March 7 immediately frowned at Takumi's remark.
"What was that? We're only eighteen!! There's no way our combined age is over ten thousand years!! Star was just born not long ago!!"
What was that about being tens of thousands of years old? She wouldn't admit to something like that. Don't go around making them sound ancient. She was still a youthful and radiant teenage girl!
"Emm... as long as you're happy."
"Since everyone's here, let's head out."
Takumi didn't bother arguing with them. He simply opened a passage through the Imaginary Space.
"Get inside."
Hearing this, Dr. Mei and the others acted first, entering alongside Bronya. March 7 hurriedly dragged Star and Lumine inside as well. Once everyone had gone through, Takumi closed the passage.
He then @-ed Himeko in the group chat.
Takumi: [@Himeko, I'm coming over now.]
As soon as he spoke up, Himeko promptly responded.
Himeko: [Come on over, I've been waiting.]
She set down her coffee, a bit excited in her heart.
Herta: [Hurry up!]
Likewise, Herta also noticed Takumi's message and popped up immediately. She too was looking forward to his arrival.
Seeing their replies, Takumi chuckled, but wasted no time. He bought a teleportation charm and clicked Himeko's name to use it.
The next moment, a dimensional passage opened. Takumi stepped in.
When he reappeared, he had arrived on the Astral Express.
The moment he landed, Takumi's brow furrowed slightly. He could sense the connection between this world and the Imaginary Tree. Because of his arrival, the Imaginary Tree even sent over a surge of goodwill.
Then, it asked: Did Takumi want to ascend and become an Aeon?
"Interesting!!"
Feeling the message from the Imaginary Tree, Takumi laughed.
He had just arrived, and they wanted to make him an Aeon already?
Moreover, he could feel the gaze of other Aeons falling upon him at this moment.
Just as he had guessed, the moment he entered this world, the Aeons' attention was inevitable.
Takumi appeared on the Astral Express. Before Himeko and Welt could even say anything, a powerful force suddenly burst from his body.
He ascended on the spot.
Asked if he wanted to be an Aeon?
Of course he did!
This was free power being offered. Why wouldn't he take it?
As for being restricted as an Aeon?
Sorry, I'm not even a native of this world. You can't restrict me.
So, Aeon it is!
Takumi accepted the offer on the spot.
He ascended immediately.
Himeko watched in stunned silence, question marks filling her face.
She quickly opened the group chat.
Himeko: [Can someone explain what's going on? This guy just arrived and became an Aeon!!] [Image]
The message caused an uproar in the group.
Chika Fujiwara: [I just woke up and you're showing me this??]
Sagiri: [Whoa! Takumi-nii got stronger again!!]
Juna: [So jealous!! How does he always get cheat codes no matter where he goes?]
Bronya: [What the heck? He didn't even let us out before ascending to Aeon status??]
Still inside Takumi's Imaginary Space, Bronya was dumbfounded.
What?
Takumi became an Aeon?
The others heard her shout and were equally confused.
"What's going on?" March 7 asked, very curious.
"Takumi became an Aeon."
Bronya didn't hide anything and explained the situation.
Upon hearing this, everyone was filled with disbelief.
"What the heck? Became an Aeon?" March 7 looked completely lost.
He became an Aeon the moment he arrived?
Is that for real or fake?
March 7 knew full well what an Aeon was.
And now Takumi had become one just like that?
Everyone was shocked upon hearing the news.
Takumi became an Aeon?
Seriously?
Everyone was dazed.
How did he do it?
But for now, nobody could answer them.
Takumi hadn't even released them yet.
He had ascended on the spot inside the train.
In an instant, everyone in the universe who had stepped into the Path became aware—a new Path had appeared.
But no one knew how to enter it, or what it did.
Feeling the Path he now possessed as an Aeon, Takumi stroked his chin.
"The End?"
"An Aeon who brings the end to the entire universe?"
"Feels like it overlaps with some other Aeons' Paths."
Understanding his Path, Takumi was a bit speechless.
His Path was to bring the end of all things to the universe.
Emm.
That's... kind of strange.
Still, the power was amazing.
He figured he could probably slap Aha to tears right now.
After all, he was chosen by the Imaginary Tree.
Seems like his destiny would always be tied to the end.
Takumi couldn't help but mentally grumble.
"Congratulations!"
"I didn't expect this. You actually became an Aeon."
Seeing that Takumi had recovered, Himeko congratulated him.
Takumi shrugged.
"I didn't want to, but the Imaginary Tree forced it on me."
"Couldn't help it. 327 was just too generous."
He hadn't planned to become an Aeon, but the power was too tempting.
Had he known it'd be this safe, he would've come earlier.
"Wanna run a scan?"
As Takumi chatted with Himeko, one of Herta's puppets came running up, her face full of excitement.
She grabbed his arm, grinning from ear to ear.
Good grief, seriously good grief.
The moment she saw Takumi ascend to Aeon status, she couldn't sit still.
Luckily, she had left a puppet here.
Otherwise, Herta wouldn't have seen him so soon.
"No scan! Let me go."
Takumi looked at her in exasperation.
"Don't be like that!! Come on, let me scan you!!"
Herta's puppet even started acting coy.
But it had no effect on Takumi.
After all, she was just a puppet right now. He had zero interest.
If she came in person, that might be different.
"Later. First, I need to let March 7 and the others out."
"I brought Dr. Mei and her group too."
"Let's see if they can step onto the Path as well."
"You can study it with them."
"Oh, and about the perpetual motion machine—you can chat with them too."
At this, Takumi grinned widely.