"Yun Qingzi," "attached" to the Crystal Heart, seemed dazed and muddled, his thoughts coming and going. He often needed a long time to understand Yu Sheng's questions and respond, but there was no doubt that, at least for now, he was communicating with the outside world using the reason of a "human."
It was just unclear how long that reason could last.
From Yun Qingzi's fragmented memories, Yu Sheng finally learned what had happened on this planet a thousand years ago.
A crystal-like "meteorite" had descended onto Garrison-3 without warning. According to Yun Qingzi, when it had first fallen, it had been far smaller than the "Crystal Heart" in the cave now. At first glance, it had looked like a dull, utterly ordinary stone, with no signs of activity whatsoever.
Yet only moments after landing, the "stone" began to display the characteristics of a living creature.
It began trying to burrow into Garrison-3, rapidly assimilating and devouring all surrounding matter in the process.
Yun Qingzi had happened to be on the planet at the time—though he could no longer remember why he had come here in the first place.
"...I don't know where it came from, but after clashing with it, I saw many things," Yun Qingzi said slowly, seemingly lost in his memories. "It... had already been to many places. Wherever it went, it would parasitize the planet. Once the parasitism began, no one could stop the process. This thing was originally supposed to land on Juxi, but it veered off course during its descent. At the time, I thought I absolutely couldn't let this evil thing leave, but I never imagined I wouldn't be its match..."
Yun Qingzi stopped, as though his thoughts had been interrupted again. After a moment, he raised his head and slowly looked around.