Bright yet dim, spacious yet narrow.
This was the first impression Raiden Mei had of the virtual space before her, named the Elysian Realm. Its contents were arranged in a scattered yet orderly fashion, with decorations that were exquisite and costly. It was far removed from the memory space of the Moth's Fusion Warriors from the Previous Era, as described by that person whom she sought. Several distinct auras intertwined within it, forming the scene before her.
It was a combination of contradictions, yet it gave one a sense of harmonious perfection.
The vessel of the Flame-Chasers' memories, the place of World Serpent's inheritance, and the root cause Kevin had provided when she was searching for answers—as she first stepped into it, she saw the mysteries that pervaded its every inch.
The person who appeared before her was one such mystery.
The pink-haired girl, as brilliant as a flower, playfully tapped her chin. She tilted her head and spoke with a natural expression: "What's wrong, Mei? Staring at me like that, I'll get shy, you know~"
"...I think I generally understand what you've said. I will explore how much of it is true later on." Mei clearly couldn't tolerate her frivolous tone and frowned slightly.
The girl smiled sweetly: "Oh my~ Everything I've said is true~ How could I bear to deceive a cute girl just like me~"
"Is that so?" Mei remained calm and composed. Her head, from which horns had grown, turned toward the doorway. Her light-purple pupils reflected a silent figure. "Then, who is the person who has been standing there from the very beginning?"
"Ah, you noticed him. When others came in before, they all thought he was a statue~"
The person wearing a helmet was completely motionless. Coupled with the light protective armor that covered all his skin, he truly looked like a static statue of black stone at first glance.
He maintained a kneeling posture, sitting quietly on the long bench by the door, his breathing so faint it was almost non-existent.
An indescribable aura, one even more "solitary" than Kevin's, wreathed this person's entire being.
The girl approached the "statue" with an air of vexation. Under Mei's hesitant gaze, she reached out and gently patted the top of his helmet, chuckling: "Even if you're always so eager to give the newcomer some guidance, what if your early appearance makes Mei misunderstand the nature of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, hmm?"
"..." The "statue" seemed to have no intention of speaking. Mei could feel the cold gaze from beneath his helmet resting constantly on her horns.
Could this person also be one of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers? In other words, was he a Fusion Warrior?
If so, it wouldn't be surprising for him to harbor hostility toward her, a Herrscher.
"Oh, don't mind this block of wood. He's liked treating people this cold way ever since we met~ Although Kevin said he used to be a very cheerful person... well, Kevin became cold later too. Did you guys agree to be cool together?"
"..."
Even under the pink-haired girl's barrage of teasing, the statue remained unmoved. But Mei could sense that his gaze had indeed softened considerably compared to the start.
At least, it no longer felt like a bullet aiming to pierce her.
"But I still need to introduce myself. It wouldn't do for Mei to misunderstand~"
This last sentence was directed at the statue. He understood what the girl meant by "misunderstand"—this was clear from the Herrscher's eyes.
And so, the statue spoke.
A suppressed, muffled voice emerged from beneath the featureless, highly-tech tactical helmet.
"I am not a Fusion Warrior, nor am I one of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers."
"I am merely an ordinary soldier of the Moth of the Flame-Chasers, a phantom of a past human who has long resided here."
"You may call me..."
"Lin."
Part 2
The sky was bright and dim. The clouds on the rooftop seemed within reach, shifting from magnificent glory to uncertain gloom. Whose face was that?
The black-haired boy leaned casually against the railing of Nagazora High's rooftop, gazing at the clouds in the sky. The white-haired boy, still in his un-changed basketball uniform, impatiently pushed open the door. A hurried look crossed his handsome face as he dashed to the black-haired boy with the dead-fish eyes, scratching his head like a monkey on a trampoline.
It was hard to connect this person with the "Prince Charming" that the girls spoke of. They say love is blind; perhaps love can also cause physiological regression.
"Lin, how about it! How did it go!"
The black-haired boy sighed softly, then smiled shallowly and nodded at the expectant white-haired boy: "Mei said yes. Work hard, Kevin."
The white-haired boy cheered and hooked his arm around the black-haired boy's neck: "That's great! You're the only one I can rely on, Lin!"
The black-haired boy shoved him away irritably: "Hey! Don't hug me when you smell of sweat! I don't like hugging men!"
The two had been friends and roommates since they entered the academy. Currently, you could probably add the word "super" before friend—they were super friends, so close that the black-haired boy would help the white-haired boy play wingman to get a girl from his hometown.
The black-haired boy impatiently pushed away the most precious and popular head in Nagazora High. Noticing the uncontrollable excitement on the white-haired boy's face, a mischievous smile played on his lips.
"I almost forgot to tell you, Mei only agreed to the international science lecture next week."
The smile instantly froze on the white-haired boy's handsome face: "Huh? Not the aquarium?"
"She's Mei, after all. I asked about the amusement park, the aquarium, the zoo, and the love hotel, but she counted her fingers and asked if we could go to the lecture instead." The black-haired boy shrugged, implying he had done his best. However, judging by his infuriating, beaming smile, his words were likely more watered down than the firewater in Kong Yiji's story.
"Hold on a second, you asked about some really inappropriate places, didn't you? Did Mei deduct all my impression points?" The white-haired boy could already imagine the scene: the aloof girl, even if her expression showed nothing, would have an utterly scornful look in her eyes that would make one want to jump off the building.
"Oh, don't worry about it. Dating is just about going on a date, and isn't the final goal just getting a room? Might as well skip a few hours of detours."
"It's because of that attitude that you can't find a girlfriend, you punk!"
The black-haired boy nonchalantly draped his arm over his shoulder: "Anyway, don't let my efforts be in vain, and remember to treat me to a meal."
"Of course. To reward you, guess what I got my hands on?" The white-haired boy looked triumphant, his nose practically pointing to the sky.
"Don't tell me it's tickets to Eden's concert."
"..."
Seeing that the white-haired boy's smugness hadn't faded, the black-haired boy's expression drastically changed: "Holy cow? Seriously?!"
"Hehehe, I managed to get a total of three tickets through connections."
"Nice one, Kevin-bro! When is it?" The black-haired boy's face changed faster than a chameleon. He immediately hooked his arm affectionately around the white-haired boy's shoulder, no longer caring about anything else.
"Two weeks from now. We'll fly to meet up with Su, and go to the concert together."
"You're not inviting your little princess?"
"It'll be just us three guys!"
Under the gloomy clouds, on the school rooftop, close friends who could talk about anything gathered, relaxed and carefree. They discussed the girls they liked, looked forward to an idol's concert, and dreamt of a small yet longed-for future.
It should have been this way.
"By the way, did you hear? There have been rumors of zombies near the school recently. There have been several victims, and one of them was from our school."
"You've been watching too many movies. It must be something man-made."
Even if the black-haired boy was a transmigrator who longed for a major event to happen in this world of fantasy so he could show off his abilities, he was actually content with the current peace. He didn't believe in the world's pre-destined difficult fate, nor did he believe that he would soon step into the woven web of that very fate.
He thought this was just fine: walking against the gentle evening breeze toward the city, having a hearty dinner, and then returning to the dorm. That would be just fine.
It should have been this way.
Until the fresh evening breeze was tainted with the smell of blood.
Until the bright moon was split in two.
Until the truth of the world, during a perfectly ordinary night stroll, was brazenly revealed to the unprepared him in a ridiculous and dramatic fashion.
Part 3
"Lin, you're dropping out? Why! What happened!"
"..."
In just one day, the black-haired boy had become a different person.
Facing his closest friend's questions, mixed with worry, anger, and helplessness, he merely handed a concert ticket to the white-haired boy in silence. The other boy slapped it away, angrily staring into his now indifferent eyes.
The coldness made the white-haired boy feel estranged, as if he were looking at an ancient, unmelting iceberg, beneath which countless depths of apathy were hidden.
What exactly had happened overnight to make his friend, who was happily talking and laughing with him just one day ago, become so... mature?
But he didn't want to dwell on the unnerving apathy. Clenching his teeth, he pressed both hands onto his friend's shoulders, trying his best to keep his smile from twisting as he tremblingly asked, "Did something happen to your family? Is it money? Or something else? Tell me, I'll help..."
"Kevin."
The black-haired boy interrupted him. Without impatience, he simply stated: "Kevin, if one day you were told that the fate of humanity rested in your hands, would you fight for humanity?"
"W-what are you talking about..." The white-haired boy didn't understand what he meant.
The fate of humanity? Fighting? Why were such vague words coming from Lin's mouth? What did this have to do with him dropping out?
The black-haired boy's gaze was sharp, and he said in a deep voice, "Tell me."
"The fate of humanity... that's too far-fetched for me. But if it were for Mei, you, and Su, I would fight, I guess..." The white-haired boy scratched the back of his head sheepishly, offering his answer with a silly smile.
"..."
The answer was so vague and foolish it was speechless.
The black-haired boy picked up the concert ticket. This time, he directly shoved it into the white-haired boy's hand. Under the other's confused gaze, his eyes held a myriad of thoughts that ultimately settled into silence. He said softly, "I envy you, but I can't be like you."
I can't fight for just one or two people; I can't be 'selfish' like you.
"For the concert, invite Mei."
The concert ticket rattled in the fierce wind.
Black clouds swallowed the remaining sky, and the wind escorted the black-haired boy out of the campus. He looked back at the white-haired boy who was staring at him from the rooftop, and the glasses-wearing girl who had joined him at some point.
The gazes of the three intersected, and then, separated.
Many years later, facing the disdainful Herrscher, Lin would recall that distant afternoon when his friend wanted to take him to a concert.