[Bailu]: "This illness is incurable.
I suggest quickly carrying him away before he infects others."
[Lakshmi]: "I actually love this shameless, despicable Scott!
He's so charming like this!"
[Tail]: "Ah, you two are truly a match made in heaven!
Please stay together forever and spare the rest of us."
[Yanqing]: "Though the General told me to learn from the heroes in the video, I think I'll pass on this level of absurdity!"
[Jing Yuan]: "Yanqing, definitely don't learn from this.
Pretend I never said anything."
[Yanqing]: "I naturally know right from wrong, General.
Please rest assured!"
[Aha]: "Aha is currently in space!
This joke is so good Aha can't just sit back and watch—Aha has to float up to see it properly!
It's been ages since Aha found something this entertaining!"
Scott was busy calculating his gains and losses.
His past had been exposed, and his usual underhanded methods would be much harder to use now.
Once everyone knows how you climbed your way up, of course they won't fall for it again!
Still, he had gained fame across the universe—though not exactly good fame.
But what does a lone wolf need good fame for?
Of course not!
Now he just had to figure out how to leverage this infamy.
[Aha]: "Aha is thoroughly amused, so Aha shall reward you!
Thus, witnessed by the entire universe, I hereby declare Scott as Aha's Emanator!"
[Fuli]: "The birth of a new Emanator?
Worth recording."
Just as Scott was pondering how to turn his notoriety into profit, his brain short-circuited at this announcement.
"W-Wait… I just became an Emanator?
Just like that?" After a moment of stunned silence, his rebooted brain confirmed the good news.
[Herta]: "Tch.
As expected of the Aeon of Elation.
This kind of capricious, grandstanding behavior fits the stereotype perfectly."
*Let me witness the birth of an Emanator of Elation firsthand!
This will be excellent data for analyzing the Path of Elation in the Simulated Universe.*
[Why not join in on the fun?
Heh, I'll livestream it myself!]
Soon, the screen began broadcasting Scott's current situation in real time.
Now, the entire universe could witness the current state of the infamous "Lone Wolf" who had pulled off such outrageous feats!
Under the gaze of the cosmos, laughter echoed through the corporate branch as the Aeon of Elation descended.
Every major faction tuned in to watch the divine blessing—even the Aeon of Remembrance deemed it worthy of personal documentation out of respect!
Then, with emotions torn between joy and terror, Scott instinctively accepted the mask Aha handed him.
Under the watchful eyes of the universe and the Aeon of Elation himself, he placed the mask—radiating immense energy—onto his face.
A surge of power flooded into his body as he groaned, his energy levels visibly skyrocketing as unfathomable imaginary energy dispersed around him.
And then… Scott's power… only increased… a little?
Lost in the euphoria of his newfound strength, Scott fantasized about how he would uphold the Lone Wolf's creed and dominate the world from now on.
But to the audience, it was clear—his energy levels were barely above an ordinary Pathstrider's.
Not much of an improvement at all.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!
So entertaining!
Your reactions are priceless!" Aha cackled before vanishing into thin air.
At that moment, everyone realized—they had been played.
All those contingency plans drafted by major factions for Scott's ascension as an Emanator?
Utterly wasted effort.
[Fuli]: "...
Aha has fooled the entire universe.
This event is worth recording!"
[Incinerator]: "No!
Lord Fuli, such garbage data should be burned!"
[Scott]: "What?!
I got scammed?!"
[Aha]: "As Aha's prop, didn't you receive Aha's blessing?"
[Stelle]: "I get it!
This is like embezzlement.
Ah, how tragic for you, grown-up!"
[Aha]: "Wahhh~ Stelle gets Aha best!
Are you sure you won't be my Emanator?"
[Stelle]: "I, the Galaxy Bat-wielding Hero, live and die for the Astral Express!
Aha, you may take my body, but never my soul!
Come!
Bestow your blessings upon me!"
[Aha]: "Since you want it so badly… I won't give it!"
[March 7th]: "Ugh, can't even keep your mouth shut in a blizzard?"
Back to Scott—while he did gain something from this, it wasn't much.
His work relationships were ruined, and his current strength wasn't enough to transfer to a better department.
The Aeon of Elation's "blessing" was just enough to keep him stuck in mediocrity—neither excelling nor completely failing.
Still, he had met an Aeon and received some blessing.
Not a total loss…
Not a loss my ass!
Forcing a lone wolf to spit out its prey is downright cruel!!!
Just then, orders from corporate headquarters arrived: Since you're not an Emanator, get back to work!
Of course, the company wouldn't discard his value entirely.
Forget whether he actually met an Aeon—just say he did!
Plus, thanks to his absurd antics, he had gained quite a following across the universe.
In fact, his sheer ridiculousness made him unforgettable to audiences everywhere.
Thus, Scott's best career move—where the company could milk his value most effectively—was in media.
Truly a glorious moment for journalism.
And so, Scott was honorably seated at the same table as Jymi-sensei.
From now on, audiences could regularly enjoy his performances on TV—where simply being his natural self would deliver top-tier entertainment.
[Kiana]: "Wait… that's it?
Feels kinda anticlimactic for us."
[Bronya Zaychik]: "Idiot Kiana, we're in a parallel universe.
Why would this affect us?"
[Otto]: "Judging by the initial energy readings in the video, it seemed close to Herrscher-level?"
[Kevin]: "...An Emanator's power just now surpassed even the Herrscher of Finality from our era."
Meanwhile, on Jarilo-VI—after spending so much time chatting and watching videos—the trio had finally found traces of civilization in the snowstorm: Belobog.
No longer frogs at the bottom of a well thanks to the screen and chat group, they now understood the Astral Express's significance and the vastness of the cosmos.
And so, the Trailblazers were welcomed into Belobog.