Just as Firefly finished dealing with the Di Xue Zu Elite Infantry, a new scene unfolded elsewhere.
In the small, dust-covered room where Firefly had first awakened, a red-haired woman in a black leather jacket arrived with a squad of elite United Government Soldiers. Her name was Fuman, and her presence radiated quiet authority.
The team swept through the room, searching every corner.
"Officer, no one was found," one Soldier reported.
Fuman frowned. She walked to a nearby table and picked up the photo resting there. Her eyes lingered on it—Helena and Klawton, smiling in a moment long gone.
She closed her eyes and took a slow breath.
"Search the surrounding area. You have half an hour. If we still don't find them… head to the evacuation point."
The lead Soldier nodded and signaled the others. They dispersed, leaving Fuman alone in the room.
She stared at the photo, her voice barely a whisper.
"Helena… I'm sorry. I was too late. I hope your daughter made it to the evacuation point…"
She didn't notice the tall figure creeping up behind her.
A Crypt Clan Infantry, hidden in the shadows, raised its crude rifle and took aim.
It had waited patiently, revealing itself only after the other Soldiers left.
Bang!
Fuman didn't flinch.
The Crypt Clan Infantry collapsed, its head obliterated.
Fuman lowered her weapon—a custom-built hand cannon, designed specifically for her by the United Government. Its recoil was so intense that a normal person would dislocate their arm with a single shot.
But Fuman didn't even blink.
She stepped over the corpse and walked out.
The war raged on.
Meanwhile, Firefly sat inside a rumbling armored vehicle. Her sleek, sci-fi Mechanical Power Arm drew curious glances from the Soldiers around her.
In one corner, Jim sat stiffly, stealing glances at her. His comrades nudged him, grinning, clearly enjoying the show.
Even in war, humans found ways to lighten the mood.
Finally, Jim gathered his courage and approached.
"Miss… you must be hungry? I have some chocolate…"
He held out a small, exquisitely wrapped piece.
The other Soldiers burst into teasing laughter.
"Jim's been hoarding that chocolate for weeks! We begged him for it, and he wouldn't budge. Who knew he'd give it up now… tsk tsk."
With only three human cities left, food and supplies were strictly rationed. Chocolate—high-calorie, portable, and rare—was a luxury.
Jim's face turned crimson. He couldn't even meet Firefly's gaze.
She blinked, glanced around, and quickly understood.
Her 99 Charm stat was doing its work.
She smiled gently, about to respond—
Boom!
The vehicle jolted violently.
The compartment burst open.
Firefly was thrown from the wreckage, landing hard on the ground.
A normal person would've died instantly.
But thanks to her high Endurance, she survived—bruised, but breathing.
She staggered to her feet.
All around her, chaos.
Half-meter-long Suicide Worms, strapped with explosives, had burrowed beneath the vehicles and detonated.
The armored vehicle she'd been in was gone.
She looked around.
The Soldiers who had been laughing moments ago were now mangled corpses.
She stumbled toward one body—Jim.
His lower half was gone. His organs spilled onto the ground.
He looked up at her, lips trembling, then slumped.
Gone.
Firefly stared at the chocolate still clenched in his hand. It was crushed, twisted.
She picked it up, unwrapped it, and placed it in her mouth.
Then she reached for the Sentry Standard Rifle lying nearby.
Her expression was blank—like a machine.
Sentry Standard Rifle (Common Grade) Attack: 200–250 Durability: 50/100 Ammo Capacity: 30 rounds Requirement: Strength > 5
Evaluation: "The time I knew you was the best time of my life, though very brief. To see a girl as beautiful as an angel before death… it seems whether I go to heaven or hell no longer matters."
Firefly raised the rifle.
She fired.
Each bullet struck the Suicide Worms' explosives, triggering premature detonations. The chain reaction wiped out the entire wave.
The Human forces, now alert, opened fire.
Caught off guard, the remaining Suicide Worms were shredded before they could get close.
Gunfire echoed until the last worm fell.
Silence returned.
Firefly lowered the rifle.
The barrel glowed red from overuse.
Its durability hit zero.
The weapon was spent—its mission complete.
It had followed its owner into afterlife.