"Hey, Kevin."

He stopped in his tracks when you called out for him. He turned around, glanced at you.

"What is it?"

He asked, not only is the air surrounding him cold, but his demeanor and tone is cold as well. Such an aura belongs to someone like him...

"The readings just went crazy in the northern regions, the 9th Herrscher has descended."

"... Let's not waste any time. We must depart now."

Kevin did not waste any moment to digest the information, as the enemy has brought the fight to his world, he must answer immediately. Luckily, with other MANTIS such as you, his burden was greatly reduced to some degrees...

"Hey, Kevin."

"What is it?"

"You think we will ever win?"

"Don't ask such questions."

"I wanna know your opinion."

Kevin did not answer.

"Aye boss..."

You parted ways with Kevin as he went to his own personal carrier, while you were better off with the other MANTIS...

"John."

"?"

"No matter what horrors Honkai will be having for us, mankind will prevail. And it is our duty to fight for it, and to see it, that promised peace." - Kevin said, those words gave you confidence.

"Mhm! Of course!"

Kevin single-handedly slayed the Herrscher of Stars, but it was not without delays on his way, because of such delays, one MANTIS was lost in the chaos of battle...

"Hah... Now I think about it... If that hadn't happened, I wouldn't be here at all..." - You sighed as you smiled to yourself, reminiscing about the moments before your adventure into the Sea of Quanta...

A lot has changed, you are no longer grieving.

"Now then... Let's get to work, shall we?"

You stood atop a pile of furniture floating in the bubble world, looking at a newly formed fissure, releasing countless particles into this world, which will soon gather around to form Quantum Shadows...

Sorry, everyone.

I would have stand by your side

You charged straight ahead, alone, into the chaotic and disordered swarm of Quantum Shadows marching towards a sector of bubble worlds.

I hope you will forgive me.

But I won't give up.

I will take my own path from now on.

"Thank you, honored champion. Your contribution shall not be forgotten. This world owes you a great debt."

As you finished your quest to some random witch in a bubble world to help her find a serpent devouring blade, you departed from the world...

...

You sighed, as you finished all the missions Sa has given you... A total management over more than three hundred worlds, exhausting amount of work, really, but many worlds don't need a second check for quite a long time, so it's not too tiring after all.

It is time to go home, back to Sa. You can't thank her enough, for she has given you courage and hope again. And recently, unlike before, you expressed less of your clingy love to her.

No, it wasn't because your love for her has faded... But rather... It feels more passionate now, whenever you think about Sa, instead of the usual happiness and warmth in your chest, you feel that your heart is doing its thing and letting you feel it... As if it was exciting.

You finally got back to Sa's domain, a familiar place, the source of your happiness.

"I'm back." - You walked inside, eyes immediately searched for Sa, starting from where she often sat at the most. And immediately saw her figure sitting there as always, but this time it is different.

Sa was... Sleeping? She buried her head inside her arms, which were both placed on the desk, it was as if she was a white-collar worker who had been on overtime for quite a while without any rest, and suddenly today after finishing a small portion of work, passed out on the workstation.

You were very surprised, because you have never seen her do something such as relaxing, let alone taking a nap right now at where she usually focuses on working.

She must have been really tired, even if she is really capable of working for a long time without any rest, you couldn't help but to take a closer look at her sleeping face... does she drool? Nope. Does she snore? Nope.

Just a peaceful sleeping face... You smiled.

You truly love her.

You want to confess to her, everything you have on your mind.

Not just like those clingy lines, but even more honest than before, and is willing to take responsibility for her.

You wish to... But you don't find the courage... Yet...

"Thank you, Sa.

I am really... Truly grateful. Even if these might seem insignificant to you... But you have helped me, gave me another light. And gave me hope.

I truly want to stay by your side... From now until the end of times.

I wish to be the man by your side...

I wish to be there with you... During the hardships... And every moment."

Sa was sleeping, she could not listen to your words, coming out from your mouth as a whisper.

But someday, you will be able to say it better to her, directly, and that will be the end of the story...

You chuckled to yourself.

"I just sounded like those romance manga protagonists didn't I..." - You chuckled as you stood up, your eyes clinging onto Sa's sleeping face for a bit before turning away.

Then you started to clean the domain up... It's been a while since you last cleaned things, also to prepare a meal.

Unbeknownst to you, Sa was awake for quite a while now, but she didn't know if she should get up, especially since you whispered these words right next to her...

Although just slightly and you didn't get to see it... But Sa blushed slightly.