Chapter 503: Shocking

All around is a sheet of pure white.

White that contains nothing.

No ground, no sky, no walls, nothing at all.

She seems to be floating in a white void, with the same color in every direction.

San Yue Qi lowered her head and looked at herself—her hands were still there, her feet were still there, her body was still there.

But there was nothing beneath her feet, and she floated like that within the blankness.

"This... where is this?"

San Yue Qi's voice echoed in the emptiness, without reverberation.

(Did Rewind fail?)

(Or perhaps... this is the Rewind transfer station?)

She tried to take a step forward—there was clearly nothing under her feet, yet she truly felt herself moving.

She took a few more steps, and the surrounding was still that boundless white.

"Anyone?" she tried shouting.

There was no response.

Only her own voice reverberated in this white void.

San Yue Qi scratched her head, a little bewildered.

Just then—

A force came from behind!

She hadn't had time to react, and her whole body was forced into a sitting position!

There was clearly nothing, yet she unmistakably sat on something—like an invisible chair.

San Yue Qi: "…"

(What the heck is this?)

Before she could recover, a huge screen materialized before her.

The screen was large, hovering in midair, emitting a faint glow.

Its frame was golden, adorned with odd motifs—Mask, broken walls, burning Flame.

San Yue Qi hadn't yet figured out what it was when the screen lit up.

The image appeared.

First to catch the eye was an extravagantly decorated office.

Why say extravagant? Because the entire room was gold.

Gold walls, gold floor, gold furniture, gold chandeliers, even the windows were gold glass.

In the center of the room stood a massive golden desk, with a bouquet of golden roses on it.

The camera slowly pushed forward, focusing on the two people behind the desk.

Seated behind the desk was a man in a black suit.

He had short silver hair, a handsome yet stern face, and his eyes exuded a domineering aura of "everything can be destroyed".

One hand rested on the table, the other held a cigar.

San Yue Qi's pupils contracted slightly.

This person... this image...

This is the Destruction Star God—Nanu Ke?!

No, that's wrong; how could Nanu Ke be here?

Opposite the desk stood another person.

He wore a black funeral suit, a tall Top Hat, and an orange Mask on his face.

The Mask's mouth curved into a huge arc, looking both eerie and comical.

This person...

San Yue Qi's mouth twitched.

This is the Joyful Star God—Aha?!

"Nanu Ke Oba~ what exactly do you want?"

Aha spoke, his voice thin and trembling with affected affectation, "You summoned me here just to watch you smoke a cigar?"

Nanu Ke slowly exhaled a ring of smoke, his gaze deep: "Aha, you know my feelings for you."

Aha stepped back, covering his chest: "You, what are you saying? I don't understand!"

"You understand."

Nanu Ke rose, circled the desk, and walked toward Aha step by step, "Since first seeing you at the edge of the universe, I have understood. Your Mask, the smile at the corner of your mouth, the inscrutable aura about you—all have fascinated me."

Aha retreated another step, his back against the wall: "But... but we are Star Gods! How can Star Gods..."

"What about Star Gods?"

Nanu Ke propped one hand on the wall, encircling Aha, leaning close, "Can't Star Gods pursue what they desire? Can't Star Gods have love?"

Aha's body trembled slightly.

"Nanu Ke Oba..."

His voice took on a sobbing tone, "What are you saying... I don't understand..."

San Yue Qi's mouth opened slowly.

(This... what is this?!)

"You understand."

Nanu Ke's hand slid from the Mask to Aha's shoulder, gripping tightly, "You have always understood. But I don't mind. For you, I can do anything."

They raised a hand and snapped their fingers.

The scene cuts—under a starry sky, a train sails.

That train recognized San Yue Qi.

Star Canopy Train.

Nanu Ke's voice came from off‑screen: "To prove my love for you, I destroyed Akiviili's train. I know they are the being you care about most; as long as they disappear, your gaze will fall on me."

"Nanu Ke oppa… you… you really…"

Nanu Ke's mouth curved into a cold arc: "They no longer exist. Their train, their path, everything about them. For you, I destroyed them."

Aha jerked their head up, the voice beneath the Mask trembling: "You… you really did it for me…"

"Of course." Nanu Ke stepped forward, pulling Aha into an embrace, "Because you are mine. Only mine."

The background music in the scene grew sentimental, a lilting violin solo began.

San Yue Qi's goosebumps fell to the ground.

(What the heck!)

(This this this—)

In the scene, Aha nestled in Nanu Ke's arms, body trembling lightly.

Then—

"Sss!"

Nanu Ke's body suddenly stiffened.

They lowered their head and saw a dagger lodged in their abdomen.

The dagger's hilt bore an orange smiling face.

"You…" Nanu Ke's voice wavered for the first time, "Why…"

Aha wriggled out of their embrace, stepped back two paces, raised a hand, and removed the orange smiling face Mask.

Beneath the Mask was a face also wearing a Mask—a crying Mask painted with an exaggerated grin.

"Because—" Aha's voice turned sharp, turned mad, "The one I love is Akiviili! Always has been!"

Nanu Ke clutched the wound in their abdomen, staggered backward, those cold eyes filled with disbelief: "You… you deceived me…"

"Deceived you?"

Aha laughed, the laugh sharp and grating, echoing in the office, "I deceived you? That's your own stupidity! You thought destroying Akiviili would win me? You thought those flashy tricks could move me?"

They ripped off their funeral garb, revealing inside—a pink princess dress encrusted with sequins.

"My Akiviili!"

Aha spread their arms, threw their head back and shouted, voice filled with dramatic sorrow, "Only Akiviili understands me! Only Akiviili is willing to go with me to see those boring Exploration journeys! Only Akiviili—"

"Enough!!!"

Nanu Ke roared, terrifying black light erupted around them!

The light instantly engulfed the entire office, the whole building, the entire city!

The scene turned pitch black.

The frame froze.

Then the credits began to scroll:

"Screenplay: Aha"

"Starring: Nanu Ke (as the domineering CEO version of Destruction Star God), Aha (as the obsessive Mary Sue herself)"

"Special thanks: Akiviili (?)"

"Production: Heimu Studios"

When the credits finished, the screen went black with a 'Snap'.

San Yue Qi kept their mouth agape, the whole body looking as if struck by lightning.

What had she just seen?

As an unnamed passenger of the Star Canopy Train, she naturally knew of the Star God's existence.

Those lofty, indescribable, incomprehensible beings are the greatest forces in the universe.

Nanu Ke is the embodiment of Destruction, Aha is the symbol of joy, Akiviili is the pioneer of Exploration—these names in the train's records, each represents an ultimate concept.

But now…

That scene…

That Plot…

That cringeworthy line…

San Yue Qi's lips moved, trying to say something, but nothing came out.

At that moment—