Little Gui's livestream.
At this moment.
The game screen had completely turned black and white.
A massive black hole silently loomed ahead.
A red figure appeared in the field of vision.
Acheron said, "Welcome to the Horizon of Existence…"
"This is one of the myriad manifestations of the Slumbering Formless (Nihility IX), but it is also the exit where the awakened bid farewell to Nihility."
"So, let us say our final goodbyes here."
Goodbyes…?!
Guinaifen immediately caught the keyword!
Her heart skipped a beat!
She didn't rush toward the guiding point ahead.
Instead, she opened the quest log.
The quest log often hid many important details!
[The golden dream is about to stir.]
[In the long night to come, you will likely face many setbacks and witness numerous tragedies. In the end, all you'll see is a world of black and white.]
[But believe that in that monochrome world, a flash of red will appear fleetingly. Yet, when you make your choice—]
[—it will surely manifest again.]
[And you must carefully ponder its meaning, then return to the world of wakefulness.]
[We will all find the answers there.]
Guinaifen pointed at the quest description and exclaimed, "I remember… This is what Acheron said in the dream when we first arrived in Penacony!"
"Oh my!"
"Back then, I just thought that purple-haired woman was such a Riddler!"
"Reading this passage now, it sends shivers down my spine!"
"Perfectly cyclical..."
"Everything connects!"
...
"This plot... it's truly divine!"
"It's a shame Yu Ling isn't directing a blockbuster movie!"
"Who needs a movie? I think the game format is the best, allowing us to immerse ourselves directly and personally experience those forgotten memories and beliefs!"
"What is the Dream of Ena, what is the Horizon of Existence... in the past, how would we ever have known such things existed in the universe?"
"And the tragic fate of the Avgin, the history of Izumo... thanks to 'Honkai: Star Rail,' we ordinary players can now know about them."
"My goodness, I can't even imagine what the world would be like without 'Honkai: Star Rail'!"
"'Honkai: Star Rail'—the greatest work of this Amber Era."
"Honestly, I didn't feel much about the Trailblaze before, but this storyline... it has elevated my appreciation and understanding of the Path of Trailblaze!"
"Wait, guys? The final holy war hasn't even started yet, and everyone's already starting to get emotional here?"
"Almost thought I wandered into some movie review live stream."
...
Guinaifen smiled as she read the comments.
She then turned her attention back to the game.
Ahead was a massive black hole.
The highlighted task marker continued to move closer towards it.
Guinaifen started walking slowly.
This place...
Although she had been here before from Aventurine's perspective.
But!
Experiencing it again, she still felt an indescribable terror!
As if some incomprehensible existence was watching her from another dimension!
Suddenly!
A voice echoed in her ears.
Guinaifen's hand trembled slightly.
She only relaxed when she saw the red figure.
It was... Sparkle.
Huh???
Why would Sparkle appear here?
"Make sure to distinguish between reality and imagination... alright, little gray-haired one?"
After saying this, Sparkle's figure dissolved into blue light and disappeared.
She continued forward.
The image of Black Swan appeared.
"Life is a winding maze—we have nothing but memories."
Next,
it was Aventurine.
"May your schemes... never be uncovered."
Then,
the figures of Robin and Gallagher appeared one after another.
Each spoke their iconic lines.
At the very front,
the silhouette of Acheron appeared.
Her white hair cascaded like a waterfall, falling around her.
At the same time,
Firefly's figure emerged: "Do you remember the question on the invitation—why does life fall into slumber?"
Acheron also turned slightly.
She mused, "Indeed, why does life fall into slumber... we still don't know the answer to this question, yet we are about to awaken from this dream."
"Or perhaps, this is the answer itself."
"Leave this place, return to where you came from. And then... let Penacony awaken from its dream."
[Can we witness your hidden strength?]
Acheron neither confirmed nor denied.
He said, "Even if the weaknesses of human nature make them pause, when they truly cannot move forward, humans will inevitably try to save themselves. And now... Penacony has enough Heroes to lead them forward."
"It is precisely because of this selfish instinct that, even though they already know their resistance is futile, people will still give it their all. Though absurd, it is still a form of struggle."
"Then... it will be up to you to guide everyone, not as a savior, but as a Nameless who stands alongside ordinary people."
"In this way, you will surely reunite under the sunlight."
...
Astral Express.
After Old Yang read this dialogue,
his heart churned with emotion!
He had heard similar words back in his homeland!
Moreover!
The situation was quite similar to what was happening now in Penacony!
That series of events derived from the so-called Stigma Plan...
Sunday and Kevin.
What the two of them did was similar, yet not entirely the same.
But if the events that happened in his homeland were made into a game,
these two would likely find much resonance with each other...
His thoughts had drifted a bit too far.
Old Yang brought himself back to the story.
Acheron: "The rain... is about to get heavier. Before we part, allow me to ask a few final questions."
"In the beautiful dreams you've had so far, you've formed unbreakable bonds with many people and many things."
"Tell me, would you feel afraid to sever those bonds with your own hands?"
Acheron's question seemed to transcend dimensions,
asking all the players who had been following the story through the screen!
Guinaifen paused slightly.
Her expression turned serious and resolute!
She directly clicked the option—
[I would not feel afraid.]
At the same time,
the densely packed comments in the live stream were all answering this question.
If full-screen comments were enabled,
the live stream at this moment
would be completely covered with the word "No"!
...
"At the start of 2.0, I still had deep concerns about these questions, but now I don't. This story is really something!"
"The spirit and strength the story wants to convey, I've received it!"
"I hesitated during the first choice, but now, I no longer hesitate!"
"Wuwu, are you all so resolute? I would still feel afraid..."
"But after witnessing all this, you've at least become much more resolute than before."
...
"If there were a vast Dreamscape, so realistic that it was indistinguishable from reality, where there was no separation or death, and everyone could attain the happiness they deserved and live happily forever,"
"Would you be willing to dwell within it?"
[No matter what, I would not want to live in a dream.]
...
"Reality cannot be replaced by dreams."
"Though reality is tough, I still hold hope in my heart."
"No!! The people important to me are waiting for me in reality. They shouldn't be mere illusions in a dream who obey my every word."
"A dream is, after all, just a dream."
"They will leave one day, and that's why we must learn to cherish the things and people before us."
"Move forward! I have no reason to stop!"
"The players and the Trailblazer have grown together under the story of Penacony."
"Happy! From the beginning until now, my choice has never changed!"
"A new storm has emerged, how can we stand still?"
"Take up arms, prepare for the struggle!"
...Earth...