The Dance of Time (EXTRA)

The mysterious stargate spanned the 400,000-kilometer distance, projecting a distant spacetime onto the surface of Earth. Through their ethereal consciousness projections, the two were able to return to their beloved home planet once more.

The bustling and prosperous cities had grown even taller, gradually transforming into megacities. The desolate areas, no longer plagued by the Honkai, were being reclaimed by humanity.

The end of the Honkai was also the beginning of hope. Without the ravages of the Honkai, this planet was bursting with unimaginable vitality.

Kiana, back on Earth, was exceptionally excited. She pulled Ren through the streets and alleys. Although they couldn't touch physical objects, she still enjoyed the pleasure of shopping like an ordinary girl.

Today seemed to be a special holiday. The entire city was immersed in flowers and blessings, filled with a sweet atmosphere.

On the city's large screens, Wendy, who had become a well-known singer, was promoting her fourth album.

The chests of security robots on the street were marked with black and white Obsidian Concord symbols. Even the trash cans were covered with Obsidian Concord Group's logos.

The billboards flashed advertisements for a new game co-developed by 'O' and Principle Studio. The silhouette of a mysterious female producer had already set the gaming world ablaze.

"This silhouette... seems familiar?"

Looking up at the billboard, Kiana was a little puzzled. Although she felt a sense of familiarity with the silhouette, the magnificent long hair and tall figure were completely different from the girl Kiana remembered.

"That's right, it's your friend, Bronya Zaychik," Ren explained to her. "o is a gaming company under Obsidian Concord. If anyone were able to collaborate with them, it would probably be her."

"I guess so. After all, so much time has passed, they should all have grown up. But her change is really big." The girl looked up at the half-body silhouette in the picture, then lowered her head to look at herself.

Time had not left any marks on Kiana. She remained in her original girlish form.

"So, that means Mei and the others must have changed a lot too."

"Want to go see them?" Ren looked at Kiana encouragingly. Although the girl hadn't said anything, her longing for her friends was apparent.

"But, I shouldn't disturb them, and the stargate's energy is limited..."

Before Kiana could finish speaking, Ren directly pulled her through the dimensions of space.

"Did you forget? This is the gift I prepared for you. Since it's a gift, it should fulfill all of your wishes."

Their consciousness projections were not bound by space. In just a flash, the two went from the bustling city to a high-tech building. The hundreds of meters tall skyscraper towered over the land, with bright lights shining from its windows.

The gray Ouroboros symbol was prominently displayed on the exterior of the building. It was clear that this was the former headquarters of World Serpent.

The two floated up the building, and soon spotted a familiar figure on the top floor through a window.

"Mei?!"

Raiden Mei, dressed in professional attire, was sitting at her desk, reviewing document after document. It was strange, given that Ren had only intended Mei to infiltrate World Serpent, she was now almost the leader of World Serpent.

The pale blue consciousness body passed through the glass. Kiana finally saw her closest friend again. She reached out her hand, instinctively wanting to touch her. But Mei, busy with her work, didn't notice the consciousness projection. She stretched, took a sip of coffee, and buried herself in the mountains of documents again.

Kiana went closer to her and found that the documents were all filled with things she didn't understand.

"The Dusk Street reform and rectification, what's that?"

"Probably to make up for the friend she lost." Ren also felt a bit touched. He hadn't expected Raiden Mei to really remodel that chaotic street for Pardofelis.

The two watched quietly for a while. Finally, Kiana tugged at the corner of Ren's clothes.

"Not staying a little longer?"

The girl shook her head slightly, a contented smile on her face, "It's enough, knowing that everyone is living well is enough."

Ren held her little hand and gently squeezed it.

"Don't worry, you'll always be friends, they definitely won't forget you."

"Yeah, let's go." Although she knew Mei couldn't see her, Kiana waved goodbye forcefully, "Goodbye, Mei."

Perhaps their next meeting would be in the distant future.

...

Using the stargate's transfer, the two traveled to different corners of the world. As it was a gift, Ren had naturally pinpointed the locations of Kiana's friends in advance. They even went back to look at the rebuilt St. Freya Academy.

Himeko, Theresa, Bronya... many familiar people had changed.

But for Kiana, they would always remain as they were in her memories.

There was one hour left before the stargate's energy ran out.

Finally, they returned to the original place, the city where they first met.

The Milky Way was like a winding stream, silently flowing across the sky. The eternal river spilled down pure white starlight, illuminating the boy and girl standing together.

The evening breeze swept across the vast plain, playing a symphony of life among the tips of trees that were sprouting new green buds.

"I thought this place would definitely have been changed into another building," The vast grassland was a bit yellow, but it hadn't become desolate. It seemed someone had been maintaining this pasture.

The two walked on the grass. The place remained as it was. Ren shook his head slightly, indicating that Kiana's concerns were completely unnecessary.

"Don't worry, this is your city. Neither Schicksal nor Obsidian Concord would change the layout arbitrarily."

He took the girl's hand and walked slowly forward. Beyond a hill that blocked their view was a wider grassland.

Kiana looked in a familiar direction. Under the boundless sky, two swings swayed in the breeze, standing in the field. A wooden cabin stood in the center of the pasture, watching over this time.

In a daze, she seemed to see a girl standing under the starry sky, trying to depict the stars.

But when she came back to her senses, the shadow in her memory immediately turned into a phantom.

It was a regret she could never forget.

There would always be regrets along the path of growth. Fortunately, Ren hadn't harmed anyone. He had only crafted a well-intentioned lie.

"Thank you, Ren."

"What's wrong?"

"Thank you for lying to me."

"?"

"Thank you for staying with me."

The bright moonlight stretched the two's shadows long. On the vast, empty plain, the two figures stood close together, swaying gently in the breeze along with the creaking swings.

"Let's dance."

As if suddenly remembering something, Kiana pulled Ren onto the grass.

The girl didn't know how to dance, and neither did Ren, but both of them didn't care. Relying on their mutual understanding, they quickly immersed themselves in a nameless dance.

The two looked at each other, their eyes reflecting only the other's image.

The waltz under the moonlight was neither watched nor known.

The stargate's transfer time reached its limit, and the two returned to the moon. But the two, who were lost in the moment, didn't stop. They let the dance continue.

The desolate moon had no passionate accompaniment, no dazzling lights, only boundless coldness and silence.

But on the surface of this desolate planet, the dance continued for a very, very long time.

Time stood still, loneliness ate at the bone, and only each other's salvation was the eternal, unchanging vow.