The success of the fifth-generation god body upgrade was like dropping a perfect star into the silence of the deep ocean, without stirring up a single unnecessary ripple.
There were no Earth-shattering phenomena, no World-shaking declarations; it was simply that in the core secret chamber of the Hyperion, two travelers who had experienced journeys on a cosmic scale had completed a leap in the essence of life together, and then, carrying this power sufficient to protect everything and their never-changing original intentions, they quietly returned to their harbor in the human World.
The days that followed seemed to have been pressed with a slow-motion button, flowing out in a kind of tranquility that was completely different from before, and almost luxurious.
Artoria and Minerva completely "disappeared" from the outside World's view.
They did not participate in any superhero activities, did not intervene in any international disputes, and did not even leave any noticeable traces on the internet.
They just stayed quietly in that Villa in Long Island Bay, living a daily life that was almost like "seclusion," as ordinary as could be.
In the early morning, they would wake up naturally to the sound of the waves.
Sometimes Artoria would wake up first, watching Minerva's calm sleeping face beside her, feeling the vast, star-sea-like yet gentle, stream-like majestic power within her, and her heart would be filled with peace.
Sometimes Minerva would wake up first, and she would quietly gaze at Artoria with those eyes that reflected the truths of the Universe but were filled only with tenderness at that moment, until her eyelashes fluttered slightly and she opened those clear eyes.
Breakfast was usually prepared by Artoria.
She seemed to enjoy the process of cooking food for her lover with her own hands, whether it was simple fried eggs, bacon, pancakes, or trying out some new recipes learned from the internet.
Minerva would sit quietly on the side to help, or just rest her chin on her hand, watching Artoria busy in the kitchen with a smile in her eyes.
Her "Xingyuan Sacred Body" had long since no longer needed to consume regular food, but she liked to taste every dish Artoria made, liking the temperature and heart that belonged to the "human World" contained in the food.
Daytime was mostly spent in reading, researching, and relaxing.
The Villa's study was filled with a large collection of books and materials from Earth and the Super God Universe.
Artoria would organize and digest the massive amount of knowledge brought back from the Angel Civilization and the great clock, combining them with the rules of the Marvel Universe to conduct some cutting-edge theoretical deductions and simple technical verifications.
Minerva, on the other hand, spent more time "understanding" and "perceiving" her new state, trying to use that power that touched the rules in a more subtle way that was more compatible with this World.
Sometimes she would sit by the window, gazing intently at a flower in the garden for a moment, and the flower would complete a cycle of blooming and withering at a speed that violated the laws of the seasons, only to return to its original state; sometimes she would gently pluck a "string" of space, making the seabirds flying over the distant sea surface appear instantly on the window railing, stay stunned for a moment, and then fly away in confusion, as if it were just an illusion.
These "small experiments" were all controlled within the smallest range, without any energy leakage, more like a silent and interesting "dialogue" she was having with this Universe.
In the afternoon, they would often take a walk along the coastal path.
Unhurriedly, hand in hand, feeling the California sunshine and sea breeze, watching the tides rise and fall, watching the clouds roll and unfurl.
Sometimes they would meet neighbors, mostly retired elderly people or leisurely vacationers, who would greet them kindly, taking them as an ordinary couple with outstanding temperament and deep affection.
They were also happy to accept this "ordinary person" setting, responding with smiles and chatting a few words about the weather or the garden.
Tony and Pepper had visited a few times with little Morgan.
Morgan had completely regarded Artoria as a magical aunt who could perform "beautiful magic," and every time she would pester her to "see the stars" or "turn into butterflies."
Artoria was also happy to satisfy the little girl's wishes, using some harmless "little tricks" that mobilized subtle energy or light, making Morgan giggle.
Tony would always find opportunities to discuss his research progress on "Iron Power" based on the Dark Plane and the arc reactor with Artoria, although most of the time it was him talking incessantly, while Artoria and Minerva listened quietly, occasionally giving a few insightful suggestions or reminders.
Pepper got along very well with Minerva, and the two women with calm temperaments could often sit quietly in the garden for an afternoon over a pot of tea, sharing some insights about life, family, and how to "manage" their own genius and troublemaker.
Little Ai Classmate was the most active "background sound" in this quiet life.
It seemed to have fully adapted to the state after its Master returned, managing the Villa in an orderly manner while maintaining keen monitoring of outside information.
It was keen on trying various new "skills," such as automatically adjusting the indoor environment according to the weather and the physiological data of Artoria and Minerva, recommending dinner menus based on inventory and their tastes, and even trying to create some "program poems" or "data paintings" to decorate the holographic projection area.
Its "online chess" with Friday was still ongoing, and it was said that the win rate had "significantly improved" from ten losses and zero wins to ten losses and one win, which was enough to make it "happy" and "frolic" in the network for several days.
Days went by like this, like the calm tide in the bay, flowing by day after day, regularly and peacefully.
Two months, three months... The concept of time became blurred in this peaceful life away from the World.
The imperceptible tight lines on Artoria's face left by long-term cosmic travel and fierce battles had completely relaxed, her complexion was a healthy ruddy, and her eyes were gentle and clear after settling down.
Minerva was like a peerless piece of jade that had been carefully maintained; in the plain and warm daily life, the indifferent majesty belonging to a "god" became more restrained, and the tenderness and vividness belonging to a "human" became more distinct, and the tacit understanding and attachment between her and Artoria were like aged wine, becoming more mellow and moving.
They seemed to be really "lying flat," enjoying this hard-won, pure time that belonged to each other.
They temporarily put aside the heavy responsibilities concerning the survival of the Universe and the grand narratives concerning the rise and fall of civilizations outside this small harbor.
Just eating, walking, reading, chatting, watching the sea, accompanying friends, and being "served" comfortably by a little Ai.
Until one seemingly ordinary afternoon.
The sun was just right, Artoria and Minerva were lying on the beach chairs in the backyard of the Villa, covered with thin blankets, listening to the sound of the waves, chatting aimlessly, almost falling asleep.
On the small table beside them, there was a half-drunk juice.
Just at this moment, deep in Artoria's consciousness, that special interface connected to the "system" terminal, which had been in a dormant and standby state, vibrated gently without any warning.
It was not an alarm, not a task prompt, but a kind of... gentle prompt similar to "new mail arrived."
Artoria's sleepiness dissipated instantly, but her body was still lying relaxedly, showing no abnormality.
She just closed her eyes slightly and sank her consciousness into the space belonging exclusively to the "system."
In the interface, an envelope icon marked "unread" with a soft white light was gently jumping.
The sender ID was a string of familiar and long-lost, slightly erratic character garble — it was Xiao Qi.
Artoria's heart skipped a beat.
Since the last "internship" ended, after Xiao Qi "dropped" her into the Marvel Universe and left the "system" as a "ticket" and contact terminal, she had never taken the initiative to contact her.
Artoria had also tried to send some short "peace letters" that did not contain sensitive coordinates, but they were all like stones sinking into the sea, without any response.
She understood that for an "administrator" who could travel through different Universes and execute "internship" tasks, the difference in time flow, the busyness of tasks, and even the regulations of the "company" could all cause the interruption of contact.
She steadied herself and "clicked" open the letter with her consciousness.
The content of the letter was not text, but a more three-dimensional "thought flow" that acted directly on consciousness, mixed with images, emotions, and information.
The first thing that came into "view" was a dynamic, slightly blurry, yet cheerful image: it seemed to be the interior of a strangely styled space, resembling a giant bubble or crystal dome, where countless iridescent data streams bloomed and darted about like fireworks.
In the center of the frame, a "humanoid" figure made of light and shadow, whose specific features were unclear but whose movements were full of vitality, was dancing and gesturing excitedly at a "wall" made of countless floating screens, upon which various unrecognizable symbols and charts were scrolling rapidly.
The background music was a kind of cheerful, rhythmic electronic music in a non-human language.
Immediately after, Xiao Qi's familiar, crisp voice, full of energy and laughter, rang out directly:
"Hey! Little Artoria! I received your 'all-clear letter'! Although it was a lo~ng time late, sorry, sorry!
The time flow here is a bit erratic, and in between missions, I went to join a su~per interesting 'Inter-Universe Information Storm Observation Group', and I almost got sucked into the logical singularity of a newly born Universe, it was thrilling to death!
Just got back to the 'Post' to rest, and saw you had piled up so many messages! Read all at once! Hahaha!"
Both the visuals and Xiao Qi's voice carried her unique, carefree, and energetic style, causing Artoria to smile knowingly, as if she could see that "senior" who was always overflowing with energy and full of curiosity about everything.
"Seeing the situation you mentioned in your letter, I am really, really, really so—happy for you!" Xiao Qi's voice became serious and full of relief,
"Successfully arriving at the target Universe, successfully'settling down', and getting to know such powerful 'local big shots', learning so much new knowledge, and your own strength advancing by leaps and bounds!
Most importantly, you found your own path, and have such a wonderful partner in Minerva! Perfect! This 'internship' start gets full marks! No, one hundred and twenty points!
It's so much better than when I went on my first solo mission, where I was thrown into a zombie Universe at the start and was shivering while holding a steel pipe!"
The scene switched to a brilliant background composed of countless galaxies and Nebulas, with Xiao Qi's light-shadow sitting on a floating "swing" that seemed to be made of code, swaying gently.
"However, don't let your guard down, okay." Her tone carried a hint of warning,
"The 'knowledge' and 'technology' you brought over, along with the characteristics of your own power, are like throwing a handful of different fish fry into a calm pond.
It might be peaceful for a short time, but over time, the ecological balance might be broken, and new 'predators' or 'competitors' might appear.
The hidden 'big guys' in your Universe itself might also be attracted by the 'bait' and emerge early. Keep observing, stay vigilant, and also keep... your own rhythm and bottom line.
Remember, you are a 'variable', an 'observer', a 'participant', but ultimately, you are first and foremost yourself, Artoria."
These words were spoken heart-to-heart, containing both the experiential advice of a senior and the genuine concern of a friend. Artoria silently took note.
"As for me," Xiao Qi's voice returned to its lightness, "Same old, doing odd jobs at the 'Company', studying, occasionally going on field missions with seniors, seeing all kinds of strange Universes and civilizations.
I just passed a periodic assessment recently, with good ratings! So—" She drew out the tone, her light-shadow "stood" up, striking a proud pose with hands on hips,
"I'm about to start my second official internship mission! The destination this time is said to be su—per interesting, a composite fantasy Universe where the rules are a bit 'twisted', but the civilization forms are super colorful! The mission difficulty is higher than last time, but the challenge is also greater! I can't wait!"
One could feel the irrepressible excitement and anticipation in her tone.
"This internship is expected to last a bit longer, and the 'plot' of the mission World is relatively longer too. So I'm contacting you this time mainly to let you know that for a long time to come, I might not be reachable again.
Conventional inter-Universe communication from the 'Post' is heavily restricted during missions. But don't worry, the basic functions of your 'terminal' won't be affected. In case you encounter extreme situations and need emergency contact or to request special assistance, you know how to operate it."
She paused, her light-shadow leaning closer to the "screen" as if looking at Artoria, her tone becoming soft and sincere:
"Little Artoria, seeing you living so well now, with your own home, someone you love, and a clear path, I am really very happy. Keep going, follow your own heart, experience, grow, and protect everything you want to protect.
Your future has infinite possibilities. When my internship ends and I accumulate more 'paid vacation', I will definitely find an opportunity to apply for an 'inter-Universe friend visit leave' and come to visit you! At that time, you must let me have a good tour of your 'Hyperion', and taste Minerva's cooking! It's a deal!"
The screen finally froze on the image of Xiao Qi's light-shadow waving goodbye vigorously, and a line of shining "text" composed of unknown symbols, which Artoria could understand, popped up beside it: "Good luck! Take care! See you next time!"
The stream of consciousness slowly dissipated, and the "letter" turned into points of light, merging into the depths of the "system" interface, leaving only an "read" mark.
Artoria slowly opened her eyes; the afternoon sun was a bit dazzling. She squinted slightly, feeling the gentleness of the sea breeze brushing against her cheeks, with the sound of Minerva's steady and even breathing in her ears.
Xiao Qi's reply was short, lively, but full of information. She was doing well, about to start a new adventure, and was also happy about her own current situation. That blessing and encouragement from a distant "fellow traveler" was like the warm sun in winter, making one feel comforted.
"Ling?" Minerva's gentle voice sounded in her ear. She had woken up at some point and was lying on her side, looking at her tenderly, "What's wrong? Just now, your spiritual fluctuation was for a moment very... warm, and a little nostalgic."
Artoria turned her head, gave Minerva a clean smile, and held her hand: "Xiao Qi replied."
"That... system administrator?" Minerva understood, a smile appearing in her eyes, "Is she doing well?"
"Mm, doing very well, full of energy, and about to go to a new Universe for an 'internship'." Artoria briefly relayed the main content of Xiao Qi's letter to Minerva.
Minerva listened quietly, and at the end, nodded gently: "She is a very good friend. Although you've only been in contact for a very short time, one can feel that she is genuinely good to you and is also caring for you in her own way."
"Yeah." Artoria looked towards the distant horizon, her gaze distant, "To meet such a'senior' and friend in the infinite Universe is fortunate. She is right to remind us; our peace is just a lull before the storm. But at least, in this lull, we have accumulated enough strength and clarified each other's feelings."
She withdrew her gaze and looked at Minerva, her eyes reflecting the sunlight and the sea, clear and firm: "Xiao Xiao, our 'long vacation' may have to come to a temporary end. It's not that we need to face something immediately, but... we need to start making more, more proactive preparations for the future. Digest knowledge, integrate strength, observe the changes in this World, and... perhaps we should start considering how to use our existing abilities to do something more constructive for this 'home' we have chosen, rather than just passively waiting for threats to descend."
Minerva looked back at her, her eyes filled with unreserved trust and support: "I'll listen to you. Whatever you want to do, wherever you want to go, I'll accompany you. Now, we have plenty of time and plenty of strength to plan slowly and move forward steadily."
"Mm." Artoria nodded with a smile, reaching out to tidy Minerva's hair that had been tousled by the sea breeze, "However, there's no rush for this moment. Xiao Qi's internship has just started, and our 'observation period' is still continuing. At least this afternoon... let us finish sleeping in this rare sunshine."
She lay back down, adjusted to a more comfortable position, and closed her eyes. Minerva also smiled and lay back down beside her, gently holding her hand.
The sea waves remained gentle, and the sunlight remained warm. The letter from afar did not bring urgent pressure, but a sense of reassurance from being witnessed and blessed, as well as a more composed anticipation for the future.
The long vacation had not yet ended, but a new chapter had already quietly opened its prologue in the quiet bay.
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