Dreamscape Frontier, Firefly's secret base
After a grueling manhole-cover crawl, Stelle finally arrived. The view really was something.
"Have you heard this song? A Single Heart Free From Sorrow—Robin's piece. With the Charmony Festival approaching, her music sometimes plays in the dream."
"This is the closest place to the dream's sky—far from the city's noise, no arguing Dreamweavers. No one to disturb you… just feel the moment. The scenery, the people, the dream…"
Longing shone in Firefly's eyes. "So beautiful… Time forever frozen in this Golden Hour. A golden dream. The Fools from the Tavern, Memokeepers from the Garden, wandering Rangers, Corporation emissaries, Church priestesses and Pontiffs…"
"The Nameless of the Astral Express… and me."
In that moment, a line popped into Stelle's head:
May time linger here forever. May this world shine like gold.
"Everyone sleeps equally here, no matter why… even though we all have our own motives."
Firefly took a deep breath and faced Stelle again:
"Sorry, Stelle. I really am a [stowaway]. For reasons… I can't tell you everything yet. But some things—I should be honest about."
"I know." Stelle nodded.
"I think you deserve to know—my homeworld was destroyed long ago. Maybe the Legion, maybe the Swarm… I'm a cosmic refugee, just like many [locals] in Penacony."
"[Harmony] embraces everyone. In this glittering metropolis, some people's dream is named Penacony."
"But some people's dreams… are no different from reality—even though every ordinary person who comes here shares the same goal."
Firefly gazed at a shooting star streaking across the sky. "Me too. The doll in reality has a wish it can never obtain. It was too strong—so I turned to the dream…"
"…[Entropy Loss Syndrome]. Ever heard of it?"
Firefly told Stelle about the illness she once suffered, deliberately omitting the milk tea Silver Wolf gave her. As she'd said—like now—to keep the planned [script] on track, she couldn't reveal everything yet.
"The [Clockmaker]'s legacy is what I seek, but we don't have to become enemies. At least… I don't want that."
"Me neither."
"…Thank you."
"[I dreamed of scorched earth, a new sprout breaking through the soil. It bloomed toward the dawn and whispered to me.]"
Firefly pressed her hands to her chest and turned back to Stelle.
"Remember the question on the invitation—why does life slumber?"
"Look—in this Land of Dreams, everything is allowed, everything is possible. Painful pasts scatter like bubbles. Tomorrows you dread never arrive."
"Why do people choose to sleep? I think… because they're afraid to wake from the [dream]."
...
After an unforgettable time at the secret base, Stelle clutched a photo with Firefly, ready to part ways in [The Golden Hour] and rejoin the Express crew.
The streets were suddenly empty—no crowds. The atmosphere turned eerie.
At the [Daydream] Hotel entrance, Stelle and Firefly spotted "Adrian" with his back to them.
"Adrian… what the hell are you doing?"
"Oh~ Stelle."
"Adrian" slowly turned, wearing a deliberately fake look of regret as he faced their wary, suspicious stares.
"Sigh, you really didn't listen to my warning… Tsk~ What a shame. That girl has you completely enchanted?"
"You're just… too blind."
Firefly instantly stepped in front of Stelle. "…Careful. I'm certain now—he's not the companion you know."
"Aww~" "Adrian" raised his brows dramatically, tone playful. "Looks like the brave little lady wants to protect you. Why? Are you two that close?"
Even in the tense standoff, Stelle couldn't help roasting: "Better than your relationship with milk tea."
"Shh~"
"Adrian" flashed forward like a ghost, cold fingers forcefully covering Stelle's lips.
"I don't like hearing that…" HIS voice turned faux-hurt. "Who knows when that guy got obsessed with milk tea… neglecting our relationship, boo-hoo-hoo~"
Stelle completely lost it. Whoever this was, at least pretend properly! Not even revealing identity before going full chaos.
"Cut the crap."
Firefly snapped, realizing—this fake Adrian was the [script]'s wildcard.
"Oh~ I love your personality."
"Adrian" clapped, laughing hysterically. "As expected—little firefly's nose is sharper than a Stellaron's."
"But even so, you're way behind the pack. Still haven't noticed—the secret the Family's hiding, the truth behind this [beautiful dream]?"
HE turned to Stelle, tone suddenly ice-cold:
"And you—the Astral Express Trailblazer… Sigh, [Adrian] trusted you so much—even lent you the toy that counters me."
"…I'm really, really disappointed in you."
"This one?" Stelle boldly pulled out the strange milk tea shimmering with stardust.
"Hmm, not completely hopeless."
Seeming done wasting words, "Adrian" snapped casually.
Almost instantly, a bottle of temptingly sweet-scented milk tea appeared at Stelle's lips. That familiar flavor and feel—the exact same she'd mooched off Adrian countless times!
Conditioned habit became a fatal trap. Her brain didn't even warn her—she instinctively took a sip.
As she rallied power to attack, overwhelming numbness flooded her body. Legs buckled, consciousness plummeting like a kite with cut string.
"Adrian" sighed theatrically: "Sigh~ Victory and defeat, both by milk tea… Blame Adrian for spoiling little Stellaron."
"As for you… little firefly, take a nap with her in the real [dream]."
HIS gaze shifted to the on-guard Firefly—another crisp snap. As she collapsed unconscious, a victor's smile spread across HIS face.
"Sigh~ If you'd known, why bother? Did you really think one cup like that could hurt Aha?"
HE bent down, picking up the stardust milk tea Stelle dropped—even delicately wiping dust off the bottle with HIS sleeve like it was art.
"What a waste of Aha's genius… That pile of scrap wouldn't know [Erudition] if it hit him…" HE sniffed the bottle, brows raised. "Hmm~ Good milk tea. Keep it in the Tavern as a souvenir."
But the instant "Adrian" straightened, ready to leave with the prize—
"Milk tea… was just a decoy."
A voice rang out behind HIM without warning: "Dealing with a fun-loving bastard like you requires personal attention—for sincerity."
Adrian stood less than an arm's length away, gripping a garish, colorful clown hammer borrowed from Sparkle.
Next second, Adrian's grin stretched wide—absolutely not kind, brimming with power:
"Free one-way drop tower ride—as our meeting gift! No need to thank me!"
Before the words finished, Adrian stepped back—no hesitation—swinging the clown hammer in a full circle. It whistled through the air with terrifying force, slamming into Aha's ass!
BOOM!!!
Listen! The impact like [Preservation] Qlipoth's amber hammer falling.
"OW~!!!"
With a utterly wretched—almost comically shocked—scream, "Adrian" rocketed skyward like a cannonball fired at full power.
HIS body swelled, distorted, shattered mid-ascent… finally exploding at the peak of [The Golden Hour]'s false yet gorgeous dome!
Fireworks light pierced Penacony's dream, sweeping the entire Asdana system.
Sparkle tiptoed, watching the stunning grand fireworks with delight, sipping milk tea, eyes curving into crescents:
"Wow~ Gorgeous fireworks. The god of fun's too dedicated!"
...
Astral Express, parlor car
Dan Heng and Pom-Pom were simultaneously drawn to the sudden, system-spanning burst of strange colorful light outside the window.
They exchanged a silent look, the air thick with unspoken dread.
"Passenger Dan Heng." Pom-Pom's voice trembled as she double-checked: "We really… escaped that giant true sting bug's stomach… right?"
"…" Dan Heng closed his eyes, brow furrowed, analyzing the light's nature.
After a moment, with faint weariness, he slowly said: "Can't guarantee it."
He only hoped the scene outside wasn't as ominous as his deepest instincts feared.
...
A Child's Dream—Memokeeper Black Swan, awaiting guests, suddenly sensed something and gracefully raised her hand.
A brand-new light cone, faintly shimmering with color, slowly took shape at her fingertips.
Black Swan tilted her head, gazing at the sudden new light cone in her hand—first pure surprise in her eyes, then deep intrigue:
"My? A [light cone]?" The unexpected object's appearance seemed to mark a dramatic moment… permanently etched just now.