"If this beautiful dream is destined to shatter, everything will leave: friends, family, strangers; then the gentle breeze, the flying birds, the stars... and finally, yourself."
"Every person, everyone in their memories, those smiles and tears, the promises made and unfulfilled... all will eventually move towards the destined end. If, at the start of the journey, you already knew the destination..."
"Tell me, would you still embark on this journey?"
Acheron's third question ended.
The Trailblazer had only one option.
[I will forge ahead without hesitation.]
And this,
was also the most resolute choice for Little Gui and many players at this moment!
Perhaps some players hesitated, had concerns.
But after experiencing so much, witnessing so much of the story,
at least,
when clicking this option.
In that instant, their hearts were also elevated and liberated!
The haze and sorrow of memories...
The misfortunes and hardships of life...
The weight and worries of the future.
At this moment,
all were swept away!
Leaving only the purest self!
...
"Yes, because the Trailblaze never stops!"
"I have encountered all sorrows, yet I still choose to move forward."
"But the process of seeking meaning in the journey must have meaning!"
"No matter the outcome, I do not regret coming into this world."
"Living beings should live their lives fully!"
"Let's turn this imperfect story into what we hope it to be!"
...
Faced with such answers.
Acheron's lips curled slightly.
"I am glad. The answer is not important, what matters is that you have made a decision."
"If Nihility is the primal fear and tremor of life, any noble belief seems insignificant under its vast shadow..."
"Listen, touch, think, and thus you will gain feelings. Cherish them, for through feelings, we exist. This is also the only answer humanity can give in the face of Nihility."
"Then behind this shadow, there must also exist the most intense light in the world."
"Just as every life moving towards death is fervently growing, towards the end of Nihility..."
"We chase that initial light."
Little Gui was stunned.
Clearly the one who has walked the farthest on the Path of Nihility.
Yet now, she was elaborating on the meaning of existence in such a manner!
A scene emerged in Little Gui's mind—
At a gathering of Aeons.
The Formless Sleeper, while munching on melon seeds, complained to other Aeons: I am the representative of Nihility, yet my Emanator is always talking about existence with others.
Little Gui's lips twitched slightly.
Her own astonishing train of thought.
Really, she was speechless...
At this moment.
A voice in the game sighed.
"Clearly within Nihility, yet watching over people leaving Nihility..."
"What a ridiculous, meaningless mission."
This was... Tiernan's voice.
When this flashback appeared in the previous scene, it was thought to be the end.
Unexpectedly, it has appeared again now!
Could it be,
that there is something special about to happen in this memory?
"But it must be done by someone. As for the meaning you speak of..."
"Even without it, haven't I made it this far?"
Tiernan sighed, "Even if the future you carve out may not belong to you?"
Acheron replied, "It may not belong to me, but it will surely belong to someone."
"Your past must have been so arduous..."
"In that case, let me also do something without meaning..."
"Finally, please tell me your name."
Acheron fell silent.
And the players watching the storyline... were all stunned.
Acheron... Isn't her name just Acheron?!
Why is Tiernan asking her name again here?
The barrage is filled with shock and doubt!
They suspect that Acheron's name holds some significant meaning!
Mentioning it might trigger a chain reaction or something...
However.
At this moment.
There is one person,
whose heart is surging with overwhelming emotions!
Astral Express.
Old Yang's hand,
trembles slightly.
He is doing his utmost to restrain himself, to calm down.
But his heart still pounds "thump, thump, thump."
Could it be...
That name...
Will it truly appear in the main storyline of Honkai: Star Rail?
Does this mean...
Yu Ling is also aware of what happened in his homeland?
He knows the significance of this name!
So he deliberately crafted this part of the story!?
Seeing Acheron remain silent,
Tiernan continues, "Perhaps in the next moment, my existence will vanish... No one will remember this conversation, or your answer..."
"But I still believe... Your name should be remembered..."
"And this universe... will remember it too."
Acheron exhales softly.
She says, "Some things are already hard for me to recall, but there are also things... I find hard to forget."
"That is memory, something created by the past, yet it can bloom with meaning in the distant future."
"That is my name..."
"Raiden Bosenmori Mei."
...
"Huh?"
"So this is... Acheron's true name..."
"Bosenmori must be a title, and her real name is Raiden Mei."
"Raiden Mei? That name sounds so familiar!"
"I haven't heard it before, but from now on, I'll remember it."
"Is there anyone who can explain the significance of this name?"
"That's probably another story altogether."
...
"Tap... tap... tap..."
Rain begins to fall within the Horizon of Existence.
Droplets land on the pitch-black sea surface.
Creating ripples that spread outward.
"The golden dream is about to stir."
"In the long night to come, you will likely face many setbacks, witness numerous tragedies,"
"Until, in the end, all you see is black and white."
Acheron turns her gaze.
At the same time.
Rain begins to fall in the Dreamscape of Penacony!
The perspective gradually pulls back.
At the top of the lighthouse,
Boothill holds onto a long pole with one hand, gazing into the distance.
Beneath the brim of his hat.
His eyes grow unprecedentedly calm and resolute.
He draws his pistol...
And fires a shot into the sky!
A purple light streaks into the heavens.
At the same time!
Red lightning begins to rage.
Acheron slowly draws her long sword.
The sea beneath her feet starts to churn.
"But believe this, in that black-and-white world, a flash of red will appear fleetingly, at the moment you make your choice."
"—It will surely manifest once more."
With a single slash.
Everything in Penacony seems to freeze in that instant!
Covered in black and white.
Raindrops hang almost suspended in the air.
In the next moment,
A violent storm erupts and spreads!
Skyscrapers, congested traffic...
All are obliterated into their most fundamental essence by this force—
Blue memory particles.
They scatter like an exploding soda!
Countless people immersed in the Dreamscape float in the air like puppets, Shuffle Along.
And in the sky...
With the first shot fired by Boothill.
Behind him,
A similar meteor was chasing that light!
...
"She did it again! She swung her blade once more!"
"This time, she's going to slash through the entire Asdana Star System, tearing apart Ena's dream."
"This background music is so fitting."
"Penacony is once again facing Destruction..."
"Charge! Our moment has arrived!"
"Wow! Boothill just fired a shot, and already the Dawnlight is catching up."
"Five Galaxy Rangers responding at the speed of light."
"Galaxy Rangers in position!"
"This is the Galaxy Rangers—the power of The Hunt transcends time, allowing the rangers to arrive at the most precise moment!"
...
Stelle descended from the air.
This time, she didn't crash into the ground and leave a crater like the first time.
Instead, she was caught by Acheron's hand.
"And you, you must carefully ponder its meaning, then return to the world of wakefulness."
The scene shifted rapidly with that red light.
It was like falling into a kaleidoscope.
At the moment the light appeared,
The Astral Express Crew appeared in the frame!
Stelle stood firmly in place.
Her left hand still reaching into the air.
Maintaining the posture of holding Acheron's hand.
And here,
It seemed like a signal to regroup had been initiated!
"We will all find the answers there!"
Old Yang, March 7th, Himeko, and Dan Heng also awoke from their dreams!
They stood beside Stelle, drawing their weapons!
And above them,
The mist dispersed.
A colossal figure leaned down to look.
It was... Harmonious Choir The Great Septimus!
It remained completely unharmed!
But the final battle,
Was just about to begin!
...
"Form up!!!!"
"Here we go!!"
"Time awaits your awakening."
"All members, break free from control."
"The final battle!"
"The Astral Express squad is ready for battle!"
"The Astral Express Crew is mobilizing for the first time (except for Pom-Pom)."
"Fix bayonets, prepare to attack!"
"This is our Astral Express Crew!"
"They're awake, all of them are awake!!"
"We're here, we've returned!"
"We will reclaim everything we've lost!"