All the dishes were on the table. A group of people sat around the round table, yet no one dared to be the first to pick up their chopsticks.
The dishes circled the table. Sakura's sashimi and Kalpas's stir-fried octopus were reliably excellent, as always. Kevin's at lasagna and creamy pasta were also quite good – after all, they were the result of two and a half years of practice. Michael's salad was fine too; it's hard to ss that up. Elysia's cake, aside from being ugly and a bit greasy, was acceptable.
However, the others'... were disastrous...
The Stargazy Pie looked decent, but Ato and Blanka seed to have forgotten to marinate the fish in wine, resulting in the entire filling being perated with the salty, fishy sll of sea fish, making it completely inedible.
Eden's bitter lon juice... ...
Mobius's eel soup was green because she had ground various vegetables into powder and mixed them into the broth, then thickened it with starch. While the taste might not have been bad, setting aside its appearance, the re fact that "Mobius made this" prevented anyone from daring to try it.
Hua's longevity noodles were diocre, far less tasty than Kevin's, mainly because the broth was thin and watery. It was unclear if she forgot the salt; it was truly original flavor. Oh, actually, Su's Joy Eggs weren't inedible, but he had put them in a box, and by the ti he opened it, the shells were already cracked...
As for Pardo's oil-soaked dried small fish, Vill-V's "Bouncing Soup" that exploded everywhere upon stirring... It's best not to ntion these things.
"Maybe... let's not eat..." The small living room was crowded with a mixture of slls: salty fishiness, pungent acridness, burntness... It ruined the appetite even for the few decent dishes.
"How about this... If anyone isn't satisfied with the dish they made, you can withdraw it now..." Kevin scratched his head. Before he could finish his sentence, a group of people jumped up as if granted amnesty.
The tabletop instantly beca spacious.
Although more than half the dishes disappeared, aside from i, Aldemir, and Hiko, everyone else present was a MANTIS, not highly dependent on eating for survival. Instead, the atmosphere beca less awkward. They started singing the birthday song again, asking i what wish she would make.
Suddenly, perhaps it was Pardo who shouted, "Oh no! Did we forget sothing?!"
Everyone belatedly realized that they had all focused their energy on the "gifts," but no one had thought of getting a birthday cake...
i looked up, a smile playing on her lips, quickly glancing at Kevin sitting opposite her at the round table.
"How about we just use Elysia's?" Kevin suggested, bracing himself.
i didn't mind, but Michael and Elysia wouldn't let him get away with it.
"No, no, no! Elysia's cake tastes so bad... I an, it's so greasy. If we use that as the birthday cake, everyone will gain a pound tonight."
"Hmph! Besides, I made it specially for i. It's only this big; it's not enough to share as a birthday cake."
Kevin stared thoughtfully at the poop-shaped cake, the size of a casserole dish, in the center of the table. He didn't know the actual cake base inside was only the size of a cup lid, truly impossible to share.
"If worst cos to worst, we can go find... Okay, at this ti, even if the logistics departnt made one, it would be too late..." Seeing Kevin's awkwardness, Michael couldn't help but try to bail him out, but upon reflection, it was indeed too late to get a cake from anywhere now.
Actually, it wasn't impossible to construct a cake using Herrscher powers, but using his powers in such a way felt sowhat... undignified. If it were replicating soone else's power, fine, but his own core powers deserved a certain degree of respect.
"Hey! If it doesn't work out, it's no big deal! You don't have to wish upon a cake with candles for your birthday! If ya ask , as long as the thought is there, wishin' on anything is still wishin', no need for candles or stuff. Back in the Twilight Street days, I was lucky if I could wish on half a can of food... Although, I dunno when my birthday actually is, I only rember the day I was picked up..." Pardo tried to resolve the situation she had inadvertently caused, but her voice trailed off as everyone turned to look at her, making her feel uncomfortable.
She thought she had said sothing wrong, but unexpectedly, after i shook her head with a wry smile, a wave of sighs rippled through the group.
Elysia, sitting beside her, reached out and ruffled her hair, giving her cat ears an extra squeeze, then said softly, "You really get it, don't you, Felis?"
"Ah... Huh? Sister Ely, did I say sothin' wrong or right?"
"Shh—" Elysia gently placed her index finger on Pardo's lips. "You were absolutely right. No need to be scared!"
"I see," Su murmured, his eyes closed, turning his face towards his best friend. "So from Kevin to everyone else, we got too caught up in formalities. After all, for the previous birthdays, there wasn't such painstaking preparation of 'formalities.' It was just a notification, and everyone contributed as they wished."
Kevin held a glass of ice water, head bowed, lost in thought. Was he embarrassed? A little. But more importantly, he felt he had wasted everyone's ti, yet still managed to ss up even a small birthday celebration so badly. Forgetting other things was one thing, but forgetting sothing as crucial as the cake and candles...
He knew Su's words, while seemingly complaining, were actually defending him – what were candles, what was a cake, but re formalities? They weren't important, as long as...
"Actually, various forms of formalism, interpreted from a sociological perspective, can be seen to so extent as necessary for conveying intentions. But regardless, Kevin, your intentions, everyone felt them. I... felt them too..." i, who had been just as nervous and embarrassed as Kevin from the start, finally spoke up boldly.
At that mont, it felt like a fine drumbeat started in their hearts. Their gazes t across the diater of the round table. The distance wasn't long, just three or four ters, a distance Kevin could cross in 0.1 seconds.
Yet, it was precisely a distance where reaching out, they couldn't touch – another formality, i as the birthday person sat at the head, while Kevin, needing to attend to guests, sat opposite her.
"Oh my, oh my! i's direct attack has made Kevin shy, how unfair! Everyone, quick, take pictures, this mont won't last!" Elysia's excited voice rang out, perfectly tid.
i and Kevin both smiled slightly, then quickly averted their gazes just before anyone could raise their phones.
"Well... In that case, I'll make my wish now." i took control of the situation, clasping her hands together, closing her eyes, bowing her head, and silently wishing—
"If possible, I want to be with Kev—"
She suddenly froze. She had simply let her heart speak, yet was surprised by the answer it gave. Not that such a wish deserved ridicule, but she had expected herself to wish for sothing about the world, about humanity.
Turns out, in the end, she was just a selfish person.
But there was nothing wrong with such personal selfishness. i herself was only montarily surprised.
Yet... i forcefully terminated that thought. Because at this mont, she represented not just herself, not just the small unit of her family with Kevin, but Fire Moth, all of humanity.
Of course, so might think making such a big deal out of a birthday wish was excessive. But i firmly believed it was necessary. Changes in mindset are often the result of gradual accumulation, like water dripping on stone. Quantitative change leads to qualitative change, but the actual transformation often happens at a turning point, in an instant.
Since she realized her immaturity, her inadequacy at this mont, then changing right now was for the best.
Ten seconds...
Half a minute...
A minute...
i remained with her head bowed, eyes closed, without a word, without a movent.
Silence always stretches ti. Though less than two minutes had passed, Pardo was already fidgeting as if she'd been watching this scene for two hours.
Only Michael, and perhaps Su and Dystopia, inadvertently perceived i's internal transformation. Only they could understand the true aning of that minute-plus of silence—
i had finally shed the lingering shyness and introversion resurrected from distant mories. She was no longer that little girl. The past is part of the future, her past self is part of her present self, her present self is part of her future self.
No one can discard the past, because the past self, from society's perspective, is still part of "oneself." But from the individual's perspective, the past self is definitely not equal to the present self; they are two different entities.
That's why people often say, "I'm not who I used to be."
So the current i was no longer the student i from St. Freya, nor the scholar i attending academic conferences on the Mu continent, nor the i struggling to nurture hope amidst adversity when she first joined Fire Moth.
She was the leader guiding all humanity against the Honkai, the leader of Fire Moth, Dr. i.
"My wish is... I hope humanity can ultimately defeat the Honkai—no matter the cost."
But...
But...
But...
The croaking of frogs in the early spring night drifted in. i sohow thought of everything she had seen on the Moon.
The Earth, visible yet unreachable. The universe, so deep that a single glance could instill millennia of loneliness. The inscription left by her "self" from 250,000 years ago... And the endlessly cycling fate.
"Can I really do it?"
"Can I... no, forget defeating the Honkai, can I truly..."
Though there was nothing tangible in the air, i felt a weight settle on her shoulders. Only then did she understand that hope wasn't ethereal; it had real, tangible weight.
The weight grew heavier, so heavy her shoulders seed to involuntarily shrink inwards...
But the next mont, the pressure eased slightly, then beca progressively lighter. She knew it wasn't because the hopes were gone, but because soone was sharing the burden with her...
She opened her eyes. Her gaze imdiately caught a gleam of light. It was Kevin. It was Michael and Elysia. It was Mobius, Vill-V... everyone sitting here. Even Protheus, even the entirety of Fire Moth...
Thinking back, she had never been alone on this journey. She always had countless companions – it was true in the past, true now, and would certainly be true in the future.
"At the very least, our era is already much better than the 'script' Michael provided. If the previous era, which didn't even have Herrschers fighting for humanity, could still stumble towards a final battle with Finality, then we certainly can too. The current , the current us, can definitely do better than the us from 250,000 years ago, better than the us in the 'script'!"
And so, i's eyes curved into a smile—
"Alright, I've made my wish."
"Wow wow wow! Tell us, tell us! What did you wish for? Was it related to Kevin? It must be, right?" Elysia winked playfully at her. i smiled gently, neither confirming nor denying.
After the wish, everyone stopped sitting formally around the table. Since the al had ended abruptly, people should have started leaving. But having a rare short break, having everyone gathered together, ant more chatting was in order.
For example, Hiko and Aldemir, not being MANTISes, had later been assigned to different departnts and combat tasks, reducing their interactions significantly. Now, having the chance to gather, they naturally had much to talk about, reconnecting...
Especially Hiko... Captain Hiko! Just monts ago she was snoring drunkenly on the sofa. After Kevin had everyone clear the dishes, Michael glanced over and saw Hiko peeking with one eye, scouting the situation... Now she sat up straight, pulling Elysia and i into casual conversation.
Michael rubbed his forehead, thought for a mont, and walked over to Aldemir and Evangeline. His first sentence made both of them light up: "Good news for you two. With the addition of mass-produced MANTISes, Anti-Entropy's structure definitely can't accommodate everyone. In the future, large numbers of MANTISes might be integrated into mixed combat units with regular soldiers to handle Emperor-class Honkai Beasts and below, and zombie disasters."
"Yay!" Evangeline clapped her hands and stood up.
Aldemir shyly scratched his head, adjusting the scratched goggles on his forehead.
"Hm?" Michael let out a soft sound.
"What's wrong?" Aldemir frowned, asking quickly.
"Oh, sorry, was thinking about sothing else, got distracted. Are you free recently? I wanted to find a chance to get together with the old Fifth Squad mbers, bring the Captain along."
"Fifth Squad..." His brow smoothed out. He leaned back naturally in his chair, pondered for a mont, then shook his head. "The old-tirs from Fifth Squad back during the Third Eruption... dead, scattered... Forget one in ten, out of nearly two hundred, the ones I still rember and have contact with number only two or three."
"Is that so..." Michael rubbed his chin, pressing further, "Then just us? You, Evangeline, and Elysia, Mobius, plus the Captain?"
"Spare ..." Aldemir shook his head with a wry smile. "I have an escort mission the day after tomorrow. Ti's a bit tight."
"Escort?"
"Mmm..." Aldemir's eyes shifted slightly. Figuring Michael could easily access this information through his clearance and connections anyway, he ntioned casually, "Transporting Soulium. Dr. i recently ordered all factories that previously produced Soulium for the United Governnt to clear out their inventory."
"Ah... That's a pity..." Michael shook his head regretfully and walked away, pacing back. After a couple of steps, he suddenly glanced back over his shoulder. Aldemir looked up, sensing the gaze, but saw Michael just walk over to Hua and sit down, chatting with her about sothing, so he didn't pay it much mind.
"Why didn't Carole co?" Michael rubbed his temples, his voice sounding weary and drained. Carole had originally been part of the Mu continent rapid response force, but now that Mu was gone, she had naturally been transferred back to HQ. Kevin hadn't forgotten her and had surely invited her, but for so reason, she hadn't shown up.
"Her..." Hua seed to rember sothing, an eager smile spreading across her face. But the words died on her lips.
Ding-dong—
The doorbell rang at that exact mont. Pardo was the first to jump up and open the door—
"Hey hey hey! Am I late?!" A familiar loud voice. Speak of the devil.
However, entering with Carole was a large cake. She ignored Hua, who looked incredibly excited and was barely restraining herself from pouncing, and lifted the cake box proudly: "Ta-da! A little sothing from all the mbers of Fire Moth—just in ti, we checked your ingredient order records in the logistics departnt. Only Elysia ordered ten three-inch cake bases, but those obviously aren't for a birthday cake."
She grinned, placing a huge cake box on the table. At a glance, it looked like at least a twenty-inch cake; it was a mystery how she carried it all the way here.
"Oh my! You guys are so thoughtful, thank you, thank you!" Elysia squinted, about to tear open the cake packaging, but Carole stopped her first: "What are you doing, Sister Ely? Dr. i should be the one to open the cake!"
i didn't think much of it. She walked to the cake, casually untied the ribbon. The box unfolded outwards automatically.
But appearing before everyone, besides the cake, was a gleaming dagger—
"Even for cutting cake, you don't need a knife like this..." i was thinking, when a cold glint flashed before her eyes. The sharp tip of the dagger rapidly approached her—
SWISH—
An icy chill filled the air. An ice blade materialized in Kevin's hand, instantly severing Carole's right hand holding the dagger. Blood splattered everywhere – on the cake, the table, i's clothes and face.
"Kevin!" Michael shouted a warning. Kevin understood instantly. The ice blade in his hand circled, severing Carole's other hand but avoiding vital areas – such a bizarre situation naturally required keeping the assailant alive.
"Ah—" Coincidentally, Hua felt a sharp pain on her face as her vision went dark. Her hand reflexively reached out and caught sothing – Carole's severed left hand.
Blood, mixed with tiny ice shards, spurted from the stump. Rubber-tube-like veins twitched and spasd, slowly sliding out from the severed end.
"Ca... Ca... Carole..." Hua's teeth chattered. Despite countless life-and-death experiences, she felt her heart rate instantly skyrocket. A burning sensation threatened to erupt from her throat. Then, starting from her back or the base of her skull, her body gradually went numb, unable to move.
But the next mont, a jolt shot through her entire body—
BANG!
Aldemir whipped out his pistol. The bullet struck Carole squarely in the neck. Her entire neck exploded under the impact, leaving her head hanging by only shreds of skin and muscle. Under the imnse pressure, her eyeballs popped out of their sockets, rolled across the floor a few tis, and ca to rest staring directly at Hua.
Carole's body collapsed to the ground, blood slowly pooling around her.
Hua stared blankly at the crimson tide spreading towards her feet. For the first ti, she realized that the death of a single person could indeed create a river of blood.
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