MTLNOVEL Chapter 94: Time to Clean the Battlefield
With Sa's death, the decisive battle gradually came to an end.
She was destined not to return to this world in the near future, nor could she control the fates of its people any longer.
She neither cared for commentary nor needed a tombstone.
I will not mourn, nor will I rejoice, and I will never follow in her footsteps.
With my freedom, I bid farewell to the void—
Goodbye, the last of the Flosar.
Vita gazed at the final figure fading in the projection world. Her downcast eyes carried an indescribable emotion. Betraying her god didn't leave her with much grief, nor did it bring much joy.
The last grave held the final Flosar, but she had already died.
At the moment she first abandoned her humanity.
"...Hah. I'll take these Celestial Eyes of Insight, then. Gods… truly boring beings."
She watched as Sa disappeared completely into the Sea of Quantum, taking with her all remaining divine authority in the world.
The agent fully inherited the god's responsibilities—everything, including the god's very existence.
...And she had also accomplished all she had ever hoped for.
"I wonder if the little Vitas still remember me? Hmm… but no matter what, I should say hi to Griseo and the others, right? And as for the so-called future, it seems even gods cannot peer into it… They must've been lying to me~"
She mumbled softly, a hint of girlish shyness in her voice. Yet, rare sadness and helplessness flickered in her eyes for just a moment.
Her figure shifted, leaving the illusory space behind.
Now holding the god's final core, she had fulfilled her wish to make this world one for humanity. But as a price, she would face the same fate as Sa—unable to be seen, remembered, or acknowledged by her creations. She would walk the world as if invisible.
A fair trade, wouldn't you say?
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In the outside world, aboard the Ark at Phyllis,
When the four returned to Griseo's side, she sighed in relief and smiled faintly.
It seemed everyone had made it back safely.
The members of the Golden Courtyard who had been watching the projection also smiled and relaxed. Their successful return meant victory had been achieved—their side had won.
Judging by the injuries of the group, the battle didn't seem too suspenseful.
Kalpas's clothes were torn in several places, exposing noticeable holes. He glanced at Kevin with a displeased expression, thinking how the damage Sa inflicted on him wasn't even as severe as Kevin's final strike. However, he couldn't help but find it ironic that Sa's attempt to escape by reversing time had also restored their injuries.
Overplanning and overcalculating to minimize energy loss… yet it resulted in the worst possible outcome.
"Great, we succeeded. But you… huh? Elysia, Kalpas, why are your bodies becoming transparent?" Griseo asked in surprise, pointing at the two, her face filled with worry. Was this because of the battle?
Was it one of those situations where there were no visible wounds on the outside, but internal injuries remained?
Elysia and Kalpas, upon reaching the Ark, appeared as though they were dissolving into the air. Their forms grew faint, becoming semi-transparent.
"Well… Griseo, you know we weren't meant to stay here forever. It's nothing serious—just a depletion of energy. Besides, with too many people here, the passageway can't handle it~"
"Don't worry, Griseo. Let Vill-V take care of the next battlefield. We still have plenty of time to spend together. But your Uncle Kevin… who knows how many more chances you'll have to chat with him~"
Elysia's smile remained as sweet as ever, even as her figure faded, still as radiant as before.
"Hmph—Griseo, see you later. Maybe you'll meet another version of yourself," Kalpas said coldly, speaking more than usual for once.
The two faded from this world, returning to the Golden Courtyard.
In truth, their energy depletion wasn't that severe. Most of the strain was borne by Su, who typically could handle supporting just one person without issue.
Four at once was manageable for a short time, but prolonged durations posed a challenge.
Fu Hua, Kevin, and Griseo remained silent for a long time. Before the next civilization arrived, they would continue to face one another in this manner.
Griseo found herself yearning to see Elysia again more than Fu Hua or Kevin, though, of course, she couldn't say that aloud…
It had indeed been a long time since they last met.
And now, upon meeting again, they were already parting ways...
"Griseo, everything here has been prepared. As for Vita, there's no need to worry about her. She shouldn't harbor any ill intentions toward you anymore. Keep the communicator for now—it's equipped with a one-way projection function. You can turn it off whenever you like," Kevin said with a frosty expression. However, compared to the icy demeanor he had shown before, there was now a hint of warmth.
Facing his former companions, he couldn't maintain an overly demanding attitude.
"But what about Uncle Su? Is he on Earth right now?" Griseo couldn't help but ask about the whereabouts of another companion.
"Hmm… Griseo, I am here. But not on Earth."
A faint and ethereal voice reached her; Su was answering her, though he was countless astronomical units away.
He existed on a higher dimension, overlooking the world below.
"Eh? …"
Griseo looked left and right instinctively but couldn't find Su's figure. However, from the viewing platform of the damaged Ark, she saw Vita waving at her not far away and, even farther, Fuhua being cleansed by the rain.
Residents were bustling about in small groups, working hard in the aftermath of the disaster. Plants appeared more vibrant and refreshed after being bathed in the rain. The square was gradually regaining its lively atmosphere, the sky had cleared, and a faint rainbow could be seen in the distance.
It was a scene full of vitality and hope.
So, the question remained—where was Uncle Su?
"Could it be… you're not Vita? But Uncle Su? Have you turned into a girl?"
Griseo asked in surprise. It wasn't that she couldn't distinguish Vita's appearance; as mentioned earlier, she identified people based on the colors she perceived.
Yet Vita's colors were completely different from those she had seen earlier, presenting a wholly distinct form. Su's colors were ones she hadn't seen in a long time. As for Vita, the feeling she gave Griseo now indeed had an otherworldly quality.
But could such a miraculous thing really happen?
Griseo couldn't quite comprehend it, though it didn't stop her inner shock.
Kevin quietly glanced at the arriving Vita but remained silent, "…"
Those eyes… indeed seemed more like Su's now. But he could guarantee it had nothing to do with what Griseo was imagining.
Still, why did everyone instinctively look at him whenever such questions arose?
"Uh… Griseo, you're really joking! Didn't we just meet earlier? Oh, I get it—you're noticing the changes in my colors, huh~?"
"But there's no helping it. If we want to free this world from the gods' constraints, someone has to make changes."
Vita shrugged, her slender fingers brushing along her arm, moving upward past her shoulder and neck, and stopping at the faint smile on her lips.
She spoke with the tone of a worker complaining about her job.
"…I am not here, and she cannot hear my voice. Only those close to me can establish a connection with me… No, that's not entirely accurate. There was one other who heard my voice at the time, even though I shared no connection with him."
(TL: We can also Hear you~)
Su's calm voice echoed in Griseo's ears. As he said, Vita's gaze merely looked at her curiously, entirely unaware of another presence.
It was as though he didn't exist at all.
"…Oh." Griseo nodded in acknowledgment, answering the two questions at once.
It seemed her companions all had peculiar forms of existence now.
But, as they said, there was still plenty of time ahead.
"Then… during this time, I'll keep you company, Griseo. While the Ark remains unable to fly, I'm here to help with anything you need~."
Vita twirled a strand of hair by her ear and smiled warmly.
Having just watched the other deal with a Shadow clone with ease, she naturally wasn't foolish enough to antagonize her.
Besides… the other had truly helped her a lot. In contrast, she had barely done anything. Naturally, she felt indebted.
Kevin lingered for a long while before leaving, though he didn't say much throughout. Fu Hua handed the jade pendant back to Griseo, bringing with it several technological artifacts from the current civilization. The level of technology wasn't the key—the data contained within was the most critical.
For example… a certain game: Honkai Impact 3rd.
Testing showed that people in other bubble universes seemed unable to provide Emotional Energy; only individuals from Earth in the original world could do so.
But that wasn't the important part.
Their main goal was simply to ensure Griseo's journey wouldn't feel lonely anymore.
Networking technology was a crucial breakthrough, but as one lady had once said, Vill-V was amazed at Su's capabilities, suggesting he would make an excellent "network cable" for transmitting data across the vastness of space.
It was said Su remained silent for a long time after that.
(TL: LoL, I was wondering how she wil play the game without the internet connection to the Mihoyo. Turns out, Su is the wifi~)
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In the Golden Courtyard, the matter was resolved. Kiana and Mei returned with heavy expressions to continue their training, while the Flame-Chasers enjoyed a rare moment of relaxation. Luo Mo, naturally unhurried, stayed behind to watch the ensuing drama.
Though most of the Flame-Chasers were in high spirits, it wasn't universal. Su, for one, was momentarily stunned by Griseo's earlier question, while a certain green-haired girl refused to back down from provoking Elysia—or perhaps it was Elysia who had provoked her first.
"Elysia… You don't think we couldn't see that one-way video, do you?"
"Uh… shouldn't you be rushing off to check on Griseo?" Elysia responded with a sheepish smile.
"Hah—you guess whose fault it is that I'm this angry right now?"
Mobius's eyes glinted coldly as she glared at Elysia, her breaths heavy with suppressed anger.
The black metallic crown on her head tilted slightly, and her hands gripped Elysia's clothing tightly, refusing to let her go.
She had so much she wanted to say to her.
"Um… Elysia, Granma Mobius… Should I go see her? See… the future me?"
Little Griseo hesitated, her bare feet rubbing against the clean floor. Her eyes lowered, filled with uncertainty.
She had never imagined what it would be like to meet her future self.
After all, she wasn't as brave as Kevin, Su, or Sister Hua. But her older self… seemed to lack the same hesitation and had likely become a qualified warrior.
Suddenly, she felt a little envious.
Upon hearing Griseo's way of addressing her, Mobius grew even more irritated, casting a sharp glare at the culprit in front of her. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she patiently said to Griseo, "Griseo, whether or not you meet her is entirely up to you."
"But according to the initial plan you never opposed, your older self is bound to appear. So there's no need to worry, how could she dislike her younger self?"
In a rare moment of tenderness, Mobius spoke softly. Elysia chimed in as well, trying to make up for her earlier missteps.
"Exactly! Griseo is adorable—both of you are~! So don't hesitate to face her. You might even get to exchange some growth tips!"
"...Shut up." Mobius shouted in annoyance.
"Hey, you're here to witness this yourself. I'm not saying anything wrong," Elysia protested, visibly hurt.
Meanwhile, on the sofa, Luo Mo snacked on Can's goods as he watched the argument between the two MANTIS members unfold. It was quite the spectacle. From time to time, he even stuffed some snacks he didn't like into Can's mouth, savoring the rest.
"Boss… Can doesn't like those either," Pardo complained nearby, casting a sorrowful glance. The mysterious weight gain of the Can wasn't so mysterious anymore! She had been meticulous about not overfeeding it, yet the weight kept piling on inexplicably.
Eventually, Pardo came to terms with the Can gaining weight despite not eating much. Then, late one night, she stumbled upon a scene that left a lasting impression: Kevin feeding the Can.
The icy man loomed over the cat. From afar, Pardo swallowed hard, wondering if the Can had done something to upset the boss. As she prepared to rush in and apologize on the can's behalf, she saw…
Kevin toss down…a sausage.
Can eagerly grabbed it and devoured it in an instant. Kevin crouched, gently stroking the cat's fur. At that moment, Pardo's mental image of him shattered completely.
---
"Hey there, my friends. Isn't it my turn to step in now? How about we project Griseo over here as planned?"
"Compared to the initial idea of projecting each MANTIS member one by one for meetings, wouldn't it be better to bring Griseo over to meet us? The principle should be the same," Vill-V suggested, tapping Luo Mo's shoulder from the left. As he turned, she reappeared on his right, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Not much left now—it's up to you guys," Luo Mo replied calmly.
"Oh, don't say that. The Ark's repairs are still plenty of work. Besides, after all that effort to wake Griseo, wouldn't you want to get to know her?" Vill-V gave him a teasing smile.
"...I feel like you're imagining something strange again."
Luo Mo remained unmoved. Was he someone swayed by beauty?
And besides…to even think about Griseo in such a way? That would mean facing a terrifying lineup of her "guardians." No, thank you.
A romance spanning 5,000 astronomical units? Even less appealing—too far and too long.
"Hah, I think you're the one with strange ideas. Alright, decision made! We'll first create a batch of unmanned robots to gather materials and start initial processing, then proceed with Ark repairs. Griseo can rest and enjoy her games!"
Vill-V raised a fist, cheering herself on, though her half-hearted demeanor betrayed her lack of enthusiasm for work.
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