ICISEI Episode 208: Awakening, smashing the 'Order of a Dream' plan; The Galaxy Rangers are back, taking the universe's first shot!
[ Kiana (Honkai: Impact Third): "I know, just like we said before, kidnap someone directly and rush in!" ]
[ Shinomiya Kaguya (Love Is War): "That… probably isn't the right way to do it, is it?" ]
[ Shinomiya Kaguya (Love Is War): "Although I haven't watched much, this gentleman doesn't seem to have that kind of personality." ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "But, that method is pretty good." ]
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "No, wait, didn't that object exist before?" ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "What object?" ]
[ Dan Heng (Honkai: Star Rail): "The Xianzhou Alliance's Jade Abacus of Allying Oath." ]
[ Jing Yuan (Honkai: Star Rail): "..." ]
[ .....]
『 Looking at Dan Heng in front of him, Boothill seemed to recall something, and the smile on his face vanished.
…..[ Face-changing master? Boothill edition? - ]….
"Hold on, are you thinking of using the Jade Abacus of Allying Oath? Are you?"
"Precisely. As long as we have the support of the Luofu Cloud Knights, it should be enough." Dan Heng nodded and said.
Boothill, however, offered Dan Heng a reminder.
"That thing can only be used once in a lifetime. You'd better think this through carefully."
"I have thought it through clearly. My companions are also something I can only have once in a lifetime." Dan Heng affirmed his conviction. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Stelle (Honkai: Star Rail): "Dan Heng, what a good bro." ]
[ Dan Heng (Honkai: Star Rail): "....." ]
[ Tartaglia (Genshin Impact): "A treasure that can only be used once in a lifetime… yet when faced with companions in danger, you decide to use it without hesitation?" ]
[ Tartaglia (Genshin Impact): "Not bad. I have high hopes for you, brother." ]
[ Boothill (Honkai: Star Rail): "Not bad at all, Brother Dan Heng." ]
[ Jing Yuan (Honkai: Star Rail): "Hehe, as expected, this is truly you." ]
[ .....]
『 The scene shifts, gathering in a luxurious VIP room of the hotel.
At this moment, the figures under the spotlight are Boothill, Dan Heng, and two eye-catching existences—the Trailblazer Stelle and March 7th.
Seeing Stelle slowly open her eyes, Dan Heng asked about her condition with concern:
"You're finally awake, Stelle. How do you feel?"
Beside him, Boothill looked like a curious baby, sizing up Stelle, his eyes twinkling with excitement:
"Well fork me! You must be that Stellaron they were talkin' about."
"Dan Heng, why do you have to blab about everything...?" Stelle looked at Boothill with a bit of disgust.
Her tone revealed a hint of disdain.
Before Boothill could answer, an elegant figure descended quietly around the group like a ghost in the night.
Black Swan, this mysterious woman, spoke up: "Allow me to make a formal introduction for you all."
She turned to Stelle and explained with a smile: "This is Boothill, a Galaxy Ranger who roams the cosmos. Our meeting was quite accidental; a fate forged while tracking a certain person. Even more unexpected was that we inadvertently uncovered the shocking plot being concocted by Mr. Sunday."
Black Swan's eyes were full of determination: "So, we found you, ready to assist everyone from the Astral Express Crew to save the world."…. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Robin (Honkai: Star Rail): "Brother's… conspiracy?" ]
[ Robin (Honkai: Star Rail): "Is there… is there some misunderstanding here?" ]
[ Yelan (Genshin Impact): "There is too little information, or rather, the current intelligence is not transparent, so it might lead to us having a biased view." ]
[ Yelan (Genshin Impact): "It is best not to make comments prematurely." ]
[ Jing Yuan (Honkai: Star Rail): "Hehe, precisely." ]
[ Robin (Honkai: Star Rail): "That's great, it must be a misunderstanding, how could Brother possibly…" ]
[ Boothill (Honkai: Star Rail): "What the son of a nice lady, this guy doesn't sound like a good person." ]
[ .....]
『 After the introduction, Boothill suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
"Don't be a stranger! We Galaxy Rangers have always been the type to draw our blades whenever we see injustice."
After he finished speaking, as if worried he had misspoken again, he turned to confirm with Dan Heng:
"Brother Dan Heng, that old saying on your Xianzhou, isn't that what it means?"
Dan Heng nodded slightly, indicating he was basically correct.
But March 7th frowned, looking somewhat confused because of a small snippet of conversation just now.
"Wait. Hold on a sec. This is the first time I'm hearing about this 'certain person'..."
"Who exactly are you chasing that you managed to chase them all the way to the Express?"
Hearing this, Boothill laughed a few times, preparing to reveal the answer triumphantly.
However...
The words reached his lips, but suddenly, it was like a fishbone got stuck in his throat; he couldn't continue.
"That... who was it we were chasing again?"
He looked awkwardly at Dan Heng, asking for help:
"Who was it again? Uh, Brother Dan Heng, do you remember?" 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Is this… did he really forget?" ]
[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "No, he seems to have genuinely forgotten." ]
[ Haibara Ai (Detective Conan): "His expression doesn't look like he's lying." ]
[ .....]
『 Seeing this, Stelle couldn't help but sneer, "It's a critical moment, and you're still playing the mysterious act?"
"It really makes people suspicious."…..
"No, no, it's really not like that." Boothill waved his hands hurriedly to deny it. "My mind is seriously blank, I can't remember anything."
"This is really weird. The brain chip didn't report an error either?"
Boothill checked the mechanized limbs and parts on his body with a suspicious look.
And this mystery regarding memory didn't seem to trouble only Boothill.
Even Dan Heng, after pondering for a long while, uttered words of confusion:
"I seem to... also be unable to recall that person's existence."
"Ah, this?" March 7th felt a bit puzzled. "But what exactly is going on?"
In the end, Boothill racked his brains but failed to recall that person's name, so he shrugged indifferently.
"Uh... heck, forget about it! If it's slipped all our minds, reckon that person was just a minor scoundrel, unimportant. Ain't gonna stop us from piecin' together the story anyhow."
Black Swan interjected at the right time.
"Then, let us wait until the dust settles, and I will find a way to trace it back within the Memory Zone."
Black Swan turned to propose to the group.
"So, let us go find Miss Himeko now, everyone."
"Little Sleepyhead, as the popular figure of Penacony, the entire hotel is worrying about her safety."
"True enough, let's head to the lobby immediately." March 7th nodded in agreement with a smile.
Subsequently, the group marched grandly toward the hotel lobby. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "So strange, is this… did they really forget about that previous matter?" ]
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "Moreover, even this lady, who is a Memokeeper, actually didn't remember it either." ]
[ Black Swan (Honkai: Star Rail): "Indeed." ]
[ Black Swan (Honkai: Star Rail): "It is a bit strange that I actually forgot memories in this regard." ]
[ Acheron (Honkai: Star Rail): "...." ]
[ .....]
『 The camera shifts. The scene before the eyes is not the lobby of the Reverie Hotel, but the all-too-familiar Parlor Car of the Astral Express.
"Passenger Stelle, the navigation meeting is about to start; we're just waiting for you."
Pam gently reminded Stelle.
However, it was precisely this inadvertent sentence that made Stelle suddenly realize that the atmosphere in the carriage seemed a bit off.
(When did the Express become so lively...?)
Not long after, everyone on the train gathered in a corner of the carriage to participate in the route planning meeting for the next journey.
The first to break the silence was the Conductor, Pam, who cleared his throat and presided over the meeting: "Ahem, everyone is here, let's officially start the navigation meeting!"
"Isn't it just a small meeting to decide where to go next? Simple and direct, solve it with a vote?" Boothill interrupted casually.
"Hold your horses, Cowboy. Since we are here, let's be at ease and listen to their opinions." Black Swan suggested with a smile, her eyes full of composure.
As soon as Boothill and Black Swan finished speaking, Stelle's gaze shifted back and forth between the two, full of doubt: "What in tarnation are you guys doing here?"
At this moment, Himeko stepped forward to clear up the confusion: "Allow me to explain:"
"Mr. Boothill and Miss Black Swan submitted a request to temporarily travel with the Express for their own personal reasons... As you all may also know, the Astral Express never declines any passenger whose heart yearns for the distant stars. Therefore, they will be traveling with us for a while, until they reach their destinations."
Hearing this, March 7th couldn't suppress the excitement in her heart and cheered, "Whoa... The Express is going to be much livelier now."
She turned to Black Swan and said half-jokingly: "But Miss Black Swan, you'd better not use your Memokeeper abilities to pull any pranks~."
Black Swan responded with a light laugh: "Haha, rest assured, Miss March 7th, I promise you."
"I guarantee that when you are resting, you will absolutely not see even half a step of my shadow in your room."
"Uhm... Don't, you're freaking me out..." After hearing this, March 7th couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.
Finally, Pam stepped forward at the right time to easily resolve this small interlude:
"All right. All right. Now that everyone's met everyone, we can continue our navigation meeting!"
However, right at this moment.
The screen shifted again.
.....
The camera slowly pulled back, and a graceful woman leaped into view. She was none other than the jewel of the Oak Family of Penacony, the younger sister of Head of the Family Sunday, and the singer known throughout the galaxy—Robin.
At this moment, she seemed to be waiting for something, standing in the center of the frame, her whole body radiating an inexplicable aura of anticipation.
Before long, several figures arrived quietly from behind her, their steps brisk but carrying a hint of urgency.
"Finally, you've arrived." Robin turned her head back, her clear voice carrying a trace of imperceptible relief as she spoke softly to the three approaching people.
These three were precisely Stelle, Black Swan, and Acheron, who had just stepped out from the train.
They stepped forward side by side until they stood in front of Robin, forming a unique picture.
"Let me introduce you to Robin." Acheron leaned forward slightly, introducing Robin to the companions beside her.
"Like us, she also relied on her own powerful will to break free from that vast and boundless Dream of the Great One. What is even more admirable is that this resilient lady used her voice, like the sounds of nature, to guide us all the way here."
Upon hearing this, Robin sighed softly, her eyes flickering with complex emotions, and spoke slowly:
"The power that allowed me to awaken from the dream is no different from yours. In that dream, I experienced many fantasies and twists that would be absolutely impossible in reality."
— [ In the virtual dreamscape
A young Robin was gently holding a beautiful little robin in her hands.
Robin [ Child ]: "Are we really going to lock it in a cage?"
Robin [ Child ]: "I wish for it to be able to fly freely in the sky."
And beside her, a young Sunday was explaining to his sister.
Sunday [ Child ]: "This bird is still very weak. If it leaves our care like this, I'm afraid it won't be able to survive on its own."..
Sunday [ Child ]: "Do you mean to say you want to watch it die?"….
Robin [ Child ]: "I don't want that, but…"
Sunday [ Child ]: "Sigh….."
Sunday looked at his sister and sighed helplessly.
Sunday [ Child ]: "Then the two of us will look after it together, until the day it can return to the sky."
Robin [ Child ]: "Eh!?"
Sunday [ Child ]: "Because birds want to fly, they grew wings."
Sunday [ Child ]: "Even if one day in the future it falls to the ground, we shouldn't imprison it in a cage."
Sunday [ Child ]: "Since Birds belong to the sky, we should help them return there, right?" ] —
After the memory concluded, Robin said with a tone hiding a faint sorrow:
"...The illusion was so impossibly blissful that I realized it was just a dream."
"This is the last shred of hope we hold."
"The Dream of the Great One is rooted in the Harmonious Choir—that entity resonating with a shared wish."
"Only when the hearts of all living beings in Penacony are united as one can it reveal its true form."
"At present, it has become impervious due to people's desire to remain slumbering within the dream."
"And in order to destroy it..."
"We must make everyone in Penacony want to wake up, [ Desire to escape the dream and welcome reality. ]" 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Otto (Honkai: Impact Third): "Making everyone in the world want to wake up from a dream at the same time, that is also an impossible task, isn't it?" ]…..
[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "Indeed. Making a person wake up isn't hard. Making many people wake up isn't hard either." ]
[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "But, making many people want to generate the thought of waking up at the same time is extremely difficult." ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Everyone wanting to wake up at the same time? How is that possible?" ]
[ Rin (???): Sounds very difficult. ]
[ .....]
『 "Now comes the biggest problem: what exactly should we do?" Black Swan pointed out the crux of the issue sharply.
Stelle gave a bitter laugh and complained: "That doesn't sound simple at all..."
Waking up a few people who wouldn't be considered too difficult.
But the request Robin put forward was to make every sleeping soul in Penacony sprout the spark of fleeing the dream and desiring awakening deep within their hearts...
The difficulty of this task was simply harder than ascending to the heavens.
Are we supposed to go knock on doors one by one and persuade them to wake up?
Looking at the travelers immersed in the dreamland around them, Black Swan said thoughtfully:
"People's pursuit of beautiful fantasies borders on obsession. This mindset makes them instinctively reject all cruel realities."
"Previously, I also waited for a moment when a Stelle was completely off guard,"
"Therefore, I carefully selected a moment where Stelle was completely unguarded, guiding her to uncover the truth herself to make her regain her consciousness."
"However, to wake up everyone in Penacony and get them to share the same determination..."
"That difficulty, I'm afraid, is harder than reaching the sky."
Acheron had to agree and joined the discussion:
"Indeed so. The difficulty of this plan is almost comparable to resurrecting a fallen Star God."
Just as everyone was at their wits' end, not knowing what to do, the sound of two sets of hurried footsteps suddenly came from beside their ears.
"No matter what, we can't just stand by and watch." As soon as Dan Heng's voice fell, his voice rang out nearby.
At this moment, Dan Heng and Boothill, the two big shots, were seen striding over from a distance to regroup.
"Haha, this is a major matter concerning the survival of the universe; who has time to fret over those trivial numbers?" Boothill stood with his hands on his hips, speaking with a face full of arrogance.
"We really have to thank Miss Black Swan for lending a hand." Dan Heng turned to Black Swan and expressed his sincere gratitude.
Hearing this, Black Swan gently adjusted her hat of justice and smiled faintly: "A trivial matter, hardly worth mentioning."
"Also, don't forget the contributions of those Memokeepers in Penacony."
"By the way, your three companions should have also woken up from their respective dreams."
"Correct, this is just the first step of our plan." Acheron took over the conversation and continued.
"With the help of the Garden of Recollection, people like you who are unyielding will successively break free from the dream."
"These awakened wills act as the dissonant notes shaking the Order of the Great One."
However, although a portion of steadfast souls can wake up quickly,
"But, just these few dozen people, in such a vast ocean of dreams, are merely a drop in the bucket."
"We must find another way, consider how to mobilize the power of thousands upon thousands of free wills in a short time."
Dan Heng was racking his brains, thinking hard about a solution. 』
『 .....』