311: 7.1 The Two Dragons (Extra)

7.1 The Two Dragons (Extra)

A/N: As I've promised in the previous chapter, this will be a conclusion for Cyrus and Luan. Next chapter, we will enter the real Arc 7!

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In the deserted world, a series of mechanical beeps echoed loud and clear.

[Beep… Beep…]

[Mission accomplished. Clearing the cache data… Restarting SSS-089…]

[Warning! Core energy is missing! Tracing the original source of data… not found.]

[Reboot SSS-089 failed.]

[Simulator SSS-089 is unable to restart. Forcing shutdown…]

[Shutdown will be completed in 4 minutes 57 seconds…]

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"Luan, how are you…?" Cyrus stroked the obsidian dragon's sharp jaw and used his sleeves to wipe the blood away. 

Luan cracked open his eyes with much difficulty, placed a trembling hand on Cyrus' chest and pushed. The meaning behind his action was clear — go, just leave me here. But his power had been stripped off him. The obsidian dragon without his voice wouldn't be an obsidian dragon anymore. He was so weak that he couldn't even move himself, let alone pushing Cyrus away.

Cyrus tilted his head up and blinked the tears away from his eyes. The sky was falling apart, he noticed. It was as if winter had come back yet again. Snowflakes fluttered around them but Cyrus knew it came from the boundary of the world that was slowly dissolving.

The clear blue sky became light gray. Like ink that dripped into the clear water, the world around them slowly dimmed into black and white. Even the blood on the ground and their bodies slowly lost their luster and turned monochrome. 

Luan pushed again, this time with more strength.

Cyrus let out a wet laugh and gripped him tighter in response. "It's no use, Luan. You might as well tear off my limbs if you want me to let go."

Luan's lips trembled and he let out a shuddering exhale. "Stupid…" he mouthed, tears escaping the corner of his eyes before disappearing into his hair.

"It seems like we will perish here…" Cyrus mumbled off-handedly. He had never expected it to come so fast yet he felt no fear, only calmness and acceptance. "Do you think we have finished our duty? No? You're right…" He chuckled, bitter this time. "Lu Yizhou still hasn't awoken yet and so has Zachary. We still have lots to do but…" His head slowly dropped to the crook of Luan's neck, knuckles white and trembling. His voice cracked."Without you… how can I go on? Tell me, Luan. How can I possibly do this by myself…?"

The ground beneath them crumbled and Cyrus held onto Luan even as they plunged into void.

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In the beginning, there was only Cyrus.

He had been alone for as long as he could remember. He was often placed by Lu Yizhou or Zachary's side, witnessing their progress each day. Honestly, Cyrus was surprised as he didn't expect that Zachary would put his whole heart into Lu Yizhou's palm so easily, even as the latter was still unsuspecting and oblivious. 

At first, Cyrus had thought it was a rejection but as it turned out, Lu Yizhou was just very dense.

But as soon as Lu Yizhou was aware of Zachary's feelings, he started to change. It was like seeing a solitude, closed-off petal blossoming into a breathtaking flower. They complimented each other perfectly like two pieces of puzzle with none being the wiser. It was endearing to see them become infatuated again and again through different worlds. Their love was so pure and beautiful that it struck a chord within him.

At the same time, Cyrus came to a realization. 

Ah, I should protect the two of them. 

He had no idea where it came from but the conviction was so strong that he came to an awareness. That the 'world' they were in wasn't a real world, that he wasn't whom he thought he was. It was like waking up from a long dream only to find that he didn't know anything about himself at all.

Was he a human? Or… had he been created out of a series of codes?

It might be the first time Cyrus learned what 'loneliness' was.

And then one day, Luan appeared and tore down the walls around his heart just with his mere existence. It took him almost immediately to learn that Luan was all he had ever wanted. That he, too, could have something similar as Lu Yizhou and Zachary. 

But then came the most important question. What if his purpose had shifted? What if… instead of protecting the two of them, Cyrus came to prioritize Luan more?

…Just like how he did this time. 

Cyrus could have done it. He could kill Izher and Jillian at the same time, he knew he could bear the consequences — but he didn't want to; because Luan was injured, because he didn't want to risk Luan's life, because he knew that Luan would definitely take the brunt in his stead. 

And look at how they ended up.

He let out an ironic laugh. Because of his selfishness, he had almost caused Izher permanent damage to his soul whereas Luan… Luan was dying. And it was all Cyrus' fault; because he got greedy to want something he shouldn't, because he had derailed from what he was supposed to do.

[45 seconds… 44 seconds…]

It took Cyrus a while to notice that Luan was writing something on his back with a finger. [Don't cry.] He traced the words again and again. 

Something within Cyrus snapped and a wrecked sob tore out of his chest. He trembled against Luan. The kind, gentle and sincere Luan, who had treated him with nothing but affection and love, who didn't blame him even when he was the one who had to pay the price. "I—I'm sorry… I'm sorry, Luan." He hiccuped. "Please forgive me. I wish I could take your pain away… I really do. I'm so sorry…"

He wanted to live. He wanted Luan by his side. He still wanted to oversee Lu Yizhou and Zachary's journey. He wanted, wanted, wanted. So much. Too much. 

The rims of Luan's eyes reddened but he shook his head and smiled. His kind Luan, so forgiving and benevolent. Cyrus couldn't help but wonder if it was Luan who had received the duty, would he have done it better than Cyrus? Of course he would. Cyrus had seen how dedicated he was. If it had been Luan, then such a thing wouldn't have happened.

Alas, he was stuck with Cyrus, unable to do anything but follow his lead.

[20 seconds… 19 seconds… 18 seconds…]

Slowly, Cyrus' cries subsided and he lifted his head to cup Luan's cheek gently, tracing his cheekbone with his thumb. The world had lost its color yet somehow he could still see the brightness of Luan's eyes. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

Cyrus' vision was starting to blur and he knew that his time was approaching. Still, he kept staring at Luan unblinkingly. If this was the last sight Cyrus saw at the end of his existence, then he was more than satisfied. He smiled and Luan returned it with his own.

"I don't know if what I am feeling is love," he said softly. "But if I was a human… if there was reincarnation for us… then I would want to find you again, Luan."

He rested their foreheads together and waited, eyelids falling shut.

[6 seconds… 5 seconds… 4 seconds…]

Luan squeezed his hands. First time, he didn't take it as anything. But then, Luan squeezed again, again, and there was a puff of breath against his face. Cyrus opened his eyes. "Hmm?"

Luan's pupils were blown wide in surprise. His mouth was moving… What? 

Cyrus followed the line of his sight and gasped when he saw a dot of light amidst the overwhelming darkness in the far distance. His heart lurched in his throat when he realized it was Jillian's sword. 

It was shining so bright that Cyrus had to squint his eyes. The golden lines on the blade were shimmering as if they had come alive. How…? The whole world should have disintegrated. But why had this sword remained? How could Cyrus still see the color on it? 

[3 seconds… 2 seconds… one seconds…]

[Shutdown completed.]

A glaring light burst out of the sword, enveloping him and Luan within. Cyrus covered Luan's body with his own by reflex as giggles so clear and melodious rang in the air. He heard Luan's thundering heartbeats that matched him and he straightened up to see Luan's dumbstruck look. He must not have fared better either.

"You…" Cyrus looked around. They were in a vast expanse of white. It was white as far as he could see with only Jillian's sword floating in front of them. Where are they? The shutdown had been completed but… somehow they hadn't died yet? "What are you…?" Cyrus found himself asking. He had had an inkling but he didn't want to raise his hope for nothing. What if he was mistaken?

The sword let out another giggle and this time the thin silhouette morphed into something — no, someone. Someone with arms and legs, so short that they only reached Cyrus' chest. And through the light, Cyrus could see a pair of wings and kitten ears.

"Ha!" A surprised laugh escaped his lips.

How could he not recognize her sooner? He had heard this bright laugh countless times before, had been one of the people who had hugged her when she was born, and had had the privilege to see her growing up into a fine lady.

"Of course…" Cyrus' body sagged in relief as a wide smile slowly spread across his face. Luan's expression mirrored him. It was a pleasant surprise, indeed. "Of course it's you. You have always been a daddy girl, haven't you, Bianca? Come here." He opened his arms and the bundle of light barreled forward, falling with a thump across Luan's body and eliciting a quiet huff of laughter from the weakened dragon.0

Another giggle rang out. "Grandma! Grandpa! I'm here!"

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry for not recognizing you sooner." Cyrus rubbed her head affectionately. "Are you the one who has saved us?"

Bianca nodded with excitement. "Grandma and Grandpa are sad so I decided to bring you away! I also helped Mommy before!" 

The white world around them shifted as if shedding its outer skin and all of a sudden, they were in a familiar place. The sky was made up of strings of codes and there were millions of glowing orbs floating around. 

The kernel highway… Cyrus was so relieved he could cry. They had made it out of the simulator!

"Thank you!" Cyrus hugged the bundle of light tighter to him, unable to hold himself back after the near-death experience. "Thank you so much!"

They had lost track of Lu Yizhou and it would be a pain to find him amidst millions of simulators. Not to mention Luan's condition was still severe enough that Cyrus wasn't sure if he could survive if they were to cross over. 

Making a split second decision, he held Bianca's shoulders and looked at her with a solemn gaze. "Bianca, I have a very, very important task for you to do. This is regarding your mommy and daddy. Will you do us a favor?"

Bianca beamed. "Yes! Leave it to me!"

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A/N: 

A few revelations for you:

1. Bianca is the Kunlun Mirror! How many of you have guessed it?

If you recall Arc 3 (beastman omegaverse), Oliver's child isn't supposed to be born in the original plot. It's easier to erase something (aka kill someone) rather than creating but as always, LYZ and Oliver have done the impossible and voila, our little Bianca is here!

She's an AI born inside the main AI, so she's not considered as a foreign codes. Not only that, she can also travel freely because she isn't actually bound to the simulator! In other word, she's actually a cheating tool *laugh*

2. Cyrus and Luan are Empress Gemma and Emperor Vincent (Altair's parents!)

3. Yess, we will welcome this arc with Bianca's shenanigans!

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