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Ether surged wildly out of the Hollow along the cleaved rift. This had originally only been a small Companion Hollow, and the loss of Ether caused its scale to shrink rapidly.
Even if Sacrifice · Bringer still had a breath left at this point, it could no longer turn the tide. Without Ether to sustain it, it was nothing more than an overinflated balloon—anything slightly sharp could finish it off.
"Creator…"
Sacrifice · Bringer let out an unwilling roar. Then its entire body exploded, multicolored Ether bursting outward like fireworks.
In the end, it dissipated into ash-like fragments and vanished into the air.
"Phew… it's finally over."
After several consecutive days of tension, everyone finally let out a breath of relief.
At that moment, a ray of morning sunlight shone through the rift into the Hollow. Outside, dawn was breaking. The sun rose in the east as it always did, unchanged by the collapse of schemes and conspiracies. The future of New Eridu would never fall into darkness.
…
"Damn Hoshimi Miyabi… damn Arden Xu! Once I get out… I'll definitely…!"
While everyone was celebrating victory, an arm covered in eyes clawed its way out from a pile of rubble. It writhed with difficulty, as if searching for the last sliver of hope to survive.
As long as it lived, there would be a chance for revenge.
Truth be told, aside from its grotesque appearance, Sacrifice · Bringer was indeed a more "perfect" lifeform than either Ethereals or humans. If it could leave the Hollow and gain freedom, it would be nearly immortal. As long as even a fragment of its body remained, it could continue to live.
Bzzzt—!
Suddenly, a spatial rift appeared before the arm.
"!!"
The eyes along the arm widened as it stared blankly ahead. Belle and Wise stepped out from the rift, blocking its path of escape.
"Bringer…"
"Answer our question!"
"Where did you take our teacher?"
The arm Sacrifice · Bringer had previously summoned was something Belle and Wise had seen during the fall of the Old Capital. They were certain that Sacrifice · Bringer and the forces behind it were connected to their teacher's disappearance. That was why they had not joined the celebration but rushed here instead.
"Teacher… you are…??"
Sacrifice · Bringer's voice was filled with confusion.
Bang—!
Dissatisfied, Belle kicked the arm away.
"Talk. And don't try any tricks!"
Wise patted Belle on the shoulder, signaling her to calm down.
"Carole Arna…"
Wise spoke their teacher's name and looked expectantly at the arm, hoping for some useful clue.
On the day the Old Capital fell, it had been that white giant hand that abducted her.
"Heh… hahaha!"
Sacrifice · Bringer let out a grotesque laugh. "So… you're her students!"
It clearly knew something—but had no intention of revealing it.
"As for that… I can only say…"
Sacrifice · Bringer gathered its last remaining strength.
"O Creator, refine me!"
If it could drag two of them down with it before dying, it would be worth it.
Yes—it intended to self-destruct. However, the moment it tried to carry it out, no explosion came. Instead, a layer of golden light enveloped it.
"What's going on?!"
Sacrifice · Bringer was bewildered.
"Hmph. Trying to self-destruct… did you get my permission?"
A voice sounded from behind. Sacrifice · Bringer twisted its arm around and saw its greatest enemy—the one who had repeatedly thwarted the Exaltists' plans.
"It's you!!"
Sacrifice · Bringer ground its teeth at Arden, hating him beyond measure—no, even more than if he had slaughtered its prized steed.
What it had never anticipated was that the two orphans from the research institute would gain such a powerful backer. Previously, the siblings alone could stir up little trouble. But now… that might not be the case.
"So, on the day the Old Capital fell, was it your people who used the white giant hand to abduct our teacher?" Belle demanded.
Finding their teacher and uncovering the truth had always been the direction she and her brother Wise pursued. There were questions only they could ask. And after Tour de Inferno, Arden was now their ally.
"You think I'd tell you?"
Thud—!
It received another kick from Belle.
"I wonder if you'll still be this stubborn after we hand you over to HAND."
Wise's tone turned cold. "As far as I know, the research institute there is very interested in the Sacrifice."
He remembered that after the construction team discovered the Sacrifice, HAND had taken over from the New Eridu Public Security. That alone showed their level of interest.
"N-No! Don't! I'll talk! I'm willing to talk…"
Sacrifice · Bringer instantly caved.
It didn't fear death—but falling into HAND's hands as research material would be worse than death.
"However… how can you be so sure she was abducted, and didn't willingly leave with that giant hand? Hahahahaha…"
Its reckless tone delivered words that stunned the siblings.
"What else do you know? Speak!"
"Is our teacher still alive? Where is she now?"
"What exactly is the Creator?"
Belle, Wise, and Arden each voiced the questions they most wanted answered.
"Don't rush… I'll explain slowly—ah, ahhhhhh!!"
Sacrifice · Bringer froze mid-sentence. Then, with a wet pop, its last remaining eyeball burst, and the arm fell limp.
"Did it self-destruct?"
"Or… was it silenced?"
Belle and Wise speculated.
"No. It was more like a curse…" Arden withdrew the golden barrier he had used to restrain Bringer, frowning slightly. "What it was about to say must have triggered some taboo. Its consciousness and body were destroyed as a result. They really are airtight when it comes to keeping secrets… the Exaltists."
The golden barrier could prevent self-destruction, but there was little that could be done against involuntary internal death.
However, Arden would not sit idly by.
On one hand, after returning to Yunkui Summit, he planned to study the matter with Yixuan—how to prevent Exaltists captives from being killed by curses when revealing secrets. He had no interest in repeated interrogations ending in disappointment.
On the other hand…
Aboard a cargo ship in the outer sea, Sarah lowered her binoculars as she watched Sacrifice · Bringer fall completely silent.
"It's time for me to leave as well."
As she walked toward the cabin, she took out her phone.
"The experiment is complete… Elixir verification successful. Bringer has fulfilled his mission."
"May the Creator… refine him."
However, Sarah did not notice a talisman drifting down from the sky. It landed on her back and silently merged into her body.
…
"Let's go. It's time for us to head back as well. As for your teacher, I'll personally investigate. The moment I have any news, I'll inform you immediately."
Arden gave his promise to Belle and Wise.
In his view, the Exaltists were the greatest threat. And whatever secrets surrounded Belle, Wise, and their teacher were surely connected to them—something that also piqued his own curiosity.
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