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"Elio always says that fate is singular, and no one can escape it. He can see the future, and we... also know our predetermined endings."
"But before that moment arrives, people can still choose to do something for themselves... We all have that right, don't we?"
Firefly seemed to sense something as she spoke.
It was unclear whether Blade understood her.
He replied, "After today, the name Jepella will vanish from the annals of galactic history, and the Eternal Flame Manor will take its place. In the near future, you will receive an invitation..."
"That will be your next destination."
"The land of dreams, Penacony."
"I hope you find the answers you seek there... or perhaps, liberation," Blade said solemnly.
And with that.
This flashback came to a perfect close.
Inside the hotel room.
Firefly's emotions surged as she watched this scene...
Beside her.
Silver Wolf teased, "So this is what happened when you guys came over?"
"Honestly, I kind of want to see what you looked like after the car crash."
Firefly: "..."
"I remember you've always wanted to break free from Elio's script, haven't you, Firefly?" Kafka suddenly asked.
Firefly nodded, "That's right."
"I was just feeling a bit emotional during that car ride."
Kafka paced around the room as she spoke, "[This is a self-driving car, we're just resting our hands on the steering wheel]. Isn't that what we, the Stellaron Hunters, do when we follow Elio's script?"
"Everything is [self-driving] [fate]."
"That must be the hidden metaphor in this scene."
Firefly was taken aback, "Is that how you interpret it?"
"But what about now? Now we don't need to follow any [script]."
"The fate of this universe has been completely shattered."
"So next... I might do something I've never done before."
Hearing this.
Both Firefly and Silver Wolf looked intrigued.
"Like what?"
"For example, holding a concert."
"Or forming a band~"
The room.
Fell into a brief silence!
Then...
"HAHAHAHAHA..."
Silver Wolf's unrestrained laughter erupted!
"Kafka, you've really changed!"
"You're actually thinking about holding a concert?"
"Are you planning to retire early or something?"
"Why don't you send a message to Yu Ling and have him make a short promotional video for your concert?"
"Let's see how it goes first, HAHAHAHA..."
Outside the door.
Blade, who was about to knock, froze upon hearing Silver Wolf's laughter.
His raised hand hesitated, unsure whether to lower it.
Fortunately.
Kafka inside the room noticed immediately.
She gestured for silence.
Firefly had already pulled out her transformation device.
Silver Wolf quickly caught on.
She pulled up a surveillance screen.
After confirming it was Blade.
The three of them relaxed their guard.
Firefly opened the door.
"Hey, you're here. How was your vacation on the Luofu?"
Blade nodded.
Acknowledging the three of them.
Then he got straight to the point, "I'm going to find Acheron."
The three were slightly taken aback.
Blade continued, "He should be able to kill me."
Silver Wolf: "?"
Firefly: "Huh?"
Kafka: "..."
"This girl... why is she getting more and more rebellious?"
Silver Wolf crossed her arms and said,
"Has he come to terms with it, or is he still struggling?"
"Bladie, times have changed. In this universe, anything is possible now."
"Recently, some events have shaken the cosmos."
"Who knows? There might even be a chance to fulfill your wishes."
Kafka gestured for Blade to look at the screen.
Blade glanced over.
Wasn't that… himself?
And he was wearing a suit, driving a car?
Had he also appeared in the Penacony storyline?
Huh?
Wait.
Why did this scene feel so familiar?
Blade gently touched his forehead.
"Alright, Kafka, you're right."
"I'll finish watching the new storyline before going to find that woman."
"Indeed… now is not the time."
With that, Blade walked off on his own.
Because.
In the hotel corridor.
Two people were waiting for him.
Jing Yuan and Dan Heng.
...
Little Gui's livestream.
At this moment.
Guinaifen had already progressed through the storyline and arrived at the legendary [Land of Exile]!
Just as she stepped into this unfamiliar area.
A familiar and reassuring voice rang out: "I'm glad to see you're safe."
"Uncle Yang!"
"Great, just as we arrive at the new map, our strong teammate Old Yang joins the party."
Firefly also explained, "Close your eyes… this is the answer. It's incredible, isn't it? The monsters we've always regarded as harbingers of death are actually the guardians of the Land of Exile. They follow a specific pattern, abducting people from their beautiful dreams and bringing them here."
"We've been puzzled about whether true death exists in the Dreamscape. Now it seems it was all a mental trap set by the mastermind behind the scenes, to cover up the truth of people's disappearances, and… this fortress called Dreamflux Reef," Old Yang added.
"Every appearance of that meme is related to The Watchmaker. Since Dreamflux Reef is its destination for abducting people, many of the questions that have troubled us for so long might find answers here."
Firefly said, "The atmosphere here is completely different from the beautiful dreams. People live in a very loose manner, without managers like the families, and their mental states are subtly dazed."
"But from the residents' fragmented words, I caught a familiar name… Gallagher."
Old Yang pondered, "This man again, always appearing at just the right moment in every critical situation… it does save us the trouble of searching for him."
"Himeko and March have already set off ahead of us. Let's adjust our state and get moving."
Guinaifen first observed her surroundings.
The three of them were currently in a small alley between rows of residential buildings.
Unlike the Golden Hour, which was resplendent and glorious.
The aesthetic here was one of gloom and decay.
The crisscrossing wires in the air and the fluttering papers only intensified this atmosphere.
"If I had come to a place like this alone, I'd probably be terrified…"
"If Shangshang were here, she'd probably be lying on the ground by now."
...
"Sushang: Don't @ me."
"Are we going to fight Gallagher next?"
"Wait, if that's the case, Gallagher hasn't done anything wrong, has he?"
"Holy crap! Is there really a twist?"
"I was just betting with someone on a forum that there wouldn't be a twist, or else I'd have to kowtow ten times… I'm screwed!"
"Gallagher, please, I beg you, stay true to your villainous role!"
"Astral Express friends! My friends and I just returned from Dreamflux Reef! You can really travel back and forth using Something Unto Death! It's like a shuttle bus!"
"So freaking thrilling! I'm already addicted!"
"Breaking news: Dreamflux Reef has been overrun by guests and has become a viral hotspot. Visitors are spontaneously forming groups to explore it."
"Breaking news +1: The round-trip driver, Something Unto Death, has gone missing. Even using the corresponding method, it can't be summoned anymore."
"Wow! It used to be a death incarnation that angered both humans and gods, but now you've driven it to slack off and skip work?"
"Constantly shuttling between dreams, even a meme would get tired, let alone a person…"
"Death: I may not be human, but you all are truly dogs!"