Over at the mining zone.
The first wave of miners had already taken their positions.
The hum of high-efficiency pickaxes echoed through the valley as Axiomite Crystals shattered beneath the pneumatic spikes, glowing with a faint purple luminescence.
A veteran soldier in his forties wiped the sweat from his brow. He looked at the fist-sized crystal in his hand and grinned. "This stuff sure is pretty."
A younger soldier beside him leaned in. "Uncle, you think once we mine all this out, Planet Dal will really end up like Aurelian?"
The older man patted the boy's shoulder. "If the instructor said it, would you think it's a lie? Twenty-seven, maybe twenty-eight years ago, when I was still mining down in the Aurelian underhive, I was working sixteen hours a day. I choked down synthetic nutrient paste, my body was rotting from a dozen different diseases, and I never even dreamed I'd live to see today." He looked up, staring out toward the temporary camp being erected in the distance, his voice growing distant. "Then Crimson Dawn came. They put those parasites on trial. They gave us jobs. They built schools for our kids. They gave us..." His eyes grew slightly red. "...the dignity of being human."
"That was when Aurelian really started to develop on its own, building itself up step by step into the beautiful place it is today. Back then, Aurelian was just like Planet Dal is now—a ruined wasteland waiting to be rebuilt. Countless people died in all sorts of accidents during the construction, but no one ever complained. Crimson Dawn never withheld a single cent of compensation. Anyone willing to dedicate themselves to the frontier earned genuine respect, proper compensation, and a truly happy life."
The young soldier fell silent for a few seconds before gripping his pickaxe tightly. "Uncle, I understand." He bent down and went back to digging.
Not far away, a group of players strolled over, pickaxes slung over their shoulders.
[Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] was clad in silver-gray power armor, carrying three pickaxes on his shoulders and casually chewing on an energy bar. "Make way, make way! Professional miners coming through!"
[Selling Cola at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] followed right behind him, equally fully armed. "Flatbread Bro, you sure you got this? Don't start crying about being tired after two swings."
"Tired?" [Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] rolled his eyes. "I didn't make a single peep when Fabius was vivisecting me alive. You think hitting some rocks is gonna tire me out?"
The surrounding players erupted into laughter.
A young newbie sidled up to them, asking cautiously, "Flatbread Bro, are you guys really gonna mine too?"
[Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] glanced at him and slammed a pickaxe into the dirt. "No shit. A Primarch ascension costs over eight hundred billion. Where else are we gonna get the money if we don't grind?" He patted the new player's shoulder. "What, you think we shouldn't be doing work like this?"
The newbie hurriedly shook his head. "No, no, I just felt..."
"Felt what?" [Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] flashed a grin. "Felt like we were better than you?" He shook his head, his tone turning serious. "Brother, remember one thing. In Crimson Dawn, nobody is better than anybody else. We only have equality here. We're all part of the same collective."
He pointed to Tax Bro, who was directing logistics in the distance. He pointed to the Dawn Defense Force soldiers clearing away the rubble. He pointed to the newly rescued humans of Planet Dal, who were currently learning how to use pickaxes.
"Paul said it himself: labor buys dignity. That applies to everyone. In Crimson Dawn, there are no privileges."
The new player stood stunned for a few seconds before nodding vigorously. Gripping his pickaxe, he followed behind the veteran Defense Force soldiers, marching deeper into the mines.
The sun began to set.
Bonfires were lit throughout the temporary camp. Outside the mineshafts, the sky had been replaced by a canopy of brilliant stars. They twinkled in Planet Dal's crystal-clear night sky, casting down a blanket of silvery-white luminescence.
Near the mine entrance, soldiers of the Dawn Defense Force sat together in small groups, holding mess trays. The trays were loaded with food shipped straight from Aurelian IV—baked potatoes, thick steaks, fresh salads, and steaming cups of tea.
"These potatoes are amazing, way better than the dry rations we got during the war," a young soldier mumbled, stuffing his face.
"No kidding, we grew them ourselves. Of course they're good! You young punks never had it rough. Now you get meat with every meal." An older veteran rolled his eyes at him. "Back when I was reclaiming the Redblaze Wasteland, we had nothing but dry potatoes to eat. You were still drinking milk back then, kid."
"You say that like you never drank milk," the younger soldier shot back. "We're all the same here. I'm breaking ground for Crimson Dawn right now, and my mom's damn proud of me, hehe!"
The veteran shot him a look. "I guess you got a point. But talking back to your uncle like that? You asking for a beating or what?"
The young soldier made a face at him. "Haha, Uncle Roy, you take care of me the most. You'd never hit me."
The two of them laughed and traded playful shoves, their faces carrying exhausted but deeply contented smiles.
Another young soldier leaned against his buddy's shoulder, gazing up at the starry sky as he muttered, "Once we finish rebuilding Planet Dal, I'm going back to propose to Emily."
His buddy laughed and punched him in the arm. "You? You really think Emily would settle for you?"
"Why wouldn't she? I'm a hero from the first wave of Planet Dal's reconstruction!"
"Give me a break, you're just hitting rocks."
"So what if I'm hitting rocks? I'm digging out the future of Crimson Dawn! And the future of all Aurelians too!"
A short distance away, a middle-aged major sat by a campfire, holding a photograph. In the picture, a little girl around seven or eight years old was smiling sweetly at the camera. It was his daughter. She had just started elementary school when he left Aurelian. He gently stroked the photo, a tender smile tugging at his lips. "When Daddy comes home, I'll bring you a souvenir from Planet Dal."
A new player sitting nearby, [Crimson Believer], leaned over. "Sir, what kind of souvenirs does Planet Dal even have?"
The major thought about it for a moment before answering seriously, "Axiomite Crystal ore. Polish it up a bit, and it makes a nice necklace."
"Isn't that stuff highly volatile energy ore?" [Crimson Believer] asked. "Wouldn't wearing that around your neck be a safety hazard?"
"Fair point," the major replied. "Never mind, I'll bring back something else."
Laughter echoed around the campfire.
By another campfire, [Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] was holding court, telling stories to a group of newbies. "So then, this milf with a 36D chest looks at me and asks, 'What do you like about me?' And I looked her right in the eyes and said, 'I like everything about you!' Man, she was so touched. That same day, this rich 36D sugar mommy went out and bought me a Porsche 911."
The surrounding newbies were completely engrossed, their eyes shining with awe. "And then? What happened next?"
"And then?" [Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] took a sip of water. "And then her husband beat the absolute crap out of her. She came crying to me, saying she was gonna divorce him, take half his assets, and run away with me."
[Dragon Bro Refuses to Yield] chimed in. "You guys jealous of Flatbread Bro?"
"Jealous my ass." [Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] shrugged. "Turns out she was a fake sugar mommy. Her husband was broke too. She bought the car by maxing out her credit lines just to cover the down payment. In the end, she couldn't make the payments, so the loan sharks repossessed the car. Since she made the down payment, the car was under her name..."
"Hahahaha!" The campfire erupted into roars of laughter.
One of the newbies was laughing so hard he couldn't stand straight. "Flatbread Bro, that is tragic!"
"Tragic how?" [Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] said with a straight face. "At least I got to sleep with a 36D milf for free."
"Legend. Absolutely legendary."
Amidst the laughter, a female medic walked over carrying a mess tray. She looked to be in her early twenties, wearing a crisp, clean medical uniform. She had a strikingly pretty face and wore a gentle smile.
"Flatbread Bro, I heard your injuries haven't fully healed yet. Did you get your dressings changed?"
[Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] froze for a second, then looked down at the massive scar Fabius had left on his chest. "Not yet. Been too busy mining."
The medic let out a sigh. Setting down her tray, she pulled bandages and medical salve from her kit. "Come here, I'll change them for you."
[Selling Cola at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] immediately started heckling him. "Ooooh! Look at Flatbread Bro getting the VIP private doctor treatment!"
The other players quickly joined in, hooting and hollering.
[Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace]'s face flushed red, but he obediently shimmied over and let the medic tend to his wounds.
Her movements were incredibly gentle. As she applied the fresh dressings, she murmured, "This wound is really deep. It's been treated, but you still need to be careful. Don't overexert yourself."
"Yeah, yeah, got it," he replied.
"Also, remember to change your bandages on time. Come find me in three days."
"Will do, will do."
The nearby newbies exchanged meaningful glances.
As soon as the medic left, [Selling Cola at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] leaned in, dropping his voice to a whisper. "Flatbread Bro, that girl is totally into you!"
[Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] rolled his eyes. "You don't know shit. That's just her professional duty."
"Professional duty?" Cola scoffed. "Then why did she only change your dressings just now?"
"Because I'm the only wounded guy here."
"Bullshit, there are plenty of wounded guys around. Notice how she didn't offer to help anyone else?" (TL/N: The blind leading the blind)
[Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] went quiet. After a long pause, he murmured softly, "You're right... she might actually be into me."
"No shit!" Cola said.
"But I'm a straight-up meathead!" Flatbread groaned. "I've never proactively chased a girl in my life! They've always chased me! I've coasted entirely on my good looks! What the hell am I supposed to do now?!"
"You chase her! What else are you gonna do?!"
[Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] stared at the silhouette disappearing into the medical tent, muttering to himself, "But I'm just a gamer, and she's an NPC..."
[Dragon Bro Refuses to Yield] clapped him on the shoulder. "Brother, the people in this game are flesh and blood. They have feelings, they have thoughts, they have love." He paused, his voice turning serious. "If you like her, go after her. Who knows... maybe you'll find a little warmth in this grimdark universe."
[Selling Flatbread at the Gates of the Imperial Palace] sat in silence for a long time. Then, he stood up and walked toward the medical tent.
"Flatbread Bro, what are you doing?"
"Gonna go ask her what time I should get my dressings changed tomorrow."
A chorus of laughter trailed behind him.
--
The night deepened.
Atop the pinnacle of Black Rock Castle, Helovia Elnor stood alone. Her long silver hair fluttered gently in the night breeze as her dark green eyes gazed down at the city rebuilding itself below.
Crimson Hope City.
Formerly known as Bancal, the final stronghold of the Dal xenos. Now, amidst the ruins of this city, campfires dotted the landscape, accompanied by the bustling sounds of life. The soldiers who had only just laid down their weapons were now using their bare hands to rebuild their homeland. The newly liberated humans were learning what it meant to be true laborers. And the members of Crimson Dawn, who had descended from outer space, were sitting right beside them—laughing, chatting, and sharing stories.
Helovia's gaze settled on one particular campfire. There, a young Crimson Dawn member was awkwardly handing a cup of water to a female medic. The medic took the cup and smiled at him. The young player's face instantly flushed crimson, and he scratched his head in flustered embarrassment.
Somewhere along the line, a clear, melodic song began ringing out across Crimson Hope City. Anyone who heard it found themselves subconsciously humming along, smiles gracing their lips.
"Say goodbye before the dawn breaks,
Smiling while tears stream down your face.
Go forth and embrace,
The better tomorrow that belongs to you.
If the epiphyllum blooms but for a fleeting moment,
Then it must bloom all the more brilliantly.
Do not look back; go and claim,
The better world that is meant for you."
Listening to the song echoing through Crimson Hope City, a nostalgic smile slowly tugged at the corners of Helovia's mouth. She thought back to twenty-four years ago. Back then, she was just an eleven-year-old girl who had fled the Aru Industrial Zone, shivering uncontrollably in the middle of the Redblaze Wasteland. It was her mother who had shielded her, using the last traces of her body heat to keep her warm. Then, the Players arrived. They brought them food to fill their bellies. Without a second thought, they brought them along, guiding them toward the Crimson Dawn base—the place that gave them their very first glimpse of dawn.
That man named Paul had stood before her in the freezing wind. He reached out, gently patting her head. "Don't be afraid," he had said, draping his own coat over her shoulders. Just three words. But those three words changed her entire life.
Helovia took a deep breath, turning her dark green eyes toward the starry sky. She looked toward the fleet departing in the distance. The Light of Dawn had already vanished at the edge of the stellar sea, taking Aska, Blood Angel, and everyone else heading to Aurelian. They would return. They would return with more hope, more power, and more of the things needed to change this grimdark universe.
"Hope truly is a beautiful thing," Helovia murmured softly. Her voice was faint, but the night breeze carried it far away, toward the people laughing around their campfires. "Ordinary people really don't ask for much. We just want a peaceful life. We just want the people we love to live well. That's more than enough."
She paused, a resolute fire burning deep within her eyes. "Only Crimson Dawn has ever given us this. And I will protect it. I will protect it until the dawn illuminates the entire universe."