Himeko took a deep breath and asked the question that had been circling in her mind:
"That situation just now... could it be that an Aeon personally descended into the nearby star sector?"
"Based on the analysis of the anomalous conditions in the starry sky just now..." Screwllum's voice was steady and precise. "There is a 99.87% probability that an Aeon-level entity indeed engaged in high-intensity interaction with certain individuals at extremely close range."
"It was Khaslana and Asterion." The Herta took over the conversation. Her delicate face was now filled with undisguised astonishment and intense interest, momentarily overshadowing her usual arrogance. "Those two... they actually went so far as to confront Nanook himself?! And they even... wounded Him?!"
She couldn't help but glance at Black Swan again, her expression peculiar. "Under her guidance... what kind of place did your Express crew explore this time? Not only is Amphoreus deep waters, but it also suddenly produces two such absurdly overpowered individuals? Wounding a deity in mortal form? If such a feat happened at the IPC, those guys would be boasting about it for several Amber Eras."
"Correction: Lady Herta." Screwllum's voice carried its usual rigor. "What Asterion caused was not simply wounding the physical form of the Destruction Aeon Nanook. What he truly achieved was directly wounding the Path of Destruction itself. This is a shaking of the very concept of Destruction, fundamentally different in nature."
"Wounded... the Path itself?" Himeko's eyes widened slightly at this. The impact of this concept far exceeded her imagination. "How... how is that possible? In my understanding, Paths are one of the fundamental laws of the universe, the domain governed by Aeons... Directly wounding a Path—there seems to be no precedent for this in galactic history, does there?"
"Lady Himeko, your understanding of Path stability is correct, but the phenomenon of 'Path damage' is not unprecedented on the vast timescale of the universe." Screwllum began a calm explanation. "In fact, it has occurred more than once. For example, during the distant Swarm Disaster period, there were intense fluctuations involving Paths."
"For instance, the ancient Path of Order was completely absorbed and merged by the later-born, more vast and inclusive Path of Harmony. This can be regarded as a fundamental 'damage' and reshaping of a Path."
"Another example: the Path of Propagation, which once raged across the sea of stars, was forcibly dismembered, suppressed, and fell into silence under the influence of multiple Aeons. This is also a typical case of a Path itself suffering severe damage."
"But the examples you cite..." Himeko frowned. "Aren't they all ultimate confrontations between Aeons? How is that connected to what we witnessed, the damage to the Path of Destruction caused by Asterion alone—"
A clear logical chain suddenly connected in her mind. Himeko's words came to an abrupt halt, her gaze involuntarily darting toward Black Swan, whose eyes looked unusually clear.
Screwllum's voice was steady and unperturbed. "Logic: To be able to damage or influence another existing 'Path'... theoretically, only the power of another 'Path' can do so."
He paused briefly.
"Conclusion: His current state of existence can be defined as an 'embryo of an Aeon.' He is gestating—or rather, arduously blazing—a brand new, unknown Path that belongs uniquely to him."
Data streams flashed rapidly in Screwllum's eyes as he added: "And, if certain secret rumors about the states of other ancient entities in the sea of stars are not true... then Asterion might even be, within the known scope of the entire current universe, the existence closest to a 'complete Aeon.' Bar none."
"Embryo of... an Aeon?" Himeko couldn't help but turn her gaze toward Sunday, seeking confirmation. "When you... attempted to resurrect Ena, were you also in a similar 'state'?"
Sunday's profound eyes lowered slightly, sinking into brief contemplation. Memories and the light of reason intertwined in his eyes. After a moment, he slowly shook his head.
"The essence is different, Lady Himeko." His voice was calm and certain. "Back then, I, or rather, what I attempted, was to use the already existing Order, with Penacony as the crucible, to rekindle the flame of the Aeon 'Ena.'"
His gaze grew profound, as if piercing through the car, looking toward the direction of Amphoreus. "But that Asterion... what he does is completely different. He is not attempting to revive anything; rather, he is, under the denial of Destruction, forcibly gestating a truly brand new Path that belongs uniquely to him, creating it from nothing. The difficulty and significance of this are not to be mentioned in the same breath."
Just as the parlor car fell into a brief silence due to these astonishing conclusions, everyone digesting the shock brought by the "embryo of an Aeon" and the "brand new Path"—
Suddenly... Knock! Knock! Knock!
A clear, steady, rhythmic knocking sound came unexpectedly from the parlor car door.
It was not loud, but it instantly shattered the heavy atmosphere inside the car.
Himeko almost instinctively tensed slightly, quickly exchanging a wary glance with The Herta and Screwllum.
The Astral Express was currently on a relatively hidden route. Who would come visiting at this time, in such a "polite" manner?
She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and spoke toward the door: "Please come in."
The next moment—
The space inside the car seemed to be gently folded by an invisible hand. An Infinity Gate, its edges shimmering with pale golden light, silently opened without warning. There was no intense energy fluctuation, yet it carried a sense of authority that made space itself comply.
Phaethon's figure had already calmly stepped out from the gate. The Infinity Gate quietly dissipated behind him like a closing flower petal.
He stood firmly in the center of the parlor car, as if he had always belonged here, not an outsider.
"Everyone on the Astral Express, hello." Phaethon spoke calmly. His voice was not loud, yet it echoed clearly through the suddenly silent car.
His gaze swept calmly over the faces before him, marked variously by shock and wariness—Himeko's tense shoulders, The Herta's suddenly bright eyes full of inquiry, Screwllum's instantly elevated monitoring readings, Sunday's slightly forward-leaning body...
"I came here to warn you... about the movements of the related Lord Ravagers."
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