Chapter Sixty-Six: The Egg of Awakening

The cold wind swept across the wasteland, carrying a sound reminiscent of the mournful wails of spectral spirits. The pitch-black, dim wilderness had always been the greatest adversary of human civilization, especially in the world after the Great Cataclysm. Thick clouds obscured the radiance of sun and moon, and in the darkness, one could not see their own hand before their face. On the desolate earth, countless vibrant lives vanished into the shadows. Even the light, a symbol of human civilization, seemed so fragile and powerless.

A zombie lifted its head, twitching its nose and gazing ahead. Though its vision revealed nothing but emptiness, the zombie's acute sense of smell and hearing surpassed its lost sight, presenting another scene within the darkness—a vivid tapestry of flowing blood, the breath of life, and the unmistakable thumping of a heart. Piecing together all these sensations, only a single answer emerged.

Food...

The zombie raised its head, mouth agape, trying to call its companions to attack and feast upon the delicacy before it. Yet before its ruined vocal cords could emit a shrill scream, a bullet silently shot forth from the darkness, pulverizing both its unspoken cry and its head. The shriveled corpse shuddered, then collapsed, motionless forevermore.

"Phew..."

Watching her target fall through the infrared scope, Chris finally exhaled softly. The girl narrowed her eyes, leaning against the metal plate beside her, using it as cover. This spot was once an open-air balcony for the Harmony, but now served as Chris’s sniping post. As a sniper, her role was to keep vigil for her companions and eliminate any threat that might endanger them. She always performed her duties in silence, unwavering, as she had before and as she would ever after.

Yet... not everything remained unchanged.

"Commander, what kind of familiar will we summon?"

Inside the Harmony, Eluca and Corona stared excitedly at the "Familiar Egg" placed before them, their curiosity evident. It was hardly surprising—familiars had always been mysterious and strange to humans. The three sisters had never heard of anyone employing a familiar. Though Ferrin had already explained the conditions for forming a contract with such a being, they knew none of them could ever gain a familiar as a companion. Still, merely witnessing the process was enough to pique their curiosity.

"It's hard to say at the moment, but... I suggest you keep your distance."

Compared to Eluca and Corona's excitement, Ferrin remained calm. His right fingers spun a silver, razor-sharp scalpel, turning it between them. On Ferrin’s face lingered that faint smile, the kind that would remain unchanged even at the end of the world. Upon hearing Ferrin’s warning, both Eluca and Corona obediently stepped away from the Familiar Egg on the table. Corona even widened her eyes, nervously glancing at the egg.

"Commander... is this dangerous?"

(Whether it is dangerous largely depends on the familiar's temperament.)

At Corona’s inquiry, the black cat sprawled lazily across Ferrin's lap yawned and answered.

(Some familiars are delighted to interact with humans, others less so. Of course, besides the familiar itself, the attitude of the human summoner is a major factor in their decision. For example, once the master awakened a familiar, but the creature ran off because it disliked the master's request.)

"What? That actually happened?"

Their gossiping interest ignited instantly. Corona, being introverted, simply glanced at Ferrin in secret, while the lively Eluca couldn't contain her excitement and asked Ferrin directly.

"Why did it run away?"

(In short, the master made a request that was utterly unacceptable, so the familiar fled.)

"I don't think what I asked was unreasonable, Delin."

Ferrin raised his eyebrows in protest.

"I merely requested the familiar to voluntarily serve as my experimental subject for a live dissection. Is that really so heartless? I cannot comprehend why it would consent to share a bed with me but refuse an experiment. Familiars do not die, and... do you not trust my skill? I assure you, my dissection technique is as superb as my bedroom arts; I never disappoint."

(Of course I trust your skill, master, but I doubt anyone else would have the courage to accept your request...)

"So you see, the path of exploring life and the mysteries of the flesh is long and arduous. The pleasures within are ones mortals will never understand..."

Delin's nonchalant reply prompted Ferrin to sigh helplessly. He then raised his gaze to the Familiar Egg before him.

"Well then, let’s hope this familiar brings me a surprise."

...

Listening to Ferrin’s musings, Eluca and Corona exchanged a glance, then instinctively moved even farther from the Familiar Egg.

Clearly, they had little confidence in Ferrin's intentions.

Yet Ferrin was unbothered by their small affront. The road to genius was always lonely; he never expected mortals to grasp his aesthetics. He pitied them, in fact, for they had missed the ultimate opportunity to encounter and understand the world's most exquisite creations—nature's wonders and the ultimate beauty of life on Earth.

Ah, mortal wisdom.

With a faint smile, Ferrin reached out and placed an energy chip before the Familiar Egg, crushing it. Soon, green, sparkling dust spilled from his fingers, falling onto the egg. As he did so, the semi-translucent, milky-white egg began to emit a gentle, pulsating glow, waxing and waning like the heartbeat of a human, growing stronger. Eluca and Corona held their breaths, eyes wide, watching the glowing egg. Even Delin jumped down from Ferrin's lap, approaching the egg, wary yet curious.

Ferrin paid no mind. Like an ancient shaman, he produced another energy chip and crushed it, sprinkling the dust onto the egg. After repeating this ritual three times, Ferrin ceased, stood up with satisfaction, and gazed at the Familiar Egg. By now, the glow had grown dazzling. Accompanied by a faint crackling, fissures began to spread across its once-smooth surface, growing larger until, with a loud snap, the egg shattered completely. Brilliant light erupted from within, scattering in all directions.

"Ah—!"

The blinding golden radiance made Eluca and Corona cry out, turning their heads and raising their hands to shield themselves. The light was so intense that even blocking it, they could feel an almost tangible heat and touch.

Then the light faded.

In the next moment, a cold, hollow voice resounded.

"Program restart initiated..."

"Life signals detected..."

"Comprehensive analysis in progress..."

"Familiar—Fran summoned. Tell me, are you my master?"