The next morning, early dawn.
Pale golden sunlight spilled through the gaps in the curtains, draping a thin veil over the figures tightly entwined on the bed.
Quiet and tender.
The lingering warmth of last night's passion still floated in the air.
Eden's eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes, still a bit drowsy.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable in her neck, she subconsciously reached out to touch the pillow, but what she felt was a warm and solid chest.
Only then did Eden realize that her entire body was pressed against Ryuga, her cheek tightly pressed against his chest, following the rise and fall of his breathing.
The two were tenderly embracing each other.
"..."
Thinking back to the various absurd scenes from yesterday, Eden felt her face grow hot.
She had actually been bluffed by Elysia's cunning little face.
Perhaps she had drunk too much yesterday, and her mind was foggy.
Saying things like Ryuga was leaving tomorrow and wouldn't be back for half a year, and that if she didn't seize the opportunity now, she would regret it, and so on.
She had been bewitched by those whispers.
And her own momentary confusion had actually allowed her emotions to burst through the dam, letting her reason sink.
"Sigh."
"I... must be crazy, right?"
Eden murmured softly, the tips of her ears already a bright red. Listening to Ryuga's heart beating 'thump-thump,' her own heart was also racing.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to dispel the shame in her heart.
"Cough~"
Her throat felt so dry and sore, as if it had been burned by honey and fire at the same time.
"Hmm? Honey, you're awake? Why don't you sleep a bit longer?"
Sensing the movement of the beauty in his arms, Ryuga looked down dotingly, his gaze as gentle as water.
"I have to get up early every morning to practice my voice."
Eden's face flushed for a moment, and she gave him a slight glare with a hint of reproach.
She had eaten too much fructose last night, and a bit of it still remained deep in her throat—a strange taste of sweetness mixed with heat.
"Uh... sorry."
Ryuga scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment flashing in his eyes.
Yesterday, he suddenly wanted to feel how shocking the superstar Eden's singing voice would be.
As a result, he accidentally overdid it.
It caused her to cough repeatedly.
"Hmph~"
Eden gave a light snort, moved her body a bit to find a comfortable position, and buried her face in the crook of Ryuga's neck.
She seemed to be enjoying the last moments of being stuck together.
"What are your plans for the future?"
A moment later, Ryuga raised his hand, gently tucking the slightly messy hair on Eden's shoulder behind her, then felt for her jade shoulder and tightened his embrace.
"Continue my path as a singer."
"Use the power of the Sona to heal the pain in people's hearts and awaken hope, until this world no longer needs songs."
Eden looked up, her gaze very clear and firm.
As she spoke, Eden fell silent for a moment.
Ryuga also fell silent.
She spoke very calmly, but at the end of her words lay a suffocating weight.
When the world no longer needs songs, it also means that the human heart is dead, civilization has collapsed, and the shadow of the Honkai has completely swallowed the light.
People live like the walking dead, living one day at a time.
Music is dead.
Ryuga gazed at her, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes, then he smiled gently: "Music might perish, but art is eternal. When that day comes, come to my side."
"Mhm."
Eden nodded gently, her hair tickling Ryuga's heart.
The current Eden had changed.
When the world didn't need her, there was still one person waiting for her, needing her.
Ryuga had also repeatedly instructed Elysia.
Never say to Eden: "The people here, the people of this era, all grew up listening to your songs; you are a star in everyone's eyes," or anything like that.
In the original plot, Eden believed her songs belonged to the previous civilization, and she herself belonged to the previous civilization.
It became her conviction.
And she, as the melody of this era, also remained in this era.
At the final moment, Eden nodded her farewell to Mobius and walked toward the distant, radiation-filled wasteland with a golden smile.
(PS: Even without Elysia, Eden would have thought so.)
A person without a future.
"..."
Ryuga tightened his hold on the beauty in his arms; it wasn't time for her to leave yet.
He hadn't taken Penacony yet.
When that day came, he would pave a path to the new world for Eden and have her team up with Robin.
"Are you leaving today?"
Eden suddenly asked in a low voice.
"Mhm. Why, can't bear to let me go?"
Ryuga nodded, a wicked smile gradually appearing.
"So..."
The beauty looked up with deep affection, her eyes flowing like honey.
Ryuga understood instantly: "So, we shouldn't waste a single minute or second of our time together."
As he spoke, he sat up directly, reaching out to pick Eden up by her waist.
The beauty gave a light cry, instinctively wrapping her arms around Ryuga's neck, her heart beating like a drum.
Enveloped in the morning light, the two walked toward the bathroom together. The door closed, isolating the noise of the outside world.
Soon, the sound of flowing water rang out, like a stream gently caressing mountain rocks.
The mist rose, blurring the silhouettes pressed against the frosted glass.
...
Outside the window, on the balcony, the ladybug from last night had died of exhaustion.
...
"Kevin, do a good job."
"I have high hopes for you."
"As for whether you can become 'Ascendants,' it depends on your performance the next time we deal with a Herrscher."
Ryuga patted Kevin heavily on the shoulder, drawing a 'big pie' (making grand promises).
When the time came, should he give him the template of Sejuani, the 'Fury of the North,' or Trundle, the 'Troll King,' or Anivia, the 'Cryophoenix'?
They were all ice-themed.
He wondered if after the inheritance, his body temperature would still be -30 degrees.
"I will work hard!"
Kevin stood straight, his back upright and his gaze burning.
Elysia struggled to hold back her laughter; Ryuga was drawing big pies again.
Kosma felt a sense of awe in his heart; as expected, Brother Kevin was still so strong.
No, I have to work hard too.
"By the way, you have a classmate named 'Su,' right? Find some time to recruit him."
Ryuga suddenly remembered something and mentioned it.
"Su?"
Kevin was slightly stunned, his gaze losing focus for a moment.
"Since the 3rd Eruption in Nagazora, I haven't been able to contact Su."
"He said he wanted to be a doctor. I don't know what his situation is now?"
Kevin thought for a moment; he should be preparing for exams by now, right?
"Mhm, try to contact him when you have time," Ryuga said.
In his memory, Su officially appeared half a year after the 7th Eruption, having officially become a doctor dedicated to researching Honkai disease.
Later, due to excessive contact with patients, he also contracted Honkai disease.
Su's mentor, Director Fal, voluntarily donated his body as material to create medicine that cured him.
It was also during that period that Su reunited with the missing Kevin and was invited by Spacie, the head of the 5th Science Division, to join the Moth of the Flame.
Now?
Calculating the time, he should be in the college entrance exam period?
"..."
Kevin hesitated for a moment, finally gathering his courage to ask the doubt in his heart.
"If I may ask, Lord Demon God, do you... know us?"
"I mean, Captain Elysia said you seem to be able to peer into people's destinies?"
As the words fell, everyone pricked up their ears.
"Mhm."
"I can indeed peer into destiny within the long river of time, and you are all leading figures in the future fight against the Honkai."
As he spoke, Ryuga paused and smiled meaningfully.
"Although because of my changes, the trajectory of destiny has shifted slightly."
"But heroes are heroes precisely because no matter how destiny changes, they will step onto the stage without hesitation when the world needs them."
After saying that, Ryuga patted the shoulders of Kevin, Kosma, Kalpas, and Himeko one by one.
"So, I believe in you."
A roar sounded in their hearts. Although they couldn't quite grasp what they had realized, a fire was burning in their chests.
Conviction, destiny?
At this time, they didn't yet know what a 'hero' was.
"What about Eden? Isn't she coming to see me off?"
Elysia suddenly skipped forward lightly, tilting her head playfully and winking at Ryuga.
"Cough, cough~ Eden didn't sleep well last night; she's catching up on sleep now."
Ryuga coughed twice, his gaze a bit shifty.
"Oh~"
"And for what reason did she not sleep well?"
Elysia drew out her tone, her smile deepening as she approached step by step.
Aponia covered her lips and chuckled.
Pardo looked around blankly, holding Can, wondering if she had missed some important plot point.
Ryuga's mouth twitched, and he suddenly gave a wicked laugh: "Off you go—"
Before the three could react, he tossed Elysia, Aponia, and Pardo all into the space bag.
"Darn Ryuryu, you just wait," Elysia scolded.
Then, Ryuga opened the Anywhere Door.
...
Xianzhou Luofu.
Seat of Divine Foresight.
Jing Yuan rested his cheek on one hand, staring at the military intelligence reports on the desk. His eyes gradually narrowed, and he nodded from time to time.
He looked like he was deducing the battle situation, but also like he was responding to the crisp voice that kept ringing in his ears.
"According to today's divination deduction, if the Borisin launch a surprise attack from Cangwu, our army should deploy the 'Crane Wing Formation' for defense, supplemented by three rounds of 'Thunderfire Chariots' to cut off their left wing..."
Beside him, a pink-haired shorty was talking incessantly about today's military strategy divination deduction.
Suddenly, the girl changed her tone, a cunning light appearing in her eyes.
"General, why don't you give the position of General to me? That way, you can retire and enjoy your old age."
"Mhm, mhm."
Jing Yuan nodded gently.
"Then, it's a deal."
The pink-haired shorty approached step by step, the clever light in her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
"Mhm, mhm."
Jing Yuan continued to nod.
"Then... let's high-five on it."
The pink-haired shorty raised her small hand mischievously.
"Zzz~~"
What responded to her was a soft snore.
Jing Yuan's head tilted; he had already closed his eyes and entered a dream, a hint of weariness showing between his brows.
"..."
Beside him, Chief Counselor Qingzu couldn't help but shake her head and laugh.
"Lady Fu Xuan, please stop teasing the General. The General must be too tired and fell asleep again. The 'promise' from before definitely won't count."
Qingzu raised an eyebrow. Lady Fu Xuan's desire to be General had never been hidden.
Ever since Lady Fu Xuan came to the Luofu, who on the Xianzhou didn't know that Fu Xuan of the Divination Commission was single-mindedly wanting to become the next Luofu General?
Lady Fu Xuan's ambition was known to everyone.
"What promise?"
Jing Yuan raised an eyebrow and woke up.
"You—you just promised me that you would pass the position of General to me."
Fu Xuan's small face darkened, and she gave a huff.
"When? Hmm!"
Jing Yuan pinched the bridge of his nose. Just as he was about to ask, a pink, strange door appeared out of thin air inside the Seat of Divine Foresight.
"Hahaha, Lady Fu Xuan's ambition is indeed known to everyone!"
As the door swung wide open, Ryuga strode in. After scanning the room, his gaze finally landed on Fu Xuan, and he gave a playful smile.
Fu Xuan stood before the desk, her pink hair like clouds, a golden hairpin tucked in, and a purple crystal star-chart suspended before her chest.
Most eye-catching were those legs clad in white silk stockings, glowing with a faint light and outlining smooth and elegant curves.
Ryuga couldn't help but take a few extra looks.
Fu Xuan's expression changed abruptly, and she shouted sharply: "Who goes there?! How dare you trespass into the Seat of Divine Foresight! Cloud Knights! Form ranks!"
"Clang—!"
Iron armor clattered, long halberds stood like a forest, and dozens of Cloud Knights surged forward in an instant.
Beneath their visors, their eyes flashed with a cold light, filled with killing intent.
"Wait."
Jing Yuan suddenly raised his hand and sat up straight.
The previous laziness and drowsiness vanished instantly, replaced by an incredibly sharp gaze.
The pressure unique to a General, like a mountain pressing down, was heart-palpitating.
"Stand down."
The Cloud Knights hesitated for a moment, then retreated in an orderly fashion according to the order.
"Mr. Ryuga, long time no see. May I ask what brings you here this time?"
Jing Yuan's gaze was calm as he looked at Ryuga with a smile.
"By the way, you were wrong about one thing. This is not some 'Master Diviner,' but Fu Xuan, a direct descendant of the Fu family of stargazers from the Xianzhou Yuque, currently a diviner of the Luofu Divination Commission, a strategist responsible for political and military strategy calculations."
Jing Yuan smiled slightly and explained.
"Oh~?"
Ryuga stroked his chin, curiously looking at Fu Xuan, who was staring at him with a face full of frost as if she wanted to eat him.
Looking closely, there were indeed some small differences compared to the original plot.
He remembered; during the Battle of Fanghu, she was indeed still a diviner, an official who led diviners, not yet the Master Diviner of the Divination Commission.
And after Fu Xuan offered her strategy, what Jing Yuan said was: "In times of crisis, the Six Charioteers should work together to face the hardship."
This also showed that at least during the Battle of Fanghu, Fu Xuan was indeed not one of the Six Charioteers.
And at this time, Qingque hadn't even entered the Divination Commission yet.
In the plot, it was mentioned that Qingque slacked off in the Divination Commission for ten years.
"The Master Diviner I'm talking about is something in the future, the future seen by my people," Ryuga suddenly laughed and said loudly.
As his voice fell, he released Elysia, Aponia, and Pardo, who was holding Can.
"Are we at the Luofu? Oh, it's General Jing Yuan. Long time no see."
After Elysia came out, she first scanned the surroundings, then her eyes lit up, and she smiled and waved at Jing Yuan.
Aponia was very steady.
Pardo looked excited, peeking around.
"Miss Elysia, I hope you have been well."
Jing Yuan nodded.
Faced with such a flower-like girl, he couldn't help but return a smile.
"Aponia, will this Lady Fu Xuan become the Master Diviner in the future?"
Ryuga suddenly poked Aponia's arm and said.
"Ah?"
Aponia was stunned for a moment. She misunderstood Ryuga's meaning, thinking he wanted her to peer into Fu Xuan's destiny.
She immediately clasped her fingers before her chest, closed her eyes, and concentrated.
In an instant—
A circular light of pink and blue dragons entwined and rotating appeared behind her head, like the sun and moon shining together.
Then, after two dragon roars, two huge dragon shadows, one pink and one blue, appeared out of thin air. Their scales were shimmering, and their eyes were like torches as they circled and flew around the entire Seat of Divine Foresight.
"Whoosh—!"
Inside the entire Seat of Divine Foresight, everyone was shocked.
Some Cloud Knights couldn't even hold their long halberds, which fell to the ground with a 'clang.'
Chief Counselor Qingzu's eyes widened, her throat moving frantically.
Fu Xuan stood frozen in place.
Jing Yuan's pupils shrank slightly, his fists suddenly clenched, and a stormy sea rose in his heart.
Dragons!!
A moment later, the dragon shadows dissipated, and the circular light faded.
Aponia slowly opened her eyes and said calmly and gently: "Lady Fu Xuan will indeed become the Master Diviner, but of the Xianzhou Luofu, and it will be in two years."
After speaking, she looked around. Seeing everyone's strange expressions, she realized something and looked at Ryuga blankly.
"Did I... say something wrong?"
Ryuga's mouth twitched, he raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, and sighed softly: "No... you were absolutely right."
However, his heart was in turmoil. He just wanted Aponia to come out and put on an act to fool Fu Xuan, but he didn't expect her to take it seriously and actually peer into Fu Xuan's destiny.
Moreover, she even used the 'Dragon of Serenity' to amplify her peering ability.
Now things were going to be interesting.
...
"High Elder!"
"It's a High Elder!"
"Our Vidyadhara finally has a new High Elder."
At this time, the Cloud Knights in the hall were in an uproar. Those who had dropped their halberds were precisely members of the Vidyadhara.
And Chief Counselor Qingzu was also a member of the Vidyadhara.
After seeing the pink and blue dragon shadows, they were naturally incredibly shocked.
"..."
Elysia tilted her small head and blinked. She knew some things about the Vidyadhara.
Impressive; Aponia had only just arrived at the Luofu and had already become a Luofu High Elder.
To be continued…
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