I am a former Flame Chasers

The small building had become increasingly lively. Pardofelis now had a playmate, and Aponia had found a kindred spirit. But the happiest person of all was Elysia. Her "Spring Cherry Courtyard" had welcomed a new guest, and she was busy all day preparing daily necessities and arranging rooms, just like a real hotel owner.

According to Elysia, the building was too small, and there weren't enough guests. She imagined it would be even better if people from all over the world could stay there. She would definitely make friends with everyone.

"How could I possibly have thousands of mansions to shelter all the poor people in the world?" she mused.

Ryan, leaning against the wall and watching the scene unfold, grinned. "You're quite the romantic."

Elysia paused, glancing back at him with a teasing smile. "You've caught on, huh? Does it disgust you?"

"Not really, but there's no need to hide it from me." Ryan shook his head. He had been meaning to ask about something. "By the way, what did you talk about when you took Mobius and the others to the room last night?"

"I was helping you scout the enemy. Do you want to know the result of the truth or dare game?" Elysia turned her attention back to the TV screen, her excitement from earlier fading away.

Ryan chuckled. "Good one. Still the gold medal wingman, huh? Nice job."

He was tempted to push further, but ultimately held back. "Forget it. It's better to leave some things a mystery. It's rare to feel confused."

Elysia smiled playfully. "Same here. If you already know the gift, it won't be a surprise. That's why I kept it from you."

She looked over at Pardofelis, who was stuffing potato chips into her mouth. "But not everyone's just playing around. Pardo came to me yesterday and said she wanted to undergo Project Soldier surgery."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, surprised. He hadn't expected the timid Pardofelis to take the initiative and risk something like that. For a moment, he felt a bit relieved. Despite the lively atmosphere in this little courtyard, the world's trajectory hadn't changed. The joy they shared was like a precious gift, one he wanted to protect.

"You're handling these things well," Ryan said, his expression turning serious. "Happiness is short-lived, though. If we want to keep it going, we can only rely on strength."

He clenched his fists, and the joking demeanor fell away. His fighting spirit flared up stronger than before. He was used to beauty, but could never accept tragedy.

Elysia seemed to share that sentiment. "Yes, we have to fight for everyone. Is this what it means to be attached to life?"

Ryan's heart stirred. He tilted his head, reflecting on her words. They were too true. Even in the face of death, the will to live would always pull him back. He wanted Elysia to remember what she had just said.

"So don't sacrifice yourself easily, and don't let the living be filled with pain. Let's eat."

Ryan moved toward the dining table, but Elysia stayed behind, her gaze lingering on him as she repeated his words quietly to herself. Her eyes had lost some of their usual brightness.

If that day ever came, Elysia thought, she'd also hesitate just a little.

Today, it was Hua's turn to cook, and although the meal was simple, everyone was happy with it. Hua's cooking skills weren't as refined as Sakura's, but the group was content, and they all joked that they'd show off their skills next time.

Ryan didn't care much for the food itself. What mattered was the warmth around the table, the smiles, and the sense of having tasted all the joys of life recently. Occasionally, he glanced at Elysia, still enjoying her life to the fullest.

Ryan never asked about her current state or how much of her powers had awakened. He knew that her gift, whatever it was, was sincere. There was no rush to push her, but he had his own thoughts about it. It would be too tragic for someone who longed to embrace everything to have their story end so soon.

As long as she was by his side, Elysia could enjoy life for as long as possible.

That comfort was Ryan's anchor in this journey, and he hoped to hold onto it, letting the elf's steps slow, just for a moment.

He didn't think much about how the fate of the world would change if the "Human Ruler" didn't die. Reason told him that, according to the original rules, the chances of success were high, but he didn't want to see Elysia's beauty shattered by that fate.

If the courtyard were destroyed, and only a tenth of the people at the table survived, Ryan would be struck with an overwhelming loneliness, one that would make his heart stop for a moment. He didn't want to make that choice, so he simply observed quietly.

"Griseo, don't be picky. Celery is very nutritious," Aponia gently advised, placing the celery that had been pushed aside back into the girl's bowl.

Griseo, who was only about five or six years old, had yet to lose her baby fat. She was chubby and adorable. Pointing to the side, she whispered, "But Sister Pardo doesn't eat green peppers. I saw her secretly give them to Sister Hua."

Pardofelis shot her a guilty look. "How could I? It's because Hua likes green peppers that I gave them to her."

Aponia smiled gently, encouraging, "That's a good child. You're the older sister, so you should set an example."

Pardo tried to argue, "Hua's only a few years older than me. She's younger than me developmentally."

"What are you talking about, Pardo?" Aponia's voice was even more gentle, but Hua, standing nearby, clenched her fists, causing a "clicking" sound.

The timid Pardofelis reluctantly picked up the green peppers and ate them, her face flushing. Griseo, ever observant, noticed everything.

"Brother Kosma is eating and playing games, Aunt Himeko is secretly drinking, Sister Vil-V is feeding the robot dog, and Sister Hua doesn't eat herself but always picks food for Uncle Ryan!"

The childish chatter filled the room, making everyone laugh. Blanca, standing nearby, approached and told Griseo to stop complaining and eat properly.

Ryan couldn't help but laugh at how a little girl had the fusion warriors all tangled up in her words. Griseo's sharp observation skills were impressive for a child, and it reminded Ryan that not everyone could be a hero.

He placed his chopsticks down and said softly, "Adults have their own reasons. For example, Vil-V just wants to experiment with the bio-energy robot. That's not being picky. And by the way, you're not allowed to call me 'uncle.'"

Griseo tilted her head, swinging her little legs back and forth. "So Uncle Ryan is performing magic? How come the mushroom that Sister Hua picked up for you disappeared before it even reached your mouth?"

Everyone stared at Ryan, some of them blushing in embarrassment. Ryan's cheeks twitched. He hadn't expected to get caught in such a situation. But as an adult, he couldn't get mad at a child. Instead, he raised his hand and flicked a textbook at Pardo, who had been snickering.

"Griseo, since you're about to enter elementary school, I'll give you a set of test papers. You'd better do them well."

Griseo took the papers with confusion, and the others looked at Ryan with a mix of disbelief and amusement. A general manager retaliating against a little girl? Truly shameless.

Ignoring their stares, Ryan handed the last few pieces of mushrooms to Elysia, freezing the smile on her face.

"You're hiding it, too. Don't think I didn't see it."

After dinner, Ryan sat in the living room, cradling a cup of special scented tea, curled up comfortably on the sofa. He absentmindedly smiled as he thought about what had just happened at the table.

He had gotten used to this peaceful life over the past two or three days. Leisurely, calm, and without any real conflicts. It was such a contrast to the chaotic times when he had seized control of the Fire Moth, and it sometimes made him feel unmotivated.

After so many adventures, he found himself hoping that this peaceful life would last. Humans were creatures who loved to be lazy and hated hard work.

But Ryan knew better. Taking a sip of his tea, his eyes hardened.

"The Honkai won't let me live in comfort for long. The eighth Herrscher is coming."

Based on Skynet's calculations, Ryan could roughly estimate the timing of the next Herrscher's arrival. Mei had also been strengthening her defenses in preparation. If it was the Herrscher of Sentience, it would be a tricky situation, but nothing they couldn't handle. It would likely end up being a group fight, but with many spiritual fusion warriors, they could set a trap.

Suddenly, he thought of Su and decided it was time to pull him into the group. His thoughts drifted to Kevin, who was also on his mind. Glancing at the clock, it was already nine in the evening.

"Mobius isn't coming back tonight. She won't be performing surgery on Kalpas directly," he mused.

Ryan didn't need to gamble at this point. His focus was on the success rate, and if combat effectiveness was the priority, he might as well push Kevin into the fray.

But then again, with Blanca here, she would surely come back to check on things.

Ryan frowned slightly, still feeling uneasy. Reaching for his phone, he grabbed it off the table just as the tremor hit. The moment his hand made contact, he stood up as if shocked.

An earthquake? No.

His foot trembled briefly, but the sensation passed quickly. This was not normal.

Before he could react, the bathroom door opened, and Sakura, wrapped in a bathrobe, rushed out, clutching a knife.

Water dripped from her thighs, her pink hair wet, and her figure barely clothed. But neither of them had any time to appreciate the sight. They simply locked eyes, both understanding that something was wrong.

"Get everyone dressed, block the entrances, and leave someone to guard the house."

"Yes."

Sakura didn't seem fazed by the urgency and prepared herself for a fight. When Hua rushed out of the bathroom, she glanced at the window, which was shaking lightly.

"What's going on?" Hua asked, her voice tight with concern. She subconsciously looked at the kitchen, where there were still dishes to clean.

"Well, you won't forget what kind of world we live in," Sakura replied flatly, eyes cold as steel.

This week had felt too easy, like she was back in school, and she had even started planning how to spend time alone with her senior.

But as Sakura reminded her, the enemy wouldn't wait for a greeting or offer time to prepare, just like the sudden arrival of the third Collapse.

Taking a deep breath, Hua nodded solemnly.

"I haven't forgotten. I dare not forget."