Chapter 308: The Star's Choice
The brilliant purple light gradually receded, leaving behind a pristine scroll resting quietly in Stelle's palm. It contained the Gene Lock cultivation system, radiating a deep, almost magnetic aura that tugged at her senses. According to the Chat Group's detailed introduction, this unique path toward the very essence of life and evolution possessed the sheer potential to rewrite the rules of reality itself. If she could master its cultivation, the boost to her own combat prowess would be immeasurable.
Yet, faced with an opportunity that would drive any power-hungry warrior completely mad, Stelle fell into an uncharacteristic silence.
The initial thrill of the gacha pull faded from her golden eyes. Her gaze seemed to pierce right through the ancient parchment, drifting far away into her own memories. She saw the neon-lit dreamscapes of Penacony, and the gentle girl who had stood by her side beneath the fireworks—Firefly. A girl trapped by a cruel, inescapable reality.
Firefly, the last surviving member of Glamoth's Iron Cavalry.
Her very existence was born from a desperate, apocalyptic war against the cosmic disaster known as the Swarm. Engineered carefully as living biological weapons, the Iron Cavalry possessed terrifying combat capabilities. But their creators were paranoid. To ensure these weapons remained perfectly leashed, the Republic of Glamoth had carved a vicious set of shackles directly into their genetic code.
This fundamental defect was inherited right alongside their immense power. For Firefly, it manifested as Entropy Loss Syndrome—a relentless, agonizing condition that continuously devoured her life force, slowly fading her physical structure into nothingness. Because she was the sole surviving specimen of her kind, this incredibly rare terminal illness lacked any universal research value. Across the vast cosmos, medical experts had practically declared it incurable. The best anyone could do was offer temporary measures, barely delaying the inevitable end.
But now...
Stelle's fingers tightened around the edges of the scroll. She could practically feel the thrumming mysteries hidden within its parchment—secrets dedicated entirely to shattering the biological limitations of life.
A wild, unmatched idea took root in her chest, growing with an unstoppable momentum. The Gene Lock. A system literally designed to shatter genetic shackles and forcefully unleash a living being's hidden potential. Could this be the key? Could this system sever the invisible chains dragging Firefly toward her death? Could it finally open the door to the normal life the silver-haired girl so desperately craved?
The thought spread like a wildfire, consuming all her previous focus on personal strength. The chaotic, childlike euphoria that usually accompanied a high-tier gacha pull vanished completely from her features. In its place, a heavy, complex expression settled over her—a mixture of deep contemplation, overwhelming hope, and a crushing sense of responsibility.
She stared blankly at the shifting purple halo radiating from the scroll. It symbolized infinite possibilities, the ultimate mysteries of biological evolution. Yet, looking through that light, Stelle didn't see herself ascending to godhood. Across the endless expanse of the starry sea, she envisioned a different future. She saw a silver-haired girl finally stepping out of her medical cabin, entirely free from the agonizing torment of her illness, her face blooming with a genuinely carefree smile beneath a blue sky.
That single, fragile image moved Stelle far more than the promise of any universe-shattering power.
Her sudden, heavy silence stood in stark contrast to her usual animated cheering. March 7th and Mimi exchanged bewildered glances.
"Stelle? What's wrong?" March leaned closer, her vibrant azure eyes swimming with concern. She watched her friend silently clutching the scroll, her knuckles turning white. Recalling a previous incident where Stelle had pulled a frustratingly restrictive item, March's imagination immediately supplied a plausible explanation.
She hurried forward, waving a hand back and forth in front of the Trailblazer's unblinking eyes. "Earth to Stelle! Snap out of it!" she coaxed, forcing a light, encouraging tone. "Did you... did you draw one of those super powerful, but totally one-time-use consumables again? Like some ultimate, bottom-of-the-box treasure that can blow up a whole planet, but poofs into dust after a single use?"
March tried her best to chase away what she assumed was Stelle's bitter disappointment. "Hey, it's okay! I know you usually act like you've been robbed of a hundred million credits when you get a consumable, but think about it! It's like having the ultimate insurance policy for our trailblazing expeditions! When a crucial, life-or-death moment hits, you can just whip it out, turn the tide, and save the world! We're definitely going to run into some massive disaster where it'll be absolutely indispensable, so don't stress over it too much."
Hovering nearby, the little creature chimed in with supportive squeaks. "Mimi, Mi, Mi~" (It's okay, it's okay! Don't be sad! Your luck will definitely be better next time~ You'll pull something even more amazing!)
The genuine, warm concern radiating from her companions finally snapped Stelle out of her heavy trance. Blinking rapidly, she realized her brooding had needlessly worried them. She quickly lifted her head, a smile returning to her lips—though this time, it lacked its usual chaotic edge, replaced by a quiet, solemn anticipation.
"No, no, my luck was actually incredibly good this time. All thanks to Mimi," Stelle quickly clarified. She reached out with her free hand, affectionately rubbing Mimi's soft, squishy head. The little being leaned into the touch, emitting a contented, vibrating "Mi~ Mi~".
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Stelle held the scroll out so March 7th could see it clearly. Her golden eyes were bright and entirely resolute. "I'm not disappointed at all. I just... my mind wandered to something else. March, what I pulled isn't a one-time consumable. It's a brand-new cultivation method. A very, very special one."
"Eh? A new cultivation method?" March 7th tilted her head, her pink hair bouncing with the motion. "Isn't that a great thing? Why did you look so gloomy just now?"
"Because this specific cultivation method..." Stelle paused, swallowing hard. "Perhaps... it might actually be able to cure Firefly's Entropy Loss Syndrome."
Her voice carried a barely perceptible tremor. It was a fragile mix of overwhelming excitement at voicing the astonishing theory aloud, and a terrifying undercurrent of apprehension—a deep-seated fear of hoping for a miracle that might slip through her fingers.
"Firefly... wait, the girl from the Stellaron Hunters?" March 7th blinked, stunned for a fraction of a second before her azure eyes lit up like supernovas. "Really?! Stelle, that's wonderful!"
Although Firefly technically belonged to the Stellaron Hunters—a faction whose moral stance and ultimate goals remained frustratingly ambiguous—she had undeniably put her life on the line to help Stelle and the Astral Express Crew multiple times during the chaos of Penacony. The raw sincerity the girl had shown, coupled with the suffocating weight of her tragic fate, made it impossible for March 7th to harbor even a shred of ill will toward her.
On the contrary, hearing that a friend finally had a tangible hope of curing a supposedly terminal illness filled March's heart with genuine, unadulterated joy. She nodded vigorously, her face breaking into a radiant, pure smile. "It would be absolutely amazing if she could really be cured!"
"Mi? Mimi! Mi~" (Firefly? Is she Stelle and March 7th's friend? Helping friends is a super awesome thing to do, and I fully support your decision!)
Although Mimi still wasn't entirely clear on who this 'Firefly' person was, the little creature could easily sense the overwhelming goodwill and fierce determination radiating from both Stelle and March 7th. Recognizing their desire to save a cherished companion, Mimi immediately threw her full, enthusiastic support behind the idea.
Receiving the unreserved, immediate support of her closest companions sent a deep wave of warmth surging through Stelle's chest. A powerful, purple-grade cultivation system was certainly a priceless treasure, but compared to securing the smiles and the very future of her cherished friends, what did personal power even matter?
System points could always be accumulated again. Rare treasures could always be drawn from the gacha another day. But if she missed this fleeting opportunity to save a companion's life, it would become an eternal, agonizing regret that would haunt her forever. On her personal scale of values, the bonds of friendship would always outweigh mere profit.
"Thank you, guys," Stelle said softly. A deeply relieved and resolute smile finally graced her features.
With careful care, she opened her system interface and solemnly placed the Gene Lock scroll into the absolute safest, most secure slot in the Chat Group's dimensional warehouse. She handled it not as a mere tool for power, but as a weighty, precious promise of hope.
After safely securing her most important gain, Stelle finally turned her attention back to the remaining loot from her ten-pull.
Most of the lingering lights hovering in the air were dull whites and greens, appearing quite ordinary. There were a few irrelevant, mundane books, some common mechanical tool parts, and a few sets of plain, everyday clothing.
"Well, it seems like all your good luck was entirely concentrated into that single purple draw," March 7th commented, leaning over Stelle's shoulder to inspect the lackluster pile.
"Hmm, yeah, but..." Stelle's golden gaze suddenly snagged on one of the faint green light clusters. Reaching out, she pulled the item from the glow.
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