The Star God

"Xiao Xi, you must live on!"

"It seems this is the end. My life is about to stop here, but Xiao Xi, you must stay safe."

"Xiao Xi, the final hope of our Moon Sky Planet, our last precious gem."

"Xiao Xi, please carry our share of life with you in the days to come, and walk forward with unwavering resolve."

These words echoed endlessly in Xi's mind. Every syllable pierced her heart so deeply it left her gasping for air.

Tears blurred her vision, yet those familiar faces appeared before her with increasing clarity. They smiled, encouraging her, their eyes filled with blessings and anticipation.

But, but... "I'm sorry, everyone. I tried so hard, it's just... I don't think I can hold on anymore." Xi's voice trembled, laden with boundless sorrow and self-reproach.

A crystalline tear slid down Xi's cheek, striking the cold ground and splashing into a tiny droplet. Her voice carried a faint, sobbing tone, as if she were whispering an apology to someone.

Finally, a violent explosion swallowed Xi's consciousness. She felt a pain as if her body were being torn apart, and then her awareness plunged into a profound, bottomless darkness.

In this darkness, she heard countless voices. They came from different directions and different times—some familiar, some strange—but all carried intense emotion.

"Don't give up..."

"We believe in you..."

"Hope..."

These voices held reluctance, unwillingness, sorrow, and blessings; they were like the final cries of countless lives at their journey's end. Their wills and convictions converged at this moment, forming a powerful force that cradled Xi's crumbling consciousness.

Xi felt her awareness gradually stabilize, no longer as fragile as before. This power not only halted the collapse of her mind but carried her consciousness to a higher, more distant realm. Here, she felt a brand-new power surging into her body, a force that seemed to originate from a new journey of life.

With the infusion of this power, Xi's consciousness began to revive, and her thoughts grew clear. She realized she was undergoing a metamorphosis, one that elevated her soul. All of this was due to the will and conviction of those countless lives; they were protecting Xi in their own way, granting her a chance at rebirth.

In that moment, Xi felt her soul transcend. Everything from the past began to drift away. She could feel her emotions gradually fading, and a realization that transcended the mortal world welled up in her heart: "So that is how it is. From this day forward, I am the Aeon of [Hope]."

However, at that very moment, a sliver of humanity struggled to break through the constraints, carving out a small space of its own. "No, wait, hold on." The voice of this humanity was small, yet filled with firmness and defiance. "I cannot forget. I don't want to forget. Moon Sky Planet, and everyone... I haven't avenged them yet."

A golden star suddenly condensed in Xi's hand, shining with a warm and brilliant light. The star slowly descended, falling into the void, and instantly transformed into a human avatar. This avatar possessed all of Xi's memories from before she became an Aeon, including her longing for her homeland, her attachment to her loved ones, and her hatred for her enemies.

"Becoming an Aeon and walking the Path means my emotions will inevitably fade, but there are things I must never forget."

"If I am the Aeon of [Hope], then I have the power to grant myself hope as well. My little Xiao Xi, keep walking. I am here for you, I am you, and I will be with you always, until the day your Path and mine shatter."

Having fulfilled her final wish, snowy-white wings unfurled behind Xi. Each feather shimmered with crystalline light, as if woven from the purest starlight. Her long white hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, emitting a mysterious and ancient aura as it drifted gently.

Xi cupped a brilliant galaxy in her hands, as if holding the mysteries of the entire universe. Her pure golden eyes shone brightly in the cosmos, like two radiant stars, revealing endless light and power.

With the birth of this Path, countless living beings across the universe felt a warm and powerful energy.

Those who had fallen into desperate straits, feeling only despair, suddenly sensed the arrival of the power of the Path, and the fire of hope was rekindled in their hearts. Their once-dim eyes grew firm, as if they had caught a glimpse of the dawn of the future.

What is hope? The light that blooms in the midst of despair is hope; the tiny aspirations in daily life are also hope.

In a distant galaxy, a young warrior was locked in a fierce battle against a swarm of True Stinger Insects. He was covered in wounds, yet he held his ground.

When the Path of Hope descended, he felt a brand-new power surge into his body, reinvigorating him. He brandished his weapon, let out a roar, and continued to fight with all his might.

Many years later, as the Path of [Hope] continued to spread throughout the universe and gradually formed organizations of all sizes, Xiao Xi—the human aspect of the Aeon of [Hope]—finally opened her eyes once more.

"Where is this? Did I not die in that explosion? And what is this warm power inside my body?" Facing the strange sight before her, Xiao Xi muttered to herself, feeling lost and bewildered.

"Oh, you're awake." A calm male voice reached her. "I am Arlan, the head of the Security Department on Herta Space Station. I'm very glad to see you're safe."

Hearing his words, Xiao Xi couldn't help but be stunned. "Herta Space Station? Isn't this the game she played before she transmigrated? So, she transmigrated into the Star Rail world?"

It was just that her memories of her past life seemed incomplete; the memories of the Star Rail game felt as if they were behind a thick sheet of glass, very blurry, and she couldn't recall most of them.

Noticing she had been silent for too long, Xiao Xi quickly regained her composure and thanked Arlan, "Did you save me? Thank you so, so much."

"Ah, no, no." Hearing my words of gratitude, Arlan quickly waved his hands. "I wouldn't say we saved you."

Arlan explained in a calm tone, "It's like this: when we first found you, you were just drifting quietly through space. Although you didn't seem to be in any immediate danger, Station Master Asta was still worried, so she took the initiative to bring you back."

"But ever since then, you've been in a deep sleep. All our instruments showed your vital signs were perfectly fine, yet you simply wouldn't wake up. Faced with this situation, we didn't know what to do, so we just had to wait for you to wake up."