[The plan against the Herrscher of the End was successful.]
The Flame-Chasers sat paralyzed on the shattered surface of the moon, looking at the Herrscher of the End who had temporarily fallen into a dormant state.
There were no cheers for this brief victory, nor any celebrations, for humanity had long since been utterly defeated.
They simply sat there blankly, watching the dust floating into space.
Kalpas and Pardofelis had also woken up. Watching the tear-streaked Eden, they remained silent as well.
They knew clearly that if not for Fu Li, they would already be dead.
"Hey, Sis Eden..."
Pardo lowered her tail, wanting to go up and comfort her, but was held back by Hua, who had appeared at some point.
"Let Sis Eden be alone for a while..."
"But..."
Pardo opened her mouth, but in the end, said nothing, only looking at Eden with worry.
Ten minutes later, communications were restored.
"Hello... hello... do you copy?"
Dr. MEI's voice came through the earpiece, and an exhausted Kevin truthfully reported the battle situation.
When reporting the news of Fu Li's death, Eden, who had been slumped on the ground with lifeless eyes ever since he died, trembled physically.
And from the other side of the comms, from MEI's side, there was also a brief silence. It was just that within the background noise, there seemed to be the sound of laboratory equipment being smashed.
After a long while, the voice came through again.
"Understood. Kevin, bring them back."
"Yeah."
Cutting off the connection, Kevin stood up from the ground.
The Flame-Chasers silently gathered around Eden. Sakura extended her hand, patting Eden's back comfortingly.
If one were to say that Griseo was the one doted upon by the Flame-Chasers, and Elysia was the liveliest among them, then Fu Li was the person who treated the Flame-Chasers the best.
No matter who it was, they had all more or less felt Fu Li's kindness.
"Haa..."
Eden took a deep breath, extended her hand, and put away the gemstone and the pocket watch.
These were the only things she could take away after Fu Li turned into ash.
.......
"The hibernation pods are ready..."
The cold light reflected on Mobius's face, making her look even colder.
Ever since Fu Li died, she seemed to have worn this expression constantly.
"Doctor, Eden still hasn't returned..." Klein looked at the three unoccupied spaces where no one was lying down and reminded her.
"I know, Klein."
Mobius took the tablet from the side, her snake pupils flickering with a strange light.
"I will go call her. You be responsible for the hibernation of the others. Also, remember to charge Little Li and Little Klein."
"Yes... I understood, Doctor."
"Mmh."
The base's main gate opened automatically. Mobius stepped out of the base, stepping onto the desolate earth.
Not far away, a record player was concentrating on playing music, as if it didn't know that this era had already passed away.
And Eden was leaning lightly there, a wine glass swaying in her hand, softly humming a ballad of old times.
"I don't think I've ever heard you sing this song." Mobius walked to her side and picked up another glass of wine that had been prepared long ago.
"This song, it's the one I originally wrote for Li..." Eden looked at the gemstone in the glass and took a light sip.
"It's quite funny, isn't it? Clearly, you all saw us as a couple, but actually, until he died, I wasn't able to say the words of confession."
"In these past few hours, I've been thinking: if I had been a bit braver back then, would I not have left behind regrets?"
Mobius nodded: "Human life is inherently full of regrets."
"But..." Eden sighed. "Such regrets could have been avoided, couldn't they?"
"He told me to carry his share and live on well, but is a future without him really the future I want?"
After his death, Eden's personality seemed to have become more candid.
If it were before, she would absolutely never have spoken her inner thoughts so frankly.
Mobius didn't answer. She lowered her head, fiddling with the tablet in her hand.
This made Eden feel somewhat strange. She originally thought Mobius might try to persuade her to go into hibernation.
For a time, the two fell into silence.
After a long while, the tablet was pushed in front of Eden.
"This is?" Eden's voice held some doubt.
On the tablet was a document titled 'Project Ouroboros'.
Mobius explained at the appropriate time: "Perhaps you might not believe it, but after Fu Li died, another segment of inexplicable memories entered my brain."
"Although those memories are intermittent, they seem to be of me in a parallel world. In that time, Fu Li was actually my younger brother."
"The specific memories of getting along are very blurry, but this plan was solidly transmitted over. So, Eden."
"Are you willing to bet? Bet that I haven't lied to you, bet on your future, bet that in the future we can meet Fu Li again?"
The record had finished playing at some point, and the sound of the night wind gradually disappeared.
"Doctor, do you know? Someone once said this sentence to me."
"'The me and him of that time were just two children struggling for their dreams.' Just like that, he appeared in front of me."
"He told me he wanted to be my manager, wanted to accompany me to step onto that dazzling staircase."
"The me of that time only treated it as a joke. But who knew, he actually abandoned the field he should have excelled in for my sake."
"The me of that time probably never imagined that I would actually fall for that idiot."
The rosy liquor was drunk in one gulp, and Eden's face flushed slightly.
"The fate of the next era should be written by the people of the next era. Their songs should also be sung by themselves."
"Their night sky must have brand new stars lighting up."
"As for me, no matter if it is [The Singer] Eden, or [Gold] Eden, I should take my own melody and stay in this era."
"What do you mean?" Unknown why, Mobius felt somewhat uneasy.
"Heh..." Eden's face carried a smile as she raised her head to look at the sky.
"Project Ouroboros... it truly is a crazy idea. But, I am willing to pay for it."
"Only before that, Mobius, can you listen to me and dedicate a final song to this era?"
"Of course... Eden."
"Thank you, Doctor."
Eden closed her eyes, seeming to be brewing her emotions.
Suddenly, clear and beautiful singing rang out. In this doomsday filled with ruined walls and sandstorms, it descended like a celestial sound.
Eden, using her own singing voice, was bidding farewell to this era.
She had turned her back on her own beliefs; this was both an apology and a reminiscence.
Watching this scene, even Mobius couldn't help but have a touch of sorrow surface in her heart.
Before this, she had always lacked a sense of reality regarding the end of the world.
It was just people dying, just biological extinction.
Listening to the final song of the old era, she finally felt it: what it meant to fade away.
...
Such celestial sounds would never be heard again after today.
Eden and Mobius returned to the base. The footprints they left behind were eroded by the wind and sand, just as if drawing a final period on this old era.
But the end is not necessarily not a new beginning.