NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 33: Rusted Time
The Wordsmith's command forced Firefly to calm down, but another voice deep within her soul struck back with equal resolve.
Kafka had long known her verbal hypnosis held little power over Firefly, but she hadn't expected near-total immunity this time.
"Will you truly meet him like this?"
"I..."
The flames in Firefly's hair dimmed. She bit her lip. "You don't understand, Kafka... I've waited too long. Any longer and I'll break."
The firefly-like girl trembled with fragility. Even if Anming had forgotten her, even if they had to start anew—she couldn't wait another second!
"We won't stop you," Kafka said softly. "That was our pact when you joined." Her concern lay in Firefly's instability—Stellar Hunters remained IPC's most wanted.
"Silver Wolf."
"Huh?"
The hacker blinked, popcorn forgotten mid-crunch as attention shifted to her.
"Access the space station's live feeds." Kafka never doubted Silver Wolf's skills—their recent mission left convenient "backdoors" ripe for exploitation.
Silver Wolf blew a bubble. "Just don't let Herta notice." The station's network was her playground.
"Thank you..."
Firefly reattached the transformation device to her belt. These were comrades she trusted—her urgency stemmed from...
Him.
Kafka studied the screens. "A Doomsday Beast." If this was the man Firefly cherished, death wouldn't claim him easily.
Firefly gripped Silver Wolf's arm, eyes glued to the monitors. The hacker winced—since spotting that boy, Firefly hadn't stopped vibrating. "Who is he?"
"..."
Firefly's sunset eyes dimmed. What was Anming to her? Lover exchanging "I love yous"? Soul sharing midnight warmth?
She yearned to see him, yet feared an answer worse than death.
Silver Wolf's eyes widened at Firefly's expression—since when did Sam look like a heartbroken schoolgirl?!
"We promised eternity."
"???!"
Silver Wolf shot panicked glances at Kafka and Blade. How are you two so calm?!
"Trust your heart," Kafka smiled. "The answer never changed."
The screen froze—Anming's figure appeared.
...
"Director!"
"Thank the stars you're safe!"
Anming's relief was genuine—if Asta died, who'd pay his writing fees?! Herta certainly wouldn't.
Asta exhaled subtly. Finding Anming unharmed eased her worries—the station couldn't afford to lose Herta's favorite "word smith."
"Seriously? He's actually staff?" March 7th eyed Asta suspiciously. Did he write 'Succubus Asta' to get this job?
Stelle puffed her chest, channeling "Galactic Batting Legend" energy. Closing her eyes, she imagined summoning Nanook with a finger flick.
At the universe's peak, with Stelle comes the sky!
Anming rolled his eyes. Beating weak Voidrangers had inflated her ego dangerously.
"Fear not, Director! The Express crew will vanquish all evil!" March threw an uppercut at empty air.
Asta surveyed the trio. An unsettling thought emerged:
These are our saviors?