With a few flashes, the long-haired Aetheric Undead climbed to the top of the tallest building, immense power erupting from his feet, shattering the walls.
He shot into the sky like a cannonball.
Clang—
The sword's cry was like ringing gold, a roar shaking the heavens.
The blade Aetheric Undead had transformed into collided with Qingming, instantly unleashing an incredibly intense energy reaction, exploding like a cannonball.
A fierce wind suddenly rose.
According to Yun Ming's judgment, the opponent had already reached at least the fifth stage, and in just half a day. If she were allowed to live on, he feared that in another six months, even he would find her difficult to deal with, as Aetheric Undead's strengthening required no cost.
The Void was a selfless 'mother.'
As long as their obsession was strong enough, mutation could happen at any time, even if it meant absorbing the Aether of the entire Void... 'Nomi...'
Yun Ming forcefully stabilized this Aetheric Undead in mid-air, its body firmly bound by the blue light of Qingming.
Spiritual energy protected the girl's last consciousness, isolating the surrounding Aether, preventing her from growing stronger and even causing her to continuously weaken. This was why Aetheric Undead could not survive outside the Void.
It was like placing a human in a vacuum.
The immense pressure difference would instantly cause life to explode into dust... Yet, even so, the Aetheric Undead transformation was irreversible. The girl's delicate face had already been completely consumed by Aether crystals.
She kept roaring.
No trace of her former self remained... Even knowing this, the young man still reached out to her, attempting to reverse it with spiritual energy and Source, but it was all in vain. The different energies were like fire and water, refusing to merge...
His palm finally rested on the side of the Aetheric Undead's face, feeling somewhat helpless. Faintly, the girl's shy voice came to him.
'Brother, when Nomi grows up, she'll definitely come find you.'
'Does Brother have a girl he likes?'
'Sister, you must cherish Brother Yun Ming well!'
'Otherwise, I'll steal him away—'
In his memory, there were only a few words. Nomi's interactions with him were even fewer than those of the mischievous little boys.
Yun Ming was momentarily in a daze.
It felt like a long time had passed, yet it was merely a fleeting moment, and everything had changed: ruins, pain, accidents.
The girl would never grow up, just like in the stories.
Nothing had changed, and it was even more tragic!
So, this was the Void... He clenched his fist, a deep sense of powerlessness welling up in his heart.
Suddenly, scalding tears fell on Yun Ming's neck, slid down to his chest, and finally dropped bitterly into the lake of his heart.
Only then did Yun Ming notice.
Nicole was already in tears, but she still suppressed her sobs, forcing out an ugly smile.
Her lips were downturned, desperately holding back tears.
Her eyebrows were furrowed, her small hand still clutching his collar tightly, as she opened her mouth and painstakingly uttered, word by word.
'Brother, she can't be saved... Do it.'
Her entire body was trembling, but she kept muttering, 'Do it, hurry and do it.'
Perhaps her memories of Nomi were more extensive.
Just like Yun Ming's feelings for his Senior Sister, if one day his Senior Sister were to turn into an Aetheric Undead... Yun Ming dared not imagine it, nor would he allow such a thing to happen.
'Alright.'
He raised the demonic blade, which glowed red like blood.
Pfft, like a sharp blade cutting through tofu... The demonic blade plunged fiercely into the Aetheric Undead's core. A flash of light appeared, illuminating from the center of the Aetheric Undead's body.
It split into two.
Yun Ming exhaled deeply, closed his eyes, and murmured in a low voice.
'I'm sorry... I couldn't take you all away.'
Before her body was completely annihilated, that last protected wisp of consciousness seemed to regain control of everything. She opened her mouth.
But only a muffled roar came out.
No one knew what Nomi wanted to say in the end. Was it a longing for the world, or a question about the world's injustice... Or perhaps she wanted to say,
'Brother, if only you hadn't left.'
'Nicole, live well.'
No one knew, no one could know... Ah!!!!
A heart-wrenching cry still exploded in his ears. The girl screamed to the sky, but the world seemed to turn a deep blood-red.
That pool of blood in the basement, forever stained deep in her soul, her palms, her soles, her entire body.
All were scalding, foul-smelling blood... And finally, the monstrous face of the Aetheric Undead roaring at her, seemingly wanting to devour and crush her, 'Why do you get to live? Why are you so lucky? It's all your fault.'
'Nicole, after you kill me, will you kill yourself too? Let's die together, okay...'
'Nicole, live on, don't mind them.'
'Nicole, I'm giving you this knife. Do you understand Teacher's meaning?'
Countless voices seemed to explode in her mind, finally condensing into one word.
Kill!
Kill!!
Kill!!!
She was frantic, her eyes blood-red.
Yun Ming immediately put away the demonic blade, placing it into the Two Forms, and the girl's symptoms instantly lessened considerably.
'Don't be afraid, I'm here.'
The young man recited a calming mantra and held the girl tightly in his arms. This time, her mind finally relaxed.
She just curled up like a wounded stray cat.
Crying and murmuring.
'Brother, don't go...'
'Don't go...'
'I won't go.'
Her fragility was no longer hidden, but her raised eyes showed a pathological dependence. 'Brother is so gentle.'
Nicole had lost everything.
But Nicole had found new family. This time, could they be together forever and ever?
She tilted her head, and the world plunged into darkness.
'...'
Yun Ming lowered his gaze, his dark hair flying, obscuring his face.
No expression could be seen.
Only a ripple of sword qi swept into the distance, instantly cutting several lion-like Armored Hati (Aetheric Undead name) into dust.
He descended on his sword.
Below the recent battlefield, there were still two surviving casualties: a middle-aged man and a Jade Doll with torn limbs.
Commonly known as a humanoid intelligent machine.
'Can you still hold on?'
'Officer, please give me a quick end...'
Aether crystals had already begun to proliferate on the middle-aged man's spine. With his physical strength, he would certainly transform into a third or fourth-stage Aetheric Undead.
'What's your name?'
'Chen... Zhi...'
He couldn't say more, only his eyes pleaded.
Yun Ming looked down without speaking. Spiritual energy tried to impede the Aether transformation, but it was already too late. Outside the Void, there might have been a chance.
'Rest in peace.'
The sword was fast, so fast there was no pain, ending the man's life.
He was freed, a faint smile lingering on his lips.
Only then did the young man look at the Jade Doll with dark green hair tied in pigtails, wearing a green robe, an intelligent machine discovered in the ruins of an old civilization.
The current Public Security Officer of the Public Security Bureau.
This was the description from the game plot in his previous life.
He remained silent.
Qingyi, however, found it hard not to comment, looking at the long sword gleaming with cold light, a chill running down her spine. She didn't care about life or death.
But her code program still placed survival at a very high priority.
'Aren't you going to save me? Officer... Intelligent machines can still be saved. I don't need to rest in peace.'
For a moment, it was almost comical.