The crowd thinned as we left the Arbor's shadow, its pale light fading behind us.
Tingyun walked a step ahead, her fan half-raised as if guiding a dance instead of a stranger through a wounded city.

Tingyun: You're looking for your companions, aren't you?
Her voice slipped through the quiet like silk, warm and inviting—too inviting.

Y/N: ...You know where they are?

The fan snapped open with a crisp click, revealing a sly crescent of a smile.

Tingyun: But of course. The Astral Express isn't exactly subtle. Your friends leave a trail even the blind could follow.

A slight tilt of her head.

Tingyun: They should be gathered not far from here. I can take you to them.

I slowed my pace, watching her from the corner of my eye. Not a single hitch in her breath.
Every word rolled out smooth and precise, like she'd practiced this conversation a hundred times.
Too neat. Too ready.

Y/N: ...You seem certain.

Tingyun: (soft laugh) A fox must know her own hunting grounds.

She turned her head just enough for our eyes to meet.

Tingyun: And I always know where my friends are.

Friends. The word lingered in the air, sweet but heavy.

I felt my grip tighten unconsciously on the strap of my weapon.

How does she know so much?

Why does every sentence feel like it's been waiting for me?

Y/N: ...Lead the way.

Tingyun closed her fan with a delicate snap, the sound sharper than it should have been.

Tingyun: Gladly.

She glided forward, heels tapping lightly against the polished floor. I followed, each step echoing against the quiet streets. Her pace was unhurried, perfectly measured—as if she knew I wouldn't dare fall behind.

The path wound through narrow bridges and mist-lit walkways. Lanterns flickered overhead, throwing shifting patterns across her silhouette. Every time the light caught her face, that practiced smile returned, flawless and unchanging.

I kept my distance, eyes on the trail ahead, ears tuned to the faint pulse of the Arbor still beating somewhere behind us.

---------

March 7th: —I'm telling you, we can't just sit here forever!

Caelus: And rushing blindly won't help either.

Welt: Enough. Save it for when we regroup.

Relief washed over me. I quickened my pace.

March noticed me first, her eyes going wide.

March 7th: Wait—! Is that... Y/N!?

She bolted forward before anyone could stop her.

March 7th: You're okay! Finally! Do you know how worried we were? Welt said you'd manage, but—still!

I couldn't help the faint exhale that left me.

Y/N: ...Took a bit longer than expected.

We regrouped with the others at last. March's face lit up the moment she saw me, and Welt gave a small nod of relief. Standing beside them was Tingyun, fan folded neatly in her hand, that same flawless smile gracing her lips.

My gaze drifted to Tingyun. Her presence hadn't changed — still warm, polite, helpful — but something about it gnawed at me. Her eyes lingered too long on the Arbor in the distance. Her words, smooth as silk, felt as though they'd been spoken a thousand times before.

Tingyun: Now that we're together again, we can proceed. The path ahead is perilous, but I know the way. Follow me, friends.

She turned with a graceful sweep of her fan, leading us deeper into the ship's heart. The others followed without hesitation, but I kept to the back, my hand brushing the hilt of my weapon.

Too perfect. Too practiced. Who are you really?

The walk ended at a vast chamber, the glow of the Ambrosial Arbor spilling across the floor. Tingyun stepped forward, her back to us, her voice taking on a tone softer, almost reverent.

Tingyun: This is where our journey truly begins... and where the truth can no longer be hidden.

I felt it before I saw it — the subtle shift, a ripple in the air. Her figure stilled, then her smile widened in a way that no longer felt kind.

March 7th: Tingyun...?

The words froze in her throat.

Because Tingyun's smile shifted. Not softer, not warmer... but hollow. Empty. Her eyes, once lively and playful, became glassy, drained of all spark.

Slowly, almost methodically, she raised a hand to her own neck.

March 7th: ...T-Tingyun?

With a sudden, sharp twist—

CRACK.

The sound tore through the chamber like thunder. Tingyun's body went limp, collapsing to the ground in a lifeless heap.

March screamed, stumbling back, her bow slipping from her hands. Welt's jaw tightened, his usual calm cracking for just a second as he stepped in front of her protectively.

A ripple of dark energy pulsed from the fallen Foxian's body. Her flesh seemed to melt, dissolve, and unravel into shadows. From it rose a figure taller, darker, and far more terrifying—Phantylia, her laughter echoing as the illusion faded completely.

???: Ah... did you really think that little Foxian was guiding you? How naïve. Tingyun was nothing but a vessel. And now... the mask is no longer needed.

 ???: Benefactors, allow me to reintroduce myself...
Phantylia: I am Lord Ravager Phantylia.

Phantylia: I have come with a single purpose: To set in motion the self-destruction of the Xianzhou!

March 7th: Miss Tingyun... is a Lord Ravager of the !? But— How can that be?

The chamber shook as Phantylia's laughter echoed, her presence twisting the very air. She lifted a hand, and the floor beneath us split apart. From the cracks crawled armored husks — Legion soldiers, their hollow eyes glowing faintly with corrupted light.

March 7th: The Legion?! Here—?!

Welt: No... it's her. She's bringing them forth.

Phantylia's form loomed above us, shadow and malice bleeding from her every step.

Phantylia: Play with them for a while. I have a far more important destination.

Her gaze drifted toward the distance, to the great glowing trunk that pierced the heavens.

Phantylia: The Ambrosial Arbor... the source of your so-called eternal life. I shall claim it — and the Luofu will finally understand what despair means.

She turned, her body dissolving into a mass of writhing roots and shadow as she pressed forward, deeper into the Luofu. The ground quaked with her departure, leaving us surrounded by her puppets.

March 7th: No way... she's heading for the Arbor?!

Welt: We cannot let her reach it. If she seizes its power... the entire Alliance will fall.

I tightened my grip on my weapon, stepping ahead of March and Welt as the Legion soldiers raised their blades.

Y/N: Then we cut through them. No matter what it takes, we follow her.

The first of the corrupted soldiers lunged, and the battle began — a wall of darkness standing between us and the truth buried in Scalegorge Waterscape.

The first Legion soldier charged, rusted blade raised high. I met it halfway, axe cleaving through its torso — only for the pieces to writhe and pull back together.

Y/N: Regeneration again...

March's voice rang out behind me.

March 7th: Don't give them time to recover! Keep the pressure up!

She loosed a flurry of arrows, freezing one soldier in place. Welt followed, his cane striking the ground, gravity folding the corrupted husk inward until it shattered like brittle glass.

Still, more poured from the cracks — a tide of hollow-eyed warriors, their armor rattling with each step.

Welt: They're endless. Phantylia's buying time.

I spun my axe in a wide arc, sparks flying as three more fell, their forms collapsing into black mist. My chest burned, but I pressed forward, cutting a path through the horde.

Y/N: Then we don't waste it. Clear the way, and keep moving!

March sprinted up beside me, her shield shimmering as she blocked a strike meant for my back.

March 7th: You owe me for that one!

Y/N: I'll put it on your tab.

Together, we carved through the last wave. Welt's final blow collapsed the ground beneath them, swallowing the Legion whole in a surge of crushing gravity.

The battlefield grew silent, only the faint echo of Phantylia's laughter lingering in the air.

March lowered her bow, panting.

March 7th: She's already ahead of us, isn't she?

Welt adjusted his glasses, his gaze turning toward the path she'd taken.

Welt: Toward Scalegorge Waterscape. If she claims the Arbor... the consequences will be catastrophic.

I wiped the edge of my axe clean and shouldered it.

Y/N: Then what are we waiting for? Let's go.

The three of us set off, following the trail of corruption she left in her wake.

The last of the Legion husks crumbled to dust, the chamber quieting again. But Phantylia's trail lingered — a miasma of shadow stretching deeper into the Luofu.

March 7th: She's heading straight for the Arbor...

Welt: Not if we catch her first. The Scalegorge Waterscape is beyond this sector. Our fastest path is through the Artisanship Commission.

I frowned, tightening my grip on the axe.

Y/N: Shortcuts always mean trouble.

He wasn't wrong. As we pressed forward, the signs of Phantylia's corruption worsened. Splintered roots jutted from walls. Broken weapons and armor littered the streets. And scattered among them were Cloud Knights — some wounded, some... already beyond saving.

March slowed as we passed one collapsed soldier, his hand still clutching a cracked spear.

March 7th: ...They didn't even stand a chance.

Welt's tone sharpened, though his composure held.

Welt: The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are exploiting the chaos. Their hand is in this as well.

We reached a junction where the air grew thicker, tinged with a strange, acrid smoke. My lungs burned at the first inhale, but March and Welt coughed violently, stumbling back.

Y/N: ...Poison?

Before either could answer, a group of surviving Cloud Knights appeared, rallying around a slender woman in jade armor. She carried herself with unshakable confidence, her gaze sharp as steel.

Fu Xuan: You there — halt!

March 7th: (coughing) W-wait! We're not your enemies!

Her eyes narrowed, but after a long pause she lowered her blade.

Fu Xuan: ...The Astral Express. So you've finally shown yourselves.

Welt: Lady Fu Xuan. We're here to stop Phantylia. She's headed for the Arbor.

Fu Xuan's expression hardened.

Fu Xuan: I know. And you've chosen the worst place to pursue her. This smoke... it's tainted with Mara agents. To long-life species like us, it corrodes the spirit, warps the flesh.

March clutched her chest, still struggling to breathe. Welt steadied her, grim understanding settling in.

Fu Xuan's gaze shifted to me.

Fu Xuan: But you... you're different. A short-life species. The poison won't affect you the same way.

I stepped forward, staring into the haze that swallowed the path ahead.

Y/N: Then I'll do it. Show me the source.

Fu Xuan gave a curt nod.

Fu Xuan: The Alchemy Commission. Three crucibles spewing this cursed smoke. Shut them down, and we'll stand a chance. Fail, and even if Phantylia doesn't kill us... Mara will.

The Cloud Knights readied their weapons, rallying behind their diviner. March and Welt steadied themselves, forcing back the effects as best they could.

I lifted my axe, heat rising in my veins.

Y/N: Then let's clear the air.

The Alchemy Commission was a ruin of shattered cauldrons and overturned tables, the air thick with the reek of metal and rot. Phantylia's corruption had spread everywhere — crimson veins running across the ground, pulsing faintly as though alive.

Fu Xuan: There — the first crucible. Destroy it, and the flow of poison will weaken.

We advanced. Disciples of Sanctus Medicus swarmed from the shadows, their chants rising with fanatical zeal. Their bodies were marked by Mara's corruption, movements jerky yet powerful.

I surged ahead, axe blazing with heat. March covered me with freezing arrows, while Welt's gravitic force crushed incoming strikes. One by one, the Disciples fell, their cries echoing in the dark. With a final swing, I smashed the crucible, flames consuming its tainted core.

March 7th: One down... but two to go.

Fu Xuan's expression remained sharp, but her voice betrayed urgency.

Fu Xuan: Don't stop now. Phantylia won't wait.

The second crucible lay deeper inside. Here, the corruption was worse — the walls were alive with writhing roots. More Disciples awaited us, this time alongside abominations of flesh and metal, fused together by Phantylia's will. The battle was harsher, the poison denser. March stumbled, coughing, but I pressed forward, cutting down anything in our path until the second crucible fell to my axe.

The third was the most heavily guarded, cloaked in black smoke that stung my eyes. A grotesque beast towered before it, its limbs a tangle of vines and blades.

Fu Xuan: That's no ordinary Mara-struck. Be careful!

The fight shook the chamber, steel and fire clashing against the monster's corrupted mass. It struck hard, but not with precision — and I drove my axe deep into its core, splitting it apart in a burst of flame. The crucible cracked soon after, its glow sputtering out as the haze began to thin.

Silence followed. For the first time since entering, the air felt breathable.

March 7th: Hahh... we... we did it...

Fu Xuan sheathed her weapon, her sharp demeanor softening just slightly.

Fu Xuan: Impressive. You fight like one born of this ship... yet you're not.

Her gaze lingered on me for a long moment before she turned away.

Fu Xuan: No matter. With the crucibles destroyed, Phantylia has lost one of her greatest weapons. But she is still ahead of us, heading into Scalegorge Waterscape. If she reaches the Ambrosial Arbor...

Welt: Then it won't just be the Luofu in danger.

Fu Xuan nodded gravely.

Fu Xuan: Exactly. The Arbor is the lifeline of our people. If Phantylia corrupts it, the Xianzhou will fall.

I tightened my grip on the axe, the fire within me burning hotter.

Y/N: Then we won't let her. Lead the way.

Together, we pressed on — toward Scalegorge Waterscape, where Phantylia awaited. The air thickened with humidity, waves crashing restlessly against the jagged cliffs. It was there, before the entrance to the ruins, that a familiar figure stood waiting — alongside none other than General Jing Yuan.

March 7th's steps faltered.

March 7th: W-wait... is that...?

Welt narrowed his eyes, studying the figure. Horns glistened faintly under the light, his posture calm yet radiating a presence that dwarfed what we once knew.

Welt: ...Dan Heng.

General Jing Yuan turned toward us, smiling faintly, though his expression carried weight.
Jing Yuan: You've arrived just in time. But I see... you've already noticed, haven't you? This is no longer the Dan Heng you knew.

March clutched her bow nervously, her voice rising.

March 7th: Dan Heng, what happened to you?! Why do you look like... like that?

Dan Heng's gaze met ours, steady and unflinching. His voice carried the same calm tone, yet beneath it, a depth that hadn't been there before.

Dan Heng: This is my true form. The one I've hidden... and the one I can no longer deny. I am Imbibitor Lunae.

March's mouth opened and closed, struggling to find words. Welt's expression didn't shift, but the furrow in his brow spoke volumes.

Welt: So the High Elder of the Vidyadhara... reborn, here before us. That explains the silence you've kept until now.

Jing Yuan folded his arms, his eyes glimmering with a mixture of amusement and gravity.

Jing Yuan: Quite the revelation, isn't it? But this is who he truly is. The Xianzhou may see him as Imbibitor Lunae, yet he stands before you still as Dan Heng.

March finally spoke, her voice trembling.

March 7th: ...You could've told us. Do you know how worried we were? How much this feels like you're... keeping us at arm's length?

Dan Heng lowered his gaze for a moment, then answered quietly.

Dan Heng: ...I'm sorry. Some truths... are hard to face, even for me.

I said nothing at first. My grip on the axe tightened. His horns, his aura, his voice layered with age — none of that unsettled me. What unsettled me was the strange, gnawing familiarity.

Y/N: ...So this is your real face.

He looks exactly like Dan Feng.

Dan Heng's eyes flickered toward me. For the briefest instant, I felt as if I were staring across centuries, not seconds.

Dan Heng: It is. But it doesn't erase who I was with you.

Jing Yuan gave a soft chuckle, breaking the silence.

Jing Yuan: Enough riddles. The Arbor's roots won't wait for us to sort through every tangled emotion. If you still trust him, then let him lead the way. His power may be the key to breaking what lies ahead.

The crew exchanged uneasy looks. March still bit her lip, Welt's expression remained guarded, and my own chest burned with a recognition I couldn't place. But we had no time to hesitate.

.....

Caelus: Can i touch your horns?

-------

The path into Scalegorge Waterscape opened before us — a cavernous expanse where ancient ruins sank into the waves. The air trembled with Phantylia's corruption, and the pulse of the Arbor's roots echoed faintly beneath our feet.

Jing Yuan walked with deliberate calm, his hand resting on his sword hilt. Dan Heng — no, Imbibitor Lunae — led us to the cliff's edge where the ocean churned violently, a barrier of water sealing away what lay beyond.

March stumbled to a halt, eyes wide.

March 7th: That's... that's impossible. How are we supposed to get through something like that?

Welt adjusted his glasses, his gaze steady.

Welt: An artificial tide... the Arbor's roots may be bound beneath this sea.

Jing Yuan's lips curved faintly.
Jing Yuan: Fortunately, we have someone among us who can part the waters.

Dan Heng stepped forward, his expression unreadable. The horns upon his head glowed faintly as his power gathered. His cloak stirred in a wind that wasn't there, scales flickering faintly along his arms.

March looked between him and the ocean, realization dawning.
March 7th: Wait... don't tell me you're—

But the words caught in her throat as Dan Heng closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. The ground beneath us rumbled. A resonance, deep and sonorous, filled the air — like the breath of a dragon echoing through the Waterscape.

He raised his hand.

The sea obeyed.

Waves that had roared and crashed moments before stilled as though commanded by an unseen hand. Then, with a force that shook the earth, the waters split down the middle — a vast corridor of air and stone carved open, exposing the drowned ruins beneath.

A wall of ocean towered on either side, frozen mid-motion, the raw might of a Vidyadhara High Elder holding it at bay.

https://youtu.be/g65CT7zlrc8

March's mouth hung open.

March 7th: ...He actually split the sea.

Even Welt's composure faltered, his eyes reflecting awe.

Welt: Remarkable... no ordinary power could accomplish this.

Jing Yuan smirked, almost proud.

Jing Yuan: Behold the legacy of Imbibitor Lunae. The seas themselves bow to his command.

I stood rooted to the spot, the axe heavy in my grip. My chest tightened again, the same gnawing familiarity as before — stronger now, undeniable.

That power... I've seen it before. Somewhere. A dragon standing against the tide... Why does it feel like I've fought beside him before this lifetime?

Dan Heng turned slightly, his gaze brushing over the crew, steady as ever.

Dan Heng: The path is open. Stay close.

Without hesitation, he stepped into the passage carved through the sea, his figure framed by walls of water glowing with refracted light.

For a long moment, none of us moved. Then, one by one, we followed him into the depths.

The Waterscape roared to life as roots tore through the ground, twisting into grotesque shapes. From their shadows, Phantylia emerged once more, her form towering, draped in silken corruption that shimmered with cruel beauty.

Phantylia: At last... no more masks, no more playthings. You will be the first to fall beneath the despair I bring.

She spread her arms, and the Legion husks surged forward in endless waves. The floor quaked under their march.

The Caelus rushed ahead, weapon flashing, cutting down the first line. I fell into step beside them, my axe blazing a path of fire. Together, we carved through the corruption, but Phantylia's laughter still rang above us.

Phantylia: Burn brighter, little flames! The darker the night, the more despair shines.

March's arrows burst into shards of ice across the battlefield, freezing roots mid-lash.

March 7th: Take that! You're not laying a hand on the Arbor!

Welt raised his cane, and the air rippled — gravity crashing down on a cluster of husks, crushing them into the stone.

Welt: Keep pressure on her! Don't let her weave the corruption back!

Jing Yuan moved like a storm, lightning flashing with each swing of his blade. His strikes met the largest roots head-on, severing them with precise, devastating blows.

Jing Yuan: Caelus! Y/N! Strike together!

We obeyed without hesitation. The Caelus leapt high, bringing his weapon down with a blazing arc. I followed, fire roaring from my axe as we struck Phantylia's corrupted mass at once. The impact forced a shriek from her, her form flickering as the roots recoiled.

But she wasn't weakened — only amused.

Phantylia: Yes... that's it. Show me despair's true flavor!

Her fan snapped open, and the battlefield shifted. Roots rose like walls, splitting us apart into smaller groups. I found myself shoulder-to-shoulder with the Trailblazer, the others scattered across the chamber.

Y/N: She's trying to divide us.

Caelus: Then we cut through until we're together again!

The two of us fought in sync, hacking through wave after wave, forcing the roots back until the walls fell. Dan Heng rejoined, his aura flaring brighter, dragon's might crackling through his every strike.

He stepped forward, glaring at her.

Dan Heng: This ends now.

Phantylia: Then come, dragon. Show me if your roar can drown out the Arbor's song!

She lashed out with all her might, corruption and shadow flooding the chamber. The battle surged into its climax — the crew pushing against despair itself, with the Arbor's heartbeat echoing beneath their feet.

The battlefield quaked as Phantylia spread her corrupted wings, roots thrashing wildly across the Scalegorge Waterscape. Her laughter cut through the storm of chaos.

Phantylia: You worms... you think you can sever despair itself?

Dan Heng's spear glowed with draconic light. Jing Yuan's blade surged with thunder. And then — the fire inside me surged past its limit.

I swung my axe. Its form shattered in an eruption of heat, breaking into three chains of molten flame, each tipped with a serpentine head. They hissed and snapped in the air, alive with my will.

March 7th (staring wide-eyed): "Wha—? Since when could you do that?!"

Y/N: I don't know i can do that.

The three fiery chains shot out, wrapping around Phantylia's root-wings. She tried to pull free, but the grappling chains dug deeper, burning with each struggle. With a sharp tug, I yanked her massive form downward, slamming her against the shattered ground.

Phantylia: Chains... forged from fire? Impossible—!

Jing Yuan seized the opening.

Jing Yuan: Strike while she's bound!

Dan Heng leapt forward, his spear blazing with dragon's might, plunging through her guard. The Caelus dashed in beside him, delivering a radiant blow that cleaved through her corrupted shell. Welt's gravity field collapsed her writhing soldiers, and March pinned them with ice arrows.

The chains tightened as I swung my arms, each head biting into her, dragging her closer toward the center of our combined assault.

Y/N: Burn in the flames you tried to spread.

The fire chains constricted until cracks split across her form. Dan Heng descended in a meteor strike, spear driving straight into her chest. Jing Yuan's storm crashed down, splitting the battlefield with thunder.

The last echoes of battle faded, the crashing tide of Phantylia's power finally stilled. The Waterscape fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the hiss of steam rising from the scorched ground where my chains had burned through her illusions.

I exhaled, shoulders heavy, the axe settling back into its familiar form in my hands. Its weight was grounding, solid — yet I could still feel the lingering heat of the chains pulsing in my veins.

March: (panting, lowering her bow) We... we actually did it.

Caelus: Not yet. But she's weakened. For now... that's enough.

Jing Yuan: (resting his sword against his shoulder, a faint smile tugging at his lips) Hah. You youngsters... more dependable than I expected.

Dan Heng stood apart, quiet, his dragon form casting a long shadow in the dim light. His gaze swept over the battlefield, unreadable, yet there was something heavy in his eyes — as though he was carrying more than just victory.

I looked at him a moment longer.

March: Y/N! You were amazing back there. Those chains—what even was that?!

I tightened my grip on the axe, the embers fading from its edge.
Y/N: ...Something new. I'm still figuring it out.

Welt adjusted his glasses, giving me one of his knowing looks.

Welt: Power is never without consequence. Be mindful, Y/N. Control it — don't let it control you.

I nodded silently, gaze drifting back to the glow of the distant Arbor. Its branches swayed in the still air, and for the first time, I wondered if it had felt my weapon's flames.

---------

The Waterscape quieted, the lingering echoes of battle fading into the mist. The Ambrosial Arbor loomed overhead, its glow untouched, as if mocking the struggle that had just taken place.

General Jing Yuan sheathed his blade, letting out a low breath.

Jing Yuan: Phantylia's retreat buys us time. Nothing more. The fight against the Abundance will continue... but for now, the Luofu can breathe again.

March nearly collapsed onto a nearby stone, stretching her arms above her head.

March:  Haaah... I don't care what anyone says. We deserve a huge nap after all this.

Caelus chuckled, though the weight of exhaustion sat plainly on his shoulders.

Caelus: Let's just make it back to the Express first.

Dan Heng stood a short distance away, still in his Vidyadhara form. The faint shimmer of draconic scales caught the dying light, his expression unreadable. But when Jing Yuan approached him, it was as though the whole world held its breath.

Jing Yuan: ...Dan Feng, or Dan Heng. Whichever name you carry, today you've proven yourself.

Dan Heng: (calmly, eyes steady) I am Dan Heng. The past... no longer defines me.

There was a quiet finality to his words. Even Jing Yuan, for all his wisdom, seemed content to let them stand unchallenged.

I lingered, watching from behind the others. The flames of my axe had long since cooled, but my hands still remembered the heat of those chains, the way they had surged as if alive.

Welt's voice cut through my thoughts.

Welt: Let's return. The Express will be waiting.

By the time we reached the Astral Express, Pom-Pom was already waiting at the platform, pacing nervously.

Pom-Pom: You're back! Finally! Do you have any idea how worried I was—?!

March cut in, throwing her arms wide.

March: Pom-Pom! You would not believe the nightmare we just—

Caelus laughed tiredly, shaking his head.

Caelus: Save the details. Let's get inside first.

Dan Heng lingered near the edge of the platform, his draconic form drawing stares even now. For a moment, I thought he might stay behind. But then Welt placed a steady hand on his shoulder.

Welt: The past can follow you if you let it. But the Express moves forward. Always forward.

Dan Heng looked at him — then at us — and finally stepped aboard.

I followed last, pausing only to glance back at the distant glow of the Arbor. Its branches still pulsed faintly, as if alive, as if watching.

The doors closed behind me with a soft hiss. The faint rumble of the engine followed, and soon the stars stretched out before us once more.

March leaned back against her seat, sighing with relief.

March: Next stop better not be full of creepy trees, evil fox ladies, or sea-splitting dragons. I want a vacation.

Welt gave her a small, weary smile.

Welt: Careful what you wish for. With us, trouble always seems to find the way.

Their banter washed over me, familiar and grounding. For the first time since arriving on the Luofu, I allowed myself to relax.

I glanced at Dan Heng across the cabin. He sat quietly, his eyes closed, the faint shimmer of scales already fading from his skin. A warrior with centuries of history behind him... and still fighting to choose his own path.

The stars stretched endlessly ahead as the Express glided through the cosmos. For a while, no one spoke — the silence heavy, but not uncomfortable. Just the sound of travel, of motion, of leaving one chapter behind.

Then Pom-Pom cleared their throat, breaking the quiet.

Pom-Pom: Ahem! Now that everyone is safe and accounted for, the Astral Express will resume its journey. Our next route... ah, well, it may be a little unusual.

March leaned forward immediately, eyes sparkling despite her exhaustion.

March: Unusual? Like good unusual, or the kind of unusual that tries to kill us?

Welt adjusted his glasses, studying the data stream flickering on the monitor.

Welt: Destination is... Penacony. A world steeped in dreamscapes. It won't be like anything we've encountered before.

Caelus raised a brow.

Caelus: Dreams, huh? After what we just went through, that sounds almost too peaceful.

Dreams can be more dangerous than reality...

Dan Heng finally opened his eyes, his voice calm but firm.

Dan Heng: Whatever awaits us, we face it together. That much hasn't changed.

The others nodded, the weight of his words grounding us again.

The Express hummed louder, cutting across the starlight. Ahead, new mysteries waited — Penacony, the world of dreams.

And so, our story moved forward.