Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

Thanks to the great master [故貔貅] for the certification. If I'm not too busy, I'll update 4 chapters on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and add more chapters after I finish paying back the ones I owe.

……

"That's true. Ghost movies are terrifying precisely because people have no way to fight back."

Black Tower tilted his head slightly and said truthfully:

"Although they become ethereal beings, some of the unsolvable vengeful spirits in these works have health bars and can be killed by corresponding rules or stronger forces."

"But this also means that we have to adhere to the established rules of the work."

Upon hearing this, Qi Zhimu pursed his lips.

"That's the rule for me too. You little brat, if you don't use your brain, you'll just get manipulated."

"So, Mr. Creditor, you can't go back on your word or break the contract. You promised me." Black Tower calmly peeled open the lollipop wrapper.

"I won't ask for something I can't do."

Qi Zhimu pouted confidently, then suddenly stopped in front of the exit.

"Is the passageway inside the door considered a safe zone? How long will it last?"

"Fine, half an hour at most. You want me to rest a little longer?"

"You're overthinking it. I'm just worried you'll faint halfway and won't be able to get out. If that happens, I'll have to suffer the consequences. Otherwise... hmph."

"...If you keep carrying me, you won't need to rest."

"Look at your haggard appearance, almost fainting, you're not convincing at all. Only twenty...twenty-nine minutes, not a second more!"

As he spoke, Qi Zhimu sat down on the spot, placed her on his lap, and nestled her in his arms.

"Go to sleep quickly."

"..."

Hei Ta looked up, and could only see half of his pale chin and profile.

As I inhaled the scent of blood emanating from his arm, several images flashed through my mind.

The man ran wildly through the different glass passageways, ignoring the cuts on his arms, all in order to find her as quickly as possible.

Although he was a magician who enjoyed eating people, he was infinitely better than those parasites who only cared about themselves and their own interests, were afraid of death, and firmly believed in the wisdom of future generations.

Fortunately... fortunately, we encountered ethereal human beings...

Thinking about all this, Black Tower smiled slightly, nestled in this hard-won and fleeting embrace, and fell asleep a few seconds later with a candy in his mouth.

……

In his sleep, Black Tower frowned and moved his limbs restlessly and unconsciously, as if he had fallen into some kind of abyss from which he could not escape.

The sky of Azure Star has never been blue since its birth.

A misty haze of memories shrouded the starry sea, swallowing up light and even the warmth brought by the sun.

The scene shifts, and the once bustling city is now nothing but ruins. Towering buildings twist, collapse, and eventually turn to ashes.

On the streets, once vibrant lives have all been transformed into mindless monsters.

They roared and tore at each other, or wandered aimlessly.

Former familiar neighbors, classmates, and even the old man selling roasted sweet potatoes on the street corner have all become indescribable, terrifying beings.

"Help me..."

"Why us...?"

Countless pitiful wails converged into a torrent, washing over her eardrums.

The perspective was suddenly pulled up to an infinite height.

She saw the entire azure star enveloped and compressed by an endless ocean of memories.

The continental plates shattered, the oceans boiled, and finally disintegrated into countless dust particles, disappearing completely into the darkness of the universe.

The image shattered again, then reformed.

The world has not yet been destroyed, but people's hearts are cold and icy.

The dimly lit conference room was filled with important figures with solemn expressions sitting on both sides of a long table.

They argued and accused each other, their voices shrill and more grating than fingernails scratching a blackboard.

"That so-called spatial science genius is nothing but a callow youth!"

"Exactly! What does she know? She's just standing on the shoulders of giants. Now that her entire family is dead, sending her on a mission with such a high chance of death is utter nonsense!"

"Spots are limited, and each one is incredibly precious. To send her would be to gamble with the future of Azure Star!"

"Hmph, if you ask me, her so-called talent is utterly inadequate to shoulder the responsibility of saving Azure Star. Sending her to her death is one thing, but what if she runs away with the spaceship?"

"Black Tower wouldn't do that; she's a descendant of that person..."

"It's because of her great-grandfather that Azure Star has become this wretched place. If it weren't for that madman..."

"Enough! All of you shut up!"

A roar interrupted all the arguing.

"This meeting is to solve problems, not for you to pass the buck!"

Outside the conference room, a girl who was only ten years old clenched her fists tightly, her nails piercing her palms without her realizing it.

His young face was bloodless, only ashen and pale, far beyond his years.

She didn't cry or make a sound. She silently turned and walked into the dim light of the corridor, her small, thin figure looking incredibly lonely.

"Great-grandfather...Grandpa...Dad and Mom..."

In reality, Hei Ta nestled in Qi Zhimu's arms, uttering faint murmurs.

"I will save Azure Star, I promise... I won't let your efforts be in vain..."

Qi Zhimu looked down at the girl in his arms.

She slept restlessly, her face covered in cold sweat, her little hands clutching his clothes tightly.

"To expect a minor to save the world is absurd..."

Qi Zhimu chuckled softly, his expression gradually becoming complicated.

In a world of memories filled with endless crises and falsehoods, the little brat before me, who is as weak as an ant yet carries the weight of an entire planet, is simply an anomaly.

Even though she was about to die, she was still thinking about responsibilities that shouldn't have been hers to bear.

"Ugh... really."

Qi Zhimu sighed and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of the girl's eyes.

Then, he looked at his face reflected in the wall mirror.

"I will take you back."

Qi Zhimu turned his gaze to the doorway beside him, which was emitting a faint light, and carefully adjusted his position to make Heita more comfortable to sleep in.

Then, holding the person in his arms tightly, he stood up and strode into the room.

……

I don't know how much time has passed.

Black Tower slowly opened its eyes.

It was also a long, narrow passage, but the surrounding light was rather dim.

The walls were no longer mirrors, but replaced by some kind of unidentified black rock, which looked cold and rough.

She realized that she was still in Qi Zhimu's arms.

"Hey, you're finally awake, my emergency rations."

A familiar voice came from above, still with that nonchalant tone.

But if you listen carefully, you can detect a subtle sense of repression.

"How many nicknames do I actually have...?"

Black Tower subconsciously made a sarcastic remark, rubbed his eyes, and gradually regained his senses. After realizing something, his expression froze.

wrong.

This passage is clearly not the one before I fell asleep, and the smell of blood is much stronger now.

The sense of oppression in the air also changed, leaving a suffocating feeling of pressure, as if the surrounding space could collapse at any moment.

This is... the fourth level?

Hei Ta quickly looked up at Qi Zhimu.

He was still holding her, and his gaze towards her still held undisguised lust, giving the impression that he wanted to devour her at any moment.

……

After reading recent feedback, I'd like to say a few words about the upcoming plot. If you'd like to read it, please go to the author's notes section.