My Instant Death Doomed Firefly to a Lifetime of Regret

[Age 17]

You mastered the Molten Knight with preternatural skill, rising swiftly through the Iron Cavalry's ranks. Your blade became pivotal in repelling Swarm incursions.

Yet this year, the Swarm's assaults intensified. A storm brewed—one that threatened to shatter Gramr's fragile lie of peace.

"Behind you—!"

Liuying's voice crackled through the comms. An Ming pivoted, molten blade cleaving a ambushing Carapaci in two. The bisected carcass tumbled into the Dead Sea.

"You okay?" Liuying exhaled in her cockpit. "Notice the Swarm's… upgrades lately?"

A grim omen. These mutations hinted at something festering in the dark.

An Ming recalled Shadow's words: What enemy could terrify an empire of Molten Knights? Only the prototype offered hope.

Years of并肩作战 had honed their默契. They'd watched countless knights join the Dead Sea's choir. War eroded souls—but Liuying remained his lighthouse.

Shadow was right. She was his inhibitor.

**[Emotion > <｜begin▁of▁thinking｜>

With her, he'd never lose himself to the armor—even as synchronization rates breached 50% in battle.

Return to her smile. That's enough.

Warning—Warning. Spatial anomalies detected.

The Mountains' alarms wailed. Reality fissured—crimson Carapaci poured through dimensional tears.

"This can't…" Liuying paled at the window. Swarm teleporting past defenses? A first.

If they reached Gramr's cities…

"Priority Alpha: Swarm breach confirmed. Engage on home soil."

Silver meteors streaked from the Mountains toward the heartlands.

An Ming caught Liuying's worry. "I've outgrown you. I'll be fine."

"Nuh-uh!" She bristled. "You're still my little guy. I protect you."

"Race you?"

"I'll win!"

Liuying's transformation device flared cyan. Flames wreathed her hairpin as mercury armor materialized.

An Ming ignited his own winged device. Crimson fire raced up his legs—deeper, hotter than blood.

Two streaks pierced the sky. Loser does dishes.

Gramr City

Chaos. Carnage. A scene from An Ming's childhood nightmares—reborn.

But today, he wasn't helpless.

The molten greatsword slid from its sheath with a snick. Its resonance drew every Carapaci like moths to a supernova.

Cleave.

Dawn incarnate. Starlight forged into steel.

Swarm carapaces vaporized before the blade's edge. A single strike rained gray ash—the Swarm's necrotic snowfall.

"By the Amber…" Caesar blanched at the monitors. "Is that still human?"

Shadow smirked. "Emotion unlocks potential… and shackles it. To make him strongest?"

He glanced at Liuying's feed.

Caesar's blood chilled. "You're insane. He'll burn the Empire itself!"

"Survivors are insane."

Sunlight crowned the silver knights reunited atop rubble.

"Told you I'd win~" Liuying nuzzled An Ming's armor playfully. "But your clumsy hands need help washing dishes."

"My savior," An Ming chuckled, sheathing his sword.

Her armored silhouette against the sun overlapped with memory—a girl in mercury steel descending through rain, saving a boy's shattered world.