It was the darkest hour before dawn.

Humanity was barely holding on, with nearly all of its military forces suffering devastating blows. The fall of Northern Ireland and Alaska left Earth's military unable to mount any effective resistance.

The truth had come too late. If this report had happened a few years earlier, or even just one year earlier, the Earth Defense Coalition might have made a desperate last stand. Now, however, all that remained at the Cape of Good Hope were fewer than twenty nuclear warheads, a hundred tanks, and several dozen military helicopters.

The scholars completed their final tasks, each gathering their materials and reports before retreating to their new research labs to work on last-minute projects in preparation for the end. Everyone was focused on their own tasks, not interfering with one another. Zheng Rong disbanded his research team, locked himself in his room with a copy of the Zizhi Tongjian, and ceased all interaction with the military. Even if Earth was to be destroyed tomorrow, there was still work to be done. Zheng Rong didn’t know what else to do, so he read.

He delved into human history, perhaps inspired by the story of the Maya star beings. From the moment the first primitive human stood upright 750,000 years ago to the societal transformations of the modern era, Zheng Rong found himself constantly wondering: Did the Maya star beings leave humanity with only that hazy fragment of recessive genes?

From the end of the Ice Age, 10,000 years ago, to the 21st century, human development had accelerated at an astonishing pace—far faster than the slow evolution that had governed human existence since its dawn. If one were to plot a graph of human intellectual evolution, it would show a sudden sharp rise 10,000 years ago, followed by another steep climb at the Industrial Revolution, culminating in a peak around 2012. When humanity first looked up at the stars and began asking questions about the universe, their thoughts exploded like a nebula, unstoppable.

Wise individuals began emerging in droves—from Newton to Einstein, and finally to the priests of the end times. Knowledge expanded exponentially, pushing society to new heights, with each new era building on the last at an ever-accelerating pace. This rapid evolution far surpassed the developmental "infancy" of early humanity.

Three days later, Wei Rong visited.

"Good day, Doctor," he said.

Zheng Rong nodded slightly, gesturing for him to sit but remained silent, knowing the general had something to say.

Wei Rong removed his military cap, placing it on the table, and asked, "What have you been up to lately?"

Zheng Rong replied, "Reading. Do you have something to say? Is there anything left that I can do for the military?"

"No, nothing specific. I was passing by and thought I'd stop in for a chat. What have you been reading? Any insights?" Wei Rong asked.

Zheng Rong had known General Wei Rong since he was a child, back when the general was much younger and had helped lead the mass migration of the Chinese people. He had taken special care of Zheng Rong and his brother, Zheng Feng, as the children of scientists.

"I’ve been reading about the history of human development," Zheng replied. "And recently, I’ve had a question."

Wei Rong nodded in acknowledgment, and Zheng continued, "Sometimes I wonder—if the Maya star beings had never appeared, and if Earth had not suffered this catastrophe in 2012, what direction would humanity have taken?"

"Medical technology would have continued to evolve, improving living conditions. We would have conquered the Earth, cultivated barren lands, and sought self-fulfillment. Civilization would have reached new spiritual heights. But what then? Where would humanity go next?"

Wei Rong replied, "I remember a famous sociologist who made predictions for a thousand years into the future. He believed that human development was progressing far too quickly—especially in the last 10,000 years, from the Mesopotamian civilization to today, at a speed that surpassed any other period in Earth's history."

Zheng Rong agreed. "Exactly. We didn’t just change ourselves; we changed the Earth. It’s unfortunate that the scholar didn’t account for extraterrestrial interference. He died in the disaster."

Wei Rong asked, "Do you think we still have a chance?"

Zheng Rong smiled faintly, "That’s a question for you. We scientists don’t deal with that."

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Wei Rong sighed, running a hand through his greying hair.

Zheng Rong continued, "We had a teammate, a female doctor, who died during the fall of Northern Ireland. She once made an interesting prediction about the future of humanity."

"What was the prediction?" Wei Rong asked, curious.

Zheng replied, "She speculated that if medical technology advanced to its peak, it might be possible—just might—for the process of cell regeneration to never cease. The genetic code could be repaired indefinitely, and humans would never age. Immortality would be within reach."

Wei Rong, intrigued, said, "Just like the gift the Maya star beings intended to implant in humanity?"

Zheng nodded. "There might be a component of immortality in there."

Wei Rong asked, "And what does that imply?"

Zheng shrugged, "She believed that the day humanity achieves immortality could also be the day most of humanity perishes. Infinite lifespans would destroy Earth, and likely, humanity itself."

"Life and death, existence and extinction—these are the ultimate laws of the universe. They are intricately connected, though we cannot fully understand how. But their connection is undeniable. If human individuals were to achieve eternal life, then the species as a whole would face total extinction. Countless people would die, one after the other, until only one solitary human remained on Earth."

"That individual would replace the entire species, achieving immortality in the same way the Maya star beings and the stars themselves—whose lifespans span billions of years—have devolved into a form of regression."

Wei Rong pondered, then asked, "Do you truly believe that our form of life is the most advanced in the universe?"

Zheng Rong smiled, "Why not? At the very least, our ambitions are vast, and our goals are far-reaching. My brother died, but his legacy supports me, driving me to continue our mission."

Wei Rong pointed a finger at Zheng Rong and said, "I remember your father. He passed his vision on to Zheng Feng, and now your brother has passed his unfinished work on to you..."

Zheng nodded, "In a way, that’s another form of immortality—where the soul and will live on, carried through the beliefs of different people."

Zheng fell silent after saying this, his hand instinctively reaching for the pendant he wore around his neck.

Wei Rong put his cap back on and stood up, extending a hand to Zheng Rong.

"You’ve sacrificed so much—your brother, your family, and your… lover," Wei Rong said. "You, Li Ying the bloodthirsty wolf, and the rest are all children of humanity."

Zheng Rong shook his hand, saying nothing.

As Wei Rong left, Zheng Rong said, "If there’s anything else you need me to do, please let me know."

"Not for now," Wei Rong replied. "Please rest well. We’ll need your expertise in rebuilding after the war."

A strange feeling stirred in Zheng Rong’s heart as Wei Rong departed.

He thought over the general's final words, standing by the window and looking out. The square was deserted, and the patrolling soldiers had all been called away.

Frowning, Zheng grabbed his coat and rushed toward the military base. Flashing his ID card, he passed through the defense checkpoints and entered the Allied headquarters.

The atmosphere was oddly relaxed. Soldiers were gathered in the recreational room, drinking and chatting. Zheng stood for a moment before pulling aside one of the soldiers. "What’s going on?" he asked.

The soldier nodded politely. "The defense department announced a three-day leave starting today."

Zheng was baffled, unable to get more answers. "Has General Lance returned?"

The soldier’s eyes lit up. "Oh, right! You’re Dr. Zheng Rong! General Lance returned two days ago and is now commanding the newly reorganized 72nd Army. His office is in the east wing."

Zheng nodded and headed east.

In the living quarters, there was a bar behind the mess hall for the soldiers, normally off-limits to lower-ranked officers, but it was unusually crowded today.

Lance and Xiang Yu were sitting at the farthest bar counter.

"What’s going on outside?" Zheng Rong asked.

Lance replied, "I thought you were used to it by now. How do you expect me to answer that?"

Lance's injury had healed considerably, though his shoulder was still bandaged, with a strip of white gauze visible at his neck.

Xiang Yu smirked, "Classified. Can’t disclose it."

Zheng Rong chuckled.

He stood by the bar and noticed that both Lance and Xiang Yu were seated sideways, each with a glass of whiskey, seemingly chatting and drinking. A dice cup sat overturned on the bar.

"Odd number," Lance said.

Xiang Yu replied, "In that case, I’ll choose even."

"What are you two doing?" Zheng Rong asked again. "Surely this isn't classified, is it?"

Lance grinned at Xiang Yu, "We’re gambling, just like I used to with your brother."

Xiang Yu smiled, "Who do you think will win?"

He playfully tapped Zheng Rong’s cheek with his finger.

Zheng Rong answered, "Definitely my brother. Lance never won a dice game when drinking."

Neither Lance nor Xiang Yu responded.

Frowning slightly, Zheng Rong asked, "What are you gambling on?"

Lance asked, "Do you want me to lose, Zheng Rong?"

Sensing something off in the air, Zheng Rong replied, "What is it you’re betting on?"

Lance said, "Who do you want to win, Zheng Rong? You have one more chance."

Zheng Rong sensed a shift in the atmosphere and remarked, "You aren’t betting on life and death, are you? That’s absurd."

Xiang Yu laughed softly, "He said you lost. Didn’t you hear him?"

Lance spoke quietly, "It doesn’t matter what he said. Let’s see if the dice is odd or even."

Xiang Yu downed his whiskey, "No need to check. I’ve won. He wants me to win."

Lance remained silent for a long time, then pushed the glass aside and turned away from the bar.

"Where are you going, Lance?" Zheng Rong called out.

For the first time, Lance ignored him. He adjusted his military cap, pushed past the noisy soldiers, and left the bar without looking back.

Xiang Yu said, "We were betting on who would take the mission. The loser goes, the winner… stays to look after you."

"What does that mean?!" Zheng Rong demanded. "What mission are you talking about?"

Xiang Yu shrugged, smiling as if he were teasing a younger brother. "Neither of us can go," Zheng Rong said, losing his patience. "I’m going to find General Wei Rong."

Xiang Yu reached out to ruffle Zheng Rong’s hair, still smiling. After a long pause, he said, "Zheng Rong..."

"I’ll be back after I talk to him," Zheng replied, turning and chasing after Lance as he left the east wing.

Xiang Yu ordered another whiskey and lifted the dice cup, revealing two blood-red dice showing four pips each—a perfect pair.

Zheng hurried to the central district, outside the high-ranking officers' offices. He ran up the spiral stone stairs, out of breath, pausing on the platform to catch his breath, leaning against the wall.

"I need to see General Wei Rong," he told the guard.

"The General is busy, Dr. Zheng. Please wait," the guard replied, recognizing Zheng's credentials.

Lance spoke from the other side of the platform, "He’s in a meeting, Zheng. Did Xiang Yu tell you everything?"

Zheng hadn’t noticed Lance standing there, waiting. Perhaps they shared the same purpose, or perhaps Lance had known Zheng would come.

Lance turned to face him, his clear blue eyes reminiscent of the Aegean Sea, and his golden hair shining like the morning sun.

"You’re here too," Zheng Rong said stiffly.

Lance smiled, "Yes, let’s have a real talk, Zheng. There are a few things I’ve been meaning to say to you."