149: Chapter 149 First in History, Crowned by the Stars

Ancient Star Road · Second Pass · Eternal Star Domain Reception Station.

This is a transit station suspended on the edge of the Eternal Star Domain. Its main body is a star core remnant with a diameter of over seven hundred meters, hollowed out, inscribed with runes, and transformed into a "transit port" for Trial Takers to rest and teleport by the guardians of the Ancient Star Road untold millennia ago.

The Reception Station has no artificial light source.

It relies on the eternal, undying afterglow of the star core remnant itself.

It is a cold light between deep blue and dark purple, extremely restrained. It is not blinding, not warm, and cannot even illuminate the contours of a face three meters away. It is just there, constant, indifferent, and eternal.

Just like the Ancient Star Road itself.

When Lin Ye stepped out of the teleportation beam, the floor of the Reception Station emitted an extremely faint, almost inaudible resonance beneath his feet.

That was the star core confirming the identity of the "Trial Taker".

It was also its "vital sign record"—unique and impossible to replicate—for this challenger who had just returned from the first pass.

[System Prompt: You have arrived at Ancient Star Road · Second Pass · Eternal Star Domain Reception Station]

[Current Coordinates: E-0, N-0, Reception Station Central Teleportation Array]

[Environmental Parameters:]

[Gravity Multiplier: 0.1 G (Manually regulated)]

[Atmospheric Composition: Standard recycled air (Breathable)]

[Spiritual Qi Concentration: 11% of Big Dipper Star Field]

[Star Power Concentration: 73% of Eternal Star Domain]

[Current Status: Out of Combat]

[Meridian Load: 650% → 590% (Slowly decreasing)]

[Meridian Rupture Countdown: 27 seconds → 43 seconds (Decelerating after leaving combat)]

Lin Ye ignored the countdown that was slowly increasing.

He turned around.

At the edge of the Reception Station's teleportation array, nine figures were emerging from the beams one by one.

Su Qingyue.

Her ice-blue long hair fluttered without wind under 0.1 G gravity, like a tattered but still flying frost-colored war banner. Her right hand maintained the posture of holding a sword—even though that sword had completely shattered 47 minutes ago, the remains of the hilt were still tightly clenched in her palm, the metal edges piercing into her flesh, blood seeping out drop by drop along her fingers.

She staggered a step when she landed.

Then she stood straight.

Chen Hao.

The cockpit cover of the chaos unit no. 1 was completely torn apart by spatial turbulence during the teleportation process; he was almost "thrown" out of the mecha wreckage. The skin on the back of his right hand was over 60% carbonized; that was a permanent brand left on his skin by the overloaded energy transmission interface when he injected spiritual power into the Formation core.

He knelt on the ground, supporting himself with his left hand, gasping for air.

Then he stood up.

Zhou Tieshan.

His right arm hung at his side, completely devoid of sensation. The web of his left hand had suffered a ligament tear when he threw the remains of the iron shield; at this moment, it was wrapped with a strip of cloth torn from his hem—a bandage completed with his left hand and mouth while his right hand was unable to exert force, and he had bitten one end with his teeth during the teleportation process.

When he stood up, his body swayed.

Then he braced his left knee against the ground to stabilize his center of gravity.

Stood up.

Chu Yunxi.

Her body temperature had risen by another 0.7°C during the teleportation process.

42.0°C.

Her field of vision was completely blurred, and her pupil response to light was sluggish. She almost "fell" out when she landed, her right leg went limp the moment it touched the ground, and her whole body tilted forward.

Then a hand supported her.

Qin Ruoxue.

That thousand faces cloak had shattered into seventeen rags, now draped over her shoulders like a tattered war banner. Her own stamina value had also fallen below 15%, and there was a deep cut on her right shoulder that reached the bone—that was from the fragments of the cloak torn by spatial turbulence during teleportation, which had grazed her shoulder blade like a blade.

She supported Chu Yunxi, and the two leaned against each other.

Standing.

Zhao Wuji.

His data pad was completely shattered, the screen broken into seventeen fragments scattered at his feet. He used that mysterious gold abacus—that legendary auxiliary equipment that had accompanied him since the first day of the server, never used for any combat, and only used to calculate Spirit Stone and supplies—to support himself on the ground.

When he stood up, his legs were still shaking.

But he stood.

Lu Xinghe.

His star compass had shattered into seventeen fragments; he picked them up one by one from the ground and tucked them into his bosom. His sea of consciousness remained dead silent, unable to communicate with any Law, unable to set up any Formation, and even unable to perceive the fluctuations of spiritual power three meters away.

When he stood up, a new thread of blood gushed from his nose and mouth.

He wiped it away with his sleeve.

Then he stood.

Yun Qianxue.

The fluorescence on the head of her green lotus staff had completely extinguished. That epic-grade healing staff, which had accompanied her since level 40 and pulled comrades back from the brink of death in countless battles—at this moment, the staff body was covered in fine cracks, the crystal core at the head was split into three petals, and the never-extinguished flame of life inside had already gone out.

She held it in her palm.

She did not throw it away.

She stood up.

Shi Potian.

He was lying at the edge of the teleportation array.

His right arm hung down, bone fragments piercing the skin, the bandage soaked through with blood three times and dried three times, now hardened into a dark brown shell.

His left arm was completely incapacitated from the elbow down, the skin carbonized, muscles necrotic, and bones shattered into forty-seven pieces.

His Hegemon Blood concentration: 0%.

His Health Points: 1.

His total attributes: -90%.

His Deep Exhaustion status: 7 days.

He was lying down.

But he did not close his eyes.

He looked at the strange dome above his head, illuminated by the afterglow of the star core remnant.

His lips moved.

No sound.

But Lin Ye understood.

He was asking:

"...Did we... break it?"

Lin Ye looked at him.

Three seconds.

He spoke.

Not an answer.

It was—

"System."

His voice was very light, very calm, without any emotional fluctuation.

"Retrieve the clearance record for the first pass."

[Instruction confirmed]

[Retrieving clearance record for "Ancient Star Road · First Pass · Trial Ancient Star"]

[Archive owner: Expedition Team "Heavenly Court" (Ten members)]

[Captain: Night Emperor]

[Members: Su Qingyue, Shi Potian, Chen Hao, Zhou Tieshan, Chu Yunxi, Zhao Wuji, Qin Ruoxue, Yun Qianxue, Lu Xinghe]

[Battle start time: Era Calendar 1972 · Day 317 · 7:23:41 (Ancient Road time)]

[Battle end time: Era Calendar 1972 · Day 319 · 2:07:28 (Ancient Road time)]

[Total time taken: 2 days 18 hours 43 minutes 47 seconds]

[BOSS killed: Star Core Giant Beast (Level 70 Saint-Grade projection)]

[Hidden tasks completed: 4 (Star skeleton Beast clearing, Crystal Forest pathfinding, First contact with star tablet, Giant Beast eye recovery)]

[Current ranking: star tablet · Historical Overall Ranking · 1st Place (Temporary)]

[Surpassing original record holder "Nameless One": +1 hour 20 minutes 6 seconds]

Shi Potian's eyelids moved.

His pupils were still unfocused, his consciousness still blurred, his body still unable to execute any commands.

But he heard it.

1 hour 20 minutes 6 seconds.

Not 1 minute 47 seconds.

It was 1 hour 20 minutes 6 seconds.

He had pried that star core crystal from the giant beast's spine.

He had thrown it toward the teleportation array.

He had traded his life for 60 seconds.

And those 60 seconds—kept Lin Ye from pressing the teleportation start button at the 62nd hour and 23rd minute.

Kept everyone from leaving the Trial Ancient Star at the 62nd hour and 23rd minute.

Let that record on the star tablet, which had remained unshaken for 814 years—at the 62nd hour, 43rd minute, and 47th second.

Be rewritten.

Shi Potian closed his eyes.

Not unconsciousness.

It was... peace of mind.

[System Prompt: Detected cross-spatial resonance link between "star tablet" and this teleportation array]

[Synchronizing clearance record...]

[Synchronization complete]

[star tablet · Historical Overall Ranking · Data updating]

Trial Ancient Star · Meteorite Plain · star tablet.

That light filament inside the tablet, which had not changed since Era Calendar 972 and had pulsed constantly for 814 years—in the same instant.

All stopped.

In the 1st place column, the record line of "Nameless One · 1 day 7 hours 23 minutes 41 seconds", like an ice surface shaken by great force, began to crack slowly from the edges.

[Tablet Spirit Will Awakens]

[Era Calendar 972 - 1972 · Millennium Cycle]

[Last 28 years]

[Record broken]

[New record generating...]

The first light.

From the deepest part of the tablet body—that faint pulse left by the Nameless One 814 years ago, which no one could interpret, no one could touch, and which had been silent for millennia—shot out.

That was not spiritual power.

Not Law.

Not anything that could be categorized by the System as "skill effects".

That was "waiting".

814 years of waiting.

At this moment—finally waited.

The second light.

The third light.

The fourth light.

The dark gray star core sedimentary rock on the surface of the tablet, which had not melted for untold millennia, peeled off in the same instant.

Like shedding an old robe worn for eight thousand years.

What was revealed was the material of the tablet body itself.

That was not rock.

Not metal.

Not any building material known to human civilization.

That was "star".

[star tablet · Main body revealed]

[Material: Deceased Saint's Soul Fire · Compressed Star Core · First Generation Ancient Road Guardian Remains]

[Height: 4.7 meters → 9.4 meters (Full state)]

[Width: 1.2 meters → 2.4 meters]

[Thickness: 0.3 meters → 0.6 meters]

[Tablet surface patterns: 12,741 (Corresponding to 12,741 historical Trial Takers)]

[Current status: Millennium record reset · Coronation ceremony initiated]

In the center of the tablet body.

That light filament extending from the message left by the Nameless One inside the tablet, pointing towards the second pass—was brightening at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Thickening.

Becoming a "star road" with a diameter of three centimeters, capable of piercing the void and crossing the sea of stars.

[star tablet · Millennium Coronation]

[Coronation object: Night Emperor (Heavenly Court)]

[Coronation reason: Broke the 814-year record of the Nameless One, completed 4 hidden tasks, first kill of the Star Core Giant Beast]

[Coronation process:]

[1. Tablet Spirit confirms new king's identity (Completed)]

[2. star tablet historical ranking reordered (In progress)]

[3. Title conferment (Pending)]

[4. Origin gift (Pending)]

[5. Server-wide announcement (Pending)]

2nd Place · Beichen.

His record line slowly sank 3 centimeters from the center of the tablet face and shifted 7 degrees to the right.

3rd Place · Shuangyue.

Her record line sank 6 centimeters and shifted 12 degrees to the right.

4th place.

5th place.

10th place.

100th place.

998th place—where the name "Night Emperor" should have been, there was now only a light trace that had not yet fully formed.

999th place.

1000th place.

...

In the 1st place column.

The Nameless One's record line slowly rotated half a circle in the center of the tablet face.

Then—it sank.

Not 3 centimeters.

Not 6 centimeters.

It was "one position".

Moved away from the supreme position in the very center of the tablet face that had never been shaken since ancient times.

There, at this moment, was nothing.

Only a light that was slowly forming, newly carved, and not yet fully revealed.

[star tablet · Historical Overall Ranking · Ancient Star Road · First Pass · Trial Ancient Star]

[Ranking cycle: Era Calendar 972 - 1972 (28 years remaining)]

[1st Place]

[Trial Taker Code: Night Emperor (Heavenly Court)]

[Affiliated Faction: Heavenly Court]

[Clearance time: 2 days 18 hours 43 minutes 47 seconds]

[Clearance record: Killed Star Core Giant Beast · Completed 4 hidden tasks · Broke 1 Ancient Star record]

[Current status: Active (Second Pass · Eternal Star Domain Reception Station)]

[Message in tablet: None]

[2nd Place]

[Trial Taker Code: Nameless One]

[Clearance time: 1 day 7 hours 23 minutes 41 seconds]

[Remark: Original record holder, fell at the seventh pass of the Ancient Star Road in Era Calendar 1158]

[Message in tablet: "You were 1 minute and 47 seconds slower than I expected. But the road is still long. I am waiting for you at the seventh pass."]

1st place.

814 years.

12,741 Trial Takers.

At this moment—Lin Ye.

Night Emperor.

Heavenly Court.

Reached the top.

[System Prompt: You have obtained the title "star tablet Top"]

[star tablet Top]

[Type: Unique Title / Achievement Reward]

[Quality: Legendary (Bound)]

[Description: The supreme honor of the record holder for the Millennium Cycle of the Ancient Star Road First Pass · Trial Ancient Star. This title cannot be copied, transferred, or stripped by any means. It belongs only to the first Trial Taker to break the Nameless One's record between Era Calendar 1972 - 2000.]

[Effect:]

[1. All attributes +20% (Ignores any debuff effects, cannot be dispelled)]

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

[2. +50% damage to alien races (including Archaic Race, Blood Race, God Race, and other non-humanoid hostile targets)]

[3. Within the range of the Ancient Star Road, perception range +100 meters, hidden mission trigger probability +30%]

[4. Gain initial "Respect" reputation with holders of the "star tablet" and related Ancient Road relics]

[5. Unlock exclusive title effect: Star Coronation—whenever entering battle, a starlight particle effect automatically appears around the body; no actual effect, purely decorative]

[Note: When you wear this title and walk through the first stage of the Ancient Star Road, the 12,741 Trial Taker soul fires within the tablet will make way for you.]

———

Lin Ye didn't look at that line of System prompts.

He just stood there.

Watching those nine figures at the edge of the teleportation array.

Su Qingyue.

Shi Potian.

Chen Hao.

Zhou Tieshan.

Chu Yunxi.

Zhao Wuji.

Qin Ruoxue.

Yun Qianxue.

Lu Xinghe.

Nine people, nine pairs of eyes, nine gazes watching him.

He spoke.

His voice was very soft:

"Broken."

———

No one cheered.

No one jumped.

No one was moved to tears.

Zhou Tieshan just nodded.

Chu Yunxi leaned on Qin Ruoxue's shoulder, her eyes closed.

Chen Hao knelt on the ground, supporting himself with his charred right hand, head lowered, shoulders trembling slightly.

Zhao Wuji stood where he was, looking down at the mysterious gold abacus that had three cracks but was still functioning. His lips were quivering, seemingly reciting something—perhaps that phrase he had silently repeated countless times in his heart since the first day the server opened, which he could finally say today: "We won."

Qin Ruoxue supported Chu Yunxi, standing at the edge of the teleportation array. Her thousand faces cloak had been shredded into seventeen strips of rags, drifting gently under 0.1G gravity.

Yun Qianxue held the green lotus staff whose head was already shattered, her palm pressed against the longest crack on the staff's shaft.

Lu Xinghe stood at the very edge of the crowd, head lowered, looking at his hands covered in blood and star compass fragments.

Shi Potian lay on the ground.

His eyes were closed, his breathing steady and long.

He was sleeping.

———

[System Prompt: Detected that the conditions for the "star rankings Top Spot" global announcement have been met]

[Announcement Range: Global (Big Dipper Star Field / Eternal Star Domain / Ziwei Star Field / God Spirit Star Field / and other opened Star Domains)]

[Announcement Content: Generating...]

[Estimated readership: Approximately 370 million online players]

———

Big Dipper Star Field · Central Province · Divine City · Temple Branch.

Michael stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

In the center of the Astrology Crystal in his hand—that legendary-grade divination tool he had carried with him since the first day he stepped into the covering the heavens era, never leaving his side and of inestimable value—

A line of golden text that had never appeared in any prophecy was now emerging:

[Ancient Star Road First Stage · star rankings Top Spot · Night Emperor (Heavenly Court)]

He was silent for a long time.

Then he turned around and said to the deputy behind him:

"The Alliance Order between the Temple and Heavenly Court."

"Activate it."

———

Eternal Star Domain · Star Ring City · Seventh Research Fleet Headquarters.

Carl Reynolds stared at the golden announcement scrolling across the global server on the holographic screen.

His finger hovered over the data pad for a full ten seconds.

It did not descend.

He pushed up his monocle.

He said only one sentence:

"...Three million vouchers."

"That money."

"They didn't spend it in vain."

———

Purple Mountain · Primordial Royal Court · Main Hall.

The Blood Prince crushed the second crystal wine glass in his hand.

The shattered crystals pierced into his palm, and blood dripped onto the floor along his fingers, making a corrosive sizzling sound.

He did not speak.

He just stared at the golden announcement scrolling across the global server on the screen.

Staring at that name.

Night Emperor.

Lin Ye.

Heavenly Court.

For a long time.

He pulled out the crystal fragments pierced into his palm, one by one.

Placing them on the table.

Neatly.

Arranged in a row.

———

Big Dipper Star Field · Yan State · Chaos Valley.

That portal, interwoven with silver-white and dark gold, still hung quietly three hundred meters in the air.

Below the gateway, three thousand six hundred members of the Heavenly Court—

Azure Dragon Hall, White Tiger Hall, Vermilion Bird Hall, Black Tortoise Hall, Mecha Workshop, Chamber of Commerce, Heavenly Secret Pavilion, and countless ordinary members still in their level-grinding phase and unable to step over the Rank 50 threshold—

Were still standing there.

47 hours.

They had been standing here since the moment the expedition team entered the Ancient Road.

No shift changes.

No rotational breaks.

No one left.

At this moment, that golden announcement was scrolling in each of their System notification bars in a bolded, enlarged, and brightened font like never before—

Word by word, sentence by sentence.

[Global Announcement—!!!]

[Player "Night Emperor (Heavenly Court)" led faction members "Su Qingyue, Shi Potian, Chen Hao, Zhou Tieshan, Chu Yunxi, Zhao Wuji, Qin Ruoxue, Yun Qianxue, Lu Xinghe (Heavenly Court)" at the Trial Ancient Star of the Ancient Star Road First Stage trial, with a total time of 2 days, 18 hours, 43 minutes, and 47 seconds, breaking the historical record held by "Nameless One" for 814 years and reaching the top of the star rankings!]

[In this battle, the expedition team killed the Rank 70 Saint-Grade projection "Star Core Giant Beast", completed 4 hidden missions, and successfully opened a stable teleportation channel between the first and second stages.]

[The star tablet's thousand-year coronation ceremony has been completed.]

[The Top Spot title has been granted.]

[Global Honor: All members of the Heavenly Court faction (including peripheral members) have gained the "Ancient Road Pioneer" status: All attributes +10% within the range of the Ancient Star Road, lasting for 30 days.]

[Congratulations to Heavenly Court.]

[Congratulations to Night Emperor.]

[Congratulations.]

———

The first person.

Was that young Mecha Master wearing workshop overalls, his hands covered in engine oil, and his Rank only 43.

He stood there.

Looking up.

At that portal suspended three hundred meters in the air.

His eyes turned red.

He didn't cry out loud.

He just stood there, looking up at that door.

Then he spoke.

His voice was very soft, so soft that only he could hear it:

"...The boss won."

The second person.

The third person.

The fourth person.

Three thousand six hundred people.

In the same instant.

Looked up at the same time.

Stared at that door at the same time.

No one spoke.

There was only silence.

———

Eternal Star Domain · Reception Station.

Lin Ye still stood where he was.

That golden announcement stayed in the center of his vision for seven seconds, then slowly faded away.

He didn't look.

He was just looking at those nine figures at the edge of the teleportation array.

Looking at Shi Potian's sleeping profile.

Looking at Su Qingyue's lowered right hand—her palm was still clutching the shattered sword hilt, the blood already dried into a brownish crust.

Looking at Chen Hao's back as he knelt on the ground—his shoulders were shaking, but there was no sound.

Looking at Zhou Tieshan leaning against the wall, his eyes closed, his left hand mechanically caressing the wreckage of that iron shield which had been snapped in two.

Looking at Chu Yunxi leaning on Qin Ruoxue's shoulder, her body temperature at 42.0°C, her breathing rapid and weak—Qin Ruoxue was using that thousand faces cloak, already shredded into seventeen strips, to wrap her chilled hands and feet.

Looking at Zhao Wuji crouching on the ground, taking out the last bottle of chaos primordial fluid from his backpack—the tenth one—and placing it at Lin Ye's feet.

Looking at Lu Xinghe standing at the very edge of the crowd, head lowered, hands hanging down. Those seventeen fragments of the star compass had already been wiped clean by him one by one and tucked into his robe.

Looking at Yun Qianxue holding that green lotus staff with its shattered head, her palm against the longest crack on the staff's shaft. She didn't try to repair it. She just held it.

———

[System Prompt: You have obtained "Star Origin" ×1]

[Star Origin]

[Type: Law-grade Consumable / Unique]

[Quality: Legendary-grade (Non-tradable / Non-droppable / Indestructible)]

[Description: A wisp of "Source Power" condensed during the thousand-year cycle record coronation ceremony from the remnants of soul fire of Trial Takers accumulated by the star tablet since time immemorial. This item does not belong to any known civilization, any known Law, or any known Rank—it is "Record" itself, it is "Breakthrough" itself, it is "Impossible" itself.]

[Effects:]

[1. After consumption, permanently increases all attribute caps by 20% and grants one "Ignore Bottleneck Breakthrough" opportunity (can be reserved for use at any Realm)]

[2. During the absorption process, there is a 100% probability of triggering a "Heavenly Dao Gaze" event; specific consequences are unknown]

[3. Can be fused with other Origin-type items to produce unknown mutations]

[4. Can choose not to use it, acting as a "Token" to trigger subsequent hidden plotlines of the Ancient Star Road]

[Warning: Once this item is used, it will permanently change the user's trajectory of destiny.]

———

Lin Ye looked at the thumb-sized, transparent crystal in his palm, with countless fine starlights flowing inside.

That was the Star Origin.

It was a wisp of the eternal remnant of the Trial Taker's will, stripped from the depths of the star tablet after he rewrote the record that no one had broken for 814 years today.

He didn't use it immediately.

He just put it into the deepest part of his Storage Ring.

Placing it side-by-side with that "Echo" left by Nameless One, which was currently pulsing quietly deep within his consciousness.

———

[System Prompt: Detected that expedition team member "Shi Potian" is in a state of Deep Exhaustion]

[Deep Exhaustion · Hegemon Blood]

[Duration: 7 days]

[All attributes -90%]

[Unable to enter battle state]

[Unable to use any Hegemon Body skills]

[Natural recovery speed -80%]

[Suggestion: Return to a safe area immediately for deep recuperation for 7 days or more]

———

Lin Ye lowered his head.

He looked at Shi Potian lying on the ground.

On that face, there was no pain, no regret, not even any expression.

Only peace.

Just like 47 hours ago, in the Ninth Trial of the Ancestor Star of the Hegemon Body Ancestral Star, after not falling after three punches from the Ancestor Phantom—

He was also lying peacefully like this.

Waiting for everyone else to leave first.

Then he would stand up himself.

Lin Ye didn't speak.

He just crouched down and took Shi Potian's right arm, which was hanging by his side—the arm with three compound fractures, bone fragments piercing the skin, and bandages that had been soaked in blood three times and dried three times—

And gently lifted it.

Placing it back by his side.

Then he stood up.

"The rest area of the Reception Station is in the East District," he said.

"The Ancient Road portal won't close for another 72 hours."

"We have enough time to recover from our injuries."

He paused.

"Rest first."

———

No one argued.

Zhou Tieshan leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.

Chen Hao lay on the ground, eyes open, looking at the afterglow of those star core remnants on the dome.

Chu Yunxi was supported by Qin Ruoxue, half-lying and half-leaning in the corner, her breathing gradually stabilizing.

Zhao Wuji sat on the ground, taking the remaining supplies from his backpack one by one, counting them, and re-bagging them.

Lu Xinghe leaned against the wall, eyes closed, his fingers unconsciously tracing the trajectories of runes on his knees—that was his muscle memory, even though his spiritual sea could no longer respond to any Laws.

Yun Qianxue sat kneeling on the ground, placing the green lotus staff with its shattered head across her knees, cleaning the cracks and bloodstains on the staff shaft bit by bit.

Su Qingyue stood by Lin Ye's side.

The sword hilt wreckage in her hand finally loosened from her palm.

Falling to the ground.

Making a crisp sound of metal clashing with stone.

She didn't look down.

She just looked at Lin Ye.

"You need rest too," she said.

Lin Ye didn't answer.

He just stood there, looking at the afterglow of those star core remnants on the dome.

For a long time.

Then he said softly:

"1st Place."

"2 days, 18 hours, 43 minutes, and 47 seconds."

"It's... 1 hour and 20 minutes slower than Nameless One."

Su Qingyue didn't speak.

She just looked at him.

"But he wasn't waiting for someone to break the record," Lin Ye said.

"He was waiting for someone who could reach the Seventh Stage alive."

Su Qingyue was silent.

Three seconds.

"So you're planning to go," she said.

It wasn't a question.

Lin Ye didn't answer.

But his hand pressed on his sword hilt—

Tightened slightly.

———

In the distance.

Trial Ancient Star · Meteorite Plain · star tablet.

In the center of the tablet's surface, the new record engraving that read "Night Emperor · 2 days 18 hours 43 minutes 47 seconds" was, at an extremely, extremely slow speed—

Shrinking inward.

It wasn't disappearing.

It was "Remembrance."

Like the last glance before the Giant Beast's Eye closes.

Like the last backward glance Nameless One cast toward the start of the Ancient Road before falling at the Seventh Stage.

Like at this moment, the Star Core Afterglow on the Reception Station's dome that hadn't faded for eons—

Was, by an imperceptible margin.

Shifting slightly.

Toward the direction of the Third Stage.

———

[Chapter 149 · End]