The Fallen Xianzhou

"Um... well..." Sera was somewhat at a loss for words, but he went on, "It's better than facing an ending of fallen 'Elation,' isn't it?"

"After all, all I did was give you the qualification to be embraced. Besides, as long as you cross Finality, there won't be an end.

Think about the Paths of this world. Four Paths will lead the galaxy to its end: The Destruction, Harmony, Nihility, and a fourth ending that changes.

In the ending of 'Remembrance,' I... a Pure Child of Anāsrava, ascend to godhood at the end of causality. In the name of love, I freeze everything that has passed away, bringing even time to a halt.

'Trailblaze,' a recognized do-gooder, a savior recorded by some worlds. But in the ending of 'Trailblaze,' everything seems endless, and time and space lose all meaning. People rush frantically toward the abyss.

Eighteen Paths, eighteen endings.

Terminus is constantly thinking about how to kill himself, wearing himself out with worry for the galaxy."

Sera shook his head, concerned about the galaxy's future.

"But 'The Hunt' should be fine. It's only called 'The Hunt' when it has restraints. Without them, it's called 'The Destruction.' If something really did happen, it's not like 'The Hunt' could be swallowed by 'The Destruction,' right~?"

Sera made a joke, but his expression soon froze.

Yaoguang had a bad feeling about this.

"Oh no, I actually did remember a timeline. 'The Hunt,' 'The Destruction,' and 'Propagation' become one, and the Xianzhou's beating wings sound the horn of a war between gods."

"Huh?!" Feiying clutched her head with both hands, somewhat frightened.

As he spoke, Sera projected a fragment of memory.

"That's... Jingliu, the former sword champion of the Luofu and a member of the High-Cloud Quintet..." Yaoguang watched the scene with a complicated expression.

Busitu's eyes widened.

"Huh... I... you... ah?"

He, La Mancha, former leader of the Galaxy Rangers, would never have dreamed that something could go wrong with "The Hunt," much less that the Xianzhou would stab it in the back.

"A friendly reminder, General Yaoguang."

Sera clapped his hands, bringing Yaoguang back to her senses.

"This future hasn't been averted yet~"

Yaoguang would never have dreamed of it either. She really wanted to ask: had she died in that timeline?

What about the marshal? Marshal, help!

"Could you explain in detail?" Yaoguang's gaze darkened, but she quickly returned to normal and looked at Sera. Busitu watched intently as well, afraid of missing a word.

"Hmm, let me think..."

Sera wasn't quite sure how to begin.

"Fifteen years from now, Jingliu, the former sword champion of the Xianzhou Luofu, returns to the Luofu with a very dangerous fellow and a coffin. Inside the coffin are the divine remains of 'Propagation.'

As prisoners, they present the Alliance with a way to slay Yaoshi.

As for you, General Yaoguang, in that timeline without me, you only reached Dual-Phase Paradise fifteen years later. I don't suppose I need to say any more?

Back to Jingliu. Before she returned to the Luofu, she had already become a Lord Ravager.

A Lord Ravager targeting 'Abundance.'

She held the divine status of 'The Destruction,' the divine might of 'The Hunt,' and the divine remains of 'Propagation' all at once.

The Xianzhou witnessed the ascension of a Lord Ravager, and its beating wings sounded the horn of a war between gods.

The worst part of that timeline was that the galaxy would witness the ascension of two Lords Ravager."

Sera smiled, but his face suddenly stiffened.

Wait, where was the Express headed on Ms. Black Tomb's side again?

At that thought, Sera hurriedly took Ms. Black Tomb's puppet out of Imaginary Space.

"What's this?" Yaoguang asked, looking at it in surprise.

"If I'm right, you might be about to see a live broadcast." Sera's expression was somewhat complicated, but he explained nonetheless.

Himeko and Suzi stared at each other as they listened to all this.

"Is this really something we're allowed to hear?" Himeko asked uncertainly.

"It concerns you too, Himeko. But even if it didn't, it would be fine for you to hear it."

Sera offered an explanation.

"Ms. Herta, are you there?"

Sera looked at the Black Tomb puppet before him.

"I am, but I'm a little busy right now. What's wrong?"

The Black Tomb puppet opened her eyes, swept her gaze over the group, and finally looked at Sera.

"I wanted to ask, what's the Xianzhou in your timeline doing right now?"

"The Xianzhou, huh~" The Black Tomb puppet's tone was somewhat casual.

Yaoguang had a bad feeling, so she activated Dharma Realm Illuminated in Ten Directions, sharing what she saw with all the Arbiter-Generals and the marshal.

"The Xianzhou has gone mad. They've all become Propagation bugs. I'm busy wiping out the Xianzhou right now. The Swarm has already spread to forces outside the Xianzhou."

As the Black Tomb puppet spoke, she opened a shared display and broadcast everything before her to the group.

"..." Busitu gripped his cane, not knowing what to say.

As a general of the Xianzhou, Yaoguang saw black and nearly fainted from anger.

The Xianzhou generals and marshal, who had already been listening to Sera's explanation through Yaoguang, looked as black as coal when they saw the actual scene.

In the footage, the once-prosperous Xianzhou ships had been reduced to ruins, becoming nourishment for the newborn Swarm to devour and grow. The Swarm blotted out the sky, and countless starships were destroyed by the mouths of an even greater number of insects. The wrecked starships then turned into swarms that pounced on the other ships.

Himeko and Suzi watched without blinking as the Astral Express charged recklessly through the Swarm on the screen.

"Ms. Herta."

"Stop, stop, stop. To make things easier, just call me Black Tomb." The Black Tomb puppet folded her arms and spoke evenly, as though she didn't care at all about the Swarm blotting out the sky.

"Ms. Black Tomb, do you need help?"

Sera felt a chill at the sight of the Swarm blotting out the sky.

"These lousy bugs? No need."

The Black Tomb puppet waved a hand dismissively.

"Just watch, little Sera."

With that, Black Tomb focused on the matter before her.

"All ships, retreat behind the space station. I repeat, all ships, retreat behind the space station."

Asta, the pink-haired young lady, was directing the fleet's retreat.

Black Tomb raised a hand and unleashed the Anti-Propagation Equation, derived from a variation of The Destruction Equation. A Black Tide swallowed the Swarm that was relentlessly pursuing the ships.

"After collecting data for so long, it's finally complete. Thanks, Ruan Mei."

"Herta, there's no need for thanks between us."

Ruan Mei stood to one side and shook her head.

"Next is..."

Black Tomb looked toward the purple Lightning-Lord.

"Dealing with the source of the mutation. I hope the Path of 'The Hunt' itself hasn't been corrupted."

As Black Tomb spoke, a spear appeared in her hand.

She raised it and unleashed "Burn the divine realm, reject the world!"

She watched the Lightning-Lord, which was severely wounded but still steadily healing through its regenerative power.

Ms. Black Tomb did not hesitate.

She raised her hand and unleashed "Burn the divine realm, reject the world!" twice more.

"Wait, it's still not dead?!"

Black Tomb was so angry she laughed. Wasn't this a slap in her face?!

"Keep burning the divine realm, keep rejecting the world!"

After who knew how many ultimate attacks, the purple Lightning-Lord finally died for good.

But...

"Things don't look good."

Black Tomb's expression grew increasingly grave.

"Path energy fluctuations are rising sharply. Wait..."

A colossal figure appeared among the stars.

"This is bad. The worst-case scenario has happened."

Black Tomb looked at the god before her and gave a bitter smile.