Chapter 1596

Monogatari Series.

"That is... the Erudition Venerate?"

Araragi Koyomi stared blankly at the Erudition Venerate in the sky curtain, always feeling that It was like a repeater, endlessly repeating the same question: "Why do you pioneer?"

You ask these, who would know? And what exactly does this Erudition Venerate want to ask?

Now, he only wants to know how long he will still drift in this universe, and whether there is still a possibility to restore everything to its original state.

"Ah ah ah ah ah, it's all the Company's fault! All the Family's fault! All the Xianzhou's fault!"

Shinobu, lying on a meteorite nearby, shouted excitedly: "Why didn't they send out Envoys to assist in battle early on? Now the entire universe is dead, irrecoverable—what should we do?!"

"It's all because they underestimated the enemy! If they had sent out their respective Envoys earlier, surrounded and exterminated Tumu early, prevented him from stabbing down that sword, wouldn't it have been fine? Now what should we do?! Company, you've earned so much money—what's the use? You can earn money with your life, but you can't spend it if you're dead!"

"Maybe they didn't expect this result back then..." Araragi Koyomi lowered his head to look at his semi-transparent body, feeling utterly unreal, "That is, Diamond, the Xianzhou's general, marshal... even Miss Huang Quan, Polka—have they all become like us now? Did those Envoys also die together?"

At this moment, Araragi Koyomi gained a new understanding of "equality of all beings." No matter if you are noble or humble, poor or rich, strong or weak...

Under Tumu's single shot, all is reduced to nothing.

—

"The Stars See: It has appeared, It will inevitably appear in this second."

"In the myriad changes of calculation, Its radiance, under the gaze of all, descends upon the vast universe. Its form is vast as a divine object, gears and fine cables intertwining exquisitely."

"It observes, calculates, seeks solutions for all. It raises questions, conducts verification, obtains answers. Now, the omniscient existence poses a question to her—"

""I ask: *you* why do you pioneer?""

""Akivili!""

"The Stars See: It has vanished. Only a symbol remains: "!""

""Exclamation mark?""

""!"—in natural language, people add it after a sentence to express some complex emotion. Perhaps its meaning is: to forever marvel at what has already come."

""But It no longer speaks, and this is the entirety of the answer. Perhaps you answered; perhaps not. Everything has already happened—"

""Black Tower: "█ did well! █ your choice ██ became a new variable ██""

""██ The Erudition Venerate's calculation has not stopped ██ the decisive battle is not over █ hurry ██ return to reality ███""

""██ The future of the ███ Galaxy ███ is in your hands ███""

—

Mi Gong Fan.

"Akivili?"

"Why does the Erudition Venerate call the Star 'Akivili'?"

After gradually accepting the ending that "everyone is already dead," Marulshil unexpectedly calmed down.

They hid in the deep layers of the Mi Gong, originally using monster meat for hot pot, never expecting that after Tumu's shot... she no longer has the chance to taste that piece of meat.

However, Laios and Qierchake were also taken away by Tumu together... now they sit with her on the same meteorite, drifting aimlessly.

Qierchake lowered his head in thought: "I recall that in the Simulation Universe, Aha also once called the Star 'Akivili'? Could this be... a metaphor? The Star is now walking upon Akivili's past 'pioneering'."

"But if that's the case, then logically, the entire Xingzhou Train should be on that Fate's Path, so should all the current nameless guests be called 'Akivili'?"

Considering that someone like Osvaldo once appeared on the train, just thinking about this answer makes it impossible.

"But just now, the Black Tower mentioned that the decisive battle in reality is not over, yet isn't the entire universe already destroyed? The Xingzhou Train's defeat is certain—why say it's not over?" Laios couldn't help but ask curiously.

Marulshil shook her head: "Unclear, logically speaking, the only living beings left in the universe now should be the Black Tower, the Star, and Xilian, right? Can those three defeat Tumu?"

—

"..."

"Open this book, write a new ending for the story."

"Xian slowly opened her eyes; before her was a pink silhouette."

""X... ilian?""

""Xilian, at last... you're awake.""

"Xian rubbed her head, discovering she was now within Fate's Narrow Gap. Xilian was clearly near her, yet her voice sounded extremely distant."

""We have not lost yet...""

""Xilian softly comforted: "Don't worry, here... 'time' is still. The stars have fallen into silence. All I can perceive is being dissolved by 'Tumu'...""

""Xian lowered her head, clenched her fists: "It is analyzing every life action... then transforming them into 'Destruction'.""

""But I am still here, Xian is still here, right? Even though the 'Destruction' button has been pressed, we still have a chance... to rewrite its meaning." Xilian said word by word, "Finally, that Star God (Fu Li) cast her gaze upon Wengfaluo Si.""

""Did Fu Li glance at Wengfaluo Si?""

""Yes. I think She is also waiting for this moment, the Scepter 'Unity of Body and Mind' moment...""

""Xian recalled what Chang Ye Yue had said before: 'Tumu is a perfect warship; if one could secretly plant a seed, at the moment 'Wisdom' is detonated by it, 'Memory' would also spread to every corner of the Huazuo.'"

""Xilian: 'After this brief yet eternal instant, the Galaxy will witness Wengfaluo Si's answer. And now, it is the time for us to write the final stroke.'"

""I see, countless 'Memories' drifting in the Xing Chen. They are the consciousness of the suffering, which will be 'polluted' by 'Destruction' in the next second of reality. But now, they remain pure seeds. Holding these 'Memories' in my palm, I can create a stagnant 'Memory Realm'."

""A... tiny 'Shan Jian Tian' (One Page Eternal). I believe the flower of miracles will bloom within it.""

""I will not let you bear it alone.""

""Xilian smiled knowingly: "Xian... has already been accompanying you. Even in the boundless void, I can still hear your voice. It seems, even if the Galaxy reaches its end, we are still connected by a heart (Star Core).""

""If so, then I will not be afraid, nor lonely. For in this instant of eternity, as long as I follow the 'Memory' in my heart...""

"The smile spread across the girl's eye corners, like morning light gliding over a mountain ridge—silent, gentle warmth."

""You will surely find me, right? ♪""