Gate of Nothingness

"Die, you bastard!"

Bang!

The baguette hit Simon's head hard, leaving him dazed. If not for his superior physique as an Ability User, he would have passed out long ago.

Fornia wasn't particularly strong, but she could achieve this much with a full-force surprise attack.

"Nelly, run!"

While Simon was clutching his head and falling, Fornia quickly grabbed Nelly's hand and they sprinted towards the cruise ship.

Originally, they had planned to go just before the ship set sail to avoid alerting anyone watching Nelly, but since Simon had already found them, they couldn't wait any longer!

Plans couldn't keep up with changes, but as long as they boarded the ship and kept Simon below deck, once the ship left the shore, they would be free as birds, and no one would be able to separate them again!

"Bastard! Stop right there!"

Simon staggered to his feet and saw the two fleeing in a hurry. How could he not know their intentions? He clenched his fists in anger and quickly gave chase.

"Fornia, he's coming!"

At the corner, Nelly glanced back and almost screamed when she saw Simon rapidly approaching.

Just as she was about to escape her nightmare, she found the person she feared most was chasing her, about to catch her. She was so panicked she could barely think.

The gap between an Ability User and an ordinary person was too vast. Simon could easily catch up to them before they boarded the ship.

"This way!"

Fornia gripped Nelly's hand and ran towards the crowded area, shouting for help as she ran.

This method was surprisingly effective. Not everyone knew Simon's name. When passersby saw a man with a ferocious expression chasing two girls, many stepped forward to block Simon.

"Get out of the way!"

Simon threw a punch at a passerby. Fortunately, the person blocked it with their luggage, but the immense force still knocked them down.

Seeing how brazen the attacker was, the crowd became angry instead of fearful. They began to condemn Simon, and the shouts attracted the attention of nearby police. Simon was shoved by several burly men, making it difficult for him to continue his pursuit.

If he was stopped by these people, he wouldn't be able to resolve this without going to the police station.

If he delayed any longer, Nelly would escape!

"You're asking for death!"

Simon reached for his waist—

"He has a gun!" someone who saw Simon's movement clearly shouted, causing a wave of screams as the crowd scattered instantly.

Of course, as an Ability User with precise abilities, he was proficient with anything from throwing knives and bows to firearms. Simon had brought a gun for the assessment.

Bang!

Even a Duke couldn't openly attack ordinary citizens without severely damaging his reputation. He also wouldn't attack Nelly, as his strong possessiveness had not yet been satisfied. Therefore, the target of his gun could only be—

"Fornia!"

That's right. He believed Nelly wouldn't have the courage to keep running, and others wouldn't dare to stop him anymore.

Blood splattered, and Fornia fell to the ground. Red spots also stained Nelly's long skirt.

"Fornia?"

Nelly couldn't articulate her feelings at that moment.

She had never felt such despair.

But the next moment, Nelly almost couldn't hold back her tears as the person lying on the ground slowly raised her head!

"Don't worry about me, run!" Fornia propped herself up. Blood gushed from the bullet wound in her left leg, and the intense pain made her unable to run, her face pale.

"I might not be able to accompany you anymore, Nelly."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Nelly gave a bitter smile, lowered her head, and struggled to pick up Fornia.

Fornia wasn't heavy, but she was too frail. Nelly walked on step by step.

"Put me down, Nelly!"

"If you do this, neither of us will be able to escape!"

Fornia tried to push Nelly away with her hands, but the wound restricted her movements.

"Enough!" Nelly's long hair obscured her eyes. The sea breeze blew at her blood-stained dress, making them look utterly pathetic.

A puppet being bullied, a small and weak girl, a laughable and futile struggle.

She hated her own insignificance.

"Why..."

There was no why.

"I can't do anything..."

All she could do was struggle miserably and eventually drown in fate.

Seeing Nelly pick up Fornia and walk away, Simon froze for a moment.

"Nelly's gone mad?"

Then she raised her gun and aimed at Fornia, pulling the trigger again.

Bang bang bang!

The bullets flew from the barrel, instantly closing in on the two of them.

"You dare!"

Her light-gold eyes seemed to ignite, and a low, mad voice echoed in everyone's ears. Nelly's long hair danced, and the sea wind and waves fell silent.

She pulled Fornia into her arms with one hand and gently waved the other. Nelly's murderous gaze sent Simon into a panic from afar.

As the bullets were about to hit, a dark, circular void suddenly appeared, swallowing them. They made no sound.

But the next moment, the Gate of Nothingness reappeared, this time right in front of Simon. Then, bullets flew out, piercing his forehead one after another.

Simon was dead!

The scene fell into a dead silence, the crowd seemingly forgetting to breathe.

When they finally reacted and looked towards Nelly and Fornia, A Gate of Nothingness, one person tall, had appeared before Nelly. She walked into it, holding Fornia, and vanished from the pier.

In an empty corner of the cruise ship, a circular void suddenly appeared, and Nelly stepped out.

"We're safe!"

Fornia let out a sigh of relief, only to faint from the pain and blood loss.

"Fornia?" Nelly panicked when Fornia fainted, but quickly calmed down.

"I can't rush. She's just lost too much blood. Only I can find a way to save her, save her..."

Nelly muttered to herself, then with a thought, another Gate of Nothingness appeared. She reached into it and pulled hard.

An old man in a white coat was yanked into view by his collar, still holding a diagnostic report.

"Save her, please, please!" Nelly didn't know whether to threaten or beg. After a brief thought, she pleaded with the old man to treat Fornia.

"..." The old man's gaze was a little vacant, as if he was reassembling his shattered perception.

"I need a scalpel, gauze..." Fortunately, he understood his situation. After examining the wound, he immediately began listing the necessary medicines and tools.

These were, of course, no challenge for Nelly. With a mere wave of her hand, she could move things before her, ignoring space.

Having witnessed Nelly use her abilities multiple times, the old man understood how he had appeared there.

Without further ado, he began to stop Fornia's bleeding and remove the bullets.

Nelly held her hand tightly, her eyes red.

"Fornia, everything will be alright. Trust me..."

We'll go to the rainforest, to the beach;

We'll see whales and penguins, and taste the exotic cuisine of the East.

As long as...

That night, Nelly had a dream.

She dreamt of her childhood self, sitting by the bedside, listening to her mother recite:

"God saw how great the wickedness of man was on the earth, and decided to use a flood to destroy all living creatures with breath of life on earth—

all life shall die."