Emanator level—the Supreme Guardian named Cocolia was about to break through to Emanator level!
"I should have personally overseen this matter from the beginning. I never expected that at such a critical moment, something this major would happen."
"If that Supreme Guardian emerges from seclusion and discovers that the company's people have encroached on Jarilo-VI's regime, then all our efforts will have been for nothing. Worse still, it could push the followers of Causality into opposition against the company!"
At this moment, Topaz's heart was filled with unparalleled regret. What had originally been a sure-profit deal, a perfect hand of cards, had somehow been played into utter ruin.
"There's no use saying these things now. When a problem arises, we solve it. Topaz, Jarilo-VI was first handled by you. I'll accompany you to that planet and take a look."
After hesitating and deliberating for a moment, Jade finally made her decision.
Hearing Jade's words, Topaz raised her head in some surprise before speaking uncertainly.
"Lady Jade, if the two of us head to Jarilo-VI together, then Aventurine... what about the Penacony side?"
Yes, the two of them had originally planned to set out for Penacony immediately after the meeting concluded. Jade would go ahead to Penacony to conduct negotiations so the company could smoothly settle into this star of grand festivities.
Meanwhile, Topaz would first head to the Xianzhou Luofu to attempt contact with the other known Emanator of Causality—Qingque—before later rendezvousing with Jade in Penacony.
But because of this sudden turn of events on Jarilo-VI, their original plan had been thrown into disarray.
"Go quickly and return quickly. We'll set out right now and try to compress both the time and the cost to an acceptable range. As for Aventurine..."
At this point, Jade looked out the window once more. The setting sun from earlier had long since vanished, and the sky was now pitch black, like a vast curtain of magic cloth draped over countless colorful neon lights.
"I believe in that child. He will succeed—even if right now he's alone..."
— — — —
Shifting the view back to the Loimos star system, aboard the asteroid where the Stellaron Hunters' headquarters spaceship was docked...
In front of the computer displaying Firefly's various data readings, Elio stared silently at the gradually stabilizing numbers on the screen. After a long while, the black cat typed out a question mark.
Then, Elio leaped down and returned to the front of the medical pod, gazing at the girl floating inside. Finally, he let out a helpless sigh.
Just moments ago, her energy levels had been off the charts, on the verge of exploding—yet now the readings had stabilized again. How?
Though filled with confusion, Elio was actually quite glad deep down. Because this meant Firefly would not die from her body exploding due to an energy overload.
Quietly crouching in front of the medical pod, the black cat bearing Elio's consciousness stared somewhat blankly at the girl's cheek, murmuring to himself, "Strange, what's going on? Why would something suddenly appear inside Firefly's body... Wah!!"
Just as Elio was pondering in bewilderment, Firefly inside the medical pod suddenly opened her eyes without any warning, locking gazes with the black cat—big eyes staring into small ones.
The next moment, the black cat was so startled his soul nearly flew out.
Watching the black cat's reaction, Firefly couldn't help covering her mouth and giggling. Then, with a gentle wave of her jade hand, the medical pod bearing her body shattered with a boom the next instant, nutrient fluid spilling everywhere.
Stepping out of the medical pod with light strides, Firefly stretched somewhat stiffly, loosening her muscles and bones. Then, looking at the fragments of the medical pod scattered across the floor, she lightly snapped her fingers.
Snap—!
With the girl's motion, a profoundly mysterious power of the Path rippled outward like waves. The next moment, an astonishing scene unfolded.
The originally shattered medical pod now flew back into the air as though time had reversed, then reassembled itself perfectly.
Taking in everything the girl had done, a trace of shock appeared in Elio's eyes.
'This kind of power... able to restore something already destroyed. Could this be the power of the Path of Causality?'
In front of the medical pod, Firefly reached out her jade hand and gently stroked the cold glass surface. Her beautiful blue-pink eyes stared blankly, as though admiring her own handiwork.
After standing there for a long while, the girl finally murmured to herself in disbelief, "So this is the power of Causality... It's so strong."
Yes, not only had Yun Fan used the power of Causality to cure Firefly's Entropy Loss Syndrome, he had gone even further and bestowed upon the girl the power of an Emanator of Causality.
This was the second Emanator of Causality he had personally ordained—aside from Qingque. As for Cocolia, Asta, Sparkle, Topaz, Fu Xuan, and the others, Yun Fan had merely granted them the blessing of Causality, helping them step onto the Path of Causality.
Feeling the surging power of the Path of Causality within her body, Firefly felt that with a single thought she could erase the existence of an entire planet. Such a level of power could not be called anything less than formidable.
"If I had possessed this kind of power back then, perhaps I could have rewritten the outcome of my companions being completely wiped out?" Firefly murmured to herself.
"Firefly, are you alright? Your illness..."
Just as Firefly was quietly grieving, the black cat Elio could no longer hold back his curiosity and excitement. He hopped around in place with his short legs, seemingly trying to draw the girl's attention.
"Ah? It's Elio." Only then did Firefly turn her gaze toward Elio, gently patting the black cat's head as though petting a cat.
"I'm fine now. My illness... has been completely cured." Feeling the unprecedented sense of ease in her body, the corners of the girl's lips couldn't help but curve into a smile.
'Firefly, from now on, you no longer need to live for battle. Like an ordinary girl, carry my blessing and live more freely.'
Recalling the words Yun Fan had spoken when bestowing the blessing, Firefly felt as though little deer were racing wildly in her heart. Every time she thought back to the boy's gentle smile, warmth would fill her chest.
Clearly, at the very beginning, she had approached him entirely with the intention of using him.
When she had been caught by Yun Fan while on a date and outing with Stelle, Firefly had felt as though she might lose this friend forever—lose this boy toward whom she held considerable goodwill.
But to the girl's surprise, Yun Fan ultimately did not blame her. Instead, he revealed everything to her and granted her entirely new power.