Arknights: Studying medicine can't save Terra

Qi Yan, carrying a box of pure gold, moved forward step by step through time.

He saw the doctor lead a research team deep into the snowfield called Sami, and in the end only three people left the snowfield in a sorry state.

Qi Yan picked up a piece of pure gold, took a bite, and left the gold, bearing his teeth mark, as a marker.

Then we continued onward.

He saw a colossal beast awaken in an ancient kingdom called Yan, locking onto another of its kind by following the scent of hatred.

The lone wolf was forced to leave his last remaining kin and return to the snowy mountains to complete this battle that spanned countless years.

He saw the Heavenly Masters of Yan Kingdom surround the battlefield, saw a black serpent shadow in the north of Yan Kingdom seize the opportunity to reveal its conspiracy, and saw two giant beasts perish under the siege of Yan Kingdom.

He saw a crack unexpectedly torn open during the clash of this conspiracy, from which indescribable and bizarre things seeped out and began to spread southward across the land.

Qi Yan then put down another piece of red gold with teeth marks on it.

Then we continued onward.

He saw Patriot take the amulet he had once given away from Rhodes Island, carefully sewing it inside his shirt and pressing it tightly against his heart.

The last pure-blooded Wendigo embarks on another journey, joining forces with his mixed-race brethren in the north to serve as the vanguard in the mission to expand the northern frontier.

He witnessed the destruction of Wendigo, and after seeing that unyielding body, a force established a base deep in the North, restarting an ancient behemoth.

Qi Yan put down a piece of red gold with teeth marks on it.

Then we continued onward.

He saw the Originium growing rampantly across this land, relentlessly eroding the habitable soil, and he saw the grown-up Amiya running across this land, announcing the impending disaster to all nations.

Numerous misunderstandings and hostility weighed on Amiya's frail shoulders. This girl, burdened with the will to survive, chose to shoulder everything and lead all races.

The familiar woman from the film industry has disappeared from Amiya's side.

The figure, who had always been wrapped in a black coat, was once again placed into the newly modified stone coffin.

Amiya held the Doctor's hand with reluctance, staying with him until the very last moment.

Qi Yan put down a piece of red gold with teeth marks on it.

Then we continued onward.

He saw the increasingly frequent natural disasters and suffering on this land, and he saw the desperate tribes, led by Amiya, embarking on the path that had been opened up, representing their survival, and arriving at the ancient colossal structure.

As the colossal structure was activated, a brilliant yet unfamiliar starry sky appeared before the eyes of all races for the first time.

He saw the land become empty, and he could no longer see any familiar figures, only the endless, aimless waves of Originium that eroded everything.

Qi Yan hesitated.

He didn't know whether he should continue to give up on the red gold.

Clutching the box with only a few pieces of red gold left, Qi Yan continued to wander across this land.

Finally, he saw once again the soil not covered by Originium, as well as snow and mountains.

Qi Yan stepped onto this somewhat familiar snow-capped mountain, which seemed to be forever frozen in a corner of time. He traversed layers of frozen dense forest and saw a solitary figure.

Her long, snow-white hair was spread across the ground. Qi Lin sat listlessly in the spot where she had parted ways with someone forever and met someone for the first time.

On this land where no living beings remain, there is only a guardian named Qi Lin, who rejects everything, waiting for one person.

Qi Yan stood in front of Qi Lin, holding the box, staring into her lifeless golden eyes.

He laid down his last few pieces of pure gold.

But the figure sitting there did not react at all, as if it had long since become an empty shell.

A sigh escaped Qi Yan's lips.

He put down the empty box, seemingly letting go of all his worries.

Then we continued onward.

“Qi Yan…”

A weak voice echoed in Qi Yan's ears as the giant beast pleaded, "You can't go any further. All your anchor points have been lost, and I'm about to be worn down. There's no turning back ahead."

"I haven't reached the end yet."

Qi Yan continued walking forward without stopping or looking back.

"How can you possibly finish a road that has no end?" The giant beast tried to wake Qi Yan, who was lost in his obsession.

Qi Yan finally stopped and looked back at the weakened giant beast.

He smiled and asked, "Tell me, who am I?"

The giant beast was puzzled: "You are Qi Yan."

"Then you should take Qi Yan back with you."

Qi Yan turned around and walked forward again.

"What do you mean?" The behemoth unleashed its last strength, struggling forward. "If you're not Qi Yan, then who are you?"

"I am Qi Yan."

The black-haired man waved his hand and walked away without any hesitation.

The giant beast let out a painful wail, trying to continue the chase, but it was already powerless and collapsed into time.

His fading consciousness could only see a black-haired figure that was both incredibly familiar and yet so strangely distant, relentlessly moving forward, determined to pursue some non-existent concept.

He... saw a clock-shaped phantom materialize out of thin air.

He...saw the end of time.

Qi Yan bent down and picked up the black clock in front of him.

He looks back from the end.

All my old friends are gone.

All that existed has passed away.

All meaning has vanished.

"It's time to go back."

Qi Yan hugged the black clock, took a step to leave, but suddenly froze in place.

"...Where is the way back?"

The foot that was dangling in mid-air was pulled back.

Qi Yan scratched his head in frustration, held the End of Time in one hand and spun around twice before finally squatting down resignedly and staring at the black clock in his arms.

He didn't know how long he had spent like this, or rather, in the End of the World, the concept of time no longer existed.

The black clock, its hands hovering silently at the position representing the beginning and end of time.

Qi Yan gently stroked the black lacquer surface of the clock with his fingertips, his thoughts somewhat scattered, lost in thought.

Until... a series of footsteps echoed in the void of the end.

Qi Yan looked up in surprise.

He saw a cold, aloof figure slowly approaching, her long, snow-white hair spreading out like a white carpet behind Qi Lin.

Qi Lin's golden eyes remained empty and lifeless, but she was holding a box in her arms, inside which were pieces of red gold covered in teeth marks.

Before Qi Yan could speak, Qi Lin had already walked up to him, reached out and took his hand in hers.

Her soft palms were icy cold.

Qi Yan instinctively grasped it, but then noticed that Qi Lin had tied something to his wrist, so he pulled his hand away.

Then Qi Lin bent down and stuffed the box of red gold into Qi Yan's arms.

Qi Yan squatted on the ground, holding the End of Time and the Crimson Gold Box, and looked down carefully.

“This is… everyone’s presence… Amiya… Doctor…”

The beacon that Qi Yan had once given away to others has finally returned to his hands.

The next second, Qi Lin's figure vanished.

Qi Yan subconsciously stood up, only to find that her wrist was tightly bound by a red silk thread.

"Your navigation system has been installed."

The voice of the Witch King's phantom returned to Qi Yan's mind: "This is not Paimon, and you are not a traveler. It's time to go home, you little rascal."

The red thread suddenly tightened, and Qi Yan was dragged forward.

Chapter 788 Herhunzoren

The altar gradually weathered and crumbled over time.

The Witch King looked down at the almost invisible 'wrist ball' in his hand, and his brow furrowed.

"You're still too impatient. Not everyone can control their time."

While praising it, the Witch King drew a few musical notes with his fingers and continued to manipulate time.

The phantom at the center of the altar was on the verge of collapse, like an old, dilapidated television with its image constantly flickering.

The phantom opened its mouth as if to say something, but ultimately chose to keep it silent for fear of affecting the Witch King.

"Say what you want to say, I grant your permission," the Witch King said calmly.

"...I might not be able to hold out until he returns." The illusory voice was elusive. "If he asks, just say that you've taken me back."

The Witch King slightly raised his eyes and glanced at the phantom figure that was now covered in barbs:

“You are nothing but a fragment of a song, not worthy of being taken back by me. I accept your offering and come to place my bet on the future. I have only come for Qi Yan, nothing more.”

"That's it."

The phantom wasn't too surprised by this, only letting out a slight sigh of regret.

He could sense that he was not far from collapsing.

The only thing that comforted him was that Qi Yan's life force was gradually returning. Even if he couldn't hold on until the end, Qi Yan would be able to find his way back on the rest of the journey.

We can't just keep getting lost when we're already at our doorstep...

The 'wrist ball' in the Witch King's hand made a soft sound and vanished like a bubble.

Seeing this, the illusory figure seemed to realize something: "This is the end..."

A rift suddenly appeared in the void, and an irresistible gravitational force enveloped the Witch King's body, attempting to pull him back to where he should have been.

The Witch King glanced back at the crack with a cold eye and let out a domineering snort.

He stood firmly on the ground, showing no sign of being dragged away.

"I stand here simply because I want to stand here, and you'd better not try to provoke me."

The gravitational pull of the void rift continues.

The phantom couldn't help but joke, "The former emperor of Letania, it seems you've misused your majesty. This is merely the gravitational pull of a rule, not some sentient being."

The Witch King's lips curled into a slight smile: "I wrote the rules. Who do you think I am? I stand here, the sole rule-maker."

"Gravity says it doesn't understand, and it's getting stronger and stronger," the phantom said sarcastically.

The Witch King: "..."

He suddenly turned around and shattered the crack with a single palm strike.

The Witch King then looked at the illusory figure again and said coldly, "This is the consequence of disobeying me. Do you know that?"

The phantom: "...I'm about to die, scaring me won't help."

"Who said you were going to die?" the Witch King retorted.

The Witch King pressed on, "Tell me your name."

"Herhunzoren, Otto Ditmar Gustav von Utika Herhunzoren."

The Witch King said in a cold voice, "If you are given this title, then you must be prepared to bear the weight of this title. Even if you are just a wisp of echo, in my opinion, you are not as pleasant as a burp."

But you need to remember that this name should bring you honor and dignity.