't they be able to obediently lie down and get carried?
They had already heard from Dan Heng that this senior was not merely an Emanator of Trailblaze.
He was also the Emanator of Hunt who had appeared on the Xianzhou not long ago, and at the Reverie Hotel, he had even displayed the power of an Emanator of Harmony.
Wouldn't he just hang Sunday up and beat him?
Himeko elegantly adjusted her sleeves.
"As Nameless, we cannot always place our hopes on others."
"But one thing is certain. If we are no match for Sunday, Senior will never sit by and watch Penacony fall into true crisis. We proceed to the Grand Theater as planned."
Some time passed.
Deep within the Penacony Grand Theater.
Unlike the magnificent and lively performance hall of reality, the theater's core area was now shrouded in a solemn, oppressive atmosphere.
Countless streams of pale golden energy converged, pouring into a figure suspended in midair.
Sunday.
At this moment, Sunday's eyes were tightly shut, as though he were bearing an enormous burden. Yet the aura emanating from him was rising at an astonishing speed.
It was the embryonic form of Order.
Dreammaster Gopher Wood stood below, looking up at Sunday as he underwent his transformation. A hint of worry flashed through his eyes.
The final step of the plan—the chosen vessel who would bear Order—should originally have been Sunday's younger sister, Robin. But unforeseen events had disrupted everything.
Then that man calling himself an Emanator of Order, Yiqing, had appeared. His strength and his manifestation of Order's authority had undoubtedly made him the best replacement.
No, perhaps he was an ideal choice far beyond all expectations.
Unfortunately, neither Gopher Wood nor Sunday could fully trust him.
Fortunately, heaven never sealed off every road.
Perhaps that Emanator of Order truly was not worried at all. Or perhaps he was simply that careless.
After bestowing upon the two of them blessings that belonged to Order, he had actually vanished from contact altogether.
Since that was the case, they could hardly be blamed for acting ahead of schedule.
"The time is almost here," the Dreammaster murmured.
He could sense those discordant notes from the outside.
The Nameless of the Astral Express had already arrived at the Grand Theater.
Not only that, during this final stretch of time, they had even managed to gather quite a number of helpers.
But that did not matter. This would be the final trial of this grand ceremony, and the final whetstone needed for Order's descent.
"Sunday, are you ready?" the Dreammaster asked, raising his head to look at Sunday.
"The cost of bearing Order far exceeds expectations… Even with your aptitude, and with the blessing left behind by that Emanator, it is still this difficult."
"If it had been Robin back then… With that child's innate resonance, perhaps she would not have suffered so much."
Sunday's eyelashes trembled faintly in midair, but he did not open his eyes.
"There are no ifs, sir. Robin would never have agreed to sing for Order. Her road has been cut off. And Penacony…"
"Cannot remain forever immersed in this false symphony. We must personally compose for it a new and eternal movement."
Gopher Wood sighed, the worry in his eyes not fading.
"I understand your resolve, Sunday. It is only that the current circumstances truly worry me."
"Are you afraid that I will be assimilated by this power? That I will lose myself in Order's grand wish?"
Sunday finally opened his eyes slowly.
"It is precisely because I understand the danger of this power that I must become the one who holds the reins."
His gaze turned toward the air, as though piercing through the barriers of the dream and seeing the Nameless advancing through the Grand Theater.
"The world outside… is chaotic, disorderly. Behind its brief joys lies a deeper emptiness."
"Harmony embraces all things, and because of that, it is overly tolerant. What Penacony needs is guidance. Direction. An absolute core that can allow billions of dreams to operate in harmony."
"For that, I am willing to become that cornerstone and bear any price."
Gopher Wood was silent for a moment, then finally lowered his head deeply.
"…Yes. I understand. The Oak Family, as well as all compatriots who follow the dream of Order, shall become your firmest cornerstone."
"However, those from the Astral Express—especially the Trailblazer who received the glance of Harmony—will likely not accept our path so easily."
"Of course they will not," Sunday said faintly.
At this moment, his face no longer bore his usual gentle mask. Instead, it carried the indifference of one who was about to ascend to godhood.
"This confrontation is unavoidable."
"Then let them come. Upon this final stage, under the joint witness of Xipe and the departed Ena…"
"We shall prove to the entire galaxy that only absolute order can bring true and eternal harmony."
Just then, March 7th's clear voice rang out.
"Look, he's right there!"
The Nameless of the Astral Express had finally arrived.
Now, after hearing Sunday's declaration of Order, they had finally reached the end.
"That is everything concerning Order. Now that you have heard it all, may I ask what impressions you have?" Sunday said.
"You have arrived at precisely the right moment. The Charmony Festival is about to begin. If the overture of Harmony lacked your presence, that would be far too regrettable."
"Allow me once again to welcome you all. Welcome to the Penacony Grand Theater, the heart of sweet dreams, the place where the Stellaron resides, the absolute stage of the Charmony Festival…"
"And also… the place where we shall decide Penacony's future in a battle to the death."
"Hmph! This is where your conspiracy will be crushed!" Stelle declared with immense confidence.
Although that senior still had not appeared, they were no longer just four isolated people now. Though only a few of them were currently present, they had already contacted many allies.
Defeating Sunday?
Easy.
Before Sunday could answer, Himeko spoke as well.
"Allow me to point out that sinking into a long sleep can never be equated with happiness, especially when people are being manipulated in their dreams."
Clearly, as a Nameless of Trailblaze, Himeko could not accept Sunday's ideology.
Sunday said, "Miss Himeko, even now, do you still believe that Order merely wishes to turn the entire universe into Its puppets?"
Himeko calmly replied, "No matter how perfect the paradise you describe may be, a cage remains a cage."
Seemingly choked by that sharp argument, Sunday fell silent for a moment before continuing.
"It appears you have all misunderstood my intentions from beginning to end. My ideal is not to revive an Aeon, nor is it to ascend to godhood."
"What I wish to do is only one thing: create a paradise without Aeons, with only Order; a paradise that can encompass the dignity and happiness of all people; a paradise that belongs only to humanity."
Himeko still refuted him.
"You are wrong. If people are to live with dignity, then no person or thing should ever stand above them."
"And in this so-called paradise of yours, that person would be you."
Sunday said, "It seems we cannot persuade each other no matter what. Since fate has destined us to clash, then at this point, let us use our respective Paths to show the universe the proper road."
The instant Sunday's words fell, the entirety of Penacony was enveloped by an indescribable mighty force.
Gone was the illusory radiance of dreams.
Gone was the gentle resonance of Harmony, which embraced all things.
In their place was an absolute rule.
Sound was tamed. Noise was stripped away. Only Sunday's voice echoed within this space of Order.
"Are day and night equal? Are the righteous and the sinful equal?"
"If people are born weak, from which god shall the weak seek peace?"
"The time has come. Creation shall be reborn from the corpse of a god."
Countless puppet-like existences began to manifest, while Sunday's speech continued.
"I have heard your resolve. Now, I shall grant you the right to gaze directly upon the sun."
"Upon these 107,336 foundation stones, the all-powerful strings of Harmony shall be mine to command."
"Choir of the multitude, tuner of all praise—Dominicus!"
Following Sunday's declaration, the core of the entire Penacony Grand Theater was completely reconstructed.
Golden power of Order surged like a roaring tide, drowning every inch of space.
The divine Sunday that he summoned hung high in the air, a brilliant halo blazing like a solar wheel behind it.
The pressure of Order began to erupt in full.
"In the name of Order, all things shall be judged here," Sunday said faintly. "Those without order shall be disciplined."
He pressed his hand down through the air, and invisible pressure instantly descended upon every member of the Astral Express crew.
"So… so heavy…!" March 7th was the first among the crew who could not bear it. She cried out in alarm, "How did Sunday suddenly get this strong?"
As though hearing her doubt toward him, Sunday spoke again.
"I will defeat you and return Order to the universe."
Would Sunday win?
Obviously, he would not.
His failure had been destined from the beginning. Even without Wei Qing's interference, his ending would not have changed in the slightest.
"So…"
"Why does life slumber?"
After accepting his own failure, Sunday did not know why, but this question that had lingered in his mind for so long suddenly slipped from his lips.
"Because… someday, we will wake from our dreams," Stelle answered.
Her voice was light, yet it was like a thunderbolt splitting open the haze over Sunday's heart.
He froze. His golden pupils contracted slightly, and even the majestic radiance of Order around him trembled.
"Wake… from our dreams?"
The answer was so simple.
And yet so unfamiliar.
In the future Sunday had planned for Penacony, and for the entire galaxy, he had never truly considered the meaning of waking.
Why should a beautiful dream end?
Under Order, was eternal peace not the final answer?
But Stelle's words were like a stone cast into a still lake, striking a tiny, almost imperceptible crack into the walls of his unshakable conviction.
Yes.
Why did life slumber?
Perhaps it was not to sink forever.
Perhaps it was to gather strength.
Perhaps it was so that, at a certain moment, one could open their eyes and gain the courage to face the real world.
That eternal paradise he had poured his heart and soul into building—a place without pain, without chaos…
Could it itself be nothing more than a dream unwilling to awaken?
And he, the one who tried to become a creator and grasp the authority of Order…
Was he, in truth, the one most deeply trapped in the dream?
"Heh… hehe…"
Sunday laughed softly.
His laughter was hoarse, filled with self-mockery and exhaustion.
At the same time, the incomparably majestic incarnation of divine Sunday let out a groan under the weight it could no longer bear.
"So… I was the one who had not yet awakened…"
As his words fell, the massive body of the divine Sunday lost the support of its light and began to plummet, carrying Sunday within it down toward the endless abyss of consciousness below.
"The night… was still too short…"
Sunday uttered his final words.
He accepted his defeat, closed his eyes, and prepared to meet the end of his consciousness sinking into boundless darkness.
However, the cold emptiness he had imagined did not arrive.
A pair of warm arms embraced Sunday's falling body.
A voice like clear spring water sounded beside his ear.
"Brother…"
It was Robin.
"The dream… should end."
Sunday froze.
And at that very moment, a clear voice came from the theater dome.
The Astral Express crew immediately went on guard again.
"Why is there someone else?" March 7th was the first to cry out.
"No… It is not yet time to give up, Sunday."
Dreammaster Gopher Wood's figure appeared amid the chaotic golden light. His eyes burned with unwillingness and resolve.
"Even if you have failed, Sunday, I will inherit this grand wish. Order shall surely return."
An even more massive force of Order began to surge out from Gopher Wood's body, attempting to forcibly take over and stabilize the crumbling domain.
Though the power was mighty, it was extraordinarily rigid. It lacked Sunday's innate sense of harmonization, feeling more like a crude and forceful overlay.
Yet just as Gopher Wood's power was about to reach its peak, another calm voice abruptly rang out in the depths of every person's heart.
At the same time, Wei Qing's figure appeared in the center of the theater at some unknown point.
He stood before Sunday and Robin, facing the Dreammaster whose power had gone berserk.
"Mr. Yiqing…"
Sunday weakly opened his eyes and looked at that back.
"Gopher Wood, your performance should end here."
As that voice fell, time itself seemed to be paused.
The turbulent power of Order surging around Gopher Wood instantly froze, then immediately slipped free from his control.
"It's you!" A flash of terror appeared in Dreammaster Gopher Wood's eyes, but it was swiftly replaced by madness. "Even if it is you, you cannot stop the descent of Order!"
"That's right," Wei Qing said, gently raising his hand. "Order will indeed descend. But it will be my Order."
He took a step forward, and the power released by the Dreammaster began to twist out of control, as though it had encountered its natural counter.
"That's impossible! What did you do?!"
The Dreammaster discovered in terror that his connection to the Path of Order was being forcibly severed.
"I told you long ago. Your strength is still far from enough," Wei Qing said, his tone still calm. "The blessing you have was granted by me. If I wish to take it back, naturally I can do so with ease."
Gopher Wood's roar came to an abrupt halt.
An invisible force instantly seized his soul.
"Go stand aside for now. I'll deal with you later."
Wei Qing casually waved his hand, and the Dreammaster's body was immediately thrown away, crashing into a pile of shattered decorations.
The entire Penacony Grand Theater sank into a strange silence.
Yet the domain of Order did not immediately collapse because of the Dreammaster's fall.
"Senior…" Dan Heng was the first to speak. "What are you…"
"I am very interested in Order," Wei Qing answered faintly. "And now, it is time to reap the harvest."
He stepped forward.
The newly revived Path of Order actually began to grow even more active.
As a candidate of Harmony who possessed part of Xipe's authority, Wei Qing was fundamentally of the same source as Xipe, who had absorbed Order.
For him to inherit this power was more legitimate and more natural than it would be for anyone else, including Sunday and the Dreammaster.
Sunday's pupils contracted sharply.
He could feel that the last remaining thread of connection between himself and the Path of Order was being completely severed.
It was not the pain of being forcibly stripped away.
It was a natural handover.
As though what he had been bearing before had only ever been borrowed authority.
"So… this was your true goal…"
Sunday spoke with difficulty.
The Order he had painstakingly planned for, even to the point of sacrificing himself to recreate it, might have been nothing more than something already in the other man's pocket from the very beginning.
"Hey, don't put it like that. Haven't you recognized your mistake now?"
"Mistake?"
Sunday gave a low laugh, then looked toward his sister beside him.
"…Perhaps."
Wei Qing finally turned around and looked at the siblings.
"Your ideal was not wrong, Sunday. The method was."
"Forcibly imposing order upon others is ultimately just another form of shackles. Forget it. Why am I even telling you this? You can slowly figure it out yourself."
With that, Wei Qing said no more. He once again devoted his full attention to the newborn Path of Order.
The entire process was incomparably smooth.
After all, this was power originating from Xipe. With him, a candidate of Harmony, guiding it, the process was perfectly reasonable.
However, just as Wei Qing was about to fully bring this newborn Path of Order under his control and complete the final step of fusion—
Buzz.
An indescribable will, one that seemed to encompass all things, quietly descended.
Wei Qing's movements stopped.
He could feel a gaze fall upon him.
That gaze was neither scrutiny nor warning.
It was more like a look of curiosity and approval.
???
No, wait.
I'm almost done here.
Xipe, why are You showing up now?
Join here to read ahead.
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
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TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
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Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
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Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
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From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 280
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 260
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The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 130
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 155
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 120
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 135
My Harem Is Indescribable 105
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 110
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 110
Still playing traditional Honk 91
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 95
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 90
Checking In in Demon Slayer 95
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 105
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 95
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 100
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 95
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 85
Why did they assign me to Uma 80
MYGO Beauties 75
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 80
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 90
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 105
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 65
The Uma Musume Who Became 70
I'm Definitely Not the King of 85
After Maxing Out Every Class 85
Naruto: I'm Konoha's Local Men 44
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 70
I, the Elden Sword Saint 60
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 60
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From Trilobites to Titans 55
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 66
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 70
An Anime Heroine Darkened 60
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 50
Honkai: The Fire Devil 30
Honkai Transformation Cards 35
Age of Heroes, I'm Just a Back 45
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