Silver Wolf's projection silently appeared beside her again, looking at her curiously. Her virtual face wore an inquiring expression. "Shouldn't you avoid them first?"
"No need." Firefly pursed her lips. Her elegant lips were drawn slightly tight, revealing her resolve. "I know them too well."
Silver Wolf reminded her in her usual calm voice:
"It might not be true Propagation."
"Do you remember?"
"A long time ago, this galaxy also suffered a Swarm Disaster, and it wasn't small in scale."
Firefly looked thoughtful as her gaze swept over the Swarm:
"You mean this is merely an illusion of the past?"
Silver Wolf nodded, her image wavering slightly. "Hopefully."
"It could also be something like a meme—a fear rooted in the hearts of the people of Asdana, like a nightmare, materialized here by Memoria."
"So..." Firefly looked toward the Swarm, slowly reaching toward her waist. It appeared to be empty, but an almost imperceptible energy fluctuation had already gathered at her fingertips.
"This dream really isn't under The Family's control."
Silver Wolf hummed in agreement, acknowledging her deduction.
"Maybe you're right. Keep following this path and search."
"As for what they really are..."
Before she could finish, Firefly's gaze sharpened. The silver armor shot out like an arrow loosed from a bow. "I'll know once I try!"
Silver Wolf: "..."
About half a minute later.
A faint, strange smell—like a mixture of ozone and scorched protein—filled the side hall.
Fragments of insect shells and slime lay scattered across the floor, rapidly darkening and disintegrating, but no actual corpses remained.
Only the remains of the Swarm were left here, and they were rapidly dissipating.
"They're far too weak, completely different from those in reality." Firefly put away her armor, her breathing steady, and assessed them seriously, as though she had merely finished