The Dust Settles

Some things are really hard to explain in just a few words.

Bai Zhi could understand why his copy had suddenly collapsed, since everything in this world was based on reality, and in that world, Xing was essentially resurrected.

Copy himself is no problem, but he still doesn't understand his own Sanity, which is displayed as???. The system can't even detect his own Sanity, let alone the other party's.

It would be truly remarkable if the other party could actually copy it completely.

Bai Zhi didn't believe that the Strength of [Eden] could surpass the system, especially since what was here was only a small part of the Strength of [Eden]. The other party hadn't even given a glance, let alone anything else.

He hadn't expected that the world would shatter so easily.

But since that world has shattered, then I guess I've ended the Final Ritual, haven't I?

Originally, Bai Zhi's first question to Book Spirit after returning was about the Final Ritual, but seeing the other's expression as if she wanted to devour the Magic Cube, the words he was about to say naturally turned into another question.

What are you doing? Are you hungry?

"... Why are you back so soon?"

After a moment of silence, Shuling lowered her Book Spirit and spoke calmly.

"In terms of timing, regarding the ceremony..."

Before Book Spirit could finish speaking, the tens of thousands of Light Screen surrounding the hall shattered simultaneously.

Amidst the deafening crash of the shattering Light Screen, Bai Zhi seemed to faintly hear a deep, solemn voice echoing in his ears, but he couldn't make out a single word.

A second later, everything settled down.

However, the tens of thousands of Light Screen that originally hung around this hall have been completely and utterly destroyed.

Her expression changed slightly, and without saying a word, Book Spirit ran straight towards the door.

"... illusion?"

Looking around at the shattered Light Screen, Bai Zhi touched his ear and frowned slightly.

Inside the door was a pure white room, where a Girl with short black hair lay in the center, holding a book in her arms.

"... What exactly did you do in there?"

After seeing the Girl lying in the middle of the room, Book Spirit breathed a slight sigh of relief and turned to look at Bai Zhi, who followed her into the room.

However, at this moment, she looked at Bai Zhi as if he were a Monster.

"What's wrong?"

Bai Zhi glanced in Tong's direction and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Judging from the current situation, that Final Ritual should be considered over, right?"

"It's not just about ending... do you know what a gecko is?"

"How?"

Bai Zhi was slightly confused.

"To survive, one must detach the tail."

Book Spirit gave Bai Zhi a deep look.

"[Eden] completely relinquished that small portion of its Strength."

"What's the meaning?"

Bai Zhi frowned.

"Literal meaning. She is no longer Retainer of [Eden]. The other party voluntarily relinquished this Retainer and also relinquished their own Strength."

The Book Spirit exhaled slightly.

"This situation is extremely rare, almost impossible. Even abandoning one's own Retainer wouldn't prevent one from reclaiming their Strength... Just what are you?"

"I am human, that's obvious, what else could I be?"

Bai Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly and spread his hands.

"As you can see, I am nothing more than a pitiful, weak, and helpless human being."

"... common humans cannot withstand that kind of Strength. It's like filling a bottle with an ocean of water; the only result will be that the bottle breaks, and Hitomi will be no exception."

After a moment of silence, Book Spirit turned around and looked at Tong.

"The Strength she possessed as Retainer still remains within her; without guidance, she will become a new Anomaly."

"I think you're not being very careful with your words. What if that bottle is a Klein bottle?"

With a slight shrug, Bai Zhi walked towards Tong.

"If it's a Klein bottle, it can hold not just one ocean, but ten oceans..."

"You'd better not touch her right now, or you'll run into big trouble."

Book Spirit interrupted him, speaking calmly.

"She's not a Monster like you; without the support of Strength Retainer, she would die instantly."

"So what?"

Bai Zhi stopped and turned to look at the other person.

"I'll be the medium."

The Book Spirit's expression remained as calm as ever.

"The book itself is already mostly corrupted, so adding another part wouldn't hurt, therefore..."

Before he could even finish his sentence, Book Spirit's expression changed slightly.

Suddenly, the Strength belonging to the Retainer within Hitomi's body surged forth spontaneously and swiftly flowed into the Magic Cube she was holding.

--It automatically absorbs the surrounding unclaimed Strength, which is one of the characteristics of this Magic Cube's Cube.

Seeing all this, Book Spirit didn't stop it, but her expression was slightly strange.

At this moment, that strange desire that had been lurking in her mind resurfaced, as if some consciousness within her was constantly urging her to seize that Strength... and devour it.

Frankly, this is not normal.

The Evil God Power has always been a deadly Contamination Source, causing disaster wherever it falls. Why would I be interested in such Strength...?

She didn't understand.

Forcibly suppressing the intense desire within her, Book Spirit calmly watched as that Strength entered the Magic Cube, and then, when everything came to an end, she tossed the Magic Cube back to Bai Zhi.

At the same time, the Corrupted Gospel of Truth that Tong was holding in her arms opened automatically, and the Book Spirit's figure became illusory.

"There was a slight mishap, but the result was the same..."

Looking up at Bai Zhi, Book Spirit spoke calmly.

"I will merge into her body to sustain her Life, and I will also fall into a deep sleep for a while. Now that you have rescued this child, please take good care of her; she has no relatives left in this world."

"So, in the future, you'll probably be like Behind-the-Scenes Spirit?"

After glancing down at the Magic Cube's Cube in his hand, Bai Zhi looked at the Book Spirit in Previous Self had become illusory, with a look of suspicion on his face.

"Wait, you're not thinking of taking over her body, are you? I think there should be other ways."

"The human body is too fragile. I can exist independently, so why should I Attachment humans?"

The Book Spirit remained expressionless.

"Yes, there are other ways, but they are too complicated, and her body is too fragile. This is the best option for now."

"... Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go."

After thinking for a moment, Bai Zhi waved his hand casually.

"Bye-Bye."

"There's one more thing."

As the light emanating from the Corrupted Gospel of Truth grew stronger, the figure of the Book Spirit became increasingly faint.

"Don't even think about making a move on her, you wicked Loli Enthusiast."

Bai Zhi: "???"