The Final Volume: A Tiny World in the Dust - Ye (2)

"That's right... but I assure you, the me you see now is the real me."

Because—

"Otherwise, how could I recreate the innocent you?"

"Everyone has an immature past..."

A successful person, admired by thousands, might have been a failure who blamed the world thirty years ago.

A poised, middle-aged office worker might have been a foul-mouthed street punk twenty years ago.

A top student with excellent grades and conduct might have been a truant troublemaker ten years ago.

"But I think, if we're going to play, why not go big?"

Recreating

Ye's state of mind from twenty years ago!

"Done!"

Jili landed on a slab of rock, released Ye, and breathed a sigh of relief.

He had seemed completely at ease throughout the battle, but in truth, he hadn't relaxed for a moment. Time Devour was a time-based ability, just like his Time Reappearance, and neither had a clear edge over the other. The greatest difference between them lay in their combat experience. But combat experience was an elusive thing; even a seasoned veteran could stumble into a ditch. So Jili had remained on his guard the entire time.

Fortunately, Ye hadn't done anything beyond his expectations. She lacked combat experience, and her use of her abilities was crude. That alone was nowhere near enough to defeat him.

And now, this "archenemy" had—

"...?"

Ye stood in front of him, looking utterly vacant.

There was something in her gaze... though it felt strange to put it that way, it really did have an innocent, guileless light, like an animal's. She turned her head from side to side, looking all around, seemingly curious about everything. Every now and then she moved a hand or a foot, as if wondering what the parts attached to her torso were for.