Arc 3: Tree of Imaginary Numbers
Chapter 29 – A Pact Across Paths
Astral Express – The Training Car
The rhythmic sound of fists striking against reinforced dummies echoed through the training car. Thor sparred with Bruce, each blow sending shockwaves across the chamber. Natasha drilled March 7th on precision takedowns, while Bell and Dan Heng tested each other in swift exchanges.
Finality Kiana sat quietly, adjusting to the unfamiliar environment. Across from her, Velgrynd kept watch with folded arms, still tense but measured.
Neo sat with Himeko and Welt, overseeing the sparring. His gaze occasionally flicked toward Lan and Qlipoth, who stood silently near the edge of the room, watching.
The Discussion of Alliance
After training wound down, the group assembled in the lounge. Lan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes sharp. Qlipoth stood like a mountain, unmoving, their crystalline form glowing faintly.
Lan:
"You've made your position clear, Neo. This alliance will not bind you, but neither will it bind us. Still, we acknowledge that together, our chances of resisting the corruption—and this 'Lord God Space'—increase."
Qlipoth (deep, steady):
"Preservation exists not just to shield, but to endure. If this corruption consumes all, there will be nothing left to preserve. I… will cooperate."
The group exchanged glances. For Aeons to speak with such clarity—it was something none of them expected.
The Chat Group Stirs
The air shimmered as golden script danced in front of every member's vision.
[Group Chat System Announcement]
New members have joined: Lan (The Hunt) & Qlipoth (The Preservation).
Starter Pack Rewards granted.
Lan stiffened as light wrapped around him. Qlipoth's crystalline form pulsed with warmth. Both looked confused—then startled.
Lan (quietly):
"…What is this feeling?"
Neo smiled knowingly.
Neo:
"Humanity. The part of yourselves that the Paths stripped away. The chat group restores it. You're no longer slaves to your Paths—you are free to choose."
For the first time, Lan's sharp gaze softened. Qlipoth's immense form seemed to breathe.
Explaining the Chat Group
Velgrynd stepped in, her voice steady but sharp.
Velgrynd:
"This isn't just some gathering. The chat group exists across multiverses. It links warriors, leaders, even gods, so that together, they can fight threats greater than their own worlds."
Neo leaned forward.
Neo:
"The corruption you've seen—it's no accident. It comes from the Lord God Space. They send transmigrators to destroy, corrupt, or dominate multiverses. We've fought them before. In Marvel's world, entire heroes were corrupted. In Tensura, I faced the very origin of Nihility itself. And now… in your Tree of Imaginary Numbers, the same pattern repeats."
The room grew silent. Even Finality Kiana, who had already seen destruction beyond comprehension, listened with grim focus.
Natasha (Avengers):
"So this isn't just about saving one world… It's about cutting out the infection at its root."
Lan's fists tightened.
Lan:
"To think we've been blind to this… while you've carried the burden across worlds."
Qlipoth's voice rumbled with conviction.
Qlipoth:
"Then the Preservation shall not stand idle. We will uphold this alliance."
Reactions in the Group
The chat group lit up with voices:
• Tony (Avengers): "We're really collecting cosmic deities now? At this rate, we'll need a bigger train."
• Bronya (chat group): "Two Aeons willingly joining us… it changes everything."
• Zhongli: "The gravity of this pact cannot be overstated. Even gods fear losing their humanity."
• Himiko (HSR): "About time those two stiff Aeons admitted they need help."
• Finality Kiana (quietly): "…If even Aeons can join, then maybe this fight isn't hopeless."
Closing – Suspicion of the Future
Neo exhaled, leaning back in his seat, though his mind remained sharp.
Neo (to himself):
"So the chat group's pulling them in too, huh… Good. Because what's coming next will need more than just us."
But deep in the void, the transmigrator smirked as he neared Ember Prison, Tayzzyronth's chains already rattling.
The battle ahead would test not just the Astral Express crew—but the unity of every Path itself.
✨ End of Chapter 29 – A Pact Across Paths ✨
Arc 3: HSR – Chapter 30 | The Summoning Device
The atmosphere inside the Astral Express turned heavy as the latest mission briefing ended. The live projection of the corrupted zone hovered before everyone: the Ember Prison, sealed deep within the folds of the Imaginary Tree.
The mission statement was clear:
"Prevent the transmigrator from releasing or corrupting Tayzzyronth, Aeon of Propagation."
The chat group had rarely been so blunt. If the Lord God Space's pawn succeeded here, the fallout could spread beyond the Honkai systems, infecting entire branches of the Tree of Imaginary Numbers—and even seeping into the Quantum Sea.
The Gift of the Chat Group
A sudden ripple went through the Express as the chat group system chimed.
[Special Mission Item Granted: Celestial Summoning Device – One Use Only]
User will summon a figure deemed necessary to stabilize the balance of this mission.
The device materialized in Neo's palm: a crystalline sphere glowing with prismatic light. The room quieted as if instinctively aware of its weight.
Velgrynd's eyes widened, her normally unshakable composure breaking. "That resonance… no, it can't be…"
The chat group flashed again:
[Summoning Candidate: Veldanava – Fragment Avatar (Branch Timeline)]
Reactions of the Crew and Allies
Lan, standing with arms folded, raised a brow. "Veldanava…? Another Aeon?"
Qlipoth's voice rumbled like stone breaking apart. "No. This presence is… older. Not of our order. What are we looking at?"
The Avengers looked between one another uneasily. Tony crossed his arms, trying to mask his unease with his usual snark. "Okay, I thought we'd seen big guns before, but who exactly are we talking about here? You're saying the orb is gonna summon… God?"
Hestia and Bell from Danmachi tilted their heads, not understanding. Welt's expression darkened; he could sense the scale of this revelation.
It was Neo who finally broke the silence.
Neo's Explanation – The Truth of Veldanava
"You all deserve to know," Neo said, his tone calm but edged with weight. He lifted the crystalline device slightly so the light reflected across everyone's faces.
"Veldanava's true self was never destroyed. He simply grew tired—bored. He created the Tensura multiverse out of nothing more than will and curiosity, then stepped back. Since then, he has only watched, letting the worlds evolve without his hand guiding them."
The room was dead silent, all eyes fixed on Neo.
"But he didn't act directly. Instead, he used avatars, fragments of his will, scattered across countless timelines. Almost all of those avatars faded—willfully. He wanted them to end."
Neo's voice dropped lower, heavier.
"Except… when I was sent to the ancient Tensura era for the Dragon Factor mission, my arrival twisted the flow. A branch timeline was born. In that branch, one avatar of Veldanava chose not to fade away."
Neo looked down at the device, his fingers tightening.
"And this—this summon—will call that surviving avatar. The one who still lives because of my arrival. Don't be fooled: even as a fragment, he is almost omnipotent within the Tensura multiverse. And more importantly—"
His gaze shifted to Velgrynd.
"He is Velgrynd's elder brother."
Velgrynd's Voice
Velgrynd's hands trembled as she stepped forward, her golden eyes burning. "My brother… Veldanava. He loved us—his siblings—deeply, even if his ways were distant. If this device truly summons him, then he won't come out of obligation. He'll come because he wants to protect family."
Her words carried both fire and sorrow. "The Veldanava you know from myths, from the Tensura timeline, is only an avatar, one no one ever saw in his true form. But this one… this one is alive. And if we call him here, he will stand with us."
The Weight of the Choice
Reactions rippled through the gathered allies.
• Lan narrowed his eyes, tension hidden beneath his calm mask. "So this… is not merely summoning another warrior. You are dragging an ancient pillar of creation into our war."
• Qlipoth's stone form cracked with unease. "To bind such a force is dangerous. Yet to have it as an ally… may tip the balance."
• Steve Rogers spoke softly, almost reverently. "If what you're saying is true… then this might be our only chance to stop something even worse than Thanos."
• Himiko from HSR muttered under her breath, "Almost omnipotent fragments, true selves watching in silence… this is on a level even the Aeons tread carefully around."
Tony finally exhaled, shaking his head. "Well. Great. Family reunions that decide the fate of reality. Just another Tuesday."
Neo's Closing Words
Neo closed his fist around the crystalline device. "This isn't a tool to be used lightly. If we summon him, it means things have escalated beyond even what we've faced before. Propagation's corruption isn't just another mission—it's a threat that could devour the Tree of Imaginary Numbers itself, and bleed into the Quantum Sea."
He glanced across the group, his eyes sharp.
"This summoning isn't a weapon. It's a vow. If we call Veldanava here, it means we're willing to stake everything—not just for survival, but for the future of every path we walk."
The train's lights dimmed for a moment, the gravity of the situation pressing down on everyone present.
Velgrynd whispered, almost to herself, "Brother… if we call you… will you answer us?"
And in the silence, the crystalline sphere pulsed faintly—like a heartbeat waiting to be awakened.
🔥 End of Chapter 30
Arc 3: HSR – Chapter 31 | The Triple Threat
The Astral Express drifted through the starry expanse, its quiet hum a deceptive contrast to the storm brewing beyond. Neo held the crystalline summoning sphere tightly, its heartbeat-like glow a constant reminder of the decision yet to be made.
But before he could act, the chat group alert rang louder than ever:
[Warning: Mission Expansion]
The transmigrator has approached two additional Aeons beyond Propagation.
Targets: Nanook, the Destruction, and Yaoshi, the Abundance.
Current Mission Objective: Prevent corruption or neutralize the threat of three Aeons.
The entire carriage froze.
The Transmigrator's Gambit
The system displayed a shifting projection: the transmigrator cloaked in malicious aura, standing before Nanook amidst the burning ruins of countless stars.
Nanook's massive form leaned forward, golden fire searing the void. And then, to everyone's shock, the Aeon smiled.
"Corruption? Hah. I was born to destroy. If this form makes me sharper, if it lets me end everything faster… then I accept."
The shadow of corruption swirled into his body, and Nanook's flames darkened into obsidian fire. The stars themselves trembled.
Velgrynd clenched her fists. "That fool…! He doesn't understand he's being used!"
The projection shifted again, this time showing Yaoshi, the Abundance, deep within a radiant garden of endless life. The transmigrator extended the same offer—corruption in exchange for power.
But Yaoshi recoiled, their voice resonating in both sorrow and defiance:
"To twist life into a mockery of itself? No. I will not give you what you seek."
Yet, even as they resisted, the aura of corruption seeped into the roots of the garden, weakening Yaoshi's vast form.
Qlipoth's tone was grim. "If Nanook embraces corruption and Yaoshi is weakened, Propagation's emergence will no longer be contained. This is no longer a battle over one Aeon."
Shock Across the Express
Reactions came in waves:
• Dan Heng lowered his head, his hand tightening around his spear. "If Destruction has fallen, then no star is safe. His will alone can shatter civilizations."
• Welt's jaw clenched as he studied the projections. "To corrupt abundance itself… it means even healing and renewal will turn into infection and unchecked growth."
• Hestia covered her mouth, whispering in disbelief. "Three corrupted gods… how can mortals stand against this?"
• Tony rubbed his face and muttered, "Yeah, no pressure. Just three apocalyptic bosses at once. Totally fine."
Lan finally spoke, his voice steady but sharp. "This is beyond coincidence. The transmigrator isn't just reckless. Someone—or something—has given them precise knowledge of which Aeons to target. This is orchestrated."
The Chat Group's Final Update
The chat group's interface pulsed again, louder than before:
[Mission Parameters Expanded]
– Neutralize the corrupted Nanook, Destruction.
– Protect Yaoshi from full corruption.
– Seal Tayzzyronth, Propagation.
Failure Condition: Collapse of Tree of Imaginary Numbers + Quantum Sea infection.
Reward Tier Expanded: [One-time Summoning Device will activate upon dire battlefield need].
The crystalline sphere in Neo's hand pulsed stronger, as if responding to the system's words.
The Weight of the Decision
Velgrynd stepped closer to Neo, her gaze locked on the glowing device. "Brother will come if we call him. You know this. But summoning him now… before the true battle begins… would be wasting his presence."
Neo nodded. His voice was calm, but beneath it ran steel.
"Veldanava doesn't move unless the board itself is about to collapse. He's willful, capricious, but if he steps down into this battlefield, it means even he believes the future itself is at stake."
Lan's sharp eyes flicked to the orb. "Then hold your piece. Save it for when the enemy commits fully. If you reveal him too early, the transmigrator will twist even that against you."
Suspense Before the Storm
The Express went quiet again, each member lost in their thoughts.
• Finality Kiana sat silently, looking at Neo, then at Velgrynd, her own chest heavy with unspoken emotions.
• Welt adjusted his glasses, his mind racing through simulations, but every outcome looked grim.
• Pom-Pom stomped its tiny foot in frustration. "Three corrupted Aeons sneaking around MY train's starways! Unforgivable!"
• Danmachi's Bell gripped his blade tighter, whispering, "I'll fight… no matter what."
And Neo, standing at the center of it all, felt the sphere thrum against his palm like a heartbeat.
The future of worlds rested on whether to call a bored god who once created entire multiverses out of whim—
—but for now, he chose silence.
The battlefield awaited.
🔥 End of Chapter 31
Arc 3: HSR – Chapter 32 | The Gathering of Minds and Chaos
The Astral Express coursed through the star-lanes, engines burning brighter after the latest upgrades. Yet the atmosphere inside was taut, as if everyone was holding their breath before the inevitable clash with three corrupted Aeons.
Neo stood near the conductor's post, reviewing projections with Welt, Lan, and Qlipoth. Plans upon plans filled the display, yet none offered certainty.
The Unexpected Visitors
The lights flickered. A ripple of power ran down the train's halls.
Pom-Pom's ears twitched immediately, eyes narrowing.
"…No. Not again. Not MORE people sneaking into MY train."
And then they appeared.
A tall figure of infinite composure, crystalline features shifting like glass gears — Nous, the Erudition, but walking in the form of a human scholar.
And alongside him, a grinning man in flamboyant attire, his every step carrying the rhythm of laughter and chaos — Aha, the Elation in human flesh.
Pom-Pom shrieked. "NOT YOU! Not the train-killer!!"
Aha just cackled, throwing his arms wide.
"Ahaha! Pom-Pom, you're still adorable when you're angry! But don't worry, I'm here to help this time, not to explode things. Probably."
The Chat Group's Announcement
Before anyone could react further, the chat group notification chimed, louder than ever:
[New Members Joined]
– Nous, the Erudition
– Aha, the Elation
[Starter Gift Delivered]
Aha's eyes widened as he caught a shimmering box in his hands. With a theatrical flourish, he opened it.
Light cascaded over him. The laughter in his eyes softened into something more… human. For the first time in countless eons, Aha's smile wasn't bound by the chains of his path.
"…Well, this is different. I don't feel like a slave to the game anymore. I feel—alive. Truly alive." He placed a hand on his chest, as if rediscovering himself.
Nous studied his own gift, calculating in silence. When he opened it, the glow didn't just illuminate his body but resonated across his entire form, like gears shifting in a machine that had never stopped running.
"…So this is humanity," Nous whispered. His voice, once cold, now carried warmth.
"All this time, I believed I was destined to calculate endlessly, chasing the truth of the universe. But now… I can seek a truth of my own choosing. A self not defined by equations alone."
Welt blinked in astonishment. "So even machines… can be restored this way."
Lan crossed his arms. "The chat group's power is… unsettling. But perhaps it is exactly what we need."
Pom-Pom's Fury
Pom-Pom stomped its tiny feet so hard the Express shook.
"I don't care if you're restored! YOU—" he jabbed his paw at Aha, "BLEW UP THE EXPRESS WHEN AKIVILI WAS ALIVE! Do you know how hard it was to clean that mess?! I STILL smell the burn marks sometimes!"
The whole cabin paused. Even Neo cracked a faint smile.
Aha laughed so hard he nearly fell over. "Ahaha! That's fair, that's fair! I did make quite the bang back then. But hey, now I've got humanity again. Maybe I'll even feel guilty about it."
Pom-Pom puffed up, still glaring. "You'd better!"
Strategic Council
The Express became a war council. Around the main table sat:
• Neo, with Velgrynd at his side, calm yet focused.
• Lan and Qlipoth, new allies but still cautious.
• Nous and Aha, both adjusting to their newfound humanity.
• Welt, Himiko, Dan Heng, March 7th, Avengers, Danmachi adventurers, Finality Kiana, all listening.
The projections displayed the battlefield-to-come:
• Propagation's cocoon stirring in Ember Prison.
• Nanook's corrupted star-fires devouring galaxies.
• Yaoshi's garden, half-light, half-shadow, struggling against infection.
Neo stood. His voice carried across the room.
"We are not just fighting corruption. We are fighting the lord god space itself — their will spreads through these Aeons. If we fail here, it's not just one universe at risk. It's the Tree of Imaginary Numbers and even the Quantum Sea."
Silence followed, heavy and unyielding.
Then Nous spoke, his restored humanity coloring his words.
"You will need precision. Corruption feeds on chaos. I will calculate every opening, every weak point. Not because the path demands it — but because I choose to."
Aha leaned back, smirking, but his eyes glowed with new determination.
"And I'll bring joy to the battlefield. But this time, joy isn't destruction. It's freedom. If we're going to fight gods twisted into monsters, then let's show them what true freedom looks like."
The Calm Before the Battle
As plans were drawn and final preparations made, Pom-Pom stomped away muttering, "More freeloaders on MY train… if another Aeon pops in without knocking, I swear…"
Neo looked down at the glowing summoning sphere in his hand — Veldanava's promise, waiting.
Velgrynd touched his arm gently. "When the moment comes, he will answer. Brother loves us both, in his own willful way. Until then, it's our burden to carry."
Neo nodded, his gaze hardening. The time of planning was almost over.
The storm was coming.
🔥 End of Chapter 32
Chapter 33 – The Judgment of Restored Aeons
The Astral Express pushed forward, but the cosmos was already shifting. With Aeons regaining their humanity, their very presence reshaped the factions that once wielded their names in shadows. Justice finally stirred.
Lan, the Hunt — The Call of the Hunt
The Galaxy Rangers were the first to respond.
Scattered across distant systems, they were remembered as a legendary force—the ones who united once to slay a Lord Ravager, restoring balance to a galaxy that had nearly been consumed. But time had shattered them. Justice dimmed.
Lan raised his bow, his voice resounding across starlight:
"Those who walk the Hunt, answer me. Gather once more. You struck down a Ravager before—strike down corruption now."
One by one, the Rangers emerged from exile, each answering the call. Legends returned.
But it was not only they. The Xianzhou Alliance, long bound to Lan's path, stirred. Its mighty fleet—immortal flagships born from the pursuit of endless life—had once been corrupted by ambition and stagnation. Now, with Lan restored, their vows burned anew.
"We were forged to hunt the Abundance's spawn," their elders declared. "We strayed… but no longer. Under the Hunt, we return."
Yet not all within the Alliance were clean. Those who used Lan's name for greed—officials who traded justice for profit, who preyed on the weak in the guise of immortality—were brought before him.
Lan's gaze was colder than a blade.
"You carried my path in words, but not in deeds. You will be judged by the Hunt you betrayed."
Corrupt ministers and generals fell—stripped of power, their immortal lives severed at the root. Their cries echoed, silenced beneath the Hunt's judgment.
And for the first time in centuries, both the Rangers and the Xianzhou Alliance stood united under Lan's banner, the Hunt reforged.
Qlipoth, the Preservation — Justice in Stone
In the towering halls of the IPC and the eternal Architects, another reckoning struck.
Qlipoth's human incarnation appeared, each step resonant like grinding tectonic plates. He judged not whispers, but crimes written in ledgers: destroyed planets, extorted systems, countless lives erased for profit.
"Preservation is to protect—not to profit. You destroyed to line your vaults. That ends now."
Departments known for atrocity crumbled. Leaders like Oswaldo Schneider were sealed in unbreakable stone, their corruption preserved only as a monument to greed's folly.
And in distant halls, **Aventurine—Kakavasha—**watched. Tears fell as he whispered:
"Finally… justice that cannot be bought. The day we prayed for has come."
Nous, the Erudition — Cleansing Knowledge
The Genius Society had long worshiped discovery above compassion. Experiments carved from flesh. Cruel truths forced onto the unwilling.
Nous appeared within their academies, no longer only a cold machine of calculation.
"Knowledge without empathy is error. Wisdom must serve life, not consume it."
In a single act, their darkest archives were erased. Those who committed atrocities had their memories stripped, condemned to start anew without the taint of cruelty.
Aha, the Elation — Joy Restored
The Masked Fools and cults of Elation once reveled in despair and false joy, twisting laughter into shackles.
Aha's form shimmered, his laughter sharp yet kind this time.
"Joy is freedom, not chains. Your sorrow theater ends here."
The corrupted were forced to live in endless cycles of their own illusions, their mockery of joy turned back upon themselves. True joy—light and unbound—returned to those they tormented.
The Express Reacts
Back aboard, silence hung heavy. Velgrynd looked at Neo, her golden eyes thoughtful.
"They don't just carry their paths anymore… they carry humanity again. Because you stood first."
Neo only whispered, voice firm:
"Justice is strongest when it's shared. The Hunt, Preservation, Erudition, Elation… now they walk with us."
Pom-Pom, arms crossed and tail flicking, muttered darkly:
"First Lan barges in, then Qlipoth, then Aha, then Nous… this train isn't a clubhouse! One of these days, I'll kick them all out—starting with that clown Aha!"
Laughter rippled through the car, but the summoning device in Neo's hand pulsed ominously. Destiny stirred, whispering of what awaited in the Ember Prison.
End of Chapter 33
Chapter 34 – Before the Storm, Beneath the Stars
The Astral Express hummed gently as it cut through the starry sea, carrying both the weary and the unyielding. For the first time since the corruption's spread began, there was silence—no alarms, no sudden clashes. Just breathing space.
Training Under Starlight
In the freight car, the clang of blades and the roar of powers resounded.
Neo sparred with Velgrynd, their blows sending sparks across the floor. Her golden-red flames lashed like wings, while Neo's aura pulsed with stabilized Dragon Factor energy, refined since his evolution.
"Your balance is improving," Velgrynd said, twisting her spear to catch his strike. "But don't lean on instinct alone. The corruption you'll face won't give you second chances."
Neo smirked, sweat streaking his cheek. "Says the dragon who nearly roasted me last round."
On the sidelines, Finality Kiana and Chat Kiana watched, arms crossed. When Neo stumbled, both moved at once—only to stop when their hands brushed.
Velgrynd's sharp eyes caught it, her lips curling. "…Don't tell me my brother-in-law is building a harem without realizing it."
Chat Kiana flushed crimson, while Finality Kiana only smirked. "Hmph. If it were me, I'd just claim him outright."
Velgrynd stiffened, her tail of fire whipping as if ready to strike—not at Neo, but at the other Kiana.
Pom-Pom stomped in, fur bristling. "NO ROMANCE TRAINING ON MY EXPRESS!" The crew burst into laughter, easing the tension.
Bonding Moments
Elsewhere, the ground team found their own rhythm.
• Welt sat with Bronya, Theresa, and Mei—still shaken from their purification. His voice carried a father's sorrow and pride. "Even corrupted, your will endured. That is proof that hope isn't so fragile."
• The Danmachi group, still outsiders to the multiverse, marveled at the Express. Bell Cranel pressed his face to the window, whispering, "So many worlds… and we're fighting to protect them all." Ais stood silently beside him, her gaze sharpening with resolve.
• The HSR crew—March, Dan Heng, and Stelle—trained alongside the Rangers, while Aventurine quietly observed Qlipoth's restored form, his tears long dried but his smile brighter than ever.
For one night, they were not just soldiers—they were companions bound by a war larger than any single world.
Foreshadowing – The Summoning Device
Later, in the observation car, Neo studied the summoning device. Its crystalline body pulsed faintly with energy.
"Veldanava…" he whispered. "If it's you they've chosen, then things are worse than we think."
Velgrynd approached, her expression conflicted. "My brother… he would never appear unless something unshakable was coming. If we summon him, even as an avatar, it will mean the battlefield has tipped beyond our control."
Finality Kiana leaned against the railing, golden eyes fixed on the stars. "Then let's hope we're ready before that moment comes. Because if an Aeon-corrupted Propagation wasn't enough, Destruction and Abundance will be…"
The stars seemed dimmer, as if listening.
POV Shift – Veldanava's Avatar
Somewhere beyond the gaze of mortals, in a realm neither anchored to the Imaginary Tree nor swallowed by the Quantum Sea, a fragment of a god stirred.
Veldanava's surviving avatar—the one spared only because Neo's arrival splintered a new branch timeline—watched the flow of existence with eyes that reflected all possibilities.
He chuckled, soft but weary.
"How amusing. I built this multiverse out of boredom, scattering avatars like seeds across timelines. Almost all withered, consumed, erased… and yet here, in this small branch, I remain."
He lifted his hand, watching creation dance within his palm. His power, though only a fragment, was still enough to warp entire realities. Near-omnipotent, yet bound by choice.
"Neo, the one who carries my dragon factor… Velgrynd, my sister… You both stand at a crossroad I had once foreseen but dismissed as improbable. Perhaps fate toys with me. Or perhaps, for once, I am curious again."
His gaze sharpened, piercing across timelines, brushing against the Express itself.
"If you summon me… I will come. Not because I must—but because I wish to. For family. For the one who dared to alter destiny's script."
Yet in the stillness of his eyes, another truth shimmered:
Summoning him would not come without cost. A fragment of the true Veldanava could shift battles, but it would also strain the laws of the multiverse. His will alone could shatter or protect.
And somewhere far, far above, the true Veldanava—beyond avatars, beyond form—watched silently. Unmoving. Amused. Waiting.
Return to the Express
Back aboard, Neo tightened his grip on the device. A whisper lingered in his heart, though no words had been spoken aloud:
"When the time comes, I will stand with you. Do not waste the chance."
The night passed in starlit silence, but everyone knew: the calm was only the stillness before the storm.
End of Chapter 34
Chapter 35 – Mobilization Across the Stars
The stillness after training didn't last long.
While the Astral Express coasted through the Imaginary currents, across the cosmos, entire civilizations began to move. The corruption wasn't just Neo's burden anymore—it had become the storm every faction now braced to face.
The Xianzhou Alliance & the Galaxy Rangers
Under Lan's command, the Xianzhou Alliance moved with an efficiency unseen in centuries. Great flagships stirred from their long orbits, entire fleets aligning in perfect formation. Yet this was not the same Alliance that once allowed corruption and greed to fester within.
In the Jade Chamber of Arbitration, Lan's voice echoed, steady as steel:
"The Hunt demands justice, not indulgence. Those who twisted the Alliance for selfish gain will face the Hunt's judgment."
In a single breath, corrupt ministers and profiteers were brought forward, stripped of titles, and placed under trial. Whispers of fear and awe swept the Alliance—Lan had not just returned; he had reshaped their Path.
At the same time, summons rang out across galaxies. The Galaxy Rangers, scattered nomads walking the Hunt's path, answered the call. Their reputation preceded them—heroes who once struck down a Lord Ravager when no fleet dared to intervene. Now, hundreds gathered under Lan's banner, cloaks whipping in stellar winds, oaths renewed in fire.
"Where justice falters, we act. Where corruption festers, we strike. The Hunt is united again."
The Alliance stood stronger, their justice sharpened to a blade.
The IPC & the Architects
On the glittering worlds of the Interastral Peace Corporation, Qlipoth's return sent shockwaves through gilded towers.
Corruption had seeped deep, hidden beneath numbers and contracts. But the Aeon of Preservation had no patience for profit at the cost of life. Entire departments were dismantled in a single decree.
Oswaldo Schneider, once untouchable, trembled as Qlipoth's voice shook the vaults. His empire of exploitation was shattered in moments.
And among the IPC's rank-and-file, relief spread like wildfire. Aventurine—Kakavasha—knelt in the quiet of his chamber, tears streaming unchecked.
"Finally… justice. Not the kind that comes in ledgers, but in truth."
The Architects of Belobog too felt Qlipoth's gaze. Their hubris in chaining worlds under the guise of 'stability' was torn apart. But not all was punishment—many who still carried hope for peace were given renewed purpose. For the first time, the IPC and Architects marched not for profit or control, but to preserve life itself.
Nous, the Erudition
In the halls of infinite machines and star-forges, Nous turned its restored eyes upon its disciples. For millennia, they had worshipped calculation, bound to unravel the truth of the universe. But Nous had changed—its humanity restored.
Now, its voice carried warmth, not just precision.
"Truth is not a prison. It is a path to growth. Those who chained curiosity for power have no place among us."
Entire archives were purged of dogma, leaving knowledge open to all. The scholars of Erudition were no longer prisoners of their equations—they were free minds once more.
Aha, the Elation
And then there was Aha.
The Masked Fools gathered in frenzied anticipation when their Aeon appeared in human form, but this time… something was different.
Aha laughed, but not as the reckless deity who once threw lives and fates into chaos for a fleeting joke. The starter gift had restored their humanity, anchoring joy in freedom, not destruction.
"Elation isn't cruelty dressed in laughter. True joy is found in choosing your path. Those who hid behind my name to indulge in madness… will face their curtain call."
Masked Fools who had committed atrocities were unmasked, their laughter silenced by Aha's decree. Yet others found new inspiration, a chance to turn their pranks into light-hearted sparks instead of blades.
Pom-Pom would never forgive Aha for blowing up the Express in Akivili's time, but even the conductor could feel the shift.
Across the Cosmos
From the Alliance's fleets to the IPC's economic networks, from the scholars of Erudition to the wandering jesters of Elation—entire factions aligned, no longer slaves to their Paths, but leaders under Aeons who now walked freely.
The message spread through every channel, every network:
The corruption threatens all. The battle at Ember Prison will decide not just one world, but the balance of every timeline.
The Express – Watching the Storm Form
On the Astral Express, Neo and the crew received updates from every faction. Stella leaned against the console, eyes wide.
"So many… all moving at once. It's like the entire cosmos woke up overnight."
Finality Kiana crossed her arms, voice steady but grave. "Then it means the corruption is spreading faster than we thought. No one would mobilize like this unless they felt it clawing at their doorsteps."
Velgrynd flicked her fiery hair, gaze distant. "And if Veldanava's name has entered the stage… then this is only the beginning."
The Express hummed louder, the weight of countless factions pressing toward one point in space: Ember Prison, where the corruption waited with not one, but three fallen Aeons.
End of Chapter 35