ABST Chapter 30

Elansno’s current feeling was very strange.

 

That indescribable trembling sensation from the soul.

 

Seemingly not entirely the ‘excitement’ he’d understood last time. More complex. He couldn’t comprehend it.

 

Even more obvious than their last clash.

 

Lan Xia: “Why keep dodging?”

 

Others couldn’t interfere in clashes between S-level evolvers, but around the two of them still circled people eyeing them covetously, wanting to launch sneak attacks amid the chaos.

 

To the Northwest Sector, Elansno’s head was priceless. To Second Army soldiers, Lan Xia’s head meant promotion and merit.

 

“Dodging?” Elansno rather wickedly leaned close to Lan Xia’s ear, saying carelessly: “Last time I kicked you. Still hurt?”

 

Purple mental power exploded. Lan Xia rapidly pulled away, coldly glancing over. He stared at those eyes similar to A-Nuo’s, yet couldn’t find within them half a trace of humane warmth.

 

He said softly: “Your eyes are beautiful. Only, growing on your face, they seem bloody and filthy.”

 

“You don’t deserve them.”

 

Elansno’s lashes trembled.

 

He blankly curled his fingers. Lashes dampened by mist appeared densely black. He unconsciously turned his face away, lowering his eyes. The instant he heard Lan Xia say that, he even wanted to find a place to hide.

 

Like a child who’d done wrong being scolded.

 

This was actually just one sentence expressing disgust.

 

Over many past years he’d heard countless similar ones, even curses.

 

Seen too much, he actually didn’t care. Could even recite those abusive comments on StarNet himself.

 

But now…

 

Just a stranger saying one insignificant remark.

 

A stranger.

 

A suffocating pain he’d never felt before surged from his heart. Once it eased slightly, it transformed into indescribable grievance and anger.

 

Elansno asked in a low voice: “Why don’t I deserve them?”

 

Countless complex emotions broke through the floodgates because of this one sentence. He holstered his gun. For the first time in a place that wasn’t a battlefield, he drew the Sword of Molo Triumph representing supreme judgment.

 

In the distance, Nie Liang, blocking Northwest Sector firepower, glanced over briefly. His pupils contracted, heart chilling slightly.

 

The Admiral… why did he look somewhat out of control?

 

The sword edge was extremely cold and sharp, not a drop of rain clinging to it.

 

Elansno raised his eyes, sword tip pointing at Lan Xia: “Take back those words.”

 

Lan Xia looked at him calmly.

 

Brows furrowing lightly, a trace of barely perceptible confusion flashed through his eyes, then returned to that gentle yet distant appearance.

 

“Sword of Molo Triumph.” Lan Xia narrowed his eyes, killing intent fierce. Purple mental power around his body surged violently.

 

He charged through the raindrops, condensing an identical long sword in his hand, gaze sharp: “I once swore I’d break it with my own hands!”

 

“I said—”

 

Elansno viciously swung his sword, voice cold, deep, and angry, abruptly rising: “Take back those words!”

 

Golden sword light was extremely fierce, cutting through heavy rain threads and boldly colliding with Lan Xia’s mental power! Shattered gold and pale purple tore open this chaotic sky.

 

Full-force strike. Evenly matched.

 

Lan Xia withdrew momentum. Just as he wanted to gather power again, he suddenly heard a faint tearing sound from his windbreaker chest pocket—

 

A pitch-black, small, unremarkable seed silently slipped from inside, rapidly falling toward the ground.

 

Lan Xia’s pupils dilated. His mind roared blank in an instant. All defenses completely disappeared, wide open. All the blood in his body froze: “A-Nuo—!”

 

The youth’s face showed unprecedented panic. He reached out, bending down and lunging toward that seed.

 

At the same time, surrounding Second Army people eyeing him like wolves immediately became excited: “That S-level from Dawn has gone mad! Great opportunity! Attack!”

 

Countless bullets burst forth, rushing toward Lan Xia, dense like an iron net sworn to slaughter prey.

 

The youth’s eyes held only that seed, like a meteor falling into a killing trap without looking back.

 

Algiers closely monitored the entire battlefield. Just as he was destroying the Second Army’s last warship, he suddenly caught sight of this scene, losing his voice in shock: “Teacher!!”

 

One mistake. Wright found an opportunity. The spacecraft boomed, struck by fire.

 

Algiers gritted his teeth, barely stabilizing. Eyes turned ruthless. He tasted blood in his mouth.

 

A shadow riding a flight device rapidly charged upward. Blue tail flames nearly ignited the damp rain curtain. Shou Bing’s eyes were crimson, madly firing around him.

 

“Teacher!”

 

“Get lost! All of you get lost!”

 

“Get lost—”

 

The youth who always blushed when speaking madly roared at his surroundings, like a fledgling eagle trying to intimidate prowling wolves for the sake of family.

 

He couldn’t lose again… No one could take from his side, once more, the people he carefully held in his heart, his family!!

 

The Mirror-Breaking stage that hadn’t broken through for so long shattered thunderously at this moment. Ice-cold, extremely frigid mental power burst from his body. Surrounding rain threads froze in the blink of an eye!

 

Why awaken at a time like this…

 

Shou Bing painfully clutched his head. The flight device lost direction, violently falling from the sky!

 

But when falling to mid-air, he was caught by a pair of warm, broad palms, quickly reaching the ground. He struggled to raise his head: “Uncle Quan…”

 

Shou Bing anxiously gripped his hand: “Uncle Quan! Quick, go save Teacher!”

 

Uncle Quan looked toward high in the sky.

 

Battle changed in an instant. This was only a few seconds. Yet from just now, Elansno hadn’t moved again, extremely rigid, as if unable to sense the ammunition firepower rushing toward him from all around.

 

Very dangerous.

 

Uncle Quan lowered his head, pulling away from the youth’s hand, saying: “I’m leaving.”

 

Shou Bing froze: “What? Where?”

 

He said urgently: “Uncle Quan! You…”

 

Uncle Quan: “I’ve already repaid my debt to Dawn.”

 

“There’s something here I wanted to say but didn’t dare.” He removed his light-brain, placing it in Shou Bing’s palm, finally speaking his own name.

 

“I’m called Kang Quan. I’m Elansno’s adjutant.”

 

Shou Bing’s palm suddenly clenched tight.

 

He watched helplessly as Uncle Quan, riding the flight device, rapidly rushed toward the silver-haired Admiral in the sky.

 

…

 

A-Nuo—

 

This call entered his ears. Elansno staggered as though struck, a tremor running through him.

 

As if time had stopped.

 

Countless raindrops floated in the air, like mirrors. Countless memory fragments flashed through them.

 

Scene after scene, passing swiftly, bizarre and motley.

 

The entire world became absurd. He couldn’t hear the sharp sound of bullets breaking air, couldn’t hear all the noise. Could only clearly hear his own rapid heartbeat.

 

Everything before his eyes slowed down.

 

Frame by frame, page by page.

 

The past he couldn’t grasp even after enduring over a thousand painful episodes—because of this call of ‘A-Nuo’—savagely shredded all seals and obstacles, from fourteen to twenty-eight, crossing nearly fifteen years of time, roaring forth.

 

[“Brother.”

 

Before sleeping at night, Lan Nuo interrupted Lan Xia telling stories, turned over, asking: “What is Alzheimer’s?”

 

They only had very few storybooks. Lan Xia also didn’t quite understand. He drew close to the dim lamplight, searching for a long time, but couldn’t find annotations in the book. He speculated: “Should be a disease ordinary people get. After getting sick, they gradually can’t remember people they know.”

 

Lan Nuo was a bit curious: “Eh? Brother, we’re also ordinary people. You think, after we both become old grandpas, will we also get this disease?”

 

“Even if we get it, even if Brother forgets A-Nuo, A-Nuo won’t forget Brother.” Lan Nuo rubbed his little face, propping his chin lying beside Lan Xia, tilting his head.

 

Lan Xia closed the book: “Why?”

 

“Because…” The little boy mysteriously leaned close to his brother’s ear. “A-Nuo is so smart. As long as Brother calls me once, I’ll remember everything!”

 

Finishing, he let out an “aowu” sound, eyes gleaming, stretching out little claws to tickle his brother.

 

Lan Xia laughed till tears came: “A-Nuo!”

 

The little boy, making merry, casually responded: “Here, here!”

 

“Alzheimer’s patients also get lost!” Lan Nuo said. “But I’m not worried about that, because every time we play hide-and-seek, Brother can always find me. In the future it has to be like this too!”

 

Lan Xia: “Okay, okay, okay.”

 

…]

 

He had a notebook recording scattered, fragmentary words he’d remembered during the process of pursuing memories. The character written most was ‘ke, ke…’

 

Turned out to be…

 

Ge.

 

That was Brother.

 

Elansno’s brain throbbed in chaotic pain. More and more shattered memories madly surged forth, becoming knife handles and sharp blades, churning in his mind.

 

He silently opened his mouth, yet was too parched to make any sound.

 

Suddenly, he heard a roar: “Teacher—!!”

 

Elansno’s eyeballs moved. He saw Shou Bing riding a flight device rushing toward the sky, then in the instantly erupting cold, fierce mental power, fell down awkwardly.

 

He remembered this child.

 

Was in Silicon Blue City, rescued by Brother.

 

Then the person he was calling was…

 

Elansno suddenly looked toward Lan Xia’s direction.

 

Countless bullets shot toward Lan Xia.

 

At the same time, he also saw clearly countless bullets shooting toward himself, fired from afar, only a few seconds’ time.

 

Like an unsolvable multiple-choice question.

 

Raise mental power defense shield, and he couldn’t save Brother. Choose to save Brother, and he couldn’t raise the defense shield.

 

No need for any consideration. Golden mental power instantly filled the Sword of Molo Triumph’s blade.

 

Elansno’s purple pupils were faintly terrifying, full of killing intent and ruthlessness. Ice-cold, pale fingers gripped the sword hilt, viciously swinging toward Lan Xia’s direction—

 

“Get lost!”

 

This strike consumed nearly seventy percent of mental power. Golden light like brilliant sun—one second after Lan Xia caught the seed—instantly flung him away, body violently crashing backward.

 

Shou Bing forcibly used clumsy mental power to levitate, catching Lan Xia. The two crashed together onto ground rocks.

 

With Shou Bing cushioning, Lan Xia wasn’t hurt. He clutched the seed, astonished, looking up.

 

Elansno didn’t dare look this way. He even evasively shifted his eyes away.

 

Power more than half drained, plus severe brain pain, he coughed up blood, form swaying, about to fall from the sky.

 

He could see clearly the trajectory of bullets flying over.

 

Even S-level evolvers, if hit would die, right?

 

Elansno closed his eyes.

 

He hoped among so many bullets, two could hit his eyes. If they rotted away, maybe Brother wouldn’t see blood and filth from his eyes.

 

“Admiral!!”

 

Nie Liang rushed over rapidly!

 

He’d just been inattentive for a moment…

 

Not even one minute.

 

Turned around and saw the Admiral with closed eyes falling from the sky.

 

He smelled death intent.

 

The Admiral was seeking death.

 

Nie Liang’s eyes instantly filled with blood. Madness tore through his refined face, expression crazed, twisted nearly terrifyingly.

 

Who who who who who who—!! Which dead person deserving to be skinned and dismembered had touched the Admiral under his nose!

 

One figure was faster than him.

 

…

 

Elansno didn’t feel pain.

 

Someone used broad shoulders to shield him against their chest.

 

Warm blood splattered onto the mask.

 

Elansno’s lashes trembled. He opened his eyes, seeing an unfamiliar face, yet still familiar gaze.

 

Serious, rigid, yet gentle. A smiling face.

 

Elansno: “…Kang Quan?”

 

Kang Quan blocked the attack, covered in blood. He forced himself to safely deliver Elansno to the ground, then fell awkwardly before Elansno.

 

He seemed in extreme pain, bowing his waist curled on the ground. Blood from his mouth wouldn’t stop, splashing onto Elansno’s military boots.

 

Elansno lowered his head.

 

The adjutant who’d once cared for him six years, stretched out trembling mechanical hands, using rainwater to wipe clean the bloodstains on his military boots. Just like he’d done countless times before, completely natural.

 

“Traitor.” Elansno looked at him.

 

Kang Quan’s eyes couldn’t open from rain irritation. Hearing this, he smiled. “You… You recognized me.”

 

When he aimed his gun at the Second Army, he’d figured it out. Kang Quan’s loyalty was never to the Federation, but to the First Army’s Admiral.

 

But he’d betrayed the Admiral’s trust.

 

“Admiral… I’m sorry. In the future… eat well…” He said intermittently.

 

He actually could never return to that home in C9 Sector. But still, needed to find somewhere to belong.

 

He’d long grown accustomed to caring for the Admiral. The Admiral’s temperament—he didn’t know after he left, if anyone could manage him. These three years at Dawn, he’d thought about it constantly.

 

Really made him worry…

 

Nie Liang silently landed behind Elansno. His chaotic aura gradually calmed.

 

Kang Quan’s gaze fell on him. Seeing the familiar regulation military uniform on Nie Liang, he paused, then felt somewhat relieved. Suddenly not so worried anymore.

 

He fished out a candy, straining to raise his hand, offering it to the Admiral silent in the rain mist. Finally no longer maintaining a stern face, he smiled, saying: “Specially… saved for you… didn’t give anyone…”

 

He still remembered Elansno disliked sweets, so he added:

 

“This meal replacement candy… isn’t sweet…”

 

Elansno didn’t take it. He just kept holding it up. The light representing life force in his eyes flickering, barely clinging to that last bit of obsession.

 

Kang Quan’s hand, once accustomed to gripping guns, trembled violently from exhaustion.

 

Elansno finally bent slightly, taking it.

 

Kang Quan’s eyes like final leaping sparks brightened once, then extinguished instantly. His hand heavily fell into the muddy water.

 

He’d once ‘died’ from betrayal. Ultimately died from loyalty.

 

“Adjutant.”

 

Elansno spoke one sentence in the most ordinary tone.

 

Nie Liang didn’t respond. He knew that call of ‘adjutant’ wasn’t for him.

 

–

 

Three of Algiers’s ships were down. Of the two left, one carried the children and the other covered it.

 

He lured Wright to crash into the mountain, then opened the cabin door, shouting: “Teacher! Retreat!”

 

“Everyone get up here! Second Army reinforcements from the southeast are arriving soon!”

 

If they didn’t leave now, time would run out.

 

The spacecraft lowered. Wild wind swept up from the ground. Now wasn’t the time to probe. Lan Xia suppressed the turbulence in his eyes, gaze heavy, grabbing Shou Bing: “Go!”

 

Shou Bing gazed at that man who’d saved Elansno without looking back, eyes reddening, voice hoarse: “Uncle Quan… bring Uncle Quan back…”

 

Before his words fell, he saw Elansno crouch down, one hand grabbing Kang Quan’s collar. Without raising his eyes, he viciously threw toward their direction.

 

“Take him. I’ve got no place to bury him here.”

 

Body still warm, Shou Bing caught him, stumbling from impact. He angrily looked toward Elansno: “You—”

 

Algiers: “Hurry!”

 

Lan Xia looked back at Elansno one last time, then brought the remaining survivors together onto the spacecraft.

 

“Don’t let these Northwest Sector bastards leave!”

 

“Chase them!”

 

“Why isn’t the Admiral making a move…”

 

“Reinforcements arriving soon! Charge up and earn merit!”

 

High and low clamoring voices. Many soldiers directly gave chase. Some even set up cannons, planning to blast the spacecraft down.

 

Elansno turned his head slightly.

 

Next second, teleported to the very front.

 

Golden mental power overwhelming, forcibly blocking all firepower pursuing Dawn.

 

Terrifying energy fluctuation rebounded, throwing Elansno a hundred meters back, crashing him into the mountain. He expressionlessly wiped blood from his mouth corner, as if feeling no pain, leaping to the ground.

 

The Sword of Molo Triumph’s cold light in his hand finally, for the first time, pointed toward the Federation.

 

Amid soldiers’ shocked, disbelieving gazes, all remaining mental power slashed out together—

 

Amid countless screams annihilated in golden light, the ground rumbled, splitting open a deep, long ravine.

 

Like the fault line in his life at age fourteen.

 

The Federation tasted for the first time the lethality of a ‘living weapon’ losing control.

 

Not all the soldiers died.

 

Elansno’s body softened, collapsing. Nie Liang supported him, saying quietly: “Admiral, rest. Leave the rest to me.”

 

Elansno’s consciousness blurred. He looked back toward the direction Dawn’s spacecraft left.

 

Already very far.

 

No one would block their path.

 

…

 

Ten minutes later.

 

Nie Liang, covered in bloody smell, entered a hidden rain-sheltered cave, crouching down.

 

“Admiral, I’m back. Second Army reinforcements arriving soon. Outside I’ve already cleaned up. They won’t discover us.”

 

“Once reinforcements arrive, we can leave. First Army has also been notified.”

 

Elansno was quiet several seconds before saying hoarsely: “I remember… you have quite a few throwing blades and daggers on you.”

 

“Give me one.”

 

Nie Liang took out a throwing blade, wiping it clean and passing it over.

 

Elansno without a moment’s hesitation took it and gouged toward his own eyes.

 

“Admiral!”

 

Nie Liang’s pupils sharply contracted, violently raising his hand to knock it away.

 

The blade clattered, falling in the distance.

 

He gripped Elansno’s wrist, clutching it tight: “Admiral, what are you doing?!”

 

[Your eyes are beautiful. Only, growing on your face, they seem bloody and filthy.]

 

[You don’t deserve them.]

 

Elansno stared blankly at his own hand. After a long while, leaned back: “…I remembered everything.”

 

Nie Liang: “…What?”

 

“Memories before age fourteen,” Elansno said. “He called my name once. I remembered everything.”

 

“I disappointed him…”

 

“I did so many bad things.”

 

“Just now killed so many people…”

 

He’d become like this. Brother hadn’t forgotten him. Just didn’t recognize him.

 

Just didn’t recognize him.

 

Liar.

 

Stupid brother.

 

Just a slightly longer game of hide-and-seek, and he couldn’t find him.

 

The scene earlier was too chaotic. Nie Liang didn’t know specifically what happened around Elansno. He inwardly cursed Lan Zhouhe for being unreliable—this long and the crawler still had no news—while quietly asking: “Who is he? On Dawn’s spacecraft?”

 

Kang Quan? That kid who suddenly erupted mental power? Dawn’s leader? Or… Lan Xia?

 

Lan Xia.

 

Elansno.

 

Couldn’t figure it out. Nie Liang frowned. After hesitating repeatedly, still didn’t release Elansno’s wrist.

 

He could sense the Admiral’s current mental state wasn’t very stable. The Admiral’s earlier motion attempting to gouge out his own eyes shocked him into a cold sweat.

 

The Admiral was an S-level evolver. He’d have difficulty restraining him. Release his hand once, afraid this person would really gouge out his eyes.

 

Even recovering memories, how could someone gouge out their own eyes?

 

Elansno: “Let go.”

 

Nie Liang: “Admiral…”

 

Elansno looked over.

 

Everything had erupted in a single day. All his reactions had gone numb.

 

Under that gaze, Nie Liang’s chest tightened. He slowly let go. Bloodstains on his gloves had smeared onto Elansno’s pale wrist.

 

He’d gripped too hard—left blood-red fingerprints behind.

 

Nie Liang tensely watched him.

 

Elansno made no other moves. Just took out the meal replacement candy Kang Quan had given him before dying, unwrapped it, put it in his mouth.

 

After a long while, he said: “Lied to me again. It’s sweet…”

 

A crystalline teardrop fell onto the Sword of Molo Triumph’s blade tip. Purple eyes veiled with a layer of moist rain mist—a beautiful color, like a sorrowful dream dreamed by a child living in a fairy tale.

 

Only seemingly dream, not dream.

 

Hazy and mottled. Illusory and unreal.

 

“All lies.”

 

**

 

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