Ticket

"General Yaoguang, let me make this clear first. I invited you here to test spacetime anchoring. If you're unwilling, you can leave now."

Sera glanced up at Yaoguang as she walked in, then lowered his head and returned to the experiment in his hands.

"Of course I'm willing. If anything, I can't thank you enough. How could I possibly pass up my only chance to cure my illness?

Boss Yao of the Jade Abacus Xianzhou isn't someone who can't do such simple arithmetic~"

"All right, then. Wait a moment."

Sera didn't look at Yaoguang.

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"No. Just stay with Cyrene, the pink-haired one outside."

Yaoguang smiled without a word, quietly watching Sera as he concentrated.

"Herta, comparison of the planar core data is complete. Preparing to run the test."

"The test materials are ready," Ruan Mei said softly, placing them at the center of the device.

Sera activated the device.

Ruan Mei and Herta recorded the data while Sera used his authority to focus on the fluctuations in spacetime.

Soon, time passed.

"The experiment is over. Spacetime anchoring is normal."

"The data recording is normal too."

Herta and Ruan Mei combined the portions they had recorded separately.

"We can proceed to the next test."

Sera looked at Yaoguang.

"You contracted this illness because you tried to change cause and effect."

"Yes."

Yaoguang nodded.

"When it flares up, I may appear at the wrong point in time."

"I see..."

Sera had no more questions.

"That works out. By anchoring you to this time, we can test whether you'll involuntarily appear in the past or future.

How long until it flares up?"

"Hmm... judging by the time, half a system hour."

Yaoguang glanced at the Jade Abacus in her hand.

"All right."

Sera nodded, then began adjusting the equipment.

"Step onto it, General Yaoguang."

"Just call me Yaoguang."

Yaoguang stepped onto the device.

"Beginning the test."

"Time fluctuations are as expected."

"The data comparison checks out."

"Next, we wait for the device to complete the anchoring, then test it when the illness flares up."

Sera breathed a sigh of relief.

Half a system hour passed quickly, and the group, who had already been waiting for some time, began analyzing the data.

"Anchoring successful."

Sera looked at Yaoguang.

"Yaoguang, congratulations. Your illness is cured."

"Thank you."

Yaoguang cupped her fists in a salute, her expression solemn.

"Mm."

Sera didn't mind it. After all, helping her this time was merely incidental to him.

So many people wanted to thank him. Most of the ordinary people in the other timeline wanted to thank him and give him the title of Savior.

Sera had no interest in the title. As he saw it, he was the reason the saviors who should have belonged to each timeline had never been born.

Taking on their duties was simply a responsibility Sera had to bear. Besides, he also had to clean up what he had left behind.

The Galaxy Rangers of this timeline also wanted to thank him, but at least they restrained themselves, merely having Busitu pass along a lengthy message of gratitude to Sera.

After reading it, Sera felt that the Galaxy Rangers had used up every word of thanks and praise they could think of in their entire lives.

Yaoguang's expression turned playful again.

"Don't we have a saying on the Xianzhou? For saving my life, I have nothing to repay you with but my hand in marriage~"

Sera stared at Yaoguang in some shock, his mouth slightly open.

"Did you take the wrong medicine?"

"...?" A crack seemed to appear in Yaoguang's smiling expression.

"Heh..."

Sera chuckled.

"I'm joking. Weren't you joking too? It's not like I really have no emotional intelligence."

"That's not necessarily true~"

Yaoguang looked at Sera with the hint of a smile.

"..."

Sera looked at Yaoguang like this: (ᗜ ‸ ᗜ).

"We can proceed to the third phase."

Ignoring Yaoguang, Sera turned to the two geniuses beside him.

Yaoguang walked out, leaving Sera and the others to their experiment.

"Planar Weapon Armor. The data checks out."

Sera looked at the core in his hand and breathed a sigh of relief.

But this thing was of no use to him, and it wasn't compatible with most people either.

For Finality, however, it was the best thing possible.

When the Finality throughout endless time was gathered into a single point by the Planar Weapon Armor, the world's sole Finality, the strongest boss, would be born.

But THEY remained silent, waiting... and looking forward to the moment when all beings would join hands and cross beyond THEM.

"You... really did make it now after all."

Stelle appeared before Sera and sighed.

"I knew you wouldn't listen to me. I wanted to rest a while longer."

"Tch, and here I was wondering. Turns out you wanted a break."

Sera was so annoyed he laughed.

"You should've said so if you wanted a break! Is it fun to be an annoying riddler?

Happy now? You still have to go to work!"

Stelle looked away, a little sheepish and embarrassed.

"Don't you think it's cool~ to be a riddler in front of other people...?"

"Huh?"

Sera looked at Stelle as if she were an idiot.

"Let me ask you: when have you ever seen me act like a riddler? I say whatever I want in front of other people! I've spilled so many huge secrets already."

"True... ahahaha."

Stelle didn't know what to say and began laughing foolishly.

"All right."

Sera cut off Stelle's awkward laughter and looked at her seriously.

"Let me ask you: are you ready to take it up now?"

"I am ready to set out."

Stelle put away her joking expression and answered seriously.

"Even if it means killing countless versions of yourself?"

"Even if it means killing countless versions of myself... because this is the fall we long for."

"Then set out, Akivili."

"Mm. After I leave, I'll entrust the Express and Elio to you.

The Express must never, and should never, cease setting out."

Stelle pinned a ticket to Sera's clothes. The ticket had once belonged to her, Akivili the Trailblaze; it was proof that she had entrusted the Express to Sera.

"May this journey lead us starward." A smile appeared on Sera's face, and his voice held a gentleness he rarely showed others.

"Mm. May this journey lead us starward." Stelle took the device and waved with her back to Sera.

Even as twilight shrouded the galaxy, the long night must still be illuminated.

And she was going to uphold the creed of the Nameless.

She would become the flame of tomorrow that illuminated the twilight (Finality).

Stelle pressed the switch for that journey.

Thus, the endless Finality would ultimately become the blazing sun of tomorrow, borne upon someone's shoulders.

"DID THEY take it?"

Herta looked at where the Planar Weapon Armor had vanished from Sera's hand.

"Mm..." Sera touched the ticket on his clothes.

"Before she left, she entrusted her ticket to me."

"Terminus... gave you a ticket for the Astral Express?"

Herta and Ruan Mei understood something.

"I see. The beginning and the end of the galaxy."