"Huh? Where is the place exposed on the Sky Screen? Where are Stelle and Firefly?"
"Is there a place like that on the Douluo Continent?"
"Look! Besides Stelle and Firefly, how come the other three people are so beautiful too?"
"They're way prettier than Shui Bing'er! Does anyone recognize those three?"
"Whoa, that big sister with the long black hair and the round white hat..."
"That's way too outrageous! Her chest is practically as big as a head. Can a person even grow that?"
The people from Shrek Academy also saw Dahlia beside Firefly on the Sky Screen.
Several of them couldn't help shifting their gazes to Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing already had an exceptionally striking figure.
But who would've thought there'd be someone even more eye-catching than her!
Quite a few people stared until their mouths went dry, their eyes turning feverish.
They fixed their gazes on Dahlia on the Sky Screen, their imaginations running wild, unable to suppress their grins.
They really wanted to tame her.
Both Tang San's story earlier and Firefly's story now had appeared far too abruptly.
So, just as before, lines of golden text emerged on the Sky Screen, explaining everything to the crowd.
[The place where Stelle and Firefly are is a world called Penacony.]
[In Penacony, guests enter a shared dreamscape through the Dreampool.]
[There are twelve dreamscape moments modeled after different times of day. The most representative of them is the Golden Hour.]
[It remains forever frozen at one moment before midnight. In other words, it embodies an emotion people in reality might feel—the hope that a beautiful, free night of their own will never end.]
[They never have to face the pressures, troubles, and pain of the outside world.]
[In this city, everyone deserves the right to live as a hedonist, amid a never-ending revel.]
As the Sky Screen introduced the Golden Hour in Penacony, the scene showed its magnificent, imposing cluster of buildings.
Buildings crowded the skies and the ground alike.
Countless people laughed and chatted, their faces beaming. They were carefree and joyful, reveling in every pleasure and dream.
When people across the Douluo Continent saw this scene, they couldn't help clicking their tongues in amazement.
Never mind the Golden Hour's world-defying premise.
Just the sheer number of buildings there, those skyscrapers that soared into the clouds—they couldn't begin to imagine how they'd been built.
And why were the buildings flying in the sky?
How had such enormous houses made it up there?
With so many buildings, just how many people lived in that city?
There might be more people in that one city than on their entire Douluo Continent.
And the people there seemed to have no troubles at all. They ate and drank to their hearts' content, played games, and drove dazzling luxury cars through the sky.
Everyone on the Douluo Continent watched with yearning.
Just then, many people began reconsidering what they'd thought of Stelle.
Was the demigod power Stelle had revealed on the Sky Screen really only the peak strength of a Titled Douluo?
Was Stelle truly from the same world as them?
The scene on the Sky Screen appeared once more, drawing everyone's attention.
[Stelle and Firefly met in this city of dreams and joy.]
[They played games together and ate together.]
[In the end, they entered this dangerous dreamscape together.]
[While exploring the unknown dreamscape, they encountered a monster that could kill people within a dream: Something Unto Death.]
[Then Firefly and Stelle were forced apart, left to fight on their own.]
[The scene now shows Firefly meeting Stelle again.]
[But Firefly seems to have known Stelle for a long time.]
[She had approached Stelle with a purpose.]
[Why had she approached Stelle? The story revealed next will give everyone the answer.]
The Sky Screen left them with that tantalizing question, then the scene changed again.
The camera pushed right up to Dahlia's striking figure, prompting another chorus of gasps from countless viewers.
Dahlia saw how excited Firefly looked as she gazed at Stelle.
Her eyes shifted to Acheron, standing in front of Stelle, and she reminded Firefly in an unhurried voice:
"Don't rush. There's a troublesome stranger here."
Firefly's gaze followed hers to Acheron. Her brow furrowed as she asked, puzzled,
"She looks familiar. Is she..."
Dahlia turned to Firefly, a deeper confusion in her eyes. "Oh? You really don't know?"
"Regardless of where she stands, she's even more dangerous than the Dream Master."
"When dealing with an Emanator of Nihility, we should always tread carefully, wherever and whenever we are."
At that, the confusion in Firefly's eyes deepened, mixed with a hint of wariness. She asked cautiously,
"An Emanator of Nihility? Was she mentioned in the 'script'?"
Dahlia explained softly, "No. If it weren't for a 'murdered father's revenge,' it would've been hard for me to find out, too."
The scene shifted again, this time to Stelle.
Acheron seemed to be inviting Stelle and the mysterious woman beside her, who wore a veil, to come along.
When Firefly heard that Acheron, the dangerous Emanator of Nihility, was going to travel with Stelle, her expression changed abruptly.
She quickly put on a serious expression and said firmly,
"Absolutely not! I have to separate her from Stelle!"
Firefly's voice seemed a little loud. Dahlia hurriedly put a finger to her lips, warning her, "Shh. Be careful."
Then Dahlia asked, puzzled, "What's wrong? Their traveling together here and now would save us a lot of trouble."
"I can feel it. 'Death' has cast its shadow again, somewhere nearby. If nothing goes wrong, they'll catch up soon."
"That Stellaron lady clearly isn't familiar with Memetic Substance, and that conceited Swan always cares about her dignity, unwilling to show her hand. Only with Acheron there can they get past Death."
Firefly grew even more resolute, her tone firm as a nail:
"Then I should go find them right now and tell them the truth. There's no need to clash with 'Death' again."
Dahlia spoke again, her tone gently persuasive. "But Black Swan is still there."
"We don't know what she's after. If she twists the truth, you won't be able to convince the others."
"Here, a Memokeeper's word is ultimately more credible."
"There's no need to rush. We can reveal the truth later."
Firefly still wouldn't give in. She quickly refused, then explained why she had to do this:
"Absolutely not! Have you forgotten?"
"As a Stellaron Hunter, I have a 'Zero Point Mission' that I must carry out at any cost."
"If there's even the slightest chance Acheron might draw her blade, I can't let Stelle be there!"
Dahlia propped her chin on her hand, drawing out her words with a hint of amusement. "Oh? I thought you wouldn't care."
"Haven't you had enough of sacrificing yourself for duty?"
Firefly looked toward Stelle, grief surfacing in her eyes. "My dream was doomed to shatter from the very beginning."
"But they aren't ready to wake up yet."
She turned her gaze away from the departing figures of Stelle, Acheron, and Black Swan, and looked at Dahlia.
Her voice held a note of pleading:
"Could I trouble you with one more thing?"
"There might be a way to have the best of both worlds, but I have to find Death first!"
"That won't be hard," Dahlia replied. "It's still wandering around this area."
"But a way to have the best of both worlds?"
Firefly lowered her head. Her voice held a trace of uncertainty, yet she sounded utterly determined:
"I'm not sure yet, but it's worth a try. Maybe it won't always be hostile. Even if it is, once I activate SAM IV, I'll be able to get away from it quickly."
"If things turn out in the worst possible way..."
"Elio once said I would suffer death three times in Penacony. I want to decide for myself how this 'first death' happens."
After listening to Firefly, Dahlia replied in a weighty tone:
"Let's hope your reunion just now didn't get to you."
Then she nodded, agreeing with Firefly's plan:
"Go on... I burned a hole through the Memetic Substance. It'll take you straight to the Meme. You'd better hurry; it might not stay there for long."
As Dahlia spoke, she slowly closed her eyes.
Behind her, blazing blue flames roared and churned, burning a pitch-black, dreamlike hole into space. It was dark as night, and no one could tell where it led.
Firefly saw it and nodded solemnly. "I will. Thank you!"
With that, Firefly steeled her gaze and strode toward the hole behind Dahlia.
Her eyes looked as if she were welcoming her fate!
When Firefly appeared again, she had arrived in an unfamiliar place.
She looked around at the stillness and frowned, asking in confusion,
"There's not a sound. Did it already leave?"
Firefly followed the path beneath her feet, cautiously making her way inside.
When she reached a red carpet, she stopped abruptly.
She sensed the air around her. She couldn't see Something Unto Death, and the surroundings were so calm that nothing seemed amiss.
But her gaze grew ever more resolute.
"No, it's here. I have to finish this quickly!"
Just then, near the doorway not far away, Stelle and her two purple-haired big-sister companions suddenly appeared.
Acheron was quietly warning everyone to be careful, having already sensed the dangerous aura permeating the air.
Firefly hadn't expected Stelle to arrive so soon.
She clenched her fists, pressing them tight against her chest. Her body trembled faintly, beyond her control.
"So soon... There's no time. Then I can only..."
Terror welled in her eyes. She gave her head a slight shake, murmuring as if to cheer herself on:
"It's okay. Being able to choose how I die is already pretty great."
"Besides, I'm dreaming. It won't hurt that much."
"This is only the first death. I still have plenty of time to fulfill the promise we made together."
Seeing this scene on the Sky Screen, Stelle's eyes immediately grew wet.
Though Dahlia had already guided her memories back and she'd seen this scene long ago,
seeing it with her own eyes now still made her heart ache beyond measure.
Her Firefly, when faced with death, had been trembling, filled with fear inside.
Yet she hadn't backed down. She'd only stood there, silently encouraging herself.
Before you continue