The massive energy released with the complete fusion of the cores was so destructive that Zi Xia got disintegrated...
Jiang Chen's body was burning, cracked in many places, but he remained alive—at least physically...
But how could Jiang Chen still be alive?
From the back of the Asura Phantom, thousands of green roots emerged, surrounding the cores just before they could fully fuse, as if they had foreseen the impending catastrophe.
The absorption power activated at full force, causing the Asura Phantom to crack under the strain. As the massive surge of energy was released, the left side of the phantom fractured and exploded. It had absorbed too much power—more than it could handle. Even now, its remaining half burned fiercely with red, searing spiritual flames, resembling a Saiyan in its final moments of rage.
Jiang Chen, too, was engulfed in thick, uncontrollable spiritual power. It burst from him violently, far beyond what his body could contain. He had too much—an overwhelming flood of energy that exceeded his limits. He survived only because the Asura Phantom had taken the brunt of the explosion.
Both Jiang Chen and the Asura Phantom were radiating such immense spiritual power that even the air itself began to burn...
Jiang Chen, with both knees on the ground, the surface of the air forming a thin spiritual layer beneath him, cradled his arms as if he were holding someone in a princess carry. His empty hands trembled—just seconds ago, they had held his master, who had burned away for his sake...
A single tear slipped from his right eye. Then another. And another...
With all his might, he lifted his head toward the sky and screamed—
"Mas...Master... you... you... cannot... die... Master... Master... NO... NO... NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!"
SHATTER.
Not only did Jiang Chen weep, but the Asura Phantom, too, roared at the heavens.
"ARRRHHHHHHHHH!!!"
And then—the realm itself responded.
Across the world, explosions erupted one after another.
BOOOOOOOM! BOOOOOM! KABOOOOM! BOOOOM!
But the most violent detonations occurred near Jiang Chen. His grief was so immense, his aura so heavy, that even the realm itself seemed to mourn with him.
The sky wept—not with rain, but with a storm of flaming tears.
It was as if thousands of volcanoes had erupted at once, their molten sorrow falling from the heavens like the tears of a grieving god.
It was horrifying.
And yet, in its devastation, it was breathtakingly beautiful.
If this continued, all hell would break loose… and this realm would be destroyed.
But…
Suddenly—
All explosions stopped. The burning air settled. The overwhelming heat that had engulfed the surroundings faded. The very realm, once on the brink of collapse, began to calm.
Yet amidst this vast expanse, only Jiang Chen remained—a lone figure glowing with searing red light, his spiritual power surging wildly, barely contained within his battered body and the Asura Phantom.
Jiang Chen noticed it.
The unnatural stillness. The spreading calm.
Something—someone—was suppressing the chaos.
Then—
Two arms wrapped around his neck.
His breath hitched.
His chest was bare, his skin cracked and glowing like molten lava—yet he felt it. The sensation of soft, cold skin pressed against him.
A weight rested on his right shoulder. A gentle fragrance filled the air—a scent so familiar, so deeply ingrained in his soul, that his entire body trembled.
He inhaled shakily.
His eyes fluttered. His lips quivered. His voice broke.
"Ma… ma… Mas… ter…?"
Slowly, he lowered his gaze to his neck, where those pale, slender hands rested.
His spiritual energy, burning hot enough to incinerate everything around him, did nothing to those hands.
Jiang Chen froze.
He could feel them.
He could touch them.
This was real.
He turned his head, and a jade-white cheek entered his vision.
That nose… That scent…
Master…
His heart pounded violently.
Am… Am I dreaming?
How… How can this be real?
With trembling fingers, he grasped those hands—so cold, so familiar.
His right hand slowly rose, hesitating, before finally touching her cheek.
His body shuddered.
His fingers trembled.
His lips parted, his voice barely a whisper.
"Mas… ter… is it… really you…? Or… am I… just delusional…?"
Tears streamed down his face, but he didn't care.
A soft, familiar voice brushed against his ears—
"Jiang Chen."
His breath hitched.
"Mas… ter…?"
"Jiang Chen, calm down."
His lips quivered.
Hic… hic… hick… hick…
Jiang Chen broke down, his sobs raw and unrestrained.
He couldn't believe it.
He didn't dare to believe it.
But—if this was a delusion… then let me stay trapped in it forever.
Even if it's fake…
Even if it's an illusion…
Hebegged
Please… please… let me stay here… forever…
I… I can't bear to lose you again…
I don't want to live… in a world where you don't exist…
I don't want to live… in a world where you were sacrificed… for my sake…
Hic… hic…
I don't want to breathe… in a world… where you no longer breathe…
I don't even want a world to exist… if you don't exist in it…
Then… I'll destroy such a world.
I'll… I'll create a world…
A world where you exist.
A world where we exist.
A world where… our story… exist.