131. [Kevin] Out and The Coming Elysian Realm
Xiling sheathed the holy sword back into its scabbard.
"This idea is truly utter garbage," Xiling said speechlessly, reaching out his hand into the air. Soon, a glowing gem flew rapidly towards him.
That was—the Gem of Reason.
Sensing the still-unconscious will within it, Xiling tossed it directly into the Starry Cloak.
"How are you all?" Xiling turned to look at the three of them.
Lemuen shook her head and smiled, "It's like having a nice dream."
"Then I just had a rather farcical dream." The Tarnished rolled his eyes speechlessly as he recalled what happened in the world bubble.
"I...I'm not feeling well," Kiana said, raising her hand, tears still streaming down her face.
Lemuen smiled and came to her side, gently wiping away her tears.
"Had a nightmare? Okay, don't be afraid, we're here."
The Tarnished came to Xiling's side.
"Where's Kevin?"
Xiling pointed into the distance. In the distance, where his finger pointed, was a strange World Bubble, a stark boundary formed between pitch-black ice and dazzling fire.
"Let's go, lest that guy get blown up."
—
The scorching flames and the absolute freeze repeatedly ravaged the desolate earth.
BOOM!!!
The two figures of Kevin collided like comets! Pure fists clashed! The terrifying shockwave instantly shattered everything within tens of kilometers, and even the space itself trembled violently.
After the attack, [Kevin] used the force to retreat, standing firmly on the black ice, and said calmly, "Your power... is peculiar. Perhaps that's why your path is different."
"Yes and no, I didn't obtain this power back then." Kevin gasped for breath, slightly moving his aching arm.
Compared to him, [Kevin] was completely unharmed. Even in his weakened state, his chimera body remained monstrous.
"You are strong against a Herrscher, but still insignificant against the End." Black ice churned beneath his feet, transforming into countless chilling ice spears, their tips locked onto Kevin.
Faced with [Kevin]'s words, Kevin chuckled and said, "Perhaps."
[Kevin] calmly watched the laughing figure. The next second, as if sensing something, he looked up at the sky. At that very moment...
A tear appeared in the sky, and four figures emerged from the ripped expanse.
"Yo, not too late, am I?" Xiling, wielding the Holy Sword, shouted down.
"Stop being so late, you bastard!" Kevin stood up, laughing and scolding.
[Kevin] gazed at the four figures, then turned his gaze to Kevin on the ground.
"...Companions...that's fine too."
Saving the world is not something one person can do alone. He knew this clearly. He had countless subordinates, but... he didn't have a single partner to walk alongside him.
He once possessed it, but he failed to hold onto it.
Upon arriving on the ground, Xiling and the others stood with Kevin, facing him directly.
"Shall we continue fighting?" The Holy Sword's edge pointed at [Kevin], and Xiling stood in front, as if shielding everyone behind him.
[Kevin] shook his head. "Let's stop here."
He had done what he wanted to do. He passed on his past to his former self. He used his power to verify the purity of that will, and he received the answer he sought—he was satisfied.
As if he had completed his task, he calmly strode forward, walking to Xiling, who stood at the forefront.
The two stood face to face.
Xiling smiled.
"My name is Xiling."
[Kevin] nodded.
"Kevin."
"Alright, since you're not going to fight anymore, let's hurry up and go outside. Some things are better discussed outside."
Under [Kevin]'s gaze, Xiling raised his hand and pointed it at the air.
"Open."
As his words fell, a door to the real world abruptly opened, revealing incredulous expressions on the faces of Theresa and the others.
"Let's go."
Xiling was the first to step out of the door, followed by [Kevin] expressionlessly.
The others followed one after another. Kevin stretched his aching body slightly and then stepped outside.
Once outside, [Kevin] ignored the wary gazes and said calmly to Xiling, "Come find me when you're done. There are some things I need to discuss with you."
After saying this, he strode off in one direction and quickly disappeared.
After [Kevin] left, the Tarnished's tense expression relaxed, and he nudged Kevin with his elbow.
"Please don't become like that in the future, okay?" The pressure from the other person was just too strong.
"Why would I act like that for no reason? By the way, can you check if this area is swollen? That guy's really something, as expected of me."
Kevin rubbed his sore spot and sighed. The other's combat skills and control of the battle far surpassed his own; it was as if he had come for a test, otherwise the battle would have been over long ago.
Xiling walked up to Tesla, took out the Gem of Reason from his Starry Cloak, and handed it to her:
"Here you go. Welt Yang's consciousness is still dormant inside. Once he wakes up, he can use his Herrscher abilities to reshape his body."
Seeing him so readily hand over the Herrscher core, everyone's expressions were subtle—such a precious item, and he didn't care at all?
Tesla accepted the gem and bowed deeply:
"Thank you! If needed in the future, Anti-Entropy will do its utmost to help!"
"Then thank you very much." Xiling didn't refuse and continued.
"Since it's over, we'll be going."
Under the watchful eyes of the Anti-Entropy members, Kiana opened a space door, and Xiling and the others waved to them before leaving.
—
Kevin, back in the World Serpent, devoured the Chi You that the Gray Serpent had prepared for him, and his weakened body recovered.
His eyes reflected the information about the four people.
Just then, Gray Serpent entered and bowed slightly.
"Lord, I've had Raven inform them. I believe that with the Herrscher of the Void's abilities, they won't need long to reach this place."
"…Very good."
"How is the Elysian Realm situation now?" Kevin shifted his gaze from the photograph to Gray Serpent.
"Everything is as before, except…" Gray Serpent hesitated.
"Speak."
"Do you really intend to let those people enter the Elysian Realm?" Gray Serpent asked, puzzled. Not long after they rescued Lord Kevin, those people contacted Raven and asked to enter the Elysian Realm.
And his lord agreed without much hesitation, but he felt that something was not quite right.
After all, their original plan in Arc City had been ruined by them. Even if they were now in a cooperative relationship, opening up such a core area seemed too hasty.
"...It's alright, go down." Kevin didn't explain further.
"Yes." After saying this, Gray Serpent leaves the room, leaving Kevin sitting alone.
Kevin closed his eyes, lost in thought.
Everyone has probably fantasized about changing the past, and he was no exception. But he knew the past was gone, and everything was irreversible. But...
If you met your past self, what would you do?
Kevin's answer was to make the other party surpass him, because only then could he possibly achieve what he had once wanted but couldn't.
—
Night fell, and Kevin sat alone on the rooftop, the wind blowing, his gaze sweeping over the city below.
He finally saw the future version of himself, but a trace of fear remained in his heart—the fear that his future would also become like that. He sighed softly.
Suddenly, something warm pressed against his waist, and a deliberately sweet voice sounded from behind:
"Kevin, it's Mei, don't turn around~."
Without turning his head, Kevin slapped him across the face!
Xiling laughed and leaned back to dodge:
"Hey, I told you not to turn around!"
"Go away!" Kevin snapped.
Xiling smiled and walked over to him, also looking at the city, handing him a scallion pancake—the same warm thing he'd just pressed against his waist.
"What's wrong? Why are you spacing out?"
Kevin took it and took a bite, his voice muffled.
"I'm just... worried I'll end up like him."
"Don't worry about it." Xiling, also eating his pancake, mumbled in response.
"Yeah…why worry about it so much…" Kevin's tone was low, his worry still lingering.
Xiling swallowed the pancake in a few bites and slapped him hard.
"With me here, don't even think about it!"
Kevin turned to look at him. Xiling grinned and gave him a thumbs-up.
Looking at Xiling's bright smile, Kevin's lips finally curved into a smile.
"You really are... reliable, Hero."
"Of course!"
Kevin turned his gaze back to the city below.
"Why do we need to go to the Elysian Realm?"
"Didn't you say you would bear everything?"
"Their ideals, their ambitions, their will, the stories they left behind, and..."
"The things they failed to accomplish, the things they regretted..."
—
13 Sparks.
13 Imprints.