He felt a close whisper near his ear, "That's the right answer, kid! You are in my zone—the Life Crystal's zone, hehehe."
Lucan's throat went dry as his breathing turned heavy. He turned around to see a bright white light.
Suddenly, the ground collapsed as he fell down. It was the same place where Kaol Noah was trapped.
Lucan saw himself tied up; he tried to break free, but wasn't able to.
The Life Crystal smirked, "Oh! Think you can escape me? Try, try, try as much as you want before giving up."
Lucan grinned as he froze time; the Life Crystal turned motionless.
Lucan saw himself tied with a chain. It wasn't much different from what he had seen on Earth.
He tried to rip it, cut it, melt it, and blast it.
But... nothing worked.
Moreover, he felt himself getting weaker every time he used cosmic energy to make a move.
The Life Crystal moved as it replied, "Damn it! Acting like I am not moving is too hard, kid! Are you done yet? Give up?"
But he was still calm and tranquil as he suddenly asked, "Yo! Aren't you connected to the Fate Crystal?"
The Life Crystal replied, "Fate Crystal? Haha! Yes, I am. Hmm! Since you are a kid, I feel pity for you and will give you an offer.
You can choose how you wish to die! Each time you die."
Lucan's eyes widened as he asked, "So the myths were true? We can die infinite times uniquely! That's pretty interesting."
The Life Crystal: "..."
It thought, *Did he hit his head while falling down? I have never seen such a person in my life! Oh, damn, I actually just met another of his kind.* (Kaol Noah)
Lucan grinned, "So you are going to kill me infinitely?"
The Life Crystal replied with a creepy laugh, "Haha! Not infinitely—not because I can't, but because the Death Crystal doesn't allow me!
He only allows me to kill a million times! That, too, only because the Fate Crystal persuaded him."
Lucan interrupted, "Okay! Kill me in any way you wish, but with no pain!"
The Life Crystal laughed, "A kid! Truly a kid. Alright, now die!"
Lucan thought, *The Death Crystal... he is actually kind, and... the Fate Crystal! The most dangerous person. I should never, ever mess with him.*
Lucan was killed and revived without pain multiple times.
Lucan was completely silent and was keenly thinking about something.
Lucan suddenly asked, "Please remove these chains! Let me use cosmic energy. After all, I can't even harm you."
The Life Crystal stopped killing him as it said, "No! The Fate Crystal clearly reminded me of one thing: do not underestimate him...
Kid! Looks like you are scheming something, so you have to die permanently now! Goodbye!"
Lucan grinned, "Are you afraid of me? A mere 17-year-old C-tier human!"
The Life Crystal replied, "You! You think a mere worm like you can possibly do something? Haha, let me release you! Fight me one-on-one.
I will just stand here with no defense. Hit me once and you are free."
Lucan grinned, "Oh yes! I agree—"
His head was sliced off as blood burst out like a fountain.
The Life Crystal was painted in red; it lost its white brightness and was now a blood-red color.
It sighed, "You thought you could fool me? Not even in your dreams! Ugh, finally, I can freely be myself.
My mission's over. Time to report to Fate!"
The Life Crystal left the place, going deep underground.
Suddenly, a figure appeared. It was black in color and dark as ink.
It flew closer to Lucan's lifeless body, speaking, "Hey kid! Are you still alive? Come on, please be alive."
It shook Lucan's body, but he showed no signs of life.
It grabbed his head and brought it closer to his body.
It attached his head and slowly healed him; his injuries started to vanish.
He slowly started breathing, but suddenly panted heavily because his cosmic energy was depleting.
His armor was shattered; now he had no oxygen to breathe.
It panicked, "Oh no! Oh no! He needs something! What species is he? What does he need?"
Suddenly, fluttering wings could be heard as a golden figure entered the place, golden fragments falling from its body.
The golden butterfly saw Lucan's state—chained, bleeding with injuries, his head sliced off.
Its pupils shrank to needle size as it flew closer.
It tickled him; he didn't respond. Usually, he would die laughing and cry asking for forgiveness.
But now, he was really dead...
The Death Crystal had a pale expression. "A go... golden butterfly! It really exists! Oh no, Fate and Life have provoked a catastrophe!"
The golden butterfly immediately shifted its gaze toward the black crystal.
The crystal spoke, "Please listen to me! I didn't do anything; it was the Life Crystal!"
The golden butterfly had a trace of killing intent in its eyes. It scoffed as it kissed Lucan on his forehead.
It flapped its wings gently over his bloody face.
The gold fragments entered his body, and suddenly, his heart started to beat.
He coughed out blood and fainted.
The golden butterfly immediately pressed its ear against his chest, but nothing could be heard.
The golden butterfly started to dim; its golden light turned into a silver light.
Without even a single look, it grabbed the black crystal and penetrated its center.
A core was visible!
The black crystal gasped, "Our weakness! But... except for Fate, Life, and me, how does it know?!"
Feeling death inches away from its face, the Death Crystal started to tremble in fear.
It said, "The Death Crystal—the one who takes away lives—is actually going to die now! Haha, how ironic.
But... I always wanted to die. I hate killing others, but for the sake of Fate, I have killed countless.
Wouldn't their feelings have been the same? So even Fate can't save me now? Karma is more powerful than fate! *Sigh!*"
Cracks started to appear all over its body, and its powers started to shrink.
Unfortunately, the Life Crystal had gone somewhere to meet the Fate Crystal.
So, the Death Crystal was all on his own.
But suddenly, it felt the formless force over its body move away.
It was stunned. "I AM STILL ALIVE? WAIT, BUT HOW?!"
The golden butterfly turned back to gold; its silver form had disappeared.
Its ears started to shake gently.
*Thump! Thump! Thump!*
A heartbeat could be heard. It was... obviously his heartbeat.
Lucan opened his eyes to realize he was still alive. He saw the golden butterfly on his chest.
He said, "You! You have saved my life and helped me once more. Ah! I hate compassion, but when it's yours...
I don't know why, but I can't hate it! Hehe! Thanks, golden butterfly. Now quickly prepare to take off.
The Life Crystal or Death Crystal could immediately find out that I am alive."
The golden butterfly immediately grabbed his nose and jumped onto his face.
Tears fell from its eyes; it held him so tightly, yet still maintained a small gap to prevent hurting him.
Lucan patted the golden butterfly. "Haha! Alright, alright, I am alive! Stop crying."
Unknowingly, tears also fell from Lucan's eyes.
The golden butterfly nuzzled him and said something.
The Death Crystal was watching this scene from the side in a daze, unable to understand what it said.
But he felt it...
Lucan stopped grinning as he started to cry, complaining about each of his hardships.
From the moment he left Earth until now...
He had been suppressing these feelings all this time.
But now, the golden butterfly requested that he let it all out at once.
He felt as if a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
Being just 17 and having faced such a life of ups and downs...
With pain, suffering, betrayal, despair...
Even Lucan couldn't suppress them anymore, because in the end, he was still human.
His feelings could be suppressed, but they could never be erased permanently.
Seeing this scene, the Death Crystal laughed, "Finally! I have done something good for others, haha! I wish I could join them, but... *sigh!*"
He turned back and started to leave, but a voice spoke, "Death Crystal!"