Astral Express.
Leaning against the Parlor Car window, March 7th gazed at the bustling Penacony outside.
She had been looking forward to having a great time on this Planet of Festivities.
She thought it would be a vacation.
But now, as the storyline deepened, it was turning into a massive game of Werewolf!
Through the reflection in the window.
March 7th saw Himeko and Old Yang engaged in a heated discussion.
Stelle was still following the plot.
March 7th shook her head.
She couldn't just laze around like this~
Returning to her seat.
March 7th opened the game forum.
The forum was currently a chaotic mix!
The intricate and complex situation in Penacony had sparked intense discussions.
Among them, one post was particularly popular.
And it had just been posted!
[After today's storyline, isn't it confirmed that Acheron is the final boss?]
March 7th immediately clicked to check it out!
[OP: As the title says.]
[Acheron's identity as an Emanator is confirmed!]
[According to Aventurine―she brings death and the end.]
[Although it's still uncertain which Path's Emanator she is, let's first look at her track record―]
[Known: Acheron attacked Duke Inferno, and in the PV of Rondo Across Countless Kalpas, we can even see the Duke torn to pieces!]
[Secondly: Acheron also mentioned in the storyline that she is someone burdened with countless blood debts.]
[Even Black Swan was nearly scared to death when peeking into her memories!]
[Lastly: At the end of Rondo Across Countless Kalpas, we can see the corpses falling from the sky...]
[Why have we rarely, if ever, heard of Acheron before?]
[I think it's because every place she has been to has been destroyed! Without exception!]
[This is the meaning of bringing death and the end!]
Continuing to scroll down.
These were players' comments.
[Acheron, Acheron, doesn't this name itself feel ominous?]
[In the new storyline, both Acheron and Black Swan seem off.]
[Now that you mention it, was Sam actually trying to protect us?]
[In the final cutscene, Sam flew toward us, but there was no sign of firepower in her hands. She clearly didn't mean to harm us but to take us away!]
[Went back and rewatched it! It's true!]
[Holy crap! I've been misunderstanding Sam all along!]
[You can doubt anyone in Penacony, but don't doubt the Astral Express Crew and the Stellaron Hunters, because we are Stellaron Hunters: One Family!]
[I predict that Penacony will ultimately be destroyed, directly or indirectly, by Acheron's hand!]
This post.
March 7th felt more and more uneasy as she read it!
She initially wanted to inform the Astral Express Crew immediately.
But then she thought.
These were just some speculations from players on the forum.
They weren't exactly critical clues, right...?
March 7th suppressed her unease.
Closed the comment section.
Swiped casually.
Started scrolling through the next post.
[Players in Penacony, grab your buckets and run!]
[OP: After my frame-by-frame analysis, I can confirm that Something Unto Death is inextricably linked to Acheron!]
[Look at the color scheme! Both Acheron and Something Unto Death have this eerie dark purple hue!]
[Moreover, Something Unto Death's eyes glow red when it kills!]
[At the beginning of the Penacony storyline, Acheron emphasized: In that black-and-white world, a flash of red will appear fleetingly... It will surely manifest again...]
[Now it seems, this is a freaking prophecy of death!]
[Reply: Holy crap! My back is cold!]
[I get it! Acheron has limited mobility in the Dreamscape, so she unleashed Something Unto Death to kill, while in reality, she'll do the killing herself.]
[Right now, Acheron seems fine, but I think there will be a turning point later, leading to the awakening of white-haired Acheron, who will then go on a killing spree!]
[Is it really that intense?]
[Penacony survival game?]
[In any case, players in Penacony, take care!]
[Damn, Little Gui might be done for.]
March 7th's hands trembled slightly.
Coincidence!
It must be a coincidence!
There are many speculations among players about who the mastermind behind Penacony is.
Acheron is naturally the most suspicious one.
But it hasn't been "confirmed" yet, right?
March 7th pondered in her heart.
Continued scrolling to the next post.
However.
The next post made her even more terrified!
Out of ten posts, seven or eight were pointing fingers at Acheron as the culprit!
March 7th was starting to waver!
Could it be...
That the final boss this time was really Acheron?
March 7th glanced back at the Astral Express Crew.
Old Yang, Himeko, Stelle... and herself.
Could they really defeat Acheron?
As for her and Stelle's strength, there was no need to elaborate.
Unless Stelle had another burst of power, it would be hard for them to make a significant impact against such a formidable foe.
Himeko wasn't the type who excelled in direct combat either...
March 7th turned her gaze to Old Yang.
She silently thought, "Old Yang, it's all up to you now!!!"
March 7th planned to finish reading the last post and then discuss it with everyone.
Whether the final boss was Acheron or not, they needed to make some preparations in advance, right?
However.
This last post suddenly took a strange turn!
[Notice: Only users who have read more than ten related posts can view this thread.]
Subject: Defeat Acheron!
Players from across the universe, we need your help!
If you are an ordinary player who happens to come across this post, please exit immediately and never mention the contents of this post.
Unrelated personnel, please leave quickly. This will involve a grand battle!
March 7th was stunned!
Unrelated personnel?
She... probably wasn't unrelated, right?
If Acheron planned to destroy Penacony, the Astral Express Crew would definitely step in!
Thinking this, March 7th continued reading.
The first voice in this post seemed to be a Memokeeper from the Garden of Recollection!
We, the Garden of Recollection, will participate in the defeat of Acheron.
Although Memokeepers have abandoned their physical bodies and traverse the universe as Memetic Entities, the number of Memokeepers lost each Amber Era is not insignificant.
Within the Garden, there exists a record of the life status of each Memokeeper, similar to the memorial tablets enshrined on certain planets.
And I have some unfortunate news to share: Black Swan's tablet has lost its light.
This means that Black Swan no longer exists in this world, almost equivalent to what you call "account deletion."
The Garden speculates: her existence has either been completely erased or she has vanished into [Nihility].
Reply: Is there a difference between the two? Doesn't it just mean she's dead?
So the Garden has something like this?
No wonder there have been strange shadows appearing in Penacony recently. More Memokeepers must have arrived.
Wah, Miss Black Swan is gone?
In "Rondo Across Countless Kalpas," didn't Acheron spare her in the end? Could it be because of this that Acheron acted preemptively and silenced Black Swan forever?
This must be one of the butterfly effects brought about by the game.
Let us mourn for Black Swan.
Damn Acheron, now we must defeat her!