"When you return to reality, remember to tell everyone that the Stellaron Hunters gave you your final send-off."
[Black Swan: Interesting. He believes that defeating us won't directly kill us, but only send us back to reality. Why... if he is the one hiding behind the scenes, then he must also be aware of Miss Robin's death.]
[March: Unless... he knows the truth!]
[Himeko: Or rather, he knows what truly constitutes death, and evidently, his attacks won't result in 'death'.]
As raging flames abruptly erupted around Sam, he soared into the sky like a burning meteorite, then plummeted back down like a shooting star, crashing heavily onto the ground. Acheron appeared behind Sam as if teleporting, striking him with her scabbard.
With a loud 'bang' followed by a dull 'thud,' Sam endured two hits from Acheron's scabbard before a burst of scorching flames erupted from his body again, propelling him directly towards March. Sam extended a hand, seemingly intending to grab March, who was nearby.
Facing the formidable Sam, March showed no fear, quickly raising the baseball bat in her hand, ready to meet the attack. However, at this critical moment, Acheron flashed past like a phantom, successfully reaching March's front and sending Sam flying backward.
"...afraid," March seemed to faintly hear something from Sam.
[March 7th: Acheron still hasn't drawn her sword! She's still hiding her strength.]
[Black Swan: If she drew her sword, with the energy intensity of her previous attack, this entire dreamscape might be destroyed.]
[Qingque: Hmm? Speaking of which, did Sam say something like: Don't be afraid?]
[Yanqing: I don't think I heard that... It must have been the sound of him being attacked?]
Black Swan moved to March's side. Gazing at Acheron, who was fiercely clashing with Sam in the distance, a subtle smile played on her lips.
Then, she gently drew a tarot card emanating a mysterious glow. "Let's leave the stage to them, my dear."
As soon as she finished speaking, and as the tarot card swept through the air, March felt a blur before her eyes. The surrounding scenery instantly underwent a drastic change, revealing a spacious hall before her.
Adorned with inverted fountains, March quickly realized she was on the ceiling of a room, and in the distance, Aventurine, who had been waiting for a long time, stood up.
"Hahahaha... What a good show!" Aventurine applauded.
[March 7th: Wow, it matches, it matches! No wonder March mentioned betrayal in Aventurine's scene earlier... So that's how it is.]
[Aventurine: After watching the rest, do you think this counts as betrayal?]
[March 7th: Ah... this.]
[Himeko: Whether it counts as betrayal or not isn't important, Mr. Aventurine. What's important is that you got what you wanted.]
[Aventurine: 'A truly grand death,' indeed. As expected of the method I came up with.]
[Acheron: But is that truly death?]
[Aventurine: Hahaha, my friend, you hit the nail on the head. Yes, the question of 'true death does not exist in a dream' is very interesting. I understand myself very well; this is precisely what I wanted to confirm.]
[March 7th: You're willing to risk your own life to test that?]
[Aventurine: Once you're at the gambling table, there's nothing to fear. I threw this 'chip' down the very first moment. Besides this, I have nothing.]
[Aventurine: I'll tell you some good news, March. If I win this gamble, Robin and Robin might both be fine.]
[March: !]
[Aventurine: Heh, I've never lost.]
After the viewing screen switched, it returned to Sam's perspective.
Sam landed on the ground. The hall was now filled with burning wreckage. Acheron stood in the distance, seemingly unharmed.
"You should draw that sword... Ranger."
Acheron raised her scabbard. "Hunter, do you still dream? Dream of those who died because of you?"
Sam froze, while Acheron placed her hand on the hilt of her sword and said faintly, "I still dream. Stop. Your time has not yet come."
"My time?" Sam stopped his attack preparation.
"I've seen many seemingly clever disguises that can conceal appearance but not the heart. You are no exception." Acheron said lightly, "You didn't intend to kill her. You acted only to drive away me and that Recollector... Why?"
Sam fell silent.
"Did 'The Fool of Fate' make you do this?"
"You know Elio?"
"I thought this would be written in your script."
"My 'script' has always only had a few lines. Anything beyond that is unnecessary, and not needed."
"He knows my character: There is only one fate, and no one can circumvent it—and before that, I have the right to choose."
"But you don't seem to know, so it's my turn to ask: Who exactly are you?" Sam asked.
Acheron did not answer his question, only saying, "I often forget things, so rather than recalling, I'm more accustomed to using 'feelings' to capture something. So—I know who is inside that cold armor."
"How about it, willing to take off your armor and talk?"
[Masked Fools A: Oh my god, a reveal!]
[March 7th: Eh, what's going on? The person inside the armor... is it someone we know?]
[Welt: I suddenly remembered, Robin mentioned something earlier... about a mech.]
[Yukong: For example—Sam knows Robin?]
[March 7th: Why not be bolder with the guess, like, the mech pilot is Robin, or something?]
[March: Eh? Really?]
[March 7th: It's just a small guess, you see, it's quite possible, isn't it?]
"Not yet," Sam shook his head.
"I don't need help, but I can give you a suggestion, which will be better for both of us."
"If your goal is the 'Clockmaker's Legacy,' then investigate the Family. They not only concealed the existence of 'death' but also buried the past and truth of the dreamscape."
Acheron replied, arms crossed, "I'm already doing that."
"And—the Astral Express is not your enemy."
A flicker of surprise crossed Acheron's face: "I knew that too... but I never expected to hear it from you."
"What next? March was taken by Black Swan, are you going to look for her?"
"There's no need for that anymore... I tried to resolve this matter in a simpler, more direct way, but as you can see, I am standing here confronting you—I failed. The 'script' cannot be defied."
"'So-called impossible things are merely things that have not yet arrived,'" Acheron shook her head. "Never mind."