Chapter 32: You Are My Faith (XIII)

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Chapter 32: You Are My Faith (XIII)

Despite everyone giving it their all, they were still missing one form of faith and could not complete the seal. Demonic energy surged out like floodwater bursting through a broken dam, and the backlash left the last few people still holding firm on the verge of collapse.

Tylor had to fend off the endless stream of corrupted attackers from every direction and protect the others, leaving him unable to break away. The rest wanted to help but simply lacked the strength. Their faith was not steadfast enough to light a Magic Crystal amid such dense demonic energy.

Just as the situation reached the brink of collapse, an immense power of faith shone like the sun, illuminating the sky beneath its heavy black clouds.

Everyone instinctively narrowed their eyes. The source of strength within them, which had nearly run dry, seemed to be infused with new life, immediately lifting their spirits.

Everyone turned toward the source of the light and saw a little girl standing quietly beside Shang Ke, a Magic Crystal cradled in her hands.

White light radiated from her entire body. Her gemstone-like eyes were crystal clear as she stared unblinkingly at Shang Ke, who was wrapped in demonic energy.

“Daddy.”

Pupu’s childish voice passed through the dense demonic energy and reached Shang Ke’s ears.

A pure heart, and a pure faith.

Pupu’s intellectual development was limited, and she knew no fear. She saw Shang Ke as her father, and the care he gave her was the source of her happiness.

Without the slightest impurity or a moment of hesitation, her faith existed entirely for Shang Ke.

The demonic energy surrounding Shang Ke dispersed, and the harp fell abruptly silent.

With seven forms of faith gathered, the seal was complete.

Thud, thud… Dozens of impacts sounded in succession as everyone still standing collapsed from exhaustion.

The harp slipped from Shang Ke’s hands and rolled away as his body toppled backward.

Pupu rushed over and braced both hands against Shang Ke’s back, trying to support him, only to nearly be knocked over herself. Fortunately, Tylor arrived in time and caught them both.

Seven patterns of varying sizes appeared around the Devil’s Tree, binding it firmly like chains.

The demonic energy blanketing the sky gradually dispersed, revealing a vast expanse of blue once more.

Tears filled everyone’s eyes, yet brilliant smiles spread across their faces.

Every one of them was filthy, disheveled, and utterly battered, yet their hearts felt as pure and unblemished as the sky above, as though they had been reborn.

Tylor held Shang Ke and pressed a kiss to his forehead. Feeling the warmth of his body, joy flooded his heart together with an overwhelming sense of relief.

【Congratulations, Host. Main Mission complete—Seal the Devil’s Tree.】

【Host has gloriously survived the Main Mission. The System awards you five years of additional stay in this world.】

Five years? The additional stay seemed to be getting longer every time.

【If Host completes two more death missions during this period without dying, Host may choose to remain in the current world and live out the rest of your life without restriction.】

Shang Ke immediately began considering the possibility of agreeing to date Tylor, only for the System to continue: 【Now issuing Additional…】

What? Already?

Before Shang Ke could even hear the rest, he saw a figure charge straight at Tylor from behind.

“Watch out!” Shang Ke sprang up and threw himself against Tylor, grabbing his shoulders.

With a wet shhk , a blade pierced straight through his chest, and blood gushed out.

【…Mission 1: Protect Tylor.】

Shang Ke finally understood. The longer the additional stay the System gave him, the faster he died.

“Shang Ke!” Tylor stared at Shang Ke collapsing into his arms, his eyes turning blood-red. He abruptly looked up at the attacker and saw, to his horror, the friend who had grown up beside him since childhood—Quincy!

“Why?” he demanded harshly.

“Hahaha, why?” Quincy laughed wildly. “Because I hate you! I hate you! Why were you born standing above everyone else while I could only ever be beneath you, trailing behind you like some pathetic lackey?”

Quincy staggered on his feet, hatred and jealousy filling his eyes as curses and accusations poured endlessly from his mouth.

Tylor immediately understood. Quincy had also been invaded by demonic energy. Although the Devil’s Tree had now been sealed, most of those who had already been deeply affected would not recover immediately. Even those capable of recovering would need a long time.

Tylor had simply never imagined that his most trusted friend would be one of them.

Killing intent flooded Tylor’s eyes. He seized the longsword beside him and drove it viciously into Quincy’s heart…

“Shang Ke, hold on.” Tylor held Shang Ke with one arm while pulling medicine from his waist pouch with the other.

Shang Ke’s eyes were half closed, and blood continued to seep from his mouth.

He felt terribly cold, and his body trembled faintly.

“Shang Ke!” Kaiser stumbled over and roared furiously at Tylor, “How the hell were you protecting him?!”

Tylor pressed his lips together without saying a word. His face was rigid as he fed Shang Ke medicine and treated his wound with trembling fingers.

The blade had pierced completely through Shang Ke’s body. Deep down, they all knew that he was probably beyond saving.

But no one was willing to accept it.

They did everything they could to save him, repeatedly calling his name and begging him to hold on.

The Devil’s Tree had been successfully sealed. They were supposed to return home covered in glory. They were all heroes now.

So, Shang Ke, don’t give up. Don’t leave. Stay with them and welcome the glory that belonged to all of them.

Shang Ke’s body grew colder and colder. He gazed at Tylor and struggled to move his lips, softly whispering a few words.

“Shang Ke, what did you say?” Tylor pressed his ear close to Shang Ke’s lips, but he could no longer hear his voice. Even his breathing had stopped.

Tylor’s vision gradually blurred as a monster called fear swallowed him whole.

This heart-wrenching despair somehow did not feel like the first time he had experienced it.

The rising sun broke over the horizon, yet the most beautiful ray of dawn vanished at the very moment daybreak arrived…

“If I can meet you again in my next life, then no matter how difficult it is, I’m willing to give us a try.”

Those were Shang Ke’s final words to Tylor.

Lying in the System Space, Shang Ke listened dazedly as the System announced his rewards: 【One Main Mission and one Additional Mission completed. Host, please receive your rewards. Constitution +5 (+7), Memory +10 (+2), Mental Power +10 (+5), Appearance +10 (+5), Lifespan +2 (+2). You may also learn two new skills.】

“System, I’m a little tired.”

【Host may choose one or two easier skills and use the Hundred Training Space to study while recovering emotionally.】

“How many missions do I have to complete before I can return to reality?”

【That cannot currently be calculated. However, the more worlds you survive perfectly, the fewer missions you will ultimately need to complete.】

Survive perfectly? Easy for it to say. Three worlds, and he hadn’t succeeded even once.

“Can I ever go back and visit the worlds I’ve already experienced?” He wanted to know whether the people who had cared about him were living well after his departure.

【If you complete all missions and achieve an overall perfection rating of at least fifty percent, you may exchange your opportunity to return to reality for an opportunity to rewrite the endings of those worlds.】

Trade his chance to return to the real world for a chance to rewrite those endings?

Shang Ke froze, torn by indecision.

A moment later, however, he pulled himself together. He had only gone through three worlds so far. There was no point worrying about it yet.

He had the System open the skill menu and discovered several newly unlocked options: Computers, Lockpicking, Stage Magic, and the skill he had wanted all along—Martial Arts!

If he had known martial arts, perhaps he could have protected Tylor while avoiding a fatal wound and successfully survived the previous world.

So this time, Shang Ke selected Martial Arts without hesitation. He still had one skill reward remaining. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly asked, “System, can I know what the next world will be in advance?” If he could, he would be able to choose a skill specifically suited to that world and improve his chances of completing the mission.

【No.】 The damn System gave him an immediate refusal. 【However, System missions generally alternate between difficult and relatively easy worlds.】

“Then did that last world count as difficult?”

【Yes.】

“So my next world should be relatively easy?”

【Yes.】

Shang Ke immediately felt much more relaxed. After looking through the available skills, he ultimately chose Computers.

Martial Arts was divided into Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Master, and Grandmaster levels. At present, he could study only Beginner Martial Arts.

The Computers category was somewhat unexpected, however. It contained only a single specialty—Hacking. Like Martial Arts, it was divided into Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Master, and Grandmaster levels. At present, Shang Ke could study the Beginner and Intermediate levels.

He was actually quite interested in Stage Magic and Lockpicking as well, but his choices were limited, so those would have to wait until next time.

The Hundred Training Space offered realistic simulations and practical combat exercises. It was almost like playing a game; although the training was grueling, it was never dull.

This time, Shang Ke chose to study Beginner Martial Arts and Hacking, and he spent a full fifteen years in the Hundred Training Space.

【Preparations complete. Beginning transfer.】 The System’s voice echoed through the air.

A flash of white light swept past, and Shang Ke was transported into the next world.

The surroundings were dim and deathly silent. Shang Ke could tell that he was inside an extremely cramped space, his body curled tightly around a child held in his arms.

The child trembled continuously, his chest rising and falling as rapid breaths escaped him.

Even before receiving the System’s information, Shang Ke could roughly tell what kind of situation they were in. They were clearly hiding from some danger.

Once the System transmitted the relevant information, Shang Ke finally pieced everything together.

His current body was named Bruno, and he was seven years old. The child in his arms was the protagonist of this world—Feng Juan.

They had been abducted by an international human-trafficking ring and transported overseas along with dozens of other children. After the smuggling ship docked, several of the older children organized an escape attempt. Unsurprisingly, it failed. Half of the children died during the attempt, while the rest were recaptured.

He and Feng Juan, the only two who had slipped through the net, were currently huddled inside a cargo crate, hiding from the killers searching for them.

According to the original plot, the traffickers would soon discover where the two were hiding. In order to save himself, “Bruno” would shove Feng Juan out of the crate as a distraction, then flee toward the streets on the other side.

Fortunately for Bruno, the police had received a tip and arrived to raid the trafficking ring, rescuing him just in time.

Feng Juan, however, was betrayed by Bruno and had both legs broken by the traffickers only moments before rescue arrived, leaving him permanently disabled.

Stranded in a foreign country and deeply traumatized both physically and emotionally, Feng Juan could no longer remember his background. The local police could only place him and Bruno together in a welfare institution. Bruno was adopted soon afterward, while Feng Juan’s disability left him increasingly irritable and volatile, and his childhood was extremely difficult. Later, with financial support from a kindhearted benefactor and through his own effort and talent, he eventually built a successful career for himself.

At twenty-two, Feng Juan reunited with the family he had been separated from for many years and returned to them. One year later, he encountered Bruno, the person responsible for his disability. Bruno had changed his name to Zino and was now the heir to the Weiden family. After discovering his true identity, Feng Juan began taking revenge in secret, ultimately causing him to lose his position as heir and be expelled from the family.

【Main Mission: Protect Feng Juan until he turns twenty-two.】

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