Chapter 341: Sin Thirster is Actually Tiernan?! The Penacony Players Begin to Awaken!
After Sunday's promotional video ended, Robin herself appeared in the video.
However, unlike the concern and blessings of the previous two, Robin's expression was somewhat solemn, carrying a sense of absolute resolve!
She spoke softly:
"Hello, everyone. I am Robin."
"From my new album, INSIDE, there is a song that will be released early to meet you all."
"And I… also wish to use this song to try and awaken those who slumber in Penacony."
"Just as it is said in the story of the game Honkai: Star Rail."
"I will use the song of Harmony to attune those in slumber, sending the discordant chord of Trailblaze into their hearts, pointing the way back to reality!"
"Here, I would like to thank Feathered Spirit."
"May this journey lead us starward."
***
"Nice, nice, nice!"
"What song is it? I want to hear it right now!"
"A collaboration between Trailblaze and Harmony!"
"I can't take it anymore! I'm going to punch Penacony to pieces!"
"With Miss Robin's support, we will definitely awaken the players in Penacony!"
"Even the little bird is on our side, this is a guaranteed win!"
***
After watching the promotional video, Black Swan nodded slightly.
She said, "Everything is ready."
"Now, we just wait for the final act of the game's story to arrive…"
"As long as it succeeds in the game, it will serve as a massive shot in the arm for all participants in reality."
"Countless shooting stars will surge forward one after another, rushing toward Penacony."
"When that time comes, the Dream of Order will collapse on its own."
Suddenly, Acheron's expression stirred slightly. She looked toward the game live stream on the side.
At this moment, it had actually flashed back to her own memory scene.
By the Dead Sea, evening rain fell. Herself holding a red umbrella, and that elderly man in black.
She saw her in-game self speak: "Sin Thirster… the obsessions of Pathstriders. They are born from the shadow of IX, viewing themselves as the original hosts, unconsciously repeating the actions of the deceased during their lifetime."
"They are born from Nihility, and to Nihility they return, living meaningless lives. Yet, such an illusory shadow…"
"…has walked alongside me through many long days."
After those words fell, the elderly man let out a long sigh of relief.
"So that's how it is."
"I… am already dead."
After the elderly man realized this, the scene instantly changed!
The black background turned crimson.
The elderly man's appearance—wearing a bamboo hat and a straw raincoat—also transformed into a mass of black shadow.
The Acheron beside him transformed into her white-haired form.
Bright red patterns crawled all over her arms as she quietly watched him.
Seeing this scene, the Acheron in front of the screen sighed softly.
Indeed… She had long known that Feathered Spirit's plot would definitely write out this ending.
But seeing it again and recalling the experiences of that time… she still couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
Beside her, Black Swan was also slightly startled!
Clearly, even she hadn't anticipated such a twist.
Not to mention the players who were currently watching the live stream of the story!
***
"???"
"Holy crap!"
"Oh my god, there's another twist!?"
"I thought the old man was the watcher here, but I didn't expect that even he himself was one of the Sin Thirster!"
"Suddenly my scalp is tingling!"
"Interesting."
"My god, this gave me goosebumps!"
"In life, he watched over the deceased. In death, he turned into a Sin Thirsters, repeating his lifetime act of watching over them."
"So that's how it is…"
***
However, what all the players didn't expect was… next, something even bigger was coming!
Acheron said, "Please reach out your hand, and then, close your eyes."
"I will carry your wish forward and fulfill it. Only in this way can I put to rest this final regret by the Dead Sea."
Acheron reached out her hand.
Her fingers were sharp, and her knuckles looked as if they were cast in metal, flashing with a sharp, cold light.
Her other hand was pitch black, emitting a dim, deadly light.
The old man asked one last time, "Will I… be able to see them again?"
There was some regret, some reluctance. This was normal. Every deceased person harbored some attachment to the mortal world.
Acheron replied, "You certainly will."
"Because the one who told me these things with his own mouth was none other than you: about that train, your two former companions, that pioneering journey cut short by the Swarm Disaster, your narrow escape, and your encounter with the Galaxy Rangers…"
Following Acheron's narration, the old man also seemed to recall his true identity.
"Yes, countless times… I was shut out by the Family, only able to pass it by."
"But I know my companion is still there… all alone…"
"Mikhail… are you still there…"
As he finished saying this, the old man's name changed from three question marks to "Tiernan."
And all the players watching this part of the story were completely stunned!
Many stared blankly at their screens, completely dumbfounded!
Even the bullet comments in the live stream went completely blank for several seconds.
Only after a moment did the players react!
***
"Huh?"
"Oh my god, HE IS!!!"
"Tiernan, one of the three Nameless!?"
"The former guard of the Astral Express!"
"Holy crap…"
"I really didn't expect that the person talking to Acheron all this time would be him!!"
"Uh, this…"
"I'm completely stunned."
"Damn, this is mind-blowing!"
"He was both a Nameless and a Galaxy Ranger."
"Tiernan and the Moth Family encountered the Swarm after leaving Penacony to trailblaze. He survived and later joined the Galaxy Rangers."
"So the relic Acheron wanted to return was obtained from Tiernan! Holy crap? It all connects!"
"Even to his death, he was still thinking about Penacony, thinking about Mikhail."
"Damn it, they made me cry again, so annoying!"
***
Somewhere in Penacony.
"How could I forget…"
"Those stories the old man told me…"
"His dear friend… No matter where they were in the galaxy, they must have still been thinking of each other before they passed."
A hand gripped the railing as a figure slowly stood up, opening his eyes at the same time.
Gallagher looked around, clarity gradually returning to his eyes.
Then, he patted his coat pocket.
Fortunately, his lighter was still there.
After lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag, he finally exhaled comfortably.
Looking up, he spoke to that unseen presence in the void:
"Heh…"
"If you ask me…"
"This dream of yours isn't even as good as reality."
"In a dream, even smoking a cigarette has no flavor."
"And…"
"It doesn't even have Honkai: Star Rail!"
"Too fake…"
Gallagher had awakened from the Dream of Order.
He originally wanted to check the game's story immediately, but to his dismay, he found that his phone had absolutely no signal.
He could only slowly grope his way through this rift, trying to find a way out.
And at this moment, the same situation was playing out elsewhere!
Siobhan, the boss of the Dreamjolt Hostelry, woke up in the rift.
After a brief hesitation, the light returned to her eyes.
"The little ones at the bar are still waiting for me to mix drinks…"
As she spoke, she began searching for a way out in the corridors between dream and reality.
On a rooftop.
An elderly man wearing a hat, looking somewhat past his prime, slowly opened his eyes.
His hand trembled slightly as he adjusted his hat, his eyes shining with excitement!
"I can't forget…"
"I really can't forget."
"What 'Father of the Imaginary Pulse'…"
"Even if I die, I will absolutely never hand over the method to manufacture such a weapon to them!"