Star Rail, Single Draw Acheron at the Start

"Staying behind to cover the rear for the younger generation? That's very much in the spirit of an elder."

The Dream Master looked up at the black hole absorbing dreams. With a mere snap of his fingers, the black hole dissipated. The Dream Master had absolute control over dreams, a control that stemmed from dreams' influence on reality. This meant that as long as he could influence dreams, attacks would be ineffective.

The reason the Dream Master had backed down so quickly when facing Acheron was because he discovered his abilities couldn't affect someone of the Path of Nihility. However, Welt clearly hadn't been favored by IX, so he would naturally be affected.

"Caelus is the person most likely to defeat you. Although he's usually not serious, he's incredibly reliable when it matters."

Welt's expression showed no panic. He pulled open his clothes, revealing the white shirt underneath, and pushed up his glasses as he spoke.

"Adults have their own stage. Even if we make our exit, the younger generation will follow in our footsteps and shape this world into what they desire."

Welt charged towards Sunday without hesitation. He already knew the Dream Master didn't have a fixed body, so attacking Sunday was the best way to thwart their plans.

"Firefly, let me go! Robin and Uncle Yang, they're still..."

At this moment, Caelus was being carried by Firefly towards the edge of the dream. Once they reached the edge, she directly plunged into a Nihility rift that Acheron had cleaved open. Acheron had previously cut open the outer shell of the dream, and the residual power there provided them with an escape route.

"No, we have to go back and report. We can't let Uncle Yang's sacrifice be in vain."

Firefly's voice came from within Sam's armor. Unlike Acheron, she couldn't ignore all influences. If she and Caelus were left behind, there would be no hope. That's why she and Welt had reached an understanding.

"Damn it."

Caelus raised his hand, wanting to smash something. He then lowered it upon remembering that Sam was Firefly. Thankfully, Acheron had vouched for them earlier. If the Dream Master didn't want to die, he wouldn't kill Welt; at most, he'd imprison him. And Robin was key to the Grand Gala, so she wouldn't be harmed either.

Firefly carried Caelus downwards for about ten minutes. The nascent form of Dreamflow Reef appeared before them. Since both of them had been here before, they didn't need a guide upon re-entering. They directly passed through the dream entrance and arrived.

March 7th and Himeko were chatting with Gallagher when they suddenly saw Sam flying back with Caelus. Both of them wore expressions of surprise.

"Something happened. Uncle Yang was detained by the Dream Master."

As soon as Caelus landed, he quickly explained what he had encountered in the beautiful dream. Himeko wasn't particularly surprised; she had long suspected the Dream Master was problematic. She just hadn't expected Sunday to be in league with him, and that Robin was being kept in the dark.

Chapter 111: Blank Dream Bubble

"It's pretty much as I thought," Gallagher said. Without any visible action from him, the tombstone area at his feet began to rise. The surrounding buildings vibrated until it stopped at the predetermined height.

Everyone looked forward. A staircase leading upwards appeared ahead. At the top of the staircase was a viewing pavilion, and in the distance, a chair seemed to be there.

"Before we departed, the Station Master entrusted us with finding information about three Nameless in Penacony. We have now learned of the deeds of Ms. Lazarina and Mr. Tirnan, and only Lagvork remains."

Himeko said, looking towards the location of the high platform. As the intelligence hub of the Express, she could always figure things out one step ahead of everyone else.

"Ever since I received the reply from the Star Rail Express, I've been keeping track of your movements, including the great efforts you've all made to connect the various worlds. And now, you have safely arrived here, proving your strength."

Gallagher said with a smile, his tone filled with emotion, revealing the whereabouts of the last Nameless.

"That last Nameless, he set off, stopped, and set off again... He took a long detour, and in the end, he returned to the starting point."

"On his deathbed, he instructed me to find the Star Rail Express and deliver that invitation to the Nameless of the future. For this, he prepared a gift, a true inheritance... belonging only to the descendants of the Trailblaze."

"Now, it's time for it to see the light of day again."

"Penacony's first and last Nameless—the Clock Keeper, Lagvork Sharr Mikhail."

Gallagher said, leading the way forward. In truth, everyone had already guessed it. Ever since Mikhail's name appeared, they had all connected him to the last Nameless; it wasn't unexpected.

The group walked into the viewing pavilion and approached the chair. They looked at the old man sitting in the recliner, his head tilted as he slept. His life had reached its end, entering a slumber from which he could no longer be awakened.

The old man held a rather large dream bubble in his arms, cradling it protectively like a large sphere. One could imagine how long he had maintained this posture; from the moment he fell asleep, he hadn't moved.

"Here, this dream bubble is it. But don't get your hopes up too high. I checked inside, and there's nothing."

Gallagher pointed to Mikhail's inheritance. Caelus saw that no one was coming forward, so he stepped up and touched the dream bubble, but the feedback was that there was nothing.

Next were Himeko, March 7th, and Firefly. After trying, they also couldn't discern anything from the dream bubble, so they all looked at Gallagher.

"I knew it. I never understood what that old man was thinking. He never managed to contact the Express while he was alive, yet he insisted on leaving this as his inheritance. And in the end, it's just romantic idealism with nothing inside."

Gallagher spread his hands. Not only was the inheritance gone, but their secret weapon against the Dream Master had also vanished. They could only rely on the Star Rail Express themselves.

"No, I don't think so. The Nameless of the Express wouldn't do something so meaningless. We must have overlooked something."

Himeko maintained a different opinion. Gallagher nodded upon hearing this; it would be best if they could find something.

"Mr. Gallagher, we need to borrow your pet to ask Doctor Edward at the Dream Bubble Shop."

Himeko continued. The pet was Somnus, and they would use its power to bring everyone back to the beautiful dream to inquire about the dream bubble's settings.

"You can, but the Dream Master is currently looking for you, isn't he?" Gallagher said.

"We'll be quick. Besides, there are many people there. If the Dream Master doesn't want to cause panic, he might not act. If I were the Dream Master, instead of catching a few people, the more important thing would be to set up defenses in the Grand Theatre; that's the core of the plan."

Himeko could only choose to confront the issue head-on. Moreover, her analysis was still very reasonable, and everyone agreed with her.

Behind Gallagher, a monster covered in eyes had appeared at some point. After staring at it for a moment, Caelus's body was teleported into the beautiful dream. If an ordinary person were teleported around like this, they would have already fainted, but the people around them were no ordinary individuals; they were Trailblazers with strong spirits.

The four of them landed right beside the large eyeball. Caelus was very familiar with Doctor Edward and immediately went to greet him.

"Not doing business."

Doctor Edward glanced at Caelus and, upon realizing a group of Nameless had arrived, immediately closed its eyes. This showed how terrible the Nameless had become in its eyes.

"We'll just ask a question and leave. Otherwise, we'll sleep here on the floor."

Caelus said frankly. Doctor Edward immediately opened its eyes. Compared to prolonged torment, it chose a quick pain.

"Is this negotiation? How exactly did you do that to an eyeball?"

March 7th complained from the side, trying her best to roast them. She had thought Caelus and Doctor Edward were friends, but judging by his attitude, it was clear he wanted to get rid of him quickly.

"Doctor Edward, we've obtained a blank dream bubble. Do you know what's going on?"

Himeko asked. Her feeling was different from March 7th's. Because the question was sensitive, Doctor Edward might not answer normally, but after being messed with by Caelus like this, it seemed very willing to cooperate.

"Impossible. There are no blank dream bubbles in the world. They must contain something."

Doctor Edward's eyeball moved, shaking its head as it spoke. This was its profession, and it knew that impossible rules were impossible.

"But it's blank!" March 7th said indignantly.

"Then there's only one possibility. The content inside, it…"

Doctor Edward stated a possibility. This was considered a secret of the dream bubbles, and it wouldn't normally tell guests. But Caelus was staring nearby, and if it didn't say anything, it was afraid it would be driven insane by torment.

After listening, Himeko thanked it and quickly led Caelus and the others away from the Dreamscape. Using the power of Somnus, they entered the Dream Hotel.

As the interstice between the Dreamscape and Dreamflow Reef, it was temporarily very safe. There was no need to worry about being hunted by the Family. However, Himeko didn't consider this place a resting spot. Instead, she made a request to Somnus beside her.

"Could you please bring Misha here?"

Himeko said to Somnus. Somnus nodded and disappeared from everyone's sight.

"Sister Himeko, why Misha?"

March 7th asked curiously. After going to Dreamflow Reef, she had also seen Misha and the Clock Boy. She had thought Misha was just an ordinary doorman, but she didn't expect him to be mentioned here.

"The Nameless's premonition."

Himeko gave a mysterious smile. March 7th scratched her head, but she also knew she wasn't good at thinking, so she quietly waited for Misha to arrive.

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Chapter 112: My Brain Can't Keep Up

"Excuse me, where is this?"

Somnus brought Misha into the Dream Hotel, but he entered with a bewildered expression, seeming completely unaware of where he was. However, upon seeing everyone from the Star Rail Express, his heart instinctively calmed down.

"Do you have any impression of this place, Misha?"

Himeko asked with a smile. She didn't directly state her guess to Misha but guided him step by step.

"I… I can't say for sure, but it feels like I've seen it before. Where is this?"

Misha shook his head. He just felt like he knew this place, but his memory was vague.

"This is a dream bubble. Our consciousness has entered it. This is a gift left to the Star Rail Express by a Nameless. But strangely, when we opened it, we found nothing inside."

"So, I thought, as the hotel doorman and the person who knows Penacony best among the friends of the Star Rail Express, Misha, you should be able to help us solve this mystery."

Himeko explained the situation to Misha and then spoke persuasively. She was indeed an excellent trailblazer, doing an excellent job even when not facing her own people.

"I don't know much about dream bubbles. But if you all want to understand what this big house is, I will try my best!"

Misha nodded. He was very willing to help the people of the Star Rail Express. Although they hadn't been friends for long, he had a good impression of the people on the train.

"Sister Himeko… I'm still confused. Why are you so sure Misha is related to this dream bubble?"

March 7th whispered to Himeko. There were so many people in Penacony, why choose Misha? Little March felt her brain wasn't enough.

"I can't be sure, I just have some guesses. But since Misha feels familiar with this place… it means my guess might be correct."

Himeko looked at Firefly beside Caelus. Firefly was startled when her eyes met Himeko's, then nodded, as if they had a telepathic connection.

"What's wrong? What's happening?"

March 7th felt excluded. It was a kind of intellectual bullying, where everyone else understood, but she didn't. This made her pout sadly.

"Heh heh, you'll know soon."

Himeko patted March 7th's head and then followed Misha out of the guest room, walking into the Dream Hotel they had visited before.

The terrain of the Dream Hotel was unique. Its doors were endless, like a maze. If you kept walking forward, you would pass through countless doors and return to the starting point. No other dreamscape had such a characteristic.

But with Misha leading the way, after passing through the doors, they didn't feel the endless loop. They successfully arrived at the hotel lobby, at a place that resembled a home. There were bedrooms, a playroom, a study, and the Clock Keeper's workshop.

As Misha walked along, his demeanor changed significantly. From the initial confusion and bewilderment, it gradually became firm. The easiest way to judge this was his posture. He was no longer walking cautiously as before, but with composure, as if he were the master of this place.

"I grew up here."

Misha stood in the workshop, looking at the clocks on the wall.

"It seems you've remembered everything."

Himeko nodded. Things were as she had thought. The journey she had accompanied Misha on was actually helping him recall those important memories, but she had kept it a secret from the beginning, letting the mystery be revealed at the end.

"What exactly is going on?"

March 7th held her head, feeling her intelligence was increasingly insufficient. Although she had long accepted that she wasn't as smart as Himeko, the difference was too great.

"Little March, do you remember that Caelus mentioned a Clock Boy that only she could see?"

Himeko explained to March 7th unhurriedly. This wasn't something that could be explained in a few words, but it would be revealed soon.

"I remember! Isn't that the one beside us? But at Dreamflow Reef, didn't we all see it? Uncle Yang even greeted it."

March 7th pointed at Clock Boy, who was beside Misha, and said, "I don't know when it appeared, but it's Misha's little follower. Little March has gotten used to its presence."

"The answer is the Star Rail. Trailblaze's experience proves that at least Miss Firefly and Miss Acheron cannot see this Clock Boy," Himeko said.

"Miss Firefly can't see him?"

March 7th looked at Firefly, who had been following her all along. She had been wondering why Miss Firefly was so quiet and never chimed in when Misha spoke.

"Yes, not just Clock Boy, I can't see the Misha you're talking about either."

Firefly nodded. From her perspective, it had always been the three people from the Star Rail running around. She was the one being excluded, but she didn't mind, as long as she could accompany Trailblaze.

"Wait, this is chilling!"

March 7th exclaimed in surprise. Clock Boy was one thing; it might be a Meme lifeform. But the fact that Misha couldn't see him was strange. He was clearly a living person... or was he?

"There's no difference between me and Clock Boy. We're both Meme lifeforms."

Misha spoke up. March 7th looked at him. Putting aside whether he looked like a Meme lifeform, everyone could see Meme lifeforms like Somnus. So why was it different for Misha?

"Little March, the Star Rail is the key. Only people on the train can see Misha and Clock Boy. Doesn't this align with the legacy Mikhail left for the Star Rail?"

"He's a dream bubble!"

March 7th blurted out. Himeko was amused by March 7th's adorable remark and smiled gently as she continued.

"To be precise, it's the memory within the dream bubble. Doctor Edward told us before that there were no empty dream bubbles in dreams, but there was one exception: something inside a dream bubble ran out on its own."

Himeko's explanation once again proved that Penacony was a world full of wonders. The existence of dream bubbles was strange enough, and it was even stranger that memories within them could escape.

"I am a person of dreams, Lagvork Sharr Mikhail, or you can call me Misha more concisely."

Misha said to March 7th, but his voice had changed. It was no longer that of a young boy, but an old man's voice.

"So you're the Clock Keeper himself."

March 7th said in surprise. She thought she wouldn't be able to meet a living Nameless, but Misha's appearance gave her some pleasant surprise.

"Unfortunately, that beloved dream magnate is long gone. I am merely a microcosm of his life."