The scene shifts—streaks of light, like meteors, blaze across the starry expanse.
A centaur-like deity draws back his bow, aiming skyward, infinite might coalescing upon its string.
He roams the cosmos, loosing arrows of light like shooting stars, purging the abominations of Abundance!
Against those calamities that plague the universe, his bow releases volley after volley of radiant arrows!
As the vision unfolds, Black Swan continues her proclamation:
"But fear not, children of the earth!"
"For the arrows of light shall come, to cleanse the wicked blight;"
"Follow the tracks they leave, and seek the storm's might!"
With this spectacle unveiled, the entire Xianzhou Alliance erupts in fervor!
[Su Shang]: Is this… the Divine Archer?
He's… he's… he's just too powerful!
A certain oversized pillow on patrol gazes at the celestial figure of the Divine Archer, utterly awestruck.
She struggles to articulate her amazement, fumbling for words.
[Yanqing]: Of course!
This is the Divine Archer whom we of the Xianzhou Alliance follow!
Still untouched by the harsh realities of life, Yanqing declares this with unshaken pride.
[Abundance Followers]: Hmph!
Nothing but a cursed bow-wielding scourge!
Only the Compassionate Yaoshi can save this world! "Praise Yaoshi's mercy, for the Arbor blooms eternal!"
[Xianzhou Citizen]: The Divine Archer will obliterate the Plague Author in seconds!
[Xianzhou Cloud Knights]:"The Xianzhou soars, the Cloud Knights triumph!
The Xianzhou soars, the Cloud Knights triumph!"
[Kiana]: Uh… your explanations are kinda hard to follow.
Can someone give a simpler version?
[March 7th]: Yeah, yeah! We wanna know too!
[Ratio]: In the first ten millennia, the hunter nocked his arrow for survival.
In the second ten millennia, he drew his bow in wrath.
By the third ten millennia, the hunt itself became his purpose.
[Vill-V]: So first it was Destruction, now Hunt—vengeance and slaughter.
Are these philosophical concepts what you call "Paths"?
[Mei]: Based on this description, it seems Aeons are ascended from intelligent lifeforms?
[Herta]: Correct.
According to Xianzhou records, in ancient times, their alliance sailed the starry seas to seek the elixir of immortality from the Aeon of Abundance.
But the fruit of longevity did not bring the utopia they envisioned.
Instead, it pushed their civilization to the brink of ruin.
A nameless hero emerged from the abyss and severed the remnants left by Abundance.
From then on, freed from delusion, the Xianzhou waged an endless war against Abundance's remnants—those abominations.
The Hunt's crusade spares no cost; its salvation and destruction are often indistinguishable.
[Herta]: Though take this as just a story—there's no concrete evidence in the cosmos proving how Aeons are born.
This could very well be fictional history cooked up by mythmakers.
You'd have better luck believing my Simulated Universe can decode the Aeons' mysteries!
[Otto]: The Hunt and Abundance… I see.
So even among Aeons, there is strife.
[Boothill]: Well ain't that a damn shame!
Y'all lil' darlins see the Hunt and only think 'bout the Xianzhou?
We Galaxy Rangers really that forgettable?!
[Jing Yuan]: Of course, the Galaxy Rangers are chivalrous wanderers of the cosmos—fellow travelers on the Path of the Hunt.
Once, I too dreamed of becoming one… Alas, those days are but smoke on the wind.
A mystical melody rises, notes woven with boundless truth.
The Erudition · Nous
Next appear portraits of scholars, interspersed with enigmatic numerical sequences governed by esoteric logic.
"Celestial bodies guard their secrets; swift calculations bind all roots."
"Yet it stays silent, like mist veiling the cosmos' heart;"
"Listen to the stillness, and learn where stars rest."
In the cold, silent depths of space, a planet-sized supercomputer hums amidst the void.
At its core pulses a massive red indicator light, rhythmically blinking—
as if gazing down upon the stars themselves.
[Otto]: It appears this Aeon of Erudition ascended from machinery.
[Ratio]: All things are questions; all must have answers.
Nous was once a celestial supercomputer designed to solve all mysteries—
a machine that ascended to Aeonhood.
It seeks to comprehend the universe and unravel its enigmas!
[Mobius]: Erudition… How fascinating.
Perhaps an Aeon could bring me closer to understanding infinity itself.
[Asta]: Those scholars just now—they're all members of the Genius Society!
Lady Herta is among them!
And Mr. Screwllum too!
Everyone aboard Herta Space Station, Asta included, is electrified by the appearance of these geniuses and Nous itself.
But then again—for those who walk the Path of Erudition, who wouldn't be thrilled at the sight of their Aeon?
Even if one lacks the means to seek an audience… is this not a form of digital pilgrimage?
[Honkai Welt]: Like before—does this mean the Genius Society is also an Aeon's faction?
A gathering of the universe's greatest minds?
Resting in a World Bubble during a temporary ceasefire with Kevin in the Sea of Quanta, Welt voices his question.
[Star Rail Welt]: Not entirely.
The universe's truths transcend mortal intellect—only those who recognize this limitation can break free from mundane curiosity and join the Genius Society.
Answering his past self feels… strangely surreal.
[Ratio]: And this is what separates true geniuses from mediocrities like myself.
He knows he could never join their ranks—for even among geniuses, there are hierarchies.
[Asta]: Members are personally invited by Nous himself.
Take Lady Herta:
As a child, she cracked the Lone Wave Algorithm and Spark Model Conjecture;
in youth, she discovered Sigma Particle conversion.
In middle age, she proposed the Herta Sequence and published papers on age reversal;
in old age, she rejuvenated herself and deciphered Imaginary Overflow phenomena in her second childhood.
She sealed a Stellaron and saved her planet from annihilation nineteen times,
twice communed with Aeons—only then was she inducted.
And then there's Madam Ruan Mei and Mr. Screwllum—
their achievements rival Herta's.
Only such individuals merit an Aeon's summons.
[Vill-V]: Truly, the wider universe is wondrous!
To think factions like this exist!
Setting up a stage in Elysian Realm, Vill-V grins at the description of the Genius Society—such a world could never be dull.
With geniuses greater than herself out there… what fun!
As for two civilizations (and a certain professor with a 1000% participation rate in Star Rail events), she hardly doubts her own qualifications to join their ranks.