Chapter Seventy-Four: The Experience of Fear and the Growth of the Soul

Now was truly not the time to observe the movements of the fiends; the priority was to awaken the World Crystal as quickly as possible. Ignoring the cracks in space that seemed ready to shatter at any moment, Zhuang Xiaoyuan turned and flew toward the World Crystal.

With her new body, it took her only three seconds from turning around to arriving before the crystal.

“But… how am I supposed to awaken the World Crystal’s self-defense?” Standing before the massive, pure-white crystal, Zhuang Xiaoyuan was stunned. She had come here with the intent to awaken the crystal, yet she had no idea how to do it. Even Zhuang Xiaosi’s data contained no record of this, for no one had ever reached this place before.

“Maybe… try touching it?” Zhuang Xiaosi was at a loss as well; their memories and knowledge were now linked, but Zhuang Xiaosi knew no more than Zhuang Xiaoyuan in this moment.

A thunderous boom interrupted their indecision. The previously fractured space finally broke apart, and a swarm of mutated, flying turret-class fiends emerged first, raising the massive cannons on their backs toward the World Crystal. Through the rifts, a vast, menacing silhouette could be vaguely seen in the background, along with a single, crimson eye—a higher-ranking fiend, no doubt.

The instant Zhuang Xiaoyuan saw the fiend behind the rift, an involuntary wave of terror washed over her. No matter how she suppressed it, the fear could not be quelled. It was a terror that penetrated to the marrow, freezing her body in place, as though the slightest movement would spell her doom.

“Xiaoyuan, there’s no time left. You can’t hesitate; try it now!” Zhuang Xiaosi’s voice urged her in her mind, but faced with that fiendish presence, Zhuang Xiaoyuan had lost all control of her body, paralyzed by sudden dread.

“Xiaoyuan! Xiaoyuan! I’m sorry, Xiaoyuan…” Suddenly, a surge of mental power erupted in her mind, seizing control of her body. Under this influence, Zhuang Xiaoyuan reached out her right hand and pressed it to the transparent surface of the World Crystal. The moment her palm made contact, a faint ripple spread out from the crystal.

The colorless wave passed over Zhuang Xiaoyuan without effect, ignoring her entirely. But when it reached the turret-class fiends, they were silently obliterated, vanishing as though they had never existed.

The ripple then touched the space rift, and with a groaning sound like steel strained to its limits, the rift shrank bit by bit under the colorless wave, finally disappearing entirely—sealing the colossal fiend’s roar on the other side of space.

“So… this is the World Crystal’s self-defense… incredible.” Witnessing the invisible wave from the crystal wipe out all the fiends in seconds and casually seal the space rift, shutting out that terror-inducing monster, Zhuang Xiaoyuan was awestruck by such power.

For the first time, she marveled at such strength, but lamented her own weakness as well. To be so fragile before the fiends, paralyzed by fear—this would not do. One could train to become stronger, but the heart must be unshakeable. No matter how terrifying the enemy, the heart must not falter. If she was the first to be afraid, how could she ever defeat them?

This harrowing experience gave Zhuang Xiaoyuan newfound clarity about herself, a firmer resolve toward her goals, and a burning desire for strength. At last, the seed of a true warrior was sown in her heart—a warrior’s heart is forged before a warrior’s might.

With the World Crystal awakened, the fiends present were eliminated. Unseen by Zhuang Xiaoyuan and her companion, the fiends attacking the mecha-girl base outside were also quietly erased as the invisible wave swept across the world.

[Trial of the Guardian Deity]

[Tasks One, Two, and Three: Complete]

[Final Task: Source—Complete]

The trial of the Guardian Deity is complete. Preparing for return…

With the activation of the World Crystal, a golden parchment floated before Zhuang Xiaoyuan. This time, due to their fusion, Zhuang Xiaosi could also see the parchment that looked so out of place in this world.

“So this is the trial mission… Now that it’s complete, Xiaoyuan, are you leaving?” Seeing the golden parchment, its contents clear before her eyes, Zhuang Xiaosi’s quiet voice echoed in her mind.

As the completion notice for the Guardian Deity’s trial appeared, a gentle white light began to emanate from Zhuang Xiaoyuan. The light did not envelop her evenly but flickered in messy patches. As if sensing something amiss, the light suddenly flared and flashed.

The mature form of Zhuang Xiaoyuan vanished, and the two fused individuals were separated by the white light, returning to their original selves—Zhuang Xiaoyuan and Zhuang Xiaosi.

“We’re apart again…” Staring blankly at Zhuang Xiaoyuan, Zhuang Xiaosi’s face was no longer cold and indifferent, but lively and gentle. Though separated, the memories and knowledge they once shared remained, as if a copy of one’s mind had been placed in the other.

“It’s wonderful, Xiaosi. We’re ourselves again.” The worry faded from Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s face, replaced by a relieved smile.

Although Zhuang Xiaosi’s independent personality had persisted within her after their fusion, Zhuang Xiaoyuan could still sense it fading. Had the fusion continued, Zhuang Xiaosi would have eventually vanished from the world. To be separated now was truly a blessing. Even if they were to dwell in different worlds from now on, perhaps never to meet again, at least—at the very least—Zhuang Xiaosi would still be alive.

With both restored to their original selves, the white light enveloping Zhuang Xiaoyuan finally became whole. Her body began to turn translucent and ethereal—her time was nearly up; she would be leaving soon.

“Xiaoyuan, I’m sorry. For what I said before.” At this last moment, Zhuang Xiaosi’s face showed an unmistakably human mixture of reluctance and regret. It seemed that, due to their fusion, Zhuang Xiaosi had come to truly understand her own feelings.

“Hm?” Tilting her head in confusion, Zhuang Xiaoyuan could not recall Zhuang Xiaosi ever saying anything hurtful to her.

“That time… when I said I didn’t need friends. Would you still be willing to be my friend?” The once-cold Zhuang Xiaosi now appeared shy and hesitant, a look that felt almost unfamiliar to Zhuang Xiaoyuan. But the answer to such a question was obvious.