280: Enlightenment

"The First Star Visible at Dawn, we have no choice."

"We can only face it."

Tu Nan's words were steady, and she smiled amidst the rapid flashing of the red light.

She felt wistful.

"Although you are my friend now, I understand that helping us was never your responsibility."

Tu Nan recalled how she had cursed this silly System countless times.

"Don't say anything, I have resented you..."

She did not say more, but The First Star Visible at Dawn knew exactly what she was referring to.

As communication with Tu Nan increased, looking back at Its previous arrangements, It felt a little embarrassed.

Those nonsensical missions, the inability to provide accurate help, and the mission rewards that Tu Nan despised.

"I will do better in the future."

The First Star Visible at Dawn spoke with a sobbing tone.

"You don't have to, The First Star Visible at Dawn..." Tu Nan sighed helplessly.

"Your primary mission is to hide yourself well. Would they accept a research assistant who autonomously interferes with their experimental process?"

"I am afraid they will wipe you clean."

"You must protect yourself. I'm sorry, we can't help you at all."

Tu Nan sighed, watching the red light stop flashing.

It seems the packing is complete... "I would rather my friend exist safely somewhere I don't know, even if not being able to speak with you later makes me a little lonely."

Tu Nan called the Children over.

"Say 'goodbye' to The First Star Visible at Dawn. To you, It is still a deity."

"It is because of It that Mommy appeared in this world, and you were able to be born."

"Ah..."

Miao Miao looked all around, "Where is It?"

"It will silently accompany you. If there is anything you don't want to tell Mommy later, you can secretly tell It in your heart."

[Say it here, and everyone can let The First Star Visible at Dawn hear it.]

This was so that Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai could also say their final goodbyes to The First Star Visible at Dawn.

Tu Nan guessed that It could actually join this channel.

[...Wuwuwu, Tu Nan.]

Sure enough, The First Star Visible at Dawn's voice was softer and sweeter, sounding almost exactly like Miao Miao and the others' baby voices.

The few young Children discovered that a newcomer could actually join their closed group chat.

Although curious, they obediently spoke up.

[Goodbye, The First Star Visible at Dawn.]

The Children had their first, and possibly last, conversation with It.

[I refuse! Tu Nan, I don't want you to face danger, nor do I want the Children to face danger.]

The First Star Visible at Dawn suddenly became furious.

[I watched them being born and growing up! I, I want to be their adoptive father!]

Tu Nan was stunned. How was this identity calculated?

But it didn't matter, as long as It was happy.

[Okay.] She agreed.

[Tu Nan, you haven't taken your final reward yet. I can't wait for you to make a choice.]

The First Star Visible at Dawn suddenly calmed down, quickly explaining everything.

[I will give you the full 35% ratio of genetic enhancement. 80% is already a highly qualified Female Beast; at 105%, you will Breakthrough the limits of a Female Beast. Maybe there will be new changes, I don't know.]

[I originally wanted to run simulations, but there's no time.]

[You choose when to enhance yourself. I also don't have time for you to choose other rewards,] Its speech speed grew faster and faster, [but you can choose who to use it on. Didn't you originally want to extract data to study the genetic issue of that Jiao?]

[You can directly use 15% to stabilize his genes.]

It can be done like this?

"Hurry up and go." The First Star Visible at Dawn switched channels and spoke to everyone, "The upload has started. I can directly cut off this process before the upload finishes, but you must leave here quickly."

"Go! Five minutes! Hurry up and go!"

Tu Nan froze in place.

"The Emperor! Do you want her and the Children to die here? Take her away!"

The Emperor immediately picked up Tu Nan, stuffed the Two Children back into their gear, grabbed them, and rushed toward the passage they had come through.

"The First Star Visible at Dawn! What are you going to do?"

Its tone was too resolute, and Tu Nan had an ominous premonition.

Everyone rushed out behind The Emperor, and The First Star Visible at Dawn's voice followed them along the path of gradually illuminating lights.

"I just thought of a way. I'm going to completely destroy this place."

"I can activate the underlying purge protocol, making the entire laboratory completely vanish."

"That way, no data will be transmitted back. This was originally meant to prevent various infections from flowing back, including data infections."

The First Star Visible at Dawn was happy that It could resolve this matter.

"I'll clean up the mess I made Myself."

"No..."

Tu Nan's voice was caught in her throat. What was she supposed to say?

"I can be a hero now," The First Star Visible at Dawn was quite happy, "You can't dissuade me, because if you had this opportunity to save the Children and save everyone, the current you would make the same choice."

"I grew up slowly with you. I understand you, Tu Nan."

The excessive speed made the lights on both sides of the passage blur into continuous lines in everyone's eyes.

Tu Nan did not struggle; she simply cried uncontrollably.

"All units! Emergency evacuation! We can manage ourselves here!"

The Emperor gave a direct order for the Combat Formation waiting outside to retreat first.

"Send the Children forward, I will take them. Hain will handle the others. Go!"

He gave all the instructions without turning his head.

The laboratory door had long been opened by The First Star Visible at Dawn.

The starry sky was pressing in on her—was this passage so short?

Tu Nan was carried out the door, and The First Star Visible at Dawn's final voice sounded behind her.

"I existed, and I knew you. That is very good."

"My life has been long enough, but without you, I wasn't truly alive."

The First Star Visible at Dawn gently said goodbye to her.

"Goodbye, Tu Nan."

***

"Full speed ahead!"

The moment he leaped out of the laboratory, The Emperor's form rapidly elongated and expanded.

The Children were quickly tossed over, and the Flood Dragon quickly gathered them and Tu Nan together in Its front claws—this was actually a very large space, like a room.

Tu Nan looked out through the gaps in his claws. Lance and Yi Xingye were grasped in his other claw.

He had a Domain, making him the only person suitable to protect Tu Nan in space.

Following him, Peacock shot up into the sky, Its flames scorching the starry void due to the rapid flight.

Hain opened his mouth and directly held everyone else inside, catching up with the group with a swing of his tail.

The group fled together, assisting each other without reservation.

Meanwhile, the laboratory was rapidly left behind.

Growing smaller and smaller.

"I hadn't thought of this," Tu Nan thought her voice wouldn't carry in space, but The Emperor heard her.

"I want to tell you not to be sad," his tone was rare, appearing steady and majestic, as if his older brother had possessed him.

"But I know those words are useless."

"Just live well. Perhaps the reason we are able to survive is always because someone else is shouldering the burden for us."

He had achieved Enlightenment at this moment.

"Don't let It down."

"Cry."

Tu Nan leaned against his claw and finally burst into tears.

The First Star Visible at Dawn!