American comics: Praising the sun, starting from Gotham!

Chapter 368 Ivy, I Came for You.

A week has passed.

The metaphysical research team of Ximu Realm has encountered the biggest bottleneck since its establishment.

"So your conclusion is that we can't create a merit-blocking device because our level of understanding is insufficient?"

Inside the temporary research command center, Tony stared at Reed in disbelief, feeling as if his worldview, along with his Mark armor, was about to be shattered by the other's theories.

"Not entirely, Tony."

Reed rubbed his eyes, which he hadn't slept much for a week, and pointed to the holographic whiteboard in front of him, which was covered with various paradoxical models.

"To be precise, it's that we can't understand the underlying logic of how merit is generated. It's more like a kind of cosmic consensus. You can't hide a fact, just like you can't convince others that you, Tony Stark, are penniless."

"Hey! I like that analogy. What about diversion? Transfer payments? Can't we just move it somewhere else?"

Like the moon? Or some unfortunate alien galaxy?

Bruce spoke.

"I've tried it. The simulation results show that any attempt to transfer merit will be judged as misappropriation of other people's property. The consequence is that it will attract the attention of a higher-level causal law enforcement team. At that time, we may be facing a summons from the Supreme Court of the Universe."

"What the hell?!"

Rocket Raccoon irritably threw a wrench on the ground.

"So what exactly did we research this past week? Did we come to this conclusion? That we're doomed, beyond saving, goodbye?!"

The atmosphere in the meeting became somber.

All of this was being broadcast live in real time by another person involved through a mental connection.

That's enough.

In a corner of the command center, a sunflower that had been silently cooperating with the technical team in various tests as a sample provider spoke up.

She gazed at the increasingly dim and lonely golden speck of light in the void beyond the world only she could see, and the anxiety and worry in her heart burned away her last bit of patience.

enough.

She didn't want to wait any longer.

Since you clever, self-righteous scientists can't find that way...

Then let me build him a new bridge.

The next second, a life force erupted from the very core of the Ximu Realm!

Everyone in the command center was astonished to see that the endless sea of ​​sunflowers outside the window had begun to grow!

Ivy's true form had been preparing for a week under the sunflower sea, burning her life essence!

She poured all her life energy and her own consciousness into the fragile, almost broken spiritual connection between her and Xiu En, regardless of the consequences!

"Ivy! Are you crazy?! Stop it!"

Outside the world, Shuen tries to stop her the moment he realizes her intentions.

"Shut up! You idiot!"

"You stay right there and behave yourself, just you wait!"

"Wait for me—I'll come pick you up!"

Ivy's will and power surged forth, crashing against the Law of Oblivion!

The world sea beyond the Ximu Realm is boiling!

Countless vines, as clear and translucent as jade, grew wildly from the world's crystal wall of the Ximu Realm, their surfaces burning with emerald green flames of life!

At the same time, golden divine fire appeared in the Ximu Realm. As if summoned, the divine fire transformed into countless golden threads of light and intertwined with the vines!

Gold and green, longing and life, light and wood.

At this moment, transcending the distance of the world and the barriers of laws, a bridge leading home is woven in this void!

At the end of the bridge, a golden spot of light slowly gathered from the emerald green bridge.

It trembled as it passed through the world's crystal wall, which was almost equivalent to the Wall of Sighs to it.

The moment it completely detached itself from the Ximu Realm, it transformed from illusion into reality.

Ivy's original consciousness transformed into a sunflower.

Then, it carried all of Ivy's love, all her longing, all her grievances, and that little bit of capriciousness—

It landed with a soft thud on the warm shoulder that was already stunned.

"Fool."

"I've come to find you."

Xiu En carefully touched the flower.

it is true.

Did she really come?

"you----"

Xiu En opened his mouth, a thousand words stuck in his throat, and in the end, only a helpless and heart-wrenching sentence came out.

"You idiot."

He gently stroked her slightly wilted petals with his hand of light, as if touching a priceless treasure.

"Do you even know what you were doing? Burning your very life force? Are you tired of living? What if that bridge doesn't get built and you burn yourself to ashes?!"

"Hmph, mind your own business!"

The sunflower on his shoulder patted his fingers with its leaves in dissatisfaction.

"I just don't want to see you all alone outside anymore."

97

"Those scientists are so stupid. It's been a week and they haven't figured anything out. I'm getting impatient."

"Then you can't—"

Xiu En wanted to continue lecturing, but Ivy interrupted him without any politeness.

"I don't care!"

"Anyway, I'm here. You can't run away alone again."

"Okay, I won't run anymore."

Xiu En surrendered completely.

What else could he say?

Facing this flower, the silliest in the world, and the one he loves the most.

Xiu En couldn't continue making harsh remarks.

"But, Little Flower."

Xiu En looked at the bridge of cause and effect made of golden and green light, and his expression fell again.

"Even if you come here, the issue of merit is still unresolved."

He pointed to the distance, to the golden sea of ​​light that, though temporarily receding, still lingered in the world.

"Those damned merits are still lurking outside. As soon as I dare to step onto this bridge, even if I only get close to the world wall of the Ximu Realm, they will pounce on me immediately."

"I still can't go back."

Xiu En's voice was filled with helplessness.

The road home is right in front of me.

But he didn't dare to go up.

He had assumed that Ivy would fall into the same depression as him.

However, the sunflower on his shoulder remained silent for only a moment after hearing his words.

Then, she rubbed his cheek with the flowerpot.

"I don't care."

Whether we can go back or not is not important.

Xiu En was stunned.

"I just want to see you."

"As long as I can see you, as long as I can stay by your side."

"It doesn't matter where it is."

Xiu En was stunned, seemingly lost in thought.

He felt something in his heart.

It tastes sour, bloated, and warm.

He looked at the silly flower and suddenly laughed.

Yes.

Whether we can go back or not, what does it matter?

Isn't home just a place where you can be with the people you love?

Since she has already run away from home for her own sake.

Then what reason do I have to wallow in self-pity here?

His heart, which had become somewhat dull from being trapped, was once again burning brightly!

"good!"

He straightened up, and the previously dim outline of light once again shone with golden light!

"Since we can't go back for the time being, then we won't go back!"

He opened his arms to the boundless ocean of the world.

"Isn't it just that accumulating too much merit makes it easy for the Heavenly Court to catch you?"

"Then I'll use all the merit I have on me to help it; every little bit helps!"

Xiu En looked down at the sunflower on his shoulder, which was somewhat dazed by his sudden burst of enthusiasm, and a smile as bright as the sun appeared on his face, though Ivy could clearly see that it was malicious.

"Little Flower, my dear Ivy."

"Would you like to embark on a spontaneous, multiverse-crossing medical mission?"

"Look over there, that gray, drab world."

He pointed to a building filled with towering spires that seemed to reach into the clouds, the sky stained a dark yellow with industrial fumes, and said with a look of disgust.

"Look at that, it doesn't look appetizing at all. It's all skeletons and tin cans, and there are more dead people than living people inside. Thumbs down! I'm not going!"

He pulled Ivy along, and they floated to another bubble. This bubble was filled with deafening engine roars and explosions, and some indistinct machine monsters were fighting each other.

"This place is too noisy. If they fight, it sounds like a construction site. It really affects my appetite."

Pass!

"And this one, this one is even more outrageous!"

He pointed to a world reeking of blood and filled with shouts and curses, and curled his lip.

"They were all green-skinned orcs who looked like mushrooms come to life, yelling something like 'Waaagh!' So noisy, definitely a bad review!"

Xiu En was conducting an extremely subjective and irrational selection process. These worlds, which had previously held no interest for him, seemed to come alive after Ivy's arrival. In his evaluation system, the history, civilization, and crises of each world were simplified into whether they were delicious or not.

He was enthusiastically introducing the sights, completely unaware that the little sunflower on his shoulder hadn't even glanced at the bizarre and fantastical world he was pointing to.

Ivy's flowerpot was tilted slightly to one side.

Her eyes were fixed on Xiu En's radiant profile.

She liked seeing him like this.

She looks a million times better than when she was looking so dejected and pathetic, as if the whole world had abandoned her.

She wasn't in those gloomy, gray worlds; how many spirits were wailing there?

She didn't care how many robots were fighting in that noisy world.

She didn't even care how many mushroom spirits were shouting "Waagh" in that lush green world.

She only cared about the sun in front of her.

As long as I can stay on his shoulder like this, listening to him ramble on in that irritating yet energetic voice—

enough.

"Feed".

Only after Xiu En rejected all the surrounding worlds on the grounds that they didn't look appetizing did Ivy poke his cheek with a leaf, interrupting his long-winded speech.

"what?"

Xiu En looked annoyed that his brilliant commentary had been interrupted.

"I don't want to go to any free clinics."

"ha?

'

Xiu En was stunned.

"Not going to the free clinic? How are we supposed to use up our accumulated merit? I don't want to be blocked at the door by those people demanding merit again next time I need to do charity!"

"I don't care."

Ivy turned the flowerpot in another direction.

"I just want to go on vacation."

"Vacation? What vacation?"

Xiu En looked in the direction she was looking.

Yes, that's a very cute world bubble.

Inside, there was only a blue sky, white clouds, lush green grass, and a group of interesting-looking little animals.

Shuen saw a yellow electric mouse sharing a rice ball with its trainer.

Ivy saw a toad-like creature carrying a huge flower on its back, lazily sunbathing by the river.

There was also a chubby, pink, squishy-looking ball in an open space, holding a microphone and singing at the top of its lungs a chord that could leave nothing but barren land for miles around.

"That one."

Ivy pointed to that world with the leaf.

"It looks really nice there, quiet and peaceful, perfect for a vacation."

"Little Flower, we have important things to do! Like, let's save those worlds from suffering, and while we're at it, let's use up our merits!"

"I don't care."

She gazed intently at Xiu En.

"Do you remember that party? Before you could say anything sweet to me, you were interrupted by that green-skinned conman with horns and that purple vortex that appeared out of nowhere?"

Xiu En's face flushed slightly.

Ivy declared confidently.

"So let's consider this our belated confession trip, which was interrupted by our intrusion!"

"No one is allowed to bother us anymore! Not Bruce, not Tin Can, not anyone!"

Seeing her posture that said, "You have to promise me today or I'll cry," Xiu En surrendered once again.

"Okay, okay. You're right."

"Hmph! Of course I'm right!"

The sunflower on the shoulder let out a cheer that signified victory.