My Instant Death Doomed Firefly to a Lifetime of Regret

[I Shall Ignite the Sea Beta Test—Do Not Distribute. Final Quality Subject to Live Version]

An upbeat battle theme blared from the gaming console as Silver Wolf rubbed her hands, ready to experience this so-called "masterpiece of three Amber Eras." Her finger hovered over the start button—

Game on!

BOOM—!

The violent tremor launched Silver Wolf off the couch. Years of Stellar Hunter instincts screamed disaster—at best, their base location was exposed; at worst, the entire star sector was now in the crosshairs of IPC's planetary cannons.

"Kafka? Damn... why now?" Silver Wolf glanced at Blade cautiously pressed against the wall. At least "Uncle Blade" was reliable in close combat—he'd hold out until reinforcements arrived.

A figure tore through the smoke like a golden meteor, trailing fiery embers as it breached the room.

"Used a keycard...?" Silver Wolf finally understood the silent alarms. This was no attack—just an ally with terrible timing.

The figure blurred toward the cabinet, golden flames dissipating to reveal Firefly's pale fingers gently brushing a photo frame. Silver Wolf stared—she'd never seen the composed warrior this frantic.

The black cat in the corner flicked its tail. Not my script, it seemed to say.

"Blade!" Firefly thrust the photo forward, pointing at the boy beside her. "Have you seen him?"

Blade shook his head. Even he remembered Anming—the boy who could soften Firefly's gaze for ten minutes daily.

"Silver Wolf!"

"Y-yes?!" The hacker straightened instinctively under Firefly's commanding tone.

Firefly materialized before her, half her face obscured by the photo. "Have. You. Seen. Him?"

"No. What's wrong?"

Firefly's lips pressed into a line. Fu Xuan's words echoed: "Someone connected to you has witnessed him."

Only four people fit that description—her Stellar Hunter comrades.

"I... saw him. At Herta Space Station."

Silver Wolf blinked. Firefly's sunset eyes ignited like supernovae—a hope so fierce it could burn galaxies.

Kafka examined the photo, recognizing the "staff member" from their recent space station visit.

"Thank you!" Firefly whirled to leave, halted by a voice dripping with cosmic weight.

"This path is uncharted. He exists outside all scripts."

The black cat—Ellie—observed from the couch, pupils reflecting infinite timelines.

"I know."

"Approaching him will plunge you into destiny's vortex. Even then—"

"I KNOW!"

Firefly's grip tightened on the transformation device blazing with golden fire. "You sift through futures for the optimal path. But to me..."

She tenderly repositioned the photo frame.

"A future without Anming... is no future at all."

Fireflies chase flames because some things outshine survival.

Silver Wolf gaped as twin devices ignited in Firefly's hands—azure and gold energies swirling up her arms. Even Kafka seemed stunned.

"So you really can ignite the sea..."

"Listen." Kafka grasped Firefly's wrist, amethyst eyes piercing. "Stay calm."

A tear slid down Firefly's cheek, vaporizing midair. "I... can't. I need to see him."