66. Aponia: just how many fated ones do you have?!
Above the stratosphere, a stealth fighter of MOTH was speeding rapidly towards the MOTH headquarters.
Inside the cockpit, Sakura was piloting her own fighter with a grave expression. The Mantis's operations didn't require any tracking, and any hidden locators had been completely disabled by her.
Though she didn't fully trust that child, Sakura couldn't explain how he possessed the power of a MANTIS. If Rin had really been targeted by these people...
Right now, she just wanted to return... to demand answers.
But before that, she needed to ensure her younger sister's safety.
After that...
Sakura couldn't help but glance towards the co-pilot seat beside her. The man dressed in black, wearing a black mask, whose heart she had pierced not long ago, was now alive and well, resting quietly with his arms crossed.
He carried no aura of a MANTIS at all—truly a monster.
"The higher-ups of the Mantis once had me investigate rumors about you. They said you were a man who fell from the sky. I didn't expect you to ambush us first—did you eliminate the Herrscher of Ice alone, or with the help of this child?"
To this, Kalpas sneered.
"None of your business! I only kill those I want to kill and protect those I want to protect. I'm happy if the wicked die—if a good person has to die... whoever killed them, I'll make them pay!"
Turning his head to look at the man and woman whispering behind the fighter, a slight smile tugged at Kalpas's lips.
Though Kalpas would never admit it, he had been quite happy these past few days.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Gao Qi was sitting obediently beside Aponia, speaking to her in a low voice.
[You confessed your fabricated lie to Aponia. In the past, you had never deceived her, but for her sake and the future of the children at the sanatorium, you forcibly added the backstory of being a "MOTH test subject" to your past.]
[You know Aponia cannot see through your lies, but even though you didn't ask, Aponia expressed her desire to accompany you.]
[You are uncertain whether this simulated world is a timeline you have visited before, but after asking Sakura, you confirmed that she does not know of a MANTIS named "Jörmungandr."]
[Nevertheless, you have prepared for both possibilities. You are well aware of the distribution of defensive forces within MOTH at this point in time.]
[Kalpas has been working at the sanatorium for quite a while. The 7th Eruption just ended not long ago, and the 8th Eruption is still distant. Without your existence, MANTIS technology would have only emerged recently.]
[Aponia has not yet become a MANTIS, but experiments on several other MANTIS candidates should already be underway.]
[After Kosma's rampage, Mei and Mobius established specific countermeasures for each MOTH soldier—even including Mobius herself. You are already deeply familiar with these.]
[This time, you plan to storm the MOTH headquarters head-on.]
[But, another problem you face is even more serious: you have hurt... the girl most important to you.]
"You said, Zero, that one shouldn't sacrifice and devote everything to try and change another's fate—right?"
Sitting quietly beside Gao Qi, holding his cold hand, Aponia's voice was filled with sorrow.
"You... this power is consuming your own life, isn't it?"
She couldn't see through Gao Qi's heart, but she could see his fate. No matter how normal Gao Qi appeared, she knew his frail body could barely support him anymore.
A month? Or a week? She might lose this lovely, sensible child before her—her future lover—at any moment.
His originally firm fate, connected to hers, had now become exceedingly fragile, as if it could break at any time.
Changing fate is so difficult, yet for the boy before her, fate seemed like a doll to be dressed up and altered at will.
In his presence, fate seemed ever-changeable. He was so special, yet he was willing to give up his precious life for her sake—Aponia didn't know whether to feel grateful or moved at this moment.
"Mmm... I knew I couldn't hide it from you, Sister Aponia. I... just didn't want anything to happen to you all."
Gao Qi now looked somewhat embarrassed. He had just lectured Aponia not long ago, hoping she wouldn't sacrifice herself too much for others, and now he had turned around and sought death for Aponia and the sanatorium—it was rather awkward.
"I know. Miss Sakura told me about her mission and about MOTH... You saved the children of the sanatorium, and you saved me and Kalpas. I understand."
Aponia's voice was sad, but not angry. She simply pulled Gao Qi into her embrace, as if wanting to feel his warmth one last time, her light blue eyes filled with sorrow.
"I know this is your decision. I won't stop you, but... I'm just a little sad, mmh..."
Before she could finish, Gao Qi gently pressed his lips to hers. After a long, tender moment, they slowly parted.
And Gao Qi seemed to have made a certain resolution—a decision born from the sorrow of several separations.
"Sister Aponia, I need to tell you something, a secret only you will know. Perhaps… even if I die, the tangled fate between us can continue."
Gao Qi looked earnestly at the surprised Aponia. If he said these words to anyone else—whether to Hua or Mobius—they would surely think he was talking nonsense. But Aponia was different. She had the ability to verify it.
"Let's make a bet, Sister Aponia. After I die, you can see whether the threads of our fate are still connected. I'm not speaking wildly, but for me, death is just a journey. Maybe… we can meet again."
Gao Qi didn't want Aponia to grieve, but how could death be something to laugh off? The only method he could think of… was to tell another lie, one that was ninety percent truth.
He couldn't explain the simulation system, but if she understood it as something like a "parallel world," "another plane," or "reincarnation," perhaps Aponia could accept it a little better.
"Don't worry, Sister Aponia. You are my destined choice. You said our fates are linked, so you are my fated one. I believe we won't be separated because of this, right?"
However, what he didn't expect was that the very second after he spoke, Aponia widened her eyes in surprise.
"Eh— Mm, I believe you!"
Such an unwavering reply actually left Gao Qi stunned for a moment. Seriously, she's this easy to convince? Sister, you may be religious, but you can't believe everything so easily!
But in Aponia's eyes, Gao Qi's "confession" brought an unexpected effect.
The "fate" connecting them once again grew firm—not like a chain tightly binding them together, but like a long, flowing ribbon, seemingly able to cross all hardships, all time and space.
"No, I… see fate. Our fates will definitely connect again."
This sudden change filled Aponia with joy. She clearly felt that their connection still existed. Perhaps… he really wasn't wrong?
"I know, you are my fated one. Then… can you tell me your real name? No one could really be named 'Zero,' right?"
With a faint smile, the fear in Aponia's eyes regarding Gao Qi's death vanished. She seemed to suddenly see things clearly, gently stroking Gao Qi's cool little head, appearing exceptionally moved.
"Mm… Gao Qi. Call me Gao Qi. That's my truest name, Sister Aponia."
Gao Qi was also a bit surprised. He nodded lightly and continued to hold Aponia—talking with the future Great Prophet truly made one feel incredibly at ease.
"Gao Qi… what a good name. Then, Gao Qi, even if the seas run dry and the rocks crumble, my fate will be with you. And you will be my one and only."
Perhaps this parting would hold no regrets. Or even, in Aponia's view, this might not be a parting at all—she would forever exclusively possess this secret-filled child.
Gao Qi thought: Sister Aponia might even be more amazing than my simulation system. Who knows?
[And so, with Sakura piloting, your aircraft passed verification from the Fire Moth control tower.]
[you easily infiltrated the Fire Moth headquarters.]
[Returning to the old place felt as familiar as coming home. After watching you effortlessly lead the three of them past Fire Moth patrols, Sakura believed you indeed had deep connections here.]
[You disguised yourselves as Sakura's subordinates, following her to visit her cute younger sister, Rin, whom you weren't familiar with. She placed Rin in a safe location and then decided not to waste time, heading straight for the Fire Moth high-level council.]
[To this day, the Fire Moth headquarters had become the safest place. These high-ranking officials who cherished their lives, after Australia was engulfed in flames, had all moved into the headquarters.]
[You had threatened them before, preventing them from interfering with the constraints on Mobius. This time, you felt you needed an even more thorough method to deal with them.]
[During this process, you only needed to face one MANTIS—the strongest MANTIS, Kevin!]
[However, you didn't expect that just as you approached the council building, you suddenly saw two familiar figures.]
[Hua and Mobius were walking side by side out of the council building, as if they had just finished some discussion. Their appearances hadn't changed much from your memories, though without you around, Mobius had become quite slovenly, just like her original self.]
[Hua and Mobius weren't familiar with each other. At this time, Hua had just lost her squad leader, her team disbanded, while Mobius was already a MANTIS. The two had almost no交集. You felt a hint of strangeness.]
[Could it be that they know you? Are this your little Hua and your Mobius?]
[Thinking this, you signaled the other three to wait, then waved at the two, walking up to them just to confirm.]
"Sister Fu Hua, Sister Mobius, hello!"
Upon seeing them, Aponia was stunned for a long moment. Then, her gentle eyes seemed to lose their light. She suddenly walked behind Gao Qi and reached out to poke him hard.
Aponia saw that from Gao Qi's body, threads of fate abruptly split into two branches, eagerly and excitedly flowing into the bodies of those two girls she had never met before, like young swallows returning to their nest.
You little rascal—just how many fated ones do you have?!
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
Please support the original author: warboss
Raw: 崩坏模拟器,你找的人是我么?