As Anthony Stevenson's words echoed across the Memorial Square and spread to other places, the people of Roon attending the Requiem Mass felt both moved and sorrowful, warmed yet subdued. From different squares, various choirs recited the psalms, their ethereal and sacred voices resonating deep within each person's heart: "The crimson full moon rises, illuminating the earth, 'All are now immersed in sweet dreams, dreaming of themselves, 'dreaming of their parents, spouses (husbands), and children—this is eternity...' (Note 1)." Unconsciously, everyone felt spiritually renewed, their spirituality naturally flowing forth. They seemed truly entering dreams, walking through a quiet darkness. There, their children, parents, spouses, husbands, and friends slept—these departed no longer suffered, no longer ached, serene in expression, gentle in demeanor. "We will lift our eyes to that night sky, tenderly uttering His name: 'The Goddess of Night!' ... If He hears us, He will surely respond, surely reveal a pure, serene smile to the departed: 'Come, rest, sleep, my children!' (Note 2) Those who wander through dreams once again feel a profound sorrow, as though they truly were parting. They recall cherished moments from the past—the family gathered around the table, sharing meals and laughing heartily; the one who gently watched over them; the deep, soul-shattering pain they felt when they saw them suffer and when they heard of their passing; the ever-present clouds of war and the countless separations. They now rest peacefully within this tranquil land, free from worries, while the survivors endure daily suffering and grow weary and frail." One tear slid down, then another, and the attendees of the Mass on the Anniversary Square could no longer contain their emotions, silently and fully pouring out their accumulated sorrow. A profound grief spread, interwoven with the chant of the choir, as though it had taken on a tangible form. "Raise your hands," the choir sang, "place them upon your chest, make the silent prayer, and in your innermost being cry out: 'The only destination is peace!' (Note 3)." Those who closed their eyes and wept instinctively mirrored the actions described in the liturgy, then, inspired by one another, whispered within themselves: "The only destination is peace!" The sorrow reached its peak, resonating powerfully across more than ten thousand hearts on the Anniversary Square. At that moment, Audrey opened her eyes, bent down, and from the small leather bag carried by the golden-haired dog, Suzie, withdrew a bottle of magic potion. The potion floated countless fragments of light, manifesting the collective unconscious as a vast ocean. Audrey didn’t hesitate—under such circumstances, she twisted the bottle’s cap and gulped down the liquid in one go. Unlike before, when she had always felt the potion slide smoothly from her throat into her stomach, Audrey now experienced something unusual. She felt as though she no longer sensed her body at all, her entire being condensed into a cluster of thoughts, merging seamlessly into the surrounding ethereal sea. This was the first time she had directly witnessed the collective unconscious ocean—without first passing through dreams or the "islands" where her mind and soul resided. It felt as though she had returned to before birth, back to her mother’s arms, to the very beginning—being gently washed, eroded, and shaped by the tidal imprints left behind by humanity’s ancestors. Within it lay fear, madness, and a myriad of terrifying mental pollutants—so overwhelming that Audrey found it hard to resist, her consciousness growing faint, her form wavering, on the verge of dissolving. Yet, the nearby "sea" was far from tranquil, exhibiting moderate undulations that radiated intense sorrow and suffering outward. Under this influence, Audrey, whose self-awareness was nearly being absorbed into the collective unconscious ocean, resonated deeply, experiencing an uncontrollable grief. This grief flowed from thought to thought, swiftly filling the cluster of "thoughts" that had transformed her into a distinct entity, piercing her mental body and reaching her soul. Audrey finally regained some clarity, skillfully calming herself, continuously offering affirmations, purifying the disturbances, until she restored her rationality. A voice grew steadily clearer and louder in her ears, eventually resonating fully throughout the vast ocean of collective consciousness: "Only stillness is the ultimate destination!" "Only stillness is the ultimate destination!" "Only stillness is the ultimate destination..." Repeating this prayer, Audrey's form became swiftly distinct and radiant. She was merely a thought, yet she branched out into multiple transparent, ethereal versions, drifting through the ocean of collective unconsciousness, reaching and ascending to the spiritual islands representing different people. There, she intuitively saw where each person's sorrow originated—from the shells of bombs falling from the sky, from the flying airships forming a squadron, from letters brought back from the front lines, from the news delivered by postal carriers, from the splattering of blood before her eyes, from the sudden collapse of loved ones, from the toys left abandoned without a master, from the severe coughing in the thick smog—“The only destination is peace.” Even the golden-haired dog, Suzy, closed her eyes during Mass, silently reciting that phrase in human language, without noticing any change around her. Suddenly, within her soul and within her mental being, Odile's voice resonated: "Suzy, I've succeeded... I've always been worried, afraid that as the sequence progressed, I would grow increasingly affected by the potions, becoming colder and more like a mythical creature rather than a human being." Suzy looked up, slightly bewildered, to find the golden-haired girl, though her eyes were closed, now streaked with tears. Then, Odile spoke softly within Suzy's mind: "Good news—I can still feel their sorrow. It's wonderful..." A single tear slid down the golden-haired girl's cheek, clear and luminous, and another followed, glistening in Suzy's gaze. At that moment, the sun withdrew its final rays, and night brought stillness. Everyone opened their eyes simultaneously, speaking in calm, steady tones: "The only true destination is peace." "...After crying without restraint, once bright Audrey now seemed more reserved, slightly fragile, carrying a quiet sadness that naturally evoked compassion in everyone who saw her. Protected by various circumstances, she returned to her room in Queens, back to her own space. Only then did she have the opportunity to truly examine herself, absorb and process the knowledge and experiences drawn from the potion and the vast ocean of collective unconsciousness. Others might not notice it, but Audrey was certain that the golden-haired, blue-eyed, tall young woman reflected in the mirror now possessed extraordinary strength and an impressive dragon-scale defense—strong enough to single-handedly shatter a steel plate with one punch." “Well, I can still ‘dragonize’—that is, enter an incomplete mythical form—but only after I’ve adapted to the magic potion and accumulated consistent psychological suggestions. Otherwise, I’ll lose control completely. Each ‘dragonization’ session can last no more than a certain duration; beyond that, even with targeted treatments for mental and emotional stability, the intensity of chaos and disarray will overwhelm, leading to collapse. My current limit is one minute. Then, she puffed out her cheeks, opening her mouth as though about to exhale something powerful. Since her mythic creature form was a mind dragon, it must possess breath attacks. These could directly stimulate and damage the target's mental and spiritual bodies, functioning as an expanded-range version of "spirit piercing." Audrey subtly turned her emerald eyes, withdrawing her gaze, and silently mused, "This is what it means to be half-god, half-human—these abilities make me feel genuinely afraid... And how formidable must the 'World' gentleman be, to be capable of killing Herwin Lembis?" Just now, "Justice" Audrey briefly mentioned the changes she has undergone since becoming a half-god; though she kept her details quite vague—protecting her strongest cards—her words still sent a wave of alarm through "The Magician," "The Hermit," "The Judge," and "The Star." "It's not actually that frightening, 'World' knows very well," Audrey said, her gaze fixed on the worn table's very bottom. "World" Germaine Sparrow didn't respond with a nod; instead, he merely murmured, "I too needed powerful allies to defeat Hervin Lembis." He paused, then added, "Before we discuss the hunting campaign, I'd like to know how I can make the Abraham family feel my friendliness?" Note 1: Adapted from Tennyson, "The Lotus Eaters" Note 2: Adapted from I. B. Browning, "The Children's Cry" Note 3: Adapted from Thomas Hood, "The Bridge of Sighs," and Tennyson, "The Lotus Eaters" PS: First posted, then revised.