Leon looked at Firefly.
The reason he had tangled with that Iron Cavalry for so long without resolving it directly was precisely because he felt something was amiss. And after exchanging a few blows, Leon finally understood where that wrongness came from.
—The "Dreammaster," that crafty old bastard, was actually not dead yet.
The Iron Cavalry before him was constructed from "Memoria," not a physical existence like Firefly. Naturally, there were no conditions for piloting it. The one piloting it was not the friend Firefly imagined, but the remnant of the "Dreammaster."
Leon's gaze stared straight at the Iron Cavalry that Firefly was shielding behind her. Under his gaze, one couldn't help but feel a chill.
He hadn't used "Causality" last time, and it was precisely this that allowed the "Dreammaster" to find a loophole. He should have thought of it earlier. The reason the "Dreammaster" had no physical body was that he had long since merged into one with this dreamscape.
The reason the "Dreammaster" could drag out an ignoble existence was simple. Because his connection with Penacony was too deep. In the long passage of time, Gopher Wood had long since fused himself with every inch of Penacony's land. It was so deep that one could simply say Penacony's existence was the "Dreammaster's" existence.
It was unexpected that Evernight, who liked to pull up weeds by the roots, actually missed for the first time. However, this couldn't be blamed on her. Heaven knows the "Dreammaster" was that insidious. If she had known earlier that he wasn't dead, she would have added another strike.
But it didn't matter. If he wanted to kill him, Leon could kill him right now. Just like that punch just now, he could kill him anytime he wanted. Even if the "Dreammaster" was completely one with Penacony, trying to overturn him would mean torching Penacony entirely. Leon could also quell the incident he caused in an instant.
This was the confidence brought to him by his numerical values. He believed that his stats would not lose to anyone other than an "Aeon" right now. If anyone disagreed, they could try him.
Leon was never humble; the strong existed to humiliate the weak. To humiliate the weak who were stubborn. So whenever there were existences like Jingliu or Constance who felt they could beat him because they had some reliance, Leon never minded giving them a chance.
A chance to prove themselves. They had better rejoice that their stats and mechanics were above his.
"You'd better be a bit more vigilant."
regarding Firefly shielding the Iron Cavalry, Leon gave that single piece of advice.
This Iron Cavalry might be a "Memoria" product constructed by the Dreammaster after fishing the "Memory" of its original owner from the "Memory Zone." She might be the death echo of the original owner, meaning Firefly's friend's personality was dominant. But no matter what, the Dreammaster was definitely on her.
This was beyond doubt. How could the sudden resurrection of a Glamoth Iron Cavalry not have a mastermind behind it? And I'm afraid the "Dreammaster" is plotting a plan that is vital to him. This plan even makes him feel he can beat Leon. This Iron Cavalry is the tool he uses to realize the plan.
Otherwise, there had been no news for so long. The "Dreammaster," who could have continued to endure and lurk, waiting to turn the tables, had absolutely no need to appear suddenly at the risk of being kicked to death by him.
People only take risks when the benefits obtained are large enough. The "Dreammaster," having already died twice, surely cherished his life more than anyone. Yet he still stood out now. This meant that in his eyes, the success of the plan was greater than the threat brought by Leon.
"?"
Firefly was completely confused, not knowing what he was referring to.
"O-Okay..."
But she still agreed obediently.
Leon didn't say anything more, retracting the gaze that had lingered on the Iron Cavalry. Leon could mostly guess the general idea of what the "Dreammaster's" plan was. Rather, what else could it be?
He could only drown holding onto that plan of "The Propagation" and the ideal of "The Order." Restart the Swarm Disaster, then think of a way to awaken "The Order." Apart from this, Leon didn't think the "Dreammaster" had a second plan.
In the present where everything was known, he could naturally stop it directly, strangling the impending danger in the cradle. It was just that there was no need.
Leaving aside that Constance needed it for her Coronation. What Elio wanted was also the insect disaster, and what Firefly needed was also the insect disaster. Reasonably and emotionally, he had no need to stop it.
Leon gave everyone the chance to chase his back, until everyone could never see his back again.
"...AR-26170?"
The Iron Cavalry behind spoke in disbelief. She recognized Sam, and also recognized Firefly's voice.
"AR-214, is that you?"
Firefly was in a trance for a moment, turning her head to call out the Iron Cavalry's name.
"It's me."
A burst of fire shot up into the sky from the Iron Cavalry, and the person Firefly called AR-214 exited the cockpit. Revealing a face that could be called a one-to-one replica of Firefly. If not for wearing glasses and a different hairstyle, saying they were twins would be no problem at all.
"It really is you."
Firefly also canceled Sam's summons, and the delicate beautiful girl appeared from it. It was like the shock of a suit actor revealing the person inside.
However, Leon's focus wasn't on this, but elsewhere. He looked at the two neatly dressed people.
He didn't know about the Iron Cavalry, but Leon saw Firefly with his own eyes. He wondered, wasn't she wearing nothing inside just now? He was still thinking about whether this could be broadcasted. How come there are automatically clothes upon exiting the mecha?
Such advanced technology, is this really legal? A friend gave it, is it any of your business?
"I didn't expect to meet you here."
AR-214 looked at Firefly, who had changed greatly from her cognition, her tone quite surprised. "AR-26170, you've changed a lot."
"Mm, after all, a long time has passed since we last met."
Firefly nodded, looking at her with words stopping at her lips.
"I'm called Firefly now, what about you?"
After hesitating for a moment, Firefly still didn't actively pierce that layer of window paper. "AR-26170, do you have a name?"
Hearing her introduce herself, AR-214 appeared quite surprised and happy.
"Firefly, Firefly..." She muttered continuously, "Did you choose this yourself?"
"Mm, I chose it myself." Firefly nodded and smiled slightly.
"Good name, it suits you very much!"
"Thank you, what about you, do you have a name?"
Firefly looked at her, her eyes quite complicated. Although she wanted to ignore this question, it was a question she had to face directly and could not escape no matter what.
—How exactly did AR-214 survive?
For the Glamoth Iron Cavalry, violating military regulations was equivalent to accelerating one's own death. Not to mention AR-214 was the first deserter in Glamoth's history.
Firefly remembered clearly. At that time, Glamoth had not yet been destroyed, but she didn't want to accept the fate of dying in battle just like that. The weapon had autonomous will for the first time.
AR-214 said she wanted to choose how she died herself. Thus, she fled from the battle, becoming the first Iron Cavalry in Glamoth to violate orders.
There was quite a bit of time between AR-214's desertion and Glamoth's destruction. That is to say, before Glamoth was destroyed, she was suffering the pain of "Separation from the swarm" at all times.
Violating military regulations, plus long-term "Separation from the swarm." AR-214 had no hope of living; this was her destiny.
The reason Firefly could live until now was that after Glamoth was destroyed, she had a fortuitous encounter of her own. This fortuitous encounter must be established on the destruction of Glamoth; if Glamoth hadn't been destroyed, then Firefly couldn't have obtained this encounter either.
AR-214 deserted when Glamoth still existed. Entropy Loss Syndrome was enough to claim her life; no matter how you looked at it, it was impossible to live until now.
Then, who exactly is standing in front of my eyes right now?
Firefly looked at AR-214 before her, her thoughts chaotic. An old friend reuniting, this was truly rare. If possible, she didn't wish for herself to think about these things. Just treat it as AR-214 really being alive, and enjoy this joy of finding her own kind properly.
But she couldn't deceive herself. Firefly could only hope, hope that AR-214 also had a fortuitous encounter like herself.
"Name?"
AR-214 froze, and after thinking seriously, shook her head. "Sorry, I don't have a name yet." She revealed a bitter smile.
"Have you never thought about it?" Firefly stared straight into her eyes, "Didn't you say you wanted to choose your own destiny yourself?"
"I..."
AR-214 opened her mouth, but couldn't speak for a long time. She didn't know how to answer this question for a moment.
"AR-214, after you deserted, what exactly happened?" Firefly took a deep breath and asked seriously.
"I..."
Regarding her inquiry, AR-214 found it hard to utter a word, showing a look of embarrassment. "I don't know, I forgot a lot of things."
After a moment, she shook her head, giving Firefly an answer. "I only know that when I passed by here, this place was being harassed by the swarm. After leaving Glamoth, I tried to find a death chosen by myself. But the detestableness of fate lies precisely in that it allows no argument."
AR-214 raised her hand to her chest and spoke softly. "Maybe this is the fate in my bones. I don't know why either, but in the end, I still extended a helping hand to this land suffering from the Swarm Disaster's attack, helping the people repel the insect swarm."
AR-214 narrated the things she still remembered one by one.
"And the matters after that... I have no memory."
After finishing, AR-214 looked up at Leon. "Maybe I died in the Swarm Disaster, or even more likely died of Entropy Loss Syndrome. I don't know."
AR-214 lowered her eyelids, her words filled with thick uncertainty. "Reasonably speaking, the probability that I could survive is not great. But judging from the result that I'm still standing here, it seems I really survived? I'm not sure if I am truly alive right now, or even sure if the current me is really still me; I really forgot a lot of things."
AR-214's current mental state was just as beautiful as Li Huowang. She was even doubting her own existence.
This left Firefly not knowing what to say for a moment. Should she tell AR-214 that it was impossible for her to still be alive?
Firefly pursed her lips, and in the end, still didn't say a word.
"Anyway, when I had consciousness again, I inexplicably appeared here." AR-214 told the truth. "I don't know what exactly is going on with all this either."
"Then..."
Firefly looked at her, much conflict between her brows and eyes. Finally, she couldn't bear to put everything out in the open and pierce the window paper. Just treat it as a dream.
After all, isn't this place the legendary Land of Dreams? Everyone can pursue everything they want here; this is Penacony's slogan to the outside world.
Silver Wolf went to great lengths to let Firefly enter the dream once. Born with a loss of dreaming function, she could only enter the dream this one time.
Perhaps because of not knowing dreams, the displaced person chases phantoms. Even if the AR-214 before her was just a phantom, and even if Firefly already knew this was just a fleeting dream, she didn't mind being that displaced person for once.
"Why did you attack this gentleman?"
This was a very key question. Leon wasn't a swarm insect, so why would a Glamoth Iron Cavalry aggressively attack him? Unless she had no consciousness, or was controlled by someone. Otherwise, Firefly couldn't imagine AR-214 taking the initiative to attack people.
As for it being triggered by some Iron Cavalry autonomous defense mechanism, that was fundamentally impossible. For Glamoth, Iron Cavalries were as numerous as stray dogs by the roadside. They wished for them all to die on the battlefield. Why would they specifically install such troublesome things on the Iron Cavalry?
"I don't know."
AR-214 shook her head, giving the standard quality answer again.
"When I came back to my senses, I was already attacking this gentleman. When I took over the body completely and wanted to stop, it was already too late."
AR-214 also didn't know why she would attack Leon; there should have been absolutely no reason. But as soon as she saw Leon, she couldn't control herself and attacked. It was simply as if she had some deep grudge against him.
"Is that so..." Firefly murmured.
There were many fishy things about this AR-214; this was beyond doubt. Whether it was attacking Leon, the memory loss, or her survival time. These were all incorrect.
But considering that after waking from the dream, everything would end, Firefly didn't want to investigate anything in detail. To be able to meet an associate from the past Glamoth once again, she was already satisfied.
Leon listened to the two's conversation without saying a word. The two didn't know what was going on, but he was very clear.
Why did AR-214 appear suddenly? Because the "Dreammaster" detected Firefly's arrival. In his plan, a Glamoth Iron Cavalry was likely crucial. AR-214 was the bait hook the "Dreammaster" used to lure this Iron Cavalry.
And AR-214 naturally didn't know why she attacked Leon for no reason, because the one operating the Iron Cavalry to attack him was that "Dreammaster." It wasn't her own operation at all; it was the Dreammaster possessing her.
Although Leon didn't know where this stray dog "Dreammaster" got the courage from.
"Please let me thank you again."
After getting AR-214's answer, Firefly turned around to face Leon directly. "Thank you, thank you for holding back at the end!"
She spoke with an incredibly solemn expression. She couldn't not thank him. If Leon had struck with that punch just now, both of them would undoubtedly have died.
Firefly could feel that he held back because of her. And from his performance of retracting and releasing freely at the end, it could be seen that if Leon wanted to, bypassing Firefly to strike the Iron Cavalry directly would also be an effortless task.
But he still let both of them go; how could this not make Firefly thank him properly? And most importantly, she couldn't beat him, so she might as well make her attitude a bit better.
Moreover, from the fact that Leon had watched from the side for so long without any interference, it could be seen that he wasn't a bad person.
"I accepted a commission from Elio."
Elio didn't let Leon say it, but Leon insisted on saying it. Was it teaching him how to do things?
"Elio?" Firefly was startled, and at the same time, her heart warmed. She didn't expect everyone in the Stellaron Hunters to care about her so much...
PY:
Reporter: Miss Kiana, do you mean to say that the acts of assassinating the Schicksal Overseer, beating up the Anti-Entropy Sovereign, and kicking the World Serpent Master were all done by a mysterious person claiming to be a 'player' controlling your body, and had nothing to do with you personally?
Kiana: That's right! I am innocent. That guy kept muttering things like meta, side quests, farming mobs, respawn points, save files, and other incomprehensible words, and then controlled my body to run amok everywhere!
Reporter: So that's how it is. Then does Miss Kiana know where that mysterious person claiming to be a player is?
Kiana: I know, in the basement of my house.
Reporter: Basement?
Kiana: Correct! That guy controlled my body to do so many things, and in the end said the game was cleared and wanted to leave. I really have to control him now!
____
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