chapter 157: Ending: [A Long Song for the Future] (Part 2)

Eden landed on the moon in a daze, and took panicked steps, approaching that place little by little, that... place where he disappeared.

The flowers are in full bloom, the stars are twinkling...the golden notes refuse to leave, the golden light refuses to fade away as if they are waiting for someone as if they are nostalgic for someone.

"I'm sorry... I'm late..."

Eden murmured to herself, but there was no sound of her around.

How confused this shining, dazzling "star" is at this moment.

There was no trace of him anywhere she looked.

'Didn't we agree to stay with each other?'

'You promised to stay by my side, didn't you?'

'Then why...'

"I'm sorry... I'm late..."

This was all she could do to comfort herself, this was all she could mutter to herself.

But the silence of space made it impossible for her to convey her words.

Step into the place where the flowers are, step into the place where the stars are shining.

The notes surrounded her and danced around her as if welcoming her, as if guiding her.

She moved forward slowly and finally came to the pit, where... Nozomi disappeared.

There, a crystal clear "core" is floating quietly.

Transparent, crystal clear, and as beautiful as a diamond.

She gently stretched out her hand and touched it carefully, but the diamond-like "core" seemed to be throwing a tantrum and moved away from her slightly.

"I'm sorry, Nozomi, I'm... late..."

She whispered to herself.

"I'll give you a hug and forgive me... okay?"

She stretched out her hand, trying to grab the "core", but the "core" fell into her hands on its own as if it had heard her words.

What followed also came the gathering of light and the floating notes.

'Well, I forgive you, Eden.'

'I felt his gentle embrace on my body.'

'In my ears, I heard his gentle whisper.'

'Finally, it was like I was finally satisfied.'

The light fades, the notes disappear, the flowers fly, and the stars dim.

Eden held the "core" tightly in her hand and collapsed to the ground.

This dazzling "star", this shining "star", cried so sadly for the first time, and could not stop her tears.

But in this silent space, even her cries could not be heard.

...

"Damn it! Damn it!! Damn it!!! You deserve to die! [Herrscher]!!!"

"..."

When Kevin and others arrived at the scene, they could only hear Kalpas's furious roar and see the wreckage destroyed by him.

Kalpas roared, trying hard to vent the anger in his heart, wanting to vent the sorrow and anger in his heart together, but... he couldn't do it.

All the high-level members of the "Fire Moth" who exiled Nozomi had been killed by it. Even it itself committed suicide just before Kalpas arrived, without even leaving its body intact for Kalpas. This left him with nowhere to vent his anger, and he couldn't even vent his anger by mutilating its corpse.

He could only destroy everything, everything within his sight, everything he could destroy... destroy and tear into pieces, as if this could ease the anger in his heart.

But... it can't do anything.

'No matter how much I destroyed or shredded, I could not quell the anger in my heart.'

Because... he was late, he was late.

He... failed to save Nozomi, and was even unable to kill the "Herrscher" with his own hands to avenge Nozomi.

He...can't do anything.

...

When it died and no longer used the [Twelfth Herrscher Core] to control the equipment, everyone's communication was restored.

"Vill-V...can you still speak?"

"...um."

Vill-V's voice sounded hoarse, and it was obvious that she was forcing herself to answer.

"That's not your problem, Vill-V."

"But those weapons were all developed by me."

Vill-V's voice sounded low and full of decadence.

"The weapons I developed, the nuclear bombs... destroyed our city and killed all the people inside."

"..."

"The [Divine Key] I designed caused countless people to die in the storm... [Fourth Divine Key]... Haha, the way it caused destruction in the end was actually the same as the [Fourth Herrscher], haha..."

"..."

"And in the end, the Moonlight Throne I designed killed him. When he was singing for us, I... pressed the button myself."

Vill-V lowered her head and looked at her hands.

"That Herrscher is right... I will kill Hope."

Weiwei's hand moved gently down and touched a gear-shaped buckle on her waist...that was left for her by Nozomi.

"With my own hands..."

"..."

"...Su, it's okay. You don't have to do any treatment for me. I... am not that fragile, and I can't be that fragile."

Vill-V looked up.

"If I made a mistake, I must make amends myself."

"I hope you can understand what's going to happen next, Su."

"Now, we have too many weapons and too many things that can cause harm. We... need more [escape routes], more things that can protect us and keep us alive."

"[Key of Stasis: All Things Hibernate]... What a great name, but it could have another meaning, right? It could provide us with better help, just like his 'Utopia Project', right?"

Vill-V's tone was no longer as frivolous as before but full of determination.

...

"...hiss...damn it...why are you fighting back again?"

"If you can't figure out how to write a combat record, let me do it."

"Ah, Dr. Mei...but..."

"It's okay, let me do it."

"...good."

The man nodded and gave his seat to Mei.

"..."

Mei first took a look at the format, and then began to adjust, record, and prepare to submit it.

Yes, hand it over... Although it is hard to believe, after a group of high-level officials were eliminated, another group of people with slightly lower power stepped forward and took over the positions... According to the original system, they could indeed do so.

Therefore, according to common sense, Dr. Mei and others... still have to obey orders, well, according to common sense.

So, in order to follow the previous system and not actively destroy it, Mei... very, very reluctantly accepted this arrangement.

'If I were to ask why, it would be… probably because I still have a little bit of hope and a little bit of expectation.'

So Mei submitted the rewritten record and waited patiently.

After a while, the news came back that her report... was sent back and marked with errors.

"Nozomi is not a sacrifice. He is a Herrscher."

This is the first thing that catches their eye.

"There is something wrong with Elysia's physical examination report. Re-examine her immediately."

This is the second one.

"..."

Mei didn't read any further, but silently took off her glasses, folded them, and put them back in her pocket.

Stand up, step back, hold on to the seat, lift up! Drop down!

Bang!

"Mei?!"

Kevin rushed in immediately after hearing the unusual noise, and all he saw was the seat embedded in the screen and Mei who was panting.

"Kevin..."

She gently grabbed the corner of her lover's clothes, dragged her body, and slowly buried herself in his arms.

"Mei?"

Kevin felt a slight wetness on his collar.

"That's good. Just leave it like this for now... that's good."

Mei said sullenly, refusing to look up.

She still remembered that she could hug her lover like this because of him, because of Nozomi.

...

"Dad... it's already... finished inside."

Griseo gently pulled at the torn edge of her clothes and spoke softly.

"Oh? You've finished it so quickly? You must have worked so hard, my little Griseo~"

Hen hid his sadness and sorrow, then hugged Griseo in his arms, forced a smile, and said.

"Well, Brother Nozomi helped... There's already a lot of space inside, and everyone can live in it."

Griseo nodded pretentiously.

"Is that so... So that's how it is... His [song] is about this... No, this should be a byproduct. He should be trying to solve the problem of rain."

He nodded as if he understood, then frowned and fell into confusion.

"But... if his [Song] was to stop the rain, the [Herrscher] is dead, and control of the [Fourth Divine Key] has returned, then..."

Looking up at the sky, Hen slowly expressed his doubts.

"Why is the rain... still falling?"

Tick-tock——

It is the sound of rain falling.

...

"[Blood relative]... don't... please... [Blood relative]..."

In the sea, Skadi tried to touch the [Song] flowing in the sky and tried to save her [blood relatives].

But... she couldn't do it. At this moment, she couldn't do anything.

She could only watch the "Song" that flowed across the sky take shape, and watch the fleeting light bloom and then dim.

After that, the song of [Blood Relatives]... could no longer be heard.

Her [blood relatives]… left her.

She clearly wanted to protect him, clearly wanted to prevent him from being [attacked], but in the end... what did she protect?

Crash——

The waves surged and the sea water gradually became violent.

The most beloved child disappeared and was [conquered], which made [Ocean] unable to bear her anger.

And at this time Skadi... didn't try to stop it, nor did she want to stop it, and even wanted to... join in.

She likes bipeds very much, yes, but blood relationship is more important.

And now, her [blood relatives]... were hurt, [conquered], and killed!

She... couldn't accept it.

Crash——

The surging waves brought a strange sword to her side... with her own breath remaining on it.

Skadi knew about this sword.

But at this moment, she picked it up without hesitation.

Tick-tock——

The rain falls quietly.

The seawater spreads silently.

The waves surged, and the revenge of the Ocean began.

————————

"Quick! Quick! Hurry up! The sea water is flooding over! There's a lot of space inside, don't worry!"

"Watch out for the crowds! You know what! Watch out for the crowds! Don't step on each other!"

The soldiers of "Fire Moth" anxiously commanded everyone, urging the surviving people to enter the "Utopia"... Thanks to Griseo who completed the expansion of the internal space of the "Utopia", otherwise they would not know what to do.

'I heard that it was all thanks to Nozomi that it was completed so instantly... Alas.'

Thinking of this, the soldier quickly stopped thinking, sighed helplessly, suppressed all these thoughts, and concentrated on arranging the "evacuation" of the people.

Crash——

It was the sound of seawater flooding in.

"Mei! Go!"

"Kevin, Elysia..."

"No matter what, let's get to a safe place first!"

Snap——

However, before they could make any move, a white water blade like a wave passed by at a high speed and almost cut off Mei's arm.

Snap——

It is the sound of stepping on the water.

Looking back, you can see that the blue sea is coming along with a white-haired, red-eyed girl holding a sword. The girl is wearing a familiar [Hunter's Suit].

Of course, what attracted more attention was the hat on her head.

Elysia and the others remembered that Nozomi treasured that hat very much. He said that he had a "friend" who liked it very much, so he wanted to keep it forever... In the end, he even changed the name of "friend" to "blood relative".

'So... the girl in front of me... is Skadi? That killer whale Honkai beast?'

"I remember you..."

Skadi looked at the few people with her indifferent scarlet eyes, then raised her sword and pointed it at Elysia.

"Especially you."

Then she pointed at Kevin.

"And you."

"One was the guy that [Blood Relative] once admired the most, but in the end, you betrayed him..."

"You said he was your ally, but you didn't help him at all..."

"..."

Elysia pursed her lips and didn't reply.

"One is a guy who has targeted [blood relatives] several times, launched [punitive actions] several times, and hurt him several times."

"..."

Kevin remained silent.

"At last..."

Skadi pointed the tip of her sword at Mei, who was protected behind by the two.

"she's the guy who broke her promise to my blood relatives several times!"

Crash——

The sea water surged and spread, and almost in an instant it covered everyone's feet.

"You... deserve to be killed!"

"Should be… [hunted]!"

She raised the sword, and the sea water also rose up, as if it was going to form a wave and drown the few people.

Anyone could feel Skadi's hostility, the extremely clear murderous intent and hostility, and the extremely obvious resentment.

Kevin and Elysia both took precautions, but... they did not attack first.

Their goal is to delay time and prevent the seawater from reaching the people... There are still people who have not entered the "Utopia" for refuge, so they cannot fight too fiercely.

Hmm~

However, at this moment, a faint melody quietly echoed.

That was left on Elysia's crystal flower hair accessory. It was Nozomi's power and Nozomi's melody.

Boo~

A small, bright red fish jumped out from the azure water, swam happily in the air twice, and then landed between Skadi and the others.

It gently touched the tip of Skadi's sword, then swam along the sword, came to Skadi's side, and swam around her happily a few times.

"... [Blood relative], do you like [humans] so much?"

Skadi's face showed a conflicted and reluctant expression.

The bright red [fish] jumped happily twice, then flapped its tail fin twice, and swam around Skadi twice.

"... I see."

Skadi slowly lowered her sword.

"[Blood relations]... are important."

Skadi looked at the few people again, then turned back and prepared to leave.

"wait."

Mei suddenly called her and said a string of coordinates, causing Skadi to look at her sideways.

"Go ahead, the person you are looking for is there."

Mei said expressionlessly.

"They are in the [painting] of the safe house. If you have contact with him...with Nozomi, you should be able to get in."

"..."

Skadi withdrew her gaze, then waved her hand, and several figures were quickly "spitted out" by the blue sea.

They were Kalpas, Kosma, and others who had fought with Skadi before.

"Don't let them cause trouble, if you don't want to trouble my [Blood Relatives] anymore."

Skadi left an indifferent sentence, and then quickly left along with the blue sea.

"... Mei, the place you mentioned... seems to be the location of the new higher-ups, right?"

"..."

"…Is it really okay to do this?"

"Of course."

Mei's voice was calm and indifferent.

"For the sake of humanity, any sacrifice is acceptable and any price is payable... I believe they can also realize this."

"..."

"... Take Kalpas and the others with you. The sea is spreading too fast... Our last piece of land is about to disappear."

Mei's voice sounded a little tired... After Nozomi disappeared, their enemy seemed to have become the entire planet.

The sea flooded, the winds howled, the rain never stopped, and the climate of the entire planet became extremely bad in a short period of time, heading towards the direction of "uninhabitable for humans".

Even the [Fourth Divine Key] cannot change this weather in a short period of time, and cannot correct this climate. It can only be repaired slowly over time.

But... fortunately, the two coordinated plans of "Utopia" and "Hibernation" allow them to have enough time to wait for the world to recover.

There is enough space inside the "Utopia" to accommodate the surviving people, and the protection of the outside world can be left to the fusion warriors using "Hibernation of All Things".

If they are lucky, they can set foot on the land of this planet again at the right time, walk out of the "Utopia" again, and live here.

At worst... you can still survive in a "Utopia".

As for the fusion warriors who use "Hibernation of All Things"... in addition to protecting the "Utopia", there are some other plans, all of which are designed to deal with special situations.

Oh, by the way, there is also the issue of Elysia... Never mind, Mei doesn't care about this, nor does she want to care about it. With the previous experience of Nozomi, Mei no longer wants to think too much about this issue.

That's it, believe her, believe Elysia... that's all.

However, what Mei was more worried about now was Eden who had not returned from the moon... She just gave a brief message to tell everyone that she was still alive and that she had successfully arrived on the moon. Apart from that... she didn't say much else.

As for the [Song] left by Nozomi, the [Song] that orbits the surface of the planet... Mei no longer wanted to think about it or study it.

She no longer wanted to doubt anything, didn't want to question anything, she... wanted to rest.

...

On the moon, in the newly expanded lunar base, Eden, who had completed communication with the ground, stared blankly at the "core" in her hand, and finally... it was as if she had made up her mind.

Stand up and take a step.

She stood still at the place where he disappeared, clenched the diamond-like "core" in her hand, pressed it lightly against her chest, lowered her eyes slightly, adjusted her breathing, and then... softly sang the melody.

Hmm~

Melodious singing floats in the air, and beautiful singing echoes here.

Even if no one appreciates her, even if no one listens, she is still singing to her heart's content.

Eden believed that if it were her, she would be able to do it, to dissolve herself in the song. If it were her, she would be able to do it, to go to his side.

After all... they are the "twin stars" who depend on each other and shine on each other~

As long as it is like this, as long as it is like this, they can be together again, they can sing together again, they can... be together forever.

The golden light flows silently and the golden notes jump out quietly.

However, at this moment, the crystal clear "core" in Eden's hand glowed slightly.

Behind her, a familiar accompaniment sound came quietly, as if someone was behind her, and she also heard that familiar harmony in her ears.

"Nozomi?!"

Eden realized this instantly and didn't care about being surprised. She stopped singing immediately and turned around, but she could only see the notes floating in the air.

But because of this, the song she used for "dedication" was interrupted and her idea of "dissolving into the song" was dashed.

Eden was very surprised and puzzled. She looked back at the beautiful blue star, her gaze lingering on the "Song" surrounding it for a long time.

Finally, she seemed to have thought of something.

"How... selfish... You want to monopolize this huge stage all by yourself..."

Eden lowered her head and looked at the "core" in her hand that was as crystal clear as a diamond, with a smile on her lips.

"Okay... then, I'll let you go for a bit."

She spoke softly, and took a deep look at the blue planet, as if she wanted to engrave its beautiful appearance into her eyes, and then... she turned around, followed the flying notes, and found the [painting].

That was the painting that Griseo gave to Nozomi. At this time, with the combination of Nozomi's power and Griseo's power, the painting had completed its intended conception, possessed the world in the painting, and became a "Utopia".

The leaping notes jumped lightly on the painting and then disappeared quietly.

"Thank you for leading the way... Nozomi."

And Eden thanked him quietly, and then... stepped into the [painting].

Inside, the flowers are still blooming, the stars are still shining, the notes are still dancing, and the light is still flowing.

Everything was frozen in that most beautiful scene.

Except...him.

Except...Nozomi.

But it didn't matter, Eden didn't care.

Eden will wait, waiting for the opportunity to go on stage, waiting for the opportunity to sing with him again.

Before that, Eden was willing to wait and keep looking at his dazzling figure.

Eden is not alone because she is surrounded by music and songs.

However at this time, she and Nozomi... were in a very delicate situation.

They are so close that they seem to be able to touch each other at any time, but they also seem to be worlds apart and cannot touch each other at all.

Just like the "double stars" in the sky, they appear very close, but are actually very far apart.

But… Eden wasn't worried.

Because she believed that she would definitely go to him.

Because she knew that he would always be by her side.

They... are the brightest "twin stars" of this era!

...

Crash——

The sound of waves echoed gently, the seawater spread silently, and the sea level rose quietly, submerging everything.

This is the revenge of the Ocean.

"You won't blame me, right [Blood relative]?"

Skadi asked cautiously, holding the bright red little [fish] in her hand.

"I just... killed your favorite [human] and destroyed the "Utopia" you prepared for them."

"You... don't blame me, [Blood relative]?"

The bright red [fish] swam gently.

"Why kill them? Because they questioned their blood relatives. Because they were the ones who caused you to leave. In the end... you were conquered."

Skadi's tone was filled with resentment.

Then, the bright red [fish] swam twice again.

"Is that so... Yeah, I see... Thank you, [Blood Relative]."

Skadi smiled.

"Yes, that's right... [Blood relations] are important."

[Swimming Fish] gently swam its tail fin, swam away from Skadi's hand, and then dashed a few times in her white hair that looked like waves.

"What's wrong? [Blood relative]? Do you like my hair?"

Skadi held the white hair on both sides of her face.

"Does it look good? Isn't it soft? Just like [Blood Relatives], I'm confident in this aspect, just like [Blood Relatives], right?"

"Of course~ If we're blood relatives, anything is fine~"

"Hmm? You don't like my clothes? This is arranged by [Mother]..."

"Girls are more suitable for wearing skirts? I'm not sure about this. I'll do whatever my [blood relatives] say."

"A red... skirt? I... I'll try..."

"Will this look good?"

"Hmm... yeah, thank you. I'm glad [Blood Relatives] like it."

"Singing? Great~ I like Blood Relatives' singing the most."

"Will you teach me to sing? I'll try my best."

Hmmm~

On the blue sea, on the planet that has turned completely blue, only Skadi's soft and immature singing voice echoes.

(TL: Skadi si so cute~)