The depths of "The Nihility".
Acheron's situation here was different from Leon's.
Not everyone is named Leon; the three of them were certainly not as relaxed as he was.
For an ordinary person encountering "The Nihility", if they could hold out in front of Him for more than five seconds, they could basically be considered a good prospect. Whether it be a "Doctor of Chaos" or a "Self-Annihilator", they would surely make a name for themselves.
This was true for ordinary "Nihility", let alone the "Depths" reached through a black hole singularity—the place in the entire Universe closest to "IX".
Those who could truly withstand the erosion of this world had to be, at the very least, existences on Acheron's level. Existences who had left their own color upon the Path of "The Nihility".
As for Pathstriders with firm wills like Frebass and Hysilens, they could at best maintain their sanity; resisting was difficult. If they stayed for too long, they would easily succumb.
If Acheron knew of Leon's performance, she would have only seven words for him:
Brother, if you're hacking, just say so.
"Pain, pain, pain..."
Frebass clutched her head, still encased in the diving helmet. She stood up, shaking her head as if trying to clear her mind.
Hysilens wasn't in such a sorry state. She was a practitioner of "The Nihility" to begin with, and having lived as a siren in the past, she was long accustomed to the dark and lightless seabed.
"How is it? Are you okay?"
Acheron, who was also somewhat affected, asked the two.
"I'm okay."
Frebass took a deep breath and began to look around.
"Have we succeeded?"
As far as the eye could see, there was only a black pool, as if countless black holes had converged to form this world.
"Yes."
Acheron held her blade, nodding slightly.
"Next, we must head towards the interior of 'The Nihility'."
She gazed at the road ahead, which had no visible end.
"Miss Hysilens is fine; she has innate resistance."
Acheron first rested her gaze on Hysilens, then shifted it to her travel companion.
"Frebass, you are naturally at a disadvantage. The probability of you becoming trapped in this 'Nihility' before reaching the end of this journey is much higher."
"But fortunately, the characteristics of 'The Trailblaze' grant you a certain possibility of countering 'The Nihility'."
"Never forget your goal, your ideals. Remember to keep them in your heart at all times; do not forget them for even a second."
Acheron's tone was grave.
"Only by carrying out the spirit of 'The Trailblaze' to the very end will you have a slim chance of victory."
The philosophy represented by "The Trailblaze" possessed, to a certain extent, the capital to oppose "The Nihility".
Regarding "The Nihility", even Acheron, who held the esteemed status of an "Emanator" of this Path, had no good way to oppose it. Or rather, the best way was a powerful spirit.
Leon's Dao-seeking heart, where stats connected to the brain and a rabbit head replaced thinking, counted as one way.
Frebass's "Trailblaze" also counted as one.
Harboring a state of mind that denied "The Nihility", carrying the goal of cutting down "The Nihility", traveling, and then saving the people trapped by "The Nihility" along the way.
Finally, at the end, resolving everything.
This was the method Acheron used to oppose "The Nihility".
She knew clearly that she could forget anything, but the moment she forgot her goal, she would immediately be defeated in her confrontation with "The Nihility".
"IX" was just that domineering. This was true not only for her, but also for Frebass, for Hysilens, and even for Leon.
"Don't worry."
Frebass patted her chest and spoke with unwavering determination.
"I will definitely walk a path farther and deeper than Akivili. This is my life's philosophy. I will absolutely get to the bottom of the end of 'The Nihility'!"
She told Acheron not to worry.
In this place where "The Trailblaze" had not yet reached, she represented the face of "Akivili". Bearing the name of the Patriarch, she would absolutely not lose to "IX" in this confrontation!
Acheron nodded, then began to worry a bit about Hysilens.
"Are we not going to regroup with Mr. Leon?"
Compared to the so-called end, Hysilens was more concerned about Leon.
"He will definitely head towards the end as well."
From the first moment she saw him, Acheron could tell he was a person with considerable confidence in himself.
He felt like the type of person who would shout, "Why can't it be done? If it's me, I can do it!" or "Just because others can't do it doesn't mean I can't!" and then walk the talk.
Such a person was the least likely to lose to "The Nihility".
"If all goes well, we should reunite at the agreed-upon end."
Acheron looked at Hysilens, hoping these words would give her a temporary goal.
Unlike Frebass, Hysilens had come along for the ride. She had no interest in the end of "The Nihility"; her loyal heart was hung solely on Leon.
The method she used to oppose "The Nihility" was to fill her empty self through others, entrusting the meaning of her existence to others to decide.
Seeking an external fulcrum because of an internal void, choosing to have another's light illuminate her own nothingness.
In Amphoreus, it was Cerydra, and now, it was Leon.
The minister only cared about her Lord.
But in Acheron's view, this method was precisely a manifestation of the weakness in Hysilens's heart.
She didn't mean to deny it. It was just that if her own spirit wasn't strong enough, this journey would likely be fraught with grim peril.
Acheron suddenly found herself in a dilemma.
If they chose to look for Leon, Frebass might not make it to the finish line. But if they didn't go, and without Leon, it would be Hysilens's turn to potentially fail to reach the finish line.
"If I don't bring her back, I won't come back either."
Ultimately, Acheron chose to believe in Leon's words and decided to head for the end first.
She believed he would definitely be waiting for the three of them at the end.
Hysilens's method of relying on others had pros and cons; the upper and lower limits depended entirely on the candidate she treated as an anchor.
If the anchor was strong enough, then "The Nihility" would absolutely never be able to defeat her in this lifetime. But in front of "IX", who dared to claim they were absolutely strong?
Leon, who was currently attacking "IX's" spawn point, had something to say:
You're the one called "IX", huh? Dare to scrap with me?
"I hope he is alright."
Hysilens lowered her eyelids and spoke from the heart.
"He is a powerful man."
As the words fell, a monstrous aura of "The Destruction" surged from ahead.
"Compared to him, I think we need to be more concerned about our own situation right now."
Acheron looked gravely at the formidable enemy that had suddenly appeared ahead, her hand immediately climbing to the hilt of her blade.
"No passage ahead."
Zephyro pointed his sword at the three, blocking their path with the posture of an absolute powerhouse.
"I have heard much of you, Lord Ravager of 'The Destruction'."
Acheron's usually calm tone showed a rare seriousness, as if facing a formidable enemy.
"First time meeting, colleague of 'The Nihility'."
Zephyro nodded to her, which counted as a mutual greeting.
"That you can walk such a distance on this road surprises me considerably."
He offered praise to Acheron.
"In hundreds of Amber Eras, you are the first 'Self-Annihilator' capable of standing side by side with me."
Zephyro looked at her, the power of "The Destruction" churning around him.
"Our clash is inevitable. There can be only one ruler of 'The Nihility'. Since that is the case, we might as well decide the victor right here."
Strictly speaking, their ultimate goals were aligned.
Both wanted to kill "IX" and put "The Nihility" to death.
But as the saying goes, one mountain cannot contain two tigers.
Zephyro's "Pale White" and Acheron's "Crimson" had essential differences.
If Zephyro didn't have the immortality of the peaches, there would certainly be no difference between them.
If they were in the same "Nihility" faction, they might have had a possibility of cooperation.
But Zephyro ultimately chose "The Destruction", while Acheron still held fast to the path of "The Nihility". From the very beginning, the two could not be compatible.
The reason Zephyro wanted to kill "The Nihility" was that He wanted to use it as a stepping stone, thereby bringing magnificent "Destruction" to the entire world.
Whereas Acheron wanted to kill "IX" because she wanted to save herself from the shadows, as well as those trapped by "The Nihility".
Their fundamental purposes were completely incompatible like fire and water, so how could they accommodate each other?
"You two go first. I will stall Him."
Silver light flashed suddenly, and the odachi in Acheron's hand unsheathed slightly under its master's push.
Frebass was just about to speak when she was sternly rebuked.
"Do not hesitate."
Acheron spoke quite seriously, her gaze never shifting from Zephyro for even a moment.
"Frebass, opportunity knocks but once. I believe you understand this principle better than I do. If you stop here, then everything ends."
She seemed to be guarding against His sudden attack on the two.
"Embark on your journey without looking back, Nameless who walks in the present progressive tense of Trailblaze."
"Even if the final ending is already destined, it does not matter. There are too many things people cannot change. But before that, on the road toward the ending..."
"There are still many things we can do."
Acheron gave the two her final blessing.
Hysilens remained silent, then immediately grabbed Frebass's hand and moved away from the battlefield, running toward their destination without looking back.
She had plenty of self-awareness.
Only Leon was qualified to fight in this kind of setup, and only he had the capability to help Acheron break the deadlock.
The two of them, mere Pathstriders, had better stay out of it.
Not only would they be a burden, but once the fighting started, they probably wouldn't even be able to withstand the aftershocks.
Zephyro watched the two leave, appearing to have no intention of stopping them.
"You should draw that blade."
He raised his sword, the tip pointing straight at Acheron.
"And you should show your true skills."
As the words fell, a flower called "Residual Dream" emerged on Acheron's right hand, which had climbed onto the hilt.
"Weeping like rain, filling the Lethe."
Accompanying her words, Acheron's purple hair transformed into ashen white in an instant, and her right arm and pair of purple pupils turned scarlet.
"Surging like a tide, leading you home."
A line of distinct bloody tears flowed down Acheron's right cheek.
"I weep for the departed!"
With a click, the blade of the odachi was fully unsheathed!
After Acheron completed her opening stance, the originally plain blade was also completely covered by the "Crimson" she represented within "The Nihility".
As the saber "Naught" was unsheathed,
The entire world was covered in gray; "The Nihility" was layered upon "The Nihility".
In this world that had lost its color,
Only Acheron retained the sole red.
"Not bad."
Zephyro gave his approval, and then white light began to shine from the hollow space near his sword hilt.
Another splash of color rose in this colorless world.
Expansion of Domain: "Horizon of Existence".
Expansion of Domain: "Destroyer of Extinction".
The two revealed their true skills at the same time, and a situation of dual-color confrontation occurred just like that.
Red and White, Acheron and Zephyro; neither willing to yield, they stood in opposition.
The Strongest Self-Annihilator of the Modern Era VS The Strongest Self-Annihilator in History!
First of all, let it be stated: you are the challenger, merely an ordinary person born in an era without me!
Meanwhile, on the other side with Haki-Leon.
"Oh my."
Leon looked at "IX" before him and laughed out of sheer annoyance.
"You really don't hit back when hit, and don't talk back when scolded, huh."
Looking much like the Black Swan (Black Big Shot), a flowing liquid like a slime with two beady eyes dotted on it—this was one of the myriad manifestations of the Aeon of "The Nihility", "IX".
"No, bro, give me some reaction."
Leon lowered "The Crusade", the bow whose sights were trained squarely on "IX".
During this time, the arrows he had shot at this "IX" numbered eight thousand if not ten thousand.
He had pulled the string until he was nearly exhausted, yet this "IX" stubbornly showed no reaction whatsoever.
He really was rotting away thoroughly enough.
If it were any other "Aeon" here today, they probably wouldn't have let him have his way so completely.
This statement could actually be reversed.
If it were any other "Emanator", it would be impossible for them to go so many rounds with "IX" without being swallowed up.
Ordinary people would have been devoured long ago if they got that close to "IX".
Those who could do it weren't as strong as Leon,
Forgot the middle, forgot the end, anyway, they aren't as strong as Leon.
"Sigh, forget it. I won't tease the fool anymore."
At first, Leon thought he could pull a "Sword God of Ten-Mile Slope" routine, figuring that since "IX" wouldn't attack, he might be able to grind Him down.
But he soon discovered that,
Without the status of a god, he was back to his previous predicament: his attacks were completely ineffective.
"IX" couldn't even be bothered to glance at him.
Leon accepted it; this had absolutely no challenge to it.
It wasn't easy getting another chance to clash with an "Aeon".
But "IX" wouldn't even return a hand.
As if implying: If you can kill Me, My seat is truly yours.
Leon was considering whether to run away and continue looking for people.
But thinking about it carefully, didn't the end of "The Nihility" refer to this very place?
One had to realize, this was where "IX" resided.
Was this not "end" enough? If the destination of Acheron and the others wasn't here, where else could it be?
Let's wait for a while. Besides...
"Since I'm here."
Thinking this, Leon cast his gaze upon "IX" once again.
He was going to toggle his hacks.
Since he was already here, he had to do something.
Stop pretending to be a high-and-mighty fairy; I'll make you bow down immediately, oh oh oh.
Deep Blue, add points for me! Max out "IX's" sensitivity!
Ji Yuan traveled. He came to Star Rail and even awakened a simulator.
Without hesitation, he had to start playing immediately!
"Qingque, you don't want your family and friends around you to know about the online loans you owe, do you?"
"Firefly, to defeat the Swarm, we must work harder to breed more Glamoth Iron Cavalry!"
"Robin, have you ever been to the market? Do you know how much a loaf of bread costs? Songs cannot save the wandering and destitute people, but speeches can!"
"Cyrene, the absolute strong... the loneliness born from that... the one who taught Iron Tomb love is the max-stat you!"
Good news: even though the girls had memories from the simulator, the system censored it for him.
Bad news: the parts the system censored weren't the faces, but other places.
After turning the girls' lives into a mess in the simulation, looking at the girls closing in on him, Ji Yuan realized with hindsight that what he had awakened seemed to be a dating simulator.
"Heh. Can we reconcile?"
"At this moment, you couldn't possibly be joking, right?"