"On hard-earned rest days, people can break free from the burdens of life and return to the tranquility of their souls."
"Only on such days are people spared from the law of the jungle, able to 'live happily' in these fleeting moments. But alas… two or three days are far too brief compared to the expanse of a lifetime."
"In my view, the ideal societal system is the 'Seven-Day Rest.' The day after Sunday is another Sunday, a second, a third, and an eternal Sunday—this is the visage of the new world, an everlasting day of serene idleness."
"In this way, everyone can return to their rightful place in paradise. Some gaze at the galaxy, wholly absorbed in calculating the distance to the solitary world 'Pangana,' while others embrace in quiet corners, free from unnecessary duties…"
"No longer burdened by the pains of reality, only thus can humanity face their destined end with utmost purity, living a life of dignity. This is what it means to 'live happily.'"
The performance of this plot segment was quite straightforward. Sunday stepped forward, appearing before the group.
He slowly spoke, laying out his perspective in one go.
Yet these few words alone sparked a profound resonance among everyone!
[Long live Order!]
[Is this a scripture?]
[Exactly, this is Sunday's version of the Bible.]
[Ahem, Mr. Sunday, I admit I was a bit loud earlier. Can I become your follower now?]
[I've successfully converted to Sunday. Amen!]
[This is the most pro-Sunday episode!]
[Support!!! I must support!!!]
[Now I've gotta back Sunday.]
[I pledge my loyalty to Emperor Zhou's ascension!]
[Damn it, who said Sunday's ideas were empty talk? Come out and take a beating!]
[I'm standing at attention, ready for my lashes, as long as I can join Order.]
[What Astral Express? What Firefly wife? What March 7th madam? Don't know 'em! Really don't!]
[Sorry, I've defected for real. These conditions—he's practically saving all of humanity!]
[He just wants me to rest seven days a week—what's wrong with that? Tell me, what's wrong with it!]
[Seven can fix it!]
[Seven-Rest Bro!]
[Emperor Zhou!]
[I'm sorry for my earlier doubts, my beloved Aeon of Order.]
[…]
The comment section exploded, with Sunday's words triggering a second massive wave of reactions, to the point where the screen was unwatchable without turning off the comments.
——
Firefly sighed helplessly, not responding directly.
March 7th watched the scene. "It sounds… almost flawless…"
The next moment, Firefly locked eyes with Sunday. "So… what's the cost of all this?"
"The cost is negligible—just my personal… eternal martyrdom. To maintain this paradise for all, someone must remain in solitary wakefulness until the end of the universe."
"Wakefulness?" At these words, Firefly's gaze sharpened. "So, this paradise is still just a dream. To enter it means abandoning reality, doesn't it?"
"It's not abandonment but transcendence. Flesh is frail. If the material world is the root of spiritual suffering, we ought to overcome it."
"But in this 'happiness,' people never overcome suffering and lose the chance to do so forever. In other words… this is 'escapism.'"
[Huohuo says, escapism is shameful but effective.]
[Sure, that's the logic, but can you really say no to resting seven days a week?]
[Honestly, if there were a way to escape right now, I'd do it without hesitation.]
——
Sunday smiled faintly. "You can think that way, but escapism isn't shameful. On the contrary, the seed of escapism lies in every heart."
[Huohuo: Yep, exactly!]
"Don't you agree, Miss Firefly? Why do lives fall into slumber? Because people fear waking from the dream. But this doesn't conflict with great causes. Only by acknowledging this can we understand human weakness, embrace it, and protect it."
Firefly's eyes burned with resolve. "I… recognize you as a natural leader. You're pessimistic about humanity yet still hold a heart of negation, granting equal compassion to all.
But I'm different. I live for 'myself.' To me, making choices for oneself is natural and an inherent right.
Perhaps escapism is the nature of the weak, but who qualifies as weak… shouldn't be defined by others.
In your eyes, am I to be classified as weak too?"
Sunday stared at Firefly, stunned, and didn't respond.
[Yes! So spirited! I'm kinda moved by Firefly.]
[Weak? Standing before you is a Stellaron Hunter, Glamoth's Iron Cavalry, the Molten Knight, a living weapon, AR26710, Sam!]
[I feel Sunday's starting point is good, but he sees everyone as weak, deserving protection.]
[Don't be fooled—Sunday might seem stumped, but Firefly has entropic loss. In his eyes, she's clinging to dreams to survive, so she's a 'weak' one.]
——
Himeko nodded with satisfaction. "Since Miss Firefly has made her stance clear, the Astral Express will naturally give our answer as well."
"It's up to you, Caelus, just as Mr. Mikhail instructed. Tell him our choice!"
[Yo, is the final showdown finally here?]
[Awesome! Battle time!]
[Give me some shock value—not much, just match Cocolia's boss fight with a banger like 'Wildfire.']
[Come on, you think 'Wildfire' was just thrown together? One legendary track is enough.]
[I think miHoYo's got plenty of great songs, lots of bangers. But 'Wildfire' with that apocalyptic scene was just too thrilling.]
——
However.
The screen went black, and the scene shifted.
A new setting appeared.
The Astral Express trio, along with Misha, entered Mikhail's dream bubble.
[???]
[What the hell, weren't we about to fight? What's this?]
[Calling back the foreshadowing. Sunday's pulling an Infinite Tsukuyomi—think his strength is weak? Without a buff for the protagonist, what's there to fight?]
[Fair point, but this sudden shift—doesn't it drag the pacing too much?]
[Guys, you're forgetting something. Misha's anomaly is another hint. The whole plot's practically screaming that Misha's deeply tied to Mikhail.]
——
Misha scratched his head. "Excuse me, where is this…?"
Himeko replied softly, "Does this place feel familiar to you, Misha?"
"I… can't quite say. But it feels oddly familiar. Where are we?"
"This is a dream bubble. Our consciousness has entered it. This is a gift left to the Astral Express by a Nameless, but strangely, when we opened it, we found it empty.
Dr. Edward at the Dreamscape Sales Store told me that dreams are formed from memories, and an empty core means a dream bubble can't take shape.
So, I thought, as the hotel bellboy and the one among the Astral Express's friends who knows Penacony best, little Misha, you might help us unravel this mystery."
——