"This kind of lifeform really shouldn't exist in this world. All it brings is disaster and harm—there isn't a single benefit to speak of." Yukari Yakumo seemed completely unconcerned by the ever-expanding tentacled monstrosity before her as she continued, "However, if their species survives by destroying other worlds, then I suppose that's understandable."
"As for what to do when you encounter them, it's actually quite simple—completely eradicate them..." A thick tentacle lashed toward them, only to be halted in front of her. A thin layer of violet energy shimmered like a soap bubble, protecting Yukari Yakumo and Chu Lian without the slightest strain.
"To eliminate this kind of creature... no, it would be more accurate to call it a virus. They are the virus of every world. If you don't destroy it, it will continue to multiply until the world itself is ruined. Such a dangerous and boring species..." Yukari Yakumo lifted her hand and pointed at the grotesque being before them—its body riddled with tumors, barely humanoid in shape, covered in dark red tentacles. "Girl, do you know that if they're allowed to continue, this world will be completely occupied—and destroyed—within three years?"
"That's not right. I remember these things only appeared because of the aberration brought by the cosmic storm. They're just products of that aberration. Without it, wouldn't they be unable to act?" Chu Lian frowned. This didn't match the information she knew. Where had the discrepancy come from?
"That's because the so-called cosmic storm is, in the end, nothing more than..." Yukari Yakumo paused as if recalling something, then shifted the topic. "These creatures parasitize the storm. When the storm arrives, they arrive with it. At the beginning of every aberration, they lurk at the source, absorbing energy and strengthening themselves, waiting for the day they possess enough power to act independently."
Chu Lian clenched her fist slightly, memorizing Yukari Yakumo's earlier unfinished sentence. She didn't ask further—she knew it would lead nowhere—but that didn't mean she wouldn't pay attention. Tilting her head, she asked, "Then how do we destroy them?"
"You want to destroy them? There's only one way. It's both difficult and simple. Though these things have tremendous vitality, they possess a fatal weakness. That weakness is..." Yukari Yakumo extended a finger toward the hazy moon in the distance. "They fear the moonlight of night above all else. Most of them never appear at night unless absolutely necessary."
"Especially on nights when the moon is visible—they only dare to hide, never to move. Ironically, however, nighttime is when they're at their strongest. Afraid of moonlight, yet strongest at night. That is their most fatal—and most foolish—trait. I don't know how such a species came into being. How strange."
"Moonlight..." Chu Lian gazed at the faint full moon veiled in gray mist. Memories from long ago surfaced in her mind, and Yukari Yakumo's voice gradually faded into the background as her thoughts drifted.
"I wonder how exactly this species came to be?" Yukari Yakumo turned to look at Chu Lian, whose eyes had grown distant. Her voice lowered slightly. "It's not the first time I've encountered them, nor will it be the last. Each encounter differs in circumstance and environment... What exactly is going on?"
The monster before them, having realized it couldn't breach the seemingly fragile barrier, ceased its attack. Instead, it slowly crawled upward, attempting to escape. Now that it had been discovered, staying would only mean destruction.
According to the inherited memories of its kind, most of its kin died once exposed. It hadn't yet completed its mission. It couldn't die here.
"Trying to run?" Yukari Yakumo shook her head. Not only was the surrounding barrier beyond its ability to break, she herself would never allow it to escape. She raised her hand toward the moon obscured by gray mist and gently brushed aside the veil.
Like clouds parting to reveal the moon, beautiful moonlight poured down once more. The surroundings brightened instantly—and the monster that had attempted to flee burned under the moonlight as if set aflame. Within seconds, it vanished into a wisp of green smoke.
A distorted soul appeared where it had disappeared—the soul of the human Yukari Yakumo had dragged here earlier. She lifted her fan to cover half her face as she watched him stumble forward, eyes rolled back and steps unsteady. She sighed softly. "Humans truly are a race easily altered by external forces."
With a flick of her finger, she drew down a strand of moonlight and shone it upon him. After taking a few staggering steps, he collapsed to the ground, let out a miserable wail, and faded away.
The graveyard returned to silence. Aside from a few scattered undead approaching in the distance, no other living beings remained.
The violet barrier dissipated. Chu Lian and Yukari Yakumo reappeared fully within this world. The scent of life drew the undead closer step by step.
"Girl, I'll help you up to this point..." Stretching lazily, Yukari Yakumo yawned. After finishing her words, she placed the Folding Fan of Silence—originally meant to be returned to Chu Lian but delayed by various incidents—into her hand. Then she tore open a gap, slipped inside, and returned to Gensokyo to sleep.
After all, the girl had already become her prey. It wasn't time for the real fun yet. When she grew stronger, that would be when things became truly interesting. Girl, don't disappoint me.
"It's over, girl—see you again." Her final words lingered in Chu Lian's ears. She remained lost in thought until the undead drew near enough to snap her back to reality.
"She's gone? I escaped a calamity." Chu Lian placed a hand on her chest and let out a breath of relief. If Yukari Yakumo had stayed any longer, she truly wouldn't have known what to do. Compared to a boundary great youkai who had lived for who knew how many years, she was far too weak. Even with the system and Ayase's help, escape wouldn't have been guaranteed.
"I couldn't help you. If I had, I would've had to use my full strength. At that point, once you returned to your original world, I would inevitably have been rejected by it due to the excessive energy. If we wished to meet again, we'd have to wait until you became a Transcendence Realm expert—or until your world's energy barrier shattered and ascended to a higher level. So I could only wait for an opportunity to help you escape. Fortunately, she didn't make a move. That was the best possible outcome."
Ayase's slightly weary voice echoed. It wasn't just Chu Lian who had borne immense pressure—Ayase had been prepared at every moment as well. Even if it meant sacrificing the time she could continue accompanying Chu Lian's growth, she would have ensured the girl did not perish before such a powerful being.
Fortunately, that girl—whose mere presence had made even her feel immense pressure—had not truly laid a hand on Chu Lian. It seemed she had sensed something, which was why she chose to let her go.
"Mm. Yukari Yakumo's strength—even among Transcendence Realm experts, she ranks near the top. She can probably contend with gods, right?" Chu Lian recalled how Nastaryel, also a Transcendence Realm expert, had failed to last even a minute under Yukari Yakumo's assault. Thinking of Ayase's exhaustion, she began to understand.
"Yes. After all, she is one of the most ancient Transcendence Realm experts. Even among the strongest tier of gods, few would pose much of a threat to her. Though she is not a god, she is no inferior to any of them." Ayase's words confirmed her guess. As expected of Yukari—one chaos equals one year.
"Deal with these guys. I'm going to rest." After saying that, Ayase's voice faded away. Chu Lian took a moment to enter the system and glanced at her. She saw the woman curled up on the sofa, already asleep. Feeling a pang of heartache for her, she also realized just how fortunate she truly was.
"Why are you still coming at me endlessly? Do you think I'm easy to bully?" Chu Lian turned around and looked at the undead gathering around her, speaking in a low voice.
The Senra Longblade appeared in her hand. The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception activated. With no more concerns weighing on her, Chu Lian had no intention of hiding her abilities anymore.
Ten seconds.
The remaining undead who had previously left her gasping for breath, along with the liches lurking in the shadows, all became dead souls beneath her blade. As for the rest—the ordinary undead without troublesome abilities—not a single one escaped. Without those difficult enemies, they were nothing more than targets to be slaughtered at will.
Clad in a cheongsam, the girl swayed her nine tails as she leapt gracefully across the open grounds, cutting down undead one after another within the graveyard, sending them back to the world where they belonged.
"Handled. A few escaped, but Ainz and Narberal can take care of those." She sheathed her blade, turned around, and walked toward the last remaining structure in the cemetery.
A blond boy stood in the center of the altar, dressed only in a thin, transparent veil. Blood streaked down his face, and an exquisite ornament rested atop his head. He remained completely motionless.
"Blind in both eyes, and under mental domination... Young man, you've truly had a miserable fate." Chu Lian deliberately circled behind him to avoid seeing anything she didn't want to see.
However, being persecuted like this simply because of an innate ability that was too powerful... there were likely only a handful of such cases in this world. Compared to magic and martial arts, bizarre superpowers were rarely genuinely useful, so few people paid them much attention.
"In that case, this will be easy..."
Beside the pure white girl, white feathers drifted down. A girl in a sailor uniform materialized behind her, wrapping her arms around Chu Lian's shoulders and pressing her cheek against hers as she murmured, "Lian, Hare missed you."
Knowing that being in the Dungeon Space had prevented her from chatting with the girl, leaving her alone for over ten days, Chu Lian felt a trace of guilt. She reached up and gently stroked her soft hair. "Mm. Now I can talk to you without any concerns. In the next few days, once we finish everything, we'll go back."
"Mm..." Hare Menjou responded softly. Opening her eyes, she looked at the boy before them. "Are you going to save him? I can't remove mental damage or control, but I can heal his eyes."
"He just needs his eyes healed. Leave the rest to me." Chu Lian nodded. She wasn't asking Hare Menjou to dispel the mental control—only to restore his sight.
Pure white light blossomed. The void shimmered into existence. She gently guided a ribbon of light to circle around his eyes before retracting it.
Even though the boy had his back turned to her, Chu Lian knew his eyes were healed. Hare Menjou's healing ability was S-rank. Even severed limbs could be restored as long as there was still a breath left.
"Then now, it's my turn." Chu Lian stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder from behind. Closing her eyes, she entered Nfirea Bareare's spiritual space.