On the ground littered with fragments, a conversation from the void began.
“Are you… okay…?” an empty space asked.
“I… I’m…” another empty space tried to reply, but the words seemed stuck.
“Don’t force it,” the first space said. “「Concealment」 can hold a little longer… Use this time to regain some sanity.”
“Let them run first…” came the voice from the other space. “Lin Qiu, Xiao Xiao, Jin Won-hoon, you go… Take Han Yi-mo with you.”
Xiao Xiao shook her head at the empty space. “Let’s go together. Without my protection, you won’t even make it out of this square—you two will die the moment you 「appear」.”
“That’s right,” Jin Won-hoon chimed in. “I still have strength left. This mission from 「Paradise’s Gate」 was meant to cover the 「Extremists’」 retreat.”
“It’s… it’s fine…” Doctor Zhao’s voice emerged from the void again. “To be honest, now that 「Dissociation」 is over, I’m useless to anyone. There’s no point in protecting me.”
“But…” Lin Qiu frowned, hesitating.
“I’m not being stubborn…” Doctor Zhao’s voice sounded noticeably weaker. “This 「Dissociation」 has left me dizzy—I can’t even take a step. If possible… take this Monkey Man with you.”
The Monkey Man’s voice echoed beside Doctor Zhao. “Don’t be naïve… Do you think keeping the Great Bell, the display screen, and two people 「concealed」 at the same time is easy? I haven’t activated 「Fragrance」 in too long. I can’t move either.”
“Hah…” Doctor Zhao chuckled. “Then why play the hero?”
“Play the hero…?” The Monkey Man and Doctor Zhao continued as if no one else was around. “Is that even possible? I never said my name or showed my face. No one in this mission will remember me. I was never meant to be a hero—just a 「shadow」.”
Listening to their casual banter from the void, the others’ expressions darkened with sorrow.
“Go…” Doctor Zhao urged. “The chaotic crowd will be here soon… No need to stay and die for nothing.”
“Yes, go,” the Monkey Man added.
Lin Qiu and Xiao Xiao exchanged a glance, knowing their choice was the right one.
With Han Yi-mo barely clinging to life and now two more wounded from excessive 「echoes」—Monkey Man and Doctor Zhao—none of them would escape if they stayed.
The best option was to leave the two behind.
Without hesitation, Xiao Xiao walked over and hoisted Han Yi-mo onto her back. He seemed conscious, but his injuries kept him from standing.
“We’re leaving,” Xiao Xiao announced.
“Hey… what about Old Zhao…?” Han Yi-mo murmured weakly. “Haven’t seen him… You’re not taking him…?”
“He’s already gone,” Xiao Xiao replied. “People will remember him as the hero he became.”
“What nonsense…” Han Yi-mo muttered. “We promised to save the world together… How did he end up a hero by himself…?”
“Let’s go.”
Xiao Xiao patted Han Yi-mo’s back, then signaled to Lin Qiu. Together with Jin Won-hoon, they moved swiftly, leaving the scene before the 「Supporters」 could swarm them.
Meanwhile, the fragments on the ground shifted slightly, as if an invisible figure had sat down.
“Let’s rest,” Doctor Zhao said. “Still dizzy?”
“I’m fine. Just bleeding from every hole in my face,” Monkey Man replied.
Doctor Zhao reached up with his unseen hand, touching his eyes. His fingers came away wet—he was bleeding too.
“Well…” He sighed. “At least we can’t see it. This much blood isn’t from conjunctival hemorrhage—it’s more like retinal bleeding… considering it’s flowing out.”
“You’re a doctor?” Monkey Man settled beside him as pursuers rushed past, miraculously avoiding them.
“Yeah, but not ophthalmology—neurosurgery.” Doctor Zhao stretched his invisible limbs, feeling oddly at ease.
“Impressive,” Monkey Man said. “A famous neurosurgeon?”
“「Famous」…?” Doctor Zhao sounded amused. “That word is terrifying. People seek you out because you’re 「famous,」 but if you can’t meet their expectations, they’ll use it against you.”
“Every profession has its struggles, huh?”
“I don’t know about other neurosurgeons,” Doctor Zhao chuckled dryly. “But my biggest challenge was removing bone flaps during craniotomies. It took so much time and effort. Some surgeries even required patients to stay conscious—the prolonged cutting was brutal mentally. I used to wish for a superpower… Never mind.”
He laughed it off. “No use regretting now.”
“Doctor, you’re a good person,” Monkey Man suddenly said.
“Hmm…?”
“Everyone’s 「fragrance」 comes from their deepest desire,” Monkey Man explained solemnly. “Yours wasn’t wealth or lust—just wanting to make surgeries faster and less painful for patients. 「Dissociation」 alone proves you’re a good man.”
“「Dissociation」…” Doctor Zhao sighed. “Yes, perfect for surgery… It could remove skulls, slice dura mater… even crush stones in other procedures. Too bad I’ll never get the chance.”
“No, you did.” Monkey Man smiled. “Today, you split open the skull of the entire 「Land of Finality」. This place’s long-standing sickness needed treatment.”
“Hah…” Doctor Zhao turned to Monkey Man—now fully visible.
He looked down at himself. His 「Concealment」 had faded too. White Tiger, seething with rage, led a group of 「Participants」 toward them.
“You’re still young, aren’t you?” Doctor Zhao asked calmly. “What did you do before?”
“A struggling stage magician,” Monkey Man answered. “But 「stage magic」 wasn’t popular in my time. People preferred 「close-up magic」.”
“Oh…?” Doctor Zhao sounded puzzled. “There’s a difference?”
Monkey Man stood to face White Tiger and the approaching 「Supporters」.
“It’s fine. I’m satisfied,” Monkey Man said, smiling. “Today, I performed the greatest magic trick of my life.”
“Yeah…” Doctor Zhao nodded. “We should be content…”
As White Tiger closed in, murder in his eyes, a deafening explosion erupted.
In a flash, two lives vanished like fleeting starlight—silent, as if they had never been there at all.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage