The place fell silent for a second.
The look on Arthur's face seemed pathetic
But Zhang Yong had already turned away. "I warned you," he said with deadly calm, raising his sword again. "Now, it's time to settle accounts."
Zhang Yong sent a black flying blade and severed Arthur's neck in a single strike.
Suddenly, Zhang Yong's danger sense spiked, and he spun around quickly, shattering an icy shard flying toward him.
'That aura, it's Esdeath. Damn, breaking causality made me lose more than 80% of my energy.'
Zhang Yong frowned immediately. 'If she's here, then the others...!' Zhang Yong thought of the possibility and barely managed to compose himself.
"Just my luck!" Zhang Yong said with displeasure, as his fourth spirit ring gleamed and purple wings unfurled behind him.
Zhang Yong shot away from the battlefield at lightning speed, leaving Arthur's corpse standing amid the destruction. His purple wings left a glowing trail in the sky as he raced back toward the Night Raid headquarters. His heart pounded rapidly.
'Please don't let my feeling be right.'
Zhang Yong's other four spirit rings gleamed, and his wings were covered with different brilliant colors, making his speed even greater.
His speed increased further, piercing through the wind like a launched arrow. Every muscle in his body was tense, and every bit of his spiritual energy was being expended to maximize his speed. He was dangerously approaching the speed of sound.
"I must arrive in time... I must!"
On the horizon, he began to see smoke rising from the battle site. His heart shrank at the sight. 'No... it can't be too late!'
The four spirit rings around him began to fade from energy depletion, but he did not slow down. Instead, he pushed harder, causing the purple wings to glow even brighter.
Finally, he arrived at the location, but only found a giant crater there. He released his spiritual sense and began searching hurriedly.
After about half an hour of searching, he found signs of life in a wooden hut.
He landed swiftly in front of the hut and entered quickly. Then he saw the group sitting inside, resting.
The most injured among them was Leone, who had lost an arm, but with her Teigu's healing ability, it wasn't a big deal. The rest had only light, superficial injuries
Everyone looked at Zhang Yong in surprise as he suddenly entered, his face pale and his eyes carrying a worried look.
"Zhang Yong!" Akame screamed, jumping from her spot. "What happened? Why do you look like this?"
Zhang Yong took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and smiled. "You... are all okay... good. Hoo, traveling here quickly really isn't good for my heart."
"I think I need to sit down for a bit..." Zhang Yong said as he swayed slightly on his feet, suddenly feeling extremely exhausted after the tension and his intense energy depletion had subsided.
Mine quickly approached him and grabbed his arm to support him. "You look terrible , What happened out there?"
Zhang Yong fell onto a nearby chair, his face still pale. "Nothing. I didn't imagine I would be tricked by that person , and you all ended up fighting the entire Jaegers. I managed to kill him, but Esdeath showed up and—..."
Suddenly, Zhang Yong stopped speaking, and his grip on his chest tightened abruptly.
His eyes widened as he tried to catch his breath, but something was obstructing his breathing. He felt as if an ice-cold knife had pierced his heart from within.
"Zhang Yong?!" Mine screamed, gripping his shoulders firmly. "What's happening to you?"
He couldn't respond. His head leaned forward as his body began to shake violently. Dark blue lines began to appear on his skin, branching like the roots of an evil tree.
He immediately spread Reincarnation Qi throughout his body, but his spiritual energy was weak at this time.
He grabbed Mine's arm and forced his body to stand up with effort, pulling her out of the hut with him.
The fresh air refreshed his lungs, but the pain in his chest did not stop. The dark blue lines on his skin were spreading rapidly, as if devouring him from within.
"Mine, quickly, transfer your spiritual energy to me through the Sun and Moon Harmony method," Zhang Yong said hurriedly, trying to focus on his breathing.
Mine did not hesitate. She gripped his hands firmly, her eyes showing concern, but she quickly closed them and began transferring her spiritual energy to him through the "Sun and Moon Harmony" technique.
The silver (Yin) energy flowed from Mine to Zhang Yong, who received it with intense focus, trying to direct it to confront those blue lines that were growing increasingly fierce.
He had some resistance to his current condition due to his Poison Path and Metal Path. Previously, at the new headquarters, Zhang Yong had asked Susanoo to build a chamber for him on the side. He had melted a number of metals and bathed his body in them, thereby acquiring the "Unyielding Body," and his human bones were replaced with metal ones. However, this also meant that any lightning strikes would deal double damage to him.
Mine squeezed his hands harder, her spiritual energy flowing abundantly. "Take as much as you need."
But suddenly, the blue lines stopped spreading, then slowly began to recede. Zhang Yong felt some relief, but he knew this was temporary.
"Good, I'm better now." Zhang Yong finally breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled.
"What was that, anyway?" Mine asked, her eyebrows furrowed. She couldn't help but feel that Zhang Yong was hiding something.
"Maybe it's an injury I sustained during the fight." Zhang Yong smiled falsely; he had no intention of dragging them into this.
Mine looked at him silently, not convinced by his words at all.
After a moment of silence, Zhang Yong looked at his hand, where Mine was still holding them firmly. He smiled faintly, raising his eyebrows.
"Do you intend to keep my hand forever?" he said in a sarcastic tone.
Mine was surprised for a second before realizing the situation, then she released his hands suddenly as if they were burning, her cheeks turning pink. "That's... don't mind it!"
Zhang Yong smiled calmly as he watched Mine's embarrassment, but suddenly he heard the sound of quick footsteps approaching. He turned to see Lubbock rushing toward them, his face pale and his eyes wide. "Zhang Yong, you're here, good. I have a report for Miss Najenda."
After returning inside the house, Lubbock informed them that Chelsea had gone after Kurome alone after killing Bols.
"Boss, I'll go after Chelsea alone." Zhang Yong said with a determined look. He couldn't let go of this opportunity to obtain her soul.
Najenda took a deep puff of her cigar before replying, "You're not going alone. Tatsumi, Akame, the three of you will go to catch up with Chelsea and protect her."
"Understood!" Tatsumi said, carrying his sword, and the three quickly left the house and sped off.
After Zhang Yong, Tatsumi, and Akame left the house, they raced through the dense forest toward the location Lubbock had mentioned.
Zhang Yong leaped between the trees, not entirely sure of the situation himself.
He sighed softly. "Sorry, guys."
Zhang Yong's black spirit ring rose, and black smoke began to surround his body to increase his physical abilities, just as he released Death Qi throughout his body and used Dark Dragon Dash, supporting it with the Wind Path.
Zhang Yong shot through the trees at lightning speed, leaving behind a trail of black mist. Tatsumi and Akame struggled to keep up with his speed but couldn't quite catch him.
"Wait! Don't go ahead alone!" Tatsumi shouted, even while using Incursio, he couldn't catch up.
Within half an hour of running, he had arrived at a high area, where a city could be seen ahead.
(Phantom Manifestation activated, and 20% of the scale has been used.)
Immediately, Zhang Yong exited his body, his transparent form darting to the left while his physical body shot to the right.
This was a side stage of the Phantom Manifestation ability.
If anyone looked at Zhang Yong's body, he appeared completely conscious, but up close, his level had dropped to 27, half of his current level. This was the price for remaining conscious. When the effect of Phantom Manifestation ends, he will regain his level.
Zhang Yong soon arrived at a flower field and immediately found Kurome chasing Chelsea.
Zhang Yong withdrew his phantom manifestation and watched what happened.
One of Yatsufusa's puppets, named Natala, immediately attacked Chelsea and cut off her arm.
The other puppet, Doya, fired a shot that pierced Chelsea's stomach, and she fell to the ground.
Finally, Natala pinned her to the ground, gripping her neck tightly, about to decapitate her.
'She'll die from blood loss,' Zhang Yong thought as he sent a sword energy blade toward Natala.
Natala jumped quickly, evading the attack with a twist in the air, and fireballs flew toward him as he retreated to protect Kurome.
At the same time, Doya fired at Zhang Yong. The latter dodged quickly and used his own gun to fire back, aiming for her head.
Doya evaded quickly and began running and firing at Zhang Yong.
Eternal Ice Memory - Earth Freeze.
Ice walls rose around Zhang Yong and Chelsea.
Zhang Yong approached her calmly and leaned down. "Unfortunately, your end was tragic... Chelsea, the least I can do is give you some peace."
Salvation Path - Light of Salvation.
A warm, golden light emanated from Zhang Yong's hand, flowing like liquid sunlight over Chelsea's injured body.
Chelsea looked at the sky with wide eyes, breathing slowly. "This... what is this feeling?" she whispered in a weak voice.
"A final gift." Zhang Yong said softly, as the light surrounded her like a warm embrace. "You will feel no more pain."
In that moment, Chelsea felt as if all the weight of the world had been lifted from her. Her memories, from moments of joy to pain, flowed before her eyes like a fast-forwarded film, but without any pain. She smiled, feeling a peace she had never known before.
"...Sorry... Tatsumi..." she whispered, her eyes beginning to close slowly.
And as the golden light faded, her last breath faded with a smile on her face.
Zhang Yong successfully absorbed her soul.
[Soul of the summoned "Chelsea" successfully absorbed. Number of souls absorbed (3/14)]
Zhang Yong suddenly raised his head when he heard an explosion behind him. The ice wall had shattered.
Natala and Doya advanced toward him quickly, while Kurome stood in the back, her eyes flashing with anger.
Zhang Yong smiled coldly. "Oh, oh, did my interference anger you? How naive of you. I'm leaving now."
Zhang Yong suddenly disappeared from the spot. He waited for about an hour before both Tatsumi and Mine arrived. It had begun to rain heavily.
"Zhang Yong! Did you find her?" Tatsumi asked hurriedly.
However, Zhang Yong shook his head. "I searched the surrounding area. There's no trace of her."
Akame held her chin, thinking. "Knowing Chelsea, she might have actually gone to the nearby town."
"Then, I'll disappear and go to the town," Tatsumi said as he activated Incursio's armor.
"Be careful," Akame said with a worried tone.
Tatsumi nodded and sped off toward the town, while Zhang Yong remained staring at his disappearing form. According to the storyline, Chelsea's head would be hanging on the pole in the middle.
'This will be hard on him, but, this is how things must happen. No matter what, I must obtain the safe ending.'
...
When Tatsumi returned, his gaze was broken. He had seen Chelsea's head hanging in the city, witnessed by many residents.
But even if a team member was gone, the mission had to be completed.
The day after what happened, the group arrived at the city of Keokruch, the home of the religious organization.
Zhang Yong wandered through the market with Mine. The day's mission was only to reconnoiter the area.
The market was crowded with people, the discordant voices of sellers and buyers filling the air, the scent of spices and foods mixing with the fragrance of flowers displayed on the sidewalks. Zhang Yong walked slowly beside Mine, his eyes scanning the place cautiously.
"Hah, there's a big difference between this place and the gloomy capital streets," Zhang Yong said, pointing to the bright colors and vibrant atmosphere around them.
"Even if the atmosphere is comfortable, don't let your guard down. The Jaegers might be nearby distributing wanted posters of us," Mine said as she walked with stifling tension.
Zhang Yong smiled as he picked an apple from one of the stalls and paid for it. "Then don't act like a wanted person," he said, handing her the apple. "And with your current accomplishment, the Jaegers members shouldn't be a problem for you... well, except for Esdeath."
Mine looked at him in surprise, then took the apple hesitantly. "You seem more lively. You're smiling more than usual."
Zhang Yong chuckled lightly. "Of course, why wouldn't I be, when I'm going with my little sister?"
"Little sister?" Mine furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
Zhang Yong was surprised by his slip of the tongue when he realized his words and immediately shook his head, his smile disappearing with it. "Nothing. I didn't say anything."
She looked at him with narrowed eyes, then bit into the apple forcefully. "You're acting strange."
'Forget all of this. What was the next event again?' Zhang Yong held his forehead as he used Heavenly Demon Recollection and the Library of Mysteries.
'Hmm? Why can't I remember anything? I'm sure I have the information. Where is it?!' His eyes widened for a moment.
Why couldn't he remember the upcoming events? Was this an effect from his confrontation with Arthur? Or was there something else happening?
This was certainly not the time to lose them. If that happened, he might not be able to bear the consequences.
"Let's go to the northern outskirts of the area," Mine suggested quietly.
Zhang Yong nodded and followed her through the crowd.
After an hour of wandering, they arrived at the northern outskirts of the city. After wandering for a while, they decided to take a break.
They sat in a nearby area while Zhang Yong looked at the city from afar. Not long ago, Zhang Yong had broken through with the Purple Demon Eyes skill into the world of details, enhancing his vision even further. Currently, he could see the alleys clearly, and the families through the windows of their homes.
Then Zhang Yong turned his gaze toward Mine. She had already surpassed the Master stage and was about to break through to the Grand Master stage. This breakthrough speed was incredible.
'All this achievement in a barren world. If she were in the main world, she would already be one of the brightest disciples in the sects.' Zhang Yong couldn't help but envy her a little.
"Tell me, Mine, do I seem like a crazy scoundrel?" Zhang Yong said, scratching his face.
Mine raised an eyebrow. "A scoundrel? Yes. Crazy? Not really."
Zhang Yong laughed softly, then turned his face toward the horizon. "Well, that's somewhat reassuring."
A brief silence fell between them, before Mine asked hesitantly, "Why do you ask?"
Zhang Yong turned to her, his blue eyes reflecting the sunlight. "Nothing serious, but sometimes I might lose a screw or two in my head, and let's just say it's not a comfortable feeling."
Mine said seriously, "Oh really? That explains a lot. But you're not crazy... just a little strange."
"That's really not—" Zhang Yong suddenly stopped and turned when he sensed a presence behind him. He found a tall, thin man wearing a pendant symbol of the Path of Peace around his forehead, his long white hair swaying in the breeze, and behind him were a few guards.
His warm eyes looked at them with a gentle smile. "Ah, sorry for coming unannounced, but I couldn't just stand by and watch."
His voice was soft and warm, like a gentle breeze carrying a strange comfort, but his eyes, despite his calm smile, looked at Zhang Yong strangely.
"Are you... the founder of the Path of Peace!?" Mine said in a surprised tone.
The leader nodded calmly. "Yes, I sometimes take tours to check on my followers in the outskirts."
Zhang Yong looked at him and bowed slightly. "It's an honor to meet the leader in person."
The leader smiled compassionately. "No need for formalities, please. I came here for a reason," he said simply, then turned his face toward Mine. "You... you have a pure aura, like sunlight on a clear day. But..."
He paused and looked at Zhang Yong again, and this time his eyes carried something akin to sorrow.
"You are surrounded by many things... black karma, ghosts, and malice. This is the first time I've seen it, but it's as if you are an outcast of heaven."
Mine frowned immediately, her hand clenching into a fist. "What do you mean?"
He didn't smile this time, but his expression showed sympathy. "I advise you not to get attached to him. Everyone who approaches him will inevitably find misery. He is like a shadow that devours all light around him. I mean no offense."
Zhang Yong showed no reaction, only turning his blue eyes toward the horizon again, as if he hadn't heard anything. His words weren't entirely wrong—an outcast of heaven—that was something that aligned with his situation in an ironic way.
But Mine jumped to her feet, her eyes flashing with anger. "Who do you think you are to speak like that?!"
The leader did not back down, but his gaze became sadder. "I'm sorry. But I cannot watch someone being dragged toward the abyss without warning him."
Before Mine could respond further, Zhang Yong suddenly spoke. "Leader, you may leave. As for what you said... I will think about it."
The leader nodded quietly. "I am sorry for your condition, and that I cannot help you enough." Then he turned and left the place with his followers.
Silence fell between them for a few seconds, before Mine turned to Zhang Yong with frustrated anger. "Shouldn't you have said something else?!"
Zhang Yong shrugged indifferently. "What do you want me to say? He's right."
"Right?!" Her voice rose unintentionally. Zhang Yong didn't even try to argue about it. "Are you saying that seriously?"
He didn't answer her. He just got up from his spot, dust clinging to his clothes, and began brushing it off. "There's no talk nonsense , Let's just return to the others"
Meanwhile, the leader of the Peace Road was still watching them from behind 'I hope he succeeds; despite everything, he has the power to face destiny. After all, he is the dark sky star'