After Sunday's promotional event.
Robin herself appeared in the video.
However.
Unlike the concern and blessings from the previous two,
Robin's expression was somewhat grave, carrying a sense of determination!
She softly said:
"Hello everyone, I'm Robin."
"This time, the new album 'Air Cocoon' will have a song released early for everyone to hear."
"And I... want to use this song to try to awaken the people sleeping in Penacony."
"Just like the game plot in 'Honkai: Star Rail' says."
"I will use the melody of Harmony to attune the hearts of those sleeping, bringing the dissonance of Trailblaze into their hearts, pointing the way to reality!"
"Here, I thank Yu Ling."
"May this journey lead us to the stars."
...
"Great, great!"
"What song is it? I want to hear it now!"
"The collaboration of Trailblaze and Harmony!"
"Can't stand it! I'll punch Penacony to pieces!"
"With Miss Robin's support, we are bound to awaken the players of Penacony!"
"With the little bird on our side, we're sure to win!"
...
After watching the promotional video.
Black Swan nodded slightly.
She said, "Everything is ready."
"Now we just wait for the final act of the game plot to arrive..."
"As long as it succeeds in the game, it will be a strong boost for all participants in reality."
"Countless meteors will rush towards Penacony."
"Then, the dream of Ena will collapse on its own."
Suddenly.
Acheron's expression changed slightly.
She looked at the game live stream beside her.
At this moment.
It flashed back to her own memory scene.
By the Dead Sea,
dusk rain fell.
Herself holding a red umbrella and the old man in black.
She heard herself say, "Sin Thirster... the obsession of a Pathstrider, born from the shadow of IX, seeing itself as the master, unknowingly repeating the actions of the deceased in life."
"They are born from Nihility, heading towards Nihility, living a meaningless life. But just this illusory shadow..."
"Yet it walked with me through long days."
After the words fell.
The old man let out a relieved sigh.
"So that's how it is."
"I... am already dead."
After the old man realized this.
The scene instantly changed!
The black background turned crimson.
The old man transformed from a figure wearing a bamboo hat and raincoat into a black shadow.
Beside him, Acheron turned into the white-haired Acheron.
Crimson patterns crawled up her arms.
Silently watching him.
Seeing this.
Acheron in front of the screen sighed slightly.
Indeed...
I always knew Yu Ling's plot would write this ending.
But seeing it again, recalling those experiences...
Still can't help but feel emotional.
Beside her.
Black Swan was also slightly startled!
Clearly!
Even she hadn't anticipated such a twist.
Not to mention the players watching the live stream at this moment!
...
"???"
"Holy crap?"
"Baby, there's still a twist!?"
"I thought the old man was the watcher here, but he turned out to be a Sin Thirster too!"
"Suddenly feeling chills down my spine!"
"Interesting."
"Wow, that gave me goosebumps!"
"In life, he watched over the deceased, and after death, he became a Sin Thirster, repeating the act of watching over the departed."
"So that's how it is..."
...
However.
What all the players didn't anticipate was...
Next,
There was something even bigger coming!
Acheron said, "Please extend your hand, and then, close your eyes."
"I will carry your wish forward and fulfill it. Only then can I resolve this final regret by the Dead Sea."
Acheron extended her hand.
Her fingers were sharp and pointed.
Her knuckles seemed as if cast from metal, gleaming with a cold, sharp light.
The other hand was pitch black, emanating a dim, deathly glow.
The old man finally asked, "Will I... see them again?"
There was some regret, some reluctance.
This was normal.
Every departed soul holds some attachment to the world.
Acheron replied, "You certainly will."
"Because it was you who told me these things yourself: about that train, your two former companions, the Trailblaze that ended with the Swarm disaster, your narrow escape, and your encounter with the Galaxy Rangers..."
As Acheron narrated.
The old man seemed to recall his true identity.
"Yes, countless times... I was turned away by my family, only to brush past it."
"But I know, my companions are still there... alone..."
"Mikhail... are you still there..."
As he finished speaking,
The old man's name changed from three question marks to "Tiernan."
And all the players watching this scene,
Were utterly stunned!
Many were frozen in front of their screens, completely dumbfounded!
Even the live chat in the stream went silent for several seconds.
Then,
The players finally reacted!
...
"Huh?"
"Oh my god, he's!!!"
"Tiernan, one of the three Nameless!?"
"The former guard of the Astral Express!"
"Wow..."
"I never expected the person talking to Acheron to be him!!"
"Ah, this..."
"I'm speechless."
"Holy crap, that's explosive!"
"He was both a Nameless and a Galaxy Ranger."
"Tiernan and the Lantern Moth family left Penacony to Trailblaze, encountered the Swarm, and he survived, later joining the Galaxy Rangers."
"So the relic Acheron was returning came from Tiernan! Holy crap? It all connects!"
"Even in death, he was still thinking about Penacony, about Mikhail."
"Damn, you made me cry again, so annoying!"
...
Somewhere in Penacony.
"How could I forget…"
"The stories the old man told me…"
"His friends… No matter where they were in the galaxy, they must have been thinking of each other until their last moments."
A hand slowly gripped the railing as he stood up.
At the same time, his eyes opened.
Gallagher looked around.
A sense of clarity gradually returned to his gaze.
Then.
He patted his coat pocket.
Good, the lighter was still there.
After lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag, he exhaled comfortably.
Looking up, he spoke to the unseen presence:
"Hah…"
"If you ask me…"
"Your Dreamscape isn't as good as reality."
"Even smoking in a dream has no flavor."
"And…"
"There's not even Honkai: Star Rail!"
"So fake…"
Gallagher had awakened from Ena's Dream.
He had wanted to check the game's storyline immediately.
But unfortunately, his phone had no signal.
He could only grope around in this liminal space, trying to find a way out.
Meanwhile.
The same situation was unfolding elsewhere!
Siobhan, the owner of Dreamjolt Hostelry, awoke in the liminal space.
After a brief moment of hesitation,
Her eyes regained their sparkle.
"The little ones at the bar are still waiting for me to mix their drinks…"
As she said this, she began searching for a way out in the corridor between the Dreamscape and reality.
On the rooftop.
An elderly man wearing a hat slowly opened his eyes.
His hand trembled slightly.
He adjusted his hat.
Excitement filled his gaze!
"I can't forget…"
"I truly can't forget."
"What father of the Imaginary Pulse…"
"Even if I die, I'll never hand over the method to create that weapon to them!"