I, The Aeon of Trailblaze, Trailblazing the Multiverse

"Gods?"

"That must be a god!"

The surviving students, having fled the building after a massive group of Zombies were annihilated, gathered in the temporarily safe zone of the school field. Their worldviews were shattered by the spectacle before them.

Aside from the distant figure on a skyscraper wielding what looked like a crimson-black hole to obliterate the Zombies, the nearest sight that drew their awe was a man hovering mid-air, his appearance reminiscent of a mythical deity or monster, with horns like a dragon sprouting from his head.

A massive, serpentine dragon of turquoise-green water coiled around him, stretching hundreds of meters. As they watched, spears made of water materialized and shot toward dense clusters of Zombies. Upon impact, the spears split into smaller fragments, each seemingly able to distinguish between the living and the infected.

In mere moments, this otherworldly figure floated above the schoolyard. Beneath his feet, a lotus of pale blue and white light seemed to bloom, giving him the appearance of a Bodhisattva descending to the earth.

An oppressive force—intangible yet undeniable—descended over the students, freezing them in place. This presence, something they had only read about in novels or seen in anime, was now an undeniable reality.

Dan Heng gazed down calmly at the stunned, wide-eyed students. His expression remained stoic, unaffected by their awestruck stares.

To civilizations still confined to their home planet, figures like him, a Pathstrider, would naturally be seen as gods. Primitive or less advanced societies often deified Pathstriders, unable to distinguish between their immense power and divinity.

Dan Heng raised a hand and casually waved.

Imaginary Energy surged, transforming into water spears that shot through the windows of the school building. The sound of shattering glass echoed as every Zombie inside was eradicated.

From within the building, the cries of relief and sobs of survivors grew louder as they spilled out onto the schoolyard, their faces streaked with tears, crawling or stumbling to escape.

"We're saved!"

"Ah! It was so terrifying!"

"Help! Please, someone!"

Dan Heng, still floating above, didn't descend. Instead, he looked at the students and spoke in a calm, even tone.

"You're safe now. The immediate danger here has been dealt with. Stay here and wait—someone will come to organize you."

A blonde woman with golden hair tied into twin buns, dressed in a form-fitting teacher's suit, stared up at him. Her voice trembled as she asked, almost involuntarily, "Are you… a god?"

Dan Heng shook his head. His tone was cold but precise. "I am not a god. I am merely a Nameless."

"But," he added, "a god has indeed come to your world. Consider yourselves fortunate."

For in his heart, Dan Heng knew that the Aeon of Trailblaze was among them. Akivili was widely regarded across the universe as one of the most benevolent Aeons, a figure whose arrival had brought salvation to countless worlds and civilizations.

The title 'Hero from Beyond the Stars' wasn't just for show.

Dan Heng's quarters aboard the Astral Express had once been the archive room, where he'd studied many historical records of the train's past. He knew well the tales of Trailblaze's impact.

Without further words, Dan Heng rose again, the dragon of water carrying him swiftly toward the city center of Tokonosu.

Wherever he passed, no Zombie survived. The dragon's sweeping movements annihilated them, and the faint traces of Draconic Power he left behind suppressed the virus in those who had been infected but not yet turned.

To Dan Heng, the Zombie Virus was a rudimentary pathogen, something that posed no significant challenge.

If his previous incarnation, Dan Feng, had retained his healing abilities, he could have cured the entire city effortlessly.

The students slowly gathered their wits, exchanging uncertain and fearful glances, unsure of what to do next.

Though they were temporarily safe, the sheer number of unprecedented events had left them emotionally shattered.

"W-what's going on? Why has the world become like this? I'm going crazy!" A pink-haired twin-tailed girl in a sailor uniform crouched on the ground, clutching her head, her body trembling.

A blonde girl in a similar sailor uniform, equally shaken, added, "So, what do we do now? I just want to find my parents. I don't know how they're doing…"

Other students chimed in.

"The infected in the school are gone. We're safe for now."

"That man told us to stay here."

"Yeah, it's terrifying out there. It must be worse than here."

"He said someone would come to organize us."

Saeko Busujima inhaled deeply, steadying herself. Despite her worldview being completely shattered moments earlier, she managed to appear calm, though her face bore a faint flush.

The flush wasn't from fear—it was from the thrill of combat earlier, the satisfaction of her inner predatory nature being momentarily unleashed.

At that moment, a teacher stepped forward. Wearing glasses and a formal suit, his sharp, narrow eyes gleamed as he addressed the group.

"Students! Students! Please look at me! I'm your teacher, Mr. Koichi Shido."

"In times like these, it's crucial to follow the instructions given by those… powerful beings."

Koichi Shido, having recovered from his earlier shock, now surveyed the confused and scared students with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Although he didn't fully understand the current situation, the presence of such overwhelming powers stirred his darker ambitions.

If he could organize the students first, and then gradually bring in other survivors from the city, he could establish a substantial organization.

With the old order dismantled, he saw an opportunity to rise as a warlord. Having countless followers might even give him leverage to extract secrets about how those myth-like beings had gained their powers.

And if he could attain such power himself, then…

His thoughts of conquest were abruptly interrupted.

"Hello, hello! Everyone, look up here!"

A lively, cheerful voice rang out from the sky.

Everyone instinctively looked upward to see a young girl with dreamy, shoulder-length pink hair, standing confidently on a futuristic hoverboard. She waved energetically at them.

"Hi, everyone! I'm the person who's here to lead you! From now on, you'll follow me to a safe place where everyone else is gathering."

"And after that, Uncle Yang will set up a new order for all of you!"

"Oh, you don't know who Uncle Yang is yet? That's fine! Just know he's an amazing person—that's all you need to know!"

March 7th, riding her hoverboard, radiated energy and excitement. She had never done something like this before: guiding an entire city's survivors while helping to rebuild order. The combination of rescuing people, organizing a new system, and supporting the development of an antidote thrilled her.

"Are you the one he mentioned who'd organize us?" a student asked hesitantly.

"Thank goodness you're here."

"We were so scared…"

"Can you tell us what's happening?"

"What's wrong with the world?"

"Are my parents okay?"

...

March 7th's gaze softened at the barrage of desperate questions, her enthusiasm tempered by compassion.

"Don't worry," she reassured them, her voice steady but kind. "I know it's scary right now, but we're here to help. We'll figure out what's going on together. First, let's get you all to a safe place."

"Uncle Yang and the rest of the team are working hard to fix this. Trust me—everything's going to be okay."

Her confident, upbeat demeanor began to ease the group's panic, replacing it with a tentative hope. Saeko Busujima's keen eyes lingered on March 7th, intrigued by her presence and command despite her youthful appearance.

Meanwhile, Koichi Shido's smirk faded as he realized his attempt to seize control had been neatly derailed by the cheerful girl in pink. Still, his calculating mind turned rapidly, looking for the next opportunity to assert himself.

March 7th pointed toward the city in the distance, her voice ringing out clearly.

"Alright, let's get moving, everyone! Stick together, stay close to me, and we'll get through this!"