"He's definitely drunk." Dr. Bruce Banner looked at Finn, whose cheeks were slightly flushed and whose eyes were a bit misty, feeling both helpless and amused.
Childish." Tony sat on the sofa, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance and disdain. "How much have you even had to end up like this?
Coincidentally, Thor had descended to Earth recently, Tony had already planned to host an Avengers Party, everyone happened to be free tonight. He hadn't expected Finn to suddenly call at this time, babbling drunkenly and claiming that they would join forces to host an unprecedentedly grand party in the future. Tony couldn't be bothered to discuss things with a drunken little guy with Seven Major Sicknesses, so he simply invited Finn, along with all his friends, to the Avengers Base.
It was a bit of a last-minute decision, treated as a Hero Meeting.
"Didn't I tell you I have a universal social circle?" Finn looked at his dumbfounded friends and also showed a proud expression.
Anthony, standing in the Avengers Base, was completely dumbfounded.
Shocked eyes swept over the Avengers in the base—people whose famous names only appeared in the news—as he stared, unable to believe his own eyes.
"Am I dreaming?" Anthony's mind was a mess, at this moment, he was lost in wild thoughts.
——Could it be that his plan for the Hamster Legion to rule humanity was so outrageous that the Avengers decided to sanction him?
—He certainly has a lot of nerve.
Isn't this the founder of the movement to rule the Earth with hamsters?" Black Widow said with a light laugh. "I've watched that show too; it's quite interesting. If you're designing new levels for the second season, I actually have a few good ideas.
"Please, please go ahead." Anthony immediately adopted a polite and respectful posture, appearing ready to listen intently and accept any suggestions.
Natasha had actually watched Rat Rise and came up with many novel ideas for new levels that were highly practical; Anthony truly felt they were all feasible. Even Hawkeye and Dr. Bruce Banner proactively suggested some ideas. Given the successful conclusion of the first season, the scale of the second season could certainly be made even more grand, using larger and more immersive settings to create more detailed levels.
The initial tension and awkwardness gradually dissipated, the atmosphere in the room began to truly liven up.
Blake looked at the Avengers before him, his cheeks flushing with excitement, made a bold claim on the spot: "I'm going to design a super cool game specifically for the Avengers!" The young man's eyes shone, his voice filled with longing and anticipation, "I can already imagine the moment '[Avengers Assemble]' pops up on the screen, all of you appear together—that scene will be absolutely mind-blowing!"
Upon hearing this, Stark thought it sounded quite interesting and immediately expressed his willingness to invest, specifically to release an Iron Man game.
"Tony.." Captain America said with a hint of helplessness, though he naturally felt that assembling the team was more important than individual heroism.
Blake was so excited to meet his idol that he enthusiastically and proactively demonstrated the new era's viral single-player online game produced by his studio to Captain America right then and there, even teaching Captain America how to play.
Captain America.. After surviving countless battlefields filled with gunfire and bullets, I never expected that in this era of peace, I'd still be trying to escape a mental hospital in a game.
Interesting." Thor was truly deeply intrigued. "Since Loki is so bored in prison, can I bring him back for him to play with?
Harry: ".." Should I say you're thoughtful, or should I say you're a bit dim-witted?
On the other side, Dr. Bruce Banner also took the opportunity to chat with Harry about his physical condition; several genetic projects of the Osborn Group were also being led and promoted by Dr. Bruce Banner.
Didn't Spider-Man come?" Anthony asked curiously. "Isn't Spider-Man also a member of the Avengers? Why isn't he here?
"Isn't he right here?" Finn said with a smile, pointing to the boyfriend by his side.
Peter flashed an awkward yet polite smile.
"You?" Anthony was incredulous.
“You??” Noah's shock intensified.
You're actually Spider-Man!?" Noah directly grabbed Peter and yanked him over fiercely. "I knew it! On the night of Finn's birthday, why would Spider-Man kidnap him all the way to an abandoned office building to watch Korean Dramas! I thought it was some fake Spider-Man! So it was you, kid!
Everyone around them burst into laughter, even Harry couldn't help but let a smile tug at the corners of his mouth.
Seeing Harry laughing as well, Noah was even more exasperated. He was furious that Peter was hiding a dual identity; one shell wasn't enough, he even wanted to use two shells to whisk Finn away. Moreover, even Harry Osborn knew about it! And he hadn't confessed such a major secret to him!? Clearly, back then, he had supported their romance even more than Harry had!
In this situation, Noah rarely showcased his hidden mixology skills, then, with a kind smile on his face, he served glass after glass to Peter. Feeling guilty, Peter had no choice but to take the glasses with slightly trembling hands.
"Hey, the Poison Witch is online again," Blake said in a low voice.
Spider-Man: ".." After finishing the Cinderella script, am I Snow White now?
Under Noah's retaliatory "offensive," Peter quickly got drunk as well, even more thoroughly than Finn.
Finn watched them laughing, Harry also raised an eyebrow, leaving them to it, while only Elias helplessly tried to stop Noah.
Coincidentally, the conversation turned to how the Spider-Man memes drawn by Finn had gone viral across the entire internet. Thor leaned in with great anticipation, expressing that he naturally wanted to have his very own memes. Finn nodded repeatedly, giving his word on the spot that he would handle all the Avengers memes; he would draw them all.
"Such a wonderful brother." Thor lamented again, his eyes filled with envy and longing, "Just how did your father raise him?" Thor even wanted to take Finn to Asgard Prison to give Loki a proper lesson.
Harry instantly became alert: ".." Surely no one else—no, not even a god—was going to come and try to snatch his brother away, right?
You want me to license Iron Man's image to you?" Stark raised an eyebrow. He certainly wouldn't be as casual as other heroes, setting an extremely high threshold for his own image. "This is no simple matter.
Finn frowned in thought; regarding the matter of licensing, he couldn't exactly talk about money with Iron Man, could he?
When is the next press conference for your Stark Group?" Finn's cheeks still bore a layer of drunken flush. The young man thought seriously about his current commercial value before saying in a certain tone, "I'll come and speak for you.
—His last press conference was spectacular, a truly iconic moment.
—Osborn Group's stock soared because of it.
Harry: "??" You, an Osborn, are going to be the keynote speaker for the Stark Group's press conference? Do you think Iron Man will accept that?
Although the Osborn Group and the Stark Group are not exactly arch-enemies, they have always been business empire rivals.
Fine." Even Iron Man was stunned by Finn's bold proposal, but he agreed immediately. Letting the Young Master Osborn provide cover for the Stark Group for free was such a great deal that even Pepper, upon hearing it, had to praise him for finally doing something useful for the Stark Group. "It's a deal.
Both of them acted as if it were completely natural.
Harry: ".." One dares to suggest it, the other actually dares to agree.
Steve Montgomery and Matt also suggested several popular games and activities for the young people's party so that everyone could play together. Andrew held his camera, silently recording it all. Having heroes and youths at the same party made him feel as if it were unreal, a sense of indescribable trance. Andrew had never imagined that his own barren, bleak, ignored life could actually witness such an incredible scene with his own eyes.
Andrew suddenly thought of a concept called the—Mushroom Effect.
Mushrooms growing in dark corners fear the sunlight and receive no attention, curling up in their own tiny worlds, always existing in a state of self-destruction.
Andrew once thought he was like this and would always be like this, but now—
He had finally become a part of what was seen.
Andrew slowly raised his head, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at the vibrant figures both in and out of the camera lens. He suddenly realized that, at some point, he had no longer feared the sunlight; even a gloomy, light-averse mushroom could slowly grow into something that could embrace the brightness with composure.
As the party drew to a close, Thor remained in high spirits, recounting tales of Asgard's past. He even raised Mjolnir in front of the crowd, declaring that anyone capable of lifting the hammer would be worthy to inherit Asgard, instantly driving the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
Everything was noisy and lively.
Warm yellow lights spilled over everyone, laughter mingled with the faint scent of wine and sweet drinks, floating gently in the air.
Finn watched the lively scene before him calmly, yet he felt emotionally as a part of himself slowly settling down within his body.
Because he had already experienced a hundred similar scenes.
He knew very clearly—
This moment.
The most perfect moment.
It should be the moment when he, as the System, completely detaches from the Host's body and says goodbye to the Host.
“If only time could stay at this moment forever.”
Finn missed those times a little, saying with a sigh and a smile that curved his eyes.
The young man's tone still held a hint of nostalgia.
His hosts all have long and bright futures, he will quietly make his exit at the happiest moment, right after they have achieved their triumphant comeback.
The best ending is for the Hosts no longer to need his assistance. They will carry this light and walk alongside those they love, possessing lives that are forever brilliant and forever dazzling. As for him, he will bid a proper farewell to his dear Hosts, then head to the next world to continue executing his mission, looking forward to finding a new Host who is mired in a low point and needs his help.
Finn's voice was very soft, yet it fell clearly into everyone's ears.
Everything around them seemed to have been suddenly muted at this very moment.
At this moment, everyone's movements stopped in unison, their gazes all fell upon Finn.
The young man in their eyes seemed to be standing at the far end of the world, those clean and bright green eyes gazing at them with an indescribable look that made one's heart tremble.
It was as if he were looking at them, yet also as if he were looking through them, gazing toward some distant place that no one could reach.
It was as if he was lingering on the bustle before him, yet also as if he had long since detached himself, watching a story from the perspective of a bystander.
Even though Finn was no longer the System, at this moment, his consciousness, floating slightly from the alcohol, uncontrollably experienced that familiar sense of weightlessness, as if every mission he was meant to accomplish had already been fulfilled, as if he were once again prepared to leave this perfect world behind.
A sense of dissonance so intense it could not be ignored spread through the silence, leaving everyone unable to speak at this moment—
The young man was smiling, even so.
Yet it was as if he would vanish the very next second.
Chapter 86: All Night Long°Confession
If only time could stop at this very moment forever.
Upon hearing Finn say those words, Harry's pupils suddenly contracted.
The young man's hand, which was tightly gripping the wine glass, trembled violently, the glass was set back on the table with a heavy thud.
It completely shattered the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere of the party.
Harry's usually calm gaze now turned toward Finn, swirling with an unmistakable panic.
He immediately recalled what Dr. Thomas had said last time—
In the heightened state of a Manic Phase, he behaves with confidence and extroversion, even feeling no fatigue, but this is merely an emotional overexertion. When this excitement fades, when he returns alone to an empty room and all the noise dissipates, the lows of a Depressive Phase are likely to follow immediately.
[The switch between these two states often occurs without warning.]
Finn's condition was always like a bomb that could explode at any moment without warning.
Sometimes Harry couldn't tell if Finn was truly pouring his heart into his passion, or if he was in an uncontrollable state of false euphoria.
But at this moment, he saw it with absolute clarity.
Finn stood just outside the noisy crowd, as if shrouded in a glass dome that they could not see.
He stood here, yet seemed not to be here at all.
Finn did not blend in; he simply watched everything before him with an unusually calm, almost detached bystander's gaze, quiet and content. It was a feeling as if the young man had finally seen the beautiful ending he had wanted at the end of a movie, only for his brother to stand up and leave, disappearing completely from their world the moment the lights in the theater came on.
Harry's heart suddenly raced, the panic nearly overwhelming him, making even breathing difficult.
"Finn.." Noah's heart trembled to the extreme as he lunged up from the sofa. The worry that had been lurking in his heart all this time was magnified to its limit at this moment. On that morning, the second day of Finn's birthday, in that bedroom filled with gift boxes, the memories of uncontrolled illness and spreading blood once again pierced sharply through Noah's mind.
—No.
——Don't say things like "I wish time would stop at this very moment"..
The clamor of the entire Avengers Base froze silently at this moment.