The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

　"Access control cracked... path spoofing... done!"

　She snapped her fingers, and the terminal base slid open silently, revealing a groove emitting a soft blue light. Inside lay a beautiful crystal that was neither gold nor stone, and whose interior seemed to contain a nebula—a star core.

　Meanwhile, deep inside the room, a huge cylindrical culture chamber slowly rose from the floor, its transparent walls seemingly revealing endless possibilities.

　"Vehicle ready,"

　Silver Wolf tossed the star core to Kafka as casually as if throwing a toy, "It's your turn to decide."

　Kafka caught the star core steadily; beneath its icy touch lay a breathtakingly powerful energy.

　She gazed at the sleeping face in the incubation chamber, pausing for a rare moment.

　“Elio said that this choice would change many trajectories.”

　“Elio also said that,”

　Silver Wolf leaned against the console, the virtual screen spinning at her fingertips. "The one who makes the choice must be you, and only you."

　Kafka no longer hesitated. She walked to the control panel, her fingertips lightly tapping the floating virtual interface, finally stopping at the female carrier option marked with a star. She pressed the confirmation button heavily with her thumb. A ghostly blue light swept across her fingerprint, and a cold electronic voice sounded: "Authorization confirmed."

　"So be it."

　Kafka pushed the confirmation screen back to Silver Wolf. The latter's fingers flew across the screen, and the carrier inside the cultivation chamber was instantly generated.

　The girl's body was lifted by an invisible force and slowly fell to the ground, her eyes still closed, as if she had just fallen into a deep sleep.

　Kaffa held the star core, walked up to the girl, and bent down to examine her pure, snow-white face.

　"How much does she... still remember?"

　The voice is very soft.

　"At least I'll remember you,"

　Silver Wolf didn't even look up, focusing on the equipment in his hands. "Don't worry."

　A fleeting, unreadable emotion flashed in Kafka's eyes. The next moment, without hesitation, she leaned down, gently wrapping one arm around the girl's shoulder and back, while the other hand, holding the cold star core, pressed it precisely and decisively against the girl's heart!

　Om-!

　A blinding burst of light erupted instantly, and the star core, like a melting star, transformed into a torrent of energy that surged wildly into the girl's chest! Yet everything seemed perfectly peaceful.

　The light faded, the girl's body stopped trembling, and her breathing became steady and long. Kafka gently released her grip.

　"Well……"

　A soft groan. The girl's thick eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.

　At first, his golden eyes were still filled with the confusion of waking from a dream, but his gaze slowly focused and landed on Kafka's face, which was so close to his.

　"……Mother?"

　A hoarse, uncertain call broke the silence of the secret room.

　For the first time, a clear crack appeared in Kafka's eternally elegant mask—a hint of extremely subtle surprise, which quickly transformed into a meaningful, almost gentle smile. She turned to look at Silver Wolf: "Are you sure... you didn't have something to hide?"

　"How can it be!"

　Silver Wolf nearly jumped up, the virtual screen even shook. "I didn't change a single word of Elio's script! The program is absolutely clean! I don't have time for this kind of 'surprise'!"

　Looking at the girl's bewildered eyes, and then at Kaffa's subtle expression, she couldn't help but mutter, "...Tsk, this is going to be interesting. Congratulations on becoming a mother, Kaffa."

　The newly awakened girl, Xing, listened to their incoherent conversation, feeling a splitting headache. Countless fragmented images churned in her mind, yet she couldn't grasp anything substantial. She opened her mouth, but no more syllables came out.

　Kafka looked at the star again, the gentle smile gone, leaving only a deep calm.

　Her voice carried a strange, irresistible rhythm, drilling directly into Xing's mind: "Listen to me: your mind is a mess. You don't know who you are, why you're here, or where you're going. You feel I'm very familiar, yet you can't decide whether you should trust me..."

　"But none of that matters. What matters is that I am about to leave, leaving you here alone. So, from now on, let go of the past and stop doubting yourself."

　"Listen to me: the road ahead is full of thorns, and you will be trapped in terrible difficulties, but you will also encounter unparalleled beauty. You will have companions like family and embark on a magnificent journey beyond imagination."

　"This is the future that Eriol foresaw, and the future you will personally reach... Do you like it?"

　"Where...are you going? Mom...Mom?"

　Xing's voice was filled with dependence and unease.

　"Let's move on to the next node and pave the way for that woven future."

　Kafka's voice was like a sigh, "Like weaving brocade, you and I can only draw a single golden thread each time, but eventually it will converge into a magnificent picture."

　"Hey! Kafka!"

　Silver Wolf's urgent voice rang out, "There's no time! If we don't leave now, trouble will come knocking!"

　"Time is up."

　Kafka gave Xing one last, deep look, her gaze complex and unfathomable. "Listen to me: someone will find you soon. Go with them. Remember nothing but me."

　Her voice was like a final incantation, carrying an undeniable power:

　"When you have the opportunity to make a choice... don't let yourself regret it."

　The moment the words fell, Kafka's figure and the silver wolf disappeared from the spot as if they had merged into the shadows, leaving only Hoshi standing alone in the same place.

　A profound emptiness instantly filled her, and her consciousness, like a kite with a broken string, sank rapidly into boundless darkness. Her body went limp, and she fell forward.

　"Boom!"

　Almost at the same moment Xing fell to the ground, the backup passage in the main control room was forcibly broken open!

　"Strange! The distress signal didn't come from inside the space station!"

　A clear, yet wary male voice rang out.

　"Hey, why are you still worrying about the signal source at a time like this!"

　A lively, girlish voice followed, tinged with urgency, "How could such a big, living person lying here be fake? Come and see!"

　"His heartbeat and breathing are very weak!"

　A steady male voice spoke with decisiveness, "March, prepare for artificial respiration!"

　Chapter 80: The two sides meet.

　The sealed control room reeked of the acrid smell of burning energy weapons. Alan leaned against the cold alloy wall, breathing heavily, sweat soaking his forehead, his hand gripping the greatsword trembling slightly.

　The corpses of several dummy soldiers lying in front of him testified to the short guard's astonishing combat prowess.

　A gentle, emerald-gold aura enveloped him. Russell knelt before Alan, his fingers lightly pressing against a menacing energy burn mark on Alan's ribs, where abundant power seeped in like a warm, gentle stream.

　"Okay, stop pretending."

　Russell's voice carried a knowing smile, "You're just like Ah Jin."

　Jin, who was standing guard with his arms crossed against the doorframe, immediately retorted, "Sir, I didn't..."

　Before he could finish speaking, Russell silenced him with a "stop arguing" look, leaving him no choice but to turn his head away dejectedly.

　Alan felt the tearing pain in his wound quickly subside, and his strength returned to his limbs. Ignoring his own comfort, he anxiously looked up: "Mr. Huaixiu! As for Miss… is Station Master Está alright?"

　In those boyish eyes lay undisguised loyalty and worry.

　Russell withdrew his hand and patted Alan on the shoulder: "Don't worry, your lady is perfectly safe. The space station's defense system has been initially restored, and now it's the security department's turn."

　He magically produced a candy box radiating a cheerful aura, picked out a colorful candy, and popped it directly into Alan's mouth. "Here, this is a reward for your bravery. Eating this candy will make you feel great."

　The candy melted in his mouth, and a pure and warm feeling of joy instantly exploded in Alan's heart, dispelling the fatigue and tension after the fierce battle.

　His tense shoulders relaxed, and he said in a low voice, "Thank you, Mr. Huaixiu."

　Russell was about to say something when Jin, who had been on guard, suddenly moved! He turned around with lightning speed, the muzzle of his emerald revolver pointing steadily at the shadows in the passage, his voice as cold as ice: "Who?!"

　Three people emerged from the shadows: Dan Heng, holding a long spear and exuding a cold and aloof air; San Yueqi, lively and curious, looking around curiously; and Xing, a gray-haired girl with eyes that held the bewilderment of someone just waking up.

　"They're guests from the Star Train! Miss's friend! No need to be nervous."

　Alan spoke immediately, his voice still a little weak but very clear.

　Jin's gaze swept quickly over the three men, confirming they posed no threat before slowly lowering his gun. A barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed across his eyes—friendly fire again?

　When will we have a real enemy to make him perform well in front of the master?

　Dan Heng and Xing remained wary and silent. March 7th, however, suddenly fixed her gaze on Russell. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she pointed at him: "Wow! You…you are that…that ten-time recipient of the 'Global Morality Star' award, Mr. Russell?!"

　Russell responded to the girl's excitement with a gentle smile: "It is I. However, I am merely a traveler on the path of healing suffering."

　He paused for a moment, and March 7th's voice carried a strange sense of familiarity, not the intonation of the universal language, but rather... a rhythm that seemed to come from some distant homeland.

　This script by Elio is far more interesting than I imagined.

　"When we last came to the space station, we heard that you had left three months ago. What a pity!"

　Completely forgetting the occasion, March 7th excitedly stepped forward, "Can we take a picture together now? Just one, it'll be quick! I promise it won't take up too much of your time!"

　"Ahem, March."

　Dan Heng sighed and reminded him, "It's important business."

　"Oh yes, yes!"

　On March 7th, he slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "After this is all over, you have to promise me!"

　She stared longingly at Russell.

　Russell smiled and nodded: "Of course, beautiful lady."

　"Did Lady Black Tower send you to provide support?"

　Alan asked, looking at Danheng.

　"Passing by."

　Dan Heng put it succinctly, "We had just finished fulfilling the Black Tower's request and returned to deliver the items when we were attacked."

　"What a coincidence,"

　Russell shrugged, his tone tinged with helplessness. "I came here at Ms. Black Tower's invitation to assist with her project, but... well, I ended up going back to my old profession."

　He initially just wanted to come and enter some data.

　"That's quite a coincidence."

　Alan echoed in a low voice.

　"correct!"

　On March 7th, remembering the crucial question, he looked at Alan and said, "Do you know how to use an elevator? It won't start!"

　"After the evacuation was completed, the elevator access in the main control section was temporarily locked."

　Alan explained, "Station Master Está should have given you the key card, right?"

　"Key card?"

　March 7th blinked blankly, "It seems... there is such a thing..."

　She began to grope herself, drawing speechless glances from Danheng and Xing.

　"Ah! Found it!"

　She finally pulled a sci-fi card that was shimmering faintly from one of her pockets.

　Dan Heng's helpless gaze came again.

　……

　They chose the shortest evacuation route, avoiding the blocked elevators. Any stray phantoms they encountered along the way were swiftly and cleanly eliminated by Jhin before anyone else could even see them clearly.

　boom! boom! boom!

　The crisp sound of gunshots echoed through the passage, each shot accompanied by a streak of emerald-gold light that precisely struck the core of the illusory soldier.

　The hit phantom soldier froze instantly, the destructive red light extinguished, and a vibrant emerald gold quickly covered its metal shell. Its twisted limbs straightened and turned to wood, transforming in a few breaths into small trees exuding a tranquil life force. The shimmering green light dispelled the chill of the passage.

　Jhin moved with ghostly speed, his gun moving almost without pause, as if he were stealing prey from someone.

　His usually expressionless face now held an almost obsessive focus, his golden eyes sharply scanning every corner where an enemy might emerge.

　"Wow……"

　Looking at another newly "grown" sapling, March 7th whispered to Dan Heng beside him, "This guy is really going all out, like he's afraid we'll steal his monsters? And... he seems just like you, so cold."

　Dan Heng's gaze swept over Jin's figure, who was gripping the revolver tightly and guarding Russell's side at all times. He said in a low voice, "A person who can be taken by Huai Xiu's side and given power must have impeccable character. He is a good person, just... in a different way."

　"Oh, I get it!"