"After this, a belated miracle descended, and THEY took the last of the elven tribe. The first act of the bedtime story ends here."
A crisp snap sounded, and a dark curtain shrouded the past memories. The perspective returned to the dim lower district, the events still vivid, dreamlike.
After a long silence, Bronya snapped back, looking at Adrian.
"These fragments of disaster have played out in every corner of the cosmos…"
"Thinking about it, we should be grateful it's the Anti-Matter Legion that reached Belobog, not countless swarms…" Bronya murmured.
"No… whether it's the Anti-Matter Legion or the Swarm… these scourges of the cosmos shouldn't exist." Bronya's eyes and tone grew resolute. In that moment, the girl matured!
"Well said, Miss Bronya. Now, [Propagation] Tayzzyronth has fallen. As for why…"
"The great Amber King struck!"
Adrian recounted the War of Aeons to Bronya in detail, skipping memory fragments this time, fearing she couldn't handle it.
"If another planet faces a situation like Belobog's…"
"It's definitely the Anti-Matter Legion or the Swarm!"
Nanook's homeland, Adlivun, was bleak. Not only ravaged by the Emperor War but also destroyed by the Swarm… looks like Nanook and Tayzzyronth had some connection.
After Tayzzyronth's death, its Swarm offspring lingered. When your homeland faces such a crisis, how do you stop it… or even survive?
A certain Mask of Fools offered a unique take.
Ensure your homeland hasn't faded from the star chart, then loudly curse the Aeon of [Eternity]. Soon, you'd see a golden-haired, blue-eyed man or a silver-haired elf appear.
When you meet them, don't hesitate—praise the Aeon of [Eternity] with heartfelt sincerity! Your homeland might be saved, and the story gets a perfect ending.
The process… might be bumpy. You could get a beating first, but that's minor.
If it's not the Swarm but the vile Anti-Matter Legion invading, led by an Annihilation Lord, no worries. Hide where Void Soldiers won't find you and wait for rescue.
If you're desperate for salvation, loudly praise the Aeon of [Eternity]… but never mention anything [Eternity]-related, especially "Blake," in front of an Annihilation Lord.
If none of this happens and the Eternity Church doesn't lend a hand, it's time for the last resort—a secret rarely shared.
Pull out a milk tea. There's a slim chance it'll summon a mysterious black-haired man in plain clothes.
If you pull out a trash can, congrats… the galaxy-famous Galactic Baseballer is here!
…
In the sacred cathedral, in a bedroom prepared for THEM, a fox-eared girl opened her eyes.
"Not… a dream?"
The fox girl, Tingyun, was the chief representative of the Xianzhou Luofu's Sky-Faring Commission trade group "Blaze."
If her memory was correct, she was attacked by an unknown force during her return voyage. That energy… likely a Lord Ravager, self-proclaimed Annihilation Lord Huanlong.
As Huanlong moved to strike, a surge of immense energy erupted from Tingyun, blasting Huanlong and the Legion grunts away. A flash of white light, and she awoke in this strange place.
It happened so suddenly, Tingyun's mind was a mess. A silver-helmed knight appeared, brought her to the cathedral, arranged her lodging, and left in a hurry.
Confirming the room was safe, with night falling… Tingyun slept early, leading to this moment.
Pinching her cheek, she felt real pain—not a dream.
Recalling last night, Tingyun bit her lip. She'd been careless. On a strange planet, her companions' fates unknown, how could she sleep soundly?
If the "Blaze" trade group was safe but she was missing, how would she explain herself back on the Luofu? Lady Yukong would worry…
"Good morning, Miss Tingyun."
A voice interrupted her thoughts. The priestess brought breakfast to her.
"No need for formalities. If you feel any discomfort… please let me know."
"Please, wait." Tingyun stopped the priestess as she turned to leave. "May I ask, kind savior…"
The priestess flinched. "Oh, please don't be so polite! It's just my duty!" She scurried off.
"Huh?" Tingyun stared at the priestess's retreating figure, puzzled.
Were people on this planet… this courteous? Using honorifics for her? They were her saviors—hadn't they got it backward?
Calming down, Tingyun left the bedroom, pushing open the heavy wooden door. A sacred cathedral greeted her, the first rays of dawn slicing through the dome's edges.
Eight ribbed arches climbed like silver vines, weaving an inverted hourglass in the sky. Light dust danced through diamond-shaped stained-glass windows, and the stone pillars shimmered with rainbow hues.
The pillars' surfaces sparkled with star-like crystal clusters, as if stardust casually scattered by gods, awakening as the sun rose.
"Welcome… weary traveler."
Holy light bathed Blake's face as he raised his arms, performing a grand ritual.
"Rejoice! Celebrate!"
The priestess eagerly assisted, straining on tiptoes to hold a spotlight above his head.
Tingyun: …
Clearly, these two saviors were big on ceremony.
She looked up at the inverted hourglass floating atop the cathedral, its upper and lower hemispheres flowing with silver sand and stardust. Its frame, woven from gears and vines, merged organic and inorganic life.
The sight stirred a distant memory in Tingyun.
"Don't just visit the Church for their famous hot springs… If you have time, Miss Tingyun, I recommend seeing the cathedral. You might find the truth behind that childhood cup… of never-ending milk tea."
"In the cathedral, you'll see an hourglass that never runs dry. Maybe you'll find answers there, Miss Tingyun."
"Sadly, the Church doesn't serve milk tea."
"Mister Adrian's focus is so odd, hehe~"
The past conversation ended, and Tingyun reached a conclusion.
Thanks to Adrian, she had a vivid impression of the Eternity Church. Busy with duties, she never had time to visit.
Who'd have thought, after encountering Annihilation Lord Huanlong, she'd stumble into the Eternity Church by accident?
"No need to fear, we mean no harm." Blake teleported before Tingyun, closing his eyes to sense the faint imaginary energy within her.
"No mistake—a subtle yet profound [Eternity] power, just like hers. As expected…"
"Uh, Mr. Blake, doesn't that sound a bit like a riddler?" the priestess cautioned.
Under Tingyun's confused gaze, Blake, face full of sorrow, began praying to a bar of soap.
"Lord Ite, please forgive my foolish actions… I shouldn't have been swayed by that vile [Mythos] Aeon, showing such a side to a guest! Especially one you sent!"
"Uh… Mr. Blake, that makes you sound more like a riddler."