Chapter 283: Acheron: "You invited Xipe? Fine, I'll let IX have a word with you.
"So, do you understand now? Your companions are in danger right now—quite dangerous, one might say. If you still don't believe me, you're free to send them a message and see. But I would advise you to be quick about it…"
"After all, neither of us knows what happened in the dream, nor do we know how much of what that Memokeeper said is true…"
"And as for that Acheron… what exactly does she intend to do?"
On the Express.
After Boothill finished this sentence.
The screen temporarily faded to black.
Immediately after.
Acheron's voice rang out.
"I don't intend to do anything."
However.
Acheron wasn't chatting with Boothill across servers.
She was answering someone else's question!
At this moment.
The scene where Acheron was located.
Was precisely the stage where Aventurine had previously launched his grand performance.
A uniform crack had appeared in the center of the giant screen in the background.
Looking through the crack.
One could just make out a massive red slash scar remaining on the sky in the distance!
This,
Was all a "masterpiece" left behind by Acheron in the previous battle!
...
"It's connected! It's connected!"
"Good heavens, where did this slash send our Astral Express crew?"
"It seems like only Acheron is left at the scene."
"We were saved by Firefly, but I don't know where the others ended up…"
"Acheron's slash really was an indiscriminate attack."
"What about Aventurine? Wuwuwuwu, my good brother Aventurine, where are you?"
"The Aventurine stone had already shattered before the battle, and Jade said the Aventurine stone had completely lost its luster. This might mean…"
"Impossible! He is [ Preservation ]!!!"
"my god, ah ah ah ah ah!"
...
It didn't give the players much time to be sentimental.
After Acheron's voice faded.
A Pepeshi suddenly walked out.
Using a deep voice that was completely inconsistent with his appearance, he said: "That is not up to you."
As he spoke.
More and more people walked into this area.
But they were all speaking with the same voice.
Above.
A purple Thrush perched on a shelf.
Overlooking everything that was happening.
"This grand festival has gathered too many guests who shouldn't have been invited. Even though The Harmony encompasses all things, for the sake of Penacony's peace, I have no choice but to issue an eviction order to some of them…"
"The Planet of Festivities has no room for you, puppet of Nihility. Those who live in the shadows should not step onto the illuminated stage."
Acheron stood with her back to the group of people walking toward her.
She shook her head slightly,
And said: "In terms of living in the shadows, I don't think there's any difference between us. At the very least, when speaking to others, you should reveal your true form…"
"Dreammaster of Penacony."
...
"What the hell? There's an even bigger boss?"
"Who is this guy, acting so arrogant in front of Acheron's feat?"
"The rumored Dream master."
"What does Dream master do? Can any expert enlighten me?"
"The true manager of Penacony is Dream master. Under him is Sunday, the Family is divided into five main branches, and Sunday is the head of the Oak Family."
"The big boss finally shows up!"
"Listening to this, it sounds like he's going to attack Acheron, guys?"
"No duh! A single slash almost destroyed Penacony, surely he can't let her stay here anymore. After all, the characters in the game can't play 'Honkai: Star Rail,' so they don't know what kind of person Acheron is…"
"Acheron's battle triggered a ban."
"If it were me, I'd be heartbroken. I'd make Acheron pay tens of billions of credits, no matter what."
...
Men, women, young, and old, people of all kinds surrounded Acheron.
The threatening tone,
Was already very obvious.
"Is this what the Family calls 'united as one'?" Acheron countered.
"My mortal shell has long since dissipated. The one hundred and seventy-three thousand and thirty-six children of the Oak Family are now my eyes, ears, and mouth. In times of need, I will spread harmony throughout this dream, and when necessary… cast away the evil from this paradise for me."
If it were anyone else.
Being surrounded and watched by so many people, they would have panicked long ago!
However, Acheron simply crossed her arms: "Sounds like you are going to ask me to leave Penacony."
"I am glad you have such self-awareness, unfortunately, I am not asking."
"You think you can do it?"
After saying this.
Acheron's expression had turned extremely cold.
The corners of her mouth even turned downward.
...
"Dream master: I'm not asking, I'm begging…"
"Acheron is truly god-slaying, no one can stop her…"
"If I had this kind of power, why would I be Acheron? I'd just be the Emperor!"
"Why did you have to provoke her!"
"He probably doesn't realize Acheron's strength yet."
"Fight! Fight!"
...
While all the players were paying attention to the plot.
In reality.
Undercurrents were also surging!
Not long ago.
Numerous factions in the galaxy gathered at the Reverie Hotel.
In the end.
Due to the progress of the plot.
Everyone's suspicions seemed to have been cleared.
Only the mastermind, Gallagher, remained, and he was being fully hunted by the Family…
But in fact.
Aside from the information revealed by the main storyline.
There were still details in the game that indicated problems within the Family!
Therefore.
Sunday extended an invitation to a meeting to several important factions.
Stating that he would be "frank and honest" at this meeting.
And would reveal the problems existing within the Family!
Furthermore.
He would also reveal the secrets he held!
At this moment.
In the conference room.
Sunday, Aventurine, and Welt were seated at the corners of a round table.
As representatives of the Family, the IPC, and the Astral Express, respectively.
But clearly.
There were still empty seats at the large round table.
The people invited to attend this meeting seemed to be absent.
Mr. Yang adjusted his glasses.
He looked at the seat next to him.
That seat was supposed to be Acheron's.
Acheron had clearly stated before that she would participate in this meeting.
But for some reason.
The agreed-upon time had already arrived, yet she hadn't come…
Fortunately.
The waiting time wasn't entirely boring.
There was a screen in the conference room.
It was playing Little Gui's livestream.
"Might as well watch the plot from a different place," Mr. Yang thought to himself.
The current plot happened to be the scene where Acheron was confronting Sunday.
To be honest.
This plot was a bit subtle for the current situation!
Aventurine also revealed a faint, elusive smile.
He glanced at Sunday from the corner of his eye.
Only to see his expression remained as usual.
He showed no signs of surprise or accident because of the plot.
Acheron said: "You are not the first, nor will you be the last, to show such malice after knowing my identity. This scene has happened too many times. When faced with my inquiries, people mostly ask 'why not?'"
"But the result… has always been 'it cannot be.'"
Dreammaster was briefly silent, then said: "You are very confident, but please remember—the Family is humble, but never weak. The harmonies of the Harmony reach across the universe. If you do not comply, as long as that long blade leaves its sheath even a fraction, you will never be able to escape the wrath of the Xipe of Harmony for the rest of your life."
"And before that… one hundred and thirty-seven people. That is the number of outsiders I have personally exiled since becoming the Dream master. Among them, some once broke my wings, some burned my body…"
"But today, I still stand here, and I wouldn't mind adding another to that number."
After the Dream master finished speaking.
Before Acheron could respond.
All the players in the live chat suddenly started spamming dense barrages like Acheron's fan club!
...
"Not weak, very strong."
"You are nothing but Xipe's Emanator, how many slashes can you take?"
"Never be able to escape the wrath of Harmony for the rest of your life? Isn't that The Hunt's job?"
"Is the Emanator of Harmony planning to convert to The Hunt?"
"Xipe the Harmony: I'm fighting Acheron? For real?"
"Dream Master: I will win!"
"You're not saying a word about your own strength. You keep talking about being the incarnation of Harmony, acting as if you can just invite them whenever you want?!"
"Acheron: You're inviting Xipe? Fine, I'll have IX talk to you."
"Xipe the Harmony: All of the above are things the Dream master said himself, it has nothing to do with me."