I watched Future Ethan Zhang in silence. He stood with his back to me, holding the Key to the Void. Behind me, Seven gently comforted Qi. In just a few hours, the siblings had spoken so much, but Qi kept sobbing, and Future Ethan Zhang hadn't uttered a single word.
The long rod before me was the Gate to the Void. Now, the only way to keep Seven alive and prevent Rachel Lan from vanishing is to enter the Promise of the Void—split my innate coexistence, and give Seven a part of what makes me human.
I've already made up my mind: I'll give half my coexistence, all my human strength, to Seven. There isn't a shred of hesitation in me.
In the past and future, all of Rachel Lan's time was spent—paid as the price. That's why Seven could take shape from the fragments of Rachel Lan's dream. With the new power, Seven now has a real body, but this has deeply wounded the Rachel Lan of the present. If Seven keeps existing here, the time of the present Rachel Lan will be paid away, bit by bit, until Seven becomes fully human. When that happens, Rachel Lan will vanish, erased from every corner of the world. All her time—past, future, and present—will have been traded to bring Seven back.
Rachel Lan traded all her time for Seven's existence. Time itself will kill her.
"You'd better think this through, Ethan Zhang. If you really give him half your coexistence, you might never be human again. Once your human strength is gone, you'll become more and more like a wraith. When green ghostly energy appears in your body, you'll never be human again."
Newborn warned me gravely from behind. The dilemma before me was absolute. Just then, Future Ethan Zhang turned and looked at me.
"Have you truly decided?"
I hummed in response. I'd glimpsed Rachel Lan at the end of time—a memory from Future Ethan Zhang—but I understood. I glanced back at Rachel Lan, now under Newborn's control, still behind me, still present. In this moment, the future and present versions of Rachel Lan overlapped perfectly in my eyes.
"Rachel, if you knew, you'd make the same choice. For our two children, you gave everything, traded all you had so Seven and Qi could live. You're a true mother. So if all it costs me is my humanity, then to me, that's worth it."
I spoke these words directly to Rachel Lan. Newborn nodded in silent agreement.
"If things are resolved in the future, I will tell Rachel Lan everything, Ethan Zhang."
I turned away. Future Ethan Zhang gave a bitter smile, lifted his hand, and looked back at us.
"Newborn, wait here. The three of you, stay close to me. I'll find a place to seal you. Once you're sealed, you'll lose all consciousness."
Future Ethan Zhang looked at Seven and spoke. Seven's eyes were full of emotion; he shook his head.
"Just seeing her once is enough. This is the first time I've met my mother, and that's enough for me. In my dreams, I could never see her face—because I'd never met her. Now, this is the best outcome. If there's no solution, I can keep sleeping in the Void. Because of my mother, I've seen so much of this world. It's beautiful."
A sharp crack split the air. I felt a freezing current surge out of the Void. Suddenly, someone appeared before us, blocking our path—Tan Tian. The Void behind him stayed shut, as if some force was holding it closed.
"You know that's not really your child, it's just..."
"Shut up."
Future Ethan Zhang muttered, his voice cold.
"If you really mean to go through with this, maybe, at this moment..."
"Step aside, Tan Tian. I don't want to kill you again. You zombies don't understand time—you have none. Your death won't change anything in this world. In fact, it helps. Last warning: move, or I'll kill you right now."
Tension filled the air. Qi looked ready to pounce, a sly grin on her lips.
"Old man, I can't beat you, but my dad's here. Try anything and see what happens—my dad doesn't joke. He could kill you in a heartbeat."
Tan Tian nodded, then spoke.
"You really are strong. Tell me, why did you suddenly change your mind? You're not someone who hesitates."
Tan Tian spoke, his gaze icy as he looked at me.
"Is it because of your past self?"
"Half of it."
Future Ethan Zhang smiled. Once Tan Tian moved aside, the Void began to open, inch by inch.
"Stay close to me."
Suddenly, thick black currents surged out, viscous like mud—a chaotic blend of powers. I could barely stand it. Future Ethan Zhang raised Human Ghost, his sword, and pointed ahead.
The black energy disappeared in an instant. He stepped inside, and Qi, Seven, and I followed. Human Ghost stood before Future Ethan Zhang, as if searching for a way. A red road appeared beneath our feet. As we stepped onto it, there was no sensation—the oppressive feeling from before was gone. I swallowed hard. Ethan Zhang walked ahead, slow and steady. Tan Tian joined us, falling in beside me. I glanced at him, surprised.
"Do you want to go deeper into the Void?"
Tan Tian asked. Future Ethan Zhang shook his head.
"Wherever it is, I need to find a place fit to seal him."
I looked around. Strange, colorful stones floated everywhere, their shapes and colors bizarre, drifting through a space like water. They collided, bursting into violent explosions I could see but never hear—no sound, no impact, just constant, eerie motion.
I watched Future Ethan Zhang, his face heavy with thought. Earlier, Tan Tian said Seven wasn't really his son. I cared, but I couldn't agree. No matter what, Seven was born from Rachel Lan's sacrifice—all her future traded for his life, and born from her own body.
"Tan Tian, what are you really planning?"
I asked. Tan Tian turned and glanced at me.
"To avoid any impact, you're planning to erase his memories, aren't you?"
I stared at Future Ethan Zhang; he turned and looked at me earnestly. I nodded—I had already thought of this. Seven put a hand on my shoulder.
"Thank you, if..."
I shook my head.
"No need to thank me, Seven. If I ever find a way, I swear I'll save you."
We walked on in silence. Tan Tian didn't answer, but I knew—if he made it back to the living world, he'd make his move.
"Let me ask you something else, Tan Tian. Which side does your corpse realm support?"
"Neither side. We're just observers."
I nodded.
"What if something happens that helps you feel again?"
"Then we'll side with whoever benefits us most."
I gave a bitter smile and kept walking.
Future Ethan Zhang kept searching. The road beneath us twisted and turned; he still hadn't found the right place.
"Found it. Over there."
Future Ethan Zhang spoke, pointing with his left hand. We followed his gesture. Ahead, a massive purple-red stone floated, silent as an island. Other stones drifting toward it veered away.
Minutes later, we stood on the island. Future Ethan Zhang drove Human Ghost into the ground with a creak. The sword split in two, jointed cords snaking from both sides, piercing the island's edge. The red road beneath us vanished.
"Alright, let's begin. You two, come here."
Future Ethan Zhang had Seven and me sit cross-legged beside the sword hilt.
I had to give half my instinctual coexistence—my human strength—to Seven, so he wouldn't die. Future Ethan Zhang explained: Seven could use coexistence to transform the Void's power, sustaining himself and resisting assimilation. He'd remain human, but his consciousness would be sealed. Coexistence would keep converting the Void's power for him, endlessly.
"It's starting."
Future Ethan Zhang said. I shouted.
"Wait, Qi—do you have something to say?"
I looked over. I'd noticed before that Qi wanted to speak, but never found the chance.
Qi walked over, her cheeks burning red.
"I just want to say one thing: thank you, brother..."
"Just call me Seven, Qi. It's alright. Mother always said, as the older brother, I should look after my sister."
I lifted my head. Future Ethan Zhang said nothing, his face dark and grave as he watched us.