[Inside the Kitchen, Ember Base]
The beeping of the communicator at his waist still lingered in the corner of the kitchen. The fragrance of dried star-energy fruit pulp and the warmth of the sun that had filled the air just moments ago were quietly eclipsed by a layer of solemnity.
Tendo walked outside without pausing his step.
The piercing edge of the azure star power surrounding his body surged back into focus, and the softness in his eyes was replaced by a restrained coldness. In an instant, the tone of the scene shifted from "heartwarming" to "serious."
"Old Tendo switches states so fast! One second he's enjoying daily life, the next his combat readiness is maxed out."
"Old Tendo: I am a killer without emotions (dog head)."
"What's this about fish and bait? Are there fishing enthusiasts in the Starry World too?"
In the midst of the bullet chat's teasing, Mo Ying seemed to sense the change in Tendo's state of mind. It immediately leapt up from Jing Liuli's feet and nimbly climbed onto his shoulder.
Tendo turned his head, his fingertip very lightly brushing the little creature's fluffy, soft ear. The movement was so fast it was almost imperceptible, yet it carried a trace of subtle indulgence.
The moment Tendo's finger touched the fur, Mo Ying's ears twitched slightly, and then it jumped back to Jing Liuli's side.
"Let's go, let's go. Now that we've eaten our fill, it's time to get to work!"
Jing Liuli held Mo Ying a little tighter in her arms. Her originally chirpy tone had become steady. At this moment, she had shed her earlier ditzy cuteness, her eyes filled with sharp determination.
As she spoke, Jing Liuli looked up at Tendo, her gaze clear and earnest.
"Tendo, Mo Ying and I will check every blind spot in the base. We won't miss a single trace of infiltration."
Tendo nodded. He then stepped out of the kitchen, his figure completely merging into the shadows of the corridor as he sped toward the training grounds, leaving behind only a tall, cold silhouette.
There was still some time before the plan was set to begin. He needed to use this window to tune his star power to its peak state, condensing every drop of energy to its limit.
Watching Tendo's disappearing back, the bullet chat scrolled again.
"The pressure coming off Old Tendo! A powerhouse never wastes a second of prep time."
"Is the high-level play starting already? Expectant ing (rubbing hands like a fly)."
"Old Tendo's back is so straight, slurp~"
On the other side, Caroline had already returned to the laboratory. The heavy lab door slowly closed behind her, sealing out all external noise.
On the lab table, various potion bottles were arranged neatly. A faint purple liquid remained on the rim of a beaker, emitting a weak, pungent odor. However, a potted star-grass plant in the corner released a faint, elegant fragrance, neutralizing the sharpness of the chemicals and adding a hidden touch of domestic warmth.
The Spirit Fox squatted obediently in the corner of the lab table, its tail lightly sweeping the floor. It occasionally looked up at Caroline's busy figure, its amber eyes full of worry, even the tip of its tail tensed.
Caroline raised a hand to rub her throbbing temples, her finger tracing the dense data on the experimental records, her brow furrowed slightly.
"The efficacy needs to be extended to half an hour. I also need to add the Spirit Fox's saliva factor to neutralize the irritants..."
She murmured softly, picked up a sterile test tube, and leaned in close to the Spirit Fox.
"Be good, just a little."
The Spirit Fox leaned in submissively, its small tongue lightly licking the inner wall of the test tube, leaving behind a trace of transparent saliva.
As Caroline stood up to adjust the potion, it nimbly jumped onto the lab table, using its fluffy tail to gently brush away the tiny fragments of chemical powder clinging to her shoulder. Its movements were soft and meticulous.
But halfway through brushing, it was suddenly attracted by the swaying purple liquid in the beaker. It curiously reached out a paw to touch it, scaring Caroline into quickly pressing down its paw.
"Don't touch that. This potion isn't stable yet. It'll be uncomfortable if you get it on you."
The Spirit Fox blinked and obediently withdrew its paw. However, while she turned her back to mix the medicine, it stealthily snatched the small medicine spoon from the corner of the table. It squatted to the side to play with it, its silver-white fur getting stained with a bit of light purple powder, looking as if it had been touched by a tiny star.
Caroline turned around and saw this. Both annoyed and amused, she reached out and lightly flicked its nose.
"Don't cause trouble. I'll give you some dried star-grass as a reward later."
Hearing this, the Spirit Fox immediately dropped the spoon and rubbed against her fingertip, looking obedient and endearing.
After soothing her "little pet," Caroline threw herself back into the potion experiments. She knew that this potion was not only meant to nourish Tendo's star source but also to buy him time during actual combat. There was no room for error.
"Spirit Fox is a sweet little assistant! The way it brushed the powder was so gentle."
"Stealing the spoon to play is too cute! Getting powder on itself makes it look like it's wearing a little accessory."
"Obedient yet mischievous, Caroline can't bring herself to be mean to it."
Meanwhile, at the perimeter of the base.
Yun Meng was leading Little Jin to set traps. With a flick of her fingers, a large number of fixed star-rails were precisely embedded into the ground by Yun Meng, connecting them to the surrounding star-energy warning devices.
Simultaneously, the fire star power around Little Jin was no longer restrained. The warm halo turned into a blazing fire, and the dancing flames at the tip of its tail precisely scorched the edges of these star-rails, activating them.
"Don't rush, take it slow."
Yun Meng rubbed Little Jin's head, her tone gentle but carrying an unquestionable rigor.
"These traps must be layered. We can't leave any gap for the opponent to crack. Set the star-energy warning to the most sensitive mode. If there's any movement, we need to know immediately."
Little Jin seemed to understand, letting out a low response. Its massive head rubbed against Yun Meng's palm, the warm sensation carrying the heat of fire star power. It suddenly remembered something and nudged Yun Meng's pocket with its head.
Inside were pieces of dried meat set aside for it during the afternoon.
Yun Meng chuckled helplessly, taking out a small piece and feeding it. Little Jin quickly snatched and swallowed it.
Just as it finished eating, it spotted a small beetle scurrying through the grass nearby. Subconsciously, it raised a paw to swat it. This movement almost broke the nearby warning device, prompting Yun Meng to quickly hold down its head.
"Don't fool around! It'll be a mess if you burn the runes!"
Little Jin drooped its ears, rubbing against her wrist apologetically. It then lay down obediently by the trap, its amber eyes scanning the surroundings alertly. It looked like a flaming behemoth guarding the traps, even keeping its breathing very light for fear of making another mistake and getting scolded.
"On the surface, it's a Calamity-class dragon-shaped star beast, but in reality, it's a foodie."
"Almost breaking the warning device is so naughty! Sister Yun Meng is training the beast live."
"Drooping ears is so pitiful. A good baby who corrects its mistakes."
The night grew deeper. The lights inside the base turned on one by one, their warm yellow glow illuminating the corridors and forming a sharp contrast with the thick darkness outside the windows.
In the training grounds, azure star power surged like a tide, then slowly settled under Tendo's control. The halo around him flickered.
Beads of sweat constantly rolled down his forehead, hitting the floor and blooming into tiny wet marks with the faintest of sounds. Every circulation of star power was repairing his overextended foundation and continuously strengthening his power. The air was filled with the crisp scent of flowing star power.
"Knock, knock, knock."
A soft knock sounded. Caroline walked in carrying a bottle of pale green potion, the Spirit Fox following at her feet and quietly squatting in the corner.
"This is the recovery potion I prepared. I added thousand-year star-grass and the Spirit Fox's active factors. It's mild and non-irritating, and it will quickly nourish your star source."
She handed the potion to Tendo, her tone carrying professional certainty.
"Drink it during a break in your training. Don't push yourself too hard."
Tendo stopped his movements, took the potion, uncorked it, and downed it in one go. The pale green potion felt cool upon entry, with a faint herbal fragrance. As it slid down his throat, it instantly turned into a gentle force, spreading to every limb and bone, nourishing his tense star source. His fatigue dissipated significantly.
After a moment, Tendo looked at Caroline and smiled. "Thanks."
A faint smile flashed in Caroline's eyes as she shook her head slightly. "No need to be polite. We are partners."
These four simple words carried heavy weight, echoing slowly in the silent training hall. Tendo was silent for a moment, saying nothing, but he resumed his star power circulation. This time, however, the flow was no longer as aggressive; it had gained a sense of stability and peace.
The Spirit Fox jumped to Tendo's feet, lightly rubbing its head against his pant leg. The fur brushing against the fabric made a rustling sound, carrying the faint scent of star-grass and medicine, as if checking on his condition.
Tendo lowered his gaze, his finger gently brushing the top of the Spirit Fox's head. The movement was as soft as touching a fragile star, a world apart from the cold sharpness of his training just moments ago.
The Spirit Fox squinted comfortably, wrapping its tail around his ankle, submissive and affectionate.
"The Spirit Fox is coming for snuggles too! The iceberg has been completely thawed."
"Stained with the scent of star-grass potion, the tenderness can't be hidden."
"The finger brushing the head is so light. He's so indulgent toward the fluffy ones."
Meanwhile, Jing Liuli had finished inspecting the last secret passage with Mo Ying and returned to the base's central hub. Mo Ying lay in her arms, its small head resting on her shoulder. It was already a bit drowsy, its golden pupils half-closed, yet it remained alert to the surroundings.
It held a smooth small pebble in its paw—something it had picked up during the inspection. It now placed the pebble in Jing Liuli's palm as a "token" that the inspection was clear.
Passing by the storage bay, Mo Ying suddenly perked up. It struggled out of her arms, scurried to a corner of the bay, and fished out a round star-energy fruit. It ran back, pushed the fruit to Jing Liuli's feet, and wagged its tail rapidly. This was a "snack" it had specifically hidden here to share with Liuli.
Jing Liuli smiled, picked up the fruit, wiped it, and handed it back.
"Be good. Keep it for now. We'll eat it when the preparations are over."
Mo Ying obediently took the fruit and stuffed it back into the storage bay, even specifically covering it with a small pebble, like it was hiding treasure.
"All passages have been inspected. No abnormalities. I've placed hidden warning devices at key nodes." Jing Liuli reported into her communicator, her tone sharp.
"Good work, Liuli." Yun Meng's voice came through the communicator, carrying a hint of tiredness but remaining steady. "The perimeter traps and warning devices are also set. Little Jin is on guard. If anything happens, a signal will be sent immediately."
"Potions optimized. Tendo's recovery potion has been delivered, and the subsequent backup potions are ready." Caroline's voice followed immediately, with the faint sound of clinking bottles in the background.
Tendo walked over to the communicator, pressed the talk button, and spoke with a steady, powerful voice: "I'm ready on my end."
"Project Light team is all set! Their chemistry is maxed out."
"Mo Ying hiding snacks is too cute! It even shares with Liuli."
"Covering the fruit with a pebble—the ritual of hiding treasure is complete."
"Mo Ying's pebble token is a special way of reporting safety."
"Everyone in position, waiting for the fish to take the bait."
As night deepened, the base fell into silence. The ventilation ducts carried the sound of light air currents, and the steady breathing of the star beasts rose and fell, interwoven with the low hum of the base's engines, forming a stable nocturne. Only the warning devices flashed with a faint light, like stars in the dark night, guarding this temporary peace.
The star beasts snuggled beside their masters, resting quietly. Occasional soft whimpers broke the silence but quickly faded into tranquility. Warmth overflowed in every corner.
Tendo leaned against the wall of the training grounds, eyes closed as he adjusted his breathing. Mo Ying curled up on Jing Liuli's lap, fast asleep, its small claws tightly gripping her pant leg as if afraid the owner would leave if it let go.
In its dreams, the little creature seemed to dream of star-energy fruit and dried meat. Its small mouth moved slightly, and it even lightly nibbled Jing Liuli's pant leg, causing her to unconsciously adjust her sitting position so the little one could sleep more soundly.
After a while, the Spirit Fox also ran over carrying a piece of dried star-grass. It placed it gently at Jing Liuli's feet, nudged Mo Ying's body, and curled up to nap nearby. The silver-white and golden fur snuggled against each other, an exceptionally healing sight.
Seeing this, Jing Liuli thought of the afternoon sun in the kitchen. She thought of the fragrance of fruit and meat, the sweetness spreading on her tongue. She thought of the genuine care in everyone's eyes, the concern hidden in their words. Those tiny bits of domestic warmth, like glimmering lights, lit up her past bit by bit.
She... would not allow anyone to destroy this hard-won "beautiful dream."
In the middle of the night, the base's star-energy warning device suddenly emitted a faint light. The frequency of the flashing was extremely slow, but it was enough to catch everyone's attention.
Yun Meng snapped her eyes open. Little Jin also stood up immediately, the fire around its body surging as it stared alertly into the distance.
Jing Liuli stood up holding Mo Ying, the drowsiness in her eyes vanishing instantly, replaced by a sharp edge. Caroline quickly stowed her lab equipment, and the Spirit Fox jumped onto her shoulder, ready for action at any moment.
Tendo slowly opened his eyes. A cold glint flashed in his azure pupils, but he didn't stand up immediately.
"They're here."
Tendo's voice was low and calm, reaching everyone's ears through the communicator.
"Proceed as planned."
In the night, several figures quietly moved into action. Star power and firelight interwoven, stealth and warnings echoed. The first actual combat of Project Light had begun.
The afternoon's domesticity, the fluffy intimacy, and the fragments of tenderness all transformed into the most steadfast strength at this moment. They supported them as they bloomed with the sharp edge of "Light" in the dark night—both piercing and warm.
"The more healing the daily life, the more hot-blooded the battle."
"The light's edge blooms; even the dark night can be illuminated."
"Is the main story finally starting?"
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