: 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…
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Only existing in the memories of Acheron, Tiernan's story is short, but incredibly powerful.
Even after the memories ended, the dense tributes on the screen had yet to fade, still immersing the audience in the shock and aftertaste.
At this moment, everyone was already prepared, just waiting for the action to begin.
But at the same time, the enormous question appeared before them.
This was the boundary between dreams and awakening.
If they wanted to act, they had to leave this place~.
And as for how to leave, it seemed everyone already knew—go to Death.
"We…"
Just as Stelle was about to speak, her vision blurred.
Or rather, the entire in-between realm, that magnificent hotel lobby, began to distort and twist, accompanied by a buzzing resonance like the end of the universe.
A massive, twisted existence that stretched beyond sight turned everything around into surrounding darkness.
The whole process lasted only a moment.
Stelle merely blinked, the audience merely blinked.
When the picture cleared again, a massive black hole had already filled everything in sight.
All that remained in view were black and white.
"Welcome to the Horizon of Existence…"
"This is one of the myriad manifestations of the IX, and likewise, the field of the Nihility where people exit."
"Here, let us make our final farewell."
Acheron turned around, looking at Stelle calmly.
The next second, her figure vanished from its original spot.
The camera pulled back, capturing the stunned Stelle and the manifestation of the Horizon of Existence, accompanied by breathtaking visual effects that made the audience gape as well.
...
: Acheron really is... absurdly powerful.
: I was wondering how they'd get out of the in-between, and she just summoned the Nihility and tore the place apart—so brutal!
: Every time Acheron appears, I can't help but shiver.
: The end of all things, just insanely high-level.
...
Amidst this vast darkness, Stelle followed Acheron's guidance into the unknown.
"Other than memories, we have nothing."
"May your deceit never be exposed."
"The Dream of Ena, all warmth has passed through it."
"Why does life fall into slumber?"
Along the way, Black Swan, Aventurine, Firefly, and Gallagher stood before her.
These people who had once been schemers, cunning, or sincere on the journey now appeared one by one around Stelle.
And their lines were like hooks, pulling the audience's thoughts back.
As each character flashed by, the audience's minds also flashed with their stories.
Those once shocking, moving, and sorrowful scenes entranced the audience, making them truly feel the end was coming.
And finally, when Stelle stood before Acheron again, they, too, revealed the core truth of the team.
At this moment, Stelle was now in front of Acheron.
"The farewell is over. It's time to wake up."
Acheron turned to Stelle, revealing the full plan.
"As I said, our plan is not to turn everyone to the light, but to let them choose to save themselves.Ask yourself: under what circumstances does a person choose self-rescue?"
"The answer is: in desperate situations."
Upon hearing this, Stelle understood.
In the face of death, people will unleash the will to survive.
Even the Dream of Ena cannot stop that will.
"But to plunge all of Penacony into desperation, how powerful a force must that be?"
Stelle shook her head, unable to imagine such a scene.
In the previous plans, whether it was Porter or Robin, they were merely supports.
The key lay with Acheron.
But the audience never expected the answer from the Acheron would be The Void.
Yet Acheron did not explain, instead seriously asking:
"You've formed unbreakable bonds with many people."
"Would you fear severing those bonds with your own hands?"
"If there were a vast dream, free of partings by life or death,"
"Would you be willing to stay in it forever?"
Each "Would you" appeared as crimson subtitles, just like the cryptic questions Acheron asked in the first episode.
But now the audience could finally understand the passion hidden behind those once mystical questions.
It was Acheron's answer to the Nihility.
As a Emanator walking the path of the Nihility, she must constantly prove the meaning of existence to fight the Nihility.
If characters like Aventurine, Sunday, and Robin were carefully crafted creations over long arcs, then Acheron was the thematic core shaped at the climax of all Penacony.
Philosophical confrontation embodied in one person.
In the following three seconds, the memories of Acheron and Tiernan flashed again.
But this time, the protagonist was Acheron.
In such a setting, she said her full name for the first time:
Raiden · Bosenmori · Mei!
After revealing her name, the audience became even more eager to know Acheron's story.
But there was no time to think.
Because in the next moment, a single raindrop fell into the Nihility.
Then came a torrential downpour.
The Void space— began to rain.
Not just here.
Even in the dream where it never rains, rain began to fall.
Pedestrians on the street all looked up.
"The golden dream is about to stir."
"In the long night to come, you will likely face many setbacks and witness numerous tragedies."
"Finally, use the black rain and complete your goal."
Amid the soothing background music, a rapid drumbeat began.
The screen flashed.
Atop a tall building.
Boothill's face was stern, no longer unruly as before. He raised his gun without hesitation and pulled the trigger!
A purple meteor instantly tore through the false sky of the dream.
At the moment the gunshot rang out, a massive red thunderbolt descended out of nowhere.
At this moment—
The music, visuals, and sound effects formed an incredibly beautiful resonance.
The audience watched with rapt attention, not even noticing that Yuan Zheng had unconsciously gotten out of bed.
Finally—
In the void realm, Acheron drew her blade.
The once stagnant void suddenly began to stir, all because of her blade.
The music reached its climax—then suddenly halted.
Between heaven and earth, only that single strike remained.
A red blade light, accompanied by roaring red lightning, burst out from the void, disregarding the massive black same-substance ministers.
The sea formed by memory matter instantly surged with towering waves!
And in the dream, at the center of the Grand Theater, a red shockwave rapidly spread out.
Time and raindrops seemed to freeze in that instant.
No—it didn't freeze!
The blade light was just too fast!
Wherever it went, the indestructible constructs built by The Family instantly turned to foam.
A violent shockwave followed, destroying even the flying debris into pure memory matter!
The 'people' in the dream—lifeforms made of memory matter—also reverted to pure memory matter, leaving behind only human shapes.
Everyone stared dumbfounded at the scene on the screen.
No one had expected that the final execution of the plan would look like this.
The vast and magnificent dream was reduced to ruins in just an instant!
And above these ruins—
A row of meteors streaked across the sky.
In the center was the purple meteor representing Tiernan; beside it trailed a row of blue light streaks.
The Slash of the Emanator of Nihility, The Meteor Shower of the Galaxy Rangers.
Together, they formed a highly dynamic scene.
The live comments exploded at that moment!
...
: I'm in awe—I thought I had already overestimated Acheron, but I still underestimated her.
: This is a walking nuclear weapon! She just cut Penacony like this in one swing!
: Turns out she didn't even go all out when dealing with Aventurine before.
: I don't even think she used her full power this time—I'm done guessing Acheron's limits!
: Just seeing these meteors, I've already imagined a whole story: maybe these meteors are Galaxy rangers, who were just ordinary people before being summoned.
: This meteor sequence is insanely epic—how does Mihoyo manage to use a single scene to stir our minds like this?
: Acheron's blade strikes! Galaxy rangers arrive! Dream Master! Where is your infinite authority now? Come out and speak!
: Battle battle battle! I want the thrill of combat!
: Fired up! This BGM feels perfect—with this scene, even someone from the opposite side would be hyped!
...
At this moment, who knows how many people screamed with excitement while watching!
And in this shattered dream— Stelle was falling from the sky.
She saw the meteor, then saw Acheron's hand.
"You must carefully chew over its meaning—and return to the world of clarity and healing."
With Acheron's words, Stelle's world spun wildly.
Then, she awoke from the dream.
Upon returning to reality, she was still holding Acheron's hand, dazed.
The camera pulled back.
In the real Penacony, at dawn, atop the now faintly bright Grand Theater—
The entire Express crew had assembled.
Stelle's confusion faded within seconds, like someone just waking up.
Her confident smile returned, just as it had during the fake ending battle with Sunday.
She reached out with her right hand and grabbed the hat that appeared out of thin air, placing it stylishly back on.
"Hmph!"
March 7th stood beside her, drawing her bow fully.
Dan Heng, Welt, Himeko, all stepped forward.
"You've slept long enough, Stelle. Time to show them your morning temper!"
March 7th shouted and released her bowstring.
The sky was filled with ice arrows mixed with falling starlight, striking down violently.
But just like before, the countless puppets surged up again, blocking the attack.
"Waking from the beautiful dream sung by the Choir of Harmony is no blessing for you." Sunday spoke with a tone of regret.
He raised his baton high, as if conducting the accent of a symphony, and struck it down with force!
Rings of sharp, orderly light appeared out of thin air, covering the Express crew overhead, with immense pressure crashing down in waves!
"Return to paradise!" A voice full of divinity solemnly declared.
Sunday was clearly going all out.
But the Express crew showed no fear!
"Hold the formation!"
Welt raised his Cane high. The same aura emanated from it, fiercely clashing with the force of Order.
Shockwaves from the clash spread outwards in bursts.
"We won't be lost in this false dream!"
Under the crushing pressure, March 7th said through gritted teeth.
"If the dream is no different from reality, can it still be called false?"
…
Sunday asked slowly.
"There's no shaking our will."
At this moment, Himeko couldn't help much, but she was still the pillar of the Express crew.
After she spoke, Stelle followed up: "When it comes to truth and falsehood—and so-called meaning—I'm more awake than anyone!"
The will of Mikhail, the will of Acheron— Had long given Stelle an unshakable conviction.
That conviction now became a tangible force!
"Clockie!"
Stelle tossed her top hat, allowing Clockie to channel that conviction to every companion. Then she shouted with power, "Together!"
All members of the Express crew, in that instant, drew on the power of that "buff" and released their strength.
The immense power directly shattered the Rings of Order, instantly wiped out a large number of surrounding Puppets, and even made Sunday grunt in pain, suffering some backlash.
"Fools…"
Sunday swayed his massive form, adjusting his posture once more.
He raised his baton high again, and countless Puppets surged in from all directions.
But just then—
A voice came singing from afar.
Along with it came phantom-like feathers.
A cool, oriole-like song swept away the crushing pressure brought by Sunday.
Welt pushed up his glasses and looked to the sky: "A new voice has entered the Symphony of Order—the first and final discord of Penacony."
"Robin…" Sunday lowered his head, looking at the feathers drifting toward him.
In the background, Robin's humming became clearer and clearer. That melody ascended to a transcendent emotional peak!
In this moment—
The power of Harmony, the power of Trailblazing, and the memory essence permeating all of Asdana—
Began to fuse in unpredictable ways!
A rumble came from afar…
Getting closer!
Closer!
The audience widened their eyes, minds in chaos, unable to guess what would happen next.
But the Express crew all understood each other instinctively.
And when the sound became a roar, a massive form sped into view.
It was an Express!
The Astral Express!
The audience was completely stunned.
What was going on?
Did Pom-Pom drive the Express over?
As they scrambled for explanations—
The Express barreled forward, showing no signs of slowing.
"Those imprisoned in sweet dreams are awakening—for 'freedom'!"
At Welt's call—
The Astral Express shot through the gap in the crew's formation, charging straight toward Sunday!
Puppets?
Orderly symphony?
All obliterated by the train crashing through!
Bang!!
In the shot—
The front of the Express made intimate contact with Sunday's massive body.
Then the whole Express followed!
The audience was completely dumbfounded.
…
: Wh…at the…
: I seriously didn't see this coming.
: This is insane—and yet it makes perfect sense.
: If I were Pom-Pom, I'd just say this to Sunday: 'I thought this was the Silver Track—go tell Akivili, we're all trying our best to live!'
: This is too wild! And amazing!