Chapter Summaries

Hanxing, Yan Bai, and Firefly defeated Argenti and won the Scorchsand Festival, but Sunday confronted them before they entered the Grand Theater. Sunday rejected their demands for Penacony and exposed Hanxing as a transmigrator and Emanator of Harmony, leaving Hanxing furious and shaken.

• Hanxing and Yan Bai fought Argenti, used a clone and coordinated attacks to defeat him, and Hanxing healed his injuries.
• Argenti conceded and wished the three well as Hanxing, Yan Bai, and Firefly headed for the festival’s finish.
• Hanxing, Firefly, and Yan Bai were announced as Scorchsand Festival champions and joined Caelus, March 7th, and the others on the stage walkway.
• Sunday said the Oak Family would not accept the Nameless’s demands, arguing that Penacony must not return to a brutal, lawless era.
• Sunday revealed that he knew Hanxing was a transmigrator and an Emanator of Harmony, leaving Hanxing angry and unable to understand how Sunday had learned his secrets.

Welt exposed the Dream Master’s apparent innocence as a deception and deduced that the hidden force behind Penacony’s crisis was the Path of Order. The Dream Master ordered Sunday to restrain Welt and Robin, and Sunday began Tuning Robin.

• Himeko asked Mr. Sunday to explain the meeting and what had delayed Welt and Robin.
• Robin told the Dream Master that the Charmony Festival would spread the Stellaron’s power and trap everyone in Penacony’s dream.
• The Dream Master submitted to Sunday’s questioning, and Xipe gave no sign that he had lied.
• Welt questioned whether the Dream Master’s god was truly Xipe and explained how the fallen Path of Order could have become a discordant force within Harmony.
• The Dream Master confirmed Welt’s suspicion through his reaction and ordered Sunday to make Welt and Robin rest.
• Sunday began Tuning Robin and apologized that she had learned the truth.

Sunday revealed that he sought to impose Order on Penacony and invited the Astral Express crew into his inner world to explain his choices. He began with a childhood dilemma about whether to shelter a fledgling Melodi-Dove in a cage or leave it in a nest, and Hanxing explained what each choice represented.

• Sunday told Robin that he rejected Harmony and believed Order could guarantee happiness, while Himeko and March 7th demanded to know what he had done to Robin and Welt.
• Sunday said Robin and Welt were safe, then explained his ambition to end suffering through Order and offered to show the Astral Express crew the choices that had led him there.
• Sunday vanished into his inner world through Tuning and explained that the crew would experience his memories and emotions directly.
• Sunday recounted how he and Robin found a dying Melodi-Dove as children and debated whether to build it a nest outdoors or keep it safe in a cage indoors.
• Sunday asked the crew to choose how they would care for the fledgling, and Hanxing explained that the cage represented Order while the nest represented Harmony.

Sunday asked Caelus and the others to consider two choices about protecting the weak, then revealed that the caged Melodi-Dove died after being released. He presented a second dilemma about whether to stop the Hound Family from pursuing an illegal immigrant who had sold his children, and Caelus chose to intervene.

• Himeko, Yan Bai, March 7th, and Firefly favored building a cage for the Melodi-Dove, while Hanxing argued that protecting it without confining it would preserve its freedom.
• Caelus chose to build the cage, and Sunday revealed that the bird died after failing to fly safely when released.
• Sunday told the group about a Dream Chaser who sold his house, land, and children to pursue a better life in Penacony, then asked whether they would stop the Hound Family's pursuit.
• Himeko and Firefly favored stopping the pursuit, while March 7th and Yan Bai wanted the Dream Chaser punished, and Hanxing proposed monitoring him before deciding whether to help.
• Caelus chose to ask the Hound Family to stop pursuing the Dream Chaser.

Sunday explained how his earlier choice led to an oppressor, then recounted how Robin was shot while helping people in a war zone. He asked whether the Astral Express Crew would support Robin’s journey of Harmony, and Caelus chose to stand with her decision.

• Sunday said the man he had helped became powerful but later tried to seize the Alfalfa Family’s leadership, and he no longer recognized his children.
• Sunday recounted that Mr. Gopher Wood told him Robin had been shot in the neck while aiding relief efforts on Caspellion VIII, though she was recovering.
• Sunday asked whether the Astral Express Crew would support Robin if she chose to risk her life for Harmony.
• Himeko urged Caelus to consider his own experiences, while March 7th, Firefly, Hanxing, and Yan Bai each shared their thoughts on Robin’s choice.
• Caelus walked to the position supporting Robin’s decision to embark on her journey.

Sunday explained his plan to create an eternal paradise by placing everyone under Order, with himself remaining awake as its sole sacrifice. Firefly, Hanxing, and the Astral Express rejected his dream, and Caelus declared that Mikhail’s Penacony would never belong to Order as the Aeon of Harmony appeared.

• Sunday argued that humanity’s suffering came from the law of the jungle and proposed an eternal, peaceful dream for everyone.
• Sunday revealed that maintaining the paradise would require him alone to remain awake until the end of the universe.
• Firefly challenged the plan as an escape from reality and defended each person’s right to make their own choices.
• Hanxing agreed that people had to overcome reality’s trials themselves, and Himeko asked Caelus to state the Astral Express’s choice.
• Caelus put on Mikhail’s hat and declared that Mikhail’s Penacony would never belong to Order as the Aeon of Harmony appeared.

Sunday formally challenged the Astral Express to settle Penacony’s future at the Charmony Festival, while Firefly and Hanxing prepared to leave for another battlefield. They departed to carry out Firefly’s second foretold death and open a path to the final fight, leaving the others to face Sunday and prevent Ena’s Dream.

• Sunday invited the group to the Charmony Festival and declared that the future of the Stellaron, Penacony, and the galaxy would be settled there.
• Himeko explained that Sunday believed deeply in Order and would fight with everything he had, and she urged the group to carry on Mikhail’s wish for Penacony.
• Firefly explained that her script foretold three deaths and that she understood the meaning of the second; Himeko warned that the third could mean Penacony’s people remaining forever in Order’s dream.
• Hanxing told Yan Bai to lead the others toward an opening in the sky when a purple meteor appeared, while Firefly and Hanxing prepared to leave for the next battlefield.
• Firefly transformed into Sam and Hanxing spread his wings, and the two launched from the rising platform as red and golden meteors toward their battlefield.

Hanxing and Firefly followed Dominicus through Oak Mansion, where his memories revealed Gopher Wood’s past and a confrontation with an envoy of The Family. They learned that the envoy gave Gopher Wood a new crime to commit, but the memory ended before revealing what he chose to do.

• Hanxing and Firefly confronted Dominicus, who explained that he was a fragment of memory left to guide them toward the Dream Master’s repentance for killing 214.
• Dominicus led Hanxing and Firefly through Oak Mansion and described Gopher Wood’s past, including the riot that left him unable to leave the sweet dream.
• Hanxing, Firefly, and Dominicus chose a path through the mansion, and the unchosen path collapsed behind them.
• A memory showed the Dream Master questioning why he was being punished after Nanook’s manifestation and the Lord Ravager’s fall.
• The envoy of The Family accused Gopher Wood of incompetence and granted him another crime, warning that its revelation would erase the meaning of his name.

Hanxing and Firefly uncovered the Dream Master's plan to use the Swarm Disaster to revive Order, then followed the purple path through Oak Mansion. They found Dominicus beside an enormous pupa identified as the Swarm Disaster's “Deathly Stillness of the Fallen.”

• The Tuning revealed that Stellarons were creations of Harmony and that Gopher Wood had turned away from Harmony, though Dominicus said this did not excuse his crimes.
• Hanxing recovered a puzzle piece, which revealed a recording of the Dream Master explaining his attempt to use fear of the Swarm to awaken prayers for Order.
• Firefly suspected the Dream Master planned to recreate the Swarm Disaster, and Dominicus said he had sought to learn how the Glamoth Iron Cavalry gained the power of Propagation.
• Dominicus let Hanxing and Firefly choose their path, and they took the purple door toward Oak Mansion.
• Hanxing and Firefly reached an enormous pupa, where Dominicus identified the terror as the Swarm Disaster's “Deathly Stillness of the Fallen.”

Hanxing and Firefly confronted Dominicus as he tried to unleash a strike tied to the Swarm Disaster, and his defeat brought a corrupted Iron Cavalry into the mansion. After Acheron intervened and Firefly reaffirmed her resolve to face her fate, Hanxing and Firefly prepared to fight AR-214 together.

• Dominicus argued that fate could not be changed and warned Hanxing and Firefly that his attack could not be stopped.
• Hanxing unleashed the power of Harmony to silence Dominicus's discordant melody, while Firefly transformed to confront him.
• Dominicus's attack pierced the stained-glass window, but Hanxing reduced Dominicus to ash before the power could descend.
• Firefly realized the attack had summoned the Swarm Disaster, and she and Hanxing encountered a Glamoth Iron Cavalry corrupted by Propagation.
• Acheron intervened, and Firefly declared that she would no longer flee from fate.
• Hanxing and Firefly prepared to face AR-214 together.

Firefly sacrificed herself to break the final layer of Ena's Dream and open the path to the decisive battle. Hanxing caught her falling body and used Harmony to erase the signs of her illness, but she turned into golden light and vanished, leaving him devastated.

• Firefly and Hanxing fought the Propagation mech and the swarm, with Firefly pinning the mech down while Hanxing raised a golden barrier.
• Firefly took the Stellaron from Hanxing and embedded it in her chest, then flew away as a purple meteor with the swarm following her.
• Ena's projection was struck by a hammer, Acheron cut open the heavens, and Sparkle's bomb helped shatter the first three layers of the dream.
• Firefly broke through the final wall and spent her life opening the path to the light, while Yan Bai carried Caelus toward it.
• Hanxing caught Firefly as she fell and used Harmony to remove the traces of Entropy Loss Syndrome, but she turned into golden light and disappeared.

The Astral Express Crew and Yan Bai defeated Dominicus by rejecting his attempt to create a new Path and affirming humanity’s right to move forward. After everyone awoke from Ena’s Dream, Hanxing and Firefly faced her Entropy Loss Syndrome together and promised to marry.

• Dominicus issued commands to sever the Paths, but the Astral Express Crew and Yan Bai resisted by invoking the memories and hopes of those who had protected Penacony.
• Robin’s song interrupted Dominicus, and Caelus and the others joined together to declare that people had to leave the Dream and keep moving forward.
• The Astral Express struck Dominicus, and Caelus answered that people would wake from their dreams; Robin caught Sunday as he fell.
• Everyone awoke from Ena’s Dream, and Hanxing saw that green cracks from Entropy Loss Syndrome were spreading across Firefly’s face.
• Firefly told Hanxing she wanted to see fireworks and marry him, and he promised her a grand wedding as they affirmed their love.

Hanxing and Firefly planned their wedding with Silver Wolf’s help, choosing a venue, attire, and date. The chapter ended with Firefly asking Hanxing to invite 214.

• Silver Wolf joined Hanxing and Firefly, revealed she had been caught in Ena’s Dream, and offered to help plan their wedding in exchange for two days of games.
• Silver Wolf gave Hanxing the 1,000,000 Credits Kafka had sent as his salary and discussed the couple’s finances with them.
• Silver Wolf suggested Yan Bai as the emcee and the Astral Express, Penacony acquaintances, and others as guests, assuring them she had suppressed news about Hanxing being a Stellaron Hunter.
• Hanxing chose a grand wedding at the Golden Hour, decided they would wear work clothes, and set the ceremony for the next day, June 21.
• Firefly asked Hanxing to invite 214 to the wedding.

Hanxing and Firefly found 214’s remains and used her lingering soul and the Propagation mech to restore her body. After waking, 214 learned that Glamoth had fallen and chose the name Jintiao as she began a new life.

• Hanxing used the Propagation mech to guide him and Firefly to 214’s remains.
• Hanxing found a trace of 214’s soul and drew it back with the sword while Firefly brought the mech and armor to her.
• Hanxing reconstructed 214’s body, and her soul returned to it.
• Firefly explained Glamoth’s fall and recent events to 214 after she woke.
• Firefly encouraged 214 to choose her own name, and 214 named herself Jintiao.

Hanxing and Firefly invited Jintiao to their wedding and brought her to the Golden Hour, then invited the Astral Express Crew as well. At the Charmony Festival, Robin announced that the Five Families would give the Radiant Feldspar to the Nameless.

• Firefly and Hanxing invited Jintiao to their wedding, and Hanxing took her to the Golden Hour before she left to explore.
• Hanxing bought a large assortment of fireworks for Firefly and took her to find the Astral Express Crew.
• Hanxing asked Caelus to reserve a place for them on the ship and invited the crew to the wedding; Caelus accepted the invitation but said he could not promise a place.
• Robin praised the Watchmaker and the Astral Express Crew during her Charmony Festival speech.
• Robin announced that the Penacony branch of the Family would transfer ownership of the Radiant Feldspar to the Astral Express.

Hanxing and Firefly held their wedding aboard the Radiant Feldspar, surrounded by friends and allies. After exchanging vows and rings, they kissed beneath fireworks, and Hanxing answered Firefly’s question about why life slumbered.

• Hanxing asked Yan Bai to officiate the wedding, while Silver Wolf prepared the supplies for the ceremony at the stern.
• Hanxing and Firefly stepped through a spatial portal to the gathered guests, and Jintiao arrived to encourage Firefly.
• Hanxing and Firefly exchanged vows, promising to remain together through every hardship.
• Hanxing knelt and proposed to Firefly with a ring set with a blue star, and she accepted.
• Hanxing used Tuning to make Firefly appear at her best before they kissed beneath fireworks.
• Firefly asked Hanxing why life slumbered, and he answered that people rested so they could face an unknown tomorrow with their heads held high.

Hanxing and Firefly shared their wishes and painful pasts as Firefly’s Entropy Loss Syndrome became irreversible. After Firefly died and vanished from the dream, Hanxing killed himself, promising not to leave her alone in Finality.

• Hanxing and Firefly sat together beneath the stars, and Firefly explained that their deepest wishes might have brought them together.
• Hanxing told Firefly about losing his comrades and a former lover, learning that his twin brother was also himself, and wanting to protect her.
• Firefly reassured Hanxing that she was not a replacement for his lost love and said she wanted to spend her life with him.
• Firefly revealed that her Entropy Loss Syndrome had spread through reality and could no longer be reversed, then asked Hanxing to imagine an ordinary life together.
• Firefly told Hanxing she feared dying alone and asked him to take her with him as Firefly; as she disintegrated, Hanxing drove Netherworld into her chest.
• Hanxing promised not to leave Firefly and cut his own neck with a sword.

Hanxing restored Firefly to an ordinary body, then helped Jintiao and Yan Bai join the Astral Express Crew. As the train left Penacony, Hanxing and Firefly traveled with the crew toward their next destination, following Elio’s script.

• Hanxing restored Firefly’s soul to a new body and told her that the bloodline of the Glamoth Republic had ended.
• Hanxing gave Firefly a linked necklace and charm, then asked Jintiao and Yan Bai which organization they wanted to join.
• Jintiao and Yan Bai chose the Astral Express Crew after Hanxing said Elio’s script ruled out their joining the Stellaron Hunters.
• Hanxing introduced Jintiao and Yan Bai to Himeko, who accepted them as companions despite the train’s lack of rooms.
• Firefly said Elio’s latest script required Hanxing to travel with the crew, and Hanxing and Firefly boarded the Astral Express as it departed Penacony.

The Astral Express received Jing Yuan’s invitation to the Xianzhou Luofu’s Luminary Wardance, and the crew agreed to attend before continuing to Amphoreus. Hanxing and Firefly joined Caelus, March 7th, and Dan Heng as representatives, and the Express arrived at the Luofu.

• Pom-Pom played Jing Yuan’s invitation for the Astral Express crew to attend the Luminary Wardance on the Xianzhou Luofu.
• The crew discussed whether attending the ceremony would disrupt their plans to travel to Amphoreus and visit Ruan Mei.
• Firefly said she preferred going to the Luofu, and Himeko arranged for Welt and herself to visit Ruan Mei after the Express dropped off the others.
• Hanxing told Firefly he was curious about the Luofu because Jing Yuan’s clothing resembled the ancient attire of his hometown.
• Pom-Pom warped the Express to the Xianzhou Luofu, where Hanxing marveled at the enormous starship.

Hanxing and the Astral Express crew landed on the Xianzhou Luofu and discussed his homesickness before setting out to meet Yanqing. They advised two visitors from Penacony to explore Aurum Alley, then continued toward Starskiff Haven.

• The Astral Express landed at the Luofu, and Hanxing explained that its familiar decorations reminded him of his original world.
• Firefly reassured Hanxing that he had her and the rest of the crew with him, and March 7th teased them about their affectionate exchange.
• Caelus said Yanqing would meet them at Starskiff Haven, and Hanxing used Tuning to spot Yanqing in the crowd.
• A child and a robot from Penacony asked the crew for Luofu sightseeing suggestions while gathering material for dream bubbles.
• Caelus recommended Aurum Alley, and the Penacony visitors thanked the crew before heading there.