Sigh, I'm not suited to be the Aeon of Destruction; I'm more suited to be The Aeon of Elation.
Aidan gloomily ignored that goat head shouting 'Lord Benefactor.'
This wasn't OOC.
Because Nanook couldn't be bothered to look at Ifrit either.
However, Ifrit might have misunderstood something. After all, Aidan had actually just happened to glance at the Ever-Flame Mansion, not at him personally. But this Duke likely believed even this was progress—at least the Benefactor had looked at them.
As everyone knows, an Aeon's gaze doesn't necessarily mean one will be promoted by them; it might just be a simple glance.
But at least They looked. In any case, looking was better than not looking. Previously, Nanook never even looked at the Annihilation Gang.
To be precise, he looked at the Ever-Flame Mansion. The Jepella Brotherhood and the Ever-Flame Mansion, both part of the Annihilation Gang, were mortal enemies. Now, the Ever-Flame Mansion could use the fact that they were gazed upon by Destruction as a talking point.
"Praise the Benefactor! Praise Destruction!"
No, I need to find a place to destroy something. If I don't destroy something, I'll feel uncomfortable all over...
Rumble!
"Phew—"
He let out a long breath.
That's better.
A Swarm nesting ground was packed with insects wanting to devour the entire universe. Watching those bugs turn to ash in the golden radiance of Destruction, Aidan felt the uncomfortable sensation that his chest was about to explode finally subside a lot.
This demolition work is indeed invigorating.
However, since I'm the Aeon of Destruction for a day, I have to do what an Aeon of Destruction should do.
Blowing up a bug nest just now was satisfying, but that was manual labor. As a thinking, cultured, and moral transmigrator, Aidan felt that relying solely on brute force for destruction wouldn't do.
Efficiency is too low.
Eh.
Aidan suddenly had an idea.
How about going to see Amphoreus?
Amphoreus should still be in its iteration phase right now. Nanook should have already glanced at the Emperor's Scepter, and Iron Tomb should currently be accumulating hatred.
Hatred +1.
———
On the Astral Express, the atmosphere was somewhat somber at this moment.
"Aidan is gone, and only this child is left..."
Welt looked at the golden-eyed youth, inexplicably having a bad premonition.
"I believe he might be Aidan transformed."
Old Yang's intel is always problematic in this regard.
"Considering Aidan even turned into a giant insect the day before yesterday, turning into a human with a different appearance today is not entirely impossible from a probabilistic and biological perspective."
"So..." March 7th cautiously leaned in a bit closer and gave a tentative wave. "Hey! Aidan? Is that you? If it is, blink? Or... buzz a bit?"
"He isn't a bug today, why would he buzz?"
"True..."
Welt stepped forward a couple of paces, stopping a few meters away from the youth.
No blades. No fire. No bugs.
Who are they?
The youth stared intently at the tickets on them.
Right, they are [Trailblaze].
Since they are [Trailblaze], they can be trusted.
"Akivili, where is he?"
Welt froze for a moment.
"Akivili?"
The youth's golden eyes stared intently at him.
"Akivili?" March 7th blinked, looking at the youth and then at Himeko. "Why are you looking for Akivili? Besides... Akivili has already..."
"Fallen."
Dan Heng finished the sentence for her.
The youth's pupils constricted violently in that instant.
In those golden eyes, the originally guarded light shattered instantly, replaced by a look of near despair.
"Fallen...?"
"Impossible."
The youth suddenly stood up straight, and the originally suppressed aura erupted instantly. Though his frame was slight and his clothes were tattered, at this moment, an intimidating pressure faintly emanated from him.
"Akivili... is Trailblaze." He stared deathly at the people on the Express, as if trying to find any trace of a lie on their faces. "Trailblaze... will not stop. How could he fall?"
"Aeons can also fall, child. This is not without precedent in the universe," Welt said. "Akivili is indeed no longer here. But this train is still here, and the will of Trailblaze remains."
"Will..."
He lowered his head, looking at his own palm.
"If Akivili is gone..."
He murmured to himself.
"Then who will save Adlivun?"
"Adlivun..."
Welt repeated the name, his gaze becoming solemn.
He knew.
Adlivun, the home of the Aeon of Destruction Nanook, the place Nanook personally set ablaze. It had been left devastated by the Emperor's War and was unfortunately situated on swarm's marching route. Until the arrival of Akivili, Adlivun was still engaged in a sun-blotting war with the remaining progeny of the Swarm King.
The youth stared fixedly out the window. Although the brilliant sea of stars was reflected in those golden eyes, he saw only scorched earth.
"You're lying to me. I know. Akivili said that the Trailblaze never stops."
So He won't stop, won't cease, won't—
Now everyone could be certain.
This wasn't Aidan.
"Child, what is your name?"
The youth didn't answer; his gaze remained fixed on those cold stars outside the window.
Welt and Himeko exchanged a glance.
"Adlivun..." Welt weighed his words. "The war there has already ended."
The youth's shoulders trembled slightly.
"Ended... Did everyone survive?"
Welt fell silent.
This was probably the hardest conversation of his life. Facing a child covered in scars, whose eyes held only his home and Akivili, and who believed in Trailblaze with all his heart—how was he supposed to tell him that the so-called 'end' wasn't what he imagined?
"Child, sit down first." Himeko's voice was very gentle. "Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat first?"
"I'm not hungry!" The youth shook his head violently. "Tell me! What happened to Adlivun! Did Akivili... did Akivili save us?"
Dan Heng didn't speak, but his brow furrowed even tighter. He stared at the golden wounds on the youth's face as an ominous suspicion emerged in his mind.
"Speak!" the youth roared, his voice hoarse. "Why aren't you speaking! Since the war is over, why won't any of you speak!"
After a moment of silence, Himeko finally spoke.
"Swarm on Adiph was indeed completely wiped out."
The youth's breathing became rapid, his chest heaving violently.
"And everyone else?" He looked up, hope in his golden eyes. "Everyone must have survived, right?"
No one answered.
No one could answer that question.
The hope on the youth's face slowly solidified, and in those golden eyes, something was collapsing.
"Why aren't you speaking?"
He took a step forward.
"Say something!"
Another step.
"What happened to everyone! Tell me!"