"You've finally come, is this redemption for the past? Coming into this world is utterly meaningless."
Everyone stared in shock at the black figure before them. A sinister, eerie smile hung on his face. I couldn't tell who these words were meant for, but I was certain it wasn't me, nor Ki, nor Roxie Lane, and definitely not the Spirit Serpent. The only possible target was Lan Yin.
"So it really is humanity that leads the way to this world's destruction."
"Not quite..."
In an instant, the black figure's mouth produced two completely different voices, overlapping each other—one deep and resonant, the other relaxed and carefree. I turned my head to look at Lan Yin.
Gradually, the black aura shrouding the figure before us began to fade, slowly revealing his true appearance. Long hair draped over his shoulders, and his features became increasingly clear.
His strikingly handsome features and prominent nose gave him a rebellious air, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Lan Yin..."
I murmured his name, but at that moment, two zeros appeared on either side of Lan Yin's cheeks, and another zero appeared in the center of his forehead.
"Forsaken 000, the very first being born in this world, the only Forsaken with true consciousness."
A hint of anger flashed across Lan Yin's cold, handsome face. I swallowed, recalling how Lan Yin had always avoided the topic of the Forsaken, and the Four Guardians had been evasive about certain matters as well.
"You just asked, is it mainly humanity's doing? I can tell you clearly, it is led by humans—yet it also isn't."
From the mouth of Forsaken 000 came two voices, entirely different and overlapping—one belonged to Lan Yin himself, and the other to the consciousness of this world.
The answer was clear. I watched Lan Yin in silence. As a Soul Collector who had survived for over a thousand years, he was the most unique among the Ten Soul Collectors of the Hades Circle. He had no faith in the Hades Circle, let alone the Four Guardians.
"When exactly did your faith die? That moment when everything you believed in collapsed before your eyes, shattered inside you—how painful it must be. You desperately wanted to change the fate of those in the Hades Circle, yet you repeated the same mistakes again and again. Everyone you loved drifted away, and you were left alone for centuries. What keeps you going, Lan Yin? Your heart has long since died—when Miss Mo Yu left, when you witnessed your wife and child die, even the younger generations of the Lan Family, you saw their births and deaths time and again, but you still couldn't die. Saving others? You can't even escape yourself. In this fate called the Hades Circle, everything was decided long ago, wasn't it? Now it's Roxie Lane's turn—your granddaughter. Once again, you witness her death and are powerless to stop it. Why is fate so cruel? Heh, when fate turns cruel, it truly makes one bitterly aware of their own suffering!"
"Shut up."
Lan Yin roared in a low voice, slowly pointing the Phoenix Blade at Forsaken 000. At this moment, Lan Yin looked utterly helpless. The confident smile that had just returned to his face disappeared again. He was blaming himself, endlessly, with suffering in his heart that couldn't be expressed. It reminded one of the past—his lips began to unconsciously mutter. No one could hear what he said, just as for a thousand years, he had fought his fate in solitude, struggling to break free of these chains, yet remained powerless.
Forsaken 000 smiled as he approached, his face identical to Lan Yin's but with a completely different expression. Forsaken 000 wore a look of satisfaction, as if he had finally seen the enemy who had caused him endless pain—and now that enemy was suffering. That vengeful smile spread across his face.
On this side, Lan Yin's expression was one of pain and self-reproach.
"So it really is..."
"So that's how it is! Even when everything you once believed in has long since turned to ashes, you still pretend to be clear-headed. Lan Yin, you knew about my existence long ago, and the Four Guardians sensed me as well. Yet you said nothing, and neither did they. You just can't accept your own failure—failure after failure, your whole life built on a mountain of defeats. Maybe you ask yourself, why am I the only one left alive when everyone else is dead?"
Lan Yin pressed one hand to his forehead, his expression shifting between gloom and brightness, emotions growing unstable. The golden wings on his back began to collapse bit by bit. I saw a streak of black within the gold, and in that instant, we all felt it—a suffocating despair radiated from Lan Yin.
"Hahaha... That's it, that's exactly who you are. Hope and despair coexisting, forever a bundle of contradictions. You..."
With a bang, Sylvia Blue suddenly leapt forward, delivering a side kick to 000's chest. A burst of silvery light exploded, and in an instant, 000 was sent flying, spinning several times in the air, its form showing clear signs of collapse.
Lan Yin stared blankly at Sylvia Blue. With a sharp smack, Sylvia Blue suddenly swung a slap at Lan Yin, but he caught her wrist instantly, a wretched smile appearing on his face.
"So it's come to this—being lectured by the younger generation, huh? Heh..."
With that, Lan Yin released her hand. Sylvia Blue looked at him in surprise, but Lan Yin didn't blame her. Instead, he walked past and gently tapped her forehead. Sylvia Blue covered her forehead in astonishment and turned away.
"Why did you..."
"Go to their side. As for your business, I won't mention a word of it. I'm neither blind nor foolish—after all, I'm the head of the Lan Family."
I was a bit surprised—Sylvia Blue and Lan Yin seemed to know each other, but not quite. Sylvia Blue, now looking annoyed, came over to us. In her arms, Rachel Lan gazed quietly at Lan Yin in the distance, then gave a gentle smile.