Aeon of Elation

"Shh... it's all right. Mommy's here..."

Biting her rosy lip, Kafka made up her mind, stepped forward, and drew Lin Feng into her arms.

Since she had caused this, Kafka would hardly turn a blind eye to the consequences. As a Stellaron Hunter, she had her own principles and code of conduct.

Face cleanser? Sure enough... children who lie get candy.

Lin Feng, who had been bouncing around frantically a moment ago, now cooperated readily with Kafka, pressing his face into the soft peaks beneath her white shirt.

"Oh... I never knew, Kafka. You're pretty good at soothing children."

"Hehe... I told you back at headquarters, didn't I? You've got plenty of potential to be a wife..."

Watching everything unfold, Silver Wolf's eyes crinkled with amusement, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.

"Shut up, Silver Wolf!"

Kafka snapped, then continued patting Lin Feng's back gently, her wine-red eyes filled with tenderness.

Though she had always been ruthless and enjoyed toying with her enemies, once she drew close to Lin Feng, her heart of stone softened, as though the man before her really were her child.

"Phew... you've finally calmed down..."

"Listen, little one... for certain reasons, I have to leave you. And you... will have a life of your own..."

With her jade-smooth hands clasped around Lin Feng's neck, Kafka spoke softly, a faint sadness in her beautiful eyes.

"Mom... will we see each other again?"

Lin Feng spoke slowly, reluctance to part showing in his eyes.

"Once your footsteps have taken you across the boundless sea of stars, if you still remember what I look like... that will be the moment we meet again."

"By then... we'll probably be enemies, won't we?"

"Haha... never mind. None of that matters. If possible, I'd still rather you forgot me..."

As she spoke, a faint mist spread through her wine-red eyes, making Kafka look heartbreakingly vulnerable.

"Silver Wolf... let's go. It's time for us to leave the stage!"

"Tch... I thought you didn't want to leave anymore."

"Don't talk nonsense... you're asking for a smack, you little brat!"

Releasing Lin Feng from her embrace, Kafka turned away. Together with Silver Wolf, the two graceful figures disappeared at the far end of the chamber.

"If only forgetting someone were that easy."

"Though it was only a fleeting encounter along the Path, I'll remember everything that happened today forever."

"Kafka, I'll work hard to clear the path simulation and try to see you again soon..."

Clenching both fists, Lin Feng had already made his decision.

Since he had set foot on the Path of Elation, he would put it into practice through his actions and fulfill certain long-held wishes.

The memory of his intimate contact with Kafka still replayed in his mind, leaving him somewhat unsettled.

Though he had already gone through six path simulations, his relationship with Kafka had never been more than a chance acquaintance, with no particularly deep bond to speak of. This time, however, was different.

"How interesting..."

Just as Lin Feng stood lost in thought, an eerie voice like a whisper sounded beside his ear.

The somewhat familiar chamber before him shattered like a glass mirror. Above a boundless sea of stars, countless red masks floated, filling more than half his field of vision.

"You're... Aha, the Aeon of Elation?"

Frowning, Lin Feng feigned composure.

"A tiny human... yet you know my true name."

A discordant voice sounded, clinging to him like maggots to bone. Though its syllables were indescribable, Lin Feng could understand their meaning.

"In recognition of your efforts, I shall grant you the status of a pathstrider. Keep trying. Let me see the true colors of elation..."

Before Lin Feng could react, that strange voice entered his mind again.

An instant later, the vision of the boundless sea of stars and red masks abruptly vanished, leaving the somewhat familiar Awakening Chamber before him once more.

"A pathstrider... does that mean I've earned the Aeon of Elation's recognition? This is the first time anything like this has happened."

Lin Feng composed himself and immediately summoned the system panel to check his current simulation data.

Host: Lin Feng

Level: 1

Strength: 25

Constitution: 25

Spirit: 25

Talents: Boundless Energy (blue), Bronze Skin and Iron Bones (blue), love master (purple), Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder (purple)

Potential: As the first human to merge with a Stellaron, possesses powerful explosive capabilities

Anchored Path: Elation

Path simulation points: 300

Path simulation rating: B-Rank

"I've barely started, and I've already earned 300 simulation points and a B-Rank rating?"

"Looks like I've found a much better approach this time. Never mind whether I can reach S-Rank—at least an A-Rank is well within reach!"

Muttering to himself, Lin Feng broke into a look of sheer delight.

According to the path simulation system's rules, earning 300 simulation points granted a B-Rank rating. Reaching 1,000 simulation points meant an A-Rank, while an S-Rank rating required 3,000 points.

This time, after choosing the Path of Elation, he had earned 300 points outright just by pulling a little stunt and springing a surprise on Kafka. Previously, that would have been utterly unthinkable.

After all, when he had chosen the Path of Destruction before, killing the Doomsday Beast had earned him only 150 points.

"Hehe... in that case, I know what to do."

"Winning over beautiful girls? Just leave it to me..."

As a host of sensual fantasies surfaced in his mind, the corners of Lin Feng's mouth lifted into a slightly wicked smile.

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

At that moment, in the sea of stars a million kilometers from Herta Space Station, a dark-blue shuttle sped through space.

Before a glowing screen displaying a jumble of complex readouts, a silver-haired girl with a single ponytail pushed the control stick with one hand while bringing thin, golden potato chips to her mouth with the other. Her cheeks bulged with food, making her indescribably cute.

Behind her, on a beige leather seat, a mature beauty with long wine-red hair and a stunning figure rested both hands behind her head. With a distant look in her beautiful eyes, she gazed through the ship's window at the silver-white space station growing smaller and smaller.

"Silver Wolf... eat less of that junk food. You'll get fat."

Kafka frowned slightly, as though the incessant crunching had disrupted her thoughts.

"Hmph... mind your own business. Besides, I'm not trying to lose weight. I think I'm too skinny as it is!"

Lowering her head slightly and seeing nothing but her slender, snow-white legs, Silver Wolf replied irritably.

Snacks were something she would never give up. As a genius girl hacker, she needed to replenish her energy.

As for her figure, putting on a little weight would be a good thing. Even if she couldn't reach Kafka's exaggerated proportions, at least she shouldn't be quite so flat.

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