『 After Acheron met everyone, she came to her side: "These voices… are merely illusions of a dream. Pay them no mind, and come with me."
Stelle nodded and followed behind Acheron.
The two entered a long corridor, but at some point, space seemed to stretch infinitely. The entire hallway was elongated, yet Acheron said nothing, continuing to walk forward calmly. Not knowing what was happening, Stelle could only follow behind her until they reached a door, where Acheron stopped.
"Leave this place. Wake up as you usually do, forget this chance encounter, and return to where you belong," Acheron said, turning to look at Stelle.
"But before we part, I have a request." Acheron observed Stelle earnestly.
"To you, it might sound strange, or even rude, but I wish to know…"
"Have we met somewhere before?"
Stelle nodded silently and said: "Perhaps we have."
"You remind me of an old friend. In my hazy memories, she stood side by side with me… just like this bizarre dream, so close yet so far away." Acheron walked up to Stelle and stopped.
"May I ask you a few more questions? I… often forget things. Therefore, rather than memories, I am more accustomed to using 'feelings' to capture something. Whether the answer is right or wrong doesn't matter; what matters is your immediate reaction."
"For example, when you woke up in your guest room, you uttered several names. Are they your companions? Family? Enemies? You seem to have established unbreakable bonds with many people and many things…"
"Tell me, do you fear losing such bonds?"
Stelle thought for a moment and gave her answer. "If it means they leave, I would." 』
『 ....』
〘March 7th〙: Stelle! Big hug (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ
〘Dan Heng〙: Quite the expected answer, though I would probably give the same response.
....
『 Acheron nodded and asked again.
"I see… Then, what if there was a vast dream, realistic enough to be indistinguishable from reality? A place without parting or death, where everyone could receive the happiness and fulfillment they deserve, and live joyfully forever."
"Tell me, would you be willing to reside within it?"
Stelle shook her head and said firmly: "No matter what, I do not wish to live in a dream."
"Then… what if this beautiful dream is destined to shatter, and everything will leave: friends, family, strangers; then the gentle breeze, the soaring birds, the stars… and finally, yourself."
"Every person, everyone in their memories, those smiles and tears, fulfilled and unfulfilled promises… everything will eventually head toward a predetermined end. If at the beginning of the journey, you already knew the destination of this trip…"
"Tell me, would you still embark on this journey?"
Stelle responded to this question immediately, saying firmly. "I would blaze a trail forward without looking back." 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Such riddling questions, but that last answer was so cool. As expected of me.
〘March 7th〙: I was just about to praise you for finally looking like a Nameless, and then you immediately showed your true colors.
〘Kevin Kaslana〙: That kind of dream… is very similar to MEI's Stigma Project.
〘·HSR· Welt Yang〙: My presence in this universe proves that you failed, but humanity succeeded.
〘Kevin Kaslana〙: I know, but that was only one of a million possibilities. I won't gamble, and I can't gamble.
〘·HSR· Void Archive〙: Interesting. Garden of Recollection, Masked Fools, Nameless, Stellaron Hunters, the IPC, Intelligentsia Guild… so many factions appearing at the Planet of Festivities. I'm truly looking forward to what happens next.
〘Duke Inferno Ifrit〙: You forgot one faction.
〘Hanabi〙: If you hadn't spoken, I would've thought you were dead~ By the way, why aren't you on the light screen? Is it because you're already dead? Hahahahaha~.
〘Duke Inferno Ifrit〙: Fool, laugh all you want. When the flames of Destruction burn upon you, I hope I can still hear this cheerful laughter.
〘Stelle〙: But this should be a conversation between people I meet after going to Penacony. If you went, you'd definitely be on there.
〘Acheron〙: I think I know why.
....
—✦In Between✦—
Acheron looked at the door of the Ever-Flame Mansion before her and swung her blade.
While Ifrit was still wondering about the meaning of Acheron's words, the door to the Ever-Flame Mansion was sliced open.
At that moment, the Duke understood her meaning. Subsequently, the Duke engaged in a fierce battle with Acheron, while his children fled one after another.
After the Duke burned himself out to force Acheron to draw her blade and use her true power, he died without regrets.
—
〘Acheron〙: He won't be speaking here anymore.
〘Boothill〙: Son of a nice lady, you mean you took him out in such a short time? Your strength is pretty fierce for a fake.
〘Hanabi〙: Sorry~, didn't manage to make Lady Acheron use her full strength~.
〘Acheron〙: Hmm… he made me use my full strength. That was my respect for him as an opponent.
....
『 Acheron looked at Stelle, smiled slightly, and said softly: "I know it's difficult. There's no need to rush a decision. As I said… the answer isn't important."
"Listen, touch, think, and from that, you will gain feelings—cherish them. Guided by feelings, we make choices. So, back to the initial question…"
"Tell me, do you still remember me?"
Stelle closed her eyes, using the method Acheron described to feel. Then, she opened her eyes and looked at Acheron.
"I feel like I've seen you somewhere…"
Acheron nodded. "I see."
"How interesting. In that fleeting moment, it was as if millions of similar yet different 'you' gave completely different answers." 』
『 ....』
〘Silver Wolf〙: Is this a little Easter egg breaking the fourth wall? Does it mean Stelle is a protagonist controlled by players?
〘Kafka〙: Isn't that exactly what we expected? Stelle will be the protagonist of this universe.
〘Stelle〙: Cool!
〘Yae Rin〙: But being a protagonist in your kind of world-view feels like it wouldn't lead to many pleasant experiences.
〘Stelle〙: I feel like we had a great time on Jarilo-VI and the Xianzhou. It was a pleasant journey.
〘Silver Wolf〙: Is it possible that's because those were your starting zones?
〘March 7th〙: Who fights a Lord Ravager in a starting zone!
〘Silver Wolf〙: Blame Elio, it's none of my business.
〘Elio〙: Again?
....
『 "That was indeed the last question. Thank you. We both have our own paths to walk. Let us part here." Acheron smiled at Stelle.
"Will we meet again?" Stelle asked.
"The golden dream is about to become restless. In the long night ahead, you will likely encounter many setbacks and witness many tragedies. In the end… your eyes will see only black and white." Acheron gave an answer that didn't directly address the question.
"But please believe that in that black and white world, a speck of red will flash by. When you make your choice, it will surely manifest again…"
Acheron gripped her blade and walked toward Stelle, saying as she moved: "And you, must carefully savor its meaning—"
After she walked behind Stelle, Stelle turned back toward Acheron in confusion.
Acheron stopped her pace.
"—And then, return to the waking world."
A tear fell from Acheron's right eye. Then, Stelle's eyes widened as a powerful impact hit her abdomen. Intense pain surged instantly. She couldn't help but groan. Simultaneously, her chest burst open, and blood sprayed out, splattering across the corridor. 』
『 ....』
〘Stelle〙: Is this the physical way to exit a dream?
〘March 7th〙: That's certainly simple and crude…
〘Hanabi〙: Stelle got "knifed" before even entering Penacony. pffttt~.... Dying of laughter~.
....
『 "We will all find the answer there." Acheron's words still echoed in Stelle's mind, but she felt her life flickering like a candle in the wind. Her body involuntarily fell backward.
In the next instant, the scene cut. Stelle, who had been sleeping on the sofa, suddenly jolted awake.
She gasped for air, her face filled with terror, tears flowing uncontrollably.
Seeing Stelle like this, Pam immediately walked over in concern: "Passenger Stelle, what's wrong? Why, why are you suddenly crying?" 』
『 ....』
〘Fu Xuan〙: It seems Stelle has woken up. But it was just a simple conversation in the dream, why would she cry?
〘Stelle〙: Maybe because Acheron's cut hurt too much?
〘Acheron〙: No. I have confidence in my power. That strike was a guaranteed one-hit kill; it wouldn't let you feel pain. Furthermore, that was a dream; pain shouldn't be carried into reality.
〘Dr. Ratio〙: Just like jumping off a building in a dream—you'll wake up, but you won't feel the damage from the fall.
〘Kiana Kaslana〙: Then what's the situation if I dream of another me talking to me?
〘Dr. Ratio〙: Either you have a split personality, or it's just your imagination.
....