"I don’t need ’at all costs,’ because the cost I pay, those who journey with me, are part of my ’dreams.’"

"I got it wrong, I misunderstood my dream. What I previously called ’sacrifice’ wasn’t sacrificing what should have been sacrificed. Although I did find the answer, the path taken...was a longer ’crystal.’"

"Indeed, sacrifice is a shortcut." Saying so, Ian laughed. It was his first smile since arriving in this Spirit World, as bright as the stars: "If there is to be sacrifice, it should be me who is sacrificed."

"It should be me, the ’Pioneer.’"

[So, this time, you are willing to ’sacrifice yourself’]

The voice seemed to be questioning, yet also seemed to be stating: [You’ve made such a significant change. You previously had made up your mind.]

"Yes. I want to sacrifice myself. No, perhaps, this doesn’t count as sacrifice."

Closing his eyes, Ian smiled as he felt the wind growing stronger and colder, lifting his clothes, sending his long hair flying, the sea breeze whispering: "I’ve already decided to walk this path, and even if it means death, so be it."

"I want to do what I should do, not ponder the best option, not ponder the limits, not ponder the future outcome."

"For everything is unknown, and whatever action I take is an exploration. Whatever choice, I will gladly embrace, so I choose...the one I love most."

—Because I love them, I cannot bear to see them (the future Ian) endure this pain.

—Because I love them, I cannot bear to see them (the former Ian) undergo reincarnation.

—Because I love them (all of them), even if it leads me into death, I am unafraid.

The storm howled, thunder roared, a pale lightning bolt streaked down.

Everything superficial was peeled away.

All light, all surface realities were shattered.

The ocean was no longer an ocean, but a churning sea of blood and tears, and the cliff beneath him was no longer a cliff, but countless corpses.

The corpses of ’Ian.’

An ordinary Ian.

An Ian clad in battle armor, covered in wounds.

An incredibly old Ian, wearing a Scholar’s Cap.

A very young Ian.

A female Ian.

An Ian bathed in blood, wielding a Longsword, with an expression half-joyful, half-sad.

An Ian carrying a Lute, seemingly playing a ballad.

Ian (AEON). Eternal. Perpetual. Forever.

Countless Ians.

Eternal Ian.

Infinite endings, boundless journeys.

The infinite Ians formed this island, and their own spilled blood and tears became this infinite ocean.

[To explore the distance, requires infinite sacrifice]

The voice said: [Is all of this truly what you wish, just to journey to a farther place?]

It questioned.

And Ian answered himself: "An infinite future, infinite distances. Naturally, infinite people will sacrifice for it, but they are all their own choices."

"I am simply ’Ian.’ I can only choose myself, I should only choose myself."

Because.

"Among them, only I am the [Pioneer]!"

"So, I must [guide] them! I must lead them to the farthest places!"

Thunder roared.

At this moment, Ian was filled with determination.

Rumble——

At that moment, the island rose with a violent roar, making the blood sea churn, the sea of tears surge, endless storm clouds thundered, the tempest descended, yet everything was pierced by this rising island, by this...

The infinite [Sky Ladder] that pierced through!

Silvery-blue patterns began to spread from this infinite island of corpses, extending until it covered the entire sea of blood and tears, boundless clouds, and thunder.

Then, it climbed and ascended, reaching into the stars above the Firmament.

All the stars were pierced, turning into Ian’s patterns.

"Who are you really?"

Ian raised his head, sensing that endlessly distant, eternal breath, and asked loudly: "Is it the Star God? When will you return? What exactly is your plan?"

"...Forget it, it doesn’t matter if you can’t return, I just want to know, are you still fighting?"

[If I say, the Star God will not return, and there is no battle, what would you think?]

"I wouldn’t think much." Ian answered without hesitation: "Because ’I’ am still here, I will still explore, I will still fight, I am the new Star God!"

[Your resistance may be meaningless, the enemy’s power is beyond all imagination, even their purpose and form of existence are vastly different from your conjectures]

"Really?" Ian laughed: "I guessed wrong then, but that’s a good thing, I have new questions to answer."

"And, even if it’s meaningless, so what? As long as I am still fighting, still exploring, that is the meaning."

[Even if it’s just one person?]

"Even if it’s just one person."

At this moment, the endlessly rising ’Sky Ladder’ was nearing its end, Ian took a deep breath, and said loudly: "Even if truly I can’t do it alone, next Reincarnation, I’ll try to bring my friends along, I will guide them to become like me—I will lead them toward a better future, not just myself alone!"

That voice did not answer.

That voice was silent.

"Hey, who are you really? If you’re the Star God, at least give me some hints about The End and this Cradle!"

[I am] the voice finally spoke: [I am the same as you]