He placed a hand on his watch.
Dawn was breaking. Thin strands of pale light slipped quietly through the stillness.
The moment stirred something in him—
the fading fragments of light from the professor's memory, flooding into his mind.
Something… had flashed.
Brief. But enough to leave a trace.
And ever since then, his inventory had not stopped flickering.
He raised his head, looking toward the distant shimmer.
But what stood out more than anything—
was the darkness spreading over it.
It wasn't just there.
It was devouring the light around it.
The nearest beams were swallowed, one by one.
Even the dome above, with its once-stable artificial lighting, began to flicker violently.
The space itself warped, as if all light was being bent toward a single point.
He narrowed his eyes.
"…But you won't take all the beauty of this world's light, will you, Eva?"
His voice was low. Barely audible, even to himself.
Time for the sleeping princess in the forest to wake up…
He paused for a beat.
"…ah, no. Inside a cocoon, actually."
Lam Huy Trường tapped the inventory icon on his left wrist.
The interface lit up instantly.
Three items marked with question marks appeared.
But they didn't stay still.
They trembled.
Then shook harder.
As if something inside was trying to break free.
The next instant, all three icons burst out of the interface and shot straight into the air before Lam Huy Trường.
Light exploded.
Blinding.
They trembled one last time—
then began to change.
He raised his right hand, shielding his eyes.
The glare slowly dimmed.
One by one… the items took shape.
First—
Magnum V (Rare).
A line of description appeared clearly before his eyes.
An advanced firearm, personally modified and designed by the professor.
Its firepower was enough to break through the hardened armor of crystal beasts up to A-Class.
It was equipped with an internal crystal battery and special components, allowing each shot to carry overwhelming destructive force.
Two firing modes.
Mode one—laser rounds. Stable damage, with knockback capability.
Mode two—explosive rounds. A single shot… but vastly more powerful.
In exchange—
each shot consumed energy equal to ten cells from the roulette magazine.
Current status: 20 out of 30 energy.
He glanced over it, calculating quickly.
"…Two explosive shots."
The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
"Not bad."
The second item drifted out, hovering beside the Magnum V.
With just one look—
he recognized it immediately.
"…That gun…"
It was the same medical gun the professor had used to inject Eva with antibodies.
Custom Medical Gun (Rare).
The body emitted a faint biological glow. A small screen continuously updated its data.
But what caught his attention the most—
was the number displayed.
12%.
"Only 12%?"
He fell silent for a moment.
All the technical descriptions, all the details about its functions… none of it mattered anymore.
His gaze fixed on the final line.
Current status: 12% antibodies remaining.
"…Will it be enough?"
The question flickered through his mind.
No answer came.
But he didn't linger on it.
After all—
this had been a gamble from the very beginning.
Then he would keep betting.
The final item—
appeared.
Lam Huy Trường froze.
A White Stone floated in midair.
Its surface was smooth like a mirror—yet the light it reflected was warped, as if it didn't belong to this world.
Its name appeared.
Gate of Forsaken Vow (Singularity).
Just the name alone… made his heartbeat skip.
Then—
a flood of information crashed down.
Dense.
Detailed.
Almost overwhelming his entire vision.
---
[Item: Gate of Forsaken Vow (Singularity)]
Can only be obtained when the offering is placed with absolute precision upon the Offering Altar and receives the approval and recognition of the Gate Deity — ???.
"My gate shall always welcome those who possess both wisdom and a noble love within their hearts.
But everything comes at a price.
Be careful, mortal."
---
Ability 1: Time Seal
Temporarily locks the state of all targets for a short duration.
The longer the duration, the more lifespan is consumed.
1 second equals 1 year of lifespan.
Cooldown: 3 days after use.
---
Ability 2: Time Slow
Temporarily slows everything for approximately 15 seconds.
After the effect ends, the user must endure the backlash of time snapping back to normal.
The resulting damage can be severe—potentially fatal—depending on the level of interference.
---
Ability 3: Divine Arbitration
Imposes a "temporary law" upon a target or area, forcing it to prioritize its "original state."
Cooldown: 24 hours.
Maximum uses: 5.
Do not celebrate too soon, mortal.
Those who dare touch the flow of time—must pay the price.
[The world will warp beneath your hands.]
And those you love… will share that same fate.
Each time you impose "order" upon reality,
your existence within the memories of those you love will slowly erode.
I pray you can still keep a pure heart—
even when you… no longer exist in their world.
---
The information was still there.
Every single line.
But Lam Huy Trường… didn't read all of it.
His gaze swept across.
Fast.
Hurried.
Then—
stopped.
"1 second… for 1 year of lifespan."
His pupils shrank.
A beat.
Then his eyes moved again.
"Time backlash… potentially fatal…"
His hand tightened.
But he still didn't stop.
Until—
his gaze landed on the final line.
"…erased from the memories of those you love."
The space around him seemed to sink.
He didn't read further.
No need.
That alone—
was enough.
A slow breath left his chest.
Then—
he laughed.
"Hahaha…"
Dry. Rough. But without hesitation.
"Yeah… that's a fitting price."
His fingers tightened around the White Stone.
His gaze sharpened.
"But…"
"Who cares."
"I'm a transmigrator, after all."
A brief pause.
"Yeah… that much—worth it."
"A silent hero, huh…"
He chuckled softly.
"Hahaha…"
"Not bad."
"No… it fits perfectly."
"For a villain like me."
The Magnum V vanished, returning to his inventory.
In his hands now—
only the White Stone remained.
And the Custom Medical Gun.
"The key to victory… is right here."
He tightened his grip.
His throat went dry.
He swallowed.
Two outcomes formed in his mind.
One—
he saves Eva.
Two—
he collapses in a pool of blood, just like the professor.
Silence lingered for a beat.
Then he exhaled.
"…So what."
"I've already come this far…"
"what's the point of fear now?"
The corner of his lips curled up.
"Going crazy once before dying…"
"doesn't sound so bad."
He turned his head.
Looking back at the girl behind him.
Lyra Granger stood there. Her clothes were torn. Black hair whipped in the wind. Her shoulders trembled slightly—yet she still raised a hand and waved at him.
Her gaze didn't waver.
"Good luck, Professor."
"I'll be waiting here."
Light flickered.
A faint smile crossed Lam Huy Trường's lips.
A familiar line echoed in his mind—
from a movie he once loved.
"Where someone is waiting…"
"there's someone who will return."
He answered softly.
"…Yeah."
Golden light swallowed his body.
Gone.
Lyra stood still.
Her eyes remained fixed on the spot where he had vanished.
Then she whispered—
"I believe in you."
In the distance…
darkness continued to spread beneath the horizon.