Chapter 306: Eilymisx? Britain?
...
The great war between Emanators was grinding away at the very fabric of the universe.
A hideous wound gaped open on Scorching Wind's chest, where the incredibly dense power of Nihility was constantly "annihilating" his existence.
This Emanator-level Self-Annihilator was incomprehensible in every way.
She could draw upon the power of Nihility without limit, yet her body wasn't eroded. It was as if the Aeon of Nihility, IX, was piloting her body; her "mana bar" felt like it could pierce his face.
Compared to the "lying flat" IX, Acheron demonstrated the active side of the Path of Nihility.
This was a tough nut to crack.
"For the departed, I cry... Tears fall like rain, flooding the river..."
Acheron started crying again. Not tears of blood, but clear tears, sliding from the corners of her eyes. The horizon of existence faded, leaving only black and white.
"...Surging like the tide, to lead you home."
Dammit!
Scorching Wind had never been this speechless. Again?! How many times have you cried? Are you ever going to stop?
I don't want to go 'home' right now!
It was only because he was strong. If it were an ordinary Emanator, they probably would have "dropped their relics" (died) by now.
He had never been this aggrieved in his entire career. Can this "Crying Sister" just stop crying already?!
...
"Kenji, where is this?"
Saber Alter and Lion King (Lancer Artoria) looked at the land of Eilymisx. It gave them an overwhelming sense of familiarity, yet it also felt strange.
Wheat fields, scarecrows, windmills, a seaside...
Though just a small corner of the world, it was quiet and beautiful, like a paradise.
"Eilymisx."
Ahoge King: "This place looks a bit like Britain."
(A plot segment from the Fate / Star Rail crossover)
The "livestream" captured Eilymisx, and Artoria was stunned. This place truly gave her the feeling of being in Britain.
[Brother Scorching Sun]: "No, this is Eilymisx, not Britain. We're... not from the same hometown, are we?"
Bai'e was also confused. How did his hometown become his group-mate's hometown?
(Sits bolt upright from his deathbed) "My home... is not my home?"
[Galactic Baseballer]: "Artoria, are you sure this is your hometown?"
[The Champion]: "It's probably just a coincidence, right?"
Ahoge King: "This is too much of a coincidence. Every blade of grass, every field... it's all so similar to the villages of Britain in my memory."
Artoria carefully studied every detail in the "livestream." What is going on?
[Stank]: "I remember Britain was all about colonizing back in the day, right? Did the 'great hand of colonization' reach all the way to this Eilymisx?"
[Gudako]: "Oh no, the 'Empire on which the sun never sets' is making its move!"
Ahoge King: "It's... probably a coincidence. I didn't know Bai'e before he joined."
[Star Forger]: "You didn't know Bai'e, but you definitely know the 'White Chalk City, Camelot' (白堊之城卡美洛)."
Artoria's mouth twitched. That "White Chalk City" (白堊)... she definitely knew that. How could she not?
[God of Justice]: "This pun... leaves one speechless."
(Bai'e (白厄) / Bai'E (白堊) - "White Chalk")
...
"Eilymisx... what a quiet and peaceful place. It's as if it's isolated from the world," the Lion King said with emotion. Just walking here made her feel at peace.
"It's fine. Doesn't look like there's anything good to eat," Saber Alter said.
"Oh, right. There are also some 'Faeries' here," Kenji suddenly added.
"Faeries?"
Saber Alter and the Lion King looked at each other. Such a "subtle" element... it felt inexplicably familiar.
There isn't a white-haired internet scammer (Merlin) here, is there?
...
In the depths of the universe, Suixing confronted Nous. The aura generated by the standoff between Aeons caused the surrounding stars to tremble.
"Tin can, are you trying to stop me?"
So what if he was the Aeon of Erudition? If he blocked her path, it would just mean starting an Aeon War. The worst that could happen was sinking the surrounding star systems.
SKREEE—
A cacophony of cold shrieks echoed through the cosmos, capable of instilling the most primal fear in living beings. An endless swarm of Propagation insects appeared, blotting out the suns, every single one of them exuding the aura of a Pathstrider.
In terms of combat power, Suixing wasn't the strongest among the Aeons. But in terms of manpower... even the Antimatter Legion had to step aside.
My swarm blots out the sky, no matter how many suns there are.
Although Propagation was no longer limited to the self-replication of insects, insects were still very useful.
One only had to look at the Swarm Disaster of the past to know. It took the cooperation of countless top factions to even fight it. And if not for Tayzzyronth's "Godfall," it was unknown when the Swarm Disaster would have ended.
Even with the Swarm Tyrant dead, the remaining Swarm was still one of the three great disasters of the universe.
"I understand your meaning. Then let's go to war, Erudition!"
The corners of Suixing's mouth curled up in a cruel, cold arc. The endless swarm charged toward Nous.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Art is an explosion!
They were all suicide attacks. The insects were endless, and there was no shortage of Emanator-level bugs among them. She was just playing the "self-destruct" card, not even bothering to throw her main body at Nous.
"If you can't even handle this, there's no need for me to act personally."
Suixing sat on her giant, Emanator-level True Swarm Bug, watching the fireworks she had set off.
The Swarm's self-destruction clashed with the cold data stream. The two Aeons fought from a distance, but even so, the surrounding star systems were rapidly disintegrating and being annihilated.
When beings of an Aeon's caliber make a move, it's world-ending, with far-reaching consequences.
Although Aeons were usually elusive, when an Aeon War broke out, the turbulence in the Paths could be sensed by all major factions.
Sensing it was one thing, but they couldn't intervene. Even an Emanator who dared to enter that range would be instantly vaporized.
"Why is Propagation fighting the 'bucket head' (Nous)?"
On Omphalos, Big Herta frowned. These two Aeons, who had no real connection, had just... suddenly started an Aeon War.
[Ruan Mei]: "The Lord of Silence tried to assassinate me. Suixing chased her. It's highly likely the Aeon of Erudition intervened to save the Lord of Silence."
Just then, Big Herta received a message from Ruan Mei. Her question was answered; she understood. She wasn't surprised. The number of geniuses assassinated by the Lord of Silence, Polka Kakamu, was countless. Ruan Mei wasn't the first.
"Query: Herta, with the Aeon War starting, what are your plans?" Screllum asked in his unhurried tone.
"We continue to research Omphalos. The 'bucket head' started that mess; what does it have to do with us? Let him and the Lord of Silence deal with it," Herta said flatly.
She was an Emanator of Erudition, not an Emanator of Stupidity. An Aeon War was not something they could participate in.
Stephen and the others all had the same thought. They had no real "feeling" for their Aeon; it was purely a superior-subordinate relationship.
Sigh...
Screllum nodded and sighed. With the outbreak of an Aeon War, who knows how many innocent lives would be lost.