Lin Shuang pressed her lips together, momentarily at a loss for words.
She really wanted to explain things clearly to Acheron. That ring she had given her really was just an ordinary ring. Even the system that had given it to her had said so—how could it be wrong?
Her Novice Mission rewards had even been downgraded. It was not as if the system would give her something good and then keep it hidden.
But now, looking into Acheron's eyes...
She could hardly believe that the person before her was that cold, aloof Acheron. She had thought Gepard was sitting across from her instead.
This was bad.
Lin Shuang began to feel that the more she explained the situation, the more it would seem like she was trying to cover it up.
What exactly had made Acheron focus on this Pair of Rings? Just because they had flashed twice?
Wasn't that completely unreasonable? The key was that she had no way to verify it. Lin Shuang could not see the rings glow, nor could she sense any other power appearing. It was all Acheron's word alone. Based on that alone, it was hard for Lin Shuang to accept such a huge favor with a clear conscience.
Naturally, Lin Shuang still firmly denied it.
Acheron, however, chose to go along with her and stopped arguing.
In her eyes, perhaps this was also Lin Shuang's awkward way of showing affection.
Was she not being honest, or was she worried that Acheron would refuse to accept it if she knew?
What exactly did these rings and that ritual mean?
Acheron could not help but wonder whether she should part ways with Lin Shuang after coming into contact with the Stellaron.
She became increasingly conflicted.
The rings possessed something special.
At the very least, Acheron could be certain of that now.
But their limits, whether they would be depleted, whether they needed charging, and so on were still unknown.
Even so, even if they had a time limit, Acheron was already satisfied.
She had never expected that a chance encounter during her usual travels would bring such a surprise.
It had been a long time since her emotions had surged like this.
Acheron sorted out her emotions somewhat awkwardly, then began thinking about Lin Shuang again.
The method of tempering Lin Shuang using the power of Paths had basically been half ruined.
After all, every time she was about to fall, she would be pulled back in one breath. Without the tempering brought by that negative state, the results would definitely be diminished.
But then again... if she could even resist the power of The Nihility, perhaps she could resist the Stellaron's temptation as well?
It was uncertain, but it was not impossible to hope for it.
And before that...
Acheron took out her phone.
It had been a very, very long time since she had wanted to preserve memories, since there had been someone she did not want to forget.
Acheron had long grown accustomed to ignoring all manner of recording devices, but once again felt the urge to use videos and photographs to document things.
While Acheron was lost in thought, Lin Shuang also fell into a dilemma.
She did not know why Acheron had fallen into this strange loop, and Lin Shuang did not like this affection that felt almost like deception.
Perhaps she should come into contact with the Stellaron as soon as possible, then leave on her own.
She could not keep deceiving her.
After they had been apart for a while, perhaps Acheron would come to her senses and realize that this had nothing to do with Lin Shuang.
After all, Acheron was who knew how many years old. Perhaps because of The Nihility, she had inevitably gotten a little emotional over this matter.
But once her emotions gradually settled, perhaps she would be able to think it through.
Acheron was cold on the outside but warm within. She looked aloof and spoke little, but she was actually very gentle, beautiful, and strong.
Who would not like her?
Besides, Acheron had helped her greatly throughout this journey.
Lin Shuang wanted even less for their relationship to be built upon this false affection.
The marriage she had tricked Acheron into before had merely been a joke meant to fleece the system.
Lin Shuang did not intend to reveal what it meant. As long as Acheron did not know, it was only a joke.
Now, Lin Shuang genuinely wanted to be friends with Acheron.
Lin Shuang: Why Did You Suddenly Start Taking Pictures of Me?
At some point...
When Lin Shuang came back to her senses, she discovered that Acheron had begun holding up her phone and taking pictures of her.
"What's wrong? Why did you suddenly start taking pictures?"
After spending these past days together, Lin Shuang knew that Acheron was like her—neither of them particularly liked taking pictures.
Even when there was nothing to do, Acheron often simply sat there in a daze.
She could understand the last time Acheron had taken pictures. After all, her sense of taste had returned, so she had certainly been excited.
But why today?
"I suddenly wanted to take some pictures."
"Is that so..."
Lin Shuang watched in confusion as the camera aimed at her and snapped several more pictures, but she did not say anything.
Mostly because she looked good right now. Even sprawled on the ground, she looked good, so Lin Shuang did not mind being photographed at all.
Besides, it was rare to see Acheron interested in something. Lin Shuang could not exactly spoil her fun.
And so, the two of them set off once more.
After Acheron realized that the results of her teaching during this phase had been diminished, she temporarily changed the training plan.
So now, Lin Shuang had to fight monsters while also enduring Acheron's pressure.
Fortunately, Lin Shuang improved quickly enough.
She endured it head-on.
But Lin Shuang, who was constantly clearing the path ahead, did not notice that
Acheron, pressuring her from behind, was constantly holding up her phone and filming Lin Shuang.
Every so often, she would leave behind words Lin Shuang had said in the footage, using them as a memo of their encounter.
Even though she had confirmed that the body affected by The Nihility had improved somewhat, who could guarantee that her memories would not continue to fade?
Who could guarantee that she would remember this encounter with Lin Shuang in the days to come?
She could not guarantee it, and neither could Lin Shuang.
So Acheron chose to record it.
It was something she had rarely done in the past.
Several more days passed like this.
Lin Shuang and Acheron entered a massive spaceport.
The ruined colossal spacecraft, the empty grounds, and the enormous equipment.
All of it spoke of the prosperity this place had once possessed.
"I didn't expect the Stellaron to be in a spaceport. This is troublesome. I wonder whether we can still find a usable spacecraft here."
Acheron looked around the spaceport, which had been destroyed beyond recognition. She could fully imagine what kind of battle had once taken place here.
And beside Acheron...
Roar—!!
Hiss—!
The monsters' cries rose one after another. Birdlike constructs of all attributes, Void Pawns, Imaginary Weavers, Stormbringers, and more...
Whether they were Fragmentum creatures or members of the Anti-Matter Legion, all of them charged toward the two people who had made the noise.
"It doesn't matter, does it? I should be able to withstand the environment of space now."
Clang—!
As Lin Shuang spoke, she clenched one hand in the air. Rising flames stirred up a hurricane, whipping her hair and cloak.
With the force of a prairie fire, the flames condensed into a greatsword, while falling sparks formed a thin layer that covered the blade.
Accompanied by the melodious singing of "Da Capo."
Lin Shuang charged into the enemy ranks like a hurricane.
Whether ordinary Void Pawns or massive Stompers,
Lin Shuang moved like a phantom, dragging blazing flames behind her. The inferno became death's scythe, and her fluttering cloak resembled the curtain of destruction descending.
Lin Shuang danced amid the song, the massive blade light as nothing in the girl's hands.
Again and again, the sharp blade tore through the monsters' sturdy armor and shredded their cores.
Acheron followed behind Lin Shuang, listening to the melodious song and the monsters' wails as the corners of her lips lifted slightly.
"Without the protection of a Path's power, you still can't do it at your current level."
Acheron was already putting it kindly. In truth, even ordinary Pathstriders would find it difficult to cross the depths of space with their physical bodies alone.
Lin Shuang's strength had indeed surpassed that of many Pathstriders, but to be like Acheron—to leave a planet and travel alone through the universe without relying on any protection—was still rather wishful thinking.
"A Path... I completely—"
Lin Shuang gritted her teeth in response, lowering her body rapidly. In a diving posture, the moment her legs exerted force, she shot forward like a cannonball. Blade and flames became a reaper, slicing apart dozens of monsters in her path in one sweep.
"...have no clue about it."
Lin Shuang knew about Paths, but asking her to possess a pure conviction to follow one was somewhat difficult.
Whether Preservation, Abundance, Destruction, or Nihility, Lin Shuang found it difficult to be pure in any of them.
If she had to name one, perhaps Trailblaze would be easier to follow. She only needed to find an opportunity to join the crew, and she could be counted as a Nameless.
But honestly, Lin Shuang did not know where the Star Rail Express was right now. If she had to guess, Herta Space Station might have information.
After all, the Express and the space station seemed to trade regularly. They would surely know the crew's whereabouts.
"You can take your time looking. A Path is the road each person walks with their life. It is not something achieved overnight."
Acheron flashed to Lin Shuang's side, her phone quietly hidden in a blind spot where Lin Shuang could not see it.
"I know."
Lin Shuang glanced at Acheron. Over the past several days, Acheron had barely needed to act at all. She only had to point Lin Shuang in a direction.
"Go that way. The Stellaron's reaction is still very strong."
Acheron pointed in one direction. There was a launch tower there, though it had long since collapsed, and the Fragmentum's corrosion was extremely severe. Only from the wreckage could they barely identify its original function.
"The Stellaron landed there?"
Seeing the direction of their target, Lin Shuang raised her eyebrows.
A spaceport would inevitably have a great deal of foot traffic. If the Stellaron had landed here, that would have been rather tragic.
But there was no one left on this planet anymore, so there was no point talking about that.
"Tsk, the closer we get to the Stellaron, the more uncomfortable I feel. And I can sense it—the Stellaron is tempting me."
It was strange. The Stellaron could tempt people's hearts, making it difficult for Lin Shuang to regard it as nothing more than a source of disaster.
Before you continue