"Another dead end..."
After passing through yet another upside-down room and finding no way forward, Caelus rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling his blood pressure skyrocketing.
He just wanted to get to the hotel lobby to meet up with Himeko and March 7th. Why was navigating this blasted hotel so difficult?
The only small mercy Caelus could count was that he hadn't run into any situations like, "This door cannot be opened from this side."
Otherwise, he genuinely worried that, fed up with all the red tape, his blood pressure would explode, and he'd just let Twilight tear this damned dreamscape apart, regardless of the commotion...
Acheron showed no reaction to the situation. After all, for someone as directionally challenged as her, wandering in circles in the same place for hours without finding an exit was perfectly normal.
Truthfully, she had quite enjoyed traveling together during this time. The feeling of having companions nearby was much better than solitude... besides, the two people with her evoked a subtle, hard-to-describe sense of familiarity.
"Twilight, do you have any way to help us find Himeko and March faster?" Caelus stood still, scanning his surroundings but finding no next exit.
After a moment's thought, he decisively turned to the seemingly omnipotent Twilaemon beside him for help. "As long as we don't alert those people from The Family, a little noise is fine."
Twilight nodded, silently closing her eyes.
When she opened them again, the aura around her had subtly shifted.
Then, the formless Memon essence in the surroundings seemed to ripple mysteriously, as if disturbed by some power, spreading out into the distance.
"Besides us, there are two—no, three other people here..." The power of the Path of Remembrance swept silently through the dreamscape.
Twilight raised her hand slightly, constructing a surveillance-like screen out of Memon essence in front of them, displaying the figures of Himeko and March 7th. "Two are together, and one is alone... March and Himeko should be together, they're not in immediate danger."
"Three people?" Caelus was puzzled. "Didn't Mr. Yang and Dan Heng stay outside? How is there an extra person?"
"The other one is someone annoying..."
With a slight flick of her fingers, Twilight changed the image from Himeko and March 7th cautiously advancing down a corridor to that of a silver-haired girl running down a hallway.
Although her expression was unclear, her constant running and occasional glances back suggested her situation was dire, much like the female lead being chased by a monster in a horror movie.
The three could even see bandages wrapped around her body, indicating she was injured.
"Firefly?!"
Caelus's eyes suddenly widened. He didn't understand why the frail Firefly would appear in this deep dreamscape, but he didn't have time to dwell on it.
Firefly was physically weak, utterly defenseless, and from what Twilight had detected, she was clearly in danger.
Whatever the situation, saving Firefly was undoubtedly the top priority now. Caelus could never stand by and watch a friend get hurt right in front of him!
"Twilight, quickly, find a way to get us to Firefly!" Caelus urged anxiously.
"It will cause too much disturbance, The Family might notice—"
"That doesn't matter anymore, just take us there!"
Look at Firefly's injuries... Although Caelus didn't know what Firefly had been through in this short month, if he ever met the culprit, he would absolutely make them suffer!
The flames of justice burned fiercely in his chest. Compared to attracting The Family's attention, the life right before him was far more important.
"Okay."
Without further words, Twilight gently took Caelus's hand and grabbed Acheron's sleeve with her other hand.
In the next instant, the surrounding Memon essence nearly boiled over.
Accompanied by the cracking sound of the dreamscape shattering, their figures instantly traversed the vast expanse of the deep dreamscape, appearing directly at the location Firefly had been shown moments before.
The power of Memory... Is Twilight from the Garden of Recollection? Though this power indeed reaches the level of an Emanator, the way she uses it is rather crude, almost like a child born with immense strength...
In that brief moment of contact, Acheron gleaned more information from Twilight, deepening her curiosity. Such a powerful and enigmatic existence, how did the Astral Express crew manage to invite her aboard?
Unlike Acheron, who still had the presence of mind for other thoughts, Caelus didn't see Firefly upon landing and immediately dashed in the direction she had been heading.
Seeing this, Twilight silently followed.
"Why did you choose the Astral Express?"
Walking beside Twilight, Acheron asked softly. She could sense that Twilight wasn't very old. With such power and talent, Twilight should have been the most prized prodigy of the Garden of Recollection.
Why fulfill the duties of Trailblaze, journeying across the galaxy with these people?
Although Memokeepers seek out brilliant memories, Twilight didn't seem to share that interest...
Twilight merely glanced silently at Acheron and stated calmly, "Because Caelus got on the train... and everyone else is on the train too."
Since Caelus had already accepted Acheron as a companion and had sternly told her to get along peacefully with Acheron, Twilight naturally wouldn't persist in showing hostility towards Acheron, who hadn't displayed any malice.
I see... Is it also for companionship and a place to belong?
Acheron felt she could somewhat understand Twilight, as she herself often reminisced about times like those... though opportunities for such reflection seemed increasingly rare lately.
Thinking this, Acheron found Twilight more agreeable.
A fortunate child. I hope she doesn't experience my misfortunes.
[Target Raiden Bosenmori Mei (Acheron)'s favorability increased. Current favorability: 9][Current target charging efficiency: 350%]
Only 70% efficiency per level for energy regen? Seriously, Acheron? Your name has three more characters than the God of Cooking who rides a red electric dragon, but your regen rate is lower... Guess relying on your billing for power comes at a cost.
Caelus didn't know what Acheron and Twilight were thinking behind him. He just followed Firefly's trail and rushed into the hotel lobby.
As his view suddenly opened up, he saw her standing in the center, seemingly waiting for him.
Sensing Caelus's arrival, Firefly suddenly turned to meet his gaze, beaming as she gave him a gentle wave. Seeing her safe and sound, Caelus finally relaxed, a smile spreading across his face.
Then, in the next instant, a black shadow shot out from behind him like a phantom, snatching the girl before him into the air in the blink of an eye!
Caught completely off guard by the utterly unexpected attack, Caelus, with his current strength, was powerless to stop it.
But he wasn't alone. Acheron was there, and so was Twilight!
Caelus wasn't too worried. With their strength, they could definitely save Firefly!
Then, amidst his anticipation, the monster's sharp claws pierced through Firefly's chest from behind, leaving only the girl's bewildered eyes and the tears welling at their corners.
And that whispered apology.
"S...orry..."
Caelus stared blankly at the scene, until he instinctively lunged forward to catch Firefly's still-warm body, only to watch helplessly as she dissolved into watery specks in his arms.
...Why did it turn out like this?
Caelus didn't understand. In that moment, both Acheron and Twilight could have saved Firefly...
He saw Acheron grip her sword, only to hesitate and ultimately not draw it.
He saw the monster brush past Twilight; she could have easily struck it down with just a lift of her hand...
But Twilight just stood there, expressionless.
She watched calmly as Firefly died before her, like watching a play she had no interest in... Her indifference felt chillingly alien to Caelus.