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[Talk to Black Swan and wait for the warp to begin]
Guinaifen saw the prompt on the interface.
At that moment.
The carriage was serene.
Everyone sat in their respective seats.
The starry river outside the window flowed quietly.
Black Swan spoke gently, "Oh? You're here. Your reflection is mingled with the stars outside the window… hehe, it's a bit hard to see clearly."
"How was it? Did this dream journey… satisfy you?"
[It feels a bit unfinished…]
"This slight sense of regret and melancholy… yes, I also enjoy memories that linger like this."
"Then… could you return that little parting gift to me? I can't wait any longer."
[Submit item: Fate's Epistle]
Seeing this item.
Guinaifen was momentarily stunned.
She exclaimed, "So it was this thing?"
"Black Swan, you actually remembered!"
"How stingy! You couldn't even leave it with us as a memento."
However.
Upon retrieving the parting gift, Black Swan's expression subtly changed!
She let out a sound of surprise!
"Hmm, it's nothing…"
"I just… found something very interesting in your memories."
"Before I explain the reason… I must apologize to you, Stelle. The parting gift I gave you wasn't actually a compass of the Memory Zone… but merely an empty Light Cone."
"Do you remember when we first entered the Dreamscape Hotel, I asked your companions for a few trinkets? They served a similar purpose."
"This way, I can sense you at any time and intervene promptly if you encounter danger."
"But... that's not its most essential function."
"A Light Cone is a slice of light used to encapsulate and solidify phenomena (memories), and this empty Light Cone is no exception."
"It can record your memories in their most vivid form, and then... for me to appreciate and cherish, becoming a unique recollection."
"..."
"This..."
"Wow, a portable surveillance device, huh!"
"Truly befitting of the Garden of Recollection."
"The word 'cherish' is used quite subtly..."
"So Black Swan is craving our memories!"
"Give them to her! Let her cherish them!"
...
Black Swan continued, "All things in the world stem from the power of spirit and soul—that power is memory. To prevent ourselves from being left behind by the world, we must make the world remember us... or reshape the world with our memories."
"Life may seem long, but only a handful of powerful memories can be extracted from it: moments of joy, sorrow, lightness, or heaviness... But you're different, Stelle."
"Memory is the reflection of the future. From that reflection, I can see your unique value. You can create memories that will captivate the world... Your memories can illuminate the future direction of the universe."
"And those memories... will shine as brightly as the countless stars visible through this porthole."
[This is making me blush a little...]
"How adorable. But do you know the deeper reason behind why I'm doing this?"
"The reason is simple—in the grand and extravagant dream of the family, you are the only one who has experienced it all."
This line of text was even highlighted with emphasis!
Guinaifen's expression turned serious!
This was Yu Ling's reminder to the players!
This sentence would be crucial!
Experienced it all?
What special significance does that hold?
Just as she was about to press further.
Black Swan said, "Don't be impatient. I will reveal the answer... but now is not the time."
"Look back at your friends. Each of them is excited about the next destination, filled with anticipation for their present and future. Wouldn't it be too disappointing to reveal everything now?"
"I want to choose the right moment, a time when you're completely relaxed... Perhaps, every time the night blurs, every time you're about to fall asleep, that's the most suitable time."
"How about tonight? I'll prepare candles, fragrances, and a soft couch to create a comfortable dreamland for you. Then, I'll tell you the answer as a little bedtime story to lull you to sleep..."
The players in the live stream were immediately on edge!
...
"She's still being The Riddlers!"
"Oh no, I feel like my brain is going to grow!"
"What's going on? We were just choosing the next destination, and Black Swan's words are making me uneasy."
"Just dance with me, and I'll behave."
"Bedtime stories, hehe... I like that!"
"Prison Goose has quite the flair for romance."
"1 year old, and still need a story to fall asleep~"
...
Suddenly.
Pom-Pom's voice rang out!
"Hey—hey hey—Attention all passengers—"
"The train is about to warp—the train is about to warp—please sit tight and hold on, Pom-Pom—!"
Black Swan smiled faintly.
"Hehe, it seems we're finally about to set off. There are so many shining memories waiting for us in the distance... Shall we end our chat here for now?"
"Ah, right. As a small compensation for teasing you with that empty Light Cone, I'd like to give you a phrase. It holds great significance to me..."
"Life is a winding maze; apart from memories, we have nothing."
"Make sure to keep it close to your heart, okay?"
...
Guinaifen rubbed her arms.
Why did she suddenly feel a chill down her spine?
It must be an illusion!
Definitely an illusion!
She then turned to the camera and said, "Folks, we're about to start the warp jump!"
"To be honest, I'm quite looking forward to the new map at the next stop."
"And the clues Black Swan left here..."
"I wonder when they'll be revealed?"
As she spoke.
She tapped the screen.
Expecting to see the animation of the train's warp jump.
However.
A line of text appeared instead!
[Amber Era 2158, the first year of the epoch, the universe returned to its rightful path. The embers of conspiracy smoldered in the dreamland of Penacony, yet before they could spread into a wildfire, they became a fleeting spark on Qlipoth's anvil, vanishing in an instant.]
Black Swan softly read the contents of the subtitles.
It was like the curtain call after a play.
[The dead and the deceased continue to sleep, and the living can also rest peacefully. Everyone is loudly silent, each going their own way. The galaxy radiates the vitality it should have at the beginning of every era, the price being only a slight sorrow of a pair of siblings.]
[Babies are being born, stars are extinguishing. The Silver Rail is expanding. The story of the Astral Express has come to an end, yet it also begins anew.]
[Time rolls forward, and the Trailblaze journey will also turn a new page.]
The live chat was instantly flooded with question marks!
As Black Swan narrated, many players gradually began to understand.
...
"Wuwuwu…"
"It's over~"
"Is it really over, is it really finished… Will we meet again? Wuwuwu, Honkai: Star Rail, how can I live without you?"
"It's also a perfect curtain call."
"The end, let's sprinkle flowers, thank you for the company~"
"May this journey lead us to the stars."
"From now on, it's our story."
"Let's take a commemorative photo at the end!"
"This can also be considered as Brother Sunday sacrificing himself to realize his ideals…"
"This prosperous age is as you wished."
"I'm going to create a new account and start over!"
...
[Penacony, the Land of Dreams, End]
[Honkai: Star Rail]
[Starring, the Trailblazer]
[...]
The names of the curtain call staff appeared one by one.
This made all the players even more certain…
Honkai: Star Rail has truly ended here!
Guinaifen looked at her own face reflected in the black screen.
For a moment, her emotions were complex, feeling a bit lost.
Until the final subtitle appeared.
[Script Supervisor, Elio]
[In eternal memory
Lazarina
Tiernan
Ragvokshar Mikhail]
[May this journey lead us to the stars]
Seeing the last line.
Guinaifen was certain.
The story has truly come to an end!
"Then…"
"Little Gui will also end the live stream here, to sort out her emotions."
"Thank you, family…"
Halfway through her words.
She suddenly stopped!
Because!
Black Swan's voice rang out again!
"You feel very relaxed now, right? Then…"
"Now, it's time to tell you a little bedtime story."
The easter egg is here!
Guinaifen was instantly delighted!
Her fingertips were still on the verge of closing the game.
However…
Black Swan's next sentence struck her like a bolt of lightning!
Her scalp tingled!
She doubted her own eyes!
"Let's start with the conclusion: in the confrontation with Sunday, everyone from the Astral Express Crew, and even everyone from Penacony, failed. No one survived."
???????.