310: 6.70 I Will Come Back!

6.70 I Will Come Back!

"Luan and I can't." Cyrus said with a placid smile as if he hadn't just dashed Jillian's hope. "We are mythical beasts and killing a God — two at that — will earn us severe heavenly retribution. We might even die before we manage to kill you."

"That makes sense," Jillian replied glumly. Killing a God wasn't a simple matter. They were immortal for some reason, after all. They weren't talking about going into slumber which all Gods would go through at some point of time, but eternal death; the kind of death that meant they would cease to exist. And it wasn't like they could recruit ordinary assassins and get it over with. 

Jillian sighed, he had been so excited to become a God and didn't expect that one day he would be hindered by such a matter. To kill someone, you need to be stronger than them. So if he wanted someone to kill him and Izher, then—

"No." Izher said harshly.

Jillian turned in time to see Lu Yizhou's lips closing, helpless under Izher's insistent glare. Did he just… Horror dawned on Jillian as he stared at Lu Yizhou in disbelief. Even if there were only three people left in this world, Jillian still wouldn't consider Lu Yizhou as a choice! The thought hadn't even crossed his mind!

In this case, he and Izher seemed to come to an absolute agreement. 

"No." The silver haired God deity asserted once again. "There's nothing you can say to make me change my mind, Lu Yizhou. There's no way I will subject you to something so cruel. I can't ask you to kill us… not with your own hands…"

"But it's for the best and—" Lu Yizhou swallowed thickly, his lashes quivering. Anyone with eyes could see how the mere idea distressed him so. Jillian's heart gave a twinge of pain, he couldn't imagine having to ask Lu Yizhou — their beloved, kind and gentle Lu Yizhou — to end their lives, no matter the reason.

"No." Jillian came to stand beside Izher and slowly unclasped his tightly clenched, trembling fist to slip his own inside. Izher instantly grabbed onto him, almost clinging at this point. "Izher is right. I won't consider you, Lu Yizhou. I'd rather have us killing each other than asking for your help."

All of a sudden, all eyes turned to him.

Jillian blinked. "...What?"

Izher's mouth formed a perfect 'O', his eyes twinkling in renewed vigor. "Why haven't I thought of that before?! Jillian, you're a genius! Yes, that's right! There's nothing more perfect than this. I should kill you and you should kill me." He threw his head back into a guffaw, his previous gloomy mood replaced with bubbling excitement. "We should kill each other and perish at the same time!"

The first thought that crossed Jillian's mind was: 'Is this man crazy?' But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that they didn't have any other choice. It wasn't too bad. They could bear the consequences themselves and most importantly, there was no need to burden Lu Yizhou. He nodded sagely. "I agree."

Izher patted his back in jubilance. "I know I can rely on you!"

Lu Yizhou's brows wrinkled, clearly repulsed by the idea. "That's too—"

"Stop." Izher and Jillian said in unison.

Izher declared. "You have no right to interfere in this."

Jillian nodded with a determined look to show his stance. "This is between the two of us, Lu Yizhou. I know it's difficult but it's the only way… You should look away if it's too much for you."

Lu Yizhou merely planted his face into his palms and let out a long-suffering sigh. These two psychos. Since when did they get along so well with each other? They could even come to terms with such a crazy idea! He sighed. Who told him to love them so much? "Do I have a say in this?"

"No!" They smirked with an identical expression of a smug cat that had just gotten the cream. 

Exactly how did the situation end up like this, Lu Yizhou wondered surreptitiously.

"Just please… be careful." He couldn't imagine what he would do if something had gone wrong. It was exactly because they were Gods with superb regeneration ability that he got even more worried. [Are you sure there's no other way, 666?]

[666: Host, Izher and Jillian are listed as the characters of this world. No matter how omnipotent 666 is, 666 has no way to bring them out of the simulator! They might even get erased forever if they are identified as an unknown source and eliminated by the virus detector!]

[But the Kunlun Mirror can bring Lan'er out from the fourth world.] Lu Yizhou pointed out.

[666: QAQ 666 is sorry that 666 is not the Kunlun Mirror you're searching for!] 

A thoughtful look appeared on his face as he glanced at Cyrus from his peripheral vision. He was almost certain that the Kunlun Mirror was either Cyrus or Luan — he was more inclined toward the former — but Cyrus had just denied it out flat. 

Had he been wrong all along or was Cyrus hiding something from him?

***

Jillian wasn't willing to waste any more time than he already did. He and Izher settled on a time: the day after tomorrow. 

He spent the entirety of the next day supervising the rebuilding of the ruined town, assigning tasks to his soldiers whilst trailing Bassil while the head servant worked with the excuse that he wanted to gain a new insight. Everyone was living their lives to the fullest, Jillian realized in relief. But at the same time, he was also getting melancholic to know that they could function just fine without him. It was a silly thought, he knew. 

He was having his last dinner when the silent Bassil suddenly asked. "Are you leaving tomorrow, Young Master?"

Jillian startled lightly. It should come to no surprise that Bassil could read him as easily as the back of his own palm. Jillian put down the utensils and offered him a strained, helpless smile. "I am." 

The food suddenly tasted bitter on his tongue. He had made sufficient preparation. Even years ago he had been prepared to die everytime he set out for the battlefield, but expecting it happening and knowing it would happen for certain were two very different things. Jillian couldn't help but feel reluctant to leave the comfort of this world that had housed him for decades, and fear for the future that might come.

Bassil suddenly took a step back to bow down to his waist, spurring Jillian into action. "Bassil…!" He reached out to lift the older man up only for warm, translucent liquid to drop onto his palm. In an instant, Jillian's heart sank to the pit of his stomach. "Bassil…"

"Have a nice journey, Young Master." Bassil smiled through his tears. "May you be happy and prosperous for years to come. Don't worry about us. The Old Master — your grandfather — has trained the servants for unexpected events like this, in case he would perish in the battlefield with no successor to inherit his name. This humble servant has compiled the necessary files for you to review. Would you like to go through it after dinner, Young Master?"

Speechless, Jillian could do nothing but agree.

He didn't expect that something like this existed. The file was thorough, with comprehensive division on how the wealth should be divided and how the Duchy would continue to operate until the head servant — Bassil, or anyone after him — deemed someone appropriate to take over the mantle. "This…" Jillian sucked in a breath. "This is brilliant. There's nothing more I can ask for, Bassil. You are doing an excellent job."

"Thank you for your generous compliment, Young Master." Bassil inclined his head humbly. "It is but one of the principles that the Lacrosa Family has upheld for generations. It's only right that I help to maintain it even after Young Master leaves."

"Thank you." Jillian offered sincerely. Without giving Bassil any time to react, he enveloped the elder man into another tight embrace. "Thank you for everything, Bassil. Live out the rest of your life happily and… I entrust this manor and its people to you. Please take good care of them, and also yourself first and foremost." 

Jillian noticed the dampness seeping into his shoulders and the minute tremble of Bassil's shoulders, but he chose to say nothing in the end in lieu of patting the older man's back until he calmed down. The corner of his lips curled into a peaceful smile.

Yes, he was finally ready.

***

The sun hadn't even risen yet when the five of them gathered. The air was chilly from the remnants of winter, laced with the sweetness of spring. Snow hadn't even melted fully yet, and fresh dew hung over the newly sprouted leaves. Their footsteps crunched with every step they took as they headed to a vast expanse of empty land.

Cyrus and Luan would summon a powerful ward to contain the force of the two Gods' power. As the more knowledgeable one, Cyrus would stay inside to oversee the process whilst Luan and Lu Yizhou had been kicked out with unanimous votes — with the claim that they would only serve as unwanted distraction. 

"It won't even take ten minutes." Izher murmured into Lu Yizhou's lips, pulling back to boop the latter's nose playfully. "You will be able to hold me again soon, alright?" 

After he stepped away, Jillian took his face, yanked Lu Yizhou's neck down and latched onto his wet and slightly swollen lips, making them even wetter and swollen. 

"Don't worry," he exhaled softly, a smile on his lips. "Everything will be okay. As Izher has said, you will meet us again soon."

Right, everything would be fine. 

Lu Yizhou gave in to his urge to crush Jillian into his embrace, squeezing a surprised laugh out of him. Lu Yizhou only pulled away a few moments later to cup the man's cheek, burning the curve of his sharp eyebrows, the glimmer in his beautiful golden eyes, the sweet curl of his lips — everything, into his mind and keeping it close to his heart. "I love you," he rasped, voice thick with emotions.

Hearing that, the corner of Jillian's eyes glistened with tears and he stepped away quickly enough before he could do anything stupid. This wasn't a separation, he told himself. No matter what would happen to him, he was satisfied knowing that he was cherished, very much. They would meet again without a doubt — and next time, with a better version of himself.

Lu Yizhou's eyes trailed after the two of them until they got to position and stood facing each other with a few meters between them. Jillian drew his sword, the thrum of the energy it carried rolled through air like an invisible wave. 

On the other hand, Izher summoned his tendrils. They grew out behind his back like a mass of giant tails, squirming and moving excitedly. "This will be painful." Izher lifted his chin aloofly as he twirled a tendril between his fingers. "Are you ready?"

Jillian retorted with a raise of his brow. "I should be the one asking you this question."

They took on a battle stance and that was all Lu Yizhou could see before the ward closed in between them and he was left outside with Luan. 

Lu Yizhou had never been alone with the obsidian dragon before but the silence that surrounded them wasn't awkward or heavy. Luan was unable to speak carelessly, which made him one of Lu Yizhou's most favorite people. Unlike Cyrus who could be manipulative and deceptive if he wanted, Luan struck him as an earnest and protective man. Lu Yizhou liked how serene, powerful and quietly intense he was. If they had more time, they might even become friends. Alas…

Luan silently patted his shoulder and Lu Yizhou nodded in response. "Thank you. I believe in them."

No sound nor movement could be detected from the ward and Lu Yizhou's gaze trailed up to the clear blue sky, catching one or two petals that drifted along with the end. Spring… It was always spring when he left. 

He let out a slow exhale to brace himself and closed his eyes. [666.]

[666: Aye, aye, Host! 666 has been prepared. We can leave as soon as you give the signal.]

Lu Yizhou wasn't willing to stay in a world without his lovers, not even for one second so… as soon as he knew that his lovers were gone, he would promptly withdraw himself. 

The two of them waited in silence, stewing in shimmering anticipation. There was a knot twisting on Lu Yizhou's gut but he attributed it to the anxiety.  0

One minute… Two minute… Five minutes passed and all of a sudden, the clear sky above them darkened and the first sign of a storm hammered down in the form of a rolling thunder and fierce lightning.

Cold rain dripped onto Lu Yizhou's cheek. One droplet, two droplets… and then the sky opened into an intense downpour. 

The water slid off Lu Yizhou's skin and robes, leaving him dry amidst the dark atmosphere. Meanwhile, Luan welcomed the chill with his head tilted, letting the rivulets of water leave their trail along his body and drenching him whole in the span of a blink.

Lu Yizhou could sense it even to the tip of his fingers; the sky was weeping for the loss of two immortals. He  let his eyelids fall shut. [Let's go.]

[System notification: Initiating the Host's withdrawal…]

As the notification rang inside Lu Yizhou's mind, the ward suddenly exploded behind them followed by Cyrus' panicked shout. "Luan!" 

Lu Yizhou's body moved faster than his brain could process as he swiveled to take in the scene in front of him. In an instant, dread chilled his blood and froze him down to the core. 

[Three…]

Jillian was on his knees, a gaping hole on his chest and blood soaked his entire body. His face was terror-stricken, eyes trained on Cyrus who was cradling Izher on his arms, heedless of his own body that had started to disintegrate into millions particles of light. 

Whereas Izher… Izher was gasping for breath with Jillian's sword stuck on his chest. His already pale complexion was ghastly due to the blood loss, eyes glassy and delirious.

Lu Yizhou noticed with a jerk that his body didn't show any signs of disappearance. Instead, the marks on his forehead and body were shining ominously — the marks which Lu Yizhou had always ignored — they came alive and circled around him like chains, keeping his soul inside of his body.

"Luan!" Cyrus' eyes were wide and frantic. "The bug! The bug is preventing him from leaving! We must do something or else he will be trapped forever in this world!"

The bug… Realization slammed into Lu Yizhou with the force of a train wreck and he took a step back, his whole body cooling down as if ice had seeped into his veins. He had been searching high and low for the bug, keeping up his guard around the surroundings but… never had he expected that the thing he had always been searching for was stuck to his lover's body since the beginning. How…?

[Two…]

[666: No… Nonononono! Please! How to stop this?!]

Similar to Jillian, Lu Yizhou's body was also starting to perish. His fingertips… his legs… his torso… He began to feel the tug on his consciousness, black dots swimming on the corner of his eyes and the familiar vertigo was closing in, waiting for him to fall back in. "No…"

His eyes met with Jillian's across the air and both saw the immense fear in each other. Lu Yizhou's body started to move before his mind could process anything but… what could he do? He had never been prepared for this… never been prepared for any of this to happen... 

No no no, this was wrong. How could he be so naïve?! How could he possibly think that everything would go smoothly?! Blood surged up in his throat as he reached out desperately. "IZHER—!" Every cell in his body was screaming. Rage, hatred and fear. More and more fear.

Please, just a little more! Just give him a bit more time…! 

Alas… everything was already too late.

[One…]

[The withdrawal has been completed.]

Simultaneously, Jillian and Lu Yizhou's bodies exploded into thousand fragments of light, filling the darkness around them with blinding lights. They swirled and swirled before flowing up the sky and disappeared for good.

The transmigrator and the villain had left the simulator. As a result, the world around them abruptly ceased to move. The air stilled and all signs of life disappeared, leaving the three despondent figures behind.

"Luan…!" Cyrus was crying now. He was holding onto the chains with his claws, trying to break it with all of his strength. "Luan, help me!"

Luan kneeled by his side and gripped the ominous black chain, his eyes moving across Cyrus and Izher's face back and forth. His lips trembled for a second before he pressed them into a tight line, eyes hardened in determination. Abruptly, his strength erupted across the sky, wiping the clouds around the perimeter away for miles. 

That was all the warning Cyrus got before Luan started to open his mouth and shouted, "...!"

Cyrus drew in sharp breath. The temperature rose and rose higher, crackles formed into sparks of fire. Luan's amber eyes burned brighter as chants upon chants fell from his lips. An ancient spell, forbidden even for dragons. Dark and commanding, deathly and powerful, spoken in a language only the highest creature of Hell knew. Luan's expression was twisted and blood continued to flow out of his eyes, nose, and ears freely. Yet his eyes remained bright and stubborn, persistent and unwavering.

With each word he said, Cyrus detected the vitality draining out of him. His face was awashed in terror. "LUAN, NO…!"

The chain cracked under Luan's hands and at some point, he had switched to common language. "In the name of the King, Satan and the Princes of Hell, I order you to let this man go! Let him go! Let him go!!!" He roared for one last time. "LET HIM GO—!!!" Blood spurted out of his mouth and his vocal cord snapped with a horrifying gurgle. Just like that, the obsidian dragon lost his voice and along with it was the power he had wielded for centuries.

The chain shattered under his bloody grip and faded around Izher's body.

In that exact moment, Izher's body arched and a sharp scream erupted out of his throat. He thrashed around wildly, blood gushing out of his wounds as Cyrus held him tight, sobbing. 

"Why…?" Izher demanded hoarsely, black tears sliding down his pale face. "Why do you keep helping me…?!"

Cyrus shook his head again and again, unable to say anything with the tears that were choking his throat. Luan merely gave him a shaky smile and reached out to pat Izher's head in reassurance. 

That one movement overwhelmed Izher with such a strong déjà vu that he burst into tears. Why was he crying? He had no idea… He was just feeling so, so sad. "Who are you?" He asked whilst holding onto his head. Pain was ripping his body to pieces. "I can feel it. You two are important to me. But why… why can't I remember you…?!"

"Go." Luan mouthed soundlessly as Izher's body began to disintegrate. "They have been waiting for you."

"I—I will come back…!" Izher gritted his teeth in desperation, holding onto Luan's sleeves tightly with the strength of a vengeful ghost. His dark eyes burned brighter and brighter, a contrast so striking compared to his disappearing body. "I swear I will come back to take you two with me! You are not allowed to die on me, do you hear me?!"

"Stupid…" Cyrus took in a deep breath and gradually forced his throat to work again. "We won't die so easily."

They watched as Izher vanished into twinkles of light and the sky began to crack open above them.

Cyrus caught Luan's body in time when the obsidian dragon swayed, his breathing weak and rapid as he continued to bleed. Unable to help himself, Cyrus muffled his cries into Luan's shoulder, claws grasping onto his back in desperation. "Luan… Luan…" They did it, Cyrus wanted to say but his throat wouldn't work. He should rejoice... but how could he, when the price he ought to pay was his heart and half of his soul?

The entire world might have ceased moving but somehow the sky was still weeping.

It was the ivory dragon's tears. 

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Arc 6 — The End

A/N: Can I say that you should have heed my foreshadowing early in the arc? *Oops...

Alright before you throw rocks at me, I want to inform you that I didn't mean to end the arc here — I'm serious! Look at my innocent eyes! There's supposed to be a conclusion for Cyrus and Luan but I have miscalculated the length of the chapter and I don't want to see this arc end in 71 chapters QAQ Hence I will dedicate the first chapter in Arc 7 for Cyrus and Luan's conclusion orz

Are Cyrus and Luan saying the truth when they said they can't remember who they are? Is one of them the Kunlun Mirror that has brought Heimo out? Most importantly, who are they?

Some of your questions might be answered there :)

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