Chapter 211: Shadow
Karina landed her aircraft on the coast of Amber Continent. Anno looked out and saw many shops along the coast, mostly selling various kinds of food.
Amber Continent is a famous academy on Tianhe Star, with a large number of students. Although many academies are boarding schools, there are not many restrictions on travel as long as students do not leave Amber Continent.
It was the time when students were taking a break from get out of class, and the coastline was quite lively.
Karina and Anno, two people who dislike crowds, got off the aircraft, stood still for a while, and then looked at each other.
Karina: "...I never imagined this place was so lively decades ago."
She led Anuo to a less crowded spot and ordered some local specialties.
While waiting for her food, Anno's gaze swept across the coastline. After looking around, she turned her gaze back and saw Karina looking at her.
She placed her hand on the table, propped her chin on her hand, and looked at Karina. "Second sister, did you used to come here often?"
Karina paused slightly. "I don't come here very often."
During her school years, due to changes in the college system, there were very few shops here. She would occasionally come here to eat something, drink, and enjoy the sea breeze.
She used to be a member of the flight squadron, the kind of player who could single-handedly pull the team to first place, no matter how bad her teammates were.
Later, she felt that participating in the competition was not very meaningful, so she left the team.
Her teammates begged her to stay, tears streaming down their faces, but she resolutely left.
Later, she participated in various competition teams at the college, but she would leave the team after reaching the highest score in each competition. She basically had no interest in anything that could last her.
Now, looking at Anno sitting in front of her, she doesn't find it boring just watching her eat.
Her heart was no longer empty, but filled with an indescribable peace.
Instead of seeking extreme thrills or the fleeting satisfaction of completing a task, she felt as if colors were gradually filling a blank sheet of paper. She possessed memories that she could recall at any time—ordinary and mundane, yet capable of being repeatedly revisited, filling her heart with immense fulfillment.
She couldn't describe her feelings for Xiaoqi; it was probably like a whale, spending its whole life searching for a creature that shares its frequency with it, and if it doesn't find one, it will be alone for the rest of its life.
She didn't feel lonely, but she felt that she could see life clearly from beginning to end, and that she possessed an empty and blank soul.
But she also knew in her heart that Xiaoqi would be surrounded by many people: her family, her friends, and the lover who would make her heart flutter in the future.
Her life will gradually become full, a vibrant and colorful tapestry.
In the end, she will only leave a brief silhouette and memory in her life.
As darkness fell, bright lights began to illuminate the coastline.
Anno looked towards the sea, where the last crimson rays of the setting sun faded from the coastline, and darkness descended like a hazy veil.
The sea here is relatively calm, and all you can hear is the sound of waves crashing against the beach. Coupled with the noisy voices and bustling crowd, Anuo feels as if she has stepped into another world.
Her past life and recent events, big and small, are gradually fading away from her, feeling both real and like a dream.
If the consciousness network were blocked and she were with Karina, she might even forget that she was a Zerg.
"Here is your food, please enjoy."
A young woman with a headscarf and a long ponytail placed the food on their table and then hurriedly went back into the shop to work.
Some shops are already using robot services, but this shop is still using human staff, with only a few small machines to help out.
"This shop is run by a father and daughter."
Karina looked at Anno as she looked into the store, then pried open a seashell and placed it in front of her.
Anno asked curiously, "They've been around for so many years, their business must be doing well. Haven't they opened a bigger store?"
Karina said, "When I was in school, they were still there. The location of the shop has never changed. It has always been the two of them."
Anno: "Just the two of them? What about the girl's mother and siblings?"
Karina opened a bottle of wine and poured some for Anno. "The girl's father has a very low genetic level and has been using medication to maintain it. His genetic level is not high enough to start a family. He found the girl on the beach, and her genetic level is not high either."
Anno forked a piece of fish and stuffed it into his mouth, saying as he ate, "In our insect race, genes are like the foundation of a house. The so-called gene level is just building a house on this foundation. Racial branches and acquired abilities are the form of the house after it's built, but the foundation is always the most important."
Although the Zerg's social structure is hierarchical, it is actually based on the division of labor according to strength. Each Zerg has their own job, and they will not abandon any Zerg because of their strength.
The Zerg, with their powerful physiques, are generally the vanguard on the battlefield and the strongest protectors of the Zerg.
Those with relatively weaker physical abilities and no special powers are responsible for logistical work, mainly engaging in the mining, purification, and maintenance of energy ores.
Spending time with energy ores can enhance the abilities and physical qualities of these creatures, creating a cycle that has led to the Zerg's current strength.
"What you're saying doesn't just apply to the Zerg; the genetic makeup of all races in StarCraft is like this."
Karina looked at Anno and said, "Superpower level and strong physical fitness distinguish us from those with lower genes, but apart from that, there is not much difference. I have read my father's experimental report. Apart from the fact that the consciousness of those who mutate into the Fallen becomes chaotic, the brains of those with high-level genes and those with low-level genes are the same. Everyone's foundation is the same. Only the genes of the Fallen have shaken this foundation."
Anno understood what Karina was saying and knew how much helplessness was contained in it.
However, the Northern River Galaxy has never realized this. The Tianyun Galaxy is in a similar situation to the Northern River Galaxy, but the Tianyun Galaxy has come to understand that what they need to save are those whose genes have degenerated to the point of affecting the gene chain, rather than simply increasing their gene level.
As long as this foundation exists, there will always be high-level genes and low-level genes. However, if those who affect the gene chain are left unchecked, they will spread like a virus and infect everyone.
What makes us human is that we possess consciousness and memory, and we have a soul and emotions.
How could they bear to be abandoned, and to have their loved ones and friends abandoned?
The internal strife in the Northern River system stemmed from this, and they reaped the bitter fruits of their own actions.
Anno watched the girl busy at each table. She had fish fins behind her ears and light blue fish scales on her arms, making her beast-like features very obvious.
She asked Karina, "Did her genetic level improve later?"
According to Karina, the fact that the shop is still around in its eighties indicates that the girl's genes are relatively stable.
However, those with lower gene levels will generally degenerate gradually.
Even people with high-grade genes will degenerate as they age. However, people with high-grade genes can withstand the degeneration. For example, people with S-grade genes will at most degenerate to B-grade when they get old. But people with B-grade or even C-grade or lower genes cannot withstand the degeneration.
"No, she was lucky. She has mermaid genes. Mermaid genes are very stable; they neither degenerate nor increase. Not long after I graduated, her father degenerated into a degenerate and was exiled."
After hearing this, Anuo glanced at the mermaid girl, who was constantly busy inside and outside the shop with a smile on her face. Her father was preparing dishes in the shop and would occasionally look up at her with a smile on his face.
In a coastal city like this, owning a small shop to make a living means they don't have many worries.
Back when they lived in the West District, Anaya often told her that she wanted to live by the sea so she could eat fish and seafood every day.
Her wish was even simpler: to have enough to eat and wear, and to no longer have to go out every day to risk her life and compete with others for resources and food.
They all longed for an ordinary, happy life.
But their true identities destined them to be anything but ordinary.
"You like it here? I'll take you out to sea later?"
Karina reached out and tucked a strand of long hair behind Anno's ear.
Anuo snapped out of her daze, smiled, and said, "Okay."
After dinner, Anno and Karina took a walk along the roadside. The boat rental place was not far ahead, so they walked over there to digest their food.
There were a few pedestrians on the street, and it was much quieter than the restaurant.
The bright streetlights stretched their shadows long, and Anno, looking at their shadows, inexplicably stood in Karina's shadow.
"Second sister, look, your shadow completely covers me."
Karina looked at her smiling face and felt a warmth spread through her heart. She reached out and touched her head. "It's because you've melted into my life."
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