"This power is a rare inheritance that can only be received through numerous rituals and trials. For the one who wields it… it can hardly be called a blessing."
Dan Heng continued speaking to Sushang:
"Perhaps you've heard the stories of the immortal dragon and its descendants. Many myths praise Him for possessing a perfect and immortal life."
"However. All things have their end, and every life has a predetermined limit. Even Aeons can hardly be called immortal—they will eventually reach the moment of their passing."
Seeing that they had rested enough, Dan Heng turned to Sushang and said:
"Miss Sushang, we should continue."
"Mm, right."
The two continued deeper in, beginning to clear out more and more monsters.
If they encountered living people along the way, and they still had a breath left, the two would prioritize taking them away.
If they encountered the bodies of the deceased.
Then they could only first bring them to an open area, trying to keep the bodies intact, and wait for the Cloud Knights specifically responsible for this to arrive. At least that would leave them some dignity.
"Ah——!! Why did you—!!"
Suddenly, Sushang and Dan Heng heard the voice of a living person coming from up ahead.
Dan Heng frowned:
"It seems someone up ahead is in trouble."
"Let's hurry over!" Sushang quickly swung her greatsword and charged toward the direction the sound came from.
After running through two small alleys, the two saw a heavily wounded Cloud Knight.
At this moment, he was being firmly pinned to the ground by a Mara-struck soldier. His legs were struggling violently!
But it was still useless.
"Old Jia——!! Cough cough cough… why did you suddenly fall into Mara-struck? You really know how to pick the worst time!!"
"Roar——!!"
The Mara-struck soldier roared wildly, its foot grinding mercilessly into the Cloud Knight's abdomen!
Its right hand slowly rose, wrapped around a cold, sharp blade, and stabbed fiercely toward the Cloud Knight's neck!
"Stop!!" Dan Heng's eyes were sharp and his hands fast. He directly threw his spear.
The sharp spear tip sliced through the air like lightning. With a "thud," it pierced into the chest of that Mara-struck soldier!
The latter staggered back several steps in pain, letting out a muffled roar.
Sushang took the opportunity to quickly run over and drag the Cloud Knight away.
"Are you okay?!"
"I-I'm fine!"
The Cloud Knight was still in shock, his pupils wide open as he looked at the Mara-struck soldier in the distance with a complicated expression, his chest heaving violently.
Dan Heng said in a deep voice:
"The one you just called out—was that the name of the Mara-struck soldier?"
"Y-Yes!"
The Cloud Knight gasped heavily:
"He… he's a Cloud Knight from the same unit as me. Please show mercy!"
"Understood." Dan Heng responded quietly, then looked up and charged toward the Mara-struck soldier.
Sushang crouched beside the Cloud Knight and said regretfully:
"I'm sorry. You know, our mission is to prioritize bringing back living people. We can only temporarily move the deceased to open areas. As for Cloud Knights who have fallen into Mara-struck…"
"I-I understand."
The Cloud Knight let out a heavy sigh:
"He's lived too long. Even if we bring him back… there's no longer any way to suppress the Mara-struck."
"What about your wound…" Sushang's gaze slowly moved downward.
There was a long gash across the Cloud Knight's abdomen, and blood was still flowing out.
"Oh, it's nothing… cough cough, it's nothing!" The Cloud Knight forced an ugly smile.
"How can you say it's nothing when you're like this? We need to get you out of here!"
"No. I can't… I still have to go further ahead."
"What's up ahead?" Sushang looked completely confused.
The man was already this badly injured, yet he still wanted to charge further in.
"The Automaton Judge from the Ten-Lords Commission is still inside. Her condition is probably no better than mine."
"But you…"
Just as Sushang was in a dilemma.
She heard slow footsteps coming from behind her.
"?"
"Who?!"
Sushang suddenly turned around and met the eyes of a blond, blue-eyed man.
"Huh? Luocha, what are you doing here too?"
When Sushang asked this question, the blond man did not answer.
He seemed somewhat confused.
Then, he smiled faintly.
Only then did Sushang notice that this blond man had his hair tied up and was wearing what looked like some kind of organization uniform.
"Miss, I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else."
"Then you are…?"
"This one's name is Otto Apocalypse. It's a coincidence that I ran into all of you here. Is there… anything I can help with?"
"?!!!"
Sushang stared at Otto's face and her eyes widened instantly.
She remembered that previously, that sword-wielding flying woman had kept insisting that Luocha's real name must be Otto.
At the time, Sushang had still been wondering why that woman was so certain.
She never expected that today she would actually run into the real person!
"Wow, you look exactly like Luocha!"
"Luocha…? Haha."
Otto chuckled lightly and silently observed Sushang's appearance before slowly speaking:
"Miss… could your surname be Li?"
"Uh… yes. How do you know my surname is Li too? People here usually just call me Sushang."
"I see."
The blond man nodded thoughtfully, then looked down at the Cloud Knight and asked:
"Miss Sushang, this brother's injuries—would you mind if I take a look?"
"You?"
At this moment, Dan Heng, who had finished clearing the nearby monsters, also noticed the commotion here and slowly walked over.
"This is… Bishop?" Dan Heng spoke up.
Back at the museum in Jarilo, Otto had been called over by Zeig to help.
Based on his noble appearance and excellent demeanor, after just a few hours of receiving guests… he had received rave reviews from the vast majority of female visitors.
That seemed to have been his best day in terms of performance.
"Hm? Mr. Dan Heng, I didn't expect us to meet here." Otto said in a deep voice.
"I heard… that museum in the end was actually burned down? What a pity."
Dan Heng nodded lightly:
"Mm, but fortunately the exhibits inside weren't lost. As long as it takes some time, I believe it can be rebuilt soon."
"You… what are you two talking about?" Sushang anxiously pointed at the Cloud Knight on the ground who was on the verge of death and shouted:
"Hey, Otto, didn't you say you were going to help him? Hurry up! He's already lost so much blood he passed out!"
"Alright, leave it to this one."
Otto smiled. His right hand, which had been behind his back, slowly opened its palm.
Under Dan Heng's surprised gaze, a familiar spear wrapped in golden energy slowly took shape.
"…This is?"
Sushang's eyes widened:
"Why do you have this too?!"
"Oh? Miss Sushang… it seems you've met the captain from before."
Dan Heng nodded:
"Mm. Sushang has been in contact with Zeig."
"I see. Just as I expected."
Otto raised the mimicked Abyss Flower and lightly pointed it toward the fallen Cloud Knight.
In an instant, light burst forth.
Countless points of light crawled onto the wound on the Cloud Knight's abdomen, causing it to visibly heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"It's not peaceful here. You should all leave as soon as possible." The blond man advised.
"Then what are you doing here?" Sushang asked.
"Mm, I suppose… observing the battle situation of the mechs? Haha… The losses here are quite severe, so I came to take a look."