[You have swallowed Varuna's heart and gained the 'Super Self-Healing' ability and a vast amount of Honkai energy.]
[You have preserved Varuna's body to the greatest extent possible, returning to the First Laboratory after ensuring the specimen was secure.]
[Seeing your safe return, Mobius, Klein, and Eden were all relieved.]
[Afterward, together with Mobius, you studied the tissue of Varuna and created its genetic potion.]
[One night, having just finished your experiments, you received an invitation from Eden.]
---o---
The night wind blew across the green grass as Fu Li arrived at the agreed-upon place.
There, an elegant figure was gazing at the night sky, a golden wine glass in hand.
Eden, as always, wore a calm expression, and her eyes seemed to ripple with starlight.
She seemed to have returned to her quiet self from the past, but from the record player beside her, he could hear a familiar song.
For some reason, even though he was the one invited, Fu Li didn't want to break the serene scene.
Not until Eden's voice called out.
"You're here? Li?"
"Mhm."
Fu Li was not surprised to have been found and sat down next to Eden.
He happened to notice that in her hand, Eden was holding what looked like a colored star in a plastic jar.
"Li, do you still remember that time at the Australian Dome?" Eden's voice sounded again.
Fu Li nodded. "Of course I remember."
"So, Li, how did you feel at that time?"
Fu Li answered honestly. "I wanted to protect you from harm."
"Really?" This time, there was a smile in her voice, but it was fleeting.
"So... Li, do you know what I saw?"
Fu Li didn't reply; he felt he had already guessed Eden's thoughts.
And Eden continued to mutter to herself.
"I heard the lamentations of the people, I felt their hearts falling apart, and I perceived the ridicule in the fire that was sent down upon me."
"Li, have you ever thought... A friend is no longer a friend, and a home is no longer a home."
"Even we will drift apart."
"Li, I see fewer and fewer people returning to the base, and the worries in their hearts grow heavier."
"Except for you. You always seem to be like that, silently protecting us from your own exhaustion."
"Actually, you don't have to care so much. I'll protect you." Fu Li was a little nervous, and a corner of the stone chair was crushed by him.
"But I don't want to be protected by you. I want to... stand by your side."
Eden breathed out. "Thank you, Li, but I have long noticed that the starlight belonging to my stage has dimmed and can no longer dispel the haze in their hearts."
"So, Li, please let me undergo the MANTIS surgery."
Fu Li sighed. "But then, you will become a monster like me and feel the malice of those ignorant people."
"You mean, become a little monster like you? But what's wrong with that? Monsters protect me, so what if I become a little monster?"
The wine swayed in the cup. Looking at her own reflection in it, Eden showed a faint smile.
"As [the singer] Eden, my starlight has disappeared, but... as a [MOTH Who Chases the Flame], Eden can still shine."
"Li, you know my creed. If one is to live, one must live brilliantly, just as before."
Fu Li was completely speechless and could only nod helplessly. "Dr. Mobius and I will prepare for your surgery together. Is there anything else you need?"
"Ah... I shouldn't be so greedy, but ah... Li, I hope you'll agree to my two requests."
"First, if you have a choice, please choose the most dazzling one for me."
"As for the second point..."
Fu Li's palm was now interlaced with Eden's, and a single pink paper star remained in his hand.
Shaking the jar full of stars, Eden smiled lovably.
"This is my wish list. Each star represents a wish. As long as you take one, you have to complete it with me. How about it? Can you do that?"
A glimmer of expectation flashed through Eden's bright eyes, and Fu Li, looking at her, found he could not refuse.
"Of course. We are partners." Fu Li nodded, reached out and unfolded the pink star, and gave his answer.
"Please have a drink with me. -Eden"
So it said on the note.
A wine glass, also made of gold, lay beside him, and within it, a bright red liquid glowed with allure.
"How about treating it as a drink with me?" Eden winked, a playful smile on her face. The sadness from just a moment ago seemed like an illusion.
"Okay..." Fu Li was silent for a moment, then took the cup and drank it all.
But then, a surprised expression crossed his face. He looked at the bottom of the empty wine glass and murmured.
"This is... grape juice?"
"Congratulations, you guessed right~"
A round of applause came from Eden, who made no effort to hide her delight at the successful prank. Then she raised her own glass and downed it in one go.
No matter the vintage, alcohol was ultimately harmful to a person. It was the permanent erosion of the body in exchange for a fleeting indulgence for the soul.
It allowed people to get lost in the phantom dreams of the past, to forget all the sorrows of the present. It also allowed her to understand Li better.
"Li, since you promised to complete the wish list with me, you can't go back on your word, okay?"
"Eden, you know that when it comes to you, I never go back on my word."
Fu Li nodded, once again making a promise to the girl who had grown so close to him.
[After that, you and Mobius extracted Eden's blood and searched for a compatible Honkai Beast among those already known.]
[As expected, the Varuna you had slain proved to be the best, and Eden's favorite, match.]
[During this period, you and Eden completed four wishes.]
[Wish #1: Watch a random movie together at a private screening. (Eden's Note: It was a horror movie that wasn't scary at all. The ghost was actually a person?)]
[Wish #2: Try each other's favorite milk tea. (Eden's Note: Why would anyone like half-sugar! This is heresy!)]
[Wish #3: Hide from Mobius for a day and prevent her from discovering it. (Eden's Note: Although I feel a little guilty, it feels so good to be heretical!)]
[Wish #4: Walk together on a beach at sunset and feel the beauty of life. (Eden's Note: The water is clear, it's cool to step barefoot inside, it's very comfortable.)]
[After this, Eden lay on the operating table and smiled at the worried Fu Li with peace of mind.]
["I believe you." -That's what she said.]
[To illuminate all that you can.]
[To obtain all that you can.]
[To gather the wealth and glory for which the world yearns.]
[This is the inscription of 'Gold'.]
[A new MANTIS was born.]
---o---
Author's note:
Ps: How about it, it was sweet, right? I said there would be no knives.
Hey, it's a pity that these are all banned now. Originally, this chapter was quite easy to use for baiting and posting. Well, if you think this chapter is good, readers should give me some monthly votes and let me see you, you pitiful things.