At the same time.
Inside the grand and magnificent Penacony Grand Theater, a momentous celebration was about to begin.
Although it had been inexplicably advanced by twelve system hours, for the well-prepared Oak Family, this was still within acceptable limits.
The audience seats—capable of holding several million people—were packed to the brim, every gaze burning with anticipation and curiosity as they focused on the colossal central stage.
The Charmony Festival was a grand celebration of Harmony, a renowned event even across the galaxy.
Legend had it that during this festival, when the members of the Family sang in unison, they would summon one of the many embodiments of the Aeon of Harmony, Xipe—the Harmonious Choir, Dominicus.
It was said that this being possessed power sufficient to grant any wish, to lead people into endless bliss.
There were also legends claiming that anyone who beheld that being would lose their sense of self, dissolving completely into the Harmony Family.
No matter which version was true, all of them ignited an intense curiosity, leaving the crowd eagerly awaiting what was to come.
Let's see what this is all about?!
Under the gaze of countless expectant eyes.
At the center of the solemn, sacred, godlike stage.
Sunday stood with his hands behind his back, facing an audience vast as mountains and seas, his expression tranquil and serene.
Though the stage itself lay lower than the seating, he appeared as though he were gazing down upon all living beings, carrying an air of transcendent divinity.
Behind him, within countless honeycomb-like chambers, stood all 107,336 members of the Oak Family.
Each one solemn. Each one devout.
They were prepared to offer everything to their Lord, to welcome the descent of all Order.
The Oak Family had lost the Dreammaster—its leader, who could effortlessly mobilize the entire Family. For Sunday, it was akin to losing an arm.
And Penacony's situation had grown more bizarre and chaotic than ever before. If delayed further, the consequences would be impossible to predict.
Thus, Sunday abandoned the pretense of playing detective games with his sister and others, choosing instead to launch the Charmony Festival at the fastest possible speed, to confront the hidden hand behind the scenes.
His gaze grew distant and heavy as he thought of the one backing Robin—the man who claimed to help her, yet whose motives were anything but pure.
At that very moment, the grand clock's hour hand, minute hand, and second hand aligned perfectly.
The time had come.
Sunday's expression sharpened as he spoke solemnly, "The 107,336 souls of the Oak Family—I stand with you. Sing in unison the music of Harmony, and bring forth a land flowing with milk and honey!"
"The day of doubt has ended. All beings unite as one."
Behind the immense stage, within those honeycomb chambers.
Every member of the Oak Family released their souls, singing together in perfect harmony.
Over a hundred thousand layers of consciousness linked as one, voices converging from many into one, forming a single, colossal sound.
Sunday raised his head toward the heavens, neither joy nor sorrow on his face. "I shall ascend to the heavens and shine forever as eternal light!"
Deep beneath the Penacony Grand Theater, the cornerstone—the Stellaron that sustained the dreamworld—began to tremble.
It responded to the resonance of over a hundred thousand souls, unleashing an overwhelming, boundless power.
That infinite force, carrying the resonant echoes of Harmony, surged outward into the universe.
The sound rose to immeasurable heights, calling upon an Aeon to cast its gaze downward.
A single gaze descended—upon Its most cherished child.
The millions of spectators held their breath, staring in rapt awe at the sacred, radiant spectacle.
Afraid of disturbing a god, none dared to make a sound.
It was as though a gentle breeze brushed across their souls, countless hearts linking together as one.
Within the entire grand theater, only a single, majestic voice remained—Sunday's lead.
"The law reveals its radiant might once more; the measure rules and balances heaven and earth."
"All beings flourish passionately within my light, and no sin may hide."
"Cheers and hymns follow close behind, as they cry out His name!"
This was no longer praise of Harmony.
The cadence of Order now resounded within Harmony's temple.
And yet—It still responded!
A vast, towering form manifested at the center of the grand theater. Majestic orchestral chords spread endlessly, proclaiming Its arrival to the entire Asdana Star System.
The bodies of over a hundred thousand Oak Family members collapsed, their consciousness merging with Sunday's as one.
The audience had fallen silent, their minds completely filled by that awe-inspiring, sacred silhouette.
The moment It appeared; all attention was seized.
The moment It appeared, infinite authority followed.
The Harmonious Choir!
The Great Septimus—Dominicus!
Before the audience could recover from the shock, another change occurred.
"You have all labored well. Go now, and rest."
Sunday's voice was infinitely amplified, layered with overlapping resonance, yet still gentle and benevolent.
The gods love all beings without distinction.
"???"
The audience looked on in confusion, utterly unsure of what was happening.
Harmony's will intertwined with Imaginary energy, beginning to overwrite a new layer of the Memoria.
The millions of spectators within the Penacony Grand Theater vanished one by one as if ascending, entering newly tailored dreamscapes.
There, every dream could be realized, every desire fully borne.
At first, they were stunned—but upon seeing everything they had ever imagined in reality made manifest within their own worlds, they offered no resistance, quickly sinking into blissful dreams.
Mortal desires were insignificant compared to an Emanator's, and the vast majority lacked the will and resolve to see through illusion.
When all was done, only the giant upon the stage remained within the grand theater.
The millions of spectators, along with the bodies of the Oak Family members, had all been sent to an absolutely safe place.
Next came all of Penacony—aside from one deliberately spared group, everyone else entered their own private, customized dreams.
A beam of light descended from Dominicus's enormous palm, transforming into a young man dressed in an elegant white suit.
Sunday gazed at the now-empty grand theater and smiled.
He could clearly feel it—those people were immersed in dreams, fulfilling every ideal of their lives. Whether disability, poverty, or weakness in reality, all were soothed within the dream of Ena.
Now, it was time for him to test his sister's resolve, to see what that hidden hand truly intended.
Robin, look.
This dreamworld grants all people equal Order and fulfills every individual's dream.
If his sister experienced it firsthand, surely, she would understand his intentions.
…
At the same time.
A gun-toting outlaw barged into the Astral Express.
Clad in a black-and-red denim outfit, visibly augmented with mechanical parts, and flashing a grin full of shark-like teeth, he radiated wild arrogance.
"Damn it all to hell, this is messed up!"
Boothill cursed as he flopped onto the sofa, paying no mind to the little mascot frantically running off to call for backup. "What in blazes did that fake Galaxy Ranger do? Hell, I just got here and he's already stirred up this kind of mess!"
===BREAK===
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