Heavenly Soul hesitated, deep in thought, his expression changing. I quietly rested my hand on his shoulder and stepped closer.
"Why do you want me to stay, Ash? To you, I have no significance anymore."
"Your obsession wins. I'll stay. This time, I'll witness the final act between you and Shadow with my own eyes—as myself, not as a soul within you."
I answered resolutely. Facing Heavenly Soul's puzzled gaze, I gasped for breath, my chest burning. With my head bowed and eyes closed, I quietly searched my thoughts. Memories of the past surfaced, growing ever more intense. The heat in my heart felt as if it would burst from my chest, and emotions in my mind seemed ready to break free.
I screamed until my voice broke, loosening my grip. Heavenly Soul turned and disappeared into the Unreal—a metaphysical realm of primal darkness that separates reality from the void. I reached out, but no sound escaped my throat.
I noticed Sylvia grinning mischievously. She quickly turned away, wiped tears from her own eyes, then gently placed her hands on my cheeks and leaned her head against mine.
"I don't want to regret losing a friend and never seeing them again. That's why I don't want you to leave. This time, I want you to remain as Heavenly Soul—fully yourself, not just a soul inside me. There are so many things in this world you haven't seen or understood. Go and truly see it for yourself, Ethan Zhang."
Heavenly Soul placed his hand over mine, gently pulling it away, smiling.
"You once spoke about the meaning of existence. You and Shadow both have it, but I don't know mine. Can you tell me, Ash? What do you think is the meaning of my existence?"
Ivory, come back.
When it comes to Heavenly Soul, my understanding is vague. I never really thought about him; he existed solely as one of the Threefold Souls that made up Ethan Zhang. Apart from that, as he said, he seemed to have no meaning.
Suddenly, a scene flashed through my mind.
"Once we've both recovered, let's have a real fight."
Earthly Soul soon joined me, imitating my way of observing people. For some reason, we started to quarrel and fought each other. Heavenly Soul, who was sunbathing, came over to intervene.
My fight with Earthly Soul grew fiercer, until even Heavenly Soul couldn't stop us. He quietly squatted nearby, watching as we kept brawling. Only when we finally stopped did he come over, taking one of my hands and one of Earthly Soul's, patting us both on the shoulder.
And everything that happened after, when Earthly Soul completely separated from my body and I could finally speak to him, I realized it was always Heavenly Soul helping us—just like by the lakeshore.
I lifted my head, quietly looking at Heavenly Soul.
"Maybe your meaning lies in both of us."
Heavenly Soul looked at me in confusion.
"You said you dislike conflict, but really, you just can't bear to see us fight. Every time, it's the same—when we fight, you intervene. When you can't stop us, you stay nearby, waiting until we're done before coming over. You never leave or look away. Ivory, maybe that's your purpose. I hope you stay. The fight between me and Shadow has only just begun. When it's finally over, I don't want to turn around and find you gone. Please."
I shouted loudly. Everything here was pitch black, filled with suffocating despair. Waves of oppressive force nearly crushed me, and the entrance to darkness behind me was slowly closing.
"Ivory..."
I was almost at my limit. All around, gaping mouths seemed ready to devour me. The gray Deathbane Aura on my body was cracking; the density was so high that the illusion shattered it easily. Even the darkness inside me was useless, being swallowed by the void.
The entrance behind me shrank little by little. Cracks appeared in the key I held. I knew very well that if I didn't return now, I never could.
In this chaotic space, I desperately tried to sense Heavenly Soul's presence, but he was like a grain of sand lost in the ocean—impossible to find.
"Why? Come back, Ivory."
I called out with all my strength, releasing power again and again, inching forward through the void. The force pressed down on me, making every step heavier, as if I were moving through concrete. The space around me seemed to solidify.
My consciousness began to blur. I struggled to move, focused only on one thought: find Heavenly Soul and bring him back.
Suddenly, my eyes widened—I sensed Heavenly Soul's presence not far ahead.
"Instinct... coexistence..."
With a roar, the force pressing on me was pushed aside. The interwoven spaces around me shattered. On my skin, red, white, and black streams of energy swirled, cracks appearing on my face. At the moment the gray giant demon behind me forced its way through, I leaped forward.
"Ivory!"
A flash of white appeared before me. In an instant, I stood behind Heavenly Soul, reaching out a hand. Heavenly Soul turned, eyes wide, trying to grasp my outstretched hand. With a crack, my right hand shattered completely.
"Idiot, entering the void now is suicide."
A buzzing sensation hit my mind, bitterness making my consciousness convulse. I nearly fainted. Heavenly Soul immediately reached out, and brilliant white trees appeared around me. The discomfort vanished instantly.
My head was still groggy. Images flashed through my mind: the earth tearing, the sea raging, the sky mourning. Scenes flickered through my mind like a carousel...
Everything before me grew more and more blurred. I gradually sank into unconsciousness. Suddenly, I felt a warmth, followed by a gentle fragrance filling my nose. A strand of silvery hair fell across my cheek. Small hands embraced me, and I smiled as I lost consciousness.
When I woke again, I was back in the darkness. The entrance to the Illusion's Promise was already closed before me. I reached out, immediately sensing someone sitting nearby. I got up, my head still foggy.
"Thank you, Sylvia."
Sylvia looked at me, exhausted but smiling, her chin propped on her hand as she leaned against a house.
"What were you thinking? You nearly died, you know that? This is no joke, Ethan Zhang. Why do you always act so recklessly?"
I smiled helplessly and shook my head.
At that moment, I remembered everything Roxie said to me, so I went in. Thank you, Sylvia. Did he leave?
Sylvia stood up, hands behind her back, skipped over playfully, giggling.
"I'm still here, Ethan Zhang."
A familiar voice came from behind. I turned, eyes wide. Heavenly Soul sat quietly on the ground, looking at me with a smile in his eyes.
"Ivory, you..."
"So slow, Ethan Zhang. Are you still half asleep? Can't even sense the aura?"
I lifted my head. Sylvia extended a hand, and I took it, standing up.
Heavenly Soul stood up as well.
"You've really beaten me, Ethan Zhang..."
Heavenly Soul said, walking over with a gentle expression.
"Your obsession wins. I'll stay. This time, I'll witness the final act between you and Shadow with my own eyes."
A wave of bittersweet emotion washed over me. I nodded quietly.
"Thank you. Thank you for choosing to stay."
I noticed Sylvia grinning mischievously, quickly turning away to wipe tears from my eyes. She gently placed her hands on my cheeks and leaned her head against mine.
"You really are the Ethan Zhang I know. But... you actually cried."
I shook my head immediately.
After a while, I calmed down and asked,
"Where's Tan Tian?"
"That troublesome old man—I've shaken him off for now. Enough talk, let's go back. I'm starving and want something to eat."
Heavenly Soul came closer, his smile fading.
"Once we've recovered, fight me."
I stared in surprise, then quickly nodded.
"I've wondered for so long—just how strong are you?"
"I'll use my full strength, Ash."
I let out a sound of surprise.
"Me too."