Acheron took up Aventurine's words, her gaze still resting on Caelus.
"Someone has already done it."
Aventurine was also looking at Caelus. Under the scrutiny of both of them, Caelus felt a little embarrassed. He had not expected the secret he had kept for Robin to be guessed so forcefully by these two. It made sense, though. Everyone knew he had been attacked by a Memory Zone Meme, and Robin had been attacked as well. Their circumstances were nearly identical. Only Uncle was still in the dark.
"I couldn't find that Memory Zone Meme, but I could use the method of death I discovered to reach that place."
Aventurine spoke, and his purpose in provoking Acheron was now completely exposed. After being killed by external forces in the dreamscape, everyone else would awaken in the Dream Pool. But those killed by someone like Acheron would not.
"You truly are fortunate. Fate brought our paths together, and I happened to carry a blade sharp enough to sever the veil of beautiful dreams, while cutting the Harmony brand upon you in two."
Acheron said this to Aventurine. It could be said that no one but her could accomplish what Aventurine wanted to do. Yet she just happened to be on Penacony. If this was also brought about by Aventurine's good fortune, Caelus could only say that this guy was truly impressive.
"I've never lost a wager that staked my own life."
Aventurine said with a smile, but he quickly shook his head and continued sincerely.
"But that doesn't mean I was certain I could reach that place. I wasn't lying before. If I truly died and failed to get there, then it really could pave the way for the Company's negotiations."
"So whether you live or die, you win. That's why you were willing to gamble your life."
Caelus was genuinely impressed by Aventurine's calculations. He really was different from those gamblers who casually wagered their lives. Ninety-nine percent of those gamblers died without any value at all, but Aventurine's death would have been tremendously valuable.
There was only one way for Aventurine to lose: if Acheron watched his gamble coldly and silently from the sidelines. Then whether he sought to secure benefits for the Company or remove the curse on himself would all be meaningless.
"Old Aventurine, and here I thought you had some secret method to resist the curse Sunday put on you. Turns out you were just using death to tank it."
Caelus patted Aventurine on the shoulder as he spoke. Aventurine's expression twisted slightly. He really wanted to ask Caelus whether he wanted to trade places with him. Ever since coming to Penacony, he had been watched by Sunday's people everywhere, even when he went to the bathroom. After entering the dream, they had searched him and confiscated all his belongings. At least everyone else could still use Credits to enjoy themselves in the dream, while he looked exactly like a beggar.
And Aventurine, as a beggar, had managed to accomplish so much, yet Caelus said that was all there was to it. It was simply intolerable. But seeing Acheron beside him, Aventurine endured.
"Then doesn't that make Acheron your lifesaver?" Caelus continued.
"That's right. If she hadn't severed the Harmony brand, I might already have become part of Sunday's choir."
Aventurine did not deny it. He truly needed to thank Acheron for saving his life. No one else could have done it.
"Acheron and I are very close. What's hers is mine, and what's mine is still mine, so you can just repay this favor to me directly."
"?"
Aventurine looked at Caelus with an indescribable expression, then looked at Acheron. What he meant was that Acheron could chop Caelus down right now. Why would a woman as powerful as her like such a shameless guy?
"No need for thanks. Just remember to give us a huge red envelope when Topaz and I get married. A few hundred million or a few billion will do. It's the thought that counts."
"If you can really marry Topaz, there definitely won't be a shortage of red envelope money, but..."
Aventurine said helplessly. His relationship with Topaz was one forged through life and death, but he suspected Caelus was deceiving him. He simply had no proof.
Not an Invitation, but a Plea
"Old Aventurine, I have another request. Share Jade's information with me."
Caelus abruptly shifted the topic to Jade, immediately putting Aventurine on guard. Nothing good ever came from Caelus talking about women.
"What are you trying to do?"
"I'm just preparing for the future. Once Topaz and I get together, I'll definitely have to deal with the other Ten Stonehearts, right? And the name Jade sounds like she'd be a gentle older sister."
Caelus was very interested in Jade. It was indeed unexpected for the Company to send three representatives at once, but he knew absolutely nothing about Jade. If Jade was a man, then forget he said anything.
"A gentle older sister? That's not wrong."
Thinking of Jade's appearance, Aventurine nodded. As for the gentle part, that was acceptable too. Aventurine had only been able to enter the Company after showing his worth and gaining Jade's recognition.
Aventurine immediately told Caelus some information about Jade. This was not betraying a teammate; he was helping Caelus avoid being devoured clean by that woman. Aventurine was quite kind-hearted.
After their conversation, Acheron brought Caelus out of the brief dream. Aventurine, meanwhile, glanced once more at the pitch-black Void. It enveloped everyone equally, filling them with fear, yet forcing them to keep advancing toward death's end.
"After we leave, you and I may not end up in the same place. Go do what you want to do."
Acheron seemed to have thought of something and said this before parting from Caelus. Thinking of Aventurine's goal, Caelus understood what she meant. Aventurine and he should both have been sent to Dreamflow Reef by Acheron, while Acheron herself apparently had not gone there.
"Alright. Be careful."
Caelus did not know why Acheron was not going to Dreamflow Reef, but she surely had her own objective. After leaving her with those words of concern, the two temporarily parted ways.
Acheron opened her eyes. Before her stood the ruined movie screen of Klauek Film Park. Due to Aventurine's position, when Acheron swung that blade, she had also split the movie screen apart. Even the sky had been stained with crimson cracks of The Void. At this moment, the owner of this dreamscape had no choice but to come out and face her because of Acheron's overwhelming destructive power.
"This grand celebration has gathered far too many guests who should never have been invited. Though Harmony embraces all things, for Penacony's peace, I must issue eviction notices to some of them."
At some unknown point, a crowd had appeared behind Acheron. They wore different clothes and belonged to different races, with no common traits to be found. Yet the words they spoke came out in perfect unison, as though a single person were speaking.
"The Star of the Feast has no room for you, puppet of The Void. Those who live in the shadows should not step into the bright spotlight."
As the speaker spoke, Acheron turned to look behind her. She was not surprised by the large crowd before her. Instead, she wondered how Caelus would react if he were beside her and heard those words. He would surely snap back cleverly and infuriate the speaker until he was fuming from every orifice. Unfortunately, she did not possess that sort of eloquence.
"When it comes to living in the shadows, there is no difference between us. At the very least, when speaking with others, you should reveal your true appearance, Dream Master of Penacony."
Acheron retorted. The speaker showed neither surprise at having his identity exposed nor any emotional fluctuation.
"My mortal vessel has long since dispersed. The Oak Family's one hundred and seven thousand, five hundred and thirty-six children are now my eyes, ears, and mouth. When needed, I spread Harmony through this beautiful dream. When necessary, I banish evil from this park in my stead."
The Dream Master spoke words that were difficult to understand. No one knew how he controlled so many people. It should have been related to Harmony's authority. Though he was not an Emanator of Harmony, he had already traveled far enough along that path.
"It sounds like you want to ask me to leave Penacony."
Acheron folded her arms across her chest. There was neither fear nor anger on her face, only a simple statement.
"I'm glad you possess some self-awareness. Unfortunately, this is not an invitation."
The Dream Master's gathered crowd spoke as one. It was clear that he had great confidence in his abilities and intended to expel Acheron by force.
"You think you can do it," Acheron said.
"Are you threatening me?"
The Dream Master began to sense that something was wrong. He could use violence, but he had never considered that Acheron would use violence too. Though it sounded ridiculous, that was truly what he thought. No one could use violence within his dreamscape, yet a small exception had appeared before him.
"Mm... I used a period. It was a... statement."
Acheron felt that the Dream Master had not understood her meaning, so she explained patiently. Yet to the Dream Master, that explanation sounded more like mockery.
"You are not the first, nor will you be the last, to show such malice after learning my identity. This has happened too many times. When faced with my inquiries, people usually ask in return: why not?"
"But the result... has always been no."
Acheron's words left the Dream Master visibly displeased. He understood now. Acheron meant that before, people had used rhetorical questions, yet she had still made it here unhindered. What had happened to those people was obvious.
"You are very confident, but remember this: the Family is humble, but never weak. Harmony's strings span the universe. If you refuse, then the instant that long blade leaves its sheath, you will never escape Infinite Lord's wrath for the rest of your life."
Seeing Acheron remain so unyielding, the Dream Master resorted to his tried-and-true threats. Why did the Company seek to reclaim Penacony through peaceful means? Naturally, because this place was under Harmony's protection. As the Dream Master said, once someone broke the rules, Infinite Lord would descend. That being was an Emanator of Harmony, and represented Harmony's main combat faction. Infinite Lord was Harmony's greatest fighter, with skills entirely focused on battle rather than the support people stereotypically associated with Harmony.
"Then you will die. I mean... all of you will."
Acheron accepted the Dream Master's threat, yet a single sentence left him speechless. Had he known, he would not have foolishly mentioned that he had one hundred and seven thousand, five hundred and thirty-six child avatars. So long as even one survived, the Dream Master could live. But now, it seemed he might not survive at all.
"Ah, yes."
The Dream Master raised his head and looked at the sky stained by crimson Void. Even if he exhausted all his strength, it would take him a long time to repair that. Let alone facing Acheron, who had created such an effect with a casual swing of her blade.
"What I said just now was, unfortunately, I did not mean to invite you to leave Penacony. I meant to plead with you."
As the Dream Master spoke, smiles appeared on everyone's faces. Pleading with Acheron to leave Penacony—didn't that sound much smoother?
"Why did you fold so quickly?"
A look of surprise appeared on Acheron's face as well. She had thought the Dream Master would fight her to the bitter end, yet he had immediately backed down. Why did this feel like he had been possessed by Caelus?
"Ahem, as I said before, Penacony welcomes all guests. But due to certain accidents, I must ask some guests to leave early. This is a technical adjustment and has nothing to do with my personal will."
The Dream Master coughed as he spoke. He understood now: the fierce feared the reckless, and the reckless feared those who did not value their lives. Now, he had encountered someone who did not fear death.
Suppose a billionaire encountered a desperate criminal on the road. What would he do? He would shout that he had bodyguards behind him, that if anyone dared touch him, his bodyguards would beat them to death. But the bodyguards were currently rather far away. Still, it did not matter. Before they arrived, the billionaire could demonstrate all sorts of flashy ways to die.
Whether Infinite Lord could avenge him, the Dream Master did not know. He only knew that if this conversation fell apart, he would truly die. Once he was dead, what did Acheron's fate have to do with him? Thus, preserving his own life was what mattered most. Penacony could not go a day without him. This was all for the countless lives of Penacony. What was so bad about lowering his head?
The Dream Master knew he still had a wonderful life ahead of him, along with all of Penacony. Why would he trade lives one-for-one with an Emanator of The Void? He might not even manage the trade. And Acheron's threat did not need any qualifiers. The Dream Master fully believed she was not bluffing. She walked the Path of The Void—could she possibly think like a normal person?
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Mom Found Her for You
"Fine. As you said, I will leave."
Acheron spoke, and the Dream Master let out a huge sigh of relief. He knew he had won his gamble. Though dangerous, this woman was still reasonable. Someone who yielded to softness but not force was a good person.
"A very wise choice."
The Dream Master said in a hoarse voice. There had been no winner or loser in this exchange, only an ordinary conversation. It was the best possible outcome.
"However, I have one condition. If even one person from the Star Rail Express dies, then there will be no need for Penacony to exist."
Acheron walked past the Dream Master, leaving behind those words. The Dream Master abruptly turned around and looked at her retreating figure.
"Your power is clearly a gift from the Sleepless and Formless One—bottomless, like a tributary flowing from the abyss, bringing death and sin to all living things."
"Acheron... the name suits you perfectly."
"Those born on the other shore cannot find a place to belong on this shore. Yet you found people who accepted you. Now that you have a weakness, are you still a Self-Annihilator of The Void?"
There was a trace of surprise in the Dream Master's voice. He had never known that Self-Annihilators could have things they cared about, or organizations of their own. In that case, Acheron was no longer invincible. She could be constrained by bonds.
"What if I am not?" Acheron stopped walking.
"Then perhaps I should congratulate you. Leave, and do not return."
The Dream Master nodded, indicating that he accepted Acheron's threat. So long as Caelus and the others did not die, it would be fine. It was not something he could not accomplish, and at this stage, he had no reason to move against the Star Rail Express.
Meanwhile, within Dreamflow Reef, when Caelus opened his eyes again, he saw the gray, gloomy sky once more. The sky here was nothing like Golden Hour's beauty. One was a lavish place tended every day, while the other was neglected and decayed. There was no comparison between them.
"You're awake."
A somewhat muffled male voice rang out. Caelus looked beside him and found a silver mech standing with its back to him. It was looking up at the sky, yet it was indeed speaking to Caelus.
"Sam? Did you save me? Thank you."
Caelus had seen Sam arrive to rescue him earlier. Though Sam had come at an unfortunate time and Aventurine had been instantly taken down by Acheron's blade, Caelus was still touched by Sam's intention. He spoke kindly now as well.
"I know you have many questions. Why am I here? What is my goal? Will I harm the people of the Express? What I can do is show you..."
Sam turned to Caelus as he spoke. Caelus was a little surprised by why Sam was speaking to him like that, but he soon saw Sam's armor turn into flames. Strands of fire gathered together, finally retracting into the transformation device on Sam's right hand.
"My everything."
Firefly looked at Caelus with gentle eyes. Caelus, meanwhile, stood frozen in utter shock. The impact was no less than Aventurine suddenly jumping out to perform a square dance with Sunday, laughing as they decided Penacony's ownership and split the world between them.
"You... you're Sam? One of the Stellaron Hunters?"
Caelus was rarely so surprised that he could not speak, but his mind was truly in turmoil now. Even if he shoved his head into a toilet, he would never have imagined that beneath Sam's imposing exterior was a petite girl like Firefly. A mech with a beautiful girl pilot—wasn't that unbelievably cool on a universal scale?
"Yes, Caelus. I deceived you. I'm sorry."
Firefly nodded and sincerely apologized to Caelus. This was the greatest secret she had hidden, something she could not reveal the moment they met.
"Wait, my mind's a mess. You know Kafka—my mom?" Caelus rubbed his head as he asked.
"Of course I know her. She was the one who introduced you to me. And Silver Wolf, Blade, and the others—we're all on the same team."
Firefly said with a smile. Speaking of her companions made her feel gratified. A warrior who had lost her battlefield had found a place to belong. It was a good ending.
"My mom kept saying she wanted to introduce me to a pretty girl..."
Caelus remembered Kafka constantly bringing up his blind date. Looking at Firefly, he seemed to understand something.
"That was me."
Firefly pointed at her own face shyly. Kafka had saved her life, so Firefly naturally took Kafka's words to heart. Kafka had said Caelus was a good boy, so Firefly had come to see for herself. She had not expected to be captivated by him so quickly.
"Remember to tell my mom that I'm extremely satisfied."
Caelus stepped forward, took Firefly's hands, then pulled her into an embrace as he spoke happily. His mother truly understood him. She had already found such a wonderful girl for him. Caelus deeply felt this motherly love, to the point that he almost wanted his filial devotion to become hard!
"Actually, when Silver Wolf asked you to play games before, I was on your team too."
Firefly leaned against Caelus's chest and spoke softly. At this point, she did not want to hide anything anymore. The two of them had actually known each other before Penacony.
"You... you were that gay guy with the cute emotes?"
Caelus stared at the beautiful girl before him in astonishment. The fact that she was Sam had already been absurd enough. He had never expected her to be his gaming teammate too—the man built like a city wall who loved using cute emotes.
"Gay guy?" Firefly asked in confusion.
"Ah, no, I meant a big guy, because the character you made in the game was huge," Caelus explained guiltily.
"Mm, I thought being bigger would feel safer. That way, I could protect you."
Firefly said with a smile. In truth, it had also been meant to conceal her identity. She had wanted to see what kind of person Caelus was first. She had not noticed anything while playing games, but after truly meeting him, she realized just how good he was.
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