"Sister Acheron, you really didn't have to come along."
"Mm, alright then, please be careful."
"...Pretend I didn't say that. Sister Acheron, you'd better stay with me."
Seeing that Sister Acheron was about to try going home alone, Mo Xi gave in. Acheron didn't mind either way; it was just a matter of returning early or late.
(Returning Early: After finishing everything with Mo Xi, she could return home the way she came.) (Returning Late: Returning alone, she would reach home whenever fate and luck aligned.)
Mo Xi gazed at Acheron, unable to help sighing in admiration once again. Originally, she had wanted to visit her old rental apartment before going home. Of course, she didn't mean digging through the ruins, but rather wanting to understand the actual situation. As for Acheron simply being bored and suggesting they go together, Mo Xi's first thought was to refuse, as she didn't want to trouble her.
But now... 'Forget it, Acheron is stronger than me, I'll just treat it as having found a backer.'
...Clack, clack! Tap, tap!
The sounds of sneakers and high heels alternated as they walked. The two walked side-by-side down the street. Perhaps due to the official notice, there were even fewer pedestrians than usual on this already quiet street. Then Mo Xi suddenly asked:
"Sister Acheron, do you know much about Ability Users?"
Whether in her past life or the present, Mo Xi wasn't an Ability User herself, so she didn't know much about them. In her eyes, Sister Acheron was a powerful Ability User. Now was the perfect chance to learn more. However, Acheron's answer was somewhat unexpected.
"Sorry, I don't know much about the Ability Users of this world, so what I say might not be accurate."
Hearing this, Mo Xi still earnestly sought her guidance. She didn't seem to notice the implication in those words. Acheron didn't hide anything and told Mo Xi what Sparkle and the others had told her. Mo Xi listened intently. However, at the end, Acheron posed a question.
"Mo Xi, you're not an Ability User, are you? Or rather, are you somewhat different?"
"Eh? No... I..."
Mo Xi never expected Sister Acheron to be so sharp; though she didn't have the answer, she had guessed her secret. 'It seems Sister Acheron's identity and strength are even more unfathomable than I thought!'
Nevertheless, she subconsciously trusted Acheron. But just as Mo Xi was about to tell the truth, Acheron spoke up.
"It's fine. This is your secret, you don't have to tell me, just as I have my own secrets." Then, Acheron stopped walking and looked seriously into Mo Xi's eyes. "I may forget easily, but there are some things I cannot forget. After the last incident, have you made plans for your future?"
Mo Xi stared intently into Sister Acheron's deep, amethyst-like eyes. With an extremely serious expression, she said solemnly: "Yes, I want to become stronger. I don't want to be as powerless as I was last time. I hope to protect my family."
Her words were filled with unwavering determination and unshakable will. Hearing this, Acheron nodded slightly.
"From my observation, the fundamental difference between Ability Users and ordinary people stems from possessing a talent-like ability. As such, the existence of an Ability User can have an extremely high ceiling, but likewise, an extremely low floor. Unlike our tempered techniques, they are born with all sorts of strange abilities, but this also makes their weaknesses and shortcomings very obvious."
"I see that your current strength improvement seems to be gradually slowing down. So in the future, I suggest you hone your combat experience more and develop yourself in multiple areas, so you can easily control the rhythm in battles against Ability Users. And once the other power within your body fully awakens, you will be able to take another step forward."
These were things Sparkle and the others hadn't mentioned. This was advice Acheron gave to Mo Xi based on her own insight and judgment. After hearing this, Mo Xi was shocked again, her mouth hanging open slightly. She hadn't expected Acheron to understand her situation so thoroughly.
'Indeed, Sister Acheron's summary is very complete; it perfectly fills the time freed up by my slowed cultivation. But, what does she mean by the other power in my body...?'
She couldn't understand Acheron's last sentence, but she understood everything else. After the last incident, Mo Xi had also reflected on herself. Although she was a Reborn One, she didn't actually have any special advantages compared to other Ability Users. Take the two people from last time; their actual strength wasn't as good as hers. What Mo Xi feared was that bizarre slashing Supernatural Ability and the other person's hidden Mental-type ability.
As a Cultivator, she was fundamentally different from an Ability User. If she could learn some offensive Spells in the meantime, she would have her own unique trump cards.
'In this way, my growth ceiling is not at all inferior to an Ability User, and might even be superior. I will never give up easily; I will forge ahead on the path of cultivation!'
Mo Xi's palms unconsciously clenched, her expression becoming firmer. Acheron simply nodded slightly, her sleeves fluttering as she turned, and spoke no more. But then Mo Xi noticed another issue.
'From the perspective of Sister Acheron's advice, is she not an Ability User herself? Could she be a Cultivator like me? But why can't I feel her aura at all?'
Thinking of this, Mo Xi subconsciously asked: "Sister Acheron, are you not an Ability User?"
"Mm." Acheron nodded slightly, confirming her guess.
"Sister Acheron, what kind of power do you use?"
Acheron paused. "The power I use hardly exists in this world, and it is not suitable for you. If it's about sword techniques, combat skills, or similar matters, you can always ask me."
Mo Xi nodded, realizing that Sister Acheron didn't seem willing to mention the power she used. So she tactfully stopped asking.
Soon after, the two finally reached their destination. However, the scene was currently surrounded tightly by the police. Dozens of police officers remained on guard.
'If it were just an ordinary incident, they would only need a cordon, but now they've sent out so many personnel specifically to keep watch. This matter was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface.'
"Hey, you two ladies over there, this area is very dangerous. Please cooperate, take a detour, or go back the way you came." The guards on the perimeter noticed Acheron and Mo Xi approaching.
Mo Xi had no intention of going against them. "Sorry, we didn't know it was blocked off."
Consequently, Mo Xi could only leave helplessly. However, when the two were halfway back, Acheron suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?"
"Please wait for me for a moment. I'll be back soon." Without giving Mo Xi a chance to stop her, Acheron turned back. Mo Xi turned her head, but found that Acheron's figure had already dissipated like smoke.
Acheron walked slowly toward the interior of the Residential Complex. But the people stationed there didn't seem to notice her arrival. Her figure silently entered; not a single person noticed her appearance.
Step, step!
At this moment, crisp footsteps echoed within the silent ruins. Acheron scanned this "hell" indifferently. There was no ripple in her heart, but those footsteps were like a key, quietly unlocking her sealed memories. Vaguely, the world around her gradually underwent an earth-shattering change.
The dilapidated ruins collapsed with a roar, turning into a surging sea of blood. The sky was covered by a crimson haze, with a black-and-white moon hanging high above. In this terrifying environment, black shadows quietly emerged—undead spirits struggling and roaring in the sea of blood.
Acheron turned a blind eye to all this. Her beautiful purple hair had already turned snow-white, showing an endless desolation. Crimson markings quietly spread across her body. Finally, she raised her head, revealing blood-red slit pupils filled with indifference and death.
The wandering undead scented the aura of a human and threw themselves at her like a surging tide. Acheron's gaze remained like a calm lake. She quietly watched their sorrowful cries, and at some point, a long blade appeared in her hand.
In the blood-red sky, a rain of blood fell. Acheron stood in the rain, and from her crimson eyes, a blood-colored tear slowly fell. She raised her hand and placed it on the Sword Guard, murmuring:
"May death end your long dream... and lead you back to the waking world."
[Ding!!!] [Current characters available for viewing: Acheron, Sparkle, Yunli, **] [Acheron: 7%] [Sparkle: 45%] [Yunli: 55%] [**: %]
"How strange, what did Sister Acheron go off to do?"
Mo Xi stood where she was, quietly waiting. She wasn't worried about Sister Acheron being discovered by ordinary people; her only concern was whether she could return the way she came.
"Oh my, what is this lovely young lady troubled about?"
A cute girl's voice suddenly came from right next to her ear. Mo Xi immediately shuddered and retreated dozens of meters in one step. The newcomer was none other than the familiar Sparkle!
Sparkle said with a beaming smile (๑＞＜๑): "Hehe, nice moves, cutie! And by the looks of it, you don't seem to be an Ability User?"
Mo Xi: ?!!