# 980
Chapter 981: Her Dream
Wang Mian stood frozen in place.
"If I could, I would want to save them more than you do." The elderly Wang Mian continued, "On my timeline, everything was nothing like what you see now.
More than fifty years ago, the corrupted Berserk Gods from Takamagahara poured out in swarms, turning into a catastrophe that struck Great Xia. The Seraph Michael struck from the Moon, slaying some of the Berserk Gods, and with Chronos's intervention, this Berserk God catastrophe, while not destroying Great Xia, still grievously wounded it.
In that catastrophe, the Human Apex of that era were almost entirely killed in battle, the Night Watch suffered countless casualties, and Great Xia's coastal regions were devastated. Even after decades, they never recovered.
On that timeline, due to the chain reactions of the catastrophe, Great Xia produced no Sword Immortal Zhou Ping, no Lu Wuwei... only three Human Apex defending Great Xia.
Ten years ago, when Loki and Gaia invaded Great Xia, the three Human Apex failed to stop them. They stole the 【Shiva's Wrath】 and destroyed several cities. Two years ago, Egypt's Ennead successfully seized Fengdu, obstructing the return of the Gods of Great Xia...
On that timeline, Great Xia remained in an extremely passive position, to the point where in the full-scale Divine War, they were ultimately defeated.
And the source of all of this was that catastrophe."
Another few bursts of blood mist erupted from the elderly Wang Mian's body, turning into white threads that scattered into the air. But this time, his time reversal failed to restore all the flesh and blood. His form grew more translucent.
He closed his eyes, fell silent for a moment, then continued:
"Thankfully, I ultimately became the new God of Time. Standing on the ruins of Great Xia, I decided to use my limited lifespan to change this history...
Now, I've done it.
The entire timeline has been overturned by me. All the power of causality has been heaped upon my body. Great Xia is now moving toward a completely new future. Perhaps this time... we won't lose.
Unfortunately, as I am now, I no longer have time to save them..."
Wang Mian fell silent.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Successive bursts of blood mist erupted from the elderly Wang Mian's body. He slowly opened his eyes. In those weathered, world-weary eyes, the illusory ring of reversed time was no longer present. The blood mist from his body turned into wisps of white silk, dissipating into the sky.
"I changed Great Xia's fate, but I was the only one I couldn't make amends with." The elderly Wang Mian looked into his eyes. "So I've come to apologize to you."
"You don't need to apologize."
Wang Mian spoke calmly. "You're merely the God of Time, not omniscient or omnipotent. You've already changed Great Xia's fate, just not theirs... You've done your best."
Hearing these words, the deeply wrinkled face of the elderly Wang Mian finally displayed an unprecedented lightness. The God of Time who had single-handedly changed Great Xia's history felt the last knot in his heart slowly unravel.
Successive bursts of blood mist exploded from the elderly Wang Mian's form, growing increasingly translucent. He lowered his gaze to look at his own body and smiled with relief.
He looked at Wang Mian.
"My law of time comes from the future, not belonging to the spacetime here. After I dissolve into the Dao, it will automatically return to the River of Time, so I can't leave it to you either... But don't worry too much about the law. Becoming the God of Time is your destiny. When the time is right, the opportunity to become a god will appear automatically."
The elderly Wang Mian, sitting in the solitary boat, wrapped in a deep gray cloak, dissolved into countless white threads drifting toward the sky.
"My war with time has ended.
From here on,
it will be up to you..."
As the final words drifted through the mist, a lone boat adrift on the waves floated by itself between the sea's surges.
Wang Mian stood above that stretch of sea, like a statue, motionless.
...
On the Somersault Cloud.
The members of 【Nightfall】 sat on the clouds, gazing down at the sea and mist below, chatting casually.
At the very rear of the cloud, a white-haired boy sat quietly by himself, looking back at the mainland silhouette that was gradually fading from view. Those cross-shaped starry eyes flickered with confusion and loneliness, staring blankly into the distance.
Lin Qiye, upon seeing this, walked over and sat beside him. After a moment of silence, he unbuckled the 【Divine Calamity】 from his waist.
"Takei, the blade is yours again."
Yuzuri Takishiro startled. "Brother Qiya, aren't you keeping this blade?"
"The power of this blade is too strong. I can barely wield it. Keeping it by my side would be a waste." Lin Qiye smiled faintly. "Besides, only when it's by your side will your sister feel at ease..."
With Lin Qiye's current physical condition, forcefully wielding 【Divine Calamity】 would allow him to strike at most two blows. But in Yuzuri Takishiro's hands, it could unleash terrifying power. Besides, Yuzuri Takishiro was going to be taken back to Great Xia anyway, so keeping this blade with him was the most suitable choice.
Most importantly, 【Divine Calamity】 wasn't just a divine artifact. Bound to it was the soul of Yuzuri Nana.
Lin Qiye couldn't separate the Yuzuri siblings for the sake of this blade.
Moreover, Yuzuri Takishiro was about to head to Great Xia, a completely foreign country to him. This thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy would undoubtedly feel lonely and lost. Having Yuzuri Nana by his side would be a good thing.
After hesitating for a moment, Yuzuri Takishiro finally nodded and gently cradled 【Divine Calamity】 in his arms.
"Brother Qiya, did you see my sister?" Yuzuri Takishiro seemed to think of something and asked.
"I did." Lin Qiye nodded. "Don't be too sad. She only became a spirit form and didn't truly die."
"I know."
Yuzuri Takishiro smiled. "Sister must have been so excited to see you. During this time, she waited for you every day. Before we were in the 'Human Enclosure,' she bought an entire stretch of coastline, just so she could go there often to wait for you...
Oh right, sister also built a super huge club for you, right across from our house. Brother Qiya, if you saw it, you'd definitely be shocked!
Sister also said that after you return to Japan, she wants to dance with you there, and open ten champagne towers for you, making you the top host in all of Japan..."
Yuzuri Takishiro gazed at the mainland's silhouette in the mist, as if reminiscing, a slight smile curving his lips.
Lin Qiye, sitting beside him, froze in place.
He seemed to recall something and suddenly sat up from the Somersault Cloud.
"Takei, perhaps I need to borrow that blade from you for a moment." Lin Qiye spoke seriously.
Yuzuri Takishiro startled, then without hesitation handed 【Divine Calamity】 to Lin Qiye, asking in confusion, "Brother Qiya, what are you going to do?"
Lin Qiye gazed at the black-gold longsword in his hands, his eyes surfacing with complex emotions.
"I... still owe your sister a dream..."
...
Within the Blade's World.
Towers of buildings stood beneath the night sky, their bright lights shining like brilliant stars, illuminating a corner of the heavens.
This modern metropolis, crafted by divine power, completely replicated the former appearance of Japan. At this moment, on a bustling street in Tokyo, a grand and magnificent host club had hung a "Closed" sign on its door.
The black-and-gold luxurious lobby, now empty and cold, had not a soul in sight. Only the mirror-like clean black ceramic tiles silently reflected the stars and lights outside the windows.
In this lonely lobby, only a young woman in a black kimono with cherry blossom patterns sat quietly in a chair, propping her head in her hand, gazing out at the night sky, as if lost in thought.
She was the god of this world.
A god with troubles, longing, and attachment.
After an unknown time, the young woman sighed softly, rose from her chair, and walked through the black-and-gold lobby toward the door.
Creak—
Before she reached the door, that closed door slowly opened.
Starlight and lamplight poured in from outside, spilling across the entire lobby. A young man in a black sequined suit strode in through the doorway.
The young woman froze in place.
When she saw that person's face, her eyes rapidly brightened, becoming more dazzling than the stars in the sky.
The young man crossed the black-gold corridor and stood before the young woman. He extended his hand elegantly and smiled at her.
"Miss Yuzuri, would you honor me with a dance?"
...
...
Volume Three, "City of Ultimate Evil," complete.
Next volume, "Divine Requiem."