I'm a little panicked when I cross the collapse

Mebius had only been imprisoned in the Moth of Fire's cell for a few days when something significant happened there.

Eden, a singer with global top influence, announced his official joining of Moth Chaser during the darkest hour when people needed spiritual comfort the most.

At that time, the frequent collapse disasters that broke out around the world had long since broken through the shackles of geography, spreading from the fall of scattered cities to a catastrophe that swept across the continent. Former prosperous cities were reduced to ashes, and the survivors struggled to survive in fear and despair.

As the core fighting force against the Honkai, the Moths have long since shed their initial veil of secrecy and stepped out from behind the scenes.

At this juncture, Eden's addition is undoubtedly a shot in the arm—her songs have comforted countless hearts, her name carries the power to move people's hearts, and with her support, at least a lot of riots caused by the collapse of fear can be reduced.

Therefore, the leadership of the Moth of Fire attached great importance to this matter, and the welcoming ceremony prepared for Eden was of such a high standard that it was extremely rare in the base's receptions in recent years.

The plaza at the main gate of the base had been cleaned up long ago. The open space, which is usually used for combat readiness drills, was covered with a neat light gray carpet today, and the soldiers standing in formation on both sides stood tall and straight.

Several core executives were waiting at the entrance, each with a perfectly warm smile on their face, their eyes all fixed on the hovercar approaching from afar.

As the vehicle, with its simple yet sophisticated lines, slowly landed and the cabin door opened smoothly, the wind in the square seemed to soften a bit.

Eden wore a well-tailored off-white long dress with delicate silver threads adorning the hem, creating the illusion of flowing starlight as she walked. Her long hair was loosely tied up, with only a few strands hanging down her neck, making her face, which was usually seen on posters and screens, appear even more beautiful and gentle.

She was elegant and composed, and even in the chilling atmosphere of the Moth Chaser base, her artistic aura was not diminished by the surrounding coldness; instead, it created a wonderful harmony.

"Miss Eden, Moth Chaser warmly welcomes you to the company." The leading executive stepped forward first, his tone warm, gesturing with his hand, his joy undisguised. The other executives nodded in agreement, their smiles genuine, their happiness evident to all.

Eden nodded slightly, a signature gentle smile playing on his lips. His voice was clear and melodious, like the clinking of jade stones, yet with a touch of the unique gentleness of a song: "Please don't stand on ceremony, everyone. Joining the Moth of Flames is a decision I made after much deliberation. In the face of the Honkai, no one can remain unscathed. Although I am an artist, I want to do my part, even if it's just to sing a song for the soldiers on the front lines and bring a little comfort to the survivors. That would be enough."

Her words were gentle yet firm, devoid of any arrogance typical of top celebrities, instead exuding a reassuring power. The senior executives were even more pleased upon hearing this, exchanging a few more pleasantries with her, inquiring whether her journey had been tiring and whether her accommodations and arrangements needed adjustment. Eden answered each question calmly and tactfully.

After exchanging pleasantries, the group escorted Eden toward the reception hall inside the base. The path had already been divided by barriers, and many base members who had heard the news gathered outside the barriers, their eyes fixed on the figure surrounded by the crowd, their long-suppressed emotions finally erupting at this moment.

"My God! It really is Miss Eden! Am I dreaming?"

"She actually came to the Firemoth! From now on, we'll be in the same base, and I can finally see my idol up close!"

"I used to watch her concert replays on the terminal, but I never thought I would be able to see her in person. She is even more beautiful than on the screen!"

"With Miss Eden around, I feel even more motivated to fight the Honkai!"

A chorus of gasps and cheers rose and fell, many unable to contain their excitement, waving frequently, their eyes filled with admiration and joy. Such a fervent scene was a rare sight at the disciplined Moth Chaser base.

Seeing this, a man slightly younger than the other executives beside him couldn't help but laugh and tease, his tone tinged with admiration: "Haha, it seems Miss Eden's reputation in this world is indeed well-deserved. I never expected that there would be so many of your loyal fans within our Firemoth organization."

His easygoing tone eased the awkwardness between the senior management and the newcomers.

Upon hearing this, Eden smiled faintly, but his tone was very humble: "You flatter me. I am just an ordinary artist with a slightly higher profile. It is already a great fortune that I can be loved by everyone."

She has always been gentle and kind to others, and even in the face of such adulation, she has never been complacent. Instead, she exudes a rare clarity of mind.

The group walked slowly along the passage, and the cheers along the way never stopped. The senior officers chatted with Eden from time to time about the basic situation of the base or mentioned the work she might be involved in later. Eden listened patiently and nodded occasionally in response. The atmosphere was quite harmonious.

But in the midst of this seemingly relaxed conversation, she suddenly paused, her tone subtly shifting, her clear voice carrying a hint of probing as she slowly asked, "By the way, does the Firemoth have anyone named Alicia?"

These words caused the previously lively atmosphere to freeze momentarily.

The smiles on the faces of the high-ranking officials froze slightly. They exchanged glances, all seeing surprise in each other's eyes. The leader paused before hesitantly speaking, "Miss Eden, why are you suddenly asking about Captain Alicia?...Do you know her?"

When Eden mentioned the name Alicia, the gentle smile on his face faded slightly. The smile remained only at the corner of his lips, never reaching his eyes. Instead, it became colder and more complicated, almost a forced smile.

She nodded slightly, her voice carrying an indescribable emotion, a mixture of resentment and melancholy: "Of course we know each other. We used to be friends. But he left without saying goodbye, taking with him something extremely precious to me. The reason I joined the Moth Chaser is not only to contribute to the fight against the Honkai, but also to find him."

"Oh? Is there such a thing?"

One of the high-ranking officials looked astonished, clearly quite surprised. In their eyes, although Alicia was a bit eccentric, she had always acted with integrity and was incredibly strong, a combatant that the Firemoth relied heavily on. It was hard to connect her with the matter of "leaving without saying goodbye and taking away other people's valuables".

After a brief moment of surprise, the executive looked troubled but also apologetic, saying, "I'm truly sorry, Miss Eden. Due to some special reasons, Captain Alicia was indeed unable to attend this welcome party today. But since you are her friend and have specifically sought her out, I will tell you where she lives. If you wish to find her, you can simply go there."

As he spoke, he gave a detailed account of the exact location of Alicia's residence.

A fleeting glint of light flashed in Eden's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure, bowing slightly and speaking sincerely, "Alright, then thank you very much. Eden thanks you in advance." Her manners were impeccable, without a single fault, but only she knew that the surging emotions in her heart were already impossible to suppress.

The welcome party proceeded smoothly, with speeches, a tour, and a brief meeting. Eden handled each step impeccably, remaining as gentle and elegant as ever. However, no one noticed that her mind had already wandered far away, focusing entirely on the address she had just learned.

She had sketched that figure in her mind countless times, imagining what it would be like when they met again—whether she would question him sternly or face him calmly.

After the welcome party had finally ended, Eden declined the follow-up arrangements and accompaniment offered by the higher-ups, saying only that he wanted to familiarize himself with the base environment first. Then, following the address he had just learned, he headed straight for Alicia's residence.

Her steps appeared calm, but the footsteps on the ground carried a hint of urgency, and the fluttering of her skirt betrayed the unease in her heart.

The living areas of the Fire Moths are clearly divided, and the living conditions of the elite squad members are relatively superior. Most of them live in independent courtyards, which are quiet and far away from the hustle and bustle, making it convenient for them to rest and adjust their state.

Eden quickly found the courtyard after a brisk journey. The courtyard walls were grayish-blue, and the gate was made of wood. It looked simple and clean.

Standing outside the courtyard gate, his fingertips barely an inch from the cool wooden door, Eden suddenly stopped. His heart began to pound uncontrollably. The eagerness and certainty he had felt earlier vanished almost entirely the moment he was about to face that person, replaced by an indescribable panic.

She raised her hand to her chest, clearly feeling the intense beating, and her cheeks flushed slightly. Countless images flashed uncontrollably through her mind—those tender moments together, those soft whispers, and that night, the night she would remember for a lifetime, and the night that haunted her.

"Never mind, now that we're here, there's no reason to back down."

Eden took a deep breath, cheered himself up, and quietly made up his mind, "I'll pretend I don't know him for now and see what kind of person he is. As for the past, and my secret thoughts, and things like becoming partners, I'll put them aside for now and make plans for later."

She calmed herself down, her fingertips trembling slightly, and finally knocked on the wooden door. The knocking wasn't loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet courtyard, each sound like a tap on her heart.

Eden held her breath, her eyes fixed on the wooden door, filled with both anticipation and trepidation. But as time ticked by, there was no sound from inside—no footsteps, no response—as if the door were empty. She patiently knocked a few more times, this time with slightly more force, but still, there was no response.

Just as she was feeling a bit doubtful and disappointed, thinking that perhaps the other person wasn't home, and was about to turn around and leave, she finally heard dragging footsteps coming from inside the door. The footsteps were very light, carrying a sense of heaviness and weakness, and sounded particularly tired.

Immediately afterwards, there was the soft sound of the lock turning, and the wooden door was slowly pulled open, revealing a slender figure behind it.

Eden had already prepared her words, thinking about how to approach the conversation as if she were a stranger, but when she saw the person in front of her, all her words choked in her throat, and she was completely stunned, her mind blank.

The person in front of me was wearing loose, plain-colored home clothes. Her once dazzling pink hair was now disheveled and draped over her shoulders, the ends of which were dry and had lost their former luster.

That usually bright and beautiful face, always full of smiles, was now etched with weariness. Her eyes were sunken, bloodshot, and dark circles under them, clearly indicating she hadn't had a proper rest in a long time. Her complexion was almost transparently pale, her lips were bloodless, and she exuded a lifeless, listless aura, as if all her vitality had been drained away.

"Who are you, and what do you want with me?" Alicia's voice was low and hoarse, filled with weariness and detachment. Her eyes, which were usually full of smiles and seemed to be filled with stars, were now dull and lifeless. There was no ripple in her gaze as she looked at Eden, only an unyielding silence.

Eden stared at her blankly for a long time before finding his voice, his tone hesitant and incredulous: "Um, I... I'm looking for Alicia."

Her voice trembled slightly, and a bad feeling was creeping into her heart, yet she dared not believe her own guess.

Upon hearing this, Alicia's tone remained low and flat, and she simply replied, "That's me."

"What?!" These three words exploded in Eden's mind like a thunderbolt. Her eyes widened in shock, and she instinctively gasped. Her first thought was: Alicia is a woman?!

This realization struck her like a boulder, crashing into her heart and creating a turbulent storm.

She had sketched that figure in her heart countless times—the one who was gentle and considerate in her dreams, who would smile and stroke her hair, who would softly comfort her when she was down; the one who took her virginity that night, who gave her the ultimate tenderness and left her with endless pain—he was clearly a man! His upright posture, his deep and magnetic voice, and that unique masculine composure and strength were all clearly etched in her memory, never fading.

But the person before her was undeniably a woman. Even in her terrible condition, her slender figure and gentle facial features clearly indicated her gender. After a brief moment of shock, a sudden realization dawned on Eden. All her previous doubts and confusion were now answered. What followed was an uncontrollable surge of shame and anger. A fire rose from the depths of her heart, burning her cheeks and causing her whole body to tremble slightly.

She bit her lower lip, her nails almost digging into her palms, her eyes filled with anger and shame. She thought bitterly, "Damn it! What an utterly despicable bastard! He actually used a fake name to deceive me! Not only that, but he used a man's name?!"

She stood there, looking at the haggard and dejected figure behind the door, feeling both angry and annoyed, as well as a sense of bewilderment and bitterness that she couldn't quite put her finger on. For a moment, she didn't know what to do.