Chapter 165: Is this a fable? You've broadcasted the Aeons' images onto the public screens!
Upon Black Swan swiping to this notification.
She noticed that before the hotel lobby, several pairs of travelers who had been walking suddenly halted their steps.
Those resting on the sofas also let out exclamations of surprise in unison.
Clearly.
These people were all Star Rail players!
They were all following the Honkai: Star Rail developer, Feathered Spirit!
And they had all received the notification in the exact same instant just now.
The originally quiet and orderly hotel lobby instantly dissolved into a clamor of commotion.
Black Swan was no exception.
Her interest was immediately piqued.
Just like everyone else, she opened the video at the first opportunity.
It had barely begun.
A familiar voice rang out from the background.
[ Let's make an exchange, shall we…? An exchange of [ Memories ]]
The look of amused interest on Black Swan's face instantly froze into a stun.
Could it be any more familiar?!
Wasn't this her own voice!
But.
Why would she suddenly appear in a short film released by Feathered Spirit?
Even Black Swan found herself caught in a state of bewildered uncertainty at this moment.
[ I dreamed of a ray of light, of a crystal chalice. ]
[ The light that shone from that crystal spoke to me: Listen to the parable about the stars. ]
Within the frame.
The backdrop of the cosmos flashed by.
It was precisely that cosmic space from the game's storyline where the Trailblazer was first gazed upon by an Aeon.
A thoughtful look appeared in Black Swan's eyes.
Fables About the Stars, is it…
It seems.
This video is likely using fairy tales and other obscure methods to express the meaning she wishes to convey.
Hehe, this is truly amusing.
Even she has to guess what meaning she herself intends to convey.
At this moment.
The screen focused on cards lying face down, one by one.
A hand was gliding over the cards.
Surrounding them were crystal candles symbolizing [ Remembrance ].
It could be confirmed.
That was her hand.
As her fingers glided past, the images on the backs of the cards lit up with radiance one by one.
[ The Nameless ones, path-less ones, ]
[ Arrived from the edge of the wilderness, clad in stellar radiance. ]
[ Go now, ]
[ March unwaveringly into solar wind, ]
[ At the end, you will eventually return to my embrace- ]
[ But march towards the light ]
At this time.
On the left side, there was also a ceaseless stream of real-time bullet comments.
…
"Who is this? Her voice is so lovely!"
"I recognize every word, but string them together and I don't understand a thing."
"It's Riddler time!"
"Big sis, you speak like you're singing."
"A mouthful of jingles—are you trying to pass the IPC civil service exam?"
"Did you guys not read the title? It's [ Fables About the Stars ], fables have to be obscure and cryptic."
"Waiting for a Star Rail loremaster to analyze this…"
…
Regarding the words she had spoken.
Black Swan could actually understand them somewhat.
When she performed divinations, she would often speak in similar obscure imagery.
So she was quite sensitive to this manner of speaking.
Those remarks from before.
If nothing unexpected was at play, they should be referring to the Nameless, or rather, the Trailblazer.
But that language did not seem like a result she had obtained through divination.
It felt more like receiving a "revelation" from Fuli.
The stars represented more than just its literal meaning.
It likely also included… the Aeons!
At this, a grave expression immediately surfaced on her face.
Because in reality.
She had never received a "revelation" from Fuli regarding the stars.
She was unsure if this was a deviation between the game and reality…
Or if some unforeseen change had occurred, causing Fuli not to grant her this particular revelation?
Just then.
One of the cards lit up with a slightly different golden radiance.
She immediately drew it out.
Black Swan knew.
Whatever appeared next, it would certainly represent a certain Aeon to some degree.
For instance, using raging fire to represent Nanook, or a hunter to represent Lan, and so on.
So…
When the two large characters for [ Destruction ] appeared directly on the screen.
Black Swan was completely dumbfounded!
What happened to the fable!
What happened to the speaking stars!
You just typed out the Aeon's name—Nanook—right there; are you afraid people won't know I'm talking about Aeons!
Below the name, there was a line of small text.
[ At the universe's core lies a flame, it burns ever so intensely till entire galaxies are incinerated, the sole purpose of embracing a splendid destruction, at the end of all realm ]
However.
What Black Swan had not anticipated was.
It didn't stop there!
Next.
The interface with the name flashed away.
Against the backdrop of the stars, flames surged forth.
A rain of golden light fell.
A colossal figure, brimming with oppressive force, appeared within the frame!
Well then.
This was even more direct.
They literally put Nanook's image on the public screen!
And her own voice narrated in the background: [ But that light began to burn, piercing the clouds, turning into a golden death. Towers toppled, people fled, for the sun was about to set, meeting with vicious destruction. ]
At this moment.
The bullet comments on the left almost stopped scrolling instantly.
Only rows upon rows of question marks remained.
"????"
"?????"
Clearly.
Even the players watching had not expected this.
This video was actually this direct!
Calling them out by name!
They had practically written Nanook's ID number on the screen.
It was only then that many players suddenly realized the truth.
No wonder it was called a fable!
This was unveiling a corner of the Aeons!
If one only listened to the background voice, it would have been fine.
It wouldn't necessarily make people immediately associate it with the Aeon of Destruction…
But the problem lay in the fact that.
Feathered Spirit had served the visuals right up on a platter!
It made it impossible for anyone to play dumb even if they wanted to!
After Destruction passed.
What came next.
[ The Hunt ]!
[ In the first ten thousand years, the hunter nocked arrows for survival; in the second ten thousand years, the hunter drew bows for revenge; in the third ten thousand years, hunting became the purpose itself. ]
Amidst streaks of blue-violet light rain.
Lan appeared within the cosmos.
Currently assuming a posture of drawing a bow to shoot.
Their entire form was illuminated by a layer of starlight.
Looking incomparably holy and sharp!
Black Swan fable-ized:[ But be not dismayed, O child of the world! The Lux Arrow will descend to purge the wicked abominations. You must follow the traces left behind in the storm's wake ]
The players had finally reacted by now.
Excitedly, they fired off bullet comments!
…
"Reignbow Arbiter"
"Brother Lan!"
"The Lux Arrow flies fast!"
"The music instantly cleared up, the Aeon of The Hunt sweeping away evil!"
"Where Brother Lan points, I strike!"
…
Next.
It was Erudition, Nous.
[ If the truth of the universe is cruel and boring, do you still crave the answer? —The seeker is noncommittal, for its mechanical core has been indifferent and cold since birth… just like the end of the Path it pursues. ]
[ The Celestial one guards their secrets, plotting out the roots that connect all things. But they are silent, like a shroud of mist at the center of the universe; listen to the silence, and you will know where the stars are resting. ]
Photographs of geniuses, connected to each other by lines formed of data streams, ultimately converged toward that Aeon in the background.
Black Swan keenly perceived.
The electronic sounds in the background music of this segment matched the frequency of the red light flashing on Nous's head.
This… should be a decipherable code.
Seeing this.
Members of the Genius Society would surely begin decoding it immediately.
And this, did not fall within the scope of her work.
[ Abundance ]
[ Yaoshi ]
[ What saddened her was that eternal life did not allow her to accumulate infinite wisdom, but rather, the things she once considered precious began to blur, never to return. ]
The image of Abundance appeared in the frame.
A pale body.
Red elixirs concealed within palms and arms.
Arms extending from the front, both sides, and behind.
"Let your staff strike the earth, they say, once, and again. The tender sprouts will grow to the sky, and the sweet dew that falls from their branches will rid you of sickness and poison."
And Yaoshi's expression revealed a trace of uncanniness amidst the benevolence.
Of course.
This was how it appeared to Black Swan from a completely neutral perspective.
For different believers, the style they saw would likely differ as well.
In the bullet comments.
Sure enough, a trend of polarization had already emerged.
…
"Yeah!! It's the Plagues Author!! Everyone retreat!!"
"Plagues Author, EAT MY ARROW!!!"
"This look of Abundance seems to reveal an aura of evil charm…"
"Where is the evil charm? I only see benevolence and compassion!"
"Ahhhhhhh."
" The Medicus is merciful!"
"I am a servant of Abundance."
"Praise Abundance!"
"Open up, Cloud Knights!"
"Abominations of Abundance! We of [ The Hunt ] will chase you to your deaths!"
"Destroy the Plagues Author, the world belongs to the Xianzhou!"