The streets are empty and silent, residents are hiding in their houses. Very soon, the cramped little world of the Base hidden in the mountains, which has become a refuge for the remnants of humanity, will be engulfed in chaos. But there are brave souls whose determination to leave their native quarters and go beyond the gates of the Main Gate is as strong as the World Tree - the backbone of their closed Oikumene. Two teenagers believe that the day will come when the vast Outer World will open up to them, although all signs point to many obstacles along the way. Will they be able to maintain their friendship, uncover the secret of the Base and throw off the shackles of the Dark Ages? How will the Outer World greet the heroes, where time itself flows differently? How has it changed over the years of the Base's autonomous existence? And which of the two worlds is heading towards sunset, reflected in fiery flashes in Nekomata’s cat eyes? (annotation by Elena Kashina)