Inside the Astral Express, in the corridor.
Pom-Pom paced anxiously, their fluffy tail stiff and upright with unease.
Finally, the door to the corridor lit up.
Welt Yang walked out.
He silently walked to the window and looked at the scenery outside.
"Passenger Welt, what's wrong with you, Pom?"
Pom-Pom asked in a low voice, their eyes full of worry.
"Did Phainon upset you again, Pom…?"
Welt didn't turn around, only shook his head slightly.
Next, Dan Heng emerged.
On his usually aloof face, there was a deep sense of compassion, as if through Phainon, he saw his own endless The Power of Years imprisoned in the Shackling Prison.
And then, Himeko walked out.
She didn't cry.
Only a trace of crystal tears remained in her gently smiling eyes.
Finally, the Trailblazer and March 7th helped each other, staggering out of the corridor.
Heart-wrenching sobs finally broke the silence in the carriage.
"It's too tragic…Waaaaaah…how could this happen…"
"Thirty million times…how did he…come through it all alone…"
Pom-Pom was completely bewildered.
It looked at one, then at the other, a big question mark appearing above their small head.
"Everyone…what's wrong with the passengers, Pom?"
"Oh, by the way, where is Phainon, Pom?"
As soon as the words fell.
A figure appeared at the entrance of the corridor.
Phainon still carried the faint scent of tea from the Sleepless Marquis Teahouse, his expression as calm as if he had just attended an ordinary tea party.
"Conductor, hello."
He even nodded slightly to Pom-Pom.
Pom-Pom circled him suspiciously.
"You didn't go rummaging through the trash again, Pom?"
"No." Phainon's answer was crisp and direct.
"Then…"
Pom-Pom's little paw pointed at the people in the carriage who looked as if their souls had been drained.
"Why do they all look so distressed, Pom?"
Phainon followed Pom-Pom's gaze.
He saw Mr. Welt's tightly furrowed brows, Dan Heng's silent sigh, Sister Himeko's suppressed sorrow, and the Trailblazer and March 7th's red, tear-filled eyes.
In Sleepless Marquise, he had merely fulfilled his promise, telling the story of "Eternal Samsara" to everyone, exactly as it was.
Thirty million times, he had personally slain his closest friends, preventing a new genesis, until finally, he was all alone.
He had long since crushed, swallowed, and transformed all the pain into the cornerstone of his soul during the endless The Power of Years.
But this despair, spanning thirty million cycles of reincarnation, was so fresh, so scorching for his companions, enough to burn every heart that possessed warmth.
Phainon withdrew his gaze, looked at the confused Pom-Pom, and smiled faintly, "I told them a story about a nymph pushing a rock."
— —
A few days later.
The observation car.
The oppressive atmosphere had dissipated, replaced by an absolute silence before a storm.
Everyone was present.
Including Sunday, the former head of the Oak Family.
He had voluntarily requested to board the Astral Express to find a path truly his own.
Phainon's expression was calm, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
There was no impassioned pre-battle mobilization.
Only a cold deployment leading to the sole chance of victory.
He first looked at the trailblazing trio.
"Have all the details been memorized?"
The Trailblazer, March 7th, and Dan Heng's expressions were extremely serious, and they gave an affirmative answer in unison.
They knew that every word in the plan was steeped in the blood of Phainon's reincarnations.
Then, Phainon's gaze turned to Welt Yang.
His tone softened slightly, carrying a layer of entrustment, "I'll trouble you with this later, Uncle Yang."
"My companions, Teacher Anaxa, Teacher Tribbie, and also…"
His voice paused, emphasizing particularly.
"Especially Cipher, they all have their own missions. This is the result of our joint discussion."
Welt Yang nodded heavily, his gaze beneath his spectacles as firm as iron.
"Don't worry."
"Upon arrival at Herta Space Station, I will take good care of them. Until you all return."
He paused, then continued, "I apologize, Phainon, I once said there was nothing at the end of obsession. It seems I was wrong. It is precisely this firm belief that allowed you to reach the very end."
Finally, Phainon nodded slightly, his gaze falling upon Himeko.
He saw the deep-seated worry in Himeko's eyes, a maternal and elder sister-like care that deeply touched the softest part of his heart.
"Sister Himeko."
He spoke each word, making the most solemn vow of his life.
"March 7th will definitely return. I swear on my life."
Himeko knew the dangers of this journey, and finally just took a deep breath, nodded, "Mm, I understand."
She chose to believe him, to believe that this child who bore everything could create a miracle.
"Oh, Sister Himeko, no need to worry!"
March 7th, instead, smiled and tried to comfort Himeko. She shook Himeko's arm, forcing a smile that was uglier than crying onto her face.
"As long as it helps Phainon save Amphoreus, it's just turning back into a block of ice, isn't it? We've experienced it before."
She said, feigning nonchalance, "Anyway, it's just a nap. When we wake up, everyone will be together again!"
Despite her words, her tightly clenched hands behind her back betrayed her inner fear.
Just then.
"Alright, all passengers, Pom!"
Pom-Pom's voice broke the silence. It stood at the entrance of the cockpit, their expression unprecedentedly solemn and grave.
It might still not fully understand everything.
But it knew that their passengers were about to do something very, very great.
This was also the continuation of the Trailblazer spirit, the spirit of pioneering.
Phainon took one last look at all his companions.
These were his…family, whom he had regained by walking backward from the end.
He smiled.
A genuine, relaxed, and open smile.
Then, he turned around, facing the deep, boundless sea of stars.
Pom-Pom pulled down the warp lever, exerting all their strength, issuing the final command of the Astral Express!
"We are about to depart! Destination — Amphoreus!"
---------
(T/N): Alright guys get your tissues and trashcans because WE will all be crying after reading this arc