Night World Players

Chapter 275 Hiltina and Amys's First Meeting

This is a hug after many years.

Starting from the moment when Last and Hiltina first met at Deep Blue Harbor, the story continues to this day.

However, this time it was no longer the embrace they shared in the icy waters of Deep Blue Harbor, an embrace merely to steady themselves and prevent heat loss...

At this moment, the girl in Last's arms was warm and trembling slightly.

pat-

A breaking sound came from beside his ear.

However, what was broken was not a physical object, but the concept of "space" itself.

Deep cracks had appeared on the sky, seemingly out of nowhere.

The next moment, the sky shattered.

The entire sky, along with the secondary dimension that had previously confined Hiltina and isolated her from the mortal world, shattered.

Only countless shimmering fragments drifted down, like a meteor shower streaking across the sky.

The oppressive night sky disappeared, replaced by the scene of the previous sunset, where the fiery red glow scorched the thick clouds like a bronze furnace.

All around, the palace, which had been reduced to ruins in the war of angels, was restored to its original state, and the evening breeze carried the sounds of clamor from afar.

Last knew that he and Hiltina had returned to the real world.

This is a matter of course.

The secondary dimension where the two were previously located was a trap set by the Gravekeeper using relics, specifically to target Hiltina.

At this very moment, the mastermind behind all this conspiracy was annihilated into nothingness by Rast's release of the true name of the holy sword, and this secondary dimension could no longer continue to exist.

"It seems that things have been settled with Xiao Ai as well."

With a slight shift in his mental energy, Last sensed the unique aura emanating from Amys, the angel of judgment, on the other side of the capital.

The Gravekeepers and the cultists have come out in full force this time. In addition to the three angels and quasi-angels targeting Hiltina, they have also deployed angel-level forces within the capital.

Unfortunately, it seems that Amys wiped them all out.

Although at this very moment, those gravediggers and cult members have already been crushed to dust under the mighty light of the angels of judgment...

However, from the lingering magical fluctuations and residual authority above the capital, Rast was still able to roughly guess what kind of inhuman torture and torment those mythical creatures had suffered before their deaths.

Originally, I was a little worried that although Xiao Ai was undoubtedly a true angel in terms of rank, she had never experienced a battle between superhumans and might not be able to adapt to the war between angels all at once.

But now it seems that I was worrying too much.

Whether it's the shattered spatial rifts above the capital or the chaotic magical fluctuations remaining in the atmosphere, they all testify to just how brutal and terrifying the Judgment Angels, symbols of "judgment" and "destruction," truly are.

He couldn't help but recall his first encounter with the mechanical angel who destroyed everything amidst the historical echoes at the end of the Sixth Era.

The so-called "trial" is, in essence, a sequence that can rule the world with pure violence.

However, in front of him, Amys had always carefully concealed her domineering aura... and only revealed to him the most simple side of the country girl living in Canaan.

"In any case, this incident can be considered resolved satisfactorily."

“The cultists still active in the Western Continent, as well as the members of the Tomb Keepers, have all been wiped out by us.”

"Although there will inevitably be remnants in various parts of the continent... at least on the surface, the Western Continent will be able to maintain a fairly peaceful situation for a long time to come."

Last breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat relieved.

He instinctively wanted to stretch, but found that the girl with long chestnut hair in his arms was still nestled against his chest.

"Hiltina?"

He gazed at the girl in his arms, her long hair flowing like brocade: "Although those external enemies have all been dealt with."

"But if I remember correctly, you'll need to swear your coronation before the people of the empire and complete the final enthronement ceremony, right?"

"I know."

Hiltina's soft words were carried on the evening breeze, sounding extremely faint.

"However, there is still a little time before the ceremony begins."

“I know that Xiao Ai also came to the mortal world with you.”

"This may be the last time I can have you all to myself."

"so--"

She whispered in Last's ear, "Let me have you a little longer."

Hearing Hiltina's words, Last was slightly taken aback.

For some reason, he always felt that there was another layer of meaning in Hiltina's words and actions.

In fact, there was no need for Last to think further.

Because in the next instant, he also sensed the familiar aura descending from the end of the sky.

And, the sandalwood scent that lingered in the air, which he missed so much.

In Last's memory, the scent of violets was a fragrance unique to Hiltina—

During the two years he lay asleep in that hospital room, whenever he sensed the faint fragrance of violets, it meant that Hiltina had come to visit him again.

And the cool, pure scent of sandalwood evokes the melodious fragrance of snow-capped mountains… its owner, naturally, is only one—

Amys.

……

"Nice to meet you, Miss Hiltina."

"Do not……"

"Although this is our first meeting, I would say... I have long admired you through Rast's stories."

A cool, clear voice came from not far away.

Her pale golden hair swayed in the air. Last looked back and saw that Amys had appeared behind them at some point, arms crossed, staring at him expressionlessly.

Silver-white steel wings slowly folded behind her, gradually fading and eventually disappearing into nothingness... just as if an angel had folded its pure white wings and returned to human form.

"Is it."

“Actually, I am just like you. Although we have never met, I have heard about you from Rust before, Miss Amys.”

Hiltina tiptoed back two steps, slipping out of Rust's embrace.

Then, she also looked at Amys not far away with those light brown eyes.

What Hiltina said truly came from the bottom of her heart.

Back in the Dark Blue Harbor Echoes instance of that Night World, when Hiltina first met Rust, she had heard Rust mention the name "Little Ai".

According to Rust himself, it was because of Ai's existence that he did not fall into depravity, self-abandonment, or even the abyss of self-destruction during the long time loop of Deep Blue Harbor.

However, the two have always been in different dimensions and different times.

Amys made her only appearance in the Night World instance of the Sixth Age, and Hiltina was not present at that time.

Therefore, this was indeed the first meeting between Hiltina and Amys.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Amys."

She gently extended her finger, sensing the lingering traces of magic and authority in the air.

A moment later, a slight smile appeared on Hiltina's lips: "To be honest, I thought Miss Amys would be the gentler type."

"Is it."

Amis's cool and pretty face remained expressionless: "Miss Hiltina is exactly as I imagined."

"That would undoubtedly be my honor."

Hiltina smiled, her gaze lingering briefly on Amys before turning back to Rust.

"So, Rust, what are you planning to do next?"

"Although for me, I really want to complete the wedding that we didn't have time to do two years ago as soon as possible..."

"However, I know—"

"You dream of becoming a champion of justice, and consider the duty of a 'Guardian' your life's ideal... but I suppose conquering the Night World will be your top priority?"

"After all, it's not too far off to complete all seventy-two Night Worlds and unlock the Echoes of the End."

As soon as Hiltina finished speaking, even Amys turned her gaze back to her.

Clearly, although she outwardly maintained a blank expression, she was also quite concerned about Last's answer.

Of course, in reality, both Hiltina and Amys had already guessed what Rust would say.

After all, humans named Rust have always lived like machines.

He considers "becoming a shorekeeper" his sole mission... Everything else is superfluous to him and can be discarded.

However, the next moment.

The boy's answer surprised both Hiltina and Amys.

"The Night World must be opened up; this is my duty as the guardian of the shore."

“However, Hiltina.”

"Only now do I understand the true meaning of what you said to me that day, when we toured the Starry Sky University anniversary celebration together... Hiltina."

Hiltina was slightly taken aback.

Then she recalled her own words from back then.

“You told me back then that as travelers in the night, it is important for us to pursue the destination of our journey, but what is even more important is... the scenery along the way.”

"And also, the person who accompanies you to see the scenery."

“In the past, I lived like a machine, constantly moving forward to reach the destination... but in doing so, I missed all sorts of people and things that I should have encountered.”

"So, Hiltina."

"Although it may be a little too late... before I continue to immerse myself in the night world, I still want to try to stop and appreciate the scenery along the way, and the people who are with me to enjoy the scenery."

Hiltina's expression faltered slightly.

Meanwhile, Last turned his gaze to the girl beside him, whose pale golden hair fluttered in the wind.

"Xiao Ai, do you still remember the promise I made to you before I completed the Echoes of Deep Blue Harbor and left the Night World for the first time to truly enter the real world?"

"Of course, even if a thousand or ten thousand years have passed, how could I possibly forget such a thing?"

Amys's voice rose with the evening breeze, carrying a slight tremor.

"I told you then... if there are those fairy tale landscapes in another world, please be sure to go and see them."

"Then, tell me about that world's countless mountains and rivers, floating islands, water cities, and golden grasslands..."

"Yes."

Luster nodded.

"Although I have told you these things, hearing me recount them in words is still not as good as seeing them with your own eyes."

"Floating islands in the clouds, water cities, golden plains, and vast deserts with endless yellow sand..."

"Little Ai, those countless rivers and mountains in the fairy tale books—"

Now that you've come into this world, don't you want to come and see it with me?

Amys paused for a moment.

In the fiery red glow of the sunset, her sky-blue eyes shone brighter than ever before.

(End of this chapter)