Through her deep, abyss-like eyes, the screen reflected an image.
The camera zoomed in.
In the next second, the audience returned once again to that world shrouded in the 'Black Sun' and dark clouds...
--------------------------------
Just this once, Acheron and that old man with the bamboo hat were sitting in a cave.
A campfire crackled and burned between them.
"So warm. Usually, you can't even see a living thing near the Dead Sea. You're lucky—not only did you find shelter from the rain, but also fresh berries. That's rare."
The man in the bamboo hat spoke slowly.
In the scene, the man still had his back to the camera, making it impossible to see his face clearly.
Even though it wasn't explicitly stated, the audience could almost all guess that the old man from before was the identity behind that hat.
The only confusion was, since the knife had already been delivered and had perfectly triggered the explosive speech of the Galaxy Ranger, why had the story been returned here again?
Could it be that something still remained hidden from us? The audience wondered.
But now, after having endured the "false ending," they still watched this segment carefully.
In the scene, the old man held a peach in his hand and handed it to Acheron.
"Just following the breath of life. In a place like this, the breath is especially distinct."
"Too bad it tastes a bit bland."
Acheron, cloaked, stared at the peach with a look of faint memory in her eyes.
"Hmm…"
"This fruit tastes simple at first, but in the end, it brings a spicy sting in the mouth."
The old man hesitated, but still turned slightly: "Can… you still taste things?"
"Some flavors I can still sense, like a faint sweetness."
Acheron replied calmly.
Then, without paying much attention to the small matter, she began recalling three people.
A smiling, sweet and cute girl of no name.
She wanted to open a path that even Akivili had never explored.
So, following that impulse, she walked straight into a shadow of ruin.
And then turned into a pool of dead water.
"..."
The old man fell silent, unsure how to comment on the girl. Acheron was willing to speak, though, stern and distant.
"Sorrow? I don't think it's sorrow. Perhaps… it's fear?"
Acheron shook her head.
But hearing that from her mouth sounded quite odd.
What could an Emanator of Nihility fear?
"I fear… I fear forgetting the thirty days I spent with her, like every thirty-first day of my life."
"Most of them have already passed like rainwater, placed in a hidden corner never to be seen again."
"I'm afraid these vibrant reds will leave me too. Other than these 'reds', I almost have nothing."
Acheron was still as sincere as ever, baring her heart without reservation.
"It's hard to imagine."
The old man sighed: "A 'Ranger' accustomed to blood, destruction, and chaos can actually see warmth in the color red."
"Because I have experienced such warmth too."
"A long time ago, I made a promise with someone, to bring it to more people. As long as this touch of red exists, I can carry it on."
"In the end, it will lead me across the 'horizon of existence', and at the edge of the far shore… sever 'Nihility'."
Acheron moved her gaze, seemingly looking at the old man, but clearly, her eyes only held memories that could not be forgotten.
"To be blessed by the XI, yet still wish to grasp life and death—you truly are… a pure being of 'Nihility'."
After saying this, the old man asked no more.
Both knew the topic should end here.
"When will the rain stop?"
"Perhaps when the resentment of the dead calms down?"
In the growing darkness, that was their final exchange.
...
: Can't believe it, Acheron is actually this kind of person—so gentle!
: The Emanator of Nihility wants to kill Nihility, that's dark humor, but it strangely fits the ideology of IX—the Path of Indifference. Because she doesn't care, nothing she does is surprising.
: Maybe we all misunderstood Acheron before. Her mystery and power always made her hard to grasp, but after this scene, we see she's deeply emotional.
: It's precisely because she's a Emanator of Nihility that her struggle to retain self is so compelling.
: I used to wonder why Acheron, a Nihility Emanator, insisted on delivering relics. There seemed to be no motive. Now I kind of understand.
: It's a strange feeling. Acheron used to feel black and white—now she suddenly turned into color.
: Still not sure how this scene ties into the final battle. Seems like they're trying to release the souls of the Galaxy Rangers?
: Is the rain stopping a symbol for the successful release?
: Let's keep watching. I don't even dare to talk much now. Just hope Acheron stays safe.
...
As the comments scrolled by, the darkness faded.
They were still in this eerie world.
Only this time, it looked like some time had already passed.
On the familiar sea surface, the black hands (Sin Thirsters) that had been scattered across the area had now gathered together, and the most terrifying giant black hand seemed to be about to touch the black sky.
"Look, the shadows on the sea have all disappeared."
"Remember? You said when the regrets of the dead faded, the sky would clear."
In the pouring rain, the old man put on his bamboo hat again, and Acheron opened a red umbrella.
At her reminder, the old man appeared very confused.
"But… the rain hasn't stopped."
"Why?"
"Why did this rain choose me?"
The old man from before had acted like a normal person, and even during conversations he was normal.
But now, his tone was as confused as that of a child.
"Perhaps it's because someone's regrets have yet to be laid to rest."
Acheron's tone was gentle and calm as she slowly said:
"Mortals walk along their fate like crossing a surface of water in a small boat, leaving ripples behind."
"And those ripples take a long time to fade."
"Some of them, their ripples are so intense that they leave stains even on the other side."
"The Sin Thirsters, obsessions of the Pathstriders, are born from the shadows of IX, seeing themselves as the original person, unconsciously repeating the actions of the deceased in life."
"They are born from nothingness, return to nothingness, and live meaningless lives. But even such an illusory shadow accompanied me through countless long years."
At this moment, the audience listened quietly to Acheron's words, contemplating the meaning within.
None of them realized that Acheron's words were not merely a narration, but a revelation.
Until the next second.
The old man awakened from his silence, letting out a trembling sigh.
"Ah..."
"So that's how it is."
"I... am already dead."
It was like a stone dropped into a calm lake—shocking the audience.
Suddenly, the calm image flickered.
The sky once covered with dark clouds was now stained with blood, and under this crimson sky, the old man's figure turned into a shadow constantly emitting black mist.
At his side, Acheron had already transformed into her white-haired, red-clothed form, hidden beneath layers of large, elaborate robes.
"...Yes."
She softly replied.
"Are you watching over me?"
The old man's voice was drifting and uncertain.
"Perhaps. This is my duty... the Emanator of Nihility."
"I guard the passage to Nothingness, guiding every soul unwilling to fall into it back to the long-lost realm of life."
As Acheron spoke, she and the old man gazed together into the distant horizon veiled by IX.
"But if this is the outcome the deceased longed for, do you still wish to change it?"
The old man's voice grew increasingly confused, as if he were both asking and lamenting.
"I don't know. But someone once told me that one day, when he leaves this world, he hopes someone would place a bouquet of flowers at his grave."
"Even... if it's meaningless?"
"Some things, even if meaningless, must still be done. I've experienced too many such things. Now, please reach out your hand, then close your eyes."
As Acheron spoke to the old man—
The comment section exploded again!
...
: Holy crap! So that whole memory of Acheron was actually her performing a soul send-off for the old man! He had already died?!
: When the old man said he was already dead, I got goosebumps again!
: In life, the old man watched over the dead. In death, as a Sin Thirsters, he still watched over the dead. And Acheron watched over him—my god, that feeling... so intense.
: And it all comes full circle! Their entire conversation is a complete reversal!
: The screenwriting is insanely good! Damn! The dialogue design is too brilliant!
: The old man used to comfort Acheron, sharing his thoughts with her. But now, she responds to his Sin Thirsters fate with the same words of comfort.
: "I mourn for the departed, as the tide rushes in, to lead you home!" This line to Aventurine was confusing at first, but now it makes perfect sense!
: Acheron really is—I'm crying! From being suspected in Episode 1 to Episode 3, turns out she was the gentlest, most reliable person all along! No one else compares!
: The earlier discussions about the meaning of nothingness are now answered by Acheron's line—some things must be done, even if meaningless. That's the original intent!
: The Emanator of nothingness reveals that the answer to nothingness is just that simple and direct!
...
In the show, the screentime of Acheron and the old man was less than one percent.
But that one percent left a profound impact on the audience, delivering a heart-shaking twist at the end.
Not just the transformation of the old man from living to dead, but the revelation of how strong his will must have been in life to become a Sin Thirster even after death.
Yet, the real surprise was still coming.
In the frame, the camera focused on two hands beneath the blood rain.
Top left: Acheron's hand—red, adorned with otherworldly flowers, sharp and dangerous claws.
Bottom right: a pitch-black large hand.
"I will carry your wish forward and fulfill it. Only then can I resolve the last lingering desire on the shores of this sea of death."
Acheron's motivation and goal for heading to Penacony was perfectly revealed in this moment.
There could be no greater reason than this.
...
: This connects everything! Acheron's journey to Penacony was to fulfill the old man's final wish!
: This is why the purpose of pretending to be a Galaxy Ranger exists—it's to lure Boothill or some other Galaxy Ranger and hand over the relic.
: In the first part, I understood a bit of Acheron's motivation, and now I fully understand it!
: Just Acheron alone could have his own side story! So amazing!
: Wuwuwu, Acheron, I'm literally crying to death!
...
As the comments buzzed with discussion.
Everyone assumed that giving the bullet was the old man's final wish.
But the next second, the old man's words left the audience completely dumbfounded.
"Will I... be able to see them again?"
The old man asked slowly.
"You definitely will."
Acheron said with absolute seriousness: "Because the one who told me all this was you: about that Express, your two former companions, the Trailblaze that ended in the Swarm Disaster, your narrow escape from death, your encounter with the Galaxy Rangers."
"And... that hometown you can never return to again—Penacony."
At that moment, the audience's brains had completely shut down.
To put it simply, they were utterly blown away.
"Yes, countless times... I was turned away by my family, only brushing past it."
"But I know, my companion is still there, all alone…"
"Mikhail… are you still there?"
No one expected the story to unfold in such a dramatic way.
This memory—
This mysterious old man everyone knew nothing about—connected to Penacony, to Mikhail, to the Astral Express.
"Take my hand and come with me. We… will leave this place."
"Breukelen Tiernan."
...
: !!!! ? ? ? ?
: Tiernan! It's actually Tiernan?!
: Holy crap! Awesome!! Mihoyo is amazing!!
: So this is how it all connects? That's incredible!
: Not a single line is wasted, not a single character is irrelevant—so many characters, and Mihoyo weaved them into one giant net! This is freaking insane!
: Oh my god! My eyes turned red again—my brain had already shut down, but the moment he said 'Mikhail, are you still there,' my eyes got sore before my brain even reacted.
: No wonder Acheron's memories kept being inserted—because this old man is Tiernan!
: Wuwuwu, his final wish wasn't just the bullet—or rather, the bullet was part of it—but his true desire was to return to his companion's side!
: Even in death, he longed to go back, to help Mikhail! That's what it means to be a Nameless, to be a true Galaxy Ranger!
: The Penacony trio was so powerful—and in the end, he still couldn't reunite with his dearest friend. I'm really crying to death! Mihoyo, you're damn cruel!
: I now seriously suspect that Mihoyo's dev team sits around all day figuring out how to emotionally destroy us! The moment they have a good plot twist, they immediately use it on us—damn it! This hurts so much! Wuwuwu!
: You know what's the most romantic and painful thing? The bullet he gave ended up being used to liberate Penacony. He still helped his best friend and contributed to the original cause!
: Ahhh, damn it, stop talking, I've already cried too many times today!
: Liberating Penacony, interstellar travel, fighting the Swarm Disaster, joining the Galaxy Rangers, participating in killing the Lord Ravager! And yet in the end, he couldn't return to his companion's side. Even his dying wish lingered on after death, until he met Acheron—Tiernan's entire life was just too damn legendary, too damn heroic!!!
: Once again, salute to the great Nameless! Galaxy Ranger! Breukelen Tiernan!
: Once again, salute to the great Nameless! Galaxy Ranger! Breukelen Tiernan!
: Once again, salute to the great Nameless! Galaxy Ranger! Breukelen Tiernan!
...
The comments scrolled like mad.
Until the end, they formed a dense flood of tributes…