Chapter 73 A New World Awaits

"Have you figured out the reason yet?"

Welt stood next to Orion by the window of the Astral Express. They both looked outside, discussing something serious.

"Not yet," Orion replied. "Even after searching everywhere I could after the war, I still don't have any clues about what happened."

Orion gazed out the window with no expression. Although they had solved the problems on Jarilo-VI, one crucial question remained unanswered.

"Who sent Orion back ten years, and what was their goal?"

Answering this question would reveal who might be targeting Orion and what kind of threat this enemy could pose to Orion and the crew of the Astral Express.

"In our galaxy, only certain groups or the Aeons themselves could do something like this," Welt explained. "The Antimatter Legion is a likely suspect, but they don't usually go for such roundabout methods to eliminate someone. Even the ones I know don't usually mess with time."

"Can you tell me more about these Lord Ravagers, Uncle Yang?" Orion asked Welt.

Orion had heard of the "Lord Ravagers" but didn't know much about them.

"The Lord Ravagers..." Welt paused, thinking before he spoke. This showed just how intimidating these beings were.

"Nanook, the Aeon of [Destruction], sees all civilizations as a disease and destroys everything in his path. He has seven Lord Ravagers under his command. You've heard of them, right?"

Orion nodded, and Welt continued, "These seven Lords represent destruction and the extreme ends of life."

"Only four of them are widely known across the galaxy. The names of the other three are still a mystery."

"There's Phantylia, Zephyro, Celenova, and Irontomb."

"Zephyro is a one-man army with a passion for violent destruction. Zephyro is obsessed with raw power and the beauty of things in the moment, just as they are destroyed."

"Celenova is Nanook's main general. Her troops have traveled the universe together."

"Irontomb prefers attacking technologically advanced civilizations. All survivors report experiencing an intellectual collapse, technological malfunctions, and AI defenses becoming paralyzed or attacking their allies."

"Phantylia She is known for favoring the internal and self-destruction of mortals."

Orion listened carefully, deep in thought. His battle with the stellaron had gone far beyond what normal people could handle. Wherever he went, he could almost melt the planet's surface and destroy civilizations. But the idea of wiping out a whole planet was still out of reach for Orion.

Plus, stars in the universe come in different sizes. Destroying a small star isn't the same as destroying a larger one—it could be a difference of countless times.

Orion didn't know the exact size of Jarilo-VI. Even if it was the same size as Earth, the sun-sized stars would be much larger and much more massive.

"The universe is so vast, it's overwhelming," Orion sighed. Compared to these powerful beings, Orion still had a long way to go.

"So, Uncle Yang, could it have been one of them who did this?"

Welt shook his head. "It's unlikely. The Antimatter Legion doesn't seem interested in killing you, so I think it was one of two other groups."

"The Omen Vanguard, who serve the Aeon of [Finality] Terminus, is a likely suspect, or the Masked Fools, who follow the Aeon of [Happiness] Aha."

"Terminus? Aha?" Orion was puzzled, but Welt didn't blame him. Every newcomer to the galaxy knew little about the deep mysteries of the universe and the Aeons.

"Aeon Terminus of [Finality] is a creature that defies time; Terminus travels against time from the future. THEY appear at every moment of finality, bringing prophecies of the future."

"As for Aha, the Aeon of [happiness], no one can predict his actions. He and his followers might do anything they find fun. To them, trapping you in a time loop might just be an entertaining game or movie."

Orion clenched his fists tightly. As Welt spoke, his words hung in the air, each one settling heavily in Orion's mind. There was no fear—he had faced countless dangers before—but an eerie sense of powerlessness crept over him, like a shadow cast from something unseen.

It dawned on him slowly, the unsettling realization that something might have been watching him all along, watching his every move since he'd first arrived in this world.

From his appearance at the Herta Space Station to the time attack on Jarilo-VI, it felt like an invisible hand was controlling everything.

The enemy was hidden, and Orion didn't know where or even who they were. This urgency made him want to get stronger so he wouldn't be so helpless on the next journey.

He could vanish once, but what if it happened again? If an accident occurred every time he went on a mission, this problem might be solved now, but who knew what would happen next time? Even Welt and Himeko might not be able to help, and the crew could be dragged into it.

"Orion..." Welt noticed Orion's tense hands and gave him a reassuring look. He could tell that the events on Jarilo-VI had added a heavy burden to Orion's heart.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, Orion," Welt said, trying to comfort him.

"Huh?"

Welt pointed his cane toward where Himeko was standing and whispered to Orion.

"Actually, Himeko is the most resourceful person on the train."

Orion's eyes lit up. During his time on the train, he hadn't seen Himeko take action often.

Unlike the "Himeko" he once knew, this Himeko was more of a scientist and pioneer. Orion rarely saw her in combat, but as the real leader of the Astral Express, she must have some tricks up her sleeve.

"Even if we can't handle a threat, we can at least escape. The universe is big, and there's always a place for you, Orion," Welt said, patting Orion's shoulder. His simple words filled Orion with confidence.

"Okay, I understand." Seeing Orion's worry fade, Welt walked away, heading off to play chess with Himeko.

Orion glanced down at the back of his hand, where an intricate symbol was beginning to glow faintly, pulsing with a mysterious energy. 

"A new world is ready for me to explore," he murmured.

Turning his gaze to the train's window, he watched the landscape rush by, a blur of stars and darkness stretching endlessly. In the glass's reflection, his eyes held a steely determination, his mind already racing through the possibilities of what awaited him.