White hair. A Mara-Struck presence.
Don't tell me…
Daichi's thoughts tightened as his steps quickened, following the direction of the departing figure.
If he remembered right, this way led toward Cloudford.
As he stepped once more into this maze of stacked cargo, a wry smile flickered across his face as memories of getting lost in the same spot during his gaming days came back to haunt him.
"X, do you know where that person went?"
[Not far from us. She's just ahead… but her movement's slowing—careful Daichi!]
X's warning came an instant before Daichi's next step hit the ground.
A wave of frost swept outward, followed by the pale bloom of moonlight.
"You've followed me quite a while. What business do you have with me?"
Before him stood a woman with eyes veiled by black silk, her presence cold as ice.
An enormous sword of frost pointed straight at Daichi's chest, its edge glimmering in the moonlight.
"I do have business."
Daichi said evenly, his hand already resting on X Devizer.
"A person on the verge of turning Mara-Struck shouldn't be wandering around Luofu."
"And where did you learn that?"
The woman, Jingliu tilted her head slightly, a faint edge of surprise breaking her calm.
What he said wasn't wrong. Her body had already crossed that invisible line; any moment, she could lose herself completely.
Only her deep-seated hatred, a tether forged from her memories kept her anchored for now.
But to have her condition read so easily, and so quickly after her return to Luofu…
That was almost impossible.
Was this man perhaps a Remembrance? someone who could peer into memories?
"If this is about the Mara-Struck."
Jingliu replied coolly, releasing her sword so it faded into mist.
"Then you needn't concern yourself. Until my goal is fulfilled, I will not fall."
Her tone was firm and calm, yet certain.
She turned to leave.
But Daichi's next words made her pause mid-step.
"No, I meant—I might be able to help you recover."
"In the Xianzhou, such jokes about the Mara-Struck tend to attract the Cloud Knights."
she said, half-turning her head.
[But your body nearly at it's limit, isn't it?]
The voice made her stiffen.
She turned toward its source—curious now.
"A mechanical construct? One of the Artisans' new inventions?"
"He's not a machine."
Daichi replied, picked up the terminal at his waist.
"X is my partner. And that offer wasn't a joke."
He pressed the transformation button on top of X Devizer.
Light burst across the corridor.
When it dimmed, Daichi was gone and in his place stood X, tall and radiant. His form shimmering with energy.
"..."
Even with her eyes covered, Jingliu felt the sudden change.
Her centuries of honed instincts screamed that the being before her was something entirely different.
Without a word, X raised his hand to the color timer on his chest.
["Purify Wave"]
A surge of blue waves rippled outward, washing over Jingliu.
It wasn't an attack.
The Purification light wave carried no destructive force; it dissolved hostility and darkness alike.
And because it held no malice, Jingliu didn't move to defend herself. The light quietly reached her body.
For a heartbeat, her mind fell utterly still.
X watched silently as a dense miasma of negative energy began seeping out from her.
[Such high density... Not surprised if such a Mara-Struck would attract a Space Beasts.]
Beings that fed on the negative emotions of intelligent life.
He had fought several across the galaxy.
The more hatred, despair, fear, and negative emotions of other living beings carried, the stronger those monsters grew with eating them.
[This universe is better off without them.]
The light wave radiance deepened, washing Jingliu soul clean.
When the process ended, X refrained from disturbing her and merely released the unite, letting Daichi return.
Jingliu stirred. Slowly, she reached up to removing the black veil from her eyes.
For the first time in centuries, light met her gaze.
It stung at first—but then, she saw.
She saw Luofu again.
The intricate bridges of Cloudford. The gentle gleam of starlight reflecting on metal.
But what she feel… wasn't hatred.
It wasn't gone, just no longer consuming her.
The memories remained, but the poison had been drawn out.
Her hand pressed against her chest.
The heartbeat there steady and strong was proof she still lived.
Her hatred had been replaced by something else.
"What… did you do to me?"
Her voice trembled not with fear, but confusion.
She summoned her sword once more, pointing it at Daichi.
If her hatred was the last thread keeping her sane, then what was left to hold her now?
But then she noticed.
The pain was gone.
No more invisible strings tearing at her mind, no more agony crawling beneath her skin.
For the first time since that day… peace.
"How do you feel?"
Daichi asked, stepping back from her sword reach.
Jingliu slowly lowered her sword. It melted into pale light and vanished.
"The Mara-Struck… it's really gone?"
Her fingers brushed her own skin.
Warm and alive.
"Unbelievable." she murmured.
"No… it's a miracle."
Her tone had changed, no longer hollow but faintly human again.
"Someone who can cure the Mara-Struck…"
"Your existence means far more to the Xianzhou than a sinner like me ever could."
Her fingertips traced the circular mirror on her chest.
Now, for the first time in centuries—the moon within it no longer dimmed.