" Lycurgus... that administrator..." Xing suddenly had a flash of inspiration, "Since it's a creation of [ Elation ], its original design was probably just for fun..."
She crouched down, her fingertips tracing the seemingly chaotic carvings on the surface of the treasure chest; the touch was cold and hard, like metal.
As Xing's finger traced an inconspicuous dent on the side of the box, a faint ripple of energy spread outwards.
Immediately, a faint red light appeared in the center of the dent.
"There's a response!" March 7th whispered.
Dan Heng quickly analyzed the data stream, then looked at Xing, "What were you thinking about just now?"
"I was thinking... Aha, that's so tasteless." Xing pouted, honestly revealing her true feelings.
Beep--Click!
With a crisp unlocking sound, the heavy chains binding the treasure chest loosened automatically as if they were alive, sliding to the ground, and the lid slowly popped open a crack.
When Xing saw the 'loot' inside the treasure chest, she almost lost her balance.
"Soap and ' Sparkle ' dolls... Are you kidding me? Could you be any more perverse?!" Xing twitched her lips.
"Beep beep! Given that things are progressing too smoothly... Aha! Time to speed up the countdown!"
The " Sparkle " doll and the soap-shaped bomb simultaneously emitted piercing countdown alarms.
"Waaaaah~ Aha, so embarrassing!"
The soap bomb suddenly trembled violently, and countless miniature soaps shot out like a shower of flowers, scattering across every corner of the [ The Radiant Feldspar ] airship.
Dan Heng's eyes sharpened, and without saying a word, he grabbed the still dazed March 7th and rushed toward the nearest soap bomb landing spot.
"Wow~ that soap actually cracked." March 7th was still immersed in the shock of this scene.
"[ Astral Express ] and [ Stellaron Hunters ]... are like light and shadow."
Firefly stepped into the pool, she bent down and picked up the buzzing ' Sparkle ' doll soap bomb.
Her clear voice remained steady amidst the countdown's buzzing, continuing the previous topic:
"We walk on different paths, intertwined and entangled, yet moving forward together, growing passionately... Perhaps the destination is certain."
Her gaze pierced through the armor, landing on the distant starry sky. "But... not now."
As soon as he finished speaking, the tail fin of the Sam mech roared out a burst of intense flames, carrying the two dangerous 'gifts', and transformed into a streak of light, speeding towards the depths of Penacony's primordial dreamland.
Life is too short, like a firefly drawn to a flame. So, if you have an answer in your heart... always remember, don't leave yourself with regrets.
"We have that right... right?"
Just as Sam, carrying the bomb, climbed to the very edge of the dream, a pure and intense light suddenly burst forth!
Xing instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes. After the bright light dissipated, the explosion she had anticipated that would overturn her dream did not occur.
Instead, countless fireworks of various shapes and colors soared into the sky, blooming brilliantly in the Penacony, rendering the entire airspace dreamlike.
"Since you care so much about Miss Firefly's safety—why don't you come closer and take a closer look?"
The cold voice of ' Lycurgus ' rang out behind Xing without warning. Xing instinctively lowered his head and successfully dodged the attack.
"Oh? Your reaction time is indeed astonishing."
Xing executed a nimble backflip to create distance, already brandishing his mimicry baseball bat. "Damn it, don't underestimate Galactic Baseballer!"
" Little Grey Hair ~ Focus your attention! Look behind you again!"
This time, the attack came even faster! Xing didn't have time to turn around; she only felt a tremendous force carrying [ Elation ] slam into her waist.
Sparkle's petite figure flashed into view, and she swung a hammer bigger than herself, sending Xing flying off the deck of the [ The Radiant Feldspar ]!
call out!
Just as Xing felt the pull of gravity, a warm and supple cyan light gently supported her falling body.
Xing opened her eyes, and before her was an increasingly clear view of the magnificent fireworks that filled the sky.
"Look, in this Land of the Dreams, everything is allowed, everything is possible." The Firefly's voice was close at hand, gentle yet firm.
The blue light flickered again, and the outer shell of the Firefly Armor vanished like mercury. The girl, now free of the armor, held Xing's hands amidst the backdrop of countless blooming fireworks, high in the dreamlike sky.
"We came here with our own purposes, and achieved them in unexpected ways."
"Whether the outcome is sweet and dreamlike, or bitter and realistic, it is the answer we have been longing for."
"So, why do people choose to sleep? I think, just like you said..."
Firefly stepped back slightly, looking directly into Xing's eyes. Her smile, illuminated by the fireworks, held a hint of understanding.
Because in the end, we all have to wake up from our dreams.
The booming sound of fireworks gradually faded into a gentle afterglow, and colorful specks of light drifted down like stardust, illuminating the stars and Firefly.
A gentle breeze from a dream drifted by, carrying with it a fleeting warmth and a touch of farewell's chill.
At this moment, Xing could clearly feel the other's warm breath and slightly quickened heartbeat—the pulse that belonged only to [ Firefly ].
The spectacular fireworks display just now was less a substitute for an explosion and more a grand and absurd farewell ceremony presented by the Masked Fools to Penacony.
"So, that right to 'not have regrets'... also includes almost being blown into the sky and then blinded by fireworks?"
Xing raised her head, a sly glint in her eyes, trying to dispel her thoughts with her usual sarcastic remarks.
Firefly chuckled softly, tapping Xing's brow with her fingertip; her smile was like a warm current flowing beneath a frozen lake.
"Of course it includes. After all... gifts from [ Elation ] are always... unexpected."
She gazed at the dreamlike sky illuminated by fireworks, her eyes distant. "A brief moment of brilliance, yet also a real imprint... just like us right now."
"We are at this moment..."
Xing pondered these words, her gaze settling on Firefly's clear eyes, on the [ Stellaron Hunters ]... on the real her now, beneath the fireworks.
Identity, stance, and the mission they bear... these are the cold chasms that separate the [ Astral Express ] from the [ Stellaron Hunters ].
But in Penacony, this strange Land of the Dreams, after experiencing an absurd drama directed by [ Elation ], those boundaries seem to have become blurred.
Firefly noticed the fleeting confusion in Xing's eyes. Having experienced this dreamlike moment, she gripped Xing's hand even tighter in return.
Her gaze was gentle yet firm, as if she had already seen through the threads of fate, yet still chose to hold on to the present.
"Star." The Firefly's voice was soft, remembering the embrace beneath the fireworks, the moth's unwavering devotion, and the traces illuminated by the light.
"Our paths may diverge, our destinations may be distant and already marked... but on this thorny road, it's a pleasure to meet you, walk with you, and even briefly stand side-by-side gazing at the same fireworks."
"To me, this in itself is a 'truth' that transcends position and is worth remembering."
Firefly tilted her head slightly, looking at the ever-changing halo at the edge of Penacony's dreamscape.
"Don't have regrets. It's not about forgetting boundaries, but about carrying the strength this experience has given you, and moving forward steadfastly no matter where you go."
"Not only for your friends, but also for... the answer in your heart."